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Post by Nachtrafe-Tyrant Jr on Nov 1, 2001 5:21:28 GMT -5
This is sort of in tandem with Aradia's thread. I was just curious what everyone is currently reading, and was hoping they might let everyone know and maybe put up a mini-review. I need suggestions anyway. I've read everything I have(at least twice) and have been getting antsy to go to the used book stores again.
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Post by Nachtrafe-Tyrant Jr on Nov 1, 2001 5:22:48 GMT -5
Anyway...My answer. I'm currently reading 2 books.
BOOK ONE:
BATMAN - No Man's Land. By Greg Rucka.
A novelization of the events covered in the No Man's Land limited series by DC Comics.
I hadn't read the comics, since I've sort of let my comics habit slide in the last few years(too damn expensive). But I have always been a big Batman fan, and a friend recommended it to me. Its pretty intense. The basic premise is that, after several major bio-plagues, and an earthquake registering 7.5+ on the Richter scale, most of Gotham is decimated. Then, you factor in all of the lunatics that live there, and the fact that it boasts the highest crime rates in the US. So, the US Govt decides to do something about it. The President proposes the No Mans Land Bill. Gotham, being built on an Island, is declared a No Man's Land. All access to the rest of the US is cut off. Bridges detonated, waterways and oceanfront mined, barbed wire, apaches, tanks and troops. Nothing goes in or out. And those that are still there get to survive, if they can.
Its very intense, and the atmosphere is very dark, which I love. Its one of those that I can only read about 20 pages of at a time. Then I sort of have to step back, put the book down, and absorb. Well worth the read. Even if you're not a comic/Batman fan. The writer is truly talented and really has a gift for exploring the darker side of human nature.
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Post by Nachtrafe-Tyrant Jr on Nov 1, 2001 5:23:23 GMT -5
BOOK TWO:
Grunts! By Mary Gentle.
This is a 'pick up-put down' read it on your coffee break type of book. It tells a classic fantasy story: Elves, Dwarves, Human...all the forces of the Light, vs Orcs, Trolls, Undead...all the forces of the Dark. And it tells it from the perspective of the bad guys. Specifically the Orcs.
Orcs are the cannon fodder of the armies of Darkness. Everyone knows this, including the Orcs. And they're pretty comfortable with it. But imagine, if you will, what happens when the cannon fodder get ahold of modern weapons! That's right, Guns, Rockets, Tanks, Helicoptors. The world as they know it will never be the same.
A thoroughly awesome book, I highly recommend this one as well.
CAUTION: This book contains some fairly extreme sex and violence. Not recommended for youngsters or the easily offended amongst you. The rest of you debauched lot...ENJOY!!
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Zoras
Minion
Burn with the Dragon's soul
Posts: 203
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Post by Zoras on Nov 1, 2001 6:42:19 GMT -5
CAUTION: This book contains some fairly extreme sex and violence. Not recommended for youngsters or the easily offended amongst you. The rest of you debauched lot...ENJOY!! Extreme sex and violence??! I'm on my way! ;D I'm currently working my way through the 'Tales of Ravenloft' series. Up to Book 16 at the moment, which is 'Lord of the Necropolis'. This one details Azalin's attempts to break free of his prison and leave Ravenloft. These books aren't too heavy, which makes them perfect for reading on bus trips or during your breaks. They're recommended for anybody who wants to find out more about the dark realm, and often it explores deep into the psyche of people. Why do people do such horrible things? Now you'll get to know.
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Lord Bane
Peasant
D?faitiste Extraordinaire
Posts: 63
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Post by Lord Bane on Nov 1, 2001 7:05:02 GMT -5
Rereading Practchetts first, beat me why And also in the middle (well, middle of the introduction actually ) of Gwyn Jones "A History of the Vikings", which seems to be an extremely interesting work on those brutish barbarians from the North and more importantly is mandatory literature for my studies
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Post by IceAngel on Nov 1, 2001 8:57:04 GMT -5
I'm about to start Homeland (dark elf series) but haven't gotten into it. <br> Am currently reading The Ape Who Guards the Balance by Elizabeth Peters. This is light mystery fare and blends Egyptian Archaeology and Victorian England with a very tongue in cheek heroine who is anything but the 'norm' for that era. It is part of a series of books based on the heroine , Amelia Peabody and her family, who are all avid Egyptologists. There's always a crime or two and Amelia and her family are, of course in the center of things. It's fun and easy to pick up or put down as time allows. Great airplane reading! This one has a little 'social climate' of England at the very beginning as the book starts out with a suffragette meeting that the police raid. Amelia is of course in the middle of things. And from there, we're off to Egypt to solve a mystery and later a murder. The author is a Doctor of Egyptology and her archaeology descriptions are quite accurate for the time period the story covers. Not too mind boggling, but lots of fun to read. The main characters are always interesting if eccentric. I've read several 'gothic modern' novels by the author under the name Barbara Michaels. Good stuff and some of it quite chilling. I never read it alone at night! LOL
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Post by IceAngel on Nov 1, 2001 9:22:55 GMT -5
The other book I'm about to start is One Virgin Too Many by Lindsey S. Davis. Historical mystery with a main character who's done just about everything. Takes place in 1st C Rome and the main char is now an investigator for the Emperor. I haven't read it yet, so I can't comment much, but it looks like fun.
