You were warned!
December 2020 Reading Thread
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You were warned!
Now starting Wild Cards II - Aces High (Ed. George R. R. Martin).
I enjoyed the first one, so happy to be back. This one has stories/chapters by Lewis Shiner, Pat Cadigan, Walter Jon Williams, Roger Zelazny, George Martin, Melinda Snodgrass, et al.
I enjoyed the first one, so happy to be back. This one has stories/chapters by Lewis Shiner, Pat Cadigan, Walter Jon Williams, Roger Zelazny, George Martin, Melinda Snodgrass, et al.
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I read up until the third one and then lost interest. That has more to do with my low threshold for superpowers than it does the writing.
Danny McG
Lid closed, monkey dead.
Now reading The Silent Girls by Dylan Young.
A crime thriller
A crime thriller
So was it any good?
Extollager
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Rereading Patrick O'Brian's Desolation Island, the 5th Aubrey-Maturin novel; rereading the novella "The Chapel of Ease," a ghostly story by H. F. Heard from The Lost Cavern; reading Tolkien's The End of the Third Age, which is part of Sauron Defeated, the 9th volume of The History of Middle-earth; reading Steinmann's commentary on the Book of Daniel; and reading Gans's Surviving in a Ruthless World: Bob Dylan's Voyage to Infidels. about Dylan's work after his Gospel music trilogy. And I could mention that I'm continuing with a leisurely reading of the complete Grimms' Fairy Tales, which I started in 2009 and have set aside and picked up off and on over the year, thinking there was no reason to feel compelled to get it finished. I've read quite a bit of other folktale material in the period, including a new translation of the wonderful Norwegian Folktales collection of Asjornsen and Moe (translation by Tiina Nunnally). A few weeks ago I read McBride's Tolkien's Cosmology, a very good synthesizing of material published in Tolkien's lifetime and afterwards.
By the way, with reference to the discussion here about self-published books and the problem of typoes and inadequate editing -- this is getting to be more of a problem with professionally published books and even books from university presses. I take it this reflects economics (not hiring staff for first-rate editing) and less rigorous standards in general in colleges. McBride's book is good, and from a respected publisher (Kent State UP, which does a really superior job of manufacturing well-made books), but I came across a number of verbal offenses that shouldn't have made it past university press review.
By the way, with reference to the discussion here about self-published books and the problem of typoes and inadequate editing -- this is getting to be more of a problem with professionally published books and even books from university presses. I take it this reflects economics (not hiring staff for first-rate editing) and less rigorous standards in general in colleges. McBride's book is good, and from a respected publisher (Kent State UP, which does a really superior job of manufacturing well-made books), but I came across a number of verbal offenses that shouldn't have made it past university press review.
Yes I've observed the same and I suspect you are right that it is an economics thing and that is also quite possibly a side effect of self publishing. Since self published books are generally cheaper, the consumer is growing to expect those cheap prices and the big publishers will have to make cuts to achieve them. In real terms I don't think there has been much shift in the price of traditionally published books for quite a few years. There are some very cheap and some very expensive but I'd say the average price has remained largely unchanged; certainly well below inflation. My guess is that every step in the process is done more cheaply, including, I imagine, the royalties paid to the author.
Danny McG
Lid closed, monkey dead.
It got very predictable and a bit sub-standard.
I've read better stories but nonetheless it was something to read.
Run out of time again so just a few brief notes on my latest four books:
Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini - Great swashbuckling fun (played by Errol Flynn in 1935). Whilst it does have its darker moments and not a little moralising this is primarily good adventure and a fun fast read. 4/5 stars
Arminius: The Limits of Empire by Robert Fabbri - This is a standalone spin off from Fabbri's Vespasian series and I largely read it with a view to seeing what I thought of Fabbri as a writer. Sadly, it is probably not the best book to use for that assessment. It is mostly the story of Arminius/Erminatz, the Germanic Chieftain who annihilated three Roman legions in AD9. The story is mainly told as dictated to two Roman slaves captured in that defeat by Arminius himself. Which is fine but it tends to result in feeling, as the reader, rather more distanced from the events than I usually like. It sometimes seemed more like a dramatised history documentary than a story. Historically very interesting (and Fabbri does detail at the end how much is fictional and how much speculative) but ultimately I found it rather unsatisfying and also, I suspect, probably not Fabbri's normal style of writing. 3.5/4 stars.
The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi - I should probably feel better about this one than I actually do. Bacigalupi, as always writes well and presents interesting ideas on the future - this one is about water shortages in America due to global warming - but I think I've just about had as must of his unrelentingly bleak visions as I can take. Throughout the all of his books that I've so far read - Windup Girl, the Ship Breaker books and now The Water Knife - there is little relief from his all encompassing pessimism. Quite possibly very realistic but I can only take so much of it. 3/5 stars.
