Literature What are you currently reading?

[Lou]

Your post has piqued my interest, as I am also a fan of hard science fiction.

Tried to find a Kindle version of the first HH book (On Basilisk Station) but there was none available.
Luckily, I found a review informing me that it can actually be downloaded free on the Baen Books website. So now I'm ready to give it a try

On Basilek Station is the Best.
If I have it correct, Webber didn't plan on writing any kind of series when he wrote that book but since everyone who met Honor and Nimitz fell in love with them... he wrote another and another.... I think there are now 20 of them.
There was a lot of chatter about a movie but nothing happened.

Back before Kindle's and Amazon, the e-book market was very slow to pick up. When you bought a BaEn book you got a CD and it contained Lots of e-books. You might ask your friendly neighborhood libariaran if they have any of the CDs squirreled away. They have taken a lot of the best books off their free library - but the CDs are still out there.... somewhere. I checked out a hardcover years ago and the CD was still in the book. I took it home and copied it to my HardDrive. It has a lot of Bujold's and Flint's novels, too.

On Basilisk Station Index Page

baencd.freedoors.org

 

[Andy_T]

Ah yes, as you mention L.M.Bujold, I also enjoyed the Vorkosigan saga quite a lot…

 

[Lou]

Ah yes, as you mention L.M.Bujold, I also enjoyed the Vorkosigan saga quite a lot…

IMHO HH books are even more entertaining than MV books. Webber is more tech-y than Bujold. He'll spend a page and a half describing a battle ship's maneuvers. But Bujold is at the top of my list.

I like Bujold's fantasy stuff even better than her sci fi.
Nowadays all she does is fantasy novellas that go straight to e-book. they are the only books I buy cause they are inexpensive and I can't wait till they hit the library.

Kind of a neat thing about On Basilisk, is the author tries to project historical stuff into the future. The space ships in On Basilisk are reminiscent of sail powered warships. One world's government has parallels with Elizabethan England. while another's is sort of like France.

 

[Andy_T]

I wonder whether you also read Fantasy, or only Science Fiction.

Specifically, have you heard of Naomi Novik's "Temeraire" series?
It's an alternative history of the Napoleonic Wars ... with all the involved nations fighting with the help of DRAGONS.

 

[Lou]

I wonder whether you also read Fantasy, or only Science Fiction.

I'm a fan of both.
I like the term Speculative Fiction. It not only encompasses fantasy and science fiction but also the stories that sort of are crossovers or hybrids. A Wrinkle in Time may be the best known hybrid. One could argue that the novels that take place on the planet PerN are hybrids. I also think Speculative Fiction is a better label for all those wierd little niches like Alternative Histories and Urban Fantasy. And the others that are hard to pigeon hole. I used to think Alternative Histories and Urban Fantasy were hard to find but now I'm literally tripping over them.

And like I mentioned above, but let me make myself clear - I like Bujold's science fiction - I love her Fantasies.

Another Fantasy author I'm a big fan of is Tamora Pierce. Her books usually end up on the YA shelves but she has said in her interviews that she doesn't write them for teens. (but Middle School girls love her books)

Specifically, have you heard of Naomi Novik's "Temeraire" series?
It's an alternative history of the Napoleonic Wars ... with all the involved nations fighting with the help of DRAGONS.

I've read all the Temreraire series. Pretty much as they came out. Did you know that Peter Jackson bought the film rights? but they have reverted back to Naomi. That would have been something. When I was through with Temeriare I read her other books. Spinning Silver and Uprooted were really really good. And just now I finished part 2 of her Scholomance series. Part 3 hasn't been published yet. These are sort of like Harry Potter books but more for teens - and with significantly more violence.

 

[Chryssie]

I have just finished an amazing debut novel called "Fifty Words for Rain" by Asha Lemmie. It is a Good Morning America Book Club pick and was published in 2020. It is the story of Noriko Kamiza. born in 1940 in Japan to an adulteress Japanese woman and a Black American soldier. Her life is one of abuse and terror as she is abandoned by her mother and left at her grandmother's. The Kamiza family is Japanese royalty and ******* children are usually killed. Her grandmother hides her away and she suffers a miserable existence. At the age of 13, she is sold to a brothel owned by the family who are part of the Yakuza. The book spans decades as Nori grows up. This is a very emotional read and had me in tears several times. I do hope the author writes another book as her writing is compelling.

 

[Andy_T]

Spinning Silver and Uprooted were really really good. And just now I finished part 2 of her Scholomance series.

Yes! Yes!!! And Yes!!!!
Didn’t know that part 2 of the Scholomance was out already, enjoyed the first part a lot.

 

[Lou]

The latest Maisie Dobbs get released next week. I have it on hold at the library, so I may get it in month or two.
I just read the blurb and it sounds terrific.

 

[Emma JC]

I picked up J.D.Robb's latest at the library Forgotten in Death - I do love Eve and Roarke.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Emma JC]

The latest Maisie Dobbs get released next week. I have it on hold at the library, so I may get it in month or two.
I just read the blurb and it sounds terrific.

Thanks for the heads up - I have now also put it on Hold for when it arrives.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Chryssie]

Yesterday I read "Mrs Morris and the Sorceress" another in the Traci Wilton series. It was a fun light read and I have another one to read and I think that might be all of them in the series so far.

 

[Emma JC]

Yesterday I read "Mrs Morris and the Sorceress" another in the Traci Wilton series. It was a fun light read and I have another one to read and I think that might be all of them in the series so far.

I am gradually working my way through the second in the series "Mrs Morris and the Witch" and found a great new author Laura Dave and read The Last Thing he Tod Me, very different and I have more of her books on hold.

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Chryssie]

Finished "Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past" another in the series. I have now read them all and enjoyed them as a quick light read.

 

[Chryssie]

I found another Florida mystery writer while browsing in the library, Randy Wayne White. He has written a series that has over 25 books. The one I read is "Caribbean Rim." While the writing is good, I just didn't connect with the characters. Maybe it is because I don't "know" them. I will probably try another one. The series main character is a marine biologist who gets involved in all kinds of crime stuff. The scientific information was interesting.

 

[Emma JC]

now reading the last available Robert Crais book - I have definitely enjoyed the series and will miss the characters, like one would miss Jack Reacher - there is a 2022 book out, just not available as yet

read a Jayne Ann Krentz

ordered two Laura Dave books from the library and just started 800 Grapes (did you know it takes about 800 grapes for one bottle of wine?)

also reading an Alexander McCall Smith and a Sandra Brown edited book of short stories Love is Murder, lots of well known authors contributed

Emma JC
Find your vegan soulmate or just a friend. www.spiritualmatchmaking.com

 

[Lou]

also reading an Alexander McCall Smith

I've read a lot of AMS. But I had to give up on him.
After reading a dozen No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency novels, a half dozen Sunday Philosophy Club novels, a few 44 Scotland Street novels, and one of the Detective Varg books, I found I couldn't figure out where I left off. Well I guess I could read the other Detective Varg book.

Lately the guy publishes 4 books a year.

 

[Andy_T]

Re-reading now the « Alex Verus » fantasy series by Benedict Jacka as the 12th and last book has recently come out.
I do that sometimes … when a new book in one of my favourite series comes out, I re-read all the old ones before enjoying the new one. That way, I have read some series like « The Wheel of Time », Jim Butcher’s « Harry Dresden » series, the Harry Potter books or some others at least 5 times in total. On book 6 of the series now, started a week ago.

 

[Lou]

Re-reading now the « Alex Verus » fantasy series by Benedict Jacka as the 12th and last book has recently come out.

We DO have similar tastes in books. I will have to check out Alex Verus. I hadn't even heard of him.

I've read most everything by Butcher. Loved all the Harry Dresden books. Tried the TV show but it didn't work for me. I'm going to blame casting.

I also read the Wheel of Time, as they came out. Which was challenging. Wish I had waited till they were all out but I might not have know from the start that there would be so many and it would take so many years. There were just so many characters and some of them weren't in Every book - so I had a really hard time keeping track. I have the Wheel of Time TV series on my Wish List.

I haven't read all the Mistborn books, but I'm not sure where I left off. Maybe I should just start at the beginning.

Book 4 of Manticore Ascendent just came out. I'm reading it now. I couldn't remember if I had read book 2 so I reread it. then I figured I might as well re-read book 3 too.

Did you ever start On Basilisk Station? I have the ebook if you need it. Although I'm not sure how to get it to you. Maybe Discus?

 

[Andy_T]

Did you ever start On Basilisk Station? I have the ebook if you need it. Although I'm not sure how to get it to you. Maybe Discus?

I did not only read « On Basilisk Station », but also the two succeeding books.

So this is maybe the case where our tastes are not 100% identical, as Honor Harrington did not work out fully for me.

To be fair, there’s both good and bad (for me), and on the plus side, the books certainly are incredible page-turners, one of which kept me reading until 4 a.m. (on a Friday night, wouldn’t do that on a weeknight).

The negative, for me, however, was mainly that the heroine and her subordinates are incredible « Mary Sues » who excel at everything they try their hands at without trying at all, but most of the characters apart from the heroine and her closest contacts feel rather shallow and not well defined, at all.

In addition to that, I am not a fan of books where the author can not keep his political leanings out of the story, and it seems Daniel Weber finds it very hard time not to convey that he is - as one review succinctly said - a « right-wing knuckle dragger ».

So after the first 3 books I decided that I’d likely rather re-read the Vorkosigan books, or maybe Ann Leckie’s wonderful « Ancillary » books instead of further pursuing the « Honorverse ». Nevertheless, thank you very much for bringing it to my attention.

As far as « Urban Fantasy » is concerned, there are also some other series I would suggest to you in addition to « Alex Verus », which are Ben Aaronovich’s « PC Grant » series and the Russian « Night Watch » series by Sergeii Lukyanenko.
If you have time, give them a try.

 

[Lou]

I did not only read « On Basilisk Station », but also the two succeeding books.

So this is maybe the case where our tastes are not 100% identical, as Honor Harrington did not work out fully for me.

To be fair, there’s both good and bad (for me), and on the plus side, the books certainly are incredible page-turners, one of which kept me reading until 4 a.m. (on a Friday night, wouldn’t do that on a weeknight).

That seems to be a ringing endorsement. Of course, I understand, just being excellent page turners is only part of the equation. One needs to feel a connection to the characters.

The negative, for me, however, was mainly that the heroine and her subordinates are incredible « Mary Sues » who excel at everything they try their hands at without trying at all,

I didn't get that at all

but most of the characters apart from the heroine and her closest contacts feel rather shallow and not well defined, at all.

well, yeah. with so many characters - they all can't be delved into.

In addition to that, I am not a fan of books where the author can not keep his political leanings out of the story, and it seems Daniel Weber finds it very hard time not to convey that he is - as one review succinctly said - a « right-wing knuckle dragger ».

I didn't get that either. I've read that he is a military history buff and that does show. I never felt he was commenting on modern politics - I thought all the parallels were historical.

One of the things I liked about the HH books is that the story has so many elements. There seems to be always be a personal element. And a political world view element. and some cool space battles.

or maybe Ann Leckie’s wonderful « Ancillary » books instead of further pursuing the « Honorverse ». Nevertheless, thank you very much for bringing it to my attention.

I've read the Ancillary books, too.

Have you ever read any of Bujold's fantasy novels? They are among my favorites.