Reading a book? Like it? Tell your friends!

[Nathan]

Holy cow! This topic (http://www.brianlumley.com/cgi-bin/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=000551) should've been closed already!

This will be the new and obligatory "what are you reading now or lately?" thread.

At the behest of a good friend I am reading Through the Looking Glass and Alice in Wonderland. Not too far yet... we'll see.

smile.gif

[ January 21, 2005, 12:37 PM: Message edited by: Nathan ]

[topol_sheap]

personally, I don't see a problem with LONG topics... ;)

[Nathan]

Hey, my computer's up to speed now, but it ain't been all that long since it weren't, bruthuh!

I'll never forget what a pain in the ass multiple page threads are for a slow computer!

:cool:

[Goth Girl]

I was gonna stop it at 10 pages, but it jumped to 11 while I wasn't looking!

[sdkdmd]

Finally finished Wizard and Glass,but i also reread King's "Thinner" and gave James Patterson [The Lake House]a try.

I think i'm going to try Repair Jack,"The Tomb" i believe is the first one.

Right now i'm reading some "House of Cthulhu" stories, then on with DT,"Wolves of the Calla

[topol_sheap]

the first "repairman jack" is indeed the tomb. Which is part of a larger story arc... but read the tomb first as it's a good way in.

Currently I'm still reading cryptonomicon by neal stephenson. very good.

Then I have a couple of FPWs and another neal stephenson.

[sdkdmd]

I'm giving Patterson another try [The Jester]before i move on with DT.

[hocopepa]

Me and Red have just finished Koji Suzuki's Ring and Spiral, now they just need to finish translating Loop and I'll be very happy

[Red Willow]

heehee, yet another author i've hooked him on, the books are very very good and quite different to the films. Nearly bought the loop in german and translated it myself with a little german-english dictionary i got for GCSE! Must be patient... :rolleyes:

[Hubris]

I might be royaly chastised for this but I just started Ship of Dreams. I had read Hero a few years back but havn't continued until now. I'll take it to the end this time though.

[sdkdmd]

finished Patterson "The Jester" not to bad,fast pace,set during the first crusade with a lot of action,carnage,even some romance,much better then "The Lake House" the only other book i read by him.
now on with DT

[Helmet Head]

Got The DaVinci Code to read once I'm done with the Whispereer and other voices, heard nowt but good things about this one...

[Lupa the Ancient]

Finished the Davinci Code ... readable, interesting ideas but terrible writing .....

Just finished Murakamis latest 'Kafka on the Shore' - great author, great book ....

About to start 'Saturday' by Ian McEwan

[Helmet Head]

Alright one bad thing ;)

[topol_sheap]

I've heard good and bad things about the Davinci Code... I've heard it's a quick toilet read... I have it on the list! smile.gif

[Goth Girl]

Might follow Red's lead and get my hands on those Koji Suzuki books... love the films, so the books might keep me quiet for a while (as I got through my latest Laurell K Hamilton books in record time!)

[John & Paul]

They're practically giving the Davinci code Hardback away up here, might have to give it a try..

[topol_sheap]

the so called "limited" one?

[Botch the Mad]

i just finished angels and demons, a couple of forgotten realms, the beatles anthology, and the manual for my digital camera. haven't been to the bookstore yet, so have nothing new to read. i'll make the trek on friday.

[Exsanguinator]

Re-reading some of Karl Wagner's Kane books... A man who starts wars because he's bored... Cracking stuff...

[Lagula Longarm]

Due to a degree course I started last year, for the past twelve months I have been reading loads of political and historical books :(
It looks like I may be changing jobs soon, so the degree course will have to be put on hold, which means...a bit more time to re-read some of Brians works and I might even be able to finish reading some of my Jack Vance books. grin.gif

[Lupa the Ancient]

Finished the latest Ian McEwan book Saturday - a great novelist who always gets under my skin.

Enjoying the Japanese translations myself at the minute -Murakami especially. Just got a paperback of Ring that both Red and GG have mentioned, but I've just picked up Strangers by Taichi Yamada that I've heard good things about....

[Silver]

Just finished reading some Lovecraft, now reading A Coven of Vampires.

Joanne says The Jester is a good book by James Patterson but The Lakehouse is much better, she recommends Third Degree if you like James Patterson.

(I'm in the process of convincing her to get in here herself so I won't have to relay messages anymore!)

[sdkdmd]

now i though Jester was better, could it be the difference between a man and women point of view, as i read lake house i kept thinking that this is something my wife would like.
they were the only two JP books i've read, one right after the other and i almost felt like they were written by two difference writers,lake house more romanic, jester more action/adventure.

[Lupa the Ancient]

Finished Strangers, which was an excellent ghost story ...eerie and sad. Much in keeping with other Japanese stories I've read...

I've picked up Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke ...a meaty tomb of a read, set around York.

[DC 1]

Just finished reading (again) House of Cthulhu. This is still one of my favorite books.

I am now waiting for my copy of Inhuman magazine, published by Allen K, to arrive. It has a Lumley story in it so will be added to my modest collection.

If anyone is interested, you can get a copy via Allenk.com smile.gif

[Lupa the Ancient]

Finished Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke.... a great start, well written - very Dickensian in tone, but I felt it meandered somewhat at the end.... worth a look.

Started Ring, which has started at a gallop!!

[topol_sheap]

did I mention I finished Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson (finally!). It's a massive book, with the same scope, and some how it manages to pull it off. There's a possibility that this is in the running for my book of the year!!! It's only march.

ON to Midnight Mass - which is a bit of a let down following Cryptonomicon. I hope it gets better! I like FPW.

[Lupa the Ancient]

Finished Ring ..straight onto Spiral....

[Lupa the Ancient]

... just got a job lot of the Inspector Morse books by Colin Dexter. Never watched the tv series, but thought it might be abit of page-turning reading.

All 13 books for £15...

[kenny]

If the books are half as good as the tv series then you are in for a treat. I have the complete series on dvd but have still to read the books which are lying at the back of the cupboard behind all the Brian Lumley books(no doubt l'll get to them at some point in time?)
Happy reading Lupa, let me know how you get on with the books?

[nightshade]

This thread reminded me that I was supposed to hit the library for a new couple books. I ran out last saturday and only have one for the week. (translation, not nearly enough) I'll just have to get there before work tomorrow.

I read Maze of Worlds in the last batch of books, which was good. But I should have reread House of Doors first. Too many, "oh yeah!" or "when did that happen?" moments.

The book I'll start out with this week is Dean Koontz's Frankenstein: Book One Prodigal Son. I've only read a handful of bad Koontz books, so hopefully this new series will be decent.

[Lupa the Ancient]

Will do Kenny...

Spiral was a great read ...moved onto the latest Isguro novel

[Botch the Mad]

i'm reading danse macabre right now. a lot better than i expected. any one else read it?

[nightshade]

Ok, unless you don't know Koontz, this will come as no shock. It's ok. As most of his books, they're interesting to a fault. Good enough to keep you reading, but not 'awesome'. I believe he's only had three books that were 'awesome': Intensity and those two books about an albino surfer.

[Lupa the Ancient]

Finished the excellent don't let me go by Ishiguro.....

Onto my Morse-fest, Last Bus to Woodstock, which is proving a very good crime read....

[kenny]

Just started The Complete Khash : Vol 1. What i've read sofar this is going to be an enjoyable experience. Anybody else read these books?

[Nathan]

Read 'em all. :cool:

They're my favorite Lumley stories... as you read 'em, try to imagine only getting one story at a time. That's how they were originally put out. When I found out they weren't chapters written for a novel I was astonished!

Thank goodness for Mister Ganley, eh?!

Enjoy!

[Nathan]

Hey, has anyone read Clive Barker's Abarat books?

I was lookin' in the "teen" section for something cool to get for my daughter and came across these that I knew nothing about! Guess I should really visit Barker's site more often!

Can anyone tell me if they're worth mine or my daughter's time? Looks kinda like a Harry Potter ripoff to me!

[nightshade]

Currently reading Douglas Adams' The Long Dark Tea-Time Of The Soul. They didn't have Hitchhiker at the library. :( But it's proving to be quite amusing.

I'm a huge fan of Terry Pratchett. For those who haven't read both, Pratchett is easier to get the humour than Adams. So basically Adams is Pratchett squared. (don't ask, I don't 'splain things goodly all the time)

[Lupa the Ancient]

Finished the Morse book which was good...

Onto The Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami.

I read the first Abarat book a few years ago ... more fantastical than Potter, good stuff - I think it depends the age of your daughter Nathan, I'd say 13 onwards myself.

