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

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Tombland by C J Sansom. Set in mid-1500 England, it apparently covers Kett's Rebellion, and is mostly set in Norwich!

And a splendid tale it was, with a Shardlake murder mystery linked into the days of Kett's Uprising. And almost twice as long as most of the books in this series! Excellent, with a large appendix detailing what historical facts are actually known about the summer of 1549.

Next up: Journey to the Heart of Luna. First volume of Space 1889 - steampunk in space, apparently. I bought it ages ago (2014), so it's time I read it. There are 11 more volumes in the series by various authors, so I hope I like it!

[DiapDealer]

Recently read Lavie Tidhar's By Force Alone. It's billed by many as a "reimagining of the King Arthur legend." Which seems a little silly to me since the King Arthur legend is itself a result of the continuous reimagining and amalgamation of various myths and legends by countless story tellers over the centuries. But however you want to label it, I enjoyed it thoroughly.

There's no chivalry, no damsels in distress in this tale. Arthur gets his start taking over the drug trade on the streets of Londinium. Guinevere is the leader of a mercenary band of women, and Lancelot is a Judean assassin who trained under Joseph of Arimathea. The grail is not a holy relic.

Kingdoms are forged and ruled by force alone.

Now starting Jasper Fforde's newest release: The Constant Rabbit. An allegorical tale based on an alternate U.K. where a "Spontaneous Anthropomorphic Event" fifty-five years ago resulted in human-sized walking, talking rabbits living among us. Some of which, I'm told, refer to humans as "Fudds".

[bizzybody]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

And a splendid tale it was, with a Shardlake murder mystery linked into the days of Kett's Uprising. And alomst twice as long as most of the books in this series! Excellent, with a large appendix detailing what historical facts are actually known about the summer of 1549.

I bet you'd like Harry Turtledove's "Ruled Britannia" set in the years 1597–1598, in an alternate universe where the Spanish Armada was successful in 1588.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by bizzybody

I bet you'd like Harry Turtledove's "Ruled Britannia" set in the years 1597–1598, in an alternate universe where the Spanish Armada was successful in 1588.

I like a lot of Harry's work (e.g. The Tunnel Under the Deep which I read recently), but I must admit that I find historical alternate history a bit annoying when it's set only a short while after the change in history. I can appreciate it intellectually, but I don't like having to work out which bits are part of actual history, and which bits have changed.

[din155]

Listening to The Year's Top Short SF Novels 5 edited by Allan Kaster on Audible. Have listened three so far and enjoyed immensely.

The stories so far include:
- Claudius Rex, by John P. Murphy,
- Each in His Prison, Thinking of the Key by William Preston
- The Last Log of the Lachrimosa by Alastair Reynolds

Looking forward to The Man Who Sold the Moon by Cory Doctorow and Of All Possible Worlds by Jay O'Connel.

[ReadingManiac]

Just finished reading Horror Stories by Scare Street, an anthology. Unusually good collection, loads of interesting twists and just one meh story. It's going free at the moment if anyone's interested.

https://www.amazon.com/Horror-Storie.../dp/B01M3RQGNT

[astrangerhere]

After a reminiscent chat with my wife, I am re-reading (though in audio format this time), Michael Chabon's Yiddish Policeman's Union. I believe I am going to start Silvia Moreno-Garcia's Mexican Gothic this evening on my Kobo.

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by ReadingManiac

Just finished reading Horror Stories by Scare Street, an anthology. Unusually good collection, loads of interesting twists and just one meh story. It's going free at the moment if anyone's interested.

https://www.amazon.com/Horror-Storie.../dp/B01M3RQGNT

Clicked on the link and downloaded the free volume and when I opened it I was offered a free novel 'Berkley Street' which I also downloaded.

Thanks for the link!

[cc_in_oh]

Originally Posted by alansplace

Clicked on the link and downloaded the free volume and when I opened it I was offered a free novel 'Berkley Street' which I also downloaded.

Thanks for the link!

How did you do that? I didn't see anything when I opened it on my Kindle ?

[alansplace]

Originally Posted by cc_in_oh

How did you do that? I didn't see anything when I opened it on my Kindle ?

I opened it with kindle for pc on my windows laptop and it had this link several pages in.

www.ScareStreet.com

[cc_in_oh]

Originally Posted by alansplace

I opened it with kindle for pc on my windows laptop and it had this link several pages in.

www.ScareStreet.com

Thanks - I'll try that...

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by pdurrant

Next up: Journey to the Heart of Luna. First volume of Space 1889 - steampunk in space, apparently. I bought it ages ago (2014), so it's time I read it. There are 11 more volumes in the series by various authors, so I hope I like it!

Unfortunately not. It just didn't do it for me. All discarded.

Next up: All Things Bright and Beautiful by James Herriot. I know I shall enjoy this one. More semi-autobiographical tales of a Yorkshire Vet in the 1930s.

[Fbone]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Next hopefully something better, The Case of the Seven Whistlers by George Bellairs.

It was better. Well written whodunnit. Witty and comedic -my favorite type. I thought it dragged a bit in the middle. It was really just a matter of determining who was lying and finding that one missing clue to wrap things up. All in all enjoyable but not among the top in this category. Rated C [3 stars].

Next, another freebie, Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Fbone

Next, another freebie, Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer.

I rather liked the Artemis Fowl books. I'll be interested to see what you think.

[Luffy]

My 5 star reread of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by You-know-Who:-

Spoiler:

An impromptu reread was crying out to me, because most of the books I've chosen recently were hurting my sensibilities instead of pleasing them.

I think I'll reread this one again in say, 4 years? Rowling was at her peak back then, when book 5 was being written.

I've always singled out Dumbledore's presence in previous reviews and it's vital that I do so here too. That's because he is a unique character whose equal I've never met outside of this series.

The leg room that was so unwisely given to Tom Riddle in book 7, has been lavished on the 'trio'. And that aspect enhances the book so much. I remain speechless. 5 stars. I'm not mad.