Author Topic: Science Fiction / Fantasy (Read 385035 times)

PatH · « **Reply #600 on:** February 22, 2010, 10:19:16 AM »

Science Fiction / Fantasy

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Welcome to the whole universe! This is where we gather to share our experiences in science fiction and fantasy. We like everything, from Gregory Benford to Stephanie Meyer—hard science to magic and fantasy.

Come in, sit down with us, and tell us what you are reading or have read, what you like or dislike.

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Fantastic Fiction, bibliographies of 15,000 authors

Discussion Leader: PatH

Steph · « **Reply #601 on:** February 23, 2010, 06:09:55 AM »

I found "Too Say Nothing of the dog" in my paperback book swap, so have ordered it.

PatH · « **Reply #602 on:** February 23, 2010, 09:36:55 AM »

That's a lighthearted book, very funny. If you have ever read Jerome K. Jerome's "Three Men in a Boat", you'll recognize some references, but you don't need that background.

Steph · « **Reply #603 on:** February 24, 2010, 06:07:17 AM »

I got two Sharon Shinn.. Started reading the first one "Archangel". I love it.. Love the skewed biblical references. The Angels and mortals and Jehovah, who sure sounds like a computer to me.. And the singing. Thank you for whoever recommended her. I do love the book thus far.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #604 on:** February 24, 2010, 11:49:23 AM »

Steph: Glad you like Sharon Shinn. Sadly I've just finished the last of the Samaria tales.

Steph · « **Reply #605 on:** February 25, 2010, 06:11:33 AM »

I am enjoying the book so much.. But I want to shake Rachel every once in a while.. Magdalena is wonderful and Gabriel needs to think a little better about Rachel and her life before him. Oh me.. I must love it to give it instructions. I have the first two and am told she has another series just as good.. Back to the paperback swap club.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #606 on:** March 11, 2010, 05:58:48 PM »

James Schmitz' Witches of Karres" series has been revived with Eric Flint and David Freer with Mercedes Lackey named as co-author for one book, The Wizard of Karees. I've read that and the second book, The Sorceress of Karees and they hold up well. http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/eric-flint/wizard-of-karres.htm
ttp://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/eric-flint/sorceress-of-karres.htm

PatH · « **Reply #607 on:** March 11, 2010, 07:07:03 PM »

Some of you have enjoyed Jack Campbell's "Lost Fleet" series, which is essentially a string of superb sea battles (but in spaceships at 0.1 light speed). In the first five, I fought my way across the galaxy to home with his hero, and was ready to fight my way back again to meet the aliens on the outer edge. It looks like I'll get my chance; he's got a new one coming out in April, "Victorious". I'll be there, hell-lances at the ready.

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/c/jack-campbell/victorious.htm

Steph · « **Reply #608 on:** March 12, 2010, 05:48:42 AM »

The Witches.. Oh I did love them so much.. A book series that unfailingly made me laugh.
I am reading Doomsday from recommendations from here and starting to enjoy it.. Too many characters at once and I am just beginning to sort out the quarreling males.. Sounds like a college to me..

Babi · « **Reply #609 on:** March 12, 2010, 08:23:44 AM »

I've just started Lackey's "Ghostlight", and was surprised to find that it is set in modern
times. I pick up a Lackey and just assume it's going to be elsewhere and other times.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #610 on:** March 12, 2010, 10:52:52 AM »

A new Jack Campbell? Wonderful.

Steph · « **Reply #611 on:** March 13, 2010, 06:20:16 AM »

Mercedes ( Mercy) writes in many styles. I generally like her stuff and will look for Ghostlight.

salan · « **Reply #612 on:** March 13, 2010, 12:25:13 PM »

Your comments on Mercedes Lackey reminded me of how much I used to like her. For some reasons, I got off on my scifi/fantasy phase and never went back to it. I always preferred the fantasy type scifi (loved Anne McCaffrey-dragon rider series and crystal singers). Maybe it's time for me to start, again.
Thinking about this reminded me of a couple of books and I am hoping that someone out there can help me. I thought the name of the book was "When Pigs Fly" and I thought the author was Lackey. However, when I went to look in my bookshelf, the book has evidently been visiting some other household for years. Now, I can't find it on the web. Do any of you remember this book. Maybe I have the wrong title/author???
Sally

salan · « **Reply #613 on:** March 13, 2010, 01:04:08 PM »

I am replying to myself (I have talked to myself for years, but replying???--should I worry?). I found the book I was asking about. It is "Pigs Don't Fly" by Mary Brown. I ordered a used copy from Amazon and plan to re-read it to see if I still like it. If so, I will order the sequels.
Sally

mrssherlock · « **Reply #614 on:** March 13, 2010, 03:16:29 PM »

OK. Sally, you've got my attention. Tell me about Pigs Don't Fly.

Steph · « **Reply #615 on:** March 14, 2010, 06:53:15 AM »

I had not thought of Mary Brown for a few years. As I remember she is quite a good author and I loved Pigs..

Babi · « **Reply #616 on:** March 14, 2010, 09:57:02 AM »

I don't know this Mary Brown at all. I'll be waiting to learn more. I love sci/fi fantasy. I do
mix it up with lots of other genres, so hopefully I'll never tire of it. It does add a spice for rme
to realize that much of the fiction will one day be fact. In fact, much of the older science fiction
is already fact!

Steph · « **Reply #617 on:** March 15, 2010, 05:37:57 AM »

Reading the Connie Willis "Doomsday book" Not to far yet, but it is odd in that we have too many characters at this moment.. Hopefully that will settle down, so I can keep better track.

salan · « **Reply #618 on:** March 15, 2010, 07:26:58 AM »

Jackie and Babi and others interested in Mary Brown:
Here is what Amazon says about "Pigs Don't Fly":

"I was a huge lump of grease, wobbling from foot to foot like ill-set aspic,"" confesses Summerdai, the heroine of the improbable charmer with the equally improbable title. Because of her girth, the 17 yr old Summer was passed over to replace her mother as the town prostitute. Equipped with a few supplies, a small dowry and a rather ugly ring left by herr mysterious father, she sets out. But the ring is actually a bit of unicorn horn that warns her of danger and, most importantly, allows her to communicate with animals. In quick succesion she picks up a ratty dog; a badly used horse; a starved turtle, a wounde pigeon, a man who lost bothe sight and memory after a bump on the head; and a rather curious little pig with tiny bat wings."

If you love fantasy, you will be charmed by this book. I know that I was.
Sally

PatH · « **Reply #619 on:** March 15, 2010, 08:48:56 AM »

Steph, I had trouble keeping track of the characters too. In fact I didn't get it all straight until I reread it. Warning--the book is grim in part, though it's also uplifting.

My library has an estimated wait time of 112 days for her latest, "Blackout".

Babi · « **Reply #620 on:** March 15, 2010, 09:27:23 AM »

"Pigs Don't Fly" sounds like something I'd love to read. Unfortunately my library doesn't have
it, nor does my elder daughter's. I was going to look at other possible Mary Brown books,
only find there are about 103 entries for 'Mary Brown'. Be quicker to go browse.

salan · « **Reply #621 on:** March 15, 2010, 11:53:31 AM »

Babi-my library didn't have it, either; so I ordered it used from amazon one penny plus 3.99 for shipping.
Sally

mrssherlock · « **Reply #622 on:** March 15, 2010, 12:40:18 PM »

Sally: That sounds like a winner! Babi, FF had "Pigs" in the title search which led me to
Mary Brown http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/b/mary-brown/

Steph · « **Reply #623 on:** March 16, 2010, 06:31:29 AM »

I get the feeling that Doomsday is going to be gritty in parts and may end up putting it aside if it does. I am still not ready for too much gloom and doom.. It is easier some days, but others I desperately need books to make me laugh.

Babi · « **Reply #624 on:** March 16, 2010, 08:47:32 AM »

Thank you, JACKIE. I jotted down a couple more Mary Smith titles to look for.

"Doomsday" was a good book, STEPH, but it does take place in the midst of a plague.
Yes, it definitely does get "gritty" and you might prefer to come back to it further on
down the road. Not many laughs in this one.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #625 on:** March 16, 2010, 01:32:15 PM »

Connie Willis writes very well a variety of styles. If you want comic, To Say Nothing of the Dog is a farce-like introduction to her University History Department Time Travel Program. She has published short story collections, too, which range widely in subject. In Fire Watch the title story is another TT tale, back to WWII London. Even the Queen is a wryly comic take on the female theme a la Kipling's "The Colonel's Lady and Rosie O'Grady". But Doomsday is a tale which is not good to read when your feelings are raw and you are vulnerable to melancholy.

