Official 2006 Summer Reading thread

[Creole Ned]

People aren't posting so they must be reading!

This year I have been working on getting my own writing going again and as part of that I've been doing two things, editing my existing short stories and putting them up on my site (seven so far) and reading short story collections that fall into the same category as most of my work, which is to say, "weird tales".

The first book I picked up was From the Borderlands (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446610356/sr=8-1/qid=1154880415/ref=sr_1_1/002-4605214-7420011?ie=UTF8), a somewhat uneven collection of stories that run the gamut from amusing to profane to "Uh, what the hell happened there?" I'm currently making my way through The Museum of Horrors (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0843949287/sr=1-2/qid=1154880732/ref=sr_1_2/002-4605214-7420011?ie=UTF8&s=books), which so far has featured stories that are a little more traditional than those in Borderlands.

Rounding out the list is Stephen King's latest collection, Everything's Eventual (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0743457358/sr=1-1/qid=1154880984/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-4605214-7420011?ie=UTF8&s=books). Although it became chic to trash King and his writing years ago, he remains one of my favorite writers. I've rarely read an author who can so effortlessly spin the proverbial yarn.

I don't have any of the books handy next to me, but I'll edit in a few highlights later from specific stories, since vague "I like it!" comments don't go very far. :)

[Budly]

I am reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and Under God by Michael Tait and Toby Mac.

[Postal]

I'm reading The Golden Age (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812579844/sr=1-1/qid=1154897657/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3804867-8439339?ie=UTF8&s=books)by John C. Wright. This is a sci-fi book about humans in the far far future.

[Tick]

I'm currently reading Blessed Among Nations (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0809055805/sr=8-1/qid=1154900523/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-4782318-7220948?ie=UTF8), an economic and sociological look at how the globalization of the period between the civil war and WW1 (roughly 1860-1910) shaped America in ways that didn't really happen anywhere else. It's pretty good.

[Paladin]

I'm currently reading George Alec Effinger's collection of short stories, George Alec Effinger: Live from Planet Earth! (http://www.goldengryphon.com/gaelive-frame.html). I highly recommend this one Ned, as it is exactly the type of stuff you seem to like to write.

http://www.goldengryphon.com/gaelive-large.jpg

I also HIGHLY recommend his Buyadeen trilogy, When Gravity Fails, A Fire In the Sun, amd The Exile Kiss to you and anyone who enjoys really good cyberpunk sci-fi. They are excellent novels, with a noir detective-story bent, and set in a fictional, futuristic Middle East. It is probably the most unique setting I've ever read in a sci-fi novel. All three books, along with Live and Maureen Birnbaum, Barbarian Swordperson are available (although not necessarily in at the moment) at the Vancouver Public Library (thank you online library catalogs).

Next on the reading list is David McCullough's 1776.

[Postal]

I have been looking at reading that 1776 by David McCullough's too. I saw it in Costco a little while ago and almost picked it up.

Hey talking about short stories do any of you get any of the sci-fi magazines? I was reading one of those years best books and it got me interested in subscribing to one of the magazines they get the stories from. I was thinking Analog Science Fiction & Fact as they are listed as more hard core sci-fi compared to something like Asimov.

[jackrabbit]

I read Starship Troopers, and Ender's Game earlier this year.

I just finished A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore (http://www.chrismoore.com/) where a man unexpectedly becomes Death. Moore's books are a tad off and bizarre, but are great reads. I think Ned would love them. This year I also read Coyote Blue, Bloodsucking Fiends, Lamb, and Fluke. Fluke is probably his worst, where Lamb is easily his best. Also check out Practical Demonkeeping and Island of the Sequined Love Nun.

I also read Broken Prey from John Sanford. The "... of Prey" series are police thrillers with the same cast. They're well written, especially the more recent ones, but since they all end in "... of Prey" I can never remember which book is about what. Note to future authors: don't do stupid shit like name your books based on a theme, like words, numbers, or letters.

I recently finished Brimstone by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (http://www.prestonchild.com). It wasn't very good, and it centers around a repeat character from other books that I've always found terribly uninteresting. It's part one in a trilogy. I just finished Dance of Death, and am the first chapter into Book of the Dead. So far, the writing has been great, but I still hate that character.

I often think I don't have much free time outside of volleyball and WoW. After writing this, I realize I've had enough free time to have read almost a dozen books this year. You know what this means?

I need to be playing more WoW.

[Tai]

I've recently finished 1632 (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0671319728/sr=1-1/qid=1154975406/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-6822016-6079233?ie=UTF8&s=books), 1633, and 1634, a decent set of historical/alternate universe fiction and Armed Madhouse (http://www.gregpalast.com/) (non-fiction). I am currently reading A Phule and His Money (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0441006582/sr=1-1/qid=1154975363/ref=sr_1_1/002-6822016-6079233?ie=UTF8&s=books) from the Phule's Company series, and Fiasco - The American Military Adventure in Iraq (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/159420103X/002-6822016-6079233?redirect=true).

