What Are You Reading?

Zapp Brannigan

Finished Tigana. Quite enjoyed it, will most definitely read some more of his work at some time.

Decided to do a Malazan reread now.

ixoy

Zapp Brannigan wrote: »

Finished Tigana. Quite enjoyed it, will most definitely read some more of his work at some time.

And I've started "The Lions of Al-Rassan", also by Mr Kay. 9% in and liking it despite the fact that there's pretty much no fantastical element other than an alternate take on Spain. Kay's writing style really ropes me in and he seems to have a gift for rounded, sympathetic characters.

fenris

I really enjoyed Old Man's war, purely by chance I ended up reading it around the time of my wife's anniversary and it was so uncannily like having my mind, emotions and thought processes read that I nearly put it down, but I didn't and was glad that I kept going, I ended up reading the whole series back to back and really enjoyed them.

Sometimes you just hit the right book at the right time.

Raif Severance

ixoy wrote: »

And I've started "The Lions of Al-Rassan", also by Mr Kay. 9% in and liking it despite the fact that there's pretty much no fantastical element other than an alternate take on Spain. Kay's writing style really ropes me in and he seems to have a gift for rounded, sympathetic characters.

You should read A Song Arbornne, next.

growler

Old Man's War was quite an enjoyable, if quick, read. Hard not to think of Starship Troopers when reading it, but despite the fast pace, it was a decent read. Must try a few of the series now, but first I have a monstrous Hyperion omnibus edition to tackle. I nearly put it back on the shelf after 50 pages but now that I'm two stories into the Canterbury-tales-in-future-space I can see some potential here.

Watch Ryder

Reading this:

Bits_n_Bobs

who the hell is tylar danaan and why the hell would you make a video promo of a book (complete with 'excerpts')?

Dades

Just started Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle.

Needed some old Sci-Fi after the latest Clive Cussler!

ChrisM

I just can't move away from old scifi. I am working my way through SF Masterworks from Gollancz. I haven't gone wrong yet :-)

I am halfway through The Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. It is a great story, well written with very likeable characters. I have Gateway, Flowers for Algernon, The Fifth Head of Cerebrus and Earth Abides sitting on my bookshelf.

I am also reading Hyperion by Dan Simmons. I like to have variety when I am reading books in parallel. This is a multi timeline story. It is packed full of action. I am about 2/5 through and so far it is 10/10.

I just started Salems Lot. I saw the show as a kid, but forgot almost 100% of it. So far the book is great, classic Stephen King...meaning I expect the story to be excellent but the end to be rubbish :-)

Nody

Currently about 1/3rd through John Scalzi's Red Shirt. Easy read and the story swings into play very quickly; will be curious to see where it ends up.

AllthingsCP

About 100 pages into Simon Scarrow's Under the Eagle Series: Blood Crows i believe it the 12th book in the series.

So far i am enjoying it hugely, I find the Character's are well done and you connect to them. I enjoy the story to, I have been a fan since the first book.

Sleepy

Knife of Dreams - it's really not looking like I'll manage to finish the WOT before the end of the year...

kirk buttercup

Nearly finished The Lies of locke lamora really liked it so far, however from reading the boards the next two have disappointed alot of people on here. So I have three in mind Tigana, the prince of thorns or the prince of nothing series. As Ive said I have enjoyed the first gentleman bastards series ( so will want to finish the series at some point). Any thoughts?

shootermacg

kirk buttercup wrote: »

Nearly finished The Lies of locke lamora really liked it so far, however from reading the boards the next two have disappointed alot of people on here. So I have three in mind Tigana, the prince of thorns or the prince of nothing series. As Ive said I have enjoyed the first gentleman bastards series ( so will want to finish the series at some point). Any thoughts?

Prince of nothing, no question! I haven't enjoyed a series as much....ever!
Prince of thornes, I read the first book, the usual tripe pretty much in the mould of "The Name of the Wind" but even more badly written.

5live

kirk buttercup wrote: »

Nearly finished The Lies of locke lamora really liked it so far, however from reading the boards the next two have disappointed alot of people on here. So I have three in mind Tigana, the prince of thorns or the prince of nothing series. As Ive said I have enjoyed the first gentleman bastards series ( so will want to finish the series at some point). Any thoughts?

Prince of Thorns is ok, the series improves (it would have to!) with King of Thorns.

I havent read the Prince of Nothing.

I vote Tigana, or should i say Tiiiigggaaaaannnnnaaaaaaaaaaa. I really enjoyed that book.

OwaynOTT

kirk buttercup wrote: »

Nearly finished The Lies of locke lamora really liked it so far, however from reading the boards the next two have disappointed alot of people on here. So I have three in mind Tigana, the prince of thorns or the prince of nothing series. As Ive said I have enjoyed the first gentleman bastards series ( so will want to finish the series at some point). Any thoughts?

