Once in a while, I like to poke my head in and ask:
So, whatcha reading?
Like, right now.
What is it?
Is it good?
Should we be reading it?
(My own update: I just finished reading Peter Clines’ The Fold, which is a twisty little sci-fi thriller about a group who creates a teleportation technology based on folding reality — and, duh, it doesn’t go so well. It was really good! Also just polished off Delilah Dawson’s Wake of Vultures, which is so good it’ll make you hate her because it’s too good. Weird Westy fantasy stuff, different from but in line with John Hornor’s totally amazing The Incorruptibles.)
Drop in the comments.
Tell us what you’re reading omg right now.
DO IT OR I RELEASE THE BEES
Jen Donohue says:
I’m reading COUNT ZERO by William Gibson, because I’m a fucking idiot and didn’t learn about him, or it, or NEUROMANCER twenty years ago when I should have. Well, I guess twenty years ago I wouldn’t have “gotten it” but that isn’t the point. I’ve got MONA LISA OVERDRIVE on deck, and BURNING CHROME lined up after that, because why not gorge on Cyberpunk (especially since one of my friends is running a Shadowrun game and it’s one of the best stories I’ve had the pleasure of hearing him tell).
March 2, 2015 — 2:02 PM
anonymous says:
Mona Lisa Overdrive is even better than Count Zero, IMO. Not as good as Neuromancer, but a good “conclusion” to the trilogy, despite Gisbon not thinking at the time of making a sequel(s).
March 2, 2015 — 2:29 PM
lizaskew says:
Mona Lisa is my #2 next to Neuromancer too! Best books ever. No time like the present.
March 2, 2015 — 10:49 PM
faithanncolburn says:
I like bees, but here’s my list. 1. Bushmasters: America’s Jungle Warriors of World War II by Anthony Arthur 2. The Naked and the Dead by Norman Mailer 3. Thin Red Line by James Jones
As you may have guessed, I’m doing research for a World War II Pacific Phase novel. WHY FICTION? Because I’m not nor have I ever been a soldier and I need to know how soldiers talk about and to each other . . . how they look and smell . . . what they hear . . . and anything else I can glean.
March 2, 2015 — 2:23 PM
zrider says:
I’m at the beginning of three books (because I have a super difficult time figuring out what to read next when I finish something):
Skylights by Luther M. Siler (science fiction)
Aegis Colony: Osiris by Steven J Shelley (science fiction)
A Love That Never Tires by Allyson Jeleyne (historical romance)
I haven’t read enough in either to say whether I’d recommend them or not, but they did all have openings that got me to click Buy before I got to the end of the first page, so it looks promising.
The last book I finished was James Scott Bell’s latest writing craft release, Super Structure: The Key to Unleashing the Power of Story, which was an expanded look at the signposts he covered in Write Your Novel from the Middle. It was a quick read, and the signposts work with how my brain thinks, so I give the book two thumbs up.
March 2, 2015 — 2:25 PM
anonymous says:
I started “Polaris” by Mindee Arnett yesterday. I wasn’t overly enthused with it’s older brother(s) Avalon and Proxy but about 60 pages into this YA sci-fi series it’s actually gotten pretty good. Probably because the stakes are higher for the crew on the ship of Avalon after what happened in the previous book “Avalon.” I think I like it even more than the eBook prequel of the two, “Proxy” because it actually has more action/drama going for it. *shrug* We’ll see if I keep this opinion going forward.
I last read Charles Stross’ “Accelerando” on a recommendation of someone I know. I… uh… didn’t completely get all the ideas that Stross put into the novel. So, uh, yeah… I didn’t really care for the novel/collection of short-stories too much. It wasn’t bad… just… too dense for me. heh.
March 2, 2015 — 2:31 PM
Nick says:
At this moment my kindle app. says I’m 53% done with my current book which is ‘Salem’s Lot. It’s so far a great read and is getting better with every page, one of his (King’s) best. After I finish, I’m going to pick up Catching Fire (Hunger Games Part 2). And finally, I’m probably going to jump into one of the short story books I got from the e-book bundle from Humble Bundle (thank John Scazi for that one).
