December's Daring Descent into Dynamically Divergent Documents

[Victoria Silverwolf]

I am just starting Two-Handed Engine: The Selected Stories of Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore (2005), a collection of stories by that husband and wife team of collaborators in the fields of fantasy and science fiction. (The book starts off with Moore's "Shambleau" and Kuttner's "The Graveyard Rats," which are solo pieces, since the authors had not yet met; but all the rest are most likely collaborations to some degree, whether they were credited to Kuttner or Moore or one of their shared pseudonyms.) Included are familiar stories such as "The Twonky," "Mimsy Were the Borogroves," "No Woman Born," "What You Need," and "Vintage Season," but there are several others unknown to me.

 

[HareBrain]

Just finished Waking the Moon by Elizabeth Hand, a book I read because it has similar themes to my own writing (the supposed Eastern Mediterranean cult of the Great Goddess, and the sacrificial king). Sadly, though it was well-written and mostly gripping, with some fine early characterisation, it descended into bog-standard supernatural thriller and ended up having almost nothing to say, and some important elements were never explained. It has some great phantasmagorical visuals, though, and her use of olfactory description is excellent and inspiring.

This probably makes about the fifth book I've tried recently which didn't live up to early promise and ended up being disappointing. I'm in danger of going off reading altogether.

 

[Bick]

Just started Bob Shaw's "A Wreath of Stars" and so far enjoying it very much. He writes very well, with quite witty asides from his protagonists.

 

[GOLLUM]

I am just starting Two-Handed Engine: The Selected Stories of Henry Kuttner and C. L. Moore (2005), a collection of stories by that husband and wife team of collaborators in the fields of fantasy and science fiction. (The book starts off with Moore's "Shambleau" and Kuttner's "The Graveyard Rats," which are solo pieces, since the authors had not yet met; but all the rest are most likely collaborations to some degree, whether they were credited to Kuttner or Moore or one of their shared pseudonyms.) Included are familiar stories such as "The Twonky," "Mimsy Were the Borogroves," "No Woman Born," "What You Need," and "Vintage Season," but there are several others unknown to me.

I have that particular collection. It's excellent.

Is that a HB or PB edition? I have a HB edition with a rather lovely looking dust jacket.

Edit: I've just seen your post in the short story thread and that is the cover I have.

 

[GOLLUM]

I have just taken delivery of Doomsday Book. Sounds a bit different from To Say Nothing of the Dog.

I've not read To Say Nothing of the Dog so I can't comment directly. I am looking forward to your comments on Doomsday Book. I really want to tackle the recent Masterwork edition featuring her short fiction, something of which I've sampled very little to date.

 

[J-Sun]

Finished To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis. This was the first of hers that I have read, unlikely to be the last.

One of the most refreshing novels I have read recently in any genre. Witty, sparkling, very clever. Terrific.

That's good to hear. I don't actually like Connie Willis, I don't think, (almost none of the many stories I've read or the award-winning The Doomsday Book and most of her stuff doesn't sound interesting to me) so I'd normally completely give up but I did find "At the Rialto" to be a sort of brilliant story and something about To Say Nothing of the Dog made me want to give it a try, so I finally picked up a used paperback not long ago. Hope I agree with you whenever I get around to it. (It also encouraged me to pick up Three Men in a Boat so hopefully I'll like one or the other, if not both.)

 

[Grunkins]

Just finished Blood Song by Anthony Ryan a moment ago. This is the best book I've read in a long time. After I finished Malazan Book of the Fallen I found I didn't have much to say. It was so big, so encompassing, that putting thoughts together and writing them down seemed impossible and unnecessary. I feel that now. Even after reading so much glowing praise about Blood Song I was still unprepared for just how good it would be. I even feel a bit melancholy now that I have none of it left to read.

 

[daxxh]

Just found this site - pretty cool!!

I am just finishing up Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor - pretty good so far. I recently read Ironskin by Tina Connolly -ok if you like Gothic Romance, which I don't, and Ancillary Justice by Anne Leckie - really good. I am looking forward to reading The Hydrogen Sonata by Iain M. Banks and Blue Remembered Earth by Alastair Reynolds over the holidays. Those guys are my favorite authors at the moment. I'll really miss new books by Banks.

 

[biodroid]

Just finished Blood Song by Anthony Ryan a moment ago. This is the best book I've read in a long time. After I finished Malazan Book of the Fallen I found I didn't have much to say. It was so big, so encompassing, that putting thoughts together and writing them down seemed impossible and unnecessary. I feel that now. Even after reading so much glowing praise about Blood Song I was still unprepared for just how good it would be. I even feel a bit melancholy now that I have none of it left to read.

Did it really get better? I read about 60% and felt it was going nowhere. Currently reading NOS4R2 by Joe Hill.

 

[Grunkins]

Did it really get better? I read about 60% and felt it was going nowhere. Currently reading NOS4R2 by Joe Hill.

If you read 60% and it hadn't grabbed you yet, then don't bother going back, it's not for you.

 

[ratsy]

Finished the Kings *******...not sure if I will pick up the next in the series but I woul give it a go in the future.

On to Last to Rise by Francis Knight. Good start so far.

 

[AE35Unit]

Huxley''s Antic Hay.. what can I say.
Is anything meant to happen in this book?
Last night it slipped out of my fingers onto the floor.
And there it shall stay!

 

[Connavar]

This year my christmas break started early and i always end the year with Jack Vance books this time:

Marune: Alastor 933

The hero, his people The Rhunes of Marune is yet another very unique alien like human culture. So far this second book of Alastor is more stylised, imaginative than the first. A real Vance book and not midlevel quality one.

 

[dask]

This year my christmas break started early and i always end the year with Jack Vance books this time:

Marune: Alastor 933

The hero, his people The Rhunes of Marune is yet another very unique alien like human culture. So far this second book of Alastor is more stylised, imaginative than the first. A real Vance book and not midlevel quality one.

Sometimes I think this is my favorite Vance book.

 

[Lord Soth]

Just finished Blood Song by Anthony Ryan a moment ago. This is the best book I've read in a long time. After I finished Malazan Book of the Fallen I found I didn't have much to say. It was so big, so encompassing, that putting thoughts together and writing them down seemed impossible and unnecessary. I feel that now. Even after reading so much glowing praise about Blood Song I was still unprepared for just how good it would be. I even feel a bit melancholy now that I have none of it left to read.

I loved Blood Song - easily one of my favourites in 2013, and by far the best debut by far. He went straight into my pre-order hardback list after that!

Finished Steelheart (Sanderson) some time ago and currently reading The Republic of Thieves by Scott Lynch and listening to The Way of Kings by Sanderson. Really enjoying them both and I have got some very promising books on my TBR pile, Christmas is looking good

 

[AE35Unit]

Making my way through my huge Edgar Allan Poe anthology

 

[Stephen Palmer]

Lost voices Of The Edwardians - research, and fascinating.

 

[Connavar]

Making my way through my huge Edgar Allan Poe anthology

Hi Larry its been a while since i saw you here or in Goodreads and i must say its fun to see someone reading Poe here.

What is the name of the anthology? One of those that have both his mystery, his horror stories?

 

[AE35Unit]

Hi Larry its been a while since i saw you here or in Goodreads and i must say its fun to see someone reading Poe here.

What is the name of the anthology? One of those that have both his mystery, his horror stories?

Yea its a huge Bloomsbury anthology, horror sf and poems. Its on my Goodreads page.

 

[AE35Unit]

This one conn: