What are you reading? - Page 18

fidgit · 1st September 2008, 21:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilk

Oh, and Brian Herbert is the Antichrist and Kevin Anderson is his putrescent, red-eyed hack writing steed.

This really sucks, because on paper (ha), the books they wrote were the ones I was looking forward to the most (Butlerian Jihad especially).

I stuck with Dune 2 (stopped in the middle to re-read The Perks Of Being A Wall Flower), and it got significantly less emo, fortunately.

Might give the sci-fi a rest after this a find a copy of Chuck P.'s new book. I'm keen to see how he manages to throw in a twist-you-can't-see-coming into a porn shoot (my expectation: she's a he.)

Mabd · 1st September 2008, 21:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonas Undrawing

^^ boast post!

MC-505 user manual.

Complete with fishing hook and easy victim.

ilk · 3rd September 2008, 07:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by fidgit

This really sucks, because on paper (ha), the books they wrote were the ones I was looking forward to the most (Butlerian Jihad especially).

I stuck with Dune 2 (stopped in the middle to re-read The Perks Of Being A Wall Flower), and it got significantly less emo, fortunately.

Might give the sci-fi a rest after this a find a copy of Chuck P.'s new book. I'm keen to see how he manages to throw in a twist-you-can't-see-coming into a porn shoot (my expectation: she's a he.)

I know what you mean. I even enjoyed the first prequel book for a while. Kind of like date rape, when you don't know you are being raped until later on in the date.

They are probably alright as stand alone books - but as a continuation of the legacy of a brilliant writer they are abominations.

If you enjoyed Dune check out some more obscure Herbert like the Dosadi Experiment or the Destination: Void books.

Of course this is for after your break from Sci-Fi I guess

On topic - Currently reading: The Adventures and Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes

chiquelet · 6th October 2008, 15:10

Well you all suck at keeping this thread up to date!

Just finished Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. I couldn't figure out how I felt about that book til the end. At first I enjoyed it, then preferred The Virgin Suicides, then thought that it was too similar to I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb) only not as good, then I liked it.....I finished off thinking it was a brilliant book. Stunning character development, well-paced story, and a decent ending. It's in a completely different league to The Virgin Suicides, much more complex (not in a difficult to read way though).

Next up...Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

[Malks] Pixie · 6th October 2008, 15:22

Just finished listening to Cory Doctorow read Bruce Sterlings "The Hacker Crackdown". Fascinating book (decent reading too) - and even though it's quite out of date (being of the early 90's) it's a mesmerising glimpse into where all our current tech has come from.

Pixie

Ajax · 6th October 2008, 15:25

^ I read Hacker Crackdown a few years ago, was quality, would read again.

Jonas Undrawing · 6th October 2008, 15:45

finished the time traveler's wife while in the abel tasman. I highly recommend it. It went from strength to strength in the 2nd half. I started go to bed real early just so i could see what happens next.

eff tee · 6th October 2008, 16:04

Nearly half way through Grapes Of Wrath. Liking it so far.

[Malks] Pixie · 6th October 2008, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajax

^ I read Hacker Crackdown a few years ago, was quality, would read again.

Yeah, I've read it a couple of times, but needed something to listen too whilst doing data entry monkey work...

I'm a pretty big Sterling fan to be honest...

Pixie

ChaosWulf · 6th October 2008, 16:46

Re-reading the Dresden Files. Trash sci-fi/fantasy is a big comfort blanket for me

Asriel · 6th October 2008, 16:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jonas Undrawing

finished the time traveler's wife while in the abel tasman. I highly recommend it. It went from strength to strength in the 2nd half. I started go to bed real early just so i could see what happens next.

My gf made fun of me for reading a 'girls' book, but I thought it was a great story, too.
For fun I am reading City of God, of which the movie is based on, for not so fun I am reading about submarine channels.

chiquelet · 6th October 2008, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by eff tee

Nearly half way through Grapes Of Wrath. Liking it so far.

Good choice, that's really one I should re-read (I read it when I was 15, and I don't think I was able to truly appreciate it back then). I do remember how depressing it was though.

