Science Fiction Aficionados discussion

I've just completed 'Outside In' by Maria V Snyder. I enjoyed it: well written, easy to read, plenty of action.
The author makes her characters three dimensional and believable. They have realistic goals and realistic 'blind sides'.
But I felt it lacked the richness and difference I personally seek from SF. The science and society described are much like ours. There was no interesting scenery, no exciting cultural features and the action stemmed from politics rather than possible science.
This is the second of a series. I may well read the others if I come across them.

I'm almost done reading Anathem. I'm enjoying it quite a bit.

I just finished our October read, Shades of Grey. I love smart books, I love Monty Pythonesque kind of humor, I love biting commentary on society, Shades has all of that in a nice fun package of colors. I really wanted to give it 5 stars because the book was enjoyable from beginning to end, but the punch line was disappointing. So I became a bureaucrat worthy of the book. I compromised, gave it 4 stars, and put it on my favorites shelf. Kind of like a movie star never winning the Oscar but getting a lifetime achievement. Or never getting the degree but getting an honorary. Or no Godiva on the shelf so eating Hershey's....

Rendezvous With Rama NEXT! *rubs hands in glee* And since I always need another book to look forward to so I can finish the current book quickly, I decided that Neuromancer would be after that.

I've decided to use my local library more often so I'm limited to what they can supply. I went there yesterday and was pleased with what I got - Chocky by John Wyndham and One More For The Road by Ray Bradbury.

I finished Hammerhead Ranch Motel yesterday. The Serge Storm series books are quick fun reads. This was the second in the series.

This morning I started Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. People have been telling me that this is where the series takes off.

I finished King's Test last night and now I'm moving on to Mile 81 for a quick read and then King's Sacrifice. I read the Star of The Guardians series when it first came out years ago and thought I'd give it another go.

I've put all my other reading aside and decided to read The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, based on Maciek's great review of the book. I wasn't going to any time soon, but now my curiosity is peaked. I really enjoyed Philip Pullman's brilliant writing of the His Dark Materials trilogy, so this should be a good read.

Beezlebug wrote: "I finished King's Test last night and now I'm moving on to Mile 81 for a quick read and then King's Sacrifice. I read the Star of The Guardians series wh..."

I liked Kings Test and King's Sacrafice. That was a fun series. Have you seen/read "Hung Out?"

Hugh (The other Hugh) wrote: "Beezlebug wrote: "I finished King's Test last night and now I'm moving on to Mile 81 for a quick read and then King's Sacrifice. I read the Star of The G..."

Yes, I own them all. There's Ghost Legion after Sacrifice and then the three Mag Force novels. I found them all packed away in a box and decided I'd give them another read. They must still be somewhat popular as I just saw Weis had released them all in ebook format.

I can't remmeber the name but the tall gray dude with great fashion sense, all the hair and lots of drugs cracked me up when I was reading it.

I just finished reading The Moon is a Harsh Mistress tonight. I liked it a lot; I'm not put off by Heinlein's unapologetic and unforgiving stance that's prevalent his later books. Now I'm starting a quick action read with Rynn's World (Warhammer 40,000).

Hugh (The other Hugh) wrote: "I can't remmeber the name but the tall gray dude with great fashion sense, all the hair and lots of drugs cracked me up when I was reading it."

Sounds like Raoul. He and his partner "The Little One" are great.

I'm going back to Rama. I was only reading the Pullman book to irritate some bible thumping nut who some of us know really well, who was chewing me out about Pullman. I wasn't even aware that Pullman had anti-Christian intent. But now, I will make sure to read ALL of his work.

But such amusements only last a minute.

Aloha, I think I love you.

I just finished Pandora's Star and wrote a review of it, am almost done Day of the Triffids, and started Samuel Delany's The Einstein Intersection yesterday.

I'll take my allergy medication for you, Scott.

Scott wrote: "Aloha, I think I love you."

I have that problem. A lot! LOL I heard that women do not have as much brain cells as men, but we sure do a lot with them! My head can only hold so much information, and I have tons of interests to try to squeeze into my little head. I'm hoping they'll invent an external drive for the brain. I just stayed up until 2AM last night clearing about 150GB of memory on my main drive by moving a lot into an external drive. I was on a critical memory low.

Hazel wrote: "I' reading Rendezvous with Rama- its so long since I read it it's like a new book either that or my memory ain't what it used to be.
Also listening to 'Cardinal in the Kremlin' by Tom Clancy.
Re..."

I want to write a review of Shades of Grey, but I have so many pressing things that I don't want to do. So that means I'll probably be sitting down to write the review, since I'm avoiding doing the pressing things. I really like that book. I like books that have a lot to say.

SciFi newbie here currently reading one that most in this group probably read ages ago: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

That's a fun book, Kristen. Madcap fun.

I'm off to the library tomorrow to pick up a copy of

The Midwich Cuckoos

that I've waited three weeks for. I hope it's worth it.

Joe wrote: "I'm off to the library tomorrow to pick up a copy of

The Midwich Cuckoos

that I've waited three weeks for. I hope it's worth it."

Tell me if it's better or worse than M. Night Shamalama-ding dong (or what ever his name is)'s version "The Village?"

Hugh (The other Hugh) wrote: "Joe wrote: "I'm off to the library tomorrow to pick up a copy of

The Midwich Cuckoos

that I've waited three weeks for. I hope it's worth it."

Tell me if it's better or worse tha..."

Nothing's that bad.

I'm reading Daughter of the Drow, while waiting for the new Drizzt novel coming out next week.

Joe wrote: "Hugh (The other Hugh) wrote: "Joe wrote: "I'm off to the library tomorrow to pick up a copy of

The Midwich Cuckoos

that I've waited three weeks for. I hope it's worth it."

