What are you reading right now?

[ScurvyRat]

Now I'm reading The Terror by Dan Simmons - about 100 pages in. I like it so far, but I hope it maintains my interest as his other similar book The Abominable also started out strong, but nose-dived about half way through. I did read his Hyperion series and loved it so I know he can pull it off.

One of my favorite books of all time. He 1000% does the same thing he did with the Hyperion Cantos where he lore dumps at the end. You've been warned.

 

[Commander X]

For those who remember the TV series Garth Marenghi's Darkplace, star Matthew Holness returned to the character with Garth Marenghi's Terrortome where the hack horror novelist presents three connected novellas that are just the start of the massive horror epic he's been working on since the 1980s. Featuring obvious Marenghi stand-in Nick Steen, a popular horror novelist who lives in the fictional locale of Stalkford, Steen's purchase of a antique typewriter (dating back to the Tang Dynasty) reputed to have supernatural powers results in his becoming entangled in a sadomasochistic sexual relationship with the sentient typewriter, while for a year his output consists of several "novels" that are thousands of pages long,, and require a step ladder to access and a lot of physical strength to even turn the pages. Steen's long-suffering editor Roz informs him his publisher, Clatchett Books, has refused the latest manuscript because getting to paper required to print a run of it would put a strain on the world's forests, already exacerbated by the volumes they did print. Plus, the pages are filled with nothing but incomprehensible symbols. Steen's attempt at quitting the typewriter results in him and Roz being pulled into a pocket dimension called the Prolix, ruled over by the evil Type-Face, who was typewriter key-tabs all over his face, and not pins, and is NOT a cheap Pinhead knockoff. Eventually they escape and seal off the portal to the Prolix but not before Type-Face unleashes all of the dark and forbidden characters from Steen's imagination onto Stalkford...

The other two novellas deal with "avuncular necrosis"-obsessed medical researcher turned serial killer Dr. Nelson Strain, another one of Steen's creations on the loose and creating an army of revived skeletons and his "BRIDE OF BONE!" while Nick is joined by Strain's archnemesis, gun-toting talk therapist Cliff ‘Livewire’ Capello. And then in the third, ‘The Dark Fractions’ involves a flood of characters from Steen's proposed but unpublished series of horror novels about his own stand-in character "Gareth Merengue" and his "Dark Third", or "throppleganger", who in turn has his own evil reflection, and his own evil reflection and so on. There's thousands of them, all after Nick, including one Dr. Nick Steen, M.D...

This was in turn followed up by a sequel I'm just starting, Garth Marenghi's Incarcerat where Nick is held captive by the Nulltec Corporation who wish to study him and find a way to pull the plug on the manifestations of his imagination, which includes a parody of Gothic melodramas and the former school plumber turned dream-demon known as the Randyman (who is definitely NOT a mash-up of Cliver Barker's Candyman and Freddy Krueger.

 

[General Emílio Médici]

I just finished reading Blood Music by Greg Bear. It was a really trippy ready, didn't go quite where I expected it to but it was pretty fun.

It starts with a genetic researcher trying to make smart cells, sorta like biological nanomachines. He succeeds. Things escalate. I won't spoil more.

 

[glass_houses]

I mistakenly bought a Shaun Hutson omnibus a ways back, as I was after a novel with the same name but by a different author. Yesterday I took it off the shelf and decided to give it a go.

Third page in, a pair of teenagers are enthusiastically screwing in the viscera of a goat gutted especially for the occasion while a group of naked onlookers presumably wait for their own turn.

Okay, then.

 

[LordOfZhbagva]

I've just finished reading three books and picked up the Indian history by John Keay. First, the Cambridge history of Medieval Russia 980-1584 by Janet Martin.
Honestly, pleasantly surprised. The book is mostly quite good, giving a decent look at medieval Russia and doing a good job at sifting the more from the less important political events during the medieval Russian history and pointing out overall trends (the trade routes, the shift from Kiev to Vladimir-Suzdal, the Monomashichi...), but ignores some things that should be mentioned when discussing medieval Russia (normanism for an example and the very earliest periods of history, like the pre Vladimir rulers, which, while potentially being mythological, should still be mentioned) and covers a few topics extremely shallowly (the Tatar influence).
Also, very recently finished the first book of the "First Law" trilogy. Frankly, disappointed. The writing simply isn't good enough to stand on its own and the plot, worldbuilding and characters aren't interesting enough to make me continue reading it. All in all, I don't recommend this book.
And I've just finished reading the Night land aswell (I read the retold version because I wanted an easier read). It is a very creative work that describes a truly shithole world in which humans have carved out a nice little pyramid of comfort and details the adventure of an absolute chad going outside of it. I recommend it as a nice fantasy adventure for those not interested in conventional fiction that wishes to remain in the Tolkein-esque shadow.
As for the Indian history, it is the second edition, with the Keay's expected focus on the antiquity and rejecting the emphasis on the modern and recent, which is why I so love him. His China book was a great introduction into Chinese history, if overly brief and I am expecting a similar thing from his India book.

