What Are You Reading?

smacl

A few more recent reads,

Deep Wheel Orcadia by Harry Josephine Giles. Much as I try not abandon a book without finishing it, this was a no hoper for me. Each chapter is written twice, once in Orcadian followed by the same chapter in English. Unfortunately, with my ageing Kindle, skipping chapters was laborious, though not quite as tough as reading in text in Orcadian. Even sticking to the English, I found it unrewarding and ditched it. My mistake for not reading the reviews in more detail before buying.

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel. Thoroughly enjoyed this book featuring a travelling symphony in post apocalyptic world, skipping back to the events that gave rise to collapse of society. Plenty of action and grimness but full of hope at the same time. I believe it has been serialized for the screen to must keep an eye out for it.

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. Another post apocalyptic romp, somewhat grimmer than Station Eleven but also a great read. Again a mix of before and after, with the protagonist believing himself to be the last living person vaguely tasked with looking after a small community of genetically enhanced rather dull replacement humans. I believe Atwood refers to her work as speculative fiction rather than sci-fi but this had all the elements of a great sci-fi read for me. Didn't know much about her other than having the Handmaids Tale recommended to me as one to watch, I'll definitely pick up a few more of her books.

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch. More dystopian nastiness, this one probably is better described as speculative fiction than sci-fi, with the outbreak of civil war in Ireland as the far right come into power. Brilliantly written but utterly grim, reminded me a bit of The Road. I admired it and found it a compelling read but can't say I enjoyed it. A number of reviews described it as transposing what's happening in Gaza to Dublin, which to me isn't quite right but not too far wrong either.

Thargor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122775056#Comment_122775056

I thought Prophet Song was a bit overhyped, flashes of brilliance but mostly a bit too vague, should have gone into more detail about what was happening to the country and why, that would have been amazing, as it was there was zero mention of what party was in power or who was fighting or any place outside of Dublin or anything like that, it made the whole experience a bit frustrating imo.

Im reading Cryptonomicon at long last after carrying it around with me for many years, its a 3/5 so far for me, lots of interesting bits especially the WWII cryptography stuff but the author is an awful waffler and he's at his absolute worst here. Seveneves and Anathaem remain 2 of my all time sci-fi favs so Ill stick with it in the hope of some kind of payoff, 1200 pages though!

Xofpod

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122775056#Comment_122775056

Absolutely loved Station Eleven. Sea of Tranquility by the same author leans more heavily into the sci-fi but sadly isn't near as good a book.

Also loved Oryx & Crake, which is part of a trilogy (Maddaddam) but I was underwhelmed by the second part, to the extent I never read the third one. She's a great writer though so I'll probably give it a go at some point.

Prophet Song has been on my shelf for a while but given recent events, I'll think I'll leave it there for a while longer. I prefer my fiction to be a bit more fiction-y.

Igotadose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122814184#Comment_122814184

Agree to disagree on Cryptonomicon, really enjoyed it, couldn't put it down. I've been jonesing on Connie Willis, now reading her 2 parter on time travel to the Blitz- Blackout (great), All clear (not done yet, not as great as Blackout.)

Also am reading some short stories by her, "Ado" if you can find it in a collection is, well, kind of timely. Asimov apparently said it was one of the best stories he read in Asimov's magazine, which is where it was first published. "Last of the Winnebagos" is an all-time great and again, feels timely.

Fian

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122823459#Comment_122823459

I quite liked cryptomnicom, loved anathem, but seveneves I absolutely hated. Like I would actually be reasonably interested in a lecture on orbital mechanics, but not one that goes on for however many pages it was stretched out for in that book! And it should have been broken into two books and the final part just cut out entirely imo.

Sometimes the mood you are in when you read a book makes them hit you differently i suppose.

Looking back at my last post i did read the wager and it was pretty good, though a bit of a slog in parts. Then finished the published books in red rising series and i like them. Started the faithful and the fallen by John Gwynne which i also am enjoying, currently half way through book 2.

Also read prophet song during this period, didn't really see it as fantasy/sci fi tbh but i did enjoy it. Another non-fantasy book i am thinking of reading next is Demon Copperhead, my wife loved it and a few others have recommended it to me independently.

lordgoat

Reading Sanderson - I enjoy his worlds a lot. Will get the new one next week and then take a break. Will prob go back to GG Kay. Although I have noted the Connie Wills books in here

Thargor

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122823459#Comment_122823459

Finished Cryptonomicon at long last, it was a relief tbh, did not enjoy that all, it took me a month! Usually with his books I read them in 3 days because I cant put them down.

I was bored down at the parents so started reading the Second Apocalypse series again by Bakker, completely sucked in again already, I honestly think they're not just the best sci-fi/fantasy ever written, its one of the greatest pieces of literature full stop, sometimes you have to go back and reread a whole chapter because the prose and everything else was just so epic, nothing comes close.

lordgoat

GG Kay - Lions of Al Hassan - loving it.

smacl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123188627#Comment_123188627

Great read, i've been working my way through many of his books over the last couple of years and enjoyed them all so far. Currently on the third in the sailing to Sarantium trilogy.

smacl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122815124#Comment_122815124

Ended up watching the first three series of the Handmaids Tale and then reading the book. The first series was quite entertaining which is where it parted with the book. The book is far tighter with a more interesting ending, the series went the way of so many series taken from limited source material, starting well then drifting off, getting a bit repetitive, filling the time with dramatic pauses and ultimately becoming as dull as dishwater. Will definitely be reading more of Atwood though.

sydthebeat

Phillip Finch

Raising the Dead: A True Story of Death and Survival

Just starting this on the back of a recommendation. As a severe claustrophobic I've no idea what to expect

EDIT: just realised this shoudlnt be in the sci-fi section… my bad

CalamariFritti

Not sure this qualifies - Pattern Recognition by William Gibson.

