What're you reading right now?

[Glass]

Wasn't sure if I ought to put this here or in Fine Arts, but what the hell. What're you reading right now? I'm just finishing up The Stand(haven't read it in a few years), and then I'm moving on to Vampire Hunter D, followed by The Dark Tower series.

[azrael]

currently reading a couple of old nero wolfe mysteries from rex stout, some non fiction in the form of "going local" about locally owned businesses being good. it was recomended by a friend of mine..

and probably going to be picking up a new crop of urban fantasy, since it is a weakness of mine

j

[Glass]

currently reading a couple of old nero wolfe mysteries from rex stout, some non fiction in the form of "going local" about locally owned businesses being good. it was recomended by a friend of mine..

and probably going to be picking up a new crop of urban fantasy, since it is a weakness of mine

j
Dresden Files! [/pusher]

I love urban fantasy as well, any good ones you recommend?

[azrael]

Dresden Files! [/pusher]

I love urban fantasy as well, any good ones you recommend?

love the dresden files, and it's almost time for a reread...

the kim harrison hollows books are definitely fun, especially with their titles all coming from clint eastwood westerns:-D

the kim harrison women of otherworld series is good
and there are probably a couple of others that I can't remember the series names off the top of my head...

I'll look them up when I'm around my current book shelves

a

[Merganser]

I'm surrently reading The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, by John H. Watson, M.D. I'm o the second volume, reading a story every day or two.

Additionally, I'm reading Red Seas Under Red Skies, by Scott Lynch, the second book in the Gentlemen Bastard series.

I'm reading Agatha Christie's The Peril at End House as well, since it's small and easily portable for situations where you want a book that's small and light.

[Harry]

Time Patrol, by Poul Anderson. Just finished his Starfarers.

[Atropine Mama]

I wouldn't call it misogyny, just sort of bland assumption that a woman on a spaceship is never part of the crew and that sort of thing.

This very thing make me love Elizabeth Moon and David Webber just that much more.

[PWD]

This very thing make me love Elizabeth Moon and David Webber just that much more.

I've read all of Elizabeth Moon's Paksenarrion novels (and related Gird novels), but I've never picked up her sci-fi.

Mistake?

[Atropine Mama]

I've read all of Elizabeth Moon's Paksenarrion novels (and related Gird novels), but I've never picked up her sci-fi.

Mistake?

IMO, yes. Please proceed to the nearest bookstore to remedy this ASAP! You, too, will love Herris Serrano and her peers.

[Schizm]

IMO, yes. Please proceed to the nearest bookstore to remedy this ASAP! You, too, will love Herris Serrano and her peers.

umm..

I can't think of any other way to say this...






Ditto.

[PWD]

Without having looked at what the novels are, ordering, etc...

Where to start?

[Atropine Mama]

Without having looked at what the novels are, ordering, etc...

Where to start?

These two links from her site list the books in chronological order. I'd start with the Serrano books.

Serrano Legacy (http://www.elizabethmoon.com/biblio-serrano.htm)

Vatta's War (http://www.elizabethmoon.com/biblio-vatta.htm)

Go, dammit! You should be halfway to the bookstore by now! ;)

[PWD]

Go, dammit! You should be halfway to the bookstore by now! ;)

Well yeah... but I've been on a failed server call since 5am, and while I've managed to shower in between IBM phonecalls, I'm still naked.

So while the trip might be fun, I think I'll put some pants on first.

[PWD]

Ooh, the first four books are compiled in Herris Serrano.

Yoink!

[Atropine Mama]

Well yeah... but I've been on a failed server call since 5am, and while I've managed to shower in between IBM phonecalls, I'm still naked.

So while the trip might be fun, I think I'll put some pants on first.

"Maybe you should put some pants on or something, if you want to keep fighting evil today."

:D

[Ergeheilalt]

I'm reading Demon Eyes (two books grouped together) by Camille Bacon-Smith. It's about two demons and a half-demon bastard child who run a detective agency. She writes what I'd consider to be the most tantilizing sex scenes in the literature I've read.

I've just started Dead Witch Walking by Kim Harrison.

I've also been leisurely reading the Handbook on Sand Casting and The Complete Encyclopedia of Aluminum for my senior project. I really don't recommend either. :p

[Thoth-Amon]

In an attempt to actually finish the series this time I am re-reading The Black Company.

Well technically I finished The Black Company this morning. I am awaiting Shadows Linger, The White Rose, and Shadow Games from the library.

While waiting I think I will read Vellum (http://www.scifidimensions.com/May06/vellum.htm)by Duncan Hall.

[Dr_Avalanche]

I just finished Erikson's Reapers Gale, haven't really started on anything new. Just reading some Exalted books at the moment.

[Janos]

I'm finishing up the second of SM Stirlings post-apocolypse series called the Protector's War. All heat initiated devices (electricity, IC engines, gunpowder) spontaneously stop working and society collapses.

I'm trying to drag it out a bit because the third in the series doesn't come out for a few months.

[SHARK]

Greetings!

Hmmm...well, recently I have been reading the following two books:

Egypt, Greece And Rome: Civilizations of the Ancient Mediterranean, Second Edition; Freeman, Charles. (Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press, 2004); 714 pages.

A History of The Ancient World, Fourth Edition; Starr, Chester G. (Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press, 1991); 742 pages.

Both are excellent books, and I highly recommend them!

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

[SHARK]

I just finished Erikson's Reapers Gale, haven't really started on anything new. Just reading some Exalted books at the moment.

Greetings!

DR. Avalanche, how do you like Erikson's work?

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

[Dr_Avalanche]

Greetings!

DR. Avalanche, how do you like Erikson's work?

Semper Fidelis,

SHARK

I love it. Grand scale, good dialogue, complex plot. I do have some objections - characters tending toward the two-dimensional probably being the biggest. But overall it's a very enjoyable read.

[keryn]

I'm reading the first book in the Game of Thrones series. Almost done...after that, I'm not sure if I'm going to finish off the Goldan Compass series, read the new Harry Potter book, or read the 2nd & 3rd books in the Game of Thrones series. I've also got a new Shannara novel to read...So many choices!

[reveal]

I'm just starting The Messenger (http://www.danielsilvabooks.com/books/messenger.asp). It's the newest Gabriel Allon book by Daniel Silva. I'm a big fan of the series.

[PWD]

My bookstore failed me, and I couldn't get anything from the Serrano's Legacy series. Especially not the compendium I wanted.

I did however pick up the first book of the Vatta's War series. I hope it was worth wearing pants.

[Varaj]

My bookstore failed me, and I couldn't get anything from the Serrano's Legacy series. Especially not the compendium I wanted.

I did however pick up the first book of the Vatta's War series. I hope it was worth wearing pants.


I really enjoyed Vatta's War series (as far as it has been written) but I think Serrano's Legacy is better.

[pandiculator]

I'm reading, slowly, Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam.

It's for Poly Sci kids ;)

[Black Angel]

I'm currently reading 'The Complete Chronicles of Conan' by Robert E Howard - a collection of all the Conan short stories - and am totally loving it. It's like an action movie in a book (and they were all written before the movies were made), and is so gory & descriptive. There is a beautiful girl to rescue/protect (different every time) and an evil to kill. It makes me laugh, and I'm really enjoying it.

Sample quote:
'Conan hesitated; then without warning he threw his sword. Caught off guard, Thugra Khotan had no time to avoid the cast. The point struck beneath his heart and stood out a foot behind his shoulders. He went down, crushing the poisonous monster in his grasp as he fell.
Conan strode to the altar; lifting Yasmela in his blood-stained arms. She threw her white arms convulsively around his mailed neck, sobbing hysterically and would not let him go.'

