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You need to hunt down my favorite issue as a kid... it had everything, including Marvel's best hero ever: Solo (aka James Bourne).

Making a start on Joe Haldeman's The Forever War (I'm trying to make my way through the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Masterwork lists), it's good so far.

I will always be amused by the weird obsession 70's Sci-fi had for compulsory casual sex though.

I have just finished Priory of the Orange Tree. Solid fantasy stuff with good worldbuilding and the themes not diverging into either infantile YA simplifications nor edgy "mature content" stuff, which is welcome.

The plot reminded me of the Kushiel series (which I like very much), being equally divided between intrigue at court with its complicated interdependecies and more action-packed adventure. All in all a very nice holiday read.

Thud!

The book in which, at long last, we finally get to see His Grace, The Duke of Ankh, Commander Sir Samuel “Sam” Vimes…..Go Spare

It’s also an interesting study on multicultural tensions, and how often it’s down to just a mere handful of bad faith actors manipulating things to their own ends and gain.

We also meet Sally for the first time, The Watch’s original Vampire recruit.

I recently read Bury our Bones in the Midnight Soil, by V.E. Schwab.

It's a centuries spanning character study, which presents beautiful imagery and development of characters with a very light plot in the present day. It takes a very long time for the threads to coalesce, and when they do it is messy. It's very atmospheric, but doesn't do much new. If you're a fan of the genre, you'll probably enjoy it.

I have to admit I preferred The Invisible Life of Addie Larue, which went on a really cool adventure with an immortal who couldn't be remembered for more than 20 minutes by anyone. That's a concept I'd never encountered before, and it was executed spectacularly. This one is worth checking out for everyone who likes magical deals and their unforeseen consequences.

 aku-chan wrote:

I will always be amused by the weird obsession 70's Sci-fi had for compulsory casual sex though.

I mean, it does kinda make a bit of sense though. . . when those books were written there were a number of brand new contraceptive options that were quite effective. I've often read in histories of that decade that it was a bit of a "freer" time, and among the corollary reasons for that was those new options. So, it makes sense that an author of the day would want to explore the idea of "what if we had so completely figured all of *this* out to the point where there's zero risk of any unwanted outcome, what would the world and society look like?"

Personally, I am also amused by it, but more because I'm an American, and child of the super conservative 80s, and I find my country's obsession with fleshy organs' existence, and how they MUST be censored out at all turns extremely funny.

 aku-chan wrote:
Making a start on Joe Haldeman's The Forever War (I'm trying to make my way through the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Masterwork lists), it's good so far.

I will always be amused by the weird obsession 70's Sci-fi had for compulsory casual sex though.

Do you have a link to the lists you are using? Kind of curious how many I’ve read already.

Cyel wrote:
I have just finished Priory of the Orange Tree. Solid fantasy stuff with good worldbuilding and the themes not diverging into either infantile YA simplifications nor edgy "mature content" stuff, which is welcome.

The plot reminded me of the Kushiel series (which I like very much), being equally divided between intrigue at court with its complicated interdependecies and more action-packed adventure. All in all a very nice holiday read.

I loved that book! Bit of a rushed ending but the journey there was excellent. She's a really good writer. I also really enjoyed the prequel she did, Day of Fallen Night. Totally different characters, but you get to see the priory at a different stage of its history.

 Lathe Biosas wrote:
You need to hunt down my favorite issue as a kid... it had everything, including Marvel's best hero ever: Solo (aka James Bourne).

I actually have that one!


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 aku-chan wrote:
Making a start on Joe Haldeman's The Forever War (I'm trying to make my way through the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Masterwork lists), it's good so far.

I will always be amused by the weird obsession 70's Sci-fi had for compulsory casual sex though.

Great book. Could totally be adapted to a movie but yeah, they'd want to cut out the sex stuff.

 Lathe Biosas wrote:
You need to hunt down my favorite issue as a kid... it had everything, including Marvel's best hero ever: Solo (aka James Bourne).

