this post was submitted on 06 Jan 2024
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Holidays are over! Happy New Year!

I didn't get much to read over the holidays, but I finished The Black Company by Glen Cook. The story was interesting but the way it is written made it hard for me to read. Still, going to continue with the trilogy and see if second book is any better in that regard.

Currently reading Dead Beat by Jim Butcher. Loving the book. The series just keeps getting better and better.

What about you? What have you been reading or listening?

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[–] Mycatiskai@lemmy.ca 6 points 10 months ago

Last weekend I read the first four Murderbot diaries novellas. I read another one during the week, and now I'm reading the full length novel.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells is the first one and you won't want to stop there.

[–] Naja_Kaouthia@lemmy.world 6 points 10 months ago (5 children)

Just finished up American Gods by Neil Gaiman and started the Jack Reacher novels by Lee Child. I’m most of the way through Killing Floor.

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[–] Matriks404@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I am slowly reading through Metro 2033 in Russian, and after more than a year I am only halfway done. 😑

I think I spend too much time in a dictionary, where I am clicking through entries when I don't understand a single word (or I am just not 100% sure about it's meaning). Also I think on few occassions I have seen few words that are completely made up (mostly non-existing word forms) by Dmitriy, because even Google Search didn't show anything up :P

[–] dresden@discuss.online 4 points 10 months ago

Yeah, made up words can be a issue when reading in another language. I tried reading Harry Potter in Spanish and all the made-up words in that made it a bit difficult.

[–] Bryony87@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I’m reading “Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone”, a delightfully smart and funny locked room mystery

[–] dresden@discuss.online 1 points 10 months ago

I should probably stay far from your family...

[–] GreyShuck@feddit.uk 4 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (5 children)

I have started my year-long read for this year: The Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Two chapters a week will get me through it by December.

Otherwise, I am two thirds through The Rings of Saturn which is a melancholic reflection on death, remnants and legacy over the course of a walking tour of the Suffolk coast, where I live and work. I have been aware of it for ages, and it has finally hit the top of my pile. A thoughtful and easy read, though it does seem a little over-romanticised.

And I am continuing with Peter Frankopan's The Earth Transformed. This is a history of the world taking account of changes in climate and environment: both their effects on history, and human effects on them. Informative, although the detail obscures the main points at times.

Finally, I am continuing with the Doctor Who novel The Death of Art. Some well researched worldbuilding and atmosphere and an enjoyable writing style, but an overcrowded plot that gets bogged down as a result.

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[–] DeGandalf@kbin.social 3 points 10 months ago (4 children)

Mother of Learning

It's a pretty cool Fantasy/Time-Loop webnovel, but it's a bit long..
I am at page 1500 of 2500 and I'm not a particularly fast reader.

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[–] DaMonsterKnees@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (2 children)

The Robots of Dawn. I'm almost done with all things Asimov, and it's been a wonderful journey. Having done the entire Foundation arc first, it's really enjoyable going back and reading what really works out to be like ultra prequel material for the whole universe. Yes, Asimov is a little boomer in his execution, themes, motifs, and namely characters. White male dominant is frustrating, but the sci-fi is good, and eventually, some million words later, he modernizes somewhat.

[–] dresden@discuss.online 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I have read his Robot series and half of his Foundation series, should probably go back and finish that.

[–] DaMonsterKnees@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago (1 children)

My shrink, a fellow sci-fi enthusiast, pointed out something interesting. The last book he wrote, which helped to tie his whole universe together, was basically autobiographical. Really changed my perspective on Hari.

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[–] JaymesRS@literature.cafe 2 points 10 months ago (4 children)

I’m working through The Last Unicorn.

Dead Beat is sooo good (“Polka will never die”). It’s often a suggested book for someone to try out the series because it was written and published right before the SciFi TV series was coming out. So Butcher did a some work to smooth out stuff that relied on knowledge from earlier books and he made it pretty seamless.

[–] Naja_Kaouthia@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

POLKA WILL NEVER DIE!

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[–] slazer2au@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Listening to Without Remorse by Tom Clancy at the moment.

God did they murder the film.

[–] kuraitengai@programming.dev 2 points 10 months ago (2 children)

That was my favorite book of the Ryanverse. Movie was horrible. Had high hopes for it.

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[–] viking@infosec.pub 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Just finished "Dead Silence" by S.A. Barnes, and loved it. Very different take on a deep-space opera.

Now finally venturing into The Expanse, loved the series and want to see what happens after it stopped, but apparently the storylines between books and series don't fully align, so I start at rock bottom, including some of the short story prequels setting the stage. Currently reading "Drive", nicknamed as The Expanse 0.1 (only got 28 pages or so).

[–] dresden@discuss.online 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

As a fan of the game Dead Space, Dead Silence sounds great. Going to check it out.

The Expanse stopped? I was hoping to watch it after reading all the books (which I haven't even started yet). Well, I guess one less thing in my to-watch list.

[–] viking@infosec.pub 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

They brought the series to an end (and a good one!), so you can just go ahead and watch it - I enjoyed it a lot. The books simply extend beyond that, plus they have three prequels and some fillers building the backstories of some characters. Bit of an "extended universe" vibe.

And now I'll check out Dead Space, haven't come across it yet. Thanks!

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[–] LoganNineFingers@lemmy.ca 2 points 10 months ago (4 children)

Just finished The Heir of Novron by Michael J Sullivan and am currently enjoying The Expanse.

Both were/are new to me and have both been gems!

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[–] colifloro@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Currently reading The Phoenix Project after postponing it for months, I finally found time during Christmas. So far i’m liking it, though you need to be connected to IT to enjoy it.

[–] dresden@discuss.online 1 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Finally a novel about my people! 😀 How is it if you are connected to IT? Seems like something I should read.

[–] colifloro@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

If you work in IT you will love it. If you work for a company and understand IT jargon you will enjoy it. If you have no connection whatsoever with IT you won’t make the first two chapters 😅

[–] dresden@discuss.online 2 points 10 months ago

Yeah, I am deeeep in the IT world. Going to give it a try. Thanks for the info.

[–] fievel@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Well, I just finished Infinite Powers: The Story of Calculus - The Language of the Universe, by Steven Strogatz. Really enjoyed it, interesting for an overview of calculus history and how it affects everyday life.

I think I'll start 2024 reading by a reread of Tolkien's lotr + silmarillion. I, of course, already read it but one it was +20 years ago and two I read a French translation at the time and I want to read the original thing.

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[–] pancake@sopuli.xyz 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I just finished The Other Wind by Ursula K Le Guin, completing my Earthsea readthrough. I loved the series and watching how her growth as a person influenced what she did with that world.

I just started New Spring by Robert Jordan, the Wheel of Time prequel. I've only read the first book of the main series so far and am a bit apprehensive of my decision to dive into such a massive series.

[–] dresden@discuss.online 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I just started New Spring by Robert Jordan, the Wheel of Time prequel. I’ve only read the first book of the main series so far and am a bit apprehensive of my decision to dive into such a massive series.

If you have only read one book of the main series, I would recommend to wait and read the prequel after 5-6 books. I think that's around the time when it was published too.

[–] pancake@sopuli.xyz 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Yeah I was originally going to leave it for later but the next book wasn't available at the library and someone told me I should have started at the prequel so I went for it. I'm almost done with it and I have to say it's been a really enjoyable read! Hopefully I don't regret it later on

[–] dresden@discuss.online 2 points 10 months ago

Ah, no, nothing to regret, I just think you may have enjoyed it more, but I don't really recall it much to be sure of that either. 😀

[–] TwinTusks@bitforged.space 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Currently Reading:

  • Rogue - Anthology, ed George R.R. Martin/Gardner Dozois
  • Best from Tor: 15th Anniversary - various
  • The Dark Half - Stephen King
  • The Final Girl Support Group - Grady Hendrix

Going to DNF on The Final Girl Support Group, I'm not verse in horror movies and can not connect with all those reference in the book.

[–] Michal@programming.dev 2 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Last night I finished Fair Warning. Today I will start reading The Dark Hours - both by Michael Connelly.

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[–] No_Ones_Slick_Like_Gaston@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

Chaos Monkeys revised edition.
It's a lot of the Silicone Valley series with a personal touch and the experiences of the author. I'm halfway trough it and I'm already thinking that will be a bit lost once I finish.

If Anyone knows of a similar topic about the same timeline story please comment and help a reader.

[–] dresden@discuss.online 2 points 10 months ago

Since you didn't get any recommendation here, maybe just start a thread. Hopefully that will get you some recommendations.

[–] xxmelomaniacxx@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Recently finished

  • The Left Hand of Darkness
  • The Fifth Elephant

Currently reading

  • The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
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[–] ModernRisk@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 10 months ago (3 children)

Still trying to read;

  • Eleanor is completely fine
  • Theranos

But at the moment my university just doesn’t want me to read and to take a bit of steam-off, I either game or watch shows.

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