Action/Adventure Aficionados discussion

I've read the Peter Grant Series through the fiffth book. It starts with Midnight Riot and written by Ben Aaronovitch, of Dr. Who noteriety. It's a fun and often funny series in the same sub-genre as The Rook by Daniel O'Malley but definately it's own brand of unique. I really liked the ethnicly rich characters and a reasonably open view of how that played out in London (tame compared to reality but more open than most books). The stories were good, not so much action as it was a mystery series with an Urban Fantasy tilt.

Right now I'm working through Larry Correia other highly successful (and very good) series that starts with Hard Magic. I'm on the second book of that series now. If you liked MHI it's different (a Dystopian story) but it is also very enjoyable. More action, than a general thriller/mystery, not as much as in MHI (but still very enjoyable).

Inbetween I've read Brené Brown's Gifts of Imperfection, The: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are, Daring Greatly and Rising Strong. These are wonderful and helpful books that go along with her two popular TED Talks about shame and vulnerability. Very helpful, and good personal stories.

I also read The Hidden Reality: Parallel Universes and the Deep Laws of the Cosmos by Brian Greene which started out as mind blowing (in a good way) but ended up as mind numbing (in a not so good way). It's still probably a good reference for sci-fi, dystopian and some urban fantasy writers. It's a worthwhile read but not all of it is valuable (in my opinion). It did explain the Skip Drive technology vaguely mentioned in John Scalzi's John Scalzi's Old Man's War series, which I read before all of these. 7 books if you count the 4.5 short story. Harry Wilson's stories are hilarious. I'd liken this series as most similar to Allen Steele's Coyote series. A collection of short stories emshed in one another to form novel length books. I liked it, and Oldman's War. Old Man's war finisheded stronger but started weaker. Steele's books finished weaker (last book) and dipped in the middle after the first two, but, all worth reading.

I've also worked in a fantasy Novel that tried to be an "action" fantasy. The Dreams of a Dying God by Aaron Pogue. It was a fun read, but the plot and story was drawn on shakey ground (agian, my opinion). Fun enough to recommend but not the best I've read.

Somewhere in there was a book that I am sure Glenn Beck would love,Tomorrow War: The Chronicles of Max Redacted . It had a nice Tea Party ring at the begining but even that fell away as the story went on. Worth reading...not a political comentary, just a creative dystopian story.

And that's what's been riding shotgun with me on the long drives to school and back.

Our November Random Read Nominations process has begun. Drop by to make your suggestion!

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

Re-reading this book. Pre 9/11 espionage as played out in America's East Coast. Foreshadows the emergence of the paramilitary side of the spying game as currently used in counter-terrorism.

Just finished Cold River Running the third book in a series I've been very much looking forward to after reading the first two.

Unfortunately, the author has obviously chosen to start serializing this series without warning, so this book stops on a cliffhanger ending just as a major battle begins. The book itself is up to the promise of the first two books, both of which I enjoyed. Serialization and cliffhanger endings do nothing but make me wish it was an actual book rather than on my Kindle so I could toss it in the burn barrel!

I just started reading

The November Group Read Poll is up until October 26th.

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

I recently finished Cat's Cradle and Thinner.

Now I'm continuing my Halloween read with Skeleton Crew.

If you'd like to help pick the December group read theme, now's the time. Drop by the thread and make a suggestion before November 6th:

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

The December group read theme nomination poll is up. It closes on the 13th of November:

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

I just finished A Gentleman's Game, Queen & Country seres by Greg Rucka and must say I really enjoyed it. It was a bit slow at the beginning but the rest more than made up for it. I think Danielle had suggested it as a nomination for one of the group reads. Thank you Danielle!. Now I see there are 2 more in the series. Must get book 2. Queen and Country: A Gentleman's Game

The December group read nominations thread is open. Go by and make your choice before November 21st:

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

Here ye! Here ye! We've arrived at our last group read of the year. You can help choose the book by voting in the poll before 11/29th:

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

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. I'm looking for a recommendation for a Lee Child book. I've never read one of his novels, but read a short work on Kindle Singles. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Bob

start with Killing Floor. first of the Reacher novels

Let's start ushering the new year with our January 2016 group read nominations. We're turning over a new leaf! Make your nomination before December 6th:

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

Justin wrote: "start with Killing Floor. first of the Reacher novels"

Ditto this. Reacher's schtick gets old after a while, but the first four to six novels were very good.

The poll for the very first group read of 2016 is up. You can help pick our January group read by voting by December 13th:

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

The February 2016 Group Read Nominations Process has started. Go here to make a suggestion of your choice.

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

I've been reading The Purge of Babylon which gets mixed reviews. Generally, it's an enjoyable post-appocalyptic romp through Ghoul infected Texas. There are twin heroes who are written as mannly men doing manly thigns with manly guns and of course lots of Barbie inspired female characters with usless college degrees. It's a 3.5 star-er for me. Not great, not as bad as some of the worst reviews, not as good as some of the glowing reviews (IMO). Good enough to read the next one in the series and yes, enjoyable even with a flaw or two.

I recently finished Skeleton Crew and Searching for the Sound: My Life with the Grateful Dead.

Now I'm reading The Wise Man's Fear. I've been waiting to read this one.

The February Group Read Theme poll is up. It closes on December 28th.

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

Our February group read nominations thread is open. Make your choices before January 6th:

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

the February Group Read poll is open. Drop by to vote for our Non-Stop Action group read by January 13th:

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

The March group read theme nominations process is open. Feel free to help select our theme before January 23rd.

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

The March group read theme poll is open. You can vote by January 31st.

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

The March group read nomination thread is open. Drop by to make a suggestion by February 8th.

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

Don't miss your chance to vote for our March Post-Apocalyptic group read. The poll closes on the 17th!

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

I just finished The Wise Man's Fear. It was epic. I can't wait for the next one.

Now I am reading Messenger of Fear. I got it as a giveaway here.

Okay... the list of "what are you reading now" is long but distninguished. I'm currently reading the Galactic Mage series (first book: The Galactic Mage) The first book was not great but good enough.

I thought the second book was much better and I've started the third book in the series now.

It's a strange blend of sci-fy and epic fantasy.

just finished Didymus Contingency by Jeremy Robinson and it was incredible. I'm now reading his book Raising the Past.

Justin wrote: "just finished Didymus Contingency by Jeremy Robinson and it was incredible. I'm now reading his book Raising the Past."

I loved The Didymus Contingency also...great book! You'll have to let me know how Raising the Past is.

If you didn't get to vote in the March group read poll, you still have a chance. I extended the poll until the 22nd. because I left a book off the poll inadvertently!


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

finished Jeremy Robinson's Raising the Past. I didn't enjoy it as much as The Didymus Contingency but it was a good action/adventure sci-fi with Good characters. Looking forward to see how it goes in with his kaiju series. started reading Hunger. it is great so far.

We have a tie for the March group read. Vote in the runoff poll by Midnight, 2/26.

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

Help nominate our April group read. It's a Random Read month, which means you can nominate any book that meets the other group read qualifications. The poll will go up on March 4th.

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

April is our Random Read group read. The poll is up, so feel free to vote for the book you would like to read that month! It closes on March 11th.

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

Our May group read theme nomination thread is up. Feel free to make your suggestion before March 20th.

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

I just started the 5th book in the Gray Man series Back Blast great series.

Eileen wrote: "I just started the 5th book in the Gray Man series Back Blast great series."

I need to get back into that series.

Fear the Sky

It's a good read that is not similar too but belongs in the same sci-fi catagory as Event.. I liked it.

reading Monster Hunters International. it is free for the kindle. really enjoying it so far.

I'm reading Dark Rising by Greig Beck and the Mean Streets anthology simultaneously

Justin wrote: "reading Monster Hunters International. it is free for the kindle. really enjoying it so far."

Thanks for the heads up!

Justin wrote: "reading Monster Hunters International. it is free for the kindle. really enjoying it so far."

Fun book...definitely action packed!

I'm about half way through The Bone Labyrinth. Enjoying it so far.

Just started Alabama Moon. My wife recommended it to me.

May is our Supernatural Action group read. You can make your nomination here before March 27th.

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

The May group read poll is up:

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

It closes on April 4th.

Sonny wrote: "Just started Alabama Moon. My wife recommended it to me."

You enjoying the book?

Hello everybody! I am new here, just joined yesterday. I left a question, but I'm sure I put it in the wrong place, so I'll try again here. I'm 63, have read all my life. I like to read almost everything except romances, technical non-fiction, etc. I like everything from Classics to Urban Fantasy. I will read anything about Joan of Arc. Which brings me to my question. I started reading the "Rogue Angel" series; read the first ten or eleven books because of the connections between Joan and Annja (Annja Creed being an anagram of Jeanne D'Arc, finding Joan's magical sword). I can't afford to buy all 60+ books, so I was wondering if this theme has been carried on throughout the series, or just not talked about too much. I think it's a fun theory to talk about, even the fact that in the history of the "Witchblade" comic, Joan was said to have worn it for awhile. I am not a strict historian. I enjoy when fantasy or sci-fi elements are added to historical subjects: going back in time to kill Hitler, or save JFK. I am thoroughly entranced by the King Arthur legends, the most historical nonhistoric person ever. Well, that's enough for now . I would really appreciate anything anybody could tell me about "Rogue Angel". Thank You!