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I really enjoy this thread, lots of new books make it to my TBR pile (like it's not big enough as it is)

Just finished up my re-read of Children of Dune and my first read of Silence Fallen. Now onto The Blood Mirror, about 200 pages into that one and I'm really liking it.

I lazed around far too much this weekend so I could finish Imager. I gave it a 4 star review here:
/review/show...
This is the third time I've read the book & I'm more impressed each time. The details tend to fade in the 4 or 5 years in between reads, but are fantastic in light of the rest of the series. This book starts out several hundred years after the others & yet explains the basic magic system better.

I also listened to 2 audio books while playing in the shop & getting chores done.

The first was H. Beam Piper's Little Fuzzy. I've been meaning to get around to it for ages & finally did. Wish I hadn't put it off so long. I gave it a 4 star review here:
/review/show...

The other was an audio anthology, Stories from White Hats: Epic Western Tales of Legendary Heroes, put together by . Each short story was written by a different author & read by a different narrator. Another 4 star effort that I reviewed here:
/review/show...

Just finished and
now going to reread so I can read the rest of the series

Just about to start The Dark Hand of Magic and the first half of the Shadow and Betrayal duology as a buddy read.

Finished reading City of Mirrors, third book in the Passage trilogy by Justin Cronin. Having hard time deciding what I think about this series. There are big chunks that are long slogs that could have been tightened up (particularly the flashbacks) but overall I found myself quite drawn into the trilogy and attached to the characters. I think I enjoyed the second two books much more than the first which to me came off as "simple zombie apocalypse" but the next two did more world-building and fleshing things out. Unfortunately there was an aspect of the ending that was wholly unbelievable that just left me rolling my eyes.

And now, switching to the contemporary group read The Lies of Locke Lamora.

Just finished The Dreaming Void by Peter F Hamilton. It is Book 1 of a trilogy but I thought I had read somewhere that it could be read as a stand alone novel. I was probably mistaken about that since it left off with a number of cliff hangers. No problem though, I enjoyed the book so I'll be putting # 2 (The Temporal Void) on my to read list.

On my eReader I just finished Burroughs The Land That Time Forgot, as predicted it was a quick read of around 80 pages. Continuing with The People That Time Forgot

If The Lost World ends up getting picked from the current nominations will make for an interesting opportunity to contrast "lost world" stories. Seems the thought of finding dinosaurs still around in our world was a popular concept, and a long running one too, what with Dinotopia. Dinosaurs in general, given the Dinosaur Lords series by Victor Milán (I actually won the second book in that series through Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ). And how could one leave out Jurassic Park.

Apparently I've read more dinosaur stuff than I thought...

I'm reading the—unfortunately—non-fiction They Know Everything About You: How Data-Collecting Corporations and Snooping Government Agencies Are Destroying Democracy, which is terrifying.

After that... I was reluctant to start a new series but have heard a lot of good about the next group read, The Lies of Locke Lamora, so I'll be reading it.

Andrea wrote: "On my eReader I just finished Burroughs The Land That Time Forgot, as predicted it was a quick read of around 80 pages. Continuing with The People That Time Forgot

I..."

Loved that Burroughs series, 3 books if I remember correctly.

Gary wrote: "Loved that Burroughs series, 3 books if I remember correctly. "

Yup, it's 3 books

Currently reading Skinwalker by Faith Hunter The first book in the long running Jane Yellowrock urban fantasy series.

The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters - nice pre-apocalypse stuff.

Fantastic Beast and Where to Find them audiobook read by Eddie Redmayne. The introduction sheds some light to the movies.

Reading the Witches series by Terry Pratchett. I miss him and since I didn't appreciate Granny Weatherwax and friends as a kid when I read his books most prolifically I'm returning to them now and loving them.

Donald wrote: "Reading the Witches series by Terry Pratchett. I miss him and since I didn't appreciate Granny Weatherwax and friends as a kid when I read his books most prolifically I'm returning to..."

I love Granny and especially her constant struggles to fly her broom properly.

Silvana wrote: "The Last Policeman by Ben H. Winters - nice pre-apocalypse stuff."

Excellent trilogy. We had a Discussion of The last Policeman last year. Listening to REM?

I actually don't know which REM song was referred to in this book. Was it Losing My Religion?

Just checked the thread and it is not. Spotifying it now.

In addition to Skinwalker I just started Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon

Gary wrote: " I just started Trading in Danger by Elizabeth Moon"

Trading in Danger is the start of greatly underrated military SF series (5 books). From the first book, which seems fascinated by the intricacies of interstaller bookkeeping, it really builds up nicely to the climax. I really wish Moon would get back to writing scifi.

I'll second G33z3r's opinion of Moon's "Vatta's War" series. I enjoyed it very much. Good SF without a lot of heavy science, but a great setting & characters.