March 2, 2015 — 3:18 PM
Eric Honaker says:
I’m reading (listening to) Elizabeth Bear’s “Karen Memory.” Pretty sweet so far. A nice blend of western and steampunk, and the folksy narrator is entertaining rather than hackneyed. The story itself is a lot of fun, and the inclusion of real-life badass Bass Reeves is a nice gem.
I’m also reading “Dream Storm Sea” by A. E. Marling. I’m not sure if he’s bitten off more than he can chew with this one, or if it’s kind of a work of genius. Or possibly both. I probably won’t know for sure until the end.
March 2, 2015 — 3:18 PM
missmoneypenny says:
Just finished “Blackbirds” and LOVED it. That probably sounds like an ad or an attempt at brown-nosing. Sorry, it’s not. That as a terrific read. Also just finished “You” by Carolyn Kepnes. And “The Wind-Up Girl,” which was completely wonderful and awesome.
March 2, 2015 — 3:25 PM
Donna Casey says:
Actually I am reading book on bees….. Keeping bees and Making Honey by Alison Benjamin and Brian McCallum. Trying to learn all I can about bees, bee hives and how to take care of them. Not sure I want to put in all the work needed to keep bees for the honey. There is also a small window here in the north to get them settled so they can make enough honey to support the queen and her brood through the winter. My hats off to them for their easy to follow directions and simple instructions for a beginner like me to understand. What I took from it is that I need a lot more education on being a beekeeper before I buy a hive of bees!
March 2, 2015 — 3:47 PM
SC Rose says:
I have recently just started reading “Ruin and Rising”, which is the 3rd installment of The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo, which I love… But I’m having a hard time finishing it. Not because it isn’t good – because it is – but because I just know it’s not going to end the way I want it to… because I want the bad guy to win! I like him more than any other character, and I want him to win! … Is that weird?
March 2, 2015 — 3:53 PM
Kevin Bingaman says:
St. Jerome’s “Commentary on Daniel” (dating to about the 4th century); “5 Administrations” (a true life account of a bodyguard/secretary who served from the time of Lincoln through the next 4 administrations); and the classic “Dracula” by Bram Sroker.
March 2, 2015 — 3:55 PM
Matthew X. Gomez says:
I’m rereading Dumas’ “The Three Musketeers” because I enjoy it, and because I like picking apart the story elements he uses.
March 2, 2015 — 4:04 PM
Madam_W says:
“Let’s Pretend This Never Happened” by Jenny Lawson. Hilarious, sir. Hilarious.
March 2, 2015 — 4:11 PM
Rosemary A. Blodgett (@RosemaryAubry) says:
I’m reading Unhappenings by Edward Aubry, it’s a time travel story. He’s my brother so maybe bias in my love for it. I chose it for my book club and everyone said they loved it too. Several suggested it to other friends. Pretty excited about it.
March 2, 2015 — 4:26 PM
d says:
Im reading sherrilyn kenyons born of fury…if you read the other born of(insert coolish word here) aka the league novels by her it can feel just a bit formulated but still a fun read since ts set in another time and place..very scifi-ish but still a romance genre…pretty cool stuff to pass so.e minutes 🙂
March 2, 2015 — 5:15 PM
wildbilbo says:
Currently reading Iain Bank’s Transitions… which I’m not loving. It’s not bad, but not great.
On a more positive note – I finished Saladin’s Throne of the Crescent Moon last week. Loved it – really fun fantasy novel that really brings the characters and location to life. Well worth a read.
March 2, 2015 — 6:53 PM
GarrettW says:
I just finished this novella called Bad Blood, about a vampire with the ghost of a teenage girl living in his blood during the zombie apocalypse. It’s pretty entertaining, and a good coda to the first novel. I hope the author writes more…
I also just started reading a few of the stories in the Songs of the Dying Earth anthology. If anyone digs Jack Vance, I this is right up your alley.
