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.
Mark
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.
Mark
Mark
Post Apocalypse is one of my favourite sub-genres and this largely forgotten novel, Vanishing Point by Michaela Roessner, is proving to be one of the best I've read. It's not particularly striking in any of its strengths - it's all competent in terms of characters, writing style, plot, setting - but the whole thing just somehow comes together so well and makes for an exciting and memorable read. I'm close to finishing this one and, barring a stodgy ending, I think it will turn out to be one of my favourite reads of the year.
Oh man I went up to my favorite bookstore on the square hoping I'd find a copy of Gibson's Stealing Light, they didnt have one book of his, I guess his stuff is all UK only still? Anyways, I wound up getting a copy of Van Name's One Jump Ahead, I think I'll like this.
Is Gary Gibson's books still UK only? And I thought I seen a post somewhere that Amazon bought out Book Depository, so no free shipping and I'd have to go thru Amazon UK to get this? Anyone know?
Last edited by Kazz Wylde; August 1st, 2012 at 04:16 PM. Reason: add
Still plodding through Caliban's War. Not sure what it is, but I'm not taking to it as well as I did Leviathan Wakes. It keeps referencing LW but I honestly don't remember half of it.
Currently reading Peter Hamilton's Great North Road. 100 pages down, but about a thousand to go. Going to be a while....
Mark
Mark
Finished Robert Silverberg's collection In The Beginning : Tales From The Pulp Era. These stories were written in the 1950's just before the collapse of the old pulp sf magazines. These stories are nothing but good ol' BEM's , babes and blasters. The interludes where he talks about his life and how he had to write good and fast to earn money are almost as entertaining as the stories. I give it 3 1/2 stars out of 5.
I'll be finishing Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress tonight. Good book :-) The story spans decades in the main character's life, and it's been a while since I read a novel that so skillfully describes the changes undergone by a character, as well as the things that keep her, as an old woman, the same person she was when she was young.
Not sure I worded that very clearly. Maybe I should get some more coffee :-p
I finished A Fire Season by Jane Lindskold and David Weber, second YA Honorverse prequel series.
A disappointing sequel to A Beautiful Friendship; three main reasons why - most important there is little trace of David Weber's writing here as opposed to the first book which was all Weber; it may be an early Honorverse, set on Sphinx and featuring Stephanie but it does not matter if the writing magic is not there; second and related to this, the book morphs into pretty much standard YA fare and lacks the suspense and the intrigue of the first volume; third nothing much happens by and large
Overall a 2 1/2 star book and I hope the next installment will have much more Weber as otherwise I predict a massive drop off in interest across the board after the success of the A Beautiful Friendship
I remember that one. Read it years ago when it first came out. I have to agree that it's one of the better books of it's genre with an unusual storyline. I might have to dig it out of my book closet and give it a re-read except for my ever growing "to be read" pile!Originally Posted by Ropie
Post Apocalypse is one of my favourite sub-genres and this largely forgotten novel, Vanishing Point by Michaela Roessner, is proving to be one of the best I've read. It's not particularly striking in any of its strengths - it's all competent in terms of characters, writing style, plot, setting - but the whole thing just somehow comes together so well and makes for an exciting and memorable read. I'm close to finishing this one and, barring a stodgy ending, I think it will turn out to be one of my favourite reads of the year.
Hm, interesting. I'm still champing at the bit for the hardcover, though.
But I think the lack of Weber-esque style isn't too bad. One of my problems with A Beautiful Friendship was that Weber stuck to his guns a little too much, giving his beloved infodumps and tech-porn descriptions along with some fairly moderate-level science (that the reader might not necessarily know, I only learnt it in the final year(s) of education), so if there's little to no more of them, I think it'd be an improvement considering it's YA.
Of course it all depends where you come from - as I am a huge Weber fan from 1993 when I read his early novels like Path of the Fury, Mutineer's Moon and Insurrection before getting started with HH - and I follow YA to find books for my 10 year old son rather than read them myself, I read A Beautiful Friendship and Fire Season only because of DW.
Back on topic, waiting for The Air War which i should get today on its publication date I also opened one of the two Adam Roberts novel I have not yet read, On (his second set in a world where gravity is horizontal) and this time I was hooked on the story as the pastoral setting (sort of, considering that everyone lives on a huge vertical wall) and the naming conventions (which sort of poke fun at the epic fantasy conventions but are still annoying a little) stopped bothering me so i could get on (so to speak!) with the story; of course as it is Adam Roberts I love it as long as i could get over those two annoyances...
Ive never seen anything of his around here, Louisville, Kentucky. I got Stealing Light off of Amazon used for $0.01 + 3.99 shipping, and it was in great condition.
Amazon bought out TBD?!!! I hope not! But I just checked out their website and its still looks the same and proclaims free shipping anywhere.
Unfortunately, yes. Amazon is, or is becoming, the 800-pound gorilla.
Pete, *over in St. Matthews*
Yeah googled it, Amazon did buy them out. Looks like they still operate for now independently? Not quite sure whats up. Only used them once a few years ago, got Abercrombies Blade Itself thru them, I was happy, showed up in perfect condition all wrapped up and under 7 days.Unfortunately, yes. Amazon is, or is becoming, the 800-pound gorilla.
Pete, *over in St. Matthews*
Yes. For all intents and purposes, The Book Depository is still independent from Amazon.
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