Israel SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

Hi,

Now we have a discussion board for books which we are currently reading/planning to read. I know that we can easily see what other members of the group are reading by clicking on "members", but most of the readers tend to write there a few words at best, so I believe it would be more convenient having such a discussion board.

So I'm the first.
Currently I'm not reading, but once I'll finish my exams I'll get back to my to-read list. I have some books in mind, so on the horizon I have (not in that specific order):

The third Dresden Files book by Jim Butcher.
The King Beyond the Gate by David Gemmell.
A standalone novel in DL world.

I just finished In a Fix by Linda Grimes and Flying Dutch by Tom Holt. I'll probably read The Last Page, by Anthony Huso, next. I've heard great things about it and have been really looking forward to reading it.

I'm reading The Forsyte Saga and a Jo Nesbo novel. As well as a children's book in Italian, though that doesn't count. Next on my list is Kingsolver's The Lacuna, and Embassytown.

Genia wrote: "I'm reading The Forsyte Saga and a Jo Nesbo novel. As well as a children's book in Italian, though that doesn't count. Next on my list is Kingsolver's The Lacuna, and Embassytown."

I haven't read Embassytown but I loved Miéville's The City and the City. Have you read it?

I did, quite a bit ago. I liked it a great deal, and it is now making the rounds of my friends (and their grandmothers). Embassytown, however, appears to be much more sci-fi than The City and The City had been.

Genia wrote: "I did, quite a bit ago. I liked it a great deal, and it is now making the rounds of my friends (and their grandmothers). Embassytown, however, appears to be much more sci-fi than The City and The C..."

The City and the City blew me away in how it so thoroughly convinced me of the impossible possibility of the story's setting, of two cities existing simultaneously in the same location. Though one person that I lent the book to pointed out that in many places in Israel we do live like, two cultures existing separately beside each other...
Anyways, Embassytown is very different because it's also a YA book. I had started the ebook a while back but it expired before I got to far in. I'll have to get a hold of it again.

I have one problem with Mieville - he hates Isreal, and has pro-Palastinian views. He loves us so much that he refused some offers to translate his books to hebrew.

All in all, as long as his books are devoid of his political views, I won't have any problem to read his books, and even many of his books are on my list, but still, I don't like that guy.

Nimrod wrote: "I have one problem with Mieville - he hates Isreal, and has pro-Palastinian views. He loves us so much that he refused some offers to translate his books to hebrew.

All in all, as long as his book..."

Seriously? If that's the case then his books are totally ruined for me.

On the contrary Simcha, it should make you want to read his books.

Jon wrote: "On the contrary Simcha, it should make you want to read his books."

Why do you say that?

Yes, and he is quite idealistic about it. I just googled now "China Mieville Israel", see for yourself what Dr. Google says:

Warning - I guess you wouldn't like what you gonna find there, for the matter of fact it's quite irritating.

http://seasonoftheredwolf.wordpress.c...

http://bwisp.wordpress.com/tag/china-...

http://seasonoftheredwolf.wordpress.c...

I also take in consideration what authors say outside of their novels,some are very funny, some are witty, some are smart, some are very sympathetic, Mieville is just not likeable (and it has nothing to do with his political views).

Simcha wrote:
Why do you say that?

I find it interesting to read stuff by people I disagree with.

Simcha wrote: "I haven't read Embassytown but I loved Miéville's The City and the City. Have you read it? "

I have a rule- don't read books that their writer refused to translate them to Hebrew for a political issues... :-)

While I might not judge a book by an author who's simply obnoxious this kind of thing I would definitely take into consideration. I'm not going to support an author who is rabidly anti-Israel and I'm sure my enjoyment of his books would be lessened knowing this about him as well.

But I'm not familiar with this website, Season of the Red Wolf, so I think I'll do a bit of digging on my own before coming to any conclusions. Does anyone know which publishing house had approached Miéville about translating his book?

Simcha, I don't know the credibility of those sites either,but it's what can be found in seconds.Lets say I wasn't surprised at all by what was written there.If you're not familiar with his view you'd better do some digging before coming to conclusions.

I know that Opus press asked about it (Before I joined them) and were declined.

It is a well known fact in the Israeli SciFi/Fantasy community that his books are not being translated, not because there are no publishers who would be happy to publish it.

