What are you reading?

I finished Last Wish and am now reading the fan translation of The Sword of Destiny.

Really liking the connected short story format of both. And the gradual development of repeated characters. The stories of morality and surprise plot twists sometimes provide fodder for later thought. Good stuff.

I found the dragon story particularly good (and funny) despite some of the terrible things that happened.

One of the funny lines (there is a better one, but can't find it right now):

“It chirped, stood on its hind legs and unfurled its wings. It suddenly went to snuggle up against the sorceress. Yennefer sighed deeply, looking puzzled.
"He likes you," murmured Geralt.
"He may be young, but he's no idiot," added Dandelion, fidgeting enthusiastically in spite of his bonds. "Look where he lays his little head. I'd like to be in his place, damn it. Hey! Little one! You should run away. This is Yennefer, the bane of dragons! And witchers! At least of one witcher in particular…”

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Ursusdraconis said:

And for the fans of the malazan empire: esslemonts books are definitly improving. Just read orb, scepter, throne and really enjoyed it

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Good to hear. I'm in the second half of Return of the Crimson Guard, his second book, pretty much exactly in the middle of the Malazan Reading Order. While not great, it's interesting enough to keep me reading.

The book "The millionaire next door" is a must read. It's not a philosophy book, it's about a study that the authors did interviewing thousands of wealthy people. The book describes their collective knowledge, a countless times proved way to become rich.

The way is pretty simple and obvious: frugality. The real millionaires live a much cheaper life than they could afford. They don't have luxury stuff, they live much lower neighborhood than they could afford and they save serious part of their income every month. So they could keep up their current life for years without income. Less than 20% of them inherited significant wealth, and only 0.02% scored big via lottery or became a star or an inventor. 80% of them accumulated their wealth in one generation, slowly, month by month.

The other people, even those who earn more than $50K/year practically have no wealth besides their home, car and furniture, and live from paycheck to paycheck.

Why this book is so great? Because - unlike others - finds the way how people do it. I mean it's 101 to "spend less than you earn", yet people can't do it. This book tells the exact thing that separates rich from poor: "They believe that financial independence is more important than displaying high social status". So, they don't show off, don't give a damn what the Joneses think.

Currently enjoying the latest from LEM, Madness in Solidar; it's part 9 of the Imager Portfolio.

Currently reading some pulp military space opera - valor (or valour yes Ive seen both spellings on covers) confederation series. Mind candy with guns

Was reading some Shadowrun books but I'm getting tired of them. Loaded up the first Elric book from Michael Moorcock since its been over 20 years since I've read them. Looking forward to it.

I've been reading dozens of amazon kindle books. These are normally smaller than a real paperback and the editing is hit and miss. I read so many of them that I typically don't post a review unless it was really, really good or if something irritated me

Thrasher said:

Finished Kim Stanley Robinson's "2312". If you're a fan of his Mars series read this one. It takes terraforming and odd spacer bioengeering/evolution and culture to the next level. The book starts off quite strong, and is followed by a couple of very dramatic climaxes. Recommended.

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Reading it now. I'm halfway through and it's again a pure joy to read. I love how Mr. Robinson manages to describe purely theoretical concepts so vividly and in great detail that it feels like you are there in the flesh, like the surfing scene or that one long trek. And his characters always feel so real and down-to-earth (hah). It's too bad the book is relatively small compared to the Mars ones.

I'm considering reading some of his other work at some point, even though I prefer futuristic Sci-Fi to mostly historical stuff. Did you read anything else by him, Thrasher?


edit: Or I can just wait for his next book, "Aurora", which is due out in May and delves even further into the future.

No, but I should.

You're right about his protagonists usually being very calm and low key even when they are revolutionaries or about to be killed. That long trek in the tunnel is a great example of demonstrating grace under pressure AND its opposite. Keeps them accessible I suppose.

Currently working on Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett. Not sure if it's better than the last few or if I'm just embracing it a bit since I know it's the end of the line, but I'm really enjoying it so far. About 25% in so far. I might be chasing shadows, but it seems a little unusual how many of his characters are popping up for cameos in this one. It seems almost like a curtain call, but I'm probably just allowing myself to create a comfy narrative.

Prior to that, I knocked out the second Apropos of Nothing book, Woad to Wuin by Peter David. Enjoyable, and makes me want to seek out the conclusion to the trilogy, but not exactly a world-beater.

