SciFi and Fantasy Book Club discussion

I've been on a serious Star Trek jones now for the last few weeks so last month I read The Sorrows of Empire Star Trek Mirror Universe.

Tomorrow, I'm picking up Glass Empires Star Trek Mirror Universe and The Romulan War Beneath the Raptor's Wing Star Trek Enterprise from the library. And I should be getting a used copy of Harbinger Star Trek Vanguard 1 by mid-month.

I'm also rewriting my alternate Trek timeline (i.e., how I would have done things if I owned the franchise). Might post it to the blog site one of these days.

In more serious literature, I continue to move through the 13-volume collection of Chekhov's short stories - I'm up to volume 4. And I'm planning to read something by Sylvia Townsend Warner and T. F. Powys, I just have to decide what.

In the nonfiction realm, I hope to finish my religion-themed reading by finishing Bart Ehrman's Jesus Interrupted Revealing the Hidden Contradictions in the Bible Why We Don't Know About Them and getting to The Evolution of God.

I'm reading Firebird by Mercedes Lackey. So far it's really interesting, but it seems like I'm 100 pages in and the real story has hardly started.

After this, may start Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne, I need a "V" author for my ABC challenge.

Sarah wrote: "After this, may start Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne, I need a "V" author for my ABC challenge...."

If Verne turns out not to your taste, you might try Jack Vance to fulfill your V requirement :-)

Re V authors-- Paula Volsky would be a fantasy V author. I recommend the series that starts withIllusion.

I'm travelling most of May, so these are the books I'm bringing with me, and I hope that I can get through most of them because otherwise I will be hopelessly behind on my challenges!



And I'm still working my way through . Hopefully I'll finish it this month!

I should finish Breath and Bone this weekend. I've got two non-fiction books to finish this month for my church: One Month to Live: Thirty Days to a No-Regrets Life and The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict.

Book club reads for May (and a couple left over from April) include:



Check out my current-month book shelf to see what else I decide to peruse as the month marches on.

Ima start out with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Hush, Hush

1/3 into Shadow's Edge (Night Angel, #2) by Brent Weeks
Good so far. Maybe a bit better than the first book. Some unexpected moments.

Terence wrote: "Sarah wrote: "After this, may start Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne, I need a "V" author for my ABC challenge...."

If Verne turns out not to your taste, you might try J..."</i>

Double down with [author:Vernor Vinge

I'm starting out with a little James and the Giant Peach, then moving on to The Postman.

I'm setting aside May as British Invasion month, since I'm taking a long-overdue trip to the UK, so I will finally start Wolf Hall.

Cindy, I read "British Invasion Month" as a month devoted to fantasy and science fiction books dealing with the invasion of Britain such as Harry Turtledove's alternate history, Ruled Britannia or Judith Tarr's Norman Conquest fantasy,Rite of Conquest. Then there's an Avalon series fantasy dealing with the Roman invasion of Britain that focuses on the Celtic rebel, Boudicca called Ravens of Avalonby Diana Paxson. Just a thought.

Heh, that would be awesome Shomeret! Nice suggestions. (I was just being cheeky about the name, but I love, love, love your ideas!)

I'm glad you liked my invasion suggestions, Cindy.

Thanks for the V suggestions! I'll look them up right now :o)

Danger to Self: On the Front Line with an ER Psychiatrist - Paul R. Linde

I haven't made it out of the preface yet and I am laughing and shouting out loud, "This is my job!!"

See, I commit people.

No, really.

And this book is by a shrink in a psych ER.

Busman's Holiday of a book, but it's nice to know that on the other side of the country, someone else is bitching about exactly the same things.

Sarah -- a little late, but I figured I'd throw Joan Vinge out there. The Snow Queen is probably her most famous work, but I also liked Psion and its sequel Catspaw. (Thanks for the inadvertent reminder. Perhaps I'll re-read those now. :)

I've been doing a lot of re-reading, and new reads are frequently either non-fiction or from outside the SF/F genres. But if I come across anything that's awesome, I'll be sure to come and post it here. :)

And stormhawk, thanks for the rec. I'll have to check that one out too.

