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

[DixieGal]

I forgot about the book club. When's the assignment due?

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I forgot about the book club. When's the assignment due?

Passage to India is the November book... the discussion thread won't open till like the 3rd week of the month. No big hurry.

BOb

[Gibbo]

Originally Posted by Todd A Fonseca

I just finished reading "Soul Identity" by Dennis Batchelder (available paperback and kindle - I think it is on special for .99 on Amazon Kindle http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Identity/...TO/ref=ed_oe_o). At this price a definite buy - this is a good book (4 of 5 stars).

Detailed review:
Soul Identity – The “Eye’s” Have It

As the old saying goes, “The Eyes are the window to the Soul”. In Dennis Batchelder’s Soul Identity, this is more than a figure of speech. Rather, it is the premise behind a twenty-six hundred year old organization tasked with finding, recording, and managing their clients’ soul lines. Similar to a finger print, a persons eyes, specifically their iris patterns is unique – at least while they are alive. At some future point after their death, their iris pattern may repeat in a new body. It is this unique pattern that identifies that this new body carries the same soul line as the previous body.

But in the present day, the organization - aptly named “Soul Identity” - is finding it harder and harder to match soul lines – especially the company overseer souls – even though technology has made it easier to capture, read, catalogue and compare iris patterns. Could it be this same technology is actually preventing this company from its mission? Is someone using this technology against them?

In comes Scott Waverly, a security and technology expert hired to find the answers and save “Soul Identity” and its millions of soul lines from disappearing forever. Though skeptical of the company’s claims, Waverly quickly finds himself in the middle of a philosophical, technological, and life threatening affair which has him jet setting around the world to save the company as well as his life.

In his debut novel, Dennis Batchelder has created a fast paced barnstormer similar to the likes of Lincoln Child in novels such as “Death Match” and “Utopia”. Though taking on the questions of immortality through the possible reincarnation of souls, Batchelder, similar to his fictional “Soul Identity” overseer Archibald Morgan, does not delve too deeply into the philosophical and spiritual implications of this “technology”. Rather, the novel relies on the wonderfully written dialogue and suspenseful situations the protagonists must overcome to solve the mystery behind who is trying to destroy “Soul Identity” and why.

This novel is a very engaging read and I would encourage anyone who enjoys novels such as those written by Lincoln Child, to consider purchasing Soul Identity – you are sure to enjoy it. The book ends with a few teaser preview chapters from the sequel which looks equally good if not better. I, for one, am anxiously awaiting the release of Batchelder’s next book.

Sounds interesting, only Amazon and Mobipocket have it and already in the cart

Keeping to the topic I'm currently reading "Saint Anthony's Fire" by Steve White.

Synopsis:

"In our universe, Ponce de León is remembered for his fruitless search for the mythical fountain of youth. But, in an alternate universe, his quest found something very different—and very dangerous. After his return to Spain, bizarre rumors flew about what he had found there, and what had come back with him.

Eighty-five years later, Spain sent a fleet of ships against England. The English were confident that they could repel the threat—but England's fleet was annihilated by weapons shooting beams of fiery light, weapons which seemed to employ the blackest of sorcery, even if they were wielded by odd-looking beings in monk's garb.

The Queen herself was forced to flee to the New World on Captain Thomas Winslow's ship, Heron, accompanied by her advisor Dr. Dee, whom some called a sorcerer, and an odd fellow named Shakespeare, hoping there to find the source of Spain's powerful weapons. But they would find far stranger matters there than they had expected, such as a grown woman who had been only an infant a year before, and eerie tales of a gate to another world with beings who were not human . . ."

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Roy White

I'm completely hooked on the Honor Harrington Books by David Weber right now. Complete escapist brain candy but so well written. At first I got a bit frustrated with his tendency to describe the political factions and infighting but now that I've got his 'Honorverse' fixed in my mind i'm glad I didn't just bleep over the pages setting the poitical scene because each book is really just a continuation of all the others.

The political factions and infighting are critical, as you'll see when you get farther into the series. It's a very good thing you didn't just skip over them.

I'm an addict! Its kind of a bummer becasue he onbly wrote about 13 or 14 of them and then I'll be done...

More are in process, and Other Hands are contributing books set in the Honorverse.
______
Dennis

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by DixieGal

That's another one I started but quit because it made me have to concentrate.

And that's a bad thing?

Personally, I like books that make me stretch. It may be the main reason SF is my preferred fiction genre.
______
Dennis

[montsnmags]

I'm currently reading, never having read it before (or even heard of it before info, pictures and trailers started popping up on io9.com), Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. I'm up to Issue 5, and enjoying it much more than I expected.

Cheers,
Marc

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I'm currently reading, never having read it before (or even heard of it before info, pictures and trailers started popping up on io9.com), Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. I'm up to Issue 5, and enjoying it much more than I expected.

Cheers,
Marc

Watchman's great as Moor is a master or Layering stuff, so its still a lot of fun rereading.

If you haven't already, try out Moor's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen as well.

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by bbusybookworm

Watchman's great as Moor is a master or Layering stuff, so its still a lot of fun rereading.

I am starting to see that, just in the artwork.

If you haven't already, try out Moor's League of Extraordinary Gentlemen as well.

I will. I know the movie is pretty strongly regarded by most as an appalling (un)realisation of the vision, but, nevertheless, I enjoyed it (though I think because I was seeing what it was trying to be, rather than what it actually was). I wasn't at all aware of the Moore relationship.

Thanks.

Cheers,
Marc

[bbusybookworm]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I am starting to see that, just in the artwork.

Indeed and its even better in League, the way every word and piece of art has a dept of meaning.

I Have to admit that while I got a lot of the references, it took reading Jess Nivens Companion to get me to appreciate the true scale.

