2019 - Majkia's Geeky Reading - Part 2

Three things I strongly believe in: The Pearl rule, the Bechdel test, and the Oxford comma.

Spring


April
31. The Plague of Swords - Miles Cameron - 4* - 🎵 (Neil Dickson)
32. Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen - Lois Bujold - 4.0* - 🎵 (reader: Grover Gardiner)
33. The Daedalus Incident - Michael J. Martinez - 3.5*
34. Sorcerer to the Crown - Zen Cho - 4* - 🎵 (reader:Jenny Sterlin)
35. Rogue Protocol - Martha Wells - 4* - 🎵 (reader: Kevin R. Free)
36. Exit Strategy - Martha Wells - 4* - 🎵 (reader: Kevin R. Free)
37. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien- 4* - 🎵 (reader: Rob Inglis)
38. Sporting Chance - Elizabeth Moon - 4*
39. The Gentleman's Guide to Vice and Virtue - Mackenzi Lee - 4* - 🎵 ( Christian Couson)
40. A Long Shadow - Charles Todd - 4*
41. The Enceladus Crisis - Michael J. Martinez - 3.5 - 🎵 (reader:B.S. Clark/K Kalbli)
42. Zoe's Tale - John Scalzi - 4* - 🎵 (reader:Tavia Gilbert)

May
43. A Crown for Cold Silver - Alex Marshall - 3.5* - 🎵 (reader: Angele Masters)
44. The Face in the Frost - John Bellairs - 3.5*
45. The Fellowship of the Ring - JRR Tolkien - 3.5* - 🎵 (reader: Rob Inglis)
46. The Dry - Jane Harper - 4* - 🎵 (reader: Steve Shanahan)
47. Kellanved's Reach - Ian C. Esslemont - 4* - 🎵 (reader: John Banks)
48. Tiamat's Wrath - James S.A. Corey - 4* - 🎵 (reader: Jefferson Mays)
49. Space Unicorn Blues - TJ Berry - 3.5*
50. The Snow Queen - Joan D. Vinge - 3.5* - 🎵 (reader: Ellen Archer)
51. A False Mirror - Charles Todd - 4*
52. The Sisters Mederos - Patrice Sarath - 4*

June

53. The Neutronium Alchemist - Peter F. Hamilton - 758 pages - 🎵 (reader: John Lee)
54. Dark Alchemy - Laura Brickle
55. Royal Blood -Rhys Bowen - 336 pages - 🎵 (reader:Katherine Kellgren)
56. Why Kings Confess - C.S. Harris - 384 pages - 🎵 (reader:Davinia Porter)
57. The Two Towers - JRR Tolkien - 352pages -dramatization
58. the Seventh Plague - James Rollins - 586 pages - 🎵 (reader: Christian Baskous)
59. The Price of Valor - Django Wexler - 656 pages - 🎵 (reader: Richard Poe)
60. Pelquin's Comet - Ian Whates - 272 pages
61. Anathem - Neal Stephenson - 981 pages - 🎵 (reader: William Dufris)

Summer


July
62. Fever Dream - Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child - 🎵 (Rene Auberjonis)
63. The Invisible Library - Genevieve Cogman - DNF
64. Return of the King - JRR Tolkien - 🎵 (Rob Inglis)
65. Terms of Enlistment - Marko Kloos - 🎵 (Luke Daniels)
66. The Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart
67. Thrice the Brindled Cat Hath Mew'd - Alan Bradley - 🎵 (Jayne Entwhistle)
68. Caledonian Gambit - Dan Moren
69. The Fall of Dragons - Miles Cameron 🎵 (reader: Neil Dickson) - 688 pages Series: Traitor Son Cycle #5
70. Chindi - Jack McDevitt 🎵 (reader: Kristine Hvram) Series: The Engines of God #3
71. Winning Colors - Elizabeth Moon Series: Heris Serrano #3
72. The Eye of the World - Robert Jordan - 832 pages - 🎵 (reader: Kramer/ Reading)


August
73. Not Alone - Craig A. Falconer - 738 pages - 🎵 (reader: James P. Cronin)
74. Dark Matter - Blake Crouch - 352 pages - 🎵 (reader: Jon Linstrom)
75. Recursion - Blake Crouch - 342 pages - 🎵 (reader: Jon Linstrom / Abby Craden)
76. The Pale Horse - Charles Todd - 384 pages
77. The Cruel Prince - Holly Black - 🎵 (reader: Caitlin Kelly)DNF
78. Naughty in Nice - Rhys Bowen - 🎵 (reader: Katharine Kellgren)
79. Nine Coaches Waiting - Mary Stewart
80. 1632 - Eric Flint - 608 pages - 🎵 (reader: George Guidall)
81. The Icarus Hunt -Timothy Zahn

September

82. Once a Hero - Elizabeth Moon - 416 page
83. The Naked God - Peter F. Hamilton - 1360 pages - 🎵 (reader: John Lee)
84. Finder - Suzanne Palmer - 🎵 (reader: Joe Hempel)
85. The Dispatcher - John Scalzi - 🎵 (reader: Zachary Quinto)
86. The Cornish Coast Murder - John Bude - 288 pages
87. Trail of Lightning - Rebecca Roanhorse - 🎵 (reader: Tanis Parenteau)
88. Waking Gods - Sylvan Neuvel - 🎵 (readers: full cast)
89. Breach - W.L. Goodwater - 368 pages - 🎵 (reader: January LaVoy)
90. Dancing with the Virgins - Stephen Booth - 430 pages
91. Stations of the Tide - Micheal Swanwick - 🎵 (reader: Oliver Wyman)

Autumn



October
92. The Event - Survivors Book 1 - Nathan Hystad - 🎵 (reader: Luke Daniels)
93. Diving into the Wreck - Kristine Katharyn Rusch
94. The Guns of Empire - Django Wexler - 🎵 (reader: Richard Poe)
95. A Study in Scarlet Women - Sherry Thomas - 🎵 (reader: Kate Reading)
96. A Matter of Justice - Charles Todd
97. The Human Division - John Scalzi - 🎵 (reader: William Dufris)
98. The Lesson - Cadwell Turnbull
99. The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter - Theodora Goss - 🎵 (reader: Kate Reading)
100. The Emperor's Blades - Brian Staveley - 🎵 (reader: Simon Vance)
101. Space Opera - Catherynne Valente - 🎵 (reader: Heath Miller)
102. The End of All Things - John Scalzi - 🎵 (reader: William Dufris)
103. Fear in the Sunlight - Nicola Upson DNF

November
104. The Infernal Battalion - Django Wexler - 🎵 (reader: Richard Poe)
105. The Golden Compass - Phillip Pullman - 🎵 (reader: full cast)
106. Sisterhood of Dune - Brian Hebert - 🎵 (reader: Scott Brick)
107. The Trespasser - Tana French - 🎵 (reader: Hilda Fay)
108. The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter - Rod Duncan
109. Blood of Elves - A Sapkowski - 🎵 (reader: Peter Kenny)
110. The Calculating Stars - Mary Robinette Kawal - 🎵 (reader: Mary Robinette Kawal)
111. The Young Elites - Marie Liu - 🎵 (reader: Carla Corvo, Lannon Killea)
112. The Spellman Files - Lisa Lutz

