What fiction book are you currently reading? [Archive] - MartialTalk.Com

pesilat

08-03-2003, 04:32 PM

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Great American Short Stories Vol. 1 (anthology)
A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I've just finished (within the past couple of days):
A Fine Dark Line by Joe R. Lansdale
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis
The Scarlet Pimpernel

Mike

Touch Of Death

08-03-2003, 09:17 PM

"Cry Wolf" by Wilbur Smith

Blindside

08-03-2003, 09:26 PM

The Ten Thousand by Michael Curtis Ford
The Dosadi Experiment by Frank Herbert
Ensign Flandry by Poul Anderson

arnisador

08-03-2003, 09:36 PM

Originally posted by pesilat
To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

My wife really enjoyed that one. I recently finished "The DaVinci Code" by Dan Brown and thought it was great.

I'm working on Slapstick, by Kurt Vonnegut.

pesilat

08-03-2003, 09:39 PM

Originally posted by arnisador
My wife really enjoyed that one. I recently finished "The DaVinci Code" by Dan Brown and thought it was great.

I'm working on Slapstick, by Kurt Vonnegut.

Yup. My wife turned me onto Connie Willis, too. She's a very good writer.

Mike

warder

08-04-2003, 12:01 AM

well I just finished Harry potter 5. Loved it!!!! and am in search of my next read.

lost_tortoise

08-04-2003, 09:47 AM

I'm in the middle of The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson. It finally came out in paperback, so I had to read it.

Just finished re-reading Behold the Man by Michael Moorcock and Pastwatch by Orson Scott Card.

Senfeng

08-10-2003, 03:57 AM

I just finished Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. I thought it was good, but I liked the fourth book a lot more.

I also finished The Deer and the Cauldron - the Third Book. Jin Yong (Louis Cha) is such a great writer. He's inspired me to learn Chinese (Mandarin) and to eventually learn the written language. I hope to read one of his novels in Chinese some day. In fact, I was so happy with this book that I re-read The Book and The Sword translated by Graham Earnshaw (which I feel is a better translation). You can find both sets of books on Ama zon. My translation for TBaTS I got from Earnshaw's old website (now unavailable).

arnisador

08-10-2003, 01:54 PM

Ozma of Oz, by L. Frank Baum.

Mithios

08-10-2003, 02:11 PM

Lasombra, 4th book in the dark ages vampire series by white wolf.

KenpoTess

08-13-2003, 04:42 PM

Just finished David Farland's Wizardborn, 3rd in The Runelord's series.. course have to wait for the next one out ~!

Very well done ~!

Now I'm reading The Naked Empire by Terry Goodkind..
I'm enjoying it so far :)

Michael Billings

08-13-2003, 05:55 PM

Cyber fiction with a Silat twist.

arnisador

08-24-2003, 01:14 PM

The Bourne Identity, by Robert Ludlum

pknox

08-25-2003, 12:56 PM

Finishing up Musashi by Yoshikawa, and then I plan to reread Lord of the Rings.

arnisador

08-30-2003, 11:56 AM

Carrie, by Stephen King

pknox

08-30-2003, 03:18 PM

Originally posted by arnisador
Carrie, by Stephen King

How was it? I saw the movie, but never read the book. Are there any big differences between the movie and the book?

arnisador

08-30-2003, 04:58 PM

I only started it last night--and I've never seen the movie! One difference: John Travolta isn't in the book. :D

Essentially all the Stephen King I've read has been stuff wher I've seen the movie and wanted to read the book (The Running Man, Firestarter, Christine,...). This is an exception.

arnisador

09-06-2003, 02:26 PM

Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz, by L. Frank Baum

Kroy

09-24-2003, 03:13 AM

Gaijin / James Clavell

MA-Caver

09-24-2003, 04:31 AM

Originally posted by pknox
How was it? I saw the movie, but never read the book. Are there any big differences between the movie and the book?

Just finished: Labyrinth by Mark T. Sullivan
Starting: The Cave by Anne McLean Matthews
(what can I say... look at my name heh)
In the middle of Harry Potter Yr. 5 if I can get over to CeiCei's place often enough I can finish it.

To answer your question... rarely has ANY Stephen King book translated well into film. Exceptions have been The Dead Zone (original with Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen), Stand By Me (aka The Body), The Shawshank Redemption, The Shining (new version not with Nicholson and DuVal), and one or two others. The rest were done by directors who were more in to gore (Carrie: Tobe Hooper), or scares (The Shining: Krubrick) or generally had thier own visions of how it should be.

The books will always be better than the movies because King (IMHO) is that good of a writer. Personal favorites are IT and The Stand.

Blindside

09-28-2003, 08:53 PM

Just finished:

The 97th Step by Steve Perry
Sharpe's Rifles by Bernard Cornwell
Firelord by Parke Godwin

Just started:
Lord Hornblower by C.S. Forester

arnisador

09-30-2003, 12:44 AM

The Road to Oz, by L. Frank Baum (still at my daughter's insistence)

M F

09-30-2003, 01:50 AM

Akashiro Tamaya

09-30-2003, 01:53 AM

Balck Belt Magazine.!!!!!.....Just teasing :shrug:

Just got done reading Michael Criscton's Rising Sun again.

pknox

09-30-2003, 10:01 AM

Originally posted by M F
Just finsished Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Morgawr, by Terry Brooks. I don't have anything lined up next. Any suggestions from the Fantasy fans out there? I've read everything by Jordan, Goodkind, Farland, David Drake, George RR Martin, and several others I can't think of right now. Help me out here. :D

Have you read any Piers Anthony? His Xanth series is great, but he has some other excellent books as well. I'd also recommend any of the Dragonlance books by Weis and Hickman.

qizmoduis

09-30-2003, 10:18 AM

I'm currently reading "The Great Book of Amber" by Roger Zelazy. It's all 10 of the Amber books in a compilation volume.

pknox

09-30-2003, 11:03 AM

Originally posted by Akashiro Tamaya
Just got done reading Michael Criscton's Rising Sun again.

Did you read Crichton's Timeline? Someone gave it to me and I was just wondering if it was any good.

arnisador

10-01-2003, 12:33 AM

How to be Good, by Nick Hornby (to break up the Oz book!)

Blindside

10-01-2003, 06:52 PM

Just finsished Voyage of the Jerle Shannara, Morgawr, by Terry Brooks. I don't have anything lined up next. Any suggestions from the Fantasy fans out there? I've read everything by Jordan, Goodkind, Farland, David Drake, George RR Martin, and several others I can't think of right now. Help me out here.

Hmmm, have you read Sherwood by Parke Godwin? Yet another retelling of the Robin Hood tale, but in a different setting than most of the other versions. I'm not sure this is fantasy, maybe more like historical fiction.

For more of a fantasy book, how about something something by Steven Brust? Start with Jhereg or for a Dumas flavor try The Phoenix Gaurds. How about Glen Cook, the first three Black Company books are the best though they might be an acquired taste (The Black Company, Shadows Linger, The White Rose) and I will recommend a forth, though not technically a Black Company book: The Silver Spike. Spike was my favorite but you need to read the first three to have any understanding of the characters.

Have you read the Drake/Flint Belisarius series?

Hope I got one you haven't read yet. :)

Lamont

Blindside

10-01-2003, 06:55 PM

Did you read Crichton's Timeline? Someone gave it to me and I was just wondering if it was any good.

IMO that was NOT a good book. It felt like it was designed to be turned into a movie, rather than be its own book. Bleah. I used to like Crichton....

pknox

10-01-2003, 06:59 PM

Originally posted by Blindside
IMO that was NOT a good book. It felt like it was designed to be turned into a movie, rather than be its own book. Bleah. I used to like Crichton....

Interesting. Maybe Crichton has become a bit of a victim of his own success. The gentleman who gave it to me didn't read it either, but noticed it had a medieval slant to it, which is something I like. He figured I'd make better use of it. I'll let you know what I think when I get to it (I think have four or five more books to go first).

Old Tiger

10-02-2003, 11:32 AM

The DaVinci Code

Akashiro Tamaya

10-02-2003, 11:40 AM

Originally posted by pknox
Did you read Crichton's Timeline? Someone gave it to me and I was just wondering if it was any good.

No, I didn't I think someone already made a comment regarding this book timeline. The strangest part was that I saw the movie then found the book at the Salvation Army.

I had this book for about a year and I thought It was good reading. Still enjoy as I was able to put faces to the characters.

Blindside

10-02-2003, 03:37 PM

The strangest part was that I saw the movie then found the book at the Salvation Army.

Um, I don't think the movie has released yet.

Most sites put the release date at November 26, 2003, as in seven weeks from now. Are you sure you aren't thinking of a different book?

Lamont

khadaji

10-02-2003, 03:48 PM

Dune: The Butlerian Jihad

arnisador

10-02-2003, 07:56 PM

Originally posted by catchevangelist
The DaVinci Code

I really enjoyed that one!

M F

10-02-2003, 10:21 PM

Hope I got one you haven't read yet.

Blindside,
You got a bunch I haven't read yet. Like all of the ones you posted. :D I'll have to check some of those out. Thanks!

Touch Of Death

10-04-2003, 02:54 AM

Dune: House Cornino By Brian Herbert and just one more book after this and I've read the whole series woo hoo! I should get a some sort of Prize for that.

Cthulhu

10-07-2003, 01:36 PM

Originally posted by Touch'O'Death
Dune: House Cornino By Brian Herbert and just one more book after this and I've read the whole series woo hoo! I should get a some sort of Prize for that.

Sorry to disappoint you, but you still have:

Dune: The Butlerian Jihad
Dune: The Machine Crusade
and the forthcoming
Dune: The Battle of Corrin

:D

The Butlerian Jihad book was very good, and I'm halfway through The Machine Crusade now.

Cthulhu

Shodan

10-07-2003, 01:56 PM

The Mammoth Hunters...........one of the Clan of the Cave Bear books

:asian: :karate:

Blindside

10-07-2003, 05:39 PM

The Cider House Rules by John Irving

Blindside

10-16-2003, 11:16 AM

Just finished:

Flandry Agent of the Terran Empire - Poul Anderson
(Sci-fi fluff from an older era, good stuff though)

Master and Commander - Patrick O'brian
(Very good, gritty and realistic, but it has some weird transitions between time periods in the book. I liked it, but I may be one of those who winds up preferring Hornblower.

On one of my 15 hour drives to Seattle I listened to Bernard Cromwell's "An Archer's Tale" on audiobook. Pretty good, but I thought Cromwell overemphasized the use and effectiveness of the English longbow.

I just started Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper. This is fairly dense reading so I may have to counteract it with some sci-fi fluff, hmm, cue up another Flandry novel.

Lamont

Touch Of Death

10-16-2003, 11:29 AM

Originally posted by Cthulhu
Sorry to disappoint you, but you still have:

Dune: The Butlerian Jihad
Dune: The Machine Crusade
and the forthcoming
Dune: The Battle of Corrin

:D

The Butlerian Jihad book was very good, and I'm halfway through The Machine Crusade now.

Cthulhu
Iknow that now. We just bought the Buttlerian Jihad. I'm back to square one. Literaly ha ha.

Cthulhu

10-16-2003, 11:37 AM

Originally posted by Touch'O'Death
Iknow that now. We just bought the Buttlerian Jihad. I'm back to square one. Literaly ha ha.

From an online interview, it looks like Herbert and Anderson will be doing a 7th book to the original Dune series, based off of extensive notes for the book made by Frank Herbert. They even suggested that it may be published as two separate books.

So, after this current prequel trilogy ends, we have at least one more Dune book to look forward to :)

Cthulhu

YouAgain

10-20-2003, 11:06 PM

Last man standing.

RanaHarmamelda

10-22-2003, 09:58 AM

George R. R. Martin, A Storm of Swords.

Cthulhu

10-22-2003, 10:11 AM

Originally posted by RanaHarmamelda
George R. R. Martin, A Storm of Swords.

A very good series. Unfortunately, Martin takes about 10 years to write each friggin' installment.

Cthulhu

RanaHarmamelda

10-22-2003, 01:45 PM

*chuckle* SO I have heard...the fourth one has been delayed for, what...almost a year now?

*grumble* :D

arnisador

11-20-2003, 06:58 PM

Prey, Michael Crichton.

ABN

11-20-2003, 08:59 PM

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

The Victorious Opposition by Harry Turtledove

Rich Parsons

11-20-2003, 11:01 PM

I just got down rifling throught eh Myth Series by Robert Lynn Apsrin, and I am now back into the Belgariad Series. I have read both before numerous times. It is what I do when I run out of new books to read.

Michael Billings

11-20-2003, 11:21 PM

By Joe Lansdale (Shen Chaun)

Blindside

11-21-2003, 10:30 AM

The Winter King by Bernard Cromwell
Get Shorty by Elmore Leonard

someguy

11-21-2003, 10:40 AM

How is buba ho-tep

arnisador

11-29-2003, 01:20 PM

The Emerald City of Oz, by L. Frank Baum

Also just started re-reading The Hobbit. I've only read it and The Lord of the Rings once, and it was in junior high school for The Hobbit and high school for LOTR.

Marginal

11-29-2003, 03:21 PM

I've been reading the Dark Tower Series by Stephen King this last week. Up to Wizard and Glass right now. (Prepping for Wolves of the Calla or whatever it's called.)

2fisted

12-11-2003, 01:15 PM

Gai Jin by James Clavell. Good read but LONG.

Jmh7331

12-11-2003, 01:17 PM

The Sea Wolf - Jack London
Arthur - Stephen Lawhead
Read 3-4 Louis L'Amour /month

MartialArtsChic

12-11-2003, 03:51 PM

A Gothic Christmas. (romance).

Blindside

12-11-2003, 04:04 PM

Just finished
Dune: House Atreides

Can't say that I really liked it, something about that book just didn't jibe with me, maybe it was the writing style.

Horblower During the Crisis.

Fast read, two short stories and one unfinished story, I'm glad I picked it up used, but Crisis had alot of potential. That finishes Hornblower for me, I've got O'Brian's Post Captian on order.

Just started:
Paying the Piper by David Drake.

Pretty standard Hammer's Slammers stuff so far.

Ongoing:
The Winter King by Bernard Cornwall

I've been reading alot of Arthurian fiction over the last year and I'm at that point in the story arc where you know "this just can't end well." I'm having a hard time getting through that, so it has been sitting alone for awhile.

rmcrobertson

12-14-2003, 12:12 AM

Ed Ruggiero and Robert K. Tannenbaum, for what I recently realized is their brilliant exposition of, "the fog of war."

arnisador

12-30-2003, 09:08 PM

The Pleasure of My Company, by Steve Martin

I really enjoyed his Shopgirl, though I found the ending a little weak.

OULobo

01-05-2004, 11:33 AM

Just started Salvatore's Spider Queen set.

pknox

01-05-2004, 01:09 PM

About 1/3 of my way through the one-volume set of The Lord of the Rings (just finished The Fellowship of the Ring, and started on The Two Towers). The last time I read it I think I was 16 -- it sure makes a lot more sense now. :cool:

arnisador

01-05-2004, 06:50 PM

The Patchwork Girl of Oz, L. Frank Baum

Chronuss

01-17-2004, 09:56 PM

I just finished the three books based on the X-Box game Halo, The Fall of Reach, The Flood, and First Strike. before that, I had read The Incarnations of Immortality by Piers Anthony...the man is a hysterical writer. Now I'm reading The Gunslinger by Stephen King...kinda slow and strange...but hey, it's Stephen King, go figure.

Aikikitty

01-19-2004, 12:25 PM

Originally posted by arnisador
The Patchwork Girl of Oz, L. Frank Baum

I LOVE the Oz books! I grew up with my mom reading them out loud, then my sister did it, then me when I was old enough. :)

My Sensei is a fellow Lord of the Ring fan and he bought me The Silmarillion which I've never read before and I'm currently reading and enjoying now.

Robyn :asian:

pknox

01-19-2004, 12:54 PM

George R.R. Martin, A Game of Thrones (first book in the "A Song of Fire and Ice" series)

arnisador

01-19-2004, 01:30 PM

Originally posted by The Opal Dragon
I LOVE the Oz books! I grew up with my mom reading them out loud, then my sister did it, then me when I was old enough.

My 9 y.o. daughter loves them and is making me read them so I can share Oz with her. I don't mind. It was neat reading the first one since the movie is so famous.

She was a Sailor Moon fan, but it hasn't been shown here for so long that she's lost interest!

Aikikitty

01-19-2004, 01:40 PM

Originally posted by arnisador
My 9 y.o. daughter loves them and is making me read them so I can share Oz with her. I don't mind. It was neat reading the first one since the movie is so famous.

She was a Sailor Moon fan, but it hasn't been shown here for so long that she's lost interest!

That's really neat! I'm glad your daughter is enjoying the books. The original Oz book by Baum are awesome of course but the Oz books written by Ruth Plumly Thompson are really good too (and there are a good number of them)! :) I love the humor and the play on words. :p

I taped my favorite animes when they were on TV and I'm glad I did as some of them aren't on anymore as you've said. I started watching some of those tapes a couple of months ago. (Outlaw Star first, and now I'm watching Tenshi Muyo. Next, I'll probably watch Sailor Moon.) :)

Robyn :asian:

Matt Bernius

01-19-2004, 04:53 PM

Just got up to the third book in A Cantical for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.

It's been excellent and provactive reading. After that it's on to some nonfiction for a while.

- Matt

KenpoTess

01-19-2004, 10:54 PM

Laurell Hamilton's 'Anita Blake Vampire Executioner' Series..*not for kids~!*

Just finished the 4th in David Farland's 'RuneLord' series.. excellent read if you like Sword/Sorcery fantasy..

Been listening to some audiobooks, The LOTR and Harry Potter are Excellent~!!

Blindside

01-20-2004, 02:10 PM

Just got up to the third book in A Cantical for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.

There are sequels to Canticle??! Cool, I loved the first book.

Just finished:

Gold from Crete by C.S. Forster, WWII naval and aerial warfare.

In keeping with the nautical theme, I just finished Far Side of the World by O'Brian. Very different from the movie. I just started Post Captian by the same author. Good stuff, I love the subtle humor.

Lamont

Matt Bernius

01-20-2004, 02:27 PM

Originally posted by Blindside
There are sequels to Canticle??! Cool, I loved the first book.

Ooops, probably should have written that better. I'm reading the third "sub" book of Canticle (it's essentially broken into three interconnected novellas).

But there is a sequel called "Saint Liebowitz and the Wild Horse Woman." I don't really know anything about it though,

- Matt

Blindside

01-31-2004, 01:09 AM

Finished:
Post Captain by O'Brien
Redcoat by Bernard Cromwell
Limits by Larry Niven

Gotta grab something new off the shelf....

Lamont

arnisador

03-04-2004, 02:13 PM

Now or recently:
Tik-Tok of Oz, L. Frank Baum

The Fellowship of the Ring, J.R.R. Tolkien

Starship Troopers, R. Heinlein

Interview with the Vampire, Anne Rice

qizmoduis

03-08-2004, 08:03 AM

I just tracked down the original Space Opera books by E. E. Smith: The Skylark novels (Skylark of Space, Skylark Three, Skylark of Valeron, and Skylark DuQuesne). I just finished the first two. I also picked up his Lensman series. Very interesting. The Skylark books take great delight in one-upping itself nearly every chapter.

Blindside

03-12-2004, 12:41 AM

Hmm,

Finished "Sensei" a completely forgettable martial arts murder mystery. The next in the series is "Deshi" I suspect I'll miss it. The author is obviously fairly well versed in martial arts, but man it comes across as "traditional styles are best."

I finished "Kingdom River," a post-apocalyptic epic, I liked the world that is presented and the battle descriptions were good, I thought it wrapped up a wee bit fast, but the world building made up for it.

A Game of Empire by Poul Anderson, fun stuff, much better than the early Flandry novels, at least the aliens are well, alien.

What else:
Heroes in hell, edited by Benford/Cherreyh/Drake
Space Dreadnoughts edited by Drake
Firefight 2000 by Dean Ing
Finity's End by Cherryh

And apparently I'm on a Heinlein juvenile kick, since I read "Podkayne of Mars" and am now reading "Have Spacesuit Will Travel."

enough for now,

Lamont

Elfan

04-25-2004, 06:49 PM

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0451527097/qid=1082933167/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-2806355-2060050?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) by Alexander Solzhenitsyn.

Its a quick read (read it in a day) but not superfluous, its the classic book on Soviot labour camps.

arnisador

04-25-2004, 08:02 PM

Scarecrow of Oz, L. Frank Baum

The Santaroga Barrier, Frank Herbert

OULobo

04-26-2004, 08:20 AM

I just started Harlan Ellison's, " 'Repent Harlequin!', Said the Ticktock Man". It's a very short read but an author that I seem to have completely missed during my literary journeys.

Blindside

06-10-2004, 02:18 PM

Harlan Ellison is an amazing author, most of his stuff is edgy and way out of the bounds of normal sf and fantasy fiction.

I recommend his Dangerous Visions anthologies.

Oh yeah, he was the sf advisor for Babylon 5, that alone gives him high marks in my book. :)

Lamont

arnisador

06-10-2004, 02:37 PM

Telefon, by Walter H. Wager

The Catcher in the Rye, by J.D. Salinger

Blindside

06-10-2004, 02:46 PM

Last bunch of books:

The Ionian Mission - O'Brian
-More Jack Aubry of "Master and Commander Fame" sort of a transitional story, slow in places, but intriguing. Actually it is set immediately before "Far Side of the World." I'm slowly starting to like Jack and Stephen over Hornblower, it is just a little more gritty and real.

Arabesques - fantasy collection set in the Arab world, several interesting short stories

The Magic Goes Away by Niven (older fantasy, interesting in mana mechanics if not in the story itself)

People of the Wolf by W. Michael Gear - Nice historical fiction, solidly grounded in archeology, and far less sex than in Auel's stuff. (not that sex is a bad thing....)

Speaking of sex: The Erotic Spirit edited by Hamill - a book of historical love (and lust) poems from the Egyptians to the present.

The Lord of Castle Black by Brust - more swashbuckling Musketeer style stuff in Dragarea.

Aikikitty

06-10-2004, 03:19 PM

I recently finished reading Ben-Hur for school and I enjoyed it.

Now I'm reading Eragon by Christopher Paolini. About a boy and his dragon. http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/aktion/action-smiley-074.gif

Robyn http://instagiber.net/smiliesdotcom/contrib/blackeye/linktongue.gif

Cryozombie

06-10-2004, 03:30 PM

TigerStripe

06-10-2004, 10:56 PM

Just to pipe in here, I'm currently reading Cloud of Sparrows by Takashi Matsuoka. Pretty entertaining.

muaythaifreak

06-11-2004, 01:25 AM

Demons Don't Dream by Piers Anthony. Just finished Dragonriders of Pern by Ann McCaffery. Old fiction and I've read both before, but it's been a while and I found them when I moved recently. If you've never read any of Piers Anthony's stuff, I highly recommend it. Very entertaining.

Don Roley

06-15-2004, 02:49 AM

I am currently re-reading the Lord of the Rings. I just relalized, it probably would be considered a racist book if it were not so popular.

Think about it and the way certain books, movies, etc have been called racist recently.

First of all, the good guys are all white, while the villians are dark colored and and sometimes called "The dark powers" etc.

Elves have blond hair and are beautiful. Orks are black and ugly. The good guys all seem to have European- style names and are so much more competent than the sub- humans with their funny names.

Oh, if there probably wasn't already a movement against the book on these grounds somewhere in cyberspace, I would be tempted to laugh.

marshallbd

06-15-2004, 01:00 PM

Currently reading the "Nicholas Linnear" books by Erik Van Lustabader. They are Corporate espionage/Martial Arts (With some fantasy mixed in) set in Modern Times in Japan/America. I enjoy them. (The Ninja, The Miko, White Ninja, The Kaisho, Floating City and one more I havent found yet and can't recall the title)

Also am going to start "Grass for his Pillow" by Liam Hearn. It is book two in the "Tales of the Otori" trilogy about a young boy in Fuedal Japan who is learning about a his past as he discovers his mystical powers of the "tribe" (Sounds like Ninjutsu stuff) but very well written and enjoyable. The first book is called "Across the Nightingale Floor" :asian:

Cryozombie

06-17-2004, 02:22 AM

Currently reading the "Nicholas Linnear" books by Erik Van Lustabader. They are Corporate espionage/Martial Arts (With some fantasy mixed in) set in Modern Times in Japan/America. I enjoy them. (The Ninja, The Miko, White Ninja, The Kaisho, Floating City and one more I havent found yet and can't recall the title)

Uh... I forget which was the other one from that series... Zero, or Second Skin... it was one of those two...

I also read his "Sunset Warrior" novels. (Sci-fi) They were ok.

Interesting enough (or not, if you dont care) Lustbader also wrote the lyrics to the Blue Oyster Cult song "Shadow Warrior" off their "Club Ninja" album.

OULobo

06-17-2004, 08:32 AM

Re-reading Donalson's Thomas Covenant books and starting Farenheit 451 for the first time.

dubljay

06-21-2004, 02:12 AM

I am currently re-reading Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. I have all the books of the series, all are good but the first (Ender's Game) is the best.

arnisador

06-21-2004, 02:31 PM

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, Douglas Adams

Blindside

06-21-2004, 08:47 PM

Legacies by F. Paul Wilson. I always heard good things about this author, I just haven't gotten around to him until now.

Lamont

Cthulhu

06-21-2004, 09:22 PM

Legacies by F. Paul Wilson. I always heard good things about this author, I just haven't gotten around to him until now.

Lamont

I highly recommend all of his books with the 'Repairman Jack' character. Very good.

Currently re-reading Chapterhouse: Dune.

Cthulhu

Feisty Mouse

06-21-2004, 10:42 PM

Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder. My sister loaned it to me. A fiction book about the history of philosophy. So far, so good!

arnisador

06-22-2004, 12:40 AM

Sounds interesting Feisty Mouse. I'll have to check it out!

BlueDragon1981

07-05-2004, 11:48 PM

I have read all the Harry Potter books.
Currently I am reading a book calle Eragon. Good book so far. (Don't have much time to read it) It is also a book written for teens but oh well doesn't stop me.

I like the Forgotten Realms books.
R.A Salvatore, Robert Jordan,Terry Goodkind all authors of the books that I read.

Blindside

07-06-2004, 07:03 PM

Just finished "Blade Dancer" by S.L. Viehl. Sort of a science fiction martial arts book, it was strictly ok, interesting training ideas, but I preferred the Steven Perry "Matador" series for this genre. My biggest beef is that this universe is apparently alot like Star Trek, where every species can mate with every other species and have half-breed offspring, that just rubs my biologist brain the wrong way. :)

I just started The Fortune of War by O'Brian, the British navy in the war of 1812. It is nice to see the Americans as the bad guys for once. (That is the way it was supposed to be in the movie Master and Commander: Far Side of the World, but Americans as bad guys is not acceptable in Hollywood.) I highly recommend the entire Jack Aubry series to anyone interested in this period of history. (And Hornblower, never forget Hornblower!)

Lamont

Feisty Mouse

07-06-2004, 07:27 PM

Sounds interesting Feisty Mouse. I'll have to check it out!
I hope you do! It's got a mystery component to it that I'm enjoying, and the summaries of ancient philosophers' positions are simple without, I hope, being too simplistic.

Ronin Moose

07-06-2004, 11:20 PM

My Life, by Bill Clinton

Seig

07-06-2004, 11:38 PM

My Life, by Bill Clinton:roflmao::rofl::barf::rofl::roflmao:

Seig

07-06-2004, 11:38 PM

I am reading Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series

Blindside

08-01-2004, 02:28 PM

Just finished Colonization: Down to Earth by Turtledove
Just starting God Emperor of Dune by Herbert

TigerWoman

08-01-2004, 04:43 PM

Balance of Power by Richard North Patterson about politics and gun control. It is a continuing cast of characters from Protect and Defend which I read before. Just got into it...good so far. TW

Rich Parsons

08-01-2004, 05:38 PM

Re-reading the Dragons of PERN (* Paralell's Earth Resources Nominal *) by Anne McCaffrey

marshallbd

08-03-2004, 10:45 AM

Just finished: Labyrinth by Mark T. Sullivan
Starting: The Cave by Anne McLean Matthews
(what can I say... look at my name heh)
In the middle of Harry Potter Yr. 5 if I can get over to CeiCei's place often enough I can finish it.

To answer your question... rarely has ANY Stephen King book translated well into film. Exceptions have been The Dead Zone (original with Christopher Walken and Martin Sheen), Stand By Me (aka The Body), The Shawshank Redemption, The Shining (new version not with Nicholson and DuVal), and one or two others. The rest were done by directors who were more in to gore (Carrie: Tobe Hooper), or scares (The Shining: Krubrick) or generally had thier own visions of how it should be.

The books will always be better than the movies because King (IMHO) is that good of a writer. Personal favorites are IT and The Stand.If you like King's stuff, how about Dean Koontz? I really enjoy his stuff, especially "Dark rivers of the heart" and "Intensity"

marshallbd

08-03-2004, 10:46 AM

qizmoduis

08-03-2004, 02:38 PM

Just finishing up the fifth book of the Harry Potter series. Good stuff. I was pleasantly surprised by her writing, although the last book is getting a bit tedious.

michaeledward

08-03-2004, 03:12 PM

Fahrenheit 451 ...

So far ... it is weird.

Brother John

08-05-2004, 03:58 PM

"Neverwhere" by Neil Gaiman.
It's....odd.
Slow beginning...but starting to pick up.

Your Brother
John

Brother John

08-05-2004, 04:01 PM

Just finished Colonization: Down to Earth by Turtledove
Just starting God Emperor of Dune by Herbert
The DUNE series by Herbert IS GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just got done reading the first two in the new Butlerian Jihad series, waiting for the third and final one to come out some time soon.
I HIGHLY recomend these books to anyone.

Your Brother
John

Ronin Moose

08-15-2004, 05:36 PM

deadhand31

08-16-2004, 02:07 AM

Rainbow Six, by Tom Clancy

marshallbd

08-16-2004, 07:06 AM

SENSEI, by John Donohue. He is regular contibutor to the Journal of Asian Martial Arts. There is a brief review of the book at:

http://www.fightingarts.com/estore/catalog_books_tales.shtml

It is an excellent read!I enjoyed that book as well. Have you read any of the books written by Eric Van Lustbader? I especially enjoyed his series of Nicholas Linnear novels....(nicholas is a modern day ninja who is half japanese half caucasion and is torn between the two cultures). :asian:

AaronLucia

08-24-2004, 03:29 PM

Cloud of Sparrows - An Epic Novel of Japan by Takashi Matsuoka

Blindside

08-25-2004, 01:19 AM

Wow, I must give a contrary opinion on Sensei, I didn't like it at all.

I finally finished God Emperor of Dune, that was a hard read for me, interesting social commentary, but I couldn't really identify with Leto II.

I'm about half way through Pride and Prejudice and will start F. Paul Wilson's Conspiracies.

gyaku-zuki queen

08-25-2004, 02:07 AM

not reading one right now.. but if i was.. harry potter :)

marshallbd

08-25-2004, 07:58 AM

Cloud of Sparrows - An Epic Novel of Japan by Takashi Matsuoka
Could you tell me a little about the story line (Time frame, charachters and such?)

AaronLucia

08-25-2004, 09:19 AM

For Cloud of Sparrows, its basically set in the middle 1800's, when the foreigners just arrived. Basically there is a lower Great Lord (Genji) who is supposed to have the gift of prophecy..and alot of people don't like him. Basically, since i'm only half-way through i can't expungiate on the whole book, but..there isn't a whole lot of action, but the cool dialogue makes up for it. Supposedly some foreigner is supposed to save the Great Lord's life, but nobody in the Great Lord's posse trusts them..and in general the Great Lord is trying to survive because the Shogun and many other Great Lords don't like him

That might be a super crappy description..but...

marshallbd

08-25-2004, 09:47 AM

AnimEdge

08-25-2004, 02:50 PM

I just finnished Battle Royale by Koushun Takami
man they need to hurry up and release the movie here in the states
untill then go hong kong bootlegs :P

Chronuss

08-25-2004, 11:56 PM

...I finished the fifth Harry Potter book the only night...now I gotta wait til next year for the sixth...oy!

AaronLucia

08-27-2004, 04:35 PM

Marshall, what are Across the Nightingale Floor and Tears for His Pillow about?

Cryozombie

08-27-2004, 06:44 PM

I am now Currently reading "The Steampunk Trillogy" by Paul DiFilippo.

Its Cyberpunk set in the Victorian Era.

Rob Broad

08-27-2004, 08:17 PM

I have been reading the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and the Wizards Firts Rule series by Terry Goodkind. Both are good series but it takes forever between new releases.

Blindside

08-27-2004, 09:38 PM

I have been reading the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan and the Wizards Firts Rule series by Terry Goodkind. Both are good series but it takes forever between new releases.

Wow, you have been sucked into two of fantasy's worst examples of stories that got away from the authors. I used to give away the first book in WoT, but now I just feel guilty about that. :uhyeah:

Lamont

Rob Broad

08-27-2004, 10:49 PM

I also enjot L.E. Modesitt's Recluce series. I have read everything in that series, and I am awaiting another installmant.

Blindside

08-28-2004, 12:57 AM

marshallbd

08-28-2004, 10:54 AM

Marshall, what are Across the Nightingale Floor and Tears for His Pillow about?here is part of the teaser from the inside front dust cover of the first book "Across the nightingale Floor"....

In his black walled fortress at Inuyama, the warlord Iida Sadamu surveys his famous nightingale floor. Constructed with exquisite skill, it sings at the tread of each human foot. No assassin can cross it unheard.

The youth Takeo has been brought up in a remote mountain village among the Hidden, a reclusive and spiritual people who have taught him only the ways of peace. But unbeknownst to him, his father was a celbrated assassin and a member of the Tribe, an ancient network of Families with extraordinary, preternatural skills...

The hidden I took to be christians and the Tribe sound like the Ninja clans. Takeo is in the Hidden village when a warlord comes through and kills everyone, only Takeo escapes. He is adopted by another warlord, Otori Shigeru. The books deal with his strugle between his new adopted father and the pull of the Tribe to reclaim him...I thouroughly enjoyed both books and am anxious to read the third......of the "Tales of the Otori" Trilogy.

Hope my little book review helped and if you do read them, let me know what you thought about them.... :asian:

OULobo

08-29-2004, 01:12 AM

At least Modesitt's books are stand alone, or two books complete the story, those are several books set within the same world. The Goodkind and Jordan books are one freakin' long story. And yes, I am bitter that the last three Jordan books could have been condensed into one..... :rolleyes:

Actually the Drake/Flint Bellisarius series seems to be doing the same thing now.

Lamont

I liked Goodkind's stuff, I loved Jordan's stuff (although I have to agree, it is getting rediculous in length and he's become way too wordy), but I just couldn't get into the Recluse books. The stories were too spaced out and jumpy, and the world and rules of the Recluse world were too loosely spelled out. I bought the entire series or set of books, and never read more than three.

Rob Broad

08-29-2004, 01:23 AM

I liked Goodkind's stuff, I loved Jordan's stuff (although I have to agree, it is getting rediculous in length and he's become way too wordy), but I just couldn't get into the Recluse books. The stories were too spaced out and jumpy, and the world and rules of the Recluse world were too loosely spelled out. I bought the entire series or set of books, and never read more than three.

I really liked the Recluce Books, they have a current situation in their world, and then the next book went back in time to how that practice came to be. It is an interesting set up.

KenpoTess

08-29-2004, 07:44 AM

I made the mistake of reading Goodkind and Jordan about the same timeframe.. finished one.. picked up another as I waited for the new release.. man did I ever get the two stories confused.. *hush all that know me~!* ;) I thoroughly enjoyed them til the last couple books.. I couldn't finish the last book~!!
Then Jordan decides to write the prequel 'New Spring' and well my small mind was like.. *tilt*
I found both series on audiotape.. and I must say, I'm really enjoying them more ten-fold by listening.. I think I must of skipped a bunch reading (all the descriptive filler).
I'm into the 3rd book of David Drake's 'Lord of the Isles' series.. It's different.. and reviewers say he's up there with Jordan and Goodkind.. I can see the similarity.. Not my favorite..
I really REALLY enjoyed the Elizabeth Haydon series 'The Symphony of Ages' Excellent Read~!! Find It Here (http://www.elizabethhaydon.com/)
I usually get my books at the library, unless they are ones I absolutely have to buy.. and getting rather annoyed as they invariably have an author I like, but only one out of a series.. *grumbles*

~Tess

AaronLucia

08-29-2004, 09:14 AM

marshallbd

08-30-2004, 07:18 AM

Marshall, i think i know to what books you are referring.

I remember i saw them in Kuwait when i was stationed there. :P

Cloud of Sparrows has a character named Shigeru in it, i wonder if he's the same..Book three is coming out soon, called "Brilliance of the Moon. The Shigeru in "Cloud of Sparrows" is just a coincidence. It seems that maybe Shigeru is a common name? I will be reading this book next after "Brilliance of the Moon" :asian:

Brother John

08-30-2004, 08:45 AM

I am reading Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake Vampire Hunter series
I've heard a LOT of good about this series! Let us know what you think.

BTW: I've heard that if you like her stuff You'll LOVE the Harry Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. (I suggested these to your wife a while back)
Your Brother
John

Blindside

09-04-2004, 08:55 PM

I just finished Wilderness by Zelazney. This was a fictional accounting of the amazing true life survival stories of Mountain Men Jim Coulter and Hugh Glass. Very poetic writing, I was impressed since I haven't read that much of Zelazney outside of his original Amber series.

I am starting Harlan Ellison's "Deathbird Stories," and still trying to plug through Pride and Prejudice.

Lamont

Paul B

09-05-2004, 01:32 AM

Ahem..(clearing dust from throat)....."The Complete Works of Shakespeare".....I have finally found an alternative to NyQuil.....It's just one more thing on my life's "to do" list. I guess it would qualify as a "fiction" book.:uhyeah:

Blindside

09-05-2004, 01:35 PM

Blink... Blink....

You find Shakespeare boring?

What exactly are you reading? Come on, we are talking about the Bard here! There is some difficulty is interpreting some of the references do to the change in language, but it is still amazing work. I could see where back to back could be tough, try interspersing your reading with other material, or simply alternate the comedies and the dramas.

Don't diss the Bard man! :)

Lamont

Paul B

09-05-2004, 01:51 PM

Yep, that's it....too much all at once. I do agree,though,absolutely astounding stuff. I think it's interesting that he used "entendre" quite a bit,if you know where to look.

Don Roley

09-05-2004, 05:26 PM

Well I have a problem with reading Shakespeare's plays. I refuse to believe that he wrote them to be read. He wrote them to be seen by an audience.

Now his sonnets are the very definition of poetry. I liked reading them, loved reading them. But seeing Hamlet is just worlds better than reading Hamlet IMHO. there is something that the director and actors bring to the work that makes it a team effort. The excitement that they bring, the emotion, are part of the mix that the Bard meant when he wrote the plays and took part in their production.

michaeledward

09-05-2004, 07:07 PM

Once upon a time, I read through much of 'The Complete Works ....' but it was difficult to understand while reading. I caught myself, re-reading passages trying to figure out what did he say?

Enjoy ... but be sure to see them too.

Paul B

09-05-2004, 10:03 PM

I agree completely! There is a definite missing dimension to reading the plays as opposed to seeing the performance. The written word doesn't do them any justice. The sonnets,as mentioned before,are in their "natural" environment...so,yeah.What he said.:)

Don Roley

09-06-2004, 08:20 AM

One thing about the sonnets. They are not "fast food." Written at a time when the written word was rare and precious, they were meant to be taken in slow motion, with attention being paid to each word for it's full effect. Today, we may read a book on the train. That is not what they were written for.

I remember the last time I read the Bard's sonnets. It was a rainy spring day when the flowers in my gardern were in bloom. I took a seat just outside the area where the rain hit with a bottle of sake and cracked open my collection of his works. For the next hour there was nothing more in this world I was interested in. I truely had more wealth than a sultan's realm.

That is the time you should invest if you are going to read Shakespeare's poetry. Sometimes it is nice just to take a little time away from the world and have a conversation with those long gone through the pages of their works.

Paul B

09-13-2004, 12:39 AM

I hear you Don, I usually try to get out on the deck with a cup of joe and just sit there reading and winding down. Can't get good sake' around these parts!:drink2tha

Thanks for the advice,though!

Patrick Skerry

09-13-2004, 03:55 PM

REMEMBERANCE OF THINGS PAST by Marcel Proust;

maybe it must be read in its original French, because I find it less profound than Melville's MOBY DICK.

kenpo tiger

09-14-2004, 10:32 PM

The Perfumed Sleeve by Laura Joh Rowland - latest in the series about the Sano Ichiro, Sosakan-Sama (most honorable investigator of events, situations and people) of the Tokugawa regime in feudal Japan (1694).

Also R is for Ricochet by Sue Grafton.

KajuMom

09-15-2004, 12:33 AM

Hawaii by James A. Michener. Fiction based on fact, lots of details!

sifu nick

09-16-2004, 11:00 AM

The Choirboys by Joseph Wambaugh. I read it years ago and decided to pick it up again.

bassplayer

09-17-2004, 09:38 AM

Angels & Demons...I dont recall who the author is....just picked it up and couldnt put it down for the first 90 pages!

qizmoduis

09-20-2004, 09:39 AM

Just finished "Freehold" by Michael Williamson from Baen Books.

bassplayer

09-20-2004, 12:22 PM

Finshed Angela & Demons. Definitely one for my recommended list! Had a rough time putting it down and finished it this weekend. I loved the mix of science and religion, tying everything in an exhilaratingly plausible manner. I'll be waiting to get my hands on the Da Vinci Code once my fiancee is done with it! Author is Dan Brown, couldnt remember that when I posted before.

