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How are you finishing up your year of reading?

As soon as I finish up Agatha H and also The Enchanted Chocolate Pot, I'll be starting the Winds of Khalakovo by Bradley Beaulieu.

Storm Front currently, followed by Shift, and then Red Seas Under Red Skies. Then, after Christmas I can return to the book store to replenish the pile.

Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson.

And so far, it's totally fascinating!

I'm starting off with a trio. I don't generally read three books at the same time, but every now and then it happens. I'm a public librarian and the first two are for library book discussions that I host. The last one is for me. (I must have at least one sci-fi/fantasy going at any given time or else I get quite grumpy.)

* Cold Comfort Farm (audiobook)
* Still Life
* A Canticle for Leibowitz

Michael, I recently read Red Seas Under Red Skies and I was rather fond of it. I haven't read book three yet. I'll be curious as to what you think.

I've grabbed Counter-Clock World from the bookshelves. I've read it before, but that was at least twenty years ago, so I remember almost nothing.

Well, December isn't known for a lot of book releases, especially the latter half, and I didn't see anything on the upcoming release lists that caught my eye. And since the group has no Contemporary Novel discussion scheduled this month, it's catch-up time...

After the Twelve Tomorrows anthology, I'd really like to get around to
City of Stairs,
Leckie's Ancillary Sword,
Kress's Yesterday's Kin, &
The Goblin Emperor.

The odds of my completing all that are pretty slim, though, and I'll settle for 50%. I'd also like to read The Three-Body Problem, but I'm going to see if it turns into our January group discussion and read it that month.

On the audiobook side, I'm going to listen to Agatha H and the Airship City. I noticed audible has a new, exclusive Jack Campbell fantasy novel, The Dragons of Dorcastle, which apparently has no written edition (for now), and despite some misgivings about his recent Lost Fleet novels, I'm going to see if creating a new world in a different subgenre breathes some new life back into his writing. There are a number of audiobooks of questionable judgment on my iPod right now.

I started listening to The Winds of Khalakovo and was...bored. I'm going to try reading it with my eyeballs, it might be the narrator isn't working for me.

Agatha H was very good as audio - the narrator is great! I'll be getting the sequel as soon as I get my paycheck :)

I'm switching to Bitter Seeds for my audiobook, and still reading The Enchanted Chocolate Pot - not because it's bad, just haven't been reading much lately.

I'm currently 6 books in to the Area 51 series. One more after this I believe wraps up the initial story. Cant really say I am enjoying them a lot but it's decent and hell I just want to know how it ends now!

Next up The Reluctant Swordsman

Matt wrote: "Next up The Reluctant Swordsman."

Ah, I love Dave Duncan. 7th Sword is an under-appreciated sword & sorcery series of the modern-guy-falls-through-a-portal-into-fantasy-world school. Fun stuff.

I'm finishing up the audible version of Before They Are Hanged, and just starting Stephen King's new one, Revival. Next up is Last Argument of Kings and a reread of Dune.

I didn't want to read A Canticle for Leibowitz too fast so I took up Hunting the Ghost Dancer. Wow. Prehistoric fiction, like nothing I've read in prehistoric fiction before. Full of interesting speculation, an ideas novel but catchily plotty, and nicely written. A.A. Attanasio an sf/f author, crosses into historical fiction, and I guess this is a crossover: there's a non-realist element that might have led to its nom in the World Fantasy Awards 1992. I think I'm a new fan of this author.

audio book month for me...I'm working on putting in new shelf space and traveling next week, so audio is the way to go...I have on tap Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Lucifer's Hammer by Niven and Pournelle, The Forge of God by Bear, William Shakespeare's The Jedi doth Return (I might go back and give the first two in that series a listen), and Legendarium by Bunker and Summers

never heard of Dave Duncan but sounds with checking
out. I also hope to read the kress. part way through lots of collections at the moment as well as books so want to have less than 15 books that I am currently reading by the end of the month. reading the ya speculative book by meg wolitzer but it is annoying me so don't know if I will make it through. in a perfect world where my baby let's me sleep I might get through a chunk of these. 20 books to read if I want to make my gr target for the year

This month I'm going to be getting started with a few epic series. At least then I have some ideas of what to spend my Christmas money on.

~Gardens of the Moon

~The Eye of the World

~The Hobbit (Shocking that I haven't already read this I know!)

~Pawn of Prophecy

Should I manage to finish these then I'll probably crack on with The Inheritance Cycle where I left off last time which was with Eldest

Plenty to keep me busy here

Gareth wrote: "This month I'm going to be getting started with a few epic series. At least then I have some ideas of what to spend my Christmas money on.

~Gardens of the Moon

~The Eye of th..."</i>

<i>Gareth wrote: "This month I'm going to be getting started with a few epic series. At least then I have some ideas of what to spend my Christmas money on.

~[book:Gardens of the Moon

~The Eye of th..."</i>

<i>Gareth wrote: "This month I'm going to be getting started with a few epic series. At least then I have some ideas of what to spend my Christmas money on.

~[book:Gardens of the Moon

~[book:The Eye of th..."

How are you digging The Hobbit? Quiet as kept, that's my favorite of the four books.

I haven't started it yet, I don't have a copy of it with me at Uni but I do at home so when I get back for Christmas I shall get started then

Gareth, that ought to keep you busy for the rest of the month...

Currently working my way through The Blade Itself with The Rook,Magician and The Peripheral in the hopper.

I'm also trying to get caught up with the Tor reread of Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell.

G33z3r wrote: "Ah, I love Dave Duncan. 7th Sword is an under-appreciated sword & sorcery series..."

I completely agree. Dave Duncan has fabulous characters, and can take old familiar tropes and make them seem both new and deep. A particularly nice scene (in my mind) in the 7th sword series is the swordsman hero using his knowledge from our world, and slowly crafting an "ultimate weapon" -- which was not at all anything that I expected. That happens in the 2nd or 3rd book.

Duncan's endings are also very satisfying, the 7th sword series being particularly good.

I'm currently about 325 pages in to The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. After that I'll read The Martian by Andy Weir.

Bobby, you're going to love Red Mars. I struggled with its sequel, Green Mars, but I thought Red Mars was brilliant.

and

I finished Sorcery & Cecelia: or The Enchanted Chocolate Pot and I really liked it once I got used to the style - it's epistolary. Very fun and light, magical Jane Austen type story.

I just grabbed Rise of the Spider Goddess: An Annotated Novel by Jim C. Hines and it's pretty funny stuff - I recommend it to all writers.

Oh, I forgot, I'll also be listening to the short audiobook of Brandon Sander's latest novella, Legion: Skin Deep (sequel to his 2012 novella Legion) since it's just out and Audible is .

Just started Magician. It's adorable, somewhere between Lackey and Williams.

Okay. I made it to page 66 of Magician and realized this wasn't going to work. The story is just too simplistic. I'll save more commentary for the discussion. Moving on to Killing Moon by Jemisin.

Aleah wrote: "Okay. I made it to page 66 of Magician and realized this wasn't going to work. The story is just too simplistic. I'll save more commentary for the discussion. Moving on to Killing Moon by Jemisin."

I had the same feeling last time I read it. It was fairly good, but not great at the time it was published. Now it really shows its age.

Jeffrey Ford's The Drowned Life. I've just started it. Also reading some surreal poetry The Tormented Mirror.

Aleah wrote: "Okay. I made it to page 66 of Magician and realized this wasn't going to work. The story is just too simplistic. I'll save more commentary for the discussion. Moving on to Killing Moon by Jemisin."

You may want to come back to it. It is simple, but II really enjoyed the characters in the Riftwar series. The Killing Moon's a great fantasy novel. I'm sure you'll enjoy it.

Aleah wrote: "I'm starting off with a trio. I don't generally read three books at the same time, but every now and then it happens. I'm a public librarian and the first two are for library book discussions that ..."

I got the flu last week and laid around watching movies, instead of reading. So I may have to wait until January to let you know what I thought of it.

Finished Dan Simmons' Hyperion last month and am just getting started on Fall of Hyperion. I read in a review on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ that the first book could have been written as a prequel to the second and without reading the second I can kind of see what the reviewer meant. It looks like the main part of the story is coming up so I have high expectations.

Garyjn wrote: "Finished Dan Simmons' Hyperion last month and am just getting started on Fall of Hyperion. I read in a review on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ that the first book could have been written as a prequel to the second an..."