I will. I know the movie is pretty strongly regarded by most as an appalling (un)realisation of the vision, but, nevertheless, I enjoyed it (though I think because I was seeing what it was trying to be, rather than what it actually was). I wasn't at all aware of the Moore relationship.

Thanks.

Cheers,
Marc

Well The Main reason the Movie was so derided was that they stripped out a lot of the layers and more importantly changed the character dynamics a lot, to its detriment.

Moore was so outraged that he went on to Sue, I believe to get the Studio to leave his name off the movie.

While I was disappointed when I first saw the movie, I later enjoyed it much more when I tried to forget the Name and the original source material

The Trades of the League are great, and with the Availability of the Black Dossier, there is more then enough to keep you busy for a while, especially with the rereads

[RickyMaveety]

Just finished "Eric" and am about to start "Moving Pictures." Both by Terry Pratchett, of course.

[MoSo]

Much like Alan Moore's other work-turned-movie, V for Vendetta, I don't recommend reading Watchmen before going to see the movie. Like books turned into movies, graphic novels/comics often don't translate with the full range of meaning (and I'm not talking about things like Spiderman, Iron Man, Batman etc etc).

[DixieGal]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I'm currently reading, never having read it before (or even heard of it before info, pictures and trailers started popping up on io9.com), Watchmen, by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons. I'm up to Issue 5, and enjoying it much more than I expected.

Cheers,
Marc

Gibbons? As in angry, violent, pandimension, defenestrative Adrien?

[Todd A Fonseca]

I just finished reading "Sudden Death" by Michael Balkind (Kindle, Paperback).
I'd rate it 4 of 5 stars - if you like golf and mysteries - this is for you. See full review below...

*****************************

Reid Clark is at the top of his game. After fulfilling his lifelong dream of wining the Masters Tournament in Augusta Georgia, he lands a huge multi-million dollar product endorsement deal. But everything is not quite right for Reid. Having led a fairly carefree yet successful life, Reid is prone to temper tantrums which has lead the media to coin him as golf’s “Bad Boy”, and while Reid supports philanthropic endeavors, not everyone is as happy with Reid as he is with himself. Players on the tour resent his success and frequent arrogance, ex-girlfriends are legion as he is just as much a “player” off the green as on, and ex-caddies and business associates are frustrated with his juvenile outbursts.

Its no surprise Reid receives a death threat. The rules for staying alive – never win another golf tournament. Impossible for Reid. The threats do, however, cause him to take stock of his life and attitudes. He sets out to spend more time with his family, appreciate those around him, and perhaps even find the girl of his dreams. But it’s hard to turn around your life on a dime, and Reid finds himself frequently agitated by the press and those hired to protect him.

Will Reid back off and retire from golf while at the top of his game? Or will he risk everything and take on the thugs threatening him?

I enjoyed “Sudden Death”. Michael Balkind takes you into the clubhouse, the mind, and the life of a professional golfer – the stress, the deals, the parties, the game, the fans, the agents, you name it.

My one issue is that I found it hard to connect with and like Reid Clark. Though he tries to re-evaluate his life after receiving multiple threats, connecting with family and his budding relationship are all centered around buying them high priced gifts and taking them on shopping sprees. There’s no real emotional connection. This is certainly consistent with his persona, but does make it difficult to really route for him as the novel’s main character.

None-the-less, “Sudden Death” is a very enjoyable read. If you like golf and a good mystery, “Sudden Death” is for you!

[Elsi]

Originally Posted by Elsi

In September, I read only two electronic books. I'm so glad that I'm *finally* reading a book on my Kindle again. I started reading All Mortal Flesh, the fifth book in Julia Spencer-Fleming's mystery series starring Rev. Clare Fergusson and Sheriff Russ Van Alstyne. I'm still working my way through Daughter of the Sun by Barbara Wood (Trade PB), Storm Killer by Benjamin Blue (Kindle), and High Noon by Nora Roberts (Unabridged audio), but not spending a lot of time on any of them right now. I also have read about 1/2 of MotherShip, a juvenile SF novel by Tony Chandler -- bought for the Kindle from Amazon about 2 weeks ago.

I find it interesting that although I posted the above on 1 October, I still haven't finished a couple of the books I had started. I have read 10 books so far in October:

• 106. All Mortal Flesh, Julia Spencer-Fleming (2 Oct, Kindle)
• 107. MotherShip, Tony Chandler (4 Oct, Kindle)
• 108. I Shall Not Want, Julia Spencer-Fleming (6 Oct, Kindle)
• 109. Living Dead in Dallas, Charlaine Harris (8 Oct, Kindle)
• 110. Full of Grace, Dorothea Benton Frank (11 Oct, TP)
• 111. Daughter of the Sun, Barbara Wood (13 Oct, TP)
• 112. The Bookman's Promise, John Dunning (17 Oct, MMP)
• 113. Wolf Tower, Tanith Lee (19 Oct, TP)
• 114. Shakespeare's Landlord, Charlaine Harris (22 Oct, MMP)
• 115. The Birth of Venus, Sarah Dunant (26 Oct, TP)

As in September, I've read more paper books that electronic books -- trying to finish books that I've offered in trade before I have to mail them out. I'm going to be away from home the entire month of November, and several days will be spent driving cross-country, so I expect to read a lot more than usual. And, although I'm taking a small box of paper books with me, I also bought the Pournelle bundle at Webscriptions this evening.

[desertgrandma]

Just finished "Player Piano" by Vonnegut. The ending made me laugh, I didn't see it coming. But really, how absolutely perfect and knowing people, couldn't you just see it happening?

Finishing "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" now........will really have to have a book discussion with Slayda about this one.