Sci-fi and Heroic Fantasy discussion

Share what you've been reading this month...

Nothing sci fi, really. Currently reading Thunder by Eric Schein, kid's fantasy, just finished a regional romance by Cyn Taylor, Red Morning Glory. (Both are for reviews). And a non-fiction, Too Much and Never Enough. Also finished Zorro, the Daring Escapades last month. Really want to get into a good sci fi soon.

Currently reading McSweeny’s 58: 2040 which is the magazines anthology of speculative fiction set in 2040 about the various climate disasters detailed in the IPCC report. Good but maybe more depressing than I need in one go. I really enjoyed the introduction! (Did you know it was twenty years ago The Sopranos won its first golden globe?)

Destroyer of Worlds by Larry Correia

I have started reading Frank Miller's graphic novel Frank Miller's Ronin. This collects the 6-issue mini-series from 1983.

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Completed:

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Authors:
Kathleen Alcalá, Mishell Baker, David Baldacci, Steven Barnes, Holly Black, Tobias S. Buckell, Blake Crouch, Indrapramit Das, Jaymee Goh, Hiromi Goto, Andrea Hairston, Alex Jennings, Minsoo Kang, Karin Lowachee, Indrapramit Das, Rebecca Roanhorse, Anil Menon, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Chinelo Onwualu, Rebecca Roanhorse, Sally Rooney, Rebecca Roanhorse, Nisi Shawl, Neal Shusterman, Michael J. Sullivan, Emily Tesh, Stuart Turton, Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, Alberto Yáñez, E. Lily Yu

I'm reading a John Grisham book which I will finish today. After that will be time to tackle the daunting The Dark Tower by Stephen King

I discovered a couple months back that the YA division of Simon and Shuster (Rivetedlit.com) will put up a few books every month to read for free online, some excerpts, some complete books. They aren't downloads you can keep like at Tor, and they are rarely SF/F, but found a couple this month, the first of which is - Unwind by Neal Shusterman.

It has an unlikely premise, but if you just accept it and move on, the ethical ramifications are thought provoking.

I finished the graphic novel Frank Miller's Ronin. Sometimes brilliant but too inconsistent. Not his best work. Continuing with The Fleet, about 2/3 complete and I have mostly enjoyed it so far.

I finished Around the World in Eighty Days. Gave it 3 stars. It was better in English, where the delivery is glib and slick. Jules Verne was a pioneer in his genre but a French Shakespeare he is not. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but thought I'd share my impressions.

I've finished Liar's Oath, second and final book in the Legacy of Gird and 5th book in the Paksenarrion series. I've rated 3.5/5 stars, did not enjoy as much as the Paks books or Surrender None, but still had fun with it. Liked getting the background lore of the world, and the ending brought some new events to consider going into this next subseries of the Paksenarrion series.

I've now just started reading Oath of Fealty, which is the first book in the Paladin's Legacy subseries and 6th Paksenarrion book. So far liking seeing some familiar characters from the Deed of Paksenarrion days and basically starts off with the end of Oath of Gold but from other povs.

My review of The Original by Brandon Sanderson

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I've read:
- : interesting, and definitely a different kind of book, even if you've already read books by the author
- : I think I've read all the novellas, now bring on the next book!
- : Some very good stories here. I didn't expect it to be so dark.
- : very fun story, I was starting to miss Rincewind and the boys.
- : read it maybe 15 years ago, I didn't remember a thing about it except that there were vampires involved.
I decided not to read The Wind Through the Keyhole before The dark tower for fear of spoilers, so I'm now, at long last, reading:
-

I can confirm there was no spoilers in Wind Through the Keyhole as long as you read it after Wolves of the Calla, even thought it takes place just before it (there's a big hint there that I think would be annoying for the reader to know but the characters not, just one throwaway line that could have been left out). Now I haven't finished Dark Tower yet, I'm about 400 pages in which is about a third or so, so maybe there is a spoiler I haven't noticed yet.

Finished Unwind, now on to the other free SFF Simon Pulse book from this month - Wake by Lisa McMann, this one a fantasy about a girl that can enter other people's dreams.

I finished my second reading of The Vor Game. I enjoyed it even better than the first time, I noticed a lot more things, I liked the developments of some characters, especially the young emperor Gregor, I savored many dialogs, I chuckled often.

I am now ready to continue the normal reading of the saga, with Komarr next on the list.

Finished my eRead of Retribution by Megg Jensen, there are moments where I need to do a little extra suspension of belief as to people's behaviour, but it's a decent read and can't complain as I got it for free :) I'll have to buy the last two books to find out how it ends though...

