What are you reading?

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Exiles Honor by Mercedes Lackey.

I like swords and sorcery fantasies and this one has neat horses as well.  The whole Valdemar series is a bit juvenile, so I guess I have arrived at my second childhood.

[Muck308 55]

Just finished American Skin by Don De Grazia.

Not a bad read but a little depressing. I would suggest it for those who aren't aware of the history of the word "Skinhead." Prior to reading this book, I was aware of the fact that the original skinheads were not at all racist, but the history is well referenced in this novel.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

For an inside look at racism as a political ploy try Mein Kampf.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Currently reading a piece of crap. No, that is not the title. It is just a piece of crap. Really. It's bad... not even sure why I am reading it, except that it is Book 2 in an open-ended series by multiple authors (who I know can write better).

Barbarossaquote>

What no title or authors?

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

I am rereading "The Complete Paratime" which is a collection of stories by H. Beam Piper culminating in "Lord Kalvan of Otherwhen".

I needed cheering up after giving up my companion dogs, and this seems to be doing the job.  Its a trade paperback and the type is a little faint, so it is hard going for me, and I have to use a magnifier.  My preferred type size these days seems to be around 14 point.  My vision is definitely getting old.

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Update: Wednesday, 28 April 2010 06:04 PM

I just finished the first story in the book called "He Walked Around the Horses".  Uproarious historical item told by a series of letters.  The punch line of the long shaggy dog story is the final three words.  I feel uplifted.

[Easy Bakes 253]

H. Beam Piper wrote some good stories.

[astronelson 339]

I recently bought, but have not yet started to read, The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes

H. Beam Piper wrote some good stories.

quote>

Yes, too bad he killed himself (I think it was over the death of his mother).

Originally posted by: astronelson

I recently bought, but have not yet started to read, The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett.quote>

I am glad someone besides me likes humourous fantasy/science fiction.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes

H. Beam Piper wrote some good stories.

quote>

Yes, too bad he killed himself (I think it was over the death of his mother).

Originally posted by: astronelson

I recently bought, but have not yet started to read, The Wee Free Men by Terry Pratchett.quote>

I am glad someone besides me likes humourous fantasy/science fiction.

quote>

I like the Robert Asprin ( take 2 )  MYTH INC books. and The Phules Company ones too,though those are more sci fi/Miltary life humor.

Mary Gentle wrote  a novel called Grunts which is somewhat humorus reversal were the Orcs  are the heros/good guys.

[Shadow Assassin 336]

I'm currently reading the 'Last Watch' by Sergei Lukyanenko. It's a Russian novel, apparently quite popular... and I can see why, it's actually a pretty good read.

It is book four of the 'Night Watch' trilogy.... it's been compared to Harry Potter, but it really isn't, for one, it's more 'mature'.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Originally posted by: Shadow_Assassin

I'm currently reading the 'Last Watch' by Sergei Lukyanenko. It's a Russian novel, apparently quite popular... and I can see why, it's actually a pretty good read.

It is book four of the 'Night Watch' trilogy.... it's been compared to Harry Potter, but it really isn't, for one, it's more 'mature'.quote>

How does a volume get to be book four in a trilogy?  No matter what the publisher calls it, it is obviously a long novel.  If you like long novels try "The Viscomte de Bragelonne".  The first volume is called "The Three Musketeers" and the last volume is called "Twenty Years After".  It is all about Roul de Bragelonne who is the son of Athos (Le compte de Fère).  It kept me grounded for most of summer when I was entering high-school, and I am sure it held wide interest when it was first published.

[astronelson 339]

Originally posted by: N_O_Body

How does a volume get to be book four in a trilogy?quote>

While semantically impossible, there is precedent. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series was called a trilogy upon the release of the third book, and then called "a trilogy in four parts" and "a trilogy in five parts" with the release of the two sequels.

Now Eoin Colfer has released "And Another Thing..." I suppose we can call it a double trilogy.