[Atropine Mama]

'Conan hesitated; then without warning he threw his sword. Caught off guard, Thugra Khotan had no time to avoid the cast. The point struck beneath his heart and stood out a foot behind his shoulders. He went down, crushing the poisonous monster in his grasp as he fell.
Conan strode to the altar; lifting Yasmela in his blood-stained arms. She threw her white arms convulsively around his mailed neck, sobbing hysterically and would not let him go.'

That is some quality shit right there. Deathe often asks himself, and me, What Would Conan Do?

[Harry]

I'm trying to drag it out a bit because the third in the series doesn't come out for a few months.

The third book came out months ago. The follow up series is slated to begin this coming September. Good series, I've read everything from the Islands books to the Dies in the Fire books, along with The Peshawar Lancers and The Sky People. But, sometimes Stirling's cliches wear thin. My solution to that is to read a hard sci-fi book for every Stirling book, and it evens out.

[Thoth-Amon]

I'm currently reading 'The Complete Chronicles of Conan' by Robert E Howard - a collection of all the Conan short stories - and am totally loving it. It's like an action movie in a book (and they were all written before the movies were made), and is so gory & descriptive. There is a beautiful girl to rescue/protect (different every time) and an evil to kill. It makes me laugh, and I'm really enjoying it.

I've within the last year read The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian: Book One (http://www.amazon.ca/Coming-Conan-Cimmerian-Book-One/dp/0345461517/ref=pd_bbs_2/702-9427346-2824049?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186978778&sr=8-2)

I am currently reading the Dark Horse Conan comic series.

[Black Angel]

I've within the last year read The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian: Book One (http://www.amazon.ca/Coming-Conan-Cimmerian-Book-One/dp/0345461517/ref=pd_bbs_2/702-9427346-2824049?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186978778&sr=8-2)

I am currently reading the Dark Horse Conan comic series.

Looking at the description, it sounds really similar to what I'm reading now... Cool!

When was the comic series done? I haven't come across that before (mind you, I never even knew Conan was a book first until I found it in the book store).

[Glass]

*conan goodness*

I'm with Thoth-Amon, I've read the Coming of Conan the Cimmerian, it's sitting on my shelf right now, and it's awesome. I much prefer these to the old DeCamp revisions that my father had(and let's not even think of the Robert Jordan "Conan" stories). It's good for the occasional bit of philosophy too; I loved the day I got to bring up "Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing" in a conversation with a buddy who ran a nightclub.

[Black Angel]

I'm with Thoth-Amon, I've read the Coming of Conan the Cimmerian, it's sitting on my shelf right now, and it's awesome. I much prefer these to the old DeCamp revisions that my father had(and let's not even think of the Robert Jordan "Conan" stories). It's good for the occasional bit of philosophy too; I loved the day I got to bring up "Civilized men are more discourteous than savages because they know they can be impolite without having their skulls split, as a general thing" in a conversation with a buddy who ran a nightclub.

I totally loved that quote when I read it! But I couldn't find it when I was looking to post a sample earlier, so thanks for covering it!:D

[Glass]

I totally loved that quote when I read it! But I couldn't find it when I was looking to post a sample earlier, so thanks for covering it!:D
No worries, just have GreyOne rep me. :D

[Steampunk]

Un Lun Dun by China Miéville.

[Limper]

Medieval Civilization aned I found a copy of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire in the closet of the timeshare we were in this weekend (buried in a HUGE pile of Jesus Books) so I'll probably give that a read next.

[strawberry]

I've just started a book called Vellum by Hal Duncan. It's sort of odd and I haven't yet decided if I like it or not.

[Thoth-Amon]

Looking at the description, it sounds really similar to what I'm reading now... Cool!

When was the comic series done? I haven't come across that before (mind you, I never even knew Conan was a book first until I found it in the book store).

It is a current series issue 42 is the last I have gotten. There are also some miniseries done as well.

[doc]

Dresden Files! [/pusher]

I love urban fantasy as well, any good ones you recommend?

Try the Zodiac series by Vicki Pettersson, Scent of Shadows is the first (there's 2 so far)

[azrael]

Try the Zodiac series by Vicki Pettersson, Scent of Shadows is the first (there's 2 so far)

I"ve been looking at picking that up...

it's worth a read?

a

[doc]

I"ve been looking at picking that up...

it's worth a read?

a

Yeah, I'm about 1/2 way thru book 1, but looks good so far.

[azrael]

good to know... might make it a plane book on the way to gen con

a

[Snatch]

I'm currently reading An Epic History of Classical Greece ond Rome as well as The End of Faith.

[mollygrue]

colette: places, a collection of her writings about her travels and the margaret frazer murder series--w dame frevish--if you like marple & poirot--you will like this nun just reread mcCafferys exchange of gifts
also--new cookbook-- Ernest Matthew Mickles collection "white Trash Cooking", with commmentary from bettty mae swilley of rollin' fork Miss.

[Maynard G. Krebs]

Currently reading Levitt and Dubner's (http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/) Freakonomics.

It's a little disjointed, but still enjoyable.

[Dr_Avalanche]

Currently reading Levitt and Dubner's (http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/) Freakonomics.

It's a little disjointed, but still enjoyable.

I read the blog. :D

[Maynard G. Krebs]

I read the blog. :D

The version of the book I've got is updated with the first 6 or 12 months of blog entries as an appendix.

[Glass]

Currently reading Levitt and Dubner's (http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/) Freakonomics.

It's a little disjointed, but still enjoyable.
How much about economics do you have to know to enjoy the book?

[shabois]

:DFreakonomics is very interesting, you don't have to know anything about economics, it is written for the mainstream public.

I am currently reading Feast of Crows in George RR's Game of Thrones series. Great fantasy series if you can put up with one book every five years and shitty excuses as to why it takes him so long. :cool:

[Maynard G. Krebs]

How much about economics do you have to know to enjoy the book?

Not much if any. Just the basic premise of what economics is.

[Merganser]

Un Lun Dun by China Miéville.

Yeah, so - is that any good? I read somewhere that it was sort of a so-called "young adult" jobbie.

For my part, I finished Red Seas Under Red Skies and will start hm, probably Caesar: Life of a Colossus by Adrian Goldsworthy tomorrow.

[Steampunk]

Yeah, so - is that any good? I read somewhere that it was sort of a so-called "young adult" jobbie.

It's about as young adult as any of the Harry Potter books. It's a fun read, and feels a lot like reading a modern version of Alice in Wonderland, though don't think there are any parallels. It is just the way it feels.

I picked it up after reading about it on Brass Goggles or some other Steampunk site, and now that I am over halfway through it, I am failing to see the Steampunk in it.

I'm glad I picked it up, though. It is a very entertaining take on fantasy.

[keryn]

If it helps...the Golden Compass is considered "young adult." In general, I find books labeled as such to be quick and easy reads, but just as entertaining as anything else I might pick up. Quick and easy reads aren't a bad thing these days... ;)

[azrael]

when I was out at CONvergence back in july I attended a panel with Lois McMaster Bujold who pointed out one of the reasons that fantasy was now considered a seperate genre on the shelves from sci fi is the abundance of GOOD YA fantasy books out there, and a severe lack in the last years of good YA sci fi....
don't know how true, but it was an interesting point

a

[FeatsofClay]

"nothing if not critical" By Robert Hughes. If you wish to learn how to talk about art it is a great resource.

[NRG]

The Federal Rules of Evidence, my Admin law outline, my evidence outline, practice exams.

