Fantasy Book Club discussion

Just like always, wondering what everyone is reading in the new month? I'm re-reading Magician, then maybe onto the book of the month read, His Majesty's Dragon afterwards or some Terry Pratchett.

Currently Reading:
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Dust of Dreams by Steven Erikson

I plan on reading:
Vittorio: The Vampire by Anne Rice
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens
The Crippled God by Steven Erikson
The Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel

Currently reading Stalking Darkness, The Lord of the Rings (taking a break between Fellowship and Two Towers), and just about to start Brave New World for school. No plans except for those books, so I'll see how it turns out.

after finishing Toll the Hounds, I will start shortly :P

Just finished Greatshadow last night. It was awesome! But over the top too, which I've come to expect with this author and I love it anyway.

Just starting Thunderer by Felix Gilman.

Hey John can you sell Steven Erikson to me, I'm trying to start the first book and I'm having a hard time getting into it.

To Read in September

Heroes Die by Matthew Stover
Garden's of the Moon Steven Erikson
Shadow's Son Jon Sprunk
War and Peace Leo Tolstoy

Working on The Last Page and finishing up War of Honor so I can move on to Crown of Slaves for a group read and Gone Girl for my new book club.

Then maybe on to Legacy of Kings, just because it will be amazing.

Alice wrote: "I'm going to try to finish up some series I've been reading at a snail's pace. Some urban fantasy (The Kate Daniels series and the October Daye series), but also the rest of the Sandman graphic nov..."

I really wished you read The Crystal Shard first because you lose the how cool the book is without knowing Drizzt's background, giving the story different prescriptive.

im going to finishA Study in Scarlet tonight with a view to read:

Red Seas Under Red Skies, Trouble With Lichen,The Dancer From Atlantis & if i have time The Blade Itself

Just finished Blackout by Mira Grant and am moving onto the three short stories she's published -- San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats and Countdown, which I believe are set in the same world as Feed, and Apocalypse Scenario #683: The Box, which I think is a standalone.

And after that, I'm not sure what, but probably something that doesn't involve zombies.

Joseph wrote: "And after that, I'm not sure what, but probably something that doesn't involve zombies. ."
lol

Still struggling through Xeelee.

My library books for the next few weeks are Sky Dragons, Tigana, Darkness Devours, The Exiled Queen, The Gray Wolf Throne, The Omen Machine and Fire and Thorns

Finally got around to reading The Name of the Wind and am about halfway in. I wasn't sure I'd like the story-in-a-story structure, but so far I'm loving it.

I'm almost done reading Elantris and have a couple of options on what to read next:

Libriomancer or The Dark Tower

I'm currently reading A Dance With Dragons

I finished the three short stories by Mira Grant (Apocalypse Scenario #683: The Box, Countdown and San Diego 2014: The Last Stand of the California Browncoats). I realize I'm kind of juking my stats by having all three of those listed as "books", but I read some big omnibus editions earlier this year so it averages out.

Then I started Hiero's Journey by Sterling E. Lanier, another one of those books that's been sitting on my shelf waiting patiently for at least the past 20 years.

(I finally got around to Hiero's Journey because I was looking at Gary Gygax's recommended reading list at the back of the original Dungeon Master's Guide and realized that Lanier was almost the only thing he listed that I hadn't actually read over the years.)

Finished His Majesty's Dragon and am almost done with Throne of Jade

Sandra aka Sleo wrote: "Finished His Majesty's Dragon and am almost done with Throne of Jade"

I did read the first three(?) of those a couple of years back and really enjoyed them. I thought she did a remarkable job of capturing the language of the period.

I am still working on The Accidental Sorcerer and have started End: An Apocalyptic Anthology. I just finished Forged in Fire which is PNR and if anyone likes that genre I really enjoyed that one.

Next up I have His Majesty's Dragon, Something Wicked This Way Comes, and The Dragon's Path for BOTM`s.

I'm still plugging away at WOT, currently reading Path of Daggers (is it a sign that you've read too much high fantasy recently when you go "Oh good, it's one of the short ones!" in regards to a 685 page book? :P) I don't remember it being this quick a read last time around, but I think this was the first WOT book where I didn't reread the entire series before starting on the new book. I suppose I'll bravely continue on with my least favourite WOT book, Winter's Heart once I finish PoD.

I'm also reading Grave Sight.

I'm reading The Curse of the Mistwraith andLegacy of the Sword

I just started reading Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher. It is really good so far.

September 2012 • Reading List

Exile's Valor by Mercedes Lackey
Forgotten Realms: The Two Swords (Hunter's Blade #3) by R. A. Salvatore
Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson [Audio]
A Feast for Crows by George R. R. Martin [Audio] "Re-Read"

Up next:

A Dance With Dragons by George R. R. Martin

Susan wrote: "I just started reading Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher. It is really good so far."

Furies of Calderon is really good. I listened to this series earlier this year. It is a lighter "read" than a lot of the books I read and I really enjoyed the whole series.

Finished Hiero's Journey by Sterling E. Lanier -- a book I believe I bought back in the early 1990's but just never quite got around to until now -- and am starting its sequel, The Unforsaken Hiero.

I'm reading The Killing Moon. I like that it has a setting other than the normal medieval European fantasy setting. I picked it because Saladin Ahmed recommended it on Sword and Laser. I'm also finishing up the Riyria Revelations trilogy with Heir of Novron on my Kindle.

Becky wrote: "Susan wrote: "I just started reading Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher. It is really good so far."

Furies of Calderon is really good. I listened to this series earl..."

Great set of books. I do recommend reading all of them.

