December's Delights in Reading

[gully_foyle]

Ummm. Finished Player Piano by Kurt Vonnegut. If you like his work and have not read it, then get it and read it, if only for the irony of the ending. A worthy rival of 1984.

Now reading The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons. When I read Hyperion I was not aware that I was only reading the first installment of a series (sorry, 'Cantos'). So I was pretty ticked off when it ended the way it did. So I saw this one for a gold coin at an op shop and thought I better find out what happens to the wayfarers. And he does the atmosphere and scary bits pretty well. The Shrike, so far, has been one mean mother(insert word of choice here).

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

I finished The Two Towers last night, and began The Return of the King. I have to say I am really enjoying rereading LOTR.

 

[AE35Unit]

I think tetralogy would equal a quartet - a quintet is a pentalogy, I guess. I just picked up all five books but you'll probably beat me to it, as I'm in the middle of a largish anthology and have others to get to between then. Still, I hope we enjoy them.

Ah so the Pnume is the one i need to find!

 

[J-Sun]

Yeah, The Pnume is book four. And I meant I got all "four" books, but I guess that came through.

 

[Rosemary]

Finally finished reading Toll The Hounds. Must admit I don't think it is one of Eriksons best in the series.

Just started Brisingr by Paolini. A good synopsis about the two previous books which was very handy, seeing as the last book came out ages ago.

 

[Beamer]

I seem to be in a fantasy phase at the moment, just finished the 3 books of the "The Deed of Paksenarrion" set by Elizabeth Moon and currently reading Liar's Oath based in the same world but different main character.

 

[The Procrastinator]

Rocketing along in full swashbuckling mode with Moorcock's History of the Runestaff. Reminds me of the days when a fat fantasy or scifi was the exception rather than the rule...these books are slim and svelte with not much wasted. Late sixties. First published when I was a lovely little baby.

 

[Taltos]

Bullying is quite typical for school environments. It's something that we all can relate to and gives us another cause to root for Tavi and his friends. I'd be more surpized if everyone was nice and polite to each other.

If it's usual - it doesn't have to be in the book. And as I mentioned earlier - the beginning seemed to be cliched, but as the story continued it branched out and was very enjoyable.

Yes, but did you read another books where this difference puts him at a disadvantage?

Pug in Feist Magician (ok, not complete match, but still) as I wrote (I hope), the farmboy, who is different from the surroundings is the cliche not the exact difference.

Well, he still writes faster than Martin

I won't argue with that - thankfully I'm not interested in Martin

 

[Taltos]

A double post to report that I'm currently reading Stross Halting State - which starts with a bank robbery (in Scotland) by 40 orcs and a dragon for firepower - very nice concepts, but used terminology definitely needs some computer\programming knowledge.

 

[Brett Howell]

Just finished Standard of Honor by Jack Whyte. Highly disappointing sequel to Knights of the Black and White.

I'm about to start my new book, but I'm torn between the Peace and War Omnibus edition by Joe Haldeman or starting The Book of the New Sun: The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe.
Has anyone read them and could way in on which I should go with first?

 

[kale]

Brett, I'd appreciate an heads up on the Gene Wolfe Series; if you start it that is. I got a little disillusioned by the language. Whether that's a lack of patience or intelligence I've yet to decide.

 

[Ian Whates]

but used terminology definitely needs some computer\programming knowledge.

Ooh... Don't let Charlie hear you saying that, Taltos, since IT is very much his specialist field.

 

[Connavar]

I finished reading The Guards by Ken Bruen. An ultra Irish Noir book that was a nice surprise. I bought the book only on recommendation by the guy in my bookstore cause i needed good euro crime that wasnt just another brit. The slang the book was mostly written thrilled me. Nothing is better to get away from american crime books with a book full of words like Eejit,********,Garda,wan,bettys

Its set in Galway and as the title says its about an ex-policeman called Jack Taylor. An alcholic who cant seem to beat his demon in the bottle. Really interesting that the booze isnt a cool thing like most crime specially noir books but the weakness of the main character.

I kept thinking of a modern version of Jim Thompson in the hole book with the really bleak story and dark characters funny enough Thompson and his famous The Killer Inside me was mentioned by a character in the book.

The best thing was the writing style and the dark humor that made me laugh several times. A literary talented Noir writer is really rare.

