What books are you reading at the moment?
I'm currently reading the Wool omnibus by Hugh Howey. It's pretty decent I've been making very rapid progress as it's been too hot to sleep here recently now the summer has arrived.
I haven't seen the Apple show, but maybe I'll watch it in the future when I've finished all the books (I had Shift and Dust as well).
237
Comments307
I'm rereading Asimov's complete saga in "internal story chronological order":
I, Robot / The Complete Robot (except 'Mirror Image'!) [ROBOTS]
The Caves of Steel [ROBOTS]
The Naked Sun [ROBOTS]
Mirror Image (short story) [ROBOTS]
The Robots of Dawn [ROBOTS]
Robots and Empire [ROBOTS]
The Stars, Like Dust-- [EMPIRE]
The Currents of Space [EMPIRE]
Pebble in the Sky [EMPIRE]
Prelude to Foundation [FOUNDATION]
Forward the Foundation [FOUNDATION]
Foundation [FOUNDATION]
Foundation and Empire [FOUNDATION]
Second Foundation [FOUNDATION]
Foundation's Edge [FOUNDATION]
Foundation and Earth [FOUNDATION]
I'm currently on "Forward the foundation"
The Foundation series is absolutely amazing, and I am jealous of you if this is your first reading. One of my formative series growing up. You're inspiring me to do the whole Asimov read through like your doing, because I don't believe I ever read the Empire books and never read Robot beyond I, Robot.
It's not my first, I think it's my third read-through, but the first in the original language instead of my mother language (Italian).
Yes, I really recommend reading the whole series, it's just amazing!
Honestly, has to be my favourite series. There's just so much to it.
I'm surprised The Caves of Steel is so early as it seemed really futuristic compared to most of The Complete Robot, but I read it a long time ago so maybe I'm not remembering correctly.
Well all short stories in The complete robot are with "normal humans" and their interactions with the first "robots" on earth when there was no faster than lights spaceships.
The Caves of Steel instead is the first of the robot saga where humanity is divided between human from earth that lives inside the big underground cities and the "spacers" which lived on several different planets and are almost a new spieces because they have been separated from earth for several centuries.
I did this last year. It's quite amazing to read through.
I'm currently reading Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey, which is the first book of the Expanse series. I haven't watched the TV series, since I wanted to dive into the books without previous knowledge.
I've read all of them. The TV series is incredible as well and had the full involvement of the authors. Some stuff is done better in the books (like the stuff that doesn't translate so well to screen such as the lanky belters and zero-gravity) and some stuff is done better in the TV show (they had an incredibly good cast of actors, all of whom really added to the roles - Krisjen, Ashford and Drummer in particular were amazing).
It was a really really good adaptation and it's quite rare you see that.
And they are magnificent.
So is the TV series ; -)
I really hope the last books can get a continuation in the show, even in movie format
Amazing series of books that are up in my top three, still trying to find time to read Leviathan Falls (the final book). The story gets crazy.
Right? It starts off all very hard sci-fi, the only "magic" is a rocket motor that makes travel around the solar system doable on story-friendly timelines.
That expectation gets broken pretty quickly, and it really is amazing how far the story goes after such a simple beginning as the incident with the Canterbury!
I'm on Tiamats Wake in the Expanse series, love it
Tiamet's Wrath*
Best book in the series. It's so damn good.
God-damned amazing series! I need to read it again
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson. Was a recommendation on the R site.
Complex, eon spanning, hard sci-fi. I'm loving it!
I finished Seveneves a few weeks ago. If I wasn't reading it with a friend I wouldn't have finished. I am glad I did, I loved the last 1/4 of the book.
I love that book. Very ambitious and enjoyable.
Amazing book! Loved it +1
How far in are you?
Just moved on to Kath Two. After all the fun with Izzy and The Cannibals ;-)
Izzy and the what?! 👀😵
Can't reply too much - spoilers!
If you could, what other sci-fi works would you compare it to? I am wrapping up the Children of Time series and could use something else.
I sold Seveneves to a friend by saying it is like Neal Stephenson wrote The Martian. Well, at least the first 2/3 of it. It talks a lot about the science how how an event like the one described in the book might happen but with the kind if granularity and verbosity you would expect from NS.
Not sure. Tried a couple of Adrian Tchaikovsky and couldn't really get on. Could be because they were audiobooks.
Have been 'off' of reading for a while, but have realised a new found love for my Kindle.
Andy Wier's Hail Mary might fit your bill.
Or Iain Banks' Culture series.
I just finished up a first time read of Wheel of Time series. Solid 8 months of reading but 100% worth it. Mat Cauthon is my second favorite character ever written I think.
I could never keep the "chosen" straight. Some die, then get reincarnated, but as someone else that you kinda new. Maybe If O had crushed the series im 8 months instead of book by book as they were released if would have been easier to follow.
And yes, Mat is GREAT, which made Perrin super unlikable for me, just due to the unintentional comparison.
Honestly, same with Perrin for me. By the end of the series I wanted to skip Perrin chapters. He's just so....Perrin.
As for the Chosen I couldn't keep them straight at all. I had to look them up on the WoT wiki and try to keep from spoilering myself.
Who is your first favourite character ever written?
Teft from the Stormlight Archive.
I'm Listening currently because it's convenient at work but, Finishing the Bobiverse for my 3rd go around
Ray Porter does a great job! I kept thinking about the Bobiverse when listening to Project Hail Mary, which he also narrates
Love the Bobbiverse! And the audio version is very well done
I'm ready for the next book, tired of waiting!
I listened to the 2nd and 3rd books of the Murderbot series on a car ride recently. I had read them before, but it was the first time that he did. I really enjoyed laughing with him.
I’m on the fifth book in the series - they’re wonderful!
I’m working my way through both the Murderbot Diaries (just started Network Effect) and the Rivers of London series (just finished Broken Homes, though this series is more urban fantasy). Both and very enjoyable!
The murderbot stories get so much praise but I was never able to get into them. I binge read (well, actually binge listened) to the Rivers of London books a few months ago and thought they were first-rate.
I just finished the new Ann Leckie book, Translation State, which I liked very much. If you couldn't get enough of the the Imperial Radch universe it's a must read.
