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

[mewmartigan]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Oh, I liked that one a lot. I hope you enjoy it too.

about 20% in and enjoying it so far.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

The Toymaker (& other stories) by Raymond F Jones, a fictionwise buy from June 2004, first published 1951.

And it holds up remarkably well for 60-year-old SF. A good number of interesting ideas, although the plots are characters are a little creaky.

Then I read The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snickett, the first of thirteen in his children's books "A Series of Unfortunate Events". It was a fun quick read, but certainly a children's story. However, as they are fun and quick I shall probably read the rest eventually. (I got most as freebies in April 2010 and filled in the gaps when they were on special offer at £0.99 back in December 2013.)


Next up: Half a Crown by Jo Walton. The third in her alternate history "Small Change" series. I'm not sure why she skipped Penny, Tuppence, Thruppence, Tanner, Bob and Florin, but in this series Half a Crown comes after Ha'penny.

[bfisher]

Just finished "Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1945-1956" by Anne Applebaum, to complete my reading of the 2013 Cundill Prize shortlist books. This was the winning book, and an excellent read. Highly topical, too, given the recent events in Eastern Europe.

Now that I'm done with the 2013 Cundill shortlist, I'm working on the 2014 Lionel Gelber Prize shortlist. Midway through that, since I'd already read two of the finalists.

Just started reading "The Battle of Bretton Woods: John Maynard Keynes, Harry Dexter White, and the Making of A New World Order" by Benn Steil. Surprising readable so far, considering that it's about the genesis of the post-WW2 monetary system.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Half a Crown by Jo Walton. The third in her alternate history "Small Change" series. I'm not sure why she skipped Penny, Tuppence, Thruppence, Tanner, Bob and Florin, but in this series Half a Crown comes after Ha'penny.

Maybe she wanted room to go back? Or, more likely, she figured no one younger than 40 or so would have a clue. But you're right, weird.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Half a Crown by Jo Walton. The third in her alternate history "Small Change" series. I'm not sure why she skipped Penny, Tuppence, Thruppence, Tanner, Bob and Florin, but in this series Half a Crown comes after Ha'penny.

I'm already about 1/3rd of the way in. Excellent as expected. And I think I can see why it's Half a Crown. I suspect the title was irrisistable.

[HarryT]

Just finished "Evil Under the Sun", by Agatha Christie. This was her 37th book, originally published in 1941.

Poirot is on holiday at a hotel off the coast of Devon, when one of the guests, a well-known actress, is found strangled on the beach (which reinforces the view that you know you're in BIG trouble if you find yourself at the same holiday destination as a famous detective!). Poirot investigates.

Thoroughly enjoyed this one. An interesting cast of characters, and an intriguing plot. Highly recommended.

On now to SF: "Manalone" by Colin Kapp, published under the "SF Gateway" imprint. I remember reading this when I was a teenager and enjoying it. Standing up very well to a re-read thus far.

[din155]

Started "The undercover economist", by Tim Harford. I am 10% into it and so far I have really enjoyed. It's my first non fiction read (Not counting "The God Delusion" in audiobook) this year and I am glad I picked this one.

[bfisher]

Originally Posted by din155

Started "The undercover economist", by Tim Harford. I am 10% into it and so far I have really enjoyed. It's my first non fiction read (Not counting "The God Delusion" in audiobook) this year and I am glad I picked this one.

I read it last year and found it very readable for a book on economics - a subject I would normally avoid like the plague.

[HarryT]

Just finished "Manalone" - an SF novel from 1977 by the (IMHO) much under-rated British author, Colin Kapp, who died in 2007. SF Gateway publish pretty much his entire output, although, like most of the stuff they publish, I don't think they have US rights, so it won't be available there.

"Manalone" is set in a future Britain, where society is crumbling and over half the population is out of work. The protagonist is a physicist who notices that the laws of physics seem to be changing, and the government is trying to suppress all evidence of the past. The book tells the story of his search to uncover the truth of what's happening.

A short book, but very enjoyable. I recommend it.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just finished "Manalone" - an SF novel from 1977 by the (IMHO) much under-rated British author, Colin Kapp, who died in 2007. SF Gateway publish pretty much his entire output, although, like most of the stuff they publish, I don't think they have US rights, so it won't be available there.

"Manalone" is set in a future Britain, where society is crumbling and over half the population is out of work. The protagonist is a physicist who notices that the laws of physics seem to be changing, and the government is trying to suppress all evidence of the past. The book tells the story of his search to uncover the truth of what's happening.

A short book, but very enjoyable. I recommend it.

That one does sound interesting. It intrigues me whenever I hear scientists talk about the possibilities of other universes having different laws of physics than ours, and the idea of being in a reality where those laws are mutating is an interesting one to explore. My TBR list is so immense that I have no idea when I'll get around to looking at it, but I just downloaded a sample.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Just finished "Manalone" - an SF novel from 1977 by the (IMHO) much under-rated British author, Colin Kapp, who died in 2007. SF Gateway publish pretty much his entire output, although, like most of the stuff they publish, I don't think they have US rights, so it won't be available there.

"Manalone" is set in a future Britain, where society is crumbling and over half the population is out of work. The protagonist is a physicist who notices that the laws of physics seem to be changing, and the government is trying to suppress all evidence of the past. The book tells the story of his search to uncover the truth of what's happening.

A short book, but very enjoyable. I recommend it.

It appears Hachette has the US rights. There are quite a few of his books on Amazon, all priced in the $3.79 to $6.99 price range. Unfortunately, Manalone is a $6.99 one. Not sure I am willing to spend that. Hmmm. Must check Kobo...

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Half a Crown by Jo Walton.

Excellent alternate history. I don't usually like straight alternate history, but this is very good indeed.

Now for The Reptile Room by Lemony Snickett. I'd like to see how things progress, for at least one book. A freebie from Amazon in 2010.

[benham]

Power Play by Joseph Finder

[WT Sharpe]

I just finished the 1891 version of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. That makes two versions of the novel, viewings of two separate movie adaptations, and the reading of one graphic novel; all ingested in the past three weeks. I do believe I'm ready now for the MobileRead Book Club discussion of that book which will start on the 20th.

[orlok]

Just started the uncensored version of The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.