How Many Books Have You Read So far In 2009 ?

[Agelastus]

"Good authors" and (alleged) "classics" are by no means one and the same.

Fine.  But if you want to rot your brain, do what I do: watch the idiot box.  But for God's sake, at least read better books.

I "rot my brain" by posting on internet fora!

As I implied, I refrain from reading much of Baen's material these days. Authors that could originally do "stirring and triumphant" have now become lame with repetition "ad-infinitum".

Not that my current reading would be much better from your point of view. I have just finished the three books published of Adrian Tchaikovsky's "The shadow of the Apt" series. The first two books were fairly good fantasy fluff with a nice twist. The less said about the non-event of the third book the better.

[Ideologue]

In this eagerly anticipated sequel to 2007's Off Armageddon Reef, the sheer scale of the Kingdom of Charis's naval victory against corrupt forces of the Church of God Awaiting has the Church newly wary of Charis's technological innovations. These were introduced by Merlin Athrawes, bodyguard to King Cayleb II and actually an android imprinted with a human's memories and personality who seeks to throw off the false religion that bars mankind from the stars. As Charis's neighbors scramble to rebuild their shattered fleets and prepare for the inevitable reprisals, the Church lurches toward placing the entire nation under proscription and declaring holy war. The numerous characters are never reduced to stereotypes, and Weber's portrayal of the social changes brought about by Charis's bootstrap industrial and military revolutions ring true. If not as action oriented as the first volume, the descriptions of the rebirth of knowledge and the human spirit are at least as enthralling.

Sounds like something I should buy for Korea.  I can't say too much, though, as I do admit I will readily read crap when I'm not reading books about law (for profit) or science (for fun).

[ulmont]

"Good authors" and (alleged) "classics" are by no means one and the same.

And the book quoted is "Exhibit A" of "author-bloat"...perhaps B, C and D as well. If you were looking to read Weber, I'd tell you to read that last, and solely if you were a masochist who felt they had to read the "complete works".

You should read that book before the "Sword Brother" novella.  In a "small world" sort of thing, one of my poker buddies knew Weber in college, and remembers all the horrible fiction inflicted upon him with a "read this and tell me what you think" intro.

[CountDeMoney]

Fuck, just about all I ever read is nonfiction.  What's that, unleavened bread?

[brimley]And it's good for you.[/brimley]

[CountDeMoney]

I can't say too much, though, as I do admit I will readily read crap when I'm not reading books about law (for profit) or science (for fun).

Well, there's nothing wrong with whacking off to Maxim once in a while.

[Agelastus]

"Good authors" and (alleged) "classics" are by no means one and the same.

And the book quoted is "Exhibit A" of "author-bloat"...perhaps B, C and D as well. If you were looking to read Weber, I'd tell you to read that last, and solely if you were a masochist who felt they had to read the "complete works".

You should read that book before the "Sword Brother" novella.  In a "small world" sort of thing, one of my poker buddies knew Weber in college, and remembers all the horrible fiction inflicted upon him with a "read this and tell me what you think" intro.

"Sword Brother" is the definitive "jumped the shark" moment for Weber.

Yes, I have read it, but only because it was online for free.

[ulmont]

"Good authors" and (alleged) "classics" are by no means one and the same.

And the book quoted is "Exhibit A" of "author-bloat"...perhaps B, C and D as well. If you were looking to read Weber, I'd tell you to read that last, and solely if you were a masochist who felt they had to read the "complete works".

You should read that book before the "Sword Brother" novella.  In a "small world" sort of thing, one of my poker buddies knew Weber in college, and remembers all the horrible fiction inflicted upon him with a "read this and tell me what you think" intro.

"Sword Brother" is the definitive "jumped the shark" moment for Weber.

Yes, I have read it, but only because it was online for free.

It was online for free, and I *still* stopped after the first chapter.

[Agelastus]

"Good authors" and (alleged) "classics" are by no means one and the same.

And the book quoted is "Exhibit A" of "author-bloat"...perhaps B, C and D as well. If you were looking to read Weber, I'd tell you to read that last, and solely if you were a masochist who felt they had to read the "complete works".

You should read that book before the "Sword Brother" novella.  In a "small world" sort of thing, one of my poker buddies knew Weber in college, and remembers all the horrible fiction inflicted upon him with a "read this and tell me what you think" intro.

