What Are You Reading?

gufnork

Just started 'Hunters of Gor', the 8th in John Norman's Gorean chronicles. Also about to start 'A Princess of Mars', which after reading so many Gor novels I feel I should at least read this one too. Saw the movie and liked it. Was very good.

ixoy

Just started a bunch of new books:

Primary book is "God's War" by Kameron Hurley, the first book in her Bel Dame Apocrypha series. It was a book (and its sequel) that I picked up for free a while back. 16% in and I'm quite impressed - it's a sort of sci-fi fantasy/fusion set on a desert world with a sort of Arabian/Islamic background. There's organic tech and the lead is an assassin in a strongly-female based society. Quite refreshing so far. Seems like, since I got these, she's done better for herself and got published in paper (and book 2 isn't out here yet!).

Also, as an accompanier, I'm reading a book of short stories I got in a Humble Bundle package: "Machine of Death: A Collection of Stories About People Who Know How They Will Die". It's sort of a Final Destination thing where people know the manner of their death but not the specifics. Read two stories and I'm a little disappointed: Rather than finding out how they die, it's just been about their reactions to finding out. Hopefully this will change.

Finally for an occasional dip in, I'm reading "The Shadow of the Torturer" by Gene Wolf, the first book in his New Sun cycle. It's apparently a classic so we'll see if it lives up to that.

Nody

ixoy wrote: »

Finally for an occasional dip in, I'm reading "The Shadow of the Torturer" by Gene Wolf, the first book in his New Sun cycle. It's apparently a classic so we'll see if it lives up to that.

One of the few books I simply gave up on; I simply could not care about the story or characters even thought the world is very interesting.

seagull

Nody wrote: »

One of the few books I simply gave up on; I simply could not care about the story or characters even thought the world is very interesting.

I quite enjoyed that series. I can't remember any of the plot details now, though.

Morag

Finally getting around to reading MaddAddam by Margaret Atwood and the very odd but interesting collection of short stories which are stiched to gether http://www.gwdbooks.com/red-phone-box.html

MagicMarker

Struggling through "The Stars My Destination".

It's just a blatant rip off of The Count of Monte Cristo, but with space travel. Some people say "inspired", I say rip off.

ixoy

Nody wrote: »

One of the few books I simply gave up on; I simply could not care about the story or characters even thought the world is very interesting.

I noticed a fellow boards.ie on Goodreads gave it 2* so between the two of you and a half-hearted recommendation below... Might switch to Hugh Howey's Shift for an upcoming holiday to keep myself entertained.

Nody

ixoy wrote: »

I noticed a fellow boards.ie on Goodreads gave it 2* so between the two of you and a half-hearted recommendation below... Might switch to Hugh Howey's Shift for an upcoming holiday to keep myself entertained.

I know people who'd have his babies over the series basically; it's really appears to be a hate it/love it type of series

TwoShedsJackson

Waiting 3 years to say this but just started Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch

keane2097

(posted this in the wrong thread yesterday)


Ended up finishing that The Blade Itself one and moving straight onto the second one "Before They Are Hanged" straight away.

Nothing really happened in the first one but the characters and dialogue are great, which is what I usually enjoy most in books.

TwoShedsJackson

keane2097 wrote: »

Nothing really happened in the first one but the characters and dialogue are great, which is what I usually enjoy most in books.

Not sure I'd agree that 'nothing happened in the first one', but if you like the characters and dialogue they get better as it goes on, and I suppose you could take the first one as setup for events in 2 and especially 3.

Trojan

ixoy wrote: »

Finally for an occasional dip in, I'm reading "The Shadow of the Torturer" by Gene Wolf, the first book in his New Sun cycle. It's apparently a classic so we'll see if it lives up to that.

Nody wrote: »

One of the few books I simply gave up on; I simply could not care about the story or characters even thought the world is very interesting.

ixoy wrote: »

I noticed a fellow boards.ie on Goodreads gave it 2* so between the two of you and a half-hearted recommendation below...

That might be me you're referring to

I picked it up hoping it would be "epic fantasy", but the author's focus seems to be more on the descriptive language and less on the plot development and internal consistency.

