Spoilers What Book Are You Reading?

[VisceralRealist]

"Eventually" strikes me as being the key word in that sentence.

To be quite candid, I harbour doubts about even that; actually, I think that nothing whatsoever will serve to motivate G R R Martin to bring the series to a fitting close and conclusion if the (lavish) TV series failed to do so.

Besides, it may be much more remunerative to simply indulge oneself by toying and tweaking elements of the background and world-building than to sit down and firmly focus on bringing the thing to a close.

I too share your pessimism about the series ever being finished, and I think the TV show all but guaranteed it never will be. The sixth book would be a day one pre-order for me, and would likely result in me re-reading the first five novels!

I guess it can't be ruled out entirely, but I'm also not holding out much hope. For now we can dream...of spring:

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

Starting "The Three-body Problem" by Liu Cixin, prior to starting the Netflix series.

The opening chapters give quite an interesting insight into living in China during the Cultural Revolution and now.

It will be interesting to see how well the series reflects the book. Netflix have, in response to criticism from some politicians, said that the author had nothing to do with the series.

 

[Chuckeee]

Starting "The Three-body Problem" by Liu Cixin, prior to starting the Netflix series.

The opening chapters give quite an interesting insight into living in China during the Cultural Revolution and now.

It will be interesting to see how well the series reflects the book. Netflix have, in response to criticism from some politicians, said that the author had nothing to do with the series.

I found Cixin’s trilogy to be vastly over hyped. It was ok but not nearly as earth shattering as many of the reviews. Many interesting ideas but in the end the character development was disappointing (although it started off promising). Ultimately depending on gimmicks to hold the readers interest (e.g., cavalry based computer, multi-dimensions engineering) at the cost of a good plot. The first volume is worth a read but the final 2 volumes are a waste of time. Definitely not worth a Hugo award.

 

[jdb8167]

Personally, I wish - devoutly desire, and passionately wish - that G R R Martin (and, Scott Lynch, for that matter) would simply set themselves - and confine themselves - to the basic business of writing (and finishing) the series that brought each of them to prominence in the world of fantasy, rather than engaging in - and losing themselves in - this sort of pure self-indulgence by creating and crafting extra stories based on (irrelevant if entertaining) asides (to the main saga) that occur to them while twiddling thumbs, instead of attacking their keyboards and actually writing their books.

Leave the extra stories, tweaks, and the temptations of further world-building until after you have finished (and published) the main work on which all of this extra stuff is based and from which it is derived.

Please add Patrick Rothfuss to that list.

 

[Snow4maen]

More Micheal Rosen for me, 'Getting Better', an account of personal struggles, it's wise, and compassionate, helpful. And humble. And moving. Worth a read.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Finally done with "The Pillars of Earth" by Ken Follet. That was a very long book, but totally worth it. I love history and to follow the characters through up and downs over 50-ish years in 12th Century England was just awesome.

Now I've well into Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky, a much shorter book with an intriguing sci-fi/fantasy mix set far into the future. So far I like that, too.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Finally done with "The Pillars of Earth" by Ken Follet. That was a very long book, but totally worth it. I love history and to follow the characters through up and downs over 50-ish years in 12th Century England was just awesome.

Now I've well into Elder Race by Adrian Tchaikovsky, a much shorter book with an intriguing sci-fi/fantasy mix set far into the future. So far I like that, too.

To my mind, this is the best (very best) by far work written by Ken Follett.

I think it is excellent; it works both as history, and as a story, with excellent characters, a superb narrative, one which grabs you by the throat from the very first page - and wonderful world building (and, of course, cathedral building).

 

[Huntn]

I believe we will (eventually) get The Winds of Winter, but am not going to hold my breath for A Dream of Spring...?

Not holding my breath, but at this point I’d feel no requirement for the book to match the HBO series…

 

[Snow4maen]

Currently reading Neuromancer, William Gibson. First time reading. It's impressive in what it creates as cyber punk. Early into the story, first impressions. How did he write such dense imagery, and originality into each paragraph? Impressive. Want to re visit some Jack Kerouac. Latterly learnt that he had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. It affects my appreciation of his experiences. He was not well. But very beautiful.

 

[Clix Pix]

Currently reading Neuromancer, William Gibson. First time reading. It's impressive in what it creates as cyber punk. Early into the story, first impressions. How did he write such dense imagery, and originality into each paragraph? Impressive. Want to re visit some Jack Kerouac. Latterly learnt that he had a diagnosis of schizophrenia. It affects my appreciation of his experiences. He was not well. But very beautiful.

Interestingly, many creative people do seem to vary from "the norm" in various ways: diagnoses involving neurodiversity, diagnoses involving various clinical psychological/psychiatric disorders (such as Schizophrenia and Bipolar Disorder,) or diagnoses not quite defined but it is evident that the person is marching to his or her own drummer and presenting amazingly creative results which capture the imagination of all who see and experience them.....

So, yes, this is a phenomenon which has been definitely observed, noted and most importantly, appreciated, by others (often not as gifted or creative) along the way.

 

[obeygiant]

PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir

Basically a nerdgasm with some pretty convenient plot points. Hard Sci-Fi. Lots of equations and numbers if you're into that kind of thing.

 

[Don Quixote]

PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir

Basically a nerdgasm with some pretty convenient plot points. Hard Sci-Fi. Lots of equations and numbers if you're into that kind of thing.

Loved it.

I've read 3 of his and they were all very good.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Started reading Catilina's Riddle, the third book in the Roma Sub Rosa Series, about Gordianus the Finder who works as a kind of detective in ancient Rome, in the 1st Century BC.

I've read several of the books in the series before (some in English and some in Norwegian translation), but starting last year I decided to read through all of the 13 books in the series in order (though with other books in between). The first two were re-reads, but this one I cannot remember reading before.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Started reading Catilina's Riddle, the third book in the Roma Sub Rosa Series, about Gordianus the Finder who works as a kind of detective in ancient Rome, in the 1st Century BC.

I've read several of the books in the series before (some in English and some in Norwegian translation), but starting last year I decided to read through all of the 13 books in the series in order (though with other books in between). The first two were re-reads, but this one I cannot remember reading before.

Ah, I must say that I loved those books and that series; an excellent choice, do enjoy.

 

[Zendokan]

​

Antony Cummins - Samurai Death Cult: The Dark Side of Bushido​

Something to read next week at the pool of the wellness hotel during my vacation.

 

[macsixtyforty]

Bloodlines of the illuminati by Fritz Springmeier

Codex Magica - Secret Signs, Mysterious Symbols, and Hidden Codes of the illuminati.

 

[chmania]

I've been reading books by an Icelandic writer Yrsa Sigurdardottir, English translations of course.

• I Remember You,
• My Soul to Take
• Ashes to Dust
• Last Rituals
• The Reckoning (yet to read)
• The Legacy (yet to read)

Before that I read two books by Camila Sten, the only two available in English, The Lost Village and The Resting Place

I've been reading quite a bit of Nordic, Icelandic, Finnish, Swedish books, all in English. I have also some books by John Ajvide Lindqvist, yet to be read.

 

[Doctor Q]

The End of Everything (Astrophysical Speaking) by Dr. Katie Mack, a theoretical astrophysicist.

Aka "Everything you wanted to know about the ultimate fate of the cosmos but were too afraid to ask."

I'll let you know how it turns out if we're all still here to talk about it.

 

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

The End of Everything (Astrophysical Speaking) by Dr. Katie Mack, a theoretical astrophysicist.

Aka "Everything you wanted to know about the ultimate fate of the cosmos but were too afraid to ask."

I'll let you know how it turns out if we're all still here to talk about it.

This has the potential for being the ultimate spoiler...

 

[Clix Pix]

About to begin reading Carolyn Burke's Lee Miller: A Life. Although I had been familiar with some of Lee Miller's photographic work through the years, as well as some famous photos of her shot by equally (or more) renowned photographer and artist Man Ray, I really didn't know much about the woman herself. Time to remedy that!

There will be a film coming out this fall, called "Lee," and the other day I was alerted to this information, and after watching the trailer realized that, hey, I really wanted to know more about Lee Miller now. She apparently was a really fascinating, multi-faceted woman for whom photography was definitely a passion which she approached thoughtfully, with technical accuracy and artistically with her own unique vision and interpretation of a scene and its potential impact.

Clearly she also wasn't afraid to confront difficult situations in striving to use her Rolleiflex film camera(s) to shoot meaningful, stunning photographs during turbulent times in world history. That said, she also was aware of the need for also setting the camera(s) aside from time to time in her personal life outside of that while she pursued additional interests and spent time with her family.

 

[Boil]

Currently reading Kenobi by John Jackson Miller; gonna feel compelled to watch the Kenobi Disney+ series again, and possibly the earlier episodes of The Book of Boba Fett, because of the Tusken Raiders...

I too share your pessimism about the series ever being finished, and I think the TV show all but guaranteed it never will be. The sixth book would be a day one pre-order for me, and would likely result in me re-reading the first five novels!

I guess it can't be ruled out entirely, but I'm also not holding out much hope. For now we can dream...of spring:

Just read an article on the interwez where it is said that George wanted ten 10-episode seasons for Game of Thrones, but HBO & "those two chuckleheads" effed that up...

Not holding my breath, but at this point I’d feel no requirement for the book to match the HBO series…

That would be a travesty...!

PROJECT HAIL MARY by Andy Weir

Basically a nerdgasm with some pretty convenient plot points. Hard Sci-Fi. Lots of equations and numbers if you're into that kind of thing.

Queued up for digital download to my Kindle from my local library...!

Loved it.

I've read 3 of his and they were all very good.

I have read The Martian & Artemis so far; enjoyed both of them...

 

[Chuckeee]

Just finished Babel: Or the Necessity of Violence: An Arcane History of the Oxford Translators' Revolution by R. F. Kuang and I throughly enjoyed the novel. One of the best new novel I’ve read in quite a while.

It a fantasy novel taking place primarily at Oxford University in the 1830’s. The fantasy element is center around using silver etched with similar words in two different languages to enhance a characteristic based on the ambiguity between the translation of the two words. But the fantasy element while is a key plot device, the novel is primarily concerned with colonialization, Industrial Revolution and the opium war in 1830’s England.

While violence is included in the title and there definitely is some violence. This is not a particularly violent novel with the majority of violence references based on discussion about the necessity of violence instead of specific violent acts.

While it sounds a bit of the heavy, what carries the novel is the wonderful characterization of the primary character and an intriguing involving plot.

 

[VisceralRealist]

^I didn't care much for R. F. Kuang's "The Poppy War" series (tried to read the first book, but ultimately DNF'd it), but I'm interested to read "Babel".

 

[Chuckeee]

^I didn't care much for R. F. Kuang's "The Poppy War" series (tried to read the first book, but ultimately DNF'd it), but I'm interested to read "Babel".

I think you will find that the magic and violence from the “Poppy War Trilogy” is significantly less prevalent in “Babel”. And “Babel’s” historic elements are much closer to traditional historical facts.

 

[ucfgrad93]

Just finished the Shōgun series on Hulu, so I decided to read the book again.