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What Are You Reading?

13567…156

Comments

  • #102
    bonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    growler wrote: »
    had never heard of this, am i right in thinking this is a "spin off" of the malazan series from Eriksson :confused:
    Sort of.

    SE and ICE created the world between them, and the intention always was that they would both write novels...SE doing the "main story arc" so-to-speak, and ICE doing more "peripheral" stories.

    The first book by ICE was Night of Knives, a novella which deals with the night that Surly became Lasseen, assuming the throne from Kellanved.

    Like RotCG, it fills in some blanks, but isn't crucial reading.


  • #103
    bonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Thanx 4 The Fish wrote: »
    Brisingr, have been reading the books since before Paolini sold the rights for the films and this is the third installment. Have not gotten to the end so not sure if this is going to be like the wheel of time and he is going to make as much as he can from it.

    sure hope not.

    He says he's changed from a trilogy to a 4-parter. I'll believe that when the next book finishes the saga, like Brisingr was supposed to.

    Not a bad read, though...if you liked the first two.


  • #104
    chopperbyrne
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,041 ✭✭✭✭chopperbyrne


    Just started book one of "The Gap Sequence" series by Stephen Donaldson.

    So far I'm enjoying it.


  • #105
    bonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    The Gap into Conflict (book one) was far and away the weakest, worst of the series. If you like it, you're in for a treat. The series is, IMHO, some of the best sci-fi written in the 90s.


  • #106
    Yareli Small Above
    Posts: 0 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Yareli Small Above


    "excession" by iain banks.
    Just finished the latest peter hamilton book also <3


  • #107
    ixoy
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 17,994 Mod ✭✭✭✭ixoy


    mcgovern wrote: »
    Now reading "The Skinner" by Neal Asher.
    How was this? It's on my "To Read" list, although not scheduled for a while yet. I've read the first 3 books in the Agent Cormac series and I know this is set in part of the Polity universe - how does it measure up to the main series? I'm assuming (hoping) well as I've also got the sequel "The Voyage of the Sable Keach".
    bonkey wrote: »
    The Gap into Conflict (book one) was far and away the weakest, worst of the series. If you like it, you're in for a treat. The series is, IMHO, some of the best sci-fi written in the 90s.
    +1. The Gap series is excellent and I think that it's not got the recognition that it deserved. For a few years it's been difficult to get your hands on it, although that's changed with a recent reprint. It's got some excellent characters in it and an intelligent plot, filled with genuinely interesting twists and turns. One of the best series I've read.


  • #108
    Shryke
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,199 ✭✭✭Shryke


    bluewolf wrote: »
    "excession" by iain banks.
    Just finished the latest peter hamilton book also <3

    Finished Excession a day or two ago.
    Started Dracula and I'm actually really liking it. I didn't think it would hold up but it's doing very well for itself.


  • #109
    shockwave
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,770 ✭✭✭shockwave


    Halfway through the farseer trilogly by Robin Hobb and its pretty good.

    Its a lot better than the liveship trilogy which I didnt really warm to at all.

    As soon as im finished it i'll start on The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie. Looking forward to that one.


  • #110
    bonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    bonkey wrote: »
    The Awakened Mage by Karen Miller (sequel to The Innocent Mage).

    Not the best two-parter I've ever read, but I like her main character (Asher) because he's plenty flawed.

    Took time out from this to read The Temporal Void, returned to it, and am now taking time out again to read Anathem.

    (And I took time out from re-reading Return Of The Crimson Guard to read TIM and TAM in the first place)

    SO I guess I'm sort of reading 3 books at the moment.


  • #111
    Baggly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,024 ✭✭✭✭Baggly


    Reading the latest in the Runelord series by David Farland. Was pleased enough with the series until the last book (book 5). Still not the happiest with the way things are going now tho. Ill keep ye informed :)


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  • #112
    mcgovern
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,267 ✭✭✭mcgovern


    ixoy wrote: »
    How was this? It's on my "To Read" list, although not scheduled for a while yet. I've read the first 3 books in the Agent Cormac series and I know this is set in part of the Polity universe - how does it measure up to the main series? I'm assuming (hoping) well as I've also got the sequel "The Voyage of the Sable Keach".

    Its really good, Scatterjay is a very dangerous place! It doesn't have the same level of mad technology as the Ian Cormac books, but there is enough there to keep it interesting.


