The Genre Underground discussion

Tell us what you're reading, and if you are so inclined, what you think of it as you're going along.

Lately, I haven't been reading much, as I've been trying to burn through the third book in my Tears of Rage series.

However: I am working my way through Legacy by Genre Underground writer and I'm having a great time with it. I loved the first in the Arbiter's Codex series. If you like grim and gritty sword and sorcery where the sword and sorcery mix pretty heavily, then these books might be for you.

I think The Arbiter's Codex books are what Jedi Knights would be like if Robert E. Howard (the writer of Conan) wrote about them.

I've been reading Whispers Underground (Rivers of London 3). But I'm going to confess to feeling a bit let down.

The darkest day by Britt Bury. So far (30%) there has been action, lots of sexual tension, comedy and a good story set down. I am really excited to see it play out. I have a blog juliesbookreviews.blogspot.com if anyone want to see what i have been reading!

On my Kindle Fire and in paperback I'm catching up on the few Stephen King books I haven't read (his post 1993 works, mostly) plus re-reading some of his I haven't read in a long time.

Just finished re-reading Different Seasons, for example, and I'm just starting my second reading of Gerald's Game. I read this when it first came out in 1992 and it was the last fiction book by King I would read until Cell came out as a Microsoft .lit ebook. Ironic that this ebook format is now dead. I don't remember how this book ends or why it sparked a 12 year hiatus from reading King, only remember that it was a long story about a married couple, a bed and handcuffs. Hoping to avoid another King hiatus!

Reading now for first time by King: Desperation and The Regulators

I recently finished "Brood of Bones" by A.E. Marling (another Genre Underground author). I definitely recommend it. "Brood of Bones" is original, engaging, and well-written. (And you can quote me on that, A.E.)

I'm currently reading "Book of Shadows" by Alexandra Sokoloff. It is one of the better indie efforts I've read recently. I haven't gotten to the end yet, but I find myself looking forward to my reading sessions with it. That's always a good sign!

I'm reading The Department of Magic. It is currently in the running for worst book I've read of the year so far. A mix of terrible editing and classist/sexist/racist moments are seriously undermining the plot about the Mayan gods trying to take over America.

I actually just finished Bleedover by Curtis Hox, which was part of the Summer Solstice Fantasy giveaway back last week. This book was 100% a guilty pleasure, but it was a lot of fun despite the occasional shortfall.

I was surprised by how engaged I was, and I'm now quite glad I downloaded one of his other books at the same time. I'll be putting a full review for Bleedover up on my blog in the next day or two, but this is a book worth checking out!

I am finsihing CS Friedman's Magister Trilogy (about 100 pages to go on the final book)and then James Rollin's new release Bloodline. After that some of the books here (second Tears of Rage, Arbiter Codex, etc) are the most likely canidates.

I'm starting Sargasso Of Space by Andre Norton later today. Was beyond excited to find an ePub version, since I've been looking since I read Plague Ship sometime last year. It's a "Space Opera" about traders on a ship called the Solar Queen, and the first of a 7-book series that was published from 1955-1997. I think it was written as a teen book, but that makes it fun and easy. Great to read on break at work, but it shouldn't distract me from my own writing.

I'm in the middle of Alastair Reynolds', Blue Remembered Earth. It's a bit slower paced than I was expecting, but once past the half-way point is has picked up somewhat.

Really struggling to read atm due to tiredness and morning sickness. Just read a paragraph and nod off no matter what time of day.

Currently reading Lake of Dreams which is a completely different Genre to what I normally read and I am struggling to get into it. The book is very slow and not exciting unless your into romance and Genealogy.

However I have a nice list of books on my to read pile on the bedside cabinet :-
Brood of Bones - A.E. Marling
Elentris - Brandon Sanderson
Snuff - Terry Pratchett

I am reading Osama and finding it really interesting

I've just started Convergent Space. The synopsis looks intriguing, but I can't give any solid feedback yet. After 5%; so far, so good.

Next in the queue is Housewife with a Half-Life. This one was quirky enough to bump it up on my to-read list.

-Andrew D. Carlson

I just finsihed Prepare to Die!, by Paul Tobin. It was a lot of fun, and had a lot more depth than any book about superheroes has a right to be!

Paul is a comic book writer for his day job, and the love of the material bleeds through on every page. The main character, Steve Clarke (a.k.a., Reaver) is hero with a lot of baggage--guilt, sadness, loss--that serves as a nice counterpotint to how he conducts himself, a reluctant hero, at best, with some serious impulse control issues.

Really good stuff, and very solid.

I'm reading The Last Colony by John Scalzi and just started Pentecost by Joanna Penn. Scalzi never disappoints, and I'm excited to get into Joanna's work, after hearing so many great things about it.

But I'm on the lookout for another epic fantasy series. Nothing quite excites me like epic fantasy - tracking mystery after mystery through a host of characters and conflicts...it feels like more of the synapses in my brain are required to function.

I'm so picky though...after reading so many excellent series, your standards keep climbing. Definitely looking for no-fail recommendations.

Finished Desperation and started The Regulators

On my K3 and iPhone reading The Red Church, my first Nicholson read.

In paperback, I'm still re-reading Gerald's Game

On audiobook, of which I'm newly signed up to audible.com, I am listening for the first time to Swan Song, one of my all-time favorite horror reads (I read it when it first came out in the eighties).

I've actually been reading lots of business books lately. I'm currently reading "Well Being" by Tom Rath. It's a straightforward, common sense kind of read for those who are heavily involved in the business world. It's also a great, general read with some good reminders for achieving balance in your personal life. I am finishing my undergrad studies this week--for good (!)--and plan on reading lots of fiction this summer. =)

I'm reading First Chosen from GU's own M. Todd Gallowglas. Love it so far. The fantasy world is very original and well thought out. I've already got a dozen theories on what's going to happen with all of the plotting and scheming.

