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

[Yapyap]

I finished A Crown of Lights, the third book in Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkins series last night.

It's a series I cannot quite make up my mind about - I enjoy aspects of it tremendously, mostly the characters and settings, but the metaphysical/supernatural parts (which are important) leave me a bit cold, as I cannot really relate. That isn't a problem when I read straight fantasy/urban fantasy/paranormal books, but the religious mysticism in what is otherwise, by all appearances, straightforward contemporary realism, throws me off a bit.

In any case, I did enjoy it, a lot, and will certainly keep reading (especially as I've picked up all the books up to the tenth or so during various Amazon sales), but it's not a series where I can read several books in a row without nothing else in between.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Finished it, and enjoyed it every bit as much as I expected. Now, on to something very different -- The Forever Engine, by Frank Chadwick. This is Steam-Punk, not exactly my genre (!), but his first book was so good, I just have to try this one.

I'm finding this a slog. Just too many things that make no sense. Too many inconsistencies, and since I think they're the point of the genre, it pretty much confirms this isn't my cuppa. Not at all sure I'll finish this one.

[Dazrin]

Since none of my holds are available at the library I checked out Side Jobs by Jim Butcher, a Dresdon Files anthology. I have only read the first two Dresden Files books, but figured that while this might have spoilers for other novels I don't really care. I tend to prefer the monster-of-the-week stories to the major story arcs for some reason, also true for the X-Files, Supernatural, etc., so hopefully this is a good fit, so far it has been.

[orlok]

Has anyone read the Colin Bateman Mystery Man series? I am just reading Fire & Brimstone, which I *think* is the 5th in the series. The last one I read, The Prisoner of Brenda, is definitely #4, but there are so many references to things that have happened in his past in Fire & Brimstone which didn't happen in The Prisoner of Brenda (a significant character dying, for instance) that I am beginning to wonder if I have missed a book in the series.

Annoyingly, none of the listings I can find of Fire & Brimstone (including the author's own site and Amazon) mention which number in the series it is, and FictFact doesn't have it as part of the series at all, only going up to #4.

Great series, BTW, about a Belfast bookseller who works as a Private Eye on the side. Laugh out loud funny at times.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by CRussel

I'm finding this a slog. Just too many things that make no sense. Too many inconsistencies, and since I think they're the point of the genre, it pretty much confirms this isn't my cuppa. Not at all sure I'll finish this one.

Most of the inconsistencies are cleared up by the end of the book.
Apache

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by CRussel

I'm finding this a slog. Just too many things that make no sense. Too many inconsistencies, and since I think they're the point of the genre, it pretty much confirms this isn't my cuppa. Not at all sure I'll finish this one.

I think one has to accept that a steam-punk universe is an alternate universe with slightly different physical laws, not just an alternate history universe.

[CRussel]

I accept that it's inconsistent and has different laws. I just wasn't finding the book that compelling. So I dropped it. I must have something in my TBR that I want to read.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by CRussel

I accept that it's inconsistent and has different laws. I just wasn't finding the book that compelling. So I dropped it. I must have something in my TBR that I want to read.

Charlie, try this series, Tales of the Ketty Jay by Chris Wooding.

[CRussel]

I'd try one, but not at that price. I instead, time for something a bit lighter. The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon. By Alexander McCall Smith.

[Ranny]

Originally Posted by orlok

Has anyone read the Colin Bateman Mystery Man series? I am just reading Fire & Brimstone, which I *think* is the 5th in the series. The last one I read, The Prisoner of Brenda, is definitely #4, but there are so many references to things that have happened in his past in Fire & Brimstone which didn't happen in The Prisoner of Brenda (a significant character dying, for instance) that I am beginning to wonder if I have missed a book in the series.

Annoyingly, none of the listings I can find of Fire & Brimstone (including the author's own site and Amazon) mention which number in the series it is, and FictFact doesn't have it as part of the series at all, only going up to #4.

Great series, BTW, about a Belfast bookseller who works as a Private Eye on the side. Laugh out loud funny at times.

I don't think Fire & Brimstone is part of the Mystery Man Series but part of the Dan Starkey Series.

Shooting Sean is the #4 in the Dan Starkey series.

Mystery man series is

Mystery Man
The Day of the Jack Russell
Dr Yes
The Prisoner of Brenda

[Geralt]

I second Tales of the Ketty Jay. Awesome fantasy and adventure series.

Right now reading The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley. Debut author, but the book has gathered lots of hype. Goodreads is flooded by 5 star reviews, but so far (50% in) this book is 3 star book with lots of bad things and lot of good ones. It's not outstanding in any sense.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by CRussel

I'd try one, but not at that price. I instead, time for something a bit lighter. The Minor Adjustment Beauty Salon. By Alexander McCall Smith.

I do like that series myself. I hadn't realised that a new one was out. I'm ading it to my list at luzme.com. (I have enough in my TBR to be able to wait for a good offer!)

Originally Posted by pdurrant

But now, a recent purchase: A History of the English Speaking Peoples, Vol. 1 by Sir Winston S Churchill.

This was an Amazon UK special recently, and I thought it would be interesting. A bit of a change from my usual mystery, fantasy or science fiction choices.

An interesting overview of the history of the British Isles from 55BCE to 1485CE. (Julius Caesar to Henry VII) I admit I hadn't realised quite how much of a complicated mess the inheritance of the English crown was.

Next up: A Hunger in the Soul by Mike Resnick. Another of my oldest purchases. I have a vague feeling I have read this one too, but I don't remember the resolution, so I'll finish it up. It's a much quicker read than the History.

[orlok]

Originally Posted by Ranny

I don't think Fire & Brimstone is part of the Mystery Man Series but part of the Dan Starkey Series.

Shooting Sean is the #4 in the Dan Starkey series.

Mystery man series is

Mystery Man
The Day of the Jack Russell
Dr Yes
The Prisoner of Brenda

. I've had a real moment there, haven't I? You are right, which explains why I couldn't understand the continuity problems. My only excuse is that I'm listening to it as an audiobook, so I missed out on the visual clues.

[HarryT]

Just finished "Death on the Nile" by Agatha Christie. This was her 29th book, originally published in 1937. A beautiful heiress is murdered on a Nile steamer. Poirot investigates, with the assistance of Colonel Race, the British Secret Service agent who we've previously met in "The Man in the Brown Suit" and, only the year before, "Cards on the Table" (a case which is referred to in this book, although no real spoilers).

This was Christie's personal favourite "travel" book and it's one of my favourite Christie books. Not only is it a very good detective story with some excellent characters, but the setting is very evocative of Egypt, a country which I know well and spent a lot of time in. I'm sure that most people are aware that it was made into an excellent film starring Peter Ustinov as Poirot (the first of his six appearances as Poirot). Highly recommended.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Wow! Christie/Poirot certainly makes for an interesting and entertaining read! Highly Enjoyable!

I've just begun reading Half Way Home, a pre-Wool SciFi novel by Hugh Howey!

Zowie! Half Way Home was quite a story! Hugh Howie always seems to be able to surprise me with his highly unusual stories! I can never seem to ferret out much of anything ahead, but there is always something unexpected to be revealed. Loved it!

Now back to both a time period and a character who're becoming old friends, the roaring 20's and Phryne Fisher! I've just begun reading Ruddy Gore (Phryne Fisher #7) by Kerry Greenwood!