September Reading Thread

[Klegane the Kinhater]

I just finished Shaman's Crossing by Robin Hobb. It was a great read, with more characterization than action which has been typical with her Farseer and Tawny Man books that I so enjoyed. I don't know what to expect from the rest of the series, so I will probably research how people found "Forest Mage" to be, before I go out and blow all my money on a hardcover version.

Next comes The Lies of Locke Lamora, and I am expecting grand things especially after reading the opinions on this board

[The Stranger]

what am I reading right now?

The Zombie Survival Guide,

Dreamquest of Unknown Kadath (Lovecraft)

Arab Detroit (for skool)

Dreamquest is surprisingly good, methinks. wasn't expecting much from a Lovecraft novella, but I think it contains some of his solidest ideas I've encountered.

[kcf]

I just finished Shadow Twin by Dozois, GRRM, and Abraham - it was very good. I wrote a review at the blog.

Earlier this month I finished Jigsaw Nation: Science Fiction Tales of Secession. Interesting concept. The review for that one is here at fantasybookspot.

Don't know what's next. I'm still slogging through Sarum by Rutherfurd - it's good but just slow going and I need the occasional distraction.

[Chaldanya]

Just finished Lies of Locke Lamorra and I do believe it kicks arse. I don't want to get too much into it because I'll end up talking about plot details and I'd rather you read them in the book that in this post. Suffice it to say that you should do as the post entreats you: Read The Lies of Lockie Lamorra and win at life.

There are some little touches that I adored: the interludes for one and the snappy turn of phrase for another. The world building is very good but feels very natural and at no point did I feel that info was just being dumped into my lap.

It wasn't an intricate read, but it was a great deal of fun. So if you're looking for something to get your teeth into that you know is going to shape up into a decent series, then this is the book for you. (Plus, you don't want to be the only one left on the forum who hasn't read it, do you? )

Up next: Kushiel's Dart

[Kalnak the Magnificent]

I'm currently reading Glasshouse by Charles Stross. It's both a great sci-fi world and a cool look at our own culture, and is a real page-turner. He still has characters that seem a bit too peppy and great at things at times, and he namedrops technical jargon happily, but it's still quite good.

[direwolf]

i have a list of books i want to read that i saw as movies in childhood. When i read them they are sometimes dissapointing, other times amazing (Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh were in this catergory, the Once and Future King [sword in the Stone] being in the former).

Now i am reading The Neverending Story, and so far so good. Stone of Farewell will not be in the library until sept. 28 at the earliest, so that will probably be read in Oct.

I have the book Hyperion sitting on the shelf, but i'm not highly motivated to start it. My friend insisted that i take it from him and read it. Anyone agree with him?

[Winterfella]

Anyone agree with him?

Definitely worth your time. A science fiction Canterbury Tales where a group of travellers all relate the personal stories which brought them to where they are. Most of the stories are memorable, and a few of them are tremendously moving.

[Bellis]

At my request, my local library got in some books I'd been wanting to read for a long time...

The Etched City K.J. Bishop. This book starts out great, but does get a little bogged down, and takes itself a bit too seriously. Bishop's been compared to both Mieville and GGK by other reviewers. But I didn't see many similarities to either of those. More, this book seemed to be heavily reminiscent of M.John Harrison, Borges, and Vandermeer. However, unlike these other authors, there isn't anything really new here that she brings to the genre. On the other hand, a book that resembles Harrison, Borges, Vandermeer and sometimes Kay cannot possibly be a bad book. So it is definately worth checking out for fans of the above.

Shriek: An Afterword Jeff Vandermeer. The other week, I put Vandermeer on the top on my list in the favorite fantasist thread. I am happy to report that after reading this book, his position remains unchanged. If you'v read and liked City of Saints and Madmen, you will have to read this. However, if you haven't read the other Ambergris stories, it's better to read them first, since Shriek makes many casual references to characters and events and histories in the previous stories. There are cool little videos at www.shriekthenovel.com too.

Tales of the Dying Earth - Jack Vance. The collected stories. While the individual adventures are kind of hit and miss, when they are hit they are truly fun and wonderful. Cugel is a great character!

[Xray the Enforcer]

Definitely worth your time. A science fiction Canterbury Tales where a group of travellers all relate the personal stories which brought them to where they are. Most of the stories are memorable, and a few of them are tremendously moving.

Fully Agree. Hyperion is one of those must-reads.

[Antonius Pius]

Just finished Eye of the World by Robert Jordan. I thought it lacked speed for a time, but with something like two-hundred pages to go it picked up speed. I found myself going through them quite fast. I'm curious to see how the adventure will continue. Still think Jordan did take a few pages from Tolkien's book.

Going to see if the local book store has The Great Hunt monday. Otherwise, I may just pick Vellum by Hal Duncan.

[Werthead]

Finished Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell. I liked it a lot. Possibly one of the few books written in the last few years which demands the label 'genius' to be attached to it. I will resist it when I get round to doing a proper review on it.

Now reading Perdido Street Station. Slow to get going, the insect-shagging aside, but it may well end up sharing the 'genius' tag as well. Very interesting. Very twisted.

[Antonius Pius]

F*ck*d up old pc double post!!

/end anger mode

[Red Sun]

I finished the aforementioned book Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel at the beginning of this months, and though, I didn't finish it at the first try, I like it very much. I have to admit, though, that I don't know if I would like a Sequel. I like the ending just like it is, because it's so rare to find Fantasy books with open ends, aside from Murakami.

Right now, I'm two thirds into Gore Vidal's Creation. Though, it is fiction, it feels a bit like a collection of essays on religion and philosophy. I found it also very interesting that the book is 80 % homosocial. (Not homoerotic, though, apart from the allusions to it.) The few women that have really impact on his life are mother figures. Most of time, though, he spends observing powerful or talking with wise men, like Buddha and Confucius.

Yesterday, I also made a trip to the bookstore to get my birthday present and bought Terry Pratchett, Thud, Tad Williams, The War of Flowers and Robert Musil, Der Mann ohne Eigenschaften (The man without attributs ?). I think I will read these in the following weeks (and months in the case of Musil).

[williamjm]

I finished the aforementioned book Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrel at the beginning of this months, and though, I didn't finish it at the first try, I like it very much. I have to admit, though, that I don't know if I would like a Sequel. I like the ending just like it is, because it's so rare to find Fantasy books with open ends, aside from Murakami.

I think she is meant to be working on a sequel, although I've no idea when it'll be out, I get the impression JS&MN took a *long* time to write and the same may well be true of the sequel. I found out today she does have a new book out next month, a short story collection where a couple of stories do feature Strange and the Raven King, apparently.

[Artanaro]

Dreamcatcher by Stephen King (I hate this book, but I'm going to finish it)

Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

Japanese Tales edited and translated by Royall Tyler

Mildred Pierce by James Cain

[Kat]

I'm lagging on my reading right now.

Currently reading Three Days to Never, Tim Powers' latest book. So far, I'm liking it, but it doesn't seem to have as much meat in it as his previous modern, set-in-the-western-US novels. I'm only halfway through, though, so I'm going to wait until I'm done to fully judge it.

[unJon]

Finished LOLL. Really enjoyed it. Page turner. Not perfect by any means, but I thought it was a great effort for a first novel, and I look forward to what Lynch will do as his craft improves.

I love this thread. I just put in Amazon orders for the following:

The Blade Itself

Shogun

I, Claudius

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norell

Altered Carbon

and On Stranger Tides

Now I wait...but I'm looking forward to some good reading. Anything to spice up the Bankruptcy and M&A law I'm reading for classes. :sleep:

[TheHalfman]

Finished the 4th/5th book in the John Rain series by Barry Eisler, The Last Assasin - Great.

Currently rereading GoT when I get around to it, but my main focus is Ursula K. LeGuin's Left Hand Of Darkness.

[Calibandar]

I think she is meant to be working on a sequel, although I've no idea when it'll be out, I get the impression JS&MN took a *long* time to write and the same may well be true of the sequel. I found out today she does have a new book out next month, a short story collection where a couple of stories do feature Strange and the Raven King, apparently.

Yeah. It's called "Ladies of Grace Adieu and others"It's supposed to feature only one story with the Raven King or Strange btw.

Here's a link with a review.

http://www.amazon.com/Ladies-Grace-Adieu-O...TF8&s=books

[Kalnak the Magnificent]

Finished Glasshouse, and it is a lot like Stross's other works; the science is interesting, the premise is cool, the characters are a bit bland and the worldbuilding is a bit odd and not quite stretched as far as I'd like it to be. The central hook took it farther than most of his other works for me however, though it doesn't trump the Eschaton.

Also finished a reread of AFFC, and I'm astounded how after a year I find it so, so much better.

Onto the Dragon Waiting by Ford, and it's a very dense but interesting notion on an alternate history/magic tale. Thanks again, Race!