TSF Book Club

NTA

I was browsing through Google Play, looking for free books that might or might not involve tits.
 
Anyway, I found this book (link below - called Titans by Edward W Robertson) and thought a bit of scifi would be a good distraction from the daily grind. I really enjoyed it - like that kind of writing style, and the concept around the main character was quite interesting.
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=OS7EAgAAQBAJ'>https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=OS7EAgAAQBAJ</a>

dogmeat

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
Titans
<div>by <a class="" href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4121443.Edward_W_Robertson">Edward W. Robertson</a> (Goodreads Author) </div>
<div>Titans <a class="" title="3.52 of 5 stars">3.52 of 5 stars</a> 3.52 Â· <a class="" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18520859-titans#">rating details</a> Â· <a class="" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18520859-titans#other_reviews">540 ratings </a> Â· <a class="" href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18520859-titans#other_reviews">44 reviews </a></div>
<div>Rob Dunbar is the world's best history professor. And with good reason: he's been alive for three thousand years, keeping his existence a secret since before the days of Athens. 
But a stranger named Baxter has a better use for Rob's vast expertise. Baxter's looking to found a mining company in the Asteroid Belt. In exchange for Rob's help, he'll try to unravel the mystery o Rob Dunbar is the world's best history professor. And with good reason: he's been alive for three thousand years, keeping his existence a secret since before the days of Athens. 
But a stranger named Baxter has a better use for Rob's vast expertise. Baxter's looking to found a mining company in the Asteroid Belt. In exchange for Rob's help, he'll try to unravel the mystery of Rob's origin. 
As they're getting their outfit off the ground, they come under covert attack by HemiCo, a powerful Mars-based corporation. And Rob learns Baxter has a secret of his own--he's not human. He's a highly illegal AI. 
Developed by HemiCo in the wilds of Mars, the first AI escaped decades ago. They've been fighting a shadow war against their creators ever since. Dragged to Mars, Rob is thrown into the center of the fight--and becomes the unlikely leader of a revolution that will change the course of human history in the stars.</div>
</blockquote>
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18520859-titans'>http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18520859-titans</a>
 
 
For 3 worlders that can't get Google Play yet

mariner4life

I just finished the most harrowing WW2 book I have ever read, "Bloodlands" by Timothy Snyder. 
Unlike most books I read on the subject, this doesn't follow campaigns or battles or grand strategy. Instead, this is the story of the people caught between Stalin and Hitler, mainly the people of Poland, Belarus, and Ukraine. The actual front line fighting is only used as a frame of reference for what was happening behind the lines. 
Starting in the early 30s and the systematic murder of the Ukraine by organised famine, and Stalin's war on the Kulak; through the invasion and occupation of Poland by the Germans and the soviets; then the german invasion and occupation; through to the "liberation" of these countries by the soviets, and their new regime. 
I'm not normally one who likes a lot of numbers in my history books, it's normally a lazy way of telling a story. But in this case the numbers of people murdered are the story, and the writer uses them to great effect. When he is giving by day numbers of people shot it's hard to comprehend. 
It also sheds a lot of light on the Holocaust, particularly the time line, and how it evolved in Nazi policy as the tide of war turned. 
It's an interesting book. I wouldn't say I enjoyed it, but it was very interesting

Nepia

Bloodlands is a cracking book, as you say not enjoyable as such, but bloody interesting. The Eastern Front was nuts.

NTA

Makes you understand why they fucking hate each other around those parts so much, eh?
 
 
Anyway, back to the author of Titans who I highlighted above - Edward W Robinson I moved onto another free offering of his on Google Play, the first part of hisBreakers series, appropriately titled Breakers.
 
 
Basically describes the breakdown of society as a pandemic hits worldwide, with an interesting twist. Each novel in the series tells the story from the viewpoint of two protagonists, swapping between them each chapter. Its a very interesting style of writing that has tones of what he did in Titans.
 
Anyway, I read the free offering, then decided it was worth buying the trilogy for $3.85, then books 4, 5, and 6 for another $3.85 each. Have now read books 1-3 and am just warmed up on Book 4. Like it a lot.

mariner4life

My father in law, despite living for years under the soviet regime, and effectively escaping in the 80s, still fucking hates the Germans more. In fact, most Poles do, they fucking hate the Germans. In comparison, despite the awful shit done to them by the Russians, their feelings appear much more tempered (it's hardly love though)

NTA

I think that's probably a much older thing - Slavic races versus Goths.
 
My Dad's lot were from Silesia, sort of where Poland and Germany collide (it has changed hands with different empires and wars) and there was a lot of shit went down with Prussia before they moved out here in the 1800s, just before it became part of the German Empire.
 
Yet they still consider themselves German and my grandfather spoke German fluently, and only learned English when he started school.

