What Are You Reading?

Dades

About 30% the way through David Koepp's debut novel Cold Fusion.

Koepp is the screenwriter of Jurassic Park and Mission Impossible, amongst others.
Was really looking forward to seeing if he could write like Crichton, and not just adapt him.

Really enjoying it so far, but have paused it to read...

The Secret Commonwealth (The Book of Dust #2). I love this universe so have been waiting for this to come out. About 10% in and waiting for it to warm up. La Belle Sauvage (Book 1) took its time to get going, but delivered in the end.

Igotadose

Finally finished "The Monster Baru Cormorant." Towards the end, it felt like a rush job - there were dropped words and typos (in my Kindle version anyway.) Thought the ending was kind of weak and contrived to keep us 'in suspense.' The author did promise another novel, so hopefully the series gets wrapped soon.

Thargor

Cage of Souls was excellent, wish it was a series as long as Shadow of the Apt tbh, I could read stories about them diving under the city forever, so many good ideas crammed into that book.

ixoy

Well I see "The Traitor Baru Commorant" is £2.17 currently on Amazon, for those who want to see if it's worth the fuss. I'm picking up a copy anyway

sweetie

ixoy wrote: »

Well I see "The Traitor Baru Commorant" is £2.17 currently on Amazon, for those who want to see if it's worth the fuss. I'm picking up a copy anyway

and €2.49 on play store for those who use their phone credit

Tired Gardener

Recently picked up Stand on Zanzibar, an interesting book.

Fian

Finished children of ruin over the weekend. I enjoyed it, equally as good as children of time imo.

About to start reading the goblin emperor.

Widdershins

Switching between The Irish Princess ( about Aoife McMurrough & Richard De Clare) and
Her Kind (about Petronelle Dr Meath, first woman murdered as a heretic in Ireland)
Both enjoyable

Fian

Widdershins wrote: »

Switching between The Irish Princess ( about Aoife McMurrough & Richard De Clare) and
Her Kind (about Petronelle Dr Meath, first woman murdered as a heretic in Ireland)
Both enjoyable

You are in the wrong thread (again!)

This thread is for sci-fi/fantasy, not historical biographies.

Igotadose

Just finished "The Aeronauts Windlass" by Jim Butcher. Nice light read, steam-punky physically impossible combat. Butcher's gotten better, it's not endless martial arts like the Dresden novels were. Now reading "Furies of Calderon," book 1 of the Codex Alera series. Nice light read, some interesting characters so far, and doesn't drag.

cdgalwegian

ixoy wrote: »

Well I see "The Traitor Baru Commorant" is £2.17 currently on Amazon, for those who want to see if it's worth the fuss. I'm picking up a copy anyway

Got it there. I'm 15% through and just cannot see what the fuss is about. It seems like it's written for YA audience; obviously it's about court intrigue and shenanigans, but Baru's arrival at Aurdwynn hasn't heralded any change in tempo or sense of danger, except maybe in 'talk' of danger. Maybe I just need some visceral violence with impending doom or something, or maybe I'm just impatient. Does this book move it up some gears? Does it set the scene for more 'actiony' sequels? Or do I need to stick to hard sci-fi? (I've been putting off Stephen Baxter's 'Raft' while reading this). Most reviews have 'epic' in them, but so far this relates more to a broad canvas of empire peopled by sneaky untrustwothy characters; is there much meat within the frame?

Rhiannon89

Just finished The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. There were parts of the book that were a tad boring but overall I think it was great.

shrapnel222

cdgalwegian wrote: »

Got it there. I'm 15% through and just cannot see what the fuss is about. It seems like it's written for YA audience; obviously it's about court intrigue and shenanigans, but Baru's arrival at Aurdwynn hasn't heralded any change in tempo or sense of danger, except maybe in 'talk' of danger. Maybe I just need some visceral violence with impending doom or something, or maybe I'm just impatient. Does this book move it up some gears? Does it set the scene for more 'actiony' sequels? Or do I need to stick to hard sci-fi? (I've been putting off Stephen Baxter's 'Raft' while reading this). Most reviews have 'epic' in them, but so far this relates more to a broad canvas of empire peopled by sneaky untrustwothy characters; is there much meat within the frame?

