Still reading Cold Days by Jim Butcher, the 14th book in Dresden Files series.
Yet another busy week but things have started to settle down, got back to reading properly yesterday and have reached the point where we get some interesting reveals. Very excited about where it goes from here.
What about all of you? What have you been reading or listening to lately?
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I’m going to start reading “Endnotes 1: Preliminary Materials for a Balance Sheet of the 20th Century”.
Today the first four volumes of the Endnotes collective arrived at my home and I’m eager to read them. To refresh my memory, I’m going to reread the first one.
The first volume, as its title suggests, reviews what happened in the twentieth century from the perspective of communization theory, which is nothing more than the expression of the communist movement in the current cycle of struggles. It contrasts two positions: that of Théorie Communiste, which is more determinist and argues that victory was impossible in that context, and that of Gilles Dauvé, who claims victory was possible, had certain errors or deviations not occurred.
After catching all the way up with The Wandering Inn webserial, I decided to try other webserials I might like.
I’ve now read all the available content for Pale Lights (by ErraticErrata, who wrote A Practical Guide to Evil which I loved, this new one’s also great), the first four books of Beware of Chicken (thumbs up, will definitely continue), and just started He Who Fights with Monsters (I’m halfway through book one, but I don’t hate it).
I tried Zenith of Sorcery (since I remembered enjoying Mother of Learning well enough) but the currently available material didn’t really grab me. I might try again in a few years.
I’m not sure what happens when I’ve totally caught up with all these…I don’t know if I have the patience to only read one story segment a week, or if I’ll end up pausing for longer stretches so there’s more at one time.
Just finished the 5th Bobiverse book “Not Till We Are Lost” by Dennis E. Taylor. It was a surprisingly fun series, especially if you don’t take it too seriously.
Currently reading A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik.
Currently reading “The mercy of gods” by James S. A. Corey. About one third into the book. Love it thus far.
Finished “Iron Sunrise” by Charles Stross last night. Liked it and finished it pretty quick considering the time available to read. I’ve got a few more of his books lined up, probably enough to last me into next year If I don’t get tired of the writing style. Next up is “Halting State”.
Plot spoiler
I probably wouldn’t have read Iron Sunrise if I knew it was about space Nazis though, I feel that theme has been done to death.
Tried starting “Fatherland” but it was too much like SS-GB. Has anyone else read it? Is it worth the effort? If so I might try again. Any other alternative history books you might recommend?
I started reading Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky. It’s about the spread of new ideas, namely nihilism, in the mid-1800s Russia. As such, the topic reminds me of Ivan Turgenev’s Fathers And Sons, which I remember liking. This is a hefty tome, so it’ll take me a while to get through it.
Should be wrapping up The Secret Servant by Gavin Lyall tonight.
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Finished All Systems Red by Martha Wells (comfy scfi) | bingo: motion picture, short, award HM, steppin’ up HM, late to the party HM
A secretly self-aware android must protect a team of scientists against an unexpected threat.
Especially considering its novella length, this is very well-plotted, well-paced, well-characterized, and well-ended. I enjoyed it, but it didn’t grab me enough to want to immediately add the next entry to my TBR (blasphemy, I know).
“Faith, Hope and Carnage” - exchange between Nick Cave and a music journo that came out in the early 20s
Im currently working on book 2 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. Its a fantastic listen so far. Unfortunately it seems it was only available on Audible so I had to sail the high seas to get it.
The Dungeon Crawler Carl audiobooks are some the best l I’ve listened to!
I’m sure you’re aware of this, but they do have the first book available as an audio drama from:
https://soundbooththeater.com/series/dungeon-crawler-carl/
They call it an “audio immersion tunnel.” Season 1 = Book 1, and more are in production. Episode 1 is free, the whole “Season” is $21 USD.
It’s much better than the Graphic Audio productions, at least in my opinion.
Edit: Cold reads/bts streams are also on their YouTube channel. Interesting to see behind the curtain a little bit.
Holy shit I had no idea! I will happily pay for something like this. I remember hearing something about it at the end of the first audiobook, but didn’t know it’d be a separate company selling it themselves.
Thank you kind stranger!
Glad I mentioned it then!
If it wasn’t clear, the narrator is the same person from the Audiobooks (Jeff Hays), and he still does a fantastic job with most of the voices.
I’ve been in the mother of all reading slumps (since I hit my very modest yearly goal of 12+ books), but I’m back and I’m currently reading Orientalism by Edward Said for non-fiction. I’m also reading two short-story collections: A Century of Fiction in The New Yorker edited by Deborah Treisman, and Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction edited by Thomas, Ekpeki and Knight.
Stuff is really stressful right now, so I’m just sorta retreating into the comforting hole of Discworld.
Started Demon in White the third book in Sun Eater series. Its growing on me. Its not the best sci fi series but its fun at times.
Also picked up Tapestry of Dark Souls. Its next book in this Ravenloft series i have been reading. So far not liking this one as much as others but may just take a bit to get going.
From the Fatherland, With Love. by Ryu Murakami
Just finished Way of Kings, and I told my self I should continue with a palate cleanser, something a lot shorter. So I picked up The Stand. 🤦