[sdkdmd]

I'm with n8 on this one Kenny, there my favorite short stories also, and i'm sure you know that Tor is re-publishing them soon,so you'll be able to read some of the harder stuff to come by.

and N8, i to read the first one a few years ago, and i enjoyed it very much.and i agree with Lupa on the age.
i beleive it will be a four book series.

[sdkdmd]

i should finish up with DT "Wolves" today,my ranking so far...Drawing..Gunslinger...Wolves...Waste land...Wizards

[Nathan]

Cool. Guess I'll give 'em a go. And at fourteen, I suppose she's just about right for 'em too!

Thanks. smile.gif

[sdkdmd]

just started the next book of the DT series song of susannah and i can't wait to get into it.

[nightshade]

In the middle of Life, the universe and everything. (third book in HGTTG) Bought the Ultimate Hitchicker's Guide to the Galaxy, which is all five books in one. It's bloody brilliant. I can't wait to see the movie.

[Lupa the Ancient]

On a non-fiction binge at the minute, reading Talisman by Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval... great stuff. Reading my unread copies of Fortean Times as well...

[sdkdmd]

finished DT VI Song of Sus.
really liked the way King fit things together, other stories and himself, need to get started on the last one, can't wait.

[Silver]

Recently read Tim Burton's The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy.

Wasn't at all what I was expecting but hilarious all the same!

Now reading Cleo Cordell's The Flesh Endures

[Helmet Head]

Haven't posted in here in bloody ages, It's not because I haven't read anything or that I haven't read anything good it's just that my brain doesn't seem to think of anything good to say any more, it's all work work bloody work.....

Right I suppose I should get back on topic before I'm flayed alive by one of the mods (I don't trust that Tops one he looks a bit shifty to me ;) )

I've read Adrian Mole and the weapons of mass destruction!!!
Actually what I mean is I've got half way through it, gotten extremely bored and threw it into the corner of my room until such time that I wish to end it all, at which point I will pick it up again and attemp to drown myself in my very own drool.

I read a book by Marion Keyes (chick writer) called Rachel's Holiday which wasn't bad but didn't exactly enthrall me either.
I read this in a bargain struck with my girlfriend and she's promised to read Necroscope in return, but I'm still bloody waiting :mad:

(Note to self don't bargain with women)

I read a book called Fatherland by an author called Robert Harris (I think???) which was excellent yet extremely thought provoking and shocking even though it was a work of fiction it seemed to bring home the absolute horror of WW2 and the holocaust.

And I've recently been reading the entire Harry Potter series for the sixth time in preperation for the new one which is out at midnight this Friday night.

(Yes I am that sad that I will be hanging round my local ASDA at midnight on a Friday, but hey I was never that cool anyway smile.gif )

[Silver]

Nah, guys in pink shirts are never cool!

I recently read The Hunger and The Last Vampire, wasn't overly impressed

[nightshade]

In the middle of Monstrous Regiment by Terry Pratchett. Loving every minute of it too.

[Helmet Head]

Finished the Half Blood Prince yesterday, very different from the previous one's.

I didn't enjoy it the same way as the others as I'm not excited for the 7th one anymore, I just know that I have to read it....

Not going to give anything away as that would be un-fair to anyone planning to read it but not got round to it yet.
But the end left me hollow inside, I know that's extremely dramatic as it's only a book but the end was quite shocking, and I don't care how many people say it but there is no way you would beleive that was going to happen and I dont care how obvious people think it is as you still dont beleive after the fact.

Another point I'd like to make is that these are definately not childrens books anymore, they started their but have now moved on, some of the sillyness is still their but what else is going to make you laugh???

I did enjoy this book but it's now irrelavent untill I've read the final one...

[ July 18, 2005, 03:50 AM: Message edited by: The Helm ]

[nightshade]

About a third of the way through the Half-Blood Prince. But I cheated, I know who dies and who kills this being and why. (no worries, not gonna say)

If anything, so far I'm wishing I could find the other 5 books! A bit ago I was looking for them so I could reread them before this came out and couldn't find the box they're in! Dern move... Maybe when I start packing for the coming move I'll find them.

[ July 18, 2005, 01:11 PM: Message edited by: nightshade ]

[Canker]

I read the Half Blood Prince and though it might not have been as good as some of the previous books, I still enjoyed it..... TWICE! grin.gif
Funny thing about the Harry Potter books....
Everyone notice that the author gives hints in the current book about the next?
In Sorcer's Stone she mentions a hidden secret room?, In Chamber of Secrets it talks about Azkaban prison, in PA it talks briefly about the supposed existence of other wizard schools and so on.
But anyways....
Has anyone read The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova? A Dracula book that I'm reading now. I was curious of people thoughts on it.

[Silver]

I discovered in Waterstones the other day they have "I am legend" on the shelf. I promptly went and purchased it and I loved it!

[Helmet Head]

Just finished reading Magician by Raymond E Feist, liked it but didn't like the way it was written.
I'm kind of confused by my thoughts on this one and really don't know if I can be bothered with the others in the Rift War saga........

Anyone else have any opinions on these particular books??????

[nightshade]

Sorry Helm, never heard of them.

Over half-way through DaVinci Code and moderately amused. Hey, it's a borrowed book, perhaps it'll get better.

I'm wondering how they'll have Hanks as Langdon though. Langdon's supposed to be late-30s/early-40s and moderately handsome. Hanks is obviously 50+ and has never been handsome. Oh well.

Finished Pratchett's Interesting Times recently, again, another hilarious tale. Haven't found a boring Pratchett book yet.

[Rixy]

Pete,

I've read most of his books and I must say i enjoy them. The later ones are definately the better ones but as there are recuring characters and plots it's better to read them in order.

If your not sure pick them up at a secondhand book shop, theres always some of his wherever I go.

[Sophie]

the rift war saga according to Richard is brilliant, really orginal story, not cliché. though he did mention that the first book is the slowest of the lot of them. I haven't got round to reading them yet.

[hocopepa]

got to agree with the ineffable gentlman on that one, Feist is the modern master of high fantasy, Magician (the first one) does take some patience but that patience is well rewarded by a mass of charecter development.
Nice bloke too, meet him a few years ago.

[Helmet Head]

Gonna be getting the rest of the Rift War saga for crimbo....

Currently reading 2 books at the mo, Lord Of The Rings for the hundreth time and Bernard Cornwells latest The Pale Horseman which is pretty dam good (fast becoming one of my fave authors)

Re read The Hobbit as well before starting the rings again, enjoyed it a lot although it's not as well written as LOTR it's a charming little read all the same....

[topol_sheap]

I just finished Angels and Demons (finally) - it was a bag of poo.

Then read the new Jack book Infernal by FPW - well worth a read if you are a fan of Repairman Jack ;)

And now starting Khai of Ancient Khem for the second time. Been a bit slack in finishing that as I had a bit of a block where it comes to this book.

[sdkdmd]

Read a few books myself since my last post here but mostly back issue magazines and a bunch of chapbooks

[Helmet Head]

Finished the Pale Horseman by Bernard Cornwell, truly brilliant writer but leaves you begging for more and now I'll have to wait....wait dam it!!!

Still reading LOTR, forgot how boring the start was and I'm struggling through about 4 pages a day at the moment which is way below my normally frantic pace...

[joeann2005]

has any one read ' the iron dragons daughter' by Micheal swanwick? its a good read if ur into sc/fi

[Ema]

Valfierno and the Mona Lisa: The Theft, Con and Recovery (My sister knows the author, Ashton Harris so I got me the book for Xmas)

The Assassini by Thomas Gifford

The Eleventh Plague by John S Marr

And I think I'll follow Tops and do Khai again since I know I'll pick up more that I missed the first time. Also might have to go through my LoTR trilogy I got from Jase here a few years back.. lost (erm methinks in one of the many boxes donated to library during move) the Hobbit, so will have to pick that one up again too soon.

I've read The Winter King by Cornwell.. really, imho, the best book I have read on Arthur as it was more of who he was & not some romantic Camelot theme. I'll have to get more of his works too.

[topol_sheap]

yeah finished Khai. This book I've been avoiding for 4 years. well since I broke my ankle, and couldn't read it coz of the memories!!!

Moving on to Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clark. About 200 pages in, and it's good, if not a bit odd... I don't actually like it, but I am compelled to read it, there is something about it that makes me want to read it... weird. Jase told me it was a good book, so I will continue till I finish, but at 1000 pages, it's a hefty book.

When I've finished that (god knows when), I'll move back to Weird Shadows Over Innsmouth. It has a new Lumley Mythos story, so I am very much looking froward to getting through that book.

[Helmet Head]

Em, the Winter King is part of Corwell's Arthur triology with Enemy of God and Excalibur follwing it, and although I haven't got round to them it has come highly recomended by a few of my friends.

