The Hugo Awards Discussion Group discussion

What are you reading right now in science fiction?

I've been pretty heavy on sci-fi lately, having finished "Boneshaker" and "Flowers for Algernon" recently, currently reading the new Doctor Who novels as well as Dexter Palmer's "The Dream of Perpetual Motion."

If I were to guess, I'd say that I read at least 70% SF, and then perhaps 20% fantasy, and 5% other (perhaps spy books or something for work).

I can probably check that out now by looking at my goodreads shelves.

Right now I'm trying to stay between books - it's a busy time at work and I don't want to get into anything too heavy.

I'm reading Poul Anderson's The People of the Wind, which is quite good thus far. I picked it because it was thin, but Anderson's style has always caused me to read slowly. Not sure why, as I do enjoy his books, but I find that his style does not make a smooth read for me. I have to work to maintain my grasp of what he's saying. It's worth the effort, but I'm glad it's a thin book right now.

Hmmm... I guess that's why I'm also reading a light Star Trek book right now as well (on my Palm smartphone). It's completely effortless, and you can skim through pages and pages without needing to ponder what the author was describing.

Also reading a great anthology of SF edited by Gardner Dozois. The Good Stuff is amazing, and quite a hefty tome. But I can read a story here and there as I feel like it, so it's still in the category of "lower effort reading" that I'm working on.

I'll likely get into a heavier book later in the summer. Perhaps the next volume of the Baroque Cycle by Neal Stephenson.

I've heard good things about Stephenson but his books seem like a lot to undertake. Lately I've been blowing through shorter reads, but he's something I might look into when I get int the mood for something heavier.

Today I started Kurt Vonnegut's "Timequake" which is good so far.

Finished and loved "Timequake." I'm on to William Gibson's "Count Zero," the Hugo-nominated second book in the "Sprawl" trilogy.

Hm. As far as Hugo-related media is concerned, the only thing I have lined up to read soon is a comic, Serenity Vol. 2: Better Days, which was nominated for Best Graphic Novel in the 2009 awards.

This forum you don't need to be talkin' about no hugos. And if you're reading non-sci-fi in the "What're you reading?" I think its acceptable to mention other stuff. ;)

I finished "Count Zero," and then read "Bitter Seeds" by Ian Tregillis, which was fun. I think I'm going to read "The Man in the High Castle" by Philip K. Dick next... his only Hugo winning novel.

Less than 24 hours later, I've finished "The Man in the High Castle." Obviously, I liked it. I'm thinking "The Forever War" by Joe Haldeman next.

The Man in the High Castle is a wonderful book. I've read it twice, once just last year.

The Forever War is a great novel. I've actually never read a Haldeman book that left me disappointed. I guess "Old Twentieth" might have been his weakest book for me, but it was still quite engaging and I enjoyed it.

I've got a lot more Haldeman on my shelves that I've not yet read, but I definitely buy on sight any title by him and will get to them in due course.

If you're into Haldeman (beyond the Hugo-winning books), try Mindbridge. It's really quite different...

I finished Robert J. Sawyer's 'Hominids' this month, which was outstanding. Other than that, I've been reading a lot of self-published sci-fi to review for my blog: http://androiddreamer.blogspot.com ... so far the best one is Valmore Daniels' Forbidden The Stars

Been reading Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls... It is very good, but I still prefer A Farewell to Arms.

Loved both For Whom the Bell Tolls and A Farewell to Arms. The Sun Also Rises is my standing favorite.

Just finished A Peace War by Vinge

On the iPod - Mercy Falls by Krueger
On the nightstand - In the Company of Cheerful Ladies by McCall-Smith
On the Nook - Iron Kissed by Briggs (not started yet)

I think For Whom the Bell Tolls could have used some trimming, but I liked it. I actually pretty much hated The Sun Also Rises. Didn't like a bit of it.

Hey! Anyone here reading the 2016 nominees?

I'm still waffling about the novels. Several are just not my cuppa tea.

I did read already (for book group)
Ancillary Mercy by Ann Leckie (Orbit)

Debating about:
The Cinder Spires: The Aeronaut’s Windlass by Jim Butcher (Roc)
The Fifth Season by N.K. Jemisin (Orbit)
Seveneves: A Novel by Neal Stephenson (William Morrow)
Uprooted by Naomi Novik (Del Rey)

Lori wrote: "Hey! Anyone here reading the 2016 nominees?"
I'm stuck reading some Warcraft tie ins to this week's movie. Plan on tackling the Imperial Radch series after.

I'm reading the "Three body problem." I am really impressed with it.

Finished Uprooted, the first of the Hugo 2016 novels that I will read (finished Ancillary Mercy months ago). Enjoyed it a lot, which surprised me since I'm not really into the fantasy side of sci-fi.

Currently more than halfway thru Seveneves. I've found it very gripping, though i think it's flawed.

Aside from all that, I just finished Isaacson's The Innovators, a GREAT read about the people who basically invented the digital age.

God lord, glad to be done with those movie tie in assignments. The prequel novel was fine, but the graphic novel (my review) was utterly horrid.

I read the Imperial Radch series for book group and really enjoyed all three. Three Body Problem was interesting because it was so very different, but I struggled to finish it. I have no interest in Warcraft (not a gamer).

Lori - I'm also not into Fantasy these days but given your shout out for Uprooted, I will have to consider giving it a try.

I just finished Elysium by Jennifer Marie Brisset. Different than anything I've read in a long time, but yet seemed to pull from several known tropes. I'm a bit undecided yet as to what I thought of it overall.

Lori wrote: "Hey! Anyone here reading the 2016 nominees?"

Matt wrote: "I think For Whom the Bell Tolls could have used some trimming, but I liked it. I actually pretty much hated The Sun Also Rises. Didn't like a bit of it."

Matt wrote: "I think For Whom the Bell Tolls could have used some trimming, but I liked it. I actually pretty much hated The Sun Also Rises. Didn't like a bit of it."

I read Ancillary Mercy - pretty good
The Fifth Season - fantasy, but interesting concept, pretty well written
Uprooted - fantasy, but still pretty good story

Have not read the other two.

Ended up being really disappointed with Seveneves. There's a lot broken in that book, and it's seriously overwritten at times. It's like Stevenson feels like he's too famous to need an editor--or needs to fire the one he has. I definitely don't think it deserved a Hugo nomination, in a year when The Dark Forest was overlooked.

Still stunned by how much I liked The Fifth Season by NK Jemisen. I've already put book 2 of the series on preorder. Excellent storytelling, great narrative voice. Might be my top pick for the award.

Getting ready to dive into Jim Butcher's novel and the shorter works. Got 2 weeks! Must. Read. :)

It's great that uprooted isn't a series. It was a pretty concise and decent story. It seems like a marketing ploy, giving away the first chapter is ok, but selling the first book of a series dirt cheap and then putting the rest at full price. Oh well, I might be stuck on the Broken Earth series. I just got the Aeronaut's windless (another series !?), so I think I can finish it before the deadline, but Stevenson is probably not going to get read by me any time soon.

On a bit of a tangent, does anybody know why there were replaced entries?

While I haven't heard directly (rather ignoring the whole Hugo thing this year), I suspect some authors declined within the allotted time-frame, which allows the Hugo Committee to go to the next qualified nominee in line.

I may have to consider giving Uprooted a try. Fantasy is usually not my genre of choice.