What're you reading right now?

[Thoth-Amon]

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch.

That one is sitting high in the stack. I haven't read a fantasy novel in ages. Let me know how you like it.

I'd give it a 7/10.

I wont spoil anything but until a certain point I'd say 9/10. After a certain point in the book it lost something and that is what brought it down to a 7/10. I will read the sequel.

[Merganser]

Tokyo Year Zero by David Peace. It's good, but it's very style-over-substance in many ways.

Impressive style, though.

[Ancalagon]

Twilight Watch by Lukyanenko

I read the whole series. It's really good but... it's also a bit of a slog, kinda depressing. Maybe it's because it's russian?

Right now, I'm reading, Les Trois Mousketaires by Alexandre Dumas - in French of course. I realized that I hardly read any french these days, and it was on sale and well... we all know the tale, but why not read the original?

[Harry]

I finally finished the Greg Bear "Darwin's" books. Man, that was a long, grueling slog. I only got done by gritting my teeth and forcing myself to see the story done. It wasn't helped by the fact that I have been distracted by Dragon Age, the holidays, and a persistent cold that's lasted months now.

A couple of days ago I picked up The Forever War by Joe Haldeman and I'm enjoying it immensely, and am about half through it now. That's with Dragon Age, the holidays and the persistent cold so I guess that means I really shouldn't have wasted so much time on the Darwin books.

[Lady_Acoma]

I just started Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman.

It has been a fucking long as time since I was really able to read anything serious due to my eyes being shitty and other life events. I will probably be done with this in a day or two and then try out American Gods next.

Funny how just being able to read again makes you so giddy.

[Schizm]

Right now is Dead until Dark, by Charlene Harris. Not really very good...
Also reading the song of the lioness to my kiddo.

[Glass]

Right now I'm reading The Tommyknockers by Stephen King. Good book.

[Brynja]

Maybe it was my age (11) or the legnth (alot i think 700+) but that book to me sucked.

[Janos]

I just finished the Man with the Iron Heart by Turtledove. He draws a comparison between the recent situation in Iraq/Afghanistan and what could have happened with the Germans post-WWII.

The book was a nice way to step back and examine the government's actions in the recent wars, but I found the reaction of the population at that point in time (including a Sheehan-esque character) to be very out of piece for the time period.

Normally Turtledove is very good at capturing the mentality at the time, but he missed it here in his effort to examine the more modern issue. I just don't see post-WWII America wanting a full pull out and withdrawal of troops.

Made me think though. And it wasn't a bad read.

[Merganser]

Ripley Under Ground, by Patricia Highsmith. It's the second of the Ripliad.

[Glass]

Maybe it was my age (11) or the legnth (alot i think 700+) but that book to me sucked.

The addiction theme is pretty interesting, especially knowing that King was in the depths of his own coke and other addictions at the time.

[Cat of Ulthar]

Watching the English by Kate Fox, an English anthropologist studying the English. Great read.

[Black Angel]

A friend of ours just dumped 3 boxes of sci-fi/fantasy books and manga on us that he isn't going to need anymore (he's pretty much permanently living in Japan now & won't be taking them with him). So I am in heaven with so much to go through. Most of the books aren't even duplicates of stuff we have, so I think I'll be occupied for many weeks and months to come! Yey! Once I finally choose something to start reading, I'll post an update!

[Glass]

Nice haul, BA!

[tleilaxu]

Confucius' Analects;
Chuang Tzu (two different translations);
Erasmus' Ten Colloquies and In Praise of Folly;
Horace's Ars Poetica

All of these are quick, easy, and completely awesome. I highly recommend them

[Steampunk]

Dragonspell by Donita K. Paul.

It's okay. We bought it to read aloud in the car during a road trip to New Jersey, and now I am finishing it. It's teen fantasy, but it has Christian undertones and allegories. While that isn't bad, I usually get annoyed with them. I likely won't read the next three books in the series, unless this one really grabs me before the end.

[Steampunk]

Dragonspell by Donita K. Paul.

It's okay. We bought it to read aloud in the car during a road trip to New Jersey, and now I am finishing it. It's teen fantasy, but it has Christian undertones and allegories. While that isn't bad, I usually get annoyed with them. I likely won't read the next three books in the series, unless this one really grabs me before the end.

Okay, so last night I put this book down in disgust. The Christian theme isn't just running along in the background, the author is beating you to death with it. After being preached to for an entire chapter, I just decided to put it down and find something else to read.

[Space Cadet B^3]

Alice in Wonderland

[Ergeheilalt]

Theory of Solidification

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

[Varaj]

Brent Weeks, "the way of shadows"

[Limper]

Reread Lord of Light.

Read Cramers Getting Back to Even.

Currently though... nothing is catching my attention.

