BOOKS: What are you reading?

[Anders123]

I took these two home from work after a friend suggested them:







I'll see you all in a few days.

[BeredKaiNev]

Stadt der goldenen Schatten. I've read it in English a dozen times or more. Now I'm trying it in German.

[HorniLad89]

Just read Stephen King's novella The Mist as I really love the film.

Now on Use of Weapons, book three of the Culture. I'm starting to space out my ravenous consumption by reading a classic or a horror/ghostly type novel in between.

[BeredKaiNev]

Just read Stephen King's novella The Mist as I really love the film.

Now on Use of Weapons, book three of the Culture. I'm starting to space out my ravenous consumption by reading a classic or a horror/ghostly type novel in between.
]

Have you read the first two yet? I loved Consider Phlebas.

[theworldwithout]

Neutron Star by Larry Niven.

It's an older short story collection set in his Known Universe stories.

[HorniLad89]

Have you read the first two yet? I loved Consider Phlebas.

Yes. Consider Phlebas was great. I actually read the 4th book, Excession first, many years ago and found it a tad confusing but can't wait to reread it, now knowing the Culture universe a little better.

- - - Updated - - -

Neutron Star by Larry Niven.

It's an older short story collection set in his Known Universe stories.

I'm going to read through Niven's Known Universe books after I'm done with Iain Banks.

[Adam1977]

http://http://www.amazon.co.uk/Rhino-in-the-Ashtray-ebook/dp/B005N1TEBW

[hanzosword]

I just read Anne Rice's Vittorio and Pandora vampire books. I'm reading The Gods of Mars right now, the second Barsoom series book and it is good. The John Carter movie was based on the first book.

[MJEH89]

"Not Taco Bell Material" by Adam Carolla

I think AC is funny, and this book is interesting if you enjoy reading how people became famous...

[Saybrooke]

[Woody52]

Gather Blue by Lois Lowry and The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky.

[shaychboi88]

I prefer my sci-fi hard

Not sure what to read now

are you familiar with Greg Egan? One of his most recent "Incandescence" is so hard that I think a physics degree is required.

But his earlier book "Distress" is ABSOLUTELY perfect. Unbelievable how good it is. He's also well known for his short stories and novellas and I'd recommend those as well. (There's a gay themed one that is excellent but I can't remember the title. Almost all of his short fiction gets shortlisted for the Hugo and Nebula and he's won those multiple times.)

Another personal favorite, very deep, if not hard sci-fi is Jack McDevitt's "The Hercules Text."

Not really "hard" sci-fi but one of the best writers today is Robert J. Sawyer: Flashforward (forget about the short-lived TV series, the book is incredible), Calculating God, The Hominids/Hybrids series, Rollback. He's so good and so fast that I'm behind by about five books already.

And not hard sci-fi at all but so good that when I think of it I forget that it's not by Ursula le Guin--it's THAT good: "Dark Water's Embrace" by Stephen Leigh. What's good is that although it's out of print for a while Leigh now has the rights and you can get ebook versions. The sequel "Speaking Stones" is real good as well.

Sheri Tepper's work is incredible but not hard sci-fi.

A book that now is a series that I've fallen so far behind on I may as well admit that I'll need to start over is Allen Steele's "Coyote."

So. I hope all this isn't irrelevant since the summer's over.

Oh, and the best gay coming of age novel that no one seems to know about is John Fox's "The Boys on the Rock."

Oh, and for "dark fantasy" or gothic fantasy or whatever, one of the best writers period is Elizabeth Hand. Her short story "Justice" wow! Her book "Waking the Moon." Flawless. Her first novel "Winterlong" so many ideas in the first couple of pages.

I know this is a lot to throw at you. PM if you want more info and where you might want to start. I'd say the short answer is Egan's "Distress." Then, "Dark Water's Embrace," and then "Waking the Moon."

[BENDERBOY]

Another Mayan end of the world easy read, just out before the end too.

[beetle]

Stadt der goldenen Schatten. I've read it in English a dozen times or more. Now I'm trying it in German.

a english book translated into german to learn german? really ?

german literature has so much to offer...

may i recommend kafka to you?

i'm pretty sure you've heard about him.

kafka is the very best german literature has to offer.

i highly recommend reading it, e.g. the penal colony (In der strafkolonie), with this as the english translation and this as the german original.

believe me, it's REALLY worth reading; AND kafka "only" made 3 whole romans (while only one of them is really "complete", the other ones are called "fragments", though they are practically finished and doesn't have a open ending or so; that means most of his work are kinda short-stories (that are sometimes just as long as a piece of paper and sometimes halfway books).

his most popular work (also in the english speaking countries) might be "Metamorphosis", in german "Metamorphose" or "Die Verwandlung", you can find the german original here and the english translation there

An English mother-languages person will understand the term "Angst" after and ONLY after reading Kafka

- my old english teacher

[HorniLad89]

are you familiar with Greg Egan? One of his most recent "Incandescence" is so hard that I think a physics degree is required.

But his earlier book "Distress" is ABSOLUTELY perfect. Unbelievable how good it is. He's also well known for his short stories and novellas and I'd recommend those as well. (There's a gay themed one that is excellent but I can't remember the title. Almost all of his short fiction gets shortlisted for the Hugo and Nebula and he's won those multiple times.)

Another personal favorite, very deep, if not hard sci-fi is Jack McDevitt's "The Hercules Text."

Not really "hard" sci-fi but one of the best writers today is Robert J. Sawyer: Flashforward (forget about the short-lived TV series, the book is incredible), Calculating God, The Hominids/Hybrids series, Rollback. He's so good and so fast that I'm behind by about five books already.

And not hard sci-fi at all but so good that when I think of it I forget that it's not by Ursula le Guin--it's THAT good: "Dark Water's Embrace" by Stephen Leigh. What's good is that although it's out of print for a while Leigh now has the rights and you can get ebook versions. The sequel "Speaking Stones" is real good as well.

Sheri Tepper's work is incredible but not hard sci-fi.

A book that now is a series that I've fallen so far behind on I may as well admit that I'll need to start over is Allen Steele's "Coyote."

So. I hope all this isn't irrelevant since the summer's over.

Oh, and the best gay coming of age novel that no one seems to know about is John Fox's "The Boys on the Rock."

Oh, and for "dark fantasy" or gothic fantasy or whatever, one of the best writers period is Elizabeth Hand. Her short story "Justice" wow! Her book "Waking the Moon." Flawless. Her first novel "Winterlong" so many ideas in the first couple of pages.

I know this is a lot to throw at you. PM if you want more info and where you might want to start. I'd say the short answer is Egan's "Distress." Then, "Dark Water's Embrace," and then "Waking the Moon."

Thanks for the recommendation. I haven't actually heard of Greg Egan before. I'll be sure to check him out when I munch my way through the Culture books. I've taken a little break from reading as my ereader seems to be having emotional issues at the moment.

[Ragemonger]

At the moment I'm reading through the Xaos Saga: violent sci-fi/fantasy. Author obviously didn't have an editor, but The Four Swords had a truly spectacular finish. Check them out on Smashwords.com, they're absolutely free!

[MJEH89]

[palbert]

Thomas Penn, Winter King, Simon & Schuster, 2011: "Henry VII and the Dawn of Tudor England."

[CupidBoy]

Just started reading The Babylon Rite by Tom Knox



The usual escapist nonsense, this one set in Edinburgh, Peru and London, mainly about the connection between The Templars and an ancient Peruvian tribe into human sacrifice, There's a scene set in London were a man's killed himself by chopping off his feet, his right hand and had a jolly good go of decapitating himself, The police find his body lying next to his laptop and when they check the search history they find that one of the last sites he visits before his death is JustUsBoys, i kid you not.

Really? Sounds interesting, I'm going to look it up at the library next time I go.

