SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hey, its going to be a new month, just wondering what everyone is reading in the shortest month of the year. To start everybody off I just got The Towers of the Sunset, reading it right now, loving it. I just love the Saga of Recluce, even though this is only the fourth book I have read in the series. Magic that actually would work in the real world, that is really cool.

I'll be reading The Name of the Wind...

Hey Ala me too! :) I'll be reading it for a group read this month along with some historical fiction for a challenge I'm doing.

Ala wrote: "I'll be reading The Name of the Wind...


Going to read Wise Man's Fear, next month?
Plus, re-reading it to get ready for Wise Man's Fear?






"

i've just started The City & The City by China Mieville as well as Dan Simmons' Fall of Hyperion on audiobook.

a friend has also just leant me Mall of Cthulhu which he read over the weekend

reading Hunted By The Others (still deciding on what I think about it) and trying to get further into The Ghost King (a little loathe though because I know that some of my very favorite character and the dynamic are going to be gone at the end of it. Somehow makes me want to start all over at the beginning again...)

I'm still slogging through my Best Science Fiction Short Story anthologies - these fat bastards will certainly help me reach the 50,000 pages in 2011 goal!

Slowly working through . Wonderful tales! - which can easily started and stopped.

Listening to ... about 60% through, very good & my first Simon Vance.

Also listening to as a re-read, in prep for .

Then, starting for an upcoming group read as soon as I can get to the library during normal hours to pick it up. (They also have waiting for me, which I'm very much looking forward to, but we'll see when we actually get to it...)

I can report that I've been to Minor Universe 31, and you should go too. It's awesome good fun, unless you object to books that will break your brain a little (by requiring you to think about timey-wimey stuff mostly) or books that are meta-fiction-y.

By which I mean that I have finished How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe. I'm not at all clear on the eligibility windows, but I wouldn't be surprised to see this one getting Hugo and/or Nebula buzz.

Ala wrote: "I'll be reading The Name of the Wind..."

LOL, love it. Me too, at the end of the month :D

I'm currently reading Magician: Apprentice, Brave New World, The Hedge Knight, and Full Dark, No Stars. I know, I know.. Four books. But! Magician is an actual dead tree book. Hedge Knight is a graphic novel to spice it up every once in a while. Full Dark, No Stars I'm doing on audio when I work out and/or do housework. And Brave New World I'm reading online when I'm.. Er.. Not when I'm at work, not at all.

Dawn wrote: "And Brave New World I'm reading online when I'm.. Er.. Not when I'm at work, not at all..."

lol... I need a PC ebook I guess, and then a "Boss Button" to go with my PC reader. I came across my very first "boss button" today on the Better World Books website (great site btw). Gotta love it!

Dawn, we are still go to disagree that it is three, not four books, and especially The Name of the Wind is worth rereading to get readying for Wise Man's Fear.

What exactly are we disagreeing about? I wasn't aware that I was even talking to you...

I'm still slogging my way through The Final Encyclopedia. Great book, but I'm not reading as fast as I used to. Probably because I'm reading too much fan fic online and not giving it enough attention.
It's really slowing down my "50 books a year" goal.

Dawn wrote: "I'm currently reading Magician: Apprentice, Brave New World, The Hedge Knight, and Full Dark, No Stars. I know, I know.. Four books. But! Magici..."

One. Two. Three. Four.

I see four. Let me get my calculator to make sure that's right.

*tap tap click tap*

Yep. Still four.

For my own reading count (if I can handle that number too), I'm reading Magician: Apprentice and listening to the audio of Wolves of the Calla. Both are re-reads. I also plan to re-read The Name of the Wind, but closer to the end of the month.

In between, we'll see. Probably Hyperion.

I can see where this thread is going...

Okay my list (so far)
Hyperion
Cold Magic
The Phantom of the Opera
You Only Love Once
The Star Scroll
Shadowmarch
Judgment in Death

Can I get an official ruling from the judges on my book count?

Kevin wrote: "Dawn, we are still go to disagree that it is three, not four books, and especially The Name of the Wind is worth rereading to get readying for Wise Man's Fear."

