[Hobbit]

And so to September....

In case you haven't realised, this is where you tell us what you're reading in SF this month. Good or bad, please let us know what you thought.


Mark

[suciul]

After finishing the superb non-sff but as good world building or recreating in this case as any, Stettin Station (aka John Russell #3) by D. Downing (Berlin 1941) and which I re-read two times since I was very frustrated that it ended, with book 4 hopefully tbp Spring 2010, I started a small press novel which was the debut of ChiZine press (The Choir Boats is another super novel from them) last year - Filaria by Brent Hayward

Set in a post-apocalyptic underground world divided in vertical levels and told from 4 points of view at four separate so far levels, I read exactly one quarter so far - there are 4x4 chapters - and it is a gem; a bit dense so you really need to pay attention to what's what - reminds one of Gene Wolfe Long Sun somewhat, though that was on a starship and more complex of course - the inventiveness of the book is astounding and I am really curious where it goes; will try and finish it before the biggie (Transition - IM Banks ) arrives tomorrow

[Glelas]

Grabbed Lovegrove's The Age of Ra today thanks to this forum. I first heard of it from Locus Mag, forgot about it, did a search here today for it and found it highly recommended in a few posts.

Hopefully a sleeper for '09.

[chitman13]

Recently finished Emperor's Mercy by Henry Zou, a Warhammer 40K book. I've been slowly reading more of the W40K universe for a while and starting to enjoy them more and more. This one was no different and had an excellent perspective on war and the battles were extremely well told. Definitely easy for the more novice W40K reader to get to grips with, but all the background detail makes me want to find out more about the universe. I've got a few more on the shelf that I'll be getting to soon though.

[livens]

Started the month off a little different. On a whim I picked up The Getaway Special by Jerry Oltion. Its about a mad scientist who uses part bought from Radio Shack to create a hyperdrive engine that can instantaneously transport things anywhere in the universe. The story is goofy, the characters are cliché'd, but its still fun to read. It was meant to be a satire, and not to be taken seriously. Keeping that in mind its a pretty good book.

After that Im going to start on Sister Alice by Robert Reed. Ive read his Marrow books and they where terrific, I picked this on up on his name alone. Didnt even read the blurb... I guess I am keeping my fingers crossed a little :)

[mylinar]

Using an almost forgotten birthday gift card I went to the local Barns and Nobel and picked up 3 books. One is fantasy, Tad Williams' first of the Otherland series. The second I got on recommendation from this forum and it is 'Old Man's War' by Scalize (sp?). And the third is, I forget (see what happens after 50!!!!!) but I know where it is sitting at home, I think.

I'm probably only a 1/3 into Old Man's War and liking it a lot, though it occasionally strikes me as retro in that everyone seems like a small town white american from the 20th century despite references like the Cubs not having won a World Series in over 200 hundred years. Anyway, it is good so far and as usual the advice of people here have lead me to another winner of a book. Thanks.

[Smitty]

Well, I decided to read "Fallen Dragon" by Peter F. Hamilton. Big book, I wish it was available as unabridged audiobook. Without that it may be a stretch to finish by the end of the month.

[spiralguru3d]

Recently read Fahrenheit 451 and Songs of Distant Earth. I found Fahrenheit amazingly perceptive, and a brilliant read. A friend tells me it is even more poignant to read today than twenty years ago when he first read it. In many ways I think it superior to 1984/Brave New World. They are different books, but all three commentaries on where society could go if we're not careful. I love Fahrenheit because it is not only intelligent, but a good story, and very well-written to boot. I read it in a single sitting. Songs of Distant Earth had lots of good ideas in it but a cast of cardboard characters and a sudden ending with lots of unanswered questions made me wonder why I bothered.?

Reading some non sci-fi now while waiting for Transition, which I'll be reading later in the month once I've been to the book-signing and got my copy. =)

[suciul]

I finally got one of the biggest releases of the Fall, Transition by IM Banks though I plan to finish Filaria (almost done) first since it got better and better as it progressed.

I also saw Jeff Vandermeer review of Mark von Schlegell Mercury Rising second book in his weird sf loose series, so I ordered it and put Venusia on top of the pile - this is the first book which I bought some years ago, but got lost in the huge pile of books to read...

[Rob B]

I finally got one of the biggest releases of the Fall, Transition by IM Banks though I plan This book arrived on my doorstep yesterday, too.