thosmm - Tom's 2009 Bookshelf

I'm a latecomer to this 100 book challenge, but I'm game. I read SF/fantasy/adventure for entertainment and computer books for work. I'll hare off on a new topic or an old interest for days or weeks at a time, so I tend to cluster the books I read on topics.

Every year, I read several different books, and since I've read them already this year, I'll list them here as my first few books.

1. Silverlock by John Myers Myers
2. The Moon is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein
3. Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan
4. Helmsman by Bill Baldwin
5. Tactics of Mistake by Gordon R. Dickson
6. Dorsai! by Gordon R. Dickson
7. The Final Encyclopedia by Gordon R. Dickson
8. Gray Lensman by E.E. "Doc" Smith
9. Second Stage Lensman by E.E. "Doc" Smith
10. Children of the Lens by E.E. "Doc" Smith
11. Spacehounds of IPC by E.E. "Doc" Smith
12. Junkyard Planet by H. Beam Piper

13. Kris Longknife: Deserter by Mike Shepherd
14. Kris Longknife: Mutineer by Mike Shepherd
15. The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

16. Understanding Exposure: How to Shoot Great Photographs with a Film or Digital Camera (Updated Edition) by Bryan Peterson
17. Orphanage by Robert Buettner
18. The Nikon Creative Lighting System: Using the SB-600, SB-800, SB-900, and R1C1 Flashes by Mike Hagen

19. Orphan's Journey by Robert Buettner
20. Orphan's Destiny by Robert Buettner
21. Orphan's Alliance by Robert Buettner
22. Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon
23. Marque and Reprisal by Elizabeth Moon
24. Engaging the Enemy by Elizabeth Moon
25. Command Decision by Elizabeth Moon
26. Victory Conditions by Elizabeth Moon

27. Jhegaala by Steven Brust
28. David Busch's Nikon D5000 Guide To Digital SLR Photography by David Busch
29. Orphan's Triumph by Robert Buettner
30. ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income by Darren Rowse

I'll update this as I read more!

Tom

Welcome! I haven't heard of any of those, I'll have to check into them :)

Hi Tom, I'm a late starter here too. :) Welcome!

I read Dickson's Dorsai series many years ago, and did enjoy it. While I've pruned my shelves of my younger reading tastes to a great extent, those ones are still there.

I've updated my list.

What did you think of the Elizabeth Moon series? I thought it started very promisingly (I've enjoyed all of her books), but the last two books just seemed to peter away and it ended with a whimper, not a bang. Rather disappointing, really.

I love Elizabeth Moon's books too. It's been a while for the Vatta's War series though. Lately I've been reading the Serrano books.

I would agree with you on the Vatta War series. I really liked the first and third books. The second book seemed to be more of a bridge. The fourth book seemed like a bridge, then the fifth book seemed to be rushed. There wasn't anything structurally wrong with it, but there were several loose ends that weren't tied up and the scene with Ky and Rafe wasn't very satisfying. In fact it was downright disappointing.

The Familias series (Seranno) was much better from a series viewpoint, and the last book didn't seem to be rushed out the door. I liked the character growth throughout that series.

The one book that I don't 'get' by Elizabeth Moon is Speed of Dark. There just wasn't much that I identified with in that book. However, I've given copies to families with autistic children and they've thanked me profusely; so it's an experience thing.

Regards,
Tom

I've never been able to read Speed of Dark either.

Oh gosh, no, I loved Speed of Dark. I thought it was a marvelous insight into autism. (No one in the family/close friends with autism, but my husband does work with intellectual disabled adults, so it's something he's very aware of.)

But I also love her space operas. So much fun.

My latest stack:

31. The Last Centurion by John Ringo

This is a standalone book with an interesting premise: It's a series of blogposts from about 20 or so years in the future about the double whammy of an epidemic and a climate event that runs counter to current 'politically correct' prediction. The movie would be at least R Rated for language and adult themes.

32. Ghost by John Ringo
33. Kildar by John Ringo
34. Choosers of the Slain by John Ringo
35. Unto the Breach by John Ringo
36. A Deeper Blue by John Ringo

This is a series John Ringo wrote a few years back. I enjoyed the series, but the series has a BDSM undertone that is not always necessary, though is occasionally woven into the story in unexpected ways. These won't be everyone's cup of tea.

37. The Warrior's Edge by Alexander, Groller and Morris
38. Guns, Crime and Freedom by Wayne R. LaPierre

That's it for now. I'll be back soon. :)

Tom