So far it's strictly speaking not been science fiction but he is a sci-fi author and its sailing close to the wind. Blade Runner vibes only today. First thing is the verdict - its brilliant IMO.

We follow Cayce a 32 year old New Yorker with a neurosis or two but otherwise firmly and confidently planted in the world who has a certain 'gift'. She's a 'sensitive' of sorts, recognising instinctively things that work and that don't. Specifically in the world of creative, marketing, branding, advertising. Her word counts she doesnt even have to justify herself. Pattern Recognition. It gives her a privileged freelance position where she's not amassing riches but she is at the same time moving in that comfortable corporate city hopping existence of board rooms, exclusive hotels and first class flights and never worrying about a Dollar or two.

Her latest contract is with 'Blue Ant' a slightly weird advertising company which eventually connects with one of her private pursuits. Which is a fascination with mysterious releases of random but quality produced video fragments which may or may not be assembled to some masterpiece eventually. These fragment called the 'footage' excite an increasing number of followers around the world mostly onlinos like ourselves and the sheer power and subliminal attraction of it attracts in return the attention of advertising and marketing. Re: Blue Ants. And this is where weird starts turning into dangerous.

I'm about halfway through and I find its masterfully written. Real Gibson but better even than 'the Sprawl'. I'm absolutely loving it and it has a definite sci-fi vibe around it even though it plays in nowadays world and technically nothing has surfaced yet that is strictly speaking future stuff. I cant wait to get back to it and already glad to have learned there are two sequels building a 'Blue Ant' series.

BurtonD

Have recently started reading the Mistborn series by Brandon Sanderson and I have to say it is what I needed. The last few years reading has not been very easy for me but this series has done wonders. I'm not out of the woods yet I still have an awful lot to work on but I will never stop being amazed at what a good book can do for your mood. Hope all are well :) stay safe

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123229242#Comment_123229242

They are fantastic books.

The wax and wayne books after are worth reading as well

BurtonD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123229249#Comment_123229249

Next on my list! or I might get lost in the stormlight archives for a little while first. about to start the last mistborn book so I have a few days to decide!!

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123229255#Comment_123229255

Sanderson does some interesting short novellas if you wanted to take a break from the depth of the series.

Another personal fav of mine if your interested in lengthy series is the David Eddings series the belgariad and the mallorean.

ixoy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123229286#Comment_123229286

One of my introductions to fantasy were these books. Shame the author was a horrible person.

TheIrishGrover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123254317#Comment_123254317

Eddings?

ixoy

Yeah, Eddings. Google what he and his wife did - nasty stuff.

sydthebeat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123254317#Comment_123254317

i didnt know about any of that until you said!!!

i certainly wouldn't be recommending his / their books to anyone now

TheIrishGrover

Whoa….. Jesus Christ. Well that certainly puts me off recommending his books. Before looking him up I thought it was gonna be some old fashioned misogyny. Sort of a Sean Connery "Sometimes a woman needs a good slap" type horror show but that's…. Jesus.

TBH, I only read the Belgariad and Malloreon series recently upon recommendation. I thought they were fine but very dated. I didn't realise they were "relatively" new (80s). The female characters are straight out of something from the 50s which is when I thought they were written. That's crazy that they were written in the 80s.

What an absolute scrote

Igotadose

Damn, I read all those novels in the 1980's. Never thought they were particularly good, cliche-ridden junk with obvious plot devices, nor did I recommend them much I don't think. Glad I didn't, what awful people.

Xofpod

Had a hankering for a while and finally gave in and picked up the Wastelands, the third (Stephen King) Dark Tower book for a reread. I have zero desire to read the whole series again but depending how I get on with this one, I might take a gander again at Wizard & Glass, and maybe the Wind through the Keyhole.

Glebee

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123281174#Comment_123281174

Currently reading The Wind through the keyhole, enjoying being back with the gang for a while.

CalamariFritti

Finished previously described 'Blue Ant' series from William Gibson. It absolutely held up with what I wrote earlier. Thought for a moment book two was a little drop until I realised book two and three are the same story arcing back to book 1 even and the it all made sense again. Absolutely loved it overall.

I head previously read the Sprawl and Jackpot series and find Blue Ant is his strongest even though it's not his latest. Absolutely love the protaginists Cayce, Hollis, Milgrim, Heidi and the rest of them, great stuff.

Xofpod

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123281332#Comment_123281332

Only read Spook Country from that series, and that was a long time ago. Might go back to Pattern Recognition and see how I feel about it. The Jackpot books didn't really do it for me (although surprisingly I really liked the Peripheral TV show and was disappointed it get axed…)

TheIrishGrover

Finally getting around to "The Blade Itself". Loving it. Heard people describe it as dark. I've certainly read a lot darker. I suppose it's just that everyone's a bit of an a$$hole. lol. Before I started, I think I confused it with something else. I don't know what (The book I confused it with had a protagonist who was a bit of a berserker who would kill friend or foe who got in his way)

Thargor

I dont often reread books but during the power cuts I picked up Peter F Hamiltons Commonwealth saga again and now Im on the seventh book and cant put them down, dont think I remembered even 10% of it, might just start rereading my whole collection now tbh, feck all decent new sci-fi being released anyway.

CalamariFritti

There is very good sci-fi being released. For example Murderbot series or A Memory Called Empire series are all recent and incredibly good.

smacl

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123296802#Comment_123296802

Where do you go to hunt these down? I've been through all the Hugo stuff that I liked the look of but it has been a bit hit and miss. Just finishing GGKs All the seas of the world, which is highly readable but as the last of a trilogy a bit samey. I have Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor queued as my next read which I've high hopes for.