Blindside

09-21-2004, 05:41 PM

I was on the plane alot last weekend so I actually got some reading done:

Sharpe's Eagle and Sharpe's Gold by Bernard Cornwell
-Good gritty historical fiction

Reborn by F. Paul Wilson
-pretty mediocre horror, which was too bad, I liked some of this author's previous stuff.

Still working on Pride and Prejudice, I think I have to start over since I picked it up again and I have no idea who all these people are. :uhyeah:

Blindside

10-31-2004, 12:36 PM

What nobody else reading anymore? :)

In the last month:

Sharpe's Sword by Bernard Cromwell

Chapterhouse Dune by Herbert

Witchworld 1 by Andre Norton

Feisty Mouse

11-01-2004, 05:53 PM

I finally picked up Dune and started reading it. And yes, it's quite good so far. :)

jaymo

11-02-2004, 12:54 PM

i just finished reading the 11th book in the LS series and "the face" by dean koontz. i'm not sure what i'll read next. i'm in the mood to be scared. any suggestions?

pesilat

11-02-2004, 01:06 PM

i just finished reading the 11th book in the LS series and "the face" by dean koontz. i'm not sure what i'll read next. i'm in the mood to be scared. any suggestions?

I'd recommend "Writer of the Purple Rage" by Joe R. Lansdale.

Joe is good friends with Dean Koontz, btw. Their writing styles are very different but some of the stories in WotPR (it's an anthology of shorts) should have your flesh crawling some. Like "Drive-In Date" or "Steppin' Out, Summer '68". And, one of my all-time favorites, "In the Cold, Dark Time". And then there's others, like "Bubba Ho-Tep" (now a fantastic B rate movie starring Bruce Campell and Ossie Davis) and "Godzilla's 12 Step Program" are just plain funny in Joe's inimically twisted way :-)

Joe's written a lot of other good stuff but he mostly writes crime/mystery these days. But WotPR is a very good collection with some of his old horror stuff. He's one the Bram Stoker award 4 times for his horror work - he's a *very* good author.

Mike

Blindside

11-03-2004, 06:55 PM

i just finished reading the 11th book in the LS series and "the face" by dean koontz. i'm not sure what i'll read next. i'm in the mood to be scared. any suggestions?

Deathbird Stories by Harlan Ellison

Maybe scared isn't the right word, disturbed might be better.

Lamont

Cthulhu

11-04-2004, 12:25 AM

Just finished 'Gateways' by F. Paul Wilson.

Reading 'Hogfather' by Terry Pratchett

Cthulhu

Touch Of Death

11-04-2004, 01:40 AM

Just finished 'Gateways' by F. Paul Wilson.

Reading 'Hogfather' by Terry Pratchett

CthulhuI'm reading "Blackwood Farm" by Anne Rice. Is "Gateways" a continuation of a series or is it an hospital book?
Sean

Touch Of Death

11-04-2004, 01:42 AM

I finally picked up Dune and started reading it. And yes, it's quite good so far. :)Your hooked. :ultracool
Sean

Feisty Mouse

11-04-2004, 02:35 PM

Just finished 'Gateways' by F. Paul Wilson.

Reading 'Hogfather' by Terry Pratchett

Cthulhu
Pratchett is so funny. I'm waiting to get his latest - I think it's Monstrous Regiment.

Cthulhu

11-05-2004, 12:33 AM

Reading "Thief of Time" by Pratchett now

Cthulhu

Blindside

11-16-2004, 12:35 AM

"Chance" by Robert Parker, another witty Spenser novel, fun but forgettable.

"Cloud of Sparrows" by Takashi Matsuoka, wow was I disappointed, I hate to say it, but Clavell is way better in showing eastern culture through western eyes, or for that matter eastern culture through eastern eyes.

"Damphir" by the Hendees, I liked the world creation, but the repeated fights between the same opponents got old. I liked that the heros are mortal and that someone actually put a falchion in a story.

Getting back into the Napoleanic wars era by reading "Rifleman Dodd" by CS Forester immediately followed by "Sharpe's Siege" by Cromwell.

Ah winter, when I actually have time to read.

Lamont

Rynocerous

11-20-2004, 06:16 PM

I'm currently reading "Dreamcatcher" by Stephen King.

Ryan

OULobo

11-20-2004, 06:18 PM

I just picked up Donaldson's new Thomas Covanent book.

5 hand swords

11-20-2004, 06:28 PM

Last book I finished was The System of The World by Neal Stephenson.
Currently I am not reading anything but this list is giveing me some Ideas

Xequat

11-20-2004, 07:00 PM

Rading book 7 of Stephen King's Dark Tower series. It's the final installment and I've heard that it's to be his final book altogether. I love the series and I'm about 500 pages into the last book. It hasn't disappointed so far. As far as series go, I like The Lord of the Rings, of course, The Song of Ice and Fire by George R. R. Martin, and this one the best. I've read the Orson Scott Card Maker series and Ender series, about 2/3 of the Wheel of Time, but I got tired of them looking for that stupid weather bowl for three books and quit the series, Death Gate Cycle (also quite good...a little different), first 6 Dragonlance, maybe a few others. I love the Dark Tower, though. It's cool because so many of his other books refer to it.

Cthulhu

11-20-2004, 09:08 PM

Re-reading "A Haunted Air", one of F. Paul Wilson's 'Repairman Jack' books. Great series and great character.

Cthulhu

Feisty Mouse

11-20-2004, 10:24 PM

Just finished The Phoenix Guards by Stephen Brust at about 5:30am with a bout of insomnia.

Now I want to go back and finish reading the series that he started with Jhereg. He's a fun author.

I was thinking of picking up the latest Tad Williams books, but the first trilogy I read that he wrote sucked me in so much, I'm hesitant.

5 hand swords

11-21-2004, 01:15 AM

Burst and Pratchatt first - Williams is not the same class IMHO

ABN

11-28-2004, 08:56 PM

Return Engagement by Harry Turtledove and Star Bright! by Andrew Greeley. I guess I should start getting into the holiday spirit and Greeley's books are pretty good for that.

Feisty Mouse

11-29-2004, 12:23 PM

Finished The Phoenix Guards and then Five Hundred Years After, by S. Brust.... Now starting Cloud Atlas, I picked it up because it looks odd and interesting, and suppossedly is similar to Haruki Murakami's work, and he's a talented whacko (if a bit dark!), and I like his stuff a lot.I should be doing more science reading in my free time, but....

Adept

12-05-2004, 07:18 AM

I'm currently re-reading The Ninja by Eric van Lustbader, for about the tenth time. I cant quite place it, but there is just something comfortable and familiar about it. Reading it is like slipping on an old pair of comfy slippers.

Blindside

12-05-2004, 10:09 AM

Finished the Rifleman by Forester and Sharpe's Siege by Cornwall.

Both very good, and sort of complementary, the Rifleman is about a seperated soldier from the 95th Rifles, and Sharpe is an ex-officer of the 95th. Good stuff, if you like Napoleonic wars settings.

The Shadow of Saganami by David Weber, a nice return to the single-ship space opera that made Weber famous. I'm looking forward to seeing more of this crew.

Rain Fall by Eisler, which was VERY good. An action-thriller set in modern day Japan. The city of Tokyo rang very true, and the description of the judo matches at the kodenkan were very nice. An interesting perspective on Japan, one that isn't seen very often. It looks like this is a series now, so I'm going to have to pick up the next one.

Starting Mirrorshades an older Cyberpunk anthology.

Lamont

Mithios

12-05-2004, 02:22 PM

Finished, Blood & gold, and now i am going back to finish up with dark ages vampire (ravnos) book 6. There are 13 book's in it so i will probably take another break and read some thing else, later. Mithios

Cthulhu

12-05-2004, 10:26 PM

Rereading "The Tomb", the first 'Repairman Jack' novel by F. Paul Wilson. I'm reading the earlier printing from the nineties, with it's Betamax players, cassette boomboxes, and typewriters. Hope to get the update version soon.

Cthulhu

OnlyAnEgg

12-15-2004, 09:33 AM

Just finished Neuromancer, by William Gibson and am about 3/4 done with Clavell's Shogun.

