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The New Coffee Room

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  3. What are you reading now?

What are you reading now?

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  • LuFins DadL LuFins Dad

    @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

    @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

    So, today I started my re-read of "Persepolis Rising."

    On re-read, it was...okay.

    It's very much a "let's set this up for the final chapter(s) of the story" type of book. It's very much like the 4th book of the series. Somewhat filled with, well, "filler" material which could have been easily omitted for the sake of the story.

    But, when you gotta write a book, you gotta write a book.

    So, I read the first half, and skimmed through the second.

    Now, the penultimate book, at least so far, is a HELL of a ride. I'm only about ⅓ of the way through, and thoroughly enjoying. I hope to finish it this week.

    alt text

    How did you like that opener?

    Just finished Leviathan Falls…

    bachophileB Offline
    bachophileB Offline
    bachophile
    wrote on last edited by
    #414

    I’m finishing up nemesis games (expanse #5)

    Taking me forever because I reading other things concurrently.

    One question, I haven’t quite figured out how the titles of the books have anything to do with the plot lines.

    George KG 1 Reply Last reply
    • bachophileB bachophile

      I’m finishing up nemesis games (expanse #5)

      Taking me forever because I reading other things concurrently.

      One question, I haven’t quite figured out how the titles of the books have anything to do with the plot lines.

      George KG Offline
      George KG Offline
      George K
      wrote on last edited by
      #415

      @bachophile said in What are you reading now?:

      I haven’t quite figured out how the titles of the books have anything to do with the plot lines.

      Well,

      https://scifi.stackexchange.com/questions/216897/what-do-the-novel-titles-of-the-expanse-series-refer-to

      1. Leviathan Wakes

      The Leviathan is a sea monster in Judaism, most well known from its appearance in the Book of Job.

      The title refers to the waking of the long-dormant protomolecule from Phoebe, moon of Saturn.

      1. Caliban's War

      Caliban is a half human, half monster character from Shakespeare's play The Tempest.

      The title refers to the project which created hybrid human-protomolecule soldiers and the war fought with and over them.

      1. Abaddon's Gate

      Abaddon is a Hebrew name for the abyss or pit of destruction, as well as an angel personifying the same.

      The title refers, I think, to the characters passing through the protomolecule's gate and the rapid forced braking they experience and the destruction that follows.

      1. Cibola Burn

      The Zuni-Cibola Complex is an archeological site in New Mexico. It was believed by the Spanish to be one of the Seven Cities of Gold.

      The title refers to Ilus, a planet settled by both Belter refugees and a mining company from Earth, who both wanted to mine the planet for its valuable lithium. It may also refer to the ancient buildings they find on the planet.

      1. Nemesis Games

      Nemesis is a Greek goddess who enacts retribution against the arrogant.

      The title refers to Marco Inaros and his Belter "Free Navy" who attack the Earth.

      1. Babylon's Ashes

      Babylon was the capital city of the Babylonian Empire. In Jewish and Christian symbolism it stood for the corrupt world, evil, and eventually the Roman Empire.

      The title probably refers to the continuing recovery efforts of Earth after Marco's attack, although most book readers would be more likely to sympathise with the Earth's survivors. The title may also be a clue of the Laconian Empire's overtaking of Earth in the next book.

      1. Persepolis Rising

      Persepolis was the capital of the Persian Empire.

      The title refers to the reemergence of the hidden Laconian Empire which, just as the Persian Empire had conquered the Babylonian Empire, then conquered the "Babylon" of Earth, Mars, and all the other inhabited systems.

      1. Tiamat's Wrath

      Tiamat is the Babylonian goddess of the sea and chaos.

      The title refers the unknown alien race which had previously defeated the protomolecule's "Ring Builders" race and is now attacking Humanity (or arguably defending itself), by a variety of means including scrambling the physical parts of humans, causing system-wide consciousness breaks, and destroying everything in the Slow Zone.

      "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

      The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

      1 Reply Last reply
      • bachophileB Offline
        bachophileB Offline
        bachophile
        wrote on last edited by
        #416

        Well that was obvious

        1 Reply Last reply
        • HoraceH Online
          HoraceH Online
          Horace
          wrote on last edited by
          #417

          alt text

          Finished this one last night. No new insights for me contained there, but the culture is in desperate need of this book. Unfortunately the woke are not educable in any idea that might go against the social grain, so they are hopeless emotional robots in any case.

          I appreciated that Mr McWhorter identified the push for four year college educations for all as the second most important populist cultural idea that needs to be broken. I've identified that same idea as our culture's second dumbest. Great minds and all that.

          Education is extremely important.

          1 Reply Last reply
          • Doctor PhibesD Offline
            Doctor PhibesD Offline
            Doctor Phibes
            wrote on last edited by Doctor Phibes
            #418

            alt text

            There's a massive knob living across the street, but this book hasn't helped at all.

            I was only joking

            George KG 1 Reply Last reply
            • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes

              alt text

              There's a massive knob living across the street, but this book hasn't helped at all.

              George KG Offline
              George KG Offline
              George K
              wrote on last edited by
              #419

              @doctor-phibes I thought the author was Hugh Jardon.

              My bad.

              "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

              The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

              1 Reply Last reply
              • George KG Offline
                George KG Offline
                George K
                wrote on last edited by
                #420

                As I said, I decided to binge through the last 3 books of the Expanse series.

