What Are You Reading?

shootermacg · 18-08-2013 6:59pm

Dragging it out? For me, these books were page turners. I absolutely loved them.

nicowa · 18-08-2013 10:16pm

shootermacg wrote: »

Dragging it out? For me, these books were page turners. I absolutely loved them.

Oh they keep me hooked but the just seem so much longer than anything I've read recently.

Could be my fault and what I'm reading lately...

Raif Severance · 18-08-2013 10:21pm

nicowa wrote: »

Oh they keep me hooked but the just seem so much longer than anything I've read recently.

Could be my fault and what I'm reading lately...

If you don't mind, can you List those Books? I'm mighty curious.

Don't take this wrong. It's just that Feist's Books for me are some that I would Classify as Easy-Reads.

The only ones Easier for me would be from Eddings, Gemmell, Modesitt, and the like.

ixoy · 19-08-2013 10:21pm

5% into Brandon Sanderson's little book "The Way of Kings", the first in a planned 10 book series. It's the first book I've read this year with a four figure page count, beating out a 912 page book earlier this year by.. Brandon Sanderson. His books could be lethal weapons.

Enjoying it so far and some creative world building. Once more his magic system is already showing more imagination than most authors manage in entire careers. Also like the further touches here as he builds up a full world, introduces different creatures and takes on concepts like sprites manifesting from various emotions. Looking forward to reading more (just as well as it's going to take weeks to finish).

OwaynOTT · 19-08-2013 11:55pm

ixoy wrote: »

5% into Brandon Sanderson's little book "The Way of Kings", the first in a planned 10 book series. It's the first book I've read this year with a four figure page count, beating out a 912 page book earlier this year by.. Brandon Sanderson. His books could be lethal weapons.

Enjoying it so far and some creative world building. Once more his magic system is already showing more imagination than most authors manage in entire careers. Also like the further touches here as he builds up a full world, introduces different creatures and takes on concepts like sprites manifesting from various emotions. Looking forward to reading more (just as well as it's going to take weeks to finish).

Enjoyable book but it could have done with a more drastic edit, as there is some bloat. Despite this, I still think it's the most polished book out of all his current bibliography and the years he spent on it show. Unlike some others, like Towers of Midnight.
The next instalment has a spring 2014 release date. Shorter word count and a main protagonist shift to Shallen, which is the tact for all future books with Dalinar being the next to get this treatment.
Sanderson's whole Cosmere idea really begins to shine through in this series as well.
Coincidentally, I'm also currently reading a Brandon Sanderson book or rather two novellas shoved between the boards of one hardcover. The two stories being Legion and Emperor's Soul.
Only about 17 pages into Legion, yes no percentage as it's not a kindle version, and it's too early to say much about it. I will say that Sanderson's attempts at 'comedy' can be cringe inducing at times, this isn't as bad as Mistborn's witty humour.
One good line though:
'... he had the eyes of a killer. Or so he claimed. Perhaps he kept them in his pocket.'
It does however seem familiar, maybe in a Stephen King book?

fenris · 20-08-2013 12:16am

I am stuck into "The Beating of His Wings" by Paul Hoffman, the third Thomas Cale book.
Not as dark as the earlier books but very enjoyable.

shaneor · 20-08-2013 11:12am

OwaynOTT wrote: »

Enjoyable book but it could have done with a more drastic edit, as there is some bloat. Despite this, I still think it's the most polished book out of all his current bibliography and the years he spent on it show. Unlike some others, like Towers of Midnight.
The next instalment has a spring 2014 release date. Shorter word count and a main protagonist shift to Shallen, which is the tact for all future books with Dalinar being the next to get this treatment.
Sanderson's whole Cosmere idea really begins to shine through in this series as well.
Coincidentally, I'm also currently reading a Brandon Sanderson book or rather two novellas shoved between the boards of one hardcover. The two stories being Legion and Emperor's Soul.
Only about 17 pages into Legion, yes no percentage as it's not a kindle version, and it's too early to say much about it. I will say that Sanderson's attempts at 'comedy' can be cringe inducing at times, this isn't as bad as Mistborn's witty humour.
One good line though:
'... he had the eyes of a killer. Or so he claimed. Perhaps he kept them in his pocket.'
It does however seem familiar, maybe in a Stephen King book?

TWOK could definitely have been trimmed down a good bit but it was still one of the most interesting & creative new worlds in a while. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel.

I haven't read Legion but "Emperor's Soul" is excellent. Another really interesting and innovative magic system and a good (if short) read.

TwoShedsJackson · 20-08-2013 3:00pm

fenris wrote: »

I am stuck into "The Beating of His Wings" by Paul Hoffman, the third Thomas Cale book.
Not as dark as the earlier books but very enjoyable.

Didn't even know this was out!! Off to the bookshop I go..

da_hambo · 20-08-2013 9:44pm

Finally gotten round to reading Battlefield Earth by L Ron Hubbard. Im only around a fifth of the way through but is a good post apocalyptic read. The film of the book is supposed to be one of the worst movies of all time. Ill check that outonce ive finished the book.

shootermacg · 20-08-2013 9:55pm

I hated the book, the author thinks he's so bloody clever and advertises the fact at every available opportunity, there is no place for that smug aren't I clever crap in my bookcase. The only reason I finished it was it was all I had on holiday with me.

ixoy · 20-08-2013 10:23pm

da_hambo wrote: »

Finally gotten round to reading Battlefield Earth by L Ron Hubbard. Im only around a fifth of the way through but is a good post apocalyptic read.

Oh it entertained me but it's a terrible book. The science makes 'Star Wars' seem like a Greg Egan novel - alternate periodic tables? Hah.

OwaynOTT · 20-08-2013 10:46pm

shaneor wrote: »

TWOK could definitely have been trimmed down a good bit but it was still one of the most interesting & creative new worlds in a while. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel.

I haven't read Legion but "Emperor's Soul" is excellent. Another really interesting and innovative magic system and a good (if short) read.

Definitely a bit different than the whole Western European setting or the new trend that is the middle eastern setting.
Also looking forward to Words of Radiance.

Legion is definitely his funniest book and the whole multiple imaginary friends has potential. Also most of the books characters being hallucinations really helps Sanderson with the trouble he has with his characters being one dimensional, look at Mistborn.

shootermacg · 20-08-2013 11:03pm

OwaynOTT wrote: »

Definitely a bit different than the whole Western European setting or the new trend that is the middle eastern setting.
Also looking forward to Words of Radiance.

Wow I'm pretty new to the eastern setting, but I love the Prince of Nothing series and am finishing off the last book. I know Feist too a stab at it, but other than that I haven't seen it anywhere, I'd be interested in reading more, although I doubt it'd be as well written as the PoN.

OwaynOTT · 20-08-2013 11:29pm

shootermacg wrote: »

Wow I'm pretty new to the eastern setting, but I love the Prince of Nothing series and am finishing off the last book. I know Feist too a stab at it, but other than that I haven't seen it anywhere, I'd be interested in reading more, although I doubt it'd be as well written as the PoN.

Featured heavily in Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy, Mazarkis William's Tower and Knife trilogy set there, Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed, Peter V Brett's Desert Spear, Paolo Balcigalupi's novella The Alchemist and isn't Richard Morgan's most recent novel set in a similar setting.
Heck George RR Martin's series has been set in a more middle eastern setting. I'm sure there's more but that's what I have on my bookshelf.

Bradley P Beaulieu's The Winds of Khalakovo has a very unique or unusual setting for most mainstream fantasy and that is its majorly influenced by Russia and other cultures of that part of the world. It's part of a trilogy and if books two and three are as good as one its a cracking series.

shootermacg · 20-08-2013 11:32pm

OwaynOTT wrote: »

Featured heavily in Joe Abercrombie's First Law Trilogy, Mazarkis William's Tower and Knife trilogy set there, Throne of the Crescent Moon by Saladin Ahmed, Peter V Brett's Desert Spear, Paolo Balcigalupi's novella The Alchemist and isn't Richard Morgan's most recent novel set in a similar setting.
Heck George RR Martin's series has been set in a more middle eastern setting.

haha, I forgot George RR Martin. Thanks, for the list, looks like I've got some nice reading ahead. Which would you suggest I start with?

OwaynOTT · 20-08-2013 11:40pm

shootermacg wrote: »

haha, I forgot George RR Martin. Thanks, for the list, looks like I've got some nice reading ahead. Which would you suggest I start with?

Throne of Crescent Moon is a light read, which you might need after Baker

Raif Severance · 20-08-2013 11:42pm

shootermacg wrote: »

haha, I forgot George RR Martin. Thanks, for the list, looks like I've got some nice reading ahead. Which would you suggest I start with?

I'll add the Empire Trilogy by Raymond Feist and Janny Wurts. One of the Best Fantasy Books for me.

shootermacg · 20-08-2013 11:50pm

Raif Severance wrote: »

I'll add the Empire Trilogy by Raymond Feist and Janny Wurts. One of the Best Fantasy Books for me.

Read them ages ago although it seems more Asian than middle eastern, no that I mind those either.

OwaynOTT wrote: »

Throne of Crescent Moon is a light read, which you might need after Baker

I didn't find this hard going at all, quite the contrary, I loved the characters, the Nietzschian philosophy and the story.

OwaynOTT · 21-08-2013 12:05am

shootermacg wrote: »

Read them ages ago although it seems more Asian than middle eastern, no that I mind those either.

I didn't find this hard going at all, quite the contrary, I loved the characters, the Nietzschian philosophy and the story.

Actually another would be Fractal Prince by Hannu Rajaneimi (spelling could be wrong here), which is the follow up to Fractal Prince, which being based on Mars doesn't share much with the middle east.
Fractal Prince has a definite 1001 Arabian vibe to it and is a really unique book. Very much a scifi book and has doesn't help you at all with the ideas being bandied about and can be a bit too knowingly clever at times but still an excellent read.The first book is a vital prerequisite though.

nicowa · 21-08-2013 3:15pm

Raif Severance wrote: »

If you don't mind, can you List those Books? I'm mighty curious.

Don't take this wrong. It's just that Feist's Books for me are some that I would Classify as Easy-Reads.

The only ones Easier for me would be from Eddings, Gemmell, Modesitt, and the like.

Chick Lit... Not in a bad way but you can't really get easier reading than that.

I'm meaning to get back into proper reading now. I really need to get my brain active again.

sentient_6 · 21-08-2013 9:54pm

I started Wool. Really liking it.

Manach · 25-08-2013 12:16am

Warbound by Larry Correira.
Set in an alternative world - 1930s.

Turbo-Powered Zeppelins : check.
Vast ultra-evil N-th Dimensional entity : : check.
Zombie hordes : check.
Robotic Samurai exo-skeletons : check.
Cameo appearances by FDR, Churchill etc. : check.
Guns, lots and lots of high-velocity guns : check.
Pirates (of the airship variety) vs Ninjas : check.

Overall, safe to say I enjoyed it.

Dan_Solo · 25-08-2013 10:51pm

A bit past half way now in Time and Again by Jack Finney. I really like the time-travel "mechanics" (if that's the right word) in this, and I'm hoping the plot around it doesn't turn into a damp squib. This can happen in older (this is 1970) novels, where it's like there was a feeling that a great science idea would make up for poor quality fiction. This also has to be probably _the_ most amazingly well researched book I've ever read, a real labour of love I'd say.
Reserving judgement until it's over (but a sneaky 7/10 so far!).

fenris · 25-08-2013 11:44pm

Manach wrote: »

Warbound by Larry Correira.
Set in an alternative world - 1930s.

Turbo-Powered Zeppelins : check.
Vast ultra-evil N-th Dimensional entity : : check.
Zombie hordes : check.
Robotic Samurai exo-skeletons : check.
Cameo appearances by FDR, Churchill etc. : check.
Guns, lots and lots of high-velocity guns : check.
Pirates (of the airship variety) vs Ninjas : check.

Overall, safe to say I enjoyed it.

That works for me, I read the first two and hadn't realised that it was out, starting it tonight!

Nody · 26-08-2013 11:48am

Nody wrote: »

ixoy wrote:

Personally I think so. I like the core concept of different species of human each with different traits/abilities based around insects - it works well. Also fond of it not being typical medieval but with automotive engines (sort of steampunk) but still elements of magic. It's refreshing.
As to getting through a 10-book unfinished series, book 9 is published this year and book 10 next year. He's been consistent in outputting at least 1 each year unlike other authors we could mention.

I'll hold you personally responsible now after having ordered the first six books (added to my ever growing pile of "things to be read one day") :P

Well you survived the pitch forks for now (first book finished this morning)... I can only echo earlier comment (forgot from whom, sorry!) that it's setting things up to come but was not brilliant.

I do hope there will be more fleshing out of the universe in the books to come (such as the Revolution, the development of the Empire to be what it is, how Kinden were created originally / how hybrids work in powers etc.).

Johnny Storm · 29-08-2013 9:23pm

Tim Powers - Hide me among the graves.
I generally like Tim Powers but this one was not my cup of tea. 3/5

mcgovern · 29-08-2013 10:28pm

Finished The Escapement, it was ok but not as good as the previous two. Started Markus Heitz's The Dwarves. 15% in but it hasn't really got going yet.

AnCapaillMor · 30-08-2013 9:23am

Emperor of Thorns, meh but i've got to finish the series.

salacious crumb · 30-08-2013 2:41pm

Robert A Heinlein - JOB

shootermacg · 30-08-2013 2:43pm

mcgovern wrote: »

Started Markus Heitz's The Dwarves. 15% in but it hasn't really got going yet.

Yeah, that one is pure pulp, read it and forgot it as fast.

Did anyone read the vampire earth series by E. E. Knight? Great concept, fairly light reading, I have to say I enjoyed it for what it was, recommended if you don't mind the "boy's own" style, where the hero gets out of everything alive.

Just started the Aspect-Emperor trilogy, really loved the Prince of Nothing trilogy, so I'm expecting great things from this!

bradyle · 30-08-2013 3:23pm

Three Parts Dead by Max Gladstone

I won it in a competition had never heard of it or Max Gladstone before but I must say I am really enjoying it. It's set in a really interesting world, well worth a read!

Zurn · 30-08-2013 6:25pm

I´m reading "Game of Thrones". Hard stuff for me, I´m German. It´s mainly to improve my English.
Additionally I`m reading books about Irish slangs and culture.

Dan_Solo · 31-08-2013 12:26am

Well, finished Time And Again, and it played out much as I expected, though there was one bit I thought "Nah, not having that". Written in 1970, so on the verge of dated, but I liked it. Might try the sequel some time.
Now after a trawl of the SF websites I'm going to, pretty randomly, try Low Town by Daniel Polansky. I hope it's a bit more magicky than the blurb and reviews make out. I don't mind extended hack n slash-athons, but the auld bit of fireballs and lightning bolts never goes astray.

