Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

I just finished reading The Best of Michael Moorcock (which was excellent - I posted a review) and have started Elantris by Brandon Sanderson.

After that I'll probably read the first Miles Vorkosigan book (I am really excited about re-reading that series!) or Diamond Star by Catherine Asaro.

I love the Dancers at the end of time series by Moorcock when I was in high school. Haven't read anything since.

I really liked Elantris! It was so different from other fantasy I've read.

I have three chapters to go in Jane Eyre and started The Eyre Affair over lunch.

Just finished _Map of Moments_ by Christopher Golden and Tim Lebbon. The dark magic part seemed rather routine; however, since I don't read many novels with "dark magic" in it, the story held my interest. I suspect that if one reads alot of "dark magic" stories, then the dark magic in this one would be "more of the same" rather than wow, that's cool. What was uniquely interesting about the novel were the descriptions of New Orleans, both physical and psychological. The novel takes place mainly in 2005, covering both pre- and post- Hurricane Katrina hitting the city.

I'd recommend the novel as a good "beach read", and I'd recommend it for people who are content with rather routine "dark magic" motifs in their stories.

I would not recommend it for someone searching for "something completely new and different"; additionally, I would not recommend it to someone who reads alot of "dark magic" books because there are probably alot of more compelling "dark magic" books than this one.

Now I'm starting: "Braided World" by Kay Kenyon. I like the first couple of chapters!

I'm almost finished To Ride Hell's Chasm by Janny Wurts...it's really good...highly recommended

Right now, I'm reading Space Captain Smith. It's a space opera about a future British Empire in space and it's hilarious.

I was reading an ARC of Let the Great World Spin A Novel by Colum McCann, but the copy of Death Masks (Book 5 of the Dresden Files) was calling out to me from my to-read drawer. I'll be finished with it by tomorrow and then I'll get back to the next Pulitzer Prize winner. (Yes, I think "Let the Great World Spin" is being marketed in a way that will get it the 2010 Pulitzer.)

I'm taking a break from SF/Fantasy at the moment (stalled almost half way into Diamond Star for health reasons) so I'm reading some older books that are probably modern classics in other genres - Madam, Will You Talk? by Mary Stewart, Gaudy Night by Dorothy L. Sayers and Scales of Gold The Fourth Book of The House of Niccolo by Dorothy Dunnett. All books to read slowly and savour, so that's what I'm trying to do.

Kerry,

I agree Dorothy Sayers was definitely a master. It says a lot about a genre book such as a murder mystery where the story is still interesting and entertaining generations later.

Dan wrote: "Right now, I'm reading Space Captain Smith. It's a space opera about a future British Empire in space and it's hilarious.
"

That sounds wonderful! I'm adding it to my to-read list.

I just started Blood Rites.

I'm reading Just After Sunset, short stories by Stephen King. I love King's writing and the way he makes his characters come to life.

Frank I am reading/listening to Just after Sunset. He is an incredibley talented author. Are you as far as the Gingerbread Girl? I love the beginning of that one. he caught the despair of lossing a child so well. I could see the pain in the couple and understand the char motivation for why the story moved as it did

Finished The Eyre Affair earlier today - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... - and just started Before They Are Hanged.

Recently read The Book of Atrus by Rand Miller. Posted a review: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15...

Then I read out of genre, but I book I "won" from GoodReads: Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin. Will be posting a review soon.

Jon wrote: "Finished The Eyre Affair earlier today - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... - and just started Before They Are Hanged. "

I've seen "Before They Are Hanged" in the bookstore. What did you think of the book? Is it worth reading?

Deedee wrote: "I've seen "Before They Are Hanged" in the bookstore. What did you think of the book? Is it worth reading? "

Before They Are Hanged is the sequel to The Blade Itself and the second book of the First Law trilogy by Joe Abercrombie.

Have you read First Law? If you liked it, then you'll definitely enjoy the sequel.

If you haven't read it, here's a link to my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... (which may or may not help you decide to read either book) :)

Jon wrote: "Just finished The Ghost Brigades which was very good.

Now, I'm reading an ebook version of Jane Eyre prior to reading The Eyre Affair. "

Great book - you should read the sequels, not as good, but worth the time.

