Books you're reading now

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Geoff_B
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Geoff_B » 05 Apr 2012, 13:10

Interesting you call it the prototype Guards book given it's the (quickly counts on fingers then giving up and looking on a book list) third book in the series :D
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby plummeting_sloth » 05 Apr 2012, 13:24

I fell in love with Night Watch all over again during the Arab Spring though. It's a hell of a book to read while watching a revolution.
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Keab42 » 05 Apr 2012, 13:34

I'm going to have to re-read Nightwatch again now, you've all made me crave it.

Currently reading The Thief by Clive Cussler before moving onto a pile of Dr Who novels I got from the library, I'll probably follow that up with some of the stash I brought at SFX Weekender, either that or Nightwatch...
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby plummeting_sloth » 05 Apr 2012, 13:42

Oh, and I guess yeah, what I'm actually reading now is a Frommer's guide to Thailand. Pretty good, though I wish the background section was a little bigger.
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Ottoman » 05 Apr 2012, 16:34

Speaking of Vimes, I finished Snuff the other day. Towards the middle, I was getting worried that The Dark was just going to be a device to skip over giant plot holes, but actually, since that only happened once,it was fine.

Overall, not bad. On my Discworld scale, 7/10; would read again.
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Lord Chrusher » 06 Apr 2012, 08:32

In The Shadow Of The Sword: The Battle for Global Empire and the End of the Ancient World by Tom Holland
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby plummeting_sloth » 06 Apr 2012, 14:42

On my plate for the flight, I've got pretty much any classic I could find for my e-reader that was free. I'm gonna hit the books harder than I have since college English.
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Havok4 » 06 Apr 2012, 16:16

Currently reading Hyperion by Dan Simmons. A very interesting series of short stories in the same universe with an interesting framing story. It is one of those sci-fi books where there is little exposition and you have to figure out how the universe works through context and hints which I enjoy and find challenging.
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby guidance » 06 Apr 2012, 18:12

Oryx and Crake, pretty disturbing and depressing book, for me anyways. My favorite thing is getting people to read one particular page, have them finish it, then tell them the contexts. Most of those people never talk to me again afterwords.
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby empath » 08 Apr 2012, 08:46

Re-reading the archived excerpt of Wesley Crusher: Teenage Fuck Machine (link - NSFW...or even '...for ANYTHING', really) to remind myself that anyone regardless of ability can get published, and using my hate an loathing as motivation to write anything (and subsequently raise the aggregate quality of the world's collective body of literature, since this...hack¹ has eight more ebooks for sale on amazon. :hate:

Footnote: 1. No, I'm sorry - to call THIS THING a 'hack' is an insult to all hard-working and remotely serviceable writers; 'Kitty Glitter' obviously aspires to someday RAISE itself to a level of literary competency equivalent to a furry-slash-fanfic writer.
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For reals, I'm reading How Firm a Foundation, book five of David Weber's Safehold series.

In all honesty, he's managed to shoehorn his love of 'age of sail broadsides combat' in along with science fiction better than he did with Honor Harrington.

But I like the premise, and am willingly lugging a kilogram of wood pulp to work and back to entertain myself during breaks. :)
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Geoff_B » 08 Apr 2012, 12:08

And lo my faith in humanity didst drop by 45 parts-per-hundred. And there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth.
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Nyannet » 09 Apr 2012, 22:01

Havok4 wrote:Currently reading Hyperion by Dan Simmons. A very interesting series of short stories in the same universe with an interesting framing story. It is one of those sci-fi books where there is little exposition and you have to figure out how the universe works through context and hints which I enjoy and find challenging.


I am giving you a fatherly look over my old person glasses.

Dan Simmons (as countless authors have before him) is a modern day adaptation of a classic.

In the case of Hyperion he has taken The Canterbury Tales format (and some character parallels) and placed it into a sci-fi universe. It is the first book in the entire series called, collectively, The Hyperion Cantos... the series together being one of the largest influences on the Sci-fi genere in the last 20 years.

