I'm currently in the midst of Pirate Latitudes by Michael Crichton. A very entertaining and fast paced work of historical fiction. Takes place in the year 1665.

Dan Abnett's Ravenor

Xenocide, Orson Scott Card. It's been on my to read list for decades now.

The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams. Good descriptive writing, but God, I hope something happens soon. Two hundred pages in and all I get is a lot of Simon angst.

One of the Books that inspired EGG: The Compleat Enchanter by Sprague De Camp and Fletcher Pratt.
Now I know where he got his Hill, Frost and Fire Giants from...

Just finished The Road by Cormac McArthy. Now I'm reading Ill-met in the Arena by Dave Duncan. It's ok. And The Tombs of Atuan by Ursula K. Le Guin. I enjoy reading old fantasy before things became so formulaic.

The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams. Good descriptive writing, but God, I hope something happens soon. Two hundred pages in and all I get is a lot of Simon angst.

i hope you're patient, then. :-) i'm nearing the end of book 2, and it's still moving slowly. personally, i like the pace.

but yeah, i hope the climax makes it worthwhile...

Pleasure Model: Netherworlds-1 by Christopher Rowley.

Paul McCarthy wrote:

The Dragonbone Chair by Tad Williams. Good descriptive writing, but God, I hope something happens soon. Two hundred pages in and all I get is a lot of Simon angst.

i hope you're patient, then. :-) i'm nearing the end of book 2, and it's still moving slowly. personally, i like the pace.

but yeah, i hope the climax makes it worthwhile...

Can't say the pace ever ramps up that much, but the pay-off is worth it (from what I remember, it's been a few years). Also, check out Williams' Shadowplay/Shadowmarch series - the third book, Shadowrise, is out in a few months and I think I like this series even better.

I'm currently reading "Best Served Cold" by Joe Abercrombie, after reading his First Law trilogy. Very bleak, but good. I highly recommend the trilogy, as well, which is, by his own admission, a sort of anti-Lord of the Rings. The thing I like best is how takes really nasty, no-good characters and makes them sympathetic (it's strangely cool to be rooting for a crippled torturer who s+&%s the bed each morning) and takes fantasy cliches (the bare-chested barbarian and ancient wizard) and turns them on their heads.

The Black Company Omnibus Books of the South. Just wrapped up "Shadow Games". Think I want to take a break, honestly. Too many people pretending to be dead and then turning up alive.

The Black Company Omnibus Books of the South. Just wrapped up "Shadow Games". Think I want to take a break, honestly. Too many people pretending to be dead and then turning up alive.

Yeah that series gets more and more arcane as it gets towards the final books ...

I'm telling you guys, Willocks' The Religion kicks ass. If you like historical fiction, this is easily up there with my favorites, O'Brian, McCullough, or Rutherford. I promise, I won't mention it again...except to say I finished. Bloody, bold, and resolute. Did I mention siege of Malta? Whew!

I'm telling you guys, Willocks' The Religion kicks ass. If you like historical fiction, this is easily up there with my favorites, O'Brian, McCullough, or Rutherford. I promise, I won't mention it again...except to say I finished. Bloody, bold, and resolute. Did I mention siege of Malta? Whew!

Bought on your reccomendation Leaf Man. Plus, Amazon is selling the hardcover for $4.94 right now! (!!!11!!!)

Graven Images: Fifteen Tales of Magic and Myth.
Edited by Nancy Kilpatrick and Thomas S. Roache

This was an anthology with an A+ idea (stories dealing with idols or former gods relegated to idols) and a C+ execution, so I went from super-excited to somewhat disappointed. It's not an uncommon problem for anthologies to be uneven in quality, so I'll cull the gems for everyone. (There were some okay stories among the duds, but life is short.)

Pat, I can't wait to hear what you think!

By the Light of a Gibbous Moon, by Scott Jaeger--this is Mythos fiction, but not particularly Lovecraftian. These are some very well-writen tales, but all in the Derleth style. Recommended.

Ravenor Returned by Dan Abnett

James Keegan wrote:

The Black Company Omnibus Books of the South. Just wrapped up "Shadow Games". Think I want to take a break, honestly. Too many people pretending to be dead and then turning up alive.

Yeah that series gets more and more arcane as it gets towards the final books ...

I might just skip to the Silver Spike, since I heard that was kind of a departure. I'm going to try out the Mistborn trilogy by Sanderson, since it comes highly recommended. I do wish they had stuck with the Jon Foster covers for the mass market paperbacks, though. Foster is easily one of my absolute favorite illustrators.

The original Shannara trilogy - Sword, Elfstones, Wishsong.

I haven't read these in a very long time (25 years or so), so I'm curious to see how they've held up.