Prior to that, I blasted thru the 2nd Fafrhd and the Grey Mouser omnibus from Fritz Leiber, Lean Times in Lankhmar. Probably been 30 years since I read those stories last, but they hold up to the nostalgia-laced memories.

dteowner said:

Currently working on Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett. Not sure if it's better than the last few or if I'm just embracing it a bit since I know it's the end of the line, but I'm really enjoying it so far. About 25% in so far. I might be chasing shadows, but it seems a little unusual how many of his characters are popping up for cameos in this one. It seems almost like a curtain call, but I'm probably just allowing myself to create a comfy narrative.

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I had the very same impression. So many themes popping up. It looks so much like his Legacy for me.
A well-done legacy.

Just finished Old Man's War. I have no idea how it ended up on my Amazon Wish List except that I may have added it instead of the Forever War by accident. Got it for Christmas from my Dad. The writing is a bit juvenile at times, and frankly it seems a bit confused as to what time period it occurs in (humans have been traveling in space for 200+ years, but the way it describes Earth you'd think it was the 1950's).

All that said, its AWESOME. I have a hard time finding Sci-Fi I really like and I REALLY liked it. I loved the way it portrayed the future as basically one big clusterfuck of galactic exploration and colonization. This is no Star Trek future with civilized discourse and federations.

Highly recommended.

Well, I needed something to round out my case of Wonka Giant Nerds, so ended up ordering the book, thanks thrasher

I've always failed to find fantasy novels that really do it for me. It's odd, because I've always liked fantasy, and I've found plenty of novels in other genres, like sci-fi, that I've really enjoyed. I enjoy the Game of Thrones HBO series (despite the dodgy 1970's sado-porn vibe) but I thought the book was painfully written. Someone said that they couldn't decide if Martin was the worst great writer, or the greatest bad writer, and I think that's spot on.

So, any recommendations for the better fantasy novels?

Ripper you can try Joe Abercrombie's trilogy, The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings. Very gritty, dark and heavy but fun and very entertaining fantasy. Or Patrick Rothfuss In the Name of the Wind and A Wise Man's Fear, little more light but still excellent reads.

Currently I'm re-reading Elizabeth Moon's Deeds of Paksenarrion, I had read them like 20 years ago and now rediscovering them. Very good stuff so far, on 2nd book, strong female character in a interesting fantasy setting.

Drithius said:

Well, I needed something to round out my case of Wonka Giant Nerds, so ended up ordering the book, thanks thrasher

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Which book?

@Ripper

I find myself in the same boat, but didn't dislike aSoFaI so much. Although at times, I found it a little pokey and wallowing.

A few great low fantasy reads I really loved include the Chalion series from Lois McMaster Bujold.

The first 2 are the best.

The Hallowed Hunt

The Curse of Chalion

Paladin of Souls

Derp, I meant that in reference to Ninja's prior post.

Ripper said:

I've always failed to find fantasy novels that really do it for me. It's odd, because I've always liked fantasy, and I've found plenty of novels in other genres, like sci-fi, that I've really enjoyed. I enjoy the Game of Thrones HBO series (despite the dodgy 1970's sado-porn vibe) but I thought the book was painfully written. Someone said that they couldn't decide if Martin was the worst great writer, or the greatest bad writer, and I think that's spot on.

So, any recommendations for the better fantasy novels?

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Start with The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. If that doesn't suck you in, we'll just go ahead and put you out of your misery.

Cronis said:

Ripper you can try Joe Abercrombie's trilogy, The Blade Itself, Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings. Very gritty, dark and heavy but fun and very entertaining fantasy. Or Patrick Rothfuss In the Name of the Wind and A Wise Man's Fear, little more light but still excellent reads.

Currently I'm re-reading Elizabeth Moon's Deeds of Paksenarrion, I had read them like 20 years ago and now rediscovering them. Very good stuff so far, on 2nd book, strong female character in a interesting fantasy setting.

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I tried a couple other Elizabeth Moon books, but none of them really held up for me like Deeds. I was actually a little disappointed with the Abercrombie books. Definitely good reads, but I think I might have gotten too much hype here and suffered for it. Have you done Glen Cook's Black Company series? Listing Abercrombie and Moon, I think you'll find the Black Company right up your alley.

I read the first book of the Black Company series, but for some reason it didn't really catch with me. I kind of want to go back and re-read it just to see if maybe my expectations were totally off base and thus thats what turned me off from it. I plan on getting Moon's other 5 books based on Paksenarrion once I finish the original trilogy. Its gotten pretty good reviews on Amazon, I'll have to read them and let you know how they are.

For me Abercrombie' stuff was kind of a fresh take on the genre. I've read everything of his except for the Half King, and I've enjoyed all of it immensely. I guess I like the gritty, sarcastic and unconventional take on the fantasy setting that he does.