I'm currently reading and enjoying it.

These are from the library: * * .

Karavans #1 and Deepwood: Karavans #2 by Jennifer Roberson. I've been holding on to these two books since 2007 waiting for the third book of the trilogy to come out. It's still not out and I have no idea when it will be. So I decided to just start the series anyway. Not sure what else I'll be reading since I never plan, I just pick a book by whatever mood I'm at the time of the choosing.

Jackie wrote: "Karavans #1 and Deepwood: Karavans #2 by Jennifer Roberson. I've been holding on to these two books since 2007 waiting for the third book of the trilogy t..."

Jackie - those books are very excellent as they stand - and Jennifer provided a decent pause point. This is a wonderful work - it was on my "best of the year" list when book 2 came out. Enjoy!

I'm really enjoying the first one. Thanks.

I'm starting "The Black Company" by Glen Cook. I hear good thing from it.

I'm reading Turn Coat by Jim Butcher and will be following up immediately with Changes, which I absolutely cannot wait to read. I can't get enough of the Dresden Files. Seriously.

Julian wrote: "I'm starting "The Black Company" by Glen Cook. I hear good thing from it."

It is.
If you are having a bit of trouble to get into the first book, please don't give up. The first book is famous for its "difficulty". You are thrown into the middle of something and for the first 100 pages it might be a bit confusing but in a long run it is worth it.

Arthur wrote:
It is.
If you are having a bit of trouble to get into the first book, please don't give up. The first book..."

Actually on the contrary, I'm really enjoying the book. After about 30 pages I got into it. I have to force my self to stop. I want to make it last.

Then you will definitely like the rest of the saga :)
One of the best fantasy I have read.

Last night I finished Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay. Without a doubt, his best book in years.

FINISHED WICKED LOVELY. NOW READING A GAME OF THRONES BY GEORGE R.R. MARTIN , HARRY POTTER 3, AND JONAS BEAUTIFUL DEAD.

Chakara wrote: "FINISHED WICKED LOVELY. NOW READING A GAME OF THRONES BY GEORGE R.R. MARTIN , HARRY POTTER 3, AND JONAS BEAUTIFUL DEAD."


A Game of Thrones was one of the greatest books I've read. Have fun!

The Sky Is Everywhere is a great, wonderful book! Not a bit of magic, ansible or any other thing or being, but every book (IMO) doesn't have to.

Next up: Dead to the Family.

Raven is a pretty good book, for those who enjoy YA and/or paranormal romance.

Julian wrote: "Chakara wrote: "FINISHED WICKED LOVELY. NOW READING A GAME OF THRONES BY GEORGE R.R. MARTIN , HARRY POTTER 3, AND JONAS BEAUTIFUL DEAD."


A Game of Thrones was one of the greatest books I've read...."

its a pretty BIG book lol. Im going to read Leo Tolstoy soon (doesnt really matter which one they are all huge) so I guess I should get used to long books lol.

I am reading Three from the Legion by the dean of Science Fiction, Jack Williamson

Julia, that's my next one too...it's been a couple of years since i picked up any of the sookie stackhouse books, so i've been re-reading all of them in the run-up to 'dead in the family' coming out.

Busy, busy first week of May, at least as far as my reading schedule goes. :)

Finished three novels: 1) Diplomatic Immunity (my review); 2) Black Easter (my review); and, 3) Breath and Bone (my review)

I started A Canticle for Leibowitz this morning. I thought I had read this novel back in the 80s, but nothing I'm reading seems familiar at all. I'm still listening (on my lunch and evening walks) to I Am Legend: And Other Stories but I have no idea how far or how close I am to the finish.

After I finish Canticle I'll probably start one of my two library books:

or

Michelle,

I'm interested in how you think Dead in the Family stacks up with the rest of her books. I haven't reread tham all recently, but I wasn't thrilled by Dead in the Family.

Next up: .

Jon wrote: "I started A Canticle for Leibowitz this morning. I thought I had read this novel back in the 80s, but nothing I'm reading seems familiar at all."

Canticle is one of my favorite sci-fi books. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I'm enjoying it immensely. I'm reading it during commercial breaks while watching a movie. Hubby and his bass player went to watch a band tonight so it's just me, the dogs, a movie and a book. :)

I'm currently reading Lilith Saintcrow's Night Shift It's actually not bad s its out of reading comfort leve. If it goes good, I might continue on with book 2. There's always a book 2.

The Alexander Cipher - Will Adams

Chakara wrote: "Julian wrote: "Chakara wrote: "FINISHED WICKED LOVELY. NOW READING A GAME OF THRONES BY GEORGE R.R. MARTIN , HARRY POTTER 3, AND JONAS BEAUTIFUL DEAD."


A Game of Thrones was one of the greatest b..."

Haha, they are long books, but good ones.

So far I'm planning to read
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"Lavondyss", "The hollowing" and "Avilion" by Robert Holdstock
Waiting for the babies to arrive in the mail:)

If I get trough them quickly I may start on
Patrick Rothfuss's "The name of the Wind"

I Just finished Shadow Kiss and I am now working on Ink Exchange, The Dead Tossed Waves and Blood Promise.As well as still slowly working on A Game of Thrones.

I'm still in the beginning of Spin State. I plan to finish it soon though, and then I'm going to start on Stranger in a Strange Land - I'm pretty excited about reading that one. And I received some Michael Connolly books, so I plan to start The Lincoln Lawyer this week. And then whatever fluff I can get my hands on.

Just finished by Brent Weeks.
Good, solid sequence to The Way of Shadows

Immediately started the third and the last book in the Night Angel trilogy, Beyond the Shadows

I finished Incompetence by Rob Grant, which was hilariously absurd in its absurdity.

I also got through two anthologies/collections: Warriors edited by George R.R. Martin and Scenting the Dark by Mary Robinette Kowal, both of which were quite good.

Finished Skeleton Man and The Return of Skeleton Man by Jospeh Bruchac which are scary books for late elementary- early middle school kids with a great sense of place and a plucky 13 year old modern- day suburban smart Mohawk girl. and
Then I read which is book # 6 in a series. I don't recommend it much.
Now I'm reading All Unquiet Things and liking it.

Yesterday I read Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready. If you like YA, or know some YAs who like fantasy/paranormal books, I recommend it. (Though it does have some mature content. Standard disclaimer: knowing what's in books you pass on to minors is your responsibility.)

Today I read To Engineer Is Human. I thought it was all right, but I think my reading of it suffered by comparison to Lois McMaster Bujold's Falling Free, which made engineering failure analysis much more gripping. (Though one of Michael Flynn's Firestar books and one of David Weber's Honor Harrington books also touched on this, IIRC.)

I just finished Divided Allegiance by Elizabeth Moon. It felt a bit more piecemeal than Sheepfarmer's Daughter, which might be due in part to being the middle book of the trilogy with a fair amount of setup. On the other hand, it ends on a strong and surprisingly dark note.

I just finished Changes by Jim Butcher and The Long Man by Steve Englehart, plus I re-read The Legend of Nightfall by Reichert, which I feel is her best book.

I usually change genres but I have The Desert Spear by Peter Brett, Dream of Perpetual Motion, Under Heaven and Directive 51 out of the library and due w/i 10 days so I may just stick in fantasy and sf.

The Second Coming - David H. Burton

Mr. Burton is a GoodReads author who placed a recommendation for his book in one of the Kindle groups. It's a Fantasy novel set on a post-apocalyptic earth, but it's not your usual sort of apocalypse.