Hey Beehaw, whatcha reading right now?
The Murderbot Diaries.
I’ve been enjoying it, it has a surprising amount of heart for a series about an emotionally damaged not-robot.
I was put off by the pricing on these. Full price for novella length. I really enjoyed the first one, I’ll grab the rest if they go on sale
If your local library doesn’t have them, they are on humble bundle right now.
Oh hell yes! Thank you!
I’ve reread the series more than once, and I hardly ever reread books—I just can’t get enough of Murderbot! I’m anxiously awaiting the new release, System Collapse, due out later this year.
Currently working my way through the Three Body Problem series. They are very good but I’m not sure how much I’m enjoying them, they are pretty bleak in places.
Fantastic novels. Skip the redemption of time though. It’s terrible
I listened to the first two on audio book. I’m in the same boat as you, where I thought they were good, and pretty thought provoking, but very bleak, and almost propagandistic, I can’t really explain it though
I’ve only read the first one and found my enjoyment varying a lot. Sometimes there were great ideas and sometimes the pacing is too slow for me. Might pick up the second book sometime
I didn’t enjoy the first one that much, but devoured the next two. I still think about the second book often.
Loved that series. But very bleak view of the universe. I loved it in the end.
Currently reading Hitch hikers guide to the galaxy really fun reads though it got weird in some places
It has to! lol A completely weird book, but that is what makes it so fun. Enjoy!
yup the way duglas adams writes makes for some hilarious moments definitely enjoying my time with them
This is my favorite book series. The Restaurant at the End of the Universe stands out as my favorite overall.
working my way through Discworld again. currently at Unseen Academicals.
I will read Shepherd’s Crown this time.
Discworld is always a brilliant choice. Good luck getting through Shepherd’s Crown. I can’t do it. If I never read it, it never has to end. “People will always remember the songs he never had the chance to sing. And they will be the greatest songs of all.”
The Count of Monte Cristo! Liking it so far and I’ve heard good things
I just got a copy of the Count of Monte Cristo. I’ve enjoyed every Dumas novel I’ve read, but I’m surprised at how many I’ve missed.
That story is such a beautiful tragedy! There are layers to it. You’ll enjoy each layer as you read the book multiple times.
I am in the middle of reading Men at Arms, one of the Discworld novels by Terry Pratchet. Very much recommend!
I’m in the middle of Wyrd Sisters (again)! GNU Terry Pratchett.
GNU Terry Pratchett
I’ve been reading the 40K Horus heresy series, currently on my 21st book of it.
What’s the usual entry point for a beginner to the world of 40k?
Sorry for the delay in responding, life has been hectic. I’d guess the Horus Heresy is a pretty typical entry that would be recommended. While its set in the 30k era, it really sets the stage for why of how things got so bad in the rest of the 40k series. if you’re not looking to slog through ~60 books to read through just the Horus Heresy, I’d recommend checking out the 40k wiki: Here’s a link to the timeline of events. I’d recommend just following links around for things that sound interesting.
1356 by Bernard Cornwell. Its cheesey typical damsel in destress stuff set in a bloody french chevauchée, but I’ll be damned if it aint a whole lof of fun. Think the expanse, but with horses as worse charachters.
I loved his Warlord Chronicles trilogy, and I’m onto reading the Sharpe series now. In terms of story he definitely has a formula that he sticks to, but it’s a really entertaining formula so I can’t really fault him for it.
Just started both Men at Arms by Terry Pratchett and Speaking Bones by Ken Liu which is the 4th book in the Dandelion Dynasty. Highly recommend that series.
Oh, I wanted to start the Terry Pratchett universe, but just looking at the “reading guide” discourages me. How are you finding it? Will check the Dandelion Dynasty though.
Diskworld is super funny but it’s how surprisingly astute it is that brings me back. I’m not very far in but it was recommended to me to start with the Guards series with Guards! Guards!.
Guards! Guards! is commonly recommended as a starting point. It’s a good book (they all are), but personally I recommend Men at Arms or Feet of Clay. They’re still early in the watch series, but the writing style is more fluid and compelling. I feel like Guards! Guards! was a turning point if you read the earlier books, but IMO he hit full-stride right around Men at Arms. And once Vimes embraces his rage at injustice it maxes the gauge and bits of steam start shooting out.
“Small Gods” is a stand-alone book that doesn’t need any of the others to make sense. It’s also one of my favorites. If you want to read a Discworld without any strings, I suggest “Small Gods.”
Just finished the audiobook of Thud by Terry Pratchett while my wife and I were on a road trip
I’m currently reading through Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. I’m a fan of SciFi, and cyberpunk especially. This book was on my reading list, and I decided to pick it up while in the bookstore the other day.
So far I’m really enjoying it. It feels a bit more pulpy than some of the other cyberpunk classics such as Neuromancer and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, but that’s not a bad thing. It certainly doesn’t take away from the entertainment in my opinion. Not every book needs to have a grand philosophy behind it.
I guess I should finally read Snow Crash, but other books keep getting in the way. I just finished Neuromancer which surprised me with how well written it was. No idea why, but I expected the classics to be more … exhausting.
I get what you mean. Many classics are that way, especially as we get further from when they were written. I’ve been trying to work through Moby Dick on audio book during my commute, but it feels like a slog. Same with some parts of The Count of Monte Cristo but that has a good amount of suspense that really carries the reader through some of the more stuffy aristocratic sections.
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Added it to my reading list! Huge fan of non-fiction here
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Pattern Recognition, William Gibson.
Gibson is tough to get into, personally, but his stories are very cool!
Just started Howl’s Moving Castle. Liking it so far!
Not exactly like the movie, but it’s pretty close.
I legitimately did not know there is a book. It’s my favorite movie so I might pick this up.
A lot of Miyazaki’s films are based on books! Kiki’s Delivery Services is a book as well, and Secret Life of Arietty is based on The Borrowers.
Yes the book was first, and adapted for the movie. It’s a trilogy. They did a good job on the adaptation, though there are some differences, as there always are. I’m reading it through my Library on Libby.
Currently working my way through the web serial Worm (for the second time, as I’m hoping to finish the sequel on this go around)
Worm is excellent. I also failed to make it through the sequel, it just didn’t grab me like Worm did. Will try again though someday.
Since Ward is finished, I figured it was worth another shot. It is tough to get into though - Worm gets so intense by the end (with such high stakes!) and then the sequel almost feels like going back to square one.
Yeah, I also really missed Taylor. And that just made it harder to get into.
I can also recommend Wildbow’s other web serials. Twig is probably my favourite (but it took a while for it to really ‘grab’ me)
I honestly really liked Pact (it might be my favorite, though we’ll see how I feel on re-read) but Twig was also really good. I’m hoping to go back through them all, they’re just too good to only read once.
