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

[Myste]

The one character I was sure I could like personally right from the start has just done something both terrifying and horrifying, but I'm not sure that's a bad thing.

I'm curious - which character (you can spoiler it if you want)?

Spoiler

Tattersail.

Not the only character I like, just the only one I knew I liked from the very start.

[Edge]

Now reading David Brin's 'Brightness Reef'

Just finished: Jane Lindskold's 'Legends Walking', and 'A Malady Of Magicks' by Craig Shaw GArdner.

[gyrehead]

Got two ARC yesterday in the mail; Thy Splintered Self by Elisabeth Witte and The Moment of Truth by M. Samuel Krant. Read the first last night and almost done with the second. Very good stuff.

[pat5150]

Golden Fool by Robin Hobb:

Its predecessor having set the bar rather high, it was with great expectations that I began to read the second volume of The Tawny Man trilogy. I should have known by now not to doubt Robin Hobb, but I guess I had not yet learned my lesson. Well, I need not have feared because Golden Fool is simply brilliant. The novel delivers on every level, elevating the tale to new heights.

It truly amazes me how Mrs. Hobb manages to push the envelope a little more with each new book she writes. Understandably, I just can't wait to sit down and the conclusion of his fantastic series.

Once again, the characterizations are superb. How the author manages to surpass herself, over and over again, is a mystery. Indeed, Hobb's characterizations are on a far higher plane than that of her fellow fantasy writers.

And in this series, Mrs. Hobb adds new dimensions to several characters from the Farseer trilogy, allowing us to see each character with a new perspective.To call this process "character growth" somehow feels like an understatement. Hence, it was with immense pleasure that I witnessed the evolution of FitzChivalry's relationships with the Fool, the Queen, the Prince, Chade, as well as with his own son, Hap.

And as wonderful as the characterizations are, the intrigue keeps building up. Secrets pertaining to the Fool's past are revealed, and I was surprised and pleased to learn of them. We also learn that not all is as it seems within the embassy from the Out Islands, and the Narcheska Elliania herself hides much. Tidings from Bingtown tie up this series with that of The Liveship Traders.

All in all, a very satisfying, multi-layered epic fantasy tale. For more, you know what to do!!!;)

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

P. S. Everyone tells me that the final book is the best. And honestly, I have no problem believing them at all!

[Edge]

As an interlude, today I read the TOR 'double' consisting of Robert Silverberg's 'Sailing To Byzantium', and 'Seven American Nights' by Gene Wolfe.

[Encryptic]

Getting behind in m yreading of Eldon Thompson's Crimson Sword, as I'm going between that and Ian R. Macleod's House of Storms. I also want to get to the House of Leaves as soon as possible.

I also wanted to note I just finsihed rounding at my former 101 list of recommendations, into a list I'm calling my Back 99. Each entry has a synopsis (some longer than others).

Gotta love your list just for the fact that you included Calvin and Hobbes on it...

Not to mention, you've got some solid recommendations on there like Sword of Shadows, Tigana and Liveship Traders.

[Warmark]

Finished Tombs and started The Farthest Shore.

[Iryssa]

Heretics of Dune
Actually, I haven't started it yet...but I plan on doing that tonight

[I'm Murrin]

Finished Claw of the Conciliator. Found it better than the first book, and looking forward to beginning Sword of the Lictor.

[duchess of malfi]

Have reached the fifth book of Jack Vance's science fiction series, The Demon Princes. In it, a man who was raised as an instrument of vengeance tracks down the five greatest crime lords in the galaxy, one by one. The crime lords, and the hunt for each, are quite different, and so far it is an enjoyable read, and quite gritty considering that the author began the series in the 1960's (finished it about twenty years later - and people complain about GRRM ).

Am about halfway through Stephen King's The Eyes of the Dragon. This one seems to be aimed at a YA audience? It's really strange -- I keep getting a deja vue feeling from the story. I'm not sure if there are echos from the Dark Tower books, or perhaps I have read bits of it before?

I also read a Star Wars book called Labyrinth of Evil by James Luceno. It is the set-up story for ROTS,

Spoiler

ending with Palpatine's kidnapping and the recall of Anakin and Obi-Wan from the Outer Rim

.

When I finish the King and Vance books, I have a hankering for some Iain Banks.

[Avatar]

Am about halfway through Stephen King's The Eyes of the Dragon. This one seems to be aimed at a YA audience? It's really strange -- I keep getting a deja vue feeling from the story. I'm not sure if there are echos from the Dark Tower books, or perhaps I have read bits of it before?

The Eyes of the Dragon is indeed written in the format of a "fairy tale," although it's suitability for the young might be debated. However, it serves as something of a backfround to the Dark Tower.

Spoiler

Set in the same world, the evil magician, Flagg, is the same guy as the "ageless stranger" in the DT series, and he's Flagg from The Stand as well.

In fact, in perhaps the first DT book, Roland mentions having seen Flagg, ( a magician who turned an irritating man into a yapping dog), and met the two intense young men, Dennis and Thomas, pusuing Flagg through the ruins of a once great city.

--Avatar

[Loredoctor]

Banks is great.

[Ainulindale]

Currently Reading Gay Wassner's Awakening the second installment of his Gemquest series, really solid high fantasy find here.

Also reading Mark Z. Danielewski's House of Leaves.

Just got done with these and going through them again for forthcoming reviews Martha Wells' Death of the Necromancer (thanks Encryptic), Holly Phillip's In The Palace of Repose, Matt Hughes' Black Brillion, Gary Wassner's The Twins. I finished my review of Eldon Thompson's debut novel The Crimson Sword and it can be read HERE.

On deck is a maunscript of Hal Duncan's forthcoming Vellum, which, I'm expecting BIG things from.

Banks is great.

I'm a convert, he is one of the handful of current authors that have to mentioned in a discussion regarding the best writers right now IMHO. I lvoe his SF and Horror works

Gotta love your list just for the fact that you included Calvin and Hobbes on it...

Bill Waterson owns

Am about halfway through Stephen King's The Eyes of the Dragon. This one seems to be aimed at a YA audience? It's really strange -- I keep getting a deja vue feeling from the story. I'm not sure if there are echos from the Dark Tower books, or perhaps I have read bits of it before?

I think this is due to King really still getting acclimated to more of a traditional fantasy novel. The one parraallel for sure with Dark Tower is Flagg.

I love Demon Princes! If your enjoying Vance, I would suggest trying out a relative new author who has the same style (in a good way) a book I just read entitled Black Brillion, by Matt Hughes. Really impressive work, and we will be interviewing him soon this month as well.

[Loredoctor]

Flagg is also in The Stand.

[Avatar]

Sheesh, didn't anybody read what I'd spoilered?



--A

[Ainulindale]

Sheesh, didn't anybody read what I'd spoilered?

I didn't at first, and for that I apologize but going back and looking at it. It's not really a spoiler IMHO.

[Avatar]

Aah, you also clearly missed the . I wasn't actually annoyed. And in the sense that Duchess hasn't finished it yet, it could be considered a minor spoiler of sorts, now couldn't it?

--A

[Rincewind]

Re-reading - "The Light Fantastic" Terry Pratchett

[drew]

I'm acctually just starting Forbidden Knowledge (SRD)--I've never read the GaAP before..I should be stating HP's the Philosopher's Stone with my 5 year old this week too.

[I'm Murrin]

Just finished reading The Call of Cthulhu.