Books

I'm reading "The Fort Bragg Cartel" by Seth Harp. It's about Delta Force and all the hidden criminal activity that goes on at the highest levels of the military. These guys are the most elite soldiers on Earth and they are constantly raping, murdering, boozing, doing drugs and selling drugs. And how the state spends a lot of money covering up their crimes. Also they're all racist and sexist.

It's a great book. Very well researched. Seth Harp is a former military turned investigative journalist. So he's the exact right person to write the book and he did a fantastic job.

I just finished reading a book called 'La crisis latente del Darwinismo' by Maurício Abdalla (which would be something like 'The Latent Crisis of Darwinism' in English). I loved this book so much. The author, who is a philosopher, explains the incompatibilities between the theory of evolution proposed by Darwin (and Neo-Darwinism) and recent scientific discoveries. He discusses alternative theories such as those suggested by Lynn Margulis or Máximo Sandín, which move away from competition as a key factor in evolution. Abdalla mentions how Darwinism was a theory molded by the ideology of its time: liberalism.

I'm currently reading Children of Ruin, I forgot some of the plot from the first entry, but the book puts you up to speed quick enough. I'll probably go for Heaven's Vault book 4 afterwards since it's finally out.

Currently reading On the Edge by Ruth Vanita, and as my current non-fiction I am listening to Care Work by Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha

Reading Project Hail Mary. I’m not really a reader and I bought this when I was drunk with friends. Had a flight coming and figured I might as well read it. I’m enjoying it.

At the moment I am reading the Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. It’s really fascinating so far, quite unorthodox in many ways. The story is Bulgakovs critique of soviet society, especially the literary and theatrical scene and the censorship thereof. A faustian devil comes to Moscow and starts punishing people for their corrupt choices. This is contrasted by a secondary plot that happens during the execution of Jesus in old Jerusalem. It’s narrated in the style of Skaz, pretty funny at times, at other times there are horror elements and there is always a lot of biting sarcasm. But the wildest choice to me has to be the arrangement of the characters. There are a lot of side characters and the titular main characters don’t show up until the story has been told for ~100/300 pages and even after that they don’t even show up on most pages.

Dungeon Crawler Carl book 8, A Parade of Horribles just came out last night and I started in on it. Even with a recap at the start it's hard to remember all the characters and what was going on with them.

Currently reading Slow Gods by Claire North and I'm really enjoying it so far (I'm about 25% in) - its a sci-fi which tackles many currently relevant questions like end-stage capitalism, gender identity and activism. Your uncle who calls everything woke would hate it.

Restarted dungeon crawler carl since book 8 just came out.

I just started Persepolis Rising, book 7 of The Expanse by James SA Corey after a several years long break after book 6 because I was worried about a big time jump that happens and wasn't sure how the story would go because that's when the TV series ended also. I also just finished the final 12 Dresden Files books since early April so it's fun to get into Space Sci-fi after a long fantasy kick.

Blindsight by Peter Watts

Really interesting take on a first contact story. Highly recommend.

Just started the second bobiverse book by Denis Taylor. They're a lot of fun.

Started reading Red Rising by Pierce Brown, so far it reads like a YA novel which I don't like, hopefully that changes as I read further

I finished Dragonsinger by Anne McCaffrey. I found it to be an easy and pleasant read. It left me wanting to experience more of the world. Good thing there's still a lot of Pern books for me to explore.

I'm almost done reading The Magicians by Lev Grossman. The pacing is odd and the main characters are insufferable, but I'm enjoying it immensely. I hope it's able to stick the landing and that the rest of the trilogy will be equally good.

Currently reading Children of Strife by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Book 4 in the series. Really good, but jumps around a lot. Certainly not one to read an hour a night. Really needed longer sessions to keep all the characters in my head 😁

I finished Esrahaddon and Drumindor to be up to date with Michael J Sullivan's books. Esrahaddon was one of my favourites to date and returning to Riyria in Drumindor was pretty good.

The "Scottish" speech of the dwarves drove me up the wall though. It was this weird mixture of Scottish, Irish and "nobody speaks like that anywhere" and reminded me of that one time I was in a gas station in Texas when the guy behind the counter asked me if I'm from Ireland (I'm from Scotland) and when I told him that he said knew someone from Glasgow and asked me if I knew them.

Anyhoo, next up was James Herbert's The Rats which after recommending to someone here I figured I should reread after 25 years or so. It's done and I'm on the 2nd book, Lair. The titular rats make for a wonderful horror antagonist and Herbert expertly stokes the tension before people get eaten.

I, Jedi by Micheal A Stockpole. Depending on which legends list you go by, it’s either before or after the Jedi Academy trilogy. I’m assuming it takes place in that time frame and a little further.

So I may be reading it out of order, but hey. Luke’s gone and petitioned for his academy, which chronologically already happened.

I’m finishing my reread (as a listen) of The Locked Tomb series with Nina The Ninth.

Balancing in there is a silly romance Apprentice to the Villan.

I’m reading (very slowly) the second Redwall book “Mossflower”

Almost done The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold. After flying through the first 15 "Penric & Desdemona" books over the last few weeks, this was a fitting follow-up.

It's quite good, though a bit darker in the middle than it started out. Only got 40 pages left, definitely finishing it today!

I'm currently listening to Of Blood and Fire by Ryan Cahill. It's ok. It's basically Eragon but a little bit darker. I've not finished it yet but currently it's hovering at a solid 6/10 ok but nothing special. It's a very generic fantasy, I'm interested enough to finish it and probably read some more depending on how good the ending is. I've heard the other books in the series get better.

Yesterday I finished A Farewell to Arms. It's not my favorite Hemingway but it still has the harsh beauty of his I enjoy. The final chapter is especially real and hard to read.

I just found out about the bingo game yesterday and this one checks off the dead author plus hard mode so maybe I'll keep the game going!

Started Red Rising by Pierce Brown, I know it's a popular series but so far it reads like a YA novel, I'm hoping that changes as I keep reading, cause the YA stuff is boring and predictable

Book of Night by Holly Black. I'm not sure how I feel about it, despite being nearly halfway through it.

I'm reading The Devil's Elixirs by E. T. A. Hoffmann. Published in 1815, it's a weird gothic horror story about a fallen monk. It's surprisingly psychologically astute, but I have no idea where it's going to go from here. I like it. It's available on Project Gutenberg if you're interested.

Today I’m finishing up Chaos Vector by Megan E. O’Keefe. 2 books in and I really like it. Lots of space opera fun. I’m excited to see where it’s going to go in the third book. There was a pretty big reveal in the middle of this book and it’s keeping me hooked.

After I finish, I’m going to read Diary of a Wimpy Kid. 17, Diper Överlöde since my hold became available from the library. I don’t want to keep some kid waiting, so I’ll get that one done quick. I’ve been reading these since they seem popular with kids and I was curious what kids read these days. When I was a kid it was all about Goosebumps, Animorphs, and His Dark Materials for me.

I will definitely take recommendations on recent scifi stuff kids read if anyone has any.

Who let him cultivate immortallity? : https://www.novelupdates.com/series/who-let-him-cultivate-immortality/

It's a parody/satire of all of the tropes common in Cultivation/Xianxia, and it's making me laugh a lot. Though, I think it will be more amusing if you are already familiar with lots of the tropes.

It took me 4 months of heavy (like every day reading t least 2 hours a day) to get 10% of the way done with the Wandering inn. God damn is this a huge series.

Im about to get the new Dungeon Crawler Carl book today woo!! Ill be switching for a while there.

Atrocity engine by Tim waggoner. I just picked it at random from the library and starting It i thought this is going to be such a shit book the author is so over the top. But now im near the end and it was a really fun read and I love the over the top writing. Im looking for the next book in the series

Been trying to get through super Communicators by Charles Duhigg for ages. Don't get the time to read much. And the book is also padded out with a lot of chaff. It is interesting though.

https://bookshop.org/p/books/harlem-shuffle-a-novel-colson-whitehead/d5174b9b66fe68f0

Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead.

It's funny, informative, exciting, and not like any other book you've read.

A Harlem businessman has to do a little fencing to keep his furniture store open. He's a good family man who just wants to serve the community by selling good products at a reasonable price. Too bad he has to manage crooks, corrupt cops, and other problems.

All tomorrow's parties by William Gibson.

Currently reading Jade War by Fonda Lee!

Last two weeks I finished Ken Macleods' "Newton's wake". An okay book but not a page turner for me. Decided to re-read the bobiverse books after that, I figured it was time since there's an upcoming new book. I realised later that the new book will be released as an audiobook first... Currently halfway through number four "Heaven's river". The book are still great reading them for a second time.

Currently reading two: Neuromancer (mentioned last week, still enjoying it) and Infinite Jest. The latter I had on hold at the library and it finally came to me, and wow have I got my work cut out for a bit.

Currently listening to: Minor Feelings by Kathy Park Hong. Mentioned the author as I don’t think it’s as well known as the other two. Very good so far, as I love me a good memoir with a sociology/psychology perspective and critique.

Just started The Lost Queen by Signe Pike. After reading The Bright Sword a few months ago I'm jonesing for more Arthurian-legend-inspired fiction, to use as my own inspiration for a ttrpg setting.