Amazon Bestsellers in Scifi & Fantasy
So, here are your top ten bestsellers on Amazon as of tonight. It’s an interesting bunch I think. 10. The Children of Hurin by J. R. R. Tolkien9. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger8. Confessor by Terry Goodkind7. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury6. Spook Country by William Gibson5. Dark Possession by Christine Feehan4. The Elves of Cintra by Terry Brooks3. Making Money by Terry Pratchett2. His Dark Materials Trilogy by Philip Pullman1. The Road by Cormac McCarthy See what I said about being an interesting bunch? Some oldies, some new stuff, and some fantastic works in there. If you want to see beyond 10, go to the link here. Enjoy!(Don’t click the read more, there is no more)
Reading List Updates and Such
First things first. I’m only posting a little extra this week because I want to make some announcements that are somewhat important and less than important. Announcement One: I’ve decided to get rid of all my text books and the like through Amazon. Now, not ALL of these are actual text books (meaning things like chemistry books, psych books, etc.). Some are literature books from my various writing classes–creative writing, etc. So, maybe something will catch your fancy, maybe not. I don’t know your tastes obviously. Still the link to my Amazon Marketplace or whatever you want to call it is here. If that link doesn’t work, tell me please. Announcement two: Books I bought this week! Woot! Here’s the list and where I got them from.Thrift StoreThe Kin of Ata Are Waiting For You by Dorothy BryantThe Time Master Trilogy by Louise CooperA Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor VingeThe Gunslinger by Stephen King (might never read it, but hear it is good)Return to Mars by Ben BovaThe Flying Sorcerers by David Gerrold and Larry NivenThe Best Science Fiction of Isaac Asimov (another one!)Footfall by Larry Niven and Jerry PournelleSkull Gate by Robin W. BaileyFanduilh by Daniel HoodThe Devil and Deep Space by Susan R. MatthewsFantastic Voyage 2: Destination Brain by Isaac AsimovDollar Store (very rare to find anything worth while there)A Draught For a Dead Man by Caroline RoeMechwarrior: Fortress of Lies by J. Steven York (it was a buck…)Mechwarrior: A Call to Arms by Loren L. Coleman (same excuse…)Local Custom by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller (part of the Liaden Universe…)The Goddess Worldweaver by Douglas Niles (I’ll get the rest of the series later…)So that’s the books I got this week. I bought more, BUT, because they are on my awards reading list updated below I won’t mention them since you will all assume I will be acquiring them anyway. So yeah. Chapter 13 goes up tomorrow. And on to the reading list stuff! Alright, just to clarify on my reading lists here. I’ve moved Seeker from my current reading list to the new list of Philip K. Dick / Nebula / Andre Norton award nominees as it is a nominated work, obviously. I will be finishing up the current list first, and not hitting anything whatsoever on the other list until awards have been announced for one of the three awards, in which case I will start from non-winners to winners on each award and review. That’s how it will go. So here are the lists: Current List (in no particular order):1. XXShadowfall by James Clemens (reading…lot longer than I expected…)XX2. XXNinja by Racy Li (e-book, won it!)XX3. XXNeuromancer by William GibsonXX4. XXThe Elder Gods Book One by David and Leigh EddingsXX5. XXDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. DickXX6. XXCell by Stephen KingXX7. Two Wizards by Darren Reid (e-book)8. Nebula Awards Showcase 2004: Edited by Vonda N. McIntyre9. Jupiter by Ben Bova10. Mad Ship by Robin Hobb11. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger12. The Locus Awards: Edited by Charles N. Brown and Jonathan Strahan Awards List:1. From the Files of the Time Rangers by Richard Bowes2. The Girl in the Glass by Jeffrey Ford3. The Privilege of the Sword by Ellen Kushner4. To Crush the Moon by Wil McCarthy5. XXFarthing by Jo WaltonXX6. XXDevilish by Maureen JohnsonXX7. Magic or Madness by Justine Larbalesteir8. XXLife As We Know It by Susan Beth PfefferXX9. XXThe King of Attolia by Megan Whalen TurnerXX10. Midnighters Book #2 by Scott Westerfeld (I will read book #1 first of course)11. XXPeeps by Scott Westerfeld (he got two nominations for the same award…)XX12. XXRecursion by Tony BallantyneXX13. XXLiving Next Door to the God of Love by Justina RobsonXX14. Mindscape by Andrea Hairston15. XXCarnival by Elizabeth BearXX16. Spin Control by Chris Moriarty17. XXCatalyst by Nina Kiriki HoffmanXX18. XXIdolon by Mark BudzXX19. Seeker by Jack McDevitt So there we go! I’ve got some interesting blog posts in the woodworks as we speak too. One on stuff for writers (websites, software, etc. that we can all make use of, or some of us anyway), and I’ve also got to finish the second part in the Critique Groups post. That will be an interesting one I’m sure. Then hopefully I can finish Shadowfall this coming week. It turned out a lot longer than I had expected. I love the book though. It’s very good. I’m going to use it as an example of how multiple POV’s can actually work superbly. It might also become the face of my new argument on how Tower of Shadows still sucks and how Shadowfall is a perfectly valid substitute. But that’s for later!