 

[j d worthington]

Still sticking largely to shorter pieces, but managed to finish the reread of Merritt's The Moon Pool, and I think I enjoyed it more broken up into smaller bits this way, oddly enough. Am currently reading the Hippocampus edition of The Metal Monster, which restores (for the first time) the material Merritt cut out from the original magazine publication in the teens (over twenty percent of the novel)... and I think his cuts were a mistake. I've always had trouble with this particular Merritt, but this version is much more poetic, and the concepts and imagery absolutely breathtaking. The characters are definitely overshadowed by the theme and the phenomena, but in this case, I think that's all to the good, as it reinforces the alienness of the whole thing. Also, this version really does emphasize the weird aspects of this novel, both as eeriness and full of awe....

 

[J-Sun]

Just finished Standard of Honor by Jack Whyte. Highly disappointing sequel to Knights of the Black and White.

I'm about to start my new book, but I'm torn between the Peace and War Omnibus edition by Joe Haldeman or starting The Book of the New Sun: The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe.
Has anyone read them and could way in on which I should go with first?

I may not be the best person to say, since I really can't stand Wolfe, but I'd recommend the Haldeman. I haven't read Forever Free, but The Forever War is superb and Forever Peace is fairly well-done and at least interesting.

I'm not familiar with Whyte - why were you unhappy with it? That might affect your decision for a follow-up. For instance, if it wasn't dull and turgid enough, perhaps the Wolfe would be just the thing. But if it was too much so, then you'd definitely want a change of pace with the Haldeman.

 

[Kettricken]

Finished Orson Scott Card's 'Children of the Mind' yesterday night. It's not a bad book, but it was dragging along in bits, with too much spiritual/philosophical bantering. I don't mind philosophy at all, but it's in this case not embedded in a great story (e.g. 'Speaker for the Dead' in the same series). A bit of a shame, after the great first two books of the series.

Almost finished in 'Gardens of the Moon', the pace is extremely high, lots of exciting stuff happening. Yes, a new Malazan fan here!

'On Stranger Tides' by Tim Powers and 'The Privilege of the Sword' by Ellen Kushner are next on the pile!

 

[Connavar]

I Am Legend by Richard Masterson.

 

[Taltos]

Ooh... Don't let Charlie hear you saying that, Taltos, since IT is very much his specialist field.

Well, it shows ... at some points you have to re-read the sentences to understand what he is actually saying, still I'm immensely enjoying this book.

 

[Brett Howell]

I may not be the best person to say, since I really can't stand Wolfe, but I'd recommend the Haldeman. I haven't read Forever Free, but The Forever War is superb and Forever Peace is fairly well-done and at least interesting.

I'm not familiar with Whyte - why were you unhappy with it? That might affect your decision for a follow-up. For instance, if it wasn't dull and turgid enough, perhaps the Wolfe would be just the thing. But if it was too much so, then you'd definitely want a change of pace with the Haldeman.

Thanks guys, I've decided to go with Wolfe first - just because I'm curious about the language etc

As for Whyte. Standard of Honor was more like a history lesson than a fiction book. You weren't given enough time to grow attached to characters and the main character at any given time seemed randomly chosen. The dialogue was sparse compared to long ramblings on the history of this and that, and the dialogue that Was there were long winded lectures.
Then there also seemed to be inconsistencies in places. . . knowledge that Andre had found out earlier in the book, was suddenly a shock later on when it was explained to him again.
Important parts of the story seemed glossed over and rushed, while unimportant information received pages worth of attention.
Most disappointing was the rather convenient excuse for a character missing out on the major battle. When I went back and re-read that section, the reason given for his actions was transparent and lacked any sort of logic. . . Whyte just used it as a way to keep his character alive, when a author more willing to follow his character, would have let him die in the battle as he rightly should have.

Ok, so that rant went on a little longer than I thought it would, but yes, I was rather disappointed with the book. Though I Will attempt to read the final book in the trilogy because I hate investing time in books to not finish them. Hopefully the last book will be an improvement.

 

[Brett Howell]

I Am Legend by Richard Masterson.

Enjoy it Connavar - if you haven't read it before, I'm sure you'll find it a brilliant read and so much better than the movie. And even if you have, it's a book worthy of reading more than once.