[Hobbit]

This is where you talk to us about your monthly SF Reads: whether good or bad, we want to discuss with you what you thought.

Our Fantasy Book of the Month is Mythago Wood, by Robert Holdstock. Discuss here (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30236).

Our SF Book of the Month is another classic: John Brunner's Stand on Zanzibar. Discuss here (http://www.sffworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30237).

Mark

[chitman13]

I'm currently reading Eric Brown's new novel, The Kings of Eternity. It's just so well written and completely engrossing, and while it definitely is SF most of the novel is not written as a typical SF. I'm loving it, and I think it should be read be as many people as possible.

After that I may or may not read the book that is being released today, The Astute Gentleman’s Concern.

[chitman13]

I finished The Kings of Eternity bgy Eric Brown last night - thoroughly enjoyable. I like Eric's writing because, while it's sci-fi, it's accessible to all. KoE is much more a character story than anything else and focuses on Jonathon Langham and his friends after one of them discovers a strange light in the woods that turns out to be a portal to another world. This is used as the backdrop for the story, the events that spring from this are looked at from the charcaters point of view and are more intimate in detail than I expected. I loved the writing and the way that the story was told, it completely drew me in and kept me hooked. Until the portal in the woods was discovered this could easily be any sort of novel and not specifically a genre one, and at times throughout the rest of the book I got exactly the same feeling.

The last third of the novel could have been expanded more, but that's me being selfish and wanting to spend more time with these characters. I just loved reading about them, and the writing was great - the words flowed off the page and had so much depth to them.

There are still lots of SF books to be released this year, but it will take something very special indeed to beat what Eric Brown has done with KoE. Once again he shows that sci-fi doesn't have to be about the technology and extrapolation, but can be heartfelt, intimate and personal, a look at the human side of events, and totally wonderful.

[pox]

Just ready Mother of all storms by John Barnes and it's really good. Solid sounding science which will take another read with google to grok fully, believeable dark/funny/emotive characters, a fully rip roaring endtimes plot with a happy ending. The works. Someone here put me onto barnes so I owe that someone a thanks. That was much better than the last one of his I read before it and solid at 465 pages.

Very happy with that.

[suciul]

I finished a new series/author debut from Pyr with steampunk and superheroes in New York cca 1880, The Falling Machine by Andrew Mayer (tbp May 26)

Light in tone but quite dark in content especially in the second half, the book delivers what i expected and continues a string of hits from Pyr for me (Vampire Empire, Clockwork Man); from my minireview on Goodreads with full rv to come on FBc in due time:

Superheroes and steampunk in a true age of steam and in New York rather than London at about the time the Brooklyn Bridge was being built - that would be ~1880 - since the novel starts with a superb action sequence on its construction site - the book moves fast and furious and it delivers what I expected of it quite well with only one niggle, namely it's a little too short and it ends when things become the most interesting with not quite a cliffhanger, but not even a partial resolution either... Though of course this means the sequel became an asap for me since I really want to know what happens next

The other thing I liked about the book beside the setting and author's narrative flow that does not let go, were the characters since despite starting as more-or-less stock (the genius professor, the rich industrialist playing at superhero, the young up and coming blade , "the girl" aka the daughter of the industrialist, the mechanical man and the famous detective superhero, plus the assorted villains, all with funny names but in the spirit of the tale told here) they develop in sometimes unexpected directions and acquire distinctive personalities, most notably the main heroine Sarah Stanton and Tom the mechanical man with a secret.

[pox]

currently Coalescent by Baxter. S'ok. Will know more soon.

[edit]
It was going ok until he started screwing in arthurian legend like it was some box to tick. Sheesh. When I say it was going OK I mean it's readable and the characters are well written, though I'm damned if I can get any emotional attachment to any of them. There's virtually no science in it yet, a startling readjustment after the education that was mother of all storms last. I can't see this pulling round, but it's the first of a set, and I suspect that the sheer pace of it will probably mean I read the rest at some point.

[nquixote]

Finished Little Brother. Loved it. DAMN, Doctorow can write. Mild spoiler: VLARP 4 EVR!!!

On to Stories of Your Life and Others.

http://cd.pbsstatic.com/xl/86/4186/9780765304186.jpg

Let's see what Teddy C has in store for me.

[suciul]

I started Embassytown and so far it looks to be what i expected and more, a sort of weird take on IM Banks; early still since this is a book you do not want to rush and you need to parse carefully to get what's what from meaning of words to stuff like measurements and how things work, but I see this one becoming the best sff I've read in a long time

[bearcatmark]

I read the first chapter of Banks' Surface Detail yesterday (absolutely riveting chapter). I'm really excited for this book though I know the next couple weeks I'm going to be spending most my free time watching college basketball. Could take a bit longer to get through as a result.

[Westsiyeed]

I started Embassytown and so far it looks to be what i expected and more, a sort of weird take on IM Banks; early still since this is a book you do not want to rush and you need to parse carefully to get what's what from meaning of words to stuff like measurements and how things work, but I see this one becoming the best sff I've read in a long time

That sounds promising, I'm so envious!