What are you reading?

[x105Black]

I did read in High School Xenocide and started Children of the Mind but I lost interest halfway through. Honestly I can't remember much of the latter books, they are definitely far more intellectual and less action packed. The end of Xenocide and the subject for Children of the Mind just got a little to weird for me to follow. Ultimately I would have to say they are very forgettable stories compared to the original Ender's Game and Speaker of the Dead.

If you were to continue reading the Ender-verse stuff I would recommend Ender's Shadow, it offers a good look at Beane's story and really makes him a more fleshed out character. There was also a graphic novel short story thing I really liked in high school but I can't seem to find it online for the life of me.

I'll have to consider this input. Thanks! Ender's Shadow seemed a bit unrelated to me, tangentially connected to Ender's story, but maybe I'll pick that one up.

I read Xenocide, but I haven't had time to read Children of the Mind. And Xboxtravis is right about the more intellectual story, with an extra does of wackiness at the end.

I don't mind intellectual. I found Speaker to be more intellectual and less action packed than Ender's Game already, but thoroughly enjoyed both. Thanks for the opinion, though!

I really want to go and reread that one.

Do it! It was a really good read. I've got a couple more Bradbury books I plan to read, as well. He's a brilliant writer.

Edited August 25, 2016 by x105Black

[BrickTamland]

Just reading through Homer's Odyssey, I've been on a bit of a epic/classic poetry kick as before that I read Beowulf, and Gawain and the Green Knight.

[Vindicare]

Just reading through Homer's Odyssey, I've been on a bit of a epic/classic poetry kick as before that I read Beowulf, and Gawain and the Green Knight.

Huh...I would've sworn the span of book interests revolved around lamps...

Reading "The Vagrant" by Peter Newman

[TheBigRedCheese]

On 8/24/2016 at 6:04 PM, x105Black said:

This morning I finished reading Speaker For The Dead. It was a great read. I'm not sure if I will continue reading other books in the series, but I really enjoyed this one and Ender's Game. Very different, but both very good.

I also started to read Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Place this afternoon. I'm excited to be reading Heinlein, this is my first and I've heard great things. I'm only about 15 pages in, and I'm already enjoying it quite a bit.

I imagine you're done with Stranger in a Strange Land now, and you may be onto something else, but if you enjoyed Heinlen, I'd highly, highly, recommend reading his short story All You Zombies.

Edited October 10, 2016 by TheBigRedCheese
GRAMMAR!

[x105Black]

On 10/8/2016 at 10:59 PM, TheBigRedCheese said:

I imagine your done with Stranger in a Strange Land now, and you may be onto something else, but if you enjoyed Heinlen, I'd highly, highly, recommend reading his short story All You Zombies.

Thanks for the recommendation.  I am actually finished with that book, and have since read Asimov's Second Foundation, which is a wonderful book.  I am really enjoying the Foundation series, spacing them out so I don't devour the whole thing too fast.

I am currently reading Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury.  It's a beautifully written book.  He is a fantastic writer of short stories, but I prefer his novels.  He's got so much more room to breathe, and it really works with his style.

[Forresto]

I can't compete with the awesome hardcore sci-fi others are reading but I just got finished with Heir to the Empire for the first time since I was a kid. I never read the other two Thrawn trilogy books but so far the first installment is fantastic! 

[Retrobrick83]

Through the Looking Glass. I finished Alice in Wonderland and I'm enjoying the sequel just as much! 

[Ultron]

Speedboat by Renata Adler. Snooze. Got halfway through and stopped. 

[x105Black]

I finished Something Wicked This Way Comes, and am now about halfway through the Martian Chronicles by the same author.  It's a really interesting read.

[Vindicare]

On October 16, 2016 at 2:26 PM, Forresto said:

I can't compete with the awesome hardcore sci-fi others are reading but I just got finished with Heir to the Empire for the first time since I was a kid. I never read the other two Thrawn trilogy books but so far the first installment is fantastic! 

I never paid much attention to the Star Wars books. But a few years ago, when Darth Revan was the "May the Fourth" promo minifig, I looked more into him & got his book. I have heard nothing but good things about this trilogy & do plan on picking them up. 

 

Just got through reading "The Fever Code" by James Dashner. The precursor(albeit released after) to the "Maze Runner" series. Fun read. Answered a few questions & gave cool insight on how things came to be. 

 

 

[x105Black]

18 hours ago, Vindicare said:

I never paid much attention to the Star Wars books. But a few years ago, when Darth Revan was the "May the Fourth" promo minifig, I looked more into him & got his book. I have heard nothing but good things about this trilogy & do plan on picking them up. 

I've only read a few of them, myself.  The one's I've read have been good, but there are almost always things that don't seem right.  All of the books I've read were from the old Expanded Universe, and there were a lot of strange things that I didn't like because I didn't feel they went with the movies.  I assume the new books (and comics) are better about this, but they did give Han Solo a wife before Leia so I'm not sure how confident I am in that statement.

[Im a brickmaster.]

2 hours ago, x105Black said:

I've only read a few of them, myself.  The one's I've read have been good, but there are almost always things that don't seem right.  All of the books I've read were from the old Expanded Universe, and there were a lot of strange things that I didn't like because I didn't feel they went with the movies.  I assume the new books (and comics) are better about this, but they did give Han Solo a wife before Leia so I'm not sure how confident I am in that statement.

