Bookworms of Lemmy, what are you currently reading?
And what's on your to read shelf?
And what's on your to read shelf?
Since Reddit went, I actually have returned to books for my reading material, which had been replaced basically by massive ask reddit threads. As a result I'm trying to read some things I shouldve a long time ago.
Just finished the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy and I'm on to the second book in the series. It was as good as its legacy lead me to believe!
Its amazing how fast the five book trilogy goes by once you're in it. Its almost time for me to re-read the series again. Glad you're started on your strange, comedic journey through the galaxy!
The Three Body Problem saga, I just finished the first book. I'm enjoying this as much as I enjoyed DUNE
I finished Three Body not too long ago. A lot of people didn't like the fan-written 4th one as much. But if you like Dune, I think you might enjoy it. Cause shit gets weird.
I recently read Rama for the first time and it honestly just seemed...dumb. a nice piece of imagination but the relationships and motivations just didn't seem real. Lime why smuggle a skybike on board when it's expensive and fragile and there was no expectation of being able to ride it? It was a little Deus ex machina for my tastes.
Oof, I re-read it in the last few weeks and it was fine, pretty dry but still. The second book felt terrible. His writing of female characters sucked and the focus on sex and sexualizing women irked me. It felt wrong. So, I gave up and finished The Expanse instead. Win in my book.
I liked 'Rama' and 'The Moon.' It's a little funny rereading 'Moon...' because so much of the tech is dated. Also, it was apprently written in a time before prison gangs became as powerful as they are now.
Thoughts?
My favorite Heinlein government is from 'Double Star.' Instead of voting based on where you live, you can choose how you identify. You can be a 'Green,' or a 'Gamer' or a 'Gun Owner' or 'College Educated Single Female,' or whatever. He doesn't give a lot of exact details but it's a fun idea to play around with.
Also, if you like fantasy, try 'Glory Road.' He takes all the usual tropes and kicks them to the curb.
I'm about halfway through the first book. First time through the series. Better late than never, I suppose.
Currently on chapter 85 of Pierce Brown's Light Bringer, the latest installment of the Red Rising series! Granted, I'm listening to the audiobook, but audiobooks are still books. And man, like the rest of the series, I can't put this shit down!
After this? Not sure yet. Still waiting on Sanderson's next book in his Stormlight Archive series. Maybe I'll re-listen to The Wheel of Time again while the final books of these two series wrap up.
Had to look this up because I thought the Lightbringer was Brent Weeks. Totally different series. I'll check it out.
I just finished a listen of The Wheel of Time myself. I listened to it while falling asleep. Took about 2 years to get through it that way. I already know the story, and parts of it were fairly easy to fall asleep to makes it a perfect way to deal with insomnia.
Also waiting for the next Sanderson book. Just finished The Lost Metal! So many cosmere tie-ins!
I'm listening to Fool's Errand by Robin Hobb to fall asleep to now as I've read the series before, and reading Ghost Brigade which is book 2 of Old Man's War.
@Albbi @IronRain found out about Wheel of Time from Tumblr of all places. Started the audiobook series as something to accompany me on long drives or workouts but they keep being checked out at my library app lol. Was interesting to me that you could tell it was written a few decades ago - some of the writing seems a bit dated even though altogether it's a very well-structured series.
Also absolutely loved Red Rising, didn't realize there was a new addition!
I just downloaded the Red Rising series today, and it’s either that or the last 5 books in the Drizzt series (fantasy, R. a. Salvatore) for my next read. I just finished The Wool Trilogy (Silo on Apple+) and The Expanse (Sci-Fi and Amazon). Those two were pretty good.
The Wheel of Time is on my read list, I downloaded the complete edition recently. But, that’s a lot to start.
I finished The Expanse awhile back and that was also fantastic!
A bit of personal advice for TWOT - the first time reading can be considered slow by some, but the opening acts are some of my favorites of all fantasy novels that I've read. There's a certain charm that's reminiscent of Tolkien, and has a certain depiction that's speaks to me. But maybe it requires a second reading to really appreciate it.
Either way, happy reading!
Nothing wrong with audiobooks! It's my preferred way to consume my books. Also if I didn't listen to audiobooks, then I would never have experienced TGR's glorious performance in the Red Rising series. I don't think audiobooks are better for every book, but in the case of Red Rising, I would argue it's mandatory.
I just finished Lightbringer myself and I absolutely loved it. I'm equally devastated knowing how long it'll be before we get the next one!
Absolutely agreed about TGR's amazing talent! He colored - no pun intended - the Red Rising books in such an immersive way, that I can't imagine the characters and atmosphere as anything other than what his vocal descriptions provided.
And I'm not 100% certain, but I think he mentioned on one of the Red Rising podcasts that the last book should come within a few months of this one, because they were meant to be one final book, but the length didn't allow his original plans. I certainly hope that's true!
