what sci-fi/fantasy books are you reading?

[skippercollecto]

What science fiction or fantasy novels are you currently reading, or have you read recently?
I am reading "Liverpool Fantasy," by Larry Kirwan, copyright 2003. It's an alternative/what-if history novel whose premise is that the Beatles broke up in 1962. It's now 1987 and they decided to get together again. John is still alive but is pretty much a street bum, and the other three aren't much better off. Neither is England herself. Some of the book is amusing in places, and the occasional Beatles tune references will make you laugh out loud.
Mary
P.S. Part of the reason I am asking is that I moderate a sci-fi fantasy book discussion group at the local Borders, and am always looking for suggestions for novels to read. Please don't throw darts at me for saying this, but we try to avoid Lord of the Ring-type novels because I'm sick of reading so many of them; likewise, I'm tired of Arthurian adaptations; Harry Turtledove books take too long to read; and we don't do novelizations based on TV shows or movies. But if you have anything else that has made an impression on you, please tell us about it.

[Rowan]

Love this thread idea!
I just finished "the other wind" by Ursula K. Le Guin (whom I met once and got her to sign my copy of "the disspossed" which is my all time favorite book by her and one of my top 50 books in my life:heart: ) I'm a HUGE fan of hers!!!
it's a continuation of her Earthsea triology the only problem I had was Ged being old and left out of the action. It had a slow build up it never gets gripping or exciting, little magic , kind of dark at times a few unexpected events as geb puts it "we broke the world to make it whole" and although she hints of the return of a particular dragon she has ended their involvement in the human world. It wasn't my favorite but it was nice to visit there againg and see how everyone was doing. I get the impression she's kind of closing the door on future novels in this realm.:)

[shiningstar]

What science fiction or fantasy novels are you currently reading, or have you read recently?
I am reading "Liverpool Fantasy," by Larry Kirwan, copyright 2003. It's an alternative/what-if history novel whose premise is that the Beatles broke up in 1962. It's now 1987 and they decided to get together again. John is still alive but is pretty much a street bum, and the other three aren't much better off. Neither is England herself. Some of the book is amusing in places, and the occasional Beatles tune references will make you laugh out loud.
Mary
P.S. Part of the reason I am asking is that I moderate a sci-fi fantasy book discussion group at the local Borders, and am always looking for suggestions for novels to read. Please don't throw darts at me for saying this, but we try to avoid Lord of the Ring-type novels because I'm sick of reading so many of them; likewise, I'm tired of Arthurian adaptations; Harry Turtledove books take too long to read; and we don't do novelizations based on TV shows or movies. But if you have anything else that has made an impression on you, please tell us about it.

I can't remember who wrote it. But I finished reading Freedoms Landing.
I thought it was pretty good.

It's about a race who kidnaps and sells half of the earth's population into slavery.
A young girl escapes and meets up with one of the aliens who isn't really very
popular. So the young girl and the alien are captured and sent to a 'colony'.
So the other humans and the girl and the alien all have to survive together and
along the way they see other transports and how no one else but THEM have
survived on this 'colony'. Along the way .........the "ALIENS" find out that this
colony has survived and is thriving and they want to destroy it now because they wanted to break these people ..........not give them a way to survive and even thrive.

[shiningstar]

I'm also reading DUNE by Frank Herbert. I actually like the book better then the movie ;)

[Rowan]

I've read Dune at least 6 times I love it! very complex politically, so many layers.

I much prefer it to either movie. I nearly walked out on the first Dune movie I had rad the book 2 times by that time and I could barely understand or appreciate what was going on I thought anyone who hasn't read the book wouldn't have a clue. but the second movie I did like and have the DVD of it. His last book "Chapter house" was riveting and great! :)

[shiningstar]

I've read Dune at least 6 times I love it! very complex politically, so many layers.

I much prefer it to either movie. I nearly walked out on the first Dune movie I had rad the book 2 times by that time and I could barely understand or appreciate what was going on I thought anyone who hasn't read the book wouldn't have a clue. but the second movie I did like and have the DVD of it. His last book "Chapter house" was riveting and great! :)

I have Chapter house ..........and I look forward to reading it after I finish reading Dune! :thumbsup:

Thanks for the review! :salute:

[braxiss]

any book by robert hienlein

he is the sci fi master

[kat]

I love Dune as well. I honestly don't know how many times I have read it. I also like Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart

[Rowan]

I'm very partial to CJ Cherryh

some of my personal fav of hers are
Down below station
tripoint
cyteen (all 3)
her series on chanur (all 5)
her series on Rusalka (all 3 or is it 4 now?)

her style is so different every timelike with the paladin series very different from anything else she's done.

she switches from fast paced adventure among the stars to mystical ghost stories and women warriors sloggin it out in the trenches a weird and wonderful mix very versatile writer.:D

[Rowan]

another big time fav is Katherine Kurtz but she's fantasy not Sci-fi

love her Derynii series read them all..:D

[Rowan]

Another fav.. is Anne McCaffrey love her world of Pern there is at least 12 of them read them all can never get enough of Pern! and dragons I love dragons!

I've read a lot of her other stuff too but Pern is my favorite world by her.:D

[Rowan]

As a woman reader I often have difficulty enjoying male Sci Fi / fantasy authors because of the way women are portrayed or described but Guy Gavriel Kay is one of the exceptions. I am in love with his style of writing it has a magical, elegant, poetic feel to it that I can't quite describe. the Fionavar Tapestry by him is my favorite (3books) and qualify for the fantasy category the other work is more hystorical fantasy meaning no magical element to it.

someone described his work as "seemless in it's presentation, breathtaking in it's narative and characteres construction, complex and moving, gripping, well researched, lyrical.." I've read all his work and would have to agree with.
:D
Canadian author:)

[kat]

I have read Anne MacCaffrey, however the others you have mentioned are new to me. I am always trying to find new stuff to read so thanks :)

[shiningstar]

I love Dune as well. I honestly don't know how many times I have read it. I also like Bridge of Birds by Barry Hughart

I haven't read Bridge of Birds yet but now I will! :thumbsup:

:D

[Ian_W359]

I'm just starting up on 'Murder In The Place Of Anubis' by Lynda Robinson, a murder mystery set in the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs. It's a kind of thing that's growing on me at the moment (historical/mythical novels ie. Arthurian or Greek mythology etc.)

But I also like sci-fi/fantasy novels of the more unusual variety. I'd like to read more of E. E. 'Doc' Smith's 'Lensman' series, as I've only got book 1 - 'Triplanetary' at the mo, it's really well written for the time. Another writer I enjoy is Robert Rankin, although his work tends to be bizarre English humour mixed in with Sci-fi/Fantasy rather than serious story telling - books like the 'Brentford Trilogy' series (5 books!), 'The Dance Of The Voodoo Handbag', 'A Dog Called Demolition' and many more...

All the best,
Ian W359
:)

[shiningstar]

I'm just starting up on 'Murder In The Place Of Anubis' by Lynda Robinson, a murder mystery set in the time of the Egyptian Pharaohs. It's a kind of thing that's growing on me at the moment (historical/mythical novels ie. Arthurian or Greek mythology etc.)

But I also like sci-fi/fantasy novels of the more unusual variety. I'd like to read more of E. E. 'Doc' Smith's 'Lensman' series, as I've only got book 1 - 'Triplanetary' at the mo, it's really well written for the time. Another writer I enjoy is Robert Rankin, although his work tends to be bizarre English humour mixed in with Sci-fi/Fantasy rather than serious story telling - books like the 'Brentford Trilogy' series (5 books!), 'The Dance Of The Voodoo Handbag', 'A Dog Called Demolition' and many more...

All the best,
Ian W359
:)

Oh I'll be happy to read that one. It sounds like a great one! :D

[bsg1fan1975]

right now I am too busy to really read but when I do I am going to settle down with a non scifi book by Danielle Steel who is one of my favorite authors. I have a book of hers I have been meaning to read for a while now!

[warhammerdriver]

I just finished Island in the Sea of Time by S. M. Stirling. In this book the island of Nantucket and everything within about a 10 mile radius are transported back to 1250 BC (the Bronze Age). It is really about the way this group of 20th century Americans deal with their new world and their interactions with the people of that time period.

I didn't like the ending--it has "sequel" written all over it. I'm gonna do a Google search and see if there is a sequel out there.

[bsg1fan1975]

best scifi series I ever read was by Douglas Adams, I'm sure some of you know which one I am talking about.

[Bombadil]

any book by robert hienlein

he is the sci fi master

I'll second that.

:salute:

[Bombadil]

Also, anything by David Weber (but especially the Honor Harrington series), the current master of *realistic* space battle stories.
:salute:

[Rowan]

I'll second that.

:salute:

Well maybe I should give him another chance then... I tried to read him in my early 20's but I didn't like the way women were portrayed but I was a lot more militant back then , which one would you guys recomend I try knowing how I feel?:)

[warhammerdriver]

I just finished Island in the Sea of Time by S. M. Stirling. In this book the island of Nantucket and everything within about a 10 mile radius are transported back to 1250 BC (the Bronze Age). It is really about the way this group of 20th century Americans deal with their new world and their interactions with the people of that time period.

I didn't like the ending--it has "sequel" written all over it. I'm gonna do a Google search and see if there is a sequel out there.


It's book one of a trilogy.