Oooh thanks for the rec, I’ll put it on the list! I do tend to lean towards more fantasy/horror and less sci-fi, but I very much liked Murderbot’s voice as a narrator (and the universe is fascinating).
I love murderbot, this is probably one of my most favorite series of all time! Honestly, I can’t get enough. The seventh is due out this year too, I believe!
My wife and I just ran through the whole murderbot series. They are such a fun read. I'm convinced that the author plays/has played a ton of Shadowrun.
I've been working through The Expanse books, and have just started Leviathan Falls.
I hope we get an adaptation of the last three books someday. Some really awesome stuff happens.
I'm about halfway through Persepolis Rising. That prologue was one hell of a jolt!
How do you like the expanse? I’ve heard they are awesome!
Not the person you replied to, but I have read the series and watched the show. It's fantastic. I highly recommend both.
Contrarian view here.
The Expanse the show is great. My spouse and I couldn’t believe that it was an adaptation of books that we just couldn’t get through.
We’re avid readers of science fiction and always looking for new authors and series. This is to say we read picked up Levitation Falls when it first appeared on bookstore shelves in 2011. There was no television show to scaffold us and we found the books just weren’t enough on their own.
We simply found the books just not that original or well enough written to draw us in. Both my spouse and I slogged through Leviathan Falls and DNFd the second book when they came out.
We both found them derivative of a good deal of of other work against which they didn’t add - specifically CJ Cherryh’s Company Wars written in the 80s and 90s would be at the top of that subgenre. The big central mystery seems to follow the plot arc of the Star Trek Vanguard novel series published 2005-2012.
It may be that the Expanse handled the central mystery better than Vanguard over the long run of the book series, and I suspect it did based on television version of The Expanse. I just can’t see the books as the peak of space opera that they are held up to be.
I finished up rereading that series a few weeks ago. Just an excellent story (and pretty faithful tv series).
Children of Memory by Adrian Tchaikovsky
Wild book. 3rd in the series. Not finished yet but the first two were incredible.
Nice, I'm about halfway through the second and loving it!
Excellent choice. I finished Children of Memory a few weeks ago. It's incredible in a different way. Tchaikovsky is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors.
Just finished it a few days ago, one of my all time favorite series after randomly discovering it last year. I hope you enjoy Children of Memory as much as I did, wild ride indeed.
I'm currently reading Chibola Burn, the forth book in The Expanse series. Really enjoying it, specially since the third one was my least favorite of the first three. So it feels good to be loving a book in the series again.
I would recommend the series to fans of somewhat believable sci-fi.
The Expanse is the best piece of sci-fi I have read in a long time!
One of the greatest of all time. It deserves every accolade it receives.
Cibola Burn was my favorite as well! Seems like it’s one people either really love or hate. My favorite was probably the last book in the series, Leviathan Falls, but Cibola was a close second.
Terry Pratchett's books on Discworld 📖
I'm reading Pyramids right now. Where are you at in the series?
Equal Rites 😅
Ah, I liked that one. Granny is a great character, I think.
Did you start the series from the beginning, chronologically?
Yes, I went with chronological/ year of publication order. I Don't know if it's the best tho 😅
I started with Guards! Guards! and then continued from the beginning after that (more or less... I accidentally read Wyrd Sisters instead of Equal Rites, so a little bit out of order)
No matter the order... this is Discworld! 💿🗺️
It's the best in my opinion since events in one book have consequences in other books even if they're not of the same sub series (Witches/Night Watch/Wizards/etc).
I'm yet to explore that 😅
The most wonderful and re-readable of books. Enjoy!
Definitely enjoying it already 🥰
For all its alien backdrop, it was the human element of Roadside Picnic that I found more terrifying. I needed a more cheerful and upbeat story as a palate cleanser from its dismal outlook.
Just ended with 'Children of Time' by Adrian Tchaikovsky and will now start 'Children of Ruin' (the second in the series). I liked it a lot,... the gist of it:
The story is told through the eyes of the spiders and the surviving humans and how they try to communicate, think in different terms, fight for the last habitable planet,....
Currently reading The Frugal Wizard’s Guidebook to Surviving Medieval England by Brandon Sanderson. Interesting mix of Sci-Fi and Fantasy
I’ve never heard of this, it’s going right at the top of the list to read, thanks!
Working my way through some Hugo winners past— reading A Canticle for Liebowitz by Walter M Miller.
I really liked Canticle, but I really felt like it suffered from being a fix-up novel. It’s three acts are not equal and don’t totally fit together in my opinion. It really starts off strong though! Hope you like it!
I’m enjoying it! I love a solid premise and the references to modern science appearing as obscure archeological nuggets are perfect. There are some bits I’m guessing that I’m missing some symbolism or something (I’m not an expert in Catholicism).
For what it's worth, several Catholics I know have also had to read the book with notes open on the side. Monastic culture and tradition isn't exactly common knowledge anymore, though I'm not sure if they would have been in the 50s, or if Miller just trusts that his reader is smart enough to catch on.
If you like Canticle, consider looking into the works of Gene Wolfe. He also writes very re-readable sci-fi that expects much of the reader, and delivers much in turn.
Thanks! That does make me feel a bit better! Will look into Wolfe.
Ooo, good choice - I really loved this one.
Oathbringer by Brandon Sanderson. Book 3 in the Words of Radiance series.
I've read the first and second one. I need to go back to them but they are so big..
Has anyone told about our lord and savior, the audiobook? listening while driving, doing housework, ect can free up crazy time. And if you dont want your first read to be audio, use it for rereads!
I read faster than I listen/talk so have trouble with spoken books. The eyes are faster than the ears. Hate video explanations of things for the same reason, usually end up reading transcripts.
Spoken conversations with real people move at the right pace for me, entertainment TV shows too, and some radio theatre stuff is good but books, have not been able to enjoy them like that, it feels plodding. To be fair I have no driving commute though. One of my coworkers listens to audiobooks only while driving and says that's the way to do it.
Yeah, I "read" the first book of ASOIAF like that. It can be hard to concentrate sometimes though.
honestly the recording of asoiaf left a Lot to be desired. unless they have released a newer version with a different speaker.
I had the one with Roy Dotrice? I liked it.
