What We Are Reading: Science Fiction & Fantasy

Danger, Will Robinson! You may get buried under your TBR stack with the suggestions from this thread!

I've set up a thread for "Future Women: Explorations and Aspirations" in the 2011 group. This is for the readings we talked about after reading The Postman in October, with post-apocalyptic or otherwise future views of women's role in societies. I'm not scheduling reading to start until February 1, but am letting people know so that they can star it and start acquiring books if they so choose.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/105210

Oh good. Like to see everyone getting organized. (That's something you're not likely to get from me. Organization that is.)

I read them last year, but I may reread them this year because they were so good. The Sparrow and its sequel Children of God. Criminally underknown science fiction masterpieces as far as I'm concerned, especially The Sparrow.

I have a couple of mass market paperbacks of science fiction stories that I hope to encourage myself to read by participating in this thread, and I may finally get around to Doris Lessing and Philip K. Dick.

Robert

I am new to the intricacies of this group. Last year I just tried to post books I read and I think I only actually posted 2 or 4. This year I hope to participate much more but I am a little curious as to how these individual discussions are working. For the scifi/fantasy and steampunk and so forth, are these reading groups that pick books to read as a group, or just a place to post and share books you read as individuals in those genres? Thanks and Merry Christmas.

Mainly the genre threads are for posting and sharing books you have enjoyed from the category. It's a great way to find good titles if you are interested in trying out a category that you may not know much about. Occassionally a group read will be started, and an announcement placed in the corresponding discussion. But generally group reads are set up in their own threads to make it easier to keep track of who is talking about what.

#6 - Welcome Adam (librarygeekadam)! Like jasmyn9 said, this thread is mostly to post what you're reading so the rest of us science fiction fans can add to our wish list.

If someone posts a title that people express interest in, a group may start a group read thread. Or someone who has an interest may set up a thread like ronicats Future Women read (post #2).

Hope you're enjoying the winter - I'm visiting family in Iowa and enjoying the snow since I will head back to Georgia next week & not have to deal with it.

Ah - so this is where the 75er sci-fi/fan crowd hides! Although I'm much more fantasy than sci-fi. Hoping to join you next year.

#1 Oh dear. My TBR pile already reaches the moon. I suppose it is on to Mars!

#10: Join the club, Jean! This group is not known for making the TBR stack decrease :)

Not knowing how else to classify this book except as fantasy, I started Shades of Grey this morning. It's already pretty fantastic!

#12 That was one of my favourite reads for 2010 - glad you're enjoying it! Ther only problem with the book is the long wait for the sequel to be released.

I enjoy these threads but I'm bad about remembering to post what I'm reading on them. I will try to remember for 2011.

Happy New Year! I've been on a fantasy kick the past few weeks and started the New Year with one of the Sandman graphic novels. Now reading Dark and Stormy Knights, short stories by authors including Jim Butcher.

Just finished Beka Cooper #2, Bloodhound
and I have to say I like it better than #1.

Hello Everyone! Good to see the old and the new.

>15 PamFamilyLibrary: I've been waiting years and years to read those books. Maybe this is the year that the third one will finally come out, and then I can start....

15 Pam,
I agree, Bloodhound was better than Terrier, in fact I think Bloodhound is one of the best of Pierce's books (along with Squire, probably).

Forgive me for posting about a film rather than a book, but I've just come back from watching a screening at my local arts cinema, of the newly restored Metropolis by Fritz Lang (about 30 minutes of lost footage was discovered a few years ago in Argentina, and these restored scenes apparently make the story a lot more coherent than previous versions in circulation). Fantastic experience and a spectacular film, full of imagery and ideas that have influenced so many other sci-fi films since - and a few other non sci-fi films besides. I'd recommend any fans of sci-fi to go and see it if is is shown near you.

I am finishing up How to live safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu. I have to say I did not really care for this book so far. I only have about 50 pages left but I am finding it really slow. Because of the deep insight into human nature and technology it keeps me interested but there is not much happening in this book.

I've been reading In the Night Garden by Catherynne Valente, which is a variation of 1001 Arabian Nights and so far am finding it to be brilliant.

I started Agent to the Stars, John Scalzi's first novel, last night. Not very far in yet, but I hope it continues in the spirit of The Android's Dream, my favorite of his so far.

I'm working my way slowly through Palimpsest and finding it-- well. Slow. I can't seem to find the magic most others have in this book. Anyone love it? I have a feeling that once my visitors are gone and I have reading time again I'm going to need some cheerleading to pick it up again.

I'm about to start Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere tonight... if I ever get off the darn computer, that is...

I'll be finishing up my ER Pale Demon by Kim Harrison today. Very good entry in the Rachel Morgan series.

I started The Android's Dream by John Scalzi yesterday. One of my SantaThing books and so far it's very good.

My first book finished in 2011 was Diamond Mask by Julian May, the second book of her Galactic Milieu Trilogy.
Now reading the third book Magnificat.

In November I started re-reading my Julian May books, first the four books of the Saga of the Exiles, then the prequels of the Galactic Milieu Trilogoy and now the grand final of the Galactic Milieu. I am enjoying my revist very much :-)

I just recently read Neverwhere for the first time, Faith, and enjoyed it.

Jan, The Android's Dream is my favorite Scalzi--I love it!

I just finished Agent to the Stars, Scalzi's first book. Not quite as polished as The Android's Dream, but with the same off-beat humor.

Can't help you, Aerrin, haven't read that one.

>4 NocturnalBlue: - I'm going to have to check out The Sparrow - it sounds really interesting!

On my TBR list: Shadowmarch by Tad Williams and Towers of Midnight by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson. And The Curse of the Mistwraith by Janny Wurts, and A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin, when I get my hands on a copy of it.

Still have to read some John Scalzi (hopefully soon - when I get home - I know I've got one or two I've picked up when I spotted them on the bargain table, lol) - I'm a loyal reader of his blog, but oddly enough have yet to read any of his books! (Love love love the blog though - there aren't that many people who can write a blog that is that normal and yet that fantastic at the same time)

Am planning to reread Neverwhere soon - absolutely loved it when I read it in 2009, but read it in a mass market paperback because it was all I could find, and I find it hard to "follow" books in that format - so I'm hoping the fact that I got a nice hardcover edition for Christmas will make it even more enjoyable the second time through.

