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

[Worm of Despite]

Just finished R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots) for my Sci-Fi class. It's a 1920s play by a Czech writer and it introduced and popularized the term robot. The robots in the play are actually biological, rather than being bulky or made of metal: they're made by pouring a skin-like liquid into a mould, which shapes their veins/innards/skin. The main problem of the play is whether they should be treated as equals or as a piece of equipment. A lot of post-World War I fear of technology stuff goes into it.

After that, I have to read Ranks of Bronze for the class. Supposed to be military sci-fi; nothing unique but a good time-killer.

[Cleburne]

At present I am reading Stephen Donaldson Mordant Need and Tad Williams Shadowmarch.

[SoulQuest1970]

Can't go wrong with that. If you don't find it, let me know...I'll mail you a soft copy of it.

--A

Groovy. Syrensong wants to read it too.

[Avatar]

Cool, just lemme know.

--A

[pat5150]

Just finished Neil Gaiman's American Gods.

In the end, the novel is many things: Provocative, moving, engrossing, funny, original. But most of all, it's a wonderful read accessible to any reader looking for a quality read. It's no surprise, then, to realize that this title was able to transcend the boundaries of speculative fiction.

Check out the blog for the full review.

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

[Avatar]

Gene Wolfe's Citadel of the Autarch. Finally.

--A

[emotional leper]

Debate in the Tank.

Random Dragonlance fluff.

[Zenlunatic]

Pattern Recognition - William Gibson

[Rawedge Rim]

Palladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold

Haven't read that one, however I think I'm caught up on the Miles Vorkosigian books.

[I'm Murrin]

Not a book, but a short story online. Bears, by Leah Bobet.
It's very good. Go read it. It won't take long.

[pat5150]

I had relatively high hopes for this newest Kitty adventure, and Carrie Vaughn didn't disappoint! As was the case with its three predecessors, Kitty and the Silver Bullet is a very entertaining read.

Fast-paced, the only problem is that you reach the end too quickly. Despite being the fourth volume in this series, the Kitty novels remain fun, fresh, and engaging. Yes, Carrie Vaugh has done it again!

Check the blog for the full review.

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

[Mortice Root]

Frank Herbert's "The White Plague". Written at roughly the same time as God Emperor of Dune, so I'm interested to see if there is going to be the same type of in-depth philosophical musings that were so much a part of that novel.

[emotional leper]

Frank Herbert's "The White Plague". Written at roughly the same time as God Emperor of Dune, so I'm interested to see if there is going to be the same type of in-depth philosophical musings that were so much a part of that novel.

Let me know how you like it.

[Mortice Root]

For you, man, anything. It'll be a bit though, I just started it.

[emotional leper]

For you, man, anything. It'll be a bit though, I just started it.

Solidarity, Fedaykin!

[pat5150]

Just finished Kay Kenyon's Bright of the Sky.

Titus Quinn is a former star pilot now living as a recluse. Most people believe that Quinn lost his mind during an accident, though he swears that the accident transported him to a strange world. He has no memories pertaining to how he was able to return, yet he's convinced that his wife and daughter are still trapped in this parallel universe. When, against all odds, evidence of the existence of this universe is accidentally discovered, Titus Quinn accepts to "scout" this new world for the corporation that abandoned him, secertly hoping to find his missing wife and child. What he unearths, however, threatens the existence of everything he holds dear and forces him to reconsider his plans.

High stakes, skilled worldbuilding, good characterization, adroit pacing: Bright of the Sky is a superior read.

Check the blog for the full review.

Patrick
www.fantasyhotlist.blogspot.com

[Mortice Root]

EL wrote

Mortice Root wrote:
Frank Herbert's "The White Plague". Written at roughly the same time as God Emperor of Dune, so I'm interested to see if there is going to be the same type of in-depth philosophical musings that were so much a part of that novel.


Let me know how you like it.

Ok, so that didn't take as long as I expected. It was pretty good. It was nowhere near as philisophical as GEoD, and was actually rather action-driven (for a FH novel) which was surprising. I'll spoiler the next part, though it's nothing you wouldn't find on the back of the book or in the first 50 pages (it's a 400+ page book).

Spoiler

The basic premise is that a molecular biologist sees his family killed by an Irish terrorist bomb, snaps, then makes a biological plague as revenge.

It's interesting to compare this to something like King's "The Stand" - also a plague story. Whereas King goes for the visceral reaction of seeing rotting corpses in the streets, Herbert takes different approach, focusing more on the response of the scientific and political communities. Most of the death and destruction happen off-stage. Still very interesting though.

Oh, and there's a fair amount of molecular biology. For a book written in the early 80s it holds up pretty well. I had some mol. Bio. in college 10-15 years ago, and from what I remember, there wasn't anything in what Herbert was saying that was grossly wrong. Of course, I was reading it for the story, not the science, but none of the scientific details pulled me out of enjoying the story.

[Prebe]

but none of the scientific details pulled me out of enjoying the story.

As it shouldn't. But I know the feeling, when something that's SUPPOSED to be realistic is blatantly ridiculous, it sort of ruins the reading experience.

[Mortice Root]

Right. I mean, it's all B.S. - cause it's fiction - but like they say, the best lies are based on truth. Herbert does a good job of making his speculations believable, even 25+ years after they were written.

[danlo]

I'm reading The Rift by Walter Jon Williams from Albq. New Mexico, you may know him from Hardwired, Metropolitian or The Dread Empire books. He's also a contributor to G. R. R. Martin's Wildcard series.

The man is just a brilliant writer having penned Aristoi, one of my all time favorite SFs and Days of Atonement, which is an 'predictive' SF. By predictive I mean that it doesn't involve any SF methods or gimmicks it just supposes events in the not too distant future.

The Rift is about a massive earthquake that very well could occur in the future originating from a volitile area around New Madrid, Missouri on the Mississippi. And it's based on the fact that one actually did in 1812-with devastating effects.