March 2, 2015 — 6:54 PM
Nikki says:
That novella sounds like fun… who’s the author, please?
March 3, 2015 — 6:53 PM
LD May says:
I’m reading a manuscript for the second book in Alan Smale’s trilogy. The first book, Clash of Eagles, is just out now. This month. Finally in print and available for everyone to read and enjoy. Buy it; read it. Great story w engaging characters written by a good friend and fine human being.
March 2, 2015 — 6:56 PM
Christopher Robin Negelein says:
Are you threatening us with bee pee? I’m reading “Kraken” by China Miéville. Enjoying the bonkers world he’s slapped together.
March 2, 2015 — 7:01 PM
Jude Morrissey says:
I’m reading two books right now, and loving both of them. Authority, by Jeff Vandermeer, the second of the Southern Reach series; and Erin Morgenstern’s The Night Circus.
March 2, 2015 — 7:43 PM
Deb Atwood says:
I just finished All the Birds, Singing by Wyld–haunting literary novel with great author voice, spare but beautiful that I highly recommend. I started Something Like Normal by Doller–a YA contemporary that I like so far. I’m re-reading The Face by Koontz–horror suspense, which is fun if a little overblown. I definitely recommend the audio version. I’m about to start Americanah by Adichie for my book group.
March 2, 2015 — 7:43 PM
Ashlee Jade says:
I’m currently reading Age of Orphans by Laleh Khadivi. It’s a pretty big departure for me from my usual fare, but it is gorgeously written. It’s the kind of language that I have to take pretty slowly, just because I need brain time to process exactly what it is that is being said and not get caught up in the beautiful, beautiful, words. It is a book to savour slowly, it isn’t a breakneck read, but I kind of like that about it. It’s poetry as prose and almost ‘stream of conciousness’ style. I don’t know, I’m enjoying it, but it’s very different to what I normally read.
March 2, 2015 — 9:25 PM
William Grit says:
Situations Matter: Understanding How Context Transforms Your World, by Sam Sommers. I don’t read much fiction. If I do, it’s Chuck fiction. I’m pretty much waiting for the new Miriam Black series.
March 2, 2015 — 10:49 PM
ElctrcRngr says:
At the moment I’m re-reading Dan Simmon’s “The Rise Of Endymion.” The entire “Hyperion Cantos” series is perhaps the finest example of world-building I’ve ever read, and world building happens to be what I’m doing with my current WIP. I always knew that world building must be incredibly difficult, but only now do I realize just how challenging it is. A lot of fun though, and it is pushing my abilities to their limit.
March 2, 2015 — 10:51 PM
Anon Y Mous says:
I’ve got Elgin’s _The Gentle Art of Verbal Self-Defense_, which turns out to be invaluable for thinking about hostile dialogue. Read it, but don’t just read it. Do the exercises to get used to how the attack and defense patterns play out. If you run into trouble with a scene, have your characters do one or more of them.
I’m getting good use out of it, which is the highest praise one can give to a nonfiction book.
March 2, 2015 — 10:53 PM
ElctrcRngr says:
This sounds like great advice, heading over to Amazon to pick this up!
March 3, 2015 — 10:47 AM
janinmi says:
Just finished The Robusta Incident by Jennifer Fales. I’m not much on zombies but this one was hella cool. One of the most detestable antiheroes I’ve read in years.
Now reading Blood Skies by Steven Montano; so far, pretty good.
March 2, 2015 — 11:15 PM
Bart Carter says:
I’m reading Caliban’s War, and yeah it’s awesome! If you haven’t read it, you should, like yesterday. Mix of Horror & Science Fiction ( or space opera, I can never keep it straight). It’s good, really good.
March 3, 2015 — 12:16 AM
maggiros says:
I’m having a wonderful re-reading Sherlock Holmes, leaving aside the novels and getting into the stories. Just finished The Silver Blaze. My new novella is a gaslight mystery with magic, and the stories are both fun and instructive.
March 3, 2015 — 12:22 AM
maggiros says:
*wonderful time, that is
March 3, 2015 — 12:23 AM
StephanieSD says:
I’m re-reading Jack Kerouac’s “Maggie Cassidy” for research on something I’m writing and I just started “Gone Girl” last night for fun. I’m also reading “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” to my daughter.
March 3, 2015 — 4:43 AM
Heather Wolfe says:
Steelheart by Brian Sanderson. I’m only 8 pages in but so far I’m intrigued.
March 3, 2015 — 9:30 AM
Heather Wolfe says:
Brandon not Brian … I need sleep
March 3, 2015 — 6:04 PM
blackdragon80 says:
Just reading Tower Lord by Anthony Ryan! It’s the second book in the Raven’s Shadow series, the first book being Blood Song. Both are really good and well written, and I really enjoy the mystery of not knowing fully what is going on until the very end. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but it’s well worth the read if you like your fantasy sharp-edged and gritty! 🙂
March 3, 2015 — 10:27 AM
Nicole says:
I’m reading Kraken Bake by Karen Dudley (book 2 of Epicurean Epics, first was Food of the Gods). ZOMG so fucking hilarious. Pelops, Prince of Lydia, was chopped up and stewed for dinner for the gods, but they were kind enough to put him back together and gift him with a talent for the culinary arts, so he went to Athens to become a celebrity chef. Set in richly detailed ancient Greece with the Olympian Gods (who often stir up more trouble than good). Described as Xena meets Hell’s Kitchen, with recipes and self-help scrolls sprinkled between chapters. So much fun!
Also, Nigh by Marie Bilodeau, a dark serialized novel about the faerie apocalypse (the old nasty fairies). Parts 1 and 2 are out now.
March 3, 2015 — 12:46 PM
Matthew Lovecraft says:
Reading the book, The Things They Carried, but Tim O’Brien. Some people may be familiar with the first Chapter/Story that carries the name of the book. I read the exert a few times in college and always loved it. The book is definitely living up to my expectations!!
March 3, 2015 — 12:52 PM
stranger says:
I’m currently reading HALF THE WORLD which is the second book in Joe Abercrombie’s awesome, but somehow overlooked (what is wrong with you people?) Shattered Sea Trilogy.
So far it’s even better than the first book. Which is quite a feat, since that one I might already favor over Abercrombie’s First Law Trilogy (which was a 10/10 read, that guy really needs to stop getting better). You REALLY should read it.
Next up on my nightstand is Christopher Moore’s FOOL and Jim Butcher’s FURIES OF CALDERON. Also I’m waiting for the HELLSBLOOD BRIDE, because a certain Meat-Man is the the only who didn’t get blasted to pieces by the Dresden Files on comparison. I can hold out a little longer, but at some point in time I might use that red powder from my kitchen – occult pigment or not (I’m pretty sure its chili), I will come for whoever delays the book’s release with a Red Rage. Just point a finger, Chuck.
March 3, 2015 — 1:30 PM
Jana Brown says:
Just finished The Smoke Scented Girl by Melissa McShane which I really enjoyed, kinda of gaslight fantasy. Now I’m back to my reread of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden books. After that who knows. The TBR pile over floweth.
March 3, 2015 — 1:34 PM
Reggie Lutz says:
Recently read The Devils that have Come to Stay by Pamela DiFrancesco, which is awesome. Dark, thoughtful grim acid western about the California Gold Rush
link: http://www.amazon.com/Devils-That-Have-Come-Stay/dp/1605425818
and James Morrow’s Galapagos Regained, which is full of madcap adventures in the realm of Big Ideas. He makes things that are hard to think about really fun through swift-moving narrative.
link: http://www.amazon.com/Devils-That-Have-Come-Stay/dp/1605425818
Right now I’m slogging through some genre canon. Not mentioning it here because it really is a slog. But it’s interesting to note how much it shapes what is recognized as genre today, and how in olden times a lot of things were done in fiction that would never pass muster currently.
March 3, 2015 — 1:55 PM
J. Fryer says:
Currently reading Joe R Lansdale’s Deadman’s Road… and dang, it’s a nicely crunchy book. Gun-slinging preacher + Zombies + wicked humor = awesome.
March 3, 2015 — 2:28 PM
Nikki says:
I’m in Urban Fantasy series heaven… read Anne Bishop’s Vision in Silver on Saturday, am about to finish Seanan McGuire’s Pocket Apocalypse and then I’m onto Dead Heat by Patricia Briggs. It’s a good week for book releases!
March 3, 2015 — 6:46 PM
Nicqui Graveney says:
Charley Davidon Series by Darynda Jones. Specifically, Second Grave on the Left.
March 3, 2015 — 10:28 PM
Rebecca says:
I like that series a lot. I have book six up next and I believe number 7 is out too. 🙂
March 4, 2015 — 8:38 AM
ripplefargo says:
Lucifer’s Flood, and I just finished Soul of Fire.
March 4, 2015 — 12:40 AM
Michael E. Henderson says:
I’m reading “The Big Seven” by Jim Harrison, who’s probably one of the greatest American novelists.
The story is about a retired cop who moves to a cabin in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (the U.P. if you are a Michigander like me), and comes across a family kinda like the Hatfields and McCoys, except they are all named Ames.
I’m not far into it, but an Ames girl of 19 has seduced him, which I assure you will lead to no good.
What I like about it is that the writing is raw and organic, and it’s clear he was able to keep the editor at bay, for good or bad. I also like that it’s about an old guy like me. Of course, he’s a retired cop, which seems to be the only old guy protag in the world, but it’s refreshing in a world full of young female protags. (Just look at the NY Times Best Seller List)
On an aside, I was trying to read “Earthly Powers,” by Anthony Burgess. It has another old man protag, this time a retired novelist who’s gay. I love Anthony Burgess’s writing, and I knew that the protag was gay, which doesn’t bother me, but so far it was really about his struggle with being gay in Britain in WWI, when you could be thrown in jail for it. I’m sorry to say that that topic doesn’t interest me, and he has not moved off of it 20% through, so I had to punch out. But if you like LGBT lit, give it a look. One of the finest novelists of the 20th century (“A Clockwork Orange”)
On another note, I was reading “Ancillary Justice” by Ann Leckie, but I found it unintelligible. I could have gotten past the goofy names broken up with apostrophes (which I hate), and those with double-a in the middle, but I found no discernible story. And I found the main character’s use of ‘she’ for everyone to be very distracting. Of course, it’s all my fault, because this thing won every sci-fi award there is last year. So go ahead, hate me. Take a number.
March 4, 2015 — 1:57 AM
fadedglories says:
Totally absorbed by Iain M Banks ‘the Hydrogen Sonata’. It’s the last book he wrote and possibly his best.
March 4, 2015 — 2:40 AM
chukg says:
Wasn’t The Quarry after that? I’ve finished all his SF and I am saving his non-genre fiction to read every year or so.
March 4, 2015 — 3:31 PM
juliegum says:
Enlightenment and deepening my religious knowledge with ‘Lamb’ by Christopher Moore… learning some of his latest testament’s paragraphs for public speeches when not changing my own nappies…
March 4, 2015 — 5:18 AM
kakubjaya says:
What is it with the bees lately?
Anyway, “The Big Empty” by James Luceno. Existential angst, machine religions, lots of different space cultures, it’s a worldbuilding-junkie wonderland. And you know what? Yes you should be reading it. James Luceno is one of those much-overlooked talents obscured by the fact that a lot of his work has been with licensed properties (Star Wars, Robotech [he’s half of “Jack McKinney”] etc.). He’s a hack in the greatest sense of the word, churning out quality work in places where common wisdom says there shouldn’t be quality work.
This, however is not one of his licensed works. This is set in an original universe, and you should read it because it is good.
March 4, 2015 — 6:49 AM
Doc Coleman says:
I’m reading Brand Gamblin’s fantastic Neo-Victorian story The Hidden Institute. It is the story of Cliffy, a pennyless son of a junkie, who accepts a very unusual bribe for his silence: admission in the William Holden Institute for Regentrification. The school turns out to be very different from what Cliffy thought, introducing him to clockwork valets, cybernetic teachers, and bear polo. But Cliffy isn’t safe at school. Someone is after him, and means to see him dead.
A truly inspired work. I mean, bear polo!
Bear polo!
Doc
March 4, 2015 — 7:14 AM
Trey Taylor says:
Area X :Southern Reach Trilogy
Research for my own novels:
King Con – Cannell
The Hot Rock – Westlake
The Lies of Locke Lamora – Lynch
The Good Thief’s Guide(series) – Ewan
The Confidence Man – Mellville
The Big Con
The Mark Inside
Arsene Lupin Gentlemen Burglar stories
March 4, 2015 — 9:58 AM
decayingorbits says:
Area X is at the top of my “To Read” stack. I am really looking forward to breaking the spine on that one.
March 4, 2015 — 7:32 PM
Rachel Ambrose says:
How is no one else reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt? Did everyone read that last year and I just missed the boat? (Probably.) Well, it’s incredible. Y’all should read it. It’s huge and long and has the most beautiful sentences ever, and it’s one of those books you just get lost in. It’s LOVELY.
March 4, 2015 — 3:48 PM
decayingorbits says:
I just finished Greg Egan’s Distress and I’m working through his collection of short stories called Axiomatic. He is a revelation. Incredible stuff.
March 4, 2015 — 7:22 PM
spacysemmy says:
I don’t know if you read all these Chuck, but if you haven’t tried it yet, add Bitch Planet to your monthly comic pull list. I think you might really get into the non-compliant badass bitches fighting for their rights on a women only prison planet.
March 4, 2015 — 9:42 PM
Larry Craig says:
OK, I apologize for suggesting that this isn’t as difficult as Word Press. It’s getting there. I live in China, which means that everything one attempts on the internet becomes at one point or other, DISGUSTING, FRUSTRATING, and really bitchy.
Let me start over, I haven’t time to go looking for the first paragraph I wrote, which went off in a puff of green smoke.
Most of the time I read Doestoevsky, even though I still can’t remember how to spell his name. Why? Because there are too many ways to spell it. Why do I read him? Because he has the ability to write coherently while making you believe he is just attempting hodge-podge. Then you begin to realize he is able to to write in a manner that allows his reality to run out of his pen and the words disappear into a compelling reality I cannot put down, My current read with him is the Eternal Husband, which has a different translation title this time out, that I don’t remember. Yet, I don’t read him that much these days, coming to the point at last. In fact what I’m doing is youtubing it. Part is reading, part is listening, part is movies, all of it about conspiracy themes, which I’m attempting to expand into a book into which a conspiracy theory has already insinuated itself. I make a strong point to insist my current writing is NOT intended to be Sci-Fi. It is as real to me as anything I’ve ever attempted. Really real, an isolated event in my past life that I was convinced was a ghost that communicated with me without sound..
However, I avoid having to describe in detail any reptillian creatures with large, glowing greenish yellow eyes though something like that has already appeared. before I could even say NO.Last night I viewed an Irish legend about conspiracy with reptiles and also native American tribes with hard K sounds in their tribal names. It is a well-known fact that my family is Irish with CheroKee indians having entered the family on two or perhaps three occasions. I won’t try to clarify this, since for all intents and purposes, I have finished. Having said too much anyway.
If you choose to steal this idea, have at it. If you can make any sense of it, please make it real. We need to get the word out. That’s what is important.
March 5, 2015 — 8:58 PM
Kurt Bali says:
Just finished The Life & Times of Charles Manson by Jeff Guinn, easily the best book on the topic since Helter Skelter. Also a great look at the end of the 60s and provides a follow up on where the main players are today. As of right now, reading Stardust by Neil Gaiman as well as the Sandman comics that, for some reason, I’m just now reading.
March 7, 2015 — 4:56 PM