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'Guns Of the South' by Harry Turtledove.

In short an alternative history novel of what would happen in early 1864, the winter after Gettysberg the Confederates get the AK-47.
If I write much more than that the twist is given away.

Great writing, great story, second time rading it.

Your post
Well actually Cosi, The Green mile (rereading), The Quest
Cosi "play written by Lewis Nowra about a phyc ward in Aust during 1971
Green mile" you all know what it is"
The Quest"set in Egypt during the plague's (river of blood ect)

Their all good books, I could call myself an intterlectual but well, this post probably makes no sense

I think I'm going to look that one up, I've been looking for something to read.

I normally read a few books at a time and jump between them. Right now I've got The Reagen Diaries, The Mind of the Middle Ages, Art and Social Structure, and The Psychology of Art. Needless to say, I am advancing very slowly .

I've been looking around for fantasy again to read after I'm done with this batch, but have no idea what's out there nowadays. What's good lately?

Griffu wrote:I normally read a few books at a time and jump between them.

I do the same thing. People always ask me why I don't get confused.

In any case, I'm reading the Oath of the Empire series by Thomas Harlan, Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson, Birthright: The Book of Man by Mike Resnick, On Killing by Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, and Sleep Disorders Medicine (2nd edition) by Sudhansu Chokroverty.

Oath of the Empire is an alternate history/fantasy where the Western Roman Empire lasted (with the aid of magic) into the late 600s, where they assisted the Eastern Roman Empire in the invasion of Persia.

Quicksilver I'm only a chapter into, but if it's anything like his other books it'll focus on mathematics and a twisty plot I won't understand until the last 4th of the book.

Birthright: the Book of Man is a collection of short stories detailing the future history of mankind, including his rise to ruling the universe and his subsequent fall and extinction.

On Killing is probably one of the most facinating books I've ever read. It delves into the psychology of killing and killers.

Sleep Disorders Medicine is interesting if you enjoy learning about what can go wrong with the human body. Or if you work in the sleep field.

Just read Luck in the Shadows, by Lynn Flewelling, which a friend gave me for my birthday. Decent fantasy book, focusing on a young rogue (in D&D terms) getting his start. Not great, but enjoyable.

I'm about two thirds of the way through The Surgeon's Mate, which is the seventh of Patrick O'Brien's Aubrey/Maturin books. I really like these, but I'm not hurrying through them. I usually get a couple of them for Yule and a couple for my birthday.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I do the same thing. People always ask me why I don't get confused.

Ditto. I also leave them in various places-- different rooms in the house, the car, my bag-- so more or less wherever I am there's something to grab and read if the mood hits suddenly. Though mostly I do it because even if a book is interesting you don't always want to be reading *that one* even if you want to be reading. Reagen's an interesting guy, but 300 pages of White House dinner commentary isn't something I can tackle without a break .

What kind of reading pace do the rest of you have? It seems one of my resolutions each year is to read more, and I'm doing okay this year with about 30ish books for '07. Stephen King once said he reads 80-90 books a year, but I doubt that's anywhere near average.

The Ravenor Trilogy

Sandworms of Dune

Griffu wrote:What kind of reading pace do the rest of you have? It seems one of my resolutions each year is to read more, and I'm doing okay this year with about 30ish books for '07. Stephen King once said he reads 80-90 books a year, but I doubt that's anywhere near average.

I read 2-3 novels per week when that's all I'm reading. Less when I'm reading non-fiction.

Stephen King is a freak of nature.

30 books a year is very awesome. I'm jealous.

Mnemoch wrote:
Quicksilver I'm only a chapter into, but if it's anything like his other books it'll focus on mathematics and a twisty plot I won't understand until the last 4th of the book.

Hah! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! No, no, no. See, it's the Baroque Cycle; you have two more "books" to go (technically seven or eight; there are more than one book in each bound copy, and in The Confusion the two books intersperse). And it's wonderful and roundabout and magical, and when you're done you'll feel like you've lost some friends. I'm almost done with my first re-reading of The Confusion, and it's just as good the second time around. Actually, read the Cryptonomicon first, as it will help you a bit with this series.

Don't forget, Enoch Root lives!

Currently, I'm reading Spook Country by William Gibson. That man makes everything he talks about cool.

Iorek wrote:

Mnemoch wrote:
Quicksilver I'm only a chapter into, but if it's anything like his other books it'll focus on mathematics and a twisty plot I won't understand until the last 4th of the book.

Hah! Ah ha ha ha ha ha ha!!! No, no, no. See, it's the Baroque Cycle; you have two more "books" to go (technically seven or eight; there are more than one book in each bound copy, and in The Confusion the two books intersperse). And it's wonderful and roundabout and magical, and when you're done you'll feel like you've lost some friends. I'm almost done with my first re-reading of The Confusion, and it's just as good the second time around. Actually, read the Cryptonomicon first, as it will help you a bit with this series.

Don't forget, Enoch Root lives!
.

Freakin' engineers....

Iorek wrote:Currently, I'm reading Spook Country by William Gibson. That man makes everything he talks about cool.

That his new one? Damn I need to add that to my Xmas list ...

Just read Descent of Angels over Thanksgiving, wasn't terribly impressed but it was airplane fodder so whatev.

Now returning to Midnight's Children by Rushdie, and wow did I leave off when it was getting good / better

- Salvage

I'm reading Loop by Koji Suzuki(or was before it got lost somewhere in my car).