Bone Silence by Alastair Reynolds - More space opera, swashbuckling, almost steampunk fun in this third book in Reynolds' Revenger series (I don't know if there will be more or if it's just a trilogy). As with the first I still feel these books don't quite know whether they are YA or adult; some aspects seem to favour one and some the other and that made it feel a little uneven. But despite that I have enjoyed the books so far and this one was absolutely building up to being my favourite... until the ending. The ending was rushed and unsatisfactory; I suspect there will be at least one more book it certainly needs one. 4/5 stars.
Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini - Great swashbuckling fun (played by Errol Flynn in 1935). Whilst it does have its darker moments and not a little moralising this is primarily good adventure and a fun fast read. 4/5 stars
Arminius: The Limits of Empire by Robert Fabbri - This is a standalone spin off from Fabbri's Vespasian series and I largely read it with a view to seeing what I thought of Fabbri as a writer. Sadly, it is probably not the best book to use for that assessment. It is mostly the story of Arminius/Erminatz, the Germanic Chieftain who annihilated three Roman legions in AD9. The story is mainly told as dictated to two Roman slaves captured in that defeat by Arminius himself. Which is fine but it tends to result in feeling, as the reader, rather more distanced from the events than I usually like. It sometimes seemed more like a dramatised history documentary than a story. Historically very interesting (and Fabbri does detail at the end how much is fictional and how much speculative) but ultimately I found it rather unsatisfying and also, I suspect, probably not Fabbri's normal style of writing. 3.5/4 stars.
The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi - I should probably feel better about this one than I actually do. Bacigalupi, as always writes well and presents interesting ideas on the future - this one is about water shortages in America due to global warming - but I think I've just about had as must of his unrelentingly bleak visions as I can take. Throughout the all of his books that I've so far read - Windup Girl, the Ship Breaker books and now The Water Knife - there is little relief from his all encompassing pessimism. Quite possibly very realistic but I can only take so much of it. 3/5 stars.
Bone Silence by Alastair Reynolds - More space opera, swashbuckling, almost steampunk fun in this third book in Reynolds' Revenger series (I don't know if there will be more or if it's just a trilogy). As with the first I still feel these books don't quite know whether they are YA or adult; some aspects seem to favour one and some the other and that made it feel a little uneven. But despite that I have enjoyed the books so far and this one was absolutely building up to being my favourite... until the ending. The ending was rushed and unsatisfactory; I suspect there will be at least one more book it certainly needs one. 4/5 stars.
His Vespasian series is written in close-third. There were a couple of moments I wasn't keen on for different reasons, but otherwise I've generally enjoyed it. Aside from making Vespasian an interesting character in his own right, it also does a good job of showing the politics of the Julio-Claudian emperors. Definitely one of the better Roman Historical Fiction writers.
His latest book, starting a series set in the Hellenistic period, is currently on offer for 99p at Amazon, which I'll be treating myself to at Christmas.
To The Strongest: 'Terrific series' Conn Iggulden (Alexander's Legacy Book 1) eBook : Fabbri, Robert: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
To The Strongest: 'Terrific series' Conn Iggulden (Alexander's Legacy Book 1) eBook : Fabbri, Robert: Amazon.co.uk: Kindle Store
amzn.to
Danny McG
Lid closed, monkey dead.
Tonight I'm beginning The last one by Alexandra Olivia.
It's about a TV reality show, with contestants in a backwoods survival scenario.
However a global pandemic kills all the outside world, the contestants don't realise....
It's about a TV reality show, with contestants in a backwoods survival scenario.
However a global pandemic kills all the outside world, the contestants don't realise....
you know this people with this kind of premonition could just give me the lottery numbers
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Well, this is an unexpected joy: a book of the list of wedding gifts for the marriage of Liz and Phil in 1947.
There are an initial seven pages of "Royal Presents" , including such figures as The King of Egypt, The King of Afghanistan, Queen Helen of Roumania, Queen Marie of Jugoslavia, then we get onto 160 pages of the nitty gritty, "The General List of Presents". To my surprise this only lists 1693 items. This makes me wonder whether the popularity of the Royal Family may have actually increased over the years.
It's worth admiring some of these gifts:
Item 19 from Mrs G.H. Averyt: Kettle holders
25 from Mrs L. R. Talbot: Two pairs of nylon stockings
33 Mrs H. Fielding: A pair of nylon stockings
actually there are many many gifts of one or two pairs of nylon stockings, so moving on....
