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What are you reading? (March 2017)
- Thread starter Maklershed
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Jag
Member
I can't give this book enough praise. Start of a new trilogy called Gods of Blood and Powder. About 10 years after the first Powder Mage series ended. A bit slow in the start, but once it gets going, it just doesn't stop. Stayed up way too late getting through this.
McClellan is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Studied under Brandon Sanderson and it shows. Just great character and world development. If you like magic and Napoleonic era type warfare, this is for you.
What would you tell someone who was never a big scifi reader to read in order to 'discover' the genre ? I mean I have not had any desire to read fantasy for some years and I could do with a new genre.
I'm hesitating between many writers atm. Like SA Corey, Howey, the Metro 2033 guy, Chiang, Ken Liu, Liu Cixin, Hamilton, McDonald, Banks, Reynolds among others.
I'm hesitating between many writers atm. Like SA Corey, Howey, the Metro 2033 guy, Chiang, Ken Liu, Liu Cixin, Hamilton, McDonald, Banks, Reynolds among others.
sparky2112
Member
About 25% through this:
David Foster Wallace fans might know Currie as the author of Everything Matters!, which is the closest you're going to come to a 300-page version of Infinite Jest. And I mean that in the best possible way.
This new novel is about a guy who can't NOT take everything literally (think: 'In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.'). This inevitably gets him in trouble, but...maybe not?
But start with Everything Matters! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR
David Foster Wallace fans might know Currie as the author of Everything Matters!, which is the closest you're going to come to a 300-page version of Infinite Jest. And I mean that in the best possible way.
This new novel is about a guy who can't NOT take everything literally (think: 'In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.'). This inevitably gets him in trouble, but...maybe not?
But start with Everything Matters! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR
Maklershed
Member
I can't give this book enough praise. Start of a new trilogy called Gods of Blood and Powder. About 10 years after the first Powder Mage series ended. A bit slow in the start, but once it gets going, it just doesn't stop. Stayed up way too late getting through this.
McClellan is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Studied under Brandon Sanderson and it shows. Just great character and world development. If you like magic and Napoleonic era type warfare, this is for you.
Based on the cover and your description I'm getting Black Company vibes from this and I'm excited by that prospect. I've added this to my wishlist.
I started out with Forever War and the Old Man's War trilogy.
Jag
Member
The first trilogy had Black Company vibes as well, although this entire book does revolve around a mercenary company. I would still start with the Powder Mage series first though.
I'd tell them about Gardner Dozois's Year's Best Science fiction anthology, which has been coming out yearly for decades. It's filled with amazing writers, many of whom are on your list, and will allow you to read their short work before diving into a novel. I think we're up to volume 33 or 34 at this point, but literally any of them is a treasure trove of both great short stories and writers. Absolutely the best way to discover new writers for people fresh to the genre.
He's also done two Best of the Best, which collect the best stories from all the anthologies.
I have discovered so many great writers here: Kim Stanley Robinson, Greg Egan, Stephen Baxter, Ted Chiang, etc.
This is the list from 2015's volume:
The Fifth Dragon, Ian McDonald (Reach for Infinity)
The Rider, Jérôme Cigut (F&SF)
The Days of the War, as Red as Blood, as Dark as Bile, Aliette de Bodard (Subterranean Online)
The Burial of Sir John Mawe at Cassini, Chaz Brenchley (Subterranean Online)
The Regular, Ken Liu (Upgraded)
The Woman from the Ocean, Karl Bunker (Asimov's)
Shooting the Apocalypse, Paolo Bacigalupi (The End Is Nigh)
Weather, Susan Palwick (Clarkesworld)
The Hand Is Quicker, Elizabeth Bear (The Book of Robert Silverberg)
The Man Who Sold the Moon, Cory Doctorow (Hieroglyph)
Vladimir Chong Chooses To Die, Lavie Tidhar (Analog)
Beside the Damned River, D.J. Cockburn (Interzone)
The Colonel, Peter Watts (Tor.com)
Entanglement, Vandana Singh (Hieroglyph)
White Curtain, Pavel Amnuel (F&SF)
Slipping, Lauren Beukes (Twelve Tomorrows)
Passage of Earth, Michael Swanwick (Clarkesworld)
Amicae Aeternum, Ellen Klages (Reach for Infinity)
In Babelsberg, Alastair Reynolds (Reach for Infinity)
Sadness, Timons Esaias (Analog)
West to East, Jay Lake (Subterranean Online)
Grand Jeté (The Great Leap), Rachel Swirsky (Subterranean Online)
Covenent, Elizabeth Bear (Hieroglyph)
Jubilee, Karl Schroeder (Tor.com)
Los Pirates del Mar de Plastico (Pirates of the Plastic Ocean), Paul Graham Raven (Twelve Tomorrows)
Red Light, and Rain, Gareth L. Powell (Solaris Rising 3)
Coma Kings, Jessica Barber (Lightspeed)
The Prodigal Son, Allen M. Steele (Asimov's)
God Decay, Rich Larson (Upgraded)
Blood Wedding, Robert Reed (Asimov's)
The Long Haul From the ANNALS OF TRANSPORTATION, The Pacific Monthly, May 2009, Ken Liu (Clarkesworld)
Shadow Flock, Greg Egan (Coming Soon Enough)
Thing and Sick, Adam Roberts (Solaris Rising 3)
Communion, Mary Anne Mohanraj (Clarkesworld)
Someday, James Patrick Kelly (Asimov's)
Yesterday's Kin, Nancy Kress (Tachyon)
arglebargle
Member
I finished a Wizard of Earthsea. It wasn't a bad book, but it didn't really grab me either. I will have to go back and read that essay that Mumei linked to see what others saw in the book.