Other books of his I would say are brilliant are his grail quest series (Harlequin/Vagabond/Heretic) about a young boy/man called Thomas of Hookton which is set in and sround the 100 years war between Britain and France, truly brilliant story.

Others of his that are good are his Saxon Stories and as a stand alone novel Stonhenge.

As for me, well I'm still only 2 thirds of the way through The Fellowship of the Ring....

[sdkdmd]

right now i'm reading Fountain Society by Wes Craven. i thought i would give his first time as a novelist a shot. it's holding my interest.

Lots of unread books on the shelf....
Al Sarrantonio, Orange-Field series
China Nieville, King Rat
James A. Moore, Blood Red
And many more

and i still need to pick up Wierd Shadows

[topol_sheap]

you should pick up weird shadows, like all F&B books it's beautiful smile.gif

I read the intro and lovecraft bit so far, but went away, and didn't want to take it with me, so that's why I swapped.

I have a feeling I'll have to read the davinci code this year, even thought I thought angels and demons was a bag of poo.

[sdkdmd]

I will.
I'm also waiting for Dark Delicacies with a new story by Brian.

[Goth Girl]

Can't remember if I posted this before, but what the hey...

I've been reading the 'Blood...' series of books by Tanya Huff (Blood Price, Trail, Lines, Pact and Debt) and have enjoyed them muchly. Wouldn't really describe them as vampire books (although there are vampires in the books... as well as werewolves and zombies!) but very readable. Blood Pact especially, I couldn't put it down!

Still waiting for further offerings by Laurell K Hamilton (has she got one of the worst websites ever!) and of course, The Touch!

[CGGorman]

Been busy with the real world for the last few years, but I have managed to keep up-to-date on the H. Potter series. Read "'Prince" in two days while I was on vacation last summer. Also read F. Herbert's "Dune" for the first time. Great story. When I find time, I've got "'Children of Dune" waiting to read. Wish I could find the extended version of David Lynch's interpretation on DVD... If you've never read it, sit down, read the publication dates and get ready to be blown away.

Other than that, the last thing that sticks out is William Gibson's portfolio ("Neuromancer", Count Zero", Burning Chrome", "Mona Lisa Overdrive", "Johnny Mnemonic", "Virtual Light", etc.) I petered out during "Johnny Mnemonic" (most likely because I'd seen the movie years before) and never started the last few in his portfolio. I realize that they are older titles, but they really were ground-breaking works that still draw a firm, gritty picture in the mind. Some of his writing is choppy and hard to read, but it also helps create the mood and environment.
More on Gibson and his works: http://www.voidspace.org.uk/cyberpunk/gibson_index.shtml

[Helmet Head]

Read Magician by Feist a few months ago and liked it but wasn't blown away, finally got round to Silverthorn the second in his rift war triology and was absolutely hooked. I couldn't put it down and devoured it within two days, about to start the final book as I write this which is A Darkness at Sethanon...

Would really recomend these books to anyone, there really fantastic, love em.........

[Silver]

I am about to start reading The Bloody Red Baron which I picked up at the York Book Fair earlier this month.

I know I'm supposed to read Anno Dracula first but I can't find/afford it and can't wait to read the one that I do have!

[Ema]

Originally posted by The Helm:
Read Magician by Feist a few months ago and liked it but wasn't blown away, finally got round to Silverthorn the second in his rift war triology and was absolutely hooked. I couldn't put it down and devoured it within two days, about to start the final book as I write this which is A Darkness at Sethanon...

Would really recomend these books to anyone, there really fantastic, love em......... Heh ehh you haven't even put a dent in his books!

The Riftwar-Series:
Magician (1982)
Silverthorn (1985)
A Darkness at Sethanon (1986)

Serpentwar-Series:
Prince of the Blood (1989)
The King's Buccaneer (1992)

The Empire-Sequence:
written with Janny Wurts
Daughter of the Empire (1987)
Servant of the Empire (1990)
Mistress of the Empire (1992)

The Serpentwar-Saga:
Shadow of a Dark Queen (1994)
Rise of a Merchant Prince (1995)
Rage of a Demon King (1997)
Shards of a Broken Crown (1998)

The Riftwar Legacy:
Krondor the Betrayal (1998)
Krondor: the Assassins (September 1999)
Krondor: Tear of the Gods (2000)

The Conclave of Shadows:
Talon of the Silver Hawk (2003)
King of Foxes (2004)
Exile's Return (2005)


I even haven't gotten them all, I need the first & last in the Empire series and the last two sets. Riftwar Legacy & Conclave of Shadows to complete my collection. Most of what I have have been gifts, trades, etc.. just like many of the books from Brian have been.

Serpentwar Saga is one of my fav's, Empire is well, you have to read to find out what that's all about! Pug's been there though :) I got my Magician from a dear online friend from Oz cripes, must have been in 1992 thereabouts.. I've been hooked since then! Feist, Tolkien (My very nice boxed set I got from Jase of the trilogy is already had!) & Eddings are the only other authors other than Brian's work who I've been trying to get every book of.

[Goth Girl]

Silver, I read the Bloody Red Baron without reading Anno Dracula first... it's mainly the relationship between the characters that was established that is missing from the second, but no big!

You can always borrow my Anno Drac next time you visit (was that a subtle hint or what!)

[topol_sheap]

anno drac is rather excellent.

has anyone read Fat White Vampire Blues? it's on my list to read... looks rather funny!

[topol_sheap]

just started on Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman. Only read sandman, but I'm liking this grin.gif

[Goth Girl]

I just finished reading Neverwhere at the weekend (I'd read it before ages ago, but someone half-inched my copy)... it made the long hours at Schonefeld Flughafen go much quicker!

Top book, as is pretty much everything I've read by Gaiman smile.gif

[Sophie]

Moving Mars by Gregg Bear, it's really deep, makes you think, and is just excellent sci-fi.

[topol_sheap]

yay got gaiman
smile.gif

funny, a lot of people are reading neverwhere right now...

[topol_sheap]

ok, so I finished neverwhere a bit ago, and am about 1/2 way through american gods.

youknow what I like the most about gaiman? the fact that it reminds me of being out on a thursday with my mates in london. it's utter rubbish (like most of the conversations that I have with people), and I love that about it:D

oh, and am I the only one reading around here?

[Helmet Head]

Just started Digital Fortress by Dan Brown, not sure why but I kind of liked Angels and Demons and the di Vinci Code wasn't too bad I suppose.
So I'm giving this a go...

[Dave Black]

The red queen by Matt Ridley, sex and the evolution of human nature, if you want to know why us men do what we do and if us men want to know why women do what they do, read it, we are basically all just a bunch of promiscuous old tarts. Fascinating read.

[sdkdmd]

catch up

The Pig & the House Edward Lee...Whoa...Sick...Gross...nasty...

The Turtle Boy-Kealan Patrick...VG

In the Midnight Museum-Gary Braunbeck...OK

F...in lie Down Already-Tom Piccirilli...Good

Boneland-Jeffrey Thomas...Good

Looking Glass...Good

Windows-Ray Garton...VG

Failure-John Everson...VG

Just started Terminal-Brian Keene...?

[topol_sheap]

I'll ead davinci code before I see it, although I did hate angels and demons, to be honest, I don't think it was good enough to use as toilet paper.

grin.gif

[Ema]

The Master & Margarita (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Master_and_Margarita) by Mikhail Bulgakov. Heheh must have read it 3 or 4 times already and still catch things I have missed. Kinda a Russian version of Faust with a few other things thrown in :)

EDIT: Oh and a re-reading of Titus Crow Dreamland is next

[ March 19, 2006, 05:35 PM: Message edited by: Ema ]

[Goth Girl]

HR Giger did a painting influenced by that book... wonderful, as all his artwork is!

[Helmet Head]

Just read the brief on this book EM, sounds very intriguing but at the same time I'm also repulsed by the religious overtones of it.
Basically, I'm asking is it worth the read???

[Ema]

Helm, being agnostic I have enjoyed it, actually the first time I read it was due to it being banned at one point.. curiosity you know :) Sure the overtones are there (the man is in an insane asylum too when it starts up heh ehh so take it from there), but the way it is written made me (IMHO) take it as a whole as a comedic & Russian take on Faust.. which I also have and enjoy. So in short.. I'd say yes.. at least worth the renting at a library or borrowing from a friend if you don't want to buy it.

[Silver]

I didn't actually start reading The Bloody Red Baron back when I intended to, I opted to go for the books I got for Christmas instead, not entirely sure why. I think it was because one of the books I got was the lates Robert Jordan, Knife of Dreams that had been taunting me in the book shops for months when I couldn't afford to buy it!