It's the third book in the Ringu series(the first 2 books inspired Ringu and Rasen, later followed by Ringu 2 and Ringu 0, as well as those American abortions). Like the first two books, it's very scientifically written. Centers around a young med student that discovers a link between low gravity and longevity zones leading to a discovery of a near null gravity zone in the midwestern US. There's also a strange new cancer going around that almost mimics the Ring Virus that killed so many people in the first two books(and NOT a dead girl coming out of the TV). Turns out inside the longevity zone is the application of a study in Japan that has built up into a virtual world built around real human DNA.

I suggest anyone interest in science/mysticism mix books to read the whole series, including the short story in Birthday that explains more about Sadako's life and death. The books are much better than any of the movie or TV Series adaptations and make much more sense, especially her hatred of humanity because of being raped by the last known case of Japanese Small Pox, almost being killed by her rapist because she has TFS, and then thrown down a well.

I'm reading a whole stack of literature on timber frame buildings, not for my own personal satisfaction but because I'm starting a new job on Thursday (complete with temporary pay reduction). These types of buildings are not common where I live but I'm certain that they soon will be, so I want to go down this route now that the opportunity has presented itself.

When I get some time to myself I'll probably use most of it for painting, waste a lot of it on messageboards, and confine my reading to bath time (fortunately my new job is also literally a 10 minute walk from where I live, so there'll be no more public transport reading window that I've always made good use of), and I'll probably be reading some true crime stuff. I'd probably have a whole stack of true crime on my shelves, but it would probably make me look like a wierdo.

Hellfury wrote: The Ravenor Trilogy

How is Ravenor Rogue? (question applies to anyone that's read it, in case HF isn't that far yet)

I suggest anyone interest in science/mysticism mix books to read the whole series,

But it's no longer supernatural? I dunno, I have some fond memories of that girl crawling out from TVs... although that does sound interesting. I'll pick it up if I run across it, thanks.

I polished off When Elephants Weep today, which I removed from my currently-reading list because I thought I lost the book. For those who don't know it discusses animal feelings and emotions (especially that they happen to have such things). Great book whether or not you're an animal person.

Edit: that was in response to

30 books a year is very awesome. I'm jealous.

Now if only most of them weren't bad .

Griffu wrote:
But it's no longer supernatural? I dunno, I have some fond memories of that girl crawling out from TVs... although that does sound interesting. I'll pick it up if I run across it, thanks.

There's still plenty of supernatural(communication beyond the dead, rebirth/cloning through the virus, Psychic manipulation of Small Pox by implanting her own DNA then transmitting it through a video tape and other Media) but the deaths are due to the altered virus, not a direct death by ghost.

The House Of Reeds by Thomas Harlan.

Just finished Game of Thrones, by George RR Martin, the best fantasy novel I've ever read (out of about 4, I'm not a fantasy guy). I can't wait for the HBO series to start, as long as they get it right.

Then I wanted something fun that I didn't have to think about, so I'm reading GW's Storm of Iron again. Though I have to admit, I'm not too enthralled with it, and may move on to something else.

To the OP: Turtledove is always a good read. I recently finished up Villa and Zapata: A History of the Mexican Revolution (Womack), as well as Russia at War: 1941-1945 (Werth). The former is a great survey history of that conflict, while the latter provides a very detailed reporter's ground-view of the depths and heights experienced by the Russia people during WWII. Oh and Don't Stand Where the Comet Is Assumed To Strike Oil.

Still haven't finished reading Murakami's After Dark.

His stuff is weird.

Listening to a book about whaling, of all things. I seriously need to find
some comfort reading.

Maybe I'll switch my reading list to slash fic. I mean, like more slash fic...

Nothing really interesting to anyone but me.

Politics of Fear by Frank Furedi
Consuming Religion by Vincent Miller
The New Wars by Herfried Munkler
and American Theocracy by Kevin Philips

malfred wrote:Maybe I'll switch my reading list to slash fic. I mean, like more slash fic...

...and before you know it, you'll be writing it. That's how the Devil gets inside you.

Hmmm.
Just finished re-reading The Neutronium Alchemist series again.

Going to go back now and re-read all of my "World War" stuff by Turtledove again. Good mindless brain candy.(Thanks for reminding me Waaaagh G. )

Going to need some suggestions though, am finding my library is being recycled a bit too often. Even my old Harry Harrison "Deathworld" series got another go!

Just finished Wicked, was a good read with a downer of an ending - but that's fairly unavoidable given Baum's original!

Now reading Spook Country (x-mas gift from the finacee ), as well as Victor Hugo: Selected Poems with breakfast every day

- Salvage

I'm also reading the ravenor trilogy. I'm halfway through Ravenor Returned and just bought Ravenor Rogue yesterday. I'll let you know you know in a week or two how good the later is.

Pretties by Paul Westfield. Nice, light science-fiction dystopia.

Literally just finished The Last Epic Naval Battle (Leyte Gulf). The book is good for a sailor's eye view of the fighting from a PT boat, DD, and escort carrier pilot perspective. Different view than of lot of the history one reads.

Now reading a biography of Augustus Caesar. Have to love a guy who wrests control of a landmass larger than Alexander's empire at the same age as Alexander.

Then I have some books on networking to take down. That whole New Year's resolution thing rears its ugly head.

I don't know if this counts but I've been reading Rise of the Tau for like a month now. Really fun story. And it's free!!!