OwaynOTT · 31-08-2013 12:52am

Finished Sabderson's Legion and I was disappointed it ended. His comic flourishes still leave a lot to be desired but still had a few chuckles.
His prose can be clunky at times and rather workmanlike. He is without a doubt an ideas man though and hopefully we can see a novel with the story of Mr. Leeds, aka Legion, in the future.
His thoughts on time travel were interesting with regards to the earth moving.
Also finished Fahrenheit 451. As one of the 'classics' of the last century, it let me down. Maybe I was expecting too much but other seminal novels like; Flowers for Algernon, Forever War, One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest and Catch 22, all blew me away.
Fahrenheit, however, left me disappointed and I can't really pinpoint how.
Started off so well and Bradbury is streaks, rather light years, ahead of Sanderson with his writing capabilities and his descriptions of the Fireman in the first few pages were excellent.
Maybe it was a bit too literary for me. Still good though.

Up next? I'm not sure as the to read stack has grow into monstrous proportions and is being fed new books at an almost daily rate.

I want to read a great book, an absolute classic I missed, any suggestions?

Nody · 31-08-2013 7:37am

OwaynOTT wrote: »

I want to read a great book, an absolute classic I missed, any suggestions?

Foundation trilogy or one of the stand alone books (does androids dream of electronical sheeps etc.) or Dune series (excl. the son's additions)

Raif Severance · 31-08-2013 8:32am

OwaynOTT wrote: »

I want to read a great book, an absolute classic I missed, any suggestions?

How about T.H. White's The Once and Future King?

Probably the best King Arthur Story, I've read. It was also the basis for Disney's The Sword in the Stone.

If you don't mind Historical Novels, you may try reading some of Morgan Llewellyn's. Most notable is the Lion of Ireland, which is based on the life of High King Brian Boru, Ireland's equivalent to Brave Heart/El Cid.

Guy Gavriel Kay, has written several Classics that anyone with an inkling for Fantasy should read. Tigana, The Lions of Al-Rassan, A Song for Arbonne, just to name a few.

There's also Robert Holdstock's amazing Ryhope Wood Series, if you are into Myths and Folklore.

On the Not-Quite-Classics-Front, I'd recommend Sean Russell's Swan's War Trilogy, Chris Bunch's The Warrior King Trilogy, and Lois McMaster Bujold's Chalion Series.

TwoShedsJackson · 31-08-2013 10:53am

Zurn wrote: »

I´m reading "Game of Thrones". Hard stuff for me, I´m German. It´s mainly to improve my English.
Additionally I`m reading books about Irish slangs and culture.

I'll keep an eye out for a German wearing boiled leather, eating from a hollowed-out trencher and shouting 'Words are wind!! Where do whores go!!' then.

Dades · 02-09-2013 5:47pm

Just started the "Wool" books on the strong recommendation of a buddy of mine.

Anyone read them?

TwoShedsJackson · 02-09-2013 5:52pm

Dades wrote: »

Just started the "Wool" books on the strong recommendation of a buddy of mine.

Anyone read them?

Read the first two, last one due out late this year I think. Both very good.

sentient_6 · 02-09-2013 5:52pm

About half way through the first myself.

OwaynOTT · 02-09-2013 10:00pm

Dades wrote: »

Just started the "Wool" books on the strong recommendation of a buddy of mine.

Anyone read them?

Only read Wool, so far myself. Starts excellently and rarely lets you down all the way to the last page.

shaneor · 03-09-2013 9:32am

Dades wrote: »

Just started the "Wool" books on the strong recommendation of a buddy of mine.

Anyone read them?

I've read the first two and it's a very good series. Third one is out on Kindle a few weeks ago and in October in print I think.

Dades · 03-09-2013 9:51pm

Am on #2 now, pretty good.

Moving a bit slow, and I'm used to a bit more expansive stuff, but interesting nonetheless.

ixoy · 03-09-2013 10:00pm

shaneor wrote: »

I haven't read Legion but "Emperor's Soul" is excellent. Another really interesting and innovative magic system and a good (if short) read.

Yeah, this was excellent and obviously we're not alone in thinking it as it just won the Hugo for Best Novella.

