Hey!! Let's get some action going! What are we reading? - Page 108

Sweetpea · 02-27-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Finished the Sherlock Holmes Omnibus.

(phew, this is a lot of reading. I started back in November with HOTB for the book club, then continued on to finish them all.)

There are nine books in the collection. 4 are full length books, of which two are very similar, The Sign of the Four and The Valley of Fear. The Hound of the Baskervilles was certainly the best of the lot.

It also seemed to be that the stories in The Case-Book were very weak. Conan Doyle's forward seemed to point to the fact that he was writing this more to appease his fans than anything else.

There's a short story...

You see but you do not observer by Robert J. Sawyer (you can find it on Fictionwise) that you might like. It really puts a different perspective to what you've just said

JSWolf · 02-27-2009, 02:47 PM

I am about to finish Small Gods by Terry Pratchett. And then I might or might not start on Likely to Die by Linda Fairstein. Her book Final Jeopardy was quite good. However, I might finish Star Trek: A Singular Destiny. And then there will be whatever book the Book Club decides on.

daviddem · 02-28-2009, 12:45 AM

I have finished "The winter of Frankie Machine" by Don Winslow, and it was excellent, I really like the style and humor of Winslow.

I am now two thirds into "The big breach" by Richard Tomlinson. This is non fiction, but it reads like a novel. A former MI6 spook, Tomlinson allegedly got abusively fired and, short of legal recourse, decided to spit the whole story in a book, classified material included. The book is available as a free download here or here

nekokami · 03-03-2009, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackVoid

I just finished Way Station (by Clifford D. Simak), it is average. I nearly gave up on it halfway through. 2.5 / 5.

Wow, I really liked that one. (But I like Simak, even though sometimes his stories feel a bit... I don't know... unfocused?)

Meanwhile, I'm stuck reading On Utility by John Stuart Mill, and next up is Metaphysics of Morals by Kant. They're assigned in a graduate class I'm taking. But at least I have nicely formatted versions by Patricia.

And next week I think I'm reading Vygotsky for the other class, but that's in paper.

I'm sort of reading Fever Season by Barbara Hambly in between homework. I really like the Benjamin January series. I wish she'd write another one.

Ooh, Dead Water is now out as an ebook at Fictionwise! (I had borrowed that one from the library, in paper.) I know what I'm buying next.

Oh, hey, a bunch of Charles de Lint books are there now, too! And some of them are even at reasonable prices!

Decisions, decisions....

Peadar Ó Guilín · 03-03-2009, 04:56 AM

I'm reading The Dragon's Nine Sons by Chris Roberson at the moment.

Oh, I should say what it's about. It's an alternate future (as opposed to an alternate history) where the Chinese Empire rules most of the world and had colonies on Mars. However, they are now at war with the fierce Azteca.

I can't say much more than that, since I've barely started

HarryPigg · 03-03-2009, 05:46 AM

If you'll forgive the fanboy moment, I'd highly recommend Peadar's (see previous post) The Inferior. Gritty science-fiction that both myself and my 13 y.o. son enjoyed immensely. Not sure it's available as an ebook though.

BlackVoid · 03-03-2009, 08:19 AM

Greg Egan - Distress : gave up after 50 pages
Raymond E. Feist - Magician: Apprentice : gave up after 200 pages, so childish and so slow
Richard Herley - Refuge: gave up after 50 pages

After these 3 I gave up experimenting and started a book from tried and excellent Alastair Reynolds - House of Suns.

I am pleased after 100 pages.

lilac_jive · 03-03-2009, 08:23 AM

I'm reading the 5th Dresden Files book, Death Masks. I really need to slow down, I'm going to finish this series before I know it.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 03-03-2009, 08:56 AM

I'm (admittedly) struggling through Edison's Conquest of Mars. I have a hard time getting past the old story-telling style, not to mention the quaint ideas (it's a lot like watching a Flash Gordon serial), but I'm trying to stick through it to see if I reach a breakthrough point, and can forget all that and just enjoy it.

DixieGal · 03-03-2009, 09:25 AM

I got sidetracked and never started Legends II yet. The Patriot Witch, last month's Sony $1 book, sort of sucked me in. I'm almost finished and plan to eventually read the next 2 books in the series. It's full of action and is hard to put down.

BenG · 03-03-2009, 09:40 AM

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole.
I tried reading this many years ago, but never got beyond the first chapter. This time it grabbed me and sucked me in.

Fledchen · 03-03-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I'm reading the 5th Dresden Files book, Death Masks. I really need to slow down, I'm going to finish this series before I know it.

I'm on Book 10, Small Favor. Book 11, Turn Coat, comes out next month in hardcover. I have no idea when the ebook will be released, unfortunately.

pilotbob · 03-03-2009, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackVoid

Greg Egan - Distress : gave up after 50 pages
Raymond E. Feist - Magician: Apprentice : gave up after 200 pages, so childish and so slow
Richard Herley - Refuge: gave up after 50 pages

I'm not sure about these other books, but I know that you stopped Refuge much too soon. It was a very good read. Once you get to chapter 5 it really takes off. 50 pages took you what, 15 minutes?

