March's Marvellous Missals, Mammoth Manuals and Miniscule Monographs

[Hypnos164]

Just finished reading Brasyl by Ian McDonald. Is really did bring Brazil to life and had many great ideas, but it never quite worked for me. I think it's partially because I never quite cared enough about the main characters.

I have to agree, there was something about it that didn't quite gel and I can't quite define what or why - I felt that I wanted to like it more than I did (if that makes any sense).

In general I do really enjoy Ian McDonald's work though.

 

[Rosemary]

I'm still re-reading! At the moment it is The Lies of Locke Lamorra.

I didn't enjoy it at all the first time I read it but it is starting to become more interesting now.

 

[AE35Unit]

Adam Roberts i found out about in the library because i confused him with Keith Roberts of Pavane fame.

I was looking at his list of books in fantasticfiction. A varied list, some weird science fantasy sounding books,alternate history and space opera,far future,high tech SF.

What kind of SF is Polyston ? The synopsis says nothing but how he was shortlist for ACC award almost.

The only Adam Roberts I've read is his debut novel Salt which I didn't get on with at all. I like SF written by scientists and I just didn't get that from Salt. Too fantastical, but also quite dull-nothing really happened. Again, politics plays a part.

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

Among contemporary writers of SF I'd take Roberts' work over what I've read of Charles Stross, Peter F. Hamilton or Alistair Reynolds, although I'd rate Ted Chiang as high and Ken MacLeod at least in the same ballpark at times, but that's a function of my own specific preferences with regard to SF rather than an absolute value call.

The book's title is actually Polystom. I feel Roberts' novels have become stronger over time; the ones I'd recommend most highly are the two I've already names (Polystom and The Snow) as well The Land Of The Headless. I've yet to read his two more recent works, Swiftly and Yellow Blue Tibia. There's a novel called Swiftly; confusingly NSB also has out a short fiction collection by Roberts under the same title. I've never read his short fiction, but I'd say Roberts is primarily a practitioner of the novel format and would suggest a new reader start with his novels.

 

[j d worthington]

@ J.D. : And how long have you had that in the "to read" pile ? Kinda curious .

Well.... I've known about the book for the better part of 35 years and wanted to read it for most of that time; finally got a copy about five years ago, but it kept being bumped back for other things which were more immediate... and am finally getting around to reading it.

I rather regret not getting to it earlier... I am already finding myself very fond of it. On the other hand, it means that I have a brand new treat ahead, so things balance out somewhat....

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

... perhaps especially with the last essay in the book, which looks at Lovecraft through a lens more than tinged by Christian apologetics....

Now, that is positively tantalising.

Christian apologetics can go hand in hand with, or even be the basis for intriguing literary criticism, even for a reader who does not subscribe to the religious views in question (as evinced by Chesterton's literary essays), but I can hardly imagine the results of such an approach when brought to bear on the irreligious gentleman from Providence's work!

 

[Connavar]

Among contemporary writers of SF I'd take Roberts' work over what I've read of Charles Stross, Peter F. Hamilton or Alistair Reynolds, although I'd rate Ted Chiang as high and Ken MacLeod at least in the same ballpark at times, but that's a function of my own specific preferences with regard to SF rather than an absolute value call.

The book's title is actually Polystom. I feel Roberts' novels have become stronger over time; the ones I'd recommend most highly are the two I've already names (Polystom and The Snow) as well The Land Of The Headless. I've yet to read his two more recent works, Swiftly and Yellow Blue Tibia. There's a novel called Swiftly; confusingly NSB also has out a short fiction collection by Roberts under the same title. I've never read his short fiction, but I'd say Roberts is primarily a practitioner of the novel format and would suggest a new reader start with his novels.

I'm looking SF writers of Roberts,Chiang,McLeod type. Reynolds,Hamiltons dont work for me. Stross didnt impress either.

Swiftly sounded more interesting but more fantastic than SF. Polystom it is then.

 

[Talysia]

Phew! It's been a while since I read Feist, and I'd almost forgot how many books he'd written. Seems I've got quite a few in front of me (although I don't know how far into the series I'll go). Now moving onto Krondor: The Betrayal.

 

[CyBeR]

I find myself pleasantly surprised by my first contact with George R.R. Martin's work. I've read the short stories: 'Nightflyers', 'Override', 'Weekend in a war zone', and I've still got 'Nor the many-colored fires of a Star-Ring' (mouthfull title), 'And seven times never kill man', 'A song for Lya'. These are all collected in a book entitled 'Nightflyers'.
Great reading and quite the enticing universe he's got set up here. I just hope these three last stories are as good as the previous.

I don't usually much enjoy such separated books, simply because the stories in most vary too much in quality (like A.S. Byatt's 'The little black book of stories')...but this one,so far, really holds my interest.

 

[j d worthington]

Now, that is positively tantalising.

Christian apologetics can go hand in hand with, or even be the basis for intriguing literary criticism, even for a reader who does not subscribe to the religious views in question (as evinced by Chesterton's literary essays), but I can hardly imagine the results of such an approach when brought to bear on the irreligious gentleman from Providence's work!

Yes, it's an approach I didn't expect to work all that well, but Waugh brought some interesting approaches to the subject, and I think he makes some very telling points... not to mention that the essay is just wonderfully written; as with the rest of the book, an intellectual and aesthetic feast. (One of the other essays also relates Lovecraft to Italian poet Giacomo Leopardi, and here, too, he makes a fascinating case....)

 

[Jayaprakash Satyamurthy]

(One of the other essays also relates Lovecraft to Italian poet Giacomo Leopardi, and here, too, he makes a fascinating case....)

!

Consider me completely tantalised. I still feel I should start with one of the Joshi-penned or edited volumes about Lovecraft before venturing into other secondary literature, but this book seems very appealing.

 

[j d worthington]

!

Consider me completely tantalised. I still feel I should start with one of the Joshi-penned or edited volumes about Lovecraft before venturing into other secondary literature, but this book seems very appealing.

He doesn't claim Leopardi as an influence on Lovecraft -- in fact, he expresses doubt Lovecraft ever read him, or read very much of him, even though he did read at least a few collections of European, and specifically Italian, poetry, as I recall -- but rather draws analogies between the two writers, and how they developed similar themes in often surprisingly similar ways. It's a fascinating essay, and has made me want to look up a good selection of Leopardi's work (with which I am totally unfamiliar) myself.

Here's a review from Amazon... a surprisingly intelligent, well-reasoned review, actually, which you may find interesting:

http://www.amazon.com/Monster-Mirro...dp_top_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

 

[GOLLUM]

It's a fascinating essay, and has made me want to look up a good selection of Leopardi's work (with which I am totally unfamiliar) myself.

Well funnily enough, being the World Lit. tragic that I am, I have a copy of Leopardi's poetry put out by Routledge publishing house and it is very good. In fact, Leopardi is a recognised genius of Italian literature up there with Dante and his prose can be utterly sublime and is often described as having a quality of cosmic pessimism associated with it, which is perhaps where the link with Lovecraft lies...

I can happily recommend the works of Leopardi to anyone here.

 

[HoopyFrood]

At the moment, reading a book called An Intrepid Scot by C.E Bosworth, about William Lithgow, a seventeenth century traveller. Lithgow, along with Dallam and Blount, is one of my favourite travellers (yes, I am that cool).

Also dipping into The Book of the Dead: A Complete History of Zombie Cinema by Jamie Russell.

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Peter Dickinson's The Weathermonger

 

[Ursa major]

I'm currently reading Market Forces by Richard Morgan.

 

[jojajihisc]

Kevin J. Anderson's Ashes of Worlds. (Book 7 in the Saga of the Seven Suns series.) I know it's not likely to be too great, but i have read the other 6 and it'll annoy me if i don't get to the end.

Hah, I was in the same boat when I finished it a couple months ago. I was so sick of that series by the end. That style of using 2 to 4 page chapters covering about 4 or 5 story lines really got old. I skimmed most of it.

 

[Lady of Winterfell]

I'm taking a break from Steven Pressfields Gates of Fire as I am, quite unfortunately, finding it a bit boring.

Picked up The Silmarillion for a reread.

 

[Connavar]

Lady of Winterfell are you a regular reading of military,epic Historical fiction ? Which is most of the famous modern historical fiction.


I'm reading The Steampunk Trilogy by Paul Di Flippo.

Promising writing by an author i didnt know anything about beforehand. Neat concept,very interesting weird world. I wanted to read something that a bit weird,different and not straight fantasy or sf.

 

[Allegra]

Archangel by Robert Harris.