Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse

The New Coffee Room

  1. TNCR
  2. General Discussion
  3. What are you reading now?

What are you reading now?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved General Discussion
907 Posts 31 Posters 62.5k Views
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • G George K
    29 Nov 2021, 22:41

    As I've mentioned, I've become enthralled with Alastair Reynolds' books.

    He is an astrophysicist who said, "Maybe I can make a career of writing science fiction."

    He wrote three books in the "Revelation Space" universe - a trilogy that spawned some other short stories and other novels not in the series, but in the same "universe."

    So much science fiction is popcorn. Reynolds' works are steak.

    You gotta pay attention. He uses weird words. His stories have foreshadowing that, if you're NOT paying attention, you'll miss.

    So, last week I started the addition to the Revelation Space trilogy - "Inhibitor Phase." He said it could be a standalone book, but, nah, you gotta know what the hell is going on to reap the benefits.

    Of all Reynolds' books, this is one of the easiest reads. Very linear (for the most part) and a classic adventure tale.

    If you like science fiction, check out Reynolds' works. I recommend, if you want to get into the RS stories, starting with the short story/novella "The Great Wall of Mars." All the other tales hinge on what's explained here.

    image.jpeg

    G Offline
    G Offline
    George K
    wrote on 5 Dec 2021, 00:26 last edited by
    #401

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

    As I've mentioned, I've become enthralled with Alastair Reynolds' books.

    Loved this book. It's probably the most accessible of Reynold's "Revelation Space" universe. It could be a standalone, but it relies on the preceding three books, albeit not in a way that you NEED to know the backstory. Enough is explained to make it easy to follow.

    Continuing my dive into the Revelation Space universe, I spent an hour this morning reading this: a short story that sort of wraps up where the universe is headed, while leaving enough threads there for future expansion.

    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.

    1 Reply Last reply
    • G Offline
      G Offline
      George K
      wrote on 5 Dec 2021, 00:28 last edited by George K 12 May 2021, 00:29
      #402

      Someone, was it @LuFins-Dad ?, asked if I've read the latest of the "Bobiverse" books my Taylor. I hadn't, and though it's not as thought-provoking as Reynolds' stuff, it's a fun read. This is, like all of Taylor's stuff, Popcorn. About 10% through today, and exactly what I'd expect.

      It's good, but for popcorn, I prefer John Scalzi.

      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.

      L G 3 Replies Last reply 5 Dec 2021, 00:39
      • G George K
        5 Dec 2021, 00:28

        Someone, was it @LuFins-Dad ?, asked if I've read the latest of the "Bobiverse" books my Taylor. I hadn't, and though it's not as thought-provoking as Reynolds' stuff, it's a fun read. This is, like all of Taylor's stuff, Popcorn. About 10% through today, and exactly what I'd expect.

        It's good, but for popcorn, I prefer John Scalzi.

        image.jpeg

        L Offline
        L Offline
        LuFins Dad
        wrote on 5 Dec 2021, 00:39 last edited by
        #403

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

        Someone, was it @LuFins-Dad ?, asked if I've read the latest of the "Bobiverse" books my Taylor. I hadn't, and though it's not as thought-provoking as Reynolds' stuff, it's a fun read. This is, like all of Taylor's stuff, Popcorn. About 10% through today, and exactly what I'd expect.

        It's good, but for popcorn, I prefer John Scalzi.

        image.jpeg

        I listen on Audible and hadn’t realized they switched writers. That explains a bit, though…

        I just finished the prologue of Leviathan Falls. Holy **#%

        The Brad

        G 1 Reply Last reply 5 Dec 2021, 00:41
        • L LuFins Dad
          5 Dec 2021, 00:39

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

          Someone, was it @LuFins-Dad ?, asked if I've read the latest of the "Bobiverse" books my Taylor. I hadn't, and though it's not as thought-provoking as Reynolds' stuff, it's a fun read. This is, like all of Taylor's stuff, Popcorn. About 10% through today, and exactly what I'd expect.