Definitely not young adult and definitely a slow burner. This book doesn't reinvent the wheel,it's just a really good read, which no doubt will not be to everybody's taste.

Thargor

Read the 2 latest Polity books while on holiday, The Soldier and The Warship, books 1 and 2 of the Rise of the Jain trilogy, number 3 is out in April, The Human:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/47113708-the-human

Absolutely love the whole Polity series but if I had to criticize they were leaning towards the repetitive side, still enjoyed them though.

Reading the Testaments by Margaret Atwood now and loving it.

mcgovern

Monthly update time
Luminous Dead was extremely boring. I'm not sure how the hell it gets described as horror and the scariest thing about it is realising how much more of it you have to read.
After that read Shadow Captain by Alastair Reynolds. It's book 2 in Revenger Series. I'd say it is better than book 1, but still not fantastic. Wish he would go back to his Revelation Space books as nothing else he's wrote has really grabbed me.
Following that it was The Gutter Prayer by Gareth Hanrahan-Ryder. I didn't realise this until I'd finished but it seems that the author is Irish or at least lives here. The book is about 3 thieves and a conspiracy they stumble into that could destroy the whole city. I got a bit of China Mieville vibe from it with the various different races (not so much the writing style). Rather than elves and dwarves there are collections of human sized and shaped Worms, Ghouls who were once human and various inventive gods. I did like this one and immediately pre-ordered the sequel which is out in January.
I'm now reading The Grand Dark by Richard Kadrey which is 'fantasy' set in a kind of Weimar Republic-esque setting but with some basic robots and biological constructs. About 50% in and I'm not sure where the story is going, but I've found I'm not that worried about it and just want to see more of the city. I would recommend it so far.

I finished listening to Red Sister by Mark Lawerence. It's a fairly standard magic school, chosen one story but it's very well done. My one gripe is that a number of the characters are done with a terrible Irish accent. I did buy the audio book of Grey Sister (the sequel) but instead of jumping straight in I've gone for Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames. It's good and quite different than most fantasy books but not as good as some of the praise it gets, maybe because I'm not really into the rock music it takes a lot of inspiration from.

Dades

Finished Cold Fusion.

A fun read very much in the Michael Crichton vein.

smacl

Finished Pinion by Elizibeth Bear and on to the second book in the trilogy. Very entertaining sci-fi that reads more like classic fantasy, with feuding factions and AIs fighting it out on an enormous defunct generation ship. I found it slow enough to get going, and was dipping in and out of a few other books at the same time, but smart and engaging once I got a feel for it. The second book Sanction picks up precisely where the last one left off and looks to be more of the same.

ixoy

Finished a couple recently:

'Sea of Rust' by Robert C. Cargill. It's set in a post-apocalyptic earth where only robots are left after they wiped out humanity and how they continue in the world. I was disappointed in this because the story - told in the first person - rarely felt as if it was being related by a robot. There was little to no attempt to get into how that mind worked. Perhaps "Children of Time" and others have spoiled me for expecting different thinking but here you could just as easily have been reading about humans.
The plot moved pretty swiftly but it never grabbed me and I didn't find much innovative here.

A much better read was 'Arm of the Sphinx' by Josiah Bancroft, the second book in his 'Books of Babel' series. Entertaining and set in an interesting, and pretty unique setting, it was a worthy follow on. My only quibble is that it suffers a little from cliffhanger ending, but it does show my interesting in reading more.

I also just finished 'Guns of the Dawn' by Adrian Tchaikovsky. One of the author's own favourites (so he told me when he signed it!), I can easily see why. It's sort of what would happen if Jane Austen sent one of her characters to fight in a sort of Napoleonic war. It's light on magic and very character focused, with strong character growth. It's also a great example of writing about the utter pointlessness of war. It also shows the author's range. Excellent book.

Thargor

smacl wrote: »

Finished Pinion by Elizibeth Bear and on to the second book in the trilogy. Very entertaining sci-fi that reads more like classic fantasy, with feuding factions and AIs fighting it out on an enormous defunct generation ship. I found it slow enough to get going, and was dipping in and out of a few other books at the same time, but smart and engaging once I got a feel for it. The second book Sanction picks up precisely where the last one left off and looks to be more of the same.

Did someone say Generation Ship"? Ordered thanks

ixoy wrote: »

'Sea of Rust' by Robert C. Cargill. It's set in a post-apocalyptic earth where only robots are left after they wiped out humanity and how they continue in the world. I was disappointed in this because the story - told in the first person - rarely felt as if it was being related by a robot. There was little to no attempt to get into how that mind worked. Perhaps "Children of Time" and others have spoiled me for expecting different thinking but here you could just as easily have been reading about humans.
The plot moved pretty swiftly but it never grabbed me and I didn't find much innovative here.

One of the worst books Ive read in recent times, absolutely dire.

divide_by_zero

Finally finished Senlin Ascends after putting it down for about six months and it really felt like a chore to finish it. I picked it back up after reading what some people had to say about it here. But I struggled with Senlin himself. I found him annoying with no redeemable qualities whatsoever. I've seen people say that book 2 is better but really can't see myself picking it up.

Started rereading Neuromancer again though.

Fian

Finished the Goblin emperor, based i think on recommendations in this thread. Reasonably good, nothing to rave about though, ending was sort of anti-climatic.

Mr Meanor

Enjoyed 'The Gone World' by Tom Sweterlitsch
Time Travelling NCIS operatives from an alternative 1997 investigating murder and a gory world ending event called Terminus that's travelling back in time from the far future but is now only a few years away from their own time!

The NCIS bit makes perfect sense when you read it.

coffee_cake

been on hols for the last week so a bunch of lighter reading. i went off whatever kindle unlimited recommended for me which seems to have tended towards the YA genre! i'll have to train it better.

Nora Jacobs series books 1-3 by Jackie May - very enjoyable. vampires and fey and whathaveyou. I'd read more if there were any.

Oremere Chronicles books 1-3 by Helen Scheuerer - great YA fantasy. tore through these

Shadowspell Academy books 1-3 - think this is YA also. nice take on the usual school of magic business as it's all set prior to entry.

The Vine Witch - kind of a small story but also entertaining. i haven't read too much historical fantasy set in 19thc france or thereabouts

Broken Veil harbinger book 5 by Jeff Wheeler (as always) - always enjoy his books and this was a great conclusion

Ink Mage by Victor Gischler - i read it through but it wasn't great. surprised at the positive ratings on amazon. all the characters sounded exactly the same, even one who came from a faraway continent. a couple characters went from 0 to I LOVE YOU with zero development. grand concept, v poorly executed

I had started the gray house by mariam petrosyan but gave up on it. unusual for me, but i wasn't really into it.

Left hand of darkness - ursula le guin - enjoyed it. i have only just finished it so i suppose i need to ponder it a bit more. it was very well written obviously and i liked the concepts. it's surprisingly sexist in parts, even to the very end. i am very glad to have read it though

currently reading: a long way to a small angry planet, becky chambers
have also started: ada palmer 'too like the lightning'. definitely not a holiday read so parked it for when i can pay more attention. heavier going.

i've probably forgotten one or two here but sure

pixelburp

Finally, after 5 seasons of the TV show, picked up The Magicians by Lev Grossman.

While I'm only about 30% through, it's fascinating coming to source material after my primary experience (and emotional investment) is through the adaptation. The book - or rather, the TV show, is so different in many small ways, mostly centred around the voice & tone of characters, the cast also being a smidge older in the TV version. The big - and slightly disappointing difference if I'm honest - is the absence of arguably the TV show's strongest & most compelling character: Margo. "Janet" is kinda similar - again in small ways - but she just isn't Margo and knowing where her journey takes her across the adaptation's four seasons, as I said I'm a bit disappointed she doesn't actually exist in the novel.

Igotadose

pixelburp wrote: »

Finally, after 5 seasons of the TV show, picked up The Magicians by Lev Grossman.

While I'm only about 30% through, it's fascinating coming to source material after my primary experience (and emotional investment) is through the adaptation. The book - or rather, the TV show, is so different in many small ways, mostly centred around the voice & tone of characters, the cast also being a smidge older in the TV version. The big - and slightly disappointing difference if I'm honest - is the absence of arguably the TV show's strongest & most compelling character: Margo. "Janet" is kinda similar - again in small ways - but she just isn't Margo and knowing where her journey takes her across the adaptation's four seasons, as I said I'm a bit disappointed she doesn't actually exist in the novel.

There's a TV version? That might work.

Not tongue-in-cheek. Haven't had TV for a number of years, no regrets.

It was a pretty good series,not great. I did enjoy the skewering of Narnia.

Now reading the "Codex Alera" series by Jim Butcher. Not as good as "The Magicians"

Buford T. Justice XIX

I've gone through a few this last while so I'll throw up a quick list.

Priest of Bones(war for the rose throne) by Peter McLean. Kinda struggling through this one. Peaky Blinders with swords and a bit of magic, 64% through and will finish it but seems a bit 'repeat the last section but with more/stronger opponents'. Passes away a bit of time, 5/10.

Reclaiming Honor (The Way of Legend, book 1) by Marc Edelheit and Quincy J. Allen. A return to Edelheits world with Romans, Dwarves, Elves, Orcs and Goblins. An enjoyable romp told from the Dwarven perspective, simple but effective. I really enjoy this guy, no massive themes other than good v evil but a comfortable read for me anyway. Finished in 2 days. 9/10(may be biased:pac:)

The Poppy War by R. F. Kuang, orphan girl discovers magical abilities. A bit slow moving but I'm enjoying it
8/10

The Ember Blade by Chris Wooding (The Darkwater Legacy, Book 1) Teenage boy has everything taken from him and discovers a different path in life. Enjoyable book, I will be reading the second book when it comes out. 8/10

Servant of the Crown (Heir to the Crown) by Paul Bennett. I read the series of 4 books over a short enough time, an enjoyable read, good story and plot but nothing more than that really. I'll probably read the next book as well when it comes out. 7/10

coffee_cake

Poppy war was great

Finished the becky chambers book - highly recommend. Onto the second now

Buford T. Justice XIX

Just finished Priest of Bones and the last 40% absolutely flew by. Just bought the sequel, Priest of lies, now. I'm upping the rating to 8/10

Paddy Samurai

About 50% through and enjoying it big time.No other author makes me LOL or smile as much as Joe does.Although Mark Lawerence has come close in the past.

War. Politics. Revolution.
The Age of Madness has arrived . . .

The chimneys of industry rise over Adua and the world seethes with new opportunities. But old scores run deep as ever.

On the blood-soaked borders of Angland, Leo dan Brock struggles to win fame on the battlefield, and defeat the marauding armies of Stour Nightfall. He hopes for help from the crown. But King Jezal's son, the feckless Prince Orso, is a man who specialises in disappointments.

Savine dan Glokta - socialite, investor, and daughter of the most feared man in the Union - plans to claw her way to the top of the slag-heap of society by any means necessary. But the slums boil over with a rage that all the money in the world cannot control.

The age of the machine dawns, but the age of magic refuses to die. With the help of the mad hillwoman Isern-i-Phail, Rikke struggles to control the blessing, or the curse, of the Long Eye. Glimpsing the future is one thing, but with the guiding hand of the First of the Magi still pulling the strings, changing it will be quite another . . .

Mr Meanor

Just finished Salvation and Salvation Lost, two books in Peter F Hamiltons Salvation trilogy, high tech space opera by the master of the genre. Read both books without any reference to reviews so enjoyed the earlier settings and plot twists. I won't provide any plot details but if your're Hamilton fan you'll like it.