Reading at t'moment?

#8981 McLovin

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Posted 15 August 2012 - 12:58 PM

Finished ILLEARTH WAR. On to A DARKNESS AT SETHANON.

Also still reading THREE OF SWORDS, but Olympics plus now catch-up viewing of other stuff has seriously stalled progress. Plus so far, it's not that great. A lot of interesting stuff just gets summarized. And of course, this all was originally short stories published out of chronological order, just like Conan, so I have to keep that in mind. But I'll keep going.

OK, I think I got it, but just in case, can you say the whole thing over again? I wasn't really listening.

#8982 POOPOO MCBUMFACE

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Posted 15 August 2012 - 01:16 PM

Reading Bertrand Russell's THE PROBLEMS OF PHILOSOPHY. Not really getting much out of it, to be honest, it comes across as both aimed at a slightly younger audience and focused on those philosophical dilemmas ("man, see, I have a table... but is the table really a table? What is a table, dude? Dude... woah.") that really bore me. Mostly a test to see if I like his writing before reading THE HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY, though, and the writing's good and accessible. So :lol:

Think I'll give Philip K Dick's THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE a read next.

#8983 Baco Xtath

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Posted 15 August 2012 - 01:22 PM

If you want some good philosophy, check out Zizek - good stuff. The Sublime Object of Ideology is a good starting point.

"Give a man a fire and he's warm for the day. But set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life." - Terry Pratchett, Jingo"Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken." - Terry Pratchett, Eric
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#8984 McLovin

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Posted 15 August 2012 - 01:30 PM

POOPOO MCBUMFACE, on 15 August 2012 - 01:16 PM, said:

Mostly a test to see if I like his writing before reading THE HISTORY OF WESTERN PHILOSOPHY

FWIW, I enjoyed reading it.

OK, I think I got it, but just in case, can you say the whole thing over again? I wasn't really listening.

#8985 QuickTidal

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Posted 16 August 2012 - 10:59 AM

I finished Mark Lawrence's PRINCE OF THORNS....wow, easily the best book of 2011 that I didn't read in 2011. An absolute gripping, page turner.

Starting Jo Walton's AMONG OTHERS today. Hoping it's good.

"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora

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#8986 Abyss

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Posted 16 August 2012 - 02:40 PM

Salt-Man Z, on 15 August 2012 - 03:49 AM, said:

...I also just read Watchmen for the first time, and HOLY CRAP WAS THAT AMAZING.

Actually, it was amazing twenty minutes ago.

QuickTidal, on 15 August 2012 - 11:07 AM, said:

Macros, on 15 August 2012 - 08:57 AM, said:

day off work today with the cold.
sat down and read the prince of thorns.
I loved it...

I'm also currently reading it and having a similar experience. It's REALLY good. I think I may buy the sequel (which just came out) hardcover.

QuickTidal, on 16 August 2012 - 10:59 AM, said:

I finished Mark Lawrence's PRINCE OF THORNS....wow, ...

Encouraging since i just got it along w Stross's APOCALYPSE CODEX and of course FoD.

Which I am now reading.

And utterly enjoying. A LOT.

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#8987 polishgenius

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Posted 16 August 2012 - 08:02 PM

Quote

QuickTidal, on 16 August 2012 - 10:59 AM, said:

I finished Mark Lawrence's PRINCE OF THORNS....wow, ...

Encouraging since i just got it

Me and QT agree on it. It's that good.

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#8988 stone monkey

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Posted 16 August 2012 - 08:37 PM

The History of Western Philosophy is a pretty good read imo. Russell was a famously curmudgeonly and witty writer. His introduction to Wittgenstein's Tractatus-Logico-Philosophicus is kind of hilarious in its own aridly dry way. And, usefully for a philosopher and mathematician I think, his prose is pellucid.

This post has been edited by stone monkey: 16 August 2012 - 08:40 PM

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

#8989 JPK

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 05:24 AM

Finished Starship Troopers and Absolute Sandman Vol 2 today. Heinlein really wasn't afraid to play with social issues. Btw, QT, you were right. Three Septembers and a January was fantastic. I don't think it's my favorite of the stand-alones, but it's close.

Next up is The Book of Taltos by Steven Brust.