[Antelope]

any book by robert hienlein

he is the sci fi master

His book Starship Troopers is in my opinion the best military-political scifi book ever written (at least that I read). It's too bad the movie is a shadowy joke of the book. :cry:

I was so happy after reading Starship Troopers I looked forward to reading Stranger In A Strange Land, his supposed masterpiece. Unfortunately I was let down. A long book with a lot of development that didn't capture me in the end. :wtf:

I like Orson Scott Cards "Enders Game". I recommend this book to everyone. It is especially good when you look at when it was written. It is great as a technological forcast and a dark view of the education system and child developement.

If you want a good technical view of the future exploration of space tied in a nice story I recommend "Red Mars". I haven't read the rest of the trilogy but the first book was good even on its own. :salute:

[unowhoandwhy]

I can't remember who wrote it. But I finished reading Freedoms Landing.
I thought it was pretty good.



Anne McCaffrey wrote it and it is part of a very enjoyable series. You can find a complete listing at: http://www.annemccaffrey.org/ under "Books" and then "Series".

[unowhoandwhy]

I'm also reading DUNE by Frank Herbert. I actually like the book better then the movie ;)

I have read all of the Dune novels (including those written by Frank Herbert's son after his death). The history is so rich and incredible that no movie could ever do it justice.

[unowhoandwhy]

I haven't read Bridge of Birds yet but now I will! :thumbsup:

:D

I loved it, also loved the others in the series: "Hughart has written a sequel to Bridge of Birds, called The Story of the Stone (1988) and Eight Skilled Gentlemen (1990). Since that time, he seems to have fallen silent and rumor says he has stopped writing. If such is the case, it is a sad loss to the realm of speculative fiction." - http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/hughart.html

[Rowan]

Hey antelope that is the next author I had pegged to try ...Orson Scott Card , I usually like to explore award winning authors. Thanks for making suggestions, because he's written a bit and I didn't know where to start:)

[unowhoandwhy]

I'd like to read more of E. E. 'Doc' Smith's 'Lensman' series, as I've only got book 1 - 'Triplanetary' at the mo, it's really well written for the time.

I just bought the complete Lensman series from the SciFi Book Club. I am on the fifth book (out of 6) and really enjoy it. It's definitely got some outdated ideas and morals, but since he did start writing the series in the 1920's (although he didn't publish anything until the late 1940's) I guess I'll forgive him.

[unowhoandwhy]

I'll second that.

:salute:

And I will carry the motion that anything by Robert Heinlein is the best. I still quote from "The Number of the Beast" and I haven't read it in 10 years.

[Dawg]

OK - Shiningstar, do not - I repeat, DO NOT jump from "Dune" to "Chapterhouse Dune". There's too much in the middle. With Herbert, take them in order: Dune, Children of Dune, God Emperor of Dune, and so on. Each builds on the last. I've been reading them since before High School (and that was a long time ago). I understand his son's prequel books aren't as good, but not bad.

Ditto Lensmen. E.E. "Doc" Smith is one of my favorites. Don't jump around on those, either, take them in order. Hopelessly dated, yes, but still a fun read. And don't forget the stand alone "Vortex Blaster" (or "Masters of the Vortex"). There are sequel books I've read, but they're not nearly as good.

McCaffrey is a perennial favorite of mine - Pern (I've read them all, and many more than once), the shellpeople books (Ship Who Sang, City Who Fought, etc.), Crystal Singer series.

A super favorite of mine: Janet Kagan. She wrote the book called "Uhura's Song" in the book series for ST:TOS (and it's one of the better ones, I think - and I used to have them all). She also did a book called Miribile, which is a series of novellas set in the same time and place. My all-time favorite of hers, though (and one of my all time favorite books, period) is "Hellspark". I recommend it without reservation.

If you like pretty much formula space opera stuff, though, there's a newer author out named Mike Sheppard (sp?), who has a book out now called "Kris Longknife, Mutineer". It's the first of a trilogy (next book is due out soon). I read it because I've met the guy a couple of times, and it turned out pretty good.

My favorite Heinlien is "Stranger in a Strange Land". Very powerful.

I'm reading Arthur C. Clarke right now - the "2001 - A Space Odyssey" series.

There's no doubt more I could add to this, but I'm still at work (it's not even lunchtime yet) so that's enough for now.

;)

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

[unowhoandwhy]

Hey Rowan, I definitely object to portrayal of women in scifi sometimes, too, but give Heinlein another chance. If you just remind yourself of when the books were written you will realize that he was actually ahead of his time in portraying strong women. You might try "The Number of the Beast" first as that has a lot of strong women in it, including a car named "Gay Deceiver".

