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Well, if you could guess, I've given up on my 12 in 12 Book Challenge. Reading ground to a halt over the summer and has never quite recovered. I spend several months listening to podcasts on my commute and only recently started back on audio books. I've got a small stack of new books that I want to read soon, but I seem to alway be out of time or too tired to get to them.
29. Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin
30. A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge *
31. The Magicians - Lev Grossman *
32. Black Company by Glen Cook *
33. On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers *
29. Rite of Passage by Alexei Panshin
30. A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge *
31. The Magicians - Lev Grossman *
32. Black Company by Glen Cook *
33. On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers *
Just catching up on my lists again.
22. Blackout by Connie Willis *
23. Emperor Norton's Ghost by Dianne Day
24. All Clear by Connie Willis *
25. Emperor of the United States of America by Catherine Caulfield
12 in 12 Challenge
6/12 Hugo Winners
7/12 Nebula Winners
2/12 Emperor Norton
22. Blackout by Connie Willis *
23. Emperor Norton's Ghost by Dianne Day
24. All Clear by Connie Willis *
25. Emperor of the United States of America by Catherine Caulfield
12 in 12 Challenge
6/12 Hugo Winners
7/12 Nebula Winners
2/12 Emperor Norton
Way behind on book logging, so I'm just going to list them here for now. I don't expect I'll get around to writing about each of them, but I can always answer questions.
17. Nemi by Lise Myhre
18. Way Station by Clifford D. Simak *
19. The Terminal Experiment by Robert J. Sawyer *
20. Red Unicorn by Tanith Lee
21. Forever Peace by Joe Haldeman *
12 in 12 Challenge
4/12 Hugo Winners
5/12 Nebula Winners
9/12 Written Pre-1970
3/12 Tanith Lee
1/12 Graphic Novels
17. Nemi by Lise Myhre
18. Way Station by Clifford D. Simak *
19. The Terminal Experiment by Robert J. Sawyer *
20. Red Unicorn by Tanith Lee
21. Forever Peace by Joe Haldeman *
12 in 12 Challenge
4/12 Hugo Winners
5/12 Nebula Winners
9/12 Written Pre-1970
3/12 Tanith Lee
1/12 Graphic Novels
The reading continues while the logging falls behind...
14. Black Unicorn - Tanith Lee (finished in March)
Short YA novel set in a fantasy world. The story follows Tanaquil the daughter of a sorceress with a knack for mending things (Tanaquil has the knack, not her mom). After discovering and reassembling the skeleton of a unicorn, the unicorn comes to life and leads/chases Tanaquil on an adventure. Very much a Tanith Lee story, which for me means beautiful and enjoyable.
15. Gold Unicorn - Tanith Lee
Tanaquil explores the world and gets caught up in a war. Book two in Lee's Unicorn series. Very good :)
16. Anathem - Neal Stephenson *
Excellent (large) work from Stephenson. The audio book was well done and made the Arbre vocabulary much easier to deal with. Lots of cool philosophical and mathematical ideas get batted around all while telling an engaging story.
12 in 12 Challenge - Q1 Summary :)
16/55 Books read
2/12 Hugo Winners
3/12 Nebula Winners
8/12 Written Pre-1970
2/12 Tanith Lee
2/12 Harlen Ellison
0/12 Graphic Novels
1/12 Short story collections
0/12 Emperor Norton
7/12 Recommended by friends
6/12 Buy no more the 12 new books
0/12 Remove 12 books from the "to read" collection
14. Black Unicorn - Tanith Lee (finished in March)
Short YA novel set in a fantasy world. The story follows Tanaquil the daughter of a sorceress with a knack for mending things (Tanaquil has the knack, not her mom). After discovering and reassembling the skeleton of a unicorn, the unicorn comes to life and leads/chases Tanaquil on an adventure. Very much a Tanith Lee story, which for me means beautiful and enjoyable.