Next? Taipan, I guess.

kelly keltner

12-15-2004, 01:06 PM

the most recent fiction book is entitled "How George W. Bush Stole the election"

kk

qizmoduis

12-15-2004, 02:02 PM

Now I'm working on "Pandora's Star" by Peter F. Hamilton. His last set of books (Neutronium Alchemist, etc.) were pretty much space opera, whereas this is much more of a harder, speculative style. It's pretty good so far. Hamilton's a fairly decent author.

K Williams

12-26-2004, 12:05 PM

The Bourne Supremacy(The book is better than the movie...as usual.)

Feisty Mouse

12-26-2004, 08:58 PM

Paths of the Dead by Stephen Brust.

It's really only the first part of one big novel, the Viscount of Andrilahnka (sp???? - I know that's wrong) series.
I got a whole stack of nonfiction books for Christmas, so I'll be in the other thread for a while, I guess.

AC_Pilot

01-21-2005, 02:06 PM

Recently, and right now:

The last of the Mohicans

Ivanhoe

The Count of Monte Cristo

The Three Musketeers

The Sea Hawk, by Sabatini
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My favorite fiction books of all time are The Nine Princes in Amber series by Roger Zelazny, and The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkein.

Blindside

01-21-2005, 02:52 PM

Hard Rain by Barry Eisler, better than the first great urban tactical stuff, nasty knives, and the importance of suprise and range.

Playmates, Ceremony, and Pale Kings and Princes by Parker. More Spenser and Hawk in action. Always good.

The Coming of Conan the Cimmerian by Howard. The first book in a chronological compilation of Conan tales. As a dedicated Sci Fi and Fantasy reader I'm somewhat embarrassed to say that these are the first of the Conan stories I have read.

Legends II: Shortstory compilation, I mostly read it for the Dunk and Egg story as a fix for whenever Martin finishes Feast of Crows.

Lamont

Feisty Mouse

01-21-2005, 04:28 PM

I just finished The Diamond Age: Or, a Young Lady's Illustrated Primer, by Neal Stephenson.

It was excellent.

Cthulhu

01-26-2005, 07:00 PM

Crisscross - Latest Repairman Jack book from F. Paul Wilson

Just finished re-reading Bernard Cornwell's 'Warlord Chronicles', in my opinion, the best version of Arthurian legend available. Series is comprised of: The Winter King, Enemy of God, and Excalibur

Cthulhu

Missy

01-27-2005, 07:01 PM

"Little Polar Bear and the Brave Little Hare" by Hans de Beer

Only 43 pages long but WOW does it rock ..<wink>

Mis

Fightback2

01-27-2005, 09:06 PM

Good, Bad . . . Better (Harlequin Blaze). I admit, without much shame :rolleyes: , that I'm addicted to romance novels. (I may look like an unabridged dictionary, but I'm a trashy novel at heart.)

Eldritch Knight

01-28-2005, 07:32 AM

American Gods. A friend recommended it to me, and its turning out to be quite the page-turner.

Blindside

02-01-2005, 01:21 AM

Dies the Fire by S.M. Stirling sort of a post-apocalyptic northwest US meets the feudal age book.

I really liked it, but then I would be reasonably well prepared should such a catastrophe takes place. I could finally justify my hobby of collecting large, functional, sharp and pointy implements to my wife. :) I must get into bowmaking though....

Lamont

Schtankybampo

02-11-2005, 03:38 PM

Rain Fall, by Barry Eisler

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by JK Rowling

The Fifth Elephant, by Terry Pratchett

and

Stone of Tears, by Tery Goodkind

Yes, all at the same time. I read zonally. One is in the Living room, one in the car, one in the knapsack, one at my desk...

Feisty Mouse

02-11-2005, 03:43 PM

Schtankybampo ~ I totally understand the zonal reading.

Right now, I finished up Asimov's Foundation, and am into Foundation and Empire. Quick reads, very interesting, never dull.... Asimov is fab.

I'm thinking of starting the Neal Stephenson Baroque trilogy, but it's huge - I'm afraid I'll get lost in it! :)

KenpoTess

02-11-2005, 04:01 PM

Yeppers Zonal reading is all good :)

I'm reading Fred Saberhagen

The Book of the Gods
The Face of Apollo
Ariadne's Web
The Arms of Hercules
God of the Golden Fleece
Gods of Fire and Thunder

I'm on God of the Golden Fleece right now.. can't find The Arms of Hercules around here.. grrr.. but luckily they are each their own tale.
Good reads :)

Schtankybampo

02-11-2005, 07:23 PM

ABE.com is great for gently used titles, I'll bet they can find the one you're missing. Me, I have this weird fetish for the smell of new books, so I'm an Amazon.com girl...

KenpoTess

02-12-2005, 09:23 AM

Thanks Morgan~! :)

Yes, Amazon has it and we should all know if we poke the Amazon buttons at the bottom of MT index and purchase.. MT gets a cut :)

I'm just a penniless Martial Artist who relies on the local library for my books unless it's a collection I really want to purchase.. but since we're in the process of building our house.. I am holding back on having to pack even more books~!!
I'll see if the library can get ahold of a copy ;)

LT2002

02-12-2005, 03:19 PM

Hope to begin "Rain Storm" by Barry Eisler this week.

Recently finished,
"The way of the warrior" by John Gilbey and
"The Last Juror" and "Bleachers" by Grisham

Rex Downie Jr.

02-12-2005, 05:56 PM

Angels and Demons by Brown - a fictional tale of the Illuminati attacking the Roman Catholic Church. :Facinating, though I am a Protestant. Rex Downie

Schtankybampo

02-13-2005, 12:50 PM

I've read all of the Dan Brown books so far, and have to say that I completely enjoyed every single one of them. :) I think I liked Angels & Demons more than I liked the much-vaunted DaVincini code, and that's saying a lot, since I'm a art major.

Thanks for mentioning the MT/Amazon link, Tess, I'd never noticed it before, but will definately be clicking in there from now on!

M

Melissa426

02-20-2005, 01:57 PM

The Dante Club ... Matthew Pearl

Historical fiction about a series of murders committed to imitate the deaths of sinners in Dante's inferno, 1865 Boston

Loved it.

Peace,
Melissa

Cthulhu

02-20-2005, 02:25 PM

The Dante Club ... Matthew Pearl

Historical fiction about a series of murders committed to imitate the deaths of sinners in Dante's inferno, 1865 Boston

Loved it.

Peace,
Melissa
I read The Dante Clube very shortly after reading The Davinci Code. Maybe because it was I had just finished The Davinci Code, but I was a bit disappointed in The Dante Club. I was interested in the book, being a fan of The Inferno, but I just found it a chore to finish The Dante Club.

Cthulhu

K Williams

02-23-2005, 11:04 AM

I just finished reading Hard Rain by Barry Eisler. It's a pretty good read, and even includes some ASP baton vs. knife work near the end.

Blindside

03-22-2005, 11:58 AM

Hmm, its been a while, time to bump this thread. :)

Rain Storm by Barry Eisler - excellent as usual, I think Hard Rain edged it though.

The Monkey Wrench Gang by Edward Abbey - the book that inspired Earth First! I read it about 12 years ago as a much younger and more idealistic environmentalist and it isn't holding the same appeal to me.

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton - the modern world meets fantasy monsters, appealing because of its quality world creation.

Lamont

Seig

03-23-2005, 03:08 AM

The GodFather Returns

Loki

03-23-2005, 04:08 AM

Fiction? What's fiction? Everything's real, isn't it?

I don't read much fiction, but the last book I did read was Good Omens by Terry Prattchet and Neil Gaiman.

~ Loki

arnisador

03-26-2005, 10:32 PM

The GodFather Returns
How was that? The reviews I read were mixed. I only read The Godfather fairly recently, then re-watched the movies.

I'm now re-reading The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy in advance of seeing the movie.

arnisador

04-13-2005, 11:48 PM

Paradise Lost, Milton.

Pretty boring, actually.

K Williams

04-14-2005, 12:18 AM

Avenger by Frederick Forsyth

Raewyn

04-14-2005, 05:03 AM

Have just finished reading:

The Legacy
Starless Night
Seige of Darkness
Passage to Dawn

All part of the Drow series by R A Salvator

Awesome series, so many other books of his to read

Feisty Mouse

04-14-2005, 12:18 PM

The Siege of Krishnapur by JG Farrell.

The Kai

04-14-2005, 12:42 PM

Devil in the White City
Eric Lerner

rutherford

04-14-2005, 01:00 PM

I just read King of Foxes by Raymond Fiest, the second book in his Conclave of Shadows series. It suffers from many of the same problems that plague Fiest's works. Its pacing is inconsistent, the climax and ending are rushed through, etc. But the characters are always interesting and this work is far from his worst novel.