RoboAmish · 06-09-2013 11:03pm

Working through Wheel Of Time... again. Just started Lord Of Chaos... bit to go yet. Won't fail this time though.

Was also recommended "Prince of Thorns" by the girl in the bookstore the other day so picked it up too. I'd assume it's decent. Coulda sworn I've seen people talk about it here...

ixoy · 06-09-2013 11:31pm

RoboAmish wrote: »

Was also recommended "Prince of Thorns" by the girl in the bookstore the other day so picked it up too. I'd assume it's decent. Coulda sworn I've seen people talk about it here...

I was one of those talking about it. Now it was in a very negative manner and I thought it was utter rubbish but yeah, I was talking about it

ixoy · 07-09-2013 12:25am

Nody wrote: »

Well you survived the pitch forks for now (first book finished this morning)... I can only echo earlier comment (forgot from whom, sorry!) that it's setting things up to come but was not brilliant.

Sure I got my cut of the profits

It's not an amazing series but, for me, the mix of magic fighting against a steam-punk era society worked as did the Kinden angle. And no there are no immediate answers (and I've read the first five) but things do get expanded on.

If anyone wants to give it a try, today's the best day as it's £0.99 on Amazon's Daily Deal.

OwaynOTT · 07-09-2013 5:18am

Phew! Travel really lets you get through a few books.

Just finished Pines by Blake Crouch. Decent enough, interesting enough idea and very heavily wearing it's Twin Peaks influence and a few other tv series also. Get's a bit flat with the reveal, as I was expecting some kind of convulated Stephen King ending.
Sadly wasn't to be and the ending put me in the mind of

Justin Cronin's The Passage

and other such books. Spoilered that because it will really give away the ending. Second book out soon enough as well.

Up next The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu and I really enjoyed it. Nice idea with the alien mind passenger and it was very funny in parts. Got a bit too reliant on action scenes near the end and it felt a bit episodic at times and the ending was rather abrupt with little resolved. A lot of set up for the next book.

Both good books, a solid 7/10 for each.

Just started Enders Game by Orson Scott Card, saw it in Chapters for a few dollars, so I said why not despite having two books downloaded on the kindle.
Speaking of Chapters, their book prices are off the wall. A copy of Stardust for 33 dollars, they're having a laugh. Great selection though.

Getting impatient for Republic of Thieves, is anyone else with me here?

RoboAmish · 07-09-2013 9:49pm

ixoy wrote: »

I was one of those talking about it. Now it was in a very negative manner and I thought it was utter rubbish but yeah, I was talking about it

Ha, not very encouraging! Oh well, better to go in with measured expectations, I suppose.

shootermacg · 08-09-2013 1:23am

OwaynOTT wrote: »

Phew! Travel really lets you get through a few books.

Just finished Pines by Blake Crouch. Decent enough, interesting enough idea and very heavily wearing it's Twin Peaks influence and a few other tv series also. Get's a bit flat with the reveal, as I was expecting some kind of convulated Stephen King ending.
Sadly wasn't to be and the ending put me in the mind of
Justin Cronin's The Passage
and other such books. Spoilered that because it will really give away the ending. Second book out soon enough as well.

Up next The Lives of Tao by Wesley Chu and I really enjoyed it. Nice idea with the alien mind passenger and it was very funny in parts. Got a bit too reliant on action scenes near the end and it felt a bit episodic at times and the ending was rather abrupt with little resolved. A lot of set up for the next book.

Both good books, a solid 7/10 for each.

Just started Enders Game by Orson Scott Card, saw it in Chapters for a few dollars, so I said why not despite having two books downloaded on the kindle.
Speaking of Chapters, their book prices are off the wall. A copy of Stardust for 33 dollars, they're having a laugh. Great selection though.

Getting impatient for Republic of Thieves, is anyone else with me here?

Enders Game, absolute classic, I envy you reading it for the first time ^ ^

What Are You Reading?

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