Read both last month. I REALLY liked the first book and thought the second was good not great. Really the two books make the entire story. The second book is a satisfying conclusion but it kind of reminded me of Dune which also ends abruptly and I think I would have been just as happy ending the story after the first book. I have been on the fence if I should read the next two maybe during the holiday break.

After some non-SFF reading (including Tana French's Dublin Murder Squad books), I'm reading K.J. Parker's Fencer Trilogy. I'm enjoying it, though not as much I did Sharps last year. The first volume, which is probably the most traditional, has also been my favorite so far, though I have to say, I've never read an ending quite like that of The Belly of the Bow.

I just read Steelheart which was a good read, really enjoyed the world Sanderson created and the spin on superpowers! I might go for Tower Lord next!

I've just started Oblivion's Forge

"I'm number 4" - finishing it. Next - just today I bought 4 books of Andy McDermott (this guy knows how a synopsis should be written, really!) That would take me probably three weeks and then I'm starting with Sanderson's Steelheart.
Everybody, have a nice day!

Finished The Girl in the Road, a pretty wick read that felt fresh & different, tho I still can't make up my mind what I think about some of the elements. Now reading Lexicon.

Hillary wrote: "Now reading Lexicon..."

Been meaning to read Lexicon for some time. So many books...

OMG stupid internet just wiped my whole post! OK starting over...

Been reading all kinds of things this month-

Fated - liked this one, had a Constantine (the tv show) vibe to it, might be a Dresden Files time-filler (not substitute!)

The Perilous Life of Jade Yeo - very nice little literary historical romance novella

A few of these stories The Roman Mysteries Omnibus - kid's books but a lot of fun. I watched the TV show too

The Thorn Birds - was in the mood for a reread

Right now listening to Agatha H and the Clockwork Princess, loved the 1st one and this one is good too

Abandoned-

The Winds of Khalakovo - audio was boring me pretty quick, plus not an exciting beginning. Will try the reading the book at some point

Bitter Seeds - dunno why this one didn't grab me, I got to maybe 40% then just wanted something else, will finish it eventually

Medicus - this one I got to 50% and while the writing was perfectly fine, there was no mystery happening - a mystery needs sleuthing!

I finished The Three-Body Problem, not as great as I had hoped.

Realized that I've been in this group for about a month and a half and only made four comments. So I guess it's time I said something. I haven't read anything this month except for the editing of my upcoming novel, but next up for me is The Earl of Brass, by Kara Jorgensen. If I don't start it this month, then I'll definitely get to it in January.

Just finished The Martian by Andy Weir. Now beginning Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds. Then Words of Radiance, most likely.

Shari Kay wrote: "Did you ever get around to The Goblin Emperor? I've had on my TBR and would love to know what you thought of it."

I'm about halfway through The Goblin Emperor find it strangely engrossing despite being rather quiet. Maia was the 4th Prince of Elfland, an unlikely heir to the throne living in exile from court. Suddenly elevated to Emperor following an airship crash that killed his father and three older brothers, the 18-year-old has no idea how to behave at court or navigate its politics. To my surprise, it doesn't make much use of the fact that the characters are elves/goblins. Other than the occasional reference to ears drooping or perking up, they might all be human; which may be the point (ahem).


Michele wrote: "As soon as I finish up Agatha H and..."

As Michelle promised, Agatha H and the Airship City was an amusing and energetic audiobook listen, sort of Gonzo Steampunk.

Then I queued up Sanderson's Skin Deep; I thought the premise had lost its early charm and found it less interesting than the first book in his Legion series. (Featuring a rich, crazy genius private investigator and his team of imaginary consultants: hallucinations that compartmentalize his vast knowledge.)

Then I queued up Afterparty, a near-future story involving a designer drug with permanent hallucinogenic effects. It coincidentally became the second consecutive audiobook I listened to with 1st-person narration by a crazy protagonist who goes around conversing with imaginary friends while simultaneously being intellectually aware they are hallucinations. I couldn't have planned that to be any weirder.

Read:
The Forge of God
Anvil of Stars
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

Currently reading Ready Player One I'm about halfway through and really like it so far.

Just finished Redshirts by John Scalzi. Funny, action-packed, thoughtful. The whole package. Loved it!

Mike wrote: "Just finished Redshirts by John Scalzi. Funny, action-packed, thoughtful. The whole package. Loved it!"

Loved that book.