I also liked Roy, but my wife hated him.
I'm waiting to start the 4th book and reading the Mistborn series first - I want to learn more about the Cosmere! I love the storm light archive but a friend convinced me I would get more out of it if I read Warbreaker and then the Mistborn series first. Warbreaker lets you learn some about characters that appear on Roshar.
I mean I absolutely adore mistborn but I don't see why you would need to read it before stormlight... certainly won't hurt because it's a pretty good series but the connections are very few and exceptionally far between. I didn't even recognize any connections at all until I read some post pointing out like a single sentence here and there that mentions a character or a vague reference to a place or event that might be from mistborn
I think it is more to understand the laws of the Cosmere more. Like investiture and how gods work and etc.
I agree actual story wise there isn't a lot to gain, but I just want to understand the Cosmere before continuing Stormlight and potentially missing things because I don't know better yet
Same! Slow start but worth it. Once it gets going it keeps going. Very unique and imaginative world.
Just started reading Hyperion by Dan Simmons.
How is it? It keeps popping up on various recommendation lists but I've never gotten around to reading it.
Just barely cracked it open, no opinion yet. I've heard lots of praise though.
It's on my list. I've had a copy for years, but haven't gotten around to it.
I'd love to know what you think of it! I loved it but I didnt fully appreciate the story arc until I read the sequel.
Just barely cracked it open, no opinion yet.
Currently on The Hydrogen Sonata of a The Culture marathon.
The culture is such a great series. My favorite is a tie between Player of Games and Matter.
My girlfriend and I are listening to The Foundation right now, it's wild how much material is based directly on that book.
@[email protected] Wool is really good, I read the first few and it stuck with me as a decent sci-fi setting. Unfortunately it's YA roots show the longer into the series you get.
I'm reading Children of Ruin, the second book of the Children of Time series. I blasted through the first book in less than a week. First time I've read Tchaikovsky and I love it.
I enjoyed the human parts of the book but found the others laborious to get through.
I just saw that there is a third book in the series now. I'm excited to listen to it. Next on my list!
From what I've heard, he may be writing a fourth one too.
For We Are Many Bobiverse book 2
Man the bobiverse is amazing! I'm anxious for the next one to come out
I'm really enjoying the second one and I've already bought the third and fourth. I'm listening to them on Audible and only have 3 hours left on this one.
I'm loving all of the different stories going on and the different names the Bobs keep choosing, and how each one is different.
Me too, I otter read the last one again while I wait!
When is it coming out!? I feel like I've been waiting forever
I am working my way through Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said by Philip K. Dick. It's not a long book but it's really slow going, it's just so friggin weird that I have to put it down every few pages and just stop to absorb whatever the heck it was I just read. It's neat, as a drug user myself, to read a passage where it seems normal and then just randomly goes off into a 3 page rant about his weird racial ideas, and I just know he took a big fat hit right there writing it, sometime before I was born.
Just finished The Dispossessed, by Ursula Le Guin and going to look for a library where I can buy the next book in the Hain cycle !
Currently reading Foundation and Earth by Asimov, I absolutely loved the original trilogy so I’ve been reading through the sequels and plan on going back to the prequels after. In my opinion the sequels have a big shift in pacing and sort of the way that the plot develops… not sure how I feel about that. On one hand it is easier to keep up with with less characters, but on the other it feels like the scale of things is much smaller. Trying to not spoil anything. The series is a fantastic read nevertheless!
I've only read the original Foundation trilogy, would you recommend the others?
Difficult to say. If you keep in mind, that he wrote the sequels 30 years or so later and acknowledge that one's views change over such a period, then go ahead. If you, however, expect the same flavor as the trilogy, then I wouldn't recommend reading foundation's edge and foundation and earth. And although these are meant as an introduction to the men behind time, that one makes no reference to the foundation trilogy. So it's fine to just read the end of eternity on its own.
I am a fan of Isaac Asimov. I definitely suggest the books The End of Eternity and Nightfall.
I can only comment on the sequels so far since I haven’t gotten to the prequels, but I’d say if you are open to a bit of a change in pace then it’s definitely worth it. But it’s definitely a bit different, it was written like 30 years later as someone else mentioned. So definitely worth taking that into consideration.
Not science fiction, but I’m loving Carl Sagans “The Demon-Haunted World”. He really was a brilliant dude.
Yeah, I really liked that book. Pale Blue Dot is really good as well and he reads part of the audiobook himself, although unfortunately not all of it as he was already quite ill by that point. He was taken far too young.
Just started "The City We Became" by N.K. Jemisen. It took a minute for me to get my bearings, but I'm really digging the concept
N.K. Jemisen is one of my favorite sci-fi/fantasy writers. If you like her style and world building I'd highly recommend the Broken Earth trilogy.
It took me quite some time to get past the rocky (hah) start, the absolute lack of all but the barest exposition, but once I did...wow.
And I recognize the talent and skill it takes to make that work. Very risky to do, but it damn sure paid off.
Seems to be the general flow of her writing style. Broken Earth certainly doesn't hold your hand, either, but if you stick it out through the directionless lost feeling at the start, suddenly you're hooked.
Wool was great! The rest of the series too. I've been watching the show and I think they did a pretty good adaptation with it.
Currently reading "This is How you Lose the Time-war". Just started it but it's an interesting concept and different from my usual sci-fi reads
Currently I'm reading the Space Odyssey series by Arthur C. Clark
Just finished Inversions by Iain M Banks. Classic series. Stupendous world building.
Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson. First forray into his books. So far very enjoyable.
I'm currently on book 3! His comere books are great. You should definitely read the Stormlight Archive and Warbreaker as well. They're all the same universe, albeit different planets (at minimum)
It's really good. I didn't get through all of the second trilogy but the first trilogy is amazing.
I am currently reading "Wool - Silo, book 1" by Hugh Howey. It's an incredible post-apocalyptic story about a fully functioning society that resides inside a massive silo. Nobody can venture outside due to the toxic environment that make survival impossible, even with protective clothing.
I am reading the same book haha.. I think maybe I will finish it this evening.
Holup, only now I read the body description of your post. :')
Read the three prequel books in the Shift series once you finish the Silo books. They explain how everyone came to be living in the silo, and help answer a lot of questions.