December
113. A Memory Called Empire - Arkady Martine - 🎵 (reader: Amy Landon)
114. One Word Kill - Mark Lawrence
115. A Man of Some Repute - Elizabeth Edmondson - 🎵 (reader: Michael Page)
116. Witch World - Andre Norton - 🎵 (reader: Nick Podehl)
117. Orbital Decay - Allen Steele
118. Limited Wish - Mark Lawrence
119. Revelation Space - Alastair Reynolds - 🎵 (reader: John Lee)
120. The twelve Clues of christmas - Rhys Bowen - 🎵 (reader: katherine Kelligen)
121. Rules of Engagement - Elizabeth Moon
122. The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater - 🎵 (reader: Will Paton)

Winter Past



January

1. Brilliance - Marcus Sakey - 3.5* 🎵
2. The Wrong Stars - Tim Pratt - 3.5* - ebook
3. Deadhouse Landing - Ian C. Esslemont - 🎵
4. Hunting Party - Elizabeth Moon - 3.5* - ebook
5. The Girl Who Played With Fire - Stieg Larrson - 4.0 - 🎵 (Simon Vance)
6. Artificial Condition - Martha Wells - 🎵 (John Banks)
7. Amberlough - Lara Elena Donnelly - DNF
8. Quantum Lens - Douglas E. Richards - 3* - 🎵 (Marc Vietor)
9. The Mongoliad - Neal Stephenson - 3.5* - 🎵 (reader: Luke Daniels)
10. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest - Stieg Larsson - 4.0* - 🎵 (Simon Vance)
11. A Big Ship at the Edge of the Universe - Alex White - ebook
12. The Andromeda Strain - Michael Crichton - 3.5 - 🎵 (David Morse)

February
13. Karen Memory - Elizabeth Bear - 3.5 - 🎵 (Jennifer Grice)
14. The Poppy War - R.F. Kuang - 2.0* - 🎵 (Emily Woo Zeller)
15. Night Train to Rigel - Timothy Zahn
16. The Far Pavilions - M. M. Kaye - 4.0* - 🎵 (reader: Vikram Adam)
17. Salvation - Peter F. Hamilton - 4.0* - 🎵 (reader: John Lee)
18. The Silent Patient - Alex Michaelides - 4* - 🎵 (readers: Jack Hawkins, Louise Brealey )

March
19. Lock In - John Scalzi - 4.0* - 🎵 (reader: Wil Wheaton)
20. Unlocked - John Scalzi - 4.0* - 🎵 (reader: various)
21. There Before the Chaos - K. B. Wagers - 4.5*
22. Head On- John Scalzi - 4.0* - 🎵 (reader: Wil Wheaton)
23. Deepsix - Jack McDevitt - 4.0* - 🎵 (reader: Kristine Hvam)
24. A Cold Treachery - Charles Todd - 4*
25. An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors - Curtis Craddock - 3.5* - 🎵 (Erin Bennett)
26. How the Light Gets In - Louise Penny - 4* - 🎵 (reader: Ralph Cosham)
27. Under the Pendulum Sun - Jeannette Ng - DNF
28. 14 - Peter Clines - 3.5* - 🎵 (reader: Ray Porter)
29. The Secret Place - Tana French - 3.5* - 🎵 (readers: Stephen Hogan, Lara Hutchinson )
30. Shadow's Edge - Brent Weeks - 3.5* - 🎵 (Paul Boehmer)

Greetings on your new thread!

Thanks!

44. A Crown for Cold Silver - Alex Marshall - 688 pages Series: The Crimson Empire #1

Lots of gallows humor saves this book from being too like others that follow the adventures of those attempting to overthrow a kingdom.

Some interesting magic, lots of demons, and interesting characters.

45. The Face in the Frost - John Bellairs

Hmm. Old fantasy book (1969) . I didn't care for the ending at all, which didn't feel very satisfying. Interesting, though, and nicely written.

46. The Fellowship of the Ring - JRR Tolkien - 3.5* - 🎵 (reader: Rob Inglis)

First book in Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Re-Read for a group read. I enjoyed the audio version particularly the songs because when I read the books I pretty much skipped over them.

Differences from the movies that I'd forgotten about since I last re-read these so many years ago.

>46 clamairy: Every spring my husband brings out his 1 volume LotR and all of my book recommendations go on hold.

I've re-read many times, just not recently.

>12 majkia: In the 70s and maybe into the 80s, a friend and I would start mid-September (I think it was the 20th) and do our best to read day-by-day what was happening in Middle Earth. Some dates are written into my Ballantine paperbacks as well as the notepaper colored pencil drawings, rather clumsy, that I did for my friend.

>13 quondame: What a great idea!

46. The Dry - Jane Harper - 4* - 🎵 (reader: Steve Shanahan)

I enjoyed this first in mystery series, taking place in the back country of Australia. I was given the book for Santa Thing, and really enjoyed it.

>15 majkia: Glad you enjoyed this one, it's on my Tbr pile!

47. Kellanved's Reach - Ian C. Esslemont - Series: Path to Ascendancy #3

I listened to the audio version read wonderfully by John Banks.

I love Dancer and Kellanved and enjoyed this series immensely, seeing the two of them meet, scheme, and grow up together, and, incidentally, create the Malazan empire.

48. Tiamat's Wrath - James S.A. Corey - 4* - 🎵 (reader: Jefferson Mays)

As usual for this series, I simply couldn't put the bloody book down. I love the characters, the world building is excellent, and I love the science it manages to add in without taking a thing away from the characters and the action.

>10 majkia: Yeah, the audio version of LotR is wonderful.

>15 majkia: I too am glad you liked this one. I loved the writing and the whole drought-ridden atmosphere. Are you going to continue?

>19 clamairy: Yes, I'm planning on continuing.

49. Space Unicorn Blues - TJ Berry - 3.5* Series: The Reason #1

Imaginative meld of fantasy and sci fi. We've gone into space and met dwarves, satyrs, unicorns and other fantasy critters. And what happened. Of course we had a war with them.

I enjoyed the story, the world building and the characterization.

>21 majkia: - this book keeps popping up. Definitely one to look out for.

50. The Snow Queen - Joan D. Vinge - 3.5* - 🎵 (reader: Ellen Archer)

Odd amalgam of fantasy and science fiction. Intricate world-building, complex characters. Old fairy tale and far future worked together quiet well.

51. A False Mirror - Charles Todd - 4* Series: Ian Rutledge #9

Excellent addition to this series about a WWI survivor trying his best to resume his life as a Detective Inspector for Scotland Yard.

We're camping for the next few weeks. Currently at O'Leno State Park in central Florida. Here for four days, then heading further south.

>25 majkia: That looks like a lovely spot. Enjoy!

we are currently RVing at Sebastian Inlet State Park, on the Atlantic side of Florida.

>27 majkia: The ocean! Nice!

>27 majkia: AHHH, magnificent!

52. The Sisters Mederos - Patrice Sarath - 4* Series: Tales of Port St Frey #1

Sisters, raised in wealth, now live in poverty with their ruined parents. The girls decide to get revenge on the folks who brought their house down. And, being mere girls, are hardly seen as a threat - until it is way too late.

Sunrise from the beach here at Sebastian Inlet.

>31 majkia: Beautiful.

53. The Neutronium Alchemist - Peter F. Hamilton - 758 pages - 🎵 (reader: John Lee) Series: Night's Dawn #2

As with most Peter F. Hamilton, tons of sciency stuff, complex and crossing timelines, and plotlines, not to mention lots of excitement. I'm eager to finish this trilogy.

Now camping at Stephen Foster Folk Center in northern Florida.

54. Royal Blood -Rhys Bowen - 336 pages - 🎵 (reader:Katherine Kellgren)

This is a fun series and an easy read. Georgiana, distant cousin to the royals, has no money, not to a lot of prospects. But she's doing the best she can to scrape by, given Royals just aren't supposed to get jobs and be practical.

>31 majkia: Lovely beach!

>33 majkia: I think I need to add Peter F. Hamilton to my list. I've yet to read anything by him, but this makes me think I should.

>36 Busifer: I'm really a fan of Hamilton's. He's got quite the universe built and has complex characters interacting in unexpected ways.

55. Dark Alchemy - Laura Brickle Series: Dark Alchemy #1

Imaginative and a quite different take on alchemy stories. Set near Yellowstone, it's quite the cowboy epic with a valant and capable female protagonist not to mention her hilarious familiar Sig.

"Petra kept her mouth shut. She couldn’t believe in anything she couldn’t see, touch, and measure. But she was seeing, touching, and measuring some very weird shit."

56. Why Kings Confess - C.S. Harris Series: Sebastian St Cyr #9
384 pages - 🎵 (reader:Davinia Porter)

A good addition to the series, with complex plot, great character development, and a chance for Hero to shine.

57. The Two Towers - JRR Tolkien Lord of the Rings Trilogy #2

Well, this was exceedingly disappointing. I borrowed the audio from the library and I hadn't realized it was a dramatization rather than a normal audiobook. Luckily I've read it before so will just continue on to the last book of the series.

58. the Seventh Plague - James Rollins - 586 pages - 🎵 (reader: Christian Baskous)

The usual exciting and constantly moving storyline, with multiple theads as Sigma Force acts to stop a plague.

>40 majkia: That is such a disappointment! Especially when compared to the the one read by Rob Inglis.

>42 Busifer: I know, right? Sheesh.

>43 majkia: A friend of mine bought the entire Rob Inglis-narrated LoTR trilogy back in the late 80's, or possibly early 90's: it came as a huge case of cassette tapes. I don't remember how many, but he lent it to me in the mid-90's. I loved it, and later got it myself, on CD. It's been a long time since I last listened to it, but I remember it as a real treat.

>44 Busifer: I also bought that set on CD. Now I've loaned them out... Hoping I get to see them again.

>44 Busifer: I've got it on my iPod (which I rarely use) and the files are saved on my desktop, as well. I also have the Inglis files of The Hobbit. They're both wonderful.

>40 majkia: Was it the old (1980s??) BBC dramatisation, by any chance?

>47 -pilgrim-: BBC Radio dramatisation of 'The Lord of the Rings' stars Ian Holm, Michael Hordern, Robert Stephens, John Le Mesurier and Peter Woodthorpe. From 2007

>48 majkia: John Le Mesurier died in 1983, so I think that it must be an issue of recordings of the radio broadcasts that I remember from the eighties.

>49 -pilgrim-: oh, that's interesting.

59. The Price of Valor - Django Wexler - 656 pages - 🎵 (reader: Richard Poe)
Series: Third in the Shadow Campaigns series.

Intriguing magical ideas, great characters.

>51 majkia: I’m glad you enjoyed your continuation of the Shadow Campaigns! I really enjoyed that series.

>52 YouKneeK: Yeah, I'm definitely enjoying it.

60. Pelquin's Comet - Ian Whates - 272 pages Series: Dark Angels #1

Interesting and fun Indy in Space artifact hunt.

Camping at Eastbank Campground near Tallahassee. Very hot.

So... We had a sudden severe thunderstorm which hit us just as we got back from dinner. Too late to do anything to get ready for it. Especially as there was like only 10% chance of rain forecast.



We cleaned it up a bit but are still awaiting the insurance company to call us back. The awning is obviously kaput.

Bummer. Is the campervan OK?

>57 haydninvienna: So scaring on the RV itself, where the ends were rubbing against the body of the RV during the storm. Other than that, fine.

>56 majkia: That damage looks terrible, but at least no one was hurt. :o(

>56 majkia: yikes! That was quite a storm! Glad you guys are ok.

Sunset last night. The odd colors are from Saharan dust that has come across the pond to invade our atmosphere.

Also, am upset that my insurance company has not yet contacted me back. Argh.

>61 majkia: That is a wonderful photo, despite the cause. There's almost a metallic tone to it. Lovely.

Hope that slacker insurance company gets in touch soon.

the four or five Canadas who live here have, er, multiplied, over the spring and summer.

>61 majkia: beautiful sunset

Much nicer weather today. Not nearly as humid or as hot.

61. Anathem - Neal Stephenson - 981 pages - 🎵 (reader: William Dufris)

I confess to being a major NS fangirl. I love the math and the science and the philosophy and all of it.

Quotes:
"Our opponent is an alien starship packed with atomic bombs," I said. "We have a protractor."

"Nothing is more important than that you see and love the beauty that is right in front of you, or else you will have no defense against the ugliness that will hem you in and come at you in so many ways."

Monks in space!

>66 majkia: This was my first of his, and I'm hooked. Very clever.

62. Fever Dream - Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child - 🎵 (Rene Auberjonis)

Series: Pendergast #10

Solid entry to the series. I do enjoy these. Strange, yet not quite so strange that you can't suspend disbelief and imagine this stuff is possible.

>66 majkia: There have been s lot of negative comments about Neal Stephenson on various GD threads recently. But you are doing a marvelous job of 'selling' this one to me!

>69 -pilgrim-: yes, I've seen them.

I like a light space opera as well as the next GDer, but I also like a deeper dive that explores the foundations of a world and makes science and engineering and especially math a part of the world and not something hidden behind a screen of tech.

Of course I was a math major in college so I'm automatically a bit weird. ;)

63. The Invisible Library - Genevieve Cogman Series: Invisible Library #1

Ugh. Did Not Finish.

Way too romancy for me. I kept struggling through 136 pages but gave up the ghost after yet.one.more. description of how tasty the male lead is.

Late to the thread, but I hope the insurance company came through for you?

The sunset in >61 majkia: looks very southwestern Mediterranean to me, especially Andalucia, which makes sense: they get rather a lot of Saharan dust there, at times.

I'm one of those who tend to throw dirt om NS, but I also enjoy much of his writing. Just not all of it, to my disappointment. Anathem I think is the best written book of his, but I also liked Cryptonomicon, the Baroque Cycle, and Reamde, very much.
I'm in two minds about getting the latest one.

