Finished Dead Beat by Jim Butcher. Loved the book. Series keep getting better and better.
After much deliberation on what to read next, went with Valour’s Choice by Tanya Huff. Book 1 of “military sci-fi” series Confederation. Tanya Huff was recommended a long time ago on reddit, but I wasn’t sure if I was in “military sci-fi” mood, but I am really enjoying the book.
The book is years after you join the Confederation, and it doesn’t hand-hold you by explaining each “alien” term or how each species look like right away, giving you the feel that these words / things are so common that there is no need to explain them, but as the novel progress you start learning what’s what and which species look like what.
What about all of you? What have you been reading or listening?
Finished Historical Lovecraft - an anthology of horror tales inspired by or connected to Lovecraft’s mythos. Very uneven, both in quality of writing and in the nature and degree of connection to Lovecraft. Broadly there were only 2 or 3 interesting tales in the first half of the book, but a run of good ones did stand out in the second half. Most notably, given the racism that is entwined in Lovecraft’s original tales was the wide range of cultures and viewpoints featured here - which I assume was a positive decision by the editors.
Finished This is how you lose the Time War by Amal el-Mohtar and Max Gladstone. A lyrically and sensually written novella, which I appreciated as a piece of prose poetry, but although I appreciate the themes of shared experience of trauma by combatants etc I ultimately didn’t find the characters or their relationship convincing. Or at least they convinced me only that they were rather naive (which seemed at odds with their stated experiences) and were in relationships only with a fantasy of the other. Maybe that was the point though.
Finished The Rings of Saturn by W G Sebald, which as I mentioned last week is a melancholy reflection on death, remnants and legacy over the course of a walking tour of the Suffolk coast. A thoughtful and easy read, though over-romanticised.
Currently reading The Romance of the Three Kingdoms - which is my year-long read for 2024. This Chinese classic is basically ‘Game of Thrones’ in ancient China but without any descriptive writing, as was the style at the time. There are a LOT of names to get to grips with, but the plot is moving on at a good pace.
Currently reading The Nyarlathotep Cycle - more Lovecraftian tales focused on the eponymous figure and its development by various authors. It is proving interesting to see each author’s contribution to the mythos. Currently enjoying The Curse of the Black Pharoah by Lin Carter, which ticks just about every trope that you would expect, but does so in unabashed style.
Currently reading The Earth Transformed by Peter Frankopan. Interesting and detailed history focused on human reactions to and impact on climate and environment.
Also currently reading a couple of others, but that’s enough for now.