April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Reading

[murphy]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Reading When The Tide Rises by David Drake. A pretty good space opera featuring Daniel O'Leary/Adele Mundy.

 

[ravenus]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Just started off on this. It has the customary enthusiastic foreword by Dawkins and the first few essays are decent, although I'm hoping there's a little more hardcore stuff that what I've come across thus far.

 

[Razorback]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Finished The Songs of Distant Earth, by Arthur C. Clarke. I really enjoyed this one. I’d forgotten how enjoyable his writing was. He conveys interesting images and ideas in a way that’s easy to read and digest. His writing really flows. The final line was particularly poignant given his recent passing.

One day the pain would be gone, but never the memory.
​

I rate this one an 8 on a 10 scale.

 

[Rosemary]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Having trouble getting into Cecilia Dart Thornton's The Ill-Made Mute at the moment, so I'm moving on to Terry Pratchett's Feet of Clay instead.

I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble with The Ill-Made Mute. Is there anything in particular that you don't like Talysia?

I'm now halfway through re-reading Reaper's Gale by Erikson. Two of my favourite characters have returned.

There is still no sign in the bookshop of Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie Will have to get it ordered in.

 

[murphy]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble with The Ill-Made Mute. Is there anything in particular that you don't like Talysia?

I'm now halfway through re-reading Reaper's Gale by Erikson. Two of my favourite characters have returned.

There is still no sign in the bookshop of Last Argument of Kings by Joe Abercrombie Will have to get it ordered in.

On the Dart-Thorton books, I didn't particularly like them either.


On the Abercrombie book, I'd loan you mine, but you're so far away.

 

[Talysia]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

I'm sorry to hear you are having trouble with The Ill-Made Mute. Is there anything in particular that you don't like Talysia?

Perhaps it's just me (or rather, the way I'm feeling at the moment) but I found it difficult to get into. I'm finding the writing style a little off-putting, too, although the premise sounds good. I don't have to get it back to the library for a while yet, so I might be giving it another try soon.

 

[steve bolger]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

I'm re-reading Black Moon by David Gemell. and Bonehunters by Steven Erickson.Really enjoying both!

 

[Taltos]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Finished Stross The Attrocity Archives and The Concrete Jungle - that were under the same covers - these were a lot more serious and darker stories than the Jennifer Morgue I read earlier. Stross after word was also nice - explaining why and how he wrote them.
Now for some really easy reading - Johnatan Stroud The Golem's Eye and then Ptolemy's Gate - as I never finished these last summer.

 

[gully_foyle]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Just finished Hyperion by Dan Simmons. I might comment on its review thread. Anyhoo, now I am reading Fountains of Paradise by Arthur C Clarke, may he rest in space.

 

[DeepThought]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Finished David Gemmell's Legend. Can't believe I overlooked this author for such a long time. Though no literary masterpiece (it doesn't try to be) Gemmell spins a pretty decent yarn with exquisite detail in only one single standalone 350 page novel than any 1500 page door-stopper Tolkien-ripoff...This is a very rare read for me, a breath of fresh air, looking forward to read more of this author. Thanks again Conn for the recommendation.

Now starting Rendezvous with Rama by Author C. Clarke.

Cheers, DeepThought

 

[Connavar]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Finished David Gemmell's Legend. Can't believe I overlooked this author for such a long time. Though no literary masterpiece (it doesn't try to be) Gemmell spins a pretty decent yarn with exquisite detail in only one single standalone 350 page novel than any 1500 page door-stopper Tolkien-ripoff...This is a very rare read for me, a breath of fresh air, looking forward to read more of this author. Thanks again Conn for the recommendation.

Now starting Rendezvous with Rama by Author C. Clarke.

Cheers, DeepThought

Legend is a fantasy classic for that reason. Its not his best written book but one of his most emotional and character writing wise great one.

Did you like Druss,Bowman,Rek,The Thirty ? Those guys brought so many emotions from me that i felt empty after the epilouge.

What did you like most ? You can tell me in Legend thread so not spoil in here.

 

[Shingetsu]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

These kinds of threads are too evil for me. I have to keep track of what I've all read. Good thing it's early in the month. So far:

Small Favor by Jim Butcher
Wrath of a Mad God by Raymond E. Feist (would have been done end of last month, but other books got in the way ^)
Something From The Nightside by Simon R. Green
Agents of Light and Darkness by Simon R. Green

Uh, I think that's it for now. Probably be a dozen more by the end of the month.

 

[chopper]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

"The Greeks: Their Life & Customs", by E Guhl & W Koner. An impulse buy from Oxfam, but one which promises to help add some flavour in the New Project. Looks like an on-the-cheap reprint of a much older work.

"To Green Angel Tower: Storm", by Tad Williams. Re-reading another Oxfam bargain and wondering at the sheer wordiness of it all. Everybody moans a lot, everybody gets hit on the head a lot.

Next up? Possibly Erikson's "Midnight Tides" or Hamilton's "Dreaming Void" (started, but not really got into it yet). Or else going for something completely different - "Those Feet", by David Winner.

s

 

[Rothgar]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Fool's Errand - Robin Hobb

 

[murphy]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

House of Cards by C. E. Murphy. Gargoyles, Vampires, Dragons & Selkies in N.Y. city.

 

[Talysia]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Moving on to Terry Pratchett's Jingo.

 

[ravenus]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

I recall Jingo being one of the inferior DW books, it had a very by-the-numbers kind of plotting and not much fun.

 

[Wybren]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

I have just finished "The Subtle Knife" By Philip Pullman and am about to start " The Amber Spyglass" I picked up Anansi Boys yesterday at a flee market so I will probably read that too this month.

 

[Montero]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Just finished Sheri S Tepper "The Margarets" which was excellent - turned out to be a follow on from "The Companions" which I hadn't realised before I started reading it.

For a complete change of pace, just started Ian Banks "Raw Spirit: In Search of the Perfect Dram"

Thanks to the library have various others piled up including Lindsey Davis latest Roman detective story - Saturnalia

 

[Connavar]

Re: April's Astonishing, Astounding (and Sometimes Overpowering) Adventures in Readin

Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

A very good supernatural thriller. I think of as a witty Dead Zone. Koontz is very good,and full humor,wit. Very impressing writer.

Im happy to have tried this book and this author.

I saw the book by pure chance when i was passing the shelf for award nom/winnings books in the library and the name captured me.