I give most books till about 1/3 of the way in. For example, Star Drgagon I could not finish. And, I read more than 1/3 of it. It actually started better and got worse as it went on.

I think you need to give the authors some time to develope the story, the back story, set up the situations, introduce you to the characters. I think things 50 pages is quite enough.

Just my opinion of course.

BOb

Moejoe · 03-03-2009, 03:20 PM

Now re-reading Hardboiled/Hard Luck by Banana Yoshimoto - 2 novellas in one, very short but every page is a delight

Peadar Ó Guilín · 03-03-2009, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryPigg

If you'll forgive the fanboy moment, I'd highly recommend Peadar's (see previous post) The Inferior. Gritty science-fiction that both myself and my 13 y.o. son enjoyed immensely. Not sure it's available as an ebook though.

Thanks a lot, Harry! It is certainly available as an e-book in all the major formats. Fictionwise have it, BOB and Amazon.com.

Now I'll have to read your book, so let me know when it comes out

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02-27-2009, 02:47 PM	#1607
JSWolf Resident Curmudgeon Posts: 79,796 Karma: 146391129 Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Roslindale, Massachusetts Device: Kobo Libra 2, Kobo Aura H2O, PRS-650, PRS-T1, nook STR, PW3	I am about to finish Small Gods by Terry Pratchett. And then I might or might not start on Likely to Die by Linda Fairstein. Her book Final Jeopardy was quite good. However, I might finish Star Trek: A Singular Destiny. And then there will be whatever book the Book Club decides on.

02-28-2009, 12:45 AM	#1608
daviddem Connoisseur Posts: 63 Karma: 244 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Dubai Device: Sony PRS-T1	I have finished "The winter of Frankie Machine" by Don Winslow, and it was excellent, I really like the style and humor of Winslow. I am now two thirds into "The big breach" by Richard Tomlinson. This is non fiction, but it reads like a novel. A former MI6 spook, Tomlinson allegedly got abusively fired and, short of legal recourse, decided to spit the whole story in a book, classified material included. The book is available as a free download here or here

03-03-2009, 04:56 AM	#1610
Peadar Ó Guilín Author of The Inferior Posts: 121 Karma: 200001 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Ireland Device: Sony PRS-505, Kindle 3 (soon...)	I'm reading The Dragon's Nine Sons by Chris Roberson at the moment. Oh, I should say what it's about. It's an alternate future (as opposed to an alternate history) where the Chinese Empire rules most of the world and had colonies on Mars. However, they are now at war with the fierce Azteca. I can't say much more than that, since I've barely started

03-03-2009, 05:46 AM	#1611
HarryPigg Alleged Writer Posts: 20 Karma: 498294 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ireland Device: Sony PRS-505	If you'll forgive the fanboy moment, I'd highly recommend Peadar's (see previous post) The Inferior. Gritty science-fiction that both myself and my 13 y.o. son enjoyed immensely. Not sure it's available as an ebook though.

03-03-2009, 08:19 AM	#1612
BlackVoid Evangelist Posts: 415 Karma: 510423 Join Date: Nov 2006 Device: Sony PRS-505	Greg Egan - Distress : gave up after 50 pages Raymond E. Feist - Magician: Apprentice : gave up after 200 pages, so childish and so slow Richard Herley - Refuge: gave up after 50 pages After these 3 I gave up experimenting and started a book from tried and excellent Alastair Reynolds - House of Suns. I am pleased after 100 pages.

03-03-2009, 08:23 AM	#1613
lilac_jive Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,870 Karma: 27376 Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Device: PRS-505	I'm reading the 5th Dresden Files book, Death Masks. I really need to slow down, I'm going to finish this series before I know it.

03-03-2009, 08:56 AM	#1614
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	I'm (admittedly) struggling through Edison's Conquest of Mars. I have a hard time getting past the old story-telling style, not to mention the quaint ideas (it's a lot like watching a Flash Gordon serial), but I'm trying to stick through it to see if I reach a breakthrough point, and can forget all that and just enjoy it.

03-03-2009, 09:25 AM	#1615
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I got sidetracked and never started Legends II yet. The Patriot Witch, last month's Sony $1 book, sort of sucked me in. I'm almost finished and plan to eventually read the next 2 books in the series. It's full of action and is hard to put down.

03-03-2009, 09:40 AM	#1616
BenG Home Guard Posts: 4,730 Karma: 86721650 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Alpha Ralpha Boulevard Device: Kindle Oasis 3G, iPhone 6	A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. I tried reading this many years ago, but never got beyond the first chapter. This time it grabbed me and sucked me in.

03-03-2009, 03:20 PM	#1619
Moejoe Banned Posts: 5,100 Karma: 72193 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: South of the Border Device: Coffin	Now re-reading Hardboiled/Hard Luck by Banana Yoshimoto - 2 novellas in one, very short but every page is a delight