Kevin's Watch

Anyway, as for time to read it, you can consider it part of your studies. Look at how much science fiction ideas have helped the invention of technology.

Ur-Vile wrote:I'm tempted to start reading Flowers for Algernon again. Do I have the time?!!

You've read Flowers For Algernon? Awesome, Ur-Vile! That's one of my all-time favorite novels (not that I've read many). The story holds a lot of meaning for me.

By the way, folks, don't forget about Charly, the 1968 film adaptation starring Cliff Robertson in the title role. I wouldn't say the film was brilliant, but I liked Robertson's performance. He deserved his Best Actor win (Oscar & Golden Globe) for that role.

Matrixman wrote:

Ur-Vile wrote:I'm tempted to start reading Flowers for Algernon again. Do I have the time?!!

You've read Flowers For Algernon? Awesome, Ur-Vile! That's one of my all-time favorite novels (not that I've read many). The story holds a lot of meaning for me.

By the way, folks, don't forget about Charly, the 1968 film adaptation starring Cliff Robertson in the title role. I wouldn't say the film was brilliant, but I liked Robertson's performance. He deserved his Best Actor win (Oscar & Golden Globe) for that role.

FFA is my 2nd favourite book. Great to know you like it, MM. We both share similar tastes, I notice. I watched a FFA film last nite - filmed in 99. Very good. It had Matthew Modine as Charly.

I finished Memories of Ice today - wow that was a good book, but a lot of death at the end (yeah, I know, not many of Eriksons characters stay dead for long).
I've noticed a pattern in his endings, however - there is always one thread in his endings, that is of happy (or at least peaceful) departure - Circle Breaker, Mappo, Onos Toolan....

Does anyone else love The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester? (FFA made me think of it, don't know why)

I love it! Gully Foyle is a great character!

Flowers for Algernon is my all-time favorite short story. I've never read the novel version.

Encryptic, I agree regarding Feist. I feel his medieval background is among the best of the epic fantasy writers. Not on Martin's level, but not far behind. I, too, really liked Rise of a Merchant Prince. Talon of the Silver Hawk steers clear of the all-powerful magic for the most part, and is a good read. Enough so that I ordered the sequel from the SF Book Club.

Joy, I liked American Gods, but I think Tim Powers does a similar type of fantasy, and does it better. I have read several Gaiman short stories in addition to American Gods, and I think Gaiman is a good writer, but not the spectacular phenomenon he's hyped up to be. But admittedly I have yet to read any of the Sandman tales, which garnered him his exceptional reputation, so I might change my tune.

Joy wrote:I've been wondering about AMERICAN GODS every time I see it on the shelf. It won an award but looks unattractive. Thanks for the helpful comments.

So far it reads easily and is entertaining. But if your motto is "it ain't fantasy unless it has orcs, elves, and a magic ring," then you might want to skip this one.

Roland of Gilead wrote:Flowers for Algernon is my all-time favorite short story. I've never read the novel version.

Encryptic, I agree regarding Feist. I feel his medieval background is among the best of the epic fantasy writers. Not on Martin's level, but not far behind. I, too, really liked Rise of a Merchant Prince. Talon of the Silver Hawk steers clear of the all-powerful magic for the most part, and is a good read. Enough so that I ordered the sequel from the SF Book Club.

Hmmm...guess I'll have to check out Talon of the Silver Hawk next time I go to the library, probably this weekend.

Steerpike wrote:if your motto is "it ain't fantasy unless it has orcs, elves, and a magic ring," then you might want to skip this one.

Absolutely NOT my motto. All too subject to cliche. My favorite fantasy read last year was A CLASH OF KINGS, and so far this year it's HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE.

Starting Midnight Tides today.

Taran Wanderer, by Lloyd Alexander

Went to the library over the weekend and picked up some more goodies. I'm about halfway through "In The King's Service" by Katherine Kurtz.

I am halfway through The Lightstone, book one of the Ea Cycle and loving it! It is part of a new fantasy series by David Zindell who wrote the Sci-Fi classic, Neverness. The Lord of Lies, book two just came out and the third, The Evening Star will be released about 1 year from now. If you like SRD and Martin you'll love this story. His books aren't released in the US but you can order them from Harper Collins or Amazon UK. (for discussions on these books click my www and go to the Falling 2 Neverness: David Zindell forum)

Just picked up to start STAY IN THE LIGHT, a new ebook by AJ Caywood. The title is a quote from Pitch Black, and from what little I saw as I printed, parts of it may be set on the planet from Pitch Black. I'm interested to see how close the parallels really are. And why.

Finished Midnight Tides - one of the best in the series. I don't know what to read next.

Joy wrote:Just picked up to start STAY IN THE LIGHT, a new ebook by AJ Caywood. The title is a quote from Pitch Black, and from what little I saw as I printed, parts of it may be set on the planet from Pitch Black. I'm interested to see how close the parallels really are. And why.

I had better clarify this about the similarities, now that I have finished the book. A seemingly Riddick-like character is one of the castaways on a desert planet with killer beasts who come out at night. There the similarity ends.

I'm now reading THE HIGH KING, the last of Alexander Lloyd's Prydain series, Newberry Award winner. I posted about that on the Lloyd Alexander thread in Announcements (which, incidentally, should probably be moved to the Sci Fi/Fantasy Forum).

Re-reading the Curse of Chalion, then I'll start The Darkness That Comes Before by R Scott Bakker.

Murrin, I don't think you're reading enuf-now get 2 work!!!

Now you've made me want to check, heh. I'll be back in an hour or so once I've looked up every post I made in this topic