The Yosemite Bear wrote:The Vampire Genevive omnibus - Jack Yeovil (Kim Stanley)
You mean Kim Newman. Kim Stanley Robinson is a different, and much more boring, writer.
I'm trying to get through some classic fantasy series, such as Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, Black Company, Elric, Shadow and Claw (New Urth series?) and Dying Earth. Unfortunately, I tend to read only the first book in a series, then decide to put off the sequel for something else, so I've not made much progress beyond a bunch of "Book 1"s. Unless you count the second Mercy Thompson book, which I have somehow ended up halfway through after picking it up for a restroom break.
"Gunslinger indeed. Quick draw, Bob. Quick draw." --Count Chocula
"Unquestionably, Dr. Who is MUCH lighter in tone than WH40K. But then, I could argue the entirety of WWII was much lighter in tone than WH40K." --Broomstick
"This is ridiculous. I look like the Games Workshop version of a Jedi Knight." --Harry Dresden, Changes
"Like...are we canonical?" --Aaron Dembski-Bowden to Dan Abnett
Cairber wrote:Anyone read Caesar: Life of a Colossus; did you like it?
The book by Goldsworthy ? Yes, and yes. It's been some time since I read it, but I remember it as being detailed, but nevertheless fascinating to read (although the end was predictable ). Thanas as the resident historian can surely comment on the scientific quality of the book.
"In view of the circumstances, Britannia waives the rules."
"All you have to do is to look at Northern Ireland, [...] to see how seriously the religious folks take "thou shall not kill. The more devout they are, the more they see murder as being negotiable." George Carlin
"We need to make gay people live in fear again! What ever happened to the traditional family values of persecution and lies?" - Darth Wong
"The closet got full and some homosexuals may have escaped onto the internet?"- Stormbringer
I'm reading the books I got for xmas instead of trying to make a dent on the stuff I've got to write for uni. These books consist of:
Is It Just Me or Has the Shit Hit the Fan? - by Steve Lowe and Alan McArthur, the guys who wrote another book I own called Is It Just Me or is Everything Shit?. It's described as "your hilarious new guide to unremitting global misery."
Demons and The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Also, my massive Lovecraft Necronomicon compilation thingy when I'm in the mood.
EBC|Fucking Metal|Artist|Androgynous Sexfiend|Gozer Kvltist|
Listen to my music! http://www.soundclick.com/nihilanth "America is, now, the most powerful and economically prosperous nation in the country." - Master of Ossus
Just finished Frankie Boyles My Shit Life So Far and now starting on Unseen Academicals.
So I stare wistfully at the Lightning for a couple of minutes. Two missiles, sharply raked razor-thin wings, a huge, pregnant belly full of fuel, and the two screamingly powerful engines that once rammed it from a cold start to a thousand miles per hour in under a minute. Life would be so much easier if our adverseries could be dealt with by supersonic death on wings - but alas, Human resources aren't so easily defeated.
Confederates in the Attic by Tony Horwitz. It explores a journalist traveling around the south to figure out why the Civil War is still such a huge deal in a country that usually has almost no interest in history. Its very goo. I'm not far in, but he has already interviewed hardcore battle reenactors (who actually seemed like very cool, apolitical dudes.) and some crazy Confederate supporter types in the Sons of the Confederacy and (scary) Children of the Confederacy.
Last edited by Pulp Hero on 2010-01-05 12:44am, edited 1 time in total.
I can never love you because I'm just thirty squirrels in a mansuit."
"Ah, good ol' Popeye. Punching ghosts until they explode."[/b]-Internet Webguy
"It was cut because an Army Ordnance panel determined that a weapon that kills an enemy soldier 10 times before he hits the ground was a waste of resources, so they scaled it back to only kill him 3 times."-Anon, on the cancellation of the Army's multi-kill vehicle.
Currently reading: Popski's Private Army by Vladimir Peniakoff himself, which I found in a second hand bookstore and was fucking chuffed to get for 11.50.
I also just picked up at a book clearance sale to expand my rapidly growing military/history library:
Band of Brothers and D-Day by Ambrose (I'm nearing a complete collection of his now) Target Basra by Mike Rossiter One Bullet Away by Nathaniel Fick (the Nathaniel Fick who was a central cast member in Generation Kill). Apache Dawn by Damien Lewis
and Mission: Black List #1 by Eric Maddox.