Reading Lucifer's Hammer, slow start, but getting better!

Right now, I'm reading Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson. I'm enjoying it.

Very recently, I read Cryptonomicon and really enjoyed it, So I'm now tempted by the Baroque Trilogy.

SpyNavy, I read Lucifer's Hammer more than twenty years ago. If you like large scale disaster sci-fi, you'll love this. I'm not sure why Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ lists this as written by Larry Niven alone. This book was one of a number of books Larry Niven wrote as a team with Jerry Pournelle. So if you like this book, be sure to also read The Mote in God's Eye, also written by those two authors.

Mosca wrote: "Right now, I'm reading Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson. I'm enjoying it."

I've been "reading" it for over six months. I only have 120 pages left, but no desire to pick it back up.

I just finished White Witch Black Curse by Kim Harrison, I am now 30ish pages into bookcover:Steelflower|2707986]

by Lilith Saintcrow. It is a fantasy about a sellsword elf woman seemingly without majic. I'm likeing it.

I'm about halfway through The Dragons of Babel by Michael Swanwick. It's set in the same industrial-age fantasy world as The Iron Dragon's Daughter, making it sort of fantasy diesel-punk. The coming-of-age story of a young wood elf co-opted by a crippled (and quite evil) mechanical dragon, driven from his village and to the City of Babel, and his ensuing career, this is not your ordinary sword and sorcery timekiller.

I just finished Night of Knives A Novel of the Malazan Empire, which is a novel set in the same universe as Steven Erikson's Malazan books, but written by his friend (who co-designed that fantasy universe with him). It was okay but not as good as I hoped for.

Next up I'll probably start on Robert Charles Wilson's new novel Julian Comstock A Story of 22nd-Century America, which is getting some amazing advance buzz.

Renee wrote: Are you as far as the Gingerbread Girl?
I agree that the beginning of the story was incredibly powerful. Gingerbread Girl was very good at catching my emotions.

Guess I have a mission for Lunch today Sefan. Thanks for nothing....ha ha ha

Finished Before They Are Hanged last night. If you've read the book already, my review (which contains a few spoilers) is here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...

Next up is Cordelia's Honor.

Since I bought the two Haldeman novels at lunch, I decided to start reading The Accidental Time Machine instead of Cordelia's Honor.

After the nastiness that was Chapterhouse Dune going to read the next on written by Anderson and Herberts son.
Hunters of Dune by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson

Stefan wrote: "I just finished Night of Knives A Novel of the Malazan Empire, which is a novel set in the same universe as Steven Erikson's Malazan books, but written by his friend (..."

I'm really excited about that new one by Robert Charles Wilson. I read his short story, Julian: A Christmas Story, and remember thinking that I would enjoy reading a whole novel set in that world. I'm glad to see he did one.

I've been reading War for the Oaks by Emma Bull. I'm usually not a big fan of an urban fantasy setting, but I am enjoying this one. And my request just came through at the library for Shards of Honour so hopefully it will be nice out tomorrow so I can take a walk downtown to pick it up.

Scar Night Currently reading Scar Night. I just finished Iron Sunrise by Charles Stross. It was a bit of a slog, but ultimately quite good.

I just finished Blood Rites by Jim Butcher. I'm totally hooked on the Dresden Files series, but I'm going to take a break for a while. Blood Rites ended so peacefully and happily for Harry that I want to give him a chance to relax for a while before I see him get beaten up again. I do have the next book in my to-read drawer though, so that resolution may not stick.

I'm about halfway through two non-genre books, Gilead A Novel by Marilynne Robinson and an ARC of Let the Great World Spin A Novel by Colum McCann. Gilead is a Pulitzer Prize winner and I strongly suspect that Let the Great World Spin is being promoted for the 2010 Pulitzer. (What's the deal with putting the words "A Novel" on fiction titles these days?)

I'm going to be getting a review copy of Diamond Star from Catherine Asaro in the mail soon. I really liked Schism when we read it last year and am looking forward to reading Asaro's latest.

I am currently reading the Stand and just cracking . Waiting for me at the library is audio book edition.

Finished Accidental Time Machine - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... and starting Cordelia's Honor.