So around Octoberish (and figured I'd start early since I use my ereader more sparingly of late) I usually read something by Algernon Blackwood and this year I randomly picked The Extra Day since the name was intriguing. I don't actually have any idea what it's actually about.

I finished the last bit of Oath of Fealty by Elizabeth Moon earlier this morning. It's book 1 of Paladin's Legacy and book 7 of the Paksenarrion series as a whole. I rated it 4.5/5 stars but might revise to higher later. I really loved it! Dorrin's pov was my absolute favourite, and anything to do with the creepy Verrakai story line. Arcolin and the bandit situation in Aarenis was quite good too. Curious to see how everything goes together in the end, but we've got another four books for that.

I'm now a chapter or so into Kings of the North, which is the next book in the series.

I also just finished Wake...seems a lot of YA is being written in a kind of diary/stream of consciousness kind of flow, where chapters are often just few lines long. Noticed that in a lot of those free revitedlit.com reads I've tried out. Anyway the concept of this one was kind of interesting enough that I wouldn't mind borrowing the rest of the series from the library (but not enough to buy them!)

There weren't any other SFF on revittedlit.com so didn't pick up something new.

Just finished Wing Wind by Paige L Christie. Enjoyable series so far and great value on the Kindle at the moment. Quite a quick read, so easy to slip in between the heavy tomes.

I finished the shared world anthology The Fleet. No really terrible stories, but no really exceptional stories either.

There are a few other King books that one must read to have a good appreciation of The Dark Tower. 'Salem's Lot is by far the most important I think, it's virtually part of the series kind of like a prequel spinoff series focusing on a different character.

The Stand allows you to appreciate a few chapters in one book more than you otherwise would, The Eyes of the Dragon was a bit of a letdown, the Man in Black is in it, but apparently though the characters from Eyes got mentioned, I totally missed it, and I was so sure they would play a role seeing how the book ended.

At the same time I didn't want to read those with just a small connection so I stopped with those three. However it seems one should also read the first part of Hearts in Atlantis (it's a collection of stories, the first one The Low Men in Yellow Coats has a character that shows up in The Dark Tower) so though I've already parted company with that character, since I found Heart on OpenLibrary, I'm catching up on his back story now...mind you King's "short stories" are apparently near novel length it turns out...well, it is rainy today, what else was I going to do?

Insomnia also seems important...but I've only got about 200 pages of The Dark Tower to finish, not sure I want to put it on hold that long (and yet, I kind of don't want it to end either)...and when I say long, it's over 800 pages long (it's a King book, could you expect any less?). At the same time, seems there's some interesting information about the Crimson King apparently...and a character from Insomnia also appears in The Dark Tower...in fact one actual book appears in the other.

Ah, problem solved, someone borrowed Insomnia on OpenLibrary with 5 people in line to be next, so I couldn't borrow it now if I wanted to ;)

Beyond the Clouds, Tome 2 by Nicke

I am continuing on my Foundation reread - I have started the second book in the Galactic Empire trilogy The Currents of Space

I've gone back to work this month so reading and writing have suffered. I did just start readingBetween the Shade and the Shadow so I'm hoping I can at least finish that this month!

warcross, the night circus, the time paradox, the atlantis complex, the cruel prince

Wow...so I finished The Dark Tower series (minus Insomnia)...that was definitely a unique series, and I was surprised, the ending did not disappoint, in fact there are two endings, you could accept the first one (which I kinda liked already but many would find unsatisfying) or keep reading for the second (which I had to agree was the "right ending" as King said, regardless of how fans react to it, it just fit so well into that crazy world of his, one almost couldn't expect it to be anything else!)

Now I'm reading Crucible by James Rollins

I'm currently reading Dirk Gently's holistic detective agency. Loving it so far.

Finished Crucible, enjoyed this one better since it was about AI rather than the previous book that was about parasitic wasps that consume you from the inside out :)

Now to complete my Media Tie in BINGO slot - The Siege by Peter David which is Star Trek: Deep Space Nine related.

Witch Hat Atelier, Vol. 6 by Kamome Shirahama

Re-reading Roger Zelazny's Changeling since I just purchased it's sequel Madwand. Hadn't read Changeling in over 30 years (my PB copy was $2.50) and I'll be happy if Madwand is anywhere near as good.

Finished Kings of the North by Elizabeth Moon (book 2 of Paladin's Legacy, book 7 of larger Paksenarrion series) yesterday. Torn between a 4.25 and 4.5/5 rating. Most of the book had me totally hooked and barely able to stop reading, but then towards the end there was a bit of romance drama that I wasn't all that into (not a fan of romantic subplots to begin with). I think especially because it occured towards the end of the book it left me on a somewhat less enthusiastic note than the rest of the book. Some interesting bits of lore brought into the end, too, though.

