Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION The Anywhere Machine So what are you READING?

I remember Lloyd Alexander, but I didn't read a lot of him.

The Hobbit is so fun.
The story was originally a newspaper series for children.
So, you won't find any of the Lord of the Rings books to be a 'fast read', I think.

Just a wonderful read!

Texasville and Duane's Depressed by Larry McMurty. I never liked either one of those books the first reading, little day to day things keep reminding me of them and I go back to them every once in a while. His books always seem better about the third or fourth reading.

For some reason, I seem to have completely lost my taste for fiction. So far this summer I have several history books. Funny, I was never much interested in history before, but that seems to be all I want to read now. Thus far I have read books on:

WWII
The Revolutionary War
The Civil War (by Bruce Catton - highly recommended!)
The Conquest of America
The Birth of America, from before Columbus to the Revolution
and I am now reading another, more detailed book on the revolutionary war.

Up next on my list is a book on WWI and a book on ancient Rome. Tonight I think I am going to check out books on landmark Supreme Court cases, the Old West, and maybe gangsters.

I have no idea what's gotten into me - other than a lot of historical information that might make me a good Jeopardy contestant.

Taste's change over time. Don't worry about it. I go through phases of what I like to read. I might go from scifi to westerns to police mysteries to spy to bio's to historical....just enjoy where your mind leads you.

Actually, I saw recently that Robert Heinlein has a new book out - sort of. After his wife's death a few years ago, an outline was found for a new novel. Spider Robinson was selected somehow to write a book based on the outline. The book is called "Variable Star" and I think I am gonna have to check it out next time I go to the library. Has anyone read this, by the way?

"Variable Star" must have been ok since I read the whole thing yesterday. Actually, it was good, but not great. There are a lot of references for us diehard Heinlein fans, although I thought the book really plodded along at some points. The ending seemed a bit of a cop-out, too. Robinson basically swiped an ending from a different Heinlein book and used it here. I wouldn't recommend reading this unless you are a diehard Heinlein fan.

Semi-Tough. Great book, horrible movie. Truly, truly horrible movie.

PN Elrod's vampire series starring Jack. Set just after prohibition in Chicago. good series.

Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami for the umpteenth time. It's just marvellous!

I read everything by Richard Yates, who wrote Revolutionary Road, over the summer and they are some really GREAT books!

Also recently enjoyed Sellevision by Augusten Burroughs. It's a hoot!

I'm reading one of Sherman Alexie's short story collections. I wanted to know more about life on a native American reservation! But I'm finding his stuff quite unsatisfying, he doesn't really give anything proper endings and is quite repetitive.

I just finished Gone With the Wind, which I have not read since I was 17. I also have been on a Heinlein kick, rereading Starship Troopers and Tunnel in the Sky.

Lance, my wife and I were just trying to figure out if either of us had a copy of Gone With the Wind. I know I read it, but maybe it was my mom's. I haven't read it in ages either. And Starship Troopers is on my list of books that I reread every year or two. Pity about the movie.

Really? I actually enjoyed the movie. Not great or anything, but I like watching it. Don't gag, but I even like watching the movie of the Puppet Masters. I understand what you mean, though - neither movie captures the flavor of the book. Actually, the only movie that seems like a Heinlein movie (but isn't) is a made-for-TV movie called Star Command.

I think I liked Puppet Masters, but it's been a long time since I watched it or read the book for that matter. I'd like to see a big screen take on "The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress" although I bet they'd drop most of the politics in favor of the action stuff.

I didn't like the way the movie version of Starship Troopers drifted into satirizing the military even if the book went a bit far in the other direction. Paul Verhoeven just wasn't the right director for it, I think. Plus, everything else aside, who would do a "Starship Troopers" movie without the cool MI Suits?

I agree with you on the absence of the MI suits. I have no idea why they weren't included. The thing that really bugged (pun intended) me about the movie is this: If you are fighting something with a decentralized nervous system, why in the world is almost everyone using projectile weapons? Doesn't make a lick of sense to me.

As for which Heinlein book I would like to see made into a movie - hmm...I think Tunnel in the Sky would make a cool film, but that might just be because I read it recently.

I finally finished "The Prince and the Pauper." I just don't get some books that are supposed to be classics, I guess. Anyway, back to some more Heinlein which I excavated from the basement a few days ago, starting now with "Between Planets."

Let's see, in the past few days I have knocked out Between Planets, the Puppet Masters, and Farmer in the Sky. I am most of the way through Space Cadet, as my Heinleinian odyssey continues.

I've been reading Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu. It's a new urban fantasy series. It's different from the Charline Harris and Patricia Briggs books, which I'm quite fond of. Instead of vampires and werewolves, it's got demons. She puts a new spin on zombies and creates some pretty bizarre creatures. At first I kind of felt like I missed something (I think maybe there was a short story before the novel), but once I figured out the back story, I couldn't put it down.

One thing I like about this book is how epic it feels even though it's set in a world a lot like our own. Most urban fantasy seems to tell little, personal stories, but in this book it feels like the whole world as we know it could come to an end. The cover description makes it sound like a romance novel, but it really isn't. Or at least, it's not that simple.

Oh, and there's the Boys. I'd really like to tell you all about them, but they're better left as a surprise in case anyone decides to read the book. I'm actually tempted to go through the book copying out descriptions of them so I can draw them.

I got the second book, Darkness Calls today and I'm really looking forward to starting it.

Edit: I forgot to add, Liu is a comic writer, she wrote part of NYX and is currently co-writing Dark Wolverine.

I recently discovered the Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. I read the first 9 while I was down in Arkansas (12 hr night shifts...). I highly recommend them.

And anything by Robert Heinlein, any time any where, the man was the greatest Scifi Author Ever.

I have a box set of the Charlane Harris Vampire Novels, I made it halfway thru the first one before losing interest. I intend to give them another shot but so far, meh...

For me, the main reason to read Harris's books is Eric, and he doesn't get to do much in the first book.

Just finished Knight Life (Peter David) and Memiors of a Mangy Lover (Groucho Marx). Just started Hearts in Atlantis (Stephen King).

Finished The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Highly recommend it. One of the best books I've ever read.

Currently reading I, Claudius by Graves. I like history and this has a ton.

I am so embarassed, I'm not sure I can post on this thread anymore. I..it seems...well, I mean...umm....

(dramatic pause while I fidgit nervously and look ashamed)

I don't think I even own copies of "Rocket Ship Galileo" or Have Spacesuit, Will Travel!"

I went digging through boxes of books in the basement, and I finally found my copy of "Red Planet," but the other two juvenile novels still elude me. I am not even sure I have ever read them!

Excuse, me, I have to start cleaning the floor. Sackcloth and ashes sure are messy...

Jorge, your endorsement of The Secret History has swayed me. I might check this out at the lib when I go tonight.

Anka Radakovich's Wild Girls Club. Had it for years and decided to reread it for the hell of it.

good info in there for all you single straight guys looking for love, or at least love for the night.