Rince · 6th October 2008, 17:42

Stephen King's Nightmares and Dreamscapes

dylan · 6th October 2008, 17:43

Nice to see some non sci-fi books dominating for a change

eff tee · 6th October 2008, 17:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiquelet

Good choice, that's really one I should re-read (I read it when I was 15, and I don't think I was able to truly appreciate it back then). I do remember how depressing it was though.

Yeah I was like that with The Catcher In The Rye. Read it at college, then re-read it a few months back. Loathed it the second time around though! Everything about it bummed me out.

I've read a couple of Steinbecks, The Red Pony and East of Eden, so I was hoping this would be good. You're right though, depressing as hell.

Golden Teapot · 6th October 2008, 18:10

Kevin Anderson? I've not checked out his Dune work. However, his Saga of Seven Suns opus is superb. Just finished the sixth book. Fantastic stuff really.

And, for a quick interlude I'm now listening to Brisingr.

Yoda · 7th October 2008, 13:23

Peter F Hamilton's second book in his latest trilogy is due out Oct 08, so if anyone spots it or sees a more accurate date...

Saladin · 7th October 2008, 13:35

I'm reading Blind Faith by Ben Elton, been reading for quite a while now, don't seem to get as much reading time as I used to.

Kryten · 22nd October 2008, 13:58

Finished "The Red Wolf Conspiracy" by Robert V.S. Redick last night (having bought it about 4 months ago) - generally quite competent, especially for a first novel. If you're looking for some "light" fantasy then it'd be worth a library rental at least (the time it's taken me to complete it is not a reflection of the books quality).

And today I notice that there's new Michael Connelly and Dennis Lehane books out, on top of my wanting to make a start on Charlie Huston's vampire books. Thankfully, I remembered my rather epic backlog and the threat to my wallet has receded back to more normal levels. Bring on the holiday's so I can make some real inroads into what I already have sitting in my bookshelf.

BillHague · 22nd October 2008, 14:15

I finally got around to reading the Count of Monte Cristo.

Took me ages to get the time to read it (it's a reasonably large book), but very glad I did. One of the better books I've ever read.

Every movie adaptation I've seen doesn't come close to doing it justice.

Ajax · 22nd October 2008, 14:38

I'm reading a collection of short stories by Ray Bradbury, 'The Golden Apples of the Sun.'
Few writers really impress me the way Bradbury does. I'm in awe of his talent.

_Incubus_ · 22nd October 2008, 15:35

I'm reading some more new new Dune...Paul of Dune. Its not as painful as the new dune's House Atredies etc etc but its like driving past a car crash, I just cant not look...

[Malks] Pixie · 22nd October 2008, 15:53

I'm waiting for my partner to finish the new Neal Stephenson book "Anathem"...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anathem

Very interested in the links to the Long Now Foundation - I'm a big fan of their lecture series...

Pixie

Draco T Bastard · 22nd October 2008, 17:58

Murray Leinster

About 50 years old but still a good read. You can feel the pro-capitalism/anti-communism coming through that you would expect of that time in the US. Interestingly enough he has a book where he almost sets up a working communist society but backs away from doing so.

He's also guilty of one of the worst crimes in sci-fi writing

"several times the speed of light"
"1 light year per hour"
"30 times the speed of light"

All referring to the same ship traveling the same distance in the same time and spoken of in that order. FFS, It's basic math. BTW, 1 light year/hour is ~8766 times the speed of light and the sort of speed you would want for interstellar travel.

LordP · 22nd October 2008, 19:27

Oooh, Pixie ... let us know how it reads, that's next on my list.

Just about to start The Temporal Void (Peter F Hamilton, second of the Void trilogy)

Yoda · 22nd October 2008, 20:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordP

Oooh, Pixie ... let us know how it reads, that's next on my list.

Just about to start The Temporal Void (Peter F Hamilton, second of the Void trilogy)

Oi!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoda

Peter F Hamilton's second book in his latest trilogy is due out Oct 08, so if anyone spots it or sees a more accurate date...

I just checked Whitcoulls today, and UBS hasn't rung to say they've got it yet... please don't say Borders have it, there isn't one in Dunedin.

crocos · 22nd October 2008, 20:51

Available on the newsgroups...

Phantom · 22nd October 2008, 21:11

It's out in the UK but not in the US - US has a release date of March, which fucks me off because i get my books via ereader which are, of course, American.

Sigh.

LordP · 22nd October 2008, 21:15

Borders is bound to have one, but uh, I didn't get a physical copy... *cough*

I'll have a look around tomorrow lunch time though, see where it's at.

chiquelet · 23rd October 2008, 12:50

Doing my brain and my history degrees a favour and reading a non-fiction book for a change, Kosovo Crossing: American Ideals Meet Reality on the Balkan Battlefields, by David Fromkin (Professor of History and Int Relations at Boston University). An interesting read so far, and is making me realise that I really need to read more non-fiction.

After that will be On Beauty by Zadie Smith, then back to the Harry Potter series (Order of the Phoenix, book 5).

LordP · 23rd October 2008, 14:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordP

I'll have a look around tomorrow lunch time though, see where it's at.

Right, both Borders and a local store (Arty Bees FTW) both claim early to mid November for actual copies. I suspect the other major stores will be similar.

Kryten · 17th November 2008, 16:10

Just finished Charlie Huston's "Already Dead" - easily the best vampire story I've ever read. The premise is that Joe Pitt is a vampire, unaffiliated with any of the clans who have divided up Manhattan island and he ends up doing all of the dirty work for the clans when they need an outsider to get things done. Shit goes down in a major way, violence and mayhem results. Recommended (but not for the squeamish, there's a fair amount of not-kid-friendly stuff included).

He's also written a few more conventional detective books as well, as soon as I can find them I'm snapping those up as well.

Fred · 17th November 2008, 16:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kryten

Just finished Charlie Huston's "Already Dead" - easily the best vampire story I've ever read. The premise is that Joe Pitt is a vampire, unaffiliated with any of the clans who have divided up Manhattan island and he ends up doing all of the dirty work for the clans when they need an outsider to get things done. Shit goes down in a major way, violence and mayhem results. Recommended (but not for the squeamish, there's a fair amount of not-kid-friendly stuff included).

He's also written a few more conventional detective books as well, as soon as I can find them I'm snapping those up as well.

They had an interview with him over on the Dragon Page podcast, sounded like he was a fairly clued up writer who had a novel take on the whole vampire thing. Here is the link for the interested :-

http://www.dragonpage.com/2008/11/03...to-cover-334a/

He is talking about his fourth Joe Pitt book in it.

Fred · 17th November 2008, 16:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yoda

I just checked Whitcoulls today, and UBS hasn't rung to say they've got it yet... please don't say Borders have it, there isn't one in Dunedin.

Whitcoulls has this out now in Trade Paperback form. Got my copy sitting at home waiting for me to have time to read it. (Too many games to play right now!)

Yoda · 17th November 2008, 16:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fred

Whitcoulls has this out now in Trade Paperback form. Got my copy sitting at home waiting for me to have time to read it. (Too many games to play right now!)

Thanks - got a copy last Thur from UBS Dunedin, forgot about my post here.

Unfortunately I read the first 20 pages and decided that due to the lack of books I have to read at the moment, and not being able to remember enough of the prequel, I'm reading the first book again.

I should have just started on the first one again and waited to buy it.

[Malks] Pixie · 17th November 2008, 17:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordP

Oooh, Pixie ... let us know how it reads, that's next on my list.

Re : Anathem - I decided to wait a bit before picking it up - technically I should finish the system of the world series first - lent it too a friend in the mean time, I'm thinking it'll be a good one for the christmas break.

So instead I'm currently reading, "Night Thoughts of a Classical Physicist " by Russell McCormmach. It was the reading material for a history of science course I've been listening to the podcasts of - really enjoying it, a bit "undefined" in it's structure but a great read if you enjoy the science side of things.

Quote:

Night Thoughts is an interdisciplinary adventure, designed to entice the reluctant general reader into the unfamiliar terrain of physics; to lure the wary specialist out of the laboratory and away from the blackboard, into the world of fantasy...[McCormmach's] prose acquires an emotional breadth and intellectual depth seldom achieved by the novelist...An innovative and often lyrical book, written with a physicist's precision and a poet's intensity.