          It's good, but for popcorn, I prefer John Scalzi.

          image.jpeg

          I listen on Audible and hadn’t realized they switched writers. That explains a bit, though…

          I just finished the prologue of Leviathan Falls. Holy **#%

          G Offline
          G Offline
          George K
          wrote on 5 Dec 2021, 00:41 last edited by
          #404

          @lufins-dad said in What are you reading now?:

          I just finished the prologue of Leviathan Falls. Holy **#%

          As I said, I'm going to reserve the last three books for a binge. Should be a fun ride, amirite?

          "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.

          L 1 Reply Last reply 5 Dec 2021, 00:42
          • G George K
            5 Dec 2021, 00:41

            @lufins-dad said in What are you reading now?:

            I just finished the prologue of Leviathan Falls. Holy **#%

            As I said, I'm going to reserve the last three books for a binge. Should be a fun ride, amirite?

            L Offline
            L Offline
            LuFins Dad
            wrote on 5 Dec 2021, 00:42 last edited by
            #405

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

            @lufins-dad said in What are you reading now?:

            I just finished the prologue of Leviathan Falls. Holy **#%

            As I said, I'm going to reserve the last three books for a binge. Should be a fun ride, amirite?

            Did you read 7-8 at all?

            The Brad

            G 1 Reply Last reply 5 Dec 2021, 00:45
            • L LuFins Dad
              5 Dec 2021, 00:42

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

              @lufins-dad said in What are you reading now?:

              I just finished the prologue of Leviathan Falls. Holy **#%

              As I said, I'm going to reserve the last three books for a binge. Should be a fun ride, amirite?

              Did you read 7-8 at all?

              G Offline
              G Offline
              George K
              wrote on 5 Dec 2021, 00:45 last edited by
              #406

              @lufins-dad said in What are you reading now?:

              Did you read 7-8 at all?

              I read 7, but it was SO long ago that I don't remember much. For the sake of continuity, it'll be a fun ride to do all three.

              I frequently do the same thing with TV shows as a new season comes out - binge the preceding season to get into it.

              I'm retired, and I've got the time!

              "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
              • G George K
                5 Dec 2021, 00:28

                Someone, was it @LuFins-Dad ?, asked if I've read the latest of the "Bobiverse" books my Taylor. I hadn't, and though it's not as thought-provoking as Reynolds' stuff, it's a fun read. This is, like all of Taylor's stuff, Popcorn. About 10% through today, and exactly what I'd expect.

                It's good, but for popcorn, I prefer John Scalzi.

                image.jpeg

                G Offline
                G Offline
                George K
                wrote on 5 Dec 2021, 22:41 last edited by
                #407

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

                "Bobiverse" books my Taylor.

                OK, I'm about 350 (out of 800) pages into this. Very VERY popcorn.

                But, I noticed something with this book that I hadn't noticed with the others.

                Remember, the premise is that that there are dozens, hundreds, or even more "clones" of "Bob" - the protagonist of the first book. Each of them is a computer-saved individual, identical in most ways to the source. Yet, each copy has a slightly different personality. Some call themselves, "Bob." Others call themselves "Bill" or "Will (Riker)". Slightly different personalities, each.

                A major sub theme of this book is that, now 20 generations out, the "copies" of "Bob" are not copies - they have individual personalities, goals and ethics.

                But, I digress...

                So, in this book, although it's all first-person, each chapter is told by a different "Bob." And...the timelines are not necessarily consecutive.

                "Reading" the book as opposed to "Listening" to the book is a totally different (and better) experience, because, although each chapter identifies the "Bob" whose perspective it is, and the date, this is the kind of stuff that gets lost, very easily, in an audio version.

                But, the popcorn's been good this weekend.

                "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
                • K Offline
                  K Offline
                  kluurs
                  wrote on 10 Dec 2021, 02:24 last edited by
                  #408

                  I'm still in the middle of this one - but an excellent book discussing a wide range of issue related to some of what is happening in the world today with tribalism and the challenges of effective communication. This is on my recommended pile. It has the benefit of not being written by a journalist but rather a qualified researcher.

                  6c83d8be-a555-440b-b3b8-bff9aaa02762-image.png

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  • G George K
                    5 Dec 2021, 00:28

                    Someone, was it @LuFins-Dad ?, asked if I've read the latest of the "Bobiverse" books my Taylor. I hadn't, and though it's not as thought-provoking as Reynolds' stuff, it's a fun read. This is, like all of Taylor's stuff, Popcorn. About 10% through today, and exactly what I'd expect.