#8990 QuickTidal

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 11:14 AM

The Incredible Kitsu, on 17 August 2012 - 05:24 AM, said:

Next brilliant standalone SANDMAN tale....RAMADAN.

Glad you are enjoying!

"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora

"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon

#8991 Ain't_It_Just_

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 12:32 PM

Having a good time reading China Mieville's IRON COUNCIL. Been some time since I plunged into the world of Bas-Lag, and it remains a dark, gritty, wonderful place. The description and wordplay here is phenomenal-Mieville writes steampunk like a pro.

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#8992 QuickTidal

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 12:52 PM

Was having trouble connecting / getting into Jo Walton's AMONG OTHERS. It was a lot of inside SFF comments and not a lot on the story side of things. I'm aware it won awards, but I really wasn't into it. Might pick it up down the road.

Instead I got back into Terry Pratchett's first Tiffany Aching book THE WEE FREE MEN (which I had only put down to read FoD), and I'm a 100 pages in and laughing uproariously on the damned bus. It's SO good that I'm going out tonight to buy the other 3 Aching books in the series.

"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora

"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon

#8993 drinksinbars

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 01:00 PM

finished fod - enjoyed parts of it, but thought it very slow in places.

half way through cloud atlas - very clever idea, well written

#8994 QuickTidal

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 01:43 PM

drinksinbars, on 17 August 2012 - 01:00 PM, said:

finished fod - enjoyed parts of it, but thought it very slow in places.

half way through cloud atlas - very clever idea, well written

I had the same experience with FoD.

And glad you are enjoying CLOUD ATLAS, definitely one of my fave contemporary (though surrealistic) books ever.

"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora

"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon

#8995 Kruppe's snacky cakes

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 03:42 PM

QuickTidal, on 17 August 2012 - 12:52 PM, said:

Instead I got back into Terry Pratchett's first Tiffany Aching book THE WEE FREE MEN (which I had only put down to read FoD), and I'm a 100 pages in and laughing uproariously on the damned bus. It's SO good that I'm going out tonight to buy the other 3 Aching books in the series.

Yes, these are hysterical. And they're really the only Discworld-related books I've enjoyed, other than Reaper Man (unpopular opinion, I know). Anyone who enjoys "clever girl figures stuff out" YA books should also check out the Echo Falls Mystery books by Peter Abrahams.

Gave in to peer pressure and started the often-recommended The Breach. I don't usually go for thrillers, but this one is very promising so far.

Also started reading The History of the Hobbit by John Rateliff in anticipation of the upcoming movie...

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#8996 QuickTidal

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 04:39 PM

Kruppe, on 17 August 2012 - 03:42 PM, said:

Gave in to peer pressure and started the often-recommended The Breach. I don't usually go for thrillers, but this one is very promising so far.

Prepare thyself for the awesome.

"When the last tree has fallen, and the rivers are poisoned, you cannot eat money, oh no." ~Aurora

"Someone will always try to sell you despair, just so they don't feel alone." ~Ursula Vernon

#8997 Hound

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 05:35 PM

I thought the same things about FoD. Some very good/interesting parts, but also incredibly slow at times. To be very honest, I was a tiny bit disappointed due to high expectations. Hopefully part 2 & 3 will be better :lol:

Currently reading REAMDE by Neal Stephenson. It's my first Stephenson book and so far I'm enjoying it.
Also reading THE HEROES by Abercrombie. LOVE it, brilliant so far!

#8998 Abyss

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Posted 17 August 2012 - 05:44 PM

QuickTidal, on 17 August 2012 - 04:39 PM, said:

Kruppe, on 17 August 2012 - 03:42 PM, said:

Gave in to peer pressure and started the often-recommended The Breach. I don't usually go for thrillers, but this one is very promising so far.

Prepare thyself for the awesome.

Thy mind, it shalt be fuckedth.

And if you don't have the sequels GHOST COUNTRY and DEEP SKY standing by, get them.

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#8999 rhulad

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Posted 18 August 2012 - 01:45 PM

About halfway through BEFORE THEY ARE HANGED by Joe Abercrombie. While I was on vacation I finished off: BLADE OF TYSHALLE, and CAINE BLACK KNIFE by Matthew Stover, ON A PALE HORSE by Piers Anthony, and MAGICIANS APPRENTICE by Trudi Canavan.