[tleilaxu]

Reread Lord of Light.
.

zelazny? a classic.

[Limper]

zelazny? a classic.

That is the one.

[Freedom Canadian]

I'm currently reading John Winchester's Journal and Lord of the Silent Kingdom.

Furies of Calderon is next in the queue.

[shiningbrow]

I used to read alot of Zelazny (the Dream Master is really chilling and sad, but really good) the Amber series are good, too. I have never read Lord of Light, but should.

I'm slogging through texts on museums, "Grasping the World: the idea of the museum" and "Museum Studies." For other purposes, Paul Ricoeur, "Memory, History Forgetting." It's rare that I get to read for sheer pleasure, but when I do, mysteries and Sci Fi are favorites, but I read everything and anything.

[Varaj]

I will recommend Lord of Light as well. Great, great book.

[Janos]

Brent Weeks, "the way of shadows"

The Night Angel triology is pretty good. I wish he'd made the third book into two books, as he rushes through a lot, but for a first time author I'm amazed how good those books were.

[ROGAN GOSH]

Furies of Calderon is next in the queue.
I really enjoyed the series very much. Currantly reading WICKED.

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

On to "Goldfinger" for me.

[tleilaxu]

On to "Goldfinger" for me.

how are the books, and how do they compare to the movies?

[Steampunk]

White Witch, Black Curse by Kim Harrisson

[Merganser]

Agent Zigzag, by Ben Macintyre. The story of Edward Chapman, an English career criminal (blackmail, safecracking, bank robbery mostly, nothing violent) recruited by the Germans to spy on Britain during WWII - but who doublecrossed them and spied on the Germans instead. In the course of his adventures he became the only British subject ever to win the Iron Cross, though. Bit of a miscalculation on the High Command's part. Silly German Romantic suckers.

[Harry]

how are the books, and how do they compare to the movies?

As someone who read all the Fleming books multiple times in high school, I can assure you that the books match the movies only in the most superficial ways. The skeletons of the plots, the names of characters, that's about it. The original Bond books are among my favorite pulp books of all time, tied right up there with Andre Norton's best work, and the original Bond is very little like the Bond of the movies. The simplest movies come the closest, like "From Russia With Love". Some of the others are so bound up in the cinematic myth of Bond that it's near impossible to make them jibe with the literary Bond.

[Edit - I do love most of the Bond movies, including the ones that are over the top, but I prefer ones like "From Russia With Love", or "Live and Let Die" or the latest "Casino Royale".]

[Cat of Ulthar]

As I am in the Netherlands at the moment, I am reading my mum's Dutch novels. Saskia Noort, Heleen van Rooyen, Arnon Grunberg. Good to read Dutch again.

[Schizm]

Finished Dead until Dark: As I had thought, pretty lame book. I mostly felt like the series has more life, depth, and interest, despite the hbo-at-night tone.

Read the short story "Cynara" last night by Christopher Buckley. Excellent.

[Harry]

I just started Galileo's Dream, by Kim Stanley Robinson. The concept seems to be very different from other books of his I've read, but man, it's great to be reading one of his books again. His writing style agrees with me tremendously.

[Merganser]

I'm currently reading two books:

The Boer War, by Thomas Pakenham &
Mainspring, by Jay Lake

The Pakenham is very good. I dunno about this Jay Lake, though. It's kind of iffy.

[Dayknight]

Pillars of the Earth.

I have recently taken some Art History classes and have a new appreciation for cathedral building.

[Merganser]

Child 44, by Tom Rob Smith

[Janos]

I just finished the Rising by Brian Keene, and am starting on the sequel City of the Dead. They're fluffy zombie books that have been pretty entertaining so far.

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

how are the books, and how do they compare to the movies?

Sorry, didn't see this till now. :o

The books are good, but if you're just a casual fan of the series, the movies will probably do. If you're into the character, the books should be read...in order, too. There's a little more background to Bond, you get to see how he thinks a bit more as well. He ruminates on death a lot, even when doing things like flying in a plane in Live and Let Die. He gets beat up a by his adventures, really beat up. "From Russia With Love" left the door open for Fleming to kill him off, which he wisely did not do.

There is also a glimpse into Fleming's own view of women, which if you don't take into account the times, can be a little embarrassing. For example, Pussy Galore was a full-fledged lesbian...until meeting Bond. She explains the reason she became one at the end of the book, it was due to sexual abuse. Fleming's remedy? Bond pulling her in and giving her a big old kiss to end the book. Like I said, a bit juvenile, but nothing to get worked up over unless you're a panty twister.

By the way, on to "For Your Eyes Only".

[tleilaxu]

Like I said, a bit juvenile, but nothing to get worked up over unless you're a panty twister.


yeah howard's conan stories suffer from the same problem, but damn if they aren't as good as pulp gets!