Reading Noor right now. Very enjoyable and it will be quick read.
It's my 1st time through Count of Montecristo AND Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy! I have an awesome new job that allows me to work 32 hours/week. I have a WHOLE EXTRA DAY EVERY WEEK to read, learn, draw, garden, whatever. So I'm tackling the dense books I've never been brave enough or committed enough to try befor!
count of Monte Cristo surprised me. I thought it would be a little boring and have that "this is a super old book" feel to it with a writing style that I just didn't enjoy. but it was actually super interesting and has a killer theme throughout that I did not see coming.
The Count of Monte Cristo is one of my favorites- I also was initially surprised at how modern it read. I flew through it the first time. It's one of my "feel good" books now, as the way the revenge/justice plays out is just so complete, neat, and tidy.
I'm almost done the Lords of Uncreation which is book 3 of The Final Architecture. Quite the epic space opera. Then I will pick up Wool as season 1 of the TV series will be concluded.
I’m working through Lords of Uncreation too.
I’m not getting through it as quickly as the first two, but it’s going into some very interesting directions and seems as though it will land its arc very well.
Broken Earth Trilogy. I finished reading the entire Wool series many years back and gave it a 3.5/5. Really strong start but unfortunately the pacing for the rest of it wasn't quite to my liking.
I’m currently hooked on the Dresden Files, by no means perfect literary master pieces but damn if I’m not completely hooked. I’m averaging one-two books of the series a week right now lol
Also just finished Revival by Stephen King as an audio book. I’m a big Stephen King fan, but I have to say I did not find this book to be that scary and the build up was looooong even by his standards.
I use the Dresden files books as a palate cleanser between more difficult reads. So much fun. I listen to the audiobooks read by James Marsters.
The audiobooks are perfection, can't convince me otherwise!
I started with the audio book and like it, but I read SO much faster I switched over ha!
I fully agree, he’s an amazing narrator!
That’s how it started and I’ve read 15 of them straight lol
"The complete robot" by Isaac Asimov.
Those are some of my favourite stories. Although if I remember correctly, it contains the short story version of The Bicentennial Man and you may wish to read the novella version instead which he wrote later, having developed the story some more.
I'm planning to read it when I get opportunity to buy it.
I'm on the last book of the riftwat-series by Raymond E Feist. Truly a masterpiece, even some 30-odd books into it.
I loved that series when I was younger. Sadly, I stopped following the series at the end of The Riftwar Legacy, because I think that was the last book out before I started reading some other series. I’m definitely planning on jumping back into it once I finish up with The Gentlemen Bastards series.
I'm reading Nemesis by Isaac Asimov, slow (not much time to read) but steady.
That is a very good book, as is almost everything by Asimov
Based on the posts in this thread, I see a lot of overlap between urban fantasy fans and science fiction fans. With the exception of Lord of the Rings, I've never cared much for high fantasy, but I've really enjoyed the urban fantasy series I've read. If anyone is interested, I've enjoyed...
Seconding both recommendations for the Dresden Files and Rivers of London.
I know Butcher gets a lot of flack for the Dresden Files and how he writes Harry, which always baffles me - it’s meant to be a (old-school and chauvinistic) hard-boiled detective noir series. I’ve quite enjoyed watching Harry grow up and develop as a more nuanced and complete character through the series.
(And I’ll have to check out that Jamison title - I loved her Broken Earth novels).
Thirding the recommendation and adding The Stranger Times. It's urban fantasy as well, but from the perspective of a Manchester tabloid about weird news where the people working there have to realize that the stuff they are writing about might actually be real.
Reading that right now and while it took a bit of time to get going, it really grows on you while reading it. Mostly because the characters are interesting.
undefined> I see a lot of overlap between urban fantasy fans and science fiction fans.
This makes a certain amount of sense, I think: to me, the defining line between science and magic is that, at core, scientific phenomena have an explanation, while magic ones don't. You may not understand how Star Trek phasers work, but the premise is that in-universe, there's a good explanation that someone understands. Whereas the reason Harry Potter can wave his wand and make an object levitate is Just Because. There's no ultimate explanation.
I'm simplifying to make the distinction clear, but of course human literature is vast and varied. And urban fantasy, in particular, tends to straddle the line between SF and fantasy: the action doesn't take place in A Land Far, Far Away, where the rules are different; it's London, or Chicago, or Mogadishu, where guns and cars obey Boyle's law, and carpets don't just hover in the air without a really good reason.
I'm not familiar with all of the worlds you cite, but in The Dresden Files, for instance, magic obeys certain rules, so that if you know how a spell works, but you don't have all the components, you can figure out a substitution. Or in The Laundry Files, you start with the premise that there are Lovecraftian horrors out there and work out the consequences, in the finest tradition of SF, and come to the conclusion that there will be paperwork.
I DNFed Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan. I had high hopes because the concept was reminiscent of Philip K Dick's stories but I found the book to be a confusing slog with characters seemingly pulled from nowhere and with the plot muddling along with coincidences and revelations. There are a few gems of ideas in there, just takes too long to unpack.
I really liked Altered Carbon but I didn't like Thin Air (which is also by Morgan) so much. I really like detective stories though, like The Caves of Steel.
One of the few books I’ve DNFed as-well, I just stopped listening to it at some point. Found it very hard to follow. Maybe, because I was listening to the Audiobook? The text format might be easier to follow.
It's been awhile, but I vaguely remember the plot of Altered Carbon was a rip-off of a Raymond Chandler novel.
I really enjoy the books by Peter F Hamilton, my favourites being Pandora's Star and it's sequel Judas Unchained.
The worlds he creates are just so detailed and interesting to read about, and of course the story is very compelling
My favorite books! Have you read A Fire Upon The Deep and A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge? Those are great as well!
I've not heard of them but I'll have to add them to my list
The Children of the Sky is also a worthy read, if a little depressing. I read it post-pandemic, and the attitudes of some of the characters hit a little close to home.
I am rereading Malazan Book of the Fallen. Just started the fourth book, House of Chains.
The start of this book is the hardest for me to get through. The first couple of chapters are really boring to me and it's only after ::: spoiler spoiler Karsa is captured and Torvald Nom is introduced ::: that I start getting into the story. The rest of the book is phenomenal, of course.
Edit: damn, is there no other spoiler option that just greys out the words? Edit2: Geez, I only just now realize this is not c/books but c/sciencefiction. Sorry if this post doesn't belong here then, haha.
I'm curious what you think about the series so far. I love fantasy, and after everyone told me Malazan was the PhD test for fantasy readers I read the whole thing and was... Underwhelmed. I can't find anyone else who just wasn't impressed with it, people either hate it and never finished or treat it like it's the greatest work of fiction a fantasy author has ever produced. I have so many thoughts on it, but always get yelled down by either camp.
You are not alone. I've had the same experience and I'm wondering what the big deal is. The books are really good, obviously, and a master class in world-building, but I find a lot of the deus ex plot elements disappointing.
I'm only on Memories of Ice, though, so what do I know?
Which deus ex plot elements are you talking about, specifically? I know some of the events in the books can be confusing, but most of it falls into place eventually.
Spoilers ahead.
First one off the top of my head that stands out is the ::: spoiler spoiler House of Azath taking out the Jaghut tyrant in Gardens of the Moon. All this buildup to the tyrant's awakening, he rampages through the countryside on his way to Darujhistan, mixes it up with Tool and Rake, but ultimately it's a magic tree house that got no real build-up or proper lore treatment in advance that takes him out. :::
Fits beautifully with all his lore, but the timing and use of it in this particular book felt like a deus ex machina to me.
I totally understand what you mean. Everything, and I mean everything, ties back to earlier books. I don't even feel like there were plot threads that got left behind or forgotten, there were just so many moments that were built up across multiple books that were ended in a fashion that left me thinking "That's it? I read about this person/thing for hundreds of pages and this is the conclusion?"
It was impressive how Erikson created such a big world with so much history, but then it feels like he didn't do anything with it. I get the impression that he was so fixated on "not doing the normal fantasy stuff" that he forgot to make the books exciting. They were without a doubt impressive, but just not... Very interesting to read outside of an intellectual challenge.
Again, I finished the whole thing and just thought "that was pretty good I guess", which is not at all what I've heard from anyone else. Very ambitious and well done but I'm not sure I would ever recommend it to anyone.
It's my favorite series. Has been since the first time I read Gardens of the Moon. Abercrombie's First Law a close second though.
It's hard to explain why I love it. From the first chapter it pulled me in and doesn't let me go until I'm done (excepting the first few chapters of House of Chains ;)). The scope of the story is one thing. How events hundreds of thousands of years ago shape the events in the books, the chronological jumps, how seemingly unrelated incidents suddenly become entwined. Erikson is a master at making every puzzle piece fall into place; even if you're confused about something as you read it, a few chapters or a book later it will make sense. The little throwbacks to events in previous books, etc. Besides that, his worldbuilding is phenomenal and his characters are unforgettable.
I'm really trying to read Three Body Problem, but I'm having a hard time following
I have a couple things on deck:
Light From Uncommon Stars is the most memorable book I've read in years. It's a beautifully-written, extremely ambitious novel about demons, found family, donuts, Asian cuisine, interstellar war, gender identity, the violin, loyalty, good and evil, beauty, fear and love. Plus, it takes place in the San Gabriel Valley, which is my old stomping ground. It may not be to everyone's taste, but I absolutely loved it.
There you go, another strong recommendation! I just have to wrap up Mexican Gothica and then I'm all in.
I just finished Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke and it was great!
I recently finished Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir and Wool by Hugh Howey, currently reading Shift. We had the Silo trilogy in our bookshelf for years, but it was only after watching the Apple TV show I decided to read it.
I have a somewhat newfound love for hard sci-fi and would love any recommendations folks have.
House of Leaves. Although I'm struggling because I haven't read a physical book in years and I can't bring it everywhere like I can my Leaf 2.
lol started this book like three time, I’ll finish it someday! Premise is amazing
I actually just got this delivered recently. Haven't had the chance to dive in yet, but its reputation really precedes it. Every video essayist I follow on Youtube has talked about this book at some point. Very much looking forward to it.
Same here! I've had it sitting on the bookshelf for ages waiting for the perfect time to read a physical book. I'm so used to the little kindle.
Man, I read that and all the crazy notes in all different directions. Quite a trip. I personally think it could have been a bit shorter and deliver the same effect, but it really is pretty neat and original. I hope they make it into a film or show someday - it deserves the treatment and the author deserves the $$.
I love that book.
The reading of the book becomes part of the experience of the book in a way that feels unique and engaging. If you like the format being part of the story I have to recommend S by Doug Dorst and JJ Abrams and to a lesser extent the Cheese Monkeys by Chip Kidd.
Same! Been wanting to read it for 10+ years, finally bought a copy.
Love that book! First read through was unsuccessful as I got stuck in an appendix reading a bunch of letters. On my 2nd attempt I avoided that dead end and really enjoyed it.
I’ve gotten about half way through it twice and given up… please share an update on your thoughts if/when you get through it! Maybe I’ll try again
I share this struggle with this same book.
I'm more of an audiobook guy, like to listen to my books at work, but obviously that's simply not possible here.
I'm halfway through Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson. I didn't know anything about this book other than it was about a generation ship but I'm really enjoying it. Every time I pick up one of his books I can't believe how good the science is, dude really digs into everything
I am reading currently Snow Crash. A great example how pioneers of a genre seem to lose their originality over time, but the book hasn't changed, everyone else has just copied it to death.
Previously I read some if the Culture series and got surprised by the genuine atrocities popping up in them. The books were interesting and the horrible things had a reason to be there, but I just became overwhelmed.
Just started listening to "The Galaxy, and the Ground Within" by Becky Chambers, the fourth and last novel in the Wayfarers series.
This is a great one! Loved the whole series, honestly. Have you read To Be Taught, If Fortunate? Also by Becky Chambers, and also highly recommended!
Yeah, I really love the different glimpses at life in space and the cultures of different species.
No, haven't read that one yet but it's on my list.
Wool was great. And the show was good too. You can basically watch the first season after finishing Wool, if you’d like.
I’m reading He Who Fights With Monsters but I’m going to dig through this thread and find a good scifi novel to read next!
Pushing Ice by Alastair Reynolds. I’m about 3/4 of the way through, and it’s been very interesting thus far! Definitely has not gone where I thought it was gonna go, which is cool.
If you haven’t read it I won’t give any spoilers, but I was fascinated by the similarities to The Expanse in the beginning. They definitely go different places, but I can feel Reynolds influence on James Corey. Surprised I haven’t seen anybody mention this before.
Anyways, I read House of Suns before this and probably like that more, but Pushing Ice is quite good. Should I start the Revelation Space series next?
very minor spoilers for anyone who hasn't read
i read pushing ice with my book club recently. was also not expecting things to go where they went but i really enjoyed the direction. it makes for a very fleshed out 'sailors marooned on a deserted island' kind of story that doesn't waste the possibilities it's genre and setting allow it. janus as a setting just has a lot of great mysteries and the way the crew interact and survive on the planet is explored very thoroughly. the isolation of how hopelessly far they are from home and only getting further struck me when i was reading. you can understand the different factions and how things might have been different if only a few things changed in the beginning.
and as far as sci-fi goes, it's version of it is a favorite of mine. the blue-collar worker in space is something i've always liked, and it gets depicted very well in this book. would love to hear what you think once you've finished it.
Just finished! Not as strong as House of Suns, but I quite liked it. There are some super solid sci-fi concepts, but some of the characters are just so unlikable.
Spoilers below
I really struggled with Svetlana specifically and how long she held her grudge! That exile! So many years! Intense. I was hoping for a bit more of a twist with the Fountain Heads, but then again them being essentially good and telling the truth is a bit of a twist because you sort of expect the alien betrayal! It feels like he set up the story for a sequel with that teaser about the middle of the structure and all. Hope Reynolds revisits this world soon.
svetlana was a character that i had mixed feelings about. i think the book did a good job of establishing the mounting dread of the situation rockhopper was in leading to their landing on janus, so i felt like i could empathize with her and her team's sentiments to a point. but as it goes on and on and she remains the most petty person, especially with so much at stake, it was really over zealous. especially when she had parry as a voice of reason just to ignore. it doesn't help that in every given opportunity bella is always more fair and measured in every action. no competition at all for who's taking the gold in holding a grudge. i have to say though i couldn't help but laugh when there was so much effort gathering and informing everyone to absolutely, under no circumstances, even utter as little as a single word to the musk dogs, followed by direct video feed of svetlana going to go make contact with the musk dogs, comedy.
as for the fountain heads i really enjoyed their earnestness. their complete lack of nefarious intentions was a fun play on expectations, like you said, and mckinley is just one of my favorite dudes.
i think the concept of the structure and the idea of this timeless, universal zoo was really cool and interesting, much more than i was anticipating from the concept at first. the way the time gets played with is something i really loved in the story. connecting bella's final broadcast as the benefactor sparking the greatest civilization in human history, ultimately tying back to garrison, the lock of hair, and the cube as, in a way, his final parting gift, thrown through all of time and space for her, really hit me when it all got brought together towards the end. it really added an important piece of humanity and sentimentality to the unimaginably vast journey bella and the crew goes on.
i'm glad you enjoyed it. i actually haven't read any other reynolds but i did look a bit into house of suns when i was going through his catalogue before ultimately choosing to read pushing ice, i guess i'll have to give it a read.
Totally agree, I understood where Svetlana was coming from, but after 13 years I was like, come on!
Also, this is probably particular to the audiobook, but I was frustrated at times by the way the author would switch scenes quickly. In the audiobook there was no pause or anything, and it was disorienting a few times. Made things a bit dream like. I assume in text there would be a break of some kind. The audiobook should have had more pauses.
Anyways, I look forward to hearing what you think of House of Suns! If you liked the time dilation and whatnot in this one you’ll love it! And that’s all I’ll say about that.
I bought the two Asimov sets of the Robot books and Foundation books, but still need to finish The Stranger Times (Urban fantasy) before delving into that. Read The Eyes of the Void by Adrian Tchaikovsky before that.
The Caves of Steel by Asimov is really good as well. I think it's a standalone novel and isn't included in the Robot books, but I read it after reading the Robot collection as I liked them so much.
Thankfully, it's included in the collection I got. It has all the short story collections and novels from the "Robot-Verse" (Which means some stuff like "I, Robot" is also included twice)
Ah yeah, I guess you would have The Bicentennial Man twice too, that's such a good story.
The Apple TV show for me to start Foundation! Enjoying it so much
Re-reading Ready Player One. I want to forget how bad the sequel is and how they butchered all character development at the beginning of the book.
I too wish I could un-read that sequel. Absolute cash grab, and I fell for it.
I may be in the minority here, but I hated the way Ready Player One ended. I was just so pissed off with the one character, ugh.
Just started The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel, too early to see if I like it yet. I’ve got some pretty high hopes though, Station Eleven was absolutely fantastic!
I just finished the Watchmaker of Filigree Street series, and loved that as well! IMO, the second was better than the first, but don’t read the second without reading the first since you need the context.
The Black Sun books by Rebecca Roanhorse. Technically fantasy more than Sci-fi, but really refreshing and well written.
Loved those books! So different from the normal fantasy trope
Currently reading The Best of World SF 2. It's nice to see how sci-fi has influenced other authors around the globe.
I've recently finished reading "Nemesis" by Isaac Asimov. It's one of Asimov's latest works and even though it's not a masterpiece it deserves more
Currently reading Fairy Tale by Stephen King, though it's not really science fiction more fantasy. Before that I read Intergalactic Exterminators Inc. by Ash Bishop which I thought was great. Its very funny with good character development.
I loved it. He doesn't even pooch-fuck the ending for once. :)
Currently reading “The Exiled Fleet” by J. S. Dewes. This is the second in her “The Divide” series. It is pretty good. I picked up the first book because she did a release event with Scalzi during that time we were all locked in our homes and the story sounded interesting. The first one was compelling enough for me to see the series through although she has not announced the publication of the third book yet and has just released a standalone novel unrelated to the series.
Otherland - Tad Williams.
I loved Other land, though I think he could have skipped writing book 3 and it would have been just as good or better.
Sooo good. I love Tad Williams in general and this is his best series IMO. The ending is so-so, but it's definitely about the journey with this one.
Confident, Cocky, Lazy, Dead!
A Desolation Called Peace by Arkady Martine.
I really loved the first book in the series, A Memory Called Empire, but I find the second one harder to get through. The writing really gets into the protagonist's head, and with all the stress she's in, it gets... claustrophobic, I guess, for me. I wish there was a bit more focus on the plot about the cool mysterious aliens.
Eversion - Adrian Tchykovsky (sp?) and I fucking LOVED it. Didn't even come CLOSE to guessing how it would all play out, tons of great stuff and an ending that's just this short of sweet. Really good. Please read.
Don't you mean Alistair Reynolds? Since Adrian Tchaikovsky never wrote a book called Eversion.
After being a sci-fi nerd for a long time, I want to read through some of the classics that inspire it. So I'm reading The Epic of Gilgamesh, with Lucian's true history next.
Sounds pretentious I know but it's pretty cool seeing where some stuff originated from.
Anyone have any I should add the the list then let me know.
I guess Frankenstein if you haven't already read it. It's just a really good book in it's own right too.
Working on the Texcalaan series by Arkady Martine. The universe is fascinating and the cultural imagination is a great way to look at our own with fresh eyes. I'm about halfway through book two and enjoying thoroughly.
About to start an engineering degree so I'm reading Wiring Simplified lol highly recommend
I'm almost done the Powder Mage trilogy, starting the third book now. It's good, the author is a little less grim than Joe Ambercrombie but similar style if you're looking for a new series.
Just finished books 1-7 of The Starsea Cycle by Kyle West. Pretty good stuff, kind of a mix of sci-fi and fantasy. Looking forward to the upcoming release of book 8.
In the meantime I'm reading the Red Rising Saga by Pierce Brown. Currently on book 4 with 2 more to go. Really enjoying it, but kinda feeling ready for something a little more toward the hard-scifi area.
Once I'm done with those I think I'll go reread A Fire Upon the Deep by Vinge, I think it's probably my favorite book and it's been a few years since I read it.
Asimov sagas
I've just started City of Illusions, the third book in Le Guin's Hainish cycle. Most of my life I'd only read her essays and nonfiction, so I'm finally making time for her fantasy/scifi. With some of these earlier books, it's wild to remember that they were written in the early-to-mid 1960's.
I'm just on the last book of Le Guin's Earthsea books, I've really enjoyed them. Will take a look at the Hainish ones next maybe.
I just finished "peripheral" and "agency" by William Gibson. So much better than (already fun) tv show.
Currently I'm re-reading some of early Neal Stephenson, starting with "the diamond age, or young lady's illustrated primer". I've originally read it while still learning English, so now I can fully appreciate not just the story but Stephenson's wordcraft.
The thought of learning English from a Neal Stephenson books cracks me up. As a native English speaker they were hard to get through, especially Diamond Age which, while great, was a difficult read for me.
Neal was nothing, man. I actually first attempted to tackle William Gibson. Took me years to muster the guts to try again!
I've been reading Carrion Comfort. Really cool mystery story with people that can mind control. You're always trying to figure out what the Game is and what are these pawns accomplishing.
Its a little long winded but Dan Simmons can write a compelling story.
Def more Horror than Science Fiction.
Simmons does a good job with horror as well as science fiction. Hyperion is a wonderful blending of the two imo. The Terror is good as well for the hostile environment and isolation he manages to convey
His more recent work though... I'll just leave this NPR review https://www.npr.org/2011/07/28/137621172/one-rant-too-many-politics-mar-simmons-dystopia
I tried buying the wool omnibus on his website and couldn’t checkout…I’m gonna try again now, thanks for the reminder
And it still isn’t working
More fantasy, but reading the Abhorson series by Garth Nix. Excellent series.
I'm working my way through the Red Rising series. Very interesting plot and lovable characters. Brutal violence though.
I'm currently nostalgia-reading Robert Rankin's Dance Of The Voodoo Handbag but that's more far fetched fiction than sci-fi. Silly, entertaining and lots of tall tales. I'm also reading The Quantum Magician by Derek Künsken. I was hoping for it to be the start of a good series of books to read over the summer but it's not very good. I will probably not bother with the rest of the series.
The Ark Royal series by Christopher Nuttel.
Nuttel is rare because most series have an issue of everyone becoming overpowered. He has created enemies far stronger and weaker than humanity, he focusses on how an enemy has a tactical edge.
I find Military Sci-Fi a really relaxing read and it's largely written by ex forces, so gives a really interesting insight into how they are structured and think.
Surface Detail, and The State of the Art by Iain M Banks. Been on a Culture bend recently. Excession is next on my list
The Shadowed Sun by NK Jemisin, not sci-fi but it’s great (as is the first book in the series). Her other series The Broken Earth is more sci-fi and also great.
I know I'm late to reading them and I'm not sure if graphic novels count here, but "kill six billion demons" is a fantastic series with a unique art style and direction that I genuinely cannot get enough of
Though it might be more science fantasy than science fiction I guess?
Working on The Name of the Wind and then next up is Death’s End.
the whole three body problem is such a mind bender, but especially the last one. really, really enjoyed those books. the guy that translated them also wrote some stuff that's not bad at all - Ken Liu (no relation shockingly!)
I have a copy of The Grace of Kings by Liu that I’m going to read at some point too!
I'm so so sorry. Name of the Wind is brilliant. The sequel is decent. But I've given up hope for the series to ever be completed.
Whatcha sorry about? Does the book end on a cliffhanger or something? Or can I get away with just reading the first one?
Well, I adored Name of the Wind. It's a great read. But like I said, I've given up hope for that series. I don't believe that the author will ever finish it. I really hate unfinished stories, especially one like this that feels only half-written (yes, half, with 2 out of 3 books written!). So I'm sorry for your sake, that you've gotten sucked into an unfinished tale.
Ah, that’s a bummer. I’m definitely enjoying it this far but I’m invested in enough other series/stories that I’ll probably feel ok putting this one on the shelf. Similar to GoT, I enjoyed what I read (all that’s been released in the main series) and have since moved on. If another book does come out, awesome! If not, oh well.
Redemption Ark by Alastair Reynolds. I've been reading a bunch of his books based in this same world. Good stuff.
I'm reading Thrawn: Traitor (Thrawn Canon books #3). Not the greatest series I've ever read by any means but I need a break from the Stormlight Archives and my library had no wait on these.
You read any of his new kickstarter books? I'm reading "The Frugal Wizard's Handbook for Surviving Medieval England" right now and it's quite a fun little read.
I haven't yet, these Stormlight books are hefty as hell but I'll get to his other stuff after.
Nice well enjoy, I'm still waiting for the next stormlight book after burning through the rest of the cosmere lol.
Reading the Wool as well, but it's too hot here to concentrate on more than one or two pages at a time. :)
(NEVER trust a person selling you a property. They can bullshit even the smallest inconsequential details, like the ability of your heat pump to work in reverse, to cool the house down)
The TV show is nice, but it's moving pretty slow. And I feel like it's just going to get killed before any kind of conclusion is reached, that's why I started with the book.
Yeah, I have AC which isn't that common here in Europe but I need to fix the window to make sure it can vent properly so until then I am just suffering it being like 27C at night..
Fall; or Dodge in Hell by Neal Stephenson
I've just finished Wool as well! Shift is off to a good start too. I've been watching the Apple show as it comes out but it differs from the books more than I though it would (especially in the latest episode).
I definitely recommend Dennis E. Taylor's work if you haven't read any. The Bobiverse and Outland collections are both excellent.
Brushfire by Craig Alanson.
Expeditionary Force might not be the ebst book series, later books are repetetive and predictable - but despite that it is still so much fun to read.
I just grabbed Kurtz Vonnegut's Welcome to the Monkeyhouse and Palm Sunday and it's pretty cool.
I'm currently reading The Rising Storm by Cavan Scott. It's part of the High Republic saga of Star Wars, and I'm really enjoying it so far :D
It was quite a challenge to read a book in English for the first time with Light of the Jedi (the first book of the series). But I feel like I've gotten way better and can now understand more while reading faster.
After this, I'm planning on reading The Prince of Milk by Exurb1a. Which I have wanted to read for a long time.
The Fifth science by Exurb1a. It's a collection of short stories in a shared universe. Love it so far. Author has a good youtube channel if you're into that.
I'm currently reading A Mist of Grit and Splinters, book five of Graydon Saunders Commoweal series. The first book, The March North, was incredibly confusing until I figured out his writing style but I really like the series after that.
I forgot I read Wool, that was a good book! Currently reading nonfiction (Outlive by Peter Attia) but recently read Axiom's End and enjoyed it.
You finish the other 2 in the series? The 2nd book kinda dragged for me but I quite enjoyed the last one.
I'm reading The Lady of the Lake by Andrzej Sapkowski. It is the fifth book of The Witcher's series
I'm re-reading "Scions of Humanity" (AEON 14) while I wait for the next book to be released (Galactic Front). You can start reading books from the AEON 14 for free at Rika Mechanized
I'm reading the "Starship's mage" series by Glynn Stewart, really fun boks, and still after having read 14 books it's still really a fun read :)
Probably only relevant to German readers, I'm currently enjoying "Sanctum" from a series by Markus Heitz. He made a trilogy about werewolves and one about vampires, both are great if you're into spooky stuff, action and a bit of fictional violence. ;) Personally, I think that the Judas trilogy (the one about vampires) is written slightly better and a more fluent story arc, so if you only would give one of them a try and you're not an absolute werewolf fan, I'd start with "Kinder des Judas".
State Tectonics, third book of the Centenal Cycle by Malka Older. It's not bad so far, but it feels like too artificial. Like the setting doesn't make much sense, the author just wanted to play with it. Yes, same applies to the first two books. I liked the first one much more to be honest.
Chalion delivers, as do all of the World of the Five Gods books.
The short stories and novellas of the Penric and Desdemona series are more variable in quality, but the three main novels are Bujold at her absolute peak.
I'm currently reading American Psycho and The Two Towers. Both can be slow at times, so it's nice to be able to read one of them and when it gets boring read the other one
I guess both have a focus on songs!
I'm rereading, after along time, Druss the Legend.
Once I'm done with that I'll work my through all of Gemmels other books.
I've finished Wool in the middle of Silo season 1. I was wondering what might a regular viewer think of Shift? (I think that's the second of the trilogy)
I enjoyed the more sentimental moments between our main character and Mechanical, but preferred in the show that the Mayor was given more depth.
So many; I keep getting distracted.
Same bout ish, but reading the deed of paksenarrion, and keep getting distracted by my love for harry potter fanfictions lmao
Outland by Dennis Taylor
The Three Books of Occult Philosophy after having finished La Veritable Magie Noire (True Black Magic). They are interesting because of their historical significance and, shall we say, creativity.
Hey, me too! I just started Wool two days ago! Planning to read Shift and Dust as well right after.
Several, in tandem. The one I'm enjoying the most right now is The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity, by David Graeber, and David Wengrow.
Django Wexler's Shadow Campaigns seris. Fantasy more than sci fi but I'd describe them as hard fantasy. I'm on book 2 of 5 and glory be to whatever library God is watching over me but all 5 are available as E-books from our library system, haven't had to wait except for the first one.
Currently stumbling through book 5 of Gaunt's Ghosts. I need to work reading back into my schedule again.
I’m reading The Best Of World SF Vol 2 compilation, edited by Lavie Tidhar. There are some phenomenal short stories in this and the first one, and I really enjoy hearing voices from outside the English-speaking bubble that I usually read
I'm re-reading Broken Angels (the sequel to Altered Carbon) by Richard Morgan. Of the three books in the trilogy, this is the one I liked the most.
I've got River Of Pain by Christopher Golden on pause. It's an Aliens-prequel about the colony set up on the planet where the Nostromo crew picked up the alien. I haven't read it before, but I'm pretty sure I know how it ends.
Currently reading Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton. It's the sequel to Pandora's Star.
Imagine if humans developed wormhole technology to travel to other states systems instantly and abandoned space travel. Very fun read. It has a wide spread of characters and settings so it can get a bit confusing at times.