Finished reading The Curse of Chalion, which I enjoyed. May check out her sci-fi at some point.

Currently reading New York 2140 which, in typical KSR fashion, has exciting subplots about derivative swapping and sub-basement drainage.

Brendan wrote: "Finished reading The Curse of Chalion, which I enjoyed. May check out her sci-fi at some point...."

I think her Vorkosigan series is better & I liked the Chalion books, too. It's the character, mostly. Miles is a hoot.

I finished Change Agent by Daniel Suarez. My review: /review/show...

From the Tor newsletter: Where to Start With the Work of John Scalzi: A Guide for Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert Readers

Jim wrote: "I'll second G33z3r's opinion of Moon's "Vatta's War" series. I enjoyed it very much. Good SF without a lot of heavy science, but a great setting & characters."

I just finished Chapter 2 and am enjoying it so far.

I'm reading Dragon Champion. Cool look at the fantasy epic from the dragon's point of view!

I will nominate Trading in Danger next month for contemporary read...

I have too many books in to read list. Which one to read first?
The Way of Kings (Sanderson)
Dreamer's Pool (Blackthorn and Grim #1)
Lines of Departure (Marko Kloos)
Help!

Silvana wrote: "I will nominate Trading in Danger next month for contemporary read...

I have too many books in to read list. Which one to read first?
The Way of Kings (Sanderson)
Dreamer's Pool (Blackthorn and Gr..."

I'd say The Way of Kings, but that's just based on the fact that it's the only book from that list that's on my TBR list as well. And the fact that Sanderson did such a good job finishing the final chapter(s) of A Wheel of Time.

Kivrin wrote: "I'm reading Dragon Champion. Cool look at the fantasy epic from the dragon's point of view!"

Someone recommended that one to me too, let me know if you think it's good. Certainly looked interesting.

I liked "Dragon Champion" a lot. I like Knight's Vampire Earth series a lot, too.

Finished up The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick 4: The Minority Report, so I'll probably start a new novel tonight -- I'm thinking Declare by Tim Powers.

After that, it may well be time for a read of the Imperial Radch trilogy, which'll include a re-read of Ancillary Justice.

What else have I read this month? I enjoyed V.E. Schwab's Shade of Magic trilogy. She does a good job of pulling you into her characters (I don't mind melodrama) while setting up some pretty interesting worldbuilding. I felt A Darker Shade of Magic was the strongest volume. Even though the last two books were, for the most part, page-turners, I was disappointed that some of the potential conflicts/interactions that seemed to be set up in book one weren't really followed through (e.g., Grey London largely falls out of the story).

Has anyone read any of the SerialBox series? I read "season 1" of Bookburners by Max Gladstone, Margaret Dunlap, Mur Lafferty, and Brian Francis Slattery. While it was pleasant enough, even fun, but I wasn't really wowed. The premise is not dissimilar from plenty of urban fantasy -- a team works for a secret Vatican organization that fights demons/magics, rounding up the books that serve as portals. The "chapters" are all novellette length. I found I didn't really get the full immersion I would from a novel, and I didn't get the unique/singular kernel idea that often intrigues in a short story.

But I'm intrigued enough by the concept -- books collaboratively conceived and written, like a TV show -- and the occasional blog/promo posts I've seen to want to read some more. I'll probably check out a few more when the collected volumes hit paperback. (Though Bookburners was enough of a brick it made me almost consider an ereader.) I've my eye on The Witch Who Came In From The Cold: Season One and Tremontaine: The Complete Season One(though Swordspoint is a hard mark to live up to).

Hillary wrote: "Finished up The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick 4: The Minority Report, so I'll probably start a new novel tonight -- I'm thinking Declare by Tim Powers.

After tha..."

I've listened to season 1 of Bookburners, and I liked it. I thought it was a solid 4 stars. Not amazing, but still enjoyable enough. I do suspect that it works better as an audio experience, though. I sometimes find it easy to lose the thread of events in an audiobook, just because it's harder to backtrack if I've forgotten something, but the episodic format made it much easier on me in that respect. I can see how I wouldn't appreciate it as much if I was actually reading it, though.

I'm really interested in Tremontaine: The Complete Season One too, although I agree that Swordspoint will be hard to live up to.

Finished with Dreamer's Pool quite okay, has some flaws but I think I will continue reading the rest. Glad it can stand on its own, though.

1/3 in Lines of Departure. Marko Kloos has a simple way to show military action that's easy to digest.

I hold back The Way of Kings for later, maybe next month.

