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[thomaser]

Still reading Thomas Mann's "Buddenbrooks", which I started in the beginning of May. I'm halfway through...

 

[Tomat]

Just picked up Count Zero by William Gibson.

Still looking for A Clash of Kings in stores around here... damn book had to get popular all of the sudden.

 

[Sleepy]

Just finished:

The Fantastic- Todorov

Categorizes the aspects of the fantastic to the smallest sliver of actual use/effect.

A Short History of Fantasy- Mendelsohn

A bit tedious in places, but her chapters on Tolkien, Rowling, and 2000-2010 were worth the read. Also, the suggested reading list for both fiction and theory will keep me busy for a while.

Just started:

Rhetorics of Fantasy- Mendelsohn

A taxonomy of fantasy into four "types": portal-quest, immersive, intrusive, and liminal, also provides texts that fall outside the classification system: the irregulars. I finished the introduction...seems like it will be worthwhile.

The Golden Age- Ajvaz

A travelogue of an island; a much denser read than I was anticipating. Reads like literary theory, but it is incredibly fun. Much more philosophical than The Other City.

 

[Deleted member 1235]

Am on my Abercrombie binge How is The Heroes compared to his previous works?

I like the trilogy equally and found heroes better than best served cold (I liked best served cold)

I'm still reading the dresden files. who doesn't like detective wizards?! The series is outstanding and each book is a decent, but quickish read. And there is 12 of them.

is anyone else reading these or has read em? Cause it's great.

 

[Sappy113]

Am on my Abercrombie binge How is The Heroes compared to his previous works?

It's fucking awesome. Especially if you like the whole Northmen thing. It's more focused than TFL, since it revolves around one battle in three days, so the entire story is zeroed in on that event.

 

[Maklershed]

I've been on a post-apocalyptic genre spree for awhile

Sweet those are by far my favorite kind of books. What have read in that genre so far? I'm always looking for new ideas.

 

[Qwomo]

Sweet those are by far my favorite kind of books. What have read in that genre so far? I'm always looking for new ideas.

The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway is great!

 

[tirminyl]

Been reading this to get my by until A Dance of Dragons comes out. Forgot that I had purchased The Face of Apollo as I could have saved 7 bucks and read that.

 

[Narag]

Awww yeah. These aren't even a guilty pleasure for me any more. So good.

Yeah, looking forward to getting back into that series. Last I read was Fulgrim then I put it down for a while.

Snow Crash is... not as good as I expected. Not yet, anyway. I'm almost the halfway point. So far, when it's not being eerily prophetic about the current state of the internet, it's been reeking of "what dumb nerds think is cool" -- the protagonist is a MASTER HACKER who carries around SAMURAI SWORDS and dresses in TRENCH COATS. Also the non-Metaverse world is really annoyingly underdeveloped; Stephenson utterly fails to establish the setting from the get-go. Needs more linguistics, less goddamn samurai swords.

Snow Crash is funny for me. Anytime I read it I have a blast but when I look back at it after a reading, I'm always left feeling meh! I've no idea if I'm in the minority or not but I seem to recall the last half being weaker than the first.

 

[HarryHengst]

Mailman just deliverd it. So excited!

 

[Maklershed]

Pics or it didn't happen!

The Gone-Away World by Nick Harkaway is great!

Thanks for the recommendation. I'll add it to my wishlist.

 

[Sleepy]

Mailman just deliverd it. So excited!

FUCK. OFF.

 

[Ratrat]

I'm so pissed some people actually have DWD. If I were an evil person I'd seek out a leaked file and save myself from the inevitable suicide I'll commit after being spoiled.

What's a good military Sci-fi novel? I've read Starship Troopers, Forever War, its sequels and that horrible John Scalzi book.

 

[NewFresh]

Always post 'em!

How are you liking Ex Machina? Been thinking of checking it out. Same goes for the Parker novels.

And isn't there actually a graphic novel adaptation of that Parker book?

Ex Machina has been pretty solid. I picked up books 1-5 at a used book store and the jumping between political carrier and superhero the story does with the main character keeps it interesting. The semi-realistic art style is also amazing to see.

The Hunter was made into a graphic novel that I hear is really pretty good. My intent was to read the GN so I threw it on my birthday list and my gf got me the book. Not a bad thing since the book is good in a really noire/pulp kind of way.

 

[Narag]

I'm so pissed some people actually have DWD. If I were an evil person I'd seek out a leaked file and save myself from the inevitable suicide I'll commit after being spoiled.

What's a good military Sci-fi novel? I've read Starship Troopers, Forever War, its sequels and that horrible John Scalzi book.

I think the forever war and the scalzi book are the ones described as more refined versions of starship troopers, right? If you're interested in the other direction, might try John steakley's Armor.

 

[LocoMrPollock]

FUCK. OFF.

Seconded. Fuck you, Harry!

 

[LocoMrPollock]

I'm so pissed some people actually have DWD. If I were an evil person I'd seek out a leaked file and save myself from the inevitable suicide I'll commit after being spoiled.

What's a good military Sci-fi novel? I've read Starship Troopers, Forever War, its sequels and that horrible John Scalzi book.

The Lost Fleet series is pretty boss.


Edit: Shit DP.

 

[Rubashov]

Towers of Midnight-Jordan/Sanderson

Trying to knock this out before DWD drops.

 

[Gvaz]

[IMGhttp://i.imgur.com/ZPJcg.jpg[/IMG]


Mailman just deliverd it. So excited!

GET OFF THE FORUMS (at least till the 12th so you don't spoiler anyone)

 

[KidDork]

Still digging through The Rotters (so good), then it's on to Aubrey and Maturin. I bogged down my first time through that book, so hopefully GAF will provide the impetus to get over some of the obstacle-y naval terms.

To lighten the darkness of all the graverobbing in The Rotters, I've gone back to this series:

Yeah, I know. But it's actually very enjoyable.

And yes, Cherie Priest is highly attractive.

 

[Dresden]

Bamboo Blade is good.

 

[ultron87]

Finishing up Beyond the Shadows before DwD:

About a third of the way through. I'm already fearing that there's no way in hell he's going to wrap up everything that is happening in this book.

I'm also starting a complete read of Gaiman's Sandman:

I've only ever read up to the fourth collection before, so I'm still in review territory right now.

 

[Fjordson]

http://i.imgur.com/ZPJcg.jpg

Mailman just deliverd it. So excited!

Not fair =(

 

[rocksteady1983]

About 100 pages left or so. Its not too bad, Jericho style. Kind of a checklist of "this will all go wrong when an EMP goes off" but in story form. I'd say its probably pretty accurate though. Really shows our dependence on electricity.

 

[Toby]

I'm only 10 or so chapters in, but it is really making me realize how well done the movie was.

 

[_Isaac]

Because the book is so bad?

 

[Narag]

Because the book is so bad?

I like to think he's referring to how the movie nails the atmosphere and tension the book is rife with.

 

[Karakand]

What is the policy on graphic novels in the what you are reading thread?

There are no standards. Feel free to post books on tape you're listening to.

 

[Badgerst3]

Noirish fast paced yarn about a down and out ex cop (sorta) and Hollywood hit men.

Definition of summer reading but fun.

 

[piddledy]

Joshua Foer - Moonwalking with Einstein.

About a journalist who discovers a memory-games competition and, a year later, becomes its champion. Ironically, the author convinced me the memory techniques aren't useful enough to learn.

 

[coldvein]

about halfway thru the skating rink by roberto bolano.

quick read, loving it so far. nice to be experiencing the dude's brilliant writing in a form less imposing and massive than 2666.

 

[Arment]

Just finished The Way of Kings. I'm pretty gutted at the thought of having to wait for the second book (and then the rest). Excellent book though. Feels like the successor to Malazan for epic super-powered characters battling it out.

And now I'm reading the 2nd book of the Temeraire series. I read the first book a couple years ago but never finished it so I'm reading it until A Dance with Dragons comes out.

 

[Valhalla]

Can anyone recommend me a book like hitch hikers guide to the galaxy in terms of comedy and out thereness? PLEASE I BEG OF YOU I NEED A GOOD BOOK

 

[Ratrat]

Can anyone recommend me a book like hitch hikers guide to the galaxy in terms of comedy and out thereness? PLEASE I BEG OF YOU I NEED A GOOD BOOK

?

And thanks for the recommends guys. Lost Fleet looks like something i'd really enjoy.

 

[piddledy]

Can anyone recommend me a book like hitch hikers guide to the galaxy in terms of comedy and out thereness? PLEASE I BEG OF YOU I NEED A GOOD BOOK

Catch-22 is funny, but not sci-fi. It's set during WWII in Italy, and it's about the crazy logic of war.

 

[coldvein]

Can anyone recommend me a book like hitch hikers guide to the galaxy in terms of comedy and out thereness? PLEASE I BEG OF YOU I NEED A GOOD BOOK

illuminatus trilogy, maybe? funny and out there. for some reason i can't remember who wrote it right now. perhaps someone else can help!

 

[Karakand]

Dude, if there were standards you'd probably be the only one posting.

Read book is good standard. Not that exclusionary at all.

Can't wait for some knucklehead to post an adaptation they watched ITT one day.

 

[Valhalla]

Catch-22 is funny, but not sci-fi. It's set during WWII in Italy, and it's about the crazy logic of war.

Hmm ill buy it and check it out. Thanks

 

[subversus]

Catch-22 is an amazing book, read it.

 

[Maklershed]

Started our book club book Master and Commander


Master and Commander by Patrick O'Brian

 

[Earl Cazone]

simon beckett - the chemistry of death. i like it so far. nothing too special but a good read

 

[demon]

Absolutely love it so far.

 

[threenote]

reading it for the first time.

 

[Karakand]

^it's a good beach book (get it)

 

[ngower]

^it's a good beach book (get it)

I actually did read it at the beach...well, half of it.

It's my favorite book. I've given away both copies of mine because damnit people need to read it!

 

[Maklershed]

^ great avatar ngower

 

[bengraven]

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

I've always gotten a kick out of YA books. They're usually decently short, they don't feel the need to encode deeper meanings, and they tend to present the world the way people wish it was--good and evil, right choices and wrong choices. Not so many shades of gray. Unfortunately, they can also fall into easy patterns.

The author does a decent job bringing her world and her main character to life. But she throws in the standard YA tropes without really bothering to justify them--the love triangle doesn't seem grounded in reality, the malevolent (religious) authority figures don't have any purpose to what they're doing, and the "choose your dreams" decision that we're meant to be impressed with... was a poor and selfish decision.

Bonus points for decent prose and for (mostly) scary zombies, at least for the first half of the book.

I agree with you: I've actually said that most adult books are rehashes of old themes, but children's and YA books sometimes have extremely clever, original stories. I suppose adult books are aimed at cynics occasionally?

I don't know. Let's collaborate on a YA novel sometime! ha

 

[Attackthebase]

Getting back into my reading groove. I'm reading two books at the moment:

Hard to read, but I'm liking it. Classic Hitchens.

And I'm trying to up my game. And it's actually a pretty good read thus far. I'm trying to read a chapter a day.

 

[coldvein]

i should read master and commander.

 

[Narag]

StarCraft: Shadow of the Xel'Naga by Gabriel Mesta

Awful even against the low bar set for licensed books like this.

i should read master and commander.

You really should. I shall get started tomorrow for the book club.