  • #113
    Baggly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,024 ✭✭✭✭Baggly


    shockwave wrote: »
    Halfway through the farseer trilogly by Robin Hobb and its pretty good.

    Its a lot better than the liveship trilogy which I didnt really warm to at all.

    As soon as im finished it i'll start on The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie. Looking forward to that one.

    Farseer is the best thing Hobb has written imo. Stay away from her latest trilogy(soldier son), its absolute muck.


  • #114
    CerebralCortex
    Registered Users Posts: 3,809 ✭✭✭CerebralCortex


    Just finished Ubik by Philip K. Dick very good. Reading Foundation by Asimov.


  • #115
    mcgovern
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,267 ✭✭✭mcgovern


    The Neutronium Alchemist by Peter Hamilton, not liking the start of it so far, I hate the crap on Cricklade.


  • #116
    Shryke
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,199 ✭✭✭Shryke


    A Briefer History of Time by Stephen Hawking. It's very simple but very informative.


  • #117
    Mantel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,342 ✭✭✭Mantel


    LOTP wrote: »
    Farseer is the best thing Hobb has written imo. Stay away from her latest trilogy(soldier son), its absolute muck.

    I was wondering if it was something wrong with me. I read the first two sets and then started on this one, I've read the first third of the first book three times trying to wrap my brain around it before I gave up.

    Reading Blood Ravens Ominbus (40k) and starting on the fourth book of Saga of Seven Suns with hopefully a Robert Rankin book thrown inbetween.


  • #118
    bonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    "The Final Watch" by Sergei Lukyanenko

    Seems to be up to the level of the original trilogy (Night/Day/Twilight Watch).


  • #119
    Shryke
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,199 ✭✭✭Shryke


    Crime and Punishment. And if that gets a little heavy then I have Nietzsche to read. :)


  • #120
    CerebralCortex
    Registered Users Posts: 3,809 ✭✭✭CerebralCortex


    Richard Dawkins The Selfish Gene, Isaac Asimov Foundation and Empire and just recently finish reading Daniel C. Denett Breaking the Spell Religion as a Natural Phenomenon


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  • #121
    eVeNtInE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,020 ✭✭✭eVeNtInE


    This post has been deleted.


  • #122
    growler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,188 ✭✭✭growler


    Kevin Anderson's Saga of the seven Suns : 3/4 way through book one but not entirely certain that I want to read the next 6 , at least they've all been written so I won't have to hang about for the finale. going to read book 2 anyway and make my mind up then.

    also just finished Katherine Kerr's Spirit Stone, tbh I had almost forgotten about this author as after a really good 3 books (which I read back in the 80's) i've continued to read all the Deverry series but it has faded into jadedness in recent years, this was no real exception, poor and generally predictable throughout. shame really


  • #123
    AnCapaillMor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,920 ✭✭✭AnCapaillMor


    growler wrote: »
    Kevin Anderson's Saga of the seven Suns : 3/4 way through book one but not entirely certain that I want to read the next 6 , at least they've all been written so I won't have to hang about for the finale. going to read book 2 anyway and make my mind up then.

    Well worth the read, the first 3/4 of book one is more of an introduction. I made the mistake of picking it up when book 2 was just out, it was agony having to wait a year for each next book.

    Currently reading the 2nd of peter f hamiltons void series, i'm quite enjoying it.


  • #124
    ixoy
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 17,994 Mod ✭✭✭✭ixoy


    Lots of people reading Kevin J. Anderson's series but... anything I've read by him makes me think he's an awful writer (his X-Files books and his Dune books). Does his talent really improve that much when working in his own universe??


  • #125
    growler
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,188 ✭✭✭growler


    never read Dune or any x-file book, didn't realise it was the same lad.


  • #126
    Vokes
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,836 ✭✭✭Vokes


    eVeNtInE wrote: »
    This post has been deleted.
    Did you ever read the others? The third, The Farthest Shore, is excellent (if a little slow). Love that book.

    There was also a recent Studio Ghibli feature loosely based on it, called Tales from Earthsea - its worth a gander.


    Currently making my way through Hamilton's Fallen Dragon before i move onto his latest The Temporal Void (which looks rather large and ominous).


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  • #127
    Shinjuku
    Closed Accounts Posts: 125 ✭✭Shinjuku


    Mindbridge by Joe Haldeman. Picked it up in a second hand bookshop, it's a really old print. On the back it says Eire: 95½p!!!

    It's a good short read, just finished it now.


  • #128
    eVeNtInE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,020 ✭✭✭eVeNtInE


    This post has been deleted.


  • #129
    bonkey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 15,443 ✭✭✭✭bonkey


    Re-reading (after years) Stephen Donaldson's Gap cycle.

    Currently on book 3 (The Gap Into Power: A Dark and Hungry God Arises), and really enjoying it...its every bit as good as I remember.


  • #130
    Shryke
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,199 ✭✭✭Shryke


    Currently reading Fevre Dream by George R. R. Martin. It's been on my shelf for over a year so I said to hell with it. It's turning out brilliantly. Great atmosphere and characters. The setting is really what makes it though.


  • #131
    Dades
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 25,558 Mod ✭✭✭✭Dades


    ^^ great book! ^^

    Reading "Red Mars". About 2/3rd through and loving it.


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  • #132
    Shinjuku
    Closed Accounts Posts: 125 ✭✭Shinjuku


    Dades wrote: »
    ^^ great book! ^^

    Reading "Red Mars". About 2/3rd through and loving it.

    Tis a great book. You know there are two sequels, blue & green mars?


  • #133
    Sarky
    Closed Accounts Posts: 31,967 ✭✭✭✭Sarky


    I'm finally getting through the backlog of books I had.

    I'm now about 10 chapters into Glen Cook's Black Company, and it's really, really good. Very to the point, where some authors have a blow-by-blow account of combat for everyone involved, Cook will write " 3 men died in the first 5 seconds, then the wizard threw a beehive at the rest. It was over 10 seconds later. Suddenly, it was 2 months later..." Keeps the plot and action zipping along at a great pace.


  • #134
    Ronanc1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 401 ✭✭Ronanc1


    Just finished brandon sandersons elantris twas pretty good heard his mist born series is one to read whAt can you tell me bout them eventine ?

    Also wondering has anyone read any of juliet mckennas books ?


  • #135
    eVeNtInE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,020 ✭✭✭eVeNtInE


    This post has been deleted.


  • #136
    pH
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,188 ✭✭✭pH


    Just finished Matter (liked it a lot, then again I really like Banks) and Revelation Space (Not so sure about this, will read Chasm city anyway).


  • #137
    qwertz
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,726 ✭✭✭qwertz


    I am reading Paycheck and other Short Stories by Philip K. Dick, good stuff so far.


  • #138
    ixoy
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 17,994 Mod ✭✭✭✭ixoy


    'The Year of Our War' by Steph Swainston. It'd been lying around on my shelf for ages, but it's actually turned out pretty decent. It's part of the "new weird" genre (apparently) and it's fairly refreshing as a result. I'd probably be encouraged to read a follow-up tale, albeit after the thousand other books lying about my room..,


  • #139
    equivariant
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 966 ✭✭✭equivariant


    I just joined so maybe I have the wrong impression, but does nobody here rate Greg Egan? IMO he is the best hard SF writer around. I'm reading Incandescence at the moment. Axiomatic is a brilliant collection of short stories.


  • #140
    ixoy
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 17,994 Mod ✭✭✭✭ixoy


    Currently reading "The Confusion" by Neal Stephenson. It'd be tough to call this sci-fi/fantasy, but I'm placing it here because of Stephenson's other works. It's ... very detailed (often too much so) but I can't deny that it's well researched and witty at times. I still don't like the character of Eliza however. Maybe my attitude will change with time. And hey, it features Dundalk...
    equivariant wrote: »
    I just joined so maybe I have the wrong impression, but does nobody here rate Greg Egan? IMO he is the best hard SF writer around. I'm reading Incandescence at the moment. Axiomatic is a brilliant collection of short stories.
    Just recently bought "Permutation City" as I've always wanted to see what he's like. It'll be a while before I get around to reading it though...


  • #141
    eVeNtInE
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,020 ✭✭✭eVeNtInE


    This post has been deleted.


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  • #142
    equivariant
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 966 ✭✭✭equivariant


    ixoy wrote: »
    Just recently bought "Permutation City" as I've always wanted to see what he's like. It'll be a while before I get around to reading it though...

    Actually, I have to say that this is not one of my favourites of Egan's novels. However, hope you enjoy


  • #143
    vasch_ro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,432 ✭✭✭vasch_ro


    ixoy wrote: »
    'The Year of Our War' by Steph Swainston. It'd been lying around on my shelf for ages, but it's actually turned out pretty decent. It's part of the "new weird" genre (apparently) and it's fairly refreshing as a result. I'd probably be encouraged to read a follow-up tale, albeit after the thousand other books lying about my room..,

    ordered it off Play , having read this thread and a review it seems interesting ..


  • #144
    vasch_ro
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,432 ✭✭✭vasch_ro


    ixoy wrote: »
    'The Year of Our War' by Steph Swainston. It'd been lying around on my shelf for ages, but it's actually turned out pretty decent. It's part of the "new weird" genre (apparently) and it's fairly refreshing as a result. I'd probably be encouraged to read a follow-up tale, albeit after the thousand other books lying about my room..,

    I enjoyed its quite good, if a little short, but quite different ad unique in its own right, it somewhat straddles the fantasy. sci fi genres too.
    Looking forward th the next one thanks!
    Just finished Book 1 of the Tawny Man trilogy Fools Errand , which i really enjoyed, it really expands on the wit and if you like Robin Hobb and the assassin trilogy u will like this book. I am
    starting book 2 right after this post. i have also dipped my toes into Sorcery Rising which so far looks okay, also recently finished The Road by Cormac Mc Carty really really good and tied in well with Fallout 3 which I was playing on the xbox at the time !


  • #145
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    At the moment, "World War Z" by Max Brooks.


  • #146
    Baggly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,024 ✭✭✭✭Baggly


    ixoy wrote: »
    'The Year of Our War' by Steph Swainston. It'd been lying around on my shelf for ages, but it's actually turned out pretty decent. It's part of the "new weird" genre (apparently) and it's fairly refreshing as a result. I'd probably be encouraged to read a follow-up tale, albeit after the thousand other books lying about my room..,

    The follow up is quite good too as it happens. Havent read the third in the series yet.


  • #147
    ixoy
    Moderators, Entertainment Moderators Posts: 17,994 Mod ✭✭✭✭ixoy


    LOTP wrote: »
    The follow up is quite good too as it happens. Havent read the third in the series yet.
    Thanks for that. I posted a more comprehensive review on my Reading Log, with not being overwhelmed but still curious to see what happens next to a heroin-addicted denim-clad crazy immortal angel hybrid...

    Currently I'm reading "Galactic North" by Alastair Reynolds, a collection of short stories and novellas set in the Revelation Space universe. The first short story was quite weak and had me worried (although it was one of his earliest pieces of work), but the subsequent entries range from good to excellent, with 2 standout pieces so far.

    I'm also reading "Devices and Desires" by K.J. Parker. I love his plain spoken characters, who you can easily relate to, rather than the pompous, overly-spoken characters that are in many fantasy characters. I'm a little worried that he'll diverge too much into the technicalities of engineering (something he was wont to do with forging in his Pattern series), but so far it hasn't distracted much.


  • #148
    Baggly
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 35,024 ✭✭✭✭Baggly


    Well all ill say in relation to the second in the Steph Swainston follow up is that, imo, second books can be tough, especially when the first was so fresh. Finding a new catch and/or formula that remains fresh without diluting the core of the characters can be a tall order. Fortunately Swainston managed to keep me interested. While there wasnt the crescendo that i found in OYOW, the book developed the character nicely and gave me more of an insight into the world in which the characters lived. Also the second book focuses more upon the main characters interactions with the other immortals.

    As i said, quite good as it happens :)


  • #149
    Shryke
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,199 ✭✭✭Shryke


    Stardust by Gaimen.


  • #150
    Smart Bug
    Registered Users Posts: 1,368 ✭✭✭Smart Bug


    Sandor wrote: »
    Stardust by Gaimen.


    Brilliant book. Have a go at American Gods & Anansi Boys too - actually all his novels are great!


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  • #151
    Shryke
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,199 ✭✭✭Shryke


    Smart Bug wrote: »
    Brilliant book. Have a go at American Gods & Anansi Boys too - actually all his novels are great!

    I've already read them but cheers! Neverwhere is also quite good. His short stories are well worth a look if you haven't read them. It seems to be the area he really excells in. They're actually better than some of his longer fiction.


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