What are you reading ?

[Prime Junta]

I thought it was interesting that the CIA report estimates the probability of a hot war between two or more great powers as less likely than ever. I tend to agree; war in the 21'st century is more on the model of Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, or Somalia than what we've seen before.

I think the one "doomsday" scenario that's conceivable enough to merit serious consideration is a collapse of the global ecosystem due to runaway climate change. It seems that most climatological models give a roughly 1-5% probability of the world's average temperature rising by 10-20 degrees Centigrade, which would be genuinely catastrophic -- the most populous regions today would become uninhabitable, and the rise of countries like Brazil, India, and China would be cut short as billions would die and tens of millions more would become refugees. It's a low probability, but still high enough that we shouldn't dismiss it out of hand. I have rolled 00's on d100 at inopportune moments...

[Bartacus]

I've finally finished my Terry Goodkind series. Perhaps not the most spectacular or the best books I read, but it was good entertainement. I've also begun in the 'last' book of the Dwarves from Markus Heitz. It's so funny to see a preword where the author thanks a certain forum member.
I would really like to be able to read it in German, but I don't want to do the effort of learning it. I want the knowledge without the hard work. Perhaps I will find a way soon to help myself with this problem.

[Jaz]

I've also begun in the 'last' book of the Dwarves from Markus Heitz. It's so funny to see a preword where the author thanks a certain forum member.Muahahahaha. This forum member must be omnipresent. :harl:

[Prime Junta]

Nice avatar, Jaz. Your hubby got around to actually using his nice new strobes, I take it? ;)

[Jaz]

Not quite... this is just another pic from the testing session. Hubby thought it was garbage, but I actually like garbage pics (if garbage = overexposed) :p.

[Prime Junta]

I like it more than the other one you posted. Overexposed is great, if you make it look like it's meant that way. ;)

[Rohal]

I'm rereading the Narrenturm trilogy. Novels about the Hussite Wars by Andrzej Sapkowski. The one who wrote the books The Witcher is based on. He is a great writer! The story is great and the way he writes is very entertaining.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Hussites ?

They placed at least two marks in Germany :

- Furth im Wald, the "Drachenstich" there has remotely to do with them.
- Bernau near Berlin, they have some kind of festival every year about them, sort of.

Interesting is the *huge* distance between both. You know where Berlin is, and Furth im Wald is in Bavaria, close to the eastern border.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Last Friday my whole world collapsed.

I was reading a book containing auto-biographies of people with [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gifted]intellectual giftedness[/i], but who never made it with it. I mean they were unnoticed, thir giftedness was even fgrowned upon, suppressed ... They never came to live their talents.

I did not know whether I should cry or laugh, so striking were the similarities I saw in my self.

Now I've got a new theme to explore: In how far am I one of them ? What can I do to support this never fully lkived part of my self ?

Questions, questions ...

[magerette]

@Alrik: I think everyone has some talent or gift for something, even if it's mundane(mine is growing things.) While I never got to be the great novelist or poet I wanted to be in high school, I have a kick-ass garden and can write really long forum posts, so I don't despair. I think the odds are high you will find ways to express yourself and to explore what's meaningful to you if you stay open and keep trying. There is more than one definition of success. :)

We went to the dollar book store today--one of our favorite splurges--and stocked up on books--(buy fifteen, get five free--can't beat it. That's why our house is stuffed wall to wall with paperbacks like some NYC cat-lady or something.) Anyway, I picked up some Gore Vidal(1876) Jack London, Giants in the Earth, Jane Smiley's Greenlanders--which I've read but it's been years--and assorted silly books, so I'm set for awile. Life is good.

[cutterjohn]

Nothing much:
Read The Witcher book released in the US in late April.

Read all of the Falco mystery novels that I own by Lindsey Davis in May/June (c. 14).

Read some of the Steven Saylor Gordianus the Finder novels that I own in Junes, c. 6 out of 10? (I own all of the series to date, but some of them are stored away and I was too lazy to dig them out.)

Read the first Star Risk novel by Chris Bunch, and started on the 2nd. (Not the greatest...)

Currently halfway through the Brother Cadfael series by Ellis Peters, but running out of steam, even as short as they are.

i.e. I expect that I'll shortly be looking around for something else, but I really wish that they'd just shotgun out all of the Witcher books already translated into English right away instead of piecemealing them. At least they're not doing somewhat overpriced hardback to incredibly overpriced paperback with something like a 2y wait. (Actually The Last Wish was towards the low end of paperback pricing in the US, surprisingly enough... only c. $6 IIRC rather than the assinine $8.)

I remember when paperback were about $2, and not that many years ago. Paperbacks have suffered a staggering rate of price inflation in the last 20y, something like 400% fairly evenly spread across the time period. I always find it amusing to own an older copy of a paperback with a price on it of like $2.75 or $3.25 and then see a new reprint priced at $7.99.

