[polishgenius]

Reading Sanction, the second book in Elizabeth Bear's Jacob's Ladder trilogy. It's like, so good guys.

[Salt-Man Z]

So I recently finished up William Shatner's Quest for Tomorrow series. I got the first book as a gift from my parents way back in 1997, and slowly picked the others up at Half Price Books as I came across them. I finally found the 3rd book (the last one I was missing) in February, and resolved to read it this year. I'm not one for reading back-of-the-book blurbs, as they can spoil more than I'd like--and I find it more fun to go into a book blind anyway--but one of them (book 4) caught my eye a number of years ago which got me intrigued.

Anyway, medium spoilers for a 15-year-old series no one's likely to read:

The series revolves around Jim Endicott, a teenager who's mother encoded some Big Secret into his DNA. The first book sees him hunted by the human government for the secrets he (unknowingly) holds. Nothing special, but an enjoyable enough read. The second book explodes into galactic politics, introducing two advanced alien races that take an interest in Jim. The stakes are raised, etc. The third book expands the scope yet again, going completely cosmic/multiversal at the end, and pulls the most impressive trick in the series: Jim uses his powers to back in time shortly before he was born and "nudge" history just enough to wipe out the current timeline and set history on a different course. The epilogue of book 3 revisits an early scene from the first book, but with a radically different ending. Cool. The last two books then take place in a splinter timeline, and tell their own completely-unrelated, self-contained story starring Jim Endicott. It's another entertaining story, but it features another Threat To Humanity plot featuring two previously-unseen alien race and, outside the briefest of mentions, completely ignores all of the background of the first three books, making it difficult to feel comfortable with the arc's resolution, knowing most of the dangers from the first half of the series are still Out There and active.

Perfectly enjoyable popcorn space opera, though. They read quickly and throw a couple of interesting concepts out there. I gave each book (and the series as a whole) 3 out of 5 stars, which is my baseline "I enjoyed it" rating.

[Salt-Man Z]

At the moment I'm about halfway through Neal Asher's Dark Intelligence. It's good, though it was hard to get a grasp on things for the first hundred pages or so. The only Asher/Polity I've read previously was the short story "Shell Game" in The New Space Opera 2 that I remember nothing about, other than that I liked it. So far it makes me think of if you started with Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space stuff and just took the horror parts. Good stuff so far.

[Lycaenion]

Finished up Legends - Stories in honour of David Gemmell a few days agon. Have started on Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell.

[acesn8s]

Currently reading Tower Lord by Anthony Ryan. I enjoyed book 1 in his A Raven's Shadow series, I figured I might as well jump into book 2.

[Serenity]

Finished Bujold's Memory, which I really enjoyed, and Bear's All the Windwracked Stars, which didn't really do a lot for me. Currently about halfway through the 17th of Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin books, The Commodore.

[Maark Abbott]

Elenium:

Spoiler

Oh so I never, EVER thought that Flute would turn out to be Aphrael, that wasn't even slightly predictable, nope.

[acesn8s]

Maark, on 02 June 2015 - 10:25 AM, said:

Elenium:

Spoiler

Oh so I never, EVER thought that Flute would turn out to be Aphrael, that wasn't even slightly predictable, nope.

That whacky Eddings!

[Tiste Simeon]

What a twist!

[Slow Ben]

Finally got around to reading the Night Angel Trilogy.

Meh, pretty popcorn fantasy imo. it didnt help that Kylar might be my least favorite protagonist in any series i've read. I'd much rather have just left him out of the damn story and have Durzo as the main character.



Also started my 5 or 6 re-read of the Dark Tower, say thankya.



Also finally getting to dig into Assail later tonight.

[Baco Xtath]

Finished Fear the Sky by Stephen Moss today; it was good and I do recommend it but it wasn't gold. Actually, it was similar to the Three-Body Problem (which I just listened to) but not nearly as polished. Anyway, good book and I'll be checking out the rest of the series.

Just started Nemesis Games, still listening to Water Knife, downloaded Liar's Key and the Fold. Damn, why do all my favorite authors release shit at the same time.



Edit: just bought and started reading Knight's Shadow (Greatcoats #2). Really looking forward to this one.

This post has been edited by Baco Xtath: 03 June 2015 - 10:16 PM

[Mentalist]

Finished "River of Stars" last night.

Powerful, emotional, if more melancholy than I'm used to expect from GGKay. I liked it, but the plot made me angry at times.

Surveying my "to read pile", there's one thing I've been putting off getting to for a while - "Obsidian and Blood" omnibus by Aliette de Bodard. Making that my new commute reading.

[worry]

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (first book, not whole series yet) was solid from start to finish. Will definitely continue.

Someday. Cuz now I'm reading Under the Dome. Guess I won't be coming back to this thread for a long while. Will miss you all.

[QuickTidal]

Started into Bernard Cornwell's WATERLOO: THE HISTORY OF FOUR DAYS, THREE ARMIES AND THREE BATTLES. (his first non-fiction book, about the ABBA song the famed battle)

And It's really excellent so far. He applies all his fiction tendencies (compelling storytelling, character focus, easily understood tactics ect.) to a non-fiction work and it pretty much sings from page to page.

Also informative, I had no idea that prior to Waterloo, Napoleon had been captured and exiled to Elba already, blockaded by both the French and English navy and the Monarchy restored to the throne of France...and that he escaped with like 1000 men from Elba (while the British commander set to watch him was off in Italy with his Mistress) marched up to Paris and gained most )if not all) his support back. Crazyness!

[Puck]

Mentalist, on 04 June 2015 - 01:30 PM, said:

Surveying my "to read pile", there's one thing I've been putting off getting to for a while - "Obsidian and Blood" omnibus by Aliette de Bodard. Making that my new commute reading.

One of my favourite urban fantasy series (well, trilogy, whatever). But I like the setting, so I'm probably biased. May not be everyone's cup of tea, but I hope you enjoy it!


In another attempt to get out of my reading comfort zone I'm now ~100 pages into The Orenda by Joseph Boyden. And the thought that keeps going through my head is 'Why do I do this to myself?' But for now I am determined to bull through.

[JPK]

I just finished Tiassa by Stephen Brust. I enjoyed it, but I was looking forward to a Vlad Taltos book, not a Khaavren Romance. It looks like Hawk will be more up that alley again. I will also admit that I'm looking forward to not reading something written in the style of Paarfi again for awhile.

Next up is Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey. It came in yesterday just in time to vault to the top of my trp.

Edit: I also finished the ebook I've been reading today. Magic Burns (Katestacy book 2). I liked this one much more than the first. It helps that I'm very interested in the group that ended up as the villians in this one. Makes me itch for the next Dresden book for similar reasons.

Next ebook up is Reaper Man by Sir Terry Pratchett.

This post has been edited by The Incredible Kitsu: 06 June 2015 - 10:52 PM

[Baco Xtath]

The Incredible Kitsu, on 06 June 2015 - 06:38 PM, said:

Next up is Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey. It came in yesterday just in time to vault to the top of my trp.

I've got an hour left in it and I'd probably rank it as my favorite of the series (or maybe tied for first). Can't say for sure why but Daniel and Ty have really stepped up their game; the writing is phenomenal. I wasn't a huge fan of Cibola Burn so it's great to see they didn't lose their mojo.

[JPK]

Baco Xtath, on 07 June 2015 - 03:52 PM, said:

The Incredible Kitsu, on 06 June 2015 - 06:38 PM, said:

Next up is Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey. It came in yesterday just in time to vault to the top of my trp.

I've got an hour left in it and I'd probably rank it as my favorite of the series (or maybe tied for first). Can't say for sure why but Daniel and Ty have really stepped up their game; the writing is phenomenal. I wasn't a huge fan of Cibola Burn so it's great to see they didn't lose their mojo.

It really interested me that with the exception of the prologue and epilogue they chose to stick with just the pov characters they did with this one. After the epilogue of CB I really expected a certain marine. I mean, I'm only about 30 pages in, but I flipped to see the names of the pov characters.

[Gabriel Chase]

Not really sci-fi (unless you count The Tempest), but I've been on a massive Shakespeare kick lately. Ploughed through all 3 parts of Henry VI, followed by Richard III. Now I'm on King John, which contains an hilarious character in the form of Philip Faulconbridge - or as he's named throughout the play: The Bastard.

[Morgoth]

Baco Xtath, on 07 June 2015 - 03:52 PM, said:

The Incredible Kitsu, on 06 June 2015 - 06:38 PM, said:

Next up is Nemesis Games by James S.A. Corey. It came in yesterday just in time to vault to the top of my trp.

I've got an hour left in it and I'd probably rank it as my favorite of the series (or maybe tied for first). Can't say for sure why but Daniel and Ty have really stepped up their game; the writing is phenomenal. I wasn't a huge fan of Cibola Burn so it's great to see they didn't lose their mojo.

That's good news. Cibola Burn made me think they'd lost their grip on the series.