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

[HarryT]

Well, I've finally got to the end of "Forge of the Elders" by L. Neil Smith. This was a part of my "catch up on my past Baen purchases" project, which unfortunately is a losing race, since I'm buying 4 new Baen books a month, but only catching up on the old ones by 1 or 2 a month . Anyway, be that as it may, this was a book I bought in April 2000.

The plot is that, in the mid 21st century, in a USA which is now a part of the world-wide Soviet Empire, an expedition is sent to an asteroid, in order to mine its resources, where it is discovered that the asteroid is populated by a wide range of sentient beings from alternate time-lines, in which evolution has followed different paths. Even worse, this is a capitalist society, rather than being good Marxists!

An interesting idea, but I found it terribly hard going, and I honestly can't recommend it.

On now to something a lot easier to read: "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" by Agatha Christie, one of her standalone detective stories not featuring any of her "regular" detectives.

[leanansidhe]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Have yet read the King's new release and sequel to The Shining, Doctor Sleep? If not It'd sure be a great choice to read next!

I haven't read Dr Sleep, but there's an excerpt at the end of The Shining which I can't wait to get to. The Shining has been one of the creepiest books I've ever read and the movie was fantastic.

[Lady Blue]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

I'm enjoying Kindred. It is nothing like any other time travel story I've ever read and that's the only science fiction part of the story. They rest is just a really good story of a modern black women (1976) flung back in time to the days of slavery.

I'm not into SF&F, but this book sounds interesting. I might grab it from my library-in-the-sky for my next read.

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by Lady Blue

I'm not into SF&F, but this book sounds interesting. I might grab it from my library-in-the-sky for my next read.

It's not really SF. Just has the time travel element. It's kind of like Outlander which s not SF either but does have a time travel element to it. Also, 11/22/63 is the same way. Time travel element, but not really SF.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Well, I've finally got to the end of "Forge of the Elders" by L. Neil Smith. This was a part of my "catch up on my past Baen purchases" project, which unfortunately is a losing race, since I'm buying 4 new Baen books a month, but only catching up on the old ones by 1 or 2 a month . Anyway, be that as it may, this was a book I bought in April 2000.

The plot is that, in the mid 21st century, in a USA which is now a part of the world-wide Soviet Empire, an expedition is sent to an asteroid, in order to mine its resources, where it is discovered that the asteroid is populated by a wide range of sentient beings from alternate time-lines, in which evolution has followed different paths. Even worse, this is a capitalist society, rather than being good Marxists!

An interesting idea, but I found it terribly hard going, and I honestly can't recommend it.

On now to something a lot easier to read: "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" by Agatha Christie, one of her standalone detective stories not featuring any of her "regular" detectives.

L. Neil Smith is a hardcore Libertarian and all of his books tend to aggressively push this agenda. Some are decent reads if you ignore how hard he pushes his views. Others are very badly written in my opinion.
Apache

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Apache

L. Neil Smith is a hardcore Libertarian and all of his books tend to aggressively push this agenda. Some are decent reads if you ignore how hard he pushes his views. Others are very badly written in my opinion.
Apache

Thanks! I think one of his books is enough for me .

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Well, I've finally got to the end of "Forge of the Elders" by L. Neil Smith. This was a part of my "catch up on my past Baen purchases" project, which unfortunately is a losing race, since I'm buying 4 new Baen books a month, but only catching up on the old ones by 1 or 2 a month . Anyway, be that as it may, this was a book I bought in April 2000.

The plot is that, in the mid 21st century, in a USA which is now a part of the world-wide Soviet Empire, an expedition is sent to an asteroid, in order to mine its resources, where it is discovered that the asteroid is populated by a wide range of sentient beings from alternate time-lines, in which evolution has followed different paths. Even worse, this is a capitalist society, rather than being good Marxists!

An interesting idea, but I found it terribly hard going, and I honestly can't recommend it.

You know, Harry, with the size of the TBR you have, you really shouldn't be wasting time reading dreck that you're not enjoying. Even though I have quite a few Baen books that I've had for quite a while but haven't read, some of them won't ever be read. Especially with a few Baen authors that I simply won't read regardless of how well written their books may be, but where I ended up with their books because they were in one bundle or another.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by CRussel

You know, Harry, with the size of the TBR you have, you really shouldn't be wasting time reading dreck that you're not enjoying.

I know, and you're right. I just have an aversion to abandoning books. I really should have given up on it when it was obvious that it wasn't my cup of tea.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I know, and you're right. I just have an aversion to abandoning books. I really should have given up on it when it was obvious that it wasn't my cup of tea.

I am getting better at this. I think I've abandoned 9 books this year.

[ucfgrad93]

I am currently reading Deny Thy Father (Star Trek: Lost Era V) on my Kindle.

[Ranny]

Reading the Dead Tracks by Tim Weaver at present.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Thanks! I think one of his books is enough for me .

The two I liked are The Nagasaki Vector and Their Majesties' Bucketeers.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...agasaki_Vector

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...ies_Bucketeers

The second one is a Sherlock Holmes style murder mystery with aliens.

I read these many years ago in paper. I did enjoy them and if you have one give it a go.

http://www.amazon.com/Majesties-Buck...s=l+neil+smith

Apache

[jersysman]

I will now read Savior - Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith #4 by John Jackson Miller. It is a short-story series and I am now starting to get into it.

[orange!]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

...It's kind of like Outlander which s not SF either but does have a time travel element to it....

Coincidentally, I'm reading Outlander right now. Apparently from the reviews on Goodreads, a lot of people are turned off by some of the plot elements.

I haven't gotten that far in the book yet, but so far it seems to be very well-written.

[bfisher]

Thanks, Apache.

I've tried to read Smith's The Probability Broach several times, but the Confederacy-Hamiltonian politics thing was taking up too much of the entertainment space. The Nagasaki Vector looks interesting, and I will put it on my TBR.