Beyond Reality discussion

Please tell us what you are reading, or plan to read, in May.

To start with, I plan to read Night Watch Pratchett here, Monstrous Regiment for another group, Under a Silent Moon which was the majority choice in Pick it for me in yet another group. For myself: May is EMP/Solar Flare Month, so lots of books on those subjects.

I'm out of genre right now--an Anne Perry mystery, A Sudden, Fearful Death and an historical fiction, Cities of the Flesh. But then it's time for House of Chains.

Still reading Toll the Hounds. Its slow going. Just not into it. Parts of it are interesting, others not so much.

Quest For Lost Heroes, I'm about half way.

Read the first Little Fuzzy stories and the sequel, Fuzzy Sapiens by H. Beam Piper just now. Entertaining, but I won't be chasing after the many follow-on titles by other authors after Piper's death. Currently reading Crazy Horse and Custer by Stephen Ambrose and halfway through The Gabble and Other Stories by Neal Asher.

I'm reading Shift. I'm finding it a really compelling read, like the first book in the series, Wool.

Robert wrote: "I'm reading Shift. I'm finding it a really compelling read, like the first book in the series, Wool."

I liked Shift a lot, not as much as Wool Omnibus but still really interesting :)

I started The Dispossessed this afternoon for the group read - sitting outside on a beautiful spring day (FINALLY, after the awful winter we've had here in the Boston area!) while my son played on the swingset (and in the dirt) - such a lovely afternoon!

I just finished The Girl in the Road and now I'm starting The Quantum Thief before starting House of Chains with the Malazan reading group next week. I'm hoping to do The Dispossessed after that since I haven't read it before.

Currently reading:
The Advanced Genius Theory: Are They Out of Their Minds or Ahead of Their Time?
The Mabinogion Tetralogy
Queen of the Darkness
Spirit Gate
Inhumans: The Origin of the Inhumans
The Grace of Kings

Planning to read:
The Martian
Of Noble Family

Clearly, I need to sit down in a quiet room for awhile!

I dodged my book group read and dived into The Rithmatist, love Brandon Sanderson.

I ditched Cities of the Flesh--absolutely could not get into it. I only brought one other book along on this visit to my dad, although I could have read something I have saved on the iPad. The one other book I brought along? House of Chains

Liking the way you justify, Kathi.

I'm reading The Water Thief by Ben Pastor. It's an historical fiction, mystery about Hadrian and Antinous investigated by one of the possible authors of Historia Augustus named Aelius Spartianus. It takes place during Diocletian's reign, about 150 years after the tragic events on the nile.

Hadrian and Antinous remind me of the excellent Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar. Not my usual genre or historical period, but along with The Prince and Pensées of Blaise Pascal an all-time favorite and periodic re-read.

Currently reading Mordant's Need by Stephen R. Donaldson which I'm liking very much, I'd label it psychological fantasy. I do love court intrigue. And BLACKGUARDS: Tales of Assassins, Mercenaries, and Rogues, very nice fantasy anthology, I'll be reading it for a while I think, it's short stories.
Next are Half the World by Joe Abercrombie, Traitor's Blade by Sebastien de Castell and Sorcerer's Legacy by Janny Wurts. I need more Wurts.

I've just finished the fourth in the Jasper Fforde 'Thursday Next' series, "Something Rotten" before getting back to Malazan. Absolutely loved them :)

I finished Transformed by E.V. Fairfall a few days ago, and was quite impressed with it. Very unique take on the young adult paranormal romance genre, and it was very well-written, although there were some of the problems that you tend to see in debuts (stylistic issues, mostly).

I'm now reading Midnight Blue-Light Special by Seanan McGuire. So fun so far! I really need to look into reading her other series when I get a chance.

Finished Advanced Genius Theory (ugh) and decided to read The Willful Princess and the Piebald Prince by Hobb for a much better reading experience. Can't wait for Fool's Quest in August!

Alissa wrote: "Currently reading Mordant's Need by Stephen R. Donaldson which I'm liking very much, I'd label it psychological fantasy. I do love court intrigue."