I loved it, and then I read Sharon Osbourne's book extreme as that was the other Christmas book I got. Loved that too.

Got the biography bug a little then and read Billy.

Then I had to start packing for the move! Now I'm all unpacked and ready to go, but I think I'll have to wait a little longer now and pay a visit to Madame Goth! (Was going to be in touch anyway actually as I'll be in the capital next month with work, I'll text you with details)

[Helmet Head]

Em, I needs help ordering my new found Feist obsesion...

I've read the three Riftwar books; Magician, Silverthorn and A Darkness at Sethanon...

I've just bought the four Serpantwar books now and am about to embark upon them...

So I starts reading and then realise these books are set 50 years later???

Am I reading these books in the correct order or should I be buying the Krondor books, the Riftwar Legend books the books about books which are about books....I'm so confused, I went too confused.com but they just wanted to sell me insurance or sumat....

Basically could you pwease tell me what order I should now be trying to read these bloody books in???

Dam prolific authors..........

[Helmet Head]

Think I should of got Prince of the Blood and The Kings Buccaneer in first before starting these, ah well to late read the first one already and about to pick up the second...

First one was brill by the way and I'm starting to really really really love these books and will be buying them all plus all future ones.........

[Ema]

Eaps sorry Helm! Just saw this.. this series is one that almost ranks up with the re-reading amounts of Brian's works.. I think his has Feist beat by 1 full re-read :)

Here goes:

The Riftwar-Series:
Magician (1982)
Silverthorn (1985)
A Darkness at Sethanon (1986)

Serpentwar-Series:
Prince of the Blood (1989)
The King's Buccaneer (1992)

The Empire-Sequence:
written with Janny Wurts
Daughter of the Empire (1987)
Servant of the Empire (1990)
Mistress of the Empire (1992)

The Serpentwar-Saga:
Shadow of a Dark Queen (1994)
Rise of a Merchant Prince (1995)
Rage of a Demon King (1997)
Shards of a Broken Crown (1998)

The Riftwar Legacy:
Krondor the Betrayal (1998)
Krondor: the Assassins (September 1999)
Krondor: Tear of the Gods (2000)

The Conclave of Shadows:
Talon of the Silver Hawk (2003)
King of Foxes (2004)
Exile's Return (2005)

Now Empire and Serpentwar kinda goes hand in hand as far as time lines, one is Midkemia and the other well heh ehh 'Them'! Feist does a good job of explaining who folks are too, and iirc there are two Jimmy's (one is Grandpa 'The Hand'), two Arutha's and maybe another father/son/grandson duo too.

Love Feist.. highly recommend either buying new or even used of the whole lot. :)

[Helmet Head]

Love em and will just continue to read em no matter the order, there brill anyway...although missing Arutha the 1st, Roald and all the old gang and cant wait to read the others that still have some of there tales in...loving the fact that Jimmy the Hand is still around but cant wait to get a few tales of him still in his younger days.
I just hope he's in Prince of the Blood or the Kings Buccaneer....

[Rixy]

Helm,

This is from the man himself:

Seriously, if you want to read them chronologically rather than in publishing order, I would suggest you do it thusly.

Magician
Jimmy the Hand
Honored Enemy
Murder in Lamut
Silverthorn
Darkness
The Empire Trilogy
The Krondor Series
Prince
Buccaneer
Serpentwar
Conclave
Darkwar

Or you could just read them in published order, too.

Best, R.E.F.

[Ema]

Gah I forgot about Jimmy the Hand and Murder, he did put some single books in there hmm... speaking of which I need those two.

Heh eh and I did a quickie and just got my list from Feist's site :-P :)

And are you sure about Empire being so far ahead of Serpentwar? Ahh yep, my bad as Pug is mentioned when he was a Great One, but still I think serpentwars gah, now you've done it, lol, gonna have to re-read them again since it seems to me the books about the boys should be after. Maybe I am wrong.

And just started Dreamland series too..lol

Helm, go with Rixy's list as his has the side books and the newer ones to fit. Either way though you'll enjoy them.

[Rixy]

Ema,

That list is actually from Feist himself, so I guess it's pretty accurate!

Cheers

[Ema]

lol well I reckon he'd know then! Was looking on this site list (http://www.raymondfeistbooks.com/booklist.htm), and this is what was shown.

*writes down list*

Seems Dreamlands might have to fight Feist for the honors..lol Although I am already into Hero of Dreams.

[Silver]

I just finished reading Guilty Pleasures, the first book in the Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series by Laurell K Hamilton as recommended by Goth Girl. Thanks for the tip, I really enjoyed it and am about to get started on The Laughing Corpse, book 2 in the series.

[Canker]

Just got done reading "The Passion" and "The promise" which were two werwolf novels by Donna Boyd.
Was meaning to read them for quite some time. I'm very glad I finally got around to them Great Reads!

[Helmet Head]

Sounds good might delve into them myself as I love the werewolf more than any thing else...

[sdkdmd]

Earthworm Gods by Brian Keene

I'm reading it, I like it, I'm telling you.

[sdkdmd]

It's about worms.

[Helmet Head]

Nice!

[nightshade]

The Great Book of Amber by Roger Zelazny. (a Szgany name if I ever heard one)

Anyway, it's doing ok for now. Methinks it'll get more interesting later. At least I hope so.

[Silver]

I've just finished reading Hive by Tim Curran and it was really good.

It's a sequal to Lovecraft's At the Mountains of Madness, not written at all in Lovecraft's style, it's modern with lots of colourful language but the setting and story is a direct follow up.

[topol_sheap]

hey Silver,

is it any good?? I a big fan of the original... some followups don't work for me... heh!
Tops

[Silver]

I really liked it. As I said it doesn't sound like Lovecraft at all, or should that be it doesn't read like him! It's in a conversational style with modern references and lots of swearing, (it's set at a science station at the south pole so as well as the scientists there are of course maintenance who as you might expect swear all the time, some of their comments are really funny) totally unlike the man himself but the story is quite true to the original.

There are one or two little discrepancies I thought but nothing major and I haven't read the original for a long time so I might be wrong about them anyway and it still didn't spoil it for me.

If you're unsure and don't want to risk buying it you can borrow it if you want

[Silver]

Really enjoyed the first 3 Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter books by Laurell K Hamilton and will certainly be buying more of the series. I'm actually quite dissapointed that I've finished them and don't have the next one yet!

[sdkdmd]

King Rat by China Mieville

Saul Garamond is a young Londoner wrongly imprisoned for the murder of his father. Saul is snatched from the authorities by a mysterious savior named King Rat, who claims to be both the deposed leader of the rodent army driven out of Hamelin 700 years before and Saul's real father. Raised as a human, Saul has much to unlearn before King can teach him to become a worthy opponent of the Rat Catcher. The Pied Piper of Hamelin.

[topol_sheap]

I'm reading the Stand by Stephen King. I'll come back in a year or so.

[John & Paul]

I don't know what it is about Stephen King books but I can only get into the thinner ones....like 'Thinner'. I've tried three times to read 'It' and always stick at page 118...maybe I should try again, Paul seems to read them very easily :(

[Silver]

I'm not actually a huge King fan but I really enjoyed 'It'

[kenny]

Read The Stand and It, both great books, but prefered The Stand one hell of a story (film soso). After i get my copy of The Touch and read it i think i'll have a go at The Stand again.

[topol_sheap]

I have to say about 250 pages into the stand, and I've got it like a really bad dose of the flu:) It's totally amazing. I used to hate king too... but before I hated him I like him. Then I was forced to read the Dark Tower ;) Roland is the best:) When I finished that whole series I missed all the characters... so when I have eventually finished all the books that link into DT, I'll read it again! Plenty og books in between!

[Silver]

I don't hate King, I just think he's really over-rated and though he has some great ideas I don't think that he can always translate them into great stories. A lot of people say that his books often reads like he's rushed the end and I agree.

The Stand has been recommended to me before so I'll probably give it a go at some point.

[topol_sheap]

There is the potential he's over rated... I can't see that anymore. I used to be able to, I am now very glad I got the opportunity to be proved wrong with the dark tower...

There's a very big chance that DT is the most important story (imho) since LOTR, but if you don't like that (you'd be a heathen), then there's no point in continuing this conversation smile.gif

[ June 17, 2006, 02:44 AM: Message edited by: Tops ]

[Silver]

I'm sure you'll all be totally ashamed of me here but I've never actually read LOTR! Keep meaning to, have seen the films and read The Hobbit as a kid but never got round to reading the books.

