Super September - What literary offering are you currently reading?

[dustinzgirl]

Since when did Sun-Tzu write about marketing?

LOL

Advertising War needs rules of engagement too!

 

[GOLLUM]

Just completed my re-read of Michael Swanwick's Iron Dragon's Daughter. A remarkable Dickensian-style novel that cannot be easily categorized although is certainly part steam-punk come urban fantasy. A very refreshing work and in some ways quite courageous, about as anti-trope as you can get.

Now finally onto Matthew Pearl's Dante Club. (I can hear the cat purring from here.. )

 

[purple_kathryn]

3 pages already!

I will be finishing Death Masks (Dresden files), reading the next Artemis Fowl (the lost colony) and then hopefully onto the rest of Spellsinger!

 

[kyektulu]

Im currently reading: The Book Of The Bitch...

Dont worry its a dog training handbook... lol

 

[Milena]

Charles Palliser's 'Betrayals' - takes the form of 10 short stories, apparantly unconnected, but which slowly link to totally mess with the whole murder mystery genre. The first story opens with a group of victorian stock character worthies (elderly lady, clerical gent, army major, young lady) who, while trapped in a train halted due to a snow storm tell stories which become the recurring themes of the rest of the book. Challenging; and I don't yet know how it ends...
Also re-reading Heinlein's "Stranger in a Strange Land", which now seems like an almost charming period-piece. Can anyone suggest current writers who might still seem fresh and orginal 50 years on?

 

[nixie]

To the Devil a Daughter, Dennis Wheatley

 

[j d worthington]

Ummm. One possibility (avoiding being charming period pieces, for the main part, because of the edge they have) would be to find C. M. Kornbluth's His Share of Glory, his collected short stories. Quite a few of those are incisive enough to make the modern cynic look like Pollyanna; and at other times he can be quite moving. Several pieces by Kuttner and Moore have something of the period feel, but that's because they capture their period so well, yet they remain easily readable, transcending that period in their concerns. I'd especially recommend "Mimsey Were the Borogoves", "The Children's Hour" and especially "Vintage Season".

 

[jackokent]

Peter Hamilton's - Pandora's star.

I'm on page 830 something and am wondering if I'm going to come across a character I like ever. This is worying as the sequals look equally as huge.

 

[iansales]

I've now finished Steven Erikson's Gardens of the Moon. Someone--I think it was Gollum--said they'd be interested in what I thought. So...

First of all, the book has a very steep learning curve--200 pages in, and I still wasn't sure who was who or what was what. Even by the end, there's a lot left unexplained. (The glossary and dramatis personae are next to useless.) If I hadn't known that the book's setting was originally designed for a role-playing game, I think I could have guessed. There was something random and not all that convincing about Genebackis' geography and the names of the characters. Also, the frequent lapses of the prose and dialogue into cod mediaeval English were annoying. Erickson's writing was its best when he wasn't trying too hard. And as for the Random Fantasy Apostrophe... They should be banned. In fact, I think I shall start a movement here and now: the Anti Fantasy Apostrophe League. Fight the Apostrophe! -))

On the plus side... Erikson's plotting was impressive. Some of the characters were nicely drawn (the ones where he didn't use too broad a brush, like he did with Kruppe). The magic, bizarrely, seemed entirely destructive, just another order of weaponry. Which made for an interesting change (if a bit one-dimensional). The system itself was nicely different too.

Will I get the rest of the books and read them? Not right now, I think. I have too many books on the To Be Read pile already. But should that ever get down to more manageable levels, then yes, I might well try the rest of the Malazan series.

But next to read... I haven't quite decided yet. Possible Warring States, Susan Matthews' latest Jurisdiction novel. Or maybe Keith Brooke's Genetopia...

 

[Karsa Orlong]

Keep in mind that Gardens of the Moon is almost unanimously seen as Erikson's worst book by quite a way. Whilst still a very strong book as far as I'm concerned, it does have the feel of a new writer - later books are more accomplished in virtually every department; more vivid atmosphere, greater emotional power, a more richly realised mythology to work upon, more intelligence, largely better characterisation, more effectively structured plotlines, a better developed instinct for tragedy and mystery both, the list goes on.

Still, I think one thing that's generally understated by Erikson fans promoting his work is just how different its appeal often is. For me, it took time to *click*, in fact that didn't happen until the end of the second book for me and obviously since then he's become one of my absolute favourite authors. I urge you to make reading more of his stuff a priority!

