Reading The Chronicles of the Black Company for the first time. No problem to see the influence this had on Erikson's "Bridgeburners".
Just started the new China Mieville, Kraken, which as far as I can tell is his thank you letter to Cthulu.
Currently reading At The Gates of Darkness...the latest by Raymond Feist.
Space Frontier by Wernher Von Braun.
So far it is a VERY good book. I have learned a few things and I am only on chapter one.
Currently Reading:
>Wargaming for Leaders: Strategic Decision Making from the Battlefield to the Boardroom<
If you had the opportunity to probe the future, make strategic choices, and view their consequences before making expensive and irretrievable decisions, wouldn't you take advantage of it?
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I started this book at around 7 AM this morning and read it straight through. There are no words to describe how absolutely spectacularly brilliant this novel reads. Honestly, it slipped my attention when it was published, then all the copies at B&N had the dreaded Oprah Winfrey seal of approval (which simply makes me embarrassed to own it; yes, I know, archaic machismo), and I really had no idea what the story was even about.
If you don't know or can't follow the link: Post-apocalyptic near-future scenario; focuses on the journey of a father and young son, á la Capital Wasteland but with less munitions.
This is an emotionally devastating novel, so expect to experience some pretty extreme pathos.
This might very well be my new favorite novel of the last 50 years.
There's the red motif again...;)
A revisit of the movie "Stardust" inspired me to pick up American Gods by Neil Gaiman. Surprised how easy a read it is; not your typical fantasy fare which is heavy on description and worldbuilding although it does occur in modern day USA (?). Maybe A budding fan here.
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From Beijrut to Jeruselem by Thomas Friedman. Excellent account of the 80's in Lebanon and Isreal. I am reading it for a History class but it is so well written and balanced I recommend it to anyone. Friedman is a journalist so his writing is very engaging and he relates a lot of anecdotes from people during this very chaotic time in the Middle East.
60 pages into Guy Gavriel Kay's Under Heaven, a real return to form after the disappointing Ysabel. In fact, based on admittedly only a tenth of the book, this could turn out to be his best work since The Lions of Al-Rassan.
"Boneshaker" by Cherry Priest and something called "Mall of Cthulu" which will probably due before I get to crack it open.
Boneshaker is a steampunk with zombies ("rotters") taking place in late 19th century Seattle. Actually, outside it, since the city proper is walled in after a gas leak 15 years ago made a whole bunch of cannibalistic undead. It has airships and the Civil War is STILL going on.
1001 Arabian Nights for inspiration running Legacy of Fire. Quick and entertaining.
by Stieg Larsson.
Only a couple of chapters left. Then it's a case of moving house & seeing what book will take my fancy then =D.
@SmiloDan - Boneshaker sounds interesting, I might have to keep me eye out for that one =D
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"Boneshaker" by Cherry Priest and something called "Mall of Cthulu" which will probably due before I get to crack it open.
Boneshaker is a steampunk with zombies ("rotters") taking place in late 19th century Seattle. Actually, outside it, since the city proper is walled in after a gas leak 15 years ago made a whole bunch of cannibalistic undead. It has airships and the Civil War is STILL going on.
"Boneshaker" was very good and enjoyable. Cherie Priest does a very good job of moving the story along at a good pace and I would love for her to revisit this world she has created.
finally finished "memory, sorrow, and thorn" by tad williams! woo hoo!
good series. a little slow at times, but has lots of surprises (right up until the end, in fact). i could never quite keep track of all the characters, but i guess everyone can't write like george rr martin.
anyway, i can definitely recommend the series.
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Finished Who Fears the Devil? and The Faery Reel.
Need to write my Wellman review. That book is one sweet read. Highly recommended.
"Mission of Honor " by David Weber..I managed to get a proof copy two months before official release date.
The Honorverse continues with the RMN facing off to the Sollies but tragic events in Manticore itself hit the Star Empire hard.Meanwhile Messr's Zilwiki and Cachat reveal the Alignments existance to their respective rulers leading to the alliance we have been expecting for the last five books
Polishing off Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch. Not as good as Lies of Locke Lamora, although still a good read. A lot of the made up nautical terms got under my skin (why replace port with 'larboard?) after being a sailor for twenty years. Hard to imagine a ferocious Captain she-pirate with two little kids aboard a pirate ship. It's a siege platform, not a daycare center. Hey Scott, stick to land and leave the sea adventures to us real sailors. But he is a great writer and I can't fault him for that and exploring new borders.
Currently reading Before They are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie. Seems to be much better written than The Blade Itself, which I really thought was an average read. Love the description of the southern city when Glotka arrives at the start of the book. Hopefully it will maintain it's excellence.
I'm reading entirely too much crap right now.
I recently finished with Before They Are Hanged, the second book in Joe Abercrombie's First Law series and I can recommend it only barely. I like most of the characters, but the story plods along SOOO slowly.
I then picked up Dragon Reborn, mostly out of duty. See both my parents and a good deal of my good gamer friends are into the series. There's like 3 or 4 really cool ideas in the series so far, but they rattle around in a sparsely populated and utterly cliche world. I can't help but contrast WoT's unoriginality with the brilliance that is ASoIaF, which I'm also slowly reading through for the second time.
I'm also reading the Dying Earth novels, and working my way through all the original Howard Conan stories for the first time in a long time.
Oh, and also a book about Vlad the Impaler. Nonfiction.
Currently reading Before They are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie. Seems to be much better written than The Blade Itself, which I really thought was an average read. Love the description of the southern city when Glotka arrives at the start of the book. Hopefully it will maintain it's excellence.
Funny, because I thought the second book was almost dull whereas the first book had me gripped. Virtually nothing happens in book 2, might have just skipped to book 3.
Funny, because I thought the second book was almost dull whereas the first book had me gripped. Virtually nothing happens in book 2, might have just skipped to book 3.Currently reading Before They are Hanged by Joe Abercrombie. Seems to be much better written than The Blade Itself, which I really thought was an average read. Love the description of the southern city when Glotka arrives at the start of the book. Hopefully it will maintain it's excellence.
I'm only on page 60, meatrace, can only say it has a different ring to it than The Blade Itself. If this one isn't as good as Blade, then I am finished with Abercrombie. Started reading it in the bookstore and it grabbed me. Hmmm....
I'm reading Toll the Hounds, the torture from the previous book continues yet I gotta know how it ends.
The Captive Flame By Richard Lee Byers. I hate 4e, but I love his writing and characters, so I had to pick it up.
I found an old copy of Hugh Cook's The Wizards and the Warriors and started in. Guess what I'm getting ready for?
NB What a goofy-looking cover it had in the US. I would never have given it a chance, based on the cover. Did this effect its reception here? I'm not sure the retitle was all that inspired, either.
I just received my copy of the 4E PHB 2 & 3 in the mail and I'm currently reading those.
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Man...it's been forever since I posted here. Lets's see...what have I read recently. I'm now up to Theif of Time by pratchett, so I read all of the ones between souol music and that one since my last post. I've read the entirety of Preacher and 100 Bullets, The Castle by Kafka, Shrodinger's Cat trilogy by Robert A. Wilson , The Orb of Xoriat by Edward Bolme, Thousand Sons by Graham McNeill and The Lost (Third Gaunt's Ghosts omnibus) by Dan Abnett (though I also reread both previous omnibii as well).
Is it just me, or does it seem like I slowed down somewhat?
Haven't done serious reading in ages, but with a Nook and 99-cent books, have started catching up on some neglected classics. Finished "The Secret Garden" and am working on "Dracula," six of the original Tarzan books, "The Federalist Papers," and "Frankenstein." There are more loaded up, but am keeping it light for now. :)
Very good, Treppa.
How did you live before the Nook?
Devices and Desires by K.J. Parker.
So far, a fantastic look at medieval culture meets steampunk nation. Happy times.
Finally got around to Savage Tales of Soloman Kane. Pure gold, man.
Finished "Before They are Hanged" by Joe Abercrombie. Great book, best fantasy read since The Name of the Wind and so much better than the first one in the series, The Blade Itself. This guy writes the best fight sequences I have read since Robert E. Howard.
Currently reading "The Red Wolf Conspiracy" by Robert V.S. Redick; starts really well and I am hooked.
Vampire Stories by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I wouldn't classify all of them as "vampire" stories myself (some are more ghost story), but so far these are some really entertaining stories.
Some people were talking about that collection at my graduation party. Unfortunately, I didn't get back around to that group before I forgot about asking them about it.
Reading The Chronicles of the Black Company for the first time. No problem to see the influence this had on Erikson's "Bridgeburners".
"Black Company" series is one of my favorites, right up there with Zelazney's "Amber" classic. I even bought the campaign setting, though nobody else seems to be interested in a BC game. Hope you love 'em as much as I did.
Just started Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter and am really enjoying it so far.
That seemed akin to the Jane Austin with monsters craze. Are any of these books decent? Is "Lincoln" panning out well? I'm kinda leery.
Plato's Republic and Kant's Metaphysics of Morals.
Done with those yet? Don't spoil the endings.
Revisiting a few Louis L'amour classics: The Iron Marshall, The Quick and the Dead and Shalako.
The Warded Man by Peter Brett. You can see the influence of his years of playing D&D.