 

[Hazel Motes]

Last night I read Ape and Essence by Aldous Huxley. Similar to Brave New World with its nightmarish future and its obsession with sex, though not as good. I didn't like it at first but it grew on me. To give a taste, it is about Satanists in a dystopian LA.

Spoiler

In the novel, the Satanists despise sex. At first, I thought this was Huxley's critiquing prudish Christians, but then I realised that our culture dislikes sex far more than it lets on. A culture that aborts children and rejects monogamy is one that hate eros. Orgies, like the one in Brave New World, are entirely unerotic. They reject the bonding found in the sexual act. It makes love a performance, believed half-heartly. I mean look at Weinstein. Was he a sexual man? Or was he not a man incapable of being sexual and so had to satisfy himself in other ways? Did he even enjoy sex?

 

[BrodyDaMan]

I finally decided to read the entire Mahabharata, and from my research, it seems like "The Mahabharata of Krishna Dwaipayana Vyasa" by Kisari Mohan Ganguly was the best one, since it was a direct translation of 200,000 verses without abridgement into prose, and done in collaboration with priests and scholars who taught it and spoke in Sanskrit.

I have some experience with older texts, where the characters and narrator would go on very long monologues, like Homer listing every greek army in the Illiad, or the exposition in Xenophon's Anabasis. But the Mahabharata is just brutal. Just the first chapter, which is an introduction to the narrator, and a framing device, has monologues that could be chapters on their own in any relatively modern book. Here is a sample of one side character talking about why he wants to kill himself:

