The Sword and Laser discussion

Kevin,

You are talking about history. I'm talking about tolerance. Do you understand how someone who is gay might react to hearing your views on this thread? Do you think they'll feel as comfortable here? Welcome to discuss their ideas honestly?

Please believe what you wish about history. No one will ever win if I try to convince you that I'm right, and you try to convince me that you're right. We'll hit a stalemate immediately. But I'm begging you, stop talking about it on this forum.

Back to the topic at hand - I'm reading and loving it!

Take it outside boys....this isn't the place...

William wrote: "I'm in the middle of Dr. Who and the Daleks by David Whitaker, which I should finish up by the end of the week. After that I'll probably read Alan Moore's novel Voice of the Fire."

Doctor Who and the Daleks was a cool story. Very nice to get background on the Doctor's most notorious enemies.

Laurel wrote: "Kevin,

You are talking about history. I'm talking about tolerance. Do you understand how someone who is gay might react to hearing your views on this thread? Do you think they'll feel as comfor..."

Tolerance and political correctness are what is killing America.

I'm going to lock down this thread if the personal attacks don't end now. There's a time and a place for this kind of discussion, but it's not on my forums or in this thread.

Take it outside, kids.

Veronica wrote: ...

"Take it outside, kids."

I took it outside, where it was immediately attacked by a talking fruit bat, a naked warrior princess and a entire graveyard population of brain-eating zombies.

I don't think it's coming back.

(By the way, I'm reading The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror)

Finished Elantris - Don't know if this will make sense, but I'm happier with the experience of knowing the entire story after finishing the book than I was actually reading it page by page. I'm going to try my first Neal Stephenson book, Cryptonomicon.

Cheers, Jim

This is first time in as long as I can remember that I'm not reading the S&L pick *or* the official alternate (shhhh! Don't tell T&V! ....ooops....)

I'm doing a run of Joan Didion's non-fiction in the collection We Tell Ourselves Stories in Order to Live and enjoying her intelligence, precise language and dry humor immensely.

Jim wrote: "I'm going to try my first Neal Stephenson book, Cryptonomicon."

Hope you enjoy it!

I'm still working on 1Q84. I was hoping to have more time while on travel to London to read it. Unfortunately, I discovered that when you travel to a time zone east of where your office is located, you end up doing all your normal day's work on site, then do more work until it's "go-home o'clock" where you're from, too.

I should travel to California for business. ;) :D

Based on the podcasts recommendations, particularly Tom's, I'm reading The Magicians and The Magician King by Lev Grossman. So far very good.

Tom wrote: "(By the way, I'm reading The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror) "

I keep seeing this around. Is it funny? Good? Worth the read?

I finished listening to Elantris and ended up enjoying it quite a bit. However, I kept noticing things that Sanderson used in later books, particularly Warbreaker.

I'm getting close to the end of the 2nd part of the 6 part audiobook of 1Q84. I can only handle an hour or two at a time. In between, I'm listening to 11/22/63. I've only read about half a dozen Stephen King books, but this is the best one. It seems a lot more focused than some of his other work. Setting it in the past makes his use of pop culture seem less dated because it's historical, not current.

In text, I'm struggling with The Revisionists. It's a time travel novel that's not really about time travel. I've become distracted by The Unit. It's totally dragged me in. It reminds me a bit of Never Let Me Go without the aspects that really annoyed me.

Obvious troll is obvious. Stop feeding it and it will go away.

And now, back to the thread. I just finished The Alloy of Law (meh) and just started Infected by Scott Sigler.

Ala wrote: "Tom wrote: "(By the way, I'm reading The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror) "

I keep seeing this around. Is it funny? Good? Worth the read?"

It has its moments. A quick read, so the time investment/laugh ratio is good. [Book: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff] (same author) is much better, IMHO.

Sounds good. Added both to my TBR mountain.

Could use a good laugh

A shout out to Boots! Thanks for the friend request. I would welcome more.

Ala wrote: "Tom wrote: "(By the way, I'm reading The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror) "

I keep seeing this around. Is it funny? Good? Worth the read?"<

I have found anything by Christopher Moore well worth the time. "The Stupidest Angel..." is his take on Christmas time - with characters returning from some of his earlier novels.

Very funny... Moore is one of the very few authors that make me laugh out loud while reading.

Other highlights from Moore would be " A Dirty Job", "Fluke", and "Lamb". For those in the vampire lit camp I think "Bloodsucking Fiends" and "Bite Me" are some of the funniest and most original books I have read. Actually, original applies to Moore all around.

Did any one else notice that December is mispelled in the thread heading?...Decemeber or is that portuguese?

Tom wrote: "Ala wrote: "Tom wrote: "(By the way, I'm reading The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror) "

I keep seeing this around. Is it funny? Good? Worth the read?"

It has its moments...."

I thought

The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror was hysterically funny. I loved the characters.

I enjoyed Honor's Paradox. But it's not the best place to start reading the series.

I read Stupidest Angel a couple years ago, and it made me immdiately go seek out more Moore. Thumbs up.

I'm now on House of Suns for my other book club, and I like it so far.

Kevin wrote: "No, if you know your history, you would know that homosexuality maybe one of the reason that the Roman Empire fell."

Dude, what history books have you been reading? Homosexuality has never been the cause of the fall of any empire, Roman or otherwise. It's just sex. It was happening before the empire started and was happening after it fell.

the reason the empire fell was because the people stopped growing with the empire. The legions kept expanding the territory, but the citizens stopped careing about anything outside their own personal little worlds.

Dear god, what did I start?

So uh... I'm about 20% through The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel and it's actually pretty good. The thing I like the most about it is that Anthony Horowitz has managed to get Arthur Conan Doyle's writing style absolutely perfect. I have to remind myself every so often that I'm not just re-reading one of his old stories. Of course, you could say this is a bad thing if you hated the way the original Sherlock Holmes books were written, but if that were the case you probably wouldn't like much of Sherlock Holmes in general.

Ala wrote: "Tom wrote: "(By the way, I'm reading The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror) "

I keep seeing this around. Is it funny? Good? Worth the read?"

Seems to be love/hate amongst my GR friends. Jenny and Kevin from here in particular didn't seem to like it. I still plan on giving it a go, though, based on Tom and some others liking it.

I started Under the Poppy last night and am already completely in love with it. Victorian brothels and creepy puppets, what better way to end the year?

Apropos of nothing it won the Spectrum Award this year.

After going through the entire Song of Ice and Fire series in about three months, I thought it would be good to take a small break from fiction. So right now I'm tackling The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine by Michael Lewis. It's a fascinating book. But afterwards I may dive into either Dune or How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe.

Now that school is done for the semester and I finished Elantris, I'm reading a couple of e-books. I'm working through Reamde at a leisurely pace (I know, I'm behind...) on my actual kindle, and reading Ulysses by James Joyce on my kindle-for-iPad app--somehow it feels more appropriate that book should be read on something that is physically heavier than a regular kindle.

Tom wrote: "(By the way, I'm reading The Stupidest Angel: A Heartwarming Tale of Christmas Terror) "

I keep seeing this around. Is it funny? Good? Worth the read?"

Seems to be love/ha..."

I really enjoyed the book when I read it a couple of years ago. Couldn't stop laughing, think of it as 'it's a wonderful life' redone by the makers of 'shaun of the dead'.

As for myself, I'm currently working my way thru
The Black Company series by Glen Cook on audible. I remember reading the 1st book years ago, but never got around to the rest of the series. Getting ready to start book 3, The White Rose.

So far this month, I've read:
Hard Day's Knight
1Q84
Deadline
The Revisionists
and I finally finished Steve Jobs.

I'm currently reading The Way of Shadows, with Myths of Origin: Four Short Novels on the side.

Since it's the holidays, I'll probably stick to lighter reads the rest of the month and much steampunk should be expected. It's pretty much my go-to for light reading now.

Amy wrote: "So far this month, I've read:
Hard Day's Knight
1Q84
Deadline
The Revisionists
and I finally finished Steve Jobs.

I'm ..."

What do you think of The Way of Shadows, Amy? I just finish the book on Wednesday, and loved it. Now I am reading the second book in the series. All you going to read the other two books in the trilogy?

Also what did you think of 1Q84? I love his books, so I hope to read this book soon.

Jim wrote: "I'm going to try my first Neal Stephenson book, Cryptonomicon."

Very nearly finished with Cryptonomicon. I have enjoyed it far more than Snowcrash. For whatever reason, when reading Snowcrash I felt like I should be enjoying it but I just didn't.

About a third of the way through my second read of A Feast for Crows. I don't see how anyone can jump into A Dance With Dragons after reading AFFC over 5 years ago....too many characters, plot lines, details to remember.

Finishing up the First Law Trilogy and reading Stephen King's 11/22/63

11/22/63 is on my must read list. If your going to start Neal Stephenson the best way to to so is Cryptonomicon.

I just finished Starfish which I enjoyed. If you like hard SciFi this is a good choice.

I also finished The White Rose. I see a lot of people saying Glen Cook really did gritty fantasy before Steven Erickson and Joe Abercrombie got popular however I do not agree. In some regards they are similar in none of them do a traditional origin story with a young protagonist coming of age and saving the world. They all have older main characters who have had plenty of life experience and are not clearly good or evil.

