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

[Dngrsone]

Originally Posted by Dngrsone

Finished On Basilisk Station and now reading The Honor of the Queen.

Done with that. One little detail that bothered me: early on, Weber went to the bother to note that the bad guys in this story, being hardcore fundamentalist misogynists (for want of a better word right now), would never refer to a ship as a she. Spaceships for them were definitely masculine.

Then, for the rest of the book, as he wrote the thoughts of a few of those bad guys, he used the traditional she when referring to ships. On the one hand, I can understand where it might turn the reader for a loop, trying to figure out out who he is; but on the other hand, that had already been explained. It just smacks of sloppiness to me.

On the gripping hand, it may not have been Weber, but the publisher... they often go through and "fix" minor mistakes such as this.

At any rate, going to take a break from Weber... maybe read a few short stories... still tempted to buy more "Code Name: Chandler" books, though they are not cheap.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Well, Bridget Jones's Diary was a fun read. I believe that I'll netflix the movie.

Next I'll be reading Away With The Fairies.

Well, I ended up hospitalized for 2 weeks and sick as the proverbial dog. I never got any further in Away With The Fairies than 15% and when I finally began to have the desire to read again (I'd lost the desire completely), I was not in the mood to pick that one up and continue. So I borrowed a freebie from the Amazon lending library, Lust Is No Lady (Ed Noon #14) by Michael Avallone, which was quite short and finished it yesterday. It was very enjoyable! I just began reading the newest Alex Verus book, Veiled (Alex Verus #6) by Benedict Jacka and I'm quite certain I'll enjoy it!

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Next, a recent purchase, Harrison Squared by Darryl Gregory.

This was light, fun and silly. The author has an active imagination. Each page brought us a new element. I gave up guessing what would happen next. The ending was not all resolved but I don't expect a sequel. Rated C [3 stars].

Next a change of pace. The Judas Window by John Dickson Carr purchased way back in 2013.

Hope you're feeling better, Alan.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by Fbone

. . . Hope you're feeling better, Alan.

A little bit better every day.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And now I'm reading the latest Analog.

Which was OK. And then I read the latest Asimov's. Also OK, but as with the Asimov's, nothing that really stood out.

And now I'm on to Lightspeed Magazine, July 2015.

[thinkpad]

It's not often I give up on a book but I had to give up on Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. I got to read 17%. This was not for me, a lot of rambling and very incoherent. Time to move on to something different.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by thinkpad

It's not often I give up on a book but I had to give up on Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. I got to read 17%. This was not for me, a lot of rambling and very incoherent. Time to move on to something different.

I haven't read that one, but I did enjoy his Anathem. Has anyone read both and can comment?

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

Next up is The Einstein Prophecy by Robert Masello, my Kindle First selection from July.

I enjoyed The Einstein Prophecy, too bad I don't have as much interest in the August selections.

My August KOLL selection was The Atlantis Gene which is a medtech/sci-fi thriller and was very good.

Next up was The Wyrd Sisters, Discworld book 6, the witches sub-series book 2. As usual Mr. Pratchett gives us an excellent read.

I have Armada by Ernest Cline on hold and am #8 in line for 8 copies, so less than 3 week wait time. If it isn't here by Monday I will probably move on to Pyramids, Discworld 7.

[Dngrsone]

Originally Posted by thinkpad

It's not often I give up on a book but I had to give up on Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. I got to read 17%. This was not for me, a lot of rambling and very incoherent. Time to move on to something different.

It is difficult to get started; I've read it and the 'Baroque Cycle' trilogy which kind of tie into it; but frankly, it's been so long since I've read them that I can't really give you guys a good review.

I have tried to read Anathem, and I had the same problem getting into it, and gave up after the second chapter.

Eventually, I will try again. Perhaps I will pick up Cryptonomicon first and see if I can get through it, then try Anathem again.

Meanwhile, my break from Weber lasted all of two short stories, and I have devoured the third Harrington book, The Short Victorious War and started on the fourth, Field of Dishonor.

Then I promise I will take a break.

[mewmartigan]

Cryptonomicon was my first introduction to Neal Stephenson. His books are very lengthy and they all seem to be a big info dump/general observation of the state of things for the first 1/3 before the story really kicks in. I noticed this with Cryptonomicon and more recently Reamde and Anathem.

Having said that, I enjoyed them all. The Baroque Cycle was also good but it was more a chronology of the scientific revolution so I wouldn't say there was one big ending the story was buliding and/or driving towards.

I actually just finished Anathem on a plane yesterday and started Seveneves.

Seveneves actually seems to break from what I said above as the book jumps right into Earth's impending doom at high speed.

I really like Stephenson's work but I can certainly see how it isn't for everyone.

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I have Armada by Ernest Cline on hold and am #8 in line for 8 copies, so less than 3 week wait time. If it isn't here by Monday I will probably move on to Pyramids, Discworld 7.

Neither of those were ready in time so I decided to try some Clive Cussler; Golden Buddha is the start of his Oregon Files series which has two or three different "co-authors". In this case Craig Dirgo. As with most of these "big name" / "nearly unknown name" author combinations that he put his stamp of approval on the other guy's book but I am still going to give it a shot...after Armada which became available after only reading the author's forward for Golden Buddha. Went from #5 on the list to #1 in less than 3 hours. Nice!

[HarryT]

In all honesty I wouldn't bother with "Armada". I was very disappointed by it.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Which was OK. And then I read the latest Asimov's. Also OK, but as with the Asimov's, nothing that really stood out.

And now I'm on to Lightspeed Magazine, July 2015.

Which was OK, but not a great issue.

Then I read Demelza, the second in the Poldark series. Very good indeed, and this catches up with the TV series.

And then I looked at Breakfast in the Ruins by Barry Malzburg. Essays on SF. Not my cup of tea at all. Abandoned.

I'm not sure what'll be next. Perhaps the Lightspeed Magazine for August, as the September one will be out in a couple of weeks!

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by HarryT

In all honesty I wouldn't bother with "Armada". I was very disappointed by it.

I certainly don't expect it to be as good as Ready Player One, which was one of the best books I read last year, but after starting it and finding out that it is set in Beaverton, at least for the first part, I can't stop now. I lived in Beaverton for 5+ years and still live in the area. I went to Malibu Grand Prix several times, although it was known more for the go-carts than for the arcade, but it has since been closed down and is now a CarMax sales lot (booooooo).

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And then I looked at Breakfast in the Ruins by Barry Malzburg. Essays on SF. Not my cup of tea at all. Abandoned.

I'm not sure what'll be next. Perhaps the Lightspeed Magazine for August, as the September one will be out in a couple of weeks!

I've decided to try to finish off my 2006 purchases, so it's The Two Faces of Tomorrow by James P Hogan.