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Picked up Mysticism in the 21st Century (Monette, Shoup) after seeing the Insider video of an FBI undercover agent talking about his experience in an accelerationist (in the white supremacist sense) group with esoteric touches. Went down a rabbit hole and eventually came across this treasure.
Aside from the fascinating detail it adds to that topic, I also look forward to seeing the chapters on other spiritual-adjacent stuff.
I'm almost done with Assassin's Quest by Robin Hobb. I'm contemplating jumping over to The Magic of Recluce by LE Modesitt Jr or maybe The Scholomance series after this.
I'm now on book 10 of He Who Fights with Monsters, and I expect to finish that this coming week.
I've really made less progress on my bingo card than I planned, but I still have time to turn that around before the end date.
I’m listening to Babylon’s Ashes by James S.A. Corey. It’s the 5th book in The Expanse series.
I’ve read these books before, but I just really love them.
I LOVE The Expanse series. I was at a used bookstore over the weekend and a lady next to me was contemplating picking up the Leviathan Wakes. I told her she should grab it because it’s my favorite scifi book series of all time. She had watched the series and loved it, so I told her I think she would enjoy the books too.
There’s so much good stuff there!
Just consumed The Last Murder at the End of the World by Stuart Turton. You may recognize him as the author of the 7 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle. This one is a post-apocalyptic murder mystery. It is jam-packed with questions and mysteries. While I had a few remaining questions about the apocalyptic event that happened prior to the story, every string related to the actual story was neatly plaited in a 1000-strand braid with a satisfying end. Love that author.
It's nice when author wraps up everything neatly. Will check it out!
I'm almost done the second section of Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky. I'm enjoying it so far. At first it seemed almost like Lovecraftian horror but in space, but it started showing more depth as it progresses.
Just finally finished, Mountain of Black Glass, Tad Williams, and while I enjoyed it, it took me over two months of listening to get it done. The protagonists continued their way through the Otherland, and boy did Williams expound on the details in this book. There was a significant slump in the last third that didn't pick up until the very end. I'm hoping Sea of Silver Light, is a little quicker.
Other books I've finished lately:
I'm currently reading Isabella Nagg and the Pot of Basil, Oliver Darkshire, which is very Pratchett-esc. Lots of witty footnotes, and fun village humor. Pretty light reading, but enjoyable!
Library at Mount Char is excellent, and a must-read for anyone into weird horror.
I think the
Spoiler
repeated murdering of one character's forced children
really got me. But I agree other than some pretty dark themes, it was very well written.
Your spoiler tag didn't quite work out, in case you want to edit.
Yeah, worried it might not even after looking the syntax up. That's no better, is it?
Enshittification as a book and the second book of murderbot as an audio book
Both highly recommended
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
I’m almost done a short story compilation called men and machines, one of the forwards has a very interesting remark that could be written yesterday. It’s from 1968.
I finally got in touch with my brother, and got my next batch of Star Wars books, it includes a large X-Wing series so looking forward towards it. Sounds like it’s Top Gun in space.
Image of the forward
According to him, we would have at this point now made an intelligent being.
Heh, that does seem so relevant to today's world. We are still worried about the same things, but the problem with this kind of prediction is, one day we might actually be right 😀
I read so many of the 90s era Star Wars books so good. Really enjoyed Stackpole’s Rogue Squadron.
Nice, not sure if you’ve seen my other comments, but I’ve read in chronological order from the start. So I’ve done 90 or so legends books. They are obviously all over the place being different authors, but can’t say I hated any, some weren’t “enjoyable” as covered topics that weren’t particular interesting to me. But saying that, it’s interesting to see the different perspectives of how people write about their profession, like biology for example. Med-star was still interesting although dry as an example.
My brothers been ranting and raving waiting for me to get to it, it’s one of the ones he’s read himself.
That’s fun! I hadn’t remembered seeing your other posts.