Beyond that I have Perilous Times, Free Speech in Wartime, by Geoffrey Stone, and Letter to a Christian Nation, by Sam Harris, lined up for break.

NRG

[Darth Flatulent]

I just finished Plenty of Blame to Go Around by Petruzzi & Wittenberg(sp?), an analysis of JEB Stuart's raid just before Gettysburg. Before that I was reading a series of books on small farm management since my wife and I are planning to start a hobby farm in the next few years. Next on the shelf is Salvatore's Road of the Patriarch.

[Steampunk]

If it helps...the Golden Compass is considered "young adult." In general, I find books labeled as such to be quick and easy reads, but just as entertaining as anything else I might pick up. Quick and easy reads aren't a bad thing these days... ;)

I like to read young adult fantasy books as filler between books. You cannot read a book like Kushiel's Justice without a little bit of a break before plowing through another dense novel. I can do it, but sometimes my brain needs a reset to get ready for something else.

[SmokestackJones]

I'm surrently reading The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes, by John H. Watson, M.D. I'm o the second volume, reading a story every day or two.

Hey how is that? I used to have a copy of the old Baring-Gould edition and I loved it. $75 is pretty hefty to pay, but I'll get it eventually.

Me, I'm going over the Eberron rule books. trying to figure out how to fix my 4th lvl human Artificer using Hero Forge. That and rereading Keith Scott's The Moose That Roared, Roger Ebert's Your Movie Sucks and Zicree's The Twilight Zone Companion.

-SJ

[doc]

Not so much as what I'm reading but what I've read
Death Head by David Gunn - A fantastic sci-fi military
Th1rdt3een by Richard K. Morgan ; The latest book by the writer of Altered Carbon

[Harry]

If it helps...the Golden Compass is considered "young adult." In general, I find books labeled as such to be quick and easy reads, but just as entertaining as anything else I might pick up. Quick and easy reads aren't a bad thing these days... ;)

I picked up the series for precisely that reason. I'd been on a Kim Stanley Robinson kick, having read without pause all of the Science in the Capital books, the Mars Trilogy, Antarctica, and the Mars short stories. The Golden Compass books made a nice refresher.

Fwiw, I'm on a Poul Anderson kick right now, and plan on reading some Heinlein when I'm through, and possibly starting on the Dark Tower books, which I've never read. But when I'm ready for some more heaviness, I'm going to finish up the KS Robinson experience and read Years of Rice and Salt.

[Alpha Ralpha]

American Gods - Neil Gaiman

love his stuff, Sandman and Neverwhere were awesome, as is American Gods but the scene with the efreet in NY city ticked me off, WTF was that shit? it was just an interlude but that was out of left field

[Dawnstar]

I just started reading the last Harry Potter book again. I am reading it much slower this time in case I missed anything the first time around.

[Keeper of Secrets]

I was reading Leo's tea leaves but then I found out he had no future.

[Merganser]

Hey how is that? I used to have a copy of the old Baring-Gould edition and I loved it. $75 is pretty hefty to pay, but I'll get it eventually.
-SJ

It's really good. According to Klinger, the editor, it corrects some errors in Baring-Gould. The notes are expansive, and cover a lot of things. One thing to keep in mind, though is that Klinger is a Sherlockian, so he approaches this from the point of view that it's all *true*. Sherlock Holmes is a real person, etc. Now, there's a lot of Sherlockian scholarship out there that refutes things - many of the notes are explanations of the (possible) real identity of a hotel or town, etc. Also, many of the notes deal with errors and inconsistencies in the text.

Mind you, no one actually *believes* Holmes is a real person, but many people find it quite amusing to reason from the point of view that he is.

[Harry]

love his stuff, Sandman and Neverwhere were awesome, as is American Gods but the scene with the efreet in NY city ticked me off, WTF was that shit? it was just an interlude but that was out of left field

That was a depiction of the sharing of fleshly desires between two gay men, uncomfortable and alone in a foreign city. I'm not sure what was unclear about it.

hth

[Merganser]

That was a depiction of the sharing of fleshly desires between two gay men, uncomfortable and alone in a foreign city. I'm not sure what was unclear about it.


Yeah, I thought that section was actually exceptionally good, particularly as it bore no major relevance to the storyline (as I recall it, anyhow, it's been a while) but served more as background color for the version of the world the book uses.

[Harry]

<preemptive defense> Please pay no attention whatsoever to the fact that my avatar currently wears a kafiyah. It's Elvis. Shut the fuck up. </preemptive defense>

[Janos]

The third book came out months ago.

The paperback version (that I'm waiting for), comes out September 4. I like Stirling for popcorn reading, but its not deep enough reading for a hardcover.

[Limper]

I now have a copy of Bonehunters and Savage Tides.

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

I am reading a Harry Turtledove novel about the America if the South had won it's war of independence, "Blood & Iron". It takes place after the North has just gotten done beating the South's brains in during WWI.

[Dr. Paragon]

30 Days of Night: Immortal Remains: http://www.amazon.com/Immortal-Remains-30-Days-Night/dp/0743496523

So far It's pretty kick ass!
:D

[Iron Jenny Kidd]

The Woman Warrior: Memoirs of a Girlhood Among Ghosts by Maxine Hong Kingston.

[EhtoZed]

I'm reading the Hawkmoon omnibus right now. After that I'm probably going to reread the Half Blood Prince and then the Deathly Hallows.

[Bagpuss]

currently I'm reading Wizard of the Coast website...

Service Unavailable

[Janos]

I am reading a Harry Turtledove novel about the America if the South had won it's war of independence, "Blood & Iron". It takes place after the North has just gotten done beating the South's brains in during WWI.

They're pretty good books but the series goes on a bit too long. He had the same problem with his Darkness series. It gets too massive for him. Have you read them from the begining of the Great War?

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

They're pretty good books but the series goes on a bit too long. He had the same problem with his Darkness series. It gets too massive for him. Have you read them from the begining of the Great War?

No, my wife bought me this one for my birthday. I will say there are alot of characters to follow, but as a fan of Martin I am probably not as thrown as some people.

I didn't realize he wrote one about the alternate Civil War, too.

[Janos]

No, my wife bought me this one for my birthday. I will say there are alot of characters to follow, but as a fan of Martin I am probably not as thrown as some people.

I didn't realize he wrote one about the alternate Civil War, too.

He started with the Mexican American War (post-Civil War), went through the Great War, and is just wrapping up WW2 in the most recent one (it's 1945 IIRC).

The characters die and change a lot, like Custer and Roosevelt figured prominently early on. Its a good read, but he's made it a bit too epic in scope. With all the deaths and switching to other local points of view, there are more characters than the Wheel of Time so far, and more total writing. Thankfully they're primarily real historic figures, which mostly helps keep them straight.

I started with either How Few Remain or American Front (its hard to keep them straight), the first tie in to the Great War/WW1.

[Northcott]

Re-reading the Harry Potter series. When my wife was pregnant with our daughter, I used to read to her to help her relax -- that was back when book 6 came out. Now that we've got the last one, we're reading back through the series. We're currently about 1/3 of the way through Prizoner of Azkaban.

Yeah, it's going to be half a freakin' year, at least, before I read the brand new book. :)

[doc]

The computer screen

[Harry]

The computer screen

Wow. Bizarre. It's like we're in the same Book Club sometimes.

[Daemon Sultan]

I am reading Star Trek : Titan The Red King. It is the second book of the Titan series.

This series takes place right after the Nemesis movie with Will Riker accepting a captain position aboard the USS Titan. Some of the crew are Deana Troi and Tuvok, Spock makes an appearance and a few other memorable chacters. The Titan has the most diverse crew in the history of the Federation. It's pretty cool but sometimes it can be confusing on who is what. The doctor of the Titan is one of my characters so far. He looks like a Raptor.