Eyalg wrote: "I know that Opus press asked about it (Before I joined them) and were declined.

It is a well known fact in the Israeli SciFi/Fantasy community that his books are not being translated, not because ..."

Man, that really sucks. Since he's not big on interacting on social media sites I didn't know too much about him personally but from what I saw he seemed like a pretty cool guy. Well, I won't be promoting his books anymore.

Looks like he was raised in Egypt (If I am not mistaken) and it has some influence on his opinions.

Unfortunately- he is only one of several authors that refuse to let their books to be translated to Hebrew (Not all of them famous as he is), but I am mixing books (pleasure) and politics :-(

Eyalg wrote: "Looks like he was raised in Egypt (If I am not mistaken) and it has some influence on his opinions.

Unfortunately- he is only one of several authors that refuse to let their books to be translated..."

Well, in Israel politics is mixed into everything, how ever much you try to avoid it.I guess I rather not know who those authors are in case they turn out to be ones that I like and respect.

I'm so happy i disliked "Perdido Street Station " and don't have to do the howe author .v. his work thing.

I'm at the moment reading the last installment in the MacKayla Lane (Fever) series which should have been a paranormal romance and is in my opinion more of a dark ( very dark) Urban Fantasy with a little romance and sex in it

I started The Magician King, by Lev Grossman, this weekend, because I needed a "real" book for shabbat, and I'm really enjoying it. Has anybody read it? I'm enjoying it a lot more than I did The Magicians, though I am irritated that Lev uses a pasuk from Bereishit (ויהי אור) and says it's Aramaic .I expected better from him.

What was the context? I'm assuming a character said that so that basically gives authors leeway to say anything.

Simcha wrote: "I started The Magician King, by Lev Grossman, this weekend, because I needed a "real" book for shabbat, and I'm really enjoying it. Has anybody read it? I'm enjoying it a lot more than I did The Ma..."

Maybe I'll give it a try someday in the future.

I started Brothers Majere, that should be a piece of nostalgic. Gosh,my list is so loooooong.

Nimrod, have you read The Magician?

For some reason I've never read any Dragonlance books. I think it's one of those series you have to start reading when you first get into fantasy, or you're never going to read. One of my first fantasy series was Piers Anthony's Xanth series. I loved those books, though when I tried reading one as an adult I was so bored I couldn't finish it.

Jon wrote: "What was the context? I'm assuming a character said that so that basically gives authors leeway to say anything."

The character was saying an incantation to make light, which was the Hebrew pasuk. But he then says it's Aramaic. A very strange mistake.

Simcha wrote: "Nimrod, have you read The Magician?

For some reason I've never read any Dragonlance books. I think it's one of those series you have to start reading when you first get into fantasy, or you're nev..."

No, I haven't read the magicians, but maybe someday I'll give it a try.

Dragonlance was my first fantasy series. There are lots of books and many authors in this series but only few authors are considered good ones.From time to time it's nice to read a book in this series, DL has the lasting appeal.

Next week I hope I'll get to Dresden 3.

Simcha wrote: "The character was saying an incantation to make light, which was the Hebrew pasuk. But he then says it's Aramaic.."

We have been watching the latest season of True Blood and The Authority pray in Aramaic.

Sad to hear about old China's political views but with him being an English intellectual is it practically a given.

Esther wrote: "Simcha wrote: "The character was saying an incantation to make light, which was the Hebrew pasuk. But he then says it's Aramaic.."

We have been watching the latest season of True Blood and The Aut..."

I'm really hoping that doesn't apply to all British intellectuals. I'd be heart broken if I found out that Jasper Fforde is anti-Israel as well.

Esther wrote:but with him being an English intellectual is it practically a given. ..."

I don't think so....

Nimrod wrote: "Esther wrote:but with him being an English intellectual is it practically a given. ..."
I don't think so...."

Unfortunately we do. After reading the broadsheets, listening to the Beeb, hearing about the academic boycotts even just the impression our friends receive from the media. A friend who recently graduated from Oxford said that studying there while being Jewish/Zionist was not always pleasant.

But then I spent most of my youth near Oxford so YMMV

Just started Dresden 3.

