Books and Reading topic - What are you reading?

[Rumze]

So I just finished rereading the wheel of time series this last month.
I hadnt read the first 10 books in years since I first picked up the series about ten years ago or so and rereading it all made me appreciate it more especially now that I can remember all the minor characters and appreciate the politics and not speed through it because it was new and must take it all in. I cant wait for the last one - Robert Jordans world is amazing and Brandon Sanderson is doing it great credit in finishing his work.

Im going to start reading the book of the fallen series/malazan and again now and also reading old republic time novels. Ive read the sw extended universe novels but mostly those set after return of the jedi or at that time period so Im looking forward to that to.

What are you currently reading and any suggestions or favorite books you wish to share?

[Jasyn]

Don't squeeze in the kind of reading that I wish I would.  I kill what little free time I have these days watching BBC America, following forums, puttering about in MMOs, and catching up on sleep I miss during the week (sometimes I even multi-thread these activities).

However, you've reminded me that Ken Follett's World Without End has been on my reading list for way far too long now.  Don't know what it's like because I actually need to start reading it first, but it was his follow-up to Pillars of the Earth, and I was a really big fan of that one.

Coincidentally, at the time I originally read it, I was studying art history, including the various styles of cathedral architecture, which really enhanced my enjoyment of the book.  In fact, that and a passing reference were indirectly responsible for getting me to stumble my way onto the book in the first place.

[Alirrin]

I'm a big fan of series, so my "OMGREADTHISNOW!" list goes like this:

Dresden Files (ongoing) - Jim Butcher
Codex Alera (5 books) - Jim Butcher
"Goblin" series (3 books) - Jim C Hines
"Princess" series (4 books) - Jim C Hines
Greywalker (ongoing) - Kat Richardson
Clockwork Century (ongoing) - Cherie Priest

I'm currently caught up on all of the above save Clockwork Century. I'm reading Dreadnought now and have Ganymede queued up.

[Rumze]

I love Jim Butcher - I actually picked up his dresden series after I saw that show that lasted for one season but Im glad I did. His codex series is amazing to. 
Reminds me I have to pick up the latest dresden novel.

[Alirrin]

Reminds me I have to pick up the latest dresden novel.

Yes. Yes you do. Take time off work and do it NOW.

[Askari]

I just picked up the latest Dresden novel. For those who enjoy Butcher's Dresden books and want some more good urban fantasy, I can also recommend Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series and Patricia Brigg's Mercy Thompson series.

Rachel Morgan is a private investigator witch with a vampire roommate and pixie sidekick. It's set in a world where a plague wipes out a large chunk of the "normals" and the supernatural folk step out of the shadows to keep the world from falling apart. Although that potentially rich idea is not a large part of the stories... it just serves as a background for why the supernatural folk are "outed". The stories are mostly just Rachel running around getting her ass kicked and kicking ass, similar to Dresden.

Mercedes Thompson is a coyote shapeshifter and VW mechanic who keeps getting drawn into various supernatural mysteries. Like Dresden and Rachel, she often gets her ass kicked, gets mad, then kicks some ass.

[Corsair]

Yet another thumbs up for both Butcher's Dresden series, and Kim Harrison's Rachel Morgan series. I love both. (However I have zero joy in the Charlene Harris stuff that many are buts for, so go figure.)

It's funny, but a lot of these sorts of series remind me totally of the 60's "Man with no Name" Clint Eastwood westerns in feel. Therefore when the early Harrison books payed homage by their titles, it seemed really fitting.

I am trying to find a non overpriced hardback copy of Mixxi's fave book mentioned in another thread recently, but that quest goes on. Currently I picked up and am about to read Deceived, to get my head in tune for character creation in a galaxy far far away, long long ago....

[Lyrima]

Blaek and I loved the Myles Vorkosigan series:

http://www.amazon.com/Cordelias-Honor-Vorkosigan-Saga-Omnibus/dp/0671578286/ref=cm_lmf_tit_1

I absolutely loved The Death Gate Cycle:

http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Wing-Death-Gate-Cycle/dp/0553286390/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319925786&sr=1-5

Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince Series:

http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Prince-Book-Melanie-Rawn/dp/0886774500/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319926043&sr=1-3

There was a series I have lost but have kinda wanted to reread and I thought it was by Weis/Hickman--it was a space ship fantasy thing.  I just wandered through a lot of pages at Amazon and couldn't find it

I've never heard of the stuff mentioned above, I'll have to take a look.

These days, I fill my reading moments with young adult fiction.  Since I teach language arts to 4th-8th graders, I gotta keep up with their reading! I really love it, too.

[Eshen]

Currently I'm reading A Fire Upon the Deep: http://www.amazon.com/Fire-Upon-Deep-Zones-Thought/dp/0765329824/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319930398&sr=8-1

It won the Hugo award in 1991 and pushes the boundaries of science fiction as all Hugo winners do. It tells a chase story on a gigantic scale with varieties of non-bipedal, god-sized entities, space travels, and light-year length communications and this is in the first 8th of the book.

[Lyrima]

There was a series I have lost but have kinda wanted to reread and I thought it was by Weis/Hickman--it was a space ship fantasy thing.  I just wandered through a lot of pages at Amazon and couldn't find it

FOUND them!

http://www.amazon.com/Lost-King-Star-Guardians-ebook/dp/B004H4XRAK/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319932380&sr=1-2

[Mixxi]

I just finished Glen Cook's The Black Company. Can't believe I'd never read it before.

Currently, I'm reading Rogue Squadron to get some CorSec background info. It's my bedtime book, so it's taking me a few days to read it. I keep falling asleep.   I chew my way through The Disappearing Spoon (history of the periodic table and all the accompanying weirdness) in fits and starts, so technically I'm reading that, too.

I tend to concurrently re-read favorite books when I have a few minutes (thanks to the iPad and Kindle, I carry my library with me), and my current re-readers are the several Fafhrd and Grey Mouser books and The Lies of Locke Lamora. How can you not love a book where one of the characters trains martial combat in a garden of glass roses that can cut him to shreds?

By the way, Corsair, if Locke Lamora is the book you're looking for a cheap copy of, I just bought three copies so that I can drop the book on unsuspecting friends and force them to read it. Let me know if you want one.

[Eshen]

I have the Black Company but I couldn't get into the style of writing and the Vietnam War-esque mood took out all the glamour and wonder of fantasy for me. Same with Steven Erickson's Gardens of the Moon. It's a shame because I heard such good things about them.

[Mixxi]

Re: The Black Company--I really like the main character. I thought it was very clever that he's not a fighter, but the medic of the company. I also tend to like stories where the protagonists are very competent. I don't like worrying about whether some underdog is going to squeak through a tricky situation. Kind of like why I love John Casey on Chuck, but Chuck himself makes me impatient.

Well, and the fact that he'll always be Jayne to me.

By the way, if you're looking for a fantastic series, you can't go wrong with The Archer's Tale by Bernard Cornwell (yes, the same one who wrote the Sharpe books). Oakmist turned me on to this years ago, and it's still one of my absoute favorites. His newer book, Azincourt (Agincourt in the States, because Americans are too stupid for historical subtlety) is similar in flavor and simply amazing as well.

[Eshen]

Sadly, I can't get into novels that are based in historic times but stylized with a different genre unless it's modern with conspiracies ala the DaVinci Code. My favourite author is Brandon Sanderson and I have yet to find anyone that can write as well as he can. I've read Robert Jordan's stuff and Terry Goodkind's Sword of Truth. I've been slowly delving into sci-fi though.

[Askari]

Re: The Black Company--I really like the main character. I thought it was very clever that he's not a fighter, but the medic of the company.

I think I've decided on a Trooper>Commando>Combat Medic healer as my first main character, and would love to name him "Croaker", as a tribute to Black Company. However, I've never been able to get the name Croaker in any MMO, even when I'm in early access...so it must be a popular idea.

[Sigil]

If you do that, Askari, we'll make you official chronicler of Saga - just like Croaker...and you can keep the evil Sith Inquisitor "lady" if you can convince her not to kill us.

[Corsair]

Mixxi, you rock...yet again!

Locke Lamora in indeed the book, and or books, I am seeking out. I am looking to score a copy and leave you fully stocked to indoctrinate the masses, but if I fail I will gladly lean on your assistance if that is still okay. It's sad, I didn't even know of these until reading your post....

On, on the sci-fi side of things, I also liked a fair bot of Jack McDevvit's stuff. Priscilla "Hutch" Hutchins is a great character, and I quite liked Ancient Shores.

On a non sci-fi or fantasy note, I will plug a classic...The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. You MUST get a truly unabridged copy or it just won't be as good. Many many printings are abridged as it is a beefy volume. I love that story.

In the realm of  light and fun...but hard to find probably, a trilogy called "Masquerade of the Red Death", was written by Robert Weinberg 10+ years back now. Based on the Vampire table-top RPG of the time, these are the best game based books I recall ever reading. Black Company was great, though I never kept up on all the more recent related writings.

Oh! Oh! Another of my all time fave authors/books...read anything by Steven Brust. One of the best stand alone fantasy novels ever ever ever is To Reign in Hell. I promise....

Linkies for reference:
http://www.amazon.com/Blood-War-Masquerade-Red-Death/dp/1565048407/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319958830&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Reign-Hell-Novel-Steven-Brust/dp/0312870493/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1319958985&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Count-Monte-Cristo-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140449264/ref=pd_sim_b_4

[Alirrin]

I read the Count of Monte Cristo for my honors-level 11th grade English class.  My dad had read it and told me to take LOTS of character notes, since people disappear then reappear and you scratch your head thinking, "Who was he again?"  I was very glad I did.  It improved my enjoyment by preventing me from having to go flipping back through early chapters.

[Cyrian]

My latest was the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, I'm a huge mythology nerd so it's entertaining to see those old classics dropped into the modern age.

[Rumze]

You should check out his Kane series, based on egyption mythology. I think that was very well done.