Tell ..."

I have read 'Midwich Cuckoos' (a very long time ago) and seen 'The Village' (quite recently) and I did not connect the two. Unless my memory has screwed up even more than it usually does, they don't have much plot or many characters in common.

I started The Dreaming Void. It is pretty dense right from the start; I hadn't realized that, although it is the first book in the trilogy, it is not the first book to be set in that universe, so there are all these references I feel I should be getting.

I don't think I put it here. I finished Rendezvous With Rama a few days ago. Good read to fill up my SciFi classics read. I'm not hopping up and down about it, but I do appreciate it. The ideas are good. The style of writing doesn't excite me.

Now, I'm in the middle of reading Leaving Van Gogh: A Novel for my art forum's monthly read. I'm also reading Black & Orange for Horror Aficionados monthly read. I wasn't going to, but the author popped in and said it will get better. I admire his guts, so I decided to read it despite other people saying it's starting slow. I like guts, anyway.

I took a brief break from science fiction to read Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul which is CEO Howard Schultz account of how he returned as CEO in 2008 to turn the company around. Interesting from the perspective that I know most of the events he talked about and remember them well. I found his tone in some places a little annoying because he came off as very arrogant that he was the only one who could see what was going wrong and he needed to be made CEO again to fix it. Then again its his company and his book so he's entitled to tell it however he wants :)

Scott wrote: "I started The Dreaming Void. It is pretty dense right from the start; I hadn't realized that, although it is the first book in the trilogy, it is not the first book to be set in that..."

Scott, there are quite a few characters that carry over from the Commonwealth Saga but the plotlines aren't closely tied together. You should be fine once you get into it a little further...you're not missing anything important.

Oh, ok, thanks.

The person I would be interested in reading about is Apples founder Steve Jobs, who recently died.

Beezlebug wrote: "I took a brief break from science fiction to read Onward: How Starbucks Fought for Its Life without Losing Its Soul which is CEO Howard Schultz account of how he returned as CEO in 2..."

Reading the Hunger Games.

Aloha wrote: "I don't think I put it here. I finished Rendezvous With Rama a few days ago. Good read to fill up my SciFi classics read. I'm not hopping up and down about it, but I do appreciate ..."

Let me know what you think about, Leaving Van Gogh: A Novel. I've ordered it from Half.com and planning on starting it soon. I've always loved Van Gogh.

I'm almost halfway into it. The anecdotes are fun to read, but I'm waiting to see the point besides anecdotes of Van Gogh affecting the doctor's life.

Finished Tallent and Lowery 13, now I'm reading Ian Fleming, James Bond.

Hyperion - Dan Simmons...

I recently finished Flashforward which I really liked and Ready Player One which I loved. I think I might miss reading Ready Player One. Next up is Foundation's Edge in paperback and Prince of Thorns on my Kindle. Has anyone read Prince of Thorns yet?

Anna wrote: "Hyperion - Dan Simmons..."

Lucky you. Love that book. I've read the whole series twice and also did the audibook version last summer.

Beezlebug wrote: "Anna wrote: "Hyperion - Dan Simmons..."

Lucky you. Love that book. I've read the whole series twice and also did the audibook version last summer."

Wow, quite the recommendation!

Kasia wrote: "Beezlebug wrote: "Anna wrote: "Hyperion - Dan Simmons..."

Lucky you. Love that book. I've read the whole series twice and also did the audibook version last summer."

Wow, quite the recommendation!"

Haha, yes I highly recommned it. On a side note, I see you're reading The Dark Tower #3. Are you planning on reading the whole series? If so I'd be curious what you think when you get to book 5 or so. I read the whole thing as it was released and have some strong opinions on it.

Beezlebug wrote: "Kasia wrote: "Beezlebug wrote: "Anna wrote: "Hyperion - Dan Simmons..."

Lucky you. Love that book. I've read the whole series twice and also did the audibook version last summer."

Wow, quite ..."

Yes, I'm reading the whole series back to back, something I'm doing with my friends, so far I love it, intensely interesting.

Finished Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire yesterday. The series just keeps getting better.

Then I started reading The Strain. It has really grabbed my attention right from the beginning.

Kasia wrote: "Yes, I'm reading the whole series back to back, ...."

If you pace yourself you can finish Wizard and Glass in time to read The Wind Through the Keyhole when it gets released this Spring.

Currently carrying around two collections with me and dipping into them when time permits: A Touch of Strange and Star Shine. Both were brilliant and creating short stories.

Finished The Butlerian Jihad tonight as part of my ambitious goal to read all things Dune. I've seen the SciFi miniseries (Dune and Children) and read the Legends of Dune and House Trilogies years ago but that's been it.

Beezlebug wrote: "Finished The Butlerian Jihad tonight as part of my ambitious goal to read all things Dune. I've seen the SciFi miniseries (Dune and Children) and read the Legends of Dune and House Tri..."

I love that book. The only book I think that should have been written at all.

I'm dropping Prince of Thorns. I just couldn't get into it. It felt like it started in the middle of the story, which it essentially did, but I don't think the author handled it well. I'll probably try it again at some point.

I'm reading Exile. I also read the third Walking Dead book. I know the graphic novels are very different from the show, but I have to say I'm psyched for season 2.

I can't wait for season 2 as well, Jenny!

That's a bummer about Prince of Thorns, though.

I'm currently listening to Jasper Fforde's "Something Rotten" on audiobook. I'd read it a while ago, but there's just something delightful about commuting while having someone relay tales of Shakespeare clones, leaps into the world of Fiction, and going shopping with Hamlet.