I did read the whole first book - which is a couple of 'books' I think - but only because I desperately wanted something to happen. I was also a more tolerant reader a few years back

Have you read "Titus Groan"? I'd be interested to know if you found any comparison between the two. Let us know how you get on with it anyway.

mcgovern

Finished Return of The Crimson Guard last week, its well worth the read if you enjoy the other Malazan books, nice to see a few characters in action, who'd previously just been talked about or talked themselves.
1/3 through Caliban's War, by James S. A. Corey. The opening was a bit week, but its getting better as it goes.

Kewreeuss

Finished Abbadon's Gate, enjoyed very minute of it. The last page does not have "to be continued" on it but it might as well have. Roll on.
I liked Paul McCauley's Evening's Empire although it lacks a bit of consistancybut I would read more of his.
I've also finished Heaven' s Shadow, not a bad premise for a story, even though not original. Near Earth object closing in, turns out to be a starship from alien race. The only thing is I can see it as a 'tele-series' as I read along, specially when the book cover says"from the writers of batman and the twilight zone "

I have and am saving the fourth book by simon morden. So cool,love this series, covers are great too. Anyone else like him too?

Finally, I am persevering with my first book by Terry Goodkind called The third Kindom , " a Richard and kahlan novel". Dear God, It's like being trapped in wallpaper paste. Nothing happens! This Richard has spent the last 150 pages talking to a whiney twit called Samantha . Every sentence she utters finishes with a question mark which leads to another twenty pages of verbosity from Richard. It remind me of those essays I did as a kid in school - trying to stretch my two pages to three even after writing big.
Not sure if I can stick it out to the end -don't really care wtf happens to the characters after all. Please someone, are all his books like this?
Thanks be to god I have ken bruen's latest (I know. Different genre) lined up.

OwaynOTT

Kewreeuss wrote: »

Finished Abbadon's Gate, enjoyed very minute of it. The last page does not have "to be continued" on it but it might as well have. Roll on.
I liked Paul McCauley's Evening's Empire although it lacks a bit of consistancybut I would read more of his.
I've also finished Heaven' s Shadow, not a bad premise for a story, even though not original. Near Earth object closing in, turns out to be a starship from alien race. The only thing is I can see it as a 'tele-series' as I read along, specially when the book cover says"from the writers of batman and the twilight zone "

I have and am saving the fourth book by simon morden. So cool,love this series, covers are great too. Anyone else like him too?

Finally, I am persevering with my first book by Terry Goodkind called The third Kindom , " a Richard and kahlan novel". Dear God, It's like being trapped in wallpaper paste. Nothing happens! This Richard has spent the last 150 pages talking to a whiney twit called Samantha . Every sentence she utters finishes with a question mark which leads to another twenty pages of verbosity from Richard. It remind me of those essays I did as a kid in school - trying to stretch my two pages to three even after writing big.
Not sure if I can stick it out to the end -don't really care wtf happens to the characters after all. Please someone, are all his books like this?
Thanks be to god I have ken bruen's latest (I know. Different genre) lined up.

Why Goodkind? Why? There's so many things out more worthy of your reading, like a shampoo bottle for example.

shaneor

Kewreeuss wrote: »

Finished Abbadon's Gate, enjoyed very minute of it. The last page does not have "to be continued" on it but it might as well have. Roll on.

It was probably might least favorite of the trilogy but still a great read. I'm fairly sure they've confirmed there's another trilogy in the works to follow on.

shaneor

I finished by reread of "Lies of Locke Lamora" and "Red Seas Under Red Skies" just in time for "Republic of Thieves" to come out. They both held up well to a reread. Red Seas is undoubtedly the weaker of the two but still great fun and I just love Lynchs writing. Some absolulely fabulous one liners especially in Lies.

“Nice bird, asshole!”

“I cut off his fingers to get him to talk, and when he'd confessed everything I wanted to hear, I had his ****ing tongue cut out, and the stump cauterized."

Everyone in the room stared at him.

"I called him an asshole, too," said Locke. "He didn't like that.”

Getting stuck into Republic of Thieves and so far so good. It has all that I love about Lynch but I'm a little concerned there's going to be too much jumping back & forth with the flashbacks. I'm fairly sure its going to be great fun either way!

Kewreeuss

Nope. Couldn't hack it!
Skimmed the last third of Goodkind's book just to see what happened.
I won't be reading anything of his again. Sorry. I have no interest in any of his dopey characters.
I imagine if he runs out of ideas for his plots he could take up writing training manuals, the ones that go on for ever and say the same thing in ten different ways before moving on to another point and you still are no wiser at the end!