I mean, I’m reading it on a pirate site because I don’t feel like paying a million bucks for amazing fantasy 15 and hunting down comics from the 60s, but looking at that picture it looks like issue 367, and I’m on issue 117, so I’ll get there!

 Nevelon wrote:

 aku-chan wrote:
Making a start on Joe Haldeman's The Forever War (I'm trying to make my way through the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Masterwork lists), it's good so far.

I will always be amused by the weird obsession 70's Sci-fi had for compulsory casual sex though.

Do you have a link to the lists you are using? Kind of curious how many I’ve read already.

This is the Sci-fi one:- https://www.worldswithoutend.com/lists_sf_masterworks.asp

And this is the fantasy one (Which, unfortunately, is nowhere near as long):- https://www.worldswithoutend.com/lists_fantasy_masterworks.asp

 aku-chan wrote:

 Nevelon wrote:

 aku-chan wrote:
Making a start on Joe Haldeman's The Forever War (I'm trying to make my way through the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Masterwork lists), it's good so far.

I will always be amused by the weird obsession 70's Sci-fi had for compulsory casual sex though.

Do you have a link to the lists you are using? Kind of curious how many I’ve read already.

This is the Sci-fi one:- https://www.worldswithoutend.com/lists_sf_masterworks.asp

And this is the fantasy one (Which, unfortunately, is nowhere near as long):- https://www.worldswithoutend.com/lists_fantasy_masterworks.asp

Thanks for sharing.

Only about 18 of the Sci-fi, 3 from the fantasy.

Interesting format for a list. It’s a best of list from a particular publishing house, so not comprehensive of the genre, just what they had rights to. Still a reminder that there are a lot of classics out there I’ve not read.

 creeping-deth87 wrote:

Cyel wrote:
I have just finished Priory of the Orange Tree. Solid fantasy stuff with good worldbuilding and the themes not diverging into either infantile YA simplifications nor edgy "mature content" stuff, which is welcome.

The plot reminded me of the Kushiel series (which I like very much), being equally divided between intrigue at court with its complicated interdependecies and more action-packed adventure. All in all a very nice holiday read.

I loved that book! Bit of a rushed ending but the journey there was excellent. She's a really good writer. I also really enjoyed the prequel she did, Day of Fallen Night. Totally different characters, but you get to see the priory at a different stage of its history.

Oh, I didn't know there's a prequel! Thanks for the info, it is on my list now

Cyel wrote:


Oh, I didn't know there's a prequel! Thanks for the info, it is on my list now

No problem!

If you're looking for another suggestion, check out the Realm of the Elderlings series by Robin Hobb. I'm 9 books in and completely mesmerized by her writing.

Robin Hobb is a top writer and her Elderlings world is amazing!

Yeah, The Elderling stuff is fantastic. While I prefer early Fritz it's still just so so good.

Everything wanted to really like a book. Like really, really wanted to enjoy it.

But it just stares at you from the shelf?

You read maybe 64 pages, and you just can't get into it.

Your friends like it. You liked the first one in the series... but this one can't hold your attention.

Jim Butcher's The Olympian Affair is just so heavy... I mean weight wise...

Maybe I'll read more tomorrow.

A genuine question for my fellow Pratchett readers. It’s an honest one, but I’m not sure I can call it an open question, as it is kinda binary. And I really cannot be arsed to proper think about how to word it openly.

So. Here we go.

Had reading Discworld given you pause for thought. And if so, do you consider yourself better for it?

That’s about as open as I can manage right now. Hopefully.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
A genuine question for my fellow Pratchett readers. It’s an honest one, but I’m not sure I can call it an open question, as it is kinda binary. And I really cannot be arsed to proper think about how to word it openly.

So. Here we go.

Had reading Discworld given you pause for thought. And if so, do you consider yourself better for it?

That’s about as open as I can manage right now. Hopefully.

Just so we are on the same page, we both agree that Where's my Cow?is the best Discworld story.

No.

We are not.

You take this seriously.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
No.

We are not.

You take this seriously.

This.

Clearly the real answer is a toss up between "The World of Poo" and "Nanny Ogg's Cookbook"

You take this seriously too, fartknocker.

Otherwise I hope all you books turn into David Walliam’s books.

Yes. It’s that seriously.

Though both books mentioned are good.

 Mad Doc Grotsnik wrote:
A genuine question for my fellow Pratchett readers. It’s an honest one, but I’m not sure I can call it an open question, as it is kinda binary. And I really cannot be arsed to proper think about how to word it openly.

So. Here we go.

Had reading Discworld given you pause for thought. And if so, do you consider yourself better for it?

That’s about as open as I can manage right now. Hopefully.

Oh god yes. Although having started reading them aged about 14, and re-reading them every couple of years ever since, they're such a big part of my life I couldn't really tell you how I'd have turned out otherwise.

Wintersmith

The third Tiffany Aching novel, where she’s really growing into being a Witch. And they’re really solid Civics Lessons.

Essentially, whilst it’s preferable that you don’t screw up? To screw up is Human. But, when you’re a Witch, and you have their natural power? You put it right. Oh, you can seek advice and help from your friends and other Witches. But you need to be in the driving seat.

About halfway through : When the Wolf Comes Home by Nat Cassidy

This book was on quite a few recommended lists on some of the horror novel review sites I frequent.

Synopsis:

One night, Jess, a struggling actress, finds a five-year-old runaway hiding in the bushes outside her apartment. After a violent, bloody encounter with the boy's father, she and the boy find themselves running for their lives.

As they attempt to evade the boy's increasingly desperate father, horrifying incidents of butchery follow them. At first, Jess thinks she understands what they're up against, but she's about to learn there's more to these surreal and grisly events than she could've ever imagined.

And that when the wolf finally comes home, none will be spared.

Its fething wild.



This is a fun read.

Pistols at Dawn wrote:

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:



Also, Art Deco Los Angeles. The details of some buildings’ construction read like something out of a fantasy story. Sand from every county, water from every river…

Who’s the author for this one?

Suzanne Tarbell Cooper. It’s one of the sepia toned local interest books you see in drug stores. I also got LA Theaters in the same line for Father’s Day and have been reading both. Neither goes into a whole lot of depth, but they also didn’t cost $50+ like a real architecture book would have. If you are mostly looking for images, I’d recommend LA LAndmarks Art Deco, which is a much more visually interesting book that is also priced for casual interest.


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 Easy E wrote:
I am still hammering through that Peter Straub novel.

The guy has some great purple prose, but tends to meander. He has a hard time finding his point and the story is almost "dream-like".

Which Straub novel? I’ve only finished two, Ghost Story and Dreamlands, and they both fit your description, although one is narrowly a very good book and the other falls on the edge of the blade for total wastes of time.

Making Money

Moist Von Lipwig returns, this time to transform Ankh-Morpork’s failing banking system.

Golems! Bar Stewards! The Goddess Anoia! Mr Fusspot!

Definitely one of my favourites.

Murderbot Diaries

The Apple show got my son and a bunch of my nephews to read this series. It’s a fun time.

Mercy Thompson: Soul Taken

The Mercy Thompson series are a long running urban fantasy series similar to The Dresden Files. However, the focus is on a heroic pack of werewolves (and their allies), which leans heavily, HEAVILY onto the long-debunked Alpha Wolf Dominance theory of wolf social structure. This makes it pretty cheesy, especially the romance parts. Still, there are a lot of cool monsters and creative action scenes, so I’ll stick with the series for the foreseeable future. If you’re a fan of werewolf son vampire on fae violence, I recommend the series.

 BobtheInquisitor wrote:
Murderbot Diaries

The Apple show got my son and a bunch of my nephews to read this series. It’s a fun time.

Are the books better? I was surprised on how much action was in the TV Show. I thought the whole joke was that Murderbot didn't actually get up to much.

The books have a lot more to them. Most of the humor comes from Murderbot’s prose, its perspective on human behavior, and its internal monologue. There’s more going on even while Murderbot isn’t physically doing much.
Also, like a lot of series, the first book isn’t the strongest book.