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

yeah howard's conan stories suffer from the same problem, but damn if they aren't as good as pulp gets!

Absolutely. I've read just about everything Howard wrote except the Bran Mak Morn stuff. Even his westerns and Steve Costigan stories. The man just had a way of capturing action like few ever could.

[Space Cadet B^3]

The Cider House Rules, by John Irving

[Kastil]

Born of Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon

[Bagpuss]

Just finished

1610 : A Sundial in a grave. by Mary Gentle

My currently reading list is here (http://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?collection=7).

Just starting Slights by Kaaron Warren, because it was on sale in Borders, and had the review on the cover that reads.

"Powerful stuff. So powerful, in fact, thar my throat was hurting with my attempts to keep my emotions under control. I was completely drawn in, totally immersed. I felt ill much of the time." - Russell Kirkpatrick, bestselling author of Across the face of the world.

Never had a book make me ill before so I thought I'd give it a try.

[Merganser]

I read Fell, Volume 1: Feral City by Warren Ellis, and now I'm reading The Secret Speech, by Tom Rob Smith. It's a sequel to Child 44.

[yangnome]

Just finished reading How to Rob an Armed Car by Iain Levison. Enjoyable read and Levison at times as a sharp wit that made me chuckle out loud.

[Kastil]

Just finished reading How to Rob an Armed Car by Iain Levison. Enjoyable read and Levison at times as a sharp wit that made me chuckle out loud.Hmmm... I saw his name on Amazon when I was ordering some books, specifically pre-orderinga Christopher Moore book. Is he on the same funny vein?

[Limper]

Just finished

1610 : A Sundial in a grave. by Mary Gentle



How does it compare to the Ash series?

[Schizm]

Finished The Year's Best Science Fiction, Twenty-Fifth Annual Collection. The Standout short stories:

"Lightning Out," By Ken Macleod
"Verthandi's Ring," by Ian Macdonad
"The Merchant and the Alchemist's Gate" by Ted Chiang
"Tideline" By Elizabeth Bear

Two of the stories were nominated or won Hugos, so it's not surprising I enjoyed them so much. There were some self-indulgent pieces of crap in there too, like "Roxie," by Robert Reed and "Last Contact" by Stephen Baxter. Both are fine examples of whiney characters engaged with the oncoming and inevitable apocalypse.

After finishing that one on Thursday, I decided to read some trash and went for Dan Brown's latest rag, The Lost Symbol. I wasn't disappointed in it's lack of quality or believability, so it's probably a really good thing I totally low-balled expectations.

Now, I'm starting in on A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.

[Merganser]

I'm reading The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. It's pretty good, and a very fast read. It's apparently classified as Young Adult, though, so it's not surprising it's fast. My uncle recommended it to me.

[Kastil]

The last book I read was utter crap so I moved on to an author I can depend on to write a good story.

The Door to December by Dean Koontz

[shiningbrow]

Selections from Marx & Engels, The German Ideology. Big fun.

[Cat of Ulthar]

Now, I'm starting in on A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.

Me too. :) I started it yesterday.

Of course, today I found the Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster in the charity shop, so that took precedence. :D

[Merganser]

I've gotten a bit carried away. I don't usually like to read books concurrently, but I am presently reading:

Thucydides, by Donald Kagan - examination of Thucydides and why he wrote his history the way that he did. Fun fact! In addition to being a brilliant classicist and probably the world's leading expert on the Peloponnesian War, Donald Kagan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Kagan) was one of the 25 founding signatories to the neoconservative Project for a New American Century (PNAC). Both his sons are active in neocon circles. He does not appear to let this affect his day job.

Sister Pelagia and the Red Cockerel, by Boris Akunin. Russian Orthodox nun in the late nineteenth century solves mysteries. Not as good as Akunin's Fandorin series, but still very good.

Mythago Wood, by Robert Holdsock. He died and everyone said his shit was hot. It's pretty good.

Atomic Robo and the Shadow from Beyond Time, by Clevinger & Wegener. Just arrived today, third volume in the Atomic Robo series. I like it. Being a graphic novel, I'll be done this today.

[TiQuinn]

Listening to Dan Simmons "The Terror" on audiobook. I'm completely hooked.

[yangnome]

Hmmm... I saw his name on Amazon when I was ordering some books, specifically pre-orderinga Christopher Moore book. Is he on the same funny vein?


His style is a bit different. He doesn't have vampires, or scenes with giant sea monsters having sex with garden tools. This one was based more in the real world. It was about a bunch of beta males though, which I guess is similar to GM in a way. Levison's got a different sense of humor, but its worth the read.

[yangnome]

I was looking for a book to try out on my iPhone (Kindle app) and stumbled across a free copy of Tim Dorsey's Atomic Lobster. I'd read one of his books in this series (Hurricane Punch) and enjoyed it. This one was ok, and a real fast read, but I didn't like it as much as HP. If you've got a Kindle, it's worth the free download. I liked it enough that I may pick up some other novels in the Serge series.

Last night I picked up Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell. Its about a doctor who is really an ex-hitman in the witness protection program. Its a fast, fun read so far (about 1/2 through it). After this one, I plan on reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.

[Lady Fury]

I'm currently reading Under the Dome. It's pretty good so far. It's Stephen King's newest book and it does start out with a good bang.

[Harry]

I'm currently reading Under the Dome. It's pretty good so far. It's Stephen King's newest book and it does start out with a good bang.

I've been intrigued by this book, but haven't been able to work up enough interest to buy it. When I look at it, the thing that always strikes me is Stephen King's shear chutzpah in putting out a book without any sort of jacket blurb or tease. As if he's saying "Says Stephen King on the cover, right? Just buy it!"

Still reading Galileo's Dream, by Kim Stanley Robinson. It's truly wonderful and I'm eating up every word. And it has a teaser on the jacket.

[shiningbrow]

The Elegance of the Hedgehog is supposed to be really good. Let me know how you like it. I won't be reading for fun until the summer.

[yangnome]

The Elegance of the Hedgehog is supposed to be really good. Let me know how you like it. I won't be reading for fun until the summer.
I've heard it is good. I wasn't sure about it when reading the summary, but the voice of one of the the protagonists was interesting enough to make me decide to pick it up. I'll hopefully be starting it tonight.

[Limper]

I've ordered Dust of Dreams from Amazon so that will be my next reading adventure.

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

Finished For Your Eyes Only, now on to Thunderball.

[tleilaxu]

academia has me in her fell clutches yet again, so now i spend almost all my time reading stuff (most of which no one in their right mind would want to read)

one neat book people might find interesting is Marcel Mauss' The Gift (the form and reason for exchange in archaic societies). it's about 80 pages.

[Glass]

I'm reading 20th Century Ghosts, by Joe Hill. So far, it's a pretty good read. After that, I'm thinking I'll move onto Our Band Could Be Your Life, which is a look at 80s/early 90s punk and alternative scene.

[King Vyper]

I'm reading 20th Century Ghosts, by Joe Hill. So far, it's a pretty good read. After that, I'm thinking I'll move onto Our Band Could Be Your Life, which is a look at 80s/early 90s punk and alternative scene.

Do you know what Joe Hill's real name is?

Hint: He related to a very famous author.

I am currently reading "Monster Island" part of a trilogy of books about a zombie Apocalypse.

[Glass]

Yeah, I'm aware that he's Stephen King's son. Honestly, looking at a picture of him, I wasn't sure how anybody could tell he wasn't Stephen King's son. They look a lot alike.

[shiningbrow]

academia has me in her fell clutches yet again, so now i spend almost all my time reading stuff (most of which no one in their right mind would want to read)


Me, too! I'm re-reading Hanno-Walter Kruft's A History of Architectural Theory. Wonderfully comprehensive and concise. Not exactly a bodice-ripper but edifying, just the same.

[Schizm]

edifying, just the same.

Pun intended?

[Limper]

The first two pages of Dust of Dreams are pretty good... I look forward to the next 814.

[Cat of Ulthar]

Advanced Media Arabic - El Mustapha Lahlali. Not bad I must say. Not a page turner though. More a stare at a page for a long time grasping more and more of what is intended.

[King Vyper]

The first two pages of Dust of Dreams are pretty good... I look forward to the next 814.

I just got Night of Knives and am waiting to read it.

[Limper]

I just got Night of Knives and am waiting to read it.

Its not bad... still waiting for Crimson Guard to hit US distributors.

[Janos]

Its not bad... still waiting for Crimson Guard to hit US distributors.

That's a bit more generous than I would have been with Night of Knives. The information is good, but the storytelling and characters didn't do anything for me.

[Space Cadet B^3]

Travels with Charley: In Search of America

by John Steinbeck

[Merganser]

The Buried Book, by David Damrosch - an account of the archaeological and philological events surrounding the discovery of the tables comprising the Epic of Gilgamesh.

So far: George Smith, brilliant but a bit crazy. Hormuzd Rassam, sensitive but underappreciated. E.A. Wallis Budge, arrogant prick. Henry Rawlinson, brilliant and lucky.

[Merganser]

Right, so now I'm reading John Burdett's Bangkok series. I'm rereading the first three as lead-up to reading the newly published fourth book. I very highly recommend this series, it's a great mystery series with a very interesting protagonist.

Bangkok 8
Bangkok Tattoo
Bangkok Haunts
The Godfather of Kathmandu

[Schizm]

I finished Bryson's A Short History of Everything.

In review:
Bryson does a good job explaining a large number of basic scientific concepts and placing them well within their historical context. Sometimes, he doesn't go in depth enough, and his beginning focus in the book is on the luck and fragility of humanity, while his conclusion is speaking to the depth of destruction we cause to our own environment.

For a non-scientist attempting to make a readable and understandable history of modern science in the last four hundred years, I think Bryson did a pretty good job.


Now I'm starting on a short story anthology: Strange Brew.

[Freedom Canadian]

The first two pages of Dust of Dreams are pretty good... I look forward to the next 814.

Just received it. Since it's the first of a two-parter, though, I'm waiting until I get the final book before I read it.

I just finished Lord of the Silent Kingdom. Now I'm wondering if Cook is done with the Instrumentalities of the Night series. It seems his next books will be more Black Company.

Next up is.. I dunno, Crimson Guards maybe. Or Asher's Hilldiggers. I have lots of books in my "to read" pile but it seems most of them are series which I'm waiting to be complete before reading.

[Cat of Ulthar]

I finished Bryson's A Short History of Everything.

In review:
Bryson does a good job explaining a large number of basic scientific concepts and placing them well within their historical context. Sometimes, he doesn't go in depth enough, and his beginning focus in the book is on the luck and fragility of humanity, while his conclusion is speaking to the depth of destruction we cause to our own environment.

For a non-scientist attempting to make a readable and understandable history of modern science in the last four hundred years, I think Bryson did a pretty good job.
I am enjoying it; just find it frustrating that he sometimes focuses completely beside the point in my opinion. He will mention an interesting theory and then explain that part of the theory which was to me blatantly obvious, and ignore the bit that I did not understand, so that in the end I still don't know quite how it works. I do enjoy the interesting stories about the lives of scientists, but it also seems like there is more gossip about scientists than actual science there.

[Schizm]

I am enjoying it; just find it frustrating that he sometimes focuses completely beside the point in my opinion. He will mention an interesting theory and then explain that part of the theory which was to me blatantly obvious, and ignore the bit that I did not understand, so that in the end I still don't know quite how it works. I do enjoy the interesting stories about the lives of scientists, but it also seems like there is more gossip about scientists than actual science there.

That's quite a bit of it - I don't think Bryson set out to teach people science, but to help acquaint the majority of his readers with some important concepts, all while bringing the scientists who came up with these theories to an approachable, human level.

A good bit of what frustrates me is that he spends a large amount of time deriding the 19th century scientists who make the assumption that "science is near an end" while falling victim to that same mentality - he often pronounces "we've solved this or that problem" without really taking a step back and considering the process as a whole.

Plus, it just bothered the shit out of me when he listed the higgs-bosun as having been found.

[GreyOne]

I've ordered Dust of Dreams from Amazon so that will be my next reading adventure.

Me too. It just came in yesterday, but I have to finish re-reading the last couple hundred pages of Toll the Hounds.

I really liked Night of Knives and Crimson Guards. The writing is a bit raw, but it's pretty action-packed and has has big developments.

Finished The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss a few weeks ago. Really liked it, though the end dragged a bit.

[Random Encounter]

I just finished the Science of Discworld 2 & 3. Which got me on a science kick and I found a copy of The God Delusion, that my dad had loaned Hatter and/or me a while ago, laying around and I've started to read that.

Dawkins is a bit pompaus and arrogant for my taste. It's not that I disagree with his overall premise, but I do think his confrontational tone drives off would be supporters and gives people a reason to stop listening.

[Xavier Lang]

I'm reading Hard Case by Dan Simmons.

[Edena_of_Neith]

What am I currently reading?

This. :)

[Harry]

IStill reading Galileo's Dream, by Kim Stanley Robinson. It's truly wonderful and I'm eating up every word.

This book was difficult to let go. It was a memorable read and I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in hard scifi, scientific history, or the histories of the Catholic Church and the Reformation. :)

Currently reading Marsbound, by Joe Haldeman.

[Schizm]

Finished the short story collection "Strange Brew." Nothing amazing to report, I mostly only picked it up because it had a dresden files short story.

Working on The Many Deaths of the Black Company now. It is an omnibus edition of Water Sleeps and Soldiers Live. I'm tearing through Water Sleeps, I'm really enjoying it. I've also started on the 25th annual Year's Best Science Fiction collection.

[Ancalagon]

I was disappointed by the return of the crimson guard, so read that book with low expectations, you may enjoy it more.

I just finished reading "The Empress" by Karen Miller. I was not impress, and won't be buying more books from her. However, I greatly enjoyed reading "les trois Mousquetaires" by Dumas (in French!).

