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

[poohbear_nc]

For years I've been a HUGE fan of Christopher Fowler's unique Peculiar Crimes Unit series - featuring 2 octogenarian detectives and a supporting cast out of Monty Python - that investigate crimes in modern day London that have a 'peculiar' supernatural taint to them. The plots have been ingenious, and Fowler layers in tons of arcane London history/geography/history facts - as you can find/verify in Peter Ackroyd's works.

But the latest entry, The Invisible Code, was a complete dud from start to finish - no real plot, no supernatural influences, no humor [the funniest part of the entire book was the opening memo from Raymond Land to his troops] - BORING! I don't know if Fowler is trying to 'modernize' the series by trying out a political plotline, but it fell flat. Some characters from past books had no dialogue whatsoever. And Arthur Bryant is so toned down as to be unrecognizable.

Unlike its main characters, I fear this series is beginning to show its age ....

[jgaiser]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Forever Engine by Frank Chadwick.

This is only his second published book but his first, How Dark the World Becomes got a 5/5 from me last January, so I was looking forward to this. To my surprise, it is not a sequel, but an entirely new universe. A professor of ancient history from 2018 is sent by accident to a steam-punk version of 1888. Looking very good so far!

I'm about 1/2 way through How Dark the World Becomes. I'm enjoying the heck out of it. I'll have to see about getting The Forever Engine.

[CRussel]

That was an excellent book, and I was completely surprised by it. Didn't expect much but enjoyed immensely.

[noulz]

I'm currently reading House of Leaves by Mark Danielewski - weird formatting, but so interesting. Can't put it down.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by CRussel

That was an excellent book, and I was completely surprised by it. Didn't expect much but enjoyed immensely.

Ummm…. which book?

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

So next up is Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz. The first of his Alex Rider YA novels, I bought this on 30 December 2013 for £0.99.

Originally Posted by Yapyap

I rather enjoyed the entire Alex Rider series - it's one of those where, I think, one shouldn't attempt to think too hard and just relax and go with the (fast-paced and entertaining) flow. Sort of like with action movies.

I can see what you mean about the Alex Rider books, at least judging by the first one. But it doesn't work for me. Some YA novels work well for adults too. This one, for me, didn't. It's not just the unlikelihood of Alex being used as an agent - one impossible thing I can easily accept from a book. It's that the entire situation he finds himself in, and all the characters in it are impossible and, what's worse, internally inconsistent. I might forgive it in a film where you can just sit back and enjoy the pictures. But not in a book. I'm glad I haven't bought any more of this series.

Next up: The Shadow of the Lion by Mecedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer. I think I've read this before, in which case I'll be moving straight on to This Rough Magic, the second in the series, or even Much Fall of Blood, the third in the series, which I'm sure I haven;t read, as there was a seven year gap between the second and the third!

[Yapyap]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

I can see what you mean about the Alex Rider books, at least judging by the first one. But it doesn't work for me. Some YA novels work well for adults too. This one, for me, didn't. It's not just the unlikelihood of Alex being used as an agent - one impossible thing I can easily accept from a book. It's that the entire situation he finds himself in, and all the characters in it are impossible and, what's worse, internally inconsistent. I might forgive it in a film where you can just sit back and enjoy the pictures. But not in a book. I'm glad I haven't bought any more of this series.

Makes sense, yes. For me, I think that was one of those series that I stumbled on at just the right moment - I was going through some really exhausting times at work and needed something that was fast-paced, easy to read, with lots of action, and required no thought at all, and I was happy enough to keep reading (while rolling my eyes a lot).

Another time, in a different mood, I don't think I'd have been nearly as forgiving!

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Ummm…. which book?

The one mentioned in the message immediately above. How Dark the World Becomes by Frank Chadwick.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by CRussel

The one mentioned in the message immediately above. How Dark the World Becomes by Frank Chadwick.

Thanks! I was getting confused.

Originally Posted by pdurrant

The Shadow of the Lion by Mecedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer.

I now think I haven't read this one before. Which is weird, because I'm sure I've read one of them before! It's good so far. Magical Mediaeval/Early Modern Venice.

[HarryT]

Just finished "The Sword", the concluding book in the original 5 book "General" series by S.M. Stirling and David Drake. An excellent and very satisfactory conclusion to the story. Highly recommended for all fans of military SF. The series continues with more books set further forward in time.

[bfisher]

Not quite the end of Raj and Central's story - only the beginning of rebuilding the Tanaki displacement net - the sequels The Chosen, The Reformer and The Tyrant are all quite good - only this time Raj is inside someone else's mind.

[Yapyap]

And I've finished Shards of Honor - I don't know that I loved it, but I certainly found it entertaining and enjoyable enough that I'm certain I will read some more in the series.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Yapyap

And I've finished Shards of Honor - I don't know that I loved it, but I certainly found it entertaining and enjoyable enough that I'm certain I will read some more in the series.

I liked Shards of Honor, but I started with the first of the actual Admiral Naismith books, which are excellent. Then circled back and read precursor books and appreciated them. But I'd start with the pure "Miles" ones.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: The Shadow of the Lion by Mecedes Lackey, Eric Flint and Dave Freer. I think I've read this before, in which case I'll be moving straight on to This Rough Magic, the second in the series, or even Much Fall of Blood, the third in the series, which I'm sure I haven;t read, as there was a seven year gap between the second and the third!

This series I read all in pBook, back when they were released. I enjoyed the series, though I'm not sure I'm interested in re-reading it.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by CRussel

This series I read all in pBook, back when they were released. I enjoyed the series, though I'm not sure I'm interested in re-reading it.

This.
Apache