The later Books are written in a more traditional format but all together the series really is one big amazing book. Which I implore, nay, beg you to read until the end. Or I may be joining Geoff_B in the wailing and Gnashing of teeth.
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Nyannet » 09 Apr 2012, 22:18

Just finished Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

I ordered a bunch of Gene Wolfe books but Amazon hasn't shipped them yet which is strange...

Anyway I am starting on Ilium by Dan Simmons which is his adaptation of The Illiad. I am looking forward to it. I really enjoyed reading The Illiad in Junior High so I can't wait to see what Simmons brings to the tale... you know besides space ships and laser rifles. Who am I kidding... space ships and laser rifles are enough.
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby sdhonda » 09 Apr 2012, 23:24

Nyannet wrote:
Havok4 wrote:Currently reading Hyperion by Dan Simmons. A very interesting series of short stories in the same universe with an interesting framing story. It is one of those sci-fi books where there is little exposition and you have to figure out how the universe works through context and hints which I enjoy and find challenging.


I am giving you a fatherly look over my old person glasses.

Dan Simmons (as countless authors have before him) is a modern day adaptation of a classic.

In the case of Hyperion he has taken The Canterbury Tales format (and some character parallels) and placed it into a sci-fi universe. It is the first book in the entire series called, collectively, The Hyperion Cantos... the series together being one of the largest influences on the Sci-fi genere in the last 20 years.

The later Books are written in a more traditional format but all together the series really is one big amazing book. Which I implore, nay, beg you to read until the end. Or I may be joining Geoff_B in the wailing and Gnashing of teeth.


Well, the second book is very strangely written. I can't describe the POV without spoiling, but it is really unique how far he takes it. Otherwise though, the story lacks any structure or archetype that I can identify, although the big plot twist of the war has many parallels.

The third book, again with a strange point of view, is basicly Huckleberry Finn in space. The fourth, like the second, is more freeroaming and, although painfully long, serves to tie up the loose ends of the previous book.
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Vanguard » 11 Apr 2012, 05:54

Nyannet wrote:Just finished Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein


Possibly one of my favorite books of all time. I approve.

After going to see the movie with my ladyfriend I bought the complete trilogy of The Hunger Games. I've already gotten done with Hunger Games and Catching Fire and at this point I'm just waiting to get my copy of Mockingjay back from a friend (I loaned it out because, foolishly, I wasn't expecting to burn through the first two so fast).
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Geoff_B » 13 Apr 2012, 03:20

Pop quiz!

This is a story about a kingdom in turmoil. The king is facing dissent among his most trusted councillors and even his loyal military generals are starting to question him. To make matters worse he faces a rebellion led by his very own son, who is very popular among the people of the kingdom and who wishes to drive his father out and take the throne for himself.

What book am I talking about?
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby LogicSword » 13 Apr 2012, 03:29

Pretty much any fantasy book ever?
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Geoff_B
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Geoff_B » 13 Apr 2012, 03:39

You'd think so but no.
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Smeghead » 13 Apr 2012, 08:06

I'm currently reading; The Ninja Handbook
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby empath » 13 Apr 2012, 09:07

1066 And All That?
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Keab42
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Keab42 » 13 Apr 2012, 13:21

Empath, that is an awesome book.

Geoff, Prince Caspian?
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Geoff_B » 13 Apr 2012, 13:50

Nope nope and nope.

If you want a hint, the son's name is Absalom and has very long hair.
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Keab42
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Keab42 » 13 Apr 2012, 14:51

The Bible?
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Geoff_B » 13 Apr 2012, 15:13

Close enough. It was actually 2 Samuel. That entire section (1 Samuel - 2 Chronicles) is basically Game of Thrones in the levels of intrigue, backstabbing and violence that goes on.
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Re: Books you're reading now

Postby Nyannet » 22 Apr 2012, 21:25

Just finished Illium by Dan Simmons and I am picking right back up with Olympos... no other choice SO DAMN GOOD.

Check back in a few days to see my post Dan Simmons series depression kick in.

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