Fantasybookspot

Fantasybookspot General Discussion :: RE: May Fantasy Reading

Author: Artos the Bear
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 9:13 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 31

This year's FBS tournament gave me lots of new leads. On that note, I decided to pick up Christopher's Barzak's One For Sorrow. So far, so good!
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Fantasybookspot General Discussion :: RE: "I just bought"

Author: Zach
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:12 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 64

I purchased a brand new hardcover edition of Crossroads of Twilight, by Robert Jordan, at a dollar store for...you guessed it, one dollar. Might not actually read it until a couple of years from now, but I've always been curious about this one considering that even hardcore WoT fans seem to think CoT is downright terrible.

Who knows, though? Most Alien fans hate Alien 3, and I can attest that many otherwise devout Star Wars prequel fans loathe Attack of the Clones with a vengeance. I like both.

Book Reviews Discussion :: Review Comments: Her Husband's Christmas Bargain

Author: Kissa Starling
Subject: Review Comments: Her Husband's Christmas Bargain
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:09 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 0

http://www.fantasybookspot.com/node/2637
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Fantasybookspot General Discussion :: RE: "I just bought"

Author: tqft
Subject: Grumble
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:04 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 64

The Black Isle - Katharine Kerr

$33 (Australian) for a paperback.
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General Discussions :: RE: Should panels at conventions be recorded and made available?

Author: Brian
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 4:58 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 9

Sandra Ruttan wrote:

I'd be willing to bet money that if Brian was on a panel with his favourite reviewer, that David J. Montgomery would quickly forget he was being recorded, and that it could be quite a spectacle. Sort of a debate/wrestling combo.

I'm too much of a smart ass to be on a panel. Things would get heated then I'd stand up doing the Baltimore dick grab and start making obscene cheerio jokes. I'd probably get banned for life.
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"Anyone who spends his or her life reading inside just one genre is an idiot." - Dan Simmons

"If you want to write fantasy then read everything but fantasy." - Michael Moorcock

Scifibookspot General Discussion :: RE: May Science Fiction Reading

Author: Fuxxy Elf
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 12:01 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 16

I am currently reading Day of the Vipers by James Swallow, a Star Trek tie-in dealing specifically with the beginning of the Cardassian occupation of Bajor, it is also the beginning of a trilogy.

I haven't read a Star Trek book for years, but after a book "dry period" and since I am re-watching DS9 (up to season 3 when I buy it), it just called to me from the bookshelf. I'm about halfway through, and it is very good. A lot more depth than I remember from previous Trek books I've read, but after a bit of research I realise that now that all the series have ended they can add depth without worrying about messing with Canon.

I don't know if it was stated in the show how quickly or slowly Cardassians aged, but Gul Dukat is a primary character even though it is set 50 years before DS9, plus a Bajoran character who appeared in an episode I just watched "Collaborators" and various new characters. With some similarities between Bajor's religion and Cardassia's nearly dead religion being made, plus arguments being made that Bajor weren't entirely blameless in why the events leading up to the invasion happened. I am finidng it definitely more than the diverting read I was expecting.

Book Reviews Discussion :: REVIEW COMMENTS - 2001: A Space Odyssey

Author: Valashain
Subject: REVIEW COMMENTS - 2001: A Space Odyssey
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 9:44 am (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 0

My review of a science fiction classic.

http://www.fantasybookspot.com/node/2635

Scifibookspot General Discussion :: RE: If I like X Science Fiction what others would I like?

Author: Trinuviel
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 7:39 am (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 15

Thanks for all the replies!

Come to think of it, I have read Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy, which I generally liked even though I was somewhat disappointed in the third installment.

I love Ursula le Guin's Earthsea-books, so I'll definitely take a look at her sci-fi work. I think I'll also pick up some Gene Wolfe, since I have wanted to read some of his work for some time, though I wasn't aware that he also wrote sci-fi.

Elfheim sounds intriguing. I quite like alternate history. My most recent read in that genre was Philip Roth's The Plot Against America, which was very good.

Zoran Zivkovic sounds interesting too.

Fantasybookspot General Discussion :: RE: "I just bought"

Author: Trinuviel
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 7:29 am (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 64

Scott Bakker - The Darkness that Comes Before

Fantasybookspot General Discussion :: RE: May Fantasy Reading

Author: Valashain
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 7:09 am (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 31

I'll be starting in Lynn Flewelling's Hidden Warrior later today. I was not impressed by the first part of this trilogy but not quite ready to give up either.

Scifibookspot General Discussion :: RE: If I like X Science Fiction what others would I like?