[Paladin]

Ever read any of David Weber's Honorverse series Tai?

[Dg3Nr8]

jesus. I have trouble paying attention all the way through a quest description now days. :(

[Paladin]

jesus. I have trouble paying attention all the way through a quest description now days. :(

That's the Starbucks talking. Back away from the coffee with your hands up...

[Postal]

Most of David Weber books are worth the read. The Honor books are great.

[armerius]

I am reading The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis and Under God by Michael Tait and Toby Mac.

Screwtape...i read this last year... fantastic bit of writing... please post what you thought of it when you are done.

[Tai]

You're talking about the Honor Harrigan (spelling?) books? If so, I could swear we've had this discussion before, and I'm the one who is supposed to be the drunk around here.

[Paladin]

I can't speak for Postal, but I never miss a chance to plug the Honor Harrington books. :)

[Tai]

okay, okay, I'll order them! =P

[Dg3Nr8]

That's the Starbucks talking. Back away from the coffee with your hands up...

oh I've found something SO much better than Starbucks. Stumptown. (http://stumptowncoffee.com/)

Best coffee ever.

[Harka]

I am usually reading several books at once but here is a list of recent books read and ones on the list to be read:


I Am Legend - Richard Matheson
Fire in the Belly - Sam Keen
Chainfire - Terry Goodkind
The Two Swords - R.A. Salvatore
Chronicles of Narnia - C.S. Lewis (im currently reading the last one in the series)
Mere Christianity - C.S. Lewis
Sorrow in Our Heart: The Life of Tecumseh - Allan W. Eckert
Why Men Hate Going to Church - David Murrow
No More Christian Nice Guy - Paul Coughlin
Under God - Tait and Mac
The Silence of Adam - Dr. Larry Crab
She Calls Me Daddy - Robert Wolgemuth

On the list to read during my vacation in two weeks or there after:

The Frontiersmen - Allan W. Eckert
Screwtape Letters - C.S. Lewis
Raising a Modern-Day Knight - Robert Lewis
The Church Impotent:The Feminization of Christianity - Leon J. Podles
The Knife of Dreams - Robert Jordan (if i can bring my self to buying a hardback but based off his last couple books I will probably wait for the paperback)

I keep my eyes out for copies of Glen Cook's "Black Company" books. I have the first series but can never find the second series. I usually just find 1 or two and never sequential.

[Tai]

I've got a bunch of the Black Company books. I'm not sure if they are on the bookshelves or packed in boxes in the basement though. I will take a look for you :)

[jenn68]

I recently finished "The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle' by Hugh Lofting, which I think I mentioned in another thread was a good read, but strange because I just kept thinking what a naturalist/animal lover he was, but that man sure loved to fry some bacon!

Then a quick read for me was James Patterson's new book 'Judge & Jury'. This took on John Grisham courthouse theme, but with a Sopranos twist...

I'm thinking of trying to read another classic & found 'Kinapped', Robert Louis Stevenson, atop my shelves...

[Tai]

Amazon has the (first) Black Company series for sale here (http://www.amazon.com/gp/series/40309/ref=pd_serl_books/103-1844908-2135049?ie=UTF8&edition=mass%5Fmarket). Hrm, and after rereading, you have the first series and are missing the second (thought it was the other way around). Not to fear though, the second series is on that link too :thumbup:

[Paladin]

I'm about 3/4 the way through 1776 and it's amazing how close the American Revolution came to ending before it really got going. It's also interesting reading about the fighting around New York city and Long Island... how it was all woods and farmlands, and the "city" was maybe 20,000 people.

[Iceman]

I read Starship Troopers, and Ender's Game earlier this year.
I recently finished Brimstone by Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child (http://www.prestonchild.com). It wasn't very good, and it centers around a repeat character from other books that I've always found terribly uninteresting. It's part one in a trilogy. I just finished Dance of Death, and am the first chapter into Book of the Dead. So far, the writing has been great, but I still hate that character.



It's not that assclown Mbwun was it? I thought that was the stupidest thing ever. Whitlesley? Pretty sure the guy should have been named Wit-lessly.

No really though: Margo Green?

[jackrabbit]

No, it's Pendergast. Mbwun was pretty stupid and both authors joke about it in their books as being their first and roughest book. Sadly it's the only one to be made into a movie. There was talk of a film based on Riptide, their best book in my opinion, but I never heard much after the initial hubbub.

[FiX]

Topic revival.. Sorry I started a new topic called A Good Book.

[jackrabbit]

I'd merge the two, but...