Ravenor Rogue by Dan Abnett

Ravenor Rogue by Dan Abnett

I think Eisenhorn is a much better read than Ravenor. Have you tried the series?

Radavel wrote:

Ravenor Rogue by Dan Abnett

I think Eisenhorn is a much better read than Ravenor. Have you tried the series?

Yup. Read it before Ravenor.

Waiting for the Eisenhorn vs. Ravenor books that Abnett promised.

I might just skip to the Silver Spike, since I heard that was kind of a departure.

Yeah that's a good standalone story. I'd definitely read that before the Books of the South.

Me, I'm reading Walking Dead vol. 11 I know some comix folk have told me Image is a crap company, but I love the storyline in this graphic series about a zombie apocalypse.

Re-reading the complete Sherlock Holmes novels & stories. Luckily, I'm not picturing Mr. Rathbone nor Mr. Downey Jr as Mr. Holmes. :o)

Just finished "Bones of the Dragon" By Margaret Weiss and tracy Hickman - Decent non-Dragonlance novel.

Rereading "Stardust" By Neil Gaiman next

I just finished The Traveler's Gift by Andy Andrews. I don't typically pick out motivational books for myself (read: never) but since this was literally a gift I gave it a chance. The story is enjoyable and uplifting and puts together a decent list of "rules to live by". Perhaps because I'm used to fantasy stories, I gave a critical eye to his characters, which I felt were not very developed or even distinct from one another. Final grade: a surprising B.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

The Knight by Gene Wolfe. I find this book really bizarre, started great until about I was about a third in and kind of lost it's steam. Really don't like the main character's bullying tactics and all this talk about the Aelfs is not doing much for me. Will pursue a little further but White Jazz by James Ellroy is moving in on my priority enjoyable reads moreso than this.

The Knight by Gene Wolfe. I find this book really bizarre, started great until about I was about a third in and kind of lost it's steam. Really don't like the main character's bullying tactics and all this talk about the Aelfs is not doing much for me. Will pursue a little further but White Jazz by James Ellroy is moving in on my priority enjoyable reads moreso than this.

Keep going, it's definitely worth it! The story picks up a lot as it moves into the second book, The Wizard, but it all ties together.

Pat, I can't wait to hear what you think!

I have it now Leaf Man, but it is on deck, because I also picked up The Return of the sorcerer by Clark Ashton Smith. I'll give you a critique after I finish my foray into eldritch horror.

Heh. I had added that volume to my Amazon wishlist, so I'll be waiting to hear on that, too.

Finished The Religion yesterday: wow. Wow. I highly recommend it and the audio version read by Simon Vance. I find myself almost paralyzed by spoilers. But it has a great plot, unforgettable characters, bloody action, great cultural and historical elements, and some thought-provoking moments.

I finished the History of the Persian Empire and the Sword of Shannara while on vacation.

I am currently reading The History of Venice and the Elfstones of Shannara.

Lord Norwich's history?

Cadian Blood

Peer Gynt, by Henrik Ibsen.

Life Inc. by Doug Rushkoff

mindblowing stuff!

I'm reading Sword and Sorceress IV and listening to Neal Stephenson's Quicksilver.

Waiting for the Eisenhorn vs. Ravenor books that Abnett promised.

Didn't know that. Cool!

Yep Norwich. I plan on reading his History of the Byzantine Empire after I finish Venice. I have read bits and pieces of his Byzantine work before but not the entire thing.

There's now an abridged, one volume version of Norwich's Byzantium, in case you haven't seen it. I only have the middle volume of the trilogy, but I plan to read it and the Venice volume. Preferably, the year I go to Venice.

I read the abridged Norwich. Should be required reading for any GM who takes on the challenge of roleplaying diplomacy and politics.

I am rereading The Divine Comedy right now.

Hollywood Nocturnes by James Ellroy.

I believe I own the abridged version of Norwich's work as the copy I have covers the entire history of the Byzantine Empire. His history of Venice reads very well.

I just started Wizards First Rule; by Terry Goodkind; surprized I missed this one; am only 85 pages into it and is good so far.

Warhammer 40K, Dark Apostle by Tony Reynolds

Mechanicum by Graham McNeill

Right now:
The Book of Dave by Will Self
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

Up next:
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand
The Absurdity of Philosophy by Jeff Smith-Luedke
Heat Wave by "Richard Castle"

Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell. Pretty nasty stuff, especially the battle of Soissons. Great book though. About an archer in the English army during the Hundred Years War. Supposed to be a movie coming soon from the creator of The Tudors, Michael Hirst.

At the Gates of Darkness by Feist, it's disappointing but still easy to read if you know and like some of the characters from the previous sagas

World War Z by Max Brooks