Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

Tell us about what you've been reading during the heat of Summer (your hemisphere may vary.)

The Ships of Merior I don't know why in the world I ever put off reading this series, because I am really enjoying it!

Got Alloy of Law (Mistborn 4) for 99p on the Kindle, so reading that.

I finished the first two Sandman collections, I didn't realize they were quite as horror-themed as they were, I mean if someone has triggers they'd better stay away...I think within those two collections every possible depravity was covered :)

Now I don't read comic books (the superhero DC/Marvel kind, I do read those daily comic strips in newspapers which is a whole other thing) so I can't compare to anything else, but I can see why people think this series is a standout within it's genre. Aside from some sections being over the top graphic horror, on the whole I did enjoy the characters, the plot and the artwork.

I've read a couple of fantasies lately. I read Shadow Crystals, the last book in Jeanette O'Hagan's Under the Mountain series and enjoyed it, although she didn't end it quite the way I wanted to see some of it go. But that's the privilege of the author. :-)

I've also just finished Juliet Marillier's Dreamer's Pool, which was a bit slow for the first half but was still intriguing and entertaining, as her books usually are. :-)

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi

I finished Song of the Wanderer, it's ok as middle-grade unicorn stories go.

Switching to a non-SFF classic And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. My mom asked me to borrow if from the library and now that she's finished I want to read it too. I've see a few televised versions of it so I already know who did it, but still should be interesting to read it in it's original form.

So after finishing Six of Crows, I immediately read Crooked Kingdom. Loved it just as much as the first in the series. And I was really glad to find out there is no third book (for the moment). A nicely wrapped up story that had plenty of twists and turns and characters that I could root for and love. Next up is this same author's Grisha trilogy starting with Shadow and Bone.

I also read a really strange book called The House in the High Wood: A Story of Old Talbotshire . It was a strange sort of cozy English village gothic tale. It was way to wordy and meandering for me, but I was intrigued. I'm still not quite sure why there was a mastodon train, and I hated the ending so I won't be seeking out any more of these!

I just finished The Wise Man's Fear, the reading of which took me over a month (this is the main reason why I do not participate to group readings - I am too slow). I liked the book, and I am rather upset that the third volume in the series is not released yet, with no sign that this will happen soon, I am starting The Temporal Void by Peter Hamilton - some sci-fi for a change.

My echo auto showed up yesterday along with a three month subscription to Audible - finally going to start listening to some stories. Started out with The Name of the Wind and two titles for the grandkids

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Completed:
Mid to Longs:


Shorts:
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Authors:
Oyinkan Braithwaite, P. Djèlí Clark, N.K. Jemisin, Seanan McGuire, Susan Orlean, James Tiptree Jr., Robert Charles Wilson
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My grandkids did not like the two titles I got for them, but hey are REALLY into

Still rereading The Path of Daggers. Hoping to finish this month. Also, I've been listening to Boneshaker on Audible at work.

Machines Like Me by Ian McEwan

Ian McEwan is certainly a versatile writer.

In this book, a London man buys a human-like robot called Adam, and - with his girlfriend - programs the android's personality. Adam has kind of a mind of his own though.....and consequences ensue.
Interesting speculative science fiction. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I have been reading Maddaman trilogy by Margaret Atwood. Have enjoyed reading it even if there sure are too much pages. Also, any flaws in the storyline, however minor, are annoying. Would love to see this as a tv-series, then rather without moving between past and present that much.

As next, I am stating to read Richard K Morgans Woken Furies -have already read Altered Carbon and Broken Angels, and watched the tv-series on Netflix (that only covers Altered Carbon for the moment).

I finished off Cold Energy and have now started Red Energy, the final book in the first trilogy of the The Alex Cave Series.

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi

i just finished The Martian by Andy Weird, but lately I've been reading Pirates of the Asteroids: The Belter series Book 1 by Eric Martell. Good so far

Andy Weir (can't fix spelling in original comment)

Finished Red Energy, the final book in the first Alex Cave trilogy. I had been planning to go straight on to Gravity, the next book in the Alex Cave series, but Red Energy was relatively disappointing, so I'm going to give it some thought.

I 'm at 75% of Warbreaker. I kinda like it but it doesn 't blow me away... Really hope to have an interesting finalle.

I just finished reading:

The 8th book in Expanse series. The series final book is supposed to come out in the next year or two. I have enjoyed this series. I don't typically like series that go on for more than 3-4 books because I feel the plot can go stale, but these have held my interest.

I'm currently reading:

Which is the follow up to

and (non-Sci-fi)

Which is short stories that center more in the areas of psychological terror/horror.

Since I finished Odell Shepard's book on unicorns, I'm starting on The Unicorn: Myth and Reality by Rüdiger Robert Beer which I just realized solves my problem for the "Translated into English" BINGO slot.

I'm also getting close to completing the three crossover series by Madeleine L'Engle (with the Time Quintet being the SFF one that got me started ) with the non-SFF Dragons in the Waters

I’m working on A Wizard of Earthsea alternating with Aloen virus love disaster - short collection of very bleak tales all involving the hopeless positions of the non priveledged but SF

I am starting Oathbringer and One Word Kill so far.

While still deciding what to start on next, I finished off the anthology I have been reading for over a year, The Mammoth Book of Steampunk Adventures. The biggest problem with it, and the reason I kept putting it aside, is that far too many of the stories in here aren't steampunk - adding a few automata, or some steam-powered gadgets doesn't make a story steampunk.

Finished Fool's Assassin and rated it 5/5 stars. The Fitz books are ones where I am honestly content in just looking at the world through Fitz's (and in this case his daughter's) eyes, from going about chores, to being dragged through the past, or his thoughts on parenthood. I'm sure there are some who would complain about the "lack of action" in this book, but regardless just being in Fitz's life grips me and there's never a dull moment.

Anyway, on to the next book in the series, Fool's Quest.

Just started Phillip k Dick "Minority Report". The Spielberg movie had fascinating premises. Curious to read the source.

Read "Do Androids dream of electric sheep?" From Philip, the book that originated "Blade Runner." Honestly thought the movie was way better. Of course the fabulous ideas were in the book. That's a good discussion topic by the way.

Lupon wrote: "Read "Do Androids dream of electric sheep?" From Philip, the book that originated "Blade Runner." Honestly thought the movie was way better. Of course the fabulous ideas were in the book. That's a ..."

Personally I felt the complete opposite. I found the original Blade Runner movie a complete snorefest. I also found that the movie barely resembled the book at all and was stripped of its most interesting components. On the other hand I really did enjoy Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. The book had some cool ideas to think about and in general was an entertaining read for me. Although I found it interesting now that I've read Asimov's Caves of Steel to compare the two approaches to "robot mysteries".

Well, I disagree completely about the movie, but I do agree that they were very very diferent from each other. I was surprised to see how they made it much more appealing, at least to me. For instance, Philip said, when he saw the movie for the first time, that it was like Ridley had read his mind - he loved the movie and even predicted it would be huge. But I didnt see any of that phisical fantastic dark atmosphere of the movie in the book. And Philip's Deckard is not the sullen bad ass Harrison Ford played. He's more pathetic and neurotic, really an anti-hero, which has its charm, of course. But hey! like I said, Philip is the creator and all the big ideas are his.

Diving into some of C. J. Cherryh's books. "The Dreamstone" (weird, but enjoyable) and currently on "Forty Thousand in Gahena." Also read "The Werewolf Principle" by Simak; much to my relief, it was not really a "werewolf" book. I reviewed it at www.thisdadathome.com if you're interested.

Lupon wrote: "...he loved the movie and even predicted it would be huge...."

It wasn't huge, at least during the initial theatrical release. Critical reviews and audience responses were mixed at best. The movie became more popular through VHS rentals over the following decade, although it was still seen as a flawed potential masterpiece. Most observers noted that the changes made by the studio after initial test showings reduced the effectiveness of the film - these included cutting some scenes and adding a narration and a tacked on happy ending. In 1992 when the Director's Cut was released (reversing most of the studio's changes) the film finally started getting the recognition it deserved.

Whether one likes it or not (I am a huge fan of the film and the book) it's impossible to deny the impact the film had on science-fiction films and books. PKD's increased popularity can be traced to that film, and the dark images of Los Angeles 40 years in the future (like Ridley Scott's previous SF masterpiece: Alien) changed the look of SF films and TV shows forever.

For me, one of the best parts of the film version that doesn't really exist in the book is the suggestion (especially in the Director's Cut and Final Cut versions) that (view spoiler)[Deckard is a replicant. (hide spoiler)] To me this makes up for cutting some of PKD's ideas like Mercerism, although it is surprising when you watch the film after reading the book how many suggestions of the source material were left intact, such as lines of dialogue from the initial Voight-Kampff test scene.

And of course it has to be said that Roy Batty's final monologue about "tears in the rain" was largely improvised by actor Rutger Hauer but remains one of the most enduring and memorable parts of the film. It was partially used in the beginning of the song "Attack Ships on Fire" by London Elektricity.

It has been said that PKD's We Can Build You can be read as a sequel to the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? upon which the film was based. I'm going to try to read We Can Build You in the next few months to see if I agree.

Yes, you're right. In the beginning it wasn't huge, but it is now. I think it's considered the best sci-fi movie of all times. Its very poetic to me and the soundtrack is also amazing (Vangelis and all). The scene you mentioned is undoubtedly beautiful and the fact that the replicant, even being so physically superior,leaves Deckard alive - let him live. Absolutely beautiful. With Philip there are always deeper questions about life and existence and I think the movie makers explored the question of what is life very well. They certainly explored the drama of the replicants, being caught in such an inflexible law of nature - their very, very short life span from which they try so hard to escape, but just can't. And in doing so, they exposed our own drama, right? ;)

I've been reading a lot now that it's been so nice to sit outside. Reading in the sunshine is one of my favoritest of things. Add some coffee (or something icy) and if that was how I died, I'd die happy.

That being the case, I've read just too much. Here are the highlights.

The Once and Future King again for the bajillionth time. Still the best book I've ever read. I listened to it this time, and that was also very good.

The Prisoner of Zenda was shockingly good. I read it so I could have context for The Henchmen of Zenda and preferred Prisoner immensely. So fun!

The Wrong Stars was not any good for me. It had a few fun ideas and characters but the plot, tropes, writing, characterization...it all just irritated me.

I couldn't finish A Memory Called Empire. I think planetary romances have lost popularity maybe for good reason?

Strange the Dreamer was a surprise! Incredibly well written and fascinating. A few too many kissing scenes but not nearly as inane as a lot of late teen protagonist type stories, and a really robust world.

I'll stop there.

Reading Becoming and The Bone Doll's Twin now!

I read The Book Thief (historical fiction, not fantasy), it was one of the most emotional books I have ever read. I read it in just 2 days (5/5 stars)

Currently I am reading The Hobbit for the second time (5/5 stars). Just a few pages left!

And I am super excited for The Lord of the Rings which I will start reading tomorrow for the first time ever!

The Hobbit is fantastic. The lord of the rings is a book - or several - for patience, reading slow. big books with lots of emotion.

Lupon wrote: "The Hobbit is fantastic. The lord of the rings is a book - or several - for patience, reading slow. big books with lots of emotion."

The LoTR film series is my favorite film series of all time, so I already know the story and it is fantastic.
Now I want to read the original source material which I also believe will be an incredible journey.
(I am the only person I know who watches the movies or TV shows first and reads the books afterwards, I always do it, don't know why)

I think I did that too! Lol!
You'll see that Jackson was very faithful to the books.

There is a LOT more in the books than was in the films. I am a huge Tolkien fan and I remember at the time of initial release a lot of people like me found a lot to criticise about the films. For me, however, I thought the films were great - I understand that you can't adapt books of that complexity into 2 or 3 hour films without making some sacrifices. Following the success of GoT, I wonder if Amazon Prime is considering re-adapting the books into 3 seasons of TV?