Author: Valashain
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 6:44 am (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 15

I just finished reading 2001: A Space Odyssey (review in the works) and I think that if you like this one you will probably like Kim Stanley Robinson's science fiction. The Mars trilogy, Icehenge and Memories of Whiteness in particular. They share the same optimistic look on the future and the same attention to scientific detail.

General Discussions :: RE: The short story thread

Author: Valashain
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 5:32 am (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 34

Today's Wasteland story is Judgement Passed by Jerry Oltion. A ship carrying eight scientists and explorers returns to earth form a long mission. They are in for a surprise though, during their absence Jesus has returned and gathered his flock. The earth has been empty of people for the last four years. None of them are very religious people but forced by the reality of their situation they now have to ask themselves what to do next. Try to get God's attention? Maybe being left behind is not such a bad thing.

This story is a rational view on the second coming of Christ. I am not sure what the author is trying to do here. He obviously doesn't think much of religion but there is no need to point out that religion from a rationalist point of view does not make sense. It is an intriguing premise though, I have to give him that.

Fantasybookspot General Discussion :: RE: May Fantasy Reading

Author: MisterTT
Posted: Sun May 11, 2008 2:51 am (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 31

DragonReader wrote:

Now reading "The Born Queen" by Greg Keyes.

Just finished that. All in all, I thought the last one was the best in the series. The pacing never ceased to amaze me.

I never got round to read the much-talked-about Wheel of Time, so I guess now is as good a time as any... A third of the first down and I am enjoying it quite a lot.

Media Reviews Discussion :: Review Comments-Alien Nation: Ultimate Movie Collection

Author: dragonwomant
Subject: Review Comments-Alien Nation: Ultimate Movie Collection
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 11:30 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 0

New review going up.
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Fantasybookspot General Discussion :: RE: Richard Morgan's article

Author: bossfan2000
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 10:43 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 20

I actually posted a similar rant prior to Morgan's post, here.

of course, my writing skills (and ability to make my point) are way, way below his.
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Fantasybookspot General Discussion :: RE: May Fantasy Reading

Author: DragonReader
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 9:47 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 31

Now reading "The Born Queen" by Greg Keyes.
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General Discussions :: Philip K Dick is doing drugs with everyone

Author: Brian
Subject: Philip K Dick is doing drugs with everyone
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 9:21 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 0

I recently bought The Yiddish Policeman's Union and Rant in trade paperback and found an odd bit of serendipity. That both books carry similar blurbs.

Quote:

if Raymond Chandler and Philip K. Dick had smoked a joint with I.B. Singer.

Quote:

if Philip K Dick met Dennis Johnson and they took crystal meth together

I think that missing android is running wild and getting down with all sorts of folks.
_________________
"Anyone who spends his or her life reading inside just one genre is an idiot." - Dan Simmons

"If you want to write fantasy then read everything but fantasy." - Michael Moorcock

General Discussions :: RE: The short story thread

Author: Joe
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 6:09 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 34

Had a chance to read "The Clockwork Chickadee" by Mary Robinette Kowal a bit in advance of its Clarkesworld publication next month. I mentioned this in my mini review on da blog, but it read something like an O Henry story complete with the twist at the end. Nice little story. I like Kowal's work.
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Scifibookspot General Discussion :: RE: If I like X Science Fiction what others would I like?

Author: Brian
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:44 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 15

MattD wrote:

If you like Blade Runner, an obvious place to start would be Dick's Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? -- the book that was the basis for the movie.

I disagree w/ Matt slightly on this point. Its been my experience that people who watch the movie, who read the book, who aren't familiar with Dick wind up not liking the book. Of course that's just anecdotal so take it for what its worth.

I'll take it another way though and recommend a group of books that don't seem to get mentioned too much.

For anyone who liked Bladerunner (the movie) I would suggest reading the sequels that K W Jeter wrote. They aren't perfect but they are quite good as an extension.

Blade Runer 2: The Edge of Human
Blade Runer 3: Replicant Night
Blade Runer 4: Eye and Talon

Jeter, along with Tim Powers and James P Blaylock, were close friends with Dick during the last decade of his life.
_________________
"Anyone who spends his or her life reading inside just one genre is an idiot." - Dan Simmons

"If you want to write fantasy then read everything but fantasy." - Michael Moorcock

General Discussions :: RE: The short story thread

Author: MattD
Posted: Sat May 10, 2008 5:12 pm (GMT -4)
Topic Replies: 34

Trinalor wrote:

I have Paper Cities checked out from the library right now, but can't start it until I finish my current book.

Have you read any of this yet? I've been eyeing it every time I'm in my local bookshop...

MattD