Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading?

[pilotbob]

Not what I'm reading... but what I'm considering reading. Has anyone read anything by Lauren Beukes? I just heard an interview with her on one of my tech podcasts and she sounds quite interesting.

Her two current books are Moxyland and Zoo City. They are sf/fantasy and only $2.99 for Kindle.

The book she is currently working on sounds most fascinating, about a time traveling serial killer.

BOb

[HarryT]

Just finished "Thraxas" by Martin Scott. A re-read of an old favourite. The first in a series.

Thraxas is a failed sorceror (he was thrown out for being a drunkard), former mercenary, and not very successful private investigator who operates out of an upstairs room at "The Avenging Axe", an inn owned by his old friend Gurd the (retired) barbarian. He's the cheapest PI in the hopelessly corrupt city of Turai, and spends most of his time drunk. He's assisted in his adventures by the axe-wielding Makri, a young girl with human, elf, and orc blood, who spent 7 years as a gladiator in the orc slave-pits, and who now works as a barmaid at the "Avenging Axe", wearing a chainmail bikini.

Thraxas is in big trouble, owing money to the local mob (the "Brotherhood") for gambling debts after betting unwisely at the chariot races. He is, therefore, somewhat surprised to be hired by the Princess Du-Akai, third in line to the throne, to recover some rather risque letters she unwisely wrote to a foreign ambassador.

An extremely funny take on the "hard-boiled" detective genre. Well worth a read for detective and fantasy fans alike. Thoroughly recommended.

The entire series is published by Baen at their usual reasonable prices.

[John F]

I'm reading The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. For some reason I keep hearing Anthony Hopkins voice while I'm reading.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The entire series is published by Baen at their usual reasonable prices.

It is a fun series, but I think people should be warned that it ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, as the author and agent couldn't come to an agreement with Baen for the next book.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just finished "Thraxas" by Martin Scott. A re-read of an old favourite. The first in a series.

Thraxas is a failed sorceror (he was thrown out for being a drunkard), former mercenary, and not very successful private investigator who operates out of an upstairs room at "The Avenging Axe", an inn owned by his old friend Gurd the (retired) barbarian. He's the cheapest PI in the hopelessly corrupt city of Turai, and spends most of his time drunk. He's assisted in his adventures by the axe-wielding Makri, a young girl with human, elf, and orc blood, who spent 7 years as a gladiator in the orc slave-pits, and who now works as a barmaid at the "Avenging Axe", wearing a chainmail bikini.

Thraxas is in big trouble, owing money to the local mob (the "Brotherhood") for gambling debts after betting unwisely at the chariot races. He is, therefore, somewhat surprised to be hired by the Princess Du-Akai, third in line to the throne, to recover some rather risque letters she unwisely wrote to a foreign ambassador.

An extremely funny take on the "hard-boiled" detective genre. Well worth a read for detective and fantasy fans alike. Thoroughly recommended.

The entire series is published by Baen at their usual reasonable prices.

I'm not big on fantasy, but you make the humor in that one sound worth a look.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by HarryT

who spent 7 years as a gladiator in the orc slave-pits, and who now works as a barmaid at the "Avenging Axe", wearing a chainmail bikini.

Bikini's should be made of thin and soft material... a chainmail bikini is a travesty. She should take it of and trebuchet it right out of the country.

BOb

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Not what I'm reading... but what I'm considering reading. Has anyone read anything by Lauren Beukes? I just heard an interview with here on one of my tech podcasts and she sounds quite interesting.

I'm not going to be much help, but I've got both of her books on my TBR pile. I've heard/read some good things and she's slowly crawling to the top of the pile.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by jgaiser

I'm not going to be much help, but I've got both of her books on my TBR pile. I've heard/read some good things and she's slowly crawling to the top of the pile.

Same here. I bought that 4 book Ultimate Thriller Box Set for $.99 that I heard good things about and it was next on my list... but I might pick up one of hers. I like that the Kindle versions are $3 even though the paperbacks are $8. That is the way it should be.

BOb

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Not what I'm reading... but what I'm considering reading. Has anyone read anything by Lauren Beukes? I just heard an interview with her on one of my tech podcasts and she sounds quite interesting.

Her two current books are Moxyland and Zoo City. They are sf/fantasy and only $2.99 for Kindle.

The book she is currently working on sounds most fascinating, about a time traveling serial killer.

BOb

Not much help from me, but I have read lots of positive comments about Zoo City.

[HomeInMyShoes]

I started Kurt Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater.

After 40 pages all I have to say is God Bless you, Kurt Vonnegut.

[coderserdar]

sir arthur conan doyle - the adventure of the copper beeches

[CRussel]

I'm reading the new Elizabeth Moon Paksenarrion book, Echoes of Betrayal that was just released. Paks is not a primary character in this, at least not yet, but the book continues where Kings of the North left off.

So far I'm enjoying it very much, even if it did disrupt my reading plans for the next few days. Ah, well, there are certainly far worse ways to have them disrupted than a new Paks book.

[tecweston]

Currently reading:

- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (59%)

- A Feast for Crows by George R.R. Martin (56%)

- The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Angel of the Opera by Sam Siciliano (52%)

- A Dance with Dragons by George R.R. Martin (38%)

- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain (~20%) [on hold]

Just wanted to talk for a minute about The Great Gatsby. I'm reading it because there's a movie with Tobey Maguire and Leonardo diCaprio coming out later this year, so I wanted to get ready for it by reading the book. I'm really not enjoying it at all, though. It's kinda boring and I can't relate with any of the characters. But it's such a short book (155 pages) and I'm already more than halfway through, I feel obligated to finish it. I'm basically just reading one chapter of it a day before rewarding myself with Holmes and/or Westeros.

Originally Posted by tecweston

Currently reading:

. . .

- Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking by Susan Cain (~20%) [on hold]

. . .

Our culture tends to value outgoing, chatty, extroverted people...but after eight, Joy Cardin's guest says introverts also have a lot to offer. Guest: Susan Cain, author of "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" http://www.wpr.org/cardin/index.cfm?...06%3A00%3A00.0

If you are interested.

[thinkpad]

Originally Posted by thinkpad

I'm going to start on the third book: City of Dragons in the Rain Wilds Chronicles by Robin Hobb, published (February 7 2012).

I finished the book today and it takes off from where the second book ended. It's a quick read and I liked it. I thought this was the last book in a trilogy but I should have paid more attention. It's clear it's not the end of the story. The book ends with quite a lot of loose ends, like she did with book 1. I'm not a big fan of this sort of tactic.