>69 -pilgrim-: I mostly enjoy reading whatever Neil Stephenson writes, though when I've finished I have always found contradictions and or wild implausibilities underlying the plotting. And I'm not talking about the fantastic elements of the technology either. I don't regret reading any of them and he occasionally reaches heights others can only aim for. If you examine the embedded story involving heirloom furniture withing
Cryptonomicon without being annoyed by the digression, it is a real treasure.

>72 Busifer: I really enjoyed Anathem when I first read it. I had a fairly unique insight into how parts of that book developed: I'm friends with a rocket engineer that works for a company where, at the time, NS had been hired to consult. I'm sure many of the concepts of the book came from discussions at the workplace. Especially later in the novel where we get, "Monks in Space!" ;-) As I was reading, I found myself thinking, "Oh, I see where this relates to what Xxxx was talking about the other day..." That made it a fun read for me.

Nice to see some love cast upon The Baroque Cycle. I had a tough start with that one. Actually abandoned Quicksilver about halfway through on my first attempt. Must have been a 'mood thing' because once I re-read past that and got into book 2, King of the Vagabonds, I was hooked and ended up really enjoying the journey. So very glad I read the prequels after Cryptonomicon though since a central aspect of the plot would have absolutely spoiled the ending of Cryptonomicon. Not that I loved that ending, (I thought it was one of the weaker aspects of the story), but the goings-on in the prequels lend a much more significant meaning to the finale.

Haven't read Seveneves yet. That book seems to be heaped with scorn around here so I'm a bit leery. But I stumbled upon a used hardcover for $1.99, (in absolutely new condition), so I know i will read it one of these days. Am hopeful that low expectations will have a positive impact on my experience. Either way, loins will be girded when the time comes for the attempt.

Reamde and Fall are both on my "To Borrow From the Library" list. I have seen a significant amount of praise for Reamde here so am hopeful about that one.

>74 ScoLgo: Like most of Stevenson, Seveneves is fun reading, but factors such as the total improbability of any survival at all, and the glossing over of the time sink of child rearing even in a normal stable environment, which is the unexamined bridge between parts, as well as others assumptions bypass believable so that I do say skip it.

>71 majkia: Haha, your comments about The Invisible Library made me laugh. I have this on my list, but it’s been a lower priority since the series was still in progress last I checked. Sounds like I’m not missing out!

>76 YouKneeK: It's lively and funny, and yes, you are missing out!

>77 quondame: Obviously I have very short patience with romance books. Almost all my DNFs are because they get too romancy.

NS: I LOVED REAMDE. I actually think it is my favorite NS. I'm unclear why so many folks are so upset over SEVENEVES. I enjoyed it. Don't much care about assumptions, since, well, we all know what they are. I enjoy a good story, with lots of depth and I can rely on NS to deliver that. He doesn't do the strongest of endings, true , but i'm okay with that, because he makes me think and ponder things where most writers don't.

I've got his latest and am looking forward to it.

>78 majkia: In the end I'm not sorry for having read Seveneves, and I appreciate the topics he want to talk about. My main issue with him is GET AN EDITOR, FFS! ;-)
He's so obviously taken by his own image, and at his worst he just rambles on and on. I will continue to read his books, but I'll no longer make them my first priority. That's all.

>79 Busifer: We each must have our preferences otherwise life would be utterly boring. Me, I'm big on puzzles and tech. Others, not so much.

It's all good.

>70 majkia: The only Stephenson that I have read so far is Snow Crash. It was recommended to me by my local bookseller, who was amazed that I hadn't read it. I loved it.

I think you have shown me which to try next. Or would you recommend Cryptonomicon first?

>81 -pilgrim-: Depends on your interests. Both books are great.

64. Return of the King - JRR Tolkien 🎵 (Rob Inglis) Series: Lord of the Rings #3

An audio version, to a book I've read many times. Enjoyed my return to Middle Earth. Interesting to compare it to the movies which, of course, selectively pay attention to stuff not necessarily so emphasized in the books.

And don't forget: Fodo Lives!

>66 majkia: I love those quotes, although I will probably never read anything by N.S. I've read enough discussions here to know that his books are not for me. Thank you for picking out the good bits and sharing. :)

>75 quondame: Welll... since I already have a copy waiting on the shelf... Besides, I have a fairly well-developed talent for skimming when necessary.

>81 -pilgrim-: For stand-alones, take a look at either Anathem or The Diamond Age. In case it might have any bearing on your choice, the latter is roughly half the length of the former. Cryptonomicon is also technically stand-alone but actually finishes the story begun in The Baroque Cycle. The Cycle books are prequels though so should definitely be read after Cryptonomicon. Confused yet? Welcome to NSLand! ;)

Oh, and if you loved Snow Crash, check out Hardwired by Walter Jon Williams, (published six years prior to Snow Crash). There is also a sequel called Voice of the Whirlwind. Stephenson and Gibson get a lot of credit for starting the Cyberpunk movement in SF but Williams and Sterling were right there with them.

>81 -pilgrim-: >85 ScoLgo: The Diamond Age is my favorite by a great margin. I've read Anathem twice, and don't remember anything, but can practically retell DA.

>82 majkia: My professional background is physics, but I also read theology.

>85 ScoLgo:, >86 quondame: Thank you both for your recommendations; I will investigate...

>80 majkia: Agreed.

>85 ScoLgo: On cyberpunk I personally think Sterling's style is quite wooden, I often enjoyed his topics but his style, not so much.

>85 ScoLgo: On Diamond Age: I enjoyed it immensely when it came out but the ending... oh vey, it's so bad! I have read it multiple times anyway, but I personally think Cryptonomicon, Anathem, and Reamde to be better books if one is to look at the literary qualities.
DA is the shorter book, though, and anyone who enjoy Snow Crash should like DA, too, I think.

If we're still allowed to talk NS I personally enjoyed Interface back when it got published, even if he didn't originally have his name on it.

>89 Busifer: I kind of agree with Pella about the ending of The Diamond Age - it and the dichotomy between the Judge Fang that Hackworth meets and the form the Celestial Kingdom that catalyzes the ending are the sort of bizarre vacuums that one must skip over in every Neil Stephenson book I've encountered. It's not that NS is so much worse than other SF authors, just that his details are so compelling that they often sweep the reader past where hollow straws replace what should be foundation grade pillars. Other authors rely more on already accepted tropes, equally hollow, but hallowed by having been used so very often.

65. Terms of Enlistment - Marko Kloos - 🎵 (Luke Daniels) Series: Frontlines #1

Exciting and nicely done space opera with lots of action. Also, gave me nightmares of my early years : Officer Training School.

Looking forward to continuing this series.

66.. The Crystal Cave - Mary Stewart - 🎵 (Derek Perkins) Series: Arthurian Saga #1

This book held up well given my glowing remembrance from when I read it in the 70s. Merlin is likeable and well drawn, as are the other characters in the novel. Sadly, it is a bit aged in its attitude toward the women in the tale, but then they were pretty much pawns at the time, so I shouldn't mind so much.

>92 majkia: How was the narrator for this one? I want to revisit this series but have yet to decide if I'm going ebook or audio.

>93 clamairy:. I enjoyed the narrator. I'm going to continue listening to the audio versions.

>92 majkia: I've only read the first book, although I own a hardcover omnibus edition. I should read more of those.

