• General

  • What have you read recently?

Got the new John Rebus from Ian Rankin yesterday, and finished it today. Might’ve helped that I was also diagnosed with an inflammatory knee joint yesterday, so resting on the couch until Thursday. The man’s kept the same formula for over thirty years, yet kept the books good. Quite impressive.

9 days later

JonQPublik The Constant Rabbit, again, far from his best book, but I loved it. Think I’m just a bit of a fanboy he’s something of a natural successor to Douglas Adams imo, and I’m bang into that.

    Finished ‘Dogs of War’ by Adrian Tchikovsky last night - read it after many recommendations from various people - really enjoyed it - great speculative sci fi. Marvellous. 9 Big Dog Guns / 10.

    Think it’s Embers of War by Gareth L Powell next.

    JonQPublik Just heard another recent interview with him saying Shades didn’t sell, only his 4th best book, but it will be concluded after he does the next Dragonslayer. Apparently Early Riser was difficult to write and took an age.

        Amps I remember reading that he suffered writer’s block substantially before/during Early Riser. Maybe writing kid lit threw his game off? Meh, speculation won’t win us quick rewards.

        I’m fine with a SoG duology. I just want more because that book was 100% solid. He established his quirkiness and love of wordplay with TN and NCD, then dropped an utterly relatable and timely novel.

        • Amps replied to this.

            JonQPublik I honestly can’t get enough of his stuff. I just hope he gets Shades boxed and then does more of whatever he likes.

              Finished the Murderbot Diaries. Was definitely a quick read. Not bad, but I’ll wait to read some board reviews before I commit to the next release.

              Just started The Black Prism by Brent Weeks. Flying into it, actually. Not bad so far.

              Piers Morgan- Wake Up. Guilty Pleasure. I share his dislike of Markle.

              Chris Duffin book. Wow

              Ollie Ollerton Break Point. Another great life story

              Son of Escobar: First Born

              Worth a read and imo better than the book by his other son Pablo Escobar: My Father.

              Amps Ken Liu’s collection The Paper Menagerie and Other Stories was quite good. Reminded me frequently of Ray Bradbury, just hints here and there.

              • Amps replied to this.

                  Jules72 Yeah, read it a few years back. Disappointed with the film.

                    Have just read “No Filter, the inside story of Instagram”. It is very well sourced and first hand accounts of the executive conflict between Facebook after its acqusition are particularly enjoyable

                    Mostly dipping into ‘The true tales of Edward Smallman spreading the plague around the world and generally being a div’, exclusively serialised on ‘JC’