Action/Adventure Aficionados discussion

Travis of NNY wrote: "Couldn't find the Big Country for less than $30. Maybe a copy buried in gramps attic who knows. He swapped his books at the used bookstore every couple weeks but if one was particularly good or Lo..."

I hope Gramps comes through for you. Now you see why I spent $15 on it. I really don't splurge like that often.

I wonder why publishers don't republish books that continually sell so high like that? I have quite a few books I'd love to get, but they don't even put them out as epubs. That just encourages people to scan & pirate them.

Started The Magic of Recluce which I see a few members of this group have enjoyed and reviewed

I've read the entire series, some books several times. So have my wife & kids. I think we have all of Modesitt's books.

Catching up on the Rollins that I have fallen behind on The Doomsday Key -

Finished Scarecrow and Hell Island, LOVED both of them. Hell Island was a bit too short a space to contain the full awesomeness of The Scarecrow, but still it didn't gave an inch! Now starting Scarecrow Returns, hope it'll be just as outrageous, ridiculous and pure fun as the previous ones. After finishing with Scarecrow, I think I'll return back to Harry Dresden in Proven Guilty or start the latest Will Robie one The Target.

Tim "The Enchanter" wrote: "Catching up on the Rollins that I have fallen behind on The Doomsday Key - "

Doomsday Key was superb as usual from Rollins and Sigma Force, but I thought the plot points were in some places a bit repetitive from the previous ones... Still a very fun read obviously. If you haven't yet read them, after Doomsday Key you should continue the series through Devil Colony and Bloodline, two of the very best of Sigma series imo.

Rizwan wrote: "Tim "The Enchanter" wrote: "Catching up on the Rollins that I have fallen behind on The Doomsday Key - "

Doomsday Key was superb as usual from Ro..."
I just finished FaceOff and it had a story written by James Rollins and Steve Berry with their two famous characters (Grayson Pierce and Cotton Malone) I am behind in both series so I have to catch up.

I'm halfway through Executive Intent, by Dale Brown. This is my first Dan Brown novel, but it won't be my last. This is a fascinating techno thriller. I'm going to look for more of his books.

David wrote: "I'm halfway through Executive Intent, by Dan Brown. This is my first Dan Brown novel, but it won't be my last. This is a fascinating techno thriller. I'm going to look for more of his books."

I think you meant Dale Brown.

Tim "The Enchanter" wrote: "I just finished FaceOff and it had a story written by James Rollins and Steve Berry with their two famous characters (Grayson Pierce and Cotton Malone) I am behind in both series so I have to catch up."

FaceOff is on my to-read list from the very first time I heard about that mindblowing concept of facing off one famous series character with the other... But as I've yet to start the Cotton Malone books or some other series from that book's authors, I don't think I'll be reading it soon. I want to know some of the characters (like Malone or Reacher or Rhyme or Bosch for example) thoroughly to enjoy the stories fully.

Rizwan wrote: "David wrote: "I'm halfway through Executive Intent, by Dan Brown. This is my first Dan Brown novel, but it won't be my last. This is a fascinating techno thriller. I'm going to look for more of ..."

Oops! you're right. That was embarrassing. Thaks for the heads up!

I almost think I may have pre- ordered Face Off. Been trying to get through a bunch of already owned books and have been ignoring my pre-orders. Kind of makes pre-ordering a bit foolish I know

Rizwan wrote: "Finished Scarecrow and Hell Island, LOVED both of them. Hell Island was a bit too short a space to contain the full awesomeness of The Scarecrow, but still it didn't gav..."

Thanks for reminding me, Rixwan. I miss and need to get back to Harry!

I'm on chapter 16 of Lonesome Dove and parts are slower than a octagenarian with ankle weights. Very character driven story so far and that's what's keeping me going.

Travis of NNY wrote: "I almost think I may have pre- ordered Face Off. Been trying to get through a bunch of already owned books and have been ignoring my pre-orders. Kind of makes pre-ordering a bit foolish I know"

It's a disease. Many of us suffer from it.
;)

Very true, Jim....very true!!! Lol

September is another random read group read nominations theme.

The nominations thread will take your suggestions until August 1st, so don't miss your chance.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I am reading Born of Hatred which is the second book in the Hellequin Chronicles. The first one, Crimes Against Magic, was suggested in a group read a few months back. It caught my eye and i can't stop reading. I'm supposed to be studying but instead i'm on here and reading at the same time! Thanks to the brilliant person who suggested this series:)

Eileen wrote: "I'm on chapter 16 of Lonesome Dove and parts are slower than a octagenarian with ankle weights. Very character driven story so far and that's what's keeping me going."

Good description. I've tried that book a couple times and came to the conclusion, "what if you don't give a F* about the characters?" :) I just watched True Detective, extreme character driven, and found it much more engaging--and the characters were more unlikable!

Peace, Seeley

Interesting comment Eileen. I guess it depends on the type of reader. I couldn't put it down, but that was twenty, or so , years ago. I also like his other stuff. I think he's the best writer of westerns since Louis L'Amour.

Really interesting to see the divergent opinions on Lonesome Dove. I'm on a quest to find a copy, probably at Half Price Books and see whether I like it or not. If not, then it will be one of the few times the movie was better than the book. We'll see.

Funny, I've read all of Louis L'Amour's non-westerns and loved them all. (The Walking Drum being my favorite). Maybe it's time for me to check out one of his actual westerns, which he is much more famous for.

Lisa P wrote: " Maybe it's time for me to check out one of his actual westerns, which h..."

I have read all of his books but do have to say, for the most part, that I prefer his actual westerns, particularly many of his Sackett series.

It's been a long time, but as I recall, The Lonesome Gods, Comstock Lode, &/or Bendigo Shafter the closest in tone to The Walking Drum not that there's a great deal of variation in L'Amour's style.

Another of his non-westerns that I liked very well was Last of the Breed. I bring it out for a re-read every so often.

Just started book 4 by George RR Martin " A Feast for Crows". Really enjoying this series of books.

Sharon wrote: "Another of his non-westerns that I liked very well was Last of the Breed. I bring it out for a re-read every so often."

That was a good one too!

Jim wrote: "It's been a long time, but as I recall, The Lonesome Gods, Comstock Lode, &/or Bendigo Shafter the closest in tone to The Walking Drum not t..."

Thanks Jim, I'll check them out!

I'm also a fan of L'Amour. I've read many of his westerns and other books.

L'Amour's Education of a Wandering Man, an autobiography of sorts, is pretty interesting, too.

Sharon wrote: "Another of his non-westerns that I liked very well was Last of the Breed. I bring it out for a re-read every so often."

You and I are of like mind. Loved the Sackett series and Last of the Breed.

My grandfather, who left home when he was 11 to work as a cowboy on trail herds and had only a 3rd grade education was the reader in our family, the person that always got books for birthday and Christmas gifts. Some of the first books I read were from his collection of Zane Grey and Max Brand westerns. I have always regretted he was not here to read the Louis L'Amour books, he would have enjoyed them tremendously.

Monica wrote: "I am reading Born of Hatred which is the second book in the Hellequin Chronicles. The first one, Crimes Against Magic, was suggested in a group read a few months bac..."

That's a really good series!

The September group read poll is up. It closes on August 11th.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

I reading A World Undone: The Story of the Great War, 1914 to 1918 by G.J. Meyer. So far I'm liking it. It's sort of the next level down for the history of "The Great War" and gets into enough of the politics so you know what to look for if you want to go even deeper but not so deep it looses context. I'm sure there are more indepth books on different aspects parts and events leading up to and during the war, but this is a good start.

I just finished Fire And Ice by Dana Stabenow. It's more mystery/police thing, but there is a good plot and some very interesting characters. It's sort like "Moose Country" meets Mayberry, except people get kilt here.

I'd call it a "Cozy Mystery." Stabenow has some ethnically rich Native Alaskan Indian characters. Liam Campbell has a wonderful dry sense of humor too. I liked it.

Prior to that I read the third book in the matthew Corbett series. Mr. Slaughter. This may be the best of that series yet. This one was more of an adventure book than the others, but it's still not so much A/A as it is detective story...even if it is set in 1700. First book is Speaks the Nightbird the series is by Robert McCammon.

I'm also up through book #3 in the "The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier" series by Jack Campbell. This is as good as the initial Lost Fleet series. There is both less and more action (if you follow me) but the characters are worked slightly better than in the initial series. Desjani some how picked up a sense of humor that I'm totally okay with. She seemed too much the untouchable ice princess before. Hemry... Campell, same guy.

Love the fleet maneuvers. Space Opera.

Currently reading and really enjoying the latest Will Robie thriller . I forgot some of the details of the previous one so revised in one sitting and enjoyed it even more the second time! Will Robie-Jessica Reel are undoubtedly my favorite heroes in the post 9/11 espionage world.

And very surprised and glad to see some western discussions here... Western is one of my favorite genre and Louis L'Amour is my most favorite western author. Read many of his westerns, and some of my all-time favorites are The Lonesome Gods, The Daybreakers, The Sackett Brand (along with most of the Sackett series), the Kilkenny Trilogy, Westward the Tide, Flint, To Tame a Land, High Lonesome, Down the Long Hills, The Man Called Noon, Reilly's Luck, Son of a Wanted Man....etc. Other than L'Amour, Oliver Strange's Sudden series of westerns I find to be VERY fun and enjoyable.

Rizwan wrote: "Currently reading and really enjoying the latest Will Robie thriller . I forgot some of the details of the previous one so revised in one..."

Louis L'Amour is one of my favorite authors. I've never heard of Oliver Strange. I will look him up. Thanks for the recommendation.

Roger wrote: "Louis L'Amour is one of my favorite authors. I've never heard of Oliver Strange. I will look him up. Thanks for the recommendation."

You're welcome :) If you want, you can read all the books of Oliver Strange's Sudden series online here:
https://sites.google.com/site/suddens...

From the site, about Sudden:

"James Green aka Sudden is a fictional character created by the author Oliver Strange and after his death carried on by Frederick H. Christian. The books are centred around a gunfighter in the American Wild West era, who is in search of two men who cheated his foster father. Jim the young man promises his dying father that he will find the two and take revenge. He gives the name James Green to himself and in time gets accused of a robbery himself and becomes an outlaw.

The books were first published around the late 1920s and the early 1930s. They featured vivid descriptions of the western American landscape, rare in an author at that time."

Rizwan wrote: "Roger wrote: "Louis L'Amour is one of my favorite authors. I've never heard of Oliver Strange. I will look him up. Thanks for the recommendation."

You're welcome :) If you want, you can read all t..."

They sound great. Thanks!

I finished Lonesome Dove and over all it was a good read. Not sure I'll continue with the series maybe someday.

I started a new series, for me. The first in the series is Fated which I just loved!! I'm now reading the second in the series Cursed which do far is just as good!

And I have to thank Mike (the Paladin) because of his review I'm reading this series.

Just started the 3rd Queen & Country thrillerby Greg Rucka:

Just the other day I finished reading my 2nd Simon Kernick thriller (within the past couple of weeks):

Seeley wrote: "Eileen wrote: "I'm on chapter 16 of Lonesome Dove and parts are slower than a octagenarian with ankle weights. Very character driven story so far and that's what's keeping me going."
..."

There was only one character I really cared about and that's what kept me going to the end and that was Gus.

Larry wrote: "Interesting comment Eileen. I guess it depends on the type of reader. I couldn't put it down, but that was twenty, or so , years ago. I also like his other stuff. I think he's the best writer of we..."

I will definitely give his other books a try.

Danielle The Book Huntress (Angels Weep For Goodreads) wrote: "Monica wrote: "I am reading Born of Hatred which is the second book in the Hellequin Chronicles. The first one, Crimes Against Magic, was suggested in a group read a..."

I've also heard great things about this series. I hope to get to it some day. Happy your enjoying!!

Gads, more good books to read. Eileen, thanks for heads up on Lonesome Dove. I'll keep it on my To Read List though might shuffle it down the list a bit.

Benedict Jacka's series is excellent and they get better as you go. He has a new one coming out soon.

I agree Tim. I think that Jacka is developing the characters and "world" well. The next one is due out in Sept. I'm sort starting to be with these as I am with J.Butcher's Dresden and waiting to snap them up.

Just read the first in K.A. Stewart's Jesse James Dawson series (A Devil in the Details) and it's pretty good. I just ordered the second paperback and my fingers are crossed.

Yes, I also read Fated and marked it as excellent in my reading library.

Finished Cursed great series. Moving on to #3 in the series Taken.

Hidden is supposed to be out the 2nd of next month.

I'm flying through these books, Mike. : )