 

[j d worthington]

Well, after the last couple of very wonky months, I'm going back to finish reading Donald R. Burleson's Lovecraft: Disturbing the Universe, then on to pick up and finish Washington Irving's Bracebridge Hall and Wolfert's Roost... and probably tackling Fudoki in there, as well, as it sounds very intriguing.

 

[GOLLUM]

I have to go along with Karsa on this one Iansales. GOTM is the entree to a wondeful main course, especially realised in the next 2 books. Do check out the remaining series and prepare to be blown away! The difference in quality b/w Books 1 and 2 went up almost exponentially, at least for me.

As far as following things go. it's the most complex Fantasy book I've ever read and a common point amongst readers is that learning curve. However by probably Book 3 you have a decent handle on things and it does get a lot easier to follow in general.

In all the fantasy old and new I've read this stands out as the best series I've personally come across. At least for EPIC fantasy, as good as authors like Bakker and Martin are.

Interesting comments on the random apostrophe...

 

[Nesacat]

Just finished The Innsmouth Cycle and Tales Out Of Innsmouth edited by Robert M. price. Currently reading China Mieville's King Rat.

 

[Rosemary]

To the Devil a Daughter, Dennis Wheatley

My father used to read a lot of his books...I must check and see if my mother has kept any of them. They will make a change to what I have been reading of late.

Just started to re-read A Time of Exile by Katherine Kerr.

 

[iansales]

I have to go along with Karsa on this one Iansales. GOTM is the entree to a wondeful main course, especially realised in the next 2 books. Do check out the remaining series and prepare to be blown away! The difference in quality b/w Books 1 and 2 went up almost exponentially, at least for me.

Obviously, the cumulative nature of an epic fantasy series means the books are going to build to a greater story than is apparent from any one individual novel (and especially the first in the series)... but I remember both The Wheel of Time and A Song of Ice and Fire being more immediately accessible, and interesting enough to encourage me to read the next book in the series. I didn't get that from Erikson. GOTM read in part like a write-up of a long and hideously-complicated fantasy RPG campaign, in which the players (and thus the intended readership) knew what all the various references meant.

At the moment, I have too many books by authors I *do* like that I want to read. So I'd sooner read them than plough on with Erikson. But, like I said, perhaps some time in the future I might return to the series...

 

[Stenevor]

Just finished Use of Weapons - Iain M Banks which was excellent. Along with The Wasp Factory my favourite book of his so far. Now reading American Gods - Neil Gaiman. Half way through and not sure about this one really, I'm indifferent towards the main character and it all seems a bit disjointed. Its readable enough though and entertaining in parts.

 

[Jason_Taverner]

Iansales read deadhouse gates please I'll send you my copy if thats what it takes, then decide if you want to quit the series, honestly its worth it. For the record I loved GOTM

 

[Finnien]

But next to read... I haven't quite decided yet. Possible Warring States, Susan Matthews' latest Jurisdiction novel. Or maybe Keith Brooke's Genetopia...

How are the Jurisdiction novels? Last weekend I was at WorldCon and spent a good deal of time at a group of Liaden fans, and the second night there was the Meisha Merlin anniversary party in the same room, so I ended up talking to Steve Pagel for a good portion of the evening... and he'd brought a poster with the cover art to Warring States with him, so I was staring at it for half the evening. I picked up half a dozen different books, but not that one... would you recommend the Jurisdiction novels, and if so, where should I start?

I personally just started Applied Mythology by Jody Lynn Nye, and am considering the Kedrigern Chronicles by John Morressy next.

 

[littlemissattitude]

Just finished Three Days to Never, by Tim Powers. Hope to have a review up in a day or two.

 

[iansales]

How are the Jurisdiction novels? Last weekend I was at WorldCon and spent a good deal of time at a group of Liaden fans, and the second night there was the Meisha Merlin anniversary party in the same room, so I ended up talking to Steve Pagel for a good portion of the evening... and he'd brought a poster with the cover art to Warring States with him, so I was staring at it for half the evening. I picked up half a dozen different books, but not that one... would you recommend the Jurisdiction novels, and if so, where should I start?

Yes, I can recommend the Jursidiction novels. I've been reading them since the first one was published. It's probably best to read them in order of publication: An Exchange of Hostages, Hour of Judgement, Prisoner of Conscience, Angel of Destruction, The Devil and Deep Space, Warring States... Avalanche Soldier and Colony Fleet are entirely unrelated novels.