I remember a lot of them fondly, and when I was updating my reading profile on a bunch of the tracking sites, it was fun remembering as many of the ones I had read that I could so that I could put them on there. There were a few that I had forgotten about reading until I was looking at a big list of them and they came right back.
Ah, I haven’t made posts about them, just comments in these sticky posts.
I’ve really enjoyed most of them, I’m particular to short stories it seems. I really enjoyed the “Tales of”. I think there was 4 of them? Basically 5 short stories from different authors with some overlap.
Tales of Mos Eisley had the epicenter of the scene that Obi cut the guys hand off (one of the stories is that guy), the other Tales of the Bounty Hunters followed the bounty hunters tasked with finding Solo. The epicenter being Vader having them together in that scene.
In a single week what would be the style for multiple comments, respond to your own or make a new one?
Anyways. I finished the compilation and looked at my SW list a little closer I still have 5 stories to finish of the Era, the Rebellion, and after that is, the New Republic. There is a trilogy called “The Bounty Hunter Wars” to lead off the former with.
The XWing books make up the start of the New Republic era with Rouge Squadron being the lead.
Personally, I keep all the updates for next week's post, but nothing wrong with making another top level post, or if it's related to your previous post, replying to it.
For instance, if your first comment is you finished a book, and then want to make a new comment about what you are starting, you can just make a new top-level comment. On the other hand, if you second comment is an update on the book mentioned in the first comment, then just reply to your post.
Just my suggestions, there is no rule for this, so do as you like :-)
Totally fair. Maybe there was a semi established structure I’ve missed. I’ve gotten yelled at for posting too often in other places -.- where no one else posts.
Out of curiosity, how would you describe the Dresden Files or whatever it is, always looking for some newer stories as well to break stuff up.
They are a pretty fun urban fantasy. Protagonist is a wizard that works as a "wizard for hire" like a private investigator, but as the story progresses the stakes keep getting bigger and bigger. Highly recommended, though beware that first 2 or so books are probably the weakest, though I enjoyed those too.
I read about the first fifth of Ghost Story (Dresden Files) this morning. According to my history it's been a little over 5 years since I last read this, it feels like so much less. To be as vague as possible, that first meeting with the Ragged Lady breaks my heart every time.
I also started The Fellowship of the Ring earlier this week. Only a couple of chapters in, so not much to say about that yet except that I find Hobbits very unpleasant.
I've continued Words of Radiance after a 8-9 month hiatus. This Graphic Audio thing is still rad, I've just been going through a reading reading phase rather than an audiobook one. I haven't gotten around to getting a physical copy yet because I have the previous book in the giant hardcover with (I think) the European art? My local fantasy bookshop hasn't had it in when I've been around and I haven't bothered to ask.
Finished the latest Incryptid, the last couple have been a bit disappointing. They never quite do it for me, what I really want is for the books to go for another chapter and let me see the family in the aftermath of the story, but they always end abruptly right as the climax resolves and there's no wind-down. You'd think after 14 books I'd be used to it but it always leaves me a little deflated. It's nice that we get to explore a little more of different characters each book, but I just want to see them together outside of an immediate crisis too.
What else... I'm near the beginning of The Death of WCW, we're still going through the history of wrestling in North America. I know a lot of it and don't really care, but it's necessary context so fair enough.
Oh and I still have a handful of other books on the backburner, Storygraph says I have 12 books going 🤷♂️ I'll finish some eventually.
that first meeting with the Ragged Lady breaks my heart every time.
I have only read it once, but I can fully understand that. It was a pretty emotional moment.
what I really want is for the books to go for another chapter and let me see the family in the aftermath of the story
I always want this too! Love it when books give that closure about how their life went on.
Just finished Bone Yard by Jefferson Bass. Found a copy autographed by Bass at a Habitat For Humanity thrift store.
