Beyond Reality discussion

Please let us know what other SF&F books you're reading! It's a fun way to pick up recommendations and discover new authors and titles.

I'm about half finished with The Martian Chronicles and not really enjoying it. In fact, I'm taking a break today to start Bright of the Sky, which I've been wanting to read for a couple of months. I'm also listening to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets while driving around in my car.

As for the rest of August, it's pretty busy: http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/4...

Just finished The Warlords of Nin by Stephen R. Lawhead, book 2 of the Dragon King trilogy. This was better written than the first book in the trilogy, still not very well developed but an OK read.

Now starting the 2 August BOTMs.

I'm reading The House on the Strand by Daphne Du Maurier right now. I'll probably start Eve of Chaos when we go to the beach tomorrow. I'll be picking up The Curse of the Mistwraith again next week. (I had to pause because it's too dense for summer reading.)

I'm currently reading The Paladin of Souls by Lois McMaster Bujold. It started off a bit slowly but I'm about half way through now and it has become quite an interesting and entertaining novel.

With all the discussion of her Vorkoskigan series recently, I'm noticing a few similarities in her fantasy works as well in the characterisation and some of the themes (such as people being forced to hide the truth about past deeds).

I'm about to read two books by Mark L. Van Name that precede Overthrowing Heaven, which I read in May. I loved the character Jon Moore and wanted to go back to the beginning of the series: One Jump Ahead and Slanted Jack. I'm also reading more Elizabeth Bear. Currently Undertow, and I'd like to get back to the Jenny Casey novels as well. Finally, I just picked up the first installment of the second James Morrow/Mercedes Lackey trilogy, The Phoenix Unchained, so far, so good.

I haven't gotten much reading done this summer. I moved at the end of June and all my books are still packed up in boxes. Before the move, I was able to finish Shards of Honour. I really enjoyed this and will be moving on to Barrayar once I finish Dying Inside which should be today. I also just started listening to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I've also got a few non genre books going at the moment as well.

Sisimka wrote: "I just picked up the first installment of the second James Morrow/Mercedes Lackey trilogy, The Phoenix Unchained, so far, so good. "

I picked that up recently, too, but am waiting for the trilogy to be completed before diving in...

I gave up on The House on the Strand. I just don't think it's the right time for me to be reading it. I picked up a bunch of books at the library, including Survivor, the missing book in Octavia Butler's Patternist series. I had read the omnibus, Seed to Harvest, after we read Wild Seed a while back. Butler never allowed Survivor to be re-published because she hated it.

I've been in a terrible, health-induced reading slump for the last several months, but I've managed to read a few books lately and I'm currently rereading Anne Bishop's The Invisible Ring. I'm thoroughly enjoying, which is lovely. I have The Stars Blue Yonder by Sandra McDonald waiting for me at the library, so I guess that will be up next.

Mostly, I'm reading The Gate to Women's Country by Sheri S. Tepper, which is great, now that I've gotten into it.

Also started reading Scardown by Elizabeth Bear out loud to my husband before going to sleep. But I'm still not convinced it's a great read-aloud book (too much "thought" interspersed among the narrative and the dialogue.

Otherwise, I'll finish listening to the podcast novel Murder at Avedon Hill by P.G. Holyfied today. Really great production and fun story with an amazing back story.

Kerry wrote: I'm currently rereading Anne Bishop's The Invisible Ring..."

I read this a few years ago and enjoyed it quite a bit. I remember wondering what her other stuff was like. Have you read much else by Anne Bishop?

I have 3 books by Anne Bishop on my shelf, but I haven't read any of them. They are The Pillars of the World, Shadows and Light (Tir Alainn, #2), and The House of Gaian. I believe they are a trilogy.

Hello -- I've been reading short story collections, all good ones, namely:

The Year's Best Science Fiction: Fifth Annual Collection (1988) edited by Gardner Dozois -- all of his Annual Collections are excellent, including this one, Gardner Dozois really knows how to pick the good stories

Steampunk (2008) edited by Ann VanderMeer (Editor), Jeff VanderMeer (Editor) -- steampunk stories combine high-tech fantasy with Victorian era surroundings -- some stories are really good, others are clunkers, but an interesting collection nonetheless

We Never Talk About My Brother (2009) by Peter S. Beagle -- a collection of 9 stories and 1 poem, all by Beagle, a mellow, "literary" fantasy collection, I like them all!!!

