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

[Zarathustra]

Finally getting around to The Many-Colored Land by Julian May. I'm about 80 pages in. It's okay.

[Avatar]

Oh, ok.

So...

Without spoilers, I found the first series to be the worst.

I read them chronologically instead of in publication order. (Thanks Fist. )

Intervention, then the "Jack The Bodiless" series, and only then the Pleistocene series.

They work much better that way, you're more invested, and the later writing is better too...

--A

[peter]

Am very excited. Very! For the first time in years I've started on a series that truly floats my boat in the fantasy sense. I'm two thirds through the first book in the Sword of Shadows series by J V Jones and it's great. It's a sort of blend of almost historical dark-ages fantasy with elements of paganism and barbarian stuff thrown in; pretty adult in nature but enough sorcery in there for it to satisfy the fullest of full on fantasy buff. A great quest saga with all of the elements in place, but used to great effect and often with a twist (the use of sorcery for example is dangerous - very dangerous - to the user (to the point where it can tear them apart, physically). I just love its adult and realistic playing of the old tropes. If magic and sorcery were real things in the world, this is what it would be like!

[Avatar]

Hmmm, maybe I should look out for it.

I'm on Shadow of Night, book 2 of the Discovery of Witches trilogy.

--A

[Cord Hurn]

Currently reading Man O' War by William Shatner.

[wayfriend]

Currently reading Man O' War by William Shatner.

[Fist and Faith]

Yeah. Did you lose a bet?

[deer of the dawn]

^^

I re-read the Arawn Cycle and enjoyed it so much that I'm reading a sequel trilogy, the Galand Cycle. Lots of fast-moving adventure, very good character development, and a cool magical element that "works" in an intriguing way, you get really interested in the main character figuring out how to do new stuff. There are two more books out in the series, and then prequels... I am surprised this author doesn't get more attention. He seems incredibly prolific, and the series I'm reading keeps getting better. A lot of series start pooping out around book 4 1/2 or so, but reviews confirm that Robertson is on a roll with this one.

[Cord Hurn]

Yeah. Did you lose a bet?

Nope. The book is one I picked up from a secondhand book store years ago, and am finally getting around to reading. The combat scenes interest me. The dialogue seems to lack some depth, though.

[Fist and Faith]

Is it scifi? Space combat?

[Cord Hurn]

Is it scifi? Space combat?

Yeah, takes place in the year 2069. An incorruptible career diplomat for the United States named Benton Hawkes had just brokered a fair deal between economic rivals Australia and New Zealand, which angers the U.S. Senate Majority Leader Michael Carri, who stood to profit handsomely from a deal more tilted in favor of New Zealanders.

So, Senator Carri lets Hawkes know he wants to send him to negotiate a very nasty, violent, labor dispute happening within the mining complexes on Mars. Carri yells at Hawkes that the Earth's economy will be ruined if the flow of materials from Mars is halted, and that it's Hawkes' duty to go to Mars and settle matters. Author Shatner doesn't come right out and say it, but one gets the feeling Carri wouldn't mind if Hawkes got killed on that mission.

Hawkes refuses Carri, and retreats to his mountain estate for some rest, but militia people of unknown affiliation invade his compound with the treacherous help of Hawkes' government-supplied aide. Hawkes and his loyal employees kill the aide and the militia people, but at the cost of more than half of Hawkes' employees dead, Hawkes' mansion and barns burned down, and Hawkes' beloved black Laborador retriever cut into two pieces by rapid weapon fire from the treacherous aide.

So Hawkes is mad enough to go to Mars, thinking he'll find out there who was behind this invasion. While on a transport ship to Mars, he discovers the government gave him a new aide, Dina Martel, that he is reluctant to trust, and halfway to Mars the transport ship is attacked by invaders who board the transport ship wielding high-voltage metal staffs and also swords (yes, swords, which aren't electrified). That's where I'm at, halfway through the book.



[Shatner can't make me love the characters like Anne McCaffrey could have, nor can he plot with the creative tension of someone like Ray Bradbury. But, it's not too bad. I'll keep reading.]

[Fist and Faith]

Cool. Glad you're enjoying it.

[Cord Hurn]

[peter]

Have progressed on to the second book in J V Jones' Sword of Shadows series, namely A Fortress of Grey Ice.

I'm just blown away by this series. I've never read any of her material before and I'm stunned that something this good could have slipped under my radar. The series has been out for twenty years now and should in any fair world be a household name up there with JK.

She has another series in print, The Book of Words that I will most definitely be checking out.

[Fist and Faith]

For a 20 year old series I've never heard of, that's oddly expensive. E-books, I mean. $11.99 on kindle or nook.

[peter]

I've been picking up the Sword of Shadows series for around 3 dollars a pop on eBay. Best 3 dollars I've spent in a long time. First book is called 'A cavern of Black Ice' in case anyone is tempted to give it a whirl. I'm halfway through the second book in the series and am amazed at the author's inventiveness. Reminds me much of Donaldson's ability to keep coming up with really interesting sub-groups of people. On the strength of the first two books I give this series an A* rating.

[Avatar]

Damn, it's expensive here too. Weird.

Anyway, starting "The Book of Life" last of the "All Souls" trilogy.

--A

[Avatar]

I don't know what to read next.

--A

[Fist and Faith]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004XMQU ... b004xmqub4
First of a great 4-book series.

[Avatar]

LOL thanks Fist, will check it out. More looking at something that is within arms length of me though...something I already have. Waiting to have more books delivered is not going to help.

--A