I never really got into the EU either, the only thing I've read was Last of the Jedi I think? When I was a kid. Even then I was very skeptical of cheesy scifi books but from what remember by the time I got to the end it was pretty legit. I liked the idea of there being a guardian on Aldaran like Obi-wan with luke

[Vindicare]

On October 18, 2016 at 5:39 PM, x105Black said:

I've only read a few of them, myself.  The one's I've read have been good, but there are almost always things that don't seem right.  All of the books I've read were from the old Expanded Universe, and there were a lot of strange things that I didn't like because I didn't feel they went with the movies.  I assume the new books (and comics) are better about this, but they did give Han Solo a wife before Leia so I'm not sure how confident I am in that statement.

I read the main story Star Wars comic, I think it does pretty well sticking to the known stories told in the movies, but strays slightly to add to them, like Han having a wife. 

[Iria]

Lately I haven't done a lot of non-school related reading and have a pile of unopened books. But I have been reading a bit on the topic of Molecular Mimicry. Weird stuff. I also found myself reading about Lanternfish, which are possibly the most revolting animal imaginable.

[x105Black]

I finished The Martian Chronicles.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.  I love Bradbury's style.

Now I am reading First Lensman by E. E. "Doc" Smith.  This is the sequel to Triplanetary, which I read earlier this year.  Wonderful space opera from the first half of the 1900's.

[berrys66]

On 09/10/2016 at 3:59 AM, TheBigRedCheese said:

I imagine you're done with Stranger in a Strange Land now, and you may be onto something else, but if you enjoyed Heinlen, I'd highly, highly, recommend reading his short story All You Zombies.

Starship Troopers is good too. The terrible film with the same name has almost nothing to do with the book and is based on literally about 6 pages in the middle of the book. If you read Starship Troopers then you absolutely have to read Bill The Galactic Hero which is Harry Harrison's satire/pastiche on Starship Troopers. Absolutely hilarious.

Currently reading The long way To A Small angry Planet by Becky Chambers which isn't your normal run-of-the-mill sci-fi. This is more kind of space opera in an Ursula Le Guin style.

[Forresto]

Dark Force Rising - If you read any Star Wars EU read the original Thrawn Trilogy, incredible. It really feels as close to a Star Wars movie as any of the books have ever gotten. If you want to read any SW EU/ Legends I would recommend: 

The Thrawn Trilogy (Heir to the Empire, Dark Force Rising, and The Last Command) Set Five years after Return of the Jedi 

The X-Wing Quadrilogy (Rogue Squadron, Wedge's Gamble, The Krytos Trap, and The Bacta Wars.) Set a year or so after Return of the Jedi so if you want to go chronologically read these before Thrawn.

Shadows of the Empire (Never read it but I've only ever heard great things) Set during Empire Strikes Back and the time between ESB and Return of the Jedi.

Honorable Mentions: Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina, The Truce at Bakura, and The Courtship of Princess Leia 

 

4 hours ago, berrys66 said:

Starship Troopers is good too. The terrible film with the same name has almost nothing to do with the book and is based on literally about 6 pages in the middle of the book. If you read Starship Troopers then you absolutely have to read Bill The Galactic Hero which is Harry Harrison's satire/pastiche on Starship Troopers. Absolutely hilarious.

I would agree that it's a terrible adaptation but I have to say it's a brilliant movie. It's subjective I know and I totally respect your opinion and that you dislike it  I'm only saying this for the people who haven't seen it. Just know it's it's a satire and has the coolest aliens of almost any sci fi. 

Edited November 1, 2016 by Forresto

[npgcole]

The latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid that came out today. 

Yeah, I know the kid's in middle school and I'm graduated now, but the series is still entertaining to me. Another funny installment.

I must admit though, at 11 books, I'm starting to run out of shelf space. 

[The Architect]

The Hobbit!

 

[zoth33]

The Dragons Path by Daniel Abraham.  It has some very interesting plots and a very expansive world.  Its the first of a series of books.  A great fantasy novel.

[x105Black]

On 11/1/2016 at 11:09 AM, berrys66 said:

Starship Troopers is good too. The terrible film with the same name has almost nothing to do with the book and is based on literally about 6 pages in the middle of the book.

On 11/1/2016 at 3:31 PM, Forresto said:

I would agree that it's a terrible adaptation but I have to say it's a brilliant movie. It's subjective I know and I totally respect your opinion and that you dislike it  I'm only saying this for the people who haven't seen it. Just know it's it's a satire and has the coolest aliens of almost any sci fi. 

I found Starship Troopers to be a great movie, once I accepted the satire and comedy.

[The Architect]

Just finished Sugar Ray Leonards auto biography! Definitely worth the read!

[x105Black]

I'm just about to finish First Lensman.  I really enjoy the story and characters.  The writing is not as good as other authors I've read lately, though, and I prefer the more adventurous story of Triplanetary to this story, which is more based on espionage and intrigue.  E. E. "Doc" Smith has great ideas, and I'll probably continue this series later.  Not sure what I'll read next, though.

Edited November 9, 2016 by x105Black

[Vindicare]

Roboute Guilliman by David Annandale. The first in the series "Primarchs" of the Warhammer 40K universe. 

[x105Black]

So I finished First Lensman.  It was a good story.

Now I'm reading Foundation's Edge by Asimov.  So far, so good.  I have been thoroughly enjoying this series.  Great stories, and so well written.