August 2021 Reading Discussion

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Dorothy Bryant "The Kin of Ata are waiting for you".
Back in the 1980s this was one of those rare books that got passed around among people I knew, everyone raving about it, and personally I thought it was truly wonderful. I was a bit apprehensive in re-reading as I remembered little beyond it being a story of redemption: the main character wakes up in a strange place after murdering his partner and seriously crashing his car.
Although the story does have a certain impressive power as it progresses, I'm not really sure why my earlier self was so enthused.
 
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HareBrain said:
If it was the 80s, maybe because the male characters are wearing sports jackets with the sleeves rolled up?
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Of course!
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In the last couple of weeks, I've finished re-reading Jemisin's "The Killing Moon" and started on the sequel, "The Shadowed Sun," which is a bit more leisurely. I've also re-read "Oathbringer" by Brandon Sanderson. Oddly enough I'd completely forgotten the two major battle sequences: it was the politics, the detective subplot and the flashbacks which stuck in my mind.

First-time reads: "Empire Games" and "Dark State" by Charles Stross. Follow-ups to the "Merchant Princes" series, though the publishers don't do the best job of indicating that. Intriguingly paranoid, and it's interesting to see Stross working in a less exuberant prose style than usual. "Those Below" (sequel to "Those Above") by Daniel Polansky. Grimdark fantasy that feels downright allegorical in places- both brilliant and utterly horrifying.

It's good that I'm finally reading fiction again. Next task: remember how to sleep.
 
Exit by Belinda Bauer
Thriller about an organisation that assists terminal patients to die
 
I started reading The Sirens of Titan, by Kurt Vonnegut. After one hundred pages I was struggling to understand what the story was meant to be about. The plot was utter garbage, it wasn't even a smooth read. Has this happened to others.
 
Danny McG said:
The Border by Robert R McCammon.
A sci Fi thriller about alien invasion
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which aliens? those behind the wall or the proper ones? just seen the movie cosmic sin.better than expected. the new pendergast is interesting
 
Ian Fortytwo said:
I started reading The Sirens of Titan, by Kurt Vonnegut. After one hundred pages I was struggling to understand what the story was meant to be about. The plot was utter garbage, it wasn't even a smooth read. Has this happened to others.
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I love this book, buy I can see why this might be a minority view. A combination of the absurd with deep poignancy.
have you tried any other Vonnegut?
 
Ian Fortytwo said:
I started reading The Sirens of Titan, by Kurt Vonnegut. After one hundred pages I was struggling to understand what the story was meant to be about. The plot was utter garbage, it wasn't even a smooth read. Has this happened to others.
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Interesting feedback. I've not read it, but was thinking of giving it a go soon. Perhaps I won't now, though I see hitmouse likes it. Hmm, I'll need more than an N of 2 to decide to give it a go or not.
 
The Sirens of Titan is a difficult one. I read it and liked it enough but it's not my favourite Vonnegut. It is most definitely science fiction but there are elements that belong to the realm of fantasy as well. I would recommend reading Titans after a few other Vonneguts to get a sense of what he's about. Especially his humour.
 
Vince W said:
The Sirens of Titan is a difficult one... I would recommend reading Titans after a few other Vonneguts to get a sense of what he's about. Especially his humour.
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Which one's Vince? I'm a Vonnegut newbie really - I read SH5 several decades ago, and don't really remember it, but I like to try and read books I've not read (unless it's a much loved book), so a rec' other than SH5 would be good to know. Cat's Cradle?
 
I'm still ploughing through Dangerous Visions, incidentally. I'm enjoying it a lot and will post more later. Some terrific stories in it. So far, the one by Harlan Ellison is the story I've enjoyed least! Ha ha ha, how ironic.
 
Fiberglass Cyborg said:
In the last couple of weeks, I've finished re-reading Jemisin's "The Killing Moon" and started on the sequel, "The Shadowed Sun," which is a bit more leisurely. I've also re-read "Oathbringer" by Brandon Sanderson. Oddly enough I'd completely forgotten the two major battle sequences: it was the politics, the detective subplot and the flashbacks which stuck in my mind.

First-time reads: "Empire Games" and "Dark State" by Charles Stross. Follow-ups to the "Merchant Princes" series, though the publishers don't do the best job of indicating that. Intriguingly paranoid, and it's interesting to see Stross working in a less exuberant prose style than usual. "Those Below" (sequel to "Those Above") by Daniel Polansky. Grimdark fantasy that feels downright allegorical in places- both brilliant and utterly horrifying.

It's good that I'm finally reading fiction again. Next task: remember how to sleep.
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I'll have to check out those Stross titles, he can write so well, shame he's put so much work into the "Laundry" series which for me is tiresome. They seem to be popular though and a man's got to eat
 
Bick said:
Which one's Vince? I'm a Vonnegut newbie really - I read SH5 several decades ago, and don't really remember it, but I like to try and read books I've not read (unless it's a much loved book), so a rec' other than SH5 would be good to know. Cat's Cradle?
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Cat's Cradle or Breakfast of Champions for novels or Canary in a Cathouse (or Welcome to the Monkey House) for short stories.
 
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