15. Gold Unicorn - Tanith Lee
Tanaquil explores the world and gets caught up in a war. Book two in Lee's Unicorn series. Very good :)
16. Anathem - Neal Stephenson *
Excellent (large) work from Stephenson. The audio book was well done and made the Arbre vocabulary much easier to deal with. Lots of cool philosophical and mathematical ideas get batted around all while telling an engaging story.
12 in 12 Challenge - Q1 Summary :)
16/55 Books read
2/12 Hugo Winners
3/12 Nebula Winners
8/12 Written Pre-1970
2/12 Tanith Lee
2/12 Harlen Ellison
0/12 Graphic Novels
1/12 Short story collections
0/12 Emperor Norton
7/12 Recommended by friends
6/12 Buy no more the 12 new books
0/12 Remove 12 books from the "to read" collection
13. A Touch of Infinity - Harlan Ellison
The first collection of Harlan Ellison's shorter works. Most of these are pulp sf stories with not much to offer. Not bad, but not great either. The first story was later expanded into a short novel - which is also on my to read list for the year.
12 in 12 Challenge
2/12 Harlen Ellison
1/12 Short story collections
The first collection of Harlan Ellison's shorter works. Most of these are pulp sf stories with not much to offer. Not bad, but not great either. The first story was later expanded into a short novel - which is also on my to read list for the year.
12 in 12 Challenge
2/12 Harlen Ellison
1/12 Short story collections
12. Darwin's Radio - Greg Bear
Look! An actual paper book got finished! My reading time is very limited right now, but I'm still making a little progress.
This book puts forward the idea the evolution can sometimes make sudden jumps forward (via a retrovirus create/released from our own DNA). Heavy on the science (in a good way - though complete with a glossary), and set in basically modern times. Greg Bear does a good job exploring the various reactions from individuals, corporations, and governments as the virus appears and changes.
12 in 12 Challenge
3/12 Nebula Winners
Look! An actual paper book got finished! My reading time is very limited right now, but I'm still making a little progress.
This book puts forward the idea the evolution can sometimes make sudden jumps forward (via a retrovirus create/released from our own DNA). Heavy on the science (in a good way - though complete with a glossary), and set in basically modern times. Greg Bear does a good job exploring the various reactions from individuals, corporations, and governments as the virus appears and changes.
12 in 12 Challenge
3/12 Nebula Winners
11. Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom - Cory Doctorow *
Cory Doctorow's first novel creates a future world where social standing (via esteem and respect) has replaced money as the means of exchange. The action all takes place in Walt Disney World which is now under the control of various adhocracies. Neat stuff :)
I also bought a few books in the last week or so (though I don't expect to get around to reading them this year...):
The Mirage by Matt Ruff
1632 by Eric Flint
War of the Oaks by Emma Bull
12 in 12 Challenge
6/12 Recommended by friends
6/12 Buy no more the 12 new books.
Cory Doctorow's first novel creates a future world where social standing (via esteem and respect) has replaced money as the means of exchange. The action all takes place in Walt Disney World which is now under the control of various adhocracies. Neat stuff :)
I also bought a few books in the last week or so (though I don't expect to get around to reading them this year...):
The Mirage by Matt Ruff
1632 by Eric Flint
War of the Oaks by Emma Bull
12 in 12 Challenge
6/12 Recommended by friends
6/12 Buy no more the 12 new books.
9. Beowulf *
While the language (a modern translation which kept or recreated the alliteration) made the story very enjoyable to hear, it did require a good deal of attention to follow at times. Thing I learned that before I didn't know about the story: Grendel is a descendant of the biblical Cain.
10. Journey to the Center of the Earth - Jules Verne *
Another classic, though from a different period of time. My copy was read by Tim Curry, which is a great way to hear Jules Verne's adventure story.
12 in 12 Challenge
8/12 Written Pre-1970
5/12 Recommended by friends
While the language (a modern translation which kept or recreated the alliteration) made the story very enjoyable to hear, it did require a good deal of attention to follow at times. Thing I learned that before I didn't know about the story: Grendel is a descendant of the biblical Cain.
10. Journey to the Center of the Earth - Jules Verne *
Another classic, though from a different period of time. My copy was read by Tim Curry, which is a great way to hear Jules Verne's adventure story.
12 in 12 Challenge
8/12 Written Pre-1970
5/12 Recommended by friends
Yeah, I both behind on my reading and behind on logging my reading. These were finished in February.
6. Iliad - Homer *
Another classic that I knew little about. I knew it dealt with the Trojan War, but didn't know that (spoilers!) it picks up years after the initial snub and Helen being taken to Troy and ends before the Trojan Horse and the end of the war. Too much genealogy and not enough story for my tastes.
7. Man with Nine Lives - Harlen Ellison
A short novel from the 60s with some interesting ideas, like a deep sleep for criminals, that actually transfers their consciousness to an alien on another world where they are tasked with changing things to make way for the eventual arrival of humans.
8. Odyssey - Homer *
I enjoyed this one much more then the Iliad. The whole story that I was expecting was actually here :)
12 in 12 Challenge
6/12 Written Pre-1970
3/12 Recommended by friends
1/12 Harlen Ellison
6. Iliad - Homer *
Another classic that I knew little about. I knew it dealt with the Trojan War, but didn't know that (spoilers!) it picks up years after the initial snub and Helen being taken to Troy and ends before the Trojan Horse and the end of the war. Too much genealogy and not enough story for my tastes.
7. Man with Nine Lives - Harlen Ellison
A short novel from the 60s with some interesting ideas, like a deep sleep for criminals, that actually transfers their consciousness to an alien on another world where they are tasked with changing things to make way for the eventual arrival of humans.
8. Odyssey - Homer *
I enjoyed this one much more then the Iliad. The whole story that I was expecting was actually here :)
12 in 12 Challenge
6/12 Written Pre-1970
3/12 Recommended by friends
1/12 Harlen Ellison
5. Gilgamesh *
An ancient classic that I really didn't know anything about. I was pleasantly surprised in that this is not a typical heroic quest story (Book 1 - Gilgamesh is an asshole; Gods create someone just like him to distract him). Loved the way the story was told though.
12 in 12 Challenge
3/12 Written Pre-1970
1/12 Recommended by friends
An ancient classic that I really didn't know anything about. I was pleasantly surprised in that this is not a typical heroic quest story (Book 1 - Gilgamesh is an asshole; Gods create someone just like him to distract him). Loved the way the story was told though.
12 in 12 Challenge
3/12 Written Pre-1970
1/12 Recommended by friends
3. The Einstein Intersection by Samuel R. Delany
I've really enjoyed the Delany books I've read and this one was no exception. Set on a post apocalyptic earth, it is hard to tell if the characters are mutated descendants of the humans or aliens trying to mimic humans (and I'm not sure they know either). It part this is a retelling of the Orpheus story, but a strange and entertaining one.
12 in 12 Challenge
1/12 Nebula Winners
2/12 Written Pre-1970
4. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi *
Here is an author I've never heard of until seeking out the Hugo and Nebula winners. In this case the book won both awards and several others as well. The story follows several characters through a political battle for the future of Thailand in a world of kink springs and calorie corporations. The book is set after the "contraction" - an energy crisis that all but eliminates fossil fuels as a source of power, causing the global economy to collapse as transportation costs rise. Great world building and a good story.
12 in 12 Challenge
2/12 Hugo Winners
2/12 Nebula Winners
I've really enjoyed the Delany books I've read and this one was no exception. Set on a post apocalyptic earth, it is hard to tell if the characters are mutated descendants of the humans or aliens trying to mimic humans (and I'm not sure they know either). It part this is a retelling of the Orpheus story, but a strange and entertaining one.
12 in 12 Challenge
1/12 Nebula Winners
2/12 Written Pre-1970
4. The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi *
Here is an author I've never heard of until seeking out the Hugo and Nebula winners. In this case the book won both awards and several others as well. The story follows several characters through a political battle for the future of Thailand in a world of kink springs and calorie corporations. The book is set after the "contraction" - an energy crisis that all but eliminates fossil fuels as a source of power, causing the global economy to collapse as transportation costs rise. Great world building and a good story.
12 in 12 Challenge
2/12 Hugo Winners
2/12 Nebula Winners
2. Reamde by Neal Stephenson
I really enjoyed this thriller from Stephenson. Sure it is long and took a while to get through, but it always held my interest and was a fun story. His spin on the MMORPG is an interesting one - creating an in game economy that has out of game connections built in (as opposed to WoW where the connections are there, but against the rules.)
12 in 12 Challenge
- nothing beyond another book read, but it was started last year before the challenge, and was a LibraryThing free book that I needed to read and review.
--
Yesterday I was in the city for a walk with Naomi and some of the other PhillyFit folks. After the walk I found that Bookhaven was just a few blocks from my car, so we went to check it out. Very nice store, and cool cat :)
Books bought:
1. The Einstein Intersection by Samuel Delany
2. Darwin's Radio by Greg Bear
3. Princeps' Fury by Jim Butcher
I really enjoyed this thriller from Stephenson. Sure it is long and took a while to get through, but it always held my interest and was a fun story. His spin on the MMORPG is an interesting one - creating an in game economy that has out of game connections built in (as opposed to WoW where the connections are there, but against the rules.)
12 in 12 Challenge
- nothing beyond another book read, but it was started last year before the challenge, and was a LibraryThing free book that I needed to read and review.
--
Yesterday I was in the city for a walk with Naomi and some of the other PhillyFit folks. After the walk I found that Bookhaven was just a few blocks from my car, so we went to check it out. Very nice store, and cool cat :)
Books bought:
1. The Einstein Intersection by Samuel Delany
2. Darwin's Radio by Greg Bear
3. Princeps' Fury by Jim Butcher
Book Log & a favor
Jan. 16th, 2012 02:58 pm1. Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner *
Classic SF story from the 60s. Unlike many older stories, this one seems to have aged pretty well. Brunner puts together an interesting world (set in 2010) complete with an energy crisis (cars are a thing of the past), domestic terrorists (aka Muckers), super computers, and eugenic laws. The story mostly follows two roommates but is inner mixed with snippets of stories from other characters, broadcast announcements, and all sorts of stuff. The reader for the audio version did a great job keeping it flowing and understandable.
12 in 12 Challenge
1/12 Hugo Winners
1/12 Written Pre-1970
--
As part of my 12 in 12 Challenge, 12 of the books I'm going to try and read this year are to come from recommendations. If you've got some time to kill and enjoy digging though someone else's book collection, follow the below link and pick a bunch of books that you think I should read this year ("You've not yet read X?! You've got to read it!") If you've got some favorites that I've never read and don't own, feel free to suggest a few of them as well.
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/MikeKn/toread
Classic SF story from the 60s. Unlike many older stories, this one seems to have aged pretty well. Brunner puts together an interesting world (set in 2010) complete with an energy crisis (cars are a thing of the past), domestic terrorists (aka Muckers), super computers, and eugenic laws. The story mostly follows two roommates but is inner mixed with snippets of stories from other characters, broadcast announcements, and all sorts of stuff. The reader for the audio version did a great job keeping it flowing and understandable.
12 in 12 Challenge
1/12 Hugo Winners
1/12 Written Pre-1970
--
As part of my 12 in 12 Challenge, 12 of the books I'm going to try and read this year are to come from recommendations. If you've got some time to kill and enjoy digging though someone else's book collection, follow the below link and pick a bunch of books that you think I should read this year ("You've not yet read X?! You've got to read it!") If you've got some favorites that I've never read and don't own, feel free to suggest a few of them as well.
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/MikeKn/toread