Id say read Red Skies over Red Seas, it gets slated a lot but it's as good as the first for me.

Zapp Brannigan

I didn't enjoy the Prince of Nothing series, but I will have to revisit it someday.


I vote for Tigana.

ixoy

kirk buttercup wrote: »

Nearly finished The Lies of locke lamora really liked it so far, however from reading the boards the next two have disappointed alot of people on here. So I have three in mind Tigana, the prince of thorns or the prince of nothing series. As Ive said I have enjoyed the first gentleman bastards series ( so will want to finish the series at some point). Any thoughts?

Read them all so:

"Prince of Thorns": Thought it was muck and no interest in continuing on with so many other series out there.

"Tigana": Excellent book. Advantage here is that it's just the one book so there's no commitment. It's very character focused and avoids the usual clichés by having them so well rounded and with interesting moral dilemnas. It's not high on convoluted plots or the like but it's well written.

"Prince of Nothing": Very good but be warned it's also very dark. It's a commitment too - a trilogy followed by a (still being written) quartet. It's heavy on the philosophy too but, unlike other series, it's actually done well without the usual triteness (he has a background in it). If you want to also see Machiavellian manipulation then this is a good series. Just be warned it's not an easy read.

Raif Severance

For those of you who like Tigana, I recommend you read The Chalion Series by Bujold.

kirk buttercup

Thanks for the recommendations. As pointed out I will just read them all, just have to decide which order ( I like having a few different series on the go at same time)

mcgovern

Finished Best Served Cold, it was ok, but nothing special, I don't think I'd be bothered to read any follow ups if there were any.

Started Diaspora by Greg Egan, not exactly easy reading.

Dan_Solo

25% into KS Robinson's 2312. Suffering a bit from hard-SF syndrome, i.e. story isn't much cop. Hoping it picks up a bit TBH, I keep reading how amazing it is.

Fenix

I wouldn't be as an experienced Sci-Fi/Fantasy reader as many others here, having only got into the genre (or any for that matter) this past few years, but I must say I really enjoyed Prince of Thorns, and the following King and Emperor!

Each to their own I guess. Currently reading The Painted Man, by Peter V Brett. Finding it enjoyable also!

Nody

Fenix wrote: »

Each to their own I guess. Currently reading The Painted Man, by Peter V Brett. Finding it enjoyable also!

It's good but it got some serious flaws as well (

i.e. the rape scene towards the end

).

Sleepy

Tore through "The Princess and the Queen" novella George RR Martin included in the Dangerous Women anthology he edits with Gardner Dozois the night before last. It's a bit of an infodump on The Dance of the Dragons that the 5th novel was named for, set about 150 years prior to the events of the ASOIAF series so it even precedes the Dunk and Egg tales.

It's written as a Maester's history of the events and the editing really is quite sketchy (or it certainly was on my Kindle copy), a couple of really poor sentences and a noticeable amount of typos etc. It's clearly been cut down from a much larger piece (and on some articles I've read, apparently it was twice as long prior to being edited, tbh, it would have taken up half the anthology at that length but something tells me it would have been the better for it).

Some cool dragon sequences which ASOIAF

fore-shadow a lot of what I think we'll be seeing in the later books of the main series

.

Back to The Wheel tonight... I guess it says a lot of my opinion of both that whilst I'm enjoying TWOT, I wish I was back to the worlds of Westeros and Esteros tonight!

shaneor

Sleepy wrote: »

Tore through "The Princess and the Queen" novella George RR Martin included in the Dangerous Women anthology he edits with Gardner Dozois the night before last. It's a bit of an infodump on The Dance of the Dragons that the 5th novel was named for, set about 150 years prior to the events of the ASOIAF series so it even precedes the Dunk and Egg tales.

It's written as a Maester's history of the events and the editing really is quite sketchy (or it certainly was on my Kindle copy), a couple of really poor sentences and a noticeable amount of typos etc. It's clearly been cut down from a much larger piece (and on some articles I've read, apparently it was twice as long prior to being edited, tbh, it would have taken up half the anthology at that length but something tells me it would have been the better for it).

Some cool dragon sequences which ASOIAF

fore-shadow a lot of what I think we'll be seeing in the later books of the main series

.

Back to The Wheel tonight... I guess it says a lot of my opinion of both that whilst I'm enjoying TWOT, I wish I was back to the worlds of Westeros and Esteros tonight!

Hows the rest of the anthology? The list of authors is pretty incredible so that plus a new ASOIAF story means I'll definitely pick it up at some stage.

shaneor

A bit of a mix recently

Boneshaker by Cherie Priest - A few interesting spots but steampunk isn't my usual thing and it didn't convince me otherwise. Probably won't continue the series.