And, I'll read anything by Fiest. The first adult length novel I picked up was his Magician, where it all began. So, they're comfort reading for me now and a good way to spend an afternoon. (Rarely do I spend more than a few hours to finish a book)

Looking forward to the next book's release in paperback. China Mieville and William Gibson are about the only fiction authors I'll buy in hardcover . . . although Stover's novellization of Episode III is really tempting me. He's an amazing writer as well.

SwedishChef

04-20-2005, 09:51 AM

Stories From The Twilight Zone. Rod Serling was a genius.

rutherford

04-20-2005, 10:00 AM

I've been reading a couple of Lee Child's books on Jack Reacher. I finished Tripwire early in the week and started Die Trying last night. If you like mystery thriller or Men's Adventure novels, I recommend this series.

Crom

04-20-2005, 12:18 PM

Closing Time by Joseph Heller

Had to rush out and buy it as soon as i'd finished Catch 22, i'd advisew everyone who hasn't to read it. Funny and poignant in a way no one else manages.

hardheadjarhead

04-20-2005, 12:48 PM

Ack! I put a non-fiction book in the fiction section. Must edit...must...

I'm reading "Tides of War." That's a work of fiction. Pretty good, too.

Regards,

Steve

Fightback2

04-20-2005, 03:58 PM

Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon

arnisador

04-20-2005, 05:33 PM

(Re-reading) The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, Douglas Adams

SwedishChef

04-20-2005, 08:22 PM

Have they stolen the ship yet?

arnisador

04-20-2005, 08:53 PM

Yeah, that was the first book.

Ronin Moose

04-20-2005, 11:33 PM

Deshi, by John Donahue. It's a follow up, with the same principal character, to Sensei, which came out last year. Great read and a well crafted martial arts thriller.

-Garry

SwedishChef

04-21-2005, 09:37 AM

Yeah, that was the first book.
I meant the rockstar's black ship. :)

Blindside

04-22-2005, 11:22 AM

Pattern Recognition by William Gibson - very good

Crown of Slaves by David Weber/Eric Flint - pretty standard Honorverse stuff, much better than War of Honor.

HMS Surprise by Patrick O'Brian - just starting, but good stuff as usual.

K Williams

04-22-2005, 02:03 PM

Teeth of the Tiger by Tom Clancy

Feisty Mouse

04-22-2005, 05:07 PM

The Sword of Shannara, Terry Brooks. I hear it's a classic.

Don Roley

04-24-2005, 04:22 AM

Slight change in topic, just slight.

I just finished reading "Men at Arms" by Terry Pratchett. I buy English language books well in advance since there are no bookstores in my city (in Japan) that sell them. So I have several to choose from for my next selection.

Here are the choices I am debating.

Soul Music By Pratchett.

The Final Prophecy (New Jedi Order) by Greg Keyes

Hard Rain by Barry Eisler

The Doublecross Program by Chris Bunch and

Star Swarm by Jerry Pournelle.

Some feedback would be welcome before I crack open my next fiction book.

Paul B

04-24-2005, 06:40 PM

Hi Don,

I would recommend anything by Chris Bunch. I love his Seer,Demon,Warrior King series..outstanding work. I'm really not that into the "swords and dragons" type of books,but he does a more "believable" job than most.

IMO,Terry Brooks is way overrated. Sorry,Fiesty. Check out George RR Martin's series for some good "fantasy" reading.

Don Roley

04-24-2005, 06:50 PM

Hi Don,

I would recommend anything by Chris Bunch. I love his Seer,Demon,Warrior King series..outstanding work.

Cough....cough....Sten.....cough...cough......

Paul B

04-24-2005, 07:52 PM

*Ahem*....which is a great way to remind me that *outstanding* is maybe not the best choice of words. Ah well....I enjoyed them.:)

Don Roley

04-25-2005, 12:52 AM

I liked the Sten series. Going to start on the Bunch book in a few hours. Thanks!!!

Raewyn

04-25-2005, 06:16 PM

The Sword of Shannara, Terry Brooks. I hear it's a classic.
The whole series are awesome, would recommend!!

Blindside

04-26-2005, 09:26 PM

rmcpeek

04-26-2005, 11:41 PM

The Bear and the Dragon - Tom Clancy

Don Roley

04-27-2005, 08:14 AM

Hard Rain by Eisler! Better than the first book in my opinion.

I really didn't like Star Swarm and I stopped reading the Star War universe books along time ago.

Lamont

Well then I probably will go to Hard Rain in the near future. Oh, and I am on a mailing list with the author (hence me getting his first two books) and will probably be meeting up with him this summer. Gloat, gloat!!!!! I also have the Clancy novel rmcpeek mentioned.

All these books just waiting to be read... and that is only the begining of the potential. I think I have 50 or so novels waiting to be read. I am on page 61 on The Doublecross Program by Chris Bunch and loving the way it reminds me of his novel "The Wolf Worlds" along with Alan Cole. Thanks Paul B!!!! :asian:

JenniM

04-29-2005, 05:53 AM

Patricia Cornwell - "Trace" :)

arnisador

06-18-2005, 10:40 PM

Life, the Universe, and Everything, Douglas Adams

Feisty Mouse

06-19-2005, 12:49 AM

Faithful Unto Death, have to remember the author. Very good writing, mystery.

Jmh7331

06-19-2005, 01:00 AM

I just finished "Over On The Dry Side" by Louis L'Amour tonight.

OULobo

06-19-2005, 02:39 PM

The Marquis, Danse Macabre by Guy Davis

hardheadjarhead

07-05-2005, 09:21 PM

Bangkok 8, by John Burdett. I just finished it.

A friend of mine from Hawaii sent me, her husband (in Iraq) and her sister a copy. I don't normally read fiction, but felt obliged given her great enthusiasm for it. Hell, when you send books halfway around the world to friends, I'd say that's enthusiasm.

Surprisingly, it was a very good book. It's a "whodunnit" set in Thailand. The protagonist is a half-Thai/half-American son-of-Thai-prostitute buddhist cop whose partner is murdered.

Martial artists would dig this book, I think. People who have been to Thailand would dig this book. People who like an interesting prose style would like this book...Burdett is a good writer, and not just a mystery hack.

Regards,

Steve

arnisador

07-18-2005, 09:03 PM

HP6, of course.

Gene Williams

07-19-2005, 07:41 AM

"Barnaby Rudge," by Charles Dickens and Shakespeare's Comedies.

Blindside

07-19-2005, 11:09 AM

The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Robinson - Wow, very different fantasy/alternate history from what I am used to seeing from Turtledove or Stirling. The "what if" is "what if the black plague wiped out 99% of western Europe rather than 1/3. Throw in reincarnation and alot of education on Hindu, Muslim, and Chinese cultures and you have a very interesting product. As a word of warning it is not an action/adventure type of book.

Killing Rain by Barry Eisler - just starting but looking forward to it, I thought the previous books in the series were great.

Lamont

TheEdge883

07-19-2005, 02:56 PM

HP6, of course.

Don't know if you've finished it yet, or are a Harry Potter fan, but the end will blow you away :)

Brother John

07-19-2005, 03:42 PM

"The Drawing of the Three"
By Stephen King, it's book II of the Dark Tower series...

about a third of the way through right now, enjoying it.

Your Brother
John

TheEdge883

07-19-2005, 04:20 PM

"The Drawing of the Three"
By Stephen King, it's book II of the Dark Tower series...

about a third of the way through right now, enjoying it.

Your Brother
John

Drawing of the three was pretty slow for me, but that might be because I started reading it when it came out so long ago (I think my parents gave me the book 15 years ago as a hospital gift and I just never picked it up after I started). The Wastelands is where it starts getting really good :)

Dan G

07-19-2005, 08:21 PM

"The Lathe of Heaven" by Ursula le Guin.

I love her stuff, really subtle writing style and produces sci-fi or fantasy with lots of deep social, emotional and philosophical issues explored. One of my all time favourite writers, and I return to her books a lot. It is a tough call, but as a fantasy writer I prefer her to Tolkein - chalk and cheese, but she is a more skilled writer IMHO. Her "Wizard of EarthSea" quartet is a modern masterpeice. Soon to be in film apparently.

Last fiction book was "The Feast of the Goat" by Mario Varga Llosa - good read and some deep stuff on courage and inaction. Deals with the historical assasination of a Dominican dictator. Thought provoking stuff.

Dan