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Post by Erik on Nov 1, 2001 9:32:31 GMT -5
I am currently reading that latest issue of Maxim magazine. There is an interesting article on sex in there...
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Post by IceAngel on Nov 1, 2001 9:46:25 GMT -5
I am currently reading that latest issue of Maxim magazine. There is an interesting article on sex in there... Well? LOL.. do critique it for us!
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CJ
Slave
I am what I am, I'll do what I want, but I can't hide
Posts: 35
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Post by CJ on Nov 1, 2001 9:51:36 GMT -5
Microsoft Designing Securities... and TRYING to get to read the Magehound by Elaine Cunningham, and the Inheritance by Nancy Varian Berberick.
As far as the comic goes, right now i'm into Harley Quinn, Joker's Last Laugh, Nightwing, Ultimate X-Men, and the ICONS series soon... as soon as somebody mails them to me. I read No Man's Land in its original form, all 5 volumes of it (First being Cataclysm, then the 4 others being No Man's Land), and the best is the last one.
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Post by Erik on Nov 1, 2001 10:06:44 GMT -5
hehe maybe later IA... I don't have it with me. And CJ just reminded me of comics... I read The Punisher, Transmetropolitan, and Hellboy.
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Post by Palin the Wizard on Nov 1, 2001 11:39:01 GMT -5
I'm working through the 'Wheel of Time'- series for the moment - and I can recommend the books to anyone reading fantasy! Truly, those books are the best I've ever read. Right now I'm waiting for # 6 and 7, but my library hasn't gotten them yet...
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Post by Nachtrafe-Tyrant Jr on Nov 2, 2001 0:50:15 GMT -5
Cool. Thanks for the input everyone. Looks like its a trip to Twice Sold Tales(local 2nd hand bookstore) for me. Zoras...LOL...Why was I not surprised to see you get excited about sex and violence. ;D Naughty Dragon. And i keep meaning to start the Ravenloft series, but can never seem to find book one on the used shelves, and I refuse to pay 8 bucks for a paperback on principle. LB: You mean Diskworld? If so, I love those. I've only read the first half dozen or so, but I loved them all. And I also read small gods. That was hilarious. Have you ever read Good Omens? The Apocolypse done tongue firmly in cheek, for those that dont know. IcyLove! That Amelia Peabody series sounds pretty cool. If we can manage to pull ourselves away from the parchesi board, maybe I'll have to take a gander. HEHE. BTW...I packed that 'other' book already. Erik: ROFL!! Maxim...an article about sex? Nah...you're joshin. I love that magazine. My favorite sections are How To... and Tech Toys. And I only read it for the articles ladies. CJ...After having gotten about halfway through the book, I am seriously contemplating picking up the graphic novels. There is a comix store locally that is really good about special orders. I will have to see what I think when I finish the book. Palin. You know...one of these days I'll probably get around to reading the Wheel of Time series. I have a couple of friends who own it. Everythign I have ever heard about it makes it sound pretty awesome. I just dont know if I am up to the challenge of an 8 or 9 book series. Thanks everyone. Hopefully more people will post. Cant wait to finish what books I have and start some of the above.
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Post by Erik on Nov 2, 2001 10:03:59 GMT -5
Hmmm Ice Angel...seems like I won't have to tell you about that Maxim article after all! It appears that Nachtrafe reads that mag too! So he can just demonstrate it for you...
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Post by Billy_Yank on Nov 2, 2001 17:46:30 GMT -5
If you're going to a used book store, see if they have The Crosstime Engineer by Leo Frankowski. It's a cool time travel story.
I'm halfway through several of Harry Turtledove's series. The "Darkness" series is a retelling of WWII in a fantasy world where magic is the local technology. The "Colonization" series is the sequal to "Worldwar". Aliens invaded Earth in 1942, now it's 20 years later and the great powers are coming to terms with the newly arriving colonization fleet. The "American Empire" series is the sequal to "The Great War". The south won the Civil War. When WWI started, the CSA was allied with England and France, and the USA was allied with Germany. In "The Great War", the USA and her European allies won the war. Now it's the 'tween war years, and a charismatic demagogue is gaining popularity in the Confederacy.
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