I am going to read the Swords and Deviltry collection that starts off the Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories next. I have a number of classic Sci-Fi/Fantasy books to clear out of my backlog, and I'm still behind on my goodreads goal, so short books help
i remember A Wizard of Earthsea being one of my favorite books when i was 13 or so. haven't read it since, but i have read a handful of other leguin's books. maybe worth revisiting.
I would not choose any of those. Either outright bad or not a good entry point.(Banks is the best by far from that list though)
Go golden age with Asimov, Heinlein, Dick, Clarke or Card for more recent.
It's worth it! The Count of Monte Cristo is an absolute delight. A delight with a lot of unnecessary (but still fun) digressions, but a delight.
This is a good list for sci fi rookies. There are a few good asimov short story collections out there.
Yeah, didn't realized it wasn't universally loved. It was my second (?) King book I read and I loved because of the sci-fi premise.
Mm. Asimov's Robot books and the Foundation trilogy were a good starting place for me. My earliest non-children's lit / non-Crichton science fiction was Card's Ender books, which I also enjoyed though I haven't read them in at least a dozen years.
I'd also suggest Le Guin's science fiction, tooThe Dispossessed, The Left Hand of Darkness, The Word for World is Forest.
I've only read The Dispossessed out of her SF books, but found it pretty difficult at the time. Its pretty unconventional with its structure and I felt the tone was closer to fantasy. I really need to reread　it.
TwntyOneTwlv
Member
If anyone is interested, Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys is $1.99 right now.
nailbombxx
Member
Ted Chiang's stuff is absolutely amazing. It isn't standard tropey sci-fi though. Much more literary you could say.
Thanks for all the input on my question, people ! Really appreciated !
Unfortunately as I don't read books in English I can't really try my hand with Dozois' anthologies, which are admittedly the best option, and I begun reading before the totally sound 'go for the old, maybe less taxing stuff...'
So Ken Liu's Paper Menagerie it is.
And God am I in over my head.
Just read a few pages from the first short, 'Reborn', and I just had to reread the first 2-3 pages three times to understand what the fuck I was reading.
It's not that complicated, just a mix of speculative imagination in dire need of exercise, fucking exotic use of pronouns and in medias res narration.
The whole thing is growing on me though. It was apparent at the end of my reading that, at least this short but I hope the whole genre, has the side effect of leaving you with some interesting inner questionings, and I fucking don't know where the hell the author is going here.
So I don't know what I'm doing, I don't like not understanding things (often) but when I finally understand them it's very enjoyable. Worried about my ability to follow but satisfied with this session.
Unfortunately as I don't read books in English I can't really try my hand with Dozois' anthologies, which are admittedly the best option, and I begun reading before the totally sound 'go for the old, maybe less taxing stuff...'
So Ken Liu's Paper Menagerie it is.
And God am I in over my head.
Just read a few pages from the first short, 'Reborn', and I just had to reread the first 2-3 pages three times to understand what the fuck I was reading.
It's not that complicated, just a mix of speculative imagination in dire need of exercise, fucking exotic use of pronouns and in medias res narration.
The whole thing is growing on me though. It was apparent at the end of my reading that, at least this short but I hope the whole genre, has the side effect of leaving you with some interesting inner questionings, and I fucking don't know where the hell the author is going here.
So I don't know what I'm doing, I don't like not understanding things (often) but when I finally understand them it's very enjoyable. Worried about my ability to follow but satisfied with this session.
"Reborn" is one of the most dense stories in the collection. I think you'll find the next few a lot more straightforward, and less full of complex speculative concepts and world building.
awesome_pants
Banned
Interesting take on an undercover reporters infiltration of Tokyo's Yakuza scene.
This is a sequel to American Gods? I still need to read that, it's on my list.
Maklershed
Member
Finished The re-read of Eternity Road and now on to Page From a Tennessee Journal. Btw, has anyone else noticed their reading moods are somewhat seasonal? I've noticed in spring I love reading books set in rural farmlands in the 1800s / early 1900s. Maybe spring reminds me of visiting my cousins on the farm? Not sure.
Page From A Tennessee Journal by Francine Thomas Howard
Page From A Tennessee Journal by Francine Thomas Howard
You think? I never had that sense the way I did with something like The Book of the New Sun. I guess its portrayal of that political system did seem like something of a fantasy, but other than that I saw it as speculative fiction.
EdibleKnife
Member
It's impossible for me. I used to be able to do it but now I really can't even read in the bookstore unless I'm far away from the crowds in a corner. Maybe some noise cancelling headphones with ambient mood sounds instead of music.
Ravensmash
Member
A third of the way through A Game of Thrones and I'm loving it.
That being said, it is getting to the point where I'm constantly looking back through past chapters etc. in an attempt to recall small details. It's an info dump at times...
I actually feel that this is the downside to reading on a Kindle - too easy to quickly search rather than just plough on.
Can't wait to read more though!
That being said, it is getting to the point where I'm constantly looking back through past chapters etc. in an attempt to recall small details. It's an info dump at times...
I actually feel that this is the downside to reading on a Kindle - too easy to quickly search rather than just plough on.
Can't wait to read more though!
I just finished Last Argument of Kings, 3rd book in the First Law trilogy. I thought overall the trilogy was excellent and I very much like Abercrombie's writing style/prose. Now I'm debating if I want to read the stand-alone books set in the same universe, or move on to a different series (maybe Powder Mage, or Lightbringer series).
Can someone help me understand what the difference is between these two listings, if I'm going to buy the Kindle edition? I don't know which one I should get. They're the same price, sold by the same publisher, with different listings, page numbers, and covers.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00480O978/?tag=neogaf0e-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GUK7JQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Can someone help me understand what the difference is between these two listings, if I'm going to buy the Kindle edition? I don't know which one I should get. They're the same price, sold by the same publisher, with different listings, page numbers, and covers.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00480O978/?tag=neogaf0e-20
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002GUK7JQ/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Those are two entirely different books (Best Served Cold and The Heroes). They're both standalone novels set in the same world as The First Law trilogy, and there is some cross over of characters. Best Served Cold was published first, but you can read them in any order (there's also a third bookRed Country). Each of them is Abercrombie's take on a recognizable archetype:
Best Served Cold: Revenge Story
The Heroes: War Story
Red Country: Western
I didn't care for Best Served Cold, but have heard good things about the other two.
Jag
Member
Yes!
Tawney Bomb
Member
Finished The Martian and started The Sympathizer. Also I have been re-listening to Americans Gods in anticipation of the TV show coming next month.
Interesting take on an undercover reporters infiltration of Tokyo's Yakuza scene.
I really enjoyed this book. Made it to the last chapter and then got distracted, now it's been so long that I feel like I'd have to reread it all in order to go back though.
You should read the original trilogy first. For one, it's brilliant, and second you would miss a lot of the callbacks to things that happened in the original trilogy and why they are important to the characters and their motivations.
If that is too much of an undertaking, at the very least I would recommend reading the novella I posted, Ghosts of Tristan Basin, before Sins of Empire. It's set before the original trilogy, but introduces you to tons of characters that are important in Sins and is set around the same geographic location.
I started reading these on a whim after seeing it mentioned on TVTropes.com and it has been possibly the biggest surprise for me as far as books go. Despite being set in a fantasy version of the early 18th century, it manages to have a very progressive stable of characters. The main character's include
a lesbian women dressed as a man serving in the military, a princess almost singlehandedly creating a political revolution in her country and Marcus, who despite being your average chivalric male character, is written very well, with deep character motivations.
Penguin's
You might also see these covers for the first one:
Plus one other that is black with green edges. Anyway, those are great.
beacon 0f light
Member
250 pages in. I read a review describing the book as dizzying, and after starting and stopping a few times, I'd definitely agree. The characters sometimes blend together; it takes a lot of effort to understand what the heck is going on. That being said, it's made for a really entertaining and rewarding read so far. Looking forward to the next billion pages
I read the Penguin Classics edition on my Kindle. Did they remove it for sale?
Wafflecakes
Member
I can't give this book enough praise. Start of a new trilogy called Gods of Blood and Powder. About 10 years after the first Powder Mage series ended. A bit slow in the start, but once it gets going, it just doesn't stop. Stayed up way too late getting through this.
McClellan is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Studied under Brandon Sanderson and it shows. Just great character and world development. If you like magic and Napoleonic era type warfare, this is for you.
