what are you reading?

[F-ZeroOne]

Just finished Nation. Possibly best thought of as "Small Gods" for a slightly younger audience. Giles might like to know about what I am sure will become known in geographical circles as the "Terry Pratchett 'Its pissing down outside again' theory of Empire building"...

[HGFB]

I've just finished reading Nation by Terry Pratchett. It's an odd book. I enjoyed it. It was certainly refreshing to see Terry do something other than Discworld again but it seemed to be missing something. A plot I think. It was good but more a collection of "episodes" starring the same characters with only a couple of flimsy plot points holding it all together.

Next up I'm going to read the last 60 pages on the Bolo book that Terry interrupted and then I don't know. I might finally finish Cryptonomicon and then move onto Anathem (Out on Tuesday folks).

I did also read the entire Zenith Phase I on my Sony Reader. I had to get a bit closer than normal to read the text but it was very enjoyable.

[F-ZeroOne]

Finished The Last Colony by John Scalzi, which is entertaining but perhaps just a little too neatly wrapped up, and moved onto "The Battle", a history of the Battle of Waterloo. And seeing as I seem to have mind-melded with HGFB recently, my fourth Doctor figure arrived today too.

[nyarla]

I am reading Foundation and Empire by Asimov.. Felt like some oldschoolish scifi, and I've only read two of his books before! I am enjoying it.

Next is Merrick by Anne Rice. I wanted to read her Mayfair Witches books again, but the library only had the 3rd one. I read the first five or six of her vampire books years ago, and liked them.. but I loved the witches ones. Saw Merrick on the shelf and it sounds like a crossover between the two series.

I've also been reading Book of the Damned and Lo! by Charles Fort, on the Internet Sacred Text Archive. Charles Fort is so grumpy, he's awesome.

"I believe nothing. I have shut myself away from the rocks and wisdoms of ages, and from the so-called great teachers of all time, and perhaps because of that isolation I am given to bizarre hospitalities. I shut the front door upon Christ and Einstein, and at the back door hold out a welcoming hand to little frogs and periwinkles. I believe nothing of my own that I have ever written."

[HGFB]

Rather an odd Asimov to start with though. The arse end of the Foundation series

I'm finally hoping to finish Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson and then I'll probably move onto his new one Anathem.

[nyarla]

It was all they had at the library :/

[zip accident]

Rather an odd Asimov to start with though. The arse end of the Foundation series

Is it? I thought it was the second of three?

I think that's the order I read them in, but it's a long time ago.

[HGFB]

It is. For some reason I was thinking it was Foundation's Edge. I must be going mental.

[HGFB]

I finished Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson yesterday and I'm currently reading the rather excellent Perfection City by Greg Egan.

I want to read this but I can't find an ebook version anywhere.

[lazerwalker]

I'm halfway through 'Consider the Lobster' by David Foster Wallace. I'd never really read much by him before (the odd short magazine article), but what better time to start than just after he commits suicide.

It's a collection of non fiction (I once again picked Infinite Jest up at Borders, and then returned it to the shelf intimidated). Amongst other things, we've had essays on the 1998 Adult Video News awards, 60+ pages on descriptivism verses prescriptivism in language, and John McCain's 2000 primary campaign. All very interesting (no, really) and highly recommended if you like that sort of thing.

On an entirely different note: HGFB, how was Cycler?

[limb_clock]

I just finished reading Nation as well, and thought it was far more serious than the Discworld books. I thought it was Ok, but not great.

[HGFB]

On an entirely different note: HGFB, how was Cycler?

How did you know I had a copy of that?

[lazerwalker]

I've been spying on you for the last month, and know every detail of your life (and you told us a few pages back).

[PVB]

On an entirely different note: HGFB, how was Cycler?

How did you know I had a copy of that?

He lives in your ceiling..............


I'm currently reading Old Man's War by John Scalzi, after hearing about the author from Bog, when he wanted me to get John's autograph on my trip to Dragon*Con.

Really enjoying it, even managing to get through large sections of it, due no not being able to put it down as I want to see what happens next.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Man%27s_War

[HGFB]

I've been spying on you for the last month, and know every detail of your life (and you told us a few pages back).

I haven't read it yet