Which book are you reading currently? #7 - Page 13

The Magister · Tue, 10th Jun '08, 3:28pm

Infernal Devices by Philip Reeve (steampunk based story)

Dinsdale · Wed, 11th Jun '08, 3:43am

I just finished "Empire of Blue Water" by Stephan Talty. It was a very interesting study of Henry Morgan's career as a privateer in the 17th century carribean. Very readable and enjoyable.

I am just starting "Sword Song" by Bernard Cornwell.

Deathmage · Thu, 12th Jun '08, 9:38am

"Conquest and Colonisation, the Normans in Britain, 1066 - 1100" by Brian Golding. After that, it'll probably be "The Norman Conquest" (Loyn) and "The Battle of Hastings, Sources and Interpretations" (Morillo). After this round, probably McKitterick's Kingdoms. Then, Shakespeare - Tempest in particular. After THAT, Euridipes' Bacchae and Trojan Women, and Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Ajax and Philoctetes. Maybe the Iliad.

After ALL OF THAT...I might go get A Clockwood Orange.

Saw Nabokov's Pale Fire around too, wanted to buy it, but had no money at the time...anyone read them? I've only read Nabokov's Lolita, but it shows his masterful genius with language (and his apparent like of Poe).

Barmy Army · Thu, 12th Jun '08, 10:32am

Just starting The Briar King.

Enagonios · Thu, 12th Jun '08, 2:19pm

Entertaining stuff Barmy, but don't expect it to be on the same level as ASoIaF or the Malazan series.

Decados · Thu, 12th Jun '08, 5:51pm

Just begun Fulgrim by Graham McNeill.

revmaf · Mon, 16th Jun '08, 8:44pm

Re-read The Historian, now that it's out in paperback. It is a bit slow in many places, but it does surely offer a whole different twist on the Dracula legend, as well as having a very sly title.

The Magister · Tue, 17th Jun '08, 3:25pm

I'm re-reading The Rage by Richard Lee Byers.

Montresor · Tue, 17th Jun '08, 4:51pm

Re-reading "Destiny's Road" by Larry Niven.

Dragon3 · Thu, 19th Jun '08, 9:12am

tales of mars...........last 3 books of the barsoom series..............by edgar rice burroughs

joacqin · Thu, 19th Jun '08, 12:39pm

Scott Lynch's "Red seas under red skies". It is about as enjoyable as the first one in the series which is good. Fun and exciting non-epic adventure fantasy.

Dragon3 · Sat, 21st Jun '08, 8:07am

sentenced to die.........by j.a.jance

The Kilted Crusader · Sat, 21st Jun '08, 2:11pm

Finished American Gods (it's a big one!

). Absolutely brilliant, I can't wait to get some more Neil Gaiman's works. Currently reading the third book of X-Men AoA, I've nearly finished it so I've only one more to go.

Vukodlak · Sat, 21st Jun '08, 8:40pm

At long last, I am reading the Feast for Crows - the fourth book in the 'Song of Ice and Fire' tril... er heptalogy.

It's OK so far, but nothing spectacular - probably the weakest so far (admittedly compared to the extremely high standard of the previous three). My one big problem with it is that nothing much seems to be happening. I'm more than two thirds of the way through, and so far only the Arya, Jaime and Cersei chapters actually drive the plot forward - the rest just take massive detours to end up where they started. For example:

Spoiler!

Some of this I enjoyed (it was kinda fun to read more about the Iron Isles and Dorne), but it feels stretched out. It does serve to flesh out some of the supporting characters more, but at this point the series has a few hundred characters (if not a thousand), about 30 that could be considered 'central' and another 50 that could be called 'important supporting'. Martin could spend books and books describing what happens to each of them, and the series could stretch out indefinitely.

Oh dear... now who does that remind me of? Oh yeah - Robert Jordan.

joacqin · Sat, 21st Jun '08, 11:26pm

Feast is by far the weakest book and has made me really really worried about the future of the series. Apparently it made Martin himself worried as well seeing as he has been writing and re-writing a dance of dragons for many years now since he apparently wasn't pleased with feast.

