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

[nana77]

Originally Posted by nana77

Now on"Fiasco", by Stanisław Lem (1986).. I'm liking the philosophical trips it takes once and then .

It was great, really.
I'd accidentally bought the italian translated version of Tower Dungeon 1, then the english one for the second chapter: super nices (can't understand why the translated cost 1 euro less, lol).
Now reading "The Left Hand of Darkness", by Ursula K. Le Guin (translated); and trying Dahlgren by Samuel Delany in its original language (the second hand, translated books available are like at 90/120$... but I'd found one copy at the public library too, maybe after having tried the english version).
Both books are from the same period, which makes their lecture interesting - imho.
On the preface in Le Guinn's book it's mentioned that hers and Philip Dick "Ubik" were the ones which mostly described those years (or, at least, the feelings that have been perceived from the authors, by those times of SF changes).

Edith: sorry, because the topic was surely discussed in the forums, but I didn't found it.
By looking on others sites it seems it's possible to just change user zip's code; thought it seems so weird in 2025 "can't buy".

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And now I'm reading There Will Be Bodies by Lindsey Davis. The latest in her Flavia Albia series. I'm enjoying this one a lot more than the previous one.

And IMO the series is back on form. I enjoyed this one.

Next up: Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch. So far it's excellent, as expected.

[nana77]

Originally Posted by nana77

Now reading "The Left Hand of Darkness", by Ursula K. Le Guin (translated); and trying Dahlgren by Samuel Delany in its original language (the second hand, translated books available are like at 90/120$... but I'd found one copy at the public library too, maybe after having tried the english version).

Thought that reading the italian translated version first it's better, for me (then I can read the original one as to see how does it sounds: while searching every once and then on dictionary I was loosing the meaning of the phrase too often).
It was only in one public library, and when went there, I'd recalled that that quarter is one of the city's bronx, quite a nice match imho ; too as there were some years I didn't have passed by there, the municipality made some mural paints all over the place: it was quite fantastic and appealing to watch, like:

Spoiler:

https://www.telefriuli.it/wp-content..._15_03_08.jpeg
https://www.telefriuli.it/wp-content...5_FB210312.jpg
https://www.telefriuli.it/wp-content...54486272_o.jpg
https://www.telefriuli.it/wp-content...ine-Image.jpeg
https://www.telefriuli.it/wp-content...08774656_n.jpg

Also bought a book just released, very peculiar: it's being written in friulan, within an italian translation on the foot's page, pardon if mentioning it while it's not translated, but it's too nice: a sci-fi travel written in poems (the "not translated" title would had been: "Suggestions for interstellar travels": https://www.sunseurope.com/en/consei...sentation-eng/

LANGUAGES: Friulian

SYNOPSIS: «Conseis par viaçs interstelârs» is a realistic and allegorical journey away from Earth and away from oneself. It is a journey of bodies through a Universe not made for humans, where the only option is to discover each other and save ourselves together.

GUEST: Stiefin Morat (Stefano Moratto). Between the 1990s and the early 2000s, he was involved in the ‘Usmis’ movement and the ‘Trastolons’ poetry collective. His novels, “Donald dal Tiliment” (2001) and “Kebar Krossè” (2016), have established him as one of the most innovative and inspired authors in contemporary Friulian literature. His poetry has been included in several anthologies, such as “Isulis” (2009), and is also featured in “Conseis par viaçs interstelârs”.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Stone and Sky by Ben Aaronovitch. So far it's excellent, as expected.

I enjoyed it a lot. But perhaps the series is beginning to run out of steam? Hmm...

Next up was In the Time of Five Pumpkins by Alexander McCall Smith. More from Mma Ramotswe and the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Another long-running series, but this one seemed a return to form.

Next up: The Masquerades of Spring by Ben Aaronovitch. A Rivers of London Prequel Novella, as far as I can see. My first purchase with Kobo Points!

[Mike Hobart]

• The Shadows of Shambhala by Tony Simmons (2018)
• Winter Term at Malory Towers by Pamela Cox (2009)
• When The Gangs Came To London by Edgar Wallace (1932)
• Magnetic North by David Halsey (1990)
• The Face In The Abyss by A. Merritt (1931)
• Major Operation by James White(1971)

[Renate]

I'm reading "Mark Twain", Ron Chernow.
It's interesting (but over 1000 pages).

If Mark Twain wasn't such an idiot businessman he could have lived a rich and stress-free life with just the money from his writing and his wife's inheritance.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Masquerades of Spring by Ben Aaronovitch. A Rivers of London Prequel Novella, as far as I can see. My first purchase with Kobo Points!

And very good it was too, in a P G Wodehouse pastiche kind of way. I liked it a lot.

Next up was Lockwood & Co.: The Screaming Staircase by Jonathan Stroud. I got this after watching the Netflix series. Most enjoyable YA fantasy.

And I'm now reading Scandal in Babylon by Barbara Hambly. I know here from her fantasy books, but this is a historical murder mystery set in Hollywood in the silent era.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And I'm now reading Scandal in Babylon by Barbara Hambly. I know here from her fantasy books, but this is a historical murder mystery set in Hollywood in the silent era.

Which was enjoyable.

Next up was The Enchanted Places by Christopher Milne. An interesting autobiography in the form of memories of his childhood and of his parents.

And now I'm reading The Whispering Skill by Jonathan Stroud. The second in his Lockwood & Co. YA fantasy series.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Renate

I'm reading "Mark Twain", Ron Chernow.
It's interesting (but over 1000 pages).

If Mark Twain wasn't such an idiot businessman he could have lived a rich and stress-free life with just the money from his writing and his wife's inheritance.

I was interested in this until I read a scathing review in the New York Times. It was just far too (too) long for picking up on spec after that. There's only so much reading time.

Generally speaking, virtually all current biographies are too long. I'm not interested in anyone to that extent.

[Mike Hobart]

Originally Posted by issybird

I was interested in this until I read a scathing review in the New York Times. It was just far too (too) long for picking up on spec after that. There's only so much reading time.

Generally speaking, virtually all current biographies are too long. I'm not interested in anyone to that extent.

Agreed! I have often skipped through the early chapters of books about famous writers or entertainers, I have to admit. Do you really care what sort of school uniform your favorite novelist wore??