Alissa, you should read The Goblin Emperor...not only does it have the court intrigue, but it is a stand alone novel so (hooray) you are not roped into an unfinished series read! :)

Justine wrote: "Alissa, you should read The Goblin Emperor...not only does it have the court intrigue, but it is a stand alone novel so (hooray) you are not roped into an unfinished series read! :)"

I'll second that rec - loved that book!

I finished The Quantum Thief...amazing book, that I would completely recommend.

I was going to start House of Chains, but since The Quantum Thief was so amazing, I had to read the second book in the trilogy first, The Fractal Prince, since I already had it on my ereader (how handy that was).

I just finished Nexus which I highly recommend; I'm now aboout to start Love Minus Eighty

Christine wrote: "I just finished Nexus which I highly recommend; I'm now aboout to start Love Minus Eighty"

I read Love Minus Eighty early last year, and really really enjoyed it. It's a shame it never got more exposure. I hope you like it just as much!


I finished Cinder at the start of the week. It was alright, but I can't say I'll continue the series. There were some interesting bits in it, but overshadowed by bad communication and sticking to the usual YA romance tropes. I'm very disappointed.

Currently, I have Her Smoke Rose Up Forever on the go. I'm 5 out of 19 stories in. Some of them are quite intense, making it hard to read more than one or two a day. I'm also going to be starting Blindsight today. Been looking forward to this one for a while now.

Next up, it'll be The Three-Body Problem (because why haven't I read it already), City of Stairs, along with The Canterville Ghost and Conservation of Shadows, if I get time. Then I'm rounding it out with a non-fiction book: Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change.

Should be a good month!

Shel wrote: "Justine wrote: "Alissa, you should read The Goblin Emperor...not only does it have the court intrigue, but it is a stand alone novel so (hooray) you are not roped into an unfinished series read! :)...

I'll second that rec - loved that book! "

:D very high on TBR!!

I plan to read The Speed of Dark and Night Watch

Lulu wrote: "I finished Cinder at the start of the week."

Lulu, it still might be worth it to you to try the next book in the series. I really enjoyed Cinder, but I definitely thought the it was the weakest entry in the series. The others have a lot more originality to them, and I don't remember as many communication issues.

Of course, I loved those books, so I'm terribly biased. Your mileage may vary. ;)

Two years ago, there was a BotM discussion of Leviathan Wakes. Now, I managed to read the prequel short story
Drive. My review is here

I'm currently reading one of the classics: Journey to the Center of the Earth. Wow, it's been a long time since I posted in here.

Ah thanks for the suggestion, Tani, but I just have too many books to read to justify a series I'm not interested in. But thank you! Maybe if (however unlikely) I'm at a loss some time for what to read, I'll pick it up.

I finished Blindsight over the weekend. It took me ages to get into (nearly dropped it at around page 50), and then something "clicked" halfway. Then I finished the remaining 150 pages yesterday, shirking chores in favour of it. It was a ridiculously good read.

Today I'm starting The Three-Body Problem. Every reviewer/blogger seems to be talking about it, so I'm pretty excited for it. I'm also still slowly working through Her Smoke Rose Up Forever.

Not sure I can fit either of the B(s)oTM in at this rate.

Lulu wrote: "Ah thanks for the suggestion, Tani, but I just have too many books to read to justify a series I'm not interested in. But thank you! Maybe if (however unlikely) I'm at a loss some time for what to ..."

That's fine, just thought I would mention that the books do improve. :)

I finished Midnight Blue-Light Special over the weekend, and started The Accidental Time Machine for a change in pace.

Jim wrote: "Read the first Little Fuzzy stories and the sequel, Fuzzy Sapiens by H. Beam Piper just now. Entertaining, but I won't be chasing after the many follow-on titles by other authors after Piper's deat..."

I just read Federation by Piper and found it a nostalgic return to a type of science fiction I enjoyed when i first started reading. His creation of a federated universe is similar to Asimov's "Foundation" but with many more "holes" -- because Piper did not write as much. Still, like his story "Omnilingual," the experience of reading Piper is like piecing together a puzzle of which many pieces are missing. In this great big universe full of dark matter, that is still a little thrilling.