Nody

Goodkind took badly for the 9/11 but it sounds as you started in the middle or something but yea...

Playboy

Had a quick read of the Spooks Apprentice as there is a movie based on it coming out soon and I wanted something quick and light before diving into part two of Hamiltons Nights Dawn Triology. Was more of a teen novel but was fun/interesting none the less. Was thinking of reading Enders Game now also since there is a movie on the way and it seems quite highly rated.

Trojan

I actually thought Goodkind's Sword of Truth series was ok, not amazing, but I've read far worse. A lot of concepts & ideas that are suspiciously similar to Robert Jordan's, but the politics or lectures didn't bother me as much as it did some.

Trojan

As for what I'm reading - I'm wondering whether to launch into The Republic of Thieves, or to re-read the first two.

Nody

Trojan wrote: »

I actually thought Goodkind's Sword of Truth series was ok, not amazing, but I've read far worse. A lot of concepts & ideas that are suspiciously similar to Robert Jordan's, but the politics or lectures didn't bother me as much as it did some.

I agree; I found it interesting (and very graphical at times which is what I liked I guess) but the 9/11 really turned his politics from "annoying" to "I'm a firebrand preacher and I'll show the world how the American way is the only way and I'll burn some holy books doing so" level. It did not help the story went from somewhat reasonble to meglamaniac level of deux ex solutions and enmies (oh hai I'm a monster that can't be killed in any form any how and I'm about to eat you and I can chase you anywhere in the world).

The last three books to finish the main arc was painfull to read compared to the beginning.

Trojan wrote: »

As for what I'm reading - I'm wondering whether to launch into The Republic of Thieves, or to re-read the first two.

Re-read; it makes it soo much more enjoyable and you can pick up all those small tweaks and comments you forgot about and love (at least that's my plan).

TwoShedsJackson

Finished Republic of Thieves, it was good but probably the least good of the 3 so far - there are three stories intertwined and one of them

putting on the play and killing Boulidazi, plus Locke getting together with Sabetha for the first time

just isn't that interesting.

The other sections were far superior and it does have

a really good ending

which is making me look forward to the 4th anyway.

Kewreeuss

Finished The Steel Remains by Richard Morgan plain straightforward tongue in cheek gory 'romp', as the blurbs would call it.
Going back to Terry Goodkind, what struck me was that there was no humour, irony, sarcasm anywhere in the book I read, it was decidedly head up nether end! From the posts I gather 9/11 pushed him off balance and it has affected his writing. I might go and find one of his early works and give it a twirl.
Do you think Goodkind is his real name or a fantasy name?
I have run out of sf to read, waiting to get Ben aaronvitches latest, the others were so clever!
Must try this republic of thieves you all seem to be reading

OwaynOTT

I dunno Goodkind was always a hack. Before 9/11 he just ripped off Robert Jordan.

TwoShedsJackson

Kewreeuss wrote: »

Must try this republic of thieves you all seem to be reading

Read the first two in the series 'Lies of Locke Lamora' and 'Red Seas under Red Skies', if you haven't already - before you read this one.

Raif Severance

OwaynOTT wrote: »

I dunno Goodkind was always a hack. Before 9/11 he just ripped off Robert Jordan.

His first 2 Books were actually Good.

I get the feeling that the Sword of Truth Novels were initially planned as a Short Series (Possibly as a 5 Book Set or less), but got Stretch to 11 to Milk the Fanbase.

He just ran out of Ideas.

That's why most of the later Books, reads like Bad Anime Fillers but without the Humor.

OwaynOTT

Raif Severance wrote: »

His first 2 Books were actually Good.

I get the feeling that the Sword of Truth Novels were initially planned as a Short Series (Possibly as a 5 Book Set or less), but got Stretch to 11 to Milk the Fanbase.

He just ran out of Ideas.

That's why most of the later Books, reads like Bad Anime Fillers but without the Humor.

sorry but he ripped Jordan off and i cant remember when it started but it was fairly blatant. first book was ok and thats it really.

sister of the light and dark sisters = aes sedai and black ajah
male wizards being collared = male channellers

There was more but they all escape me at the moment.

keane2097

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

Finished Republic of Thieves, it was good but probably the least good of the 3 so far - there are three stories intertwined and one of them

putting on the play and killing Boulidazi, plus Locke getting together with Sabetha for the first time

just isn't that interesting.