I'm now reading the next book in the series, Echoes of Betrayal

My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's Vol. 1 and My Status as an Assassin Obviously Exceeds the Hero's Vol. 2 by Matsuri Akai

I finished reading The Currents of Space, the second book in the Galactic Empire trilogy - a trilogy in which the books really don't have much connection to each other.

I have started reading both Norse Myths and The Doomsday Testament

Garyjn wrote: "Re-reading Roger Zelazny's Changeling since I just purchased it's sequel Madwand. Hadn't read Changeling in over 30 years (my PB copy was $2.50) and I'll be happy if Madwand is anywhere near as good."

One of the things I remember liking about Changeling was it described magic having a mechanism (threads & bands? It's been a long time...) rather than just poof spell happens. Not that common in sword & sorcery fantasy. (Jordan did something similar with Wheel of Time's channeling, and Sanderson designs his magic in detail.)

Garyjn wrote: "Re-reading Roger Zelazny's Changeling since I just purchased it's sequel Madwand. Hadn't read Changeling in over 30 years (my PB copy was $2.50) and I'll be happy if Madwand is anywhere near as good."

Madwand isn't quite as good, but that's because it ends on a cliff-hanger. Zelazny had planned to make it a trilogy with each one dedicated to one of his kids, but he died before writing the last book, so I reread just the first one which stands alone well. I do like the further exploration of the magic, though.

I finished reading Komarr last night, and I started today the next book in the Vorkosigan series, A Civil Campaign.

Ha! I finished Memory two nights ago and though I tried to wait ... I started the audiobook of Komarr last night!

I just finished "Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," the Hunger Games prequel.

Let me tell you, it wasn't great lol

Finished The Siege, my Star Trek book for my Media Tie-In BINGO slot. Only one more slot to go to complete the board, it's the Published in 2020 one, and I know what I'm going to read for it already, but ironically I'll only read it in December, so really leaving the "timed" one to the last minute LOL

Now I just wrapped up a few series (Heroes of Olympus, Dark Tower, etc) so now to get a couple others going. Reading the second Narnia book (read the first one as a group read here) Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis. Of course I've read them all before but it's been a loooong time, but nice to go through them again.

Jim wrote: "Garyjn wrote: "Re-reading Roger Zelazny's Changeling since I just purchased it's sequel Madwand. Hadn't read Changeling in over 30 years (my PB copy was $2.50) and I'll be happy if Madwand is anywh..."

I always thought of it as a stand alone novel. I only recently became aware that it had a sequel.

G33z3r wrote: "Garyjn wrote: "Re-reading Roger Zelazny's Changeling since I just purchased it's sequel Madwand. Hadn't read Changeling in over 30 years (my PB copy was $2.50) and I'll be happy if Madwand is anywh..."

It's apparent Zelazny prefers magic over science (Fantasy over SciFi?). Although he does concede the benefits of science. The antagonist using science had good intentions early and only was driven to evil by circumstance. Come to think of it, that is often the case.

Garyjn wrote: "It's apparent Zelazny prefers magic over science (Fantasy over SciFi?). Although he does concede the benefits of science. The antagonist using science had good intentions early and only was driven to evil by circumstance. Come to think of it, that is often the case."

I got the impression that power incorrectly used was the issue, not the sort of power. Mor & Pol were both good, but Det was bad & they were all magic users. The science world Pol came from was kind of an Eden from the little we see & yet Dan became bad due to inappropriate use of science which was aggravated by using it where it didn't belong. Both Dan & Det tried to force their views on people who didn't want them by the misuse of their power.

Finished Prince Caspian even faster than I thought I would so I'll might squeeze another Narnia book in this month.

But first, switching to the other series I wanted to wrap up, starting on the second book of the Riddle-Master of Hed, Heir of Sea and Fire by Patricia A. McKillip. I may need a very quick skim through the first book to refresh my memory of the names of characters and some key events, it's been a while since it was a group read.

Gabby wrote: "I just finished "Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes," the Hunger Games prequel.

Let me tell you, it wasn't great lol"

I guessed as much. I also knew that it would appeal massively to fans of the author. I gaveThe Hunger Games 4 stars, but am yet to read Mockingjay.

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

Finished Heir of Sea and Fire, decided that I have enough days left this month to finish the Riddle-Master trilogy with Harpist in the Wind by Patricia A. McKillip

Lorac and Cinder.

Child of a Mad God - R.A. Salvatore.

My review of The Book of Koli by M.R. Carey

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...