I am trying to talk myself into this one. I enjoyed the original trilogy, but the ending of the last book left a bad taste in my mouth as they invented new villains out of seemingly nowhere and made them the "big bads", which in turn resulting in myself having no emotional investment in how the fight turned out.
I disagree with the any order part if you don't want a major character arc in Best Serve Cold spoiled in The Heroes. Red Country also spoils the ending of Best Serve Cold (though it is a bit subtler).
The First Law timeline is linear, so you should just read everything in order. Best served cold is 3 years after Last Argument. The Heroes is 8 years later. Red Country is 15.
EDIT: Also, if you like the world enough to start a 4th book, you will probably like the remaining three enough to consider them all worth reading.
I'm excited for you having just finshed that book myself a few weeks ago.
I'm reading the next book in the series, A Deepness In The Sky.
A little update from my previous post about it:
Where A Fire Upon The Deep explored how consciousness systems might evolve, A Deepness In The Sky explores the relative perspective of time and aging. It's just as fascinating but it takes a little longer to lay the ground work. Really good so far.
Stranger In A Strange Land by Robert Heinlein
It's a must-read book that transcends the genre.
If you're looking for more of a thriller I'd suggest The Stars, My Destination by Alfred Bester
Snow Crash by Neil Stephenson. Cyberpunk satire, coined the modern usage of the term "avatar," altogether captivating book.
If you want a deep series to immerse yourself in then I don't think it gets any better than Frank Herbert's 6-volume Dune series. It's dense and hews a little closer to medieval politics.
I can't give this book enough praise. Start of a new trilogy called Gods of Blood and Powder. About 10 years after the first Powder Mage series ended. A bit slow in the start, but once it gets going, it just doesn't stop. Stayed up way too late getting through this.
McClellan is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Studied under Brandon Sanderson and it shows. Just great character and world development. If you like magic and Napoleonic era type warfare, this is for you.
Oh awesome, picking this up. Thanks. Loved the first trilogy. Will miss some of those characters but like the world they operated in.
Now, as I say above, I really enjoyed the Powder mage books. But they are no Black Company. TBC books just have a certain edge and pace and writing style that are hard to replicate. Parts of Abercrombies books get close tho. They are all worth reading.
Atraveller
Banned
Started Anansi Boys. I don't post much recently, video games are taking their tolls.
So I finished The Halo Effect: A Novel. Despite the odd name, I found myself really enjoying this - nothing remarkable, but interesting nonetheless.
I also found myself intrigued by the authors portayal of the main characters thoughts and emotions and it seemed obvious why this stood out to me fairly early on - I (not intentionally) don't believe I read a great deal of books by female authors. Most of the books I read are by male authors and they don't (at least those I read) give much time over to the thoughts of the protagonist in any depth.
Perhaps I'm just reading the wrong stuff, but I'm going to make a concerted effort to read more books by female authors in the future.
I also found myself intrigued by the authors portayal of the main characters thoughts and emotions and it seemed obvious why this stood out to me fairly early on - I (not intentionally) don't believe I read a great deal of books by female authors. Most of the books I read are by male authors and they don't (at least those I read) give much time over to the thoughts of the protagonist in any depth.
Perhaps I'm just reading the wrong stuff, but I'm going to make a concerted effort to read more books by female authors in the future.
Finished The Last Wish, the first Witcher novel. It was a light and easy read. I liked the characters and the world and how it mixes supernatural legends and folktales and whatnot. I thought it was pretty funny at times as well. I'll definitely will continue with this series in the future.
Right now I am looking for something different though. Does anyone have recommendations on a short (around 200 pages) standalone (no series) horror or sci-fi novel? I'm looking for a bunch of books to read between longer novels and series.
Right now I am looking for something different though. Does anyone have recommendations on a short (around 200 pages) standalone (no series) horror or sci-fi novel? I'm looking for a bunch of books to read between longer novels and series.
The Forever War by Joe Haldeman is a classic, and falls right in the range you're looking for.
Maklershed
Member
Purchased book 1 of The Powder Mage trilogy. Wheee!
So these were my March books
Some really good books in that batch. Out of those I liked The Ocean at the End of the Lane, 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Return of the King the most. All great but all so different so I couldn't pick a favorite.
Back to earth with some crime books after the previous Fantasy/Sci-fi feast, now I'm reading Peter Temple's non Jack Irish books starting with:-
Some really good books in that batch. Out of those I liked The Ocean at the End of the Lane, 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Return of the King the most. All great but all so different so I couldn't pick a favorite.
Back to earth with some crime books after the previous Fantasy/Sci-fi feast, now I'm reading Peter Temple's non Jack Irish books starting with:-
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