Reading at t'moment?

#3941 MTS

Fourth Investiture

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Posted 21 May 2009 - 07:40 AM

Right now I'm thinking of giving War and Peace another go. I started it last year after reading Anna Karenina, but never ended up finishing. At the moment I could use a mammoth distraction from exam revision so...yeah. lol

This post has been edited by Mappo's Travelling Sack: 21 May 2009 - 07:40 AM

Antiquis temporibus, nati tibi similes in rupibus ventosissimis exponebantur ad necem.

Si hoc adfixum in obice legere potes, et liberaliter educatus et nimis propinquus ades.

#3942 Dark Wolf

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Posted 21 May 2009 - 10:00 AM

I finished Adam Roberts' "Yellow Blue Tibia". I was familiar with the author's short stories, but this is his first novel I read. It is a lovely novel and I enjoyed it a lot. Although the Science Fiction elements of the novel seem to be in the background they are quite powerful. And I absolutely loved the humor of the novel caught in scenes, situations and dialogues. (my full review)

My book reviews, authors and artists interviews and explorations of fantasy art: Dark Wolf's Fantasy Reviews

#3943 alestar

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Posted 22 May 2009 - 06:57 PM

Nothing!

I just finished Joe Abercrombie's "Before They Were Hanged"...loved it!

Since I don't have "Last Argument of Kings" yet (its ordered...but because I'm cheap, I pre-ordered "Best Served Cold" to get the free shipping, but found out they will all ship together in August!), I'll probably read Mark Billingham's "Death Message" and then tuck into "The Reaper's Gale"

#3944 Salt-Man Z

My pen halts, though I do not

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Posted 22 May 2009 - 07:05 PM

I finished my all-time favorite book, Richard Adams' Shardik, last night. Still a powerful book after 10 reads. I heartily recommend it to everyone here.

I started in on James Luceno's Labyrinth of Evil (the first book in the Star Wars: Dark Lord trilogy). Not impressed so far, but mostly I'm reading it simply as a lead-in to Matthew Stover's Revenge of the Sith novelization.

"Here is light. You will say that it is not a living entity, but you miss the point that it is more, not less. Without occupying space, it fills the universe. It nourishes everything, yet itself feeds upon destruction. We claim to control it, but does it not perhaps cultivate us as a source of food? May it not be that all wood grows so that it can be set ablaze, and that men and women are born to kindle fires?"
―Gene Wolfe, The Citadel of the Autarch

#3945 Stradivarius

Marine

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Posted 22 May 2009 - 07:15 PM

reading iain m banks matter at the mo not as good as some of the other culture reads but very insightful into human nature (yet again) and a v good read

Whole bag of orios! crappin all over the carpet! twelve ribs my ass!!!

#3946 Raymond Luxury Yacht

Throatwobbler Mangrove

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Posted 23 May 2009 - 06:43 AM

The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson. I'm working my way through his collected works. It's slower going then it should be, thanks mostly to my xbox 360.

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#3947 Dark Wolf

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Posted 23 May 2009 - 08:17 AM

I finished a collection of stories written by Reggie Oliver, "Madder Mysteries". It is quite an interesting collection, with stories playing with the strange, supernatural and horror, the last one most of the time only just hinted. And the last part of the book, with snippets told in a newspaper manner are very funny and entertaining. (my full review)

My book reviews, authors and artists interviews and explorations of fantasy art: Dark Wolf's Fantasy Reviews

#3948 Eddie Dean

Sitting in a truckstop, with my cowboy boots and my guitar

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Posted 23 May 2009 - 03:01 PM

Just finished Small Favor by J. Butcher. I was going to stop reading at like 10 last night and couldn't put it down. The ending was awesome. Only one more to go before I'm caught up.

Uva Uvam Vivendo Varia Fit

#3949 Coco with marshmallows

DIIIIIIIIIIVVVEEEEE

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Posted 23 May 2009 - 05:58 PM

Peshawar Lancers by S M Stirling.

quite entertaining,

next up is whitechapel gods after the recommendations it received on here.

meh. Link was dead :(

#3950 caladanbrood

Ugly on the Inside

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Posted 24 May 2009 - 02:12 PM

I'll be honest, I think I'm gonna give up on Steel Remains

Just not engaging at all.

Might try Gaiman's Graveyard Book next, for a bit of a change of style.

O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti têde; keimetha tois keinon rhémasi peithomenoi.

#3951 Dolorous Menhir

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Posted 24 May 2009 - 03:25 PM

I heard you had left, Brood?

Just read Idlewild by Nick Sagan. It was actually very good.

