What are you reading?

[Listener]

Well, the end of "The City And The City" didn't disappoint.

Cleansing my palate with a reread of "Here There Be Dragons" by John Peel before moving onto either "Thunderer" or "Boneshaker".

The "secret agent" in HTBD is so blatantly manipulative, and the heroes so trusting, that it's a wonder the editors let that pass. Ah well; it was a different time (1992, I believe).

[DKT]

Finished reading Jonathan Barnes's The Somnambulist (not to be confused with a recent PodCastle episode). Kind of amusing until the final 50 pages of the book or so, but despite a nice plot twist, there were some other elements (a deus ex machina reveal, unexplained threads while others were (IMO) poorly closed, etc.) that made it ultimately very frustrating.

On the brightside, I started reading Greg van Eekhout's Kid Vs. Squid last night, and burst out laughing while reading the first chapter in bed. My wife looked at me and was like, "Okay - EXPLAIN!"

[Sandikal]

Finished reading Jonathan Barnes's The Somnambulist (not to be confused with a recent PodCastle episode). Kind of amusing until the final 50 pages of the book or so, but despite a nice plot twist, there were some other elements (a deus ex machina reveal, unexplained threads while others were (IMO) poorly closed, etc.) that made it ultimately very frustrating.

On the brightside, I started reading Greg van Eekhout's Kid Vs. Squid last night, and burst out laughing while reading the first chapter in bed. My wife looked at me and was like, "Okay - EXPLAIN!"

I was so happy when I found a copy of The Somnambulist at the library because it sounded really good.  I was really disappointed in it.

[Sandikal]

Had to back up to see what I last posted. 

I finished both "Kraken" and "Changes". 

"Kraken" started out with a bang and ended with a bang, but the whole middle part was really confusing.  I think it could have been shorter without losing anything.  It reminded me a lot of a Tim Powers novel; weird, complex and confusing.  I think it's one of those books that really require two readings to appreciate.  If you like The Laundry series and stories by Charles Stross, you'd probably like "Kraken" a lot because it seems like it's set in the very same version of London. 

I also finished reading "Changes".  Wow.  It is by far the best Dresden Files novel yet.  Now, I'm through all the ones that are in print.  There's a short story collection due in fall and "Ghost Story" is supposed to come out in spring. 

I'm almost done reading "His Majesty's Dragon".  It was offered free for the Nook a few weeks ago and I think you can still get it free if you have a Nook or the B&N Reader app.  It's engaging, but I'm having a lot of trouble suspending disbelief.  It's not really my cup of tea, so I'll probably pass on the rest of the series.

My current audio book is "The Mystery of Grace" by Charles DeLint.  I'm absolutely adoring that story.  It's very romantic.

[lowky]

Geek Love by Katherine Dunn.  a very strange story about a Carny family, that the father helped to create, after inheriting a failing carnival from his father, using amphetamines, arsenic, and radioisotopes.  Flipper Boy, Siamese Twins, Hunchbacked little person, and a normal appearing kid with telekinetic abilities.

[stePH]

Finished the sci-fi chick book (i.e., The Host by Stephenie Meyer).  Next was going to be Philip Pullman's The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ but I still have to pick it up from the library, so I went to my Dad's Bookshelf and picked out a Haggard omnibus containing She, King Solomon's Mines, and Allan Quatermain.

[Listener]

"Thunderer", by Felix Gilman

The second chapter, which is all in present/future tense, about the coming of The Bird, almost completely turned me off to the novel. Fortunately, it recovered and, now that I'm about 70% through, I'm enjoying it quite a lot, although I'm not 100% sure how the dramatic tension of each story thread ties in with the others.

[Scattercat]

I'm in the middle of Brandon Sanderson's "Mistborn," and feeling a bit like I'm reading the tutorial and first few stages of a new video game.

[Anarkey]

I'm in the middle of Brandon Sanderson's "Mistborn," and feeling a bit like I'm reading the tutorial and first few stages of a new video game.

Hahahaha.  It is because you are.  Sanderson is very proud of how gamelike and balanced his magic systems are, at least to judge from his commentary on the matter in his podcast.

That said, it was still a pretty good read, though not good enough that I tracked down the subsequent volumes.

[Scattercat]

I'm in the middle of Brandon Sanderson's "Mistborn," and feeling a bit like I'm reading the tutorial and first few stages of a new video game.

Hahahaha.  It is because you are.  Sanderson is very proud of how gamelike and balanced his magic systems are, at least to judge from his commentary on the matter in his podcast.

That said, it was still a pretty good read, though not good enough that I tracked down the subsequent volumes.

I have a feeling that I'm going to have the same reaction.  Mind you, I tend to dislike magic systems that make too much sense in general, but more pertinently, the characters are just not grabbing me.  (And after the whole chalkboard thing, I keep picturing Kell as Glenn Beck and recoiling in horror every time anyone appears to express fondness for him.)

[Scattercat]

So I finished "Mistborn."  It got better as it went on, but it never really hit "Ooh!" for me.  Then I got to the Final Battle and the Big Reveal.

:-| 

>

That was the worst plot twist ever.  Way to take the ONLY interesting character change-of-heart thing in the ENTIRE book and just dribble it away down your leg, Mr. Sanderson.

[Talia]

So I finished "Mistborn."  It got better as it went on, but it never really hit "Ooh!" for me.  Then I got to the Final Battle and the Big Reveal.

:-| 

>

That was the worst plot twist ever.  Way to take the ONLY interesting character change-of-heart thing in the ENTIRE book and just dribble it away down your leg, Mr. Sanderson.

Yes it was aggrivating, but I rather liked it, if only for Sanderson's gumption for taking a path very few authors choose to take.


(if in general you found yourself warming to his writing style, try some of his other books. They have more satisfying conclusions).

[Scattercat]

Yes it was aggrivating, but I rather liked it, if only for Sanderson's gumption for taking a path very few authors choose to take.

Gotta disagree here.  The "one true hero" being the only one who can truly properly handle the ultimate cosmic power is a very, very old (and very very busted) trope.  I was really enjoying the idea that the changeover was gradual and so slow that even the conscientious, thoughtful 'hero' eventually succumbed, and then, whoops, race is destiny and the White Man could totally have saved everyone if only they'd let him have his Burden.

Grar.

It's just all kinds of annoying.  My favorite part of LOTR is the fact that NO ONE resists the One Ring, in the end.  One way or another, it gets them all.

[Talia]

Yes it was aggrivating, but I rather liked it, if only for Sanderson's gumption for taking a path very few authors choose to take.

Gotta disagree here.  The "one true hero" being the only one who can truly properly handle the ultimate cosmic power is a very, very old (and very very busted) trope.  I was really enjoying the idea that the changeover was gradual and so slow that even the conscientious, thoughtful 'hero' eventually succumbed, and then, whoops, race is destiny and the White Man could totally have saved everyone if only they'd let him have his Burden.

Grar.

It's just all kinds of annoying.  My favorite part of LOTR is the fact that NO ONE resists the One Ring, in the end.  One way or another, it gets them all.

Oh OK, I see what you're saying. I guess I can't then recommend any of Sanderson's other stuff after all, because what we are looking for and getting out of fiction is different.

I'm an all characters/settings fan myself. Charm me with your characters and thrill me with your world and I'm a happy camper,. pretty much regardless of what else the author does with the story. Sanderson did both with the Mistborn trilogy, which is why I was overall pleased.

And you gotta admit, those Inquisitors are some of the creepiest bad guys ever. I mean, damn.

[Scattercat]

Oh, the Inquisitors were quite cool.  Easily my favorite part of the book was the bit with the Inquisitors at the very end.

I didn't find the characters particularly charming, myself; they felt a little flat and stilted, a collection of one-note spear-carriers with a Standard-Issue Naif-with-Potential protagonist and a Passionate Messianic Figure to flit around and be perfect at people.  The whole thing felt like I was reading someone telling me how quirky and charming the characters were without actually giving me quirky and charming characters.  The parts I liked best were when it verged on intrigue during Vin's infiltration of the nobles, but he kept spoiling it by immediately jumping to another perspective and explaining what the mysterious comments meant.

[Listener]

Finished "Thunderer". It had kind of that "end of Perdido Street Station" feel, where there's a big climax... and then ANOTHER climax, not quite so big. Of course the ending was just a sequel hook, but it was a good enough hook that I'll read the next one, eventually.

Started Cherie Priest's "Boneshaker". So far I haven't hit the part that everyone's so crazy about -- I'm enjoying it, but not as HOLYCRAPTHISISTHEMOSTAMAZINGBOOKEVAR!!!!!!11111one much as everyone seems to have. Of course maybe it'll get that way in another 100 pages or so.

[DKT]

Started Cherie Priest's "Boneshaker". So far I haven't hit the part that everyone's so crazy about -- I'm enjoying it, but not as HOLYCRAPTHISISTHEMOSTAMAZINGBOOKEVAR!!!!!!11111one much as everyone seems to have. Of course maybe it'll get that way in another 100 pages or so.

I'm actually hearing more and more of a schism in reaction that book (with myself and a few others on the same side of the fence you are right now). I actually adore Cherie Priest's writing in general, but that one never did connect with me as much as I wanted it to.

[Listener]

Started Cherie Priest's "Boneshaker". So far I haven't hit the part that everyone's so crazy about -- I'm enjoying it, but not as HOLYCRAPTHISISTHEMOSTAMAZINGBOOKEVAR!!!!!!11111one much as everyone seems to have. Of course maybe it'll get that way in another 100 pages or so.

I'm actually hearing more and more of a schism in reaction that book (with myself and a few others on the same side of the fence you are right now). I actually adore Cherie Priest's writing in general, but that one never did connect with me as much as I wanted it to.

To me, it's because NO ONE except the airship smugglers (the Free Crow and the Naamah Darling) have been likable characters. Briar Wilkes is crotchety, angry, and self-loathing; Zeke is a teenage hothead who thinks he knows everything. Maybe it'll get better; I don't know.

To compare, in "Dragon Tattoo" Lisbeth Salander may be an unlikable character, but she's balanced by the genial Idon'tgiveafuckbecauseI'mawesomeitude of Mikael Blomkvist. I haven't yet hit a likable MC in "Boneshaker".

Maybe Briar will have some sort of life-changing moment that makes her a better person. Maybe not.

[gelee]

Just finished Mieville's "Kraken."  Maybe I was a little too keyed up for this one, but it fell a smidge flat for me.  It has the same awesome world-building that I've come to expect from him, but the characters just didn't click.  More "Iron Council" than "Perdido Street Station," or even "The Scar," both of which had some of the most fascinating characters I've ever come across.  The characters just didn't have the same zing as the folks in his earliest work. 

[Listener]

Finished "Boneshaker". The ending was pretty good, although there was some feeling of "I don't feel like writing some of this, so I'll let it happen while Zeke and Briar are asleep and explain it on the back-end". Overall I wasn't as impressed as all the write-ups said I should have been. Plus, I'm not a huge fan of zombies, so that part didn't do it for me.

Moved onto a reread of Mieville's "Perdido Street Station".

[Sandikal]

Just finished Mieville's "Kraken."  Maybe I was a little too keyed up for this one, but it fell a smidge flat for me.  It has the same awesome world-building that I've come to expect from him, but the characters just didn't click.  More "Iron Council" than "Perdido Street Station," or even "The Scar," both of which had some of the most fascinating characters I've ever come across.  The characters just didn't have the same zing as the folks in his earliest work. 

Thank goodness I'm not the only one underwhelmed.  I'm still wondering if it would improve with a second reading, but I'm not a re-reader.

[Sgarre1]

Finished RICHARD MATHESON: COLLECTED STORIES, VOLUME 1 and wrote the usual enormo-review here: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42648974.  (since Matheson had such an impact on pop culture, the review has tons of You Tube links)

Still working on THE RETURN by Walter de la Mare.

[Scattercat]

Richard Matheson is super-awesome.  I will always be thankful for "I Am Legend" the laughably bad film because when I heard that they'd butchered the ending, I went and got the reprinted book that featured the novella and some other Matheson stories and thus discovered probably one of my favorite short story guys. 

[jrderego]

Richard Matheson is super-awesome.  I will always be thankful for "I Am Legend" the laughably bad film because when I heard that they'd butchered the ending, I went and got the reprinted book that featured the novella and some other Matheson stories and thus discovered probably one of my favorite short story guys. 

You should seek out The Last Man on Earth with Vincent Price, it's public domain so you can download it legally from bazillions of websites. It's a VERY good interpretation of I am Legend, though the ending is different in that film as well. But it's a great view.

[jrderego]

Graceland by Chris Abani