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

[maianhvk]

Picture of Dorian Gray and I, Robot were done.

Now: Monster Hunter Alpha.

[Illinifan]

Finished "Of Thee, I Zing" by Laura Ingraham last week.

Working my way slowly but steadily through "What Would the Founders Think?" by Larry Schweikart.

And despite all the posts in another thread telling me I am wasting my time, I'm almost finished with Terry Brooks' "The Measure of the Magic".

[anjirlly]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

I actually hate most of the cover art. But I love her writing so I buy it anyway!

I'm not a fan of the cover art, either, because it is titillating in a way that undermines the straightforward grittiness of the character.

[caleb72]

Originally Posted by Ron.

Currently reading The Night Circus
Erin MorgensternÂ’s dark, enchanting debut takes us to the black and white tents of Le Cirque des Reves, a circus that arrives without warning, simply appearing when yesterday it was not there. Young Celia and Marco have been cast into a rivalry at The Night Circus, one arranged long ago by powers they do not fully understand. Over time, their lives become more intricately enmeshed in a dance of love, joy, deceit, heartbreak, and magic. Author Morgenstern knows her world inside and out, and she guides the reader with a confident hand. The setting and tone are never less than mesmerizing. The characters are well-realized and memorable. But it is the Night Circus itself that might be the most memorable of all. --Chris Schluep
I am only a few chapters into it, not enough to tell if I like it or not yet.

Sounds really interesting. Keep us updated.

[Steve Anderson]

I've finally gotten 'round to The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick.

Whoa! Written in the early 60s, it's an alternate history in which the United States lost WW2 and is a weakened land split up and co-governed by a powerful Japan and Germany. Americans have lost their identity and follow Imperial Japanese culture in the West and Nazi ways in the East. In the book, there's an alternate history in which the US and its Allies won the war.

I don't read much alternate history, but this is blowing my mind. While the storyline is a little loose so far, it makes up for it by making you think about how history can always have turned out much differently.

Philip K. Dick wrote stories that became many popular sci-fi movies, including Blade Runner.

[thinkpad]

Originally Posted by covingtoncat73

I am reading Tounges of Serpents by Naomi Novik. Best. Dragons. Ever.

I love the whole series. It's just so fun to follow the different dragons and there different personalities. I have yet to find a dragon book/series that come close to this one.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by anjirlly

I'm not a fan of the cover art, either, because it is titillating in a way that undermines the straightforward grittiness of the character.

I don't think it goes with the character at all. When was the last time you knew a female mechanic who walked around with her overalls exposing her bra? Mercy is a woman to be reckoned with and takes her job seriously. I've no problem with sexy covers, but it should reflect the character. And jeans and a t-shirt can be sexy and serious. I also never got all the tats. I don't think the character has any and none that play a pertinent part, but there's tats all over every one of the models.

Based on the covers alone, I don't know if I would have ever bought the Mercy books. Not that they are that bad, but they aren't attractive or eye-catching to me. They don't depict the kind of book that is actually behind the covers IMO.

Of course, Briggs is probably my favorite writer ever and I stand by the statement I'd buy her stuff written on table napkins. Cereal boxes. Street graffiti, whatever.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next, I think I'll read her book of short stories, Wings by Sarah A. Hoyt.

Well. Also splendid. A wide variety of science fiction and fantasy short stories, all rather wonderful. Not a dud in there. Highly recommended.

Next: Janissaries by Jerry Pournelle

One of his that I don't think I've read before. It looks fun, and stand-alone.

[WT Sharpe]

I just finished reading the Sep/Oct 2011 issue of Philosophy Now. Among the highlights:
* Alistair MacFarlane delves into Alfred North Whitehead's beliefs about God and gives a short synopsis of this deeply religious philosopher's Process Philosophy.
* Roger Caldwell has an article on the perennially fascinating & ultra-pessimistic Schopenhauer.

Also: Friedrich Nietzsche’s stormy psyche, trouble with Kant, Hegel’s little-known alternative divinity, a middle way between Dawkins and God, and Raymond Tallis explains time.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I just finished reading the Sep/Oct 2011 issue of Philosophy Now. Among the highlights:
* Alistair MacFarlane delves into Alfred North Whitehead's beliefs about God and gives a short synopsis of this deeply religious philosopher's Process Philosophy.
* Roger Caldwell has an article on the perennially fascinating & ultra-pessimistic Schopenhauer.

Also: Friedrich Nietzsche’s stormy psyche, trouble with Kant, Hegel’s little-known alternative divinity, a middle way between Dawkins and God, and Raymond Tallis explains time.

What? And your head didn't explode?

[thatnerdychick]

Currently it's The Hunger Games, and I'm finding it to be quite a good read. Almost exactly a classic dystopian; my personal fave.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by kennyc

What? And your head didn't explode?

What makes my head explode is that Alfred Lord Whitehead and Bertrand Russell were collaborators for so many years; the man whose name is forever linked with process theology and the great agnostic.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next: Janissaries by Jerry Pournelle

One of his that I don't think I've read before. It looks fun, and stand-alone.

It was fun. A small group of soldiers 'rescued' by aliens, and taken to another planet. I really enjoyed the story — it rolls along at a very good pace. It was indeed stand alone, but it also seems there are sequels, which I have.

So next up: Tran by Jerry Pournelle and Roland Green, and omnibus version of two sequels, "Clan & Crown" and "Storms of Victory"

[xg4bx]

Extinction by BV Larson. this series is some of the most fun i've had in awhile. theres something so geekily satisfying about a man building weapons out of alien nano machines.

[Ron.]

I just finished The Night Circus I completely enjoyed this book, One of the most original stories I have read. Subtle is how I would best describe this story in a word. Many separate characters and seemingly unrelated events, the pleasure in the story is watching it unfold seeing how it is all tied together.