[CupidBoy]

I see MJEH89 likes Hollywood biographies too. And great avatar btw.



I'm reading this.

[DigitalFudge]

Can someone suggest a book for me?


I love those teenage books with that sarcastic humor although I guess at this point I am just looking for something "Witty" love that writing, it kills me. Books have made me laugh more than movies, actually.

The last book I read that I truly loved was "Go ask Alice anonymous" along with another book just like it. Both were dark, self-deprecating, and smart.


If I can find a book that has the same humor as "The Mindy Project" I will be happy

[pat grimshaw]

I've just finished this. It isn't as easy or as fun as his earlier ones. But he's a fabulous prose-artist. He's one of the top two gay writers this decade.

[MJEH89]

every once in awhile ya gotta read some frivolity...

[HorniLad89]

Just finished reading Excession, the fourth Culture book.



Now going to reattempt the Dexter series, picking up where I left off, the fourth book, Dexter by Design. I gave up on the series originally because the third book introduced a very silly supernatural angle which destroyed the character of Dexter for me. However, I heard that plot device has been thankfully dropped.

[CottonBolus]

If I had the time, I would be thinking about reading Bleak House or a Charles Dickens book.

[giftart]

Really? Sounds interesting, I'm going to look it up at the library next time I go.

I've done reading The Babylon rite and yes it is quite gruesome in someway but if you read on its alittle I would say soft ending.

I am reading this now: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Birthdays-De.../dp/0007344201 - Brrrrrrr

[zoltanspawn]

If I had the time, I would be thinking about reading Bleak House or a Charles Dickens book.

If you can't manage reading Bleak House (and I haven't) you should definitely watch the BBC miniseries. It's super excellent.

I've turned six of my friends onto it and it's universally liked.

[HorniLad89]

Halfway through Dexter by Design, the fourth Dexter book.

[MJEH89]

I want to be a comedy writer, so I have to read up on the history of it. why not go to the best..??

[BENDERBOY]

Just started reading the follow-up to Sanctus, called The Key.



There's another book still to come.

Very good read, religious fanatics, Vatican assassins, huge secrets that could destroy the world.

[JackinSea]

The trick to classics like BLEAK HOUSE is to listen as an UNABRIDGED audio! The Victorians read serialized versions, not the tomes we have today.

[aaronxp]

Another Mayan end of the world easy read, just out before the end too.

Is it about mayans? Why does it have the aztec calendar on the cover?

[purina]

I just finished Gore Vidal's "Lincoln". Now I'm on volume two of ten of "Abraham Lincoln, A History" written jointly by both of Lincoln's secretaries.

[Thad1527]

It's different for me, but I'm reading Where She Came From by Helen Epstein. It's a story of wartime Czechoslovakia and it's captured my interest.

More like my regular reading is this wonderful book by Jennifer E. Smith, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. It's delicious.

[HorniLad89]

Look to Windward, book five of the Culture series (though really book six as I skipped Inversions as it actually doesn't feature the Culture or any science fiction). I love me some action on an Orbital.

[GregKII]

I'm more of a historical fiction/biography buff myself. I'm juggling about 5 books myself, but this has completely absorbed my attention at the moment. It's amazing!

[dougmc92]

Babycakes by Armistead Maupin- sequel to Further Tales of the the City...Michael goes to London- swaps apartments for a month with Englishman who was radioman of Queen's Yacht- Brittania- after Qn's visit to San Francisco in 1983...Maryann and Brian trying to have baby......

[maxpowr9]

Currently reading A Casual Vacancy, JK Rowling's new book. Besides the obvious fact that you can tell from Order of the Phoenix on wards that she was using a ghostwriter, the book is decent. I kind of like the premise of the revolving stories that surround a deceased politician.

[dougmc92]

Doubt seriously she's using a Ghost writer- if that ever got out- she'd be ruined!

[maxpowr9]

Doubt seriously she's using a Ghost writer- if that ever got out- she'd be ruined!