[Corwin]

I have books I paid 50 cents for brand new; how do you think I feel these days!! :)

[Rohal]

@cutterjohn: I loved the witcher books! I actually found them before it became a game. There was an excerpt in a "Children of Tolkin" collection. Then I bought the 2 books which were translated to german at this time. And I just love the way Sapkowsky is writing. The hussite war trilogy I mentioned earlier is also by him. Again it is great writing. I really hope they are now translating all the other witcher books to german or english, so I can read them.
Chris Bunch remembered me of a book I read by him and Allan Cole (I think). It was called "The Far Kingdoms" if I remember correctly. Quite liked it in those days... Don't know if I would like it now though.

[Dez]

I'm reading Jan Guillou's Tempelriddaren (the knight templar in english). Its the second part of his crusades trilogy. The main character is Arn Magnusson. a young man who is forced by a cruel fate to become a knight templar. The first part tells about childhood and youth in sveden..and all those disputed between various svedish nobles. Intresting stuff. and ofcourse his training and what lead him on that harsh path. Great reading so far, if you like historical novels, don't miss this. :)

[Rohal]

There is also a german version of the trilogy. With strangely translated titles by the way. So after the pile of books, which are waiting for me, it sounds good. Noted.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

We are used to strangely translated titles here in Germany.

It seems as if people try their best to produce the most ugly titles for translated book, trust me.


And remember that "Divine Divinity" was a German invention. I think this says it all.

[V7]

Just finished Dan Simmons The Terror, interesting fictional novel about the fate of the actual Franklin Arctic expedition lost in the mid nineteenth century. A good story and lots of interesting detail about Arctic survival and state of the art nineteenth C technology.

[Toaster]

I'm finally reading Max Brooks' "The Zomibe Survival Guide", it's really quite fascinating how he manages to be so serious about the issue. Not very far into it yet but from what I've seen so far I can recommend it for anyone who finds the concept of zombies interesting.

[Benedict]

Can I spam the paperback release of my brother's fantasy / new weird book? Book (http://www.amazon.com/Thunderer-Felix-Gilman/dp/055359110X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221653295&sr=8-2), reviews (http://felixgilman.com/books.html)

Coming out on 30th september, thankfully without the crappy cover of the hardback release.

[Prime Junta]

I bought a few more volumes of Lucifer (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucifer_(DC_Comics)). I like it a lot -- it's not quite as good as Sandman at its best, but a good deal better than Sandman at its weakest. I like the variety of art styles and artists paired with the single voice in writing, and the beautifully complex, intertwined plot threads.

Plus, it just doesn't get any cooler than Lucifer.

[Alrik Fassbauer]

Ended "Going Postal" by Terry Pratchett.

Everyone who wants to know how economy *really* works, should read it, imho.

[magerette]

Just finished a book that combines my love of the Gothic with some sweeping history and geography of the Balkans and the Ottoman Empire, called The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova. Basically it's a reworking of the Dracula tale, with a lot of historical detail on Wallachia, Transylvania and the Byzantine forays into eastern Europe.

It's a first novel, so at times it overreaches itself, but by and large, the author does a credible job of providing atmosphere and plot, with some genuine creepiness that makes you glad the lights are on. Good by the fire stuff for those autumn evenings when the night and the cold are drawing in, and the darkening shadows begin their seasonal murder of the flowers of summer. [ insert evil laughter]

[txa1265]

I'm reading Brisingr by Christopher Paolini. Our oldest son wants all of us to catch up on the series. Everyone else is working through the Twilight series ... and my younger son is finishing up Fellowship of the Ring so he can get to Twilight before the movie hits.

[Essaliad]

I'm reading Brisingr by Christopher Paolini. Our oldest son wants all of us to catch up on the series. Everyone else is working through the Twilight series ... and my younger son is finishing up Fellowship of the Ring so he can get to Twilight before the movie hits.

Jesus, why are you doing this to yourself/your family? Brisingr and Twilight are among some of the most putrescent ordure that have ever been inflicted on the general public in the last few decades. Surely you have better books on hand? And if your kids actually like that stuff, I... I'll just offer my condolences right here. Are you okay with encouraging your children to read a series that portrays (without irony whatsoever) creepy stalking, extreme possessiveness, abusive behavior and pedophilia as the stuff of great, star-crossed romance--the stuff of a perfect relationship?

I've just finished reading Frederik Pohl's Gateway. An interesting book, though it's yet another one of those older sci-fi novels that's all about the travails and neurotic problems of an everyman character common to the period--white, male, American, rags-to-riches and all. Amazon has just dispatched my copies of Blood of Elves (the second Witcher book) and Roger Zelazny's Chronicles of Amber, so I anticipate good times ahead!

[EverythingXen]

I just finished William Gibson's Idoru.

It's definitely a William Gibson novel, so if you're a fan or have never read him it's worth a read.

[magerette]

Just picked up Doris Kearns-Goodwin's Team of Rivals about Abraham Lincoln's presidency and his controversial cabinet composed of those in his own party who ran against him for president. Lots of parallels to the current situation, of course, as you hear touted by all the news analysts lately, but it's also well written and interesting in and of itself. It's also nice to read about a time in history that was even more dire than the one we're in now. ;)

[xSamhainx]

reading The Last Wish, and having a good time w/ it!

I'm really liking reading fiction based around the Witcher, I wonder if I'd like other game-lore books as well. Noticed there's a lot of Warcraft and Warhammer books on the shelf at the bookstore.

[Essaliad]

The difference is, however, that the Witcher RPG was based on the books, not the other way around. Whereas Warhammer/Warcraft/D&D novels are based on the game, and as such tend to be of a much lower quality.

[dteowner]

Finished Across the Face of the World by Russell Kirkpatrick. Fairly good stuff, so I figure I'll pick up book 2 of the series soon. Started Making Money by Terry Pratchett, and it's off to a roaring start. It's a horrible shame that Discworld will die as Pratchett's Alzheimers kicks in.

[Corwin]

Reading Coe's 'Rules of Ascension' first of a 5 part series. Not bad, though I prefered his Owl Mage trilogy.

[magerette]

Just finished Team of Rivals- quite the hefty tome. Hopefully Obama's efforts along those lines will work out better for him than Lincoln's did, because it was definitely a mixed bag. Fascinating book though--especially maybe if you have a long commute, or are a hardened political junkie with the time to read 500 pages of devious and intricate political ploys from over a century ago related in loving detail.

Next, I'm looking at Alter's book on FDR's first 100 days, The Defining Moment, but I'm going to slip in a mystery or two for pure recreation first.

[tristanj]

I didn't mean to be different, honestly I have no book to read at this moment. I am currently reading the answers here in this topic thread. I hope that counts. :D

[shadow_hk]

I'm reading just now Olympos by Dan Simmons (in Czech translation). Dan Simmons is probably my most favourite author of sci-fi (I haven't been reading a classical fantasy for a long time - at most the China Mieveille's "new weird" or Neil Gaiman's books.

But I like reading sci-fi, space-operas and deep thoughted alike.

But back to Dan Simmons. He's (among others) an author of Hugo awarded Hyperion.

The Hyperion and The Fall of Hyperion or the whole so called Hyperion Cantos is /for me/ the greatest sci-fi I have ever read (and I have read a lot of books..)

edit: except, as some might say, the most important Book of Books :) But I'm working on it as some surely noticed - in my own godless way :).

[magerette]

Finished The Defining Moment: FDR's 100 Days and the Triumph of Shlock Journalism...er, HOPE by Newsweek flack Jonathon Alter, and all I have to say is don't waste your time unless you want to read a bunch of reporter's third hand gossip about Eleanor Roosevelt's lesbian love life. Yeesh--though it is full of odd historical details and snappy quotes, and gives a certain feel for the Great Depression, it's obvious the author's only aim was to get into print a bunch of anecdotes he'd dug up, mostly scurrilous, on Hoover and FDR.

So I've abandoned serious literature and am now reading Aztec Gold, a sleazy Clive Cussler adventure I stole from my husband. :)

[txa1265]

Finally finished Brisingr (Eragon book 3) ... not bad, but the writing is very uneven and the author seems so young and sheltered most of the time ... the interactions feel 'learned', not natural.

Now finally going to finish 'A House for Mr. Biswas' by VS Naipaul ... which means restarting at this point. Naipaul's prose is so nice that it is a fun journey.

[JemyM]

My next six months will be spent on reading up natural science. Since I am taking the basic and advanced course at the same time I decided to read the entire book for the basic course during my christmas holliday. It was a bit more basic than I had anticipated though.

[Benedict]

I'm giving barack obama's The Audacity of Hope a go, although for some reason I felt embarrassed buying it like a geeky fan boy.

[magerette]

I'm giving barack obama's The Audacity of Hope a go, although for some reason I felt embarrassed buying it like a geeky fan boy.

It's worth a read--there is definitely a slightly self-serving tone at times, but also it's hard to hide who you really are when you write about the things you most care about. At least unlike most politicians he has regular flare-ups of a self-deprecating sense of humor.

[JemyM]

Not reading yet, but for Christmas I got myself Karl Marx Capital and John Stuart Mill On Liberty.

[txa1265]

I wanted to pick up the last book in the 'Night Watch' series with a gift card I got, bu apparently it got delayed into late January ... ah, well ... back to Mr. Biswas ...

[Benedict]

It's worth a read--there is definitely a slightly self-serving tone at times, but also it's hard to hide who you really are when you write about the things you most care about. At least unlike most politicians he has regular flare-ups of a self-deprecating sense of humor.

Excellent, I'm hoping I won't be disappointed by it, for all that he's a consummate political animal he has managed to seem up until now like he does genuinely care about a lot of things.