77 Mrs Anne Newman: Book, "The Golden Casket" by the donor
79 Miss Virginia Mather: Book, "You and the Jury" by the donor
perhaps early examples of self-publishing....
89 Mrs R. Lane: Hand worked sofa cushion
110 Mr George Whitty: Hand made fruit stand
141 Miss Mary Simpson: Sugar from Barbados
156: Mrs H.A.L. Pullin: A cheque
perhaps my favourites - 201 Mrs P.J. Loraine: Hand knitted jumper
and 241 Miss Bertha Rhead: Hand knitted bed wrap
but I need not go on....
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Danny McG
Lid closed, monkey dead.
The Good Samaritan by CJ Parsons
A psychological crime thriller
A psychological crime thriller
Victoria Silverwolf
Vegetarian Werewolf
I have started Forever Peace (1997) by Joe Haldeman, which is not a sequel to The Forever War.
Mangara
Well-Known Member
I've not posted here for ages, in fact it had slipped out my consciousness entirely until I clicked on a friend on Goodreads and it all came back to me!
I am reading:
Truckers with my oldest son. We are about 65% through. A lot of it goes over his head, but he is invested and loves Grannie Morkie
The Hunger Games - I have seen the movies but never picked up the books. My mother in law gave me a box set she got from the charity shop so I thought I'd give them a go. I am appreciating how easily they are consumed so far.
The great catastrophe - I usually have a history e-book on my phone which I read through when time allows. I remember not a lot about the start of WWI apart from the assassination aspect so this has been enlightening thus far.
I am reading:
Truckers with my oldest son. We are about 65% through. A lot of it goes over his head, but he is invested and loves Grannie Morkie
The Hunger Games - I have seen the movies but never picked up the books. My mother in law gave me a box set she got from the charity shop so I thought I'd give them a go. I am appreciating how easily they are consumed so far.
The great catastrophe - I usually have a history e-book on my phone which I read through when time allows. I remember not a lot about the start of WWI apart from the assassination aspect so this has been enlightening thus far.
Danny McG
Lid closed, monkey dead.
A SF book tonight
This Alien Shore by CS Friedman
This Alien Shore by CS Friedman
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Galactic Bus Driver
Unrepentant Book Junkie
As of end of day, Dec. 21st I've completed 29 titles so far this month bringing my running total for the year to 519. On pace for 533 for the year.
Highlights:
Finished the StarBridge series by A. C. Crispin. Fun YA sci-fi romps.
Read Alex Bledsoe's Tufa series. Tuatha Dé Danann in late 20th century rural Tennesee. Loads of fun.
Read "Ready Player Two" after re-reading "Ready Player One." It seems I'm in the minority, but I enjoyed the sequel nearly as much as the original.
Found a new author to enjoy. Thanks again, @tobl for recommending John Conroe.
Attached the running list since copying it in and adding spoiler tags makes me exceed the maximum post size.
Highlights:
Finished the StarBridge series by A. C. Crispin. Fun YA sci-fi romps.
Read Alex Bledsoe's Tufa series. Tuatha Dé Danann in late 20th century rural Tennesee. Loads of fun.
Read "Ready Player Two" after re-reading "Ready Player One." It seems I'm in the minority, but I enjoyed the sequel nearly as much as the original.
Found a new author to enjoy. Thanks again, @tobl for recommending John Conroe.
Attached the running list since copying it in and adding spoiler tags makes me exceed the maximum post size.
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Of course this was only 2 years after WWII and the UK experienced austerity measures, including rationing, well into the 1950s. Nylon stockings would have been a top rate present!
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Derek Jarman "Smiling in Slow Motion"
Final volume of his diary 1991-1994. Sad, as he is dying and in and out of hospital and continually hearing of friends ill and dying. However, despite this increasing infirmity, he's still busy, filming, painting, being invited here, there and everywhere. One thing I really like about him is the way that, despite this whirlwind of activity, he really loves getting back to the stillness of his cottage in the bleak isolation of Dungeness. His love for his partner is also very touching. While much of his milieu is relatively unknown to me, he still made me laugh out loud a few times. Just fifty two when he died.
Final volume of his diary 1991-1994. Sad, as he is dying and in and out of hospital and continually hearing of friends ill and dying. However, despite this increasing infirmity, he's still busy, filming, painting, being invited here, there and everywhere. One thing I really like about him is the way that, despite this whirlwind of activity, he really loves getting back to the stillness of his cottage in the bleak isolation of Dungeness. His love for his partner is also very touching. While much of his milieu is relatively unknown to me, he still made me laugh out loud a few times. Just fifty two when he died.
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