Pixie

[BT]MikeMan · 17th November 2008, 17:51

Just picked up Without Warning by John Birmingham at lunchtime.

I liked his Alternate Timeline WW2 books so decided to give this a go.

Axident · 17th November 2008, 20:47

The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway.

Reads a little like Neal Stephenson in his earlier books: with the same full-on, textured prose and over-the-top metaphors. Enjoyable book that kept me going for a couple of days.

Phantom · 18th November 2008, 12:48

Last 100 pages of the new Peter F. Hamilton - great book! Great series! Great scott, at least a year to go until the next one >_<

Baal · 18th November 2008, 13:02

Is that The Temporal Void? Can't wait to read it.

6th October 2008, 17:42	#693
Rince SLUTS!!!!!!!	Stephen King's Nightmares and Dreamscapes __________________ Slow internet is worse than no internet. It's like putting your penis in once and then being required to make out for 2 hours --Matt "The Oatmeal" Inman

22nd October 2008, 21:11	#708
Phantom May contain nuts	It's out in the UK but not in the US - US has a release date of March, which fucks me off because i get my books via ereader which are, of course, American. Sigh. __________________ omgwtf

18th November 2008, 12:48	#719
Phantom May contain nuts	Last 100 pages of the new Peter F. Hamilton - great book! Great series! Great scott, at least a year to go until the next one >_< __________________ omgwtf

6th October 2008, 15:10	#684
chiquelet Mrs Colin Farrell	Well you all suck at keeping this thread up to date! Just finished Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides. I couldn't figure out how I felt about that book til the end. At first I enjoyed it, then preferred The Virgin Suicides, then thought that it was too similar to I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb) only not as good, then I liked it.....I finished off thinking it was a brilliant book. Stunning character development, well-paced story, and a decent ending. It's in a completely different league to The Virgin Suicides, much more complex (not in a difficult to read way though). Next up...Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

6th October 2008, 15:22	#685
[Malks] Pixie	Just finished listening to Cory Doctorow read Bruce Sterlings "The Hacker Crackdown". Fascinating book (decent reading too) - and even though it's quite out of date (being of the early 90's) it's a mesmerising glimpse into where all our current tech has come from. Pixie __________________ Civilised is as civilised does and civilised people walk among us.

6th October 2008, 15:25	#686
Ajax Architeuthis	^ I read Hacker Crackdown a few years ago, was quality, would read again.

6th October 2008, 15:45	#687
Jonas Undrawing	finished the time traveler's wife while in the abel tasman. I highly recommend it. It went from strength to strength in the 2nd half. I started go to bed real early just so i could see what happens next.

6th October 2008, 16:04	#688
eff tee	Nearly half way through Grapes Of Wrath. Liking it so far.

6th October 2008, 16:46	#690
ChaosWulf Don't worry, be harpy	Re-reading the Dresden Files. Trash sci-fi/fantasy is a big comfort blanket for me

6th October 2008, 17:43	#694
dylan Huh?	Nice to see some non sci-fi books dominating for a change

6th October 2008, 18:10	#696
Golden Teapot Love, Actuary	Kevin Anderson? I've not checked out his Dune work. However, his Saga of Seven Suns opus is superb. Just finished the sixth book. Fantastic stuff really. And, for a quick interlude I'm now listening to Brisingr.

7th October 2008, 13:23	#697
Yoda	Peter F Hamilton's second book in his latest trilogy is due out Oct 08, so if anyone spots it or sees a more accurate date...

7th October 2008, 13:35	#698
Saladin Nothing to See Here!	I'm reading Blind Faith by Ben Elton, been reading for quite a while now, don't seem to get as much reading time as I used to.

22nd October 2008, 13:58	#699
Kryten	Finally knocked one off.... Finished "The Red Wolf Conspiracy" by Robert V.S. Redick last night (having bought it about 4 months ago) - generally quite competent, especially for a first novel. If you're looking for some "light" fantasy then it'd be worth a library rental at least (the time it's taken me to complete it is not a reflection of the books quality). And today I notice that there's new Michael Connelly and Dennis Lehane books out, on top of my wanting to make a start on Charlie Huston's vampire books. Thankfully, I remembered my rather epic backlog and the threat to my wallet has receded back to more normal levels. Bring on the holiday's so I can make some real inroads into what I already have sitting in my bookshelf.

