What are you reading ?

Originally Posted by Alrik Fassbauer
The Mule isn't a symbol for being smart in the German language.

Same in English … plus it is a hybrid of a donkey and horse, not generally considered attractive, typically sterile, and so on. It is an evocative word …

Yes, exactly that.

EmbassyTown was a hard read for me. Unique for sure but I read I think 4 other books during its read. Also just read Neverwhere by Neil Gaimam. It was very good, much better than American Gods which was another book that was a hard read for me. Currently reading his Stardust since I loved the movie.

Yes, Embassytown moved like molasses for me, too. Still a good and unique book!

Finished Foundation & Empire. I understand the translation controversy now …


Anyway, while I had my suspicions, I was well entertained and am looking forward to reading the conclusion. Onward to the Second Foundation!

"Demoneater" by Royce Buckingham - second book of his "Demon"-series.

I finished Divergent by Veronica Roth in less than 3 days, and after 3 *weeks* I am still less than 75% through the sequel 'Insurgent' … hope it ends well …

Originally Posted by Arhu

Spoiler

And if "The Mule" was indeed erroneously translated as "The Fox"… what then about the character "The Fox", who also appeared in the same story?

Bergner renamed this character as well, but I don't remember their new name. I read the Bergner translation back in the 80s … my memory isn't what it used to be.

Also just read Neverwhere by Neil Gaimam. It was very good, much better than American Gods which was another book that was a hard read for me. Currently reading his Stardust since I loved the movie.

I must be in the minority, I thought American Gods was his best book, but a few of my friends have said the same thing.

I recently read Mieville's London's overthrow, a short political essay he released last year. One of the better things I've read of his.

Giving the Fear and Loathing books my annual re-read at the moment.

Originally Posted by Becca43
I must be in the minority, I thought American Gods was his best book, but a few of my friends have said the same thing.

I recently read that and enjoyed it … but it is all of his I have read. I have Anansi Boys and Ocean at the End of the Lane on my Kindle waiting for me … any other suggestions for his stuff?

Toff mentioned Neverwhere, it's an excellent read. The BBC produced a radio-serial of it which I have to hunt out, think Cumberbatch played a character.

And his Sandman series is fantastic, one of my favorite comics.

Neverwhere is more playful than American Gods which had a very serious tone to me. Just depends on what you are in the mood for. Good Omens is excellent also which is mostly a fantasy/comedy. Stardust is excellent but if you have seen the movie then theres really no reason to read the book as they were pretty close to matching. Thats all the ones I've read by him.

Originally Posted by Becca43
I recently read Mieville's London's overthrow, a short political essay he released last year. One of the better things I've read of his.

Bit too pretentious for my liking. Plus although I like the application of his politics to imagining fantasy dystopias, it is a bit much when he dramatises modern day UK life quite so much.

Have you seen he's getting involved in a new . . . socialist, communist? . . . extreme left wing party basically, trying to bring together the Socialists, communists, judean people's front and people's front of judea together.

Good luck to him, would be good to see labour attacked from the left.

Originally Posted by Becca43
Toff mentioned Neverwhere, it's an excellent read. The BBC produced a radio-serial of it which I have to hunt out, think Cumberbatch played a character.

And his Sandman series is fantastic, one of my favorite comics.

Hadn't realised there was a radio version, quite liked the tv version, pleasingly retro / low budget BBC set design & costumes

Finished the The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny last night. Disappointing overall. With the exception of book 8 (which was actually rather enjoyable), the story just never really took off. 1258 pages of meh.

In the middle of all that, I did stumble on a pleasant surprise. Picked up Kevin Hearne's Hounded (book 1 of the Iron Druid series) and had a good time with it. Looking forward to getting more books from that series soon.

I've tried twice to start the Amber series and both times I just cannot get into it. Both times I doubt if I even got halfway thru book 1 so I have no idea if it gets better or not.

Currently reading Fallen by Tim Lebbon. Interesting characters and world. Nothing earthshattering happening in it but its kept my attention so far.

Finally finished REAMDE by Stephenson. Despite the slow start it turned into a serious page turner, involving a computer virus, an MMO, an international kidnapping and chase across multiple continents, the crazy Russian mafia, british spies, terrorist jihadists, and gun-toting anti-government survivalist religious fundamentals. If you've fantasized terrorists getting their butts handed to them by US civilians, this book's climax is for you. 1000 pages long, it was the most riveting book of this length I've ever read after the slow start. Fantastic read!

Am now reading "To Say Nothing of the Dog" by Connie Willis. Another time travel yarn this time to Victorian England.

Originally Posted by dteowner
Finished the The Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny last night. Disappointing overall. With the exception of book 8 (which was actually rather enjoyable), the story just never really took off. 1258 pages of meh.

I read the first 5 books once and was fairly glued to the pages IIRC, but never really cared to read the remaining 5. How do they compare?


I have finished the Foundation books by now and am in the middle of the Robots trilogy (The Naked Sun). These are more along the lines of traditional detective stories in a Sci-Fi setting. Still enjoyable, though.

Originally Posted by Thrasher
Am now reading "To Say Nothing of the Dog" by Connie Willis. Another time travel yarn this time to Victorian England.

Decent book, but I didn't find it as funny as advertised. I was on a kick trying to find humorous fantasy back then, so perhaps I was just wanting something out of the book that wasn't it's true purpose.

Originally Posted by Arhu
I read the first 5 books once and was fairly glued to the pages IIRC, but never really cared to read the remaining 5. How do they compare?

I'd say the first 5 were "more literary". For example, the extensive descriptions of moving thru shadow bored me to tears, but I expect folks that want more than entertainment from their reading would probably find that suitably high-brow. I could certainly appreciate the skill, even if it was wasted on me. The second 5 books seemed a little more traditional fantasy adventure, although there was a little more emphasis on navel gazing over the whole order versus chaos theme. While it's kinda stupid to expect realism from a fantasy series, I did notice more "cop-out magical plot solutions" in the second portion.

I'm reading erikson's Forge of darkness. Finished his Malazan empire books, loved them!

Anybody who likes to read epic fantasy forget about jordan, start reading erikson!

Originally Posted by Ursusdraconis
Anybody who likes to read epic fantasy forget about jordan, start reading erikson!

I have book 4 waiting for me! I wouldn't say "forget Jordan" though, WoT was completely different.

Originally Posted by dteowner
I'd say the first 5 were "more literary". (..)

Truth be told, I don't actually remember much about those books, except for maybe … cards? And patterns? The main reason I read them was because the title reminded me of "Amberstar / Ambermoon", which always conjure up images of the literally fantastic in my mind.