Cactus Jack

I am just finishing Shogun . What an excellent book , would thoroughly recommend it to anyone .

mariner4life

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="485060" data-time="1428926374">
<div>
I think that's probably a much older thing - Slavic races versus Goths.
 
My Dad's lot were from Silesia, sort of where Poland and Germany collide (it has changed hands with different empires and wars) and there was a lot of shit went down with Prussia before they moved out here in the 1800s, just before it became part of the German Empire.
 
Yet they still consider themselves German and my grandfather spoke German fluently, and only learned English when he started school.
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</blockquote>
there have been some fucking fluid borders in that part of the world over the past couple of hundred years

booboo

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Cactus Jack" data-cid="485132" data-time="1428987884">
I am just finishing Shogun . What an excellent book , would thoroughly recommend it to anyone .</blockquote>
 
Can't help but think of Richard Chamberlain though ...

Rancid Schnitzel

Hmmmmm. One of my best mates at uni was Polish and he hated Russians far more than the Germans. I remember once going with him to a Polish club. Forgot that I had a German soccer shirt on. Was about to leave, but mate said it was ok. If Id worn a Russian shirt on the other hand....

mariner4life

Just finished Peter Hamilton's vast Nights Dawn trilogy. Holy fuck, that is one long fucking story. Too long really. He could easily have cut one book. And talk about a deus ex machina ending as well. 3,600 pages of story, and the whole thing is wrapped up in about 4. 
 
The Commonwealth Saga was much better, because it was only 2 books. This one was a bit of a chore to get through by the end

Kirwan

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="mariner4life" data-cid="492584" data-time="1432595485">Just finished Peter Hamilton's vast Nights Dawn trilogy. Holy fuck, that is one long fucking story. Too long really. He could easily have cut one book. And talk about a deus ex machina ending as well. 3,600 pages of story, and the whole thing is wrapped up in about 4. 
The Commonwealth Saga was much better, because it was only 2 books. This one was a bit of a chore to get through by the end</blockquote>
 
My favourite Hamilton book is still Fallen Dragon. Agree he can go a bit long, but I love his ideas.

mariner4life

yea, love his ideas, the story itself was very original, and very cool. He just ran with it a bit too much, and put in too many side stories. 
 
Haven't read Fallen Dragon, i'll give it a nudge.

Paekakboyz

Fallen Dragon is fucking awesome M4L. I didn't mind the length of the Nights Dawn trilogy but agree the end was a wee bit trite. In saying that any resolution in that kind of world/universe can't help but be a bit deus ex machina.
 
Get amongst Iain M Banks too if you like your sci-fi. RIP dude, what an imagination and a great writer.
 
We've finished up some reno work so all my books are returning from boxes to shelves etc. Doing a re-read as I go. On a Deathstalker series binge at the moment.

Kirwan

And another shout out to The Martian by Andy Weir. You'll want to read it before the movie comes out;
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://screenrant.com/martian-movie-images-damon-chastain-wiig/'>http://screenrant.com/martian-movie-images-damon-chastain-wiig/</a>
 
Looks like a good adaption, and with the screenplay by the show runner for Daredevil (which was very well written).

gollum

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Son-Philipp-Meyer/dp/0857209442'>http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Son-Philipp-Meyer/dp/0857209442</a>
 
The Son by Phillip Meyer.
 
I read American Rust a few years ago & it was really good, but not amazing, The Son is his second & its fantastic. Basically its a very gritty sort of "The Courtneys" by Wilbur Smith thing set during the indian wars as america was being established. So with Comnanches instread of Zulus. Really excellent. Same sort of feel as Dances With Wolves, Deadwood, Lonesome Dove etc.

Crucial

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Kirwan" data-cid="492719" data-time="1432684867">
<div>
And another shout out to The Martian by Andy Weir. You'll want to read it before the movie comes out;
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://screenrant.com/martian-movie-images-damon-chastain-wiig/'>http://screenrant.com/martian-movie-images-damon-chastain-wiig/</a>
 
Looks like a good adaption, and with the screenplay by the show runner for Daredevil (which was very well written).
</div>
</blockquote>
 
I'll take the recommendation regarding the book, but the thought a movie which is basically Matt Damon running through various emotions sounds too much like Judy Bailey reading the news.

Stockcar86

<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote">
 
Imagine the fantasy genre if Peake, not Tolkien, had become the megaseller.
</blockquote>
 
<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='

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gollum

<a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/06/bradley-coopers-hyperion-adaptation-heading-to-syfy.html'>http://www.flickeringmyth.com/2015/06/bradley-coopers-hyperion-adaptation-heading-to-syfy.html</a>
 
Theres a fairly hefty Sci Fi serving on here... Hyperion is being made into a TV series!
 
So thats good.
 
By Sci-Fi channel.. so, yeah.. less so.

The Silver Fern

TSF Book Club