Wall
Jon had issues getting Perilous Waif in the mail. So next month we'll do Jhereg by Steven Brust and after THAT we'll do Perilous Waif.
The consensus was that Leviathan Wakes was mediocre. I'll have a review up in a few days describing why I think this is the case.
Next month (September) we will be reading Dresden Files: Peace Talks
A month after that (October) we will be reading Perilous Waif.
Next month (September) we will be reading Dresden Files: Peace Talks
A month after that (October) we will be reading Perilous Waif.
And the August winner is:
Leviathan Wakes
by James S.A. Corey
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan_Wakes
Leviathan Wakes is James S. A. Corey's first novel in the epic New York Times best-selling series The Expanse, a modern masterwork of science fiction in which humanity has colonized the solar system.
Two hundred years after migrating into space, mankind is in turmoil. When a reluctant ship's captain and washed-up detective find themselves involved in the case of a missing girl, what they discover brings our solar system to the brink of civil war and exposes the greatest conspiracy in human history.
Leviathan Wakes
by James S.A. Corey
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan_Wakes
Leviathan Wakes is James S. A. Corey's first novel in the epic New York Times best-selling series The Expanse, a modern masterwork of science fiction in which humanity has colonized the solar system.
Two hundred years after migrating into space, mankind is in turmoil. When a reluctant ship's captain and washed-up detective find themselves involved in the case of a missing girl, what they discover brings our solar system to the brink of civil war and exposes the greatest conspiracy in human history.
Okay, I had lots of time to look over books while waiting for my turn during the shootout. (see forum for links)
The World Walker (The World Walker Series Book 1)
Just outside Los Angeles, a prisoner hidden away for 70 years sits up, gets off the bed and disappears through a solid wall.
In Australia, a magician impresses audiences by producing real elephants. Nobody realizes it's not an illusion.
Across the world, individuals and ancient organizations with supernatural power suddenly detect the presence of something even they can't understand.
At the center of it all, Seb Varden, a 32-year old musician with a secret in his past, slits his wrists, is shot dead and run over on the freeway. He's had better days.
Seb is about to discover the universe is a far more complicated place than he'd ever imagined.
Sebastian has a brain tumor so decides to commit suicide, rather than spend his final weeks in agony. He sits down at the base of a tree and cuts his wrists open. Before he completely bleeds out, an alien appears before him and saves him. Then soldiers arrive, looking for the alien and not finding him, shoot Sebastian in the chest... several times. He's dead. For a few seconds at least, then he gets up and runs away faster than any human has a right to run.
Perilous Waif (Alice Long Book 1)
Alice Long is an orphan. She's been raised on a world where the native inhabitants are fiercely vegan and rabid environmentalists. She's been fed a vegan diet all her life that's done nothing but keep her malnourished since infancy. Alice is different, you see. Along with others in her universe, in the 25th century, she has internal upgrades. Alice's upgrades are far different from those around her. As she grows, more of her upgrades become more apparent. As her body receives more nutrients, she becomes more than human. Alice becomes... something else entirely.
I already read this one but I recommend it:
Hounded (with two bonus short stories): The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book One
Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old—when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.
Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he’s hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power—plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish—to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.
The World Walker (The World Walker Series Book 1)
Just outside Los Angeles, a prisoner hidden away for 70 years sits up, gets off the bed and disappears through a solid wall.
In Australia, a magician impresses audiences by producing real elephants. Nobody realizes it's not an illusion.
Across the world, individuals and ancient organizations with supernatural power suddenly detect the presence of something even they can't understand.
At the center of it all, Seb Varden, a 32-year old musician with a secret in his past, slits his wrists, is shot dead and run over on the freeway. He's had better days.
Seb is about to discover the universe is a far more complicated place than he'd ever imagined.
Sebastian has a brain tumor so decides to commit suicide, rather than spend his final weeks in agony. He sits down at the base of a tree and cuts his wrists open. Before he completely bleeds out, an alien appears before him and saves him. Then soldiers arrive, looking for the alien and not finding him, shoot Sebastian in the chest... several times. He's dead. For a few seconds at least, then he gets up and runs away faster than any human has a right to run.
Perilous Waif (Alice Long Book 1)
Alice Long is an orphan. She's been raised on a world where the native inhabitants are fiercely vegan and rabid environmentalists. She's been fed a vegan diet all her life that's done nothing but keep her malnourished since infancy. Alice is different, you see. Along with others in her universe, in the 25th century, she has internal upgrades. Alice's upgrades are far different from those around her. As she grows, more of her upgrades become more apparent. As her body receives more nutrients, she becomes more than human. Alice becomes... something else entirely.
