To Read or Not to Read

To read lists are something  I have kept for decades, what at one time was a small notebook I carried with me, that later became a spreadsheet, and now an extensive list online.  
There are many options out there to track your books and reading adventures,  goodreads, LibraryThing, MyBookTracker, Shelfari,  are just a few. For more information read Tracking the Books in Your Library  by GeekDad to read reviews and overviews of  the different options available.

I still carry my notebook, now though this is more a list of  books I want  to add to my book shelves, or books out of print where I am missing some in a series.  Though I have been using GoodReads since 2009 to track, review and locate books I want to read.

In looking at my goodreads to Read list I have 2490 books that I want to read. 
I average reading around 200 + books a year so if I never add another book it will take me 12 years to finish reading what I already want to read... Which is not bad and an achievable goal.
But then I started to dig deeper ...  
Between finding new authors or books I want to read, and new books published each year, or wanting to re-read books that I read decades ago, or those I re-read before a new book is released in a series.
 I have averaged adding 600 new books to read to this list  each year. (and I usually only add the first book in any series I have not read yet) This number is trending down as I go so I am going to base it on 400 new finds to add each year . With reading 200 a year, that means each year I add 1 year to the time it will take to read them all...    

I now know that I have the following options:

1. Double or triple the number of books I read each year. (who needs to work or sleep? when you can read?)
2. Stop expanding the number of topics, genre's new authors I want to read. (Really this is too depressing to even consider)
3. Give up its hopeless, and just realize that this bucket list will never be completed before I die.

Book Review: Naked City: Tales of Urban Fantasy by Ellen Datlow

Naked City: Tales of Urban Fantasy (Riverside Series) by Ellen Datlow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It is always difficult to give a rating to an anthology. The editor Ellen Datlow has again pulled together an excellent anthology.
I found Naked City to be a well balanced collection, with individual stories ranging from 3 to 5 stars.

It is a strong collection all of the stories adhere to the theme of the truly urban, urban fantasy, so it feels like they all belong in this collection, that no story is there just as filler or just for the name of the author.

There are stories from a good mix of authors with some that are well known, some I had heard of but not read, and some unknown to me.

One of the reasons I read anthologies, is to read new authors and to expand my reading into other genre's and sub-genre's. The theme of the city allowed this anthology to within a tight framework cross the sub-genre's of Urban fantasy.

I have added some new authors to my to read list; remembered that not all vampire stories are paranormal romance, and that there are a couple authors and series that I need to get back too.


Edited by Ellen Datlow web site: http://www.datlow.com/

Curses By Jim Butcher 
How The Pooka Came To New York City By Delia Sherman 
On The Slide By Richard Bowes 
The Duke Of Riverside By Ellen Kushner 
Oblivion By Calvin Klein By Christopher Fowler 
Fairy Gifts By Patricia Briggs 
Picking Up The Pieces By Pat Cadigan 
Underbridge By Peter S. Beagle 
Priced To Sell By Naomi Novik 
The Bricks Of Gelecek By Matthew Kressel 
Weston Walks By Kit Reed 
The Projected Girl By Lavie Tidhar 
The Way Station By Nathan Ballingrud 
Guns For The Dead By Melissa Marr 
And Go Like This By John Crowley 
Noble Rot By Holly Black 
Daddy Longlegs Of The Evening By Jeffrey Ford 
The Skinny Girl By Lucius Shepard 
The Colliers’ Venus (1893) By Caitