Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

Welcome to July. Over halfway through the year.

I have started reading Hidden Blade, which could fill either the Urban Fantasy or Dark SF/F slot in my Bingo.

Halfway, good moment to check on any challenges you signed up for.

The main 2025 Reading Challenge is on track, though I had fallen far behind I knew that once I got to the library and had access to graphic novels and manga I'd catch up with no problem. I'm even 2 ahead.

I'm 3 behind on my BINGO challenge though, yikes.

And I won't be working on that one to start off July, I'm finally on the last book of the Hollow Star Saga so want to get that done. After all I need to return it to the library eventually.

A Wild and Ruined Song by Ashley Shuttleworth


On the side, I'm getting sucked into the Sandman inspired DC/Vertigo comics. I thought there was a limited set of them but while I was reading Books of Magic, Vol. 1: Moveable Type I just kept feeling like I was missing something, some background I was supposed to know, some references to things that I was sure wasn't mentioned before. Sure enough, there were indeed earlier books. Similarly with Lucifer, its not just 4 books, its a whole pile of them. And Constantine's Hellblazer. It was like untangling a mess of string, I just kept finding more and more and more.

So that's gonna keep me busy for a while, at least as long the library has copies! There might not be any vampires in them, there are a lot of nightmares and demons and evil fae to keep to my spooky theme.

Well, I have just now finished the graphic novel adaptation of ' A Wizard of Earthsea'. I thought it was brilliant. The artwork was truly beautiful, there were panels I would be happy to live with as art on my walls. 😊 If I have a slight criticism, it would be that if you were not already familiar with the story, you might find it hard to follow at times. Happily, I am familiar with it, so all was well. I would love to see an animation based on this interpretation, somewhat as the recent movie 'Flow' has been rendered perhaps?

Next I am going to read Jeff Noon's 'A Man of Shadows' which was a recommendation from someone in this group. With many apologies, (I blame our current heatwave for fogging my brain) I can't just seem to remember who it was. Anyway, thank you for the suggestion. 😊

I started off July by finishing The Gathering which was a great vampire murder mystery! I rated it 4/5 stars. I left me craving more vampire/mystery novels with the same atmosphere. I'll have to do some digging!

In the meantime, I felt like that mood made it a good time to start on the Matthias Thulmann Witch Hunter series (Warhammer Fantasy). So I'm currently about 2 chapters into Witch Hunter by C.L. Werner.

*sighs and adds vampire murder mystery to her overflowing to read list* I mean...that sounds cool. My library even has it, which just makes is so much easier to satisfy the temptation.

Anyone else do the BackerKit for the new Sanderson book and diving into Isles of Emberdark? I'm a couple chapters in already and it is wonderful.

Robin so glad you enjoyed the graphic of earthsea!
NekroRider The Gathering looks good.
Andrea You made me LOL!!!

Dean wrote: "Anyone else do the BackerKit for the new Sanderson book and diving into Isles of Emberdark? I'm a couple chapters in already and it is wonderful."

I downloaded it but probably won't get to it for a while.

I had to DNF Half a War at 40%, for lack of interest. I am starting A Wizard of Earthsea by Ursula K. Le Guin. I faintly remember reading it a first time a very long time ago, so that a second reading is in order.

Halfway through Odyssey authored and narrated by Stephen Fry, a delight as fully expected!

Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks

After Mt. Rainier erupts, a troop of Sasquatch descends on a tiny green community near Seattle.

Good thriller. 4 stars

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

Still working my way through Shadows of the Apt. The books are just fine, and they’re easy enough to pick up between other reads. I have Isles of the Emberdark queued for when I finish book 7 of SofA.

I have finished Hidden Blade. It's a story of the Egyptian Gods living in modern day New York. I had planned to use it to fill the Urban Fantasy slot in my Bingo, but it's a really dark story, so I will use it for the Dark SF/F slot. This also, with the 18th book, provides the first completed row or column - the N column.

I have started reading The Last TechShack which, from the blurb, looks to be a sci-ft thriller featuring a portal.

I just got through the Hobbit audiobook on Libby for the first time. It was very charmingly narrated, 10/10. I plan to get through the dragonbone chair in a timely manner.

I just finished Knife of Dreams on Libby, 11th book in the Wheel of Time series. All the loose ends are finally starting to come together in the story! Before I move on to the next one, I have a couple of books for different book clubs that I need to finish. Just started The Book of Azrael. So far so good! I need to sit down and look at my Bingo card. I know I have several that are completed, I just haven't marked them off.

Robert wrote: "Halfway through Odyssey authored and narrated by Stephen Fry, a delight as fully expected!"

I love Stephen Fry! I didn't know he'd done this, just added to my TBR!

Oooh wheel of time. It was under the same slot as Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn for worldbuilding for me. I've heard the first WoT book is tropey though, so I chose MS&T for a quicker dive.

Justine wrote: "Robert wrote: "Halfway through Odyssey authored and narrated by Stephen Fry, a delight as fully expected!"

I love Stephen Fry! I didn't know he'd done this, just add..."

He does the audio books too, I've been thinking of maybe trying one of these for my first attempt at listening to a book.

Justine wrote: "I love Stephen Fry! I didn't know he'd done this, just added to my TBR!."

It's a whole series! I suggest starting with Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold.

Andrea wrote: "He does the audio books too, I've been thinking of maybe trying one of these for my first attempt at listening to a book."

He is a marvelous narrator and raconteur. And it always gives me a frisson of excitement when he says the word "nostrils" for whatever reason!

Barbara wrote: "Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre by Max Brooks

..."
I'm glad to hear your thoughts. I hesitated to read it bc I love the sasquatches in a couple of other series (Harry Dresden and Magical MIdlife/leveling up), and didn't know if I'd like them being bad guys.

Congrats, Tony, on your first bingo! I really enjoy our yearly challenge.

I finished A Wizard of Earthsea, which I liked. Contrary to what I thought, I had never read it previously. I started The Tombs of Atuan.

Binged Seraphina because it had really interesting concept. Dropped halfway because it felt like the writing just kept going downhill. I now understand the whole ‘authors are on their best behavior in the first chapter’ thing. Still starved for the promise of the beginning of the book, though, and im not sinking into anything else that scratches that itch. Woe.

No, not hunger. It feels more impulsive…addiction. I’m addicted (bad) to what I thought the story would be.

I have Seraphina checked out. We'll see if I like it.

I have two horror/thrillers going at once, and I think I am starting to get them mixed up. (The Bad Place and Stranger Still)

Finished two Jane books by coincidence: Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen and Jane of Lantern Hill.

I have finished Return To Wonderland Vol. 1, a graphic novel from Zenescope. Zenescope are perhaps best known for their Grimm Fairy Tales comic series, which are dark (sometimes even darker than the originals) retellings of classic fairy tales. The Return to Wonderland series (the graphic novel collects issues 0-6) is way, way darker. The final issue does reveal the backstory behind this, and it is intriguing, and sets up plenty of opportunities for future stories. This is not recommended for anyone who loves the whimsical nature of Carroll's original stories.

When it comes to dark comics I've been working my way through the Sandman universe so things like Nightmare Country, Vol. 1, Lucifer, Book One and also Lovecraft related tales like Providence Act 1 or the related The King in Yellow. They're good, but definitely dark. Oh, and the seriously bizarre manga #DRCL midnight children 1...the art in this thing is beautiful but nightmare inducing, even when its just the human characters doing mundane things!

So I may not be keeping to my vampire theme very well, but I've definitely been delving into the dark side. In fact the Betsy the Vampire Queen series is the most lighthearted stuff I've been reading lately :o)

Pierre wrote: "I had to DNF Half a War at 40%, for lack of interest.

I am sorry to read that, I love his writing and have only been putting off reading this trilogy because it's marketed as YA, but was still planning on reading it some day. Oh well, there's The Devils now for my Abercrombie needs.


I have read . There are reasons why I'd stopped reading him years ago and they're all in here, and some. I was emboldened to check his back catalogue because his recent stuff has been pretty good, but thas was a poor move. This was very bad.
Plus, I listened to the audiobook and for some reason the main performer thought it a bright idea to whisper the internal monologues of the character—of which there are a lot—so it was really hard to make out what was being said as I coudn't increase the volume unless I wanted to have my eardrums blown when overdramatic music was played, as it was between scenes. I have never encountered this kind of technical annoyance with an audiobook before.
This would have made a mediocre experience even out of a good book.


I've read . It is quite terrifying, mostly because her society, and how people would act, is very believable.
The last book of hers I've read was 84K and I DNF'd it, but this book is very good. It is short but packs a lot and reminded me of Black Mirror, back when that was great.

I'm now listening to read by the author himself. It is quite intriguing and pretty good so far, although I'd rather he kept politics out of his books.

Working my way through Dragon Mage by ML Spencer. So far—34%—it’s soooo good, as in it’s solid and just keeps doing itself well. I find it hard to describe *why* it’s so good— I’ve seen books with better concepts and better prose— but I lost track of 8 hours this Saturday, when I had other things to do—forgot eating and time were things at all—and I haven’t done that before in my life to memory. Likely, I just really resonated with its story, but hot diggidy...

Correction: haven’t done that for 8 hours straight on anything that required as much brain power as reading a book, I do have a history of losing track of time. And to my further discredit, I am slowly recalling breaks of walking in circles, daydreaming on *feelings,* and I assume those transpired somewhere before the plot really took off. But man did it have me in a chokehold.

edited 1hr later on the browser: Goodreads pls bless us an edit function onto this clunky little app.

45% in and I’m a *little* tired of the story, I feel like there hasn’t been enough reveals. Some dramatic plot choices have begun to feel like t*rture p***. I want my boys to be happy...Also just….so much has happened. I’m not sure I’m on the same page as some characters. I get what people mean by ‘this should have been split into multiple books,’ I really have to *see* how this character’s thoughts can constantly go against his actions and yet make that make sense. Surprised the (view spoiler)[ god emperor is a god fr (hide spoiler)]
Currently Reading:

(Assasin's apprentice is on semi-pause because I'm still coping with (view spoiler)[ they killed the dog (hide spoiler)] and I really don't understand *where* exactly this story is going yet or what tone it's trying to take. Will it be cozy? Dark? Creepy? I don't know what to expect, so I'm emotionally investing in nothing, which is boring. The writing is really good, though, Dragon Mage could have used some of its subtlety. I agree with the review that says it's like a very, very long backstory/childhood biography. Hopefully it pays off.)
Plan to Read:

Peony, I would love to be able to read for that long! I used to, back in the day. Today I started a new book and read for what I thought was quite a while. I made it to chapter 12 which sounds good, but turns out it's only page 58!! sheesh!

I finished The Tombs of Atuan, and at least for the time being I will not continue that series.
Switching genres, I am starting Infinity Gate by M.R. Carey,

I read The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers. It was recommended to me because I like the Murderbot Diaries, and it didn't disappoint! It was mainly character-driven and was a very heartwarming story with really creative sci-fi world building.

Have you read the new short fiction by Martha Wells, part of the Murderbot Diaries? You can find it for free here: https://reactormag.com/rapport-martha...

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer

Greg has an autodidactic 'Cuddle Bunny' bot (a sentient android) called Annie who he perceives as his girlfriend.....but Greg isn't a good boyfriend.

Interesting futuristic premise. 3.5 stars

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

Since my last post, I finished Witch Hunter and Witch Finder (Witch Hunter) by Werner, C. L. the first 2 books of the Matthias Thulmann trilogy. It's dark Fantasy/a Warhammer Fantasy series about a Witch Hunter/Templar of the Order of Sigmar and his sidekick. I've really been enjoying the series so far. I'm currently reading the 3rd book Witch Killer. I have a feeling the first is going to remain my favourite.

I also had fun reading The Phoenix on the Sword (Conan story) by Robert E. Howard earlier today.

Andrea wrote: "*sighs and adds vampire murder mystery to her overflowing to read list* I mean...that sounds cool. My library even has it, which just makes is so much easier to satisfy the temptation."

Lol, I do hope you enjoy it if you end up trying it. I wish she had written more books in that setting, I'm still craving something that hits all the same notes that one did.

I'm nearly halfway through The Last TechShack. It has the feel of an early Stephen King, or Ramsey Campbell novel - although it's not horror. It's moving at a slow pace, and it has started to be a little slow in progressing the plot, but I'm still enjoying it.

I have finished The Prisoner: Shattered Visage which is the authorised sequel to the British TV show of the late 60s. It started well, but did not reach the quality of writing of the TV show, and the ending seemed rushed. I would also recommend that the reader should be at least somewhat familiar with the show, or they're likely to have a lot of questions.

Tony wrote: "I'm nearly halfway through The Last TechShack. It has the feel of an early Stephen King, or Ramsey Campbell novel - although it's not horror. It's moving at a slow pace, and it has..."

A book having inferior writing to a TV show is quite ironic.

Tony wrote: "I'm nearly halfway through The Last TechShack. It has the feel of an early Stephen King, or Ramsey Campbell novel - although it's not horror. It's moving at a slow pace, and it has..."