That said in the three books I read of Glen Cook's there really was not the visceral combat scenes or sense of battle that Abercrombie or Erickson impart. The battles feel more distant and are told in an almost reflective manner. The point of view also sticks to one character instead of bouncing around through several different characters.

Still a good fantasy series that escapes a lot of the genres cliches.

Just finished Infected by Scott Sigler. Up next The Long Walk by Richard Bachman.

I think I started it sometime last month -- and may have even mentioned it in last month's thread -- but I've finally gotten back into On Basilisk Station.

I finished 1Q84 (loved it) and Steve Jobs (so torn) this week. You can click on my unsmiling face to read my reviews, or visit my silly little blog. I've made it halfway through the audiobook of Swan Song, but have just not been in the mood for destruction. I have my vacation reading pile that I'm taste testing right now, but I somehow ended up with two more post-apocalyptic books and I might need to trade someone.

P.S. terp - don't trust my opinions on "funny" books. I almost never appreciate the humor that most geeks love.

I didn't get nearly as much reading done in London as I'd hoped I would. I've reverted to listening to 1Q84. I seem to go back and forth between listening to it and reading it on my Kindle. On the one hand, I read faster in print, but on the other, this one is really working better for me in audio.

I'm also listening to Brisingr and have purchased Inheritance from Audible. In print,when I'm not reading 1Q84, I'm still going back to Super Mario: How Nintendo Conquered America and am going to start Infinity Blade: Awakening.

Looks like I won't be getting much time off from work this year, so not sure if I'll be able to finish all of these before the new year starts, but hope to finish 1Q84 and one of the Kindle books.

I am currently reading A Bridge Too Far by Cornelius Ryan (non fiction). Historical writing at its best.

I picked up Hard Day's Knight on a whim since it as only $0.99 on kindle and had good reviews. I enjoyed it if you like urban fantasy with a sense of humour and main characters who do not take themselves to seriously you should check it out.

I'm reading At Home, and it is really interesting. I think I'm driving my husband nuts though, with all my "huh", "really", "did you know that..." comments while reading.

I almost can't believe it but I'm completely hooked on the Alexia Tarabotti series by Gail Carriger. Soulless was such a fun, quick read and even made it to a highlight of the year. Now I'm halfway through the second book, Changeless.

Yeah, you wouldn't think it'd be all that great. But those Alexia books are pretty funny and fun.

I need some help. I have already finished Elantris, and I am currently wrapping up the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. I am flying to Hawaii over the break, and I need some great reads. I was thinking of either starting The Name of the Wind or Mistborn: The Final Empire. What do you think I should read? Any and all recommendations would AWESOME!

I just started Name of the Wind today and I'm already hooked. Also finishing up the ender saga with Children of the Mind. Really like the series but I just hope it ends well. Definitely think I'll take a break before going on to Enders Shaddow.

I'm reading anohter Hauki Murakami, Dance Dance Dance. Then I will be on to the new Stephen King, 11/22/63.

Sam wrote: "I was thinking of either starting The Name of the Wind or Mistborn: The Final Empire. What do you think I should read? Any and all recommendations would AWESOME!"

Both of these are fantastic. I think I'd give the edge to Name of the Wind.

Without checking your booklist, I'm just going to say run with that, if you were already considering it. :)

Just finished reading The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel and it was simply brilliant. Very much recommended for anyone who's a fan of Sherlock Holmes (looking at you Veronica). I think I'm going to start Elantris now.

Sam wrote: "I need some help. I have already finished Elantris, and I am currently wrapping up the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. I am flying to Hawaii over the break, and I n..."

Admittedly I've never read the Mistborn series, but Name of the Wind is one of those books that I highly recommend to everyone and is easily at the top of my favourite fantasy series of all time. Patrick Rothfuss is also an awesome, awesome man, so that helps too.

Kevin wrote: "What do you think of The Way of Shadows, Amy? I just finish the book on Wednesday, and loved it. Now I am reading the second book in the series. All you going to read the other two books in the trilogy?

Also what did you think of 1Q84? I love his books, so I hope to read this book soon. "

I'm almost done The Way of Shadows and am quite enjoying it. I'll certainly continue the series, though I'll probably takes breaks between them to keep up with everything else I'm reading.

1Q84 was very good, but had a few big issues for me that kept it from being a favourite or my ever wanting to read it again. It dropped a whole star for me based solely on the Ushikawa POV chapters in the third book, which I found just repeated themselves over and over before resulting in very little plot-wise.

If you like "A Bridge too Far" try "The Longest Day" by Ryan or "American Caesar" or "Goodbye Darkness" by Manchester.

Currently reading "Lords of Finance: The bankers who broke the world" just finished "Temporary Duty" by Ric Locke and "The Hot Gate" by John Ringo