[ June 17, 2006, 08:35 AM: Message edited by: Silver ]

[kenny]

Read The Hobbit and LOTR, has anyone read the Silmarillion?

[sdkdmd]

My Eyes Are Nail But Still I see

Johnson Milhone's mine is a world unto itself-maybe several worlds. Therapy doesn't penetrate, but nails do. Leather doesn't sew easily, and pigs don't talk-but don't tell Johnson that.

[Helmet Head]

I've read it Kenny, I did enjoy it but that was due to me being a LOTR geek and loving everything to do with Middle-Earth and it's histories, but to be honest it's not exactly a great book as it lasts for thousands of years and some times it feels like it as well...

[topol_sheap]

I'm still reading THe Stand...

Helm are you a hobbit?

[Silver]

Surely hobbits wouldn't wear pink?

[sdkdmd]

Just finished Swan Song for the second time and it was still as good as the first.

If you never read it, you must give it a try.
900+ pages and it still wasn't to long.

[sdkdmd]

Tops, if you ever read Swan Song how would you compare it to The Stand.

[topol_sheap]

errr, what kind of question is that???

who's it by (I can use google smile.gif but wont ;) )

I can see what it's like... smile.gif

[topol_sheap]

just read a review on amazon... I want to read smile.gif

[topol_sheap]

who's is by?? there are load of authors with books called swan song... I'm assuming it's by Robet mcallum (sp)

[topol_sheap]

errr, being a bit drunk from the pub, I just boght the 900 odd pages you were touting... I hope I like it!!! ;)

[sdkdmd]

Sorry buddy
blush.gif
Robert McCammon

You will like it.

Some of my all time favorte books are my McCammon.I think he's one of the finest horror author around.

Has anyone else read anything my McCammon?

[Sophie]

oooh sounds interesting this McCammon guy.

Is his cliche at all? As I can't stand this good/evil rubbish. if he isn't I'll like him.

[topol_sheap]

lol, surely Brian's necro saga at it's root is good/evil??? smile.gif

(just trying to cause trouble)

[Suecg]

I have just finished reading Labyrinth by Kate Mosse, very good same subject as the Da Vinci Code but set in France in 13th century and it jumps between then and the present day. Also not long read IT by Stephen King for about the 200th time, it's his best book I think along with the gunslinger books! I am now reading Land of the Living by Nicci French while I am waiting for my Ebranch Defilers to get here!

[Canker]

Robert McCammon Is a great author.
Wolf's hour was my favorite by him.
Then Swan Song, which I thought was better that King's The stand, (Sorry king fans) and then Stinger.

[Suecg]

Got to be honest I have yet to read any Robert McCammon books but I will give them a go just to see what everyone else is on about! smile.gif

[Goth Girl]

I'm still on a Laurell K Hamilton trip... just bought her very first novel, Nightseer (hmmmm), the latest in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series (more vampire shagging than slaying to be honest!), and now the latest in the Merry Gentry series, which I still have to read (trying hard to save it for my holiday in two weeks, but probably going to fail!)

[Silver]

I'm reading The Touch, unsuprisingly!

Recently just re-read I am Legend, was spotted reading it at work (on my lunch, not at my desk!) Had to lend it to my work mate who also loved it.

Also bought the 4th in the Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series, looking forward to reading that later

[Nathan]

I seem to remember praising Swan Song loudly a couple of years ago (not to mention praising Canker for telling me to read it), and getting the distinct impression Tops was gonna read it then!

What's wrong with you man? The Stand is great, but it ain't no Swan Song!

It ain't easy to find so I'll send you my copy if you have any trouble...

smile.gif

[ July 24, 2006, 07:10 PM: Message edited by: Nathan ]

[topol_sheap]

N8,

Thanks for the offer, but I have one winging it's way over from the other side of the pond...

I tried to search for the thread you're talking about, but forgot the archive smile.gif

Swan Song must be amazing as you're like the biggest King fan I know, and if it wasn't for you and the Wookiee, I wouldn't be reading King again now smile.gif

Tops

[Nathan]

It really is a great book. I lost a little respect for Canker when he implied it was better than The Stand - King is one of my favorites - but gained it back and more after I took up his challenge.

The Stand drags in places, dealing too deeply with the mystical side of the situation... Swan Song takes hold and doesn't let go, all action.

Enjoy your leisurely read of The Stand, my friend, that's the best way to make it through... but Swan Song makes that approach impossible.

:cool:

[Sophie]

true tops smile.gif but it doesn't ooze of it like some books do, honestly harry is too goody too-shoes for me, but apart from that not really. but I am a picky bugger really. wah will maybe have to take a dive and buy it anyway!

[Sophie]

but anyway... I've been reading H.P lovecroft recently.

Really like some of it, but really hate some of it probably 50/50. The ones I love are the Case of charles Dexter Ward, RE-animator, From beyond, the witch one in the loft of the house (forgot the name) ones like that. Can't stand the fantasy stuff he does. I want to knock myself out with a hammer after reading one or two pages of those stories. grin.gif grin.gif grin.gif

[topol_sheap]

have to say the HPL fantasy stuff, isn't easy going... not even sure if I like it...

Personal fave? Shadow over Insmouth - it's bloody amazing ;)

[Chris Banks]

Have been reading all sorts of weird and not so wonderful stuff lately. I bought the first three Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter novels by Laurell K Hamilton in one book this weekend. Is it worth the read or do I consign it to the 'Filed' tray? :confused:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Bow to Leper Messiah’
Spike – The Uncivil Servant @ Taunton

[John & Paul]

I'm still re-reading the Necroscope books..on to Blood Wars now :) managing about 100 pages a day on average but bloody hell those Vampire World books are thick at 700+ pages each lol

[Chris Banks]

.....And would thoroughly recommend anything by Stuart McBride. An up n coming author. Have recently finished reading 'Cold Granite' his first book - set in Aberdeen. Serious underlying tones but WHAT a sense of humour. Need to find more stuff by him, definitely.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Bow to Leper Messiah’
Lord Wazzuck the Feckless of Taunton

[Silver]

I think Anita Blake's worth the read Chris, I really enjoyed the first 3 and will be starting on the 4th in the not too distant future.

Right now I'm re-reading the Necroscope series, on number 5.

[sdkdmd]

...and Hell Followed with Them

4 apocalyptic novellas by Brian Keene, Tim Lebbon, Brian Knight and Geoff Cooper

[sideous]

...and Hell Followed with Them

4 apocalyptic novellas by Brian Keene, Tim Lebbon, Brian Knight and Geoff Cooper

Got that in my pile of books to read.
Just finished Terminal, which I liked:D , and just starting The Conqueror Worms!

[sdkdmd]

Read them both. I thought both were good.

Do you have the limited Terminal - I'm sure you do - or mass market.
The limited is a shorter version of the story, with fewer characters.

Have you read "The Rutting Season" yet?? I haven't.

[sideous]

Yeh, I've got the limited, but sounds like I'll have to get the paperback now:rolleyes:

Rutting Seasons in the pile as well. Got the limited and paperback in that. Both are the same length, just checked;)

[Chris Banks]

Just started reading The Gallow's Thief by Bernard Cornwell. Haven't read any of his stuff before, so it's an open door (or book) to me. Anyone else read Cornwell before? I hear he's quite popular!!! :rolleyes:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Bow to Leper Messiah’
Lord Wazzuck the Feckless of Taunton

[Rixy]

I just finished Night Life by Ray Garton, well worth a read. I'm currently in the middle of God's War - A new History of the Crusades by Christopher Tyerman, as long as the bloody airlines let me take it on board anyway. It's a bit heavy and at 1024 pages quite long but really interesting. Makes you wish that world leaders would learn from mistakes made in history!

[Chris Banks]

With you on that one. I read all the Crusades and Templars stuff long before all this Da Vinci Crap came out. And you're right, it is interesting stuff. I also have about 3 books on the go about Amercan Indians and their treatment at the hand of the 'white savage'. Check out 'Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee' by Dee Brown. Compelling stuff, indeed. Truly. They (the whites, cavalry included) were the real bastards!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Bow to Leper Messiah’
Lord Wazzuck the Feckless of Taunton

[joeann2005]

just started reading 'the tale of the body thief' by my 2nd fave author Anne Rice. have read the books in order exept for thios one as i could never find it & hp lovecraft gets a mention!
if any of yous lot are familiar with her work, has anyone read Memnoch the Devil?

[Chris Banks]

Nope! Not read it Joeann. Am just starting to read 'More Than Human' by Theodore Sturgeon. looks interesting!!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

‘Bow to Leper Messiah’
Lord Mandy the Feckless of Taunton!!

[sdkdmd]

Just finished Hacks by Brian Knight.

This book was the most fun book i've read in awhile.

A slasher story.

[Chris Banks]

Really can't recommend More Than Human (Theodore Sturgeon) highly enough - if you can get hold of a copy. Fantastic. Second best book I've read in donkeys' years.

[sdkdmd]

After reading Dragonfly, a collection of short stories, some of the best short stories I've read, and then Hacks, one of the most fun books I've ever read, I had to try Broken Angel by Brian Knight. Looking forward to more from him.

Life in Clearwater was quiet, even a little dull for Grim, but it was better than the time he’d spent on the streets of Seattle. His biggest worry was being caught playing paintball in the salvage yard by Old Man Wallen. Then the strange girl arrived, abandoned at a roadside dinner. Drugged, sick, with no memory of her past.

Grim had a bad feeling about her from the beginning but he didn’t say anything when his foster mother, Clara, took her in. If anyone needed a home, it was this strange, sad girl. Clara’s new Angel.

Michele had always been a good girl, was never in trouble. Then Angel came, and the very night the strange girl appeared, Michele killed a man. It wasn’t murder, but it didn’t matter. When her old friends shun her, Michele finds friendship again in Clearwater’s other outsiders: Grim and Angel.

As Angel’s health improves and her memory returns, the hot Clearwater summer becomes increasingly strange. Insanity creeps through the small town like a plague, spawning violence, and no one is immune. And death has arrived in the form of a shadowy figure lurking in the woods at night.

[topol_sheap]

I'm currently reading Fat White Vampire Blues. It's a bit mad.

[sdm122166]

Umm I just finished a Star Wars book DARTH BANE, it was pretty good.
I just started THE TOUCH yesterday and enjoying it.

[topol_sheap]

oohooo, just started The First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant :) 50 pages in this morning - it's a page turner... I have the least clue of what's going on but I found it in M's books, so thought I'd give it a go :)

[Goth Girl]

I read the Thomas Covenant stuff years ago when I was more into Fantasy books. Remember quite enjoying them, might have to revisit them while I'm waiting for my next Laurell K Hamilton fix!

Also just bought a Kim Harrison book, Dead Witch Walking, which appears to be much in the vein (har de har!) of Laurell K Hamilton (the Anita Blake series) and Tanya Huff (the Vicki Nelson books)

[Helmet Head]

Currently reading The Dark War books by Feist which I got for Xmas, nearly done with the 2nd but gutted as I have to wait for the 3rd which will be published god knows when!!!
Brilliant as always and just as good as the Rift war and the Serpant war series but I could use the time in between to catch up on the other books I haven't got yet like the conclave of shadoes series/Empire series/riftwar legends series/krondor series/sons of the blood series and any others that have escaped from my ever failing memory..........phew thats a lot of reading I need too do................

[sdkdmd]

"It's Alive" welcome back Pete.

Jig saw by Gord Rollo

Would you give up one of your arms for 2 million dollars?
Michael Fox did.

Classic science vs. science fiction
Some modern horror mixed in with the creation mythos

A page turner

[Ema]

Currently reading The Dark War books by Feist which I got for Xmas, nearly done with the 2nd but gutted as I have to wait for the 3rd which will be published god knows when!!!
Brilliant as always and just as good as the Rift war and the Serpant war series but I could use the time in between to catch up on the other books I haven't got yet like the conclave of shadoes series/Empire series/riftwar legends series/krondor series/sons of the blood series and any others that have escaped from my ever failing memory..........phew thats a lot of reading I need too do................

Ohh I finished Conclave of Shadows not too long ago and am into the 2nd book of the Empire series atm (didn't have books 1 & 3 yet). I'll probably wait until the 3rd comes out of the Dark War as I won't be able to wait for the 3rd after reading the first 2 heh heh. I still need to get hmm I forget which ones.. Jimmy the Hand I know for one and one or two stand-alone books, did I get the Krondor ones too? *looks* Ohh yes I did, treated meself to both Krondor and Conclave series. I think Krondor is pre-Riftwar as Jimmy is a young man then and Conclave I believe is hmmm 20+? years after the Serpent Wars. Empire is during Riftwar and before Serpentwars...lol One day will read them all again in order. I have the rest of the series I believe now except for the last, Dark Wars.

Oh also got Shards of a Broken Crown too as for some reason I kept overlooking that one as one I had... but didn't. I would have loved to have been a part of their Friday Nighters group.. playing these stories pen & paper wise.

[Chris Banks]

Just finished Hart's War by John Katzenbach. Great book. I wish they'd left it alone as a film, cos it turned out to be completely different from the book. (Isn't that always the case - mostly?). Got to start Khai of Khem next!!! :eek:

[topol_sheap]

I'm reading User Stories Applied: For Agile Software Development. You can imagine it's quite dry. It's not quite as bad as it sounds ;) I quite like it. Something tells me, about 0.00001% of you might be interested.

[sdkdmd]

The shrinking man by Matheson. A classic.

[Chris Banks]

HA! Have finally read Khai of Khem. Khasathut? - It's hard not to picture him as some sort of mini Wamphyri, even though the book was written 20 years ago. Not bad at all, though. A slight departure from Necro series and a welcome diversion. ;)

Still recommending Stuart McBride (Cold Granite & Dying Light) to anybody out there, though. New novelist, and very dark and funny, all at the same time. Cop stuff set in Aberdeen, but well readable. Not your average run-of-the-mill pulp fiction (sic). Sick, actually!! :D

[Chris Banks]

And further to last post, I recommend Hollywood Station by Joseph Wambaugh. The man has got the Midas touch. Keith (DC), you'd love it. Right up your street. :grin:

[topol_sheap]

just finished Stardust by Gaiman... what a nice story. I really liked it.

now reading anansi boys... it reminds me a bit of American Gods, which was ace, so I'm happy about that!

[Siggi25]

Hi guys,

I'm currently re-reading the Harry Potter books in advance of the 7th!

(Is that really sad or what? I do love em' though!)

[topol_sheap]

I'm doing exactly the same ;)

[Helmet Head]

Gonna leave it till a month before then plunge myself into the world of the boy wizard once more......

I'm a burly, stubberly 28 year old football thug :o and I'm as giddy as a school girl in anticipation for this book................

[topol_sheap]

you're not a thug. you wear pink. you'te also nothing like a school girl... more like the bearded lady.

[Helmet Head]

Shush you I'm trying to butch up my image here...and so what if I like to where the uniform, it's not a crime is it!!!

Not wearing as much pink anymore, waiting for the summer and I'll probably where more greens to be honest this year...

[Suecg]

I have yet to read any Harry Potter books but I going to give them a try. I have just finished "Not Without My Daughter" by Betty Mahmoody. I read it in one day, could not put it down!!!!

I have just started my maternity leave from work and baby is not due for another 3 weeks (erm, hopefully) so I have plenty of time to read some quality books.

I read incredibly fast, I can't help it and I am also reading the Peter Kay biog which is quite funny and I am going to re read my Lumlian collection alongside anything else I can get my hands on!

I may even have time to finish "Mao, The Unknown Story" by Jung Chang and Jon Halliday. I am halfway through but it is quite a headfull.

Anyway I will keep my peepers open on this thread and I may be taking up some recommendations from you guys!

Sue xx

[Chris Banks]

Hi Sue

Hope all is OK while you, in the immortal words of Lennon/McCartney, 'Carry That Weight'. :D

Have managed to get hold of Christopher Lee's years old Autobiog 'Tall, Dark & Gruesome'. Not bad. Just reading other bits and pieces at the mo, but if you want recommendations, skip back a couple of pages on this thread. There are loads of suggestions from everyone.

Best of luck in 3 weeks, or so. :D

[sdkdmd]

Blood Lines / Matheson
Some short vampire stories and I Am Legend

[sideous]

Got a copy of Bloodlines coming from Shocklines any day soon.
Recently finished Heart Shaped Box by Joe Hill and Vestal by Charlee Jacob. Liked them both:D
Reading The Rise and Fall of Babylon at the mo, then maybe The Sinister Mr Corpse

[sdkdmd]

The Sinister Mr Corpse

sid, you,re gonna love it. It was my first Strand and I'm looking forward to my next one

[sdkdmd]

Just finished Stickmen by Ed Lee. It was OK

Just started
Rot by Gary Brandner

[Chris Banks]

Have run out of books, so sod it, am going to read The Touch again. Agree with SD in a previous thread, it would have been better as a 'stand alone' novel. :rolleyes:

[sdkdmd]

Have run out of books,
:rolleyes:

:eek: Ran out of books??? Want a help me read some my 40 or so tbr books. Got some good ones. Anybody???

[sdkdmd]

Started and almost finished Passion Play by R Matheson

[Chris Banks]

Nah thanks, John. Am getting Stuart McBride's new book, Broken Skin today. Been looking forward to it for ages. :grin:

[Helmet Head]

3 down and 3 to go, onto The Goblet Of Fire and trying to drag em right out untill the 21st of July.......................another 83 days or there or there abouts me thinks

[topol_sheap]

you worry me, you know that... I'm about 130p into azkaban... :)

[Lady Rissa]

I love the Harry Potter books, although I'm not rereading them like I did before Half Blood Prince came out. I've already taken the day off from work when Deathly Hallows is released.

As for a good book (excluding the Master ofcourse), Memoirs of a Geisha was a great read. I read it at the suggestion of a friend of mine. Another book I would recommend it Wicked. Both are very good.

[topol_sheap]

As I'd never re-read the potters, I thought now was an excellent time to do so. I wont be taking a day off work to finish the series in one sitting. I'll take my time, so probably a week later I'll know the outcome, but that all depends on the time I have to finish the first 6...

[Lady Rissa]

As much as I'd like to believe I'll take my time..... Half Blood Prince was read in 8 hours, 6 of which I spent standing in a pool (it was a nice day). I doubt that I'll be able to slow down and stop.... I never know when to slow down and stop. I'll probably start the series over after finishing the last book, as long as I can finish it in time to return to school

[topol_sheap]

half way through 4 ;)

can't wait fo r5 and 6... don't remember them much... so it's good to reread :)

[sdkdmd]

Hell House by R.Matheson

[sideous]

John, you were right, The Sinister Mr Corpse was great:D
Just finished The Collected Tales of the Baja Express and before that Clickers!
Just started Letters from Hades

[sdkdmd]

John, you were right, The Sinister Mr Corpse was great:D
Just finished The Collected Tales of the Baja Express and before that Clickers!
Just started Letters from Hades

how did you like Baja? As you probably know, I think Gene going to continue the story on the history of the express.

and I have to get to Clickers. It's just sitting there looking at me

[sideous]

how did you like Baja? As you probably know, I think Gene going to continue the story on the history of the express.

and I have to get to Clickers. It's just sitting there looking at me

Loved Baja. I hope he writes about the Collapse next, that should be good read.

Clickers was good as well. Got to wait for Shane to fill my box up to get ClickersII. Should be a numbered and a lettered copy in it as well as a lettered Ghoul!:grin:

[sdkdmd]

Loved Baja. I hope he writes about the Collapse next, that should be good read.

Clickers was good as well. Got to wait for Shane to fill my box up to get ClickersII. Should be a numbered and a lettered copy in it as well as a lettered Ghoul!:grin:


That's right, your one of those box people. Unlucky you or lucky you, depends on how you look at it

Ghoul's still sitting there looking at me too

[kenny]

Just finished Brethren by Robyn Young. A great read about the Knights Templar etc, can't wait till August when Crusade is released. Check it out if you want a completley different easy read.www.robynyoung.com/

[sdkdmd]

Read Ghoul / Keene. The best book of 2007. A must read.

Now I'm reading the first book of the Night trilogy, Night of the Beast by Harry Shannon

[Rixy]

Currently in the middle of The Vampire Genevieve by Jack Yeovil (aka Kim Newman). This is the same Genevieve that appears in his Dracula books - Anno Dracula, the Bloody Red Barron etc. He wrote them for Games Workshop for their Warhammer world. Well worth a read.

Next up is Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett, I need something fairly light.

[Goth Girl]

Thanks for the reminder Rixy... off to purchase said vampire book!

[pheral]

Just finnished reading The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant by Steven Donaldson. Well worth the read. I have also been reading Phillip Pulmans Dark materia Triology also worth looking up.

[topol_sheap]

Thanks for the reminder Rixy... off to purchase said vampire book!

saw said book in shop last week... going to pick it up when I get a chance, and some time to read it.

Currently reading Cell by King, next will be HP and Deathly Hallows.

Also read... Dark Tower comics in recent days...

[sdkdmd]

Desecration by Michael Laimo

[matman72]

Hey guys, finally an 'elite', so i must post something here.
I didn't mind Cell, think it will make a good splatter film.
Deathly Hallows-I'm waiting for the library copy, I'm keen to read it but I don't think I would want to reread it. Not after Order of the Phoenix, too frustrating.(i know, I take it too seriously:rolleyes:).
Anyone read the Noble Dead books by Barb & J.C. Hendy? Good, addictive tale. I read the first two, looking for the third one now.

P.S. where is the thread for the pet pix.?

[topol_sheap]

matman, the thread you are looking for... hmmm... perhaps it's a good time to start a new one, but probably best to start a new one in the retreat!

as for books... finshed Cell and thought it was a bit shite to be honest.

Now I'm reading They Thirst by Robert McCammon. It's really fecking creepy. I like it a lot. So much so I've had to buy my own copy as I'm borrowing from Dave Kendall. It really is one of the best vamp books I've read in a long time, and it's been a very long while since I had nightmares caused by a book :D Thing is, it's not even really started yet - 200 pps in...:)

Tops

[matman72]

Sounds good, is he from UK?

[ajazjanet]

Robert McCammon is great...his earlier stuff is really creepy! He's from Alabama. I enjoyed "Heart Shaped Box" and thought "Midnight Mass" was an interesting take on vampires. I found it hard to put down.

I saw "Clickers" mentioned which I will take on next! This a great way to hear about good reads...............

[sdkdmd]

Night of the Deamon / Harry Shannon
Dark Testament Edited by Shane Staley
Wishnik / Kurk Newton
Sleepwalker / Michael Liamo
Some Where a Band is Playing / Ray Bradbury

[matman72]

I'm still rereading Titus Crow at the moment, but I couldn't pass up the chance to get the Gunslinger Born comic run. I really missed the DT series. When I finished it I went back and reread every other book that was remotely connected in one way or another(from Salems Lot to Insomnia). This was quite refreshing, awesome artwork by Jae Lee and written by Robin Furth, sternly overlooked by Steve. I loved it, I think I'm gonna go back to The Last Gunslinger soon:rolleyes:.
Anyone not seen them, this lot of 7 books follows the events of Wizard & Glass. The next 5 take Roland, Cuthbert & Alain back to Gilead. Then there'll be 18 on the events surrounding the fall of Gilead and the battle of Jericho Hill.
Don't know how the rest will go, but seeing some of the original DT in a different light was, for me, bloody Aweesome.:cool::cool:

[Helmet Head]

I've read quite a few since my last visit, Feist and Cornwell books mostly and am currently trying my first Pratchet (Making Money)

Did read the final Potter last year which was absolutely fecking brilliant and made the series a complete triumph for me, loved it loved it loved it!!!!

Need a new Vamp book as not read one in years and years...

[joeann2005]

i just read very off topic book called Kaitlyn by kevin lewes. grippin stuff....

[topol_sheap]

I've read quite a few since my last visit, Feist and Cornwell books mostly and am currently trying my first Pratchet (Making Money)

Did read the final Potter last year which was absolutely fecking brilliant and made the series a complete triumph for me, loved it loved it loved it!!!!

Need a new Vamp book as not read one in years and years...

get yerself a copy of They Thirst by McCammon - I'm still thinking about it now. nearly a year on.

[sdkdmd]

get yerself a copy of They Thirst by McCammon - I'm still thinking about it now. nearly a year on.


A lot of McCammon's are a must read.

Mine and Boy's Life are two of my favoeites

[sdkdmd]

Been reading some Ed Lee of late. He' a sick dude.

[Silver]

I've been re-read I am Legend to try and erase the abomination that was made of the film of the same name, but not at all the same story!

[Helmet Head]

Ah come on the film wasn't that bad, I quite liked it.
Nothing like the book but at it's heart I still think it got the same kind of message accross, thought they did a pretty good job to be honest!

[Silver]

I really did think it was that bad. I don't mind when a book is adapted to the big screen and they change some of it but I do very much object when they change the central theme which makes it mean something entirely different.

I could go on and on about what I didn't like in it but this is the book thread, not the film one so I'll just say that I thought that Will Smith was very wrong for the part, there was no aching sense of lonliness that I thought should have been there and the happily ever after ending was a hugh disapointment.

Right now I'm re-reading some Lovecraft, specifically At the Mountains of Madness but will continue with the others I have after. My brother has just started reading Lovecraft for the first time so I wanted to refresh my memory because he wants to talk about it with me, me being the only other person he knows to have read any!

[topol_sheap]

i felt lonely watching the movie ;) that is until they added the woman and child. I liked the dog to - he should have won the oscar :)

I'll be starting either the nightworld trilogy or swan song in just over a week - I'll have some time on my hands and should be able to read all of em.

Currently reading 2 books, one on design patterns, and the other an Irvine Welsh, oh and some comics - the new buffy one is very good, as it the joe hill one - Locke and Key.

[Sophie]

wow tis a massive thread :)

I've been reading Forge of Gods by Greg Bear. Just as amazing as ever this writer!

now onto the sequel, which is Anvil of Stars. it's good but very different, quite a unique perspective, and sometimes hard to get ones head around. But I like books that are out of the norm, and challenging.


S

[kenny]

Was recommended Emperor "The Gates of Rome" by Conn Iggulden, almost finished it and it has been a great read, taking you to the heart of the Roman Empire and beyond.

[BadMushroom]

Hi guys... long time since I've posted on this forum. Nice to see some familiar faces still around!

Just finished reading "The Illustrated Man" by Ray Bradbury. I've never read any Bradbury before and it was excellent! I'll be moving on to "Martian Chronicles" next, then back to some omnibus H.P.L. me'thinks!

[Silver]

I'm making my way through Omnibus 1 right now! Finished The Dreams in the Witch-House then also read The Statement of Randalf Carter as it's only very short on the way to work. Guess I'll be starting The Dream Quest of Unknown Kadath on my way home tonight!

[Helmet Head]

Just bought the 3 Krondor books in Feists epic dynasty but just turned the first few pages in Salems Lot which I've never read before or any other King book except one.

Planning to take my time on it and not expecting too much as don't want to over hype it in my mind.

[BadMushroom]

Hey Silver, I almost called one of my cats "Jenkin", after the familiar in DitWH, but settled instead on "Fritz" or "Fritzy" (not after the Robert Crumb creation, which would have been cool, but in honour of author Fritz Lieber).

I've been meaning to get back into HPL for some time now. I've been reading (or should I say re-reading) Ramsey Campbell's "Cold Print", which is easily one of my favourite short story compilations next to "Fruiting Bodies", trying to ease myself gently back into the outré mood!

I think I'll stick with Ray Bradbury for the moment though. REALLY enjoyed "Illustrated Man", and since I discovered that RB's best friend is stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen (one of my absolute childhood heroes) I have a new-found respect for the man!

Nice when things you enjoy all seem to link together and cross-reference.

;)

[BadMushroom]

Just bought the 3 Krondor books in Feists epic dynasty but just turned the first few pages in Salems Lot which I've never read before or any other King book except one.

Planning to take my time on it and not expecting too much as don't want to over hype it in my mind.

I'm not a great Steven King fan, but I really enjoyed "Salem's Lot". If you find you enjoy it, you might want to try and find the short story "Jerusalem's Lot" (I think it was in the "Night Shift" collection, but don't quote me). All very HPL...

[Helmet Head]

I've got the special edition of Salems Lot and it has a couple of short stories and alternate endings at the back, Jurusalems Lot is in there.

Never thought to much about King and kinda of un-fairly dismissed him for most of my reading life due to some of the crappy made for tv movies there is but after reading The Drawing of The Three (Dark Tower 2) on holiday while I was bored last week and absolutely loving it I decided I'd start looking into the world of King before cracking on to the Dark Tower.

[Silver]

I find King hit and miss. Diffinately not a fan but some of his stuff is pretty good. I've never read the dark tower stuff though that so many people seem to love.

Shroom, Jenkin would have been an amazing name for your cat, is he/she brown?

[BadMushroom]

Yeah, HH. I can’t think of a good King-made-for-TV film. I can understand why you might have been put off reading him. I’ve never read any Feist, although whenever he comes up in conversation he’s always highly recommended by friends of mine. Have you read much by him? Is he any good? Where would you recommend I start if I was to give him a go? I think my only exposure to Feist was playing “Betrayal at Krondor” PC game for 15 minutes what seems like a million years ago (1994’ish?)…

As far as Brown Jenkin goes: a small white-fanged furry thing… no larger than a good-sized rat…nuzzling people curiously in the black hours before dawn".

Yes Silver, my tom-cat ticks all the boxes. Brown (well, tabby brown), the nuzzling, sharp toothed bearded face, the evil hand-shaped paws… erm…, suckled like a vampire on witches blood… well all boxes apart from the latter bits. Some of them, anyway.

Think tabby Plush Cthulhu ™, but cuter! ;)

[Helmet Head]

Feist is great, maybe gone on a bit to long with it but still enjoyable.
Start with Magician, Silverthorn and a Darkness at Sethanon then defo probably the Krondor books (not read myself but just bought) then Prince of the blood and the Kings Bucaneer, Serpant War next then Conclave of shadows then the Dark War books, then you've got the Empire books and 3 one off's Jimmy the Hand, Murder at Le Mut and some other.

I've read all books except Murder at La Mut and the some other one plus the Krondor (about to read them though) and Empire books.

There's bascically loads mate and spread over something like 100 odd years so most book series can be read on there own merit but it's nice to read them in order and get to know people's entire history as you can read about names and deeds and not know anything about them.

People to look out for in the books are Pug, Tomas, Jimmy the Hand, Erik VonDarkmoor, Talwin Hawkins, Nakor and Oscar of Olasko to name but a few but to give you an idea of the scope Pug and Tomas are something like 150 at the point I'm at and there a couple of the younger ones...

It's basically immense and very enjoyable but but be prepared to turn a lot of pages once you step into Midkemia

[BadMushroom]

That's utterly superb HH! Many thanks mate. I've added Magician to the top of the pile of moldering tomes that currently inhabit the rickety coffee-table that is currently passing for a night-stand in my bedroom.

Coming up to summer break soon, so I should make some decent in-roads.

How goes Salems Lot?

[Helmet Head]

Slowly, not by fault of the book just really taking my time with it and only reading when the sun dipps below the horizon and the TV is no longer a distraction.

Much better that way at least there's achance it might scare me a bit now.

[topol_sheap]

You need to read more dark tower. books 2 and 4 are my favourites, and number 7, is well... I didn't like it, but then I released I spent more time thinking about the end of things in that than any other book i've read.

I'm currently reading the nightwatch trilogy - it's a bit shit to be honest - it's ok, and things seem to come together at the end of each book, but it's still a bit shit - perhaps the translation fro the russian is the issue there me thinks.

I'm tempted to return to some HPL now with all the talk! Still I'm getting over my honeymoon adn am quite tired right now!

[BadMushroom]

Hope you had a great Honeymoon, Tops!! You've got every right to be knackered... heh!

Didn't realise that Nightwatch was in book form. I've seen the two of the movies (and found them a bit jarring, but enjoyable). Are the book based on the films, or is it a separate storyline?

[topol_sheap]

THe films are based on the books - the books fill in a lot of the "missing" stuff that make it easier to understand. I saw night watch in 3 different states of consciousness, and it still made no sense. :D

[Silver]

Glad you enjoyed the honeymoon Tops.

I'm also glad I'm not the only one who found Nightwach hard to understand the first time I saw it!

I'm still reading Lovecraft, on Omnibus 2 now in the middle of The Moon-Bog.

[matman72]

I've read a couple of Salvatore's Lone Drow books.
Drizzt is awesome, thing is, I cant find the books in the right order,
not that it matters, you can pick up anywhere & catch on.
Point is: I've been enjoying them, on the odd occasion I find one.
Found a graphic novel/comic last week, that was awesome.

[Helmet Head]

Finished The Lot, thought it was terrific, really good.
The vamps aren't brilliant but as books go it was a good un and the 2 shorts at the end were cracking ah Mr Lumley turns up in one and the story about Jerusaloms Lot was excellent and Lovcraftian...belter

On to the Stand now in my continuing feast of King...

[BadMushroom]

"Belter"! LOL! A great way to describe a good book!

'Fraid 'Magician' will have to wait for a bit.

I've just bought Jack Vance's 'Dying Earth' (started reading it 'by accident' whilst visiting Barter Books in Alnwick). Anyone else read this? I'm only three storys in so far and it's absolutley brilliant!

Never read Mr Vance before. I can see that I'm going to have to invest in a whole load of his books... :)

On the subject of Mr Lumley cropping up in unusual places, I was watching the Pilot Episode for "Rough Magik" - A Cthulhu based BBC series that unfortunately never got off the starting blocks - staring Paul Darrow (Blake's 7 fanatic, me), and there was a bit set in the Falkland Islands with soldiers. 'Private Lumley' was the only squad-soldier named! Heh!

[topol_sheap]

I read the first 2 tales of the dying earth when I broke my ankle all those years ago... TBH I didn't enjpy them that much... You should speak with Michelle as that's more her thing ;)