Jim Butcher says that the idea for these books came up when some other authors were complaining about how some authors have run some ideas into the ground. Jim countered with saying that a good writer could take any “bad” idea and turn it into a good book. By the end of this talk he was given two bad or over used ideas and these are the books that came out of it.

When you finish reading them I suggest that you track down what the two bad ideas were.

I read His Majesty's Dragon. Currently reading Throne of Glass and 11/22/63. If I finish that tome, I ordered Worldsoul and it looks awesome, can't wait!!

Hi...Eric & Elizabeth..
That is some great information about Furies of Calderon.
I have yet to read it, but it keeps getting further up on my list ...to read.

Eric & Elizabeth wrote: "Becky wrote: "Susan wrote: "I just started reading Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher. It is really good so far."

Furies of Calderon is really good. I listened to th..."

The two bad ideas were to write a book based on Pokemon and the Roman Legions, which for me there was only one bad idea, ever writing this book. This book is one of the worst books I have ever read in my life. I felt like there was no creativity what so ever, and he used every trope there was in fantasy.

Kevin...isn't that sort of a spoiler?

Eric & Elizabeth wrote: "Becky wrote: "Susan wrote: "I just started reading Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher. It is really good so far."

Furies of Calderon is really good. I listened to th..."

That is interesting to know that is how Jim Butcher got the idea for this series.

Evilynn wrote: "I'm still plugging away at WOT, currently reading Path of Daggers (is it a sign that you've read too much high fantasy recently when you go "Oh good, it's one of the short ones!" in regards to a 68..."

LOL, I pick up books of 350-450 pages and think 'ooh this'll be quick then'. Must be a sign of a fantasy reader!

Helen wrote: "Evilynn wrote: "I'm still plugging away at WOT, currently reading Path of Daggers (is it a sign that you've read too much high fantasy recently when you go "Oh good, it's one of the short ones!" in..."

Boy, isn't that the truth.  We read a 400 page book, finish it and then pick up the next 400 page in the series without blinking an eye, or in my case without getting out of bed... I just open the next book on my iPad or Nook Color.  

In the past, I have marveled at how many books "others" would read.  That being before I paid attention to what the were actually reading and the difficulty level of their choices.   They do not "get" Fantasy and do not realize how many details are packed those 400 pages.  

I always thought I was a slow reader, which I am, but I don't skim at all and I retain a large amount of detail. If asked a couple of months down the road what they had read, I'm  not sure if some of my people could tell you. 

Kevin wrote: "Eric & Elizabeth wrote: "Becky wrote: "Susan wrote: "I just started reading Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher. It is really good so far."

Furies of Calderon is reall..."

I loved Furies of Calderon - it was quite an interesting read.

Susan, I was lucky enough to discover the series after every book had been published - I gobbled it up in less than two months.

Becky, I agree! I loved that it's a lighter "read" as you said. I tend to enjoy those types of book the most.

Kevin, While it did regurgitate every standard fantasy line - 'Boy grows up on farm, no idea of his power, only he could save the world' it was still done really well. I quite miss the epic fantasy of olden days, where heros were heros. Plus the Roman setting wasn't something I'd seen done before. ;)

Re-reading The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Either the search function's not working or it's not on here...

Just finished what has been released of the Iron Druid Chronicles and am slowly working on The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. I really loved the first two novels but the third is disappointing me thus far. I am also going to start re-reading the Dresden Files.

Terah wrote: "Kevin wrote: "Eric & Elizabeth wrote: "Becky wrote: "Susan wrote: "I just started reading Furies of Calderon by Jim Butcher. It is really good so far."

Furies of Cal..."

I already picked up book two in the series. I also like that it is a lighter read.

I am reading Memories of Ice. Next I will be reading book 4 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erikson. So far this third book is my favorite, but I have a long ways to go to finish all 10 books in this series.

I have started an historical-mythic fantasy about the fabled city of Ys, the Celtic Atlantis, taking place in the 4th century CE: the King of Ys series by Poul and Karen Anderson.

Kernos wrote: "I have started an historical-mythic fantasy about the fabled city of Ys, the Celtic Atlantis, taking place in the 4th century CE: the King of Ys series by Poul and Karen Anderson."

Very curious to hear what you think of it -- that's another one that's been on my shelf unread for *mumblemumble* years.

Finished The Unforsaken Hiero and started something brand new: Time Will Tell by Donald Greig. Greig is an accomplished early music performer who sang with the Tallis Scholars and founded the Orlando Consort; the book apparently involves shenanigans surrounding a modern-day early music group and a mysterious medieval manuscript. I'm intrigued . . .

Elantris. There's a lot I've missed and I need to catch up on a lot of the recent big names.

I just started Terry Goodkind's . It's his 1st self-published book and I'm eager to see how it stacks up to the rave reviews.

I am reading

Joseph wrote: "Finished The Unforsaken Hiero and started something brand new: Time Will Tell by Donald Greig. Greig is an accomplished early music performer who sang with the Tallis Scholars and founded the Orl..."

Ah, maybe the Voynich Manuscript is actually a musical score!

Terah wrote: "I just started Terry Goodkind's . It's his 1st self-published book and I'm eager to see how it stacks up to the rave reviews."

Please be sure to tell us how you like it. I've been tempted to pick this up too.

So far it's been good Kathy. Interested to see how the plot develops further.

K.A. wrote: "Ah, maybe the Voynich Manuscript is actually a musical score! ..."

Nope, it's a lost motet by Johannes Ockeghem.

And I finished Time Will Tell, which I enjoyed, and just started Tales of the Far West, a Western/wuxia/steampunk mash-up anthology with contributions by, amongst others, Scott Lynch, Matt Forbeck and Ari Marmell. I got both volumes last week on National Buy a Book Day, our most dangerous holiday.