SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

So much to read and so little time...Not sure I can make it through all of these but I'm shooting for...

Neverwhere A Novel
Enchantment
The Lightning Thief
Harbinger of Doom
The Crown Conspiracy
Avempartha
I, Robot
Cloak of Magic
The Well of Ascension


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I'm currently halfway through Shadowbridge by Gregory Frost.

Well I just got my Kindle 2 last week, so I'm getting back on board with the whole book club & personal reading thing. My home was just getting too crowded with books and I had to rethink each purchase "do I have room for this". Thank the gods for the digital age.

Currently I'm reading:

Assassin's Apprentice (reread)
Hot, Flat, and Crowded
Persuasion (looks like it will be the classic group pick for March)

I just finished World War Z and Stephen King's UR, both very good reads.

Lara Amber

I haven't read World War Z yet - but both my husband and dauther enjoyed it quite a bit. It doesn't sound like "my kind of book" but based on what others have said I'll probably give it a try.

-- Robin (30 days until Avempartha)

I finished Cloak of Magic yesterday and I'm more than half done with Alphabet of Thorn. I'm also reading The Book Thief during my daily commute.

For March I will probably try:

A Song for Arbonne by Guy Gavriel Kay
The Blade Itself The First Law by Joe Abercrombie - really enjoying this (except for the profanity).
Reaper Man by Terry Pratchett - great light mind candy reading
Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian

Jon, I'll be interested in hearing what you think about both The Book Thief and Master and Commander. I'm oddly resistant to trying the first despite all the good things I have heard. And, I really like the O'Brian series, so I am curious as to whether it will appeal to your taste.

Robin, I think you are probably right about World War Z. I enjoyed it, but it doesn't seem to be your kind of book. It is worth a try, but if you don't like the beginning, I wouldn't bother to continue. The rest of the book is just more of the same.

I really want to get back to Naomi Novik's dragon books. I read the first & liked it. I have 2 more that have been sitting on my pile for a couple of months. Frustrating.

I'm also planning on reading "The Crown Conspiracy", having just finished "Avempartha".

Two other books I'd like to read are Wintermind by Marvin Kaye & Stephen Ames Berry's The Battle For Terra Two. There's 4 books in Berry's series, 3 of which I read years ago, so I'll need to re-read them. It's taken me all these years to find one book in the middle. Also an old read, The Masters of Solitude turns out to have "Wintermind" as a sequel. Again I'll need to re-read & I must have a couple of dozen new reads waiting for me.

I just started reading Agent to the Stars by John Scalzi. I just finished Lud-In-The-Mist today, so I guess that counts as a March book. I'm also reading The Faith What Christians Believe, Why They Believe It, and Why It Matters because the sermon series for Lent at my church is based on this book.

In my drawer, I have:

Hammered by Elizabeth Bear
The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
The Stand by Stephen King
Anansi Boys by Neil Gaiman

I have more, but I think those will be my goal books this month.

I started reading Harbinger of Doom from a fellow goodreads author. Man there are ALOT of people introduced in the beginning of this - I'm a bit confused with the names thrown out there and feel like I need notes. I'm sure it will straighten itself out but for now I'm totally confused as to what is going on.

The Good Guy halfway through and I'm borrowing Watchmen later today. Missed the book clubs but I'll have it read before the movie comes out this weekend.

I'm about 1/2 way through Harbinger of Doom. The "name thing" did straighten itself out. This is really 2 little novella's stuck together. Not bad writing but also not a lot of depth.

I am also reading A Storm of Swords by George R R Martin.

Hi All! I am new here and have joined so many groups. I am currently reading two books and may not be able to finish this month's in time. Luckily I have The "Alphabet of Thorn" book here. It is a little difficult to get my hands on all the books in this group because the sci fi and fantasy sections in the bookstores here in Saudi Arabia aren't like in the US. But for now, I am reading New Moon by Stephanie Meyer and The Wild Wood by Charles De Lint.

I just finished World Made by Hand A Novel, which was a fine antidote to The Road. Now reading The Yiddish Policemen's Union.

Sarah,
World Made by Hand sounds great. I often wonder what it'll be like once the oil is gone and how we will have to be more community-oriented out of necessity. It's now on my To Read List, thanks!

He wrote a non-fiction version first, called The Long Emergency Surviving the End of Oil, Climate Change, and Other Converging Catastrophes of the Twenty-First Century. This is sort of an extrapolation of that book. I enjoyed it with a few caveats (see my review...)

I've thought about the Yiddish Policeman book... (or are there several?) Haven't got it yet.

Just finished Silent In The Grave by Deanna Raybourn. Now reading Mortal Sins. Enjoyed/enjoying both.

I'm reading "The Zookeeper's Wife", which I'm certain will be one of those book's I'll give away many copies of in the future. Excellent!

I just finished up Neverwhere today, and for now I’ll probably stick somewhat to Kindle books for a while because 1. I finally have a Kindle and 2. The books are usually cheaper and take up no space in my already-full library. Probably read some freebie classics from Amazon/Project Gutenburg that I just never got around to reading before.

In March I want to read:
Suicide Collectors
Crown Conspiracy
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Forever War (probably followed by Forever Peace)
Diamond Age (I want so badly to like this book, but I don’t so far. I’m going to try and muddle through.)

Danielle,

I got my K2 this month too. I absolutely love it.

I recently started Job: A Comedy of Justice by Robert Heinlein. It's interesting so far- very different from what I usually read.

I am just over halfway through Wicked The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West. I am drawn in by the grittiness of this glorified fairy tale and fantasy land. It's definitely a complete 180 from the movie The Wizard of Oz.

I just got my copy of The Crown Conspiracy in the mail for April's book club (thanks, Robin), and I'm not sure if I will be able to hold out for another couple of weeks before starting it.

I am going to Florida on Wednesday for a little sun and beach for 4 days, and I will probably need a book to keep me occupied on the plane. I have no clue which of my list of paperbacks that I will bring. I'll get back to you guys. ;)

I am hoping to read:

HP and the Sorcerer's Stone
90 Minutes in Heaven
Five People I Met in Heaven
The Lightning Thief

Perpendicularandi wrote: "I am hoping to read:
The Lightning Thief"

I found this a very fast - fun little read - very YA'ish to be sure, and probably not one of my favorites for YA (it's no Potter for instance) but a very enjoyable read.

I finished up Harbinger of Doom - not really what I was expecting - it's not a "novel" per say more like two "snippets" put together in the same book. The second one "Fallen Angle was certainly better than the first.

I'm reading a lot for me - usually one book at a time but...

Princess Bride - a re-read and enjoying it the second time around
Lightning THief - a quick read - a bit to YA'ish though
Well of Assencion - really good but not getting as much time on this as I would like - I think I'll finish up the first two "easier" reads first.

So far this month (a whole week, wow LOL) I read "Twilight" (I hated it) and started the 4th book in 'The Sharing Knife' series, "Horizon", by Lois McMaster Bujold -- which is, so far, the weakest of the series. I've re-read "Phoenix and Ashes" by Mercedes Lackey and finished "The Princess Bride". My TBR pile is humungous and I don't know what's next. Maybe I'll finally get further than 1 chapter into Mervyn Peake's 'Gormenghast' trilogy.

Shoot, I think that I need to go to Borders and pick up Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I read Elantris and loved it! That would be good beach reading! Or maybe I will take The Dresden Files (1 or 2 books) by Jim Butcher.

Kathy,
I'm thinking about buying Elantris for quite a while now. It's nice to hear you say you loved it. I buy books from Scifi Book Club and there's only a very small 'About the Book'. It's hard to judge if it's a good book or not, if it's something I will like. I've been fooled quite a few time by what sounds like a good premise for a novel and then once bought and read, doesn't meet with my expectations.
Have fun on your trip! I wish I were going with you, beach and book sounds perfect to me!

I"m reading The Ugly Little Boy and Ring Around the Sun

Jackie,
I've not read Elantris - but really enjoyed Mistborn - if that helps at all.

Mistborn is another one that I want to read.

Jackie, I just read the description on The Ugly Little Boy and it sounds really interesting. How are you liking it?

I finished Shadowbridge not too long ago and thought it would have benefited from being in a single volume with its sequel. From where the story left off, I wasn't intrigued enough to read on to Lord Tophet.

Just finished Coraline and what a creepy, inventive tale it is. I enjoyed it.

Now I'm in the early stages of The Man with the Golden Torc. Not sure how I feel about it yet! First person point of view...that always takes me a bit to get into. Basically, the lead is a James Bond of the supernatural world.

I've temporarily given up on [Book: Snow Brother]. I got about thirty pages in and it was miserable. I'm not sure if I wasn't in the right frame of mind or what, but I'm not going to torture myself. So, I just started Melissa Scott's [Book: Burning Bright] today. Anyone ever read it?

I just finished Elantris, and its well worth the read. Equally as good as Mistborn.

Michelle,
I am enjoying The Ugly Little Boy immensely, but I'm partial to Asimov. I haven't ever read anything by him that I didn't really enjoy. I like his style, intelligent and thought-provoking without coming off as superior. A down to earth kind of writing style. Always interesting. The co-author is Robert Silverberg and I've liked this team-up before with Nightfall, one of my all time favorite books.

Thanks, Jackie!

Oddly enough, I still haven't read anything by Asimov yet. Where do you think is a good place to start?

I always like to ask fans which book they'd suggest as the "starter book" from a new-to-me author.

Nightfall sounds good too!

My first Asimov book was Foundation, and I love that book. Though his short story collections are usually engaging too.

His Foundation series is probably his most popular.
Foundation
Foundation and Empire
Second Foundation
Foundation's Edge
Foundation and Earth

Nightfall is a good place to start. Even though it's an easy read, I thought it was an exceptional novel.

Thanks, Jackie & Danielle. I think I'll start with Nightfall and see how it goes. Then, Foundation when I've managed to finish the series I'm currently working on!

I've been patient and waited for my library reserve on Jonathan Carroll's sThe Ghost in Love A Novel to come through, and it finally came yesterday. It's the first Carroll book that I didn't buy as soon as it came out. Sign o' the times. I'm putting everything else aside to read it.

Last week, I read "Gravesight" and today I'm about halfway through "Grave Surprise" -- both by Charlaine Harris. On deck are "Peter Pan" (yes, the play) and Rabelais "Gargantua and Pantagruel." Should keep me busy for a bit.

John wrote: "So, I just started Melissa Scott's Burning Bright today. Anyone ever read it? "

It has probably been a decade since I have read Melissa Scott, but I remember liking her, including "Burning Bright." As I recall, "Trouble and her Friends" was the novel of hers that I most enjoyed.

I am currently reading The Dalriada Trilogy by Jules Watson

It is an historical fantasy series starting with Agricola trying to conquer the Scottish Highlands (Alba) during the late 1st century BCE. The 3rd book jumps 2 centuries during the reign of Valens shortly before the Romans abandon Britain and the chaos of the Dark Ages ensue.

It is a fantasy because of the magic used by the Priestesses (à la the Wiccan Earth Goddess) and the magic used by the Druid priestly class. Except for the Goddess which is pure fantasy and some names of the principals, the books rest on a firm current historical basis.

I did find the 1st Book The White Mare too romantic for my tastes. The last 2 are much better, IMO.

Bill B.

Currently reading, not strictly SF/F:

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (The Borders in my town accidentally shelved it early, so I grabbed a copy. Woot!)

The Inferno by Dante Alighieri

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

I ordered Pride and Prejudice and Zombies!!! Let me know how it is - I'm so jealous you found it early. Enjoy!

I'm jealous Kernos! I've been wanting to read The Dalriada Trilogy for quite some time now. I'm not too big on romance, but as long as it's not overdone and graphic, I can deal with it. In some cases, I even like it. I'm glad it gets better.

I just started Twilight today.

The Man with the Golden Torc was quite good...I'm off to read #2 in the series.

And I, too, want to read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. You know, some people are in quite an uproar over that one. It's proving to make lots of people in literary circles angry!

An excellent follow-up to Dalriada is Juliet Marillier's Bridei Chronicles which is about the resistance of Pictish Scotland to the Christian invasions from the south and from Éire.

Also the Pendragon Cycle by Stephen Lawhead starts after the Romans leave Britain and is about an effort of a group of people in Cornwall/Dobunnii lands to find order in chaos using the Arthurian legend as a basis. I love this series.

All of these are epic historical fantasies and faithful to current historical thinking about this troublesome period.

This Mists of Avalon and its sequels fit in here too, though I consider these pure fantasy with Celtic (Arthurian) subject matter.

Bill B.