Major Score! Writer: 1 Fate: -2
K, the title really is just my odd sense of humor and it will likely make little sense. I just think it’s silly. So apparently I am one of the few winners of the Debut a Debut contest at Writing Aspirations. I’ve apparently won Ninja by Racy Li. It’s somewhat of a dark urban fantasy/erotica from what I can tell. I’ll be inserting it into my reading list now.Additionally, I’ve managed to score quite a good collection of new books over the weekend, mostly from going to local thrift stores. The closest one to me tends to have a little section of scifi and fantasy, so naturally I migrate there from time to time. So here is what I got: The Wilderness Four-1 / Across the Far Mountain by Niel HancockThe Heaven Makers by Frank HerbertThe Abductors: Conspiracy by Jonathan Frakes (a.k.a. Riker from Star Trek Next Gen.)Timeless Stories For Today and Tomorrow by Ray BradburySandkings by George R. R. Martin (huge score here)Tales of the Velvet Comet #1: Eros Ascending by Mike ResnickOrion by Ben BovaThe Best of Isaac Asimov by Isaac Asimov (duh, lol.)Flashforward by Robert J. SawyerAtlas Shrugged by Ayn RandThe Crack in the Sky by Richard A. LupoffMyth Adventures by Robert Lynn AsprinThe Deed of Paksenarrion (trilogy) by Elizabeth MoonKrondor the Betrayal by Raymond E. FeistTekWar by William Shatner (the Shat!)Great Sky River by Gregory BenfordThe Last Light of the Sun by Guy Gavriel KayA Thunder on Neptune by Gordon EklundRedshift Rendezvous by John E. StithThe Lost Swords: First Triad by Fred SaberhagenThe Lost Swords: Second Triad by Fred SaberhagenThe Complete Book of Swords by Fred Saberhagen And from Borders:The Seeker by Jack McDevittJupiter by Ben BovaSo I really made out rather well. Some new stuff, some dorky stuff, and a lot of old hard to find near-golden age stuff. I love Golden Age scifi. All that stuff set in times when we knew so little about physics that you could get away with almost anything. Ahh, so great. Also, figured I would post my ‘reading list’. This doesn’t include the books for my scifi/fantasy lit class though, but I intend to review most of the books that I haven’t read from that class. Currently Reading: Venus by Ben Bova, Forever War by Joe Haldeman, and Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke 1. Shadow Fall by James Clemens2. Seeker by Jack McDevitt3. Ninja by Racy Li (e-book, won it!)4. The Elder Gods Book One by David and Leigh Eddings5. Cell by Stephen King6. Two Wizards by Darren Reid (e-book)7. Nebula Awards Showcase 2004: Edited by Vonda N. McIntyre8. Jupiter by Ben Bova9. Mad Ship by Robin Hobb10. The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger11. The Locus Awards: Edited by Charles N. Brown and Jonathan Strahan So that’s basically my ‘to read’ list for the time being. I didn’t want to make it horrendously large simply because that would be crazy. I unfortunately don’t have a Library Thing subscription so I can show random stuff from my book library and other such nifty features. I was under the impression that Shelfari had such things, but I can’t seem the find them. Maybe there is another site that I can do the widget thing for free. Anyone else have a ‘reading list’ or some such?And have you found nifty deals in your local area such as the thrift store I mentioned? (I didn’t mention the local library that has a ‘fill-a-bag-for-5-bucks’ sale during summer…my collection is upwards of six hundred books because of those things…) Or, perhaps you know a neat website or some such that you found useful for finding amazing deals.
