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

[Mike Hobart]

When I was a youngster, I always checked out the new titles in the bookshop before browsing the second-hand section. But today I seem to spend more time reading stuff from a century ago.

For example, take this month:

• MAPP AND LUCIA by E F Benson 1931
• AT THE VILLA ROSE by A.E.W. Mason 1910
• BEHIND THAT CURTAIN by Earl Derr Biggers 1928
• PAST MASTERS #239
• PARNASSUS ON WHEELS by Christopher Morley 1917

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by astrangerhere

Currently:

• Kobo - The Books of Earthsea, complete illustrated edition, by Ursula K. Le Guin - in the last book now!
• Paper - A Little History of Philosophy by Nigel Warburton
• Paper - Papyrus: The Invention of Books in the Ancient World by Irene Vallejo translated by Charlotte Whittle
• Audio - The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths - an in-between listen while I wait for a hold to come in.

My wife and I finished Earthsea together this weekend. I'm debating, after a small break, tackling all the Hainish novels now. I've read some piecemeal, but never straight through.

I also read Eudora Welty's One Writer's Beginnings yesterday and Hannah Arendt's Thinking and Moral Considerations: A Lecture this morning.

Currently:

• Kobo - The Documents in the Case by Dorothy L. Sayers, with Robert Eustace
• Paper - A Little History of Philosophy by Nigel Warburton
• Paper - Papyrus: The Invention of Books in the Ancient World by Irene Vallejo translated by Charlotte Whittle
• Audio - Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and Other Marvels of the Dark by Leigh Ann Henion

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Femina by Janina Ramirez. This month's pick from my in-person book club group, which meets next Tuesday. A history of the middle ages from the women in it, rather than just the men.

It was OK. Some interesting information. Each section is split in two - some present-day factual stuff about the actual present day discoveries, and then an interpretation of what might have happened in the past. I wasn't really gripped.

Next up was Blindsight Dare by Lois McMaster Bujold. The latest Penric & Desdemona story. Great stuff, as usual.

And now I'm reading The Wedding Hitch by Clair McCauley, a light rom com of a novel. As expected in this genre, the ending is obvious, but it how we get there that's the fun bit. Good so far.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

IAnd now I'm reading The Wedding Hitch by Clair McCauley, a light rom com of a novel. As expected in this genre, the ending is obvious, but it how we get there that's the fun bit. Good so far.

And it was the expected rom com. 4/5

Next up: Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris. The first in their Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. It seems to be a steampunk fantasy.

[drofgnal]

Stopped War and Peace at the start of the last book to read The Correspondent before our next neighborhood book club. I'll pick up War and Peace again after The Correspndent (Moscow burning). After that it will be Downbelow Station by Cherryh (see news forum)

[issybird]

Originally Posted by issybird

In the middle of a book of Marie Antoinette's correspondence with Maria Theresa and The Athene Palace, a journalist's account of Bucharest in the seven months following the fall of France. I'm enjoying both.

Both very good. History as witnessed, in effect.

Originally Posted by issybird

I've started May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry.

I read an intriguing review at the NY Times and stopped reading when I thought I'd like it, as you do. I'm about halfway through and I'm liking it well enough, but there needs to be a payoff.

Gorgeously written and provocative, but hurt by some clunky exposition at the end. Very worth reading for all that.

I've also finished:

• Company for Henry, my 89th in my quest to read all of P.G. Wodehouse. Only a few more to go. Late Wodehouse isn't his best, but as always it had its moments.
  
• The Crossway by Guy Stagg, his walk from Canterbury to Jerusalem in an attempt to heal his depression. I love pilgrim narratives and this is a better one.

Currently reading:

• Fateful Choices by Ian Kershaw, an account of ten key decisions taken by belligerents in 1940 to 1941. Almost done; the framework seems a little forced but it's a good and inciteful examination.
  
• Ecstatic Nation by Brenda Wineapple about the US mid-19th century. Very enjoyable so far.

[issybird]

^^I've started Time Out of Joint by Philip K. Dick, an atypical choice for me and I'm enjoying it very much. I was feeling the need to shake things up and this was a lucky dip.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Phoenix Rising by Pip Ballantine and Tee Morris. The first in their Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences series. It seems to be a steampunk fantasy.

A few typos, but the main problem was that I’m not very fond of steampunk. I wish it had been Tee Morris’s Billibub Baddings fantasy noir detective series that had taken off. Only 3/5 for me.

Then I read Total Eclipse by John Brunner. Very good SF with a team investigating an extinct alien species. 4/5

Now reading The Shockwave Rider by John Brunner. Also looking like very good SF, but of near-term future on Earth

[Tarana]

Finished Guiltless by Viveca Sten and now on book 4 of Sandhamn Murder Mysteries entitled Tonight You're Dead. This one is hard to put down but I did have to go to sleep.

Also listening to Orbs by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. It's been in my TBR since 2015. Scifi adventure.

[drofgnal]

Originally Posted by drofgnal

Stopped War and Peace at the start of the last book to read The Correspondent before our next neighborhood book club. I'll pick up War and Peace again after The Correspndent (Moscow burning). After that it will be Downbelow Station by Cherryh (see news forum)

Finished The Correspondent. A very enjoyable read. It took a bit to figure out the relations of various people she was writing, a character list would have been nice.

Going back now to finish the last book of War and Peace.

[Tarana]

Finished Tonight You're Dead. Excellent story. On to book 5 in the Sandhamm Murder Mystery series which is book 5 entitled In The Heat Of The Moment. These are rereads from 2018 in anticipation of 4 that had been added to the series. Looks like she has completed this series and moved on to others.

For listening, I have finished Orbs by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. Action adventure scifi. It was good. On to Orbs II.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by issybird

^^I've started Time Out of Joint by Philip K. Dick, an atypical choice for me and I'm enjoying it very much. I was feeling the need to shake things up and this was a lucky dip.

[Chorus]
"We're goin'
(Surfin') Bom bom dip di dit di dip
(Surfin') Bom bom dip di dip
(Surfin') Bom bom dip di dit di dip
(Surfin') Bom bom dip di dit
(Surfin') Bom bom dip di dit di dip
(Surfin') Bom bom dip di dit
(Surfin') Bom bom dip di dit di dip
(Surfin') Bom bom dip di dip
Surfing is the only life
The only way for me
Now surf, surf with me
Bom bom dip di dit di dip
Bom bom dit di dip" *

[* The Beach Boys]


May I make a suggestion as you go surfin' here and there? Try some more Philip K. Dick. Very thought-provoking work...I find him highly enjoyable.

[taosaur]

Originally Posted by Tarana

For listening, I have finished Orbs by Nicholas Sansbury Smith. Action adventure scifi. It was good. On to Orbs II.

My only exposure to this author was his recent foray into litRPG, which was not good. I am less than discerning when it comes to litRPG, and especially system apocalypse -- generally, I just gobble it up, and it's extremely rare I drop a first book in a series, but his Salvage System was a DNF on book one. It was just phoned-in and deeply unoriginal at every turn, with the cheesy, stereotyped characters the final straw.

I'm still on Children of Strife on audio. It leans heavily into both body horror and a trope I just learned is called "personal horror" -- corruption of identity and loss of self -- despite having plenty of Tchaikovsky's trademark whimsy and dry humor on display. What's slowing me down and is unusual for the author is a lack of likeable characters. Tchaikovsky is always all about flawed characters and redeeming outright villains into "it's complicated" territory, but we're spending a lot of time in unpleasant heads on this one. With a large-ish cast spread across three "ages" separated by centuries or millennia, the more relatable characters aren't getting a lot of page-time or being given much interesting to do.

I also wrapped up two "novelty" litRPG series and caught up on one of my favorites. All the Dust that Falls and The Dungeon in the Clouds are both better than they have any right to be and don't overstay their welcome, both wrapping up in four books. The first is about a robot vacuum accidentally summoned into a fantasy world, where it is first mistaken for a demon and then worshiped as a god. The premise is mostly played straight and explored thoroughly, with a uniquely wholesome tone throughout. The second is written on the tin if you have any familiarity with dungeon core stories: someone is reincarnated as a dungeon core which accidentally lodges in a cloud, breaking all the system rules about a dungeon. It doesn't stand up to All the Dust that Falls -- the strokes are broader for character, plot and humor -- but it does have some great dungeon building, interesting creatures, solid battles, and a satisfying conclusion.

In the midst, I read the latest volume of The Settlement Stone, which is maybe a 3.5 star series elevated to 4 by the unique focus on city and kingdom building, one of my favorite game genres. Most recently, I finished Void Forged, the latest in Victor of Tucson, my favorite litRPG series. I haven't been too invested in the main arc of the last two books, but the B-plots have been carrying it along, and now we're set up to get back to a more interesting quest that Victor has been sitting on for a while.

Now, I'm catching up on book 5 of Azarinth Healer, a weirdly cozy series about a med student and competitive kickboxer who discovers and embraces that she is a battle maniac when she is transported to a fantasy world. She didn't have strong connections on Earth and doesn't feel a need for them on Karth. In many ways she is a tourist, traveling to battle titans and horrors that the locals won't go near, looking for good food, good drink, and comfortable lodgings along the way, and building a network to manage her conquests and keep her cozy and well supplied.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

May I make a suggestion as you go surfin' here and there? Try some more Philip K. Dick. Very thought-provoking work...I find him highly enjoyable.

I did love The Man in the High Castle but that was *checking GoodReads* nine years ago! I have a faint sense that I gave VALIS a go and it didn't, but I may be mistaken.

Anyway, yes, I don't want to let another nine years lapse. Here's my issue: Dick's got a huge bibliography; surely some are duds and I realized that GR is not to be relied on (at least in this instance) as TMinHC has a crummy rating. So, which? Seeking recommendations. I'll offer a filter that alt fiction/history that's grounded in the recognizable world will be more to my taste than typical SF. My eyes glaze over; I can't help it. In short, while I recognize that I should give Do Androids Dream.... a shot (I've never seen Bladerunner) I feel some aversion.

As for TOoJ, Dick packed a lot into such a slender novel. Provocative and entertaining.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by issybird

I did love The Man in the High Castle but that was *checking GoodReads* nine years ago! I have a faint sense that I gave VALIS a go and it didn't, but I may be mistaken.

Anyway, yes, I don't want to let another nine years lapse. Here's my issue: Dick's got a huge bibliography; surely some are duds and I realized that GR is not to be relied on (at least in this instance) as TMinHC has a crummy rating. So, which? Seeking recommendations. I'll offer a filter that alt fiction/history that's grounded in the recognizable world will be more to my taste than typical SF. My eyes glaze over; I can't help it. In short, while I recognize that I should give Do Androids Dream.... a shot (I've never seen Bladerunner) I feel some aversion.

As for TOoJ, Dick packed a lot into such a slender novel. Provocative and entertaining.

Do Androids Dream.... is my favorite Phillip K. Dick Book, I have read it many times and should give it a go as an audiobook if it is available. The movie wasn't bad, but I like the book better. Also, I think the title of the book was perfect for the storyline and I hate they changed it to Bladerunner. Not to mention that Alan E. Nourse. wrote a book titled Bladerunner in 1974. Nourse was a science fiction writer and physician, and the book was about illegal organ harvesting.
Apache