What book(s) are you reading right now?

[Imp]

Outliers: The Story of Success - Malcolm Gladwell

Non-fiction. I'm 12% in (Kindle -- where da page #s?) and liking it. Stories about famous people used to make points.

Will probably get The Descendants at some point just because I like the movie.

 

[raasco]

Run(Kindle edition) - Blake Crouch

Pretty good so far.

 

[Pheran]

I finished the first Warriors series (6 books), which was really fun. Currently reading A Canticle for Leibowitz which is a classic story about a sect of monks that try to preserve knowledge after a nuclear apocalypse. It won the Hugo award in 1961.

I really liked most of this book but I was pretty disappointed with the ending. I'm now reading The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. I have to say that I wasn't expecting to read two science fiction books back to back that both essentially feature Jesuit monks/priests as characters. The Sparrow is about a Jesuit mission to make first contact with alien life that goes horribly wrong (the book is nonlinear so that's not a spoiler - you find out that it goes badly wrong right away, just not why). The characters are extremely well-written, I'm just hoping the ending doesn't let me down again.

 

[JamesV]

The Mammoth Book of Time Travel SF

I'm not usually a fan of short stories, but this was pretty good. It's twenty five stories that all deal with an aspect of time travel, like paradoxes, and lists where these ideas first came from. One I found quite interesting was the idea that to go forward in time, you had to go back first, to kind of slingshot you forward... but it isn't instantaneous, you'd literally be sitting in your time machine for the entire 'real' time (but with different aging effects, so when you got to the future, you would be the age from when you started).

 

[Pheran]

I really liked most of this book but I was pretty disappointed with the ending. I'm now reading The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell. I have to say that I wasn't expecting to read two science fiction books back to back that both essentially feature Jesuit monks/priests as characters. The Sparrow is about a Jesuit mission to make first contact with alien life that goes horribly wrong (the book is nonlinear so that's not a spoiler - you find out that it goes badly wrong right away, just not why). The characters are extremely well-written, I'm just hoping the ending doesn't let me down again.

The Sparrow was very good though I will say parts of the ending got a bit brutal, but the book does prepare you for that. I'm now reading Frederik Pohl's Heechee saga. I finished Gateway already. I liked it quite a bit, though I could have done with less of the psychoanalysis chapters. I'm now in the middle of Beyond the Blue Event Horizon.

 

[thedarkwolf]

Read a few Christopher Moore books
Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove and Lamb both were pretty good especially Lamb.
I just started reading The Stupidest Angle and so far so good.

 

[Perknose]

I recently finished Lorrie Moore's Like Life, and moved on to Proof of Heaven by neurosurgeon Even Alexander. Waiting in the wings is The Other Language by Francesca Marciano.

Like Life: "Ms. Moore reminds us that $#¡+ happens- then deals with it in the most dryly sarcastic manner ever. Love her."

Proof of Heaven: "Being a somewhat smug scientist myself, I resonated with this story."

The Other Language: "Hailed by The New York Times as “a natural-born storyteller,” the acclaimed author of Rules of the Wild gives us nine incandescently smart stories, funny, elegant, and poignant by turns, that explore the power of change—in relationships, in geographies, and across cultures—to reveal unexpected aspects of ourselves."

 

[JamesV]

Just finished Rendezvous with Rama by Clarke.

Excellent science fiction. I think there are more books in the series, and I'll pick up the next at my library tomorrow.

 

[clamum]

The 10,000 Year Explosion: How Civilization Accelerated Human Evolution
The War Against Boys: How Misguided Policies are Harming Our Young Men

and I just pre-ordered A Troublesome Inheritance: Genes, Race and Human History a very interesting looking book by the New York Times science writer, Nicholas Wade. Due out May 6th.

Here's the Amazon book description for it:

Those all sound good, especially the one about inheritance and genes. I think I'll put that on my wishlist.

I really want to get a new book but I told myself I have to finish at least one of the four I'm currently reading before I get a new one.

 

[Chaotic42]

Salt, Sugar, Fat - It's about the food industry. Interesting stuff.

 

[highland145]

F Paul Wilson Repairman Jack...a ton of them 14(?). Going in the fs/ft forum soon.

 

[SMOGZINN]

I just started A Mote in God's Eye this morning after some recommendations here.

 

[surfsatwerk]

I just started A Mote in God's Eye this morning after some recommendations here.

I enjoyed it.

 

[squarecut1]

A Mind to Murder - P. D. James

 

[beach2nd]

Day by Day Armageddon by JL Bourne

 

[IronWing]

The Mammoth Book of Time Travel SF

I'm not usually a fan of short stories, but this was pretty good. It's twenty five stories that all deal with an aspect of time travel, like paradoxes, and lists where these ideas first came from. One I found quite interesting was the idea that to go forward in time, you had to go back first, to kind of slingshot you forward... but it isn't instantaneous, you'd literally be sitting in your time machine for the entire 'real' time (but with different aging effects, so when you got to the future, you would be the age from when you started).

Have you read The Overlords of War by Gerard Klein? It is still my favorite treatment of time travel.

 

[gorcorps]

I'm nearing the end of "Slow Getting Up" by Nate Jackson. He was a backup receiver/tight end for the Broncos at the end of the Shanahan days, so I enjoy his stories more than fans of other teams would (though he started in SF). It's still a good insight into the life of the undrafted forgotten players in the NFL and what you deal with to make it. I can't say much has been that surprising, but it's been a good read regardless.

It was a daily deal (or something) for $2 so it was a good buy. Less so at the current price of $15.

 

[Williz]

God Emperor of Dune currently. It was interesting but really dropped off towards the end. I think I have one more book to read by Frank and then I'm done. I'm not reading any of the extension books his son has published unless I really can't find anything to read.

 

[dr150]

Just finished Rendezvous with Rama by Clarke.

Excellent science fiction. I think there are more books in the series, and I'll pick up the next at my library tomorrow.

The follow-up books are pure dreck.

The Rama book should have been a one-shot.

Read the Amazon reviews on the other books. Amazing how Clarke can go so high and fall so low in one series.

 

[highland145]

Jim Butcher Cold Days.

 

[SMOGZINN]

Jim Butcher Cold Days.

I've been listening to all the audio books, which are masterfully done. I've finished Cold Days, and eagerly awaiting the new book Skin Game later this month.

 

[highland145]

I've been listening to all the audio books, which are masterfully done. I've finished Cold Days, and eagerly awaiting the new book Skin Game later this month.

I was too cheap to buy the hardback and I forgot about it. Amazon suggested it when I was ordering the last F Paul Wilson.

 

[JujuFish]

I'm also reading a Dresden Files book, but I'm only on Death Masks. A couple friends of mine have been trying to get me to read the series for about 5 years, and I finally started earlier this year.

I want to go back and reread Way of Kings before I start Words of Radiance. Perhaps that's what I'll do after Death Masks.

 

[surfsatwerk]

I'm also reading a Dresden Files book, but I'm only on Death Masks. A couple friends of mine have been trying to get me to read the series for about 5 years, and I finally started earlier this year.

I want to go back and reread Way of Kings before I start Words of Radiance. Perhaps that's what I'll do after Death Masks.

You will read all the rest of the Dresden Files books in order without interruption. And you will constantly comment to your friends and loved ones on how charming and witty Harry's character is.

 

[dr150]

You will read all the rest of the Dresden Files books in order without interruption. And you will constantly comment to your friends and loved ones on how charming and witty Harry's character is.

I wished the Dresden Files show wasn't cancelled.

Never knew about the books until seeing the show.