The Red King picks up from the cliff hangar from the first book. Taking Wing. I don't want to give away too much but they are on the edge of the galaxy in a mostly unexplored region of space. It has pretty good action. Fun series so far.

[doc]

Wow. Bizarre. It's like we're in the same Book Club sometimes.

I've got the adult version !

[Harry]

I've got the adult version !

Looks like I got the Jungle Room!

[Space Cadet B^3]

Currently reading the last Harry Potter novel.

Hey Bella, have you read Weber's Shadows of Saganami? I checked it out from the library, it's got some of the smaller characters from his Honorverse working together under a new captain. I think you'd like it.

[doc]

Looks like I got the Jungle Room! How's Elvis week going up there ?

Currently reading the last Harry Potter novel.

Hey Bella, have you read Weber's Shadows of Saganami? I checked it out from the library, it's got some of the smaller characters from his Honorverse working together under a new captain. I think you'd like it.

Do you know if Webber will coninue that book into a series, he left it open ended. Check out The War Gods Own and the two follow up books

[Space Cadet B^3]

Don't know yet, kind of felt like it was book 1 of a series though.

[Merganser]

No, my wife bought me this one for my birthday. I will say there are alot of characters to follow, but as a fan of Martin I am probably not as thrown as some people.

I didn't realize he wrote one about the alternate Civil War, too.

Without checking, I'd say that Blood & Iron is basically book 5 of a long series. Book 11 was just published. He splits it up some with different names, that's how he tricks people.

There's 1 book as "prequel" to the whole thing. It's more of a setup, especially because it was published first, heh. The main series starts out with an alternate World War I in a universe where the USA and CSA are separate countries. That's 3 books. Then the next 3 detail the between-the-war years of the 20's & 30's, and then it's back to war, WWII this time. That series is 4 books, and the 4th has just been published.

I believe I've read somewhere that Turtledove intends to extend the series into the present day.

[Janos]

I believe I've read somewhere that Turtledove intends to extend the series into the present day.

He had titles and concepts for books going as far as the Korean war floating around the net a few years ago. So it wouldn't suprise me.

[Brynja]

Wikinomics by Tapscott and Williams, In Retrospect by Robert McNamara and Dereliction of Duty by HR McMaster

[Steampunk]

Polished off Un Lun Dun just a few minutes ago (very good, too, BTW). Moved the bookmark over to Hidden Warrior by Lynn Flewelling.

[Tetsubo]

The Cheating of America: How Tax Avoidance and Evasion by the Super Rich Are Costing the Country Billions--and What You Can Do About It by Charles Lewis (2002)

[Thoth-Amon]

Gave up on Vellum now reading Shadows Linger.

[ColonelHardisson]

At the moment, I'm reading David Weber's "The Armageddon Inheritance," sequel to "Mutineer's Moon." Fun stuff. I'm caught up on all his Honor Harrington books, including the "Worlds of Honor" short story collections, and I read his "Starfire' books written with Steve White years ago (they were my introduction to Weber). So, I figured I'd delve into the rest of his catalog, and I've yet to be disappointed.

I have to admit to getting a tad burned out on (non-Weber) scifi right now, so I've been reading a lot of history magazines like Sea Classics and Naval History. I'm also looking to read some more of those Hard Case crime novels that have been coming out - what I've read of them so far have been very cool.

[shabois]

Does the latest issue of Hustler count as good reading?

[Limper]

Does the latest issue of Hustler count as good reading?

That depends on if it has hot chicks sticking things in each other.

[Droid101]

Blink, a psychology book about snap judgements. Pretty interesting.

[Limper]

Blink, a psychology book about snap judgements. Pretty interesting.


Learn anything?

[Droid101]

Learn anything?

There's this one psychologist who can predict if your marriage will last 15 years or more just by watching you and your spouse talk for 10 minutes or somesuch, at 90% accuracy.

Cool stuff on how your subconscious learns in 10 seconds what it takes you to realize/learn in 10 minutes or more.

[Limper]

There's this one psychologist who can predict if your marriage will last 15 years or more just by watching you and your spouse talk for 10 minutes or somesuch, at 90% accuracy.

Cool stuff on how your subconscious learns in 10 seconds what it takes you to realize/learn in 10 minutes or more.


Its part of what we are as a species and a valuble survival trait to be able to make a snap decision... it also causes no end of trouble in the modern world.

[Brynja]

There is a follow up to that book called...you guessed it-

Think! by Michael R. LeGault. It is a refutation of Gladwell's Blink.

[Limper]

There is a follow up to that book called...you guessed it-

Think! by Michael R. LeGault. It is a refutation of Gladwell's Blink.


I'm quite sure taken individually they are both wrong.

[Droid101]

I haven't read it, but my girlfriend swears by this book and Gladwell's other book The Tipping Point.

[Droid101]

I didn't think a psychology book would have so many follow-up books by other authors. There's a parody of Blink out, I just saw: Blank: The Power of Not Actually Thinking at All (A Mindless Parody) by Noah Tall.

Very odd.

[Brynja]

I'm quite sure taken individually they are both wrong.

You would be correct, both make prescient points, both make broad sweeping generalizations.

I prefer Think, but Blink has some good ideas as well.

[Limper]

I didn't think a psychology book would have so many follow-up books by other authors. There's a parody of Blink out, I just saw: Blank: The Power of Not Actually Thinking at All (A Mindless Parody) by Noah Tall.

Very odd.

If it becomes pop culture it becomes fair game.

[Space Cadet B^3]

I didn't think a psychology book would have so many follow-up books by other authors. There's a parody of Blink out, I just saw: Blank: The Power of Not Actually Thinking at All (A Mindless Parody) by Noah Tall.

Very odd.
Noah... Tall...


Bwahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!11!!!!1!!!!!

[Droid101]

You would be correct, both make prescient points, both make broad sweeping generalizations.

I prefer Think, but Blink has some good ideas as well.

I don't know, Blink got extremely good reviews. Think has mostly bad reviews.

The reviews mostly say that Think is just a long Neo-Con rant about the decline of Western Civilization. Not that I'm agreeing, but there it is.

[Harry]

Just finished the two Poul Anderson Time Patrol books, and set aside the Dark Tower to get started on the latest from Stirling, "The Sunrise Lands".

[Cat of Ulthar]

Just finished "The bedroom secrets of the master chefs", by Irvine Welsh. Ok, but not as good as some of his other works.

"Islam and homosexuality" - quite interesting.
Truckers - Terry Pratchett
The Saga of the Renunciates - Marion Zimmer Bradley

[Limper]

Most of the way through Bonehunters and have Reapers Gale next on the pile... I also have Fight Club and Books of the Long Sun after those.

[Space Cadet B^3]

I'm reading At All Costs, by David Weber. An Honor Harrington novel.

[ColonelHardisson]

I'm reading At All Costs, by David Weber. An Honor Harrington novel.

Ah, yes, the latest one. After you've read it, remind me to tell you what Weber said at a book signing I went to about events in that book. Interesting stuff.

Anyway, I'm just starting Heirs of Empire by Weber, which is the third (and final, I guess) book in the "Dahak" series. Again, fun stuff. Weber clearly has a number of tropes he enjoys revisiting in completely separate series - midshipmen being tormented by superiors, nobility stranded on hostile planets, empires that crumbled - or were destroyed by aliens - and are rebuilt, humans with greatly expanded lifespans...the list goes on.

[Thoth-Amon]

Just finished The Sliver Spike I am taking a break from The Black Company for the next novel I read which is Soon I will be invincible.

