Reading in November 2009

[Hobbit]

November!

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.


One Admin note this month. We've tweaked the Forum Rules, so please take a look at the new version. (Link HERE.)

Mark

[Ropie]

Moreau's other Island by Brian Aldiss. Always a great storyteller, this one is a gripping little tale of a man stranded on a strange island belonging to a robot Moreau.

[NickeeCoco]

I'm almost finished with Elizabeth Moon's Once a Hero, which is the fourth book of the Familias Regnant/Serrano series. It's great. It's just moment after moment of EVAs, sneaking, military planning, action and hijacking ships. It doesn't require a lot of brainpower, but it sure is fun.

[NickeeCoco]

I'm about 100 pages into David Weber's Off Armegeddon Reef, book 1 of the Safehold series. It's not what I was expecting. At the moment it's more fantasy than sci-fi. I'm also absoloutely horrified at what the last remnants of humanity have become in this series. I'm really hoping it's going to move out into the stars soon. I've read a couple of books Weber has written with Eric Flint and this is the first book I've read by Weber alone. While the writing is well done, it's got a real fantasy feel to it and I'm looking for some military sci-fi.

[suciul]

Originally Posted by NickeeCoco

I'm about 100 pages into David Weber's Off Armegeddon Reef, book 1 of the Safehold series. It's not what I was expecting. At the moment it's more fantasy than sci-fi. I'm also absoloutely horrified at what the last remnants of humanity have become in this series. I'm really hoping it's going to move out into the stars soon. I've read a couple of books Weber has written with Eric Flint and this is the first book I've read by Weber alone. While the writing is well done, it's got a real fantasy feel to it and I'm looking for some military sci-fi.

The Safehold Series is epic fantasy with an AI wizard at least for the first 4 volumes in (3 out, 4th due in several months) and most likely for the first 6-7 from what I hear; I love it and while it has lots of battles of all kinds (naval, land, duels..) it's kings, emperors, vicars, nobles and commoners, inquisition and reformation all the way...

For a good intro to Weber mil-sf, In Fury Born (the expanded version of the superb Path of the Fury which is the last half) is a standalone

Back on topic - I am reading the just published Time Travelers Never Die by J. McDevitt and as usual the author' style just hooked me from the first page; not the most ground-breaking sf but somehow the storytelling of Mr. McDevitt is so superb that after 15 or so novels and I still cannot get enough...

I also have Grand Junction by M. Dantec and Geosynchron (arc/Feb 10) by DL. Edelman on the sf pile with Mirror Space/De Pierres (Orion 3) coming in the mail from BD - that is read on receive - and I started also the Darkness series of H. Turtledove though that one is more fantasy (WW2 with dragons and magic)

[NickeeCoco]

Originally Posted by suciul

The Safehold Series is epic fantasy with an AI wizard at least for the first 4 volumes in (3 out, 4th due in several months) and most likely for the first 6-7 from what I hear; I love it and while it has lots of battles of all kinds (naval, land, duels..) it's kings, emperors, vicars, nobles and commoners, inquisition and reformation all the way...

Really?

Ugh.

I mean, it's something I think I could really get into at a later date, but not now. I'm on a kick. Ah well. I have a mass of books expected to arrive in the mail anyday now. I'm actually expecting them today. The first two Honor Harrington books will be in the package.

[Rob B]

Originally Posted by suciul

Back on topic - I am reading the just published Time Travelers Never Die by J. McDevitt and as usual the author' style just hooked me from the first page; not the most ground-breaking sf but somehow the storytelling of Mr. McDevitt is so superb that after 15 or so novels and I still cannot get enough...

I've got that McDevitt book as my next SF book, too. Although I haven't read *all* of his stuff, I have enjoyed all that I did read by him.

[suciul]

Originally Posted by Rob B

I've got that McDevitt book as my next SF book, too. Although I haven't read *all* of his stuff, I have enjoyed all that I did read by him.

I finished Time Travelers Never Die today in a noon break (read late last night until my eyes closed since it was really addictive); it's a typical McDevitt book that keeps you engrossed while you do not want to question too much its premises; our bumbling but endearing heroes (Shel and Dave) travel throughout history and have many adventures, most due to their ineptness; the cameos of Aristarchus of Alexandria, the civil rights leaders of the 60's and some of the Founding Fathers are the best, with a Borgia and the goons in the south suitably menacing...

A great ending and the book hangs together though it's more Time Traveler's Wife (though with a missing father rather than romance) than "serious" sf; there is room for more and I would welcome another book in the same universe though it stands well on its own; I know there is an Alex Benedict next from Mr. McDevitt though since Hutch is retired maybe we see more Q-pods time travelers after...

Among the best lighter sf of 09

Regarding Mr. McDevitt's work, while the 5th Hutch volume was less good than the rest and Moonfall?? the disaster one was a disaster for me, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest a lot, even the weaker ones like the aforementioned Omega, Infinity beach or the dated debut Hercules Text...

The Alex Benedict books and the Hutch series are excellent overall, but again do not expect ground breaking sf, just great characters and storytelling with adventure sprinkled throughout

[Dwagginz]

I just finished Mass Effect: Revelation.

7/10. Drew's a good writer, it just... Wasn't an overly interesting book.

[deez sniderz]

I'm about 3/4 through Charles Stross' Iron Sunrise and it's just off-the-hook.

Also came up on a couple of Preacher graphic novels, and that's currently blowing my mind as well.

[livens]

Just finished Light by M. John Harrison. My head is still spinning, but in a very good way. Id give it 5 stars, one of the best SF Ive read.

Chindi and Seeker by Jack McDevitt are sitting on my shelf taunting me to read them. Its either one of those or Eon by Greg Bear. But after reading light I feel like I should just sit and stare at the stars for a few months before reading anything else.

[metalprof]

I'm reading Zoe's Tale, by John Scalzi.

I'm only a third of the way through, but I have to admit being really disappointed that after only 4 Old Man's War books, he's already playing the "revisit previous events from the point of view of a different character" game.

Fortunately, his characters and dialog continue to be very entertaining, but as for the overall content of the book .... seriously, dude ?

Ken

[cgw]

Just finished Eifelheim by Michael Flynn. Shades of Doomsday Book. Actually totally different in style. One similarity though was the description of the black death. I caught a pretty bad cold about half way through so this is what I got to read while incapacitated on the couch.

[Ropie]

Originally Posted by cgw

Just finished Eifelheim by Michael Flynn. Shades of Doomsday Book.

How would you say it compared in terms of readability? Doomsday Book is one of my favourite novels largely because of the immersive nature of Connie Willis' writing.

[beniowa]

Last night I finished Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. This was my first introduction to the author and I'm happy to say he did not disappoint. I loved the alternate world he created where steam-driven machines and bio-engineered creatures exist on the eve of the First World War. I really enjoyed following the adventures of Alek, son of the Hapsburg heir, and Deryn, a girl posing as a boy in the British Air Service as the war erupts around them forcing their paths and lives to cross. Leviathan may be young adult, but it's also very well written. Strongly recommended.

I was unable to get my copy of The Sad Tales of the Brothers Grossbart yesterday because stupid Amazon wanted a signature and I wasn't home. Reading Nightingale's Lament by Simon R. Green instead.