Kevin's Watch

Avatar wrote:Haven't ever read The Jesus Incident, The Lazarus Effect or The Ascension Factor. Good?

Well, The Jesus Incident is a 10, the others are really good but don't stack up.

And don't forget the prequel book, Destination: Void. You could skip it, but it's better if you don't.

Hmmm... maybe now I need to reread HH...

I'll definitely keep an eye out for them.

--A

DEATHLY HALLOWS

I started reading HP for the first time ever. I'm up to Azkaban.

Alas, I'm rereading DEATHLY HALLOWS. Couldn't switch my concentration to anything else.

I'm reading Heir to the Empire--first book in the Thrawn trilogy of Star Wars books. Superb!

Great book, LF.

Finished Deathly Hallows this afternoon.

Just read Heir myself the other day...must find the rest of them.

Started rereading Daughter of the Empire by Feist / Wurts yesterday. Great series IMO.

--A

Reading an AE Van Vogt sci-fi, The Caged Mind. As a teen I loved his books. Now this one seems not-so-well written. I remember him opening my mind to new ideas, however.

Perhaps predictably, Servant of the Empire.

--A

drew wrote:Currently Reading The Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel Kay.

About a fifth of the way through; and I'm lovin' every word.

It's loosly based on the Ancient Anglo-Saxons, Celts and Vikings; but with an origional story; and Kay's unique writting style.

Okay...I finished this the other day...Other than the 'Eddingsesque' Epilogue (Half the survivors end up marrying off) I was more than impressed.

It was neat reading a Fantasy book with pretty much no magic, no wizards, no elves, no magic sword, no long lost heir, no prophecy, no Dark Overlord...no stuff like that.

It dealt with Redeption and spirituality mostly.

Finished Robin Hobb's "Renegade's Magic" last night. An enjoyable read, a guilty pleasure.

I've finally begun Harry Potter 7. Hopefully I can avoid being exposed to spoilers before I finish the book!

Yes. I, too, have Harry Potter spoiler fear. I'm a teacher and several kids at school are almost finished with the book! Oh, no.

Just finished Jeff Somers' The Electric Church.

For some reason, I can't say that it piqued my curiosity when I received the ARC. A few weeks later, as I was looking for something not too bulky to bring along for my trip to NYC and DC, I decided to give this Orbit USA launch title a shot. The story was occurring in New York City, which sort of made it apropos.

I started reading this action-packed novel on the eve of my departure, and I would have read The Electric Church till the wee hours of the night had I not had an early plane to catch. I was immediately sucked into this cyberpunk/noir science fiction tale.

An explosive near-future thriller in which Kill Bill meets Blade Runner -- that's how they sum up this book on the back cover of the ARC. I figure that's as good a description as any!

Avery Cates is a Gunner -- a hitman. As if his life isn't complicated enough, he finds a way to screw up in spectacular fashion when he kills a cop. From that point on, Cates is basically a dead man walking with the entire System Security Force on his trail. Somehow, Cates will dig himself an even deeper hole by killing more cops as he desperately attempts to save his own skin. Realizing that his miserable life has reached its expiration date, Cates will do the only thing that might see him survive. With no other alternatives this side of death, he will accept to kill someone for Director Richard Marin, of the SFF Department of Internal Affairs. His target: Dennis Squalor, founder and chief prophet of the Electric Church. The only problem is that, since Marin cannot be seen getting involved, Cates must face the SFF and the Monks of the Electric Church in order to succeed and possibly save his own life.

Jaded readers tired of the "same old" should definitely give Jeff Somers' The Electric Church a shot! As for me, it is with curiosity and eagerness that I will wait for the sequel, The King Worm.

Apart from Brian Ruckley's Winterbirth, this could well be Orbit USA's most interesting launch title. It will be released in a few weeks from now. . .

Check the blog for the full review.

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

Started two days ago Harry Potter number 7. So far it is very good and well-written, and no spoilers here!

Wikipedia.

Not sure it would be considered either fantasy or SF, but have returned to King's Insomnia after a week's break to read Deathly Hallows.

The journey continues...

Mistress of the Empire.

--A

Avatar wrote:Mistress of the Empire.

Great series!

One of my all-time favourites. Can't even tell you how many times I've read it.

--A