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

A place for anything *not* Donaldson.

Moderator: I'm Murrin

User avatar
Reave the Unjust
Elohim
Posts: 213
Joined: Sat Mar 18, 2006 2:12 pm
Location: Bristol, UK

Post by Reave the Unjust »

The Princess Bride by William Goldman.

1/3 of the way through now.
Loved the film when I was a kid (saw it at the cinema too), but the book has got loads more fun and games in it!
Image
User avatar
Encryptic
<i>Haruchai</i>
Posts: 595
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2004 4:45 pm
Location: I could tell you, but I'd have to kill you.

Post by Encryptic »

Just started The Thousandfold Thought (finished re-reading the first two books).
User avatar
stonemaybe
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 4836
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:37 am
Location: Wallowing in the Zider Zee

Post by stonemaybe »

Just finished up with Neil Gaiman - American Gods (brilliant), Neverwhere (enjoyed very much but lacked the depth and history that i wanted!), and Anansi Boys (great, not sure about the ending)

Now, after lots of long hard thought, I've decided to take the plunge and see what all the fuss was about - just started The Da Vinci Code.
Aglithophile and conniptionist and spectacular moonbow beholder 16Jul11

(:/>
User avatar
A Gunslinger
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 8890
Joined: Sat May 08, 2004 6:48 pm
Location: Southern WI (Madison area)

Post by A Gunslinger »

I am re-reading "Drawing of the Three".
"I use my gun whenever kindness fails"



ImageImage
User avatar
Avatar
Immanentizing The Eschaton
Posts: 62038
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:17 am
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 32 times
Contact:

Post by Avatar »

The Da Vinci Code is pretty much just page fodder. Nice book, but nothing worth the fuss. If you want to try a more involved book in the same line, read Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco.

--A
User avatar
Brinn
S.P.O.W
Posts: 3137
Joined: Mon Jul 01, 2002 2:07 pm
Location: Worcester, MA

Post by Brinn »

Just finished Ted Chiang's "Stories of Yourself and Others". An excellent thought provoking collection of short stories. Very cerebral stuff! I recommend it highly.

Don't know if it qualifies as fantasy but I'm reading a fictionalized account of Alexander the Great's campaign in Afghanistan told from a soldier's point of view. The book is written by "Gates of Fire" author Steven Pressfield and is aptly titled "The Afghan Campaign".
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse. The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature and has no chance of being free unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. John Stuart Mill
User avatar
aliantha
blueberries on steroids
Posts: 17865
Joined: Tue Mar 05, 2002 7:50 pm
Location: NOT opening up a restaurant in Santa Fe

Post by aliantha »

I have "Harrowing the Dragon" by Patricia McKillip in my backpack, but I haven't yet started reading it. I discovered that our library has many of her books, so I'm working my way through 'em. Good stuff -- SRD was right! :biggrin: I *really* liked "Song for the Basilisk".
Image
Image

EZ Board Survivor

"Dreaming isn't good for you unless you do the things it tells you to." -- Three Dog Night (via the GI)

https://www.hearth-myth.com/
User avatar
SothuTheUnfetterdOne.
Elohim
Posts: 112
Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2006 1:32 am
Location: My house

Post by SothuTheUnfetterdOne. »

Just finished homecoming series by orson scott card.
I have learned a lot in the Modern Art of words.

Poetry is the Art of words, random is the modern art.
User avatar
Avatar
Immanentizing The Eschaton
Posts: 62038
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:17 am
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 32 times
Contact:

Post by Avatar »

Pratchett's Thud.

--A
User avatar
Avatar
Immanentizing The Eschaton
Posts: 62038
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:17 am
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 32 times
Contact:

Post by Avatar »

And today I'm reading Feist's Krondor: The Assassins.

(See, a new book lasts me a day or two, tops. :D )

--A
User avatar
Spiral Jacobs
Giantfriend
Posts: 444
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:03 pm
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 3 times

Post by Spiral Jacobs »

Finished Look To Windward (great book, by the way) and my audio re-read of A Game Of Thrones. So I started a paper re-read of Excession and an audio re-read of A Clash Of Kings. I still like Martin, though I must say he's much too focused on what people are wearing. Not every person's description needs to start with the colour of doublet they're wearing, come on.
But the ending of A Game Of Thrones is fantastic.

Oh and I just received word that Latro In The Mist is on its way, yay!
User avatar
pat5150
Giantfriend
Posts: 284
Joined: Fri Mar 11, 2005 3:44 am

Post by pat5150 »

I just finished Steven Erikson's Reaper's Gale, and it should rank among this year's best fantasy books, if not the very best of the bunch! :D

One word of advice, though: Expect the unexpected! This one is packed with surprises! ;)

Check out the blog for a spoiler-free review...

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com
User avatar
Spiral Jacobs
Giantfriend
Posts: 444
Joined: Mon Jan 02, 2006 7:03 pm
Has thanked: 1 time
Been thanked: 3 times

Post by Spiral Jacobs »

Aargh I can't wait for that book! I'm expecting an awesome Rhulad vs Karsa Rumble in the Jungle of Lether. :yeehaa:
User avatar
stonemaybe
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 4836
Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:37 am
Location: Wallowing in the Zider Zee

Post by stonemaybe »

Just finished the da vinci code. Glad I read it. Won't shout about it!

