What are you reading in 2025?

[Autumnal]

I haven’t yet read Harry Turtledove’s Supervolcano trilogy, but looks to be that.

If you’re up for seeing the whole planet destroyed, Greg Bear’s The Forge Of God is just the thing. It starts with the discovery of a mysterious new cinder cone in Deatj Valley, and escalates.

 

[trappedslider]

Having reread the Stand recently, and read Lucifers Hammer, have found i do enjoy portrayals of apocalypse more than the post apocalypse stage. Similar to movies I think, I like beginning or Bird Cage and World War Z, whereas the rest of the films are okay but not as good.
If anyone has any recommendations on other books/ stories portraying apocalypses I would appreciate them

Moonseed by Stephen Baxter is good imo.

I haven’t yet read Harry Turtledove’s Supervolcano trilogy, but looks to be that.

That one is alright with it's focus more on one person/family than humanity as a whole.

 

[prabe]

Having reread the Stand recently, and read Lucifers Hammer, have found i do enjoy portrayals of apocalypse more than the post apocalypse stage. Similar to movies I think, I like beginning or Bird Cage and World War Z, whereas the rest of the films are okay but not as good.
If anyone has any recommendations on other books/ stories portraying apocalypses I would appreciate them

Chuck Wendig's Wanderers is well-written and well-thought out. Owes a lot (like, really, a lot) to The Stand, if that matters.

 

[Mannahnin]

Unfortunately, there are still plenty of critics that draw a line between "literature" and genre work. Which frequently is an imaginary line, anyway. Beowulf on one side and Lord of the Rings on the other isn't really a defensible position.

Let's not forget that part of Tolkien's professional legacy was apologism for Beowulf- getting it taken more seriously as a literary work and not merely a historical artifact.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

What I'm saying is I couldn't get into whatever the book was in high school,

It never helps to be forced to read something in school.

and these days I find her actively detestable.

You realise it's satirical?

So, yeah, not to my taste.

 

[ART!]

Vacationing in Ireland soon, so I'm reading The Story of Ireland by Neil Hegarty, and The Origins of the Irish, by J.P. Mallory.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Let's not forget that part of Tolkien's professional legacy was apologism for Beowulf- getting it taken more seriously as a literary work and not merely a historical artifact.

Also, Beowulf is awesome when it's not being yelled at disinterested sixth graders.

 

[prabe]

It never helps to be forced to read something in school.

It was the only book I was assigned in high school or college that I flat didn't read. Even other books that I didn't enjoy, I was able to get through. Not that one, though.

You realise it's satirical?

People keep telling me that, but the smug and the smarm of that opening sentence don't seem self-aware enough to me to be satire. (And I'm someone who found Georgette Heyer to be at least occasionally amusing, when I worked recording audiobooks.)

 

[Mannahnin]

Also, Beowulf is awesome when it's not being yelled at disinterested sixth graders.

Maybe get them started younger.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

People keep telling me that, but the smug and the smarm of that opening sentence don't seem self-aware enough to me to be satire. (And I'm someone who found Georgette Heyer to be at least occasionally amusing, when I worked recording audiobooks.)

You do realise that the one woman who found an alternative to marriage, was the author?