Steph · « **Reply #626 on:** March 17, 2010, 05:48:26 AM »

Yes, the further I go , the more I realize I had better put Doomsday away for a while and maybe dive into " To Say Nothing of theDog" It looks a bit lighter.

PatH · « **Reply #627 on:** March 17, 2010, 07:14:35 AM »

"To Say Nothing of the Dog" is light and funny throughout.

Steph · « **Reply #628 on:** March 18, 2010, 06:19:41 AM »

Just started To Say Nothing of the Dog.. It is funny already.. Thanks for the warning.

Babi · « **Reply #629 on:** March 18, 2010, 04:44:36 PM »

I just wanted to mention in a couple of places that I will be away for the weekend. My son
is getting married and we will be leaving for Baton Rouge early in the morning. Do keep your
fingers crossed that both the weather and I stay in good fettle. (There's an expression I'd
be interested in exploring. What, exactly, is 'fettle'?)

mrssherlock · « **Reply #630 on:** March 18, 2010, 05:33:20 PM »

Babi: Best wishes, congratulations, I'm wishing you a very fine fettle.

Quote

fettle
"condition, state, trim," c.1750, from v. sense "to make ready, arrange" (14c.), from O.E. fetel "a girdle, belt," from P.Gmc. *fatiloz (cf. Ger. fessel, O.N. fetill), from *fat- "to hold."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harp

Steph · « **Reply #631 on:** March 19, 2010, 05:51:54 AM »

Babi,, go and have a really good time. I am reading To Say Nothing of the dog and laughing.. I thought I had been tired, but I believe that at the beginning, she gives new meaning to tired and time lag.. Very clever indeed.

Babi · « **Reply #632 on:** March 22, 2010, 08:13:03 AM »

Had a great time, STEPH, and thank you for 'fettle', JACKIE.

Steph · « **Reply #633 on:** March 23, 2010, 06:29:25 AM »

Getting close to the end of " To say nothing of the dog" and hate to end it. Really good books affect me that way. I want the story to go on and on.. Probably why so many authors do series.

Babi · « **Reply #634 on:** March 23, 2010, 09:12:49 AM »

Oh, yes, STEPH. I would be so disappointed to lose characters I've enjoyed meeting so much,
after just one story. My one great annoyance with my local library is that they often buy only
one or two books of a series, and those may be book #3 and #5!

Steph · « **Reply #635 on:** March 24, 2010, 05:45:51 AM »

Iknow that some of the characters that are in To say nothing of the dog are in the doomsday book.. But I have put that aside until I am feeling up to doom and gloom..

Babi · « **Reply #636 on:** March 24, 2010, 08:51:41 AM »

The main characters will recur throughout the series, if I'm not mistaken. There are others
you can read before you get to the Doomsday book. No need to push it. When you are ready
for it, you'll find it does give you an excellent picture of that period.

Steph · « **Reply #637 on:** March 25, 2010, 06:35:06 AM »

H mm. need to check Amazon.. Went to Barnes and Noble yesterday and all they had was the Doomsday book.. My swap club does not have any either.. Darn.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #638 on:** March 28, 2010, 01:37:56 PM »

Pigs Don't Fly was mentioned here and my library had it. Thank you for mentioning it. It is great fun to read. Summerdai, daughter of the village whore, abruptly loses her home and everything in it when her mother dies in her sleep. She takes to the road seeking her father's people she knows only by some strange gold coins he leaves behind when he disappeared. As Summer flees, having given her mother a fiery send-off by burning their cabin and its contents, she begins to accumulate some strange traveling companions, including the flying pig. Adventures abound and great fin is had by the reader.

salan · « **Reply #639 on:** March 28, 2010, 05:10:00 PM »

Jackie, I was the one who mentioned "Pigs Don't Fly". If you liked it, you will enjoy all of the other Mary Brown books, especially the sequels. I ordered them again, since I apparently loaned by first copies out and they have not been returned.
I have since made a rule for myself--either give the book away or loan it only to those you know will return it!
Enjoy your reading. I don't know why Mary Brown is not better known.
Sally

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Author Topic: Science Fiction / Fantasy (Read 385035 times)