Stories of Your Life and Others (2002) by Ted S. Chiang -- a collection of his stories, most of which had either won or were nominated for Nebula, Hugo, Sidewise and other awards. He has a unique way of telling a story that I like, so I've enjoyed this collection.

Sisimka, Anne Bishop is one of my favourite authors. While The Invisible Ring is very good, her Black Jewels trilogy - Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows and Queen of the Darkness - blow it away. I've enjoyed everything of hers I've read, although I haven't yet read the latest Black Jewels book (The Shadow Queen) or the Tir Alainn books Kathi mentions above. I have the first on my TBR pile and hope to get to it one day.

Lots of good recommendations here! (I'm going to look into Anne Bishop). Deedee, Jeff and Ann VanderMeer edited another collection you might like called Fast Ships, Black Sails. I loved it!

I'm currently reading A Kiss Before the Apocalypse by Thomas E. Sniegoski. Next up, I think, will be The Sorcerer of the North by John Flanagan.

I've started reading Richard Dawkins' The Selfish Gene, more of a science book than SF.
Also presently reading Decision at Thunder Rift which so far is enjoyable light military SF.

I've been in the mood for old-fashioned SF lately, so I picked up David Falkayn Star Trader, a collection of short stories and 2 novels set in the Polesotechnic League universe by Poul Anderson. It's a fun read so far.

I just started Benighted.

A Short History of Women A Novel is the book I am just starting. So far, not so interesting, but I am only a few pages in, so I will give it some time. It did get pretty good reviews...

I just started Blood and Iron byElizabeth Bear. I really liked the Jenny Casey books; this is very different, very much a fantasy, but fun so far (very early).

I just finished the LeGuin The Left Hand of Darkness last week, and I have two others by her on my shelf to read, not sure which I'll pick up next: Changing Planes or A Fisherman of the Inland Sea Stories.

Meanwhile, I've been reading the Pink Carnation series by Lauren Willig, I'm on the 4th book and enjoying them, one more to go!

I finished David Falkayn Star Trader by Poul Anderson --- solid, old-fashioned SF.

I started Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente last night. It's so good that I'm trying to force myself to slow down and savor it. Absolutely gorgeous.

I just finished Sabriel by Garth Nix. I highly recommend it. I'm currently reading some non-genre books, A Mercy by Toni Morrison and the non-fiction Rethinking Thin The New Science of Weight Loss--and the Myths and Realities of Dieting. I'm also reading the third book in S.J. Day's Marked trilogy, Eve of Chaos. It's pure literary crack. I mean, urban fantasy.

Sandi let me know on A Mercy. I have it in my stack but have been putting it off. Morrison sometimes is a bit complicated. I am still on some painmeds right now and want to know if it might get lost in the muddle.

Currently reading and very disapointed in Dexter in the Dark. I think its my last in this series

I am starting Armageddon's Children by Terry Brooks

Ahhhh another book I had forgotten. Thanks Ken

Renee wrote: "Sandi let me know on A Mercy. I have it in my stack but have been putting it off. Morrison sometimes is a bit complicated. I am still on some painmeds right now and want to know if it might get los..."

I'm about halfway through. It's definitely a complicated read. I wouldn't try reading it while on pain meds.

Thanks so much I will move it to the bottom of Mount TBR

Starting "Making Money" by Terry Pratchett. It's shameful, I've owned it for what, two years now?

Ron wrote: "I just started Blood and Iron byElizabeth Bear. I really liked the Jenny Casey books; this is very different, very much a fantasy, but fun so far (very early)."

I love that cycle. I read it out of order though (i.e. chronological, instead of publication-al), starting with "Ink and Steel," which I think changes the perspective a little bit! :-)

Ohhhh I love Making Money. (lol both the book by pratchett and the act of making money).

I read and had read to me Pratchett during each course of the chemo.His humor just somehow made it easier for me. LOL I think I got my niece hooked on him also. She would read to me freuquently when I was too weak to hold books. It got to the point where she would say wouldnt you like another Pratchett :)

Renee wrote: "Ahhhh another book I had forgotten. Thanks Ken"

Well I ended up changing my mind. After my rather serious Moon book i realised I wanted something lighter and Kushiel's Justice was just to heavy for me

LOL I am still going back to that series. I had started it last year and well life caused me to forget many things I had started

I finally finished The Invisible Ring and have started The Stars Blue Yonder by Sandra McDonald. I'm enjoying it so far; I just wish my memory was better and I could remember more details of the previous books.

I am reading novels from the third story arc of the Gaunt's Ghosts series. An excellent set of military SF novels set in Warhammer 40000 universe written by Dan Abnett who also happens to be the best author of Warhammer 40K novels out there :)

Carolyn wrote: "... I have two others by her on my shelf to read, not sure which I'll pick up next: Changing Planes or A Fisherman of the Inland Sea Stories."

I'd recommend A Fisherman of the INland SEa Stories!

Camille wrote: "Starting "Making Money" by Terry Pratchett. It's shameful, I've owned it for what, two years now?
"

LOL, Camille! I have un-read books that have been on my shelves for upwards of 10 years. They've made it through up to 6 moves now so someday I'll get to them! :-)

Diane wrote: "Camille wrote: "Starting "Making Money" by Terry Pratchett. It's shameful, I've owned it for what, two years now?
"

LOL, Camille! I have un-read books that have been on my shelves for upwards of ..."

I would hate to count the unread books on my shelves--more than half, I'm sure! I tend to buy things in bulk, so I bought all the Terry Pratchett books after I read one and loved it (and after reading so many recommendations for his work here and elsewhere), but I haven't read a lot of them. I'm going through them in the order they were written, although I jumped ahead and read Going Postal when it was BOTM here a while back. And I only read them occasionally, interspersed with other things.

After reading today's digest I feel compelled to add this comment: Can you all stop reading such interesting books and reviewing them so well??? :)

Just the mere sight of my TBR shelf (which holds an estimated 180 books) makes me dizzy and now I have my Goodreads wishlist to think about.

I also have a wishlist on Amazon that holds something like 40 titles and my Kindle has about 25 unread books on it. I'm drowning!

Sisimka wrote: "After reading today's digest I feel compelled to add this comment: Can you all stop reading such interesting books and reviewing them so well??? :)

Just the mere sight of my TBR shelf (which ho..."

I agree heartily! My own to-read pile is over 7' long. Stop already!!!
;-)

I finished Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente a few days ago. It was excellent - simply gorgeous prose, and a very unique concept. Recommended!

Then I tore through The Warrior's Apprentice by Lois McMaster Bujold in less than a day. That was a re-read for the upcoming discussion - and it was just as good as I remembered.

Now I'm just starting out on To Ride Hell's Chasm by Janny Wurts. The story's already grabbed me, 50 pages in - I'm eager to read more soon.

Palimpsest was great.

Tonight I'm starting on James Todd Cochrane's The Hourglass of Souls the sequel to Max and the Gatekeeper which I loved. I'm also reading Ravenshade A Tale of Alterra, The World that Is by C.S. Marks, the third and final book in her Elfhunter A Tale Of Alterra, The World That Is trilogy.

Stefan wrote: "I finished Palimpsest by Catherynne M. Valente a few days ago. It was excellent - simply gorgeous prose, and a very unique concept. Recommended!

I liked your review of "Palimpsest" and will add it to the to-be-found-and-read-immediately list, which if it were ever written down would end the recession in the paper industry at least. As Sisimka says, will you all just stop already!

Maybe, we should just read faster.


I just started The Casebook of Victor Frankenstein.

BTW, if anyone likes werewolf stories and social commentary, check out Benighted

Chris wrote: "Maybe, we should just read faster."

I already read too fast and therefore miss and/or don't recall details (and sometimes critical information), so this is one suggestion I have to ignore. :-)

I honestly don't think I could read any faster and not miss too much detail. When I'm really focused to I read quite fast and can get through 2, 3 or even 4 books in one week. It's *never* enough.

I just started All the Windwracked Stars by Elizabeth Bear. If the rest of the book is as good as the first chapter, it's going to get five stars.