What are you reading this year 2020?

[Ralif Redhammer]

Finished my re-read of Zelazny's Jack of Shadows. As I've read more Zelazny since then (though still only having scratched the surface), this one still remains my favorite of his works.

Now I'm finally getting to Novalyne Price Ellis' One Who Walked Alone, about her time with Robert E. Howard. I saw the movie adaptation (The Whole Wide World) a while ago and have been meaning to read this ever since.

 

[Nellisir]

Finished my re-read of Zelazny's Jack of Shadows. As I've read more Zelazny since then (though still only having scratched the surface), this one still remains my favorite of his works.

It's very high on my list as well.

 

[Nellisir]

I just got Early Riser by Jasper Fforde, and all of my other readings are cancelled until I get through this one. I love me some Fforde.

 

[Eyes of Nine]

I just got Early Riser by Jasper Fforde, and all of my other readings are cancelled until I get through this one. I love me some Fforde.

I tried reading the first book of his... whatever the series is - ah yes, the Thursday Next series. You would think it was right up my alley - SF/Fantasy, Mystery, and English lit references dropped like chicken poop all over the coop (as an English Lit major, that should be my bang). With a tone that reminded me of Sir Terry Pratchett (who I loved for the first 20 novels or so).

But for some reason it was a bit too much "wink wink nudge nudge" for me. I don't think I finished the first book.

And yet...

Maybe there's another series I can start with to ease my way into his oeuvre?

 

[Nellisir]

I think Thursday Next The Eyre Affair was his first; he might have softened or refined his technique later...but to be honest, he deals with absurdity by adding more and more. "Thursday Next" is the series, and protagonist. There's just a high degree of ridiculousness to deal with. I was actually just thinking that he doesn't really deal in fantasy worlds, or our world with secret oddities - he deals with outright alternate worlds, where England is a subsidiary of Manchester Chocolates & Upholstery Inc, thanks to an unusually good year in upholstery in 1953 and a really bad bet on the Prime Minister's part involving a chicken, two dice, and the contents of a 14thC. soup tureen that had been unearthed in the car park.

Just to give a fictitious example.

Shades of Grey is really good and less absurd, but part one of a trilogy that hasn't seen a part two in a decade plus.

Maybe the two Nursery Crime Division books?

 

[KahlessNestor]

I've been actively seeking out fantasy and science fiction from non-white-dude authors, with a focus on fantasy that doesn't use European history as it's touchstone.

I started on a few that didn't grab me. Sisters of the Deep Black by Lina Rather wasn't rivetting, but was really interesting, and a quick read. I just started on Children of Blood and Bone by Toni Adayemi. I like the way it's written and it seem promising.

Next on the to-try pile is The Dragon Republic, by R.F. Kuang

Oh, and I read the pretty massive graphic novel Grass by Keum-Suk Gendry-Kim and it was very, very good.

Also: am assortment of Bronze Age comics that I find in my collection, and semi-random comics on Hoopla.

Try Neil Gaiman's Anansi Boys. It's based in West Indian/Caribbean and West African story traditions.

 

[KahlessNestor]

I just got Early Riser by Jasper Fforde, and all of my other readings are cancelled until I get through this one. I love me some Fforde.

I need to get back to Fforde. I think there might be a Thursday book I missed!

 

[Richards]

Gah! I finished A Time to Love - the novel, at least, if not the story: that's continued in A Time to Hate by the same author! This one didn't even have a proper ending, it just cut off with a "to be continued" in mid-story. And it's not even like the story was that interesting in the first place, definitely not interesting enough for me to hunt down the rest of the tale contained in the sequel. Total, massive fail!

I think I'm going to go reread some Jack Vance short stories to cool down from this fiasco. Thanks for nothing, Robert Greenberger! You've earned yourself a place on my "never read anything else by this author" list.

Johnathan

 

[Cadence]

Reread Glen Cook's "A Cruel Wind" omnibus. Contains 3 of the 8 Dread Empire books - A Shadow of All Night Falling, October's Baby, All Darkness Met. In some places they almost read like sketch of novel, but they have some nice world building. Taking a break for some Appendix N reading, and then will jump back into the prequels.

 

[KahlessNestor]

Reading Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett.

Finished reading Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow.

Still reading How to Destroy America in Three Easy Steps by Ben Shapiro.

Still reading the Star Wars Adventures core rule book.

Still reading Warbreaker by Brandon Sanderson.

Starting to read The Rape of Nanking by Iris Chang.