"Sword Brother" is the definitive "jumped the shark" moment for Weber.

Yes, I have read it, but only because it was online for free.

It was online for free, and I *still* stopped after the first chapter.

So I'm a masochist; so sue me.

[jimmy olsen]

David Weber being the prime example of author-bloat.

In this eagerly anticipated sequel to 2007's Off Armageddon Reef, the sheer scale of the Kingdom of Charis's naval victory against corrupt forces of the Church of God Awaiting has the Church newly wary of Charis's technological innovations. These were introduced by Merlin Athrawes, bodyguard to King Cayleb II and actually an android imprinted with a human's memories and personality who seeks to throw off the false religion that bars mankind from the stars. As Charis's neighbors scramble to rebuild their shattered fleets and prepare for the inevitable reprisals, the Church lurches toward placing the entire nation under proscription and declaring holy war. The numerous characters are never reduced to stereotypes, and Weber's portrayal of the social changes brought about by Charis's bootstrap industrial and military revolutions ring true. If not as action oriented as the first volume, the descriptions of the rebirth of knowledge and the human spirit are at least as enthralling.

What. The. Chocolate. Covered. Christ.
Go read some Willa Cather, for fuck's sake.

I'm totally gonna read the first book in that series now.

[jimmy olsen]

This is surprisingly good.  I think that the hysterical reaction of humanity is extremely lowballed, but all things considered I'm surprised Baen didn't bid for this book.

Started to read and then my eyes started bleeding.

The writing ain't that bad, although I agree the human reaction is way out of wack. There'd be a lot of religious denial, etc.

[Ideologue]

I can't say too much, though, as I do admit I will readily read crap when I'm not reading books about law (for profit) or science (for fun).

Well, there's nothing wrong with whacking off to Maxim once in a while.

Jesus, funny you should mention that.  I was at Korea's store the other day waiting for her to get off, and I blundered into this Maxim insert that almost did the same for me.  It was about as porn as things get without genitals, blurred-out or otherwise.  It was called Girls of College or somesuch bullshit; the photog they'd gotten to do the pics apparently had a penchant for having the chicks drool milk out onto their tits.  I mean, I know they're undergrad sluts and all, but when you're spitting semen analogue onto your own body, what qualitative difference remains between your "tasteful photo shoot" and just taking it to the face in "Cum Dumpsters 55"?

[jimmy olsen]

Agelastus, have you been on Spacebattles.com?

They have some awesome stories there. I think my favorite was a long one about the Romulan War. 100 times better than Enterprise.

[Agelastus]

Agelastus, have you been on Spacebattles.com?

They have some awesome stories there. I think my favorite was a long one about the Romulan War. 100 times better than Enterprise.

No I haven't.

Is that one repeated on fan-fiction.net? I recall seeing a massive Romulan War story in their Star Trek section, but I have not read it.

Have you read the million word plus account of the Dilgar War in the Babylon 5 section? Now that's a story which deserves to be declared canon.

[garbon]

The writing ain't that bad, although I agree the human reaction is way out of wack. There'd be a lot of religious denial, etc.

Your taste is horrible.

[Ed Anger]

David Weber being the prime example of author-bloat.

In this eagerly anticipated sequel to 2007's Off Armageddon Reef, the sheer scale of the Kingdom of Charis's naval victory against corrupt forces of the Church of God Awaiting has the Church newly wary of Charis's technological innovations. These were introduced by Merlin Athrawes, bodyguard to King Cayleb II and actually an android imprinted with a human's memories and personality who seeks to throw off the false religion that bars mankind from the stars. As Charis's neighbors scramble to rebuild their shattered fleets and prepare for the inevitable reprisals, the Church lurches toward placing the entire nation under proscription and declaring holy war. The numerous characters are never reduced to stereotypes, and Weber's portrayal of the social changes brought about by Charis's bootstrap industrial and military revolutions ring true. If not as action oriented as the first volume, the descriptions of the rebirth of knowledge and the human spirit are at least as enthralling.

What. The. Chocolate. Covered. Christ.
Go read some Willa Cather, for fuck's sake.

I'm totally gonna read the first book in that series now.

It sucks. Horribly boring. Gave the book to my nephew, and he burned it because it was so sucktacular.