[unowhoandwhy]

One of the fantasy books I loved in high school was "The Blue Sword" by Robin McKinley. Talk about a kicka$$ girl blasting stereotypes! I read it so many times that the cover disintegrated and the pages came loose and I had to buy the hardcover version. The sequel was also enjoyable, but didn't capture my imagination the way the first book did.

[bsg1fan1975]

Here's a suggestion. Read "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" series. I read the first one as a junior in high school and loved it. Gonna get the entire series when I have the chance.

[Rowan]

Oh boy I can't wait for summer! so I can start reading for the pleasure of it again and not because I have to ...thank you unowhoandwhy, will check out your suggestions...:D I love this thread so many ideas from everyone. I'm a voracious reader, used to read a book a day in highschool, not that focused anymore though like to savour my worlds more now, make 'em last a little longer...althought I've read all of Crys's mini fan fic during this semester instead of reading nursig stuff , bad girl!;) :D

Dawg I forgot about the shell people I really liked those ones too although the crystal singer, doona, dinosaur, sassinack etc don't grab me as much.;)

shiningstar I completely agree with Dawg about Dune you have to read it in order you will never be able to appreciate/enjoy it if you don't and it will spoil the others. :D

[unowhoandwhy]

Loved the whole Hitchhiker series! So long and thanks for all the fish!

[Bombadil]

Well maybe I should give Heinlein another chance then... I tried to read him in my early 20's but I didn't like the way women were portrayed but I was a lot more militant back then , which one would you guys recomend I try knowing how I feel?:)

Not easy to answer. Heinlein was a very masculine writer, and very conservative. So much so that Paul Verhoeven felt it proper to portray the earth of Starship Troopers as fascist. I will never forgive him for ruining a potentially great movie by doing that, but I do sort of understand why some people would think that way.

However, Heinlein did consciously experiment with the female viewpoint by writing some books with female protagonists. "Podkayne of Mars" comes to mind. Later on, in his "dirty old man" stage late in life, he did some very free experimenting with sex roles, including one story with a man shifted into a woman's body. Never read it, don't remember the title, but I am pretty sure it was more titillating than educational.

His BEST books, IMHO, were Stranger in a Strange Land, and The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress. His most FUN books to read were his juvenile novels written in the 50's. His strength is he was a great storyteller. His great weakness is that sometimes he seemed to have no better idea how to end a story than you, the reader, did.

Check out a few from the library, and see if you can get interested. If not, try Anne McCaffrey's "Dragonrider" tales. My youngest daughter--now a college freshman--positively loves them.

[Bombadil]

If you like Doc Smith, the Lensman stories are OK, but his four Skylark of Space novels are even better, IMO. Skylark was written earlier, so there is more of a sense of discovery and development. Just plain more fun. But don't do what I did. Be sure to read them in proper order: Skylark of Space, Skylark III, Skylark of Valeron, and Skylark DuQuesne.
:)

[Rowan]

Thanks Thomasbombadil

I appreciate that information, I would like to give an author that is liked by so many a good chance but if I land on a couple of the wrong books to start with then I'm likely to cement my opinion of him so I appreciate you giving me those suggestions! I think I've read just about *everything* that Anne has written, and the world of pern is definitely my favorite of her worlds!:)I have a passion for dragons!:D

[braxiss]

And I will carry the motion that anything by Robert Heinlein is the best. I still quote from "The Number of the Beast" and I haven't read it in 10 years.


number of the beast is one of my favorites, have you read job:a comedy of justice?

[kat]

I don't mind Heinlein. Most of my friends believe he was a leader in the way he portrayed women. I don't. I think he got it wrong on many occasions. Having said that I have enjoyed his books particularly Stranger in a strange land.

[bsg1fan1975]

Loved the whole Hitchhiker series! So long and thanks for all the fish!


and remember the Earth is "Mostly Harmless" :laugh:

[Bombadil]

I don't mind Heinlein. Most of my friends believe he was a leader in the way he portrayed women. I don't. I think he got it wrong on many occasions. Having said that I have enjoyed his books particularly Stranger in a strange land.
It's been so long since I read "Podkayne" that I don't even remember it. Not having any real frame of reference at that time, I didn't know whether Heinlein succeeded in capturing a female viewpoint. I would be interested in knowing, from the ladies, whether he did an acceptable job (allowing for the fact that it was written 50 years ago.) Kat doesn't seem to think so. Why?

:)

[Kester Pelagius]

P.S. Part of the reason I am asking is that I moderate a sci-fi fantasy book discussion group at the local Borders, and am always looking for suggestions for novels to read.

In that case, if you haven't already, I would suggest reading- and comparing notes on the similarities in premise- the following novels/series:

C.J. Cherryh: "Cloud's Rider", sequel is "Rider at the Gate"

vs.