[Shadow Assassin 336]

What happened was that the first three books was done as a trilogy (Night Watch, Day Watch, Twilight Watch), then later on down the track, a fourth book was done as a direct sequel to the third book and the movies (in fact, there are a couple of footnotes in the book that refer to both the movies)... and for some reason it was referred to as a trilogy... so it stuck.

Is this series related to the two Russian movies?quote>

Yes it is... the movies were based off the books.

A third movie's coming out soon.

[-Lexus- 2]

I just finished 'Honor Guard' and now Im reading 'The Guns of Tanith' both by Dan Abnett.

Yeah I just love to read about Warhammer.  

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Currently,  I am reading Red Magic, Book 3 of the Harper series, written by somebody I don't recall and set in the Forgotten Realms.  Pretty dull reading.  I hate starting a series that stinks, because then I am obligated to finish it.

Barbarossaquote>

no one says you have to compleat a series you start.

Especialy The Harpers ones, most of which are unrelated to one another, except for Elaine Cunninghams Elf song ones, i would stick to those if you liked Elfshadow.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

Currently,  I am reading Red Magic, Book 3 of the Harper series, written by somebody I don't recall and set in the Forgotten Realms.  Pretty dull reading.  I hate starting a series that stinks, because then I am obligated to finish it.

Barbarossaquote>

no one says you have to compleat a series you start.quote>

Consider it a personality quirk.    In general, I don't stop a series once I start it.  I think the Xanth books are the only exception.  I stopped only a couple of books after A Spell for Chameleon  (the only good one, IMO).

In this case, I bought Books 1-5, so I feel obligated to read at least those before trading them out.  I won't get the later ones unless I recognize the author.  Since most of the Forgotten Realms writers are hacks, there isn't much chance for a good read in this set.

Barbarossaquote>

If i recall correctly Ring of Winter is book 5 by James Lowder

you may like that  one as its the one were the protagonists of The Avatar Series ( Shadowdale, Tantras, Waterdeep) 1st meet. 

if you want to read one of Lowders best, look for a copy of Knight of The Black Rose.

As for Xanth iv read them all up till 2006.  some are good some not so, it seems after  Crewl Lye they began to take a wrong turn and stoped being Single charactor based. he seemd to go back to that with Roc and a Hard Place  ( God that was 1995? lord ) and the next couple till it went south again.

[Mayorm 14]

I'm reading Macbeth, for one of my classes

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Barbarossa

I read Knight of the Black Rose long, long ago.  I don't even remember it and at first confused it with the Lord Soth book(s) from the Dragonlance setting.

Barbarossaquote>

Its one of the Ravenloft books, but Lord Soth is a Dragonlance charactor.

BTW I finished  Some books today

Stand of Zanzibar by John Brunner

which difficult to read till you got used to the wierd style.

And The Dark Design by PJ Farmer

Starting on

The Magic Labrynth the 4th River world bookby PJ Farmer

and will start Monday lunch time on

The Gods Theselves a Hugo Winner by Asimov

[Mountain Dew 0]

I am reading Eragon, but I recently finished ready Fallen Angels

[N3rdplayer3 0]

I'm currently reading the encyclopedia since I have read all of my fiction and specific non-fiction text. It is hard to finish because I want to memorize EVERYTHING!

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

Originally posted by: Mayorm

I'm reading Macbeth, for one of my classesquote>

Lucky devil.  I got that as the required Shakespeare in Grade IX.  At the end of Grade XII the head of the English department gave us the choice of our Shakespeare play for Grade XIII and the class was unanimous for the Scottish play.  The interpretation of this play four years later was quite an eye-opener for some of the class.  We acted out a lot of the scenes in class that year.  The teacher was a really good theatre director.

[BlondeTwiggy 43]

Today read "A Modest Proposal" (Jonathan Swift) 

As well as "The Masque of the Red Death" (E.A. Poe)

Still working on Hunt for Red October... Didn't get to finish it in time before I went back to school!

[Mountain Dew 0]

starting to read fallen Angels again...

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Shadow Assassin 336]

Reading Jingo.

Again.

One of my favourite Discworld books, after Night Watch.