Cairber wrote:Anyone read Caesar: Life of a Colossus; did you like it?
It was a nice overview of the guy's life, but I don't think Thanas would think very highly of it. For amateurs like us who just have an interest, it's a good one. I should probably re-read it, after I finish The Reagan Diaries.
Right now I am reading Chrestomanci series by Dianna Wynne Jones (probably best known for Howl's Moving Castle), starting with Charmed Life. They were recommended to me by a student as being very "Harry Potter-like". I am enjoying them so far; very fast read, kiddie tale but well written.
Then I think I am going to check out that Caesar book; seems like it's a pretty good choice for someone like myself (not a lot of knowledge about the time period beyond high school/college courses taken).
Say NO to circumcisionIT'S A BOY! This is a great link to show expecting parents.
Just finished up Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford, and am currently working on Bonk by Mary Roach and The Wilderness Warrior by Douglas Brinkley. After I finish Bonk, I'm thinking of starting in on Dry Store Room No. 1: The Secret Life of the Natural History Museum by Richard Fortey.
SDNet: Unbelievable levels of pedantry that you can't find anywhere else on the Internet!
Just finished First Lord's Fury, book 6 of the Codex Alera series by Jim Butcher. He says that's the final one of the series, but I wish he'd revisit that world again. He has said that if he did it would be either much earlier in the timeline, or later, but he wouldn't revisit those particular characters again. Which is fine by me
On my stack now is refinishing Under the Dome by Stephen King, although I have sort of lost interest in the 1,061 page tome. Also Quofum by Alan Dean Foster, set in the Humanx universe, and Divine Misdemeanors by Laurel K. Hamilton. I'm hoping I won't have to skip over pages and pages of badly written "porn" in order to find the plot on that one.
A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory.Leonard Nimoy.
Now I did a job. I got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regard to my character so let me make this abundantly clear. I do the job. And then I get paid.- Malcolm Reynolds, Captain of Serenity, which sums up my feelings regarding the lawsuit discussed here.
If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. - John F. Kennedy
Broomstick, if you like Hamilton and Butcher you might also enjoy Patricia Briggs's "Mercy Thompson" series. Also, thanks for reminding me to get Quofum, and Transcendence when it is out in paperback.
Also, I've started delving into the Liber Chaotica. Fun stuff.
"Gunslinger indeed. Quick draw, Bob. Quick draw." --Count Chocula
"Unquestionably, Dr. Who is MUCH lighter in tone than WH40K. But then, I could argue the entirety of WWII was much lighter in tone than WH40K." --Broomstick
"This is ridiculous. I look like the Games Workshop version of a Jedi Knight." --Harry Dresden, Changes
"Like...are we canonical?" --Aaron Dembski-Bowden to Dan Abnett
Already read the "Mercy Thompson" series and I am eagerly awaiting the next book.
A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory.Leonard Nimoy.
Now I did a job. I got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regard to my character so let me make this abundantly clear. I do the job. And then I get paid.- Malcolm Reynolds, Captain of Serenity, which sums up my feelings regarding the lawsuit discussed here.
If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. - John F. Kennedy
Emperor:The Gods of War by Conn Iggulden
Jeremy Clarkson:Driven to Distraction. Not one of his best
The Take by Martina Cole, just for something different
To read
Vulcan 607 by Rowland White
Russia by Jonathon Dimbleby
Standard of Power:The Royal Navy in the 20th Century by Dan Van der Vat
Hitlers British Slaves by Sean Longdon
Don't Move you're surrounded by Armed Bastards - Gene Hunt's attempt at Diplomacy
I will not make any deals with you. I've resigned. I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own - Number 6
The very existence of flame-throwers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done.
OK I've nearly wrapped up The Crow Road, I'm now starting on Faithful Ruslan (Georgi Vladimov) and The Road to Wigan Pier (George Orwell).
'Alright guard, begin the unnecessarily slow moving dipping mechanism...' - Dr. Evil
'Secondly, I don't see why "income inequality" is a bad thing. Poverty is not an injustice. There is no such thing as causes for poverty, only causes for wealth. Poverty is not a wrong, but taking money from those who have it to equalize incomes is basically theft, which is wrong.' - Typical Randroid
'I think it's gone a little bit wrong.' - The Doctor
Homeland by R.A. Salvatore, first of the Drizzt novels. Yes, I'm into escapism lately.
A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory.Leonard Nimoy.
Now I did a job. I got nothing but trouble since I did it, not to mention more than a few unkind words as regard to my character so let me make this abundantly clear. I do the job. And then I get paid.- Malcolm Reynolds, Captain of Serenity, which sums up my feelings regarding the lawsuit discussed here.
If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich. - John F. Kennedy
Benjamin Franklin's autobiography. The thing that's interesting to me, and a little confounding, even a little bit fun, is that he all but admits up front that he's going to alter certain details, correct what he calls his life's "errata". The interesting/fun/confounding part is trying to figure out what he's changed, what he's exaggerated and what he hasn't. I'm probably doing a horrible job at it, but I'm enjoying it nonetheless.
Next up on the list is a series of pop physics books:
Cosmos by Sagan
A Brief History of Time by Hawking
Einstein's Universe by Caldwell.
I managed to get all three for free from a friend's late father's library when they cleaned out their old storage space. They couldn't keep everything and so I took some of the books. (They're older copies, but that's okay)
There are more behind that as well but I won't take the time to type them all out. I will say that I have new books coming in from my Christmas money. It's a collection of Edgar Allen Poe's work and a three volume set about Lincoln (2 books of his writings and one about him by other authors) from Library of America.
Speaking of which, has anyone else read anything printed by Library of America? When I discovered them, my wishlist suddenly ballooned. "I want to read that and that and that..." You get the idea. Next on the list from them will be Mark Twain's complete works, though I'll have to wait a little while for those since there's six volumes.
I've also found another book I want to get as a reference that I thought I'd let ya'll know about, in case you weren't aware of it. It's called, "Our Nation's Archive". I wasn't able to buy it this time around, but it's rather large collection of documents. It several inches thick and written in small but readable type. From just a quick thumb through, I know it included at least one of the Declarations of secession, the Emancipation Proclamation. I'm not sure of what it all contains, but it might be a handy reference for debates.
The Gentleman from Texas abstains. Discourteously.
PRFYNAFBTFC-Vice Admiral: MFS Masturbating Walrus :: Omine subtilite Odobenus rosmarus masturbari Soy un perdedor.
"WHO POOPED IN A NORMAL ROOM?!"-Commander William T. Riker
US Army field manuals 7-10 and 7-20. I find all the military handbooks interesting.
"Doctors keep their scalpels and other instruments handy, for emergencies. Keep your philosophy ready too—ready to understand heaven and earth. In everything you do, even the smallest thing, remember the chain that links them. Nothing earthly succeeds by ignoring heaven, nothing heavenly by ignoring the earth." M.A.A.A
The Spartan wrote:Benjamin Franklin's autobiography. The thing that's interesting to me, and a little confounding, even a little bit fun, is that he all but admits up front that he's going to alter certain details, correct what he calls his life's "errata". The interesting/fun/confounding part is trying to figure out what he's changed, what he's exaggerated and what he hasn't. I'm probably doing a horrible job at it, but I'm enjoying it nonetheless.
Next up on the list is a series of pop physics books:
Cosmos by Sagan
A Brief History of Time by Hawking
Einstein's Universe by Caldwell.
I managed to get all three for free from a friend's late father's library when they cleaned out their old storage space. They couldn't keep everything and so I took some of the books. (They're older copies, but that's okay)
Check out Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene. It's in Penguin Classics down here in Oz for 10 bucks so you can't go wrong.
I'm reading the First Gaunts Ghosts omnibus by Dan Abnett.
A truly wise man never plays leapfrog with a unicorn
So Say We All
Night Stalkers Don't Quit
HAB member
RIP Pegasus. You died like you lived, killing toasters
weemadando wrote:Check out Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene. It's in Penguin Classics down here in Oz for 10 bucks so you can't go wrong.
Added to the wish list. Thanks for the recommendation.
The Gentleman from Texas abstains. Discourteously.
PRFYNAFBTFC-Vice Admiral: MFS Masturbating Walrus :: Omine subtilite Odobenus rosmarus masturbari Soy un perdedor.
"WHO POOPED IN A NORMAL ROOM?!"-Commander William T. Riker
). Thanas as the resident historian can surely comment on the scientific quality of the book.