Series’ That Should Never End
I was watching Band of Brothers this weekend and got the idea of this blog from it. If you haven’t seen the series you really should pick it up. I don’t think there will ever be a WW2 series or even movie that can live even partially up to it. So, I figure this week should be a list of series I wish would never end–books, T.V. shows, movies, etc. So, here goes! (In no particular order) 1) Band of Brothers–You just can’t go wrong with it. Beautiful filming, amazing casting with people that actually look and act like the people they are pretending to be (the film is based on things that actually did happen with people who really existed). Even the intros to many episodes that show interviews with the soldiers who are being portrayed are amazing. It’s just a fantastically done show that should never have ended, or at least could have run longer than one season before ending as it did. I just wish that maybe they’d go back and cover a different unit other than the 501st. I know that it wouldn’t be the same, but I just need more! 2) Harry Potter–Yes, I’m going there. Supposedly the series is ending as soon as the 7th book comes out. I don’t want it to. I’ve fallen in love with the characters and to know that I won’t get to read more about them after this last installment hurts. Don’t stop J.K. Rowling! Please! 3) Chronicles of Narnia–I’m mostly talking of the movie series here simply because I have not read all of the books yet. The movie was so well done. The cinematography was astounding, casting great. If you haven’t seen it you should rent it. I’m getting the 4-disc set as soon as it comes out cause I love all that behind the scenes stuff! 4) Lord of the Rings–Another one that is more based on the movie series than the books. I liked the books, but felt the movies were far more interesting, not because Tolkien didn’t tell it well, it’s just he wrote so much stuff that we didn’t need and I’m the type who has to be engaged quickly or you lose me. The movies were, well, I really don’t need to say how good they were do I? We all know. They won a bazillion awards…and when they ended it sucked cause you sat there and went, “it’s over.” Just like that. Sort of a big punch in the gut. 5) Star Wars–Doesn’t matter if you didn’t like the prequels. Doesn’t matter at all. Fact of the matter is, this is the second time fans of the films have had to deal with it ending on us. First it was with the originals, when there was no word that we would get this amazing taste of the SW universe from an earlier time. Now, we have it again with so much inbetween stuff we still don’t really know. Rumors say there will be a third trilogy after the originals, but those are rumors. I want them so bad though! Best series of all time. 6) Underworld–I don’t know if more are planned, and probably not considering how Evolution ended, but I loved the films so much. The concept behind it and how they created their vampires and werewolves was just so fascinating. Who knows, I think we can assume it’s done with Evolution, but maybe not. 7) Alice 19th–Most of those that might read this probably have no clue what this series is. It’s a manga (a.k.a. Japanese Graphic Novel), and quite frankly is one of the most engaging and fascinating manga series I have ever read. 8) Half-life–A video game! Yes, well this is the game that pretty much made FPS (first person shooter) games the fascinating experience they are today. Without this game, and without it’s predecessors we would not have had any of the elements present today ever show up. HL started it all. And then, low and behold, as a surprise to all the millions upon millions of us that had become fans, they gave us HL2, which took the franchise to knew heights, new levels, new…well…new everything! And, right now, it’s technically over because they haven’t announced an HL3 is in the works. So, what are we to do? 9) The Inheritance Trilogy–Yup, it’s on book two, which means one more is left along with two more movies. I haven’t even read Eldest yet partially out of fear…I don’t want it to end 🙁 So I think that will do it for the time being.
Top Ten Books I Want to Read That Just Came Out and College
Well, with Chapter Four done finally, and the week closing now, it’s time for a little blog about things that have gone on this week. Plus, it’s a non-post-a-chapter-week, so yeah. First things first is what I did this Saturday. It was awesome. I drove a good three hours to San Francisco at 5:30 AM to go to an open house I was invited to for the University of San Francisco, a Jesuit Catholic private school. No, I’m not Catholic, nor do I intend to be. You don’t have to be Catholic to go there thankfully.The college is gorgeous. St. Ignacius Church is amazingly beautiful. The campus is really nice looking despite being from around the 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s. It actually burned down in that big fire in San Fran long ago, so it’s a rebuilt campus, which is interesting.The actual environment is extremely positive too. Everyone was glad to help and answer questions. The teachers were helpful and informative and the amazing part is they actually want you to succeed. Classroom sizes are smaller than at state colleges, another plus. Essentially it is the top school on my list that I am applying to. Hopefully I get in and can afford to go there! Now for other things. I’m getting ansy right now because I don’t have the ability to read full novels due to being in college. It’s hard to keep my attention when I’ve got text books to read, but at the same time I’m can’t take not being able to read something fantastic and interesting. So, now for a top list of some form. Today is top ten books I want to read that just came out. These are in no particular order. Here goes! 1) The Children’s Hospital by Chris Adrian: Something about this book caught my eye. It is a post apocalyptic religious novel of sorts. It deals with a massive flood across the world, sort of like with Noah, and these people in a hospital for children. There is a lot of supernatural stuff, such as angels and magic abilities, that take place too. 2) Old Man’s War by John Scalzi: This is a new take on interstellar wars, sort of in the same style as Starship Troopers by Heinlein. It sounds really interesting nonetheless. 3) The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly: Another interesting book about going to alternate worlds through portals and the like. This one has a great title too. 4) World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks: Need I say anything more about this title? 5) Off Armageddon Reef by David Weber: Imagine a society of humans so afraid of contact with alien races that the government actually uses religion to keep the entire world in medieval times, until something happens to upset that balance. 6) Shadowfall by James Clemens: A once great man who has fallen into the life of a beggar witnesses the murder of a goddess and finds himself on the road to finding the real killer, while everyone else thinks he’s the one that did it. Sounds quite awesome to me. 7) Galaxy in Flames by Ben Counter: I’ve never really read any military scifi, but the cover to this one really grabbed me. It looks fantastic and the idea behind it sounds epic. 8) To Outlive Eternity and Other Stories by Poul Anderson: Who can resist Poul Anderson? I can’t. A collection of shorts by this great writer sounds like heaven! 9) Empire by Orson Scott Card: This book takes on the idea of a civil war erupting between blue and red politics, literally. Another civil war, only in the now. Imagine! 10) Rollback by Robert J. Sawyer: A woman receives the first alien message, decodes it, and waits. Years later, in her eighties, she receives another. In order for her to decipher it for the world she has to have an experimental procedure to ‘rollback’ her physical age. Neat no? So there you go. Enjoy!
Top Ten Novels
Figure I could put another top ten list up here before getting Chapter Two fully written (it’s going to be a lot longer than the last one I think). So, this top ten list is of my favorite novels. It is another list that changes periodically, but for now this is it. 1. Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card — This is one of the greatest books ever written. It won a Hugo and a Nebula Award and its sequel received the same awards (a first in history). You have to read this if you like scifi at all. 2. Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling — These are amazingly written stories that most of us are familiar with in some way. Book six is the only book that has actually made me cry! That says something about a book in my opinion. 3. 1984 by George Orwell — Who hasn’t read this book by one of the great classic writers? You? Well what are you doing if you’re not reading this then? It’s a classic example of a world controlled by its government. Get up, read it! 4. Mars by Ben Bova — Possibly the greatest hard scifi novel ever written. It gives a realistic look at the first manned mission to Mars and the strange thing about it is that if we were to try it we could easily do it with the technology available. Soon this is going to be history, not fiction. 5. Eon by Greg Bear — As I mentioned in a previous blog, I recently finish this book and was absolutely amazed and how good it was. It hooked me from the beginning. It’s a must for any hard scifi reader, although you should read Mars first :P. 6. Hart’s Hope by Orson Scott Card — This book was one of those books I sort of picked up and thought “maybe I’ll read it”. When I read it, though, it was one of the best, most original fantasy reads ever. Card is a freaking genius when it comes to his writing. 7. Eragon by Christopher Paolini — This book was one of those I listened to. I had originally bought the book because I found out this kid was only 19 when he was picked up by a major publisher. That is amazing to me. It turned out to be a really awesome fantasy story, and now is apparently a trilogy. I’ve yet to read Eldest, but it is on my list. 8. The Empire of Time by Crawford Kilian — Remember in my top ten authors post I had mentioned Kilian’s take on time travel? This book is where that came from. It’s a well written look at a future where time travel is pretty much the norm in society. It was a good read. 9. Saturn’s Race by Larry Niven — One of my favorites by Larry Niven. Granted, this will likely be replaced as I get more Niven in my, but I thought it was a very riveting tale when I listened to it on audiobook. 10. Ship of Magic by Robin Hobb — This is one of those interesting gems you pick up without the pretty cover at a book sale. All it had was the title on the hardback, but no pictures or anything. Then I read it and was blown away at how interesting of a world Hobb had created. So there you have it, my neat post of favorites. I’m probably missing some though, but that’s okay. I’m actually listening to Ringworld by Larry Niven right now, so we’ll see if the ending to that lands it on my list :).