September's Studious Search For Sonorous Snippets

[Vertigo]

Yes does make you wonder doesn't it. Also a certain scientist that has had a rough time sure but I just don't see her behaving the way she did; it just doesn't fit, at least not for me.

 

[antiloquax]

Just realised I haven't said anything about Bone Dance by Emma Bull. It's set in a post-apocalyptic future. Sparrow, the main character, is a collector and dealer in rare media (videotapes and music). We soon find out that Sparrow has some unexplained gaps in his memory. He goes to a friend of his who is a Tarot reader for help (and the symbolism of Tarot cards runs as a theme through the book). The novel then quickly becomes an action-packed ride which involves a revenge plot, PSI soldiers, voodoo magic and alternative power sources. I enjoyed it quite a lot, although the final confrontation and climax left me with a few unresolved questions. I won't be breaking my neck to read another of her books, but I am glad I read this.

I have also just finished listening to the audiobook of Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. As is often the case with utopian fiction, the bulk of the book features outsiders coming to understand the civilization they have discovered. One thing that makes this book better than many such efforts is that the three male characters are all very different. Terry is a rather boorish, chauvanistic man who never appreciates Herland. Geoff is inclined to idolise women and therefore thinks that the country of women is perfection. Van, the narrator, is somewhere between these extremes. I thought this book was excellent! The society that is described, and the qualities shown by a country of women operating without men are very well thought-out. Highly recommended.
a

 

[Allegra]

Just finished Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch which I thought was one of the best urban fantasies I’ve read in some time – couldn’t put it down start to finish.

Next up (via the magic of kindle instant delivery) Moon Over Soho by Ben Aaronovitch

If I won't change my mind in a couple of days, Rivers of London will be the next to read. It's always exciting to discover a new author. I also like the UK version's cover design. Can't believe the US version - not only the title changed to something ordinary the cover design is horrific.

 

[Lord Soth]

Finished Hounded, Hexed and Hammered by Kevin Hearne (not in that order I think) fun and light enough reads and I'll pick up more of him.

Thought I'd read a classic next had have started a re-read of Dune by Frank Herbert, its been a long time since I read it and i cant help seeing everything so far through the eyes of David Lynch...

 

[Quokka]

I finshed Roger Zelanzy's Lord of Light, the name changes lost me a bit in the begining but I like the recreating dieties and Zelanzy's sense of humour. A nice short one up next with HG Wells' The Invisible Man.

 

[Lord Soth]

If I won't change my mind in a couple of days, Rivers of London will be the next to read. It's always exciting to discover a new author. I also like the UK version's cover design. Can't believe the US version - not only the title changed to something ordinary the cover design is horrific.

Really enjoyed these also, although I 'read' them via listening by audiobook. The audio version is great, the best book I have experienced this way so far.

and yes, the US versions are awful!

 

[GOLLUM]

I have also just finished listening to the audiobook of Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. As is often the case with utopian fiction, the bulk of the book features outsiders coming to understand the civilization they have discovered. One thing that makes this book better than many such efforts is that the three male characters are all very different. Terry is a rather boorish, chauvanistic man who never appreciates Herland. Geoff is inclined to idolise women and therefore thinks that the country of women is perfection. Van, the narrator, is somewhere between these extremes. I thought this book was excellent! The society that is described, and the qualities shown by a country of women operating without men are very well thought-out. Highly recommended.
a

Sounds interesting. How does it compare to the short 'Yellow Wallpaper'? I realise they are two different subject matters but in terms of a preference if applicable?

 

[Connavar]

I read The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann, i could see what he was doing but i was slightly disappointed by the fact the health place the story was set in was not very interesting storytelling wise. I like Hans personal background story,flashbacks but not the rest of the book. I didnt finish it because it way too long for my taste. There were glimpses of brilliance in the writing that i expected to see more often.

Next im reading Herman Hess and Siddartha for my modern novel class like the Mann novel and i hope i like it more. I cant take two misses in a row

 

[antiloquax]

Sounds interesting. How does it compare to the short 'Yellow Wallpaper'? I realise they are two different subject matters but in terms of a preference if applicable?

It is so long since I read TYW that I can't really comment. I'd say "Herland" was probably the more impressive achievement, but I need to re-read "The Yellow Wallpaper"!
a

 

[D_Davis]

The Year of Our War, by Steph Swainston

Very good start to what I think will be an even better trilogy. Swainston creates a story with immortals and mortals co-existing in a believable and compelling way. Immortal characters are rarely detailed in interesting ways, and the mythology behind the undying in the world at hand is a good one; it makes sense, and it is interesting.

I also loved the idea of the Shift, an alternate dimension within the narrative, reachable by only a few (the dead or the drugged). I wish more of the book took place in the Shift, because I think it is more interesting than the "real world." The sequence within the Transgressor's Forest was especially awesome, and The Tine are neat antagonists, as is the worm woman.

There are some parts that do drag, and these all have to do with the politics of the world and the political posturing of the characters. I'm simply not into political fantasy, and this one borders on the good side of too much. There is a conflict between two of the characters that goes on for too long, and the drive of the central plot is somewhat lost.

I'm glad to have been turned on to these books. It's been a very long time since I've been into a fantasy series. I have been somewhat jealous of all of those who love the GRRM books, and so it is nice to have something that appeals to me to turn to.

 

[antiloquax]

Just finished "Sepulchre" by James Herbert. This was the first book of his that I had read. The characters at first felt a bit steretypical, but I enjoyed it more as I continued reading. Some of it is quite disturbing. Not bad, but I probably won't read another of his any time soon

 

[AE35Unit]

Just finished "Sepulchre" by James Herbert. This was the first book of his that I had read. The characters at first felt a bit steretypical, but I enjoyed it more as I continued reading. Some of it is quite disturbing. Not bad, but I probably won't read another of his any time soon

Try The Dark, or for something completely different of his, Portent, or better still '48!

 

[j d worthington]

I need to revise what I said about Bierce's "Negligible Tales", as it is (so far) only the first few which have been of such a dark variety. Several of the others are not quite so savage in their humor; some are even simply slapstick (though usually with a bit of satire pointed at some target); so the majority of them I've come across so far aren't in the same class as "The Parenticide Club" tales, which are... very different.....

 

[antiloquax]

Thanks AE35Unit. I have '48 -can you say more about that one?

Now reading Swan Song by Robert McCammon.

 

[D_Davis]

Next up: The Tel Aviv Dossier, by Lavie Tidhar & Nir Yaniv

 

[Rodders]

Swan Song's an outstanding read.

I just finished Greg Bear's Hull Zero Three. Interesting. A sad ending, but quite joyous at the same time. I enjoyed it.

Now onto something called "Ready Player One" by Ernest Cline. A promising start.

 

[Spade]

Finally reading Hyperion by Dan Simmons. It's been in the collection for too many years.

 

[antiloquax]

Swan Song's an outstanding read.

Yes, I am enjoying it very much!

 

[D_Davis]

Tel Aviv Dossier

Don't think I'm going to finish this. There is a neat (really neat!) idea here, but a book is the wrong medium for the story. This should be an interactive, multi-media web site. The story is told from different POV, through different mediums, like podcasts, letters, videos, narrative, etc. However, it's all in a book. So the podcast part just says its a podcast, but you're reading it. These parts are labeled - AUDIO. And then there are video parts labeled as such.

OK.

But a podcast isn't live. A podcast has to be recorded and then uploaded to a feed, and then it has to be downloaded to listen to. But that really can't be happening because of what is happening during the story (if you read it you'll get what I'm saying).

And a video is seen with eyes and heard. How are we able to get inside the videogrpahers head to know what she is thinking? Why is the director telling me what he is seeing?

It doesn't work as a book.

Also, in the first 75 pages there are two instances in which a first person narrator dies at the end of their vignette.

???

Ending a chapter/section with something like, "...and then the helicopter was falling, and I tried to duck but the blades hit my he..." is not clever. That's stupid, dumb, idiotic and amateurish. It has to be assumed that if you are reading something written in the first person that the POV character is actually the one writing the words AFTER the events took place. So how is someone writing on paper while running away from and trying to dodge a falling helicopter?

Editors and publishers: please stop this from happening.

Writers: don't do this - ever. It makes no sense. You are not being clever, and it is not original. Leave this mistake to the first year creative writing students.

Also, the authors completely fail to create distinct voices for all of the POV characters. They all read the same. There is one passage from the POV of a child, but it reads in the same language as the passages from the adult POV. How is this possible?

Oh well, at least I only wasted part of a day on this.

 

[soulsinging]

Also, in the first 75 pages there are two instances in which a first person narrator dies at the end of their vignette.

???

Ending a chapter/section with something like, "...and then the helicopter was falling, and I tried to duck but the blades hit my he..." is not clever. That's stupid, dumb, idiotic and amateurish. It has to be assumed that if you are reading something written in the first person that the POV character is actually the one writing the words AFTER the events took place. So how is someone writing on paper while running away from and trying to dodge a falling helicopter?

Editors and publishers: please stop this from happening.

Writers: don't do this - ever. It makes no sense. You are not being clever, and it is not original. Leave this mistake to the first year creative writing students.

It worked for American Beauty...