So what Books are forumites currently reading?

stubs

Just finished the last of the Neal Asher, Agent Cormac novels. I absolutely loved them he gets a lot of bad reviews for some reason which I admit put me off trying the books but I had a voucher for abebooks.com so I thought I would get the first novel to try it out. Really glad I did and now I have got all his polity novels lined up to read in order.

t0pc4t

I do read Amazon reviews from time to time but never ones for the Cormac novels, what do people say?

He's pretty violent, that's for sure but personally I don't think it's excessive.

stubs

Didnt read all the Amazon reviews but some of them were a bit over the top. Fair enough he isnt Iain M Banks or Isaac Asimov but some people seem to think his characters are very one dimensional which I didnt think was true. Also some people didnt seem to like the Aliens, the intelligent computers or the space battles, which seems odd why would you read hard core space opera when you dont like either.

Good fun books which rattle along at a good pace without too much philosophical bollocks. Too many sci fi writers seem to forget the sci bit these days.

t0pc4t

I'd agree with all of that.

Daryl_C

currently on Robert Rankin ; Japanese Devil Fish Girl. Very good stuff from him! also just finished the Salmon Fishing in the Yemen book that the film was based on! not seen the film yet but if its as good as the book it should be cool!

cat_with_no_tail

I've been reading some Clive Cussler books lately. The "NUMA" ones. They're actually pretty good. Not exactly modern classics, but good light reading.

Also read some poker books, just to keep a hand in (no pun intended).

karlbrewster

I'm reading "Tested Advertising Methods" by John Caples.
Experimenting with a little bit of copywriting here.
I gotta tell you this guy is fantastic. He knew some awesome stuff decades ago we don't even know today.

Abra

Im halfway throught the game of thrones 1st book. pretty good : D

YeehaaMcgee

Anyone "reading" books on audible here? I just got the phone app.

t0pc4t

my wife does and seems pretty pleased with it.

I'm well into the first volume of the 3rd game of thrones, each time I start one I think 'this is a bit meh' but then before long I'm sleep deprived from reading it.

Ransaka

Some surprising things in here, thought I'd end up being the only SF or fantasy reader for some reason.

Have recently finished Dances with Dragons and really enjoyed it, had a quick blast through Snowcrash to keep my cyberpunk needs sated and have started re-reading the Eisenhorn trilogy by Dan Abnett. Usually I'd stay so far away from Games Workshop sponsored genre fiction it'd be on another continent but Abnett's stuff is actually pretty good considering.

YeehaaMcgee

Slowly getting through "The long Earth" in my lunch breaks.

Ransaka

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Slowly getting through "The long Earth" in my lunch breaks.

Never read any Baxter but have read tons of Pratchett (who hasn't). Is it a good read? I seem to recall Baxter does quite hard sci-fi so would be interested in your thoughts on how the two of them work together.

YeehaaMcgee

I've never read any Baxter either, but since he has a reputation for doing some quite hardcore scifi, I can only imagine that he was busy writing a book abotu parallell words, and then Pratchet would com in and put ridicilous potato-powered machinery and singing monkeys/Russians in there
I'm really enjoying it, but it's definitely nothing like Discworld.

Ransaka

Might have to give that a go. Solves my what to read after Eisenhorn issue

Richie63

Xenoform by Mike Berry Just finished -Good though ending was a bit quickly done.

Three Feet of Sky: Book One Stephen Ayres - Really enjoyed this

Leviathan Wakes: Book One James S A Corey - Liked this waiting for second one now

Just about to start Sector C by Phoenix Suillivan

Also just finished an excellent read Antarctica: An Intimate Portrait of the Worlds most Mysterious Continent. By Gabrielle Walker

I love my Kindle it's got me reading again

stubs

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. Its a kids book written in 1930 about 2 groups of children set on an island in a lake in a fictionalised Lake District. Read it when I was 9 or so, now over 40 years later reading it to my 6 year old great niece.

Richie63

t0pc4t wrote:

it keeps on getting better I reckon, the Cormac series is brilliant imo.

I also enjoyed the Spatterjay series of books which are set in the polity. The Skinner is just good but there were points during the 3rd one (Orbus) where I was really blown away.

I@m reading 'The Departure' now and it's showing as much promise, not sure why it got so slated on Amazon.

After that probably 'Ready Player One' and then the 3rd game of thrones.

Read 'Ready Player One' in the hols liked it for all the 80's references etc.

t0pc4t

I loved it in the end, the nostalgia references were good but I thought the story held up as well.

Right now I'm just starting Dance with dragons, I normally hate fantasy but the song of fire and ice has got me properly hooked. Hopefully by the time that's done the Fractal Prince by Hannu Rajaniemi will be out, if it's anywhere near as good as the Quantum Thief it'll be mind bendingly brilliant sci fi

streetvw

whilst on holiday read 2 Jeff Strand books (quite short) first one was Single White Psychopath Seeks Same, and Casket For Sale (Only Used Once!) both cracking if a little disturbing reads and then read Lance Armstrongs it's not about the bike which I really enjoyed amazin bloke IMHO

Northwind

I'm reading Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson again. Ridiculously good. Can't be read in small doses though, has to be read like you'd watch a film.

Got a pile of warhammer 40k stuff to read as well, it's my guilty bolter-porn secret. Total drivel but I can't resist.

YeehaaMcgee

Reading Steven King's "The Stand".
It's ok, I guess. I was expecting a bit more from such a well known author though.

Newfish

stubs wrote:

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. Its a kids book written in 1930 about 2 groups of children set on an island in a lake in a fictionalised Lake District. Read it when I was 9 or so, now over 40 years later reading it to my 6 year old great niece.

Amazing book!! Have also just re read it. Childhood favourite.

Currently reading;

Interesting Times - Terry Prachett
Sherlock Holmes - Sir A C D.
The diary of Samuel Pepys

I am currently working my way through Terry Pratchetts entire discworld collection so have read all of them up to Interesting Times except Eric, which isn't available for kindle in English for some reason. Have also just finished reading;

Eye of the Needle - Ken Follett
A Twist of Fate - Joanna Rees

I'm a big scifi and fantasy fan but also like historical fiction and crime.

kieranb

Well curently reading Jack Glass by Adam Roberts, a great read so far, my wife picked up the book as well and is now also engrossed in it. Surprised to see no mention of China Mieville given all the sci-fi/fantasy postings. I have now read most of his books, may not be everybody's cup of tea though. Recently finished Floating Worlds by Cecelia Holland, another very good read, although some of the science/reality could have been better thought out the story was very good (at one point, I was reading it in paperback and my wife and son on the kindle).

t0pc4t

nope had never even heard of him before your post however from what I can see on the Amazon summaries and reviews this is someone I may well like so I have kindled up Perdido St Station and will report back at some later point in the future when I've finished Dance with Dragons

Will certainly hold me out until the Fractal Prince is out, it's the sequel to a book called 'Quantum Thief' which took a while to get going but turned out awesome.

Davdandy

Just finished reading Cormac McCarthy`s The Road after watching the awesome movie at least six times in two months now.

I have to say that both movie and book are without a doubt the most depressing things i have read and seen,with no happy moments or scenes of joy,and yet it is utterly brilliant.

The book describes a world upside down,the end of the world as we know and how one man tries to keep his son alive amidst all around them.The book is grim,from start to finish.There is no fun to be had,it is all doom and gloom but that is what makes it work.It is stunningly upsetting in places but also compelling.It is so different to the usual stuff we see on the shelves these days.

A heartbreaking novel which shows how two people struggling in a world in turmoil can find love foe each other against a backdrop of blackness.

I cannot recommend both book and movie enough,just dont expect anything light hearted and be prepared for misery and enjoy.

jndb72

YeehaaMcgee wrote:

Reading Steven King's "The Stand".
It's ok, I guess. I was expecting a bit more from such a well known author though.

Read this many years ago. I then also read the extended version. Though it was a brilliant read.

bennett_346

Watts pocket handbook for Property and Surveying.

kieranb

I'm guessing that's not Sci-fi, maybe chick lit or romance?

Davdandy

Might go for James Herbert`s `Others` next,anyone read that one?