Anne McCaffrey's: Dragonriders of Pern series of novels, or at least the first one in the series anyway. ;)


Might make for an interesting discussion.

[unowhoandwhy]

If you like Doc Smith, the Lensman stories are OK, but his four Skylark of Space novels are even better, IMO.

Thanks, Thomas, I will check those out when I get a chance. :thumbsup:

[Rowan]

My issue with male writers is not so much if they succeed in capturing the womans viewpoint , but how a woman is portrayed as in is she just there as eye candy or is she more substantive. Do the male characters leer at her feminin form all the time? is she physically described in voluptuous terms ? I'm trying to use polite language here. For instance I've read 4 or 5 of piers anthony and his way of talking about women really turns me off I can't enjoy the story it's that distracting for me! :D ;)

[unowhoandwhy]

number of the beast is one of my favorites, have you read job:a comedy of justice?

Yes, but you'd have to refresh my memory if you wanted to talk plot points, it's been a while. I have read almost every Heinlein novel and most of his short stories.

Actually, when I was in high school I wrote a 27 page essay about Heinlein. It was only supposed to be 10-12 pages, but I got carried away. :D

[Bombadil]

OK, class, who can tell me what TANSTAAFL!! means and why did Heinlein like the expression so much?
:light:

[Rowan]

TANSTAAFL /tan'stah-fl/ [acronym, from Robert Heinlein's classic "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress".] "There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch", often invoked when someone is balking at the prospect of using an unpleasantly heavyweight (http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/h/heavyweight.html) technique, or at the poor quality of some piece of software, or at the signal-to-noise ratio (http://info.astrian.net/jargon/terms/s/signal-to-noise_ratio.html) of unmoderated Usenet newsgroups. "What? Don't tell me I have to implement a database back end to get my address book program to work!" "Well, TANSTAAFL you know." This phrase owes some of its popularity to the high concentration of science-fiction fans and political libertarians in hackerdom (see Appendix B (http://info.astrian.net/jargon/A_Portrait_of_J._Random_Hacker/) for discussion).

[Bombadil]

Very good, Miss Rowan. Now for the second part: why did Mister Heinlein, in particular, like the expression so much? Come, you hinted at the answer. Expound, please!
:)

[Rowan]

Why thank you Sir, actually I have no idea I read only part of one of his books when I was about 24 and he turned me off of him with his attitude towards women so I've never read any more:( , I'm just good at using the net for info, thats all:D someone else is going to have to answer that:D ;)

[Bombadil]

OK, would anybody else like to add something? There are reasons why Mr. Heinlein was so popular with many of his most devoted readers.
:)

[braxiss]

OK, would anybody else like to add something? There are reasons why Mr. Heinlein was so popular with many of his most devoted readers.
:)

heilein was a writer that could make his story's come alive.

no matter how outrageus the plot, he could make you belive,

he also made you think, i always stop and question his writings.

he is the best when it comes to sci-fi

[Dawg]

Didn't Heinlein do "Time Enough for Love"? Loved that book, and mostly for the combined sayings of Lazarus Long. "Always store beer in a dark place." Brilliant!

I am
Dawg
:warrior:

[Rowan]

I really loved Contact by Carl Sagan, read it out loud to each other (me and boyfriend) just before bed, many many years ago... then I saw the movie, and love that , then I read the book again and didn't like it half as much a s the movie . That would be a first for me!:)

[Bombadil]

heilein was a writer that could make his story's come alive.
no matter how outrageus the plot, he could make you belive,
he also made you think, i always stop and question his writings.
he is the best when it comes to sci-fi

Excellent answers! And when you add to his story-telling talents the fact that he was a PREACHER, well, then you have somebody who can lead a very vocal choir.

No, I don't mean a church preacher. I mean a guy who believed in individual freedom and responsibility so fervently that he would probably grump today that Rush Limbaugh is a weenie. He used his stories to preach what he believed. To him, TANSTAAFL (There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch) meant that nobody ever gets something for nothing. Every lunch is paid for by somebody. Don't ask somebody else to pay for the lunch that you eat.

He was a libertarian at heart. If you wanna do something, go ahead and do it so long as it doesn't hurt me. But if you exercise your freedom and do something really stupid, don't expect me to come along and bail you out. The moon is a harsh mistress, and if you don't treat her with respect, she will kill you and I am not going to try to stop her.

That's why people like Paul Verhoeven think that Heinlein was a fascist. He wasn't. He was a libertarian.

:salute:

[kat]

It's been so long since I read "Podkayne" that I don't even remember it. Not having any real frame of reference at that time, I didn't know whether Heinlein succeeded in capturing a female viewpoint. I would be interested in knowing, from the ladies, whether he did an acceptable job (allowing for the fact that it was written 50 years ago.) Kat doesn't seem to think so. Why?

:)

He got the psychology wrong on some pretty key elements. I felt his potrayal of Friday was seriously flawed. He tried to tackle some major themes and at the time their was little discussion regarding anything sexual. I have had too many friends so enthrallled by Heilein that it mutes the discussion that his themes started. So its great that he tried, not so great that he was put on such a pedistal by some fans that it ended the discussion before it could really begin.

[braxiss]

Didn't Heinlein do "Time Enough for Love"? Loved that book, and mostly for the combined sayings of Lazarus Long. "Always store beer in a dark place." Brilliant!

I am
Dawg
:warrior:



time enough for love :thumbsup:

just finished it a few months back, great book great charactors

[kitty]

Has anyone read Terry Pratchett's Disc world series?

[braxiss]

He got the psychology wrong on some pretty key elements. I felt his potrayal of Friday was seriously flawed. He tried to tackle some major themes and at the time their was little discussion regarding anything sexual. I have had too many friends so enthrallled by Heilein that it mutes the discussion that his themes started. So its great that he tried, not so great that he was put on such a pedistal by some fans that it ended the discussion before it could really begin.


heinlien is a geniuess and he should be credited for his writing's. the thing you have to understand is that he lived in a time when women weren't out in the work force, a time when women were "suppose to stay home and be molly homemaker". he did the best he know how to put women front and center and put them as thr hero's. yes he fell short in some places and no he's not perfect, but in his defence his writing's opened the door to the equality of men and women that we enjoy today in all aspects of media.

[shiningstar]

Has anyone read Terry Pratchett's Disc world series?

not me :(

[gunnerk19]

I've got a copy of the Star Wars "The Truce at Bakura" sitting in my dresser that I'm thinking of picking up again; That, and I'm hoping to find Alan Dean Foster's "Splinter of the Mind's Eye" soon as well...

[kitty]

not me :(

I would reckonmend Terry pratchett's disk-world series.
It is very funny and entertaining.
I do not know if he is available in the states, but he is popular over here in England.
He even has a selection of childrens books.

[unowhoandwhy]

That's why people like Paul Verhoeven think that Heinlein was a fascist. He wasn't. He was a libertarian.



He was also a solipsist, IIRC. Anyone?

[unowhoandwhy]

I would reckonmend Terry pratchett's disk-world series.
It is very funny and entertaining.
I do not know if he is available in the states, but he is popular over here in England.
He even has a selection of childrens books.

I keep meaning to read the books, as my best friend (who lives in England) loves them & we have very similar tastes. But, I just haven't found the time. They look like fun, though.

[kitty]

I keep meaning to read the books, as my best friend (who lives in England) loves them & we have very similar tastes. But, I just haven't found the time. They look like fun, though.

I had to stop reading them in bed as my boyfriend kept getting irritiated by me laughing every few minutes.
Some just do not like u reading a better book than they are.

[skippercollecto]

Our next sci-fi discussion group will be May 11, and the topic is the 2003 novel "Night of the Triffids," by Simon Clark. It's a sequel to the 1950s novel "Day of the Triffids," and picks up the story 25 years later. I've read only a few pages, so I can't give you a summary or anything.
Mary

[unowhoandwhy]

I just started reading Pandora's Star (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0345461622/103-5957146-3035831?v=glance) by Peter Hamilton (I forgot to send my "No thank you" card into the SciFi Book Club again). I usually get impatient with books that take forever to get to the point because they are so busy building backstory. But, he weaves his backstory so well that you feel like this universe of the future is not only probable but also real. Lots of great characters, both male and female. I am only about 1/3 of the way through (I had to rake my lawn this weekend and 2 acres is a lot of leaves!) but can't wait to get home and pick it up again.

[Rowan]

Does Harry Potter count? I've just started the Order of the Phoenix (read all the others) I have one week to read all 766 pages I 'd better get craking although the young girls I saw interviewed for it's release had calculated it would take them 15 hrs to read it I figured it would take me 18 I'm a slow reader, I like to savour my books too much to spead read...;) :D

[unowhoandwhy]

Does Harry Potter count? I've just started the Order of the Phoenix (read all the others) I have one week to read all 766 pages I 'd better get craking although the young girls I saw interviewed for it's release had calculated it would take them 15 hrs to read it I figured it would take me 18 I'm a slow reader, I like to savour my books too much to spead read...;) :D

I read it in 9 hours, but I'm a super speed reader and I couldn't put it down. I then waited a few weeks and took my time to read it a second time. I absolutely love the series and can't wait for the next book.

