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

Post by **duchess of malfi** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 11:11 am

Fevre Dream by George R R Martin...

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Mon Oct 06, 2003 10:32 pm

I only read a few pages because the way it was written was just irritating. I really couldn't put up with whole books of that.

Post by **Blue_Spawn** » Tue Oct 07, 2003 10:32 pm

I love the way he wrote in first perspective. Most books like that put me to sleep, but the guy has great sense of humour.

Post by **Dragonlily** » Sat Oct 11, 2003 3:53 pm

I'm trying to get through George R.R. Martin's A CLASH OF KINGS in the middle of everything else I have going. At least it brightens my lunch hours. He does an especially good job of switching mindsets, to give us the individual flavor for each of his many point-of-view characters.

Post by **kastenessen** » Sat Oct 11, 2003 5:37 pm

I'm 100 pgs or so into Steven Erikson's Gardens of the moon. All I can say for now is that it's quite good...

And I agree with you Ryzel about Gene Wolfe's The Book of The New Sun. I read them a few years ago and they didn't catch on to me either. I was seldom surprised and newer awed by what I was reading. (Not of course the only criterium for good literature, but anyway...) Not much is really happening if you regard the lenght of the work. Like with for example Ghormenghast by Mervyn Peake. But it is as you say, he is a genious. The language is beautiful and complex and for me a difficult read. That maybe have been what hindered me from fully appreciating it...

Post by **Dragonlily** » Sat Oct 11, 2003 6:02 pm

Has anyone here read Gene Wolfe's SOLDIER OF THE MIST? I thought it was a wonderful fantasy, with that mysterious, muted quality echoing in the fog of the hero's lost memory.

I haven't read any of the NEW SUN books, but he has a new one this year, LATRO IN THE MIST, which I think I must find.

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 2:44 pm

I just finished 'Stone of Tears' - Good book, but I still think Goodkind has a problem of doing a good, drawn-out, well-filled story, and then tagging on an ending that goes by far too fast...

Post by **[Syl]** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 5:50 pm

I've heard good things about Soldier in the Mist and Latro in the Mist, but I have to finish the Book of the Short Sun before I get around to it. So far, the Short Sun is harder to read than either the New or Long Sun books. The text is simpler, but Horn, the protagonist, doesn't interest me as much as Severian or Silk. I'm only a hundred pages in, though, so I'll have to wait and see.

Post by **Dragonlily** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 6:08 pm

Syl wrote:So far, the Short Sun is harder to read than either the New or Long Sun books. The text is simpler, but Horn, the protagonist, doesn't interest me as much as Severian or Silk. I'm only a hundred pages in, though, so I'll have to wait and see.

I think I read CLAW OF THE CONCILIATOR years ago, but it didn't stick with me. The SUN books are among those "maybe someday" projects. Considering the size of my TBR shelves, someone would have to place them in my hands.

Post by **Lord Mhoram** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 8:31 pm

Joy, I have Soldier in the Mist, but I just haven't finished it! Latro seems to be a fascinating character.

Post by **Dragonlily** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 10:08 pm

The subject has come up on another thread, of what other alien species are realized to a degree comparable with the Amnion.

Danlo:

I have to agree with Farseer about the Amnion: without a doubt the coolest and creepiest aliens ever invented. Much scarier in the prospects of what they could do as opposed to what we see them doing...and that's pretty scary in itself. David Brin, especially in his "Uplift" series, creates some of the best defined and believable aliens in the entire genre of Sci-Fi. SRD topped even him in one feel swoop with the Amnion.

I am reopening this topic on a thread better suited to it.

I agree with Danlo about the Amnion and Brin's characters, but I also have another author to offer. Has anyone read James White's Space Hospital series? In it surgeons treat thousands of species from all over the galaxy. To hold the necessary knowledge for sometimes little-known species, they are able to have imprinted on their minds the mind of a top surgeon familiar with that species. It is only for a limited period of time, and it makes them act a bit wierd! But it does give them a fascinating understanding of xenology. The interactions of the various species in the hospital system is beautifully imagined and often endearing. White has written other books, but IMO these are the ones to read.

Post by **duchess of malfi** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 11:02 pm

Heinlein's Starship Troopers -- I enjoy the movie but have never read the book...(plus Fist has been asking me to read Heinlein for oh, about ten months now

)

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 3:33 pm

To date, I have read LotR, Earthsea, CoTC, WoT, aSoIaF, a whole bunch of Discworld books, and I'm busy with Sword of Truth. Does anyone have any recommendations for my next read (as long as it's not Amber)?
I know I'm only on book three of eight in my latest series, but I want to sort out the next read asap.

Post by **danlo** » Wed Oct 15, 2003 4:41 pm

Read the Neverness series!!!!!!!!

Post by **Dragonlily** » Thu Oct 16, 2003 6:17 am

Finished Martin's A CLASH OF KINGS:

Tyrion Lannister:

The war shrank to the size of his eye slit. Knights twice his size fled from him, or stood and died. They seemed little things, and fearful. 'Lannister!' he shouted, slaying. His arm was red to the elbow, glistening in the light off the river. When his horse reared again, he shook his axe at the stars and heard them call out 'Halfman! Halfman!'

Starting next Michelle O'Leary's sci fi ANGELS AND MINISTERS OF GRACE.

Post by **duchess of malfi** » Sat Oct 18, 2003 8:18 pm

Finished both Starship Troopers and the history book I have been reading, called Galileo's Daughter. I started Lois McMaster Bujold's fantasy book The Curse of Chalion this morning. I have read all of her science fiction books, which she has won multiple Hugos and Nebulas for, and I am glad to say that this book is off to a great start, too.

She loves themes about the costs of power, and loves non-perfect heros and strong female characters...I finally found my copy of The Furthest Shore just a bit after I started Chalion, so will resume my Earthsea reread after I finish the Bujold book (which shoul please both Danlo and Fist to no end

).

Post by **Cloudberry** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 7:01 pm

Right now I'm reading J V Jones A Fortress of Grey Ice, which is the second book in The Sword of Shadows. The first book is A Cavern of Black Ice. The third book, A Sword From Red Ice is supposed to be in the book shop in november. Something I really am looking forward to.

Post by **Dragonlily** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 9:03 pm

Is that military sci fi, Cloudberry? Or fantasy? I haven't run into that author before.

Post by **Cloudberry** » Sun Oct 19, 2003 9:50 pm

Fantasy. She has also written the Book of Words series (The Baker's Boy, A Man Betrayed, Master and Fool ). Another one is The Barbed Coil. They are all on my Books I really must read list.

I like her style very much. She has a tendency to write boks that are just a bit too long, but I don't think she will become a female Robert Jordan.

Post by **I'm Murrin** » Mon Oct 20, 2003 2:14 pm

Is Neverness fantasy or SF? I'm not too keen on SF books.

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

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