Reading: The Book Thread

[Count Steer]

Just read John Scalzi's 'Starter Villain'. Marv.

Global villains, volcanic island lair, intelligent (genetically uplifted) cats, stroppy, foul-beaked, unionising, strike-prone dolphins. I even liked the bonus story at the end. Will have to put Scalzi on my reading list if they're all as funny as this one.

Can't beat a bit of Scalzi, I've read the old man's war series, the impirox stuff and most recently the Kaju Preservation thingy.

I must pick up Starter Villain, it was nominated for a Hugo or a Nebula iirc.

He'd gone completely under my radar. Picked this one up at the 'bus shelter book swap'. Will get a few more.

Reminds me, in terms of style, of Harry Harrison - a bit.

[KungFooBob]

The old man's war stuff is great. Plenty of it too.

[Count Steer]

Going back to Ian M Banks and 'The Culture' novels.

The latest Folio Society brochure dropped through the letterbox this morning.

Alpha-fans of The Culture may want to start saving their paper-round money. Consider Phlebas and Player of Games now available in super deluxe hardback with slip-cover and illustrations.

Both yours for the price of a pint*.

https://www.foliosociety.com/uk/consider-phlebas.html

https://www.foliosociety.com/uk/the-pla ... games.html

* of a particularly fine Burgundy.

Edit: soz, cocked up the link first time.

[Sunny]

The Book of Elsewhere. By Keanu Reeves (yes that one, yes really) and China Miéville.

Pretty decent, once you get past the mysterious beginning. Though I thought the end was weaker than it could have been. Sci-fi, but on the lower end of the sci-fi scale.

Apparently it's a spin off from four comics. I'm not a comic/graphic novel person, so haven't read those.

Going to give Old Man's War a spin next.

[KungFooBob]

Have you read China Miéville's Perdido Street Station, it's epic!

[Rockburner]

The Book of Elsewhere. By Keanu Reeves (yes that one, yes really) and China Miéville.

Pretty decent, once you get past the mysterious beginning. Though I thought the end was weaker than it could have been. Sci-fi, but on the lower end of the sci-fi scale.

Apparently it's a spin off from four comics. I'm not a comic/graphic novel person, so haven't read those.

Going to give Old Man's War a spin next.

I got the book, and the big hardback comic series for Xmas. Haven't started the book yet.

[Sunny]

It looks like it was only ever intended to be 3 books (it's referred to as a trilogy on his Web page). The ideas are probably running a bit thin. He couldn't get them published at first so did them as audio books - on Audible I think - and they worked well enough to attract a publishers interest.

There's a lot of series books that sell well so they keep cranking them out long after they should have stopped. Publishers like to keep an earner going.

Agreed!!

The tone/style and some aspects of the AI topic remind me of the Murderbot books (which I also like ).

Ooo - I'll have a look for those - cheers

Here y'go. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Murderbot_Diaries

I'd got these, then saved them to read when the mood hit.

I then saw that the TV version was being released, so have binged the lot over the last three weeks. They were excellent - thanks heaps for the recommendation

(I will now watch the TV version too and judge Alexander Skarsgard accordingly )

[ZRX61]

As mentioned in the pleasing purchase thread:

William Millikens "Equations of Motion"

http://www.bentleypublishers.com/automo ... ition.html

It's the size of your mum's old Grattan catalog...

[KungFooBob]

The Books of Babel - Josiah Bancroft

There's four of them starting with Senlin Ascends. I just finished the last one today.

I read the first, it was ok. So picked up the second, it was average at best. The third wasn't great, but thought I might as well read the fourth to complete the story.

I read a handful of pages and put it down... 18 months ago.

I started again because I forgot to buy a book for my holiday. I got quite into it, until the end, which is shit.

So, erm, don't read them unless you like average books with a disappointing ending.

[Rockburner]

Going back to Ian M Banks and 'The Culture' novels.

The latest Folio Society brochure dropped through the letterbox this morning.

Alpha-fans of The Culture may want to start saving their paper-round money. Consider Phlebas and Player of Games now available in super deluxe hardback with slip-cover and illustrations.

Both yours for the price of a pint*.

https://www.foliosociety.com/uk/consider-phlebas.html

https://www.foliosociety.com/uk/the-pla ... games.html

* of a particularly fine Burgundy.

Edit: soz, cocked up the link first time.

I've just realised what my next xmas requests might be.

[Count Steer]

Just finished 'Less' by Patrick Grant.

'Stop buying so much rubbish. Having fewer, better things can make us happier'.

Highly recommend and I wish every bloody local and national politician would read it too.

Everything from musing on why we like Instagram and YouTube stuff of people actually making things to the rampant stupidity of an NHS that uses millions of disposable protective garments, made in China, rather than reusable ones made here. Ditto military contracts for clothing...made in China. Points out that while it might appear cheaper to drag stuff half way round the globe the savings disappear if you're paying people here to not work - in benefits etc.

It goes over the top a bit on how idyllic things used to be but he's right that people aren't any happier even when they can (I paraphrase) 'shop like a millionaire'. (I don't think millionaires actually do buy much Chinese disposable tat actually). Maybe a bit on the pride people had in making stuff too - factory life, particularly on a production line, wasn't all tea and crumpets and a proud glow from a job, well done.

Overall though - I'm on board.

[ZRX61]

Memoirs Of A Hack Mechanic by Ron Siegel.

If you've ever picked up a tool to work on a vehicle, you need to read this book. He's a genius at justifying more bike or car purchases, he was up to 10 cars at one point & his missus didn't bat an eyelid.

[gremlin]

Points out that while it might appear cheaper to drag stuff half way round the globe the savings disappear if you're paying people here to not work - in benefits etc.

'To know the price of everything and the value of nothing'

[Count Steer]

Points out that while it might appear cheaper to drag stuff half way round the globe the savings disappear if you're paying people here to not work - in benefits etc.

'To know the price of everything and the value of nothing'

That and assigning value to valueless things like umpteen hundred £ for a Balenciaga top that probably cost £20 to make - (the rest is marketing and profit - and the cost of making and destroying clothes that don't sell because they don't want discounted stuff appearing) - because the top says 'Balenciaga' on the front.

It's quite funny, watching 'Yes Minister' recently I paid attention to Sir Humphrey's pin-stripe. It radiates quality/Saville Row...it doesn't need a logo. (In fact, you'd probably need to know who's who on the Row to interpret any label you can find inside).

Wife bought a Chanel jacket at auction. Friend in the rag trade said 'Apart from the cigarette burn, that looks pukka' - then immediately turned the sleeves inside out, found a little label and said 'Yup, genuine'.

So, in the book he has a dig at both 'fast fashion' and 'logo wavers' <--- my term, not his.

[Cousin Jack]

Just started "The Grapes of Wrath" by Steinbeck. Read several of his books many years ago but never this one.

[Count Steer]

Now I'm on to 'Moveable Feasts' by Chris Newens. Subtitle 'Paris in 20 meals'.

20 chapters revolving around food in the 20 arrondisements of Paris. Not Michelin star meals just 'scran' so far. Ranging from tales of how the Paris bistros were started by coal sellers coming in from rural France (bringing aligot - potato mash n' cheese) with them to Congolese 'malagwa' in the 18ème and on to a story based on the Cordon Bleu school (15ème) as he spirals inwards.

Really well written and all on 2 of my favourite things- food and Paris

Recommended.

[Noggin]

Didn't know whether to put this in the Author Author thread or here ?

Anyway - having read almost only detective type things or some werewolf fantasy for bloody ages (I use reading as escapism - can't read properly so they have to be books written in a way I can read them and enjoy !! Weirdly, Terry Pratchett is perfect for my twisted little brain!!) I decided to read two books about horse ownership

Background is that I was brought up by a horse loving mother, but without the money to get serious, so I was sitting on a horse as soon as I could sit up on my own and always had horses around to ride (one ours, the rest living in the stables and we looked after for others) until I was 16 - and a lot of my friends are horsey peeps too.

But the big reason I thoroughly enjoyed the first book and am the same with book two is - they make me laugh out loud in public places !!! Can't remember the last time I read something that made me giggle or LOL like these !!


Soooo - Daniel Skinner

From Nags to Numbnuts: A Skint Daddy's Guide to Horses, Horse People & Horse Sports

Stable Condition: How to Stay Sane With Horse People in Your Life

Even if you are not horsey, I really think these would give cause for laughter - pretty sure you could replace a lot of other expensive hobbies/sports that kids get into, so not only for horsey folks !!!!

[Slenver]

Thank you again!

[Noggin]

Thank you again!

No worries - been a long time since I embarrassed myself so much by laughing out loud whilst reading a book. Strangely, people always look at you like yr proper weird when yr giggling and your shoulders are shaking whilst sat in a cafe with coffee and a kindle !!

[Slenver]

Thank you again!

No worries - been a long time since I embarrassed myself so much by laughing out loud whilst reading a book. Strangely, people always look at you like yr proper weird when yr giggling and your shoulders are shaking whilst sat in a cafe with coffee and a kindle !!

Well, you're now one of the select bunch who have read all my books now