Vukodlak · Sun, 22nd Jun '08, 12:19am

Yeah, this is the problem Jordan seemed to have had - his world became so broad with so many things happening to too many characters he never seemed like he knew how to wrap it all up (and considering how much money he was earning, he might not have wanted to).

Now, Martin is a better writer than Jordan but there are so many separate plot threads ongoing, that he will have a hard time putting them all together in three books (if that is what he plans to do - I guess another option would just be to leave them hanging).

* Slight Spoliers *

Consider - the books have (had) three main storylines running in parallel with very little overlap: the Stark/Lannister conflict, the happenings at the wall and the story of Daenerys. Also separate is Arya, although she keeps meeting main characters from other parts of the book.

As of (two thirds through) book four these plot threads do not seem to be integrating. On the contrary, each has spawned several smaller independent ones: the Ironmen , the Martells, Brienne and Samwell as well as the Stark children who each have their own as they are now all over the place. Although barely even mentioned before, the Iron Isles, Dorne, Hightower, Braavos and the Twins have become really important locations. Rather than leading toward some sort of conclusion, the world keeps growing and getting more complex.

Don't get me wrong, the books are still fun and I'll keep reading them, but I won't be susprised if Martin soon announces that he now plans for 10 books in total...

el timtor · Sun, 22nd Jun '08, 2:10am

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Kilted Crusader

Finished American Gods (it's a big one!

). Absolutely brilliant, I can't wait to get some more Neil Gaiman's works.

American Gods is my favorite Gaiman novel, for the plot and characterization, also because the House on the Rock is a familiar place to me, having visited it several times. Anansi Boys would be a good followup IMO. It expands some more on the Mr. Nancy character from Gods.

Currently reading China Mieville's Perdido Street Station and finding it similar in tone to Gaiman's work.

Merlanni · Sun, 22nd Jun '08, 10:10am

Making money. Not the strongest one of Pratchett, but fair. I am halfway now and it is in the same style as going postal and the truth. Just an other one in the series, nothing new.

Iku-Turso · Fri, 27th Jun '08, 6:20pm

The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine (M.D. - a neurologist...)

Yup. All hormones, orgasms and "what women want" in that book...heh...

Dragon3 · Sat, 28th Jun '08, 8:37am

garrett,p.i. by glen cook

Deathmage · Sat, 28th Jun '08, 2:34pm

Okay - finally, holidays! I'm finally free from textbooks!
Reading Nabokov: Pale Fire. This guy is such a genius. Yes, he may have written about weird subjects like pedophilia and incest, but you can't deny that he's a damned genius. Just read the first page of Lolita...
For those that don't know, Pale Fire is a poem in four cantos, and the story unfolds in the commentaries and the forewords of that poem, by way of footnotes. It's a very interesting idea.

Enagonios · Tue, 1st Jul '08, 6:19pm

just finished The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson. Not bad but not great imo.

VeryLich · Tue, 1st Jul '08, 6:56pm

Blart The boy who didn't want to save the world

Deathmage · Wed, 2nd Jul '08, 6:17am

Finished Pale Fire. Very good. Highly recommended.

Don't know what to read now, but I got Ulysses out of the libary. But it's so darn big...

Merlanni · Wed, 2nd Jul '08, 1:49pm

Just took a plunge in the dragonlance world. Got a few from the library, bought a few, mostly the ones by Hickman and Weis.

Tue, 10th Jun '08, 3:28pm	#301
The Magister SPS Account Holder Gentlemanly Wizard Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: My Arcane Santuary Posts: 2,364 Blog Entries: 5 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,496 Level: 23 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 8.57% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	Infernal Devices by Philip Reeve (steampunk based story)
	__________________ Why yes that is a fireball in my hand. What? No of course I'm not going to throw it at you...

Wed, 11th Jun '08, 3:43am	#302
Dinsdale One-half of the Piranha brothers Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 583 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 1,441 Level: 12 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 86.02% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	I just finished "Empire of Blue Water" by Stephan Talty. It was a very interesting study of Henry Morgan's career as a privateer in the 17th century carribean. Very readable and enjoyable. I am just starting "Sword Song" by Bernard Cornwell.
	__________________ Spiny Norman's after me!

Thu, 12th Jun '08, 10:32am	#304
Barmy Army Simple mind, simple pleasures... Join Date: May 2003 Location: England Posts: 6,546 Like: 15 Liked 48 Times in 32 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 16,320 Level: 36 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 61.08% Daily Activity 46.36% Weekly Activity 7.25% Monthly Activity 10.22% Achievements	Just starting The Briar King.
	__________________ As blushing can make a harlot pass for a virtuous woman; modesty may make a fool seem a man of sense

Thu, 12th Jun '08, 2:19pm	#305
Enagonios Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Here Posts: 6,088 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 13,838 Level: 34 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 18.77% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	Entertaining stuff Barmy, but don't expect it to be on the same level as ASoIaF or the Malazan series.
	__________________ If you can cheat, so can I. I won't let you beat me unfairly - I'll beat you unfairly first. -Ender

Thu, 12th Jun '08, 5:51pm	#306
Decados The Chosen One Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: The Great British Empire Posts: 2,432 Blog Entries: 10 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,428 Level: 22 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 96.24% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	Just begun Fulgrim by Graham McNeill.
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Thu, 12th Jun '08, 9:38am	#303
Deathmage Arrr! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Here Posts: 1,838 Blog Entries: 1 Like: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post vBActivity - Stats XP: 4,805 Level: 21 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 77.85% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	"Conquest and Colonisation, the Normans in Britain, 1066 - 1100" by Brian Golding. After that, it'll probably be "The Norman Conquest" (Loyn) and "The Battle of Hastings, Sources and Interpretations" (Morillo). After this round, probably McKitterick's Kingdoms. Then, Shakespeare - Tempest in particular. After THAT, Euridipes' Bacchae and Trojan Women, and Sophocles' Oedipus Rex and Ajax and Philoctetes. Maybe the Iliad. After ALL OF THAT...I might go get A Clockwood Orange. Saw Nabokov's Pale Fire around too, wanted to buy it, but had no money at the time...anyone read them? I've only read Nabokov's Lolita, but it shows his masterful genius with language (and his apparent like of Poe).

Mon, 16th Jun '08, 8:44pm	#307
revmaf SPS Account Holder Older, not wiser, but a lot more fun Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tennessee Posts: 1,058 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 2,580 Level: 16 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 60.62% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	Re-read The Historian, now that it's out in paperback. It is a bit slow in many places, but it does surely offer a whole different twist on the Dracula legend, as well as having a very sly title.
	__________________ The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head. - Terry Pratchett

Tue, 17th Jun '08, 3:25pm	#308
The Magister SPS Account Holder Gentlemanly Wizard Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: My Arcane Santuary Posts: 2,364 Blog Entries: 5 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,496 Level: 23 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 8.57% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	I'm re-reading The Rage by Richard Lee Byers.
	__________________ Why yes that is a fireball in my hand. What? No of course I'm not going to throw it at you...

Tue, 17th Jun '08, 4:51pm	#309
Montresor SPS Account Holder Distinguished Member Online Walkthrough Writer Mostly Harmless 30k Starfighter Champion! Bomb Bandits Champion! Breakout Champion! Cutie Quake Champion! Driller Champion! Hexxagon Champion! Michu Champion! Treasure Hunt Champion! Driving Mad Champion! Moebius Syndrome Champion! Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Denmark Posts: 2,997 Blog Entries: 2 Like: 53 Liked 41 Times in 31 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 7,903 Level: 26 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 98.48% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 13.55% Monthly Activity 27.49% Achievements Awards	Re-reading "Destiny's Road" by Larry Niven.
	__________________ Chuck Norris can venture forth without gathering his party!

Thu, 19th Jun '08, 9:12am	#310
Dragon3 Gems: 6/31 Latest gem: Jasper Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: St.Augustine,Fl Posts: 196 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 653 Level: 9 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 6.28% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	tales of mars...........last 3 books of the barsoom series..............by edgar rice burroughs

Thu, 19th Jun '08, 12:39pm	#311
joacqin Confused Jerk Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Helsingborg, Sweden Posts: 6,051 Like: 8 Liked 14 Times in 13 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 14,098 Level: 34 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 45.26% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 7.25% Monthly Activity 7.28% Achievements Awards	Scott Lynch's "Red seas under red skies". It is about as enjoyable as the first one in the series which is good. Fun and exciting non-epic adventure fantasy.

Sat, 21st Jun '08, 8:07am	#312
Dragon3 Gems: 6/31 Latest gem: Jasper Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: St.Augustine,Fl Posts: 196 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 653 Level: 9 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 6.28% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	sentenced to die.........by j.a.jance

Sat, 21st Jun '08, 2:11pm	#313
The Kilted Crusader SPS Account Holder The Famous Last words "Hey guys, watch THIS!" Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 1,865 Like: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post vBActivity - Stats XP: 4,534 Level: 21 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 23.68% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	Finished American Gods (it's a big one! ). Absolutely brilliant, I can't wait to get some more Neil Gaiman's works. Currently reading the third book of X-Men AoA, I've nearly finished it so I've only one more to go.

Sat, 21st Jun '08, 8:40pm	#314
Vukodlak Gems: 22/31 Latest gem: Sphene Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Belgrade Posts: 1,442 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 3,405 Level: 18 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 74.84% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	At long last, I am reading the Feast for Crows - the fourth book in the 'Song of Ice and Fire' tril... er heptalogy. It's OK so far, but nothing spectacular - probably the weakest so far (admittedly compared to the extremely high standard of the previous three). My one big problem with it is that nothing much seems to be happening. I'm more than two thirds of the way through, and so far only the Arya, Jaime and Cersei chapters actually drive the plot forward - the rest just take massive detours to end up where they started. For example: Spoiler! **SPOILERS - Brienne is searching for Sansa. She follows some clues which turn out to lead in the wrong direction. She is currently searching for Sansa. - Dorne is trying to maintain peace with the Lannisters. There is a plot. The plot is foiled. Dorne is maintainig peace with the Lannisters. - Euron is the new King of the Ironmen. His kingship is contested at the Kingsmoot. He wins. He is now the king of the Ironmen. ...and similarly also for Sansa's and Sam's POV chapters. END SPOILERS** Some of this I enjoyed (it was kinda fun to read more about the Iron Isles and Dorne), but it feels stretched out. It does serve to flesh out some of the supporting characters more, but at this point the series has a few hundred characters (if not a thousand), about 30 that could be considered 'central' and another 50 that could be called 'important supporting'. Martin could spend books and books describing what happens to each of them, and the series could stretch out indefinitely. Oh dear... now who does that remind me of? Oh yeah - Robert Jordan.
	Last edited by Vukodlak; Sun, 22nd Jun '08 at 12:59am.

Sat, 21st Jun '08, 11:26pm	#315
joacqin Confused Jerk Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Helsingborg, Sweden Posts: 6,051 Like: 8 Liked 14 Times in 13 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 14,098 Level: 34 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 45.26% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 7.25% Monthly Activity 7.28% Achievements Awards	Feast is by far the weakest book and has made me really really worried about the future of the series. Apparently it made Martin himself worried as well seeing as he has been writing and re-writing a dance of dragons for many years now since he apparently wasn't pleased with feast.

Sun, 22nd Jun '08, 12:19am	#316
Vukodlak Gems: 22/31 Latest gem: Sphene Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Belgrade Posts: 1,442 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 3,405 Level: 18 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 74.84% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	Yeah, this is the problem Jordan seemed to have had - his world became so broad with so many things happening to too many characters he never seemed like he knew how to wrap it all up (and considering how much money he was earning, he might not have wanted to). Now, Martin is a better writer than Jordan but there are so many separate plot threads ongoing, that he will have a hard time putting them all together in three books (if that is what he plans to do - I guess another option would just be to leave them hanging). * Slight Spoliers * Consider - the books have (had) three main storylines running in parallel with very little overlap: the Stark/Lannister conflict, the happenings at the wall and the story of Daenerys. Also separate is Arya, although she keeps meeting main characters from other parts of the book. As of (two thirds through) book four these plot threads do not seem to be integrating. On the contrary, each has spawned several smaller independent ones: the Ironmen , the Martells, Brienne and Samwell as well as the Stark children who each have their own as they are now all over the place. Although barely even mentioned before, the Iron Isles, Dorne, Hightower, Braavos and the Twins have become really important locations. Rather than leading toward some sort of conclusion, the world keeps growing and getting more complex. Don't get me wrong, the books are still fun and I'll keep reading them, but I won't be susprised if Martin soon announces that he now plans for 10 books in total...

Sun, 22nd Jun '08, 10:10am	#318
Merlanni SPS Account Holder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Holland, Stad aan het haringvliet Posts: 1,952 Like: 8 Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 4,857 Level: 21 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 88.11% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 10.22% Achievements Awards	Making money. Not the strongest one of Pratchett, but fair. I am halfway now and it is in the same style as going postal and the truth. Just an other one in the series, nothing new.

Fri, 27th Jun '08, 6:20pm	#319
Iku-Turso Gems: 26/31 Latest gem: Diamond Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Schrödinger's box Posts: 2,393 Blog Entries: 15 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 5,694 Level: 23 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 43.51% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine (M.D. - a neurologist...) Yup. All hormones, orgasms and "what women want" in that book...heh...
	__________________ If life hands you lemons, take it with a grain of salt...and a lot of tequila.

Sat, 28th Jun '08, 8:37am	#320
Dragon3 Gems: 6/31 Latest gem: Jasper Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: St.Augustine,Fl Posts: 196 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 653 Level: 9 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 6.28% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	garrett,p.i. by glen cook

Sat, 28th Jun '08, 2:34pm	#321
Deathmage Arrr! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Here Posts: 1,838 Blog Entries: 1 Like: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post vBActivity - Stats XP: 4,805 Level: 21 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 77.85% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	Okay - finally, holidays! I'm finally free from textbooks! Reading Nabokov: Pale Fire. This guy is such a genius. Yes, he may have written about weird subjects like pedophilia and incest, but you can't deny that he's a damned genius. Just read the first page of Lolita... For those that don't know, Pale Fire is a poem in four cantos, and the story unfolds in the commentaries and the forewords of that poem, by way of footnotes. It's a very interesting idea.

Tue, 1st Jul '08, 6:19pm	#322
Enagonios Gems: 31/31 Latest gem: Rogue Stone Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Here Posts: 6,088 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 13,838 Level: 34 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 18.77% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	just finished The Broken Sword by Poul Anderson. Not bad but not great imo.
	__________________ If you can cheat, so can I. I won't let you beat me unfairly - I'll beat you unfairly first. -Ender

Tue, 1st Jul '08, 6:56pm	#323
VeryLich Gems: 2/31 Latest gem: Fire Agate Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 42 Like: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 399 Level: 7 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 25.04% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	Blart The boy who didn't want to save the world

Wed, 2nd Jul '08, 6:17am	#324
Deathmage Arrr! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Here Posts: 1,838 Blog Entries: 1 Like: 1 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post vBActivity - Stats XP: 4,805 Level: 21 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 77.85% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 1.4% Achievements	Finished Pale Fire. Very good. Highly recommended. Don't know what to read now, but I got Ulysses out of the libary. But it's so darn big...

Wed, 2nd Jul '08, 1:49pm	#325
Merlanni SPS Account Holder Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Holland, Stad aan het haringvliet Posts: 1,952 Like: 8 Liked 6 Times in 5 Posts vBActivity - Stats XP: 4,857 Level: 21 vBActivity - Bars Level Completion: 88.11% Daily Activity 2.21% Weekly Activity 0.95% Monthly Activity 10.22% Achievements Awards	Just took a plunge in the dragonlance world. Got a few from the library, bought a few, mostly the ones by Hickman and Weis.