67. Thrice the Brindled Cat Hath Mew'd - Alan Bradley - 🎵 (Jayne Entwhistle)

I do love this series. I understand that Flavia can grate on nerves, but so long as I read one book, then let the series go for a month or more, I'm enjoying the heck out of her. Especially as I see a lot of my younger self in her.

>96 majkia: I keep meaning to start that series. Do you prefer the audio to the ebook editions of these?

>97 clamairy: I really like the audio version. Jayne Entwhistle is terrific and really brings Flavia to life.

68. The Caledonian Gambit - Dan Moren - Standalone

Enjoyable and well written space opera about a pilot who was captured during a space battle. Suddenly he's scooped up to help stop another war.

Nice worldbuilding, and characters are well drawn and interesting. It's a bit slow in the middle of the book, but picks up nicely after that.

69. The Fall of Dragons - Miles Cameron 🎵 (reader: Neil Dickson) - 688 pages
Series: Traitor Son Cycle #5

The last book of the series, ends a very satisfying and well done series. Nicely imagined world, characterization is well done, and the story lines are complex and surprising.

70. Chindi - Jack McDevitt 🎵 (reader: Kristine Hvram) Series: The Engines of God #3

Archaeology in SSSSssspppppppaaaaaacccccceee! Dangerous Archeology in space. Especially when you turn up an alien space craft you don't understand, and get trapped there.

I really enjoy this series. Lots of fun stuff, lots of nail biting, great main character who is a kick-ass female captain, who backs off from nothing, and will do all in her power to protect her passengers, even when they are exceedingly stupid.

Definitely continuing on with this series.

Calling all dragoneers who've read Eye of the World. Does it get better after the prologue which I thought was immensely underwhelming. Mostly because it is so full of all the worst of fantasy tropes.

>102 majkia: Yes and no. WoT both uses and plays with fantasy tropes. The language of the prologues is not the tone or pace of the main portion of the books. The books are very much a mixed bag, but mostly deserve their fandom.

>102 majkia: As @quondame said, the main story is pretty different from the prologue. Although I guess the whole series has some familiar tropes, the first book was the one where I noticed it the most. In subsequent books, it felt more like it found its own voice.

That being said, I did enjoy the first book quite a lot, and I thought the writing style was consistent (both its flaws and its strengths) throughout the series. So my opinion is that if you end up hating the first book, it probably wouldn’t be worth the effort to try to push through any more of the books because there isn't a big change in style or quality.

>103 quondame: >104 YouKneeK: Thanks muchly for the info. I am now past the prologue. It came across to me as so full of itself I wasn't sure if I'd survive much more. Luckily for me, the sense of the story isn't nearly that pompous in tone.

71. Winning Colors - Elizabeth Moon Series: Heris Serrano #3

Fine ending to the trilogy of Heris Serrano. The series continues after this book and I will certainly continue with it. I mean, horses and sci fi. What's not to love?

Exciting space opera/military sci fi, with great women characters who scare the pants off everyone.

>106 majkia:

As is often the case, the first three are the best, but I think the remainder are worth reading. I met Ms Moon a few years ago and asked if there would be any more to the series. She said that she had changed publishers and it was unlikely that more would be published.

"Absent friends"

>106 majkia: "Exciting space opera/military sci fi, with great women characters who scare the pants off everyone."

*ears perk up... metaphorically, anyway*

>107 suitable1: Thanks Good to know!

>108 clamairy: True of most of her stuff. Strong women.

72. The Eye of the World - Robert Jordan - 832 pages - 🎵 (reader: Kramer/ Reading)

Hmmm. Not overwhelmed with this book. Interesting, but nothing special. Does the series get better? Generally speaking they do, at least for awhile. I'll probably consider at least one more book of the series, but at the moment I can think of dozens of books I'm more eager to read than the sequel.

>110 majkia: No, I don't think it gets much better. What you see is pretty much what you get, only way more so.

>110 majkia: I’m sorry you didn’t enjoy this more, but I guess it’s better to be disinterested in the beginning rather than lose interest in the middle when you’re feeling more invested! :)

From the comments I have seen, people usually enjoy the earlier books but struggle in the middle when the pace slows down, then enjoy the last few books. I enjoyed them all, even the middle books that most people think are slow, so I’m not a good person to judge.

The biggest change I think is that the story increases in complexity. The first book was very simple, and I think the next couple were too. Jordan slowly starts weaving in more plot threads and character POVs over the next few books.

>111 quondame: Thanks. I'm not sure why I was so underwhelmed. Possibly because I've hear so much praise for the series I expected too much.

>112 YouKneeK: I'll probably read the second book and then decide if I want to invest a lot more time on this series.

At any rate, thanks to you both for the input.

>110 majkia: I haven't touched this series myself*, but I'm wondering if your issue might be the audio format. Perhaps try the second one as an ebook and see if it suits you better.

*Despite having an opportunity to get the first 4 or 5 for free (in used hardcover format) during our library book sale a couple of years ago. I thought I might be moving, and didn't want to add to my book moving woes.

73. Not Alone - Craig A. Falconer - 738 pages - 🎵 (reader: James P. Cronin)

What an interesting First Contact novel. Emphasis is on Earth's reaction - political and social, rather than tech and the aliens.

Definitely going to continue the series.

74. Dark Matter - Blake Crouch - 352 pages - 🎵 (reader: Jon Linstrom)

I waited a month for Recursion but then belatedly realized I got Dark Matter mixed up with something else and I hadn't yet read it. So, at the last moment I was able to get it from the library and jumped in.

I enjoy Blake Crouch thrillers. Lots of science, likeable characters, and interesting sciency scenarios. Enjoyed it a lot.

75. Recursion - Blake Crouch - 342 pages - 🎵 (reader: Jon Linstrom / Abby Craden)

Related but not directly to Dark Matter, a study of what is time and what is memory. Changing the world's timeline turns out to not be a good idea. Who knew?

76. A Pale Horse - Charles Todd - 384 pages

I love this series about a man who barely managed to survive WWI and is now trying hard to get his life back together again, and solving murders along the way.

Great characters, complex plots.

I also loved the setting. I've been to Uffington, seen the Horse and Wayland's Smithy.

>118 majkia: a man who barely managed to survive WWI and is now trying hard to get his life back together again, and solving murders along the way.

Interesting. That was the original premise behind Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey novels. In the early novels it is made very clear that his "silly ass" persona was consciously adopted as a self-defence mechanism, to protect him from having to emotionally engage with people.

>119 -pilgrim-: There is some overlap, as Rutledge, like Lord Peter, has PTSD and a lot of guilt about sending men out to die. Rutledge is a Scotland Yard inspector, though, so a professional. He also has a dead man living in his head, with him always.

77. The Cruel Prince - Holly Black - 🎵 (reader: Caitlin Kelly)DNF

Ugh. I'm in no mood to read about youngsters being mean just to be mean.

>121 majkia: Drat. I have a copy sitting in my immediate TBR pile, and that sounds like exactly want I don't want to be reading either!

>121 majkia:, >122 -pilgrim-: Wait, what? Yes, it starts that way, but that isn't all there is to it.

