Reading in August 2012

[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.

Mark

 

[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.

 

[Kazz Wylde]

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?

 

[Loerwyn]

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.

 

[Hobbit]

Currently reading Peter Hamilton's Great North Road. 100 pages down, but about a thousand to go. Going to be a while....

Mark

 

[raggedyman]

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.

 

[gainespost]

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

 

[suciul]

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

 

[DDCOrange]

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.

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!

 

[Loerwyn]

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

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.

 

[suciul]

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...

 

[livens]

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?

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.

 

[PeterWilliam]

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*

 

[Kazz Wylde]

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.

 

[Loerwyn]

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.

Yes. For all intents and purposes, The Book Depository is still independent from Amazon.

 

[Kazz Wylde]

Yes. For all intents and purposes, The Book Depository is still independent from Amazon.

Ok thanks for that, I'm gonna order from there after I finish One Jump Ahead, so far so good with that, started it last night.

 

[Rob B]

Ok thanks for that, I'm gonna order from there after I finish One Jump Ahead, so far so good with that, started it last night.

By Mark L. Van Name?

If so, very interested in your thoughts. I've said before more folks 'round here should be reading these books.

 

[Kazz Wylde]

By Mark L. Van Name?

If so, very interested in your thoughts. I've said before more folks 'round here should be reading these books.

Yup, Rob thats it. I've seen Liviu's reviews on this and been wanting to get to this, I actually havent read alot of scifi, and I've been on this scifi kick now for a little while. Alright I'll let you know.

 

[Luke_B]

I finished 2312 by Kim Stanley Robinson. What an incredible book! It's a dense book and fairly plot-less book, and it needs to be read carefully to find all the Easter eggs. While I had a few quibbles with it I ultimately found it a very rewarding experience.

 

[Westy]

Finished Paolo Bacigalupi's Pump Six and Other Stories, and have to say this is the best collection of short stories I've read for a number of years.

They all have an underlying political or social commentary, but also show the author's imagination coming to life in some plausible far-future scenarios. He doesn't pull any punches either, with some of them quite grim and graphic, but all very well written.

Looking forward to whatever his next adult novel will be.