The other sections were far superior and it does have

a really good ending

which is making me look forward to the 4th anyway.

Oh dear, I thought for some reason that this was a trilogy. Not convinced it can stand being stretched out too much more than that...

TwoShedsJackson

keane2097 wrote: »

Oh dear, I thought for some reason that this was a trilogy. Not convinced it can stand being stretched out too much more than that...

Seven books intended in the series.

And a prequel.

keane2097

TwoShedsJackson wrote: »

Seven books intended in the series.

And a prequel.

Jaysus! That will get a bit thin I suspect. I stopped the second one about half way through and haven't gone back yet. I think I said it before here that I thought the dialogue and characters were great but the prose was desperate and the plot a little boring.

In a way the books are a bit like conman movies where the whole thing is building up to a twist where the hero pulls something out of the bag. I'm not so sure this works that well in book form, the medium is a bit long winded for it.

I also remember feeling in the second one that Locke and Jean had too little control over what was happening to them. I know the idea is probably to make the reveal where they outsmart the bad guys that much more satisfying but when they're completely powerless for so long there's a bit of tension lost I think.

shrapnel222

just finishing the new Dan Simmons called "The abominable". Slow burner but i have to say i'm really enjoying it. i really like his writing of historical fiction.

ixoy

Reading "Makers" by Cory Doctorow. Got it free off his site as part of his ideas on copyright. It's.. okay. Based around the concept of developers burning through new technologies, it's kind of bugging me in some ways. It seems that the people of the world all think Doctorow's nerdy tech ideas are amazing rather than, as I believe they would, merely gimmicky and their successes seem very unrealistic. I'll push on for a few more days and then I'll be switching over to "The Republic of Thieves" and resume Makers at a later point.

AnCapaillMor

OwaynOTT wrote: »

sorry but he ripped Jordan off and i cant remember when it started but it was fairly blatant. first book was ok and thats it really.

sister of the light and dark sisters = aes sedai and black ajah
male wizards being collared = male channellers

There was more but they all escape me at the moment.

The dark one trying to break out. The black ajah thing was so blatant.

Unfortunately i read goodkind first, thought he was decent at the start then i read other books. That 9/11 explains a lot because the last few books turned out into how freedom\capitalism was great. Really liked the 2nd book but after reading the first few WOT's, i couldn't believe how similar they were. what got me was the books reminded me of stargate, the book was spent looking for an ancient artifact\knoweldge and then in finding\using it he opened up another can of worms for a later book.

Finishing up the 2nd lamora book, have ordered TROT but think i'll do a reread of the 2 again, i read red skies in between several other books. Mainly the travellers gates books which are good not great and the paul kearney books after the ten thousand. 2nd was not as good as the 10,000 but the 3rd book was great.

Bits_n_Bobs

shrapnel222 wrote: »

just finishing the new Dan Simmons called "The abominable". Slow burner but i have to say i'm really enjoying it. i really like his writing of historical fiction.

I was a long term fan of Simmons since reading Hyperion many years ago. Last year I read Flashback. To call it a right wing political diatribe would be doing UKIP a great disservice. I was staggered at the odd views expressed in it (Muslims rule the world because "Obama", global warming is a myth...because...), however ever greater than the political views was the banality and general crapness of the actual book. Vomit inducing turgid muck from an otherwise very gifted writer.

OwaynOTT

Just reading Joe Hill's, Heart Shaped Box, at times it's so funny how alike it is to his father. Decent enough book but not that creepy at all but his next two books are meant to be big improvements.
Collecting Republic of Thieves later today!!!!! Oh no five exclamation marks, Terry Pratchett wouldn't be impressed with that.

shrapnel222

Bits_n_Bobs wrote: »

I was a long term fan of Simmons since reading Hyperion many years ago. Last year I read Flashback. To call it a right wing political diatribe would be doing UKIP a great disservice. I was staggered at the odd views expressed in it (Muslims rule the world because "Obama", global warming is a myth...because...), however ever greater than the political views was the banality and general crapness of the actual book. Vomit inducing turgid muck from an otherwise very gifted writer.

Heard it was utter tripe, so never bothered reading it.

