What fantasy/science fiction book are you reading RIGHT NOW?

[Loredoctor]

The problem is that Hyperion and Fall of Hyperion are really one book; I understand that the publishers cut it in half. Is that correct, danlo?

[CovenantJr]

That would explain it. In any case, it was such a labour to read Hyperion that I'm having a refreshing break before I tackle Fall Of.

[duchess of malfi]

The two books read very differently. Fall expands to a more galactic wide epic.

[Loredoctor]

But, they are still one book - the Hyperion Cantos.

[Encryptic]

Ainulindale: I finished Death of the Necromancer last night. It is rather good, although there were a few questions I wish had been answered more satisfactorily. Still, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Wells is a good writer and the story was always intriguing.

The story takes place in what appears to be a alternate version of 19th-century France, where magic is commonplace. I'd have to say it definitely reminds me of Sean Russell's stuff (he's even quoted on the back cover), with a bit of Sherlock Holmes thrown in. The story concerns a noble (who is also the greatest thief of his day) seeking revenge on another noble who had his foster father executed on charges of necromancy. Suffice it to say, our hero (while in the course of a theft) stumbles on someone else dabbling in necromancy and the story gets progressively more interesting from there on.

It looks like Wells has written some other stand-alone books in the same world as DotN (Element of Fire and City of Bones, as well as an actual series). I picked up Element of Fire also and it sounds pretty interesting as well, so I may read that next.

[Ainulindale]

Ainulidale: I finished Death of the Necromancer last night. It is rather good, although there were a few questions I wish had been answered more satisfactorily. Still, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Wells is a good writer and the story was always intriguing.

Thanks for the recomendation I just read upon it bought Death of the Neuromancer and Element of Fire along with these that are sent in the same world:


The Ile Rien Trilogy:

The Wizard Hunters
The Ships of Air
Gate of Gods (comes out in November, preorder)

If I liek them I will pcik up her other none related works as well. Thanks again

[Warmark]

Just finished Jonathon Strange and Mr. Norrell, and have began the Earthsea Quartet.

[Encryptic]

Ainulidale: I finished Death of the Necromancer last night. It is rather good, although there were a few questions I wish had been answered more satisfactorily. Still, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it. Wells is a good writer and the story was always intriguing.

Thanks for the recomendation I just read upon it bought Death of the Neuromancer and Element of Fire along with these that are sent in the same world:


The Ile Rien Trilogy:

The Wizard Hunters
The Ships of Air
Gate of Gods (comes out in November, preorder)

If I liek them I will pcik up her other none related works as well. Thanks again

Hope you enjoy it. For what it's worth, I was turned on to Death of the Necromancer by an old "Best of Sci-Fi/Fantasy" list on SFSite.com that I was poking through in search of more prospects to check out.

[Ainulindale]

Hope you enjoy it. For what it's worth, I was turned on to Death of the Necromancer by an old "Best of Sci-Fi/Fantasy" list on SFSite.com that I was poking through in search of more prospects to check out.

Sfsite is definitely a site I have respect for of course grudgingly

I really find some of the contributors there to be consistently informative.

[Encryptic]

Hope you enjoy it. For what it's worth, I was turned on to Death of the Necromancer by an old "Best of Sci-Fi/Fantasy" list on SFSite.com that I was poking through in search of more prospects to check out.

Sfsite is definitely a site I have respect for of course grudgingly

On that subject, your own 101 Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy list that you posted a while back has provided more inspiration for stuff to check out, so don't feel too bad.

I decided to start reading Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell last night, but I'll probably read Element of Fire after I finish that.

[I'm Murrin]

I'm finally getting back on course with the reading. I'd made terrible progress on Strange & Norrell, but in the last two days I've gotten back on track and I'm now half way through it.

[duchess of malfi]

I had started reading Meiville's Perdido Street Station, but have set it aside for a few days, as it was just a little too weird to read when sick. I'll get back to it in a couple of days.

Turned to a more traditional sort of read in the meantime, Charles Russell's Swans' War Trilogy. I read the first book last night and this morning, and enjoyed it. Will start the second book when I get home from the grocery store.

The Swans' War is set in an area made of mountains and river valleys, which was once one kingdom but is now a divided land, warred over by two great feudal and feuding families that both claim the nonexistant throne. Throw in some ancient sorcerors hungry to come back to life and power, a very strange and magical river, and Gypsies, and you have some pretty good traditional fantasy.

[Encryptic]

I had started reading Meiville's Perdido Street Station, but have set it aside for a few days, as it was just a little too weird to read when sick. I'll get back to it in a couple of days.

Turned to a more traditional sort of read in the meantime, Charles Russell's Swans' War Trilogy. I read the first book last night and this morning, and enjoyed it. Will start the second book when I get home from the grocery store.

The Swans' War is set in an area made of mountains and river valleys, which was once one kingdom but is now a divided land, warred over by two great feudal and feuding families that both claim the nonexistant throne. Throw in some ancient sorcerors hungry to come back to life and power, a very strange and magical river, and Gypsies, and you have some pretty good traditional fantasy.

LOL....I think you need to get well before you read any more, Duchess. It's Sean Russell, not Charles.

That said, it's good to see someone else actually reading his stuff on KW. I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one besides SRD who had actually heard of this guy.

If you enjoy the Swans War, I'd also recommend checking out his River Into Darkness duology (Beneath the Vaulted Hills and The Compass of the Soul). No connection to Swans War, but still a great read if you like his style.

He's also written a couple of other duologies (Moontide and Magic Rise, The Initiate Brother), but I didn't find them as good as the rest of his stuff.

[duchess of malfi]

LOL!!!

That was before I ate breakfast. Even managed to keep it down, which means I am starting to feel better.

Yes, that is Sean Russell.

And the books in the Swans' War trilogy:
The One Kingdom
The Isle of Battle
The Shadow Roads

So far, after the first book, it has been a good, solid read. And nothing nightmare inducing

Spoiler

like that guy having sex with a great big intelligent bug in Perdido Street Station

[Encryptic]

LOL!!!

That was before I ate breakfast. Even managed to keep it down, which means I am starting to feel better.

Yes, that is Sean Russell.

And the books in the Swans' War trilogy:
The One Kingdom
The Isle of Battle
The Shadow Roads

So far, after the first book, it has been a good, solid read. And nothing nightmare inducing

Spoiler

like that guy having sex with a great big intelligent bug in Perdido Street Station

Cool.

I still haven't got a chance to read The Shadow Roads myself, but the first two books are excellent.

[gyrehead]

That said, it's good to see someone else actually reading his stuff on KW. I was beginning to wonder if I was the only one besides SRD who had actually heard of this guy.

If you enjoy the Swans War, I'd also recommend checking out his River Into Darkness duology (Beneath the Vaulted Hills and The Compass of the Soul). No connection to Swans War, but still a great read if you like his style.

He's also written a couple of other duologies (Moontide and Magic Rise, The Initiate Brother), but I didn't find them as good as the rest of his stuff.

While rough, I enjoyed the Initiate Brother much more than the River Into Darkness series. But I read Russell as he came out so that might have had something to do with it.

I really disliked his mystery that he is co-writing and hope he is hard at work on a new fantasy project, though he updates his website even worse than Tor does theirs.

[Ainulindale]

On that subject, your own 101 Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy list that you posted a while back has provided more inspiration for stuff to check out, so don't feel too bad

Thanks! Working on the next 99 as we speak

[Avatar]

Busy on Feist's SilverThorn.

--A

[Ainulindale]

Hope you enjoy it. For what it's worth, I was turned on to Death of the Necromancer by an old "Best of Sci-Fi/Fantasy" list on SFSite.com that I was poking through in search of more prospects to check out.

Encryptic, I jsut got a response back from Ms. Wells, and I just wanted to let you know she has granted my site a upcoming interview

[duchess of malfi]

I took my son's late library book back today and made the mistake of wandering into the science fiction and fantasy section, thinking that they might have Orson Scott Card's latest book, Shadow of the Giant. I have read the earlier Bean books, but found them to be a mixed bag (enjoyed some, not others), with the last one, Shadow Puppets being somewhat flat, so I did not want to purchase the latest one, not knowing which way it would fall. Well, that one was checked out with a waiting list, but I saw an Orson Scott Card book I have never heard of before called Enchantment which looked interesting (sounds like he is retelling a fairy tale), and also an Anne McCaffrey dragon book I have not read, Dragon's Kin...

So I guess those two will be what I'll be reading next, followed by finishing up Russell's Swans' War trilogy and another attempt on Meiville.