Kevin's Watch

BTW, Cryptonomicon is Stephenson's best work. Snow Crash is rather different, and side by side it's far more superficial of a story from a less experienced version of Stephenson. I also think Interface is incredible, another earlier story which he wrote under a pen-name and recently re-released as himself. But Stepenson comes into his own in Cryptonomicon, and he hasn't matched himself since.

MsMary wrote:I just re-read Heinlein's Tunnel in the Sky.

I think I was about 12 the first time I read that. Made me a Heinlein fan and possibly made me a science fiction fan. I used to give a lot of thought to what I would take with me if I was sent to an unknown, alien world.



Okay, maybe it's still something I think about sometimes.

Shaun das Schaf wrote:

Fist and Faith wrote:

Shaun wrote:I haven't read the Earthsea series yet. It's on my list though.

I've been trying to spread the glory of Earthsea for many years longer than Malazan. Read them now. Literally. Now. They're short and easy, and amazing!

Yes Sir, will do Sir! (I'll get as close to your literal now as I can, having just ordered them through BD, they'll be a week or two.) But everyone whose taste I admire, and now you too , have recommended these books, and given I've loved what little Ursula I have read, I am looking forward to finally moving them off my to-read list.

Once you do, please come join the group read, The Archives of Roke, over on the Watch's sister-site, Ahira's Hangar. We've been on hiatus for awhile, so you'll have plenty of time to catch up. Some really nice insights in to the series has been shared so far.

Trial of Flowers finished. I did have worries about all the dark stuff in the middle, but it picked up again in the second half.

Menolly wrote:

Shaun das Schaf wrote:

Fist and Faith wrote: I've been trying to spread the glory of Earthsea for many years longer than Malazan. Read them now. Literally. Now. They're short and easy, and amazing!

Yes Sir, will do Sir! (I'll get as close to your literal now as I can, having just ordered them through BD, they'll be a week or two.) But everyone whose taste I admire, and now you too , have recommended these books, and given I've loved what little Ursula I have read, I am looking forward to finally moving them off my to-read list.

Once you do, please come join the group read, The Archives of Roke, over on the Watch's sister-site, Ahira's Hangar. We've been on hiatus for awhile, so you'll have plenty of time to catch up. Some really nice insights in to the series has been shared so far.

Will do Menolly. I am a Hangar member, in fact, I believe I bought Neverness & The Broken God in preparation for Hangar participation. Course, true to style, I haven't read them yet because my to-read list is way out of control.

I think I might have stalled the Archives of Roke read

Now that I'm not so employed... I may have more time for this (no promises )

The Darkness That Comes Before...really out of books to read...

--A

Out of books? How did you get into such dire straits?

Yes, perhaps you could borrow any number of unread books in Shaun or Murrin's collection.
(Hope you don't mind being presumptuously included Murrin but I read somewhere earlier in this thread, or in another, that you were reading a brand new book that was 9 years old )

Bah. It was eight years old.


Anyhow, tonight I'll be starting a book I only bought two years ago - Kraken by China Miéville.

Murrin wrote:Bah. It was eight years old.


Anyhow, tonight I'll be starting a book I only bought two years ago - Kraken by China Miéville.

I'm still working on that one (sooo slow compared to all you guys/gals). Loving it. I just like the things Miéville manages to come up with and his sense of humour.

Also, (not really spoiling anything)

Spoiler

Goss and Subby

Murrin wrote:

Out of books? How did you get into such dire straits?

Avatar is actually Johnny 5 and goes through books almost instantaneously, always demanding 'more input!'

That, and I think it is much easier to get books in the US and UK than anywhere else.

Orlion wrote:

Murrin wrote:

Out of books? How did you get into such dire straits?

Avatar is actually Johnny 5 and goes through books almost instantaneously, always demanding 'more input!'

That, and I think it is much easier to get books in the US and UK than anywhere else.

Av is such a prolific reader that he reads books for other people e.g. his boss. I wonder if he could offer it as service to people here, as a way of thinning out their must read stacks

I'm just finishing a reread of The Ghost Brigades by John Scalzi. Good combat fiction. It's the second of four set in the same universe. That's two day's worth for you, Av, if you haven't come across them yet

u.

I just bought Av used copies of the four books of Julian May's Saga of Pliocene Exile, and I have the three Galactic Milieu books. Have you read them, Av?

Fist and Faith wrote:I just bought Av used copies of the four books of Julian May's Saga of Pliocene Exile, and I have the three Galactic Milieu books. Have you read them, Av?

Good call, Fist! I really enjoyed those book when I read them.

u.

I haven't read Magnificat yet, and haven't read any of the Saga yet. Av might have to wait a little. If he hadn't read them, that is.

ussusimiel wrote:

Fist and Faith wrote:I just bought Av used copies of the four books of Julian May's Saga of Pliocene Exile, and I have the three Galactic Milieu books. Have you read them, Av?

Good call, Fist! I really enjoyed those book when I read them.

u.

I've read the Pliocene, quite liked them...now I may have to re read. Somewhere/time I read one of the Milieu ones...didn't like it quite as much.

Murrin wrote:

Out of books? How did you get into such dire straits?

It's not hard when it only takes a day or two to read most books. I've read 12 in the last 18 days.

Fist and Faith wrote:I just bought Av used copies of the four books of Julian May's Saga of Pliocene Exile, and I have the three Galactic Milieu books. Have you read them, Av?

Fist, you really shouldn't have man. But no, I've never read any of them. What can I say except thank you very much?

--A

You're welcome. You'll also have to pm me your address. I know I used to have it, but can't find it now.

I'll do that.

(Reading The Warrior Prophet now. And I ordered the first two of the next series...only be delivered at the end of the month though, which sucks.)

--A