It's November. What are you reading?

[Darkchrome]

Count Zero by William Gibson. Looking in the front cover I read this last in 1989.

I re-read Neuromancer last year. It was interesting how much of it was so familiar, with the whole cyber thing commonplace now, but I remember at the time I hadn't really read anything like it, except maybe Philip K. Dick. If you haven't tried it already, I recommend Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash.

 

[hitmouse]

I re-read Neuromancer last year. It was interesting how much of it was so familiar, with the whole cyber thing commonplace now, but I remember at the time I hadn't really read anything like it, except maybe Philip K. Dick. If you haven't tried it already, I recommend Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash.

I think I have read all of Neil Stephenson's novels. Snow crash is good.

I must have read Neuromancer and Count Zero in the late 1980s. I remember the plot of Neuromancer quite well: I must have read it a couple of times since. The funny thing is that I had had the impression that I had read these books in the mid to late 1990s, which is a bit disconcerting.

Neuromancer was published in 1984, but my first introduction to cyberpunk was the TV show Max Headroom, which also started in 1984, and of which I was a fan.

 

[Teresa Edgerton]

I'm reading The Broken Lands, by Kate Milford, and enjoying it very much. It's a well-written YA story that combines characters from folklore with New York City in the late 1800s and the building of the Brooklyn Bridge. One reason I'm enjoying it is because it's not like some of the books I've read where someone took Old World mythology and sort of patched it on to an American setting as if it was supposed to belong there but the stitches showed.* This feels like it was part of the fabric all along. In that way, it makes me think of James Blaylock and Tim Powers . . . except not.

Also, in some way that is harder to put my finger on it reminds me of Advent, by James Treadwell. I think those who liked that book might well like this one, although that one felt thoroughly British and this one feels thoroughly American.

______

* This criticism does not apply to, say, The Golem and the Jinni, where there are no such clumsy stitches.

 

[Ashleyne]

I've finished reading 'Dreamcatcher' by Stephen King. It was the first ever Stephen King novel that I've ever read and although I made it to the end, I wasn't impressed by the author.

At the moment, I'm reading 'Life Expectancy' by Dean Koontz. I'm liking the style and I'll probably be reading another dean Koontz book, soonish.

 

[j d worthington]

Dark Gods - T.E.D. Klein, some superb weird fiction, it's very restrained work. I think S.T. Joshi described it best as "quiet" horror.

You may have mentioned having done so before and my memory isn't recovering it, but... have you read his The Ceremonies? I'd classify that as one of the very best modern "horror" novels of the latter twentieth century....

 

[The Bluestocking]

At the moment, I'm reading 'Life Expectancy' by Dean Koontz. I'm liking the style and I'll probably be reading another dean Koontz book, soonish.

Dean Koontz's books can be hit-or-miss (and he's written a LOT of books). Try the Odd Thomas series - they are certainly entertaining reads and Odd Thomas is a great character.

 

[Vince W]

The Peripheral by William Gibson.

I'm about a quarter way through this myself.

 

[Nerds_feather]

I'm about a quarter way through this myself.

I'm finding the book quite challenging, but also very impressive (so far).

 

[Vince W]

I'm finding the book quite challenging, but also very impressive (so far).

Agreed, but it becomes clearer the further along you get.

 

[Ice fyre]

Ashlene, Dreamcatcher is one of his least impressive works! A rambling story that really wasnt thought through in my opnion. If you want to be impressed by him the Shining, It, Tommyknockers, thinner, Needful things (being a particular fave of mine) He can write ...in my opnion...and well ...but like one or two authors he has some howlingly bad books.

I am reading Necessary Evil by Ian Tregillis part of a trilogy about an alternative second world war, two disciplines are at war, a group of German supermen created by horribly sadistic means and a set of Demons who kind of underpin reality, who demand a blood price for every action undertaken. Its an interesting idea, how far would you go to ensure the survival of your way of life?

 

[ratsy]

Yes, Ashleyne. Don't let one book by King stop you from reading him. He is one of the best out there IMO. I didn't mind Dreamcatcher, but I read it before the movie was out so that may have helped. That being said, he has so many better books out there. There are a lot of his older things I haven't read but want to, The Stand and It being the top two I need to read still. I do read all of his new things too which are more supernatural and less scary, but still great reads.

I actually just bought a random Dean Kootz book last week because I wanted to try him. I think it's called "The Strangers". I will get to it sometime, since it's in a large TBR pile at the moment.

 

[tobl]

just finished with the first 3 volumes of slaver wars by Raymond l weil interesting take

 

[Nerds_feather]

Agreed, but it becomes clearer the further along you get.

After 4 chapters I actually decided to start over and that helped. Gibson is a whiz with futureslang, which I normally hate but he does it soooooo well. But the new vocubulary creates a steep learning curve. In that sense, this feels a bit like reading Neuromancer for the first time, and not like his later books.

 

[Vince W]

After 4 chapters I actually decided to start over and that helped. Gibson is a whiz with futureslang, which I normally hate but he does it soooooo well. But the new vocubulary creates a steep learning curve. In that sense, this feels a bit like reading Neuromancer for the first time, and not like his later books.

Fortunately the chapters aren't very long. I think I've got a handle on the slang now, but Gibson does throw you in the deep end.

 

[Parson]

I've just finished The Glassblower by Petra Durst-Benning. A best seller in Germany recently translated into English. It was a fascinating book, and I am looking forward to the sequel coming in March. I picked up a near future S.F. mystery entitled The Fire Seekers. In the first chapter it has a humorous side which I am enjoying.

 

[ratsy]

I have 20 pages left in Old Man's War by John Scalzi and I really enjoyed it. It's been a long time since I sped through a book like that...3 days! I think I may start reading more of this space opera stuff, and I have ordered the second in the series.

I have a large TBR pile but think I will probably read Sworn in Steel by Douglas Hulick next. I've been looking forward to it.

 

[Nerds_feather]

OMW is fun and also has some interesting things to say. I think the series gets better as it goes along, actually, so there's more fun in store for you! (Well, through the first three...Zoe's Tale is not that good.)

 

[ratsy]

That's good to hear Nerds. When I picked it up at the book store I didn't know it had any sequels. Just wanted to try it

 

[Connavar]

Stormbirds by Conn Iggulden, book 1 in War of Roses series of his.


This part of the history of England is very fascinating to me because i know so little about the kings,politics,wars before Tudor dynasty. This book is very different,more ambitious from Iggulden. More about calm,subtle take on these times than the military history battles,war books you expect of him.

Shame from my point of view the clearest picture i have of York part of the royal line, their history is the fact Richard III was found in a car park. Talk about being on the losing side of history....

 

[Bugg]

So far this month I've read and enjoyed:

Strength and Honor by R. M. Meluch
The Borders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold
Brothers in Arms by Lois McMaster Bujold
The Mangle Street Murders by M.R.C. Kasasian

and I'm now reading Death of Kings, the sixth book in Bernard Cornwell's 'Warrior Chronicles' series, which has been brilliant so far.