Just finished a book from the 1930s by a Czech author Karel Čapek called War with the Newts.
It’s sci-fi based on earth in 1930s but what I found the most interesting is
seeing an author from 1930s write and think on paper (casual racism and sexism, for example),
the echoes of the looming WWII
the retro futurism - I love seeing what people from the past imagined would happen with technology. They are often right, often cutely wrong.
John Brunner's 'Stand On Zanzibar' won the Hugo in 969 for its depiction of the early 21st Century. Amazing how much he got right.
TIL: His brother invented the word “robot”, which Karel Čapek used in the book R.U.R.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karel_%C4%8Capek#Etymology_of_robot
I only do about one or two books a month, but right now I'm hooked on Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
It's not a sequel; it's a stand alone using one character. It reads like two novels jammed together. One is about a massive 'fake news' story that lives on decades after it's debunked, and the other is about a computer simulation/afterlife. Not his best, imho.
Seveneves
Sounds exciting! Thx.
A catastrophic event renders the earth a ticking time bomb. In a feverish race against the inevitable, nations around the globe band together to devise an ambitious plan to ensure the survival of humanity far beyond our atmosphere, in outer space.
I didn't give a description of the plot because I couldn't come up with something that really conveyed what the book was like. The one you gave is decent, but it doesn't convey just how much of it is about the people. It's hard scifi, no nonsense, but the heart and soul of it is its characters.
I would have liked it to do less shit with format, to be honest. I don't want to turn a book in circles so I can follow the text.
I checked that out from a library once on a recommendation and ended up returning it in less than a week. Shit was waaaaaaaaaay too confusing for me lmao
Going through the Red Rising series, which some of my friends praise immensely. Lightbringer just came out, though I'm only just finished Morning Star, book 3/6 in the series. Going to be starting Iron Gold soon. But until them, I'm reading 1984, which I just acquired a nice hardcover copy of.
Pretty basic but I just started reading Dune. It's been a daunting series for me with how long it is but better late than never.
Enjoy the ride! I still reread the first 5 every few years. They just get richer with time, especially the last couple. They seemed bizarre the first time I binged them but they make sooooo much more sense on rereads.
They are SO bizarre so far. I noticed the appendix seems to give a bunch of extra information on the various factions/organizations in the universe. My question, do you think it's worth doing more research on the universe beforehand or go blind for my first read?
Just go blind and enjoy the characters. The politics can wait for later reads. I treat the Witcher novels the same way.
Currently reading Red Rising. Awesome book, when I start reading it's very hard to stop.
Other than the infrequent bits where he discusses home life and social events (which I tend to skim), it's a pretty engaging read. It's also kind of shocking how little he could get anyone from the alphabet agencies to care. I'm approaching the end and it's getting exciting in that nerdy way that a good hacker story does. Hope you enjoy it.
Just finished the first three books of the Locked Tomb trilogy by Tamsin Muir (4th book out soon lol). Great storyline, interesting concept of Necromancers in space.
Also just finished Snow Crash by Neil Stephenson. Fun book kinda short.
Currently reading Altered Carbon by Richard K Morgan.
I'm halfway through reading Nona the Ninth right now and I'm absolutely loving it! Her perspective is hilarious
I loved Shogun by Clavell and I always get recommended Musashi as being a similar vibe. I'll have to pick it up sometime
I picked up American Prometheus after watching Oppenheimer. It's very interesting and gives a really good idea of who he was throughout his life, and how he changed over time. One of the things that isn't depicted much in the movie was how much of his political views changed over the years. While he never officially joined the communist party, he was certainly communist-adjacent before the war, but during the war and after, his priorities seemed to shift to being pro-American first and foremost, and often took the establishment position on things. Of course it's more complicated than that, but I've found it very interesting how someone's life experiences can change them.
On my to read are some historical accounts of WWII, i've suddenly become interested in learing everything I can about this period of history that I only know the basics of.
Currently reading "The Last Watch" because I wanted some fun sci-fi, but the liberties the author is taking on physics and the universe makes it very hard to suspend my disbelief.
Looking at starting a re-read of "All Systems Red" in anticipation of the new Murderbot book coming out. I can't recommend this series enough
I’ve only heard fantastic things about murderbot, will definitely read it once I get the chance
Murderbot is my competence porn. It's a series about smart people doing smart things under pressure. I love that.
Chromewash
A collection of science fiction stories and essays by excruciatingly verbose writers.
"Mythos - The Greek Myths Retold" by Stephen Fry (Penguin Books).
A funny and entertaining way to learn about Greek mythology through the wit of Stephen Fry.
I highly recommend it.
Neil Gaiman did Norse Mythology. Makes a nice follow up.
Also, have you noticed that ever since 'Circe,' it seems like there's been a spate of Greek myths reimagined?
If you like Gaiman, try Tanith Lee. Start with 'Night's Master,' the story of a demon prince who toys with humanity every night.