#3952 stone monkey

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Posted 24 May 2009 - 03:32 PM

I have finally finished My Work Is Not Yet Done by Thomas Ligotti, after procrastinating with it for a while. Not at all sure what to make of it. It manages to be a weird combination of surprising and disappointing.

If an opinion contrary to your own makes you angry, that is a sign that you are subconsciously aware of having no good reason for thinking as you do. If some one maintains that two and two are five, or that Iceland is on the equator, you feel pity rather than anger, unless you know so little of arithmetic or geography that his opinion shakes your own contrary conviction. … So whenever you find yourself getting angry about a difference of opinion, be on your guard; you will probably find, on examination, that your belief is going beyond what the evidence warrants. Bertrand Russell

#3953 caladanbrood

Ugly on the Inside

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Posted 24 May 2009 - 04:03 PM

Dolorous Menhir, on May 24 2009, 04:25 PM, said:

I heard you had left, Brood?

Just read Idlewild by Nick Sagan. It was actually very good.

Yeah I needed a break

Idlewild is a confusing book for me. Parts of it are excellent, but the pacing is a bit clumsy, and I wasn't convinced, overall. Will have to read Edenborn at some point, to see if he's improved.

This post has been edited by caladanbrood: 24 May 2009 - 04:04 PM

O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti têde; keimetha tois keinon rhémasi peithomenoi.

#3954 Skywalker

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Pedant.

Posted 25 May 2009 - 01:06 PM

Finished Dresden 5 - Death Masks over the weekend... about a quarter of the way into 6 - Blood Rites. I like how this is going... the world keeps getting deeper and wider.

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#3955 Fist Gamet

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Posted 25 May 2009 - 07:45 PM

Mappo's Travelling Sack, on May 21 2009, 08:40 AM, said:

Hardcore!

I am a little surprised with the number of people of really liked Abercrombie. I have to say I just didn't like it all. Now, I admit I only managed to get half way through book one before I gave up, but it was all so...generic, I guess.
Oh, well, still reading the titanic Naked God.

PS - Nice to see you, Brood
PPS - Remember, I never blamed you for anything!

Victory is mine!

#3956 Werthead

Ascendant

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Posted 25 May 2009 - 11:06 PM

Rereading Fevre Dream by GRRM.

Quote

I am a little surprised with the number of people of really liked Abercrombie. I have to say I just didn't like it all. Now, I admit I only managed to get half way through book one before I gave up, but it was all so...generic, I guess.

That's the point :rant:

You have to set up the cliches so you can stick 5,000 kilos of TNT under them and then blow them sky high. Book 2 is better and Book 3 is on another level altogether. Best Served Cold is the book that will probably have Abercrombie instantly elevated to the ranks of the top-tier modern epic fantasy authors.

Visit The Wertzone for reviews of SF&F books, DVDs and computer games!

"Try standing out in a winter storm all night and see how tough you are. Start with that. Then go into a bar and pick a fight and see how tough you are. And then go home and break crockery over your head. Start with those three and you'll be good to go."
- Bruce Campbell on how to be as cool as he is

#3957 Raymond Luxury Yacht

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Posted 25 May 2009 - 11:28 PM

Anathem by Neal Stephenson. Almost through his collected works...Must.Keep. Reading. So. Many. Pages. It's all so good though.

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#3958 Eddie Dean

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Posted 26 May 2009 - 01:06 AM

Skywalker, on May 25 2009, 08:06 AM, said:

Finished Dresden 5 - Death Masks over the weekend... about a quarter of the way into 6 - Blood Rites. I like how this is going... the world keeps getting deeper and wider.

Almost finished with Turn Coat. This series is awesome.

Werthead, on May 25 2009, 06:06 PM, said:

Best Served Cold is the book that will probably have Abercrombie instantly elevated to the ranks of the top-tier modern epic fantasy authors.

Can't wait to this comes out here. His trilogy was amazing.

Uva Uvam Vivendo Varia Fit

#3959 Dolorous Menhir

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Posted 26 May 2009 - 07:19 PM

Werthead, on May 26 2009, 12:06 AM, said:

Rereading Fevre Dream by GRRM.

It's excellent, isn't it? Making a start on Acacia by David Anthony Durham. Seems solid so far.

#3960 Deornoth

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Posted 27 May 2009 - 03:26 PM

Just finished reading ‘Transformers: The Veiled Threat’, the prequel to the new film. While it wasn’t a bad book as such, I was left with the feeling that giant transforming robots should really belong either on the screen or in comic books. ‘Transformers’ is a more visual thing that didn’t work for me as a book. My full review is over Here. I’m now finishing off Richard Williams’ ‘Reiksguard’...