My other recent acquisition is Alice in Sunderland by Bryan Talbot. I don't usually seek out graphic novels, but got a good deal on this one because it was (mis-)classified as children's lit. It looks interesting, broad in scope, and a candidate for the 'beautiful cover' bingo square.
I'm close to finishing the third Sector General novel by James White. I like a little Golden Age sci-fi now and then.
I'm on a long re-read of the R.A. Salvatore Drizzt series. Right now it's: The Orc King (Transitions, Book1 - #17 in the wider series).
I was on vacation for a little over 2 weeks and went through 6 books on the trip. Trains, planes, coffee shops, and hotel room before bed. It's surprising how much reading can get done in-between exploring new cities.
How is the overall series? I am still on the first series, Icewind Dale one, 2 books down, last one to go.
I'm personally a huge fan of the series. I've been reading them for 20+ years by now. There are always up and downs, but the not good books are still better than others I've read. It's also great to see how characters have changed throughout the series and the wider Forgotten Realms / Faerun world has been affected by the books in connection with bigger D&D events.
Technically a prequel, but was written after Icewind Dale, there is The Dark Elf Trilogy which explores Drizzt's origins and escape from the Menzoberranzan. Definitely recommend if that's not what you started with.
The nice thing is that Salvatore released novels at a good pace. I've been waiting for the 3rd Kingkiller Chronicles book by Patrick Rothfuss for... 15 years I think?
Rothfuss is one of the reason I don't like to start unfinished series now 😀
I pretty much always prefer to go with the published order instead of chronological order, so I started with Icewind Dale, but The Dark Elf Trilogy is next one, if I remember it correctly. I am liking what I have read so far, so will probably continue the series, so it's good to hear that most of his books are pretty good.
I just whipped through A Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid which was a fun queer enemies to lovers story that I listened to driving back and forth across Pennsylvania this weekend.
I'm still working on Half The World by Joe Ambercrombie. I think I'm going to take a break on his stuff for a bit after I finish this one.
I really enjoyed Fable for the End of the World. I picked a copy up at the romance bookstore on a whim because the cover was really pretty and the summary on their card sounded interesting. It was a really good book.
Someone in here recommended the Red Rising series and I’ve been enjoying it thoroughly. I’m on the third one now. The reader for the audiobooks is Tim Reynolds and he does a great job. Thanks for the recommendation, whoever you are!
Also physically reading Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar, but it’s too soon to comment on.
Great series! I’ve heard all but the most recent books multiple times.
Sevro is something else, isn’t he?
Apparently, there is a live action in the works, but it’s been passed around between networks so I’m not sure it’ll ever happen.
I just finished Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Diniman and now I'm reading John Dies at the End, by Jason Pargin / "David Wong".
If you know these stories (crazy reality twisting, real world + fantasy, a touch of sci fi) and have others in a similar vein, I would appreciate any suggestions.
my local library doesn't have more than the first dungeon crawler carl, and Google play only has the second so I haven't finished the series but I love it. princess donut is the GOAT.
I read John dies at the end a few years ago and didn't much care for it
I warn you. do not attempt to watch the movie. it is hot garbage.
Suggestions for when your library doesn’t have something that you want to read: Check to see if your library offers it as an ebook. And if not, see if they can get a physical copy for you through inter-library loan.
I always do e-books, using the Libby app to checkout and the Kindle app as a reader for its features. There are loads of good books out there for me to read, so if what I want isn't available that's fine I'll just find something else. Thank you for the suggestion :)
Dungeon Crawler Carl is an Amazon/Audible exclusive. If the book is listed anywhere else, it’s a stolen copy.
Now, that a new publisher is putting out new editions of the books, I’m hoping more libraries get rights to the text.
The audiobook, which I HIGHLY recommend, will always be an Audible exclusive. The narrator is re-recording a full immersion version with a full cast and sound effects, but they release those in episodic format, rather than whole books.
Oh no, I watched the John Dies movie first, last week. I didn't think it was all that bad but yah, I get you.