I'm currently re-reading the dresden files series to prepare for my game

[Kastil]

The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. Seen the movies, never read the books. It will be interesting to see the differences.

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

Finished "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", onto "You Only Live Twice".

[shiningbrow]

Pierre Bourdieu, Distinction: a social critique of the judgment of taste.

It's wonderful.

[doc]

Finished "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", onto "You Only Live Twice".

Do yopu have the Bond Omnibus ?

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

Do yopu have the Bond Omnibus ?

I don't, I simply purchased all of the Penguin releases from a few years back. The covers are fantastic.

[TiQuinn]

I don't, I simply purchased all of the Penguin releases from a few years back. The covers are fantastic.

How do you like those? I gotta admit: after awhile I got a little bored with them.

[doc]

How do you like those? I gotta admit: after awhile I got a little bored with them.

I liked them myself

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

How do you like those? I gotta admit: after awhile I got a little bored with them.

I like them for the most part. The Spy Who Loved Me was a little hard to get through, but other than that every book had its moments. They're quick reads, too, most of them are around 250 pages. When you see the scale of stories he was able to tell it really does put modern "500+pages or bust" authors to shame.

As I mentioned earlier, his views on women sort of reflect the times he was living in. "All women love half-rape", from TSWLM. Uhh, yeah, not many authors would put that to paper. Still, they're mostly good yarns, occasional chauvanism notwithstanding. I would advise anyone to read them in order, too, as even though the books are not connected, many times they do hearken back to their predecessors.

By the way, I thought they were boring when I was younger, too. When I was a teen I made it through Thunderball and figured I would just watch the movies instead. Well, I love the movies, but now I also have an appreciation for the books, too.

[doc]

It's always better to read the book after you see the movie, that way you aren't pissed on how Hollyweird screws it up and can enjoy the show (maybe)

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

It's always better to read the book after you see the movie, that way you aren't pissed on how Hollyweird screws it up and can enjoy the show (maybe)

I think I'm the rare type that enjoys both!

[Freedom Canadian]

I think I'm the rare type that enjoys both!

I like both the Bond movies and novels, but for very different reasons. :)

My favorite movies are the most over-the-top ones (for ex. Moonraker). But the books are more serious, they feel more like the Casino Royale movie.

[TiQuinn]

I like both the Bond movies and novels, but for very different reasons. :)

My favorite movies are the most over-the-top ones (for ex. Moonraker). But the books are more serious, they feel more like the Casino Royale movie.

I think the seriousness of the Bond character in the books wasn't nearly as sustainable over the long haul for me as the more humorous/suave approach taken by the movies. But they did have their moments. I thought Doctor No and Live and Let Die were great.

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

I like both the Bond movies and novels, but for very different reasons. :)

My favorite movies are the most over-the-top ones (for ex. Moonraker). But the books are more serious, they feel more like the Casino Royale movie.

Heh, perhaps someday I'll see the value in "Moonraker" the movie. But as it is right now, it's the only one of the series I don't ever care to see again. :)

I just like seeing the political and social settings change through all the movies. The maniac like Blofeld trying for grand plots to hold the world hostage seemed stale by the time "A View to a Kill" came along. The only movies that have really worked since then are the more personal ones such as "License to Kill", "Goldeneye" (yes this had grand elements but ultimately it involved a rogue "00"), and "Casino Royale".

We're at a point now where honestly we could go back and redo some of those earlier stories and stick closer to the book. The one I'm reading now, "You Only Live Twice" would seem to lend itself to it, as the overarching plot of the book has nothing to do with the movie. That would be sacrilege to many fans, especially those of Connery (and I am one of them), but I think if handled correctly it could work.



I think the seriousness of the Bond character in the books wasn't nearly as sustainable over the long haul for me as the more humorous/suave approach taken by the movies. But they did have their moments. I thought Doctor No and Live and Let Die were great.

The character in the book is a little more serious than his film counterpart, but I was honestly expecting a very dark alcoholic who beats women. That's not really the case, 90% through the books now. He has his down moments, especially now because Tracy was just killed. But even then it's done mostly through exposition, and halfway through "YOLT" he's pretty much back to his old self, and his transformation into being "Japanese" sees him cracking more jokes than I've seen him crack at any point in the series.

[Kastil]

I tried reading The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. I got halfway through and I'm putting it away. It's boring! I can see why they changed so much of it for the movie. Why did I pay money for this thing?!?!?

I'm switching to the latest Kim Harrison offering tonight.

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

Done with "You Only Live Twice", on to "The Man with the Golden Gun", the last full length novel of the series. Only "Octopussy & The Living Daylights" short story compilation to go after this one and then I am done with the entire series!

[Cat of Ulthar]

The Oxford Guide to Practical Lexicography.