1) You've seriously got to lay off this thing you have with Dawn. I mean, you're practically stalking her.

2) You've also got to learn how to count. To wit:

Magician: Apprentice - #1
Brave New World - #2
The Hedge Knight - #3
Full Dark, No Stars - #4

*does Count impression* Four... 4 books for reading! Muwahahaha!


ETA: And so no one can accuse me of not being on topic, I am currently reading Foundling by D.M. Cornish, which is passing fair so far, and next will be reading Wolves of the Calla by Stephen King (Book 5 of the Dark Tower Series).

Lara Amber wrote: "I can see where this thread is going...

Okay my list (so far)
Hyperion
Cold Magic
The Phantom of the Opera
You Only Love Once
[book:The Sta..."

I'm seeing seven, but we all know I can't count! :)

Looks good to me, though I'm also planning to get readying for Wise Man's Fear. I need to pre-order that, as a matter of fact.

Continuing from January ...

A Storm of Swords - George RR Martin
365 Ways to Drive a Liberal Crazy - James Dellingpole
Wolf And Iron - Gordon R. Dickson
Doctor Who: The Rescue

Dawn wrote: "LOL, love it. Me too, at the end of the month :D"

Couldn't help myself :P


I'll actually be reading Consider Phlebas then The Player of Games.
Also, hopefully:
Corsair
Pirate Latitudes
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
Black Lung Captain after a reread of Retribution Falls.

Plus the books for this month here, and finishing up The Sirens of Titan for another group

Ala wrote: "Dawn wrote: "LOL, love it. Me too, at the end of the month :D"

Couldn't help myself :P"

You're evil, you are.

I thoroughly approve. ;)

My plans went horribly awry in January, so all I'm saying at the moment is this:

Currently reading:

Up next, because I've previously committed to them:

And the rest of my reading schedule is wide open!

Currently reading, Nature's End, a post apocolyptic type book; at least so it seems so far. And just started Terry Jones' Barbarians, a history of the Romans and the 'barbarians'. Enjoying both so far.

For a short month, I have way too much reading I need to finish, all of it related to virtual and physical book clubs.

Currently, I'm reading Magician: Apprentice by Raymond E. Feist as part of the GR FBCS group read of the Riftwar Saga, which just kick off this month.

I ordered Cold Magic by Kate Elliott to participate in the GR SF&F BC group read of that novel. I wasn't planning on buy it, but I was shocked to learn that my amazing public library on the ground floor of my employer's building (aka the Kansas City Public Library Plaza Branch) had not yet purchased a copy. It's rare that I can't find a book through the KC library system.

As part of that library's Winter Reading Program, I'll also quickly re-read Fahrenheit 451 by Bradbury and A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Twain. I hope to earn a cool mug and be entered in a drawing for a Nook.

I am also participating in another reading program sponsored by the KC Library called 'A Taste of Victorian Literature' so I'm reading Mansfield Park by Jane Austen this month to participate in a group discussion held at the Plaza Branch the evening of Wed Feb 16 at 6:30 pm.

I'll be continuing the group read at Beyond Reality for Janny Wurts' Wars of Light and Shadow with Traitor's Knot.

And back at FBCS in mid-February, I'll begin a re-read of the ebook version of Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson to participate in the alternate series group read of Malazan Book of the Fallen.

Should I pray for more blizzard like weather so I'll have more time to read? Otherwise, I've probably bitten off more than I can chew (or read) during the shortest and coldest month of the year.

For any other reads I might try to squeeze in, see my current-month book shelf.

During a snow storm, I get a lot of "reading" done via audiobooks as I'm shoveling. Also, got a nice workout, too. There's nothing like a nice snow storm to make a person well balanced in the mind and body!

Just finished . I like the premise and the depiction of the very real scenario of a monopolizing corporation dictating people's choices. The ending felt like it could have been wrapped up better. It was too easily done, considering the Store's power over everything, a power that is paranormal. It's as if Bentley felt like he needed to finish the book. All that build up for a Pffffff.

Next is

Aloha wrote: "During a snow storm, I get a lot of "reading" done via audiobooks as I'm shoveling. Also, got a nice workout, too. There's nothing like a nice snow storm to make a person well balanced in the min..."

Why didn't I think of this? I had an audiobook on my phone I could have been listening to for the four hours I shoveled yesterday. :)

Jon wrote: "Why didn't I think of this? I had an audiobook on my phone I could have been listening to for the four hours I shoveled yesterday. :) "

that's what i love about audiobooks, stick em on while doing other things :D

This month I'm reading:

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen for my English Lit class,
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin for my book club,
Eldest by Christopher Paolini because I loved the first one and I want to finish the series but I haven't had much time to read it lately
and
Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey because I heard this series was good, and I'm enjoying it so far, but I also haven't had much time to read it recently.

I'm reading Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson. And as soon as it arrives, I'll be starting Progeny by R.T. Kaelin.

I'm currently reading Beyond the Shadows after that i'll read The Darkness That Comes Before If i like it i will continue the series, and finally Fool's Errand which i'm really looking forward to reading.

I just finished Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch. It was pretty good, especially for a debut novel. I'll definitely be reading more of this series.

Next up is The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon.

Ben, I enjoyed that book too. Though it's called Midnight Riot here in the states.

Right now I'm working on Wen Spencer's [Book: Alien Taste]. Hoping to start on Suzanne Collins' [Book: The Hunger Games] right after that.

I'm about 1/4 of the way into . This is a very interesting and exciting read. I've noticed that it's been Sci-Fis that I've been very happy with. Granted, they're Hugo winners. Maybe I should go and read all the Hugo winners.

i'm sure we can give some good recommendations, Aloha ;D

of course, i feel it impolite to force my tastes on people, unless asked...

I'm asking, Paul. What are your recommendations?

Im still on A Game of Thrones, but getting close to the end

Crystal Singer - Anne McCaffrey

Reread. It's still good.

Currently reading: Starfish

to-read-in-feb list so far:
Altered Carbon
The Windup Girl
Boneshaker
Swamplandia!
Un Lun Dun
Immortality
Ex-Heroes
Pegasus

*phew* any recommendations on other books or if there is any books in this list I should avoid ?

Well, opinions vary and all that, but myself and several other people found 'Boneshaker' to be pretty boring.

Also, Un Lun Dun is an ok read, but not monumental by any means - if you wre looking for something to keep on the to-read list, but maybe as a lesser priority.

Haven't read any of the others.

Erewhon - Samuel Butler

Colleen ~blackrose~ wrote: [snip]
Also, Un Lun Dun is an ok read, but not monumental by any means - if you wre looking..."

I'll keep that on my "reading while commuting" list then, thanks :)

Aloha, personally, I find some of the Hugo finalists and winners don't always fit my tastes, but there are certainly many great ones that make the list and/or win.

Ala wrote: "Ben, I enjoyed that book too. Though it's called Midnight Riot here in the states."

Yeah, I know. I hated the US title and cover which is why I bought the British version.

Ben, it's a safe bet to start with the Hugo winners.

Aloha wrote: "I'm asking, Paul. What are your recommendations?"

as i'd describe Hyperion as epic science fiction concerned with some deep philosophical issues, i'd suggest if you've enjoyed it you try Iain M Banks, whose Culture novels are rather spectacular. they're set in the same universe but don't follow on (there are occasional references to characters and events in other books, but more in the way of a knowing wink to the fans than anything). my personal faves are Look To Windward and Use of Weapons, although you can't go far wrong with any of them. the Beyond Reality GR group are currently reading The Player of Games, which is the second Culture book.

another writer who is well worth checking out is Sheri S Tepper, whose sci-fi is far less technological than a lot of it but looks at societies with an anthropologist's eye and writes better character than almost anyone in else SF. Her book The Visitor is superb, but most of them are. i'm thinking of nominating Gibbon's Decline and Fall as a group read as it's on my TBR and looks rather good.

And finally Orson Scott Card. his famous Ender's Game is very good (and i think won the Hugo), but the three books that follow it are masterpieces and do rely on the events of the first book.

bet you're sorry you asked ;D

I've read Ender's Game and is aware of Orson Scott Card. Thank you for the recommendations, Paul. No, I'm not sorry at all. :o)