Lulu wrote: "Ah thanks for the suggestion, Tani, but I just have too many books to read to justify a series I'm not interested in. But thank you! Maybe if (however unlikely) I'm at a loss some time for what to ...I'm also still slowly working through Her Smoke Rose Up Forever..."

I am constantly reading and re-reading at Tiptree. Her Smoke Rose Up Forever, it seems, is constantly at my bedside. Tiptree is one of those writers I sincerely want to take some time with, but never quite get around to it, preferring to savor her stuff in small doses.

I am out of Genre. A non-fiction called Dead Wake. Its about the Lusitania.I don't read much non-fiction.This one I can't pit down. I am learning a lot in very entertaining w

Renee wrote: "I am out of Genre. A non-fiction called Dead Wake. Its about the Lusitania.I don't read much non-fiction.This one I can't pit down. I am learning a lot in very entertaining w"

I want to read that one - I really enjoy Erik Larson's books!

I'm slowly re-reading the short stories in The Wind's Twelve Quarters by Ursula LeGuin, to follow up after our group read of The Dispossessed, because there is a prequel short story in there. Not much time or energy for reading right now, though - baby girl arrived on Friday! :)

Shel wrote: "Renee wrote: "I am out of Genre. A non-fiction called Dead Wake. Its about the Lusitania.I don't read much non-fiction.This one I can't pit down. I am learning a lot in very entertaining w"

I wa..."

Congratulations, Shel!

My excuse for not reading lately is not nearly as wonderful as Shel's (CONGRATS!!). We got a one month free Netflix to watch House of Cards, and between that and some other movies and shows I have DVR'd, I've been watching instead of reading. Got to make some progress in House of Chains soon!!

Congrats Shel! She's early isn't she? Well, not really, because I guess she was just ready to get here. :)

Congrats, Shel!!!

Here is my review of the 1st book of hitchhiker's guide to galaxy.

Shel, congratulations. How lovely :)

Congrats Shel!!!!! :D:D:D:D

I just started a SF The Quantum Thief, a month's read for a SF group.

I finished several books:

Alcibiades the Schoolboy, the "first homoerotic novel" written in 1652. My Review

First Term at Four Hallows, book 2 of a Harry Potteresque series written by a friend of mine.

The Divided the only other book published by the author of The Merro Tree, one of our last month's selections—My Review

Thanks, all! She isn't reading yet, but we'll get there! :)

Sumant wrote: "Here is my review of the 1st book of hitchhiker's guide to galaxy."

A good choice to counteract some grim or heavy reading.

Rereading The Speed of Dark for next month.
I have The Magic of Recluce queued up and ready to go next.

My attention has recently been caught by The Vagrant and Blood Song, so one of them will likely be coming soon.

And I'm still working my way through Gardens of the Moon. I don't know why I'm having a horrible time with it. I really am enjoying it, I just can't seem to focus on it very well.

Gratz on the little girl Shel. :)

Here is my review of use of weapons the 3rd book in culture series

Kathi wrote: "Sumant wrote: "Here is my review of the 1st book of hitchhiker's guide to galaxy."

A good choice to counteract some grim or heavy reading."

True that.

Random wrote: "I have The Magic of Recluce queued up and ready to go next."

Uh-oh. Are we close to that being BOTM? I want to read that with the group, but I'm only about 1/4 the way through House of Chains and I still have this month's Discworld book to read. Yikes! Better get at it.

Just finished Nicodemus. Nice YA high fantasy, here is my review.

Kathi wrote: "Random wrote: "I have The Magic of Recluce queued up and ready to go next."

Uh-oh. Are we close to that being BOTM? I want to read that with the group, but I'm only about 1/4 the way..."

I'm just happy I'm actually going to be on time for a book discussion. I suspect its the first time its happened in over a year. :)

Finished The Speed of Dark last night and started The Magic of Recluce. So far its holding my attention well. :)