As a general rule I find books based on TV/Movie tend to be inferior quality (though not always), though if its new material it can be not bad, but if its a novelization I always find them terrible.

I'm curious to read the books based on the Castle TV series because they are the books the main character, who is a mystery write, wrote. They aren't episodes of the series itself. That kind of thing could be fun.

I also read a lot of Star Trek books, they're kind of a genre on their own :) The authors try hard to remain canon but of course the series can take off in another direction, but sometimes the series will take something from one of the books like Uhura's first name.

Tony wrote: "I'm nearly halfway through The Last TechShack. It has the feel of an early Stephen King, or Ramsey Campbell novel - although it's not horror. It's moving at a slow pace, and it has..."

The synopsis of the Last TechShack sounds interesting. For the other, I'd never actually heard of The Prisoner TV show so probably not for me based on your thoughts!

Funny enough, I am not sure I remember ever reading a book based on a TV show/movie 🤔 Well...actually, other than the above-mentioned Star Trek and Star Wars books when I was in elementary. And actually I think I read some of the Buffy novels in middle school. But mostly I've read a bunch based on games (Forgotten Realms, Dragonlance, Warhammer) which I've always enjoyed (want to check out the Assassin's Creed books, and I've heard Pathfinder books are good too), but not as much tv/movies.

Edit: thus ends what I realise, looking back, is a bit of a weird ramble, but let's go with it lol

Tony wrote: "I'm nearly halfway through The Last TechShack. It has the feel of an early Stephen King, or Ramsey Campbell novel - although it's not horror. It's moving at a slow pace, and it has..."

I used to like watching The Prisoner! I had completely forgotten that show.

My parents are huge fans of The Prisoner. We made a onesie for our baby with "unmutual" printed on it.

The first Star Wars novels came out at the end of high school, and I was married with kids while Buffy was airing, so I am feeling kind of old now.

I should point out, because it wasn't obvious in my earlier post, that The Prisoner: Shattered Visage is a graphic novel, not a prose novel. I realise I didn't comment on the artwork, which was quite good, and did a decent job of replicating some of the setting on the TV show.

The Prisoner was great apart from maybe its truly bizarre ending. I haven't seen an episode in years though so I wonder what I would think of it now? The style, the visuals, everything about it really was so 'psychedelic 60s' that I suspect it might be a hard watch? Don't know...

I can only ever remember reading one novelization of a movie. It was one of the Star Trek movies, the handover from TOS to TNG, with Malcolm McDowell in it I think? I remember very little about the book.

I have read some of the official BBC Doctor Who short fiction collections, not novelizations of episodes but original stories by the likes of Joanne Harris, Jenny Colgan and others, like 'Time Trips' The standard for those is pretty high by and large, mostly capturing the flavour of the show well.

Now 65% in, and while Dragon Mage has slowed the rate of pummeling how amazing its mary sue protagonist is down my throat by making other characters go “wow, something about him makes me feel he’s the most special person in the world,” (which was cute when it happened the first time, then increasingly unbearable) the writing has still not returned to its former glory. Whyyy is this so highly recommended, whyyyyy.

Finished a Wild and Ruined Song. It was a decent quartet but it was long. But there's a scene where they wreck downtown Toronto which is awesome since I'm in Canada and usually the end of the world takes place in either Britain, the US, or if I read manga, Japan.

Starting on Vampire Vow by Michael Schiefelbein - just a skinny book I saw at the library and since I intended to read vampire stuff this year, grabbed it.

Finished and LOVED Isles of the Emberdark. Deep Cosmere cuts.

So I'd been going through a lot of the Sandman spinoff/tie-ins like Lucifer (there is a LOT of that, I'm only part way through) when I decided to take a break and look at Locke & Key, Vol. 1: Welcome to Lovecraft which only later does a crossover with the Sandman universe, but I thought I'd start at the beginning with them.

....ok there is some kind of non-human character involved but...wow...all the Sandman nightmares, the gods and demons and things I've been reading, even the devil himself can't compare to how freaked out I was with the very human monsters, and the emotional toll they take on others, in Locke & Key.

And I don't think this series is going to have anything to do with Lovecraft other than the name of the town they are in.

I remembered afterwards that Joe Hill also wrote NOS4R2 which was also kinda terrifying and disturbing, and remember thinking when the TV series came out some things were best left in print format and not shown with pictures!

I'll give the next one a try, now that the human monster is dealt with maybe we can settle down with the safer, less scary, supernatural kind.

I read The Free Bastards.


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