As for the film adaptations of The Hobbit - well, I think I'll just leave it as disappointing and not get into it :)

I have started on The Distant Suns, the third book in Sailing to Utopia. Although listed as volume 5 in the Tale of the Eternal Champion, neither of the first two books in this compilation had anything to do with the Eternal Champion - for this volume, at least, it was all marketing.

I've always meant to read some of Jules Verne's stories, so I started with Journey to the Center of the Earth. Was curious what pop-science views of geology were 150 years ago (as two of his 3 explorers are both scientists, there is naturally a lot of science chatter.) Spoiler: they don't actually reach the center of the Earth.

Then I popped the DVD of the 1959 movie adaptation in. (That may seem old to you, but I recall seeing it on a big screen in a real moviehouse.) I forgot in addition to James Mason it starred Pat Boone, so there was singing, and a lot of changes to Verne's plot! And another youthful memory taken by the suck fairy. :)

Journey to the Centre of the Earth and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea are, IMO, his best works. I found From the Earth to the Moon and 'round the Moon to be very slow. He certainly tries to put more science into his stories than H.G. Wells, but is not as good a storyteller. Around the World in Eighty Days and The Mysterious Island are straight adventure stories, not SFF. Around the World is a good story, but Mysterious Island I also found to be very slow - although if you ever find yourself shipwrecked on a deserted island, it's got a lot of useful survival tips :)

Erik wrote: "I read The Book Thief (historical fiction, not fantasy), it was one of the most emotional books I have ever read. I read it in just 2 days (5/5 stars)

Currently I am reading The Hobbit for the sec..."

Loved The Book Thief. It was a very moving book that stayed with me long after I read it.

Not quite done yet with my current book, but I'll be starting First Lord's Fury tonight or tomorrow morning (yay for the weekend!) Looking forward to seeing how everything works out

Religions of India in Practice by Donald S. Lopez Jr.

Tony wrote: "As for the film adaptations of The Hobbit - well, I think I'll just leave it as disappointing and not get into it :)"

I really enjoyed the first film. I thought they nailed it, even down to the dwarves singing in Bilbo's home prior to leaving on their quest. The extra material was just enough to tease the LOTR plot and also expand my knowledge of what Tolkien said was going on in other parts of the world. The 2nd and 3rd films were disappointing though - too many changes, departures and "improvements" of the source material. Two films probably would have been the right amount. I'd love to see someone do a "fan edit" of those last two films like they did for the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

I am close to finishing Nemesis, second volume of First Colony saga by Ken Lozito. I'd say it's slighty above average, just enough to keep my reading.

Finished The Path of Daggers, now I'm going to finish the Harry Potter series with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

RJ wrote: "Tony wrote: "As for the film adaptations of The Hobbit - well, I think I'll just leave it as disappointing and not get into it :)"

I really enjoyed the first film. I thought they nailed it, even d..."

Oh, there are fan edits out there. I've seen a couple of good ones. I think one was even called "The Tolkien Edit" because it tried to keep things close to the books.

When I first watched them I totally agreed with your opinion about liking the first one and then not liking the changes with the other two, but when I tried rewatching the first one I could see how it kind of dragged a little too much. Two movies probably would have been best.

Mike, hope you enjoy Deathly Hallows. Is it your first time reading it?

I've been trying to sort through the SPFBO5 list and read samples and pick something I'm interested in to start, but then I lost the list I had made and decided to just pick something random and get back to that later!

RJ wrote: "I really enjoyed the first film. I thought they nailed it, even down to the dwarves singing in Bilbo's home prior to leaving on their quest."

That's fair. The first film was certainly the best of them. The second was terrible for the changes it made to soul of the book. The third was not great, but the Battle of the Five Armies was well done.

The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs by Steve Brusatte and The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert so far. Up next is SPQR by Mary Heard.