I wish I could find the article but it has been admitted that her editors had "ersatz" writing compared to her own. That is not a word you ever see in print which I why I remember it so clearly. I'm not saying they were entirely written by ghost writers [some series, especially children's books are) but, many of your favorite serial novelists use them.

[JackinSea]

If you guys are looking for a couple of books that are funny, but not exactly "beach reads" either, consider Graham Greene's "Our Man in Havana" (a vacuum cleaner salesman gets recruited as a spy in 50's Cuba), and Evelyn Waugh's "Scoop" (a young eager journalist is sent to cover an African conflict - that turns out not to exist!), both are excellent farces.

[EJMichaels]

I received a review copy of this one and just finished it. The cover (not shown) implies there will be het sex, but most of it is between men or between men and male dragons. It's not something I would have found for myself - an author I like told me about it. Fortunately, I didn't miss a fun book.

Like a Breath of Flame: Erotic Tales of Dragons
Edited by Cosmin Alexander and Cecilia Tan
Publisher: Circlet Press

Provided by publisher: Dragons are present across almost all human culture: from the classic fire-breathing and princess-coveting dragons of Western Europe to the wise and noble dragons of East Asia to the great monstrous lizards of Greek mythology to the feathered serpents of South America. But what of the sexual side of the dragon? What of sensuality at the border between earth and sky, what of the myths of kings and emperors being literally descended from dragons, what of dragons who take on human shape to learn mankind’s ways? Humans and dragons have existed side by side since nearly the beginning of time—surely their desires must have crossed at some point.

Like a Breath of Flame: Erotic Tales of Dragons contains nine short stories that explore the theme of scaled sensuality from a variety of different perspectives. In this anthology are stories of lonely mountain dragons with exotic tastes, dragons with the power to slip into their lover’s dreams, shapechanger dragons, unusual interpretations of the term “dragon rider,” dragon-as-devil and dragon-as-god… and, yes, no less than two versions of the virgin-sacrificed-to-dragon story, each with their own unique twist on the tale. These stories of serpentine sexuality are certain to delight the senses.

[dougmc92]

Starting Book 5 in the Tales of the City series- Significant Others, just finished 4- Babycakes- very good!

[HorniLad89]

Hmm been a while since I posted, got through quite a few books in the last few months. I recently finished Surface Detail book eight of the Culture, been spacing my science fiction out with some classics so read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley which is completely different to any of the movie adaptations I've seen. Just finished The Gunslinger part 1 of the Dark Tower series by Stephen King. Really good stuff, enjoyed it immensely. Terrifying, speculative and awe-inspiring, classic King. May move on to the second book or read The Hydrogen Sonata, book nine in the Culture series next, undecided.

[rotary]

Ethical Oil: the case for Canada's Oilsands.

[DC00777]

If you like witty, dark humor check out Edward St. Aubyn's Patrick Melrose novels. Five novels (ranging in lengths of 120-250 pages). Quite excellent. If you want something VERY dark, occasionally funny and always insightful, check out Dennis Cooper's George Miles cycle of novels. But be warned, they aren't for those with weak stomachs.

Can someone suggest a book for me?


I love those teenage books with that sarcastic humor although I guess at this point I am just looking for something "Witty" love that writing, it kills me. Books have made me laugh more than movies, actually.

The last book I read that I truly loved was "Go ask Alice anonymous" along with another book just like it. Both were dark, self-deprecating, and smart.


If I can find a book that has the same humor as "The Mindy Project" I will be happy

[sammyyummy]

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. Was mind blowingly better than i expected

[crimsonpaine]

Brain by Robin Cook

[yannes]

reading game of thrones now

I also really recommend the fault in our stars by john green

[BENDERBOY]

Working my way through three books at the moment.

The Bones Of Avignon by Jefferson Bass
The Tomb Of Alexander by Sean Hemingway
and The Istanbul Puzzle by Laurence O'Bryan

All Dan Brown-esque nonsense, but very entertaining.