Chris von shannow
Well-Known Member
Trying Gods of war by William Frisbee
Non fiction: 'The Demon in the Machine,' Paul Davies, 'can life be explainedI have three novels carrying over from February, two of which I'll certainly be finishing in the next few days, both of them historical murder mysteries (another John Shakespeare set in Elizabethan England, this time with the plots surrounding Mary Queen of Scots, and another Sister Fidelma set in 665, this time in her home country of Ireland). I've also still got Age of Ashes by Daniel Abraham hanging over me, and I'm determined to finish it or dump it this month.
In addition, I've got two non-fiction books on the go. Exploring Avebury: The Essential Guide by Steve Marshall, a incredibly detailed book about Avebury and its surroundings with wonderful photos and illustrations, and Templars: The Knights Who Made Britain by Steve Tibble, about the Knights Templar, of course, interesting but somewhat repetitive.
So what are you reading this month?
Non- Fiction: 'The Demon in the Machine,' Paul Davies.'We need something beyond physics and chemistry to explain life. ' A domain where computing, chemistry, quantum physics and nanotechnology intersect . . . the concept of information: a power to unify a number of key disciplines, and illuminate the question of whether we are alone in the universe.' Fascinating and something to dip in and out of for inspiration.I have three novels carrying over from February, two of which I'll certainly be finishing in the next few days, both of them historical murder mysteries (another John Shakespeare set in Elizabethan England, this time with the plots surrounding Mary Queen of Scots, and another Sister Fidelma set in 665, this time in her home country of Ireland). I've also still got Age of Ashes by Daniel Abraham hanging over me, and I'm determined to finish it or dump it this month.
In addition, I've got two non-fiction books on the go. Exploring Avebury: The Essential Guide by Steve Marshall, a incredibly detailed book about Avebury and its surroundings with wonderful photos and illustrations, and Templars: The Knights Who Made Britain by Steve Tibble, about the Knights Templar, of course, interesting but somewhat repetitive.
So what are you reading this month?
I read Foundation's Edge when it first came out in 1984. I was 19 and had just finished the trilogy. I remember thinking it was one of the best books I had ever read and my favorite of the series. I'm not sure if I would feel the same now. But I thought it was one of the Hugos that was the most deserved, unlike the more recent additions to the list, lol.Well... two days of March, and most of February. A scifi trilogy that has been sitting on my shelf unread for almost thirty years. A trilogy in three paperbacks, inside a nice thick card slipcase with Chris Foss covers that form a triptych.
Yes, I'm talking about Foundation by Asimov. No idea why it's taken me so long to read the things, but there you are. I thought they were excellent - very enjoyable. I think if I'd read them as a kid or teenager (though I didn't have them then) I would have read them several times since (they're that type of book).
I also have Foundation's Edge - which is almost as long as the original trilogy combined - but it was written thirty years later so I'm in two minds about reading it.
I have read the first three. Yes it is true the first book was a sort of second-rate copycat but then he gets quite original in the sequels. Overall he is very enjoyable. It's just that I have so much to read I never have gotten around to going past the first three.Love it when I see the Shannara series mentioned. It's got a special place in my heart for being my introduction to fantasy.
You're not alone in comparing The Sword of Shannara to Lord of the Rings. The general consensus is it's very derivative. A literal laugh-out-loud moment for me was when I realized there's an insane leader being puppeted by a silver-tongued advisor.
However, Terry really starts to find his own voice with Elfstones, and it's my personal favorite of the series. I always recommend it to anyone curious about the series. Hope you enjoy it.
GRRM wants his done right. He doesnt want to be a Robert Jordan, He will finish! Think positive.And Terry Brooks is 80 and still churning them out, whereas GRRM is five years younger and has taken ten years to not finish a series...
Started in 2010...GRRM wants his done right. He doesnt want to be a Robert Jordan, He will finish! Think positive.
Trying Gods of war by William Frisbee
I also have Artifact on my book shelf to read some time, but I like his Galactic Centre books , especially Great Sky River. (Technically the first two books in the series are are rather dull and can be skipped, starting with Great Sky River instead)Ordered some additional Gregory Benford while I was still enjoying his Shadows of Eternity, commented on above in this thread.
I am a sucker for a book that starts off with the excavation of a Mycenean tomb. Particularly when, because it is by Benford, I know that it will not just focus on 3,500 years ago.
Well it doesn't. I did regret that perhaps the most interesting historical speculation is sort of a throw in towards the very end of the book. He presages it but just trots it out in the last ten pages.
I've got this on my TBR list. I would love to know what you think of it when you are done.Now reading The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World by Bettany Hughes.
"The Hanging Tree" set off some bells, so I looked it up online, and reading the description for the movie I realized that I had seen it when it first came out, along with my family, almost certainly at a drive-in theater. Parts of the movie that the article described I could picture very vividly in my mind, as though they had a particularly strong emotional effect on me at the time. Since I was not yet ten, I was hardly a qualified movie critic, so I can't say whether it was a good movie or not—still less, considering the year (1959) and how loosely Hollywood would often base a script off a book of the same name, to what extent it resembles the actual story in the collection you are reading—but I can at least vouch for the effect the movie had on me. In fact, after reading the article, I dreamed of it all night and into the next day, although since I've been sick and feverish all this last week that factors in as well.have started a collection of Western stories by Dorothy M. Johnson. The four tales included are "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," "A Man Called Horse," "The Hanging Tree," and "Lost Sister." (The title of the collection, as far as I can tell, is just the combined titles of the stories.) The first three were made into movies,
"The Hanging Tree" set off some bells, so I looked it up online, and reading the description for the movie I realized that I had seen it when it first came out, along with my family, almost certainly at a drive-in theater. Parts of the movie that the article described I could picture very vividly in my mind, as though they had a particularly strong emotional effect on me at the time. Since I was not yet ten, I was hardly a qualified movie critic, so I can't say whether it was a good movie or not—still less, considering the year (1959) and how loosely Hollywood would often base a script off a book of the same name, to what extent it resembles the actual story in the collection you are reading—but I can at least vouch for the effect the movie had on me. In fact, after reading the article, I dreamed of it all night and into the next day, although since I've been sick and feverish all this last week that factors in as well.
So have you read that one yet, Victoria? What did you think?
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