Allah's Revenge -
I never heard of this book but decided to check it out when Nimrod added it.
Well, it turns out it's available for free on goodreads. I started reading it on my iPhone but ended up buying it anyway so I could read it on my Kindle (only $2.99).
Not bad so far. The science reminds me of an episode from Fringe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fringe_%...).

I never heard of this one until one of my GR friends posted a review on that book (http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...) so I added that book to my list.btw- I like Fringe, that's a great series :)

If you are looking for thrilers with a connection to Israel/Palastine/Iran background and some world-wide intrigues then check:
The Kill Artist (the whole series is about an Israeli agent)
Dark Rising (not that far from our reality, isn't it?).
I haven't read them yet, but they are on my list.


That's what I like in goodreads, it exposes you to a tremendous amount of books which you probably wouldn't heard of elsewhere.

I've been meaning to read Silva for a long time but he never made it high enough on my TBR list. He's very popular in the US so it was hard not to notice his books.

Regarding books with a connection to Israel:
In fiction that doesn't particularly draw me, but I'm actually interested in reading some non-fiction about Israel.

My relatives in America are always recommending to me mysteries and thrillers that take place in Israel but I'm also not particularly interested in reading fiction books involving Israel. Plus I don't like mysteries or thrillers.

I just finished reading The Assassin's Curse, which I was kind of disappointed with. But for some reason everyone else seemed to love it, based on the Goodreads reviews. I hate being the odd one out.

Finished Allah's Revenge. Time to finish the other books I'm currently reading. Maybe start Bitter Seeds too.

I think i'm about to start reading Agatha Heterodyne I really hope this will get mo out of the slump i have been in

I'm in the middle of Agatha H and the Clockwork Princess. Some seriously laughing out loud moments, but also slow in places. I'm about half-way through.

Whimsical decision to read Out of Oz and finish The Wicked Years series. http://www.goodreads.com/series/43509...

I had tried reading Wicked a while back but Maguire's writing style didn't appeal to me. Someone told me that his books get better so I have been thinking of giving it another shot.

I actually liked the first book more than the other two. Elphaba is one of my favorite fictional characters. I hope the last one is a bit better.
I also went to see the musical. Even those who didn't like the book would probably enjoy it. I think it's still running.

I've started The Devil's Playground. A few pages in - she is possessed by a demon and nearly had sex in the shower. Pretty average so far.

Esther wrote: "I've started The Devil's Playground. A few pages in - she is possessed by a demon and nearly had sex in the shower. Pretty average so far."

....and that's why I don't read these kind of books. They also all sound alike. This one sounds a lot like a Laurell K Hamilton's stuff, which I had read until the series derailed.

I'm one chapter away from Finishing Bitter Seeds and I'm trying to decide what to read next. It's a toss up between The Long Earth, The Age of Miracles, Crown Thief or Redshirts. Anyone read any of these?

Also started Bitter Seeds and Storm Front.
5 fiction books (+1 non-fiction) to keep track of.
Maybe I should stop adding books...

I read the RedShirts and love it, I am aware however- that some people did not enjoy it like me.

Any how- you have to see at least one or two chapters of Star Trek in order to enjoy the plot...

Finished Grave Peril, and added Jim Butcher to my favorite authors list :) , and just started Bitter Seeds.

Starting Royal Assassin by Robin Hobb

Finished Storm Front. I was expecting a bit more but it was OK for a first book. The series has potential to become pretty good.

I just finished "Extremlely laud and incredible close" by Jonathan Safran Foer, and an e-book i got from a group in good reads to review: "Evolution" by Kelly Carrero. I am currently reading "The red queen" (in the past months i red also from Philipa Gregory "the lady of the rivers" and "the white queen"), and then i'll put aside historic novel to get into sci-fi again... i've got several options: "The wise man's fear" by Patrick Rothfuss (this is the second novel of "The kingkiller chronicle: day two). I loved the first novel, so im excited about this one. I also got "The discovery of wiches" by Deborah Harkness, and the trilogy by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan: The strain trilogy. I got "The night watch" which i know is the first book of a trilogy by Sergei Lukyanenko, but i hate to love a book and not having the next one to keep on reading. Finally havw in waiting "Crossed" and "Matched" by Ally Condie, but everythime i look at them, i think they can wait... For how long? So let's see what follows. Did someone of you red already what i havent?