22nd October 2008, 14:15	#700
BillHague	I finally got around to reading the Count of Monte Cristo. Took me ages to get the time to read it (it's a reasonably large book), but very glad I did. One of the better books I've ever read. Every movie adaptation I've seen doesn't come close to doing it justice.

22nd October 2008, 14:38	#701
Ajax Architeuthis	I'm reading a collection of short stories by Ray Bradbury, 'The Golden Apples of the Sun.' Few writers really impress me the way Bradbury does. I'm in awe of his talent.

22nd October 2008, 15:35	#702
_Incubus_	I'm reading some more new new Dune...Paul of Dune. Its not as painful as the new dune's House Atredies etc etc but its like driving past a car crash, I just cant not look...

22nd October 2008, 15:53	#703
[Malks] Pixie	I'm waiting for my partner to finish the new Neal Stephenson book "Anathem"... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anathem Very interested in the links to the Long Now Foundation - I'm a big fan of their lecture series... Pixie __________________ Civilised is as civilised does and civilised people walk among us.

22nd October 2008, 17:58	#704
Draco T Bastard	Murray Leinster About 50 years old but still a good read. You can feel the pro-capitalism/anti-communism coming through that you would expect of that time in the US. Interestingly enough he has a book where he almost sets up a working communist society but backs away from doing so. He's also guilty of one of the worst crimes in sci-fi writing "several times the speed of light" "1 light year per hour" "30 times the speed of light" All referring to the same ship traveling the same distance in the same time and spoken of in that order. FFS, It's basic math. BTW, 1 light year/hour is ~8766 times the speed of light and the sort of speed you would want for interstellar travel. __________________ Cheers Draco T Bastard

22nd October 2008, 19:27	#705
LordP	Oooh, Pixie ... let us know how it reads, that's next on my list. Just about to start The Temporal Void (Peter F Hamilton, second of the Void trilogy) __________________ "Nothing is so smiple that it can't be screwed up."

22nd October 2008, 20:51	#707
crocos	Available on the newsgroups... __________________ Ξ √ Ω L U T ↑ ☼ N وكل يوم كنت تعيش في العبودية

22nd October 2008, 21:15	#709
LordP	Borders is bound to have one, but uh, I didn't get a physical copy... cough I'll have a look around tomorrow lunch time though, see where it's at. __________________ "Nothing is so smiple that it can't be screwed up."

23rd October 2008, 12:50	#710
chiquelet Mrs Colin Farrell	Doing my brain and my history degrees a favour and reading a non-fiction book for a change, Kosovo Crossing: American Ideals Meet Reality on the Balkan Battlefields, by David Fromkin (Professor of History and Int Relations at Boston University). An interesting read so far, and is making me realise that I really need to read more non-fiction. After that will be On Beauty by Zadie Smith, then back to the Harry Potter series (Order of the Phoenix, book 5).

17th November 2008, 16:10	#712
Kryten	Just finished Charlie Huston's "Already Dead" - easily the best vampire story I've ever read. The premise is that Joe Pitt is a vampire, unaffiliated with any of the clans who have divided up Manhattan island and he ends up doing all of the dirty work for the clans when they need an outsider to get things done. Shit goes down in a major way, violence and mayhem results. Recommended (but not for the squeamish, there's a fair amount of not-kid-friendly stuff included). He's also written a few more conventional detective books as well, as soon as I can find them I'm snapping those up as well.

17th November 2008, 17:51	#717
[BT]MikeMan	Just picked up Without Warning by John Birmingham at lunchtime. I liked his Alternate Timeline WW2 books so decided to give this a go.

17th November 2008, 20:47	#718
Axident	The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway. Reads a little like Neal Stephenson in his earlier books: with the same full-on, textured prose and over-the-top metaphors. Enjoyable book that kept me going for a couple of days. __________________ Aperture Science: We do what we must, because we can.

18th November 2008, 13:02	#720
Baal	Is that The Temporal Void? Can't wait to read it.