The Sword and Laser discussion

September means back to school for many kids, so I'm heading back to Hogwarts.

How about you? What will you be reading this month?

September is a Laser month so I have Tomorrow's Kin by Nancy Kress and two books of Chuck Wendig, Zeroes and Invasive lined up.And the lone Sword will be The Grey Bastards.

Currently reading Foundryside with Trail of Lightning after that.

Just finished Murderbot #3 Rogue Protocol (4 stars). My copy of The Calculating Stars just came in at the bookstore, and it looks like I’m next up in the library queue for Trail of Lightning.

Plus a half-dozen graphic novels are on my nightstand. This is comic book year for me, apparently.

Bit of a gulf right now since I just finished Slan and some other library books haven't come in (and Kate Danley's latest isn't yet available for purchase.)

So I turned to LA Library for whatever stories from classic authors I may have missed. There's a longish short story from Isaac Asimov called "Misbegotten Missionary" that I found pretty interesting. Brings up early versions of themes he explored in later Foundation books, about individuality versus group minds. Anyway, enjoyable enough.

Now I have to decide between a lost Heinlein book called "The Year of the Jackpot" (and after reading "Sixth Column" I start to understand why some were let go) or moving on to something else...that's available now, or cheap / free to read.

The Year of the Jackpot is just a short story John. It's in the collection called The Menace from Earth.
If I'm remembering correctly Heinlein himself wasn't too pleased with Sixth Column. It was based on something by John W. Campbell and he didn't like the racist aspects of the original.

Trike wrote: "Just finished Murderbot #3 Rogue Protocol (4 stars). My copy of The Calculating Stars just came in at the bookstore, and it looks like I’m next up in the library que..."

I'm behind on my Murderbot but I have read the other two and you are in for a treat!!

Finished Darkness Weaves and am moving on to Bloodstone, another of Karl Edward Wagner's Kane novels.

Just finished Age of Assassins by R.J. Barker which was an awesome fantasy novel with a murder mystery feel. And a Jester of Death. A bit reminiscent of Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb.

Now starting Blackwing by Ed McDonald.

Think I may give Slan a miss tbh unless the discussion here changes my mind - got a lot in my tbr pile already and it doesn’t sound like something I’ll enjoy.

Joseph wrote: "Finished Darkness Weaves and am moving on to Bloodstone, another of Karl Edward Wagner's Kane novels."

Nice, love those Kane books.

Ctgt wrote: "Joseph wrote: "Finished Darkness Weaves and am moving on to Bloodstone, another of Karl Edward Wagner's Kane novels."

Nice, love those Kane books."

They really are quite good.

Cleansing my palate with Kill the Farm Boy by Kevin Hearne and Delilah Dawson. Plus my annual reread of Name of the Wind

Finished a few books recently. One was very good, others not so much.

Foundryside was an excellent follow-up to the Divine Cities stories. Bennett mostly sticks with what worked for him before and the result is a very well-crafted novel full of likable characters that nevertheless digs at deeper themes of exploitation and dehumanization than most fantasy novels attempt. ★★★★★.

Slan I was pretty neutral about. It's got enough action that it's a pretty easy and straightforward read. But the characters and dialogue aren't great, and some elements of the setting don't make much sense. ★★★☆☆.

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress was a bit disappointing considering how hyped up it gets. There's an interesting story hidden within there but the author's sexism and over-the-top jingoism is very distracting. I did like the first-person narration though. ★★★☆☆.

The Black Tides of Heaven Felt like only half a book. i'm given to understand that a different novella contains the rest of the story, but I am in no hurry. ★★★☆☆.

Currently reading: Planetfall

Calling John Taloni! I finished The Armageddon Rag and it was fantastic. George's immersive writing really shines here, I ended the novel wishing I could actually listen to The Nazgul and they're a real band.

Also finished The Mad Lancers. I love Brian McClellan but this novella is one of his weakest. Sorry, Brian.

Now starting a classic for no less than three buddy/group reads, The Player of Games.

Between Otakon a few weeks ago and the launch of Battle of Azeroth, not only has my reading time taken a hit, I've fallen behind on writing reviews for those few books I have read.

The last book I read with my eyes was Skysworn. A month ago. I enjoyed it, though not as much as the previous book in the series- ★★★★☆ - (My Review)

Most of August was taken up doing the audio version of Shōgun(53.5 hours!). I thought it was good, but not great. I'm glad I finally read it though. - ★★★☆☆ - (My Review)

Afterwards I listened to the new Robert Jackson Bennett book: Foundryside. I didn't like it quite as much as his first two Divine City books, but definitely more than his last book. It got better as it went along too and now I'm really looking forward to the next book. - ★★★★☆ - (My Review)

I also started my long-planned reread of Harry Potter to coincide with the start of the Hogwarts school year with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. I won't bother to link a review or anything. Not too much I can say about it that hasn't been said. I plan to listen to the entire series again (Jim Dale audio) as it's been about 4 years since I listened to the Stephen Fry version and I felt like I could use it this year.

I’ll be starting a re-read of Harry Potter after I finish City of Blades. I want to go back to Hogwarts!

^^ So glad you liked it! The bits with the performances really pulled me in. Especially when the new lead singer channeled the old one, then couldn't remember what he'd done. The way the actual song lyrics reflected the chapter. And of course when one certain character introduces himself as a man of "wealth and taste." And of course the whole overview of the 60s and what had become of those ideals by the 80s. So well done.

Currently taking a break from F/SF and reading Scottish Crime - at least, that's what I thought I was doing, but it turns out that one of the Crime authors I picked up (James Oswald) is heavily into the supernatural . . .

Reviews later, probably at least a week from now.

Nice to hear good stuff about Foundryside. Loved the Divine Cities and eager to get this one.

Haven't been able to read for the past couple of weeks so will mostly just be catching up on Jade City and Slan. Might jump out of F/SF afterward though.

Currently reading Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon.
Not so much a novel as a history of the future.
It was written in 1930 and has many of the racial, sexual and ethnic stereotypes of that time.
By a few years, it predates both Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and The Shape of Things to Come by H.G. Wells and I can see its potential influence on those books.

Interesting but not sure if I can recommend it yet.

TRP wrote: "Currently reading Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon...."

I read it many decades ago (about 5!) and rated it highly. Then tried again about fifteen years ago. Second time, I didn't finish it. I can see its importance in the history of the development of SF, but it has not aged well (not for me, at any rate!)

Alan wrote: "TRP wrote: "Currently reading Last and First Men by Olaf Stapledon...."

I read it many decades ago (about 5!) and rated it highly. Then tried again about fifteen year..."

As far as Stapledon goes, I prefer Star Maker; but again, it's mostly of historical interest these days.

I managed to get through Last and First Men in my teens, but that was after reading the much better Star Maker. If you read only one Stapledon book, make it Star Maker. Still has the overblown prose but the sense of the cosmic really helps bring the reader along. Where Last and First Men is nihilistic, Star Maker brings the sense of wonder.

There's even a Last Men in London for which all I can say is, I hope Stapledon made some money. If going on to another Stapledon book, Odd John is much more interesting.

Just finished Gnomon which is a very twisty book indeed. I am glad I read this as an e-book as I had to look up words on every other page. An interesting take on mass surveillance and AI that is definitely motivated by current developments in the UK.

Now reading Slan before finishing the Parasol Protectorate and trying to finish the books I ordered from the library which all showed up on the same day :-(

John (Taloni) wrote: "I managed to get through Last and First Men in my teens, but that was after reading the much better Star Maker. If you read only one Stapledon book, make it Star Maker. Still has the overblown pros..."

Odd John is very satisfying and obviously the origin of a lot of tropes in SF.

Finished up Truthwitch by Susan Dennard on the plane home last night (along with the latest podcast episode!), and picked up Windwitch from the library when I got home. I think I got Truthwitch from the Tor e-book club a while back. They've given out a lot of good reads. I think signing up gets you on Tor's email list by default, but I'd recommend it.

For audio I've started The Boat of a Million Years by Poul Anderson. Took a few chapters to figure out what was what but it's interesting enough to keep going. It was recommended to me a year ago by a friend I meet up with for dinner in Seattle during PAX. Mentioned I was finally reading it and neither of us could remember the context under which it came up last year.

Also in audio I'll probably quickly finish Perfect Shadow by Brent Weeks which came off of hold from the library. I think it's only 2-3 hours.

Iain wrote: "Just finished Gnomon which is a very twisty book indeed...."
Twisty indeed! My wife and friends have been reading this, and like me, had to read it twice before they were sure of what was going on.
Don't let this define your opinion of Harkaway - try Angelmaker and/or Gone-Away World before your opinion of him becomes fixed.

Alan wrote: "Iain wrote: "Just finished Gnomon which is a very twisty book indeed...."
Twisty indeed! My wife and friends have been reading this, and like me, had to read it twice before they we..."

I enjoyed the book. It was just hard work..

Just finished Slan and pre-ordered the new horror story Fear: Trump in the White House by Bob Woodward.