Spoiler: It's over

'Hear, O Sanjaya, all that happened thereupon and came to my knowledge. And when thou hast heard all I say, recollecting everything as it fell out, thou shall then know me for one with a prophetic eye. When I heard that Arjuna, having bent the bow, had pierced the curious mark and brought it down to the ground, and bore away in triumph the maiden Krishna, in the sight of the assembled princes, then, O Sanjaya I had no hope of success. When I heard that Subhadra of the race of Madhu had, after forcible seizure been married by Arjuna in the city of Dwaraka, and that the two heroes of the race of Vrishni (Krishna and Balarama the brothers of Subhadra) without resenting it had entered Indraprastha as friends, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna, by his celestial arrow preventing the downpour by Indra the king of the gods, had gratified Agni by making over to him the forest of Khandava, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the five Pandavas with their mother Kunti had escaped from the house of lac, and that Vidura was engaged in the accomplishment of their designs, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna, after having pierced the mark in the arena had won Draupadi, and that the brave Panchalas had joined the Pandavas, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Jarasandha, the foremost of the royal line of Magadha, and blazing in the midst of the Kshatriyas, had been slain by Bhima with his bare arms alone, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that in their general campaign the sons of Pandu had conquered the chiefs of the land and performed the grand sacrifice of the Rajasuya, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Draupadi, her voice choked with tears and heart full of agony, in the season of impurity and with but one raiment on, had been dragged into court and though she had protectors, she had been treated as if she had none, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the wicked wretch Duhsasana, was striving to strip her of that single garment, had only drawn from her person a large heap of cloth without being able to arrive at its end, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Yudhishthira, beaten by Saubala at the game of dice and deprived of his kingdom as a consequence thereof, had still been attended upon by his brothers of incomparable prowess, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the virtuous Pandavas weeping with affliction had followed their elder brother to the wilderness and exerted themselves variously for the mitigation of his discomforts, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. 'When I heard that Yudhishthira had been followed into the wilderness by Snatakas and noble-minded Brahmanas who live upon alms, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna, having, in combat, pleased the god of gods, Tryambaka (the three-eyed) in the disguise of a hunter, obtained the great weapon Pasupata, then O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the just and renowned Arjuna after having been to the celestial regions, had there obtained celestial weapons from Indra himself then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that afterwards Arjuna had vanquished the Kalakeyas and the Paulomas proud with the boon they had obtained and which had rendered them invulnerable even to the celestials, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna, the chastiser of enemies, having gone to the regions of Indra for the destruction of the Asuras, had returned thence successful, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Bhima and the other sons of Pritha (Kunti) accompanied by Vaisravana had arrived at that country which is inaccessible to man then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that my sons, guided by the counsels of Karna, while on their journey of Ghoshayatra, had been taken prisoners by the Gandharvas and were set free by Arjuna, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Dharma (the god of justice) having come under the form of a Yaksha had proposed certain questions to Yudhishthira then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that my sons had failed to discover the Pandavas under their disguise while residing with Draupadi in the dominions of Virata, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the principal men of my side had all been vanquished by the noble Arjuna with a single chariot while residing in the dominions of Virata, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Vasudeva of the race of Madhu, who covered this whole earth by one foot, was heartily interested in the welfare of the Pandavas, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the king of Matsya, had offered his virtuous daughter Uttara to Arjuna and that Arjuna had accepted her for his son, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Yudhishthira, beaten at dice, deprived of wealth, exiled and separated from his connections, had assembled yet an army of seven Akshauhinis, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard Narada, declare that Krishna and Arjuna were Nara and Narayana and he (Narada) had seen them together in the regions of Brahma, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Krishna, anxious to bring about peace, for the welfare of mankind had repaired to the Kurus, and went away without having been able to effect his purpose, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Kama and Duryodhana resolved upon imprisoning Krishna displayed in himself the whole universe, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. Then I heard that at the time of his departure, Pritha (Kunti) standing, full of sorrow, near his chariot received consolation from Krishna, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Vasudeva and Bhishma the son of Santanu were the counsellors of the Pandavas and Drona the son of Bharadwaja pronounced blessings on them, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When Kama said unto Bhishma--I will not fight when thou art fighting--and, quitting the army, went away, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Vasudeva and Arjuna and the bow Gandiva of immeasurable prowess, these three of dreadful energy had come together, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that upon Arjuna having been seized with compunction on his chariot and ready to sink, Krishna showed him all the worlds within his body, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Bhishma, the desolator of foes, killing ten thousand charioteers every day in the field of battle, had not slain any amongst the Pandavas then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Bhishma, the righteous son of Ganga, had himself indicated the means of his defeat in the field of battle and that the same were accomplished by the Pandavas with joyfulness, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna, having placed Sikhandin before himself in his chariot, had wounded Bhishma of infinite courage and invincible in battle, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the aged hero Bhishma, having reduced the numbers of the race of shomaka to a few, overcome with various wounds was lying on a bed of arrows, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that upon Bhishma's lying on the ground with thirst for water, Arjuna, being requested, had pierced the ground and allayed his thirst, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When Bayu together with Indra and Suryya united as allies for the success of the sons of Kunti, and the beasts of prey (by their inauspicious presence) were putting us in fear, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When the wonderful warrior Drona, displaying various modes of fight in the field, did not slay any of the superior Pandavas, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the Maharatha Sansaptakas of our army appointed for the overthrow of Arjuna were all slain by Arjuna himself, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that our disposition of forces, impenetrable by others, and defended by Bharadwaja himself well-armed, had been singly forced and entered by the brave son of Subhadra, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that our Maharathas, unable to overcome Arjuna, with jubilant faces after having jointly surrounded and slain the boy Abhimanyu, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the blind Kauravas were shouting for joy after having slain Abhimanyu and that thereupon Arjuna in anger made his celebrated speech referring to Saindhava, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Arjuna had vowed the death of Saindhava and fulfilled his vow in the presence of his enemies, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that upon the horses of Arjuna being fatigued, Vasudeva releasing them made them drink water and bringing them back and reharnessing them continued to guide them as before, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that while his horses were fatigued, Arjuna staying in his chariot checked all his assailants, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Yuyudhana of the race of Vrishni, after having thrown into confusion the army of Drona rendered unbearable in prowess owing to the presence of elephants, retired to where Krishna and Arjuna were, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Karna even though he had got Bhima within his power allowed him to escape after only addressing him in contemptuous terms and dragging him with the end of his bow, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Drona, Kritavarma, Kripa, Karna, the son of Drona, and the valiant king of Madra (Salya) suffered Saindhava to be slain, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that the celestial Sakti given by Indra (to Karna) was by Madhava's machinations caused to be hurled upon Rakshasa Ghatotkacha of frightful countenance, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that in the encounter between Karna and Ghatotkacha, that Sakti was hurled against Ghatotkacha by Karna, the same which was certainly to have slain Arjuna in battle, then, O Sanjaya. I had no hope of success. When I heard that Dhristadyumna, transgressing the laws of battle, slew Drona while alone in his chariot and resolved on death, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success. When I heard that Nakula. the son of Madri, having in the presence of the whole army engaged in single combat with the son of Drona and showing himself equal to him drove his chariot in circles around, then, O Sanjaya, I had no hope of success."

And it's like the author was aware that this monologue alone was a summary of the entire plot, because at the end of the chapter he says:

He that readeth this holy chapter of the moon, readeth the whole of the Bharata, I think.

But disregarding this, so far it's a great read, there's even a surprising amount of humour. But if you want to try reading the Mahabharata, I recommend steeling yourself for it by reading Homer's epics first.

 

[crowabunga]

I'm still working through Ian Banks' Culture series, and I've finally hit one I'm unambiguously frustrated with: Surface Detail. It's the most preachy of the series yet, and a right disappointment given that whatever his biases, Ian was at least up until this book capable of writing antagonists that were sympathetic, or in the case of Consider Phlebas, protagonists that are unsympathetic bastards.

I just hope the final book in the series The Hydrogen Sonata isn't as insufferable, I'd hate for the last of this series to leave a bad taste in my mouth.

 

[AnOminous]

Did he even enjoy sex?

If he had enjoyed sex he would have just had sex. It's not like even an ugly-ass Hollywood Jew couldn't score with 10s with his level of money. He enjoyed RAPE.

 

[120 Precursor Orbs]

Man and His Symbols by Jung.

I had expected it to be an actual work by the man himself, but seems more like a high-level/overview, written in parts by different students of his. Fitting and interesting as an introduction.

 

[Susanna]

I'm still working through Ian Banks' Culture series, and I've finally hit one I'm unambiguously frustrated with: Surface Detail. It's the most preachy of the series yet, and a right disappointment given that whatever his biases, Ian was at least up until this book capable of writing antagonists that were sympathetic, or in the case of Consider Phlebas, protagonists that are unsympathetic bastards.

I just hope the final book in the series The Hydrogen Sonata isn't as insufferable, I'd hate for the last of this series to leave a bad taste in my mouth.

Hydrogen Sonata does offer a more sympathetic antagonist, in addition to one who is more like Veppers. Unfortunately it’s not the final novel the series deserved, Banks died before his time and so the finale is kind of unsatisfying in many ways. It also deals heavily with more existential questions, which is a bit of a change from books like Matter, which focused more on an adventure. There is an adventure, sure, but it feels like many parts were glossed over to give us more time with dancing ships and wizards.

Surface Detail does have the best ship in the series though, the lovely Falling Outside the Normal Moral Constraints.

Do continue with Algebraist though. It’s not Culture, but it’s still excellent.

 

[crowabunga]

Surface Detail does have the best ship in the series though, the lovely Falling Outside the Normal Moral Constraints.

I do agree there, and the final sentence of Surface Detail also had me grinning like an idiot.

 

[BulkForceFive]

Currently reading 'Krushchev Remembers' with annotations that provide background and also inform the reader where he's being a naughty fibber. I'm about a third of the way through it but I can confirm: he do be rememberin'.

 

[YHWH's Strongest Soldier]

Really loving the opening to Clarice Lispector's Hour of the Star:

All the world began with a yes. One molecule said yes to another molecule and life began.

Like with most of Lispector's novels, I do not quite see how it relates yet to the plot and themes of the book. I would sooner say that the novel's protagonist experiences the exact opposite as she is told "no" by the universe and forced to live in absolute misery despite her best efforts to escape it.

I also enjoy the reflections on the writing process presented by the narrator. There's something of a contrast between the narrator who clearly has a purpose as the writer of the story and creator of the protagonist Macabéa, but he struggles to accept it. On the other hand, Macabéa's meaning is to struggle meaninglessly with an untimely, meaningless death as the conclusion. Yet, she accepts her role entirely.

 

[Richter Belmont]

Girlfriend recommended I try Frankenstein for my halloween read (i'm only just after finishing her favourite book for her, american psycho - and she won't even try a single cormac mcarthy book for me ffs )

Anyway I just finished chapter 5 and I'm honestly surprised how well paced the book is - far better than I was expecting! It did really surprise me though, how short a time it is until he's already robbing graves and finishing the monster so early on lol

 

[Gilgamesh]

My copy of The Crying of Lot 49 is a university copy and it has been annotated by different readers over the years. Many of these are indecipherable, literally just symbols that look like letters but upon closer inspection can't be (at least a Latin script). Plays in very well with Pynchon.