Glad you're enjoying it Robert. I'm going to flip a coin once I finish Legacy to see which of you guys I read next.

Todd, what do you think of the Nicholson?

I've never read him, but he seems highly recommended

I'm trying to get through Optimize by Lee Odden. It's a Search Engine Optimize Social Media marketing book. It's sooo hard to get through. I suck at key works and tags as a writer, and I know it's important.
The fun book I'm reading is, The Believers, a novel by Zoe Heller. Wow. It's fine lit, and it's taking me a while but this is a novel-great!

I'm now on the last 60 pages of the aforementioned Bloodline by James rolins and about 1/3rd of the way through "The Hero Always wins" by Robert Eaton. Expect me to update this once a week, because I love to read :)

Currently working thru The Red Pyramid and really enjoying it, as I enjoy the mythology based fiction. Next on the list, not sure. Some of the things mentioned here sound awesome.

I'm reading Green Marsby Kim Stanley Robinson. I like it and will definitely read the entire trilogy. So far book 2 in this series is following up well to Red Mars, in fact, I'm liking it better because I see real development in all areas here, from characters to plot and even to the setting itself transforming. He cut no corners in writing this series and I think I've found another sci-fi writer to like. Of course, I'm also seeking indie authors in this genre and look forward to finding my next reads here.

Im now reading One of the Wild Card books and elegy in the Arbiter codex.

I read The Weight of Blood by David Dalglish and Cold Fire by Dean Koontz over the last week or so. Both quite enjoyable, though for entirely different reasons. I would easily recommend both, though probably to different people. =)

I'm not sure what's next on my list. I'll find something, I'm sure. I admit to being a bit tempted by the eARC of the new Lois McMaster Bujold book over at Baen, but $15 for an ebook is still a little high for me...

New Spring, Robert Jordan.
Empire, Orson Scott Card.

So I just finished by the Genre Underground's own Christopher Kellan. Darn fun read.

Tomorrow I'm going to begin

by Robert Eaton. I've had my eye on this one for quite some time, and I'm really looking forward to the read.

check out my blog to see juliesbookreview.blogspot.com
working on Forbidden Love by Michelle Grogan

Just finished Stalker Squadronand I am now reading Brood of Bones

I'm in the middle of reading the following:

A Dance with Dragons

The Hero with a Thousand Faces

Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai

But mostly 'A Dance With Dragons'.

I am reading both Licoln and Douglas book 8 of the Pendergrast seriesThe Wheel of Darknessand a member of the Genre Undergorund's book that is not out yet!

My own book right now, as it's in edits. But once I get done with that, I intend to resume reading Green Mars. I'm enjoying it so far and eager to know what happens next but alas, I'm more consumed with my own work this week. Perhaps I'll get back to reading over the weekend or next week.

I'm (finally) getting around to finishing Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy. The third book is, so far, disappointing by comparison to the first two.

Voss - If you haven't already, you should try Zahn's Conqueror's Saga next.

I'm reading Diana Rowland's, My Life as a White Trash Zombie. It's deliciously gross and so far great details of what it's like to work in a morgue. Don't read while you're eating.

I'm a little nutty. I'm reading Frequencies by Joshua Ortega, listening to The Gambit by Rex Stout, and am reading Johnny Gruesome by Gregory Lamberson on my Nook.

Voss wrote: "I'm (finally) getting around to finishing Timothy Zahn's Thrawn Trilogy. The third book is, so far, disappointing by comparison to the first two."

I agree. The first two books were really good, but the third one was lacking.

I've been reading Elizabeth George's Inspector Lynley series.

Of course I'm reading First Chosen and it's really good. Started at 6 am this morning put in a full day at work, read some more and am already at 43%. This is interesting, very interesting. I'm wondering about Julianna.

I'm reading Once We Were Like Wolves, the second book in the Tears of Rage sequence.

I am reading Dean Kooontz's Frankenstein, Writing the Paranormal Novel by Steven Harper Pizikis and Tortall by Tamora Pierce as well as Spike: Asylum by Brian Lynch and Franco Urru.

I'm currently reading Kissed By An Angel by Elizabeth Chandler. I last read it about a year or so ago and absolutely loved it, so I was happy to get back round to reading it again. Although, I seem to be dragging myself through it with a lot less enthusiasm this time. I think I'm getting tired of this book now and may sell it. But I still think its a great read for young teens who like that romance/fantasy genre.

I took a break from published books to read my own for editing, but now I've picked up Aigis Anticipation, a fantasy novel by S.M. Welles (A friend of mine who once worked with me and with whom I still talk writing on occasion). I'm only a few pages into chapter 1, but I like it so far!

I'm now Reading Arms of the Storm, the third in the Tears of Rage sequence. The fact that I am reading this right after the second book should tell you how much I love it.

I'm reading Minority Council by Kate Griffin, the fourth book in the Mathew Swift series, and it is fabulous. She keeps getting better and better as a writer, and her descriptions are fantastic and inspirational. I'm also reading MindUp Curriculum for work, which is about bringing mindfulness into the classroom.

Im reading Legacy by Christopher Kellen, the second Arbiter codex book

Finished Jaudlin's Road and now on Cemetery Dance by Lincoln and Child

Reading the WOOL books by Hugh Howley. Really great Indie science fiction.

And my true guilty pleasure. I picked up a few "Schlock Mercenary" books at world con and they are a hoot. "Schlock Mercenary" is a brilliant web comic by Howard Taylor. He's been nominated for several Hugo awards for his work.

A fantastic Apocalyptic Zombie novel!