I already read this one but I recommend it:
Hounded (with two bonus short stories): The Iron Druid Chronicles, Book One
Atticus O’Sullivan, last of the Druids, lives peacefully in Arizona, running an occult bookshop and shape-shifting in his spare time to hunt with his Irish wolfhound. His neighbors and customers think that this handsome, tattooed Irish dude is about twenty-one years old—when in actuality, he’s twenty-one centuries old. Not to mention: He draws his power from the earth, possesses a sharp wit, and wields an even sharper magical sword known as Fragarach, the Answerer.
Unfortunately, a very angry Celtic god wants that sword, and he’s hounded Atticus for centuries. Now the determined deity has tracked him down, and Atticus will need all his power—plus the help of a seductive goddess of death, his vampire and werewolf team of attorneys, a bartender possessed by a Hindu witch, and some good old-fashioned luck of the Irish—to kick some Celtic arse and deliver himself from evil.
Going to help out here by adding links and summaries to the list (see forum for links):
The City We Became (The Great Cities Trilogy #1)
In Manhattan, a young grad student gets off the train and realizes he doesn't remember who he is, where he's from, or even his own name. But he can sense the beating heart of the city, see its history, and feel its power.
In the Bronx, a Lenape gallery director discovers strange graffiti scattered throughout the city, so beautiful and powerful it's as if the paint is literally calling to her.
In Brooklyn, a politician and mother finds she can hear the songs of her city, pulsing to the beat of her Louboutin heels.
And they're not the only ones.
Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb Trilogy #1)
The Emperor needs necromancers.
The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.
Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense.
Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.
Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.
Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.
Of course, some things are better left dead.
The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood
What if you knew how and when you will die?
Csorwe does―she will climb the mountain, enter the Shrine of the Unspoken, and gain the most honored title: sacrifice.
But on the day of her foretold death, a powerful mage offers her a new fate. Leave with him, and live. Turn away from her destiny and her god to become a thief, a spy, an assassin―the wizard's loyal sword. Topple an empire, and help him reclaim his seat of power.
But Csorwe will soon learn―gods remember, and if you live long enough, all debts come due.
Wool (Omnibus)
by Hugh Howey
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silo_(series)
The first book in the acclaimed, New York Times best-selling trilogy, Wool is the story of mankind clawing for survival. The world outside has grown toxic, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. The remnants of humanity live underground in a single silo. But there are always those who hope, who dream. These are the dangerous people, the residents who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple. They are given the very thing they want: They are allowed to go outside.
After the previous sheriff leaves the silo in a terrifying ritual, Juliette, a mechanic from the down deep, is suddenly and inexplicably promoted to the head of law enforcement. With newfound power and with little regard for the customs she is supposed to abide, Juliette uncovers hints of a sinister conspiracy. Tugging this thread may uncover the truth ... or it could kill every last human alive.
[/url]
Leviathan Wakes
by James S.A. Corey
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan_Wakes
Leviathan Wakes is James S. A. Corey's first novel in the epic New York Times best-selling series The Expanse, a modern masterwork of science fiction in which humanity has colonized the solar system.
Two hundred years after migrating into space, mankind is in turmoil. When a reluctant ship's captain and washed-up detective find themselves involved in the case of a missing girl, what they discover brings our solar system to the brink of civil war and exposes the greatest conspiracy in human history.
I'll try to add a few of my own over the weekend. I wish I could get polls to work. Supposedly its part of the forum package but I have failed in getting it to function.
The City We Became (The Great Cities Trilogy #1)
In Manhattan, a young grad student gets off the train and realizes he doesn't remember who he is, where he's from, or even his own name. But he can sense the beating heart of the city, see its history, and feel its power.
In the Bronx, a Lenape gallery director discovers strange graffiti scattered throughout the city, so beautiful and powerful it's as if the paint is literally calling to her.
In Brooklyn, a politician and mother finds she can hear the songs of her city, pulsing to the beat of her Louboutin heels.
And they're not the only ones.
Gideon the Ninth (The Locked Tomb Trilogy #1)
The Emperor needs necromancers.
The Ninth Necromancer needs a swordswoman.