[Freedom Canadian]

I'm currently reading The Rise of Endymion as well as Apocalypstick (if I can figure out in which box I stuffed it for the move).

[Janos]

I'm currently reading The Rise of Endymion

I loved and hated the second one of those. One of the most memorable books I have read in a long time.

[Jayhawk]

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/I/510A2YEDB6L._SS500_.jpg

Currently, I'm hip deep into James Ellroy's The Cold Six Thousand about a fairly honest Las Vegas cop who is sent to Dallas in the winter of 1963 to apprehend a fugitive. Of course, we all know what happened in November '63 in Dallas.

The cop gets caught in the middle of all of the subterfuge going on in Dallas at the time and very quickly the plot of the book spirals out into several related topics -- Bobby Kennedy, the Mob, MLK and the Civil Rights movement, Cuba, Vietnam, the introduction of heroin into major cities, the KKK and so on and so on.

It's a dirty, sordid look at the underbelly of America in the '60s done in Ellroy's short, sharp, shocked writing style (if you haven't read any of his books, you've probably seen the movie LA Confidential, which is an excellent adaptation of one of his novels). Good stuff, but not for the squeamish.

[Limper]

I finished Bonehunters and am reading Fight Club, in a lot of respects I'm amazed at how much of the book is in the movie so far... the running inner monologue is close to word for word (least in the first 50-60 pages) I can't say I've seen that before.

[Thoth-Amon]

Finished Soon I will be Invincible. Book kicked all sorts of ass one of the best books I've read in a long time. A must read for any comic book fan. I have now started on Territory by Emma Bull.

[Freedom Canadian]

I am currently reading:

Reaper's Gale

Book 3 of The Invisibles

and

Weapons of the Gods, the RPG

[Cat of Ulthar]

Started bloody "Matrices, étymons, racines" again. I will finish this thesis one day.

[Harry]

Finished "The Sunrise Lands" last night. Decent book. Less SCA weirdness than the last. Now, I'm going back to finish Book II of The Dark Tower.

When I'm done with this one, and should be soon, I'm going to continue my re-education in the modern sci-fi genre with another author I've sadly neglected over the years, Ben Bova. Have several of his "planetary" novels lined up.

[Tetsubo]

When Life Nearly Died: The Greatest Mass Extinction of All Time
by Michael Benton

So far it's pretty good. It hasn't covered a lot of new ground for me but is still holding my attention. Though the writer could use a few lessons in how to tighten up a text...

[Janos]

Just about done with Harry Turtledove's Settling Accounts: The Grapple. Its starting to wrap up the newest chapter in his on-going North vs. South war set in the background of WW2 this time.

[Limper]

Finished Fight Club... over all the movie was better than the book.

Started Reapers Gale

[Merganser]

I just finished Starlight, a collection of Alfred Bester's short fiction. I'm going to start Fifty Fables of La Fontaine tonight. I think tomorrow maybe I'll start The Boer War, by Thomas Pakenham. Maybe I won't, though - it's kind of a monster.

[shabois]

Finished Fight Club... over all the movie was better than the book.

Started Reapers Gale

Another book that I thought was not as good as the movie- High Fidelity. I can only take Jack Black in small doses, but he hit the right tone in this film.

[Cat of Ulthar]

Another book that I thought was not as good as the movie- High Fidelity. I can only take Jack Black in small doses, but he hit the right tone in this film.

Truth. His part in that film is an irritating rock lover, which is what he is. Perfect.

I kinda liked the book, but I am not a big fan of Nick Hornby, and agree the film was better.

[Space Cadet B^3]

The thing that I absolutely loved the most about that movie was the little "glimpses" of the main character's violent impulses when reacting to various situations, they felt very real to me, does the book hold true with that?

[ColonelHardisson]

I feel Fight Club, the book, was far better than the movie. The movie dragged for me in many spots. The book I simply could not put down.

[doc]

The Lies of Locke Lomora by Scott Lynch, Thieves in a Venice like fantasy city, good read. The second book in the series Red Seas under Red Skies is out in HB

[Limper]

The thing that I absolutely loved the most about that movie was the little "glimpses" of the main character's violent impulses when reacting to various situations, they felt very real to me, does the book hold true with that?

If you are asking about Fight Club... yes.

[Space Cadet B^3]

Ah, yes, the latest one. After you've read it, remind me to tell you what Weber said at a book signing I went to about events in that book. Interesting stuff.I finished it last night, care to scoop me?

[Brynja]

Reading:

1. AP essays from my students
2. The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
by Naomi Klein

[Limper]

Disaster Capitalism?

[Brynja]

using "rebuilding" from war or catastrophe as a method of radically socially engineering a place. Aid or help isnt the focus, rather a predatory means of capitalism comes into play.

A bit of a boutique theory I am mulling over these days.

[Cat of Ulthar]

I feel Fight Club, the book, was far better than the movie. The movie dragged for me in many spots. The book I simply could not put down.

I could not put the film down.

[Harry]

The Lies of Locke Lomora by Scott Lynch, Thieves in a Venice like fantasy city, good read. The second book in the series Red Seas under Red Skies is out in HB

Just saw you mentioning this in another thread. Straight fantasy is not my favorite genre, not by a long stretch, but I am curious about your opinion on that series, since we seem to share similar tastes. I've browsed it a few times.

[ColonelHardisson]

I finished it last night, care to scoop me?

Honor was supposed to have died in the big battle at Manticore. Her dying words were supposed to be something to the effect of "tell Elizabeth for God's sake let it end here." Weber then wanted the story to jump ahead as we see Honor's son begin his career, with that son becoming the main character in the next series of books. I was struck by how Weber seemed to be steering readers towards other characters in the Honorverse, especially Terekhov from The Shadow of Saganami and Honor's son. I got the distinct impression he wants to kill Honor off, or at least move her off-stage in a permanent way. He also said that if Honor died, Nimitz would die also.

[Thoth-Amon]

Just saw you mentioning this in another thread. Straight fantasy is not my favorite genre, not by a long stretch, but I am curious about your opinion on that series, since we seem to share similar tastes. I've browsed it a few times.

I read the description of it on Amazon and am sold. Put it on hold at the library now. I love books with thieves as the main character/protagonist.

[Priss]

I recently opened Kushiel's Justice even though I bought it months ago with the Harry Potter Book. I just couldn't get myself to start it beyond the first few pages. After a slow start I'm finally into the book and it's rolling right along staying true the other Kushiel books.

I'm also still trying to get through Game of Thrones. It's so hard to read a book when you really don't like most of the characters.

[Harry]

I read the description of it on Amazon and am sold. Put it on hold at the library now. I love books with thieves as the main character/protagonist.

While I love stories about rapscallions and rogues, thieves are not my first choice. That and the fact that it's fantasy puts it low on my list. But, Doc hasn't steered me wrong yet*. If the book is OK, not great, but OK, he will say so.

* The Napoleonic War dragon books, nope. Didn't like those at all, but he warned me aplenty and I got them anyways.

[Priss]

Oh god, I'm really trying to avoid the new Kushiel book. I mean, the writer is actually pretty good, but the premise of her being a super-subbie temple whore keeps tripping me up.

Seriously, the book before last should have been titled "Indiana Jones and the dildo of doom."

I thought something very similar. The last two books aren't about Phedra at all though, Imri is the main character and she very rarely touches on his sadistic bent for various reasons.

[Ancalagon]

I'm reading Hyperion at the moment, bought it used from a co-worker.

Hot damn, the book sucks you in!

[Limper]

using "rebuilding" from war or catastrophe as a method of radically socially engineering a place. Aid or help isnt the focus, rather a predatory means of capitalism comes into play.

A bit of a boutique theory I am mulling over these days.

That sounds interesting. I'd imagine there is a lot of evidence for them to tap into from history... Rome did this sort of thing all the time.

[Glass]

Right now I'm reading A Game of Thrones, just got done with Shadows over Baker Street, which was a good collection of Lovecraftian Sherlock Holmes stories. After this, I might try to grab Anno Dracula, if I can find a copy.

[doc]

Checked out Freakonomics from the library

[Tetsubo]

The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama.

[Limper]

The Art of Happiness by the Dalai Lama.

Chapter One: Avoid China...

[Limper]

I'm reading Hyperion at the moment, bought it used from a co-worker.

Hot damn, the book sucks you in!

Yes it does! When you finish those try out the Ilium books.

[Brynja]

That sounds interesting. I'd imagine there is a lot of evidence for them to tap into from history... Rome did this sort of thing all the time.


Exactly. With the rise of latifundias and a mega farm system they ran the true engine of the economy out of business and drove down real wages.

[ColonelHardisson]

Just about finished with Little Girl Lost by Richard Aleas. Damned good neo-noir. Hard Case Crime is becoming one of my favorite publishers.

[Thoth-Amon]

At long last I have White Knight.

[Trainz]

I'm reading The Unifying Force from the New Jedi Order. It's the final book in the 21 books series of the Yuzan-Vong war. It was a long journey reading them all (they weren't ALL good books) but I'm happy I read them and the final book as some cool stuff.

[Varaj]

I'm rereading some teen age angst filled stuff. Mercedes Lackey, man her stuff sucks in such a good way. :)

[Dacke]

I read Pratchett's The Last Hero yesterday, and will start on A Hat Full of Sky today.

[Cat of Ulthar]

Yeay! Happy readings.:)

[Glass]

I'm switching back & forth; first volume of a Mickey Spillane Mike Hammer collection(currently on the first book I, the Jury) when I'm at work, and a novel a friend of mine wrote when I'm at home.

[Limper]

Reapers Gale and I almost called in sick to stay home a read more of it.

[Janos]

Reapers Gale and I almost called in sick to stay home a read more of it.

I started Bonehunters. His writing style is definately getting better/good, but he still thinks too highly of being vague and clever as a way to build dramatic tension.

[Limper]

I started Bonehunters. His writing style is definately getting better/good, but he still thinks too highly of being vague and clever as a way to build dramatic tension.

Bonehunters is good but Reaper is better yet.

[doc]

The Cleaner, a spy novel by a new author

[Harry]

Finally started on 1632, Eric Flint. This is a damn sight better than what I expected, and so far is whomping S.M.Stirling's butt.

Not what I expected at all.

[GreyOne]

I loved BoneHunters. I think it's my favourite now. I just finished Reaper's Gale a couple weeks ago (I forgot it many hundreds of miles away), so there was a two month gap between when I last read it. I think it detracted from my reading experience. I didn't like the ending that much. there was a point though, when all the battles were happening about 4/5ths of the way through where I stayed up reading to about 3 am. I couldn't put it down.

It must be easier for you guys who can read each book pretty close together. The transition between books must be so much smoother. At least he publishes one every 12-15 months or so.

I'm reading a stack of comics I fell behind on.

[Merganser]

The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde and
Mother Courage and Her Children by Bertolt Brecht

[Cat of Ulthar]

Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett. Okay, but it feels a bit like repeating the same trick again.

[Ergeheilalt]

I'm rereading The Black Company books.

[Thoth-Amon]

I am reading Night of Knives by Ian Cameron Esslemont.

[GreyOne]

I am reading Night of Knives by Ian Cameron Esslemont.

I gotta get that one.

How does it compare with Erikson?

[Thoth-Amon]

I gotta get that one.

How does it compare with Erikson?
Similar but lighter. This novel however takes place over the course of 1 night so the pace is a lot faster.

[Black Angel]

I finished the Conan collection I was reading a couple of weeks ago, and have been re-reading Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy for the bazillionth time to fill in space until I get something new...

Yesterday was the day - I now have the prequel to the Otori Trilogy (which includes Across the Nightingale Floor for those who may have heard of it...) - Heavens Net is Wide by Lian Hearn. Can't wait to start on it, possibly tonight! I also have a new book, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, to read afterward. Huzzah for reading material! :D

[Jayhawk]

Hearn's Otori books are great. I would love to see an RPG setting book with all the major players statted out.

I'm finishing up The Hot Kid by Elmore Leonard. Nice.

[Ancalagon]

Yes it does! When you finish those try out the Ilium books.

I'm reading the second one now (The Fall of Hyperion).

You know, I really hope that in a 100 years from now, this book will be recognized as something special and still read by people, and not just fade away as "just another sci-fi book".

I sometimes feel that I'm not even "competent" to read the book, as so many ideas are merely hinted at. I never read Keats, or Teilard de Chardin for example... how much am I missing?

Sometimes I feel I should only be reading books of this caliber and not waste my time with books where "cool/funny stuff happens!" and no more. But then again, I'm not sure how much of that heavy material I could handle.

[Thoth-Amon]

Finished Night of Knives now back to Shadow Games.

[Varaj]

I'm reading the second one now (The Fall of Hyperion).

You know, I really hope that in a 100 years from now, this book will be recognized as something special and still read by people, and not just fade away as "just another sci-fi book".

I sometimes feel that I'm not even "competent" to read the book, as so many ideas are merely hinted at. I never read Keats, or Teilard de Chardin for example... how much am I missing?

Sometimes I feel I should only be reading books of this caliber and not waste my time with books where "cool/funny stuff happens!" and no more. But then again, I'm not sure how much of that heavy material I could handle.

I feel that way reading all of Dan Simmon's stuff. He is truly a great author.

[Dr_Avalanche]

Very infrequently, I'm reading Neil Gaiman's collection of short stories, Fragile Things. It is very good.

[EhtoZed]

Very infrequently, I'm reading Neil Gaiman's collection of short stories, Fragile Things. It is very good.
Heh, I'm reading American Gods right now. I've never read Gaiman before but it's really good. I'll probably read Anansi Boys pretty soon too.

[Janos]

I'm reading the second one now (The Fall of Hyperion).

The last book in the series is incredible. One of the best works of fiction I have read in a long time. I didn't care for Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion all that much, but the Endyimon ones were incredible.

I finished Shadow Kingdoms, an anthology of RE Howard stories a few weeks ago. Although the stories were only so-so, I LOVED the book for the perspective on time when they were written. The imbedded racism and socio-political commentary was fascinating.

[Janos]

I just finished Replay by Ken Grimwood. Incredible book. I can see why it won a lot of awards. I really liked the story, and the message, although a bit new-agey was pretty damn good too.

[Lady Fury]

I just started a TNG book. Q&A. I've always enjoyed reading about Q's adventures. :)

[Black Angel]

Ok I finished the Otori prequel on the weekend - fantastic read! As with all of Hearn's books, I had trouble putting it down. It's made me want to go back and re-read the original trilogy, so that's my current reading material before I start on the other new book I bought.

If you like ninjas and a bit of magic (and occasional pirates), this is an awesome series I highly recommend.

[Jayhawk]

If you like ninjas and a bit of magic (and occasional pirates), this is an awesome series I highly recommend.

Word.

[Freedom Canadian]

The last book in the series is incredible. One of the best works of fiction I have read in a long time. I didn't care for Hyperion/Fall of Hyperion all that much, but the Endyimon ones were incredible.

I preferred the first two, but they were all outstanding.