                    It's good, but for popcorn, I prefer John Scalzi.

                    image.jpeg

                    G Offline
                    G Offline
                    George K
                    wrote on 10 Dec 2021, 21:52 last edited by George K 12 Oct 2021, 21:53
                    #409

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

                    Someone, was it @LuFins-Dad ?, asked if I've read the latest of the "Bobiverse" books by Taylor. I hadn't, and though it's not as thought-provoking as Reynolds' stuff, it's a fun read. This is, like all of Taylor's stuff, Popcorn. About 10% through today, and exactly what I'd expect.

                    Finished this AM. A totally fun read. A good story which ends well, but leaves the door open for future adventures.

                    So, today I started my re-read of "Persepolis Rising." Probably going to binge through this and the final two books.

                    iu.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.

                    G 1 Reply Last reply 13 Dec 2021, 23:45
                    • G George K
                      10 Dec 2021, 21:52

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

                      Someone, was it @LuFins-Dad ?, asked if I've read the latest of the "Bobiverse" books by Taylor. I hadn't, and though it's not as thought-provoking as Reynolds' stuff, it's a fun read. This is, like all of Taylor's stuff, Popcorn. About 10% through today, and exactly what I'd expect.

                      Finished this AM. A totally fun read. A good story which ends well, but leaves the door open for future adventures.

                      So, today I started my re-read of "Persepolis Rising." Probably going to binge through this and the final two books.

                      iu.jpeg

                      G Offline
                      G Offline
                      George K
                      wrote on 13 Dec 2021, 23:45 last edited by
                      #410

                      @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

                      "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.

                      L 1 Reply Last reply 14 Dec 2021, 01:07
                      • G George K
                        13 Dec 2021, 23:45

                        @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

                        L Offline
                        L Offline
                        LuFins Dad
                        wrote on 14 Dec 2021, 01:07 last edited by
                        #411

                        @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…

                        The Brad

                        G B 2 Replies Last reply 14 Dec 2021, 01:22
                        • R Offline
                          R Offline
                          Renauda
                          wrote on 14 Dec 2021, 01:11 last edited by
                          #412
                          This post is deleted!
                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • L LuFins Dad
                            14 Dec 2021, 01:07

                            @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…

                            G Offline
                            G Offline
                            George K
                            wrote on 14 Dec 2021, 01:22 last edited by
                            #413

                            @lufins-dad said in What are you reading now?:

                            How did you like that opener?

                            Yah. All that phoniness from Duarte seeping through into Holden's psyche.

                            Very good. It's much MUCH better than the previous book.

                            "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
                            • L LuFins Dad
                              14 Dec 2021, 01:07

                              @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…

                              B Offline
                              B Offline
                              bachophile
                              wrote on 17 Dec 2021, 10:19 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.

                              G 1 Reply Last reply 17 Dec 2021, 12:29
                              • B bachophile
                                17 Dec 2021, 10:19

                                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.

                                G Offline
                                G Offline
                                George K
                                wrote on 17 Dec 2021, 12:29 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
                                • B Offline
                                  B Offline
                                  bachophile
                                  wrote on 17 Dec 2021, 12:58 last edited by
                                  #416

                                  Well that was obvious

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  • HoraceH Online
                                    HoraceH Online
                                    Horace
                                    wrote on 21 Dec 2021, 17:16 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 Online
                                      Doctor PhibesD Online
                                      Doctor Phibes
                                      wrote on 21 Dec 2021, 17:27 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

                                      G 1 Reply Last reply 23 Dec 2021, 00:02
                                      • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes
                                        21 Dec 2021, 17:27

                                        alt text

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

                                        G Offline
                                        G Offline
                                        George K
                                        wrote on 23 Dec 2021, 00:02 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
                                        • G Offline
                                          G Offline
                                          George K
                                          wrote on 23 Dec 2021, 00:07 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
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes

                                          410/907

                                          13 Dec 2021, 23:45


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          410 out of 907
                                          • First post
                                            410/907
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups