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

Post by **Ainulindale** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 7:14 am

Ainulindale, it would be really nice if you could provide short descriptions of the books that you list, since many of them are obscure.

Which book you want to know more about? I just checked my last entry - Kim Stanley Robinson's - that should have went under the 'aquisitions thread' - sometime I forget this forum has both a 'reading' and a 'purchase thread.'

At any rate, jsut let me know which one, and If I'm not reviewing it I will be glad to.

Post by **Sunder** » Sun Sep 25, 2005 3:43 am

i'm reading the Inheritence Trilogy, Pendragon series, His Dark Materials, Warriors. Those are just to name a few books my twin, Morzan, and me have read recently. She got her name Morzan from the Inheritence Trilogy.

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 9:52 am

Jack Vance has a quite different style, I'm finding. In The Dying Earth, each chapter reads like a self-contained story - the book itself could so far be seen as a collection of connected short stories.

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:15 pm

Sunder wrote:i'm reading the Inheritence Trilogy, Pendragon series, His Dark Materials, Warriors. Those are just to name a few books my twin, Morzan, and me have read recently. She got her name Morzan from the Inheritence Trilogy.

Sunder, is that Stephen R. Lawhead's Pendragon cycle? I had read the first three books upon their release years ago, and have introduced Beorn to the series, so I am now reading all of the ones I know are linked to the cycle in the chronological order the Stephen R. Lawhead FAQ suggests.

I wasn't sure if they would be considered fantasy though, so hadn't posted that I was reading them here.

Post by **Encryptic** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 3:44 pm

Started reading "Quicksilver" by Neal Stephenson last night. Enjoying it so far.

Post by **Ainulindale** » Mon Sep 26, 2005 4:05 pm

Dropping some reads to read something I just got today! The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch![/u]

Post by **Sunder** » Tue Sep 27, 2005 4:24 am

Sunder wrote:
i'm reading the Inheritence Trilogy, Pendragon series, His Dark Materials, Warriors. Those are just to name a few books my twin, Morzan, and me have read recently. She got her name Morzan from the Inheritence Trilogy.

Sunder, is that Stephen R. Lawhead's Pendragon cycle? I had read the first three books upon their release years ago, and have introduced Beorn to the series, so I am now reading all of the ones I know are linked to the cycle in the chronological order the Stephen R. Lawhead FAQ suggests.

I wasn't sure if they would be considered fantasy though, so hadn't posted that I was reading them here.

Sorry Menolly, im talkin about The Pendragon Series that came out not to long ago. there written by D.J. MacHale, theres about six books so far.

Post by **duchess of malfi** » Wed Sep 28, 2005 4:40 am

I've been reading Magic Street, the latest fantasy novel by Orson Scott Card. I always like it when an author stretches him or herself out a bit, and often the result is interesting, even if it doesn't quite work. In this case, Card has set his fantasy story in the present day in an African American area of Los Angeles. So far it's quite good, though a bit weird.

Haven't finished it yet, but have quite enjoyed what I've thus far read.

This is the second book I have read in the last few months that was very heavily influenced by Shakespeare, the other being Dan Simmons's Olympos.

spoilers for both books:

Spoiler

Magic Street pulls heavily on A Midsummer Night's Dream and Olympos from The Tempest. Both have characters from their respective plays turn out to be powerful supernatural characters/forces in our world.

I have also been reading a short story anthology called
Grails: Quests of the Dawn. It features some short stories from some very good authors like Neil Gaiman, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Orson Scott Card, and Andre Norton. I just finished up a very good story by Gene Wolfe called The Sailor Who Sailed After the Sun.

Post by **Dragonlily** » Thu Sep 29, 2005 12:57 pm

CRYSTAL FLAME by Jayne Castle aka Jayne Ann Krentz

I've really been needing some relaxation, and this series is delightful. She's probably top of the tree in sci fi romance, though our own moleary is giving her some competition.

Post by **duchess of malfi** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 6:17 pm

I have started reading Anansi Boys, the new book by Neil Gaiman. It is a stand alone story set in the world of American Gods. So far I am delighted with it.

Spoiler

Fat Charlie Nancy is the son of one of the minor characters from American Gods, Mr. Nancy, the trickster & spider god from Africa. He lives in London after his mother left his father when he was young and moved from Florida to Britain. Circumstances lead him to discover that he has a brother, Spider. Spider seems to have inherited all of the god powers of their father. Fat Charlie has always felt like a bit of a loser, and his dashing brother doesn't help with his self-image. And so it goes, a few chapters into the book. It's very charming and funny thus far.

Post by **Edge** » Sun Oct 02, 2005 6:22 pm

Duchess, this is getting spooky.

I've just finished OSC's 'Magic Street', and just starting Gaiman's 'Anansi Boys'.

Post by **Encryptic** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 2:23 am

Finished "Quicksilver" and will be starting the followup "The Confusion" tonight.

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 9:54 am

Up to Rhialto the Marvelous in Vance's Tales of the Dying Earth.

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 4:22 pm

Up to book five, Grail, of Lawhead's Pendragon Cycle. Interesting take on the legends of King Arthur. Looking forward to beginning his Avalon, which isn't officially considered a part of the cycle, but many readers of the series recommend finishing with it.

Post by **Edge** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:26 pm

I also thoroughly recommend Lawhead's 'Albion' series. He's a great author!

YouTube · Post by **Menolly** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:51 pm

Edge wrote:I also thoroughly recommend Lawhead's 'Albion' series.

I've seen that mentioned on his website, along with several other series. Would you recommend the Albion series above the others listed after I'm finished with the Pendragon cycle?

Post by **Edge** » Tue Oct 04, 2005 5:56 pm

I would - I love all his writing, but I think the 'Albion' series is my favourite.

Post by **Edge** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 7:44 am

Now reading Terry Pratchett's 'Thud!'.

Post by **Avatar** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 10:06 am

Nearly finished Tigana, (I've been busy, OK?

) and thought I'd just let Encryptic know that when I did eventually get into it, (struggled again for the first 80 pages or so before it happened though), I started to enjoy it very much.

Next read is non-fantasy, (an interesting looking anthropological book), then it'll be on to my newest Pratchett.

--A

Post by **Variol Farseer** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 1:23 pm

Glyph of envy, Avatar.

I'm too poor to buy Pratchett, so I have to write my own.

<rimshot>

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

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