[Merganser]

Fatal Purity, by Ruth Scurr. It's a biography of Maximilien Robespierre, who eventually rose to preside over the Terror.

Reading it, though, I realize that I'm not really very familiar with the French Revolution. Anyone have any suggestions? I've already got Tocqueville, The Old Regime and the French Revolution (but Toqueville was writing for a bunch of people who already were quite familiar with the events of the revolution) and R.R. Palmer's Twelve Who Ruled (focuses on the Committee for Public Safety and the year of the Terror only, also haven't read it yet).

[TiQuinn]

Finally finished "The Terror". I loved it 3/4 of the way, but the ending left a bit to be desired. Maybe if Simmons had built up to it a bit more rather than suddenly plunging into the Inuit mythology would've helped lead in a bit more. But by that point, the monster had little importance anymore. The natural threats overwhelmed the supernatural threat at that point and made it seem small as a result. But damn if there weren't some brilliant parts of that book: The Masque of the Red Death inspired Carnival, the cat and mouse game between the monster and the icemaster in the mast and lines of the ship...great stuff!

[Snatch]

Working on the latest (last?) omnibus for the Black Company (Water Sleeps and Soldiers Live). I can't believe I had missed this series and only recently came accross it. I'm really enjoying it!

[Snatch]

Heh, perhaps someday I'll see the value in "Moonraker" the movie. But as it is right now, it's the only one of the series I don't ever care to see again. :)

I don't think I could possibly rep you enough for this comment. I hate that movie.

[Freedom Canadian]

I don't think I could possibly rep you enough for this comment. I hate that movie.

Boo ! :D

In other news, I am done with Return of the Crimson Guard and I have begun reading Ghost, by John Ringo.

Repeat after me, Oh, John Ringo, NO (http://hradzka.livejournal.com/194753.html) !

[Snatch]

Boo ! :D

Sorry man...I can't support you on this one. Love (for the most part) the rest though.

In other news, I am done with Return of the Crimson Guard...

How was it?

[Freedom Canadian]

How was it?

It should have been half as long. That man needs an editor. One who wields an axe.

I liked reading about the events in the book, though, so I don't regret buying it, per se (unlike Night of the Knives which in retrospect I wouldn't have bothered with). I'm not sure I'll pick up another book by that author, though. It will depend on the subject matter.

(And by the way, anyone who doesn't know about the Ringo meme should check out the link in my last post. It's a lot of fun to read :D.)

[Trainz]

Well I just finished Dawkin's The Greatest Show On Earth and just started Smith's My Boring Ass Life.

I'm also on the last pages of the last book in the Star Trek: Destiny trilogy.

[Limper]

Working on the latest (last?) omnibus for the Black Company (Water Sleeps and Soldiers Live). I can't believe I had missed this series and only recently came accross it. I'm really enjoying it!

Excellent stuff.

[King Vyper]

I am currently reading Cook's The Books of the South. For some reason I never got around to reading these the first time around. Poor Croaker.

[Schizm]

I read/finished the final omnibus of the black company a couple weeks ago. I think it was quite satisfactory and enjoyable, and I thought that Water Sleeps was one of the best in the series. I was mostly satisfied with the ending of Soldiers Live, though I was kind of annoyed that Cook killed off Murgen.

[GreyOne]

The Lies of Locke Lamora.

It's like Ocean's 11 in Fantasy Renaissance Venice!

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

Read the last of the Ian Fleming James Bond books ("Octopussy & The Living Daylights"). Sad to be done with it, as overall the books were pretty darn good.

Now I'm reading the graphic novel "Torso".

When that's done I will actually get back to Bond with "Colonel Sun", the only non-Fleming (Kingsley Amis) Bond story that is supposed to have the same "feel".

[Space Cadet B^3]

I'm reading Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters

[ROGAN GOSH]

Just finished Jim Butcher's TURN COAT. I love the Dresden books. Can't wait for CHANGES!!

[Kilmore]

I'm reading Pratchett's Wyrd Sisters

Lucky you! Anything he does with Weatherwax that I've seen so far is golden, and I'm just now up to "Jingo", which I'll be reading once I get done with Erik Larson's "The Devil In The White City".

[TiQuinn]

Just started "Heart Shaped Box" by Joe Hill. Off to a great start!

[Merganser]

City of Saints and Madmen by Jeff VanderMeer

[GreyOne]

Lies of Locke Lamora is awesome!

[Harry]

Just finished "Darwinia" by Robert Charles Wilson. This book has been in the "to-be-read" pile for a couple of years, but I kept thinking "Nah, not another pseudo-Victorian fantasy alternate Earth romp....." and almost traded it a couple of times.