Gideon has a sword, some dirty magazines, and no more time for undead nonsense.
Tamsyn Muir’s Gideon the Ninth unveils a solar system of swordplay, cut-throat politics, and lesbian necromancers. Her characters leap off the page, as skillfully animated as arcane revenants. The result is a heart-pounding epic science fantasy.
Brought up by unfriendly, ossifying nuns, ancient retainers, and countless skeletons, Gideon is ready to abandon a life of servitude and an afterlife as a reanimated corpse. She packs up her sword, her shoes, and her dirty magazines, and prepares to launch her daring escape. But her childhood nemesis won’t set her free without a service.
Harrowhark Nonagesimus, Reverend Daughter of the Ninth House and bone witch extraordinaire, has been summoned into action. The Emperor has invited the heirs to each of his loyal Houses to a deadly trial of wits and skill. If Harrowhark succeeds she will be become an immortal, all-powerful servant of the Resurrection, but no necromancer can ascend without their cavalier. Without Gideon’s sword, Harrow will fail, and the Ninth House will die.
Of course, some things are better left dead.
The Unspoken Name by A.K. Larkwood
What if you knew how and when you will die?
Csorwe does―she will climb the mountain, enter the Shrine of the Unspoken, and gain the most honored title: sacrifice.
But on the day of her foretold death, a powerful mage offers her a new fate. Leave with him, and live. Turn away from her destiny and her god to become a thief, a spy, an assassin―the wizard's loyal sword. Topple an empire, and help him reclaim his seat of power.
But Csorwe will soon learn―gods remember, and if you live long enough, all debts come due.
Wool (Omnibus)
by Hugh Howey
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silo_(series)
The first book in the acclaimed, New York Times best-selling trilogy, Wool is the story of mankind clawing for survival. The world outside has grown toxic, the view of it limited, talk of it forbidden. The remnants of humanity live underground in a single silo. But there are always those who hope, who dream. These are the dangerous people, the residents who infect others with their optimism. Their punishment is simple. They are given the very thing they want: They are allowed to go outside.
After the previous sheriff leaves the silo in a terrifying ritual, Juliette, a mechanic from the down deep, is suddenly and inexplicably promoted to the head of law enforcement. With newfound power and with little regard for the customs she is supposed to abide, Juliette uncovers hints of a sinister conspiracy. Tugging this thread may uncover the truth ... or it could kill every last human alive.
[/url]
Leviathan Wakes
by James S.A. Corey
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leviathan_Wakes
Leviathan Wakes is James S. A. Corey's first novel in the epic New York Times best-selling series The Expanse, a modern masterwork of science fiction in which humanity has colonized the solar system.
Two hundred years after migrating into space, mankind is in turmoil. When a reluctant ship's captain and washed-up detective find themselves involved in the case of a missing girl, what they discover brings our solar system to the brink of civil war and exposes the greatest conspiracy in human history.
I'll try to add a few of my own over the weekend. I wish I could get polls to work. Supposedly its part of the forum package but I have failed in getting it to function.
How do I post to the wall?
Here are my books that I am suggesting;
The Unspoken Name by AK Larkwood
The City We Became by NK Jemisin
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Here are my books that I am suggesting;
The Unspoken Name by AK Larkwood
The City We Became by NK Jemisin
Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Okay, so the plan is to throw the list of possible books up on this page, talk about them and then choose one. Supposedly the forum has a voting option but I haven't figured out how to use it...
Hah ha, my evil plan to exclude Brian has worked! He has no idea that in order to get into the group he has to register on the site! Mwah ha ha ha!
What would it be? The 5e Players Handbook? Deadwood Reloaded? Seriously though, I read a lot but these days it's mostly online fantasy. I would be happy to do a book club, as long as its interesting stuff like fantasy and some type of science fiction. When I was young (
Pokethulhu
Since we are each supposed to come up with 2 books to recommend, here are mine:
We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
(Bobiverse #1)
by Dennis E. Taylor
The Lies of Locke Lamora
(Gentleman Bastard #1)
By: Scott Lynch
I'm being gentle with my first two suggestions. Future suggestions will likely also include History, Science and other icky non-fiction books.

We Are Legion (We Are Bob)
(Bobiverse #1)
by Dennis E. Taylor
The Lies of Locke Lamora
(Gentleman Bastard #1)
By: Scott Lynch
I'm being gentle with my first two suggestions. Future suggestions will likely also include History, Science and other icky non-fiction books.
druth
Just a note, if you goto my community page on my website you can all coordinate there. You can create a Group called Bookclub and post stuff there. Theres also a Facebook style wall/timeline members can write on. Imagine a posting of this conversation rather than e-mails back and forth.

druth
One of my favorites was a re-imaging of the "Connecticut Yankee in Kings Arthurs Court". The "Cross-time Engineer" by Leo Frankowski. I like it better than the original because frankly, the waking up and finding it was all a dream just pissed me off! Brian would with love its history because it goes into some detail about the politics of the time or hate it for its inaccuracy...I can't tell which since I'm not a history buff. It was a fun ride though.

druth
Brandon Sanderson...I don't read his stuff anymore since he killed off his main character for 3 books and sucker-punched you with the butler being the secret main character. F you Brandon!!!
Neil Gaimon...his stuff never did much for me.
The Bobiverse sounds interesting...may want to read that.

Neil Gaimon...his stuff never did much for me.
The Bobiverse sounds interesting...may want to read that.
druth
Here is the list of Hugo award for 2020. The ceremony is in August and we could try to read two or three of them as a goal. Just a thought.
Best Novel
§ The City in the Middle of the Night, by Charlie Jane Anders (Tor; Titan)
I vote no on this one. It has politics and intrigue. Things I hate. Can't stand game of thrones either.
§ Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir (Tor.com Publishing)
This sounds okay though like a bad romance. You hate her but you have to work with her. If I had my choice the main character would be the necromancer, not the swordswoman guard, but eh...
§ The Light Brigade, by Kameron Hurley (Saga; Angry Robot UK)
Conflicted on this. loved the Forever War but angsty phyco thrillers aren't much fun for me.
§ A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine (Tor; Tor UK)
The reviews say its complex and slow. I think this may break my 10 page rule (if I can't get into it in 10 pages its not worth it)
§ Middlegame, by Seanan McGuire (Tor.com Publishing)
This may be interesting. Generally, I dislike split perspective books, since I like to focus on one viewpoint and multiple ones distract. Its also about kids and their perspective can be frustrating if portrayed accurately. "Why the hell would they do that? Are they stupid?" Still, it's about superhuman powers and godhood, so it might be cool.
§ The Ten Thousand Doors of January, by Alix E. Harrow (Redhook; Orbit UK)
This could be good. The author's description is coy and non-descriptive. I hate jackets like that and usually disregard them. There are plenty of books that will tell me enough about the book that I don't have to read 10 pages. However, a useful reviewer read and wrote a limited summary that made me think it might be a cool book despite the author's unwise decisions. All about traveling to fantasy worlds... sounds cool.
All of them sounded good to me, but if I had to choose one I’d go with Middleground.

Best Novel
§ The City in the Middle of the Night, by Charlie Jane Anders (Tor; Titan)
I vote no on this one. It has politics and intrigue. Things I hate. Can't stand game of thrones either.
§ Gideon the Ninth, by Tamsyn Muir (Tor.com Publishing)
This sounds okay though like a bad romance. You hate her but you have to work with her. If I had my choice the main character would be the necromancer, not the swordswoman guard, but eh...
§ The Light Brigade, by Kameron Hurley (Saga; Angry Robot UK)
Conflicted on this. loved the Forever War but angsty phyco thrillers aren't much fun for me.
§ A Memory Called Empire, by Arkady Martine (Tor; Tor UK)
The reviews say its complex and slow. I think this may break my 10 page rule (if I can't get into it in 10 pages its not worth it)
§ Middlegame, by Seanan McGuire (Tor.com Publishing)
This may be interesting. Generally, I dislike split perspective books, since I like to focus on one viewpoint and multiple ones distract. Its also about kids and their perspective can be frustrating if portrayed accurately. "Why the hell would they do that? Are they stupid?" Still, it's about superhuman powers and godhood, so it might be cool.
§ The Ten Thousand Doors of January, by Alix E. Harrow (Redhook; Orbit UK)
This could be good. The author's description is coy and non-descriptive. I hate jackets like that and usually disregard them. There are plenty of books that will tell me enough about the book that I don't have to read 10 pages. However, a useful reviewer read and wrote a limited summary that made me think it might be a cool book despite the author's unwise decisions. All about traveling to fantasy worlds... sounds cool.
All of them sounded good to me, but if I had to choose one I’d go with Middleground.
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