[Rowan]

HOLY CRAP!!! 9 hours!! your good!:salute:

[unowhoandwhy]

I dimly remember taking it into the bathroom with me, taking it outside with me when the dogs had to do their business, propping it open as I was cooking and eating, I was in a fog until I finished it, it was quite insane! Or maybe I was. ;)

[Rowan]

those books have the same effect on me too, I become utterly obssessed! LOL! :D ;)

[unowhoandwhy]

The movies are also enjoyable and I rarely like movies when I have fallen in love with the books first.

[Rowan]

Oh I loved the movies! I agree I usually don't if I've read the book first, but they did an excellent job!

[unowhoandwhy]

My sixteen year old cousin is absolutely in love with the boys who play the Beasley twins. She wants to come to England with me next year so she can find them and stare at them adoringly. Of course she could do that from a distance without shelling out about $1,000 but she's 16, what does she know about being rationally obsessed like the rest of us. :)

[Rowan]

My sixteen year old cousin is absolutely in love with the boys who play the Beasley twins. She wants to come to England with me next year so she can find them and stare at them adoringly. Of course she could do that from a distance without shelling out about $1,000 but she's 16, what does she know about being rationally obsessed like the rest of us. :)
LOL! uno... ah yes 16 I can still remember how that felt! I had such intense crushes on guys back then! Everything was so life and death! LOL! I'll never forget how I felt after going to see the Empire Strikes Back ...you see I was madly in love with Han Solo and after they put him in the carbon freezing I thought I had died, I'm not kidding I could hardly breath! I had no memeory of what happened after that I was in deep shock! I remember my parents guiding me out of the theater and to this day I can still recall the pattern of the carpet in the lobby because that is all I saw I have no memory of how we got home or anything that day was an utter blank to me I was utterly bereft! LOL! I was 16 yrs old!;)

[unowhoandwhy]

Sixteen was "Willow" for me. Ah, Val Kilmer..................................

I'm sorry, what was I saying?

:naughty:

[Rowan]

ok let's both shake our heads and clear them from our youful crushes! I do get easily distracted ;) :D

[skippercollecto]

This month's book for discussion at the local Borders store is a new children's book called "Summerland" by Michael Chabon. It's about a small island in Puget Sound that has a corner where it never rains during the summer.
But our group has a dilemma. We all suggested titles for the July through September, but the bookstore has discovered that it can no longer order them. Karen and I have learned that apparently publishers take sci-fi paperbacks out of print very quickly. We have a book for July, but the other titles we wanted are no longer available, including the Guy Gavriel Kay novel that one of you recommended a while back.
So, we need more suggestions! Hopefully, they will still be in print the next few months!
Mary

[gmd3d]

The books I am reading at the moment is ANTARES DAWN. by Michael McCollum
I have read them a number of times and have enjoyed them, there are 3 books

1.ANTARES DAWN
2.ANTARES PASSAGE
3.ANATRES VICTORY

When the supergiant star Antares exploded in 2512, the human colony on Alta found their pathway to the stars gone, isolating them from the rest of human space for more than a century. Then one day, a powerful warship materialized in the system without warning. Alarmed by the sudden appearance of such behemoth, the commanders of the Altan Space Navy dispatched one of their most powerful ships to investigate. What ASNS Discovery finds when they finally catch the intruder is a battered hulk manned by a dead crew.
That is disturbing news for the Altans. For the dead battleship could easily have defeated the whole of the Altan navy. If it could find Alta, then so could whoever it was that beat it. Something would have to be done.

[Rowan]

This month's book for discussion at the local Borders store is a new children's book called "Summerland" by Michael Chabon. It's about a small island in Puget Sound that has a corner where it never rains during the summer.
But our group has a dilemma. We all suggested titles for the July through September, but the bookstore has discovered that it can no longer order them. Karen and I have learned that apparently publishers take sci-fi paperbacks out of print very quickly. We have a book for July, but the other titles we wanted are no longer available, including the Guy Gavriel Kay novel that one of you recommended a while back.
So, we need more suggestions! Hopefully, they will still be in print the next few months!
MaryHey Mary

That is a real shame about Guy Gavriel Kay, I loved his Fionavar tapestry (The wandering fire, the Darkest Road, and the Summer tree the individual names of the books that comprise the series) I would highly recomend anything by C.J.Cherryh, but especially her series about the Chanur, although you would have to read them in order to really enjoy it the first one is "the Pride of Chanur", lots and lots of space travel and space stations and adventure. (she won the hugo award for it) then there is "Downbelow station" (she also won an award for this one) "Tripoint" (Hugo award) and "Finity's end" all of these take place in the same universe, and are full of space travel and space stations and lots of high tension exciting adventure. Cyteen ( is another is an excellent read but no space travel, just very futuristic and takes place on a different planet also within the same universe as the others.(Hugo award for that one as well) I'm including C.J. Cherryhs web page there is a section in which she names authors and books she loved and recomends that might also give you some inspiration.:)

http://www.cherryh.com/www/menu.htm

[Rowan]

*bump*

[BRG]

I don't know if these count, but I've started working my way through Neil Gaiman's 'Sandman ' series of comic books. I have read the first 3 books- "Preludes & Nocturnes", "The Doll's House" and "Dream Country". I've got a week off work soon, so I'll go up to Glasgow and look for book 4.
They are very good books if you are into comics, although they are pretty dear at over £10 each!

