SF/F Books: Chapter Two - What Are You Reading?

[S. Gomez]

Only one story left in Different Seasons (I realize now how foolish it was to mention it in the Sci-Fi/Fantasy forum). It's made me want to check out more Stephen King; he writes much better than I expected, to be honest. His writing flows nicely and keeps me turning the pages.

Anyways, I'm seriously thinking about getting into The Dark Tower. One thing about it that bothers me about it, though, is hearing that it ties into King's other books. I don't really want to have to read 30+ books or whatever it is. Would anyone familiar with the series be willing to advise me whether or not I'd be able to understand the seven main books without having to read others?

I read the first four (my favorites) after having only read The Stand and 'Salem's Lot. I read the last three later on, but I don't think you actually HAVE to read the others to understand what's going on. There are a few minor characters (Father Callahan, Salem's Lot; Randall Flagg, The Stand; Ted Brautigan, Hearts in Atlantis), but how they got to Mid-World/End-World is explained in the Dark Tower series. I highly recommend them.

Thanks for answering! I got The Gunslinger from the library, but it'll be a little bit before I get to it. I already plan to buy the series if I can, and also to read Hearts In Atlantis and maybe The Stand when they come up in the publishing order.

I confess I'm a little squeamish when it comes to "blood 'n guts", so I don't really want to get too far into King's horror novels. I know it's a vampire taking over a small town, but is 'Salem's Lot especially gory?

 

[DanTheGrey]

Since I last posted I've read...

- Living Dead in Dallas (Sookie Stackhouse 2)
- Club Dead (Sookie Stackhouse 3)
- Over a Torrent Sea (Titan book 5)
- Star Trek - Singular Destiny

I'll be starting the latest Star Wars novel (Outcast) this afternoon.

 

[BrotherBenny]

I'm currently (still) reading:

- Voice of the Gods (Age of the Five book III)
- Mere Anarchy
- Over a Torrent Sea
- Temeraire

I hope to finish Over a Torrent Sea today, and if I'm lucky, Voice of the Gods too, in which case I'll move onto The Magician's Apprentice, Canavan's latest novel, which serves as a prequel to the Black Magicians Trilogy.

 

[Maestro]

I've stepped out of SF/F temporarily to read Josh Bazell's Beat the Reaper. Funny, funny stuff. Much better than Torchwood: Another Life or Raymond BensonBond: Doubleshot.

 

[S. Gomez]

I finished The Green Mile, which was just as good as I remember the movie being (although it's been years since I've actually seen it). After a short interlude, I've picked up the first entry in The Dark Tower.

(King's Bag of Bones is also starting to look interesting...)

 

[S. Gomez]

**Don't know why there was a double post. Sorry.**

 

[shanejayell]

Just finished the Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya novel. Pretty good.

 

[Klagg]

I finished Angel: After The Fall vol.3 a couple of days ago and started The Devil You Know, the first Felix Castor novel, thanks to a mention somewhere in this thread. I've ordered the next three novels in the series, so I guess that says I'm enjoying it so far. Should kill time for the next 10 days, until Turn Coat comes out anyway.

I have the fourth Felix Castor novel pre-ordered from Amazon Ca because I don't want to wait another year for it to come to the US. It is already out in the UK though.

 

[Bob The Skutter]

I finished Angel: After The Fall vol.3 a couple of days ago and started The Devil You Know, the first Felix Castor novel, thanks to a mention somewhere in this thread. I've ordered the next three novels in the series, so I guess that says I'm enjoying it so far. Should kill time for the next 10 days, until Turn Coat comes out anyway.

I have the fourth Felix Castor novel pre-ordered from Amazon Ca because I don't want to wait another year for it to come to the US. It is already out in the UK though.

Yeah, it should be here in the next few days. Books 2 and 3 have already arrived, book 4 was dispatched yesterday.

 

[S. Gomez]

Since I've finished The Gunslinger, I guess I should give my thoughts on it. I enjoyed it a lot, actually. Enough to continue reading the series. It was interesting writing, and a bit different than King's usual voice (because, you know, I'm such an expert, having read two whole books by him). There were a lot of things I didn't quite get, but unlike other books where such things have frustrated me (Steven Erikson's Gardens of The Moon, although I plan to read more of that series) this time it actually has me wanting to read more. I had read reviews advising new readers to hold out until the second book, that the series really finds its voice there; I don't know, maybe it does, but whether or not it's because I read the revised edition I thought The Gunslinger was a good first entry.

 

[Ensign_Redshirt]

Robert J. Sawyer: Hominids

 

[DanTheGrey]

Finished FoTJ: Outcast. It was okay. Some good/amusing moments (usually involving Ben or Jag) and some not so good moments. Overall I'll keep up and watch them try to bridge to the Legacy timeframe.

Started Wild Space and have been quite impressed with the look inside the minds of the heroes. It's filling in gaps nicely.

After that it's going to be another Sookie Stackhouse novel and Dresden while waiting for the next Vanguard novel and Imperial Commando.

 

[BrotherBenny]

Currently reading:
- Temeraire
- Mere Anarchy
- VOY: Violations

And one non SFF book:
- Criminal Minds: Jump Cut

 

[Turd Ferguson]

Since I've finished The Gunslinger, I guess I should give my thoughts on it. I enjoyed it a lot, actually. Enough to continue reading the series. It was interesting writing, and a bit different than King's usual voice (because, you know, I'm such an expert, having read two whole books by him). There were a lot of things I didn't quite get, but unlike other books where such things have frustrated me (Steven Erikson's Gardens of The Moon, although I plan to read more of that series) this time it actually has me wanting to read more. I had read reviews advising new readers to hold out until the second book, that the series really finds its voice there; I don't know, maybe it does, but whether or not it's because I read the revised edition I thought The Gunslinger was a good first entry.

I haven't read the revised Gunslinger (although I have it), but it does have a different tone than the other three books (Drawing of the Three to the Wizard and Glass) before King's mishap with the van. My favorite Dark Tower character (Eddie Dean) gets introduced in the second book, and then some interesting locales are visited in Wastelands and Wizard, so you're up for some good readings

 

[Klagg]

Robert J. Sawyer: Hominids

You are in for a real treat. Robert J Sawyer has become my favorite science fiction author. He does a ton of research before each book. He also blogs about new Neanderthal discoveries on this website.

 

[Mistral]

Got Without Warning by John Birmingham over the weekend. Up 'till 2 reading-couldn't put it down.

 

[S. Gomez]

Started on The Drawing of The Three Monday. Already about halfway through.

I've got a book in the mail from Amazon as well: The New Annotated Dracula. I probably wouldn't have been all that interested except for the fact that it's put together by the same guy who did The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes! I had no idea he was working on it so it was a great surprise when I stumbled across it on the bookshelf of the local store (much cheaper on Amazon, though).

 

[sbk1234]

I finally got to and finished Foundation, Foundation and Empire, and Second Foundation by Isaac Asimov. I just started The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury.

 

[Mistral]

Got Without Warning by John Birmingham over the weekend. Up 'till 2 reading-couldn't put it down.

Finished it-very intriguing book. Sequel set for 2010.

 

[John Clark]

"The Reality Dysfunction" by Peter F Hamilton was recommended to me, so I'm giving that a try