(Image from Laughing Squid)
Increased stress at work (move planning and new computer system implementation) have, not surprisingly, left me feeling more tired than usual. I have been combating that fatigue with reading, a renewed addiction to Fallout: New Vegas, and a voracious appetite for episodes of 30 Rock that I hadn’t watched…but not with blogging. I have several book reviews to catch up on, but in the meantime…
Neither icy rain nor falling snow could stop the intrepid postal workers from delivery goodies ordered from Amazon and Ebay. Nor could it stop me from driving to the local chain bookstores to use their irresistible discount coupons!
And so, here are the books that have found their way inside my home over the past few weeks:
Foundation and Empire ~Isaac Asimov
Foundation and Earth ~Isaac Asimov
My recent review of the Michael Whelan art book left me with a craving to pick up copies of paperbacks that I wanted to add to my collection. A visit to ebay netted these two Asimov books. I have read Foundation and Empire as part of the original Foundation trilogy, but have yet to read Foundation’s Edge (which I already own with the Whelan cover), and this copy of Foundation and Earth.
Glory Road ~Robert A. Heinlein
A few weeks ago my good friend Jeff arrived with this unexpected gift. He had run across several copies of this Heinlein fantasy in hardback at the local Half Price Books and snagged me a copy. Thank you Jeff!
Leviathans of Jupiter ~Ben Bova
A recent mail drop brought this from Tor Books, Bova’s latest, a sequel to his novel Jupiter. Other than a short story or two, I have yet to truly sample Ben Bova’s work. For the past few years this has been an unrealized goal and I hope to correct that sometime soon.
The History of the Lord of the Rings ~Christopher Tolkien
This 4 book boxed set includes: The Return of the Shadow, The Treason of Isengard (which has long been a favorite book title of mine…not sure why but it has a ring to it, pardon the pun), The War of the Ring, and The End of the Third Age. What I lack in years of experience being a Tolkien fan, I have made up for in my slow but steady obsession with reading books about the man and his creations. I have wanted to own these for some time and finally broke down and gifted myself with them recently when Amazon lowered the price to one that was, for me, too tempting to pass up.
The House of Discarded Dreams ~Ekaterina Sedia
I am stocking up for the Once Upon a Time Challenge, and couldn’t resist Sedia’s newest, which sounds like a bizarre blending of genres. I have enjoyed her work in the past and look forward to experiencing her newest book.
Ex-Kop ~Warren Hammond
I read Hammond’s first novel, Kop, a few years back (review here) and found it to be a fast-paced, gritty crime noir fitted comfortably in a science fictional universe. The sequel has been on my want list for a long time. When I ordered the LOTR boxed set the other day I made sure to include the hardback of this as well. At $7.98 I couldn’t consider passing it up.
The Dervish House ~Ian McDonald
Ian McDonald was added to my list of must-read authors last year when I read Pyr’s re-release of his novel, Desolation Road, and his fascinating short story collection, Cyberabad Days. This novel is on the lips of everyone speaking about upcoming awards and I hope to read it before the awards are actually handed out this year. The multiple characters with story lines converging over the course of a few days sounds very interesting, and I know from Desolation Road that McDonald can deftly weave many characters together into something truly unforgettable.
The Windup Girl ~Paolo Bacigalupi
I have enjoyed the handful of short stories that I have read by Bacigalupi, was bowled over by Ship Breaker, and became an even bigger fan after reading this interview with the man. Despite its alleged dark tone, I decided it was high time I experienced the book that has won him multiple of the genre’s most prestigious awards.
A Red Herring Without Mustard ~Alan Bradley
My adoration for Bradley’s 11 year old heroine, Flavia de Luce, is something I have not been subtle about in the pages of this blog. I have been anxiously awaiting her third adventure for the past several months and I rushed out yesterday and snagged a copy from the bookstore. It probably won’t surprise anyone that I cranked through nearly 100 pages of it last night. Its another good one thus far.
All in all I am happy with the newest members of my book family. Now to get those new bookshelves built!
some exciting reads here. envy you your start on the latest Flavia story.. thinking i am going to have to go visit the bookstore rather than wait in line at the library.
will also be adding the Sedia and McDonald novels to the tbr pile.
~L
Enjoy all your new books! They all look good, but that’s just because I am almost as nerdy as you. 🙂
I have A Red Herring without Mustard on it’s way to me at the library. I requested it as soon as i saw it was available to be requested, which was great as i got in early on the list. I can’t wait!
Melanie: Cool! One of the benefits of waiting so long to read the second book was that the wait for this one was really short. It’s going to be sad to be done with it soon and have to start that waiting game again.
Kailana: Nerdy?!?! You know me so well.
L: The library does help the pocketbook, that is for sure. Unfortunately there were several of these my library didn’t have. Or fortunately, depending on how you look at it. 😉
I can’t wait to see what you think of The Dervish House and The Windup Girl, two of my favorites from last year. And I hadn’t thought of reading The House of Discarded Dreams for OUAT, what a great idea!
Gavin: I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed them both. I have high hopes for them. And for House of Discarded Dreams, for that matter.
Everybody seems to really like Paolo Bacigalupi but I haven’t read anything by the guy… Great interview, it really seems like I ought to get cracking!
I know what you mean about Tolkein. I’m not a devoted fan, I haven’t read all the books (though eventually I probably will…), but I really like trying to understand Tolkein and reading about him.
“I see” said the blind man…
so.. when is your dad coming over to build MORE books shelves?? *snort*
Deslily: He is actually just waiting on me right now. I haven’t finalized my plans. Soon.
Biblio: I cannot recommend Ship Breaker highly enough. Really good stuff.
I ordered ‘Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie’ from PBSwap and imagine my surprise when I opened the package and it was a signed edition, SCORE!!! Less than six bucks, can’t beat that with a stick. ^_^
gonna have to add the Sedia book to my list, looks intriguing.
sgist: Score indeed! How cool! That was a surprise bonus. I hope now that you love the book! I hope the Sedia book is good. I liked The Alchemy of Stone a great deal.
One of the first SF books I ever read was Ben Bova’s THE STAR CONQUERORS in the Winston SF series. I have the sequel around here somewhere. I pick up Bova books at library sales (I have JUPITER). If you like LEVIATHANS OF JUPITER I look for a copy of that, too.
Happy Valentine’s Day to your and your wife, Carl.
I really liked Bova’s TO SVE THE SUN and it’s sequel. That might be another place to start reading his work.
sgist: you got that book from PB Swap? I’m still well over 100 on the waiting list. But then, why did you have to pay $6?
Okay, try again. Yesterday’s comment never made it…
Happy Valentine’s Day to you and your wife, Carl (now a day belated).
I really liked Bova’s TO SAVE THE SUN and it’s sequel, you might try starting with those. Mature works but not part of a larger series, just the 2 books. Good characterization and plot.
That is one very pretty haul indeed. I loved The Windup Girl and thanks to your review of Shipbreaker bought the hardback of that book too. It is dark and its a toss up whether you find the ending hopeful or not, but I found it a gorgeous aesthetic experience of a read. So pretty in its twisted way (except in the places of great human suffering, there it’s not darkly pretty at all).
Heyla Richard, It was offered in the PBSMarket. So it was $3 something + a credit + postage for a new/overstock book.
sgist -thanks, now I understand. I may go that route, or wait… not sure. I do have lots of other books, unread, waiting.
RkR: Thanks for the Bova recommendations. He has written so much that part of my intimidation, if that is the right word, in starting him is wanting to have a good first experience and not knowing in which book that might be found.
Jodie: Glad you bought Ship Breaker. It was just nominated for the Andre Norton award for YA literature in the Nebula nominations. Fingers crossed. I’m sure I will enjoy Windup Girl despite its darkness.
George Kelley: I love those Winston series, at least the pictures of them I’ve seen online. Those are books I would love to add to my collection someday.