>123 quondame: Well, that may be, but I got tired of the needless cruelty pretty fast. And, granted, I'm picky about YA books I read, with no real patience with some aspects of the coming of age novel.

78. Naughty in Nice - Rhys Bowen - 🎵 (reader: Katharine Kellgren)

Fun entry in the series Her Royal Spyness #5

Georgie and her friends are a hoot.

79. Nine Coaches Waiting - Mary Stewart

Excellent gothic thriller, with all the elements of the genre. Innocent girl, threatened child, and doubt about just who the big bad is.

>126 majkia: I love that book! I think it is one of her best thrillers.

80. 1632 - Eric Flint - 608 pages - 🎵 (reader: George Guidall)

Interesting tale of how one little section of West Virginia, finds itself moved through time to Germany in 1632.

A bit more mil strategy than I like, but other than that, very well worth the read.

>128 majkia: I’ve had 1632 on my Kindle forever but I never have gotten around to it. Partly because it’s part of a crazy and incomprehensibly long series if you count the various spinoffs and I just get exhausted every time I look at it. :) It has always sounded interesting to me though, so I’d like to try it someday.

I’m glad you thought it was worth the read. Did it stand alone well, or was it obviously the beginning of a series? Do you plan to read any more of the books?

>129 YouKneeK: I think it works quite well as a stand-alone, although, of course, you know things will continue. But at least there is not a real cliff-hanger.

I enjoy this particular type of alt-history, although I think S.M. Stirling's Nantucket series was a bit better, primarily because it focused more on the stranded folks than on the political situation - at least the first trilogy did.

I'm probably going to read more of the series, although I doubt I'll delve into it too deeply.

>130 majkia: Thanks, that’s helpful! Maybe someday I’ll try it just to get a taste of whether I want to put more effort into the series at some even later date. I liked the first book of the Nantucket series quite a bit, but the next two books became increasingly tedious to me for some reason.

>131 YouKneeK: Well I did enjoy Odysseus being wily in the last of the Nantucket books.

81. The Icarus Hunt -Timothy Zahn

Really enjoy his stuff. Space Opera well written and conceived. Interesting characters, lots of action.

I've been MIA because I left town to get on a cruise to Bermuda (no where near the Bahamas). Alas, it was cancelled due to mechanical issues so we managed to sail 500 yards in Baltimore harbor. Sigh. Still, we got a full refund and rebooked another cruise for next year.

I drove to northern Virginia where my friend who went with me lives. Uneventful trip up, but the drive home was a nightmare. At one point, at a stop for gas, my keys fell between the seat and the front console and I couldn't reach them. Luckily, I found something in the car which I could fit down that narrow space. Sigh. Then, I had to drive through Atlanta, thus avoiding I95 with all the manadatory evaculations going on. In Atlanta, it seems, one drives 10 mph, 20 mph or 80 mph, with nothing inbetween. 8 lanes of traffic is far more than I'm happy coping with. I survived, barely. Then, to add insult to injury, the GPS took me through the bloody middle of nowhere. Nice roads, all 4 lane divided highway with through traffic, but also hardly any signs of civilization (southern Georgia and Alabama). I had to drive far longer than I wanted to to find a place to eat, a place to pee and a hotel for the night.

But after my adventures I'm home now, doing my best to recover.

We're also waiting to hear if our RV trip to Sebastian Inlet in Florida will be cancelled due to the campground's fate after Dorian. We'll see.

>134 majkia: In Atlanta, it seems, one drives 10 mph, 20 mph or 80 mph, with nothing inbetween. 8 lanes of traffic is far more than I'm happy coping with.

Haha, that sounds about right. :) I’m glad you made it home safely, but I'm sorry about all the difficulties! I hope next year’s cruise works out better.

>134 majkia: Did someone wish you an "interesting" life? May your days be calm and uneventful for awhile.

>134 majkia: That sounds like an adventure. I'm sorry it wasn't the one you had planned.

I figured I wasn't the only Atlanta traffic hater! I can't imagine how someone would want to live there if they had to deal with that traffic every day.

But then I lived outside of DC and put up with the Shirley Highway parking lot, so I guess I shouldn't be too negative.

I am happy now living in our little town where traffic problems only involve the tourists, and we can avoid that area nearly all the time.



This is the only real picture I took of the ship. It's Royal Caribbean Grandeur of the Seas.

Who knew I'd have to settle just for the picture I took as we boarded.

They are treating us well though. Full refund, a break on a new cruise. Even got the full parking cost back.

>138 majkia:

If you drive the speed limit in Atlanta, you are impeding traffic.

Atlanta traffic is horrid, glad you survived! It sounds like Royal Caribbean has excellent customer service. It's too bad your trip didn't go as planned but at least they did the right thing.

Sounds like you've been on quite an adventure!
I like adventures, but some of them are more fun as stories afterwards than when one actually has to live through them.

Like @Narilka says - it sounds like RC has good customer service, at least!

Royal Caribbean seem to be a good company in other ways too. Quote from the Guardian website, part of a news story about Dorian:

The Royal Caribbean cruise liner Symphony of the Seas arrived in Grand Bahama on Friday morning bringing with it 10,000 meals the company has provided itself. The food will be distributed by local NGOs and the Bahamian government.
Original article here

82. Once a Hero - Elizabeth Moon - 416 page

Fun reading military sci fi from a female point of view. Love it.

83. The Naked God - Peter F. Hamilton - 1360 pages - 🎵 (reader: John Lee)

Final wrapup to the Night's Dawn trilogy. Complex, fascinating visions of the far future.

84. Finder - Suzanne Palmer - 🎵 (reader: Joe Hempel)

Fun space opera with likeable characters, intricate world, and MacGuyver sorts of escapes.

85. The Cornish Coast Murder - John Bude - 288 pages

Written in 1935, this mystery has a far slower pace than we're used to with contemporary mysteries. I liked it, and found the mystery quite good, enjoyed the small towns the book is set in and found the characters interesting.

It did tend to 'wrap things up' too often but other than that an enjoyable mystery.

86. The Dispatcher - John Scalzi 🎵 (reader: Zachary Quinto)

Interesting vision of the future, well read, well imagined.

>147 majkia: I very much liked The Dispatcher. I got it free from Audible, and it managed to turn the doubts that I had on Scalzi into, well, if not admiration then at least liking and enjoyment.

>147 majkia: >148 Busifer: Yes! I just finished this and it is well done.

Glad to see others appreciating Scalzi. He's prolific and has a great imagination.

87. Trail of Lightning - Rebecca Roanhorse - 🎵 (reader: Tanis Parenteau)

Wow. That was different. A sort of urban (rural?) fantasy set in the Navaho nation, one that is separated from a post-apocalyptic world by a magical wall. Gods and monsters stalk the nation and a young girl, trained to be a monster-slayer stands between the monsters and a small town.

>151 majkia: That sounds like something I'd enjoy. Putting it on my wish list.

We're camping at Sebastian Inlet State Park on the east coast of Florida. Those are Sandhill Cranes hoping to grab the fisherman's bait.

88. Waking Gods - Sylvan Neuvel - 🎵 (readers: full cast)

Great full cast audiobook. My only complaint is the ending isn't. Major cliffhanger.

Otherwise funny, poignant, surprising.

Sorry maj, but I don’t think those are Sandhills. Sandhills are light brown with a little gray and red heads. I think those are a kind of stork. Cool that you got to see them though. Oh and a great egret in there, too, I think.

>153 majkia: I had to right click and go to "View Image" to see your pictures. I agree with >155 Bookmarque: that those are not Sandhill Cranes. I googled Sebastian Inlet State Park, and found pictures of Wood Storks there, which look like the birds in your picture.

>155 Bookmarque: Yes, you're right. After I looked at them I knew they weren't sandhills. Maybe spoonbill cranes...

>156 NorthernStar: yeah, I'm unfamiliar with this species so you may well be right.

I think NS has it - wood storks. I don't think I've ever seen them. Those bills look impressive.

The water is still very rough as you can see here in the protected channel even. And, I found out where all the pelicans hang out.

What's the structure that looks like a mine dump on the horizon in the second picture?

>161 hfglen: That's the pile of sand they dredged from the channel.

That's a relief. The southern horizon where I grew up was blocked by a row of large pale yellow "hills" of exactly that shape, but probably taller. The sand was abrasive, highly acidic and well laced with cyanide. Gold-mine dumps. Mostly now gone for reprocessing, and unmourned.

>183 majkia: Ah. I grew up near coal mines and remember the tailings piled around. Glad this one is so much more heatlhy

89.. Breach - W.L. Goodwater - 368 pages - 🎵 (reader: January LaVoy)

First in Magic of the Cold War series.

Interesting marriage of magic and history, where the Berlin Wall was put in place by Magic. I did feel all too much the historical truth of how the female was treated by men at the time, having experienced all too much of that myself. But she gets her revenge in the end.

90. Dancing with the Virgins - Stephen Booth - 430 pages Series: Cooper & Fry #2

Interesting second book of a series about two police officers in the Peak District. Lots of description of the area, lots of local color and legends, and a pretty good mystery to boot.

91.Stations of the Tide - Micheal Swanwick - 🎵 (reader: Oliver Wyman)

Hmmm. Not sure what I thought of this one. Perhaps I just need to ruminate on it.

Sunset at Eastbank Campground. there's a sliver of moon hiding in that sky.

>168 majkia: What perfect tranquillity.

>168 majkia: Beautful! What a perfect view.

92. The Event - Survivors Book 1 - Nathan Hystad - 🎵 (reader: Luke Daniels)

Fun and easy read about aliens invasion. I loved the job Luke Daniels did with the audio.

>168 majkia: Stunning!

tonight's sunset

>174 -pilgrim-: Oh, that is something else!

93. Diving into the Wreck - Kristine Katharyn Rusch

Interesting novella about those who search for ancient tech in the far future. Good characterization, intriguing ideas that deserve further consideration.

>172 MrsLee: Thanks!

>174 -pilgrim-: Thanks. The lake and dam here is just so peaceful it's made for great sunsets.

94. The Guns of Empire - Django Wexler - 🎵 (reader: Richard Poe) #4 in The Shadow Campaigns series

Swords and sorcery with demons. Excellent series, with complex world building, deeply layer characters, and plot twists galore.

95. A Study in Scarlet Women - Sherry Thomas - 🎵 (reader: Kate Reading) First in the Lady Sherlock Series

An interesting pastiche, with some interesting social commentary regarding women's lives and limitations of the time.

96. A Matter of Justice - Charles Todd #11 in the Ian Rutledge series.

Excellent as always. The power of the writing makes complex characters come alive, as we delve into secrets hidden for years. The mysteries are also always complex and full of surprises.

97. The Human Division - John Scalzi - 🎵 (reader: William Dufris)

Just as crazy and good as the rest of the series.

98. The Lesson - Cadwell Turnbull

The story of an alien 'invasion' of only the Virgin Islands.

Interesting concept, but awfully slow plot and I'm still not sure what the lesson was supposed to be.

>181 majkia: Ahem. I think the touchstone points to the wrong book.

>182 hfglen: Ooops. Fixed.

99. The Strange Case of the Alchemist's Daughter - Theodora Goss - 🎵 (reader: Kate Reading)

Perhaps better titled the righteous wrath of the daughters. This is what happens when dad's go wrong. Amusing, and well done.

100. The Emperor's Blades - Brian Staveley - 🎵 (reader: Simon Vance) - Series Chronicles of the Unhewn Throne #1

Interesting, and well written, with a plot that moves right along.

>184 majkia: I really enjoyed this one! The second book was/is just as good.

>186 catzteach: Oh, very good to hear!

101. Space Opera - Catherynne Valente - 🎵 (reader: Heath Miller)

Comedic take on alien invasion. Sing for your supper life (and that of Earth)or die!

>188 majkia: Touchstone for Space Opera is off. I enjoyed this SO, with reservations.

>189 quondame: Agreed. The first book by Valente I read I DNF. AT least I finished this one.

102. The End of All Things - John Scalzi - 🎵 (reader: William Dufris) Last Of Old Man's War series.

I love Scalzi. He manages to infuse humor in even interstellar war. Mainly because his characters are snarky smartasses who don't pull punches.

103. Fear in the Sunlight - Nicola Upson DNF Series: Josephine Tey

I enjoyed the previous books of the series, but this one is not doing it for me. 200 pages in and still no murder, just annoying well-heeled folks acting out.

104. The Infernal Battalion - Django Wexler - 🎵 (reader: Richard Poe) Last of the Shadow Campaign series
Excellent series if very bloody and gory - lots of battles. Enjoyed it a lot!

Great photos, especially of the birds!

Have you changed the way you're listing your reads? I'm no longer seeing the little graphics you used to use. Took a bullet on the Scalzi, BTW.

105. The Golden Compass - Phillip Pullman - 🎵 (reader: full cast)

First of HIs Dark Materials series. This is a re-read and in connection with the new HBO series I wanted to revisit the series. As excellent as it originally was.

106. Sisterhood of Dune - Brian Hebert - 🎵 (reader: Scott Brick) First in the Schools of Dune series

Huh. Not sure why this doesn't work. Except perhaps the writing never really puts the reader into the action. It feels like the reader is kept too far from connections with the characters. I also wished it had more about the actual women than focusing on, unsurprisingly I guess, the men in the series.

107. 95. The Trespasser - Tana French - 🎵 (reader: Hilda Fay)

6th and so far last of the Dublin Murder Squad series.

Again, well written psychological thriller with surprising twists and great characterization.

107. The Trespasser - Tana French

6th and most recent (last?) of the Dublin Murder Squad series.
Psychological thriller which keeps you guessing.

108. The Bullet-Catcher's Daughter - Rod Duncan
First of the Gas-Lit Empire

Entertaining YA steampunk fantasy. Nicely imagined world, interesting characters with plot twists and surprises.

>198 majkia: I only discovered the joy of Tana French's writing this year when I read The Wych Elm. I have a copy of Into the Woods which is my planned next adventure with Tana French.

>200 pgmcc: She's pretty amazing. I haven't gotten to The Wych Elm yet, but it is in the TBR.

109. Blood of Elves - A Sapkowski - 🎵 (reader: Peter Kenny)

Hmmm. Not really what I expected. More about the girl Siri than about the Witcher. Interesting though.

>198 majkia: The third in that series, which centered on Frank, was a bit dark for my taste. Are the fourth & fifth similar in tone? I adored the first two.

>203 clamairy: I think that third one was the darkest. All of her books are pretty grim, granted, but then hard not to be.

>204 majkia: Thank you. And I agree, but the family dysfunction in that one was extraordinarily painful to me.

>204 majkia: yeah, I have some triggers I have to deal with as well. They aren't always obvious either. I cannot read Anne Bishop or Tigana or Kushiel's Dart.

110. The Calculating Stars - Mary Robinette Kawal - 🎵 (reader: Mary Robinette Kawal)
First in the Lady Astronaut series. Alt historical tale of 1950s with Earth hit by a meteor, and a race to save humanity.

My first 5 star read of the year.

>207 majkia: Bullet taken.

>202 majkia: Will you be watching The Witcher on TV when it comes out next month?

>209 Karlstar: What?! The Witcher is coming out on TV? Tell me more.

>209 Karlstar: >210 -pilgrim-: Indeed I will be. The Witcher is coming to Netflix in December.

See: https://www.netflix.com/title/80189685

The Witcher, plus additional seasons of Lucifer and Peaky Blinders? That might actually be enough to motivate me to get Netflix!

111. The Young Elites - Marie Liu - 🎵 (reader: Carla Corvo, Lannon Killea)

So so YA fantasy about kids with powers. There were a couple of surprises but mostly pretty predictable.

>211 majkia: I guess The Witcher has gotten to TV/streaming because of the video game success, or is it due to YA popularity? I never understand how so much great SF and fantasy gets passed over for visual media, while less great stuff doesn't.

>214 Karlstar: I suspect the game. I wasn't impressed with the first book of the series.

112. The Spellman Files - Lisa Lutz

First in a series. The Spellmans put the dys in dysfunctional. Laugh out loud funny at some points. Shake your head at others. A Fun read.

Happy Thanksgiving, Jean!

>215 majkia: Which book do you consider to be "the first book in the series"?
The first book published in English, or
The first book published in Polish, or
The earliest stories according to the internal chronology?

I am because I started with the first, and at that time only, book to be published in English, and was also not impressed.

But I persisted with the series, because of enjoying the depth of the game; and found the series works better when read in the Polish order.

But comparing notes with friends who have read the Witcher books in the original Polish, or even in Russian translation, I get the impression that we have been badly served by the English translation. The Poles rave about the subtle language, and many allusions, in the original - and I have certainly seen no evidence of that in the translation.

It was notable on the video game that the original dialogue was abbreviated and rather odd at times,; it was only when they re-translated, and expanded the translation in the "Extended Edition" that we got to see the full plot behind the game's storyline. I fear the books came from the earlier school of translation; they cover the action, but skip the other aspects of the plot.

>218 -pilgrim-: Good points. I've never played the game, and knew virtually nothing about the series, when I saw it was going to be a TV series.

I'm not surprised that the translation might not be up to par. Glad you mention it.

>219 majkia: The book that was the first to be translated into English was also a bad place to start, because by that time Geralt had become well-established as a character, for the Polish readership. So there was very little explanation of his rather odd personality in that book, because that had been already covered elsewhere.

My only guess as to why the Anglophone publishers decided to start there, is that the stories there are the least connected to the, rather apocalyptic, overall arc. So, "let's have some action, and skip the philosophy!" Maybe.

>220 -pilgrim-: I don't mind being thrown into the pond with little warning, but what surprised me most was that, as you say, we learned little of Geralt, and the book mainly focused on the girl. Not at all what I expected.

>221 majkia: Yep. Geralt has already been established as a character in the short story collections. If you started with Ciri, them you got the first novel of the main arc. She is Geralt's destiny (and, thankfully, I do not mean that in a romantic sense!)

The first book published in English was the second of the short story collections...as I said, a very odd choice.

113. A Memory Called Empire - Arkady Martine - 🎵 (reader: Amy Landon)

Very different sort of space opera, with diplomacy and philosophy taking center stage rather than bullets. Enjoyed it quite a bit

>223 majkia: Oh, that looks interesting.

>224 quondame: Yeah. I enjoyed the structure and the philosophy of the whole thing. Different!

114. One Word Kill - Mark Lawrence

First in the Impossible Times series.

Kind of Stranger Things, only without the monsters. Quite good, fun read. Looking forward to the rest of the trilogy.

>226 majkia: I just finished the trilogy today. I heartily recommend it.

>227 -pilgrim-: Oh, great to hear that! Thanks.

115. A Man of Some Repute - Elizabeth Edmondson - 🎵 (reader: Michael Page)

Fairly interesting tale of a mysterious death and spies.

Camping again at Eastbank on Lake Seminole

That looks gorgeous. Great photo of a lovely spot.

>230 majkia: Beautiful capture. Whenever I try to get a photo of a lovely sunset, the colors all wash away.

116. Witch World - Andre Norton - 🎵 (reader: Nick Podehl)

I'm pretty sure I read this and others back in the 60s or 70s. It felt familiar and I'm sort of remembering a TV show based vaguely on this?

At any rate, it was okay, but a bit dated.

117. Limited Wish - Mark Lawrence - Impossible Times #2

As good as the first book. Stranger things, stranger!

118. Orbital Decay - Allen Steele

Interesting but a bit dated by the tech. Blue collar workers try to save the world.

119. Revelation Space - Alastair Reynolds - 🎵 (reader: John Lee) This was a re-read for me so I can read the series next year.

I am currently reading Rules of Engagement by Elizabeth Moon.

I'm well into her Serrano books, so she's well known to me, from those and others. I just want to say that although this book in particular is dealing with sexual abuse, rape and the mistreatment of women by men who believe they are superior to women, she is doing so that I, with lots of triggers in this area, am still able to read it and deal with my own memories, without quitting the book in grave upset.

She's handling the situations with care and grace and not utilizing the situation for shock and horror as some writers seem to do.

High props from me indeed.

>237 majkia: I also like the "she's going to be doing something about her situation" discussion and follow up.

120. The twelve Clues of christmas - Rhys Bowen - 🎵 (reader: katherine Kelligen)

Fun entry to the series. I do love Georgie and Darcy.

121. Rules of Engagement - Elizabeth Moon

Dealing with rape, abduction and mutilation, I have to say Ms Moon handled the situations with tact, grace and care. Thanks so much, from those of us with triggers in this area. I was able to read this novel and and very glad I did.

Have a comfy, caring, and very

Merry Christmas!

122. The Raven Boys - Maggie Stiefvater - 🎵 (reader: Will Paton)

Very well-written exploration of magical realism, well read by Will Paton. Not the sort of book I'd expected so delighted to be surprised.

I really enjoyed The Raven Boys. I read the entire series. I remember one of the books not being as good as the others, but that’s not unusual in a series.

I hope everyone has a wonderful new year.

Also, my favorite books from 2019:
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells
The Calculating Stars by Mary robinette Kowal
A Memory Called Empire by Arkady Martine
The Traitor Son Cycle - by Miles Cameron