I just started Califia's Daughters and finding it quite enjoyable. I'm also delving into On Her Majesty's Occult Service and thinking that finally, finally, I've found a Charles Stross I might enjoy.

Just picked up "The City and the City" by China Miéville. Gave it to an obliging friend for a birthday; he read it in less than a day and loaned it back to me. So the cats lose out on this one (and why should I give them books for their birthdays anyway? they only ever give me mouse toys and catnip for mine). Also just found "Mad Maria" by Marcio Souza and "In Betwen Dragons" by Michael Kandel (Stanislaw Lem's best English translator) in a second-hand store.

Well, I finished Julian Comstock A Story of 22nd-Century America by Robert Charles Wilson, and it was absolutely excellent. I posted a brief review on the book's page. If anyone doubted that he could out-do himself after Spin, I think this will put those doubts to rest. Highly recommended!

Lori wrote: "Ohhhhh, a virgin read of Assassin's Apprentice, I'm so jealous!


Me too! Loved that whole series.

I recently read Anathem myself and loved it. It seemed slow (though good) for the first hundred pages, before I internalized the vocab and setting, but then I just couldn't put it down. I read the whole thing in three days.

I'm working my through all the Hugo nominees, so I also read Saturn's Children recently. I enjoyed it a lot - it played on so many classic SF themes yet felt so original. Hated the cover art, though.

C12vt swrote: "I recently read Anathem myself and loved it."

I read Anathem earlier this year and really enjoyed it too. It has set me on a Neal Stephenson binge. I've since read Cryptonomicon. And I'm now reading the first book of the Baroque Cycle: Quicksilver.

I've known about Stephenson for a long time; but have only recently begun reading him. What a treat.

I've enjoyed almost everything I've read by Stephenson, which is most of what he's written. If you're willing to forgive him for being a bit overenthusiastic when it comes to sharing his research, and a general lack of structure, he can be enormously entertaining.

I just finished my re-read of Shards of Honour for the upcoming series discussion, and just started on Haze, the newest novel L.E. Modesitt Jr.. So far it's everything you'd expect from a good book by this author.

Finished Cordelia's Honor - http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/... - yesterday and started The Moon is a Harsh Mistress this morning.

I'll have to check out Robert Wilson. Now I'm kicking myself because I saw Spin at GoodWill, but since I'd never heard of him before, got him confused with the other Robert Wilson who wrote Schrodinger's Cat, etc. Argh!

I'm about half way through Bridge of Birds A Novel of an Ancient China That Never Was and I love it.

Isn't that a joy? I still have the other 2 - I'll get to them someday for sure.

I found Bridge of Birds stuffed behind a shelf in the used book store. I hope no one was hiding it to read in the store. And I know I'll want to other 2 as well.

I just finished Plague of Memory, book 7 in the Stardoc series by S.L. Viehl.

After my disappointment with Rebel Ice, I wasn't sure I wanted to continue with this series. Glad to see Viehl is back on track with another fun and fast-paced installment.

Now reading Richard Matheson's The Incredible Shrinking Man.

Just finished Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven. I have a review here
( http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21... ), but it was a 9/10 for me. Characters who were like real people, flawed but occasionally heroic; detailed descriptions that helped the reader see and understand a disaster that would be indescribable and unfathomable.

I just finished Haze, L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s latest SF novel --- it's excellent and highly recommended both to fans and people who aren't familiar with the author yet. I posted a review on the book's page.

Next up: I'll probably get started on next month's fantasy BotM, The Steel Remains by Richard K. Morgan.

Jim wrote: "I read The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod Eighth Grade Bites over the weekend, a YA novel. It was pretty good. I'm looking forward to the next one. Surprisingly good, actually."

My son gave me that book to read. I've been meaning to start it--glad to hear a good review.

I couldn't find any of the BOM's during my last trip to the bookstore but I did pick up Replay by Ken Grimwood & I am enjoying it so far.

Stefan wrote: "I just finished Haze, L.E. Modesitt Jr.'s latest SF novel --- it's excellent and highly recommended both to fans and people who aren't familiar with the author yet. ..."

I want to get it, but I'm going to wait for the paperback. I think I have all of his books to date. One of my favorite authors. Thanks for letting me know that it measured up.