Hyperion is one of my all time favorites, and have to say i really enjoyed the terror (historical fiction with a twist), but this seems to be purely historical fiction based in the 20s in the himalaya and really enjoyable if a tad slow burning.

mcgovern

Finished Caliban's War, I wasn't that impressed with the start, it reminded me of Kevin J Anderson's writing style for some reason, but it some got back to business, and was very good from about 15% on.
Started Republic of Thieves (danger of not being able to sleep on a Saturday morning and having the amazon store on your kindle!), just finished the prologue but so far so good!

shaneor

Finished Republic of Thieves and really enjoyed it. I don't think it hit the heights of Lies but still a good entertaining read which filled in some interesting back story and setup the rest of the series well.

After moving on to "Hollow World" by Michael J. Sullivan. I backed his Kickstarter campaign for this awhile back but only getting around to reading it now. I backed it because I enjoyed his other books and I like seeing different approaches to publishing but I'm very much enjoying the book so far. Interesting mix of sci-fi & fantasy. I don't think its on full release until next year some time.

Zapp Brannigan

About halfway through A Memory of Light.

Everyone's a Darkfriend it seems...

fenris

Working through the Old Mans War series by John Scalzi.
I was looking for something that wasn't too formulaic and a bit of fun to lift me a little bit during a grim time (my wife's first anniversary), so I picked up The Old Man's War, I actually nearly put this book down within the first page or two as it starts off at the grave of the wife of the main character (yep I can pick em).
Somehow the author manages to get it exactly right without the grimness knocking you down.
There are some fantastic ideas in the series and it is a good and entertaining read, somewhere between Enders Game and Starship Troopers (books). so box ticked and working my way through the third book at the moment.

shootermacg

Just finished the second book of "The Aspect-Emperor". Definitely not as strong as the Prince of Nothing trilogy, but saying that, the characters are so good, that you really want to find out what's happening to them.

Started "The Mist-born trilogy", after the first few pages, I'm not so sure if there aren't better books to read first, its not bad, it just hasn't really grabbed me in the same way R. Scott Baker's books have.

Nody

shootermacg wrote: »

Started "The Mist-born trilogy", after the first few pages, I'm not so sure if there aren't better books to read first, its not bad, it just hasn't really grabbed me in the same way R. Scott Baker's books have.

My problem with the mist-born trilogy was after book 1 to be honest; I'm still only 2/3rds through the third book and not progessed in 1.5 years as I simply lost interest

OwaynOTT

I stopped after the first one. Good idea but poor execution.

shootermacg

Bugger! I was hoping someone would tell me to continue reading. OK then I'm not going to read this, I'm sick of ordinary fantasy, The Prince of Nothing has spoiled me it seems, I'll be keeping my eyes out for something of comparable quality.

AnCapaillMor

shootermacg wrote: »

Bugger! I was hoping someone would tell me to continue reading. OK then I'm not going to read this, I'm sick of ordinary fantasy, The Prince of Nothing has spoiled me it seems, I'll be keeping my eyes out for something of comparable quality.

The follow up, the alloy of law was interesting, the evolution of the magic system from use with swords\bows etc to use in the future with guns etc was pretty cool. Magic system was cool but characters were nowhere near he prince of nothing series.

shootermacg

AnCapaillMor wrote: »

The follow up, the alloy of law was interesting, the evolution of the magic system from use with swords\bows etc to use in the future with guns etc was pretty cool. Magic system was cool but characters were nowhere near he prince of nothing series.

Yes exactly, you felt that anything could happen to the characters in the PoN series, whereas I get the feeling that everything will work out fine for the characters in Mist-born, bar the odd obstacle to overcome stuff.

I personally prefer my characters to be at the whim of chance to an extent, some situations cannot be overcome, no matter how resourceful the main is!

Nody

shootermacg wrote: »

Yes exactly, you felt that anything could happen to the characters in the PoN series, whereas I get the feeling that everything will work out fine for the characters in Mist-born, bar the odd obstacle to overcome stuff.

I personally prefer my characters to be at the whim of chance to an extent, some situations cannot be overcome, no matter how resourceful the main is!

Do read on then; trust me it is going to meet your wishes in that aspect.

keane2097

Almost finished "Before They Are Hanged" by Joe Abercrombie. Like the first one, it's not exactly the most action packed book I've ever read but I've enjoyed in thoroughly nevertheless.

Glotka and Jazal in particular have great depth as characters and really well put together arcs.