Tani wrote: "I've listened to season 1 of Bookburners, and I liked it. I thought it was a solid 4 stars. Not amazing, but still enjoyable enough. I do suspect that it works better as an audio experience, though. I sometimes find it easy to lose the thread of events in an audiobook, just because it's harder to backtrack if I've forgotten something, but the episodic format made it much easier on me in that respect. I can see how I wouldn't appreciate it as much if I was actually reading it, though. ..."

I read the first few “episodes� of these when it was a Serial Box. The multi-author format was kind of hit and miss for me, and I eventually drifted off.

Silvana wrote: "1/3 in Lines of Departure. Marko Kloos has a simple way to show military action that's easy to digest...."

Kloos doesn't spend a lot of time or effort on anything that isn't military. I read the most recent in the series, Fields of Fire, earlier this month. It's a short, easy actioner. It's clear Kloos plans on writing this series for really, really long time.

Finished The Lies of Locke Lamora.

Started reading 'Salem's Lot by Stephen King since it was singled out as one that is good to read before reading the rest of the Dark Tower series. I'd read this book before (mainly because it has vampires) but don't remember much about it.

I'm reading Dune. I love this book. I would give it five stars but i think I should wait until i finish it first. I already know i'm going to rate it a 4.5 or 5 depending on the ending.

I just finished the fourth Game of Thrones, taking a break with Oxford Time Travel Series and Sudden Wild Magic.

Looking toward April, I'm planning on reading Way of Kings, Chrestomanci series, another branch of the Star wars stories (maybe Jedi academy?). Well loved stories are on a 3-6 month reread cycle. Up next is Harry Potter, Legend of Drizzt, Hitchhikers Guide.

Finished the second Caspak book, The People that Time Forgot, now switching to Out of Time's Abyss by Edgar Rice Burroughs. It's only about 80 pages so won't take me long to wrap up the trilogy.

I finished Flag in Exile last night, and I am taking a short break from SFF in order to read Moonraker.

I'm currently reading The Obelisk Gate by N.K. Jemisin. Loving it, but it's also confusing.

I recently finished Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo and LOVED it. I'm upset that there isn't another book after this one.

I also recently finished The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson and am impatiently waiting for the next book from the library....

G33z3r wrote: "Silvana wrote: "1/3 in Lines of Departure. Marko Kloos has a simple way to show military action that's easy to digest...."

Kloos doesn't spend a lot of time or effort on anything that isn't milita..."

I wish he keeps writing military SF. In the middle of Angles of Attack and it made me losing sleep - which is a good sign.

I tried a sample of To Honor You Call Us since it was 1$ at Kindle but could not get into it.

Kivrin wrote: "I'm reading Dragon Champion. Cool look at the fantasy epic from the dragon's point of view!"

As someone who just got into Sanderson, I say Way of Kings!

Kivrin wrote: "I'm reading Dragon Champion. Cool look at the fantasy epic from the dragon's point of view!"

I also suggest Dickson's amusing tale, The Dragon and the George.

Hi, I am ready to dive in to some heroic fantasy. A book that was recommended is
Anyone read it?

G33z3r wrote: "I also suggest Dickson's amusing tale, The Dragon and the George"

Been collecting that series every time I find one in a used bookstore. I have a few series that are my "book quests" and I'm determined to only buy them if I find them in a used bookstore. Most of these started before ebooks were available and the books were otherwise out of print. Think I'm only missing two from the series now.

Finished Salem's Lot by Stephen King, enjoyed it much more than The Stand, of course it was also half the length which helped keep it from rambling so much.

Continuing with my goal of completing series I started, so it's on to the second book in the Mars Trilogy, Green Mars

Finished New York 2140. I didn't like it as much as his other recent books. The parts about hydrology and architecture were fascinating to me, but the financial parts betrayed more of a "guy watching the news" level of expertise that didn't quite ring true.

Currently reading The Invisible Library as a group read and so far its pretty lame. At least its short. If your book promises "chaos" you'd better deliver a lot weirder things than a rude elf.

Andrea wrote: "G33z3r wrote: "I also suggest Dickson's amusing tale, The Dragon and the George"

Been collecting that series every time I find one in a used bookstore. I have a few series that are my "book quests..."

The entire Dragon series is available in Ebook format. I read the first one in ebook format in December. I originally read it in its SciFi Book Club edition many many years ago.

I just started reading Foreigner. It got off to a nice start.

I'm still plugging away at Rama II but good grief it's slow going. If nothing happens by page 100 it's going to get Papilloned.

Jim wrote: "I'll second G33z3r's opinion of Moon's "Vatta's War" series. I enjoyed it very much. Good SF without a lot of heavy science, but a great setting & characters."

G33z3r wrote: "I really wish Moon would get back to writing scifi. ..."

Wish granted!

I didn't realize until today, but Moon is returning to Kylara Vatta with a new novel, Cold Welcome. And it's out this month! I'm so happy!