What are you currently reading?

[WeDealInLead]

I haven't read any of Barker's fantasy books but I thought Books of Blood were great, like King if he got really nasty and more literary or whatever.

I'm almost finished The Dark Forest by Cixin Liu. Hands down, the best new S.F. book I've read in at least five years. Liu mixes the best parts of Clarke, Niven and space adventure.

[Dan]

I also never could get into Straub.

Some of Straub is hard to read. I remember reading The Ballad of Ballard and Sandrine and never understanding what was going on. Ever. His early works are fantastic, but some are hard to follow.

[zelig]

Thanks for posting those two books. I love books about books. Will take a look at those. If you haven't read it yet, you should add A Gentle Madness by Nicholas A. Basbanes to your list.

Ah, Basbanes and Sanders, two of my favorite bibliophiles. I always get excited when I see Ken Sanders (and Ken Gloss) on Antiques Roadshow.

Another great "book about books" is Book Row: An Anecdotal and Pictorial History of the Antiquarian Book Trade (2003), a wonderful look at NYC's famous Book Row circa 1890's to 1960's. What a unique, special time and place for book lovers.

Thanks for putting me onto another one.. It's out of print but got a copy for $9 from an online bookseller. Just looking at the picture on the cover makes you wish you were there at that time. Must have been a Golden aAge. I'm currently reading Rare Books Uncovered, which was recommended earlier in this discussion. Really enjoying the rare find stories in there.

[Patrick]

How do you like the revised version?

I like it. I think I'm glad to have read the original first though. Having read the series already the revised version makes sense though.

I agree. I'm also glad that I read the original first, but the revised definitely ties in with the series in a different way. I'll admit that I found the amount of foreshadowing to be a bit overwhelming though.

Yeah, there is that.

I would like to see a side by side comparison. If I could get both versions in digital form I might collate them myself.

Brian, back when the revised edition of THE GUNSLINGER was released, some King fans created a detailed comparison list of every change. I know it was posted on the old thedarktower.net. It may still be out on the internet somewhere. You might ask in Calvins Corner in the Random Comments thread. A lot of those guys save everything.


Currently reading: THE LAST COLONY, by John Scalzi

[Br!an]

Thanks Patrick. I will do that.

[Merlin1958]

I am a fantasy fiction fan. Weaveworld is awesome.

+1 on Weaveworld

Its the best by Barker, in my humble opinion.

As a King fan, I wanted to get into Barker but I just couldn't. I don't recall the order but I did read Weaveworld, The Great and Secret Show, The Damnation Game, Cabal, and a couple of the Books of Blood collections, so I gave it a good go. Barker just seems so...random...I guess. Out of the above, The Damnation Game had the tightest plot, but the others just struck me as "making it up as you go" with no real cohesiveness. It might be that my issue is with fantasy as a genre (which I do not care for). Too much "and then magic happened out of nowhere."

An ex-girlfriend swore that Imagica was the best book ever but I have not tested that theory.

I also never could get into Straub.

I enjoyed "Weaveworld" very much. "The Great and Secret Show" took some doing to finally get into, but in the end it was good.

[FennyBate]

Thanks for posting those two books. I love books about books. Will take a look at those. If you haven't read it yet, you should add A Gentle Madness by Nicholas A. Basbanes to your list.

Ah, Basbanes and Sanders, two of my favorite bibliophiles. I always get excited when I see Ken Sanders (and Ken Gloss) on Antiques Roadshow.

Another great "book about books" is Book Row: An Anecdotal and Pictorial History of the Antiquarian Book Trade (2003), a wonderful look at NYC's famous Book Row circa 1890's to 1960's. What a unique, special time and place for book lovers.

Thanks for putting me onto another one.. It's out of print but got a copy for $9 from an online bookseller. Just looking at the picture on the cover makes you wish you were there at that time. Must have been a Golden aAge. I'm currently reading Rare Books Uncovered, which was recommended earlier in this discussion. Really enjoying the rare find stories in there.

Happy to see you got a copy, and that you're enjoying it. It's the sort of book you can put down for a while, then get straight back into. Perfect to break up back to back long reads - I started it between 'It' and 'The Passage'.

[Girlystevedave]

I also never could get into Straub.

I think Straub is the reason it took me so long to really get into The Talisman. It ended up being one of my favorites, but I could have done without Straub's droning on and on in certain parts.

[Roland of Gilead 33]

that one i still haven't finished to be honest. i think i've only read chapters 1 and 2 and that's about it, as you are right it just drones and is a very slow starter of a book

[Girlystevedave]

that one i still haven't finished to be honest. i think i've only read chapters 1 and 2 and that's about it, as you are right it just drones and is a very slow starter of a book

It does start out pretty slow. If you can get past the beginning, it really turns out to be an awesome book though. It's one that I've read a few times now.

[webstar1000]

ILLIUM... Dan Simmons... feel this is the first book I am "fighting" a bit through. Sometimes I like it but... not sure... anyone here really enjoyed it?

[Dan]

Yes, I enjoyed it. How far in are you?

[webstar1000]

Yes, I enjoyed it. How far in are you?

125 pages on the paperback

[Dan]

Yes, I enjoyed it. How far in are you?

125 pages on the paperback

Hmm. I can't say for sure, but it sounds like you are still in the slow part. It's been about two years since I read it, but after it got going I really enjoyed it.

[biomieg]

It was a slow start for me as well. It didn't help that I didn't equally like all storylines (at least, in the beginning). The Hockenberry storyline took me the longest to get into. I liked the Moravecs the best.

[Lookwhoitis]

well i've taken the plunge into Simmons and McCammon due to the degree that both authors are lauded on the boards.

Enjoyed Speaks the Nightbird and am currently reading Summer of Night. I will probably go onto Boy's Life and Hyperion next. I have Drood and The Terror checked out from the public library as well.

The only thing is that my pocket is going to smart if I start getting their S/N LEs too! (already have, lol)

[Dan]

All those are great choices. Not everyone like Drood, but I thought it was great.

[Lookwhoitis]

All those are great choices. Not everyone like Drood, but I thought it was great.

I know, I've been hearing some buzzkill about it but I am a HUGE Charles Dickes fan so I am thinking I may like it, too.

[Dan]

All those are great choices. Not everyone like Drood, but I thought it was great.

I know, I've been hearing some buzzkill about it but I am a HUGE Charles Dickes fan so I am thinking I may like it, too.

Then I suppose you will. I am also a huge fan of Charles Dickens. Reading this actually inspired me to read The Woman in White by Wilkey Collins. It's pretty good, also.

[webstar1000]

Abominable is next for me after Illuim. Anyone read that one? Good?

[Heather19]

I just bought it a few weeks ago. I've been dying to start it, just need to finish the one I'm reading now. You'll probably get to it before me, so let me know what you think.

[webstar1000]

I just bought it a few weeks ago. I've been dying to start it, just need to finish the one I'm reading now. You'll probably get to it before me, so let me know what you think.

I will!!! Then after that it's the Wayward Pines series!!! Lol then End of Watch. Gotta find the time to read... I love it!!

[Heather19]

I just bought it a few weeks ago. I've been dying to start it, just need to finish the one I'm reading now. You'll probably get to it before me, so let me know what you think.

I will!!! Then after that it's the Wayward Pines series!!! Lol then End of Watch. Gotta find the time to read... I love it!!

Wayward Pines series is awesome! You'll love it

[FennyBate]

About 550 pages into 'The Passage', and absolutely loving it. Feels like I'm approaching the end of the middle act, which I believe has copped some criticism. Could it have been shorter?...possibly, but I like the detail it added to the world that Cronin has created.

I do enjoy stories set 'in the genre' - so 'Best New Horror', by Joe Hill, was very, very enjoyable. Fantastic way to kick off a collection.
Skipped '20th Century Ghost', because I read it recently - one of my all time favourite stories.
Now, 'Pop Art' is definitely NOT my type of thing - but I adored it. This is looking like an extremely strong collection.
Lincoln.

[jhanic]

Abominable is next for me after Illuim. Anyone read that one? Good?

I really did enjoy Abominable. It sure didn't go in the direction I expected.

John