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

[John F]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

...

Then I read the first of Seanan McGuire's Incryptid series, Discount Armageddon. Another fun urban fantasy series, but (as far as I can see) a different universe to her October Daye series, which is good.

If people have interest in the short stories and are having problems finding them on her website, this might help:

https://www.seananmcguire.com/galler...guide/?C=S;O=A

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Uncle Robin

40% through Venice: The Remarkable History of the Lagoon City by Dennis Romano. A fascinating read that is making me wish I could revisit the city that left me distinctly underwhelmed on my two fleeting visits.

I'm so glad to have visited Venice, because the pictures of the hordes visiting it these days and the colossal cruise ships anchored outside the lagoon make it seem absolutely horrible.

[Tarana]

Originally Posted by Pjama

Look what happened when I was reading my Robin Cook! The chances against this must be astronomical- and what makes it even more amazing is that this book is set after the pandemic, so it must be actually TODAY, not just the same date and time in a previous year.

That was cool!

I read Cell by Robin Cook recently. Hard to put that one down.

Recently finished: A Date with Murder by Jessica Fletcher (Donald Bain/Jon Landon). Last book with Donald Bain. Not sure I like the new edge though.

Also finished: Live and Let Die by Ian Flemming. Loved it.

Currently reading The Eagles Conquest by Simon Scarrow, book 2 of Eagles of the Empire - historical fiction from Roman era invasion of Britain.

[Uncle Robin]

Originally Posted by issybird

I'm so glad to have visited Venice, because the pictures of the hordes visiting it these days and the colossal cruise ships anchored outside the lagoon make it seem absolutely horrible.

Yes, the residents have my profound sympathies - for a city with such a proud history to be reduced to a day-stop Disneyland must be difficult to swallow and make any sort of ordinary life vexing.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: A re-read: Tooth and Claw by Jo Walton. An in-person book club I'm in is reading this at my suggestion. I hope it's as good as I remember!

It was as good or better than I remembered. And I'm glad to say that two or three people at the book club really liked it. And no-one hated it. Or perhaps they didn't turn up to the meeting!

Next I tried to read The Hanson-Yudkowsky AI-Foom Debate a freebie I picked up some time ago because it sounded interesting. It wasn't. A lot of fact-free waffle.

Now I'm reading The Complete Short Stories: The 1950s by Brian Aldiss. Yes, all his short fiction from the 1950s. 826 pages!

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

It was as good or better than I remembered. And I'm glad to say that two or three people at the book club really liked it. And no-one hated it. Or perhaps they didn't turn up to the meeting!

Next I tried to read The Hanson-Yudkowsky AI-Foom Debate a freebie I picked up some time ago because it sounded interesting. It wasn't. A lot of fact-free waffle.

Now I'm reading The Complete Short Stories: The 1950s by Brian Aldiss. Yes, all his short fiction from the 1950s. 826 pages!

Thanks for the reminder -- that's been on my back brain list but somehow never acquired. On a short wait list at the library now.

[Dr. Drib]

I finished reading The Dark Side of Skin, by Jeferson Tenório.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, if you enjoy serious literature that tackles questions of race and identity.

Available in translation from Charco Press.

-----------

Now starting Every Man a Murderer, by Heimito von Doderer.

[Solitaire1]

I'm re-reading Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei (English translation: Goodbye, Mr. Despair [Subtitle: The Power of Negative Thinking). It is a satire featuring a super-negative teacher who presides over a classroom full of very unusual students, each with their own quirks (such as one that is super-positive, another who can only communicate via text messaging, one who is a super-stalker, and another who is prematurely bald and can only be sensed when he uncovers his bald spot). It's a very funny series.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by Solitaire1

I'm re-reading Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei (English translation: Goodbye, Mr. Despair [Subtitle: The Power of Negative Thinking). It is a satire featuring a super-negative teacher who presides over a classroom full of very unusual students, each with their own quirks (such as one that is super-positive, another who can only communicate via text messaging, one who is a super-stalker, and another who is prematurely bald and can only be sensed when he uncovers his bald spot). It's a very funny series.

That sounds like a hoot. I'll check it out.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Next, from library also, A Murder of Mages by Marshall Ryan Marasca. Second in the Maradaine Sequence.

New characters and storyline in the same universe. This was a fun murder mystery in a pre-industrial age. One "ah-ha" moment but it did keep me guessing and interested in the outcome. Rated C [3 stars].

Next, Doors of Sleep by Tim Pratt. He authored The Constantine Affliction which I enjoyed.

[Solitaire1]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

That sounds like a hoot. I'll check it out.

Thanks for bringing this to my attention.

It has been made into an anime and if you go to YouTube you can view the first episode. For some reason I can't insert the video or post a link to it. BTW, the characters I mentioned are some of the more normal ones, not including one student who is completely ordinary and try as she might she can't not be ordinary.

[BenBanned]

Currently reading:
The Boy in the Suitcase (Book 1 Nina Borg Series)
by Lene Kaaberbol and Agnette Friis
Having fun with this, it hits a lot of my blindspots as a reader. Murder mystery, thriller, series, current (ish), authored by women, for a female audience. Not that I avoid this type of book, just outside my normal zone.

1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
The sex scenes are a bit much but enjoying the ride otherwise. The story is unfolding slowly but is not boring at all.

History of the Sikhs vol 1. by Kushwant Singh
Read this last, for sure most if it went over my head so I'm re reading this.
Full of action, adventure and philosophy from medieval Punjab and surrounding cultures.

Just finished :
Say it with Bullets by Richard Powell
Recentlybegan collecting books from the Hard Case Crime Imprint, this is the first one I read.
Here's a link to my YouTube channel re view:
https://youtu.be/ou0r3RWdeoQ?si=Uv-CHue0ltK5MrJ2

[Greg Anos]

Comments on the differences between the Astounding version of Methuselah's Children and the novel version.

I'm not going to spoiler this as the main difference is most interesting, and worthy of discussion.

Generally it's like the Lensman series, minor tweaks here and there all over the place. However, there is a major change in the ending sequence. The pulp version ends with a "gobblegook" version of anti-aging, but the novel version used a totally different concept.

That concept appeared to be another "gobblegook" answer - but it wan't. That was the strange thing. The new answer wasn't actually gobblegook - it was based on a research paper published less than a year before the re-write. The paper was the first parabiosis experiment. (It was difficult to do and because of that) it was not followed up on. By the late 1970's, it was not even mentioned in the molecular biology research. Reading it as a kid, I thought it was like FTL drives, simply a plot device, with no reality behind it.

It's now a major breakthough in aging research. Instead of using whole blood, a select fraction is used. So far it has only increased test animal lifespan by 15-20 percent but it rejuvenates the lab animals back into young animals. (Two different trial by two different groups, one with rats and one with mice.)

Interesting how Heinlein found and picked that research in the re-write.

[DNSB]

The anime you were mentioning (Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei) appears to be blocked from playing on other websites.

Sayonara, Zetsubou-Sensei

[Mike Hobart]

There are still a lot of novels by PG Wodehouse I haven't read, and the other day I happened to take a look at A DAMSEL IN DISTRESS (1919). It was quite readable and at first seemed like a light romance with a few Wodehouse-style jokes. I should have known better.

I was doing all right till about chapter 23, when I found that I had to stop reading for a few minutes while I composed myself. From there on, I had to pause at regular intervals while I snorted, guffawed or laughed out loud.

I should have known - even early Wodehouse is still Wodehouse.