Reading Journal

Poll

2007-11-08T06:10:00.000-08:00

So far in my 'Which is your favorite Fantasy series?" poll 'Harry Potter' and 'SOIC' are tied with 2 a piece.

Come on people! Aren't you bored enough to vote?!

A Feast of Crows.

2007-09-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

I've just finished 'A Feast of Crows' by George R.R. Martin and I have mixed feelings about it. Don't get me wrong I love Martin's writing but I feel it lacks the deeper emotional feeling I recieved from the other three novels. The lack of characters? The absence of numerous battle scenes? The changing of characters behavior? Hmmm....

The void in which I fell.

2007-08-30T06:32:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile, I apologize for all those random Google searchers that happen to come across this blog.

Since my last post(last millinia), I've read some good stories. I will not elaborate on them at the moment(work calls).

Both the 'Hedge Knight' stories in 'Legends' 1 & 2 (I will forever love GRRM), 'White Apples' by Jonathan Carroll (he sets fantastic atmospheres), 'The Messiah Paradigm' by Daeron Shane (It's better not to say anything then to be rude). And finally started 'Guns, Germs and Steel' by Diamond.

I've picked up a few good ones as well. 'The Wizard' and 'The Knight' by Gene Wolfe, 'Gardens of the Moon' by Erikson, 'A Feast for Crows' by GRRM, 'Glass Soup' by Carroll, 'A Dirty Job' by Moore and 'Red Seas Under Red Skies' by Lynch.

I'll be busy for a while with these yummy selections.

New Books

2007-07-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday and I received three very yummy books.

1. The Road - Cormac McCarthy - 978-0-307-38489-9
Which has been on my Amazon Wish List since January! McCarthy earned a Pulitzer Prize for this post-apocalyptic novel.

2. Guns, Germs, and Steel - Jared Diamond - 0-393-31755-2
Another Pulitzer winner of a history of the world and the fates of human societies. Seems very interesting, heard nothing but good stuff about this one.

3. Acacia - Book 1 - The War with the Mein - David Anthony Durham - 978-0-385-50606-9 First I've heard of this novel or it's author. But I'm very exicted to dive deep into this new world! I love epics!

I couldn't have been happier with these choices. I'm glad that people out there buy great gifts!

Revelation Space

2007-07-16T10:34:00.000-07:00

Revelation Space
Alastair Reynolds
0441008356

'It was better to live; better to carry a memory of a memory, than suffer
the vast burden of knowing.' - pg 458

I finished this novel two weeks ago, and finally found the stamina to write a quick blurb on it.

"Mundane prologue to an absolutely riveting finale". - omninaif

Maybe it was the fact that I had previously read the first 70 page about 6 months earlier and finally got around to finishing it. It was difficult, in the fact, that I had forgotten much of the plot and characters. So I suppose it was my fault that the first 300 pages seemed to rattle on endlessly. But I stand on the fact that this book ends with a bang. Reynolds would still have to be my favorite SF writer.

Next from him would be his 'Diamond Dogs, Turquoise Days.'

McSweeney's

2007-06-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

In my mailbox:

"As you may know, it's been tough going for many independent publishers, McSweeney's included, since our distributor filed for bankruptcy last December 29. We lost about $130,000 -- actual earnings that were simply erased. Due to the intricacies of the settlement, the real hurt didn't hit right away, but it's hitting now. Like most small publishers, our business is basically a break-even proposition in the best of times, so there's really no way to absorb a loss that big.

So if you've had your eye on anything we've produced, now would be a great time to take the plunge. For the next week or so, subscriptions are $5 off, new books are 30 percent off, and all backlist is 50 percent off. Please check out the store and enjoy the astounding savings, while knowing every purchase will help dig us out of a big hole. "

- The folks at McSweeney's

(edited by myself)

Links:
McSweeney's

Far Horizons

2007-06-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

Edited by Robert Silverberg

0-06-081712-7

This is a great short story collection from authors who add a little bit more to their already expanded worlds and galaxies. I mainly bought this book for two authors/series and, a perk, the fact that each author writes a page or two blurb on the series/events/history or ideas that went into it. Fun stuff.

Investment Counselor (Enders Series)

Orson Scott Card

Fun story of how/why Andrew and Valentine Wiggins travel to different systems over the 300 years since the Third Bugger War. But mostly on how 'Jane' finds Ender and helps him with his crucial taxes. This is a fast but good read for anybody that wants a bit more from the Ender Series but doesn't want to read all the Bean, Peter and whatever other type of continuum is out there now.

Orphans of the Helix (Hyperion Cantos)

Dan Simmons

I loved this series when I first read it (and now consider it the best space opera I have read), and this ss was the main reason of me buying this book (besides the bargain bin). The events take place hundreds of years after the 'Shared Moment' of the last book (The Rise of Endymion) with the Amoiete Spectrum Helix people with the help of the Aeneans trying to find their own niche in the universe. Finding and helping Ousters and another alien race on the way. I love this series so much it could have been the operational manuel for the space suit fecal matter removal system and I would have read and enjoyed it. I was confused at the end of this story though. Just a tad. But, no doubt, the confession will help in my small obsession with the Hyperion Cantos.

The Years of Rice and Salt

2007-06-07T10:08:00.000-07:00

Kim Stanley Robinson
0-553-10920-0

I died as mineral and became a plant,
I died as plant and rose as animal,
I died as animal and I was Man.
Why should I fear? When was I less by dying?
pg 115

While intrigued with this book I find that I'm not motivated enough to finish it. After reading the first two chapters/books (Awake to Emptiness, The Haj in the Heart) I believe I will put it back on the book shelf till the earth rotates a few more times.

Karma?

Fevre Dream

2007-06-05T11:54:00.000-07:00

George R. R. Martin
1-85798-331-9

"Joshua York stared at him for half of forever." - pg 348

Just thinking of Martin makes my body shake with anticipation. The anticipation of brilliance. His 'Song of Ice and Fire' series has reeled me into his intense domain. And I love him for it. Even reading 'Fevre Dream', an older(1982) novel, has that same intensity of characters. Although not an epic as 'SOIAF' it was a great story. Vampires on the Mississippi, Civil war and steamboat era. Sounded a bit corny to me at first but also knowing it would be dense to think it would be.

I thoroughly enjoyed his ability to strip away the stereotypical vampire abilities (not including daylight) and emerse them in more physchological powers. Such as the control one can have over another with the power of ones eyes. The ability to 'bend' ones fortitude to submission with clever and loving words. And the ability to be unique. Not all vampires (a word must scorn, for it does not entirely fit them) are clone copies of their brothers and sisters. Some lead, some follow, but all have the ability to choice. As Joshua York's struggle with Damon Julian shows.

I loved this fast read. And I recommend it to all fantasy/horror/Martin fans.