Just started (and am already halfway through!) The Real Story. I'm a Gap virgin - so hopefully I've got an exciting month or so ahead of me!
Aglithophile and conniptionist and spectacular moonbow beholder 16Jul11

(:/>
User avatar
Phantasm
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 1720
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2005 10:52 pm
Location: Cumbernauld, Scotland

Post by Phantasm »

Avatar wrote:Pratchett's Thud.

--A
Quite good, although I'm a bit Pratchetted out.
Quote - John Smeaton (Terrorists take note)

"This is Glasgow- we'll just set aboot ye"



Image
User avatar
Phantasm
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 1720
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2005 10:52 pm
Location: Cumbernauld, Scotland

Post by Phantasm »

Spiral Jacobs wrote:Finished Look To Windward (great book, by the way) and my audio re-read of A Game Of Thrones. So I started a paper re-read of Excession and an audio re-read of A Clash Of Kings. I still like Martin, though I must say he's much too focused on what people are wearing. Not every person's description needs to start with the colour of doublet they're wearing, come on.
But the ending of A Game Of Thrones is fantastic.

Oh and I just received word that Latro In The Mist is on its way, yay!
Look to Windward - superb.

I used to use "O you who turn the wheel and look to windward, consider Phlebus, who was once handsome and tall as you." as a signature on a forum I belonged to.

OK, that was from another book, but still relevant.
Quote - John Smeaton (Terrorists take note)

"This is Glasgow- we'll just set aboot ye"



Image
User avatar
Phantasm
The Gap Into Spam
Posts: 1720
Joined: Sun Jul 03, 2005 10:52 pm
Location: Cumbernauld, Scotland

Post by Phantasm »

Currently reading "Guardians of the lost", book 2 in the sovereign stone trilogy by Margaret Weiss and Tracy Hickman.

I enjoyed the Dragonlance series years ago, and was at a loss for something to read lately, and picked up the first book in the series at the library recently.

Not mind bogglingly fantastic, but enjoyable reading nevertheless.
Quote - John Smeaton (Terrorists take note)

"This is Glasgow- we'll just set aboot ye"



Image
User avatar
Avatar
Immanentizing The Eschaton
Posts: 62038
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:17 am
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Has thanked: 25 times
Been thanked: 32 times
Contact:

Post by Avatar »

Phantasm wrote:
Avatar wrote:Pratchett's Thud.

--A
Quite good, although I'm a bit Pratchetted out.
Nice to see you around Phantasm. I enjoyed it, but it wasn't among his best. Certainly not as good as Night Watch. About the same level as 5th Elephant IMO.

--A
User avatar
storm
Giantfriend
Posts: 395
Joined: Sun Aug 14, 2005 10:56 pm
Location: Michigan

Post by storm »

Just finished up reading Shadowplay, major disappointment, i enjoyed Shadowmarch so much more. Will probably start working on the Legend of Drizzt stuff, really like Salvatore, so stoked for the Orc King in the fall.
May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.

F.E.M.A. "Ferocious Educational Medical Aptitude" -Esmer

"Honestly; by the end of the Chronicles Lord Foul isn't going to be the Despiser anymore (we all knew he had to come to an end), however I find it vexing that the only reason is because he feels unworthy of the title and resigns to let Linden take his badge, Illearth Stone, and the keys to Linden's Creche."-Revan
User avatar
Nav
Lord
Posts: 2137
Joined: Tue Nov 26, 2002 5:03 pm
Location: Surrey - Home of Baseball

Post by Nav »

Phantasm wrote:
Look to Windward - superb.

I used to use "O you who turn the wheel and look to windward, consider Phlebus, who was once handsome and tall as you." as a signature on a forum I belonged to.

OK, that was from another book, but still relevant.
That quote made me think that maybe Banks won't be writing any more Culture novels, as it's at the beginning of Consider Phlebas as well. I had thought that they could go on indefinitely, as he can practically come up with any premise and insert Special Circumstances as appropriate, though he might feel he was reworking an old idea. Certainly, The Algebraist was very good indeed, so maybe it is time to put the Culture down for a bit.

I've been dipping into Bill King's first Gotrek and Felix omnibus for a while now. I remember loving the extracts from these stories when they were published in White Dwarf about twelve years ago. They do lack depth, but it's nice to get reacquainted with the Empire of Man which, unusually for Fantasy I think, is outwardly Germanic. Gotrek and Felix themselves are steeped in cliche, but likeable nonetheless and the cowardly Grey Seer Thanquol is a lot of fun. Where King was bound to a certain extent to what had previously been written about the Empire, it seems like he was able to let his imagination run wild with the Skaven. He fleshes out their underworld of power, intrigue, invention and cowardice very well and with wry humour evident throughout (a Skaven leader's "position of honour" in the rear of any troop formation still makes me chuckle).
Q. Why do Communists drink herbal tea?
A. Because proper tea is theft.
Post Reply

Return to “General Fantasy/Sci-Fi Discussion”