I just finished reading Reaper's Gale, Africa Zero (Neal Asher rules) and a bunch of comic books.

And I started my first Lovecraft book ever. At the Mountains of Madness. :D

[Limper]

I preferred the first two, but they were all outstanding.

I just finished reading Reaper's Gale, Africa Zero (Neal Asher rules) and a bunch of comic books.

And I started my first Lovecraft book ever. At the Mountains of Madness. :D

An excellent start!

What did you think of Reapers Gale?

[Freedom Canadian]

An excellent start!

While I never read Lovecraft before, I have played the RPG.

Guy :" The dogs are going nuts. If we let them, they'd tear to shreds our precious specimens of weird creatures we found frozen in the ice and which my autopsy reveals are well suited to very long periods of hibernation."

Me: "Let them ! WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU ?!?"

What did you think of Reapers Gale?

It was good, but not as good as Bonehunters. I didn't really like him before, but Karsa is growing on me now. :)

[Freedom Canadian]

Double post, but I might as well say that I've begun a big ass trade about the death and rebirth of Superman. God those drawings are fugly compared to more modern comics.

[Space Cadet B^3]

Chuckling my way through Pratchett's "Thief of Time."

[Limper]

While I never read Lovecraft before, I have played the RPG.

Guy :" The dogs are going nuts. If we let them, they'd tear to shreds our precious specimens of weird creatures we found frozen in the ice and which my autopsy reveals are well suited to very long periods of hibernation."

Me: "Let them ! WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU ?!?"

You can ask Keeper about me playing a film director in CoC.:D

It was good, but not as good as Bonehunters. I didn't really like him before, but Karsa is growing on me now. :)

I've liked him from the get go.

[FeatsofClay]

Salt by Mark Kurlansky. Great stuff so far.

[Freedom Canadian]

You can ask Keeper about me playing a film director in CoC.:D

I guess the whole "frozen creatures recovered from antarctica" thing wasn't a cliché yet in 1939. :D

[Brynja]

A high school paper that has been plagarized from the Harvard Journal of Economics

[Glass]

A high school paper that has been plagarized from the Harvard Journal of Economics

Yeouch.:what:

[Janos]

While I never read Lovecraft before, I have played the RPG.

Guy :" The dogs are going nuts. If we let them, they'd tear to shreds our precious specimens of weird creatures we found frozen in the ice and which my autopsy reveals are well suited to very long periods of hibernation."

Me: "Let them ! WTF IS WRONG WITH YOU ?!?"

This from the guy who wanted to take a severed head as loot...

:D

[Freedom Canadian]

Well, it contained a cyberdeck worth millions of nuyen, man. :o

[Janos]

Well, it contained a cyberdeck worth millions of nuyen, man. :o

:lol:

[Freedom Canadian]

In any case, I fail to see how this is inconsistent on my part. In both cases I'm advocating the mutilation of dead bodies for personal advantage. :lol:

[doc]

In any case, I fail to see how this is inconsistent on my part. In both cases I'm advocating the mutilation of dead bodies for personal advantage. :lol:

That's always a good thing FC

[Janos]

In any case, I fail to see how this is inconsistent on my part. In both cases I'm advocating the mutilation of dead bodies for personal advantage. :lol:

That so should be your signature.

[Freedom Canadian]

That so should be your signature.

I don't like quoting myself in my sig, but I see your point. :)

[Tetsubo]

Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls
by Rachel Simmons

[Harry]

For the first time since the middle of January I don't know what I'm reading next. Maybe some Clarke, maybe some Asimov, maybe something else. Still have a King book around. Still planning on reading some Emerson. Since the middle of February, I've been reading Ben Bova every night. Every single night. I started his "Planetary Tour" series and was captivated. Had to read every one and in order as according to his website. But I caught up. He's got a Mars III coming out, but I'm currently all done. Damn. :shock: Lost now...

[Lmik]

I am reading the Dangerous Book for Boy by Hal and Gonn Iggulson. Full of stuff I've always wanted to try.

[Merganser]

I'm reading two books.

Pathfinders: A Global History of Exploration, by Felipe Fernandez-Armesto &

The Clocks, Agatha Christie

[Limper]

Clark Ashton Smith... Out of Space and Time.

[Janos]

I'm re-reading Conquistador by SM Stirling and reminded again why I think it's his best and strongest book by far.

I just finished re-reading the whole Saga of Recluse by LE Modesitt after I picked up the newest book in the series and read it earlier this month.

[Utrecht]

Reading some nice brainless Warhammer 40,000 novels.

That whole universe interests me.....

[Steampunk]

Reading some nice brainless Warhammer 40,000 novels.

That whole universe interests me.....

I think I have every last one of those novels. I have only read a handful, but they are always so damn interesting.

[FeatsofClay]

I just finished Salt for the second time (great book) and a PhD paper published as a book on Gladiators. I also just reread Under the Black Flag about pirates.

I started working through Wil and Ariel Durants 13 volume The Story of Civilization a few years back and quit right after the Rennasaince. I am thinking of skipping The Reformation and gouing straight to The Age of Reason.

[Utrecht]

skip the reformation? That is one of the good parts!!!

[Dr_Avalanche]

I'm almost half way through Steven Erikson's latest, Toll of Hounds. I find it to be one of his more confusing novels so far...

[Ergeheilalt]

I've got a couple chapters left of Armageddon's Children and I'll follow that with Elves of Cintra

[Merganser]

skip the reformation? That is one of the good parts!!!

While convoluted and sometimes difficult to follow, the Reformation & Counter-Reformation period is probably the most fascinating period in European history after the renaissance of the 12th century. Seriously, the Age of Reason is a bunch of guys sitting around saying things that you probably already agree with.

The Reformation is awesome, you can't skip that.

[FeatsofClay]

Well, the first 20 pages of The Reformation didn't suck me in, and it doesn't SEEM to be my thing but on two strong reccomendations I will give it another go.

I am not sure how accurate the whole series is, I think it dates back to the 50's, but I enjoy the heck out of them- http://www.amazon.com/Story-Civilization-11-Set/dp/1567310230

[Xavier Lang]

World Enough & Time by Dan Simmons - collection of short stories.

[Glass]

Reading some nice brainless Warhammer 40,000 novels.

That whole universe interests me.....

The Ravenor and Eisenhorn novels, by Dan Abnett, are very good.

I'm reading Needful Things for the first time, and it's good. I recently finished Heart-Shaped Box, by Joe Hill(aka Joseph Hillstrom King), and that might very well be the best book I've read all year; I couldn't put it down, I stayed up until 3 in the morning one night finishing it and ended up missing my gym time the next morning because I was up so late! A serious page-turner.

[Philentqiller]

This thread......













Sorry if someone already made that joke, I didn't read the thread.

[Black Angel]

I have just started 'Twilight' by Stefanie (Stephanie?) Meyer, which is the first in a series of 4 (it has vampires for those that are interested). I decided to read it as I was given her stand-alone book 'Host' which was just fantastic for my birthday (it's about aliens taking over earth in a body-snatcher way, but with romance too). I couldn't put it down, and if I hadn't had to work, I would have finished it in a day instead of the 3 it otherwise took me! So far Twilight is also good, so I hope the whole series lives up to my expectations.

Before I started that, and after reading 'Host' I also read 'Eragon' and 'Eldest' by Christopher Paolini. You can definitely see in Eldest that he had matured as a writer by that time, but it's pretty amazing that he was only 15 when he wrote Eragon! I still enjoyed them both, and am awaiting the next book in the series (I hate it when I start some series and all the books aren't written yet!!!).

[Dacke]

I'm re-reading The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher, and am up to Blood Rites (book 6) now. I gotta say that a book that starts with Our Hero rescuing a bunch of temple puppies from flying demon monkeys throwing flaming poo after him is just the perfect thing for my tastes.

[Harry]

Currently reading:

Arthur C. Clarke & Stephen Baxter - Time's Eye. Bought it not long before he passed and it's pretty good so far. Also reading - the 3.5 PHB, WotC. Been too long since I played 3.x and I've forgotten half the combat rules and spell descriptions. Also reading, several Squadron and Osprey books to help fan the modeling flame.

[Utrecht]

Well, the first 20 pages of The Reformation didn't suck me in, and it doesn't SEEM to be my thing but on two strong reccomendations I will give it another go.

I am not sure how accurate the whole series is, I think it dates back to the 50's, but I enjoy the heck out of them- http://www.amazon.com/Story-Civilization-11-Set/dp/1567310230

I find the reformation interesting because of some of the parallels to modern islam.

Further, it is downright NASTY - the things that people did to eachother in the name of God were truly ghastly - and the reformation was responsabile for keeping the German giant sleeping for an additional 200 years...

[FeatsofClay]

I find the reformation interesting because of some of the parallels to modern islam.

Further, it is downright NASTY - the things that people did to eachother in the name of God were truly ghastly - and the reformation was responsabile for keeping the German giant sleeping for an additional 200 years...

I actually did go back and re-attempt the book on the word of olks here. It is paying off. I knew about Machiavelli but I didn't know it such a damned art form before he writing about it.

I am very glad I (you all?) changed my mind. It is a good read.

[Harry]

I've read dozens and dozens of books since I last confessed, but tonight I started one that's been on my pile a little while, along with it's sequel. Greg Bear's "Darwin's Radio". I lent these to a friend a few weeks ago thinking it would be a while before I got around to them and he gave them back to me with a hearty thumbs-up. But tonight upon picking up the book, this is the first sentence presented to me:

The flat afternoon sky spread over the black and gray mountains like a stage backdrop, the color of a dog's lazy eye.

I read, reread and reread that sentence a good 10 times trying to make heads or tails of it. Finally I decided to give it a pass and moved on. Next paragraph:

His ankles aching and back burning from a misplaced loop of nylon rope, Mitch Rafelson followed Tilde's quick female form along the margin between the white firn and a dust of new snow on the field. Mingled with the ice boulders of the fall, crenels and spikes of old ice had been sculpted by summer heat into milky, flint-edged knives.

Umm, 'K. Read on.

To Mitch's left, the mountains rose over the jumble of black boulders flanking the broken slope of the ice fall. On the right, in the full glare of the sun, the ice rose in blinding brilliance to the perfect catenary of the cirque.

Right.

Totally into the fact that some dude is in the Alps. That he's following some female of some species. That's it. The rest requires massive amounts of interpretation and Google searches for words this pretty well-read reader has never encountered before, which neither my table top dictionary nor Microsoft Word seem to recognize.

Yeah, Bear man, you better pull something good out of this scene before I chuck this book into the riverine woodland scene lapping black at my fence beyond which cerulean crepuscular beetles lurk before seeking the light of the daybreak sun.

[Steampunk]

Ok, that's fucked up, Harry. I normally like Greg Bear, but that is just utter bullshit, there. Even myself, whom I consider "well read," had to stop and blink at those few passages.

I am reading the last hundred pages or so of The Court of the Air, but I have been spending a lot of my time actually writing a book. Once I get it done, I will devour the ten or twelve books that are stacked on my desk.

[Brynja]

Shitacular essays

[Cat of Ulthar]

Sophie's World

[Name Lips]

The Complete Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson.

[Dire Wolf]

Half way through A Game of Thrones. I'm enjoying it so far, just wish I had more time to read, it takes me forever nowadays to finish a book!

[Janos]

Half way through A Game of Thrones. I'm enjoying it so far, just wish I had more time to read, it takes me forever nowadays to finish a book!

That's okay, it still takes Martin longer to write one.

I'm reading Scourge of God by SM Stirling. His writing style actually seems to be getting worse as time goes on, but his world manages to be interesting enough that I'll keep reading despite the terrible plot and characters/characterization.

[Freedom Canadian]

I am currently reading Snow Crash. Don't know how I managed to avoid that novel until now...

It's very good.

[Schizm]

The Return of the Black Company. It's an omnibus containing the first half of Glittering Stone.

[Freedom Canadian]

After Snow Crash, I'm reading Ghost, by John Ringo.

OH, JOHN RINGO, NO ! :D

[Atticus_of_Amber]

Re-reading the Harry Potter novels.

Reading Richard Dawkins' The Greatest Show on Earth

Trying to get into Daniel Dennett's Consciousness Explained

[Limper]

Eriksons books (Deadhouse Gates right now)

A collection of alternative history stories to try and find some new authors.

[Brynja]

Bloom's The Closing of the American Mind

[Dawnstar]

Right now I am rereading Breaking Dawn. but i also have a few other mystery/romance novels that I just bought. Yes I know nothing really deep but I like my mindless reads. :)

[Bagpuss]

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Actually make me want to visit the US Capital.

[The Theocrat of Poon-Tang]

Moonraker, Fleming.

[Black Angel]

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. Actually make me want to visit the US Capital.

Just finished that one myself a couple of days ago. I quite enjoyed it, the style is very similar to the other 2 Robert Langdon books. Very short chapters, with so much happening that you just have to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next. Took me about 3 days to finish it! :o

[Xavier Lang]

I just finished "The Hollows" series by Kim Harrison. I am going to see how the Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost is next.

Both are Urban Fantasy series.

[Atropine Mama]

I can't read. :kickcan:

[Lady_Acoma]

I can't read. :kickcan:

I used to lay my head against the monitor to fix that problem... Then I found Windex and all my worries are gone!
http://www.bestweekever.tv/bwe/images/2007/09/Windex.jpg

[Cat's Paw Nebula]

Twilight Watch by Lukyanenko and The Last Continent by Pratchett.

The first is brilliant, the second amusing.

[Bagpuss]

Just finished that one myself a couple of days ago. I quite enjoyed it, the style is very similar to the other 2 Robert Langdon books. Very short chapters, with so much happening that you just have to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next. Took me about 3 days to finish it! :o

Would have taken me that long but the wife was reading it at the same time, and our 1 year old had a habit of pulling the bookmark out and bringing it too you if you leave it anywhere he can reach.

I should hopefully finish it tonight.

[Thoth-Amon]

Just finished Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. Now stared to read The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. (http://www.amazon.com/Lies-Locke-Lamora-Scott-Lynch/dp/055358894X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256140304&sr=8-1)

[Cat of Ulthar]

Just finished Pride & Prejudice & Zombies.[/url]

Is that as good as I hope it to be?

[Thoth-Amon]

Is that as good as I hope it to be?

It was enjoyable but also dry. I could only read a chapter or 2 at a time but it was enjoyable enough it kept pulling me back. Out of 10 I'd say 7.

[Harry]

Just finished Pride & Prejudice & Zombies. Now stared to read The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch. (http://www.amazon.com/Lies-Locke-Lamora-Scott-Lynch/dp/055358894X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1256140304&sr=8-1)

That one is sitting high in the stack. I haven't read a fantasy novel in ages. Let me know how you like it. It's been sitting there a long time. I thumbed through the pages and randomly nicked an idea for a thief I played, and that thief passed to char-heaven two years ago, and the campaign dead soon after.

[Steampunk]

Next for me is Sense & Sensibility & Sea Monsters.

[GreyOne]

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.