Ancillary Justice by Anne Leckie - This was very interesting. Some very unusual aspects (all characters are referred to as "she", AI characters etc) which meant it wasn't a particularly easy read in places. But some great ideas and good execution. Sets up the world nicely for future sequels which I'll probably pick up. Great to see a new author get some very positive press and I'd expect this to be mentioned in a good few award shortlists.

Control Point by Myke Cole - About 90% through this at the moment. A different take with "machine guns and sorcery" instead of "sword and sorcery". Not outstanding but an easy read and entertaining.

donegal_man

"Space Captain Smith" by Toby Frost. Isambard Smith of the Second British Space Empire and his companions (a sex toy android who has broken her programming and a seven feet tall alien warrior) battle cannibal ant men bent on destroying the human race.
Sort of Boy's Own steampunk via Monty Python and Alien. Picked it up in a second hand book shop and although it's not the most sophisticated comic novel ever I have to admit I found myself chuckling through it on the train. I doubt if I'll bother with the rest of the series though.

ixoy

34% into "The Sea Watch" by Adrian Tchaikovsky, the sixth book in his Shadows of the Apt series. Finding this one to be a little slower as it's more focused on some political machinations but I've a feeling the pace is about to pick up. Fairly separate from the previous book which - so far - I preferred.

Sleepy

shaneor wrote: »

Hows the rest of the anthology? The list of authors is pretty incredible so that plus a new ASOIAF story means I'll definitely pick it up at some stage.

I just skipped to the GRRM story, will read the rest after I've finished AWOT...

bradyle

I read Brandon Sanderson's new reckoners novella. It was ok but really short so didnt really get pulled into as I normally would with his books.
I then read Neil Gaiman's Ocean at the end of the lane. I did enjoy it but just think it was missing some of the spark I expect from his books.

Currently reading book 1 of GRRM dreamsongs anthology...not really enjoying it at all if im honest...I only bought it because i was delayed for 4 hours yesterday in an airport...don't see how the attraction of reading someones stories they wrote before they were good enough to get properly published

Then again maybe all the books were good and im just being a grump :P

shrapnel222

just finished river of stars by Guy Gavriel Kay. Really is such a simple uncomplicated book, but a real joy to read.

Really enjoyed both his books in fictional lands loosely based on middle age China

old hippy

I'm reading A Storm of Swords Part 2. I've just been to

the wedding bash

:eek::eek:

kirk buttercup

old hippy wrote: »

I'm reading A Storm of Swords Part 2. I've just been to

the wedding bash

:eek::eek:

Loved that book and series, the good news I personally thought each book got better.

Raoul Duke

kirk buttercup wrote: »

Loved that book and series, the good news I personally thought each book got better.

Even the last one!?

RoboAmish

Finished The Republic of Thieves. Liked it a lot but still probably the weakest in the series.

Really don't know how I feel about Locke's origin. Seems to smack a bit too much of the "chosen one" tripe that fantasy books insist on wheeling out all the time. I liked Locke being just this normal guy who became who he is by his own devices and ingenuity.... seems to take a bit from his "everyman" image... the idea of being a reincarnated mage and sort of tying him into the Bondsmagi rings a bit false to me. Kinda hope it's all some kind of diversion from Patience, but have a feeling it's all too real.

Also, read a theory that the reason that Sabetha ran at the end was because the painting suggested that she is Locke's daughter... due to her resembelance to Lamor Acanthus's wife. All I can say to that theory is.... ugh!

Back to the Wheel with me now.

kirk buttercup

Raoul Duke wrote: »

Even the last one!?

Yeah I had read alot of negative stuff about it so went in expecting to be disappointed, but it would probably be my favourite so far if not definitely on par with storm of swords and A clash of Kings. For me the only disappointing thing about the series is the length between releases of books but as he said himself this is his masterpiece and it can't be rushed. So I'm happy to wait and take suggestions from here on what to read to tie me over.

astonaidan

Just re-reading the second F&I book, keep slowing down as im getting near the end and the stupid wedding

AnCapaillMor

Sanderson's Steelheart, about 35% into it, it's different and i'm liking it so far.

culchie farmer

Pandoras Star by Peter F Hamilton
And Space Viking by Piper H Beam

I am also re-reading Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S Thompson, I guess you could technically classify it under the Fantasy Fiction category!

gufnork

Have been reading more Horror than Sci-fi/Fantasy this year, but always tuck into a Discworld novel as soon as it appears. The last couple(Snuff and Unseen Academicals) left me a little disenchanted but have started Raising Steam and it's not bad so far. Lots of the old favourite characters turning up for bit parts, which is great and very good to see, I'm not sure how I feel about the Disc entering the Industrial revolution though. I could handle The Clacks for some reason, but this... I don't know. I miss the old days when all you had to worry about was if DEATH would turn up or not.

growler

Finished the Hyperion Omnibus, really enjoyed it after a slowish start, very inventive. Ordered two more Dan Simmons books now. Also finished Sanderson's Steelheart, which I thought was pretty mundane, predictable nonsense tbh. Think I'll stay clear of Sanderson for a while, by the time I next look at him he'll probably have written 40 new books anyway.

mcgovern

Finished Diaspora by Greg Egan, its a bit heavy for bed time reading, so I never really got into it.
Now reading Reaper's Gale.

ixoy

Recently started "Ancillary Justice" by Ann Leckie, which has slotted in a number of "Best of 2013" lists. Too early to say yet but I like the central premise of a warship in the body of a human.

Also reading "Second Shift", the 2nd book in Hugh Howey's "Shift" prequel series. Enjoying this one a lot more than "First Shift" as it's back to the silos and we get to see earlier events hinted at, or implied, in the original series.

Finally, nearly finished "Just a Geek", Wil Wheaton's musings and postings taken from his website. He's very candid about his life and the honesty is quite refreshing. Seems like a nice guy.

Thargor

Just finished the Broken Empire trilogy, on holidays and devoured them in a week, brilliant fantasy.

ixoy

12% into Tom Lloyd's "The Stormcaller", the first book in his five part "Twilight Reign" series. It's .. okay so far. Characterisation is a little flat and I find the writing style a little awkward. Fairly early days so far so I'm going to keep on going but, as it stands, it won't be becoming a "must read" series.

Also started the "Wild Cards (Volume 1)" short story collection. Written by George R. R. Martin, and a number of other authors, it gathers together stories from his Wild Cards universe. I've read some of these in his "Dream Songs" anthology so I'm fairly hopeful.

On a fairly unrelated sci-fi/fantasy note, I'm also reading: "The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language" by Mark Forsyth. It's about how words and phrases evolve in languages and it's interesting reading, especially if you were ever thinking of writing a fantasy novel that involved languages that had grown and changed over the ages.

gufnork

ixoy wrote: »

12% into Tom Lloyd's "The Stormcaller", the first book in his five part "Twilight Reign" series. It's .. okay so far. Characterisation is a little flat and I find the writing style a little awkward. Fairly early days so far so I'm going to keep on going but, as it stands, it won't be becoming a "must read" series.

Also started the "Wild Cards (Volume 1)" short story collection. Written by George R. R. Martin, and a number of other authors, it gathers together stories from his Wild Cards universe. I've read some of these in his "Dream Songs" anthology so I'm fairly hopeful.

On a fairly unrelated sci-fi/fantasy note, I'm also reading: "The Etymologicon: A Circular Stroll through the Hidden Connections of the English Language" by Mark Forsyth. It's about how words and phrases evolve in languages and it's interesting reading, especially if you were ever thinking of writing a fantasy novel that involved languages that had grown and changed over the ages.

Wild Cards are great. I've #7 Dead Man's Hand to read next. Really look forward to these books. The characters are fantastic. I miss them when I finish each book.

I'm currently reading a Doctor Who novel, Tomb of Valdemar. Pretty good so far.

Sarz91

Picked up a few of the Malayan books. Finished Gardens of the Moon and really liked it. Only just finished Deadhouse gates. Really struggled through it. Hopefully Memories of Ice is a bit easier. Picked up the Similarion recently so I'm currently re-reading LOTR before starting it.

Kewreeuss

Finished Dust by Hugh Howey. Took me a while to get into it because I hadn't a clue what was going on, It.s not really a standalone book, I felt like that friend you're watching the movie with, who spends all the time asking questions about what's going on in the movie.
a good enough read, but not sufficiently taken with it to bother with anything else in the series.
Finally started game of thrones. A hundred pages in and I'm . .beginning to lose track of all the characters. I hate flipping back to see who such and such is and it's only going to get worse.

Have also reada book called fiend by Peter Stenson. Main characters zombies and meth addicts. Well, no joke, a great read, well written, interesting addicts, zombies are zombies. Try it for something different!

ixoy

gufnork wrote: »

I'm currently reading a Doctor Who novel, Tomb of Valdemar. Pretty good so far.

*Finally* finished updating my Good Reads list with various books on shelves, etc. and realise that this is on my "Unread" list. I've a stack of 46 unread Doctor Who books (including some of the spin off ones, like the Faction Paradox series). Still though, it's not too bad given I've a total of 352 books I've tagged with Doctor Who meaning I've read over 300 of them!