Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ

Did that last month seem short to you?
Tell us what you are reading while March comes in like a lion?

March started off warm this morning but we're supposed to drop dramatically by this afternoon, so lion indeed!

Finally decided on what to read and it wasn't Gaiman, Riordan or Virgil. In fact since Bulfinch is using the Roman variants of the Greek tales, it should help me prepare for Virgil so I can learn all the alternate names for the gods and such - The Age of Fable by Thomas Bulfinch.

Ghost in the Vision by Jonathan Moeller

Completed:
text:

audible:

==========================================
Authors:
M.R. Carey, Abi Daré, Robert Galbraith, Jane Harper, Marlon James, N.K. Jemisin, Tamsyn Muir, Claire North, K.J. Parker, C.L. Polk, Rebecca Roanhorse, Namwali Serpell, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Nghi Vo, E. Lily Yu
Narrators:
Dion Graham, Mel Hudson, Robin Miles
==========

Paladin's Grace. It's a re-read, and just as hilarious as the first time I read it.

I terminated my reading of City of Blades, at 80% of the book, so this turned out to be a DNF. I gradually lost interest and finally decided to give up. I am turning again to science-fiction and I am starting Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikowsky.

I finished . It was not an easy read; I liked the worldbuilding (a very weird world and mood), but the characters not so much, and probably some stuff must have flown over my head. Still, an impressive debut novel, though I'm glad it was not the first book I've read from Palmer because I'm not sure how eager I would have been to read Version Control, which I ended up loving, after finishing this one.
I'm now reading after many years of waiting.
After/during those books I'll need something lighter, so I've also started

I just started: Saturn’s Children by Charles Stross. /book/show/2... A monthly group read pick from a group featuring Hugo and Nebula award winners and runner-ups. So far pretty interesting.
Before that, I had just finished the House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ. Kline, /book/show/4... which is a fantastic story! It is this month's group read pick from this group.

I have finished Second Foundation which completes the original Foundation trilogy. There are still two books to go to complete Asimov's Future History series - Foundation's Edge and Foundation and Earth.

There were echoes of the Lensman series in this book, at least to me. I don't know if Asimov had read 'Doc' Smith, but it certainly wouldn't surprise me.

The three books of the original trilogy will fill the Bingo slot for award winning, as they won a Hugo in 1966.

Appendix N: The Eldritch Roots of Dungeons and Dragons by Peter Bebergal

Finished The Age of Fable, by the end of it I kind of got all muddled up with many of the names and stories, particularly the ones that were new for me, but it covered a bit of the Aeneid which if it's anything like Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, it will actually help to know what's going on before getting into it, spoilers are actually a good thing :)

And yes, it's The Aeneid by Virgil that's next on my list.

I finally finished Oathbringer. Alas, I then discovered that when I started reading it I must have mistakenly tagged it as read here on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ, thus denying me the frisson of excitement associated with moving it to that shelf now. This Stormlight Archive may be too complicated for me to contain all its elements within my meager brain. I moved on to the next novella, Dawnshard, anyway.

Also, I finished Masters of Atlantis, which is barely fantasy, a dry satire about some guys at the start of the 20th century who think a book of unreadable scribbles is a tomb from lost Atlantis and based on that create an international secret society dedicated to the wisdom of Atlantis. (Author Charles Portis is probably better known for his western, True Grit.)

Letters from Russia by Astolphe de Custine

I did some reorganising in my home over the weekend and came across some CDs that I have had for years. One of them has over 700 free sci-fi ebooks - all stuff that is now public domain, but including some well known authors such as Andre Norton, Edgar Rice Burroughs, 'Doc' Smith, etc. I also had one of Andre Norton audiobooks, again, public domain and produced by LibriVox. It looks to have 9 of her novels and a few short stories, as well as some short stories from other authors. During the break between meetings, I listened to All Cats Are Gray, which only took about 15 minutes.

Not a great story, not a terrible story, and reasonably well read. It can also fill my alternate form Bingo slot.

Recently finished Swordheart which was fun and delightful- will be seeking out more T Kingfisher (in fact found an audiobook of bryony and roses via library’s hoopla app)

Returned to reading Jack McDevitt's books. I love his Alex Benedict books. Read "Echo" and "Coming Home". I liked the latter better than the former. I liked that I could jump back into these even after a few years absence and feel comfortable with the characters. Good mysteries with a sci-fi setting. Just ordered his newest one.

Finished reading Legacy of the Brightwash the other day, now I'm reading Dragons of Spring Dawning

The Aeneid -> There are WAY too many people, places, groups, and things that start with the letter A...I keep getting confused...there's Aeneas, Anchise, Ascanius (who is also Iulus, after all, one name per character isn't hard enough!), Acestes, Achates...not counting mentions of Apollo, Agamemnon, Achilles, Acheron, there must be a couple dozen more...