Currently reading Darth Plagueis and I should finish listening to Neverwhere soon. Not sure what's my next audio book.

Continuing on with Kane: I finished Bloodstone and started a collection of short stories, Death Angel's Shadow.

I lemmed Slan. I feel kinda bad for lemming two book picks in a row, but I just wasn't enjoying it at all.

I've been on a bit of a Gail Carriger kick lately. Currently, I'm reading How To Marry A Werewolf.

Almost halfway through Sufficiently Advanced Magic on Audible and I'm loving it.

Misti wrote: "I lemmed Slan. I feel kinda bad for lemming two book picks in a row, but I just wasn't enjoying it at all.

I've been on a bit of a Gail Carriger kick lately. Currently, I'm reading [..."
I interchanged [book:Slan|643792] with Heartless which made it more palatable. It is such a short book with simple english I finished it in a few hours (if the subject matter were more palatable I would call it YA)

How To Marry A Werewolf is pretty great. I like how (view spoiler)[Channing doesn't make his true feelings known until his intended is threatened. Then he moves to protect - like a wolf. (hide spoiler)]

I finished City of Blades. I loved it. My review.

Now to start my Harry Potter re-read!

Dara, so you're going back to "City of (under-the-)Stairs"? ;-)

Yes, indeed I am! :-)

I'm nearly done with Waking Gods I'm loving this series (Themis Files)!

Finished Slan. Starting Snow Crash

More Kane: Finished Death Angel's Shadow and am starting Dark Crusade, both by Karl Edward Wagner.

Finished up Broken Angels. A competent thriller that covered much the same material as the first book. I enjoyed it fine and will read the third. I'm no longer shocked by mass death in a Takeshi Kovacs story, it's just part of the territory.

Went on to the Heinlein novelette Year of the Jackpot, circa 1952. Started out normal Heinlein style of the era, some roles and attitudes that seem antiquated now, but that's to be expected. Enjoyed the references to parts of LA that I used to live in. The story then delves into some weird territory, but slowly enough so that I didn't get lost in the changes. Then the end is out of left field, similar thematically to the previous part of the story but otherwise completely unrelated. I can see an oblique reference to what became the Heinlein / Robinson book Variable Star, and I'm thinking Niven had this partly in mind when he wrote Inconstant Moon. Still, a really freaky read.

About to go read some more of John Varley's latest, Irontown Blues.

AND.... done. Fun book set in his Eight Worlds universe. If you like Varley, esp that universe, it's recommended.

Reading A Ship at the End of the Universe by Alex White. It is just fun, and pretty cool

Finished with both the Moon is a Harsh mistress and the Player of Games. Lots of things I did not like but I did not really hate those two so whatever. At least now my Laser challenge tally is 28. Two more to achieve my target!

Also finished with The Ember Blade by Chris Wooding. Yeah, this is no Ketty Jay. Too YA and generic fantasy. I won't continue the series.

Starting Pratchett's The Thief of Time and Bennett's Foundryside.

John (Taloni) wrote: "Finished up Broken Angels. A competent thriller that covered much the same material as the first book. I enjoyed it fine and will read the third. I'm no longer shocked by mass death in a Takeshi Ko..."

Would like to know what you think of the third book. I was disappointed with Broken Angels (don't like the plots) but my friend said the third book is better so there is a slight chance I might chance my mind.

Iain wrote: "Just finished Gnomon which is a very twisty book indeed. I am glad I read this as an e-book as I had to look up words on every other page. An interesting take on mass surveillance a..."

A friend just recommended me this book. She said I would like it because it is weird.

Work has been severely impinging on my reading time lately, but having finished Slan I'm moving on to Waking Gods. Apart from having enjoyed the first book, the format of these is quite suited to being read in fits and starts.

Silvana wrote: " She said I would like it because it is weird...."
See my comments at message 27 - the alternatives are also weird, but less demanding for a first contact with this author.

Reading The fifth season by N. K. JEMINS

Silvana wrote: "Would like to know what you think of the third book. I was disappointed with Broken Angels (don't like the plots) but my friend said the third book is better so there is a slight chance I might chance my mind."

Will do! The third book came in unexpectedly off library hold about a week and a half early. It's up next. Only about 90 pages left in the book I'm reading now, Way Station by Simak. Now *that* is a weird one, but still rewarding. So far at least.

Weird seems to be a theme nowadays ^^

Alan wrote: "Silvana wrote: " She said I would like it because it is weird...."
See my comments at message 27 - the alternatives are also weird, but less demanding for a first contact with this author."

Have you read Mieville's books? Whose works are weirder, his or Harkaway's?