Girlfriend recommended I try Frankenstein for my halloween read (i'm only just after finishing her favourite book for her, american psycho - and she won't even try a single cormac mcarthy book for me ffs )

Anyway I just finished chapter 5 and I'm honestly surprised how well paced the book is - far better than I was expecting! It did really surprise me though, how short a time it is until he's already robbing graves and finishing the monster so early on lol

Frankenstein is good and I'm glad to see its continued cultural stay. Del Toro's movie looks like it'll be fun. Mary Shelley really knew what was up back then.
For Cormac start with All the Pretty Horses. I haven't finished it yet but it's a very somber tale of a cowboy at the end of the cowboy era - or long after it. It's sad but not as gruesome or despair-driven as his other books.

 

[ScurvyRat]

Girlfriend recommended I try Frankenstein for my halloween read (i'm only just after finishing her favourite book for her, american psycho - and she won't even try a single cormac mcarthy book for me ffs )

Anyway I just finished chapter 5 and I'm honestly surprised how well paced the book is - far better than I was expecting! It did really surprise me though, how short a time it is until he's already robbing graves and finishing the monster so early on lol

Junji Ito's manga version is also good, if you're into visual horror.

 

[BiggestKai]

Dead Lions(part 2 of Slough House/Slow Horses) by Mick Herron.
Feels a lot more enjoyable than the show with the exception that watching the show first means my mental voice for Lamb is Gary Oldman's voice which is pretty damn fitting.

 

[General Emílio Médici]

I just finished Tom Clancy's Debt of Honor, and I gotta say I am disappointing on the ending.

Well not the ending ending. The final chapter where Sato does a little trolling is fine. The problem is pretty much the last 1/4th of the book and how the war with Japan actually goes. After the first shots and the tense start it simply does not end up going in the direction I expected, and in a bad way not a good way.

For all that the book obviously plays the part between the differences in morals, ideas, standards and culture between USA and Japan the US Government in the book constantly makes basic mistakes when dealing with Japan even when they KNOW and claim to be TRYING to parse for that. The response by the rest of the world and the public in the USA is just hilariously understated and underdeveloped. The mere IDEA of a status quo ante peace being publicly acceptable is a joke. India's role on the story being hyped up since the first chapter ends up in a very weak pay off.

In my opinion the book would have been much better if the war had never gone public and the entire thing had been fought as a secret covert conflict, with Japan actually getting the island they wanted but the USA carving up trade concessions plus guarantees and Okinawa base being expanded to stop the Japs doing another trolling like this again. A situation where people would think that the USA won but the truth is it came very close to being fucked, and Japan would look to have won on the surface to the conspirators but they would quickly find out that they didn't really strike the gold they thought and their further plans are fucked.

I also found myself skipping large blocks of text on the last few chapters when Clancy is going over the operations going on. It didn't feel as interesting as his descriptions earlier in the book, and the direction of the plot made it just not as engaging as it would have been.

 

[Geoff Capes Vapes Apes]

I just finished Tom Clancy's Debt of Honor, and I gotta say I am disappointing on the ending.

Well not the ending ending. The final chapter where Sato does a little trolling is fine. The problem is pretty much the last 1/4th of the book and how the war with Japan actually goes. After the first shots and the tense start it simply does not end up going in the direction I expected, and in a bad way not a good way.

For all that the book obviously plays the part between the differences in morals, ideas, standards and culture between USA and Japan the US Government in the book constantly makes basic mistakes when dealing with Japan even when they KNOW and claim to be TRYING to parse for that. The response by the rest of the world and the public in the USA is just hilariously understated and underdeveloped. The mere IDEA of a status quo ante peace being publicly acceptable is a joke. India's role on the story being hyped up since the first chapter ends up in a very weak pay off.

In my opinion the book would have been much better if the war had never gone public and the entire thing had been fought as a secret covert conflict, with Japan actually getting the island they wanted but the USA carving up trade concessions plus guarantees and Okinawa base being expanded to stop the Japs doing another trolling like this again. A situation where people would think that the USA won but the truth is it came very close to being fucked, and Japan would look to have won on the surface to the conspirators but they would quickly find out that they didn't really strike the gold they thought and their further plans are fucked.

I also found myself skipping large blocks of text on the last few chapters when Clancy is going over the operations going on. It didn't feel as interesting as his descriptions earlier in the book, and the direction of the plot made it just not as engaging as it would have been.

Clancy really does suffer when he tries to work in overt global, epic events rather than covert, I think the only time he actually pulls it off is in Red Storm Rising and Larry Bond could be responsible for that. When you look at Red October, Patriot Games, Without Remorse it's always more contained personal violence rather than banging countries together like a toddler with building blocks.

I've just finished reading Blind Man's Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage by Sherry Sontag, Christopher Drew and Annette Drew. The content is an interesting read about US underwater shenanigans (Ivy Bells, Glomar Explorer etc) during the Cold War but you can tell it's written by journalists rather than authors.