But I'll be damned - this turned out to be one HELL of a book. Layers upon layers that made every sort of logical, evolutionary sense in the story and in the story's universe. I've read lots of books like this that I liked and recommend that fell apart many times in their own internal logic, plot and story, but this one was a fine read all the way to the end. Very satisfying.

[ROGAN GOSH]

Half way thru Changes by Jim Butcher. As always, Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden delivers. :D

[shiningbrow]

Umberto Eco, Travels in Hyperreality.

[Harry]

Julian Comstock, by Robert Charles Wilson. I've been on a kick of reading his books. They just get better and better. This one so far, it takes the cake. I'm reading it really slowly, savoring every word.

While listening to the new Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers record, of course.

[shiningbrow]

I recently read, for the first time, my first Ian Fleming book, Goldfinger. James Bond drinks all day long. Bourbon for breakfast, bourbon for lunch, martinis for dinner. And a sexist pig dog and racist is he. Who could have predicted? I was surprised at how dated the book is... much more so than something by Raymond Chandler or even Mickey Spillane.

[King Vyper]

Finished Changes, now reading Mission of Honor

[AriesOmega]

LOL...funny.

Nothing right now. I usually try to read something. My ex was pushing me the last few days to read Twilight citing I have only seen the movie and if I want the right to heckle it I need to read the book. Boy...glad I skated out of that one. :D

[Space Cadet B^3]

Hell's Gate by David Weber & Linda Evans

[Akunin]

Alfred Bester's "The Stars My Destination"

[Ink Bleeder]

Uncle Tom's Cabin, since I was recently in Canada near the site of the "original" Uncle Tom's house. It's both better and worse than I'd feared; better written, and (intentionally) funny; but lots of cringe-inducing, well-intentioned stereotypes of African Americans. Altogether facinating, particularly in how Stowe seems to be cathartically writing about the death of her own child as a way to express the grief of slave mothers who are separated from their children.

[Radu]

Hopping back and forth between The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror (http://www.amazon.com/Mammoth-Book-Best-New-Horror/dp/076243841X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1280389346&sr=8-1) and First Lensman (http://www.amazon.com/First-Lensman-Book-2/dp/1882968107/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1280389414&sr=1-1). Of the two, I think I may be enjoying E.E. "Doc" Smith's stuff a bit more, because it's that 1950's style of pulp science fiction I've come to enjoy after reading a LOT of Heinlein.

[Kastil]

Adam by Ted Dekker

[Schizm]

I'm about 3/4 of the way through Day Watch. I've been reading really slowly lately.

I haven't decided whats on deck next though...

[cnath.rm]

Just finished The Conqueror's Shadow by Ari Marmell, one of the best dark fantasy I've read in awhile. Slightly less disturbing then The Black Company series but still in that darker portion of the genre. I'd give it a very solid recommendation for anyone who liked The Black Company, or wants a different take on fantasy.

About to start in on 1635: The Tangled Web by Virginia DeMarce (the first Ring of Fire novel not written by Eric Flint)


Hell's Gate by David Weber & Linda EvansWhat do you think of it offhand? I had a hard time getting in to the first few chapters and haven't picked it back up yet.

[Space Cadet B^3]

What do you think of it offhand? I had a hard time getting in to the first few chapters and haven't picked it back up yet.It has started slowly, but I think it's because the author's spent so much time trying to convince the readers that the militaries involved are realistic, that they lost sight of the fantastic. I'm 150 or so pages in, but still plugging along.

[Brynja]

i am reading textbooks on study skills and enjoying the summer to write curriculum

[cnath.rm]

It has started slowly, but I think it's because the author's spent so much time trying to convince the readers that the militaries involved are realistic, that they lost sight of the fantastic. I'm 150 or so pages in, but still plugging along.I'm glad I wasn't the only person who thought it was slow starting out. :) Let me know how it comes out and if you think it's worth reading to the next book.

[Harry]

I'm still enjoying the hell out of "Julian Comstock", by Robert Charles Wilson. Telling a friend about it today, it occurred to me that Wilson is very much in the vein of "alt-history" writers like Turtledove, except he writes alt-future histories. Unlike most sci-fi writers like Kim Stanley Robinson or Ben Bova [two of my favorites], who try to imagine how our current world could evolve, Wilson tends to pinpoint where it could go wrong, like five minutes from now, and runs with it.

This is really an exceptionally well written book, a grand story but Wilson is also having a ball with language. It's been a long time since I read a book quite this good in that regard. There have been some sci-fi works of recent vintage, like Robinson's "Galileo's Dream", that qualify as good literature no matter the genre, but "Comstock" is simply an English major's dream.

[Xavier Lang]

I'm reading "The Unincorporated Man" by by Dani Kollin & Eytan Kollin. It has a very Heinlein vibe to it. No sex yet, so not that Heinlein.