#29> A hardcover of Neverwhere would find a good home here as well, I know what you mean about those mass market paperbacks.

#22 Aerrin, I tried reading Palimpsest last year, but gave up on it. I also found it very slow. I did not like her writing style at all and decided I didn't care what happened.

I've just started Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko. Less than a chapter in, not sure how I feel about it yet.

29 YGL - I read Scalzi's blog for some time before I picked up any of his books. I think it's not uncommon, actually. The same thing happened (for me) with Cherie Priest and Wil Wheaton. I'd recommend all three, but Scalzi has become one of my favorite SF authors.

I'm currently reading The Lies of Locke Lamora, which was a Christmas gift from a friend. I'm not sure it's something I would have picked out for myself, but I'm finding it really interesting.

> 31 Staci - I just tried another 15 pages of Palimpsest tonight and finally said 'enough with this!' It was at the point where she spent 7 lines of metaphor and description to say 'he asked his friends if anyone had seen his wife'.

So I am done with that and 15 pages into Hold Me Closer, Necromancer I am already engaged and excited! I'm so glad to hear I'm not the only one - I feel far less guilty now!

> 32 The Lies of Locke Lamora is one of my favorite books of the last few years. I love it a lot!

bunkie, please do read The Sparrow. I know I'm a broken record when it comes to that book in particular (and MDR in general), but if there's an author that deserves to be promoted...

staci, The Night Watch is in my TBR stack as part of my personal challenge to read as much international speculative fiction as I can this year. Is the ambivalence just due to being so early in the book?

>34 NocturnalBlue: - Found it on Half.com for next to nothing, so The Sparrow will soon be on its way to me! I'm really looking forward to it.

>32 bluesalamanders:: I also enjoyed The Lies of Locke Lamora though I haven't been able to get my hands of the sequel.

Good to see people talking about The Lies of Locke Lamora, I am just waiting to pick it up from the library.

OK, I'll admit my ignorance & look up Lies of Locke Lamorra tomorrow. What makes it so good?

& I'll add my recommendation of the Sparrow to everyone elses.

I'm currently enjoying Phoenix cafe by Gwynneth Jones & Oh pure and radiant heart by Lydia Millet.

tried to edit touchstones, but they aren't working. . .

Because I cannot read one book at time, I've started Soon I Will Be Invincible. I will read that humorous take on superheroes and supervillains alongside Carpe Jugulum, Pratchett's take on vampires.

The humor is just what I need after A Thread of Grace.

I'm hoping to get to both The Sparrow and The Lies of Locke Lamora this year. I've had them both on my to read radar for awhile now.

#34 NocturnalBlue, yes it was only because it was too early on. I've made it several chapters in now and I'm really enjoying The Night Watch so far.

I just started Hospital Station, someone (can't remember who) recommended the series some time back. I'm caught up with school reading and why get ahead when there's other books to read.

>19 librarygeekadam:
After about 20 pages, I put down How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe since I wasn't really getting into it. I'm hoping if I pick it up again this weekend I'll be more in the mood for it.

42> I think I've read more negative or only apathetic comments about that book than anything positive, which is a shame, since the concept is rather interesting.

I just started Plain Kate this evening, though I'm not far enough in to say much about the story or what I think of it so far.

I'll be interested to hear more Tanglewood -- I gave that to someone -- I admit mainly because the title was amusing.
i'm just finishing up the first of SEVEN (!) books in this series The Hidden Empire by Kevin J. Anderson. I was ready not to like it, but there are some fun things, trees that are interlinked telepathically around the universe, beings 'hydrogues' living inside gas giants...... ah what's not to love?

> 38 I really enjoyed the cons and capers in The Lies of Locke Lamora. I also liked the characters a lot - Lynch really brings them alive and creates interesting an unique individuals you care about.

It's a bit hard to describe really, but I just enjoyed the complexities of the cons in the same way you enjoy a really good heist movie like Ocean's Eleven. Seeing all the bits of the plan come together for characters you enjoy.

45> "What's not to love?"

Well I found plenty not to love in that book. Here is my review of it:

This is turgid stuff. And the more you read it the worse it seems to get. Anderson has written a science fiction that is more like a 1960s space opera than the true science fiction works of Asimov, Clark and Heinlein. In this world the English speaking interbreeding aliens sometimes have some special force integrating them, but not always.

The writing is dreadful and monotonous and character development is so inconsequential that I now, mere months after reading this book, cannot think of any important character name, nor anything worth bothering about them. I simply lacked any involvement in this work.

How this should be spun out to 7 books, I do not know. I think the author should concentrate on one good book before attempting such a long series.

This is a book to make you embarrassed to read science fiction. Needless to say I will not be bothering with the sequels (despite the shameless way this book stops mid story in an attempt to force you on).

>44 bell7: I've heard so many good things about Plain Kate and I've been wanting to read it, but haven't been able to get my hands on a copy yet. I look forward to seeing what you have to say about it.

>47 sirfurboy: I've encountered so much worse!

Might you feel less unhappy if in yr mind you separate space opera like this stuff from sf, I mean the real stuff like Banks et al? It's almost cruel to lump them together, innit? I mean, it was described as space opera by the person who recommended it to me, just light stuff, which I said I was in need of, so I don't think Anderson has pretensions about what he's doing?

47, 49 - I tried the Saga of Seven Suns a few years ago, and didn't get into it. But other people obviously do, since he got those books published and was selected to complete/continue Frank Herbert's Dune series.

"It takes all kinds"

>48 Cailiosa: I finished Plain Kate this morning. It's good - I really enjoyed the descriptions and the cat, Tangle, made me laugh. I do wish that I got to know some of the characters (other than Kate and Tangle) better than I did, but overall thought it was good and would definitely look for future books by this author.

I finished Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light. Very good. I enjoy the way he writes.

The Sparrow is waiting on my shelf now. Maybe I should grab it next...

Just finished Hold Me Closer, Necromancers, which I recommend! It's a fun, witty romp of YA urban fantasy, but pretty unique from others I've read.

Since finishing Agent to the Stars, I have read Kitty and the Midnight Hour and The Native Star.

I have not read Lord of Light for over 40 years--I really do need to reread it at some point. I still have my original Science Fiction Book Club copy from the mid-60s...

Oh! I forgot that I've got Kitty and the Midnight Hour somewhere on my Kindle. Thanks for the reminder, Roni. What did you think of it? Worth searching for?

>52 antqueen: & 54: I was just thinking of Lord of Light the other day when I was browsing through a list of Hugo winners. It's been over 35 years since I read it. Loved it then...I wonder how I'd feel about it now?

Will be starting The Final Empire in earnest a bit later tonight. I've read the prologue and I'm already intrigued - I'm really looking forward to this since I've heard nothing but good reviews of the trilogy.

# 56: It's been 30 years for me too, and kind of want to re-read that series again but am afraid it won't be a good experience.

#56 & #58

Lord of Light is one of the few books I've read twice and really enjoyed both times. And yes, it's been about 30 years for me too.

I finished Hospital Station, I thought it was OK but don't feel the need to read anymore of the series.

It's important to know that the Sector General stories range from 1962 (Hospital Station) to 1999, and the quality improves over time. The first books were originally short stories in the magazines. You might want to try something like The Galactic Gourmet before passing final judgment.

I was wondering if they got better over time, since they do maybe I'll give it another try at some point. Thanks Roni.

I started The Magicians by Lev Grossman. A book I know is controversial. So far, I'm really enjoying it, but I'm still where he is adjusting to the school and learning magic. I think the disliking happens later for many readers.

Phoenix Cafe by Gwyneth Jones.

I'm currently reading The Evolutionary Void by Peter F. Hamilton and it is really good and tying up the Void Trilogy nicely. Mr Hamilton is a master of Space Opera and I can't recommend his works highly enough.

> 63 It'll be interesting to see what you think of The Magicians. I didn't hate it, but there are certainly things in that book that are extremely derivative and extremely pessimistic. There's lots to talk about, for sure!

I finally got a copy of A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin, so I'm working on that. Isn't there supposed to be a fifth book in the series that's taking forever to come out?

#67: Yes, & I've pretty much given up on it getting finished. Dance of dragons was the title last I knew.

Rothfuss and Martin - GRRRRR!
I have, however, started the first of a complete fantasy trilogy which I'm liking a lot. Has anybody else read K.J. Parker's *Engineer Trilogy* that begins with Devices and Desires? No magic! It's a bit steam-punkish with one stagnant successful nation which has technology and a couple of backward mountain countries that have none. The characters are interesting and pretty complex. I'm almost equally interested in the author who is supposed to be a "name" in fantasy but of unspecified gender. The Parker website refers to K.J. as "she," I think. Does anybody know?

>69 LizzieD: Peggy, Wikipedia says "K. J. Parker is an author of fantasy fiction. According to the biographical notes in Parker's books, she has worked in law, journalism and numismatics, and now writes and makes things out of wood and metal. Parker is married to a solicitor and lives in southern England." That's her third trilogy, and she's written 3 stand-alone novels as well.

Finished The Bards of Bone Plain, the latest McKillip, on Monday. Typical McKillip, which is to say, lush, lyrical language, great characters, and you are left wondering "what the hell happened here?" Good reading.

#69 I haven't read that series but they've been on my radar for a while. If you like it I may move it up the list of books to try.

I'm reading Bridge of Birds and it's quite delightful. It's fantasy based in 800s China.

>69 LizzieD: - Ooh, Devices and Desires sounds interesting! I'll have to check it out (while I'm waiting for the last book in A Song of Ice and Fire, which may never ever be finished...!).

I've got D and D wishlisted.....

I'm presently reading Charles Stross's fine book of short stories Toast. How can you resist a title like that.

#74: Sitting on the fence on the Stross. Let us know what you think.

#72: Iloved Bridge of birds! such an entertaining romp.

#69: The Parker sounds intriguing. I'll keep my eyes open.

Just finished Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko which I really enjoyed. Now I'm working on The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven & Fool's Errand by Robin Hobb which I'm excited to finally get around to. Read the Farseer & Liveship trilogies a few years ago and really liked them and I'm hoping to enjoy The Tawny Man books just as much.

72>

I love Bridge of Birds so much that I can't possibly be articulate about it. (I did attempt to review it, on my very first day at LT, but it's mostly just gushing.)

>77 lorax:: And now I've had to add Bridge of Birds to my wishlist. Dang it. LOL

I finished Bridge of Birds and it's just sheer fun. Li Kao, "an ancient scholar with a slight character flaw," cracks me up.

"Boopsie!"

I've added Bridge of Birds to the wishlist too. I'm impressed by its super-high rating!

Pft, Zoe. You know ratings don't mean anything on LT! ;)

78, 80>

You're going to love it. Or if you don't, don't tell me, because I don't want to know. :-)

>81 Aerrin99: :P

>82 lorax: Don't worry, I wouldn't deliberately tell someone that I hadn't enjoyed a book they recommended! But I think I'll like it. Not that I'll get to it anytime in the near future given my massive TBR pile, though....

Here's another one that can't resist the lure of Bridge of Birds, adding it to my wishlist.

Me too ~ Bridge of Birds sounds fascinating.

I just finished A Date Which Will Live in Infamy: An Anthology of Pearl Harbor Stories That Might Have Been an average collection of alternate history stories concerning the attack on Pearl Harbor. I really enjoy alternate history but I haven't read much of late.

Bridge of Birds really is an outstanding and delightful book. Hughart wrote two sequels, both entertaining if not quite to the very high standard set by the first book. Unfortunately, he has never written any other books. Wikipedia has an interesting account as to why.

I was reading a different book but just dropped it in the bath - it is now drying in the airing cupboard. So have now picked up Desolation Road by Ian McDonald.

I have a genre question that is probably simply ignorance on my part. Are dystopias a fit in this category of What We Are Reading?

Thanks in advance for an answer from someone more familiar with the genre...

Definitely, Nancy!

Am reading Neverwhere right now - probably the last person on earth to read it.

#91

Nope, I haven't yet.....it's lurking on my shelves somewhere but I wouldn't have a clue where.

I'm rereading Nine Princes in Amber by Roger Zelazny and, wow, I kind of didn't remember that most of the women were so utterly useless.

Fourpawz - nah, I'm the last. You're just next-to-last. :)

I picked up a copy at one of the book fests last year, it's on the queue for later this month.

Recently finished The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch, my first Philip K Dick, and liked some aspects, but not his characterisation or his sexism. See comments on my thread here.

>91 Fourpawz2:, 92, 94 Oh! I wish I could read Neverwhere again for the first time! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did (and plan to again, maybe later this year).

I've just started Children of Dune. I am loving the series.

I was given the dvd of the BBC series of Neverwhere for Christmas. I think I'm going to read it again before watching the series so that I can compare the two, as it was quite some time ago that I read the book.

I haven't read Neverwhere yet but it's on my TBR Soon list.

I think I am perhaps the only person on earth for whom Gaiman's writing does very little. I read Neverwhere last year and found it surprisingly tedious. The only work of his that I've read so far that I found truly engaging was The Graveyard Book (and to some degree, the Sandman graphic novels). I'm not sure why that is!

Aerrin - Nope, you're not the only one. I found Neverwhere utterly forgettable (seriously, I forgot that I'd read it) and I gave up trying to read his novels. His short stories, not bad, and I like his movies to varying degrees, but I don't care for his books at all.

I just finished Neverwhere three days ago... I didn't really like it until about three quarters of the way through, but the ending really pulled it together for me, and when I finished the book, I realized that--upon reflection--I'd really, really enjoyed it. It sounds a bit contradictory, but once it all came together, everything fell into place.

I loved Stardust, liked American Gods and was unimpressed with The Graveyard Book so who knows what I'll feel about Neverwhere.

>75 markon: markon -- Toast is very funny and fun -- Stross writes a forward too talking about how quickly things are changing, so that even in ten or fifteen years these stories are dated in weird ways ..... but I'm enjoying them. There's a coffee armageddon story that had me howling and reading bits to my bored (they don't drink coffee like I do) family...... Stross is a master of the 'what if' -- he's very interested in acceleration, presently in the processing of information, going faster and faster and perhaps inevitably creating machines smarter than we are..... and I can see bits and pieces of the thinking that turns up in his novels being worked out here. If you're a Stross fan and you like short stories, you'll enjoy them.

And I'm ashamed to admit I got the next two books in the series that I was reprimanded for liking earlier..... I won't even name them ..... but I hang my head and admit I have lapses.

I'm about 72 pages into Cryoburn by Lois McMaster Bujold (who I generally adore) and I must say that I'm greatly disappointed :(

I finished The Magicians by Lev Grossman. I'm coming down on the side of the other folks that liked it. Mostly as a riff on Harry Potter and Narnia than as a fantastically built fantasy world. I didn't love it, but I'll read the sequel.

>100 Aerrin99:, 101 & 102 I confess to have started Neverwhere once and hated it, so I stopped reading after maybe a dozen pages and returned it to the library. At some later point, I got hold of the audiobook version (read by Neil himself) and absolutely loved it and thought it was brilliant.

> 105

I liked Cryoburn, but I think it's a generally mediocre Miles romp. I feel like his time might be coming to an end - we saw his arc play out pretty thoroughly and I think maybe his character growth is mostly grown.

The drabbled epilogues are worth the book, though.

105,108 I've been wondering about that myself -- but I'm sure fans pressed her to try? Or perhaps she was missing Miles? Couldn't he have an interesting daughter or something and then some new problems...... I am waiting for the pbk, I have to admit, since all the rest of the ones I known are pbk.....

I loved The Magicians -- no spoilers but I think there were several inspired moments -- the sojourn at the south pole being one. I didn't think of it as derivative, so much as an attempt to figure out what an American educational program for witches and wizards would be like. Also, what, really it would be like AFTER your education was completed. I felt that his 'world' was meant to be recognizable and 'connected' to world-wide wizarding, therefore it had to bear some resemblances to other earlier constructs as the template. Anyhow, that was my thinking (if you can call it that!).

> 109

Her next Vorkosiverse book is going to be Ivan-centric, which I think can be interesting. I wonder if she saw Cryoburn as her farewell to the character as a main protagonist. Although there's enough of a time jump that she could easily write more novels that go between, as she's done before. I suppose we'll have to see!

I agree that the derivitiveness of The Magicians was entirely intentional. I think there were some moments of brilliance in the book, and some moments of disappointment. He never quite managed to capture the (forgive the pun) magic for me, and although I love the idea of a darker side of magic and fairytales and fantasies, his vision was a bit too bleak for my tastes.

I felt a bit like he knew what he wanted to do, but didn't quite get there in a cohesive sort of way. If that makes sense.

I'm plodding through Dust by Elizabeth Bear. Not sure why it is such a slog. Perhaps because I don't feel all that connected to the main characters.

It's an interesting story with a complex and otherwise interesting world, but... Hmm. I keep thinking I'm going to abandon it. I'm nearly halfway through.

Edited for caffeine-deficiency spelling. And it probably still isn't right... sigh.

I didn't like the ending of Dust. And, like you, I never felt connected to the characters.

#111: Since you are already halfway through, Jean, why not give it a rest for a day or two and then come back to it. If it is still a slog, go ahead and abandon the book.

Good advice, Stasia. Life's too short...

I'm a couple of days late, but I'm another one who's not a Gaiman fan. I enjoy his shorter books well enough at the time but don't find them particularly memorable. The only longer book I've read is American Gods, and I found it a horrible slog.

Oooooo Ivan! I hardly dared hope!

Absolutely dead on comments about The Magicians Aerrin - it got so close though, I feel forgiving.

I have never succumbed to Gaiman's charm; he just doesn't work at all for me. My husband likes him a lot.

That is good advice.

I'm currently reading The Chosen, book 5 of the Raj Whitehall/The General series. Not great but what I expected.

Okay, on good advice I'm putting Dust aside for now and beginning Starfarers. So far, already reading at faster pace.

Nearly half way through Dan Simmons Ilium. I am enjoying it- and realizing how much of my 9th grade Iliad I have forgotten. I may refresh a bit on Homer when I finish this; also will need to look in on Shakespeare and Proust. I do not yet find it as engaging as Hyperion but that could just be a general funk that currently envelopes me.

though I loved Neverwhere I can sympathize with those for whom it was too tedious, because it was a book that took me a LONG time to get through - at the time I kept trying to read it before bed, and especially in mass market paperback, I kept realizing I had no clue what had happened in the last 4 pages - I'd read it but I was so tired I couldn't take in SO much information...

Hi! I'm getting a new project started to get together great recommendations for books by themes. I've called it Books By Themes (BBT) and your suggestions are most welcome! Here's the link.

I've just started reading The Heir of Night, first in a new fantasy series, and have raced through the first 50 pages, it's quite exciting and an interesting world.

Just started The Sparrow last night - I've gotten to chapter 3. It's very interesting so far!

#119: I liked Ilium more than I expected to. I am glad I reread The Iliad before I read it though. And you just reminded me that I have Hyperion on my wish list, and a B&N gift card...

I'm about half done with Ilium. It is enjoyable, but I preferred Hyperion. Hope you enjoy!

Just finished Bright of the Sky by Kay Kenyon, the first I've read by her. Interesting book.

Brave New Worlds: Dystopian Stories by Ursula K. Le Guin and others
Wild Cards I (Wild Card Series) by George R.R. Martin

Neither were spectacular :(

If anyone over here is interested, we'll be doing a Group Read of A Game of Thrones as part of Fantasy February. Join us here!

Just checking in to say I'm working through Zelazny's Great Book of Amber as well as The Enchanted Forest Chronicles. Quite enjoying both (though I have to agree with an earlier comment about the women in Amber. Mind you, Princess Cimorene of the Forest is on our side)

I love Cimorene! She's fantastic :D

#15 I quite agree it was a major improvement but since she was writing in a completely different style thats kind of understandable. My only complaint is the extreme wait between books I always have to go back and reread to remember where she left us. Mastiff is due out this year.

#28 I read Shadowmarch last year and couldn't put it down once i started it. I didn't have the same luck with the sequel Shadowplay I'm not sure what was holding me back from enjoying it.

I've just started Battle Royale. Right now it's a bit hard to keep all the names straight, but I'm hoping it'll get easier as it goes on.

I've finally gotten my hands on The Sparrow, and I am loving it so far. It's all I can do to make myself put it down and go to bed!

I've only read one of Kay Kenyon's books (The Seeds of Time), and I wasn't impressed. It felt like she wanted to write a mystery, but couldn't figure out how. Possibly others are better, but I haven't been able to bring myself to try one.

I finished The Grand Ellipse by Paula Volsky the other day, which was fun. I think I'm going to read Singularity Sky by Charles Stross next. Unless I change my mind.

I'm 2/3 of the way through On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers for the group read, and half-way through the 3rd Connor Gray book, Unfallen Dead, so that I can mail it to my sister.( She has the first two that I've already sent her.)

#133> Look forward to your comments on that one, I have it on my tbr pile.

Just finished Soulless, which was not quite what I expected, although I mostly enjoyed it. Tomorrow I'll probably pick up Handling the Undead.

>138 Aerrin99: I'm sorry you didn't like Soulless more. I thought it was a lot of fun.

>138 Aerrin99: Soulless is on my wishlist - what didn't you like about it, or what was different than you were expecting?

It was far more romance than I expected (in fact, if I had to pick a genre for it, 'romance' is what I'd label it) and I felt like the faux-Victorian thing slipped more often than was strictly comfortable.

That said, I /did/ enjoy the book - and I read it very quickly. I'll write a fuller review soon, and I'll try to remember to link it here!

I liked Singularity Sky, but I generally like Stross. That said I am admitting that I am now on #3 of the Seven Suns Saga and I still defiantly am enjoying it, but I did order Elizabeth Moon's Remnant Population today, so perhaps that redeems me a little?

#142 I've just received a copy of Remnant Population via Bookmooch a couple of days ago, so I'm hoping to start that soon as several people have been recommending it very highly.

I am currently in the middle of Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins. I am finding it an excellent finish to this great trilogy.

In the middle of The Half-Made World. It's a very interesting western-ish fantasy that's pushing the border into steampunk land. It's certainly got the punk part right.

#145> Who wrote that? I haven't heard of it.
--BJ

I started on the third in the Chaos Walking series, Monsters of Men. It started off in the middle of the action and hasn't let up yet, though I'm only about 54 pages into it. I'm hoping to get some quality reading time in for the snow day today.

I'm getting into Native Tongue for the Future Women Group Read.... AND I'm still reading my Seven Suns saga, Book 4. Don't usually have two going at once but can't be helped! They are sufficiently different, that's for certain.

Started Weaveworld by Clive Barker. It's a re-read bit Kath was also talking about reading it for Fantasy February and it's a few years since I read it.

Digging into Game of Thrones for the group read - loving it so far!

This thread is feeling a little neglected! I've been guilty of forgetting to post here, as well. THis month I've read Carousel Tides by Sharon Lee, a favorite author for her Liaden collaborations with husband Steve Miller. This solo effort is urban fantasy, but with that little extra quality that I appreciate from her. Also a couple of Barque Cats books (Catalyst and Catacombs)by Anne McCaffrey and Elizabeth Ann Scarborough that are just fluff--good for young teens but fun because there are cats! They were to balance The Magicians by Lev Grossman, which is Harry Potter meets Narnia as experienced by angsty teen nerds. And now I'm working on The Spirit Lens by Carol Berg for a group discussion on Tuesday. She writes good quality traditional fantasy, and so far this fits that description.

I'm reading The City and The City which I like but it messes with my head a bit so I keep having to stop and read other things for a while.

Just finished Warbreaker, which I loved, and The Disappeared, an entertaining sci fi space mystery.

151: Yeah, this thread is currently in competition with Fantasy February.

Just finished reading Birthmarked and it was an entertaining read.

#155,

I liked Birthmarked as well. It was a fun brisk read, and I'm really surprised that there doesn't seem to be #2 on the horizon.

#156 I thought the same thing, so I checked a little while ago and the author says on the FAQ of her website that she is writing a sequel that is due out in November. I am looking forward to it!

#157

Oh, must have missed that. And does it seem like there is less time these days between sequels?

Tomorrow I'll be starting Perdido Street Station by China Mieville. I've heard so much praise about the book but just never got around to it. My Santa chose it for me through the SantaThing program, so now I'm reading it! :)

159: As I mentioned in the steampunk thread, I have Perdido Street Station on the agenda for soonish. Picked it up a few weeks ago after seeing it highly recommended by several LT folks.

I am finally getting the chance to read Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler.
I am thirteen pages in and so far so GOOD!

I just finished Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon. This was my first book by Moon and I enjoyed. Will definitely be looking for more of her work.

Okay, another fan of Bridge of Birds here. "Boopsie" indeed! lol

Picked up the second Native Tongue book, The Judas Rose. I'm not sure what I think so far, but I'm determined to see this trilogy through!

I'm rereading Connie Willis's To Say Nothing of the Dog, which is a great little time-travel/historical fiction book. The story is light-hearted and easy-going, yet compelling, and the main character has a wonderful sense of humor. It's a good pick if you need a change of pace from bleaker, more intense reads.

I just abandoned The Dispossessed alas, so will start Elfland sometime today.

Now that I've given myself permission to abandon books, I'm taking advantage of it and not forcing myself to read something I'm not finding interesting.

ETA: fat fingers

#166> I like Nancy Pearl's Rule of 50 - If you don't like it after 50 pages, set it aside and if you are older than 50, subtract your age from 100 and give it that many pages to catch your interest. Life is too short to waste on books you don't enjoy.

Continued reading stories in The Dragon Book last evening but looked at my library haul and have decided that the first Witch World book is probably next since I found it in Gates to the Witch World which collects the first 3 Witch World novels in one place and I tend not to read series back to back these days.

#165> I just finished that and really enjoyed it too.

I will be starting Magic Kingdom For Sale - Sold! by Terry Brooks. I have read his Original Shannara series and enjoyed those books so looking forward to reading this series!

>166 majkia: & 167 I'm another adherent to The Pearl Rule, because life's too short!

Halfway through Sharon Shinn's Summers at Castle Auburn and loving it! Can't imagine how I missed reading it long ago, because Shinn's one of my favorite fantasy/sci-fi authors.

Just finished Magic Kingdom for Sale - SOLD! by Terry Brooks. Onto the second book in the series, The Black Unicorn.

Reading, "The Wise Man's Fear" by Rothfuss. It's a monster.

I finished My Dead Body, the 5th and final Joe Pitt book. This is an excellent series featuring a vampire P.I. I also finished Fool Moon, the 2nd Harry Dresden book. I listened to this one and actually prefer the audio.

It looks like A Dance with Dragons will be released on July 12th. Hooray!

Pam- Please stop by and give us updates on The Wise Man's Fear.

I finished The Night Watch by Sergei Lukyanenko and am now reading Black Ships by Jo Graham.

Oh, Pam, I'm envious that you already have The Wise Man's Fear! Do please keep us posted so I'll know whether to bite the bullet and buy now or wait for the price to come down (a long wait, I realize). AND A Dance with Dragons coming up!!!! What a year!!!!!!!!
I'm currently a good third of the way into Regenesis and happy to be visiting Reseune again. Cyteen is a great favorite. And I'm only a little way into Evil for Evil, the second of K.J. Parker's Engineer Trilogy.

I'm reading The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold now (listening to it, rather). The current plan, unless something shiny distracts me, is to read The Spiral Labyrinth by Matthew Hughes this weekend, which will be a sneaky way of joining in on Mystery March without relinquishing my beloved fantasy and sf.

#171 jolerie, how did you like Magic Kingdom for Sale - Sold!? I liked it as a teen, but listened to it on audio not too long ago and was a little disappointed. I'm not sure if it was the difference in me or the difference between print and audio. Possibly both.

I'm reading Star Wars -- Republic Commandos: Hard Contact. It's pretty darn good so far!

What amazes me about Rothfuss' writing is how he can write such detailed descriptions, of what would be mundane paragraphs in the hands of someone else, and make them interesting. I mean he can describe what is basically a laboratory experiment and make it gripping stuff -- which in my mind takes genius. (I wasn't all that interested in chemistry when I was doing it :)

As for buying the book, my advice is to not wait for a paperback. There's just too many pages and no way that a pbk could hold together.

his prose is quite lovely at times. I'm jealous that you're reading it already.., I pre-ordered from amazon and it's not here yet. I had to fight the urge to buy it on kindle as well though I did download the first chapter as a sample to hold me over.

#179

Oh Yolana, you need to dig down and find out what's happened. It should have been delivered it by now. Amazon had mine delivered the day it came out :(

#177: I love Star Wars but have not read many of the books as of yet. Someone gave me Path of Destruction and I've had it on the bookshelf but just haven't gotten to it. You are reminding me that I really should read it soon.

I'm such a cream puff. I downloaded the *Wise Man* today, have read the cartoon summary at his blog to recall *Wind,* and am good to go. YAY!!!

>174 rubarbaru: I loved Black Ships best of the three by Graham I've read so far! Looking forward to hearing your take on it.

>181 rubarbaru:: The Star Wars novels seem to be hit or miss... though for the most part, I've managed to pick up good ones. I haven't read Path of Destruction, but have heard good things about it!

>183 Storeetllr:: I finished Black Ships and it was great - definitely one of my favorite reads of the year so far. I haven't read anything else by Graham yet but will likely check out her other works.

Finally got my Wise Man's Fear . I looked at the paper and wondered what was up with the change then I looked at the end and it's 963 pp. Looks like the only reading I'll do this month.

#186,

I'm so glad you've got it. And yes, if savored ought to be the best book of March. In fact, the only book of March!

#187 I'm definitely looking forward to it. 900 plus pages is a good thing as far as Rothfuss is concerned I think.

>187 PamFamilyLibrary: & 188 I spent the weekend skimming and rereading The Name of the Wind (what a good book!), so now I'm ready to go with *Wise/Fear* - except that I really do need to finish at least one something else before I dive in.

Oh, yum - Rothfuss! But I'm so far behind on my quota for the year, I don't think I can red it yet. Will savor the anticipation instead ...

My copy of the new Thursday Next novel, One of Our Thursdays is Missing has arrived so I'm currently rereading the previous book, First Among Sequels to refresh my memory.

#189 I've heard so many good things about Rothfuss but I am holding out until the third book is published...

All of the fantasy I've read recently has been distinctly 'meh', which is rather disappointing. I think I might continue with Joe Abercrombie's trilogy to see if that can buck the trend.

#191 I've just started the first Thursday Next book, The Eyre Affair haven't made it very far in yet, but so far I'm really enjoying it.

I've just finsihed two sci fi books, The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle, it took me forever to finish, but overall I enjoyed it. The second one was The Disappeared by Kristine Kathryn Rusch which I also enjoyed. For the rest of this month, I have several mysteries lined up for the Mystery March thread.

#191,

lol -- I hope it doesn't take him another 10 years to get around to finishing the 3rd book.

I am reading Ysabel by Guy Gavrel Kay and while it's not my favorite of his, it is still a worthwhile read.

Just finished The Black Unicorn and will be going onto the third book Wizard at Large in the Landover series by Terry Brooks. The second book was a bit better than the first book but still is lacking but I can't quite put my finger on it.

>#195 Judy, I have Ysabel on my shelf as well and so I look forward to seeing what you think of it when you are done.

*sigh* One of our Thursdays is Missing isn't out yet here--but it is due tomorrow, so I need to be sure to go pick it up!!

>192 Ygraine: Katie, I wish you well with Abercrombie. I gave up after a couple of hundred pages in the first book. I decided that life is too short, and I had so hoped to like it.
>195 DeltaQueen50: Judy, I agree that GGK was not at his best with Ysabel. I'm waiting for his latest to come my way at PBS.
Meanwhile, I persevere with Regenesis: good stuff, but way more time than necessary in Ari's head this time.

>196 jolerie: : It's been a while since I read the Magic Kingdom books, but maybe with a title like that - and when I read it, the cover art had a SOLD! sign plastered across the title - we're expecting more humour and action?

#195> I am normally an ardent GGK fan but Ysabel sat on my TBR pile last summer through both possible renewals and did not catch my attention. I will give it another try at some point but not right now.

>199 humouress:: You are probably right :) It's neither funny nor serious so I guess I'm left in limbo and wondering how else I should read the story. But the good news is the second one is better than the first. Here is hoping that even if it doesn't pick up, it at least won't get any worse. :/

I have finished Ysabel and it definitely felt like a YA read. Very different from his normal writing. I prefer his elaborate historical fantasies set in his creative made-up world. I have now read all his books except the newest Under Heaven which I am looking forward to.

I loved GGK's Tigana and Lions of Al-Rassan but Ysabel and two others of his I've read so far (the titles escape me at the moment) were (apparently) not so noteworthy. I'm hoping Under Heaven is more like the former than the latter.

The nicest thing about Ysabel was catching up with characters from his first trilogy. Other than that, I agree, it was YA with not nearly the complexity and depth in his other later works.

I've often wondered how much Ysabel was prompted simply by a zillion people bugging him with, "What happened to...?"

I'm somewhere in the middle of The Titan's Curse and enjoying it as much as I have the others in the series. Mostly I am concentrating on Mystery March this month though Rapunzel's Revenge still beckons.

I finished The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms Sunday, after the basketball and bracketology wrapped up!

Finished Stardust - audiobook read by Gaiman - and thought it was wonderful. I definitely plan to read more of his work.

oh, I love that one. You should read The Graveyard Book and Neverwhere if you get the chance.

I just started Sabriel. Can anyone tell me if it's typical of Nix's writing?

#209 Already have the Graveyard Book on the list and will add Neverwhere, too!

I finished The Titan's Curse and thoroughly enjoyed it but I'm going to concentrate on Mystery March for now.

Just started The Eyre Affair - enjoying it so far. I wouldn't have thought to mention it on this thread, but I saw others in the series mentioned earlier.

>210 PamFamilyLibrary:: I'd say yes, it is.

Just finished the Percy Jackson series and a Doctor Who adventure, The Taking of Chelsea 426. Now starting The Graveyard Book on audio read by Gaiman.

I've been reading the second in Elizabeth Moon's new fantasy trilogy, Kings of the North and also the urban fantasy series by Seanan McGuire, the first three, and now I'm sorry I didn't pick up the fourth as well.

>> 76

Just finished (again) The Mote in God's Eye Nevin and Pournelle universe building. Fascinating book. The characters are pure cardboard but the alien civilization is not.

N.B. When there's an alian civilization in a s-f book it's always us.

Thanks to so many LibraryThingers (is that even a word?) recommendations, I picked up Patrick Rothfuss' The Name of the Wind. I can see why everyone raved about it -- everything from the great characters, the intricate world Rothfuss has created, to the transitions from present-day to the past as Kvothe tells the tale of his boyhood blends seamlessly together to create an amazing story. My only regret is that I didn't request The Wise Man's Fear from the library at the same time, as I'm now the second person in the queue and the person who currently has the book has kept it four days past its due date. Arrrgh.

I just finished Ender's Game, I read Wise Man's Fear earlier this month and now I'm back to drumming my finger's and saying 'yes, Patrick, but what have you done for me lately, chop chop on that third book'.

I must get around to re-reading 'Name of the Wind', and buying 'Day2', unless it's buried in my TBR pile somewhere. But I might wait till the third book comes out.

I'm on Pern, third Pass, having just finished Moreta : Dragonlady of Pern, and planning to go on to Nerilka's Story.

I'm reading The Wise Man's Fear right now. I'm 13 chapters into it and loving it. I know the wait for the last book is gonna be murder.

I'm also reading Club Dead by Charlaine Harris.

I'm really looking forward to reading some fantasy as I was concentrating on mysteries this past month. Foundation is sitting on my nightstand beckoning me to return to Valdemar.

Just finished Tiassa. What a huge disappointment! Your mileage may vary but I'd recommend waiting for paperback on this one...if you even purchase it.

Darn it! I was looking forward to reading Tiassa. I love the Vlad Taltos novels. Guess I'll be waiting on it.

>224 jrg1316:: jrg...as I said, you're mileage may vary. For your sake, I hope it does. However, as an experiment, I re-read Jhereg last night. Despite the fact that I've read it before and know whodunit, etc., it was markedly superior.

Good luck!

Finished Graveyard Book, which was excellent. Next up is Elantris by Brandon Sanderson.

>226 rubarbaru: Looking forward to what you think of Elantris since that is a book I have on my shelf as well.

Will be starting The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I saw the movie ages ago, but don't remember much but looking forward to a different perspective on the Arthurian legends.

>227 jolerie: Oh, I loved The Mists of Avalon though it has been years since I've read it.

I've just picked up a copy of The Mists of Avalon too - it's one of those I feel I ought to have read years ago but never did. Not sure how soon I'll get round to it but at least it is on the TBR pile now.

I'm alternating between a hard copy of Blood Price by Tanya Huff and an audiobook of Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik. It's an...odd...juxtaposition.

#230> yes, that would be an odd juxtaposition. I enjoyed the Blood Books. You have reminded me that I ought to see if THIS library has the Smoke books.

#227, 228, 229> I enjoyed The Mists of Avalon though I never read any of the sequels, nor have I seen the movie. Hmm...seems I have some updating to do on the book to film thread

231 elfchild

I like both the Blood books and the Smoke books a lot. Good luck finding them, they're well worth it!

I am starting The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold.

>233 alcottacre: : Let me know how that goes, please, Stasia. I've read the first two Chalion books, but reviewers weren't so keen on this one - I think, because it wasn't set in Chalion. But I can't believe LMB could write a bad Chalion book.

It wasn't bad, but I much preferred the first two. It wasn't that it wasn't based in Chalion, but rather it was a very different type of story.

#232> Bah, humbug. My library has the first and third Smoke book (I've read the first) but not the second.

I finished The Capture today which surprised me pleasantly - the author has definitely done some research about owl habits and I look forward to reading more in the series. I'm currently staring at the books coming due at the library on Thursday trying to decide which one to read. I'm leaning toward The City of Ember

#234: I will keep you posted, Nina.

> Thanks, Stasia.

About to start New Spring, Robert Jordan's prequel to his 'Wheel of Time' series. I feel a bit safe about starting that series again, now that I've seen Brandon Sanderson's collaborations in paperback in the shops. Mind you, they're quite long books, especially towards the end, which is probably not what I want for the 75er challenge - especially towards the end of the year!

Ps - I see that George R.R. Martin's Game of Thrones has been made into a TV series. Has anyone seen it yet? Still trying to find out if, where and when they'll be showing it in my area. Nice cast list.

I started reading it at one point, but then I stopped, because all my favourite characters kept getting bumped off, and mainly all just kids, too.

Game of Thrones starts Sunday, April 17th on HBO

Still listening to Elantris on audio, but also snuck in Summers at Castle Auburn by Sharon Shinn on my iPad, a really enjoyable read.

File this under guilty pleasures. Assignment:Eternity is a Star Trek fan book that picks up where the episode "Assignment:Earth" leaves off. It's fun to see Gary Seven and the plucky hippie chick Roberta once again cross paths with the Enterprise crew.

The author has fun throwing in references to every sixties TV show it seems including "Doctor Who" and "The Avengers"

Completed The City of Ember and enjoyed it. Am now happily returned to Valdemar with Foundation.

Just finished children's/YA book The Homeward Bounders by the recently departed Diana Wynne Jones.

#244> I've never read any Diana Wynne Jones. I really should.

I finished Foundation and enjoyed it. I saw some reviews that complained that it was too juvenile, more reminiscent of the Owl trilogy (which is my least favorite) than earlier work, but I did not feel that way. Since I've read a few middle grade books I found myself staring at the TBR shelf for a long time and ended up opting for Storm Front. I've also been listening to The Dark is Rising

Finished Elantris by Brandon Sanderson today and it was excellent. The world he created was amazingly intricate and the story was gripping and original. One of my favorites of the year so far.

Up next is Neverwhere on audio read by the author.

I finished The Dark is Rising last night and then picked up Twilight's Dawn. There went any hope of getting enough sleep...I love the Black Jewels books.

I must say I'm a little wary of the Black Jewels books myself, because of the premise; demons and black witches and so on. I did read the first one (Daughter of the Blood) a couple of years ago, but haven't moved on, yet. I'm more tempted to follow on from Kushiel's Dart, (though I'm even more wary of the premise there), because I feel more involved in the characters and the political intrigue.

(eta book titles)

Has anyone read James Patterson's Witch and Wizard series yet? If so, how is it?

#248> I love both series - they are my favorite fantasy discoveries of recent years. I think it is fascinating that Anne Bishop has created a world where magic is dark without necessarily being evil. As far as Jacqueline Carey's world goes...had anyone told me that I would enjoy a book whose heroine takes pleasure from pain I'd have wondered where they put their second head, but Phedre is a wonderful, strong character that I enjoy visiting over and over.

The Kushiel's Dart series is one of my favorites. I pulled it off the shelf a few weeks ago to start a re-read once I get a little more caught up with a few other things.

I've finally starting reading A Game of Thrones because I'd heard so much about it and to be hones the HBO trailer looked really good.

I just finished Brooklyn Knight (stay away!), right now I'm reading Princess at Sea, and up next I'll either be reading Howl's Moving Castle or May Contain Traces of Magic.

I've just finished New Spring, and thoroughly enjoyed it. I have read (at some point) most of the series, but I think this could be read by itself. Highly recommended!

Finished Neverwhere by Gaiman - terrific on audio with his excellent reading.

Currently reading Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. I liked Elantris so much that I thought I would keep going and read some more by Sanderson.

I started listening to Greenwitch this morning. I'm really enjoying listening to this.

> 256

The whole The Dark is Rising Sequence is worth a read for it's lovely new take on Arthurian legand and the ins and out of Cornwall my favorite part of England.

Love the characters of the "Old Ones" and their battle against the Dark.

Greenwitch is my favorite of the sequence because Jane the girl is given something to do and is taken seriously.
Beware the dreadful "Dark is Rising" movie that was made a few years ago.

Getting quite long. Part 2 is here.