                Finished "Leviathan Falls" this afternoon. What a great ride it's been. The ending of the story is satisfying and complete, while still leaving the door open for more stories. All of the characters have an appropriate ending, especially the "Last Man Standing."

                Just loved the scope and scale of the story.

                THere's no doubt that, if you just wanted to tell "The Story," much could have been omitted, and rather than taking 9 books, 3-4 would have been sufficient. Get rid of the "Prax" stories, for example. Though enjoyable, they really don't move the story forward other than expanding on the horrors of Strickland's research.

                It could have been leaner if all you wanted to do is tell the story. But, they were building a universe, and it worked. Very satisfied.

                "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                1 Reply Last reply
                • taiwan_girlT Offline
                  taiwan_girlT Offline
                  taiwan_girl
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #421

                  I am almost finished with the following book:

                  alt text

                  I wasn't really familiar with this story. Quite interesting. About a unknown young Malaysian guy who was able to get the Malaysian government to set up a soveriegn fund which he controlled and ultimately stole most of the money (hundreds and hundreds of millions of USD). I did do a search and it appears that he is hiding out in China (probably Macau).

                  @jon-nyc Have you heard of this case? It seems like it was quite easy for it to happen. Greed on the part of the investment banks, private bankers etc.

                  @Axtremus The book gives a pretty bad picture of corruption and politics in Malaysia. I dont know much about government affairs in Malaysia and was wondering if you feel corruption is pretty common there?

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • George KG Offline
                    George KG Offline
                    George K
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #422

                    I read this a long time ago.

                    I thought it might be nice to revisit.

                    alt text

                    "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                    The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • MikM Offline
                      MikM Offline
                      Mik
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #423

                      That's the story he supposedly sold to the movies that bought his house.

                      “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.” ~Winston S. Churchill

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      • LarryL Offline
                        LarryL Offline
                        Larry
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #424

                        image001.jpg

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        • Aqua LetiferA Offline
                          Aqua LetiferA Offline
                          Aqua Letifer
                          wrote on last edited by Aqua Letifer
                          #425

                          4E5E9B5F-E7D2-4D7E-BD15-40AF8B22AE0B.jpeg

                          @George-K : listened to this just last night, all in one go. My wife and I listened to it in the car on the way up to see my in-laws. The book ended just as we pulled into the driveway.

                          (By the way, this is the second Scalzi book we've done this with. We started Redshirts on the way up to New Hampshire. Listened to it all in one go, got done right when we pulled into the parking lot.)

                          Anyway, this series rocks. Please have Quinto play Tony in the TV series. This SO NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

                          Please love yourself.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • George KG Offline
                            George KG Offline
                            George K
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #426

                            Wasn't it great?

                            "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                            The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                            Aqua LetiferA 1 Reply Last reply
                            • George KG George K

                              Wasn't it great?

                              Aqua LetiferA Offline
                              Aqua LetiferA Offline
                              Aqua Letifer
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #427

                              @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

                              Wasn't it great?

                              Freaking awesome. I can't wait for the TV series.

                              I'm glad Mason returned.

                              Please love yourself.

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • George KG Offline
                                George KG Offline
                                George K
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #428

                                Finished "Bosch #1" this morning. Great cop story with a worthy twist at the end. None of that was in the TV series.

                                So...I started #2 this afternoon.

                                This is really popcorn, but it's good popcorn.

                                "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                                • George KG George K

                                  Finished "Bosch #1" this morning. Great cop story with a worthy twist at the end. None of that was in the TV series.

                                  So...I started #2 this afternoon.

                                  This is really popcorn, but it's good popcorn.

                                  George KG Offline
                                  George KG Offline
                                  George K
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #429

                                  @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

                                  So...I started #2 this afternoon.

                                  What a fun read. Great twist at the end (as in #1).

                                  Just dipped my toe in to #3 this afternoon. It introduces Honey Chandler.

                                  I can see this being a MAJOR binge...

                                  "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                  The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                  George KG 1 Reply Last reply
                                  • George KG George K

                                    @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

                                    So...I started #2 this afternoon.

                                    What a fun read. Great twist at the end (as in #1).

                                    Just dipped my toe in to #3 this afternoon. It introduces Honey Chandler.

                                    I can see this being a MAJOR binge...

                                    George KG Offline
                                    George KG Offline
                                    George K
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #430

                                    @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

                                    Just dipped my toe in to #3 this afternoon

                                    Very binge-able. Just finished #3, and I'll dive into #4 tomorrow. Then, it'll be time for a break.

                                    Lots of fun.

                                    "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                    The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                    1 Reply Last reply
                                    • George KG Offline
                                      George KG Offline
                                      George K
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #431

                                      Yeah #4 was quite the page turner. Lots of false leads, dead ends, intra-departmental intrigue...

                                      Should I do #5 or take a break...

                                      Harry...."C'mere. George!"

                                      "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                      The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • George KG Offline
                                        George KG Offline
                                        George K
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #432

                                        image.jpeg

                                        "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                        The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                                        bachophileB 1 Reply Last reply
                                        • George KG George K

                                          image.jpeg

                                          bachophileB Offline
                                          bachophileB Offline
                                          bachophile
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #433

                                          @george-k is that the posthumous one? I’m waiting for a relaxed vacation to read that. The last le carre ever. Maybe this summer

                                          George KG 2 Replies Last reply
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