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

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Now: 1636: Seas of Fortune by Iver P. Cooper. Another side-story set in the 1632 universe created by Eric Flint.

Which was OK, but started as a series of stories from Grantville Gazette, and remained in that form. I think it would have been much better re-worked as a unified pair of novellas. (One covering South America, and one Japan.)

Still thinking about the next one.


[Edit]
Decided on a freebie by Jo Walton - The Rebirth of Pan.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Finished Liaden Universe Constellation, Volume 2. What a delight of old friends!

I haven't gotten much of The Bat read -- not because I'm not enjoying it, but because the Liaden short stories kept my attention. But I'm back to The Bat and enjoying it.

Finished Nesbo's The Bat. Interesting. This took several turns I didn't expect, and went much longer than I kept thinking it would. (Always a problem with eBooks--no immediate tactile feedback on how long a book is, or where you are in it.) That being said, however, I really enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. Unfortunately, the second book, Cockroaches, is only available in Canada and at a ridiculous price, so I'm going to have to wait until February and it is released in the US to see if the price comes down to something reasonable. They have the book at the BCLibraries site, but only a single copy and already 54 holds on it. At that rate, I'll get my turn in 3 years or so.

Next up is either another Parker, or a Phryne Fisher. Can't decide.

Edit: Phryne wins: Murder on a Midsummer Night

[Cyclops]

Half way thru Youth by Isaac Asimov, a 'short' story (134 pages in mobi format!)
Its the only Asimov story thats free in the public domain!

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Cyclops

Half way thru Youth by Isaac Asimov, a 'short' story (134 pages in mobi format!)
Its the only Asimov story thats free in the public domain!

What reason do you have to believe that it is in the public domain?

[Cyclops]

Originally Posted by HarryT

What reason do you have to believe that it is in the public domain?

From the Wiki:

According to Project Gutenberg, this story's copyright was not renewed, and is now in the public domain. This is the only Asimov story known to be out of copyright.

[HarryT]

Yes, but what makes you believe it's in the public domain in the UK? The fact it's in the US public domain doesn't automatically mean that it's also in the UK public domain. If it entered the US public domain between 1955 and 1995 (which I strongly suspect it did), it's not in the public domain in the UK. Copyright laws are not the same everywhere, and you can't assume that the fact that something is PD in one country automatically means that it is elsewhere. That why the Gutenberg site tells you to check before downloading.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by HarryT

What reason do you have to believe that it is in the public domain?

Quoted from http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31547

The Project Gutenberg EBook of Youth, by Isaac Asimov

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

[HarryT]

Yes, Alan, we know it's in the US public domain, but the previous poster is in the UK, not the US . Just "be careful" is all I'm saying - it's unwise to assume because something is PD in one place, it also is elsewhere.

[Cyclops]

Doesnt bother me. I read em and delete em

[JoelArnold]

I'm tackling Tolstoy's Anna Karenina this month. I'm about 2/3's of the way through, and am enjoying it. The names took a little bit of getting used to (since lots of characters have a formal name, a familiar name, a nickname, etc.) but the psychological insight is amazing.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Yes, Alan, we know it's in the US public domain, but the previous poster is in the UK, not the US . Just "be careful" is all I'm saying - it's unwise to assume because something is PD in one place, it also is elsewhere.

I agree, I was not aware that that was the point you were making till after my previous post. Had I been I wouldn't have posted.

[DrNefario]

Well, it only took me a couple of days to read London Particular (aka Fog of Doubt), an enjoyable late golden age mystery by Christianna Brand.

I wasn't sure what to read after that, so I went back to Bounce: The Myth of Talent by Matthew Syed, which I'd read 20% of when I bought it. It's a fascinating book, by a former Olympian, putting the case that excellence is always the result of hard work and has barely anything to do with natural gifts; indeed that the very idea of natural talent is destructive and inhibiting. It's a great read, and I finished it on Christmas Day.

Now I've started Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie, which seems to be a hot tip for next year's SF awards. I'm enjoying it so far.

[Nyssa]

For those of you who are interested, the 2014 Annual Reading threads are now up!


Here is were we can disscuss our goals: The 2014 Annual Reading Challenge Discussion Thread!

Here is where we can list what we've read: The 2014 Annual Reading Challenge List Thread!

Hope to see you there!

[Cyclops]

Next up, Salvage in Space by Jack Williamson (1933).
In epub format so lets see if the pagination works out right!

[Tarana]

Always a problem with eBooks--no immediate tactile feedback on how long a book is, or where you are in it.

I was puzzled by your comment until I read that you had some tablets. Both my Kindles and my Nook all indicate what percentage of a book you have read. Of course, if they include a chapter or two of the next book, it's just an estimate of where you end. My Nook HD gives an indicator sometimes, sometimes not. It may be a setting that I haven't found yet though.