As for "real" books, I have been reading Sherlock Holmes again for the past month. The BBC showed a lot of Holmes films over Xmas. And my wee brother, who is a soldier in London, went to the Sherlock Holmes museum in Baker St and bought me some nik-nacks to put in with my Xmas presant! So I've been right into The Great Detective lately! :cool:
BRG

[Archangel]

Just got finished reading Independence Day: Silent Zone yesterday, and now I'm back into the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron set as of last night. :D

[Alaric]

Because I'm stupid and I left the book I'm currently working on in my dorm for winter break, I'm now going through the Dune series again. I finished Dune and Dune Messiah, and I'm almost done with Children of Dune. God, I love Frank Herbert.

Before that, I had just finished a series of books by Margret Weis. Great author, check her stuff out.

[gmd3d]

Margaret Weis the author of the Dragonlance series. I have read them all, great reading super adventure, I think i will give them a go again. :thumbsup:

[Gemini1999]

What am I reading, eh?

Well, I don't read as much science fiction as I used to, but I was browsing the new paperbacks at Border Books. I found a new Trek book called "Ex Machina"

http://www.startrek.com/imageuploads/200412/pro-ex-machina/120x90.jpg

I stopped reading Trek fiction a long time ago, but when I read the premise on the back, it intrigued me. The story starts almost immediately after the events of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and their encounter with V'ger. It also involves the people of the world ship Yonada from the TOS episode "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky".

It's been an slow, but interesting read so far - one interesting aspect of the book is the exploration of some of the newer crew members of the refitted Enterprise and their feelings regarding the "death" of Will Decker at the end of TMP.

I like the fact that someone is exploring the years between TMP and "Wrath of Khan" for a change...

Best,
Bryan

[Rowan]

Just got finished reading Independence Day: Silent Zone yesterday, and now I'm back into the Star Wars: Rogue Squadron set as of last night. :D

Thats nice but where are the DETAILS!!! did you like it ? was it well written? Do you recomend it? inquiring minds want to know!!! Shesh!! :rolleyes: ;)

[Rowan]

Because I'm stupid and I left the book I'm currently working on in my dorm for winter break, I'm now going through the Dune series again. I finished Dune and Dune Messiah, and I'm almost done with Children of Dune. God, I love Frank Herbert.

Before that, I had just finished a series of books by Margret Weis. Great author, check her stuff out.

Alaric have you read "Chapterhouse: Dune " yet?

[Archangel]

Thats nice but where are the DETAILS!!! did you like it ? was it well written? Do you recomend it? inquiring minds want to know!!! Shesh!! :rolleyes: ;)
It's not bad, even though it did ignore some details that were laid out in the movie. ;)

[gmd3d]

What am I reading, eh?

Well, I don't read as much science fiction as I used to, but I was browsing the new paperbacks at Border Books. I found a new Trek book called "Ex Machina"

http://www.startrek.com/imageuploads/200412/pro-ex-machina/120x90.jpg

I stopped reading Trek fiction a long time ago, but when I read the premise on the back, it intrigued me. The story starts almost immediately after the events of "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and their encounter with V'ger. It also involves the people of the world ship Yonada from the TOS episode "For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky".

It's been an slow, but interesting read so far - one interesting aspect of the book is the exploration of some of the newer crew members of the refitted Enterprise and their feelings regarding the "death" of Will Decker at the end of TMP.

I like the fact that someone is exploring the years between TMP and "Wrath of Khan" for a change...

Best,
Bryan


I have never heard of that one , is it new? I like the story idea, the kirk spock era
it the one i still like reading. I will keep my eye open for a copie.

[Alaric]

Alaric have you read "Chapterhouse: Dune " yet?

I'm on Heretics of Dune (The book I left in my dorm). I've heard
Chapterhouse is the best one, but I've gotta go in order, after all.

[Rowan]

I'm on Heretics of Dune (The book I left in my dorm). I've heard
Chapterhouse is the best one, but I've gotta go in order, after all.

LOL yes by all means go in oder:D I was just going to recomend Chapterhouse I loved it. I found it recaptured the elements I loved in the first book Dune.:D
That's a shame you left the book in the dorm that would drive me insane to be without a book I had started :(