Whoa, it's been way too long since I looked at this thread. My 'to read' pile just got bigger.
I finished PEEPS (and the sequel, The Last Days), by Scott Westerfeild, and followed it up with Infected, by- does anyone here not know buy now? Scott Sigler. I wouldn't suggest reading both of those in the same week, especially if it happens to be the week Norm runs a story like "Eggs" on the Drabblecast. Waaaay too many parasites. I thought nothing could be more horrifying than the real life parasites we have on this planet, many of which are described in PEEPS. Then I read Infected. My nightmares have years worth of new material.
That doesn't mean I didn't enjoy both books (and the drabblecast). I just kinda OD'ed on the subject, to the point where I don't even want to think about the books enough to give a decent critique. I'll say this much: PEEPS is quick and fun and has an interesting spin on vampires.
The Last Days I was disappointed with. It felt like a rushed, not as well thought out sequel. Infected is also fun, but in a much more disturbed and psychotic way. Kinda reminded me of Chuck Palahniuk, but with aliens.
I don't know if I posted about this one before, but even if so it's worth bringing up again. A while ago I finished Kindred, by Octavia Butler. It's an absolutely beautiful book I can't believe no one ever recommended to me. It's kinda historical fiction with time-travel. An African-American woman living in California in the 1970's is repeatedly pulled back in time to save an ancestor of hers living in the Southern USA in the early 1800's. This is the kind of book where the second you finish it you want to read it again, to soak up any little bits you might have missed. I can't wait to read it again.
Lastly, I just finished Second Variety and I'm halfway through Paycheck, both Philip K. Dick short story collections. They are both everything you would expect of him. I'm enjoying them greatly.
Next time I'll check in more often and try not to post huge paragraphs.