Otherwise it's not bad, it's full of adventure and monsters and stuff so it isn't boring. I just might have to start taking notes to keep track of the characters! About halfway through now.

Finished reading The Last Colony by John Scalzi, The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King, and The Shadow Within by Jeanne Cavelos. I’m reading A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab. I plan to read To Dream in the City of Sorrows by Kathryn M. Drennan next.

Spin by Patricia Cornwell

This second book in the 'Captain Chase' series opens soon after the dramatic conclusion of the first novel Quantum. The stories should be read in order.
Chase is a NASA scientist and investigator who's tasked with taking down an evil woman.

Good story but too much tech talk. 3 stars

My review: /review/show...

I finished the graphic novel X-Men: Fallen Angels. It's more light-hearted than most of the X- books that Marvel was producing at the time.

I've finished The Nirvana Effect by Brian Pinkerton


Here is my five star review: /review/show...

Finished The Aeneid, so that completes my ancient classics and this one will fill my Translated BINGO slot. As the third one I've read, I got used to the writing style, and also the fact that about a million people get mentioned at the moment they get killed, unlike in modern books where if a character gets a name he tends to hang around longer than it takes to say his name :) And yes, there were a ton more that started with the letter A, would make a good drinking game I guess, sometimes there would be three in one sentence.

Next up is Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman. Been wanting to read this one since it first came out.

I'm well into Golden State it's pretty good so far.

Listening to Weather by Jenny Offill and reading Malice by John Gwynne

Dead Space Kali Wallace

In the distant future, murder on a mining asteroid leads to all manner of trouble.

Intriguing blend of sci-fi and mystery. 3.5 stars

My review: /review/show...

Finished Norse Mythology, it was a really quick read, would have finished in two days if I didn't intentionally draw it out. Now, I had just read the Prose and Poetic Eddas last couple months, and so it felt to me a bit like just reading them again, there was a similarity in how he chose to write it (as if he were someone telling the tale in a Viking hall) so for me came off a bit repetitive. But for those not wanting to struggle through the translated poems, I thought this was well done. The stories are funny and tragic at the same time.

Now a re-read of The Price of Valour by Django Wexler

Tales From the Fermi Resolution: Vol. 1: Shadow of the Tower by Moe Lane

I read some more of Norse Myths and Rogues. I have now read 4 of the 21 stories in Rogues, and enjoyed all of them.

I read the short story The Beast of Space, which was originally published in the July 1941 issue of Comet magazine. Very much pulp sci-fi and featured many of the tropes common to that genre. It was ok, but nothing special.

The Sky on Fire: The First Battle of Britain, 1917-1918 by Raymond H. Fredette

Lean Times in Lankhmar, Almuric, and currently Circe. I discovered Lankhmar the summer before last on a friend's recommendation (had heard of it and never read it). It's fun and I love the humor that resonates throughout the tales.

Almuric was pretty forgettable, but I wanted to try a lesser known REH. I'll probably stick to his more famous heroes--I suspect they are more famous for a reason.

Circe is...something else. I'm really, really enjoying this new take on those old myths and the perspective from the POV character is marvelous. At the moment I don't have anything original to say, but the review by Aida Edemariam, "An airy delight, a novel to be gobbled greedily..." is spot on.

I have started to read Lovecraft Country, the book the TV show is based on, which I enjoyed. Not far into it, but so far the show has been accurate to the book.

I completed my reading of Children of Time. I liked that book a lot, and I have started today with its follow-up, Children of Ruin.

I finished Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. It took a while to win me over, but it nailed the landing.

Tony wrote: "I have started to read Lovecraft Country, the book the TV show is based on, which I enjoyed. Not far into it, but so far the show has been accurate to the book."

I can't wait to start that one!

Starship's Mage by Glynn Stewart

I have considered reading The Thousand Names for some time, but I kept passing it by. I was afraid that it was grimdark, and I have lost my taste for that genre. Last week I came across a positive review written by a friend whose tastes I trust, so I decided to give it the ol' college try. I'm happy with it so far. And I'm glad there aren't ten thousand points of view! If it turns out to be really grim and dark, boy will there be egg on my face ; )

Agreed on Doomsday book. I got to listen via hoopla and there is something fir the slow build. Her characters are also SO REAL. The way the bells for example went from joke to sacrifice...

Eric wrote: "I finished Doomsday Book by Connie Willis. It took a while to win me over, but it nailed the landing."

One of my all time favorites (obviously). I've read it multiple times. Highly recommend her "Blackout" and "All Clear" books as well.

It's part of me slowly trying to get through the Hugo/Nebula winners, so I'll be reading "To Say Nothing of the Dog and the Blackout/All Clear books at some point!

Eric wrote: "It's part of me slowly trying to get through the Hugo/Nebula winners, so I'll be reading "To Say Nothing of the Dog and the Blackout/All Clear books at some point!"

A set of 4 terrific books by Willis. Also quite different from each other. Doomsday Book is a medieval tragedy, To Say Nothing of the Dog is a Victorian comedy of manners (with time travelers), while Blackout & All Clear have a bit of a triller about them.

A suggestion: before reading Blackout & All Clear, read Willis's first Oxford Time Travellers story, Fire Watch, a novelette which also goes to WW-II London. It pertains. (And it also won a Hugo & a Nebula Award, just not in the novel category.)

G33z3r wrote: "Eric wrote: "It's part of me slowly trying to get through the Hugo/Nebula winners, so I'll be reading "To Say Nothing of the Dog and the Blackout/All Clear books at some point!"

A set..."

Added to the list!

Michelle wrote: "I have considered reading The Thousand Names for some time, but I kept passing it by. I was afraid that it was grimdark, and I have lost my taste for that genre. Last week I came ac..."

I'm rereading the first three books in the series so I can follow up with the last two. I really love it. Definitely not grimdark though there can be dark moments (it is war and he can be kind of descriptive of the kinds of wounds people get) but there's also a lot of humour and it definitely doesn't have a premise of there being no hope, we're all doomed no matter what we do, instead we expect our heroes to succeed (though maybe not all will survive, it's dark enough that maybe he could take out a main character...but seems unlikely) and that our heroes are most definitely good guys.

I'm loving it as much as I did the first time around. In fact the only reason it took me so long to get around to finishing it was that this group started me on the Powder Mage trilogy and reading two sorta similar gunpowder fantasies at the same time didn't seem a good idea so I finished the trilogy first :) BTW, if you like this one I'm sure you'll like the Powder Mage trilogy by Brian McClellan

Timothy wrote: "Circe is...something else. I'm really, really enjoying this new take on those old myths and the perspective from the POV character is marvelous. At the moment I don't have anything original to say, but the review by Aida Edemariam, "An airy delight, a novel to be gobbled greedily..." is spot on"

I've got The Song of Achilles lined up for next month, and Circe the month after. Look forward to doing some greedy gobbling! Especially since I just read the originals by Homer last month, so want to see a modern take on it. I had considered borrowing Song of Achilles from the library but after seeing there was a backlog of like 20 people already putting it on hold, decided it was probably worth the investment. Will find out soon. I got lucky with Circe, found it at a pre-Covid book fair.

Andrea wrote: "Timothy wrote: "Circe is...something else. I'm really, really enjoying this new take on those old myths and the perspective from the POV character is marvelous. At the moment I don't have anything ..."

Awesome, I hope you enjoy it! I will be looking for The Song of Achilles at some point

Andrea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I have considered reading The Thousand Names for some time, but I kept passing it by. I was afraid that it was grimdark, and I have lost my taste for that genre. La..."

Thank you, Andrea! And I think that sums up my distaste for grimdark: the lack of hope. But you have put my mind at ease!

A Bride's Story, Vol. 10 by Kaoru Mori

Second installment in the Dresden Series by Jim Butcher

Dead Tree Books - finished The Price of Valour, looking forward to April when I finally get to the fourth book I haven't read yet, not that I was not greatly enjoying the re-read of the first three.

Now after all that hard work going through the ancient classics, going for a fun take on Greek Mythology with Percy Jackson's Greek Heroes by Rick Riordan. The tale of Perseus had me laughing out loud (just picturing the ancients speaking like modern teenagers was funny, and Hermes showing up in a UPS uniform)

E-Books - finished The Sorcerer of Wildeeps...I'm not sure what I think about this one. There were some downright surreal bits, a lot of context jumping that is the reader's job to figure out, and the mix of science/magic/genetic engineering(?) and FTL made for a challenging read, but then a novella/short story is the place to do something like that and I've read short stories that have confused me far more than this novella so on the whole at least I more or less got the gist of it, and was certainly intrigued by the worldbuilding (like are they on Earth or another planet? characters seem to be French, Spanish,etc...)

It does fill my "SF/F Novel by Author of Colour" BINGO slot, and made for a nice twist on my gods/angels/demons theme where the "gods" seem to be genetically transcendant humans. In fact it is the first BINGO book that isn't over 300 years old :)

I was going to read the other novella by Wilson, but forgot I had it in a four-book package from Tor so I couldn't find it last night and already started in on Northworld Trilogy by David Drake which is supposedly Norse mythology themed. This one I think is still available in the Baen Free Library.

The Mirror Man by Jane Gilmartin

Jeremiah Adams is a marketing executive for ViMed Pharmaeceuticals, which has created a controversial drug that transfers everything in the brain (thoughts, memories, etc.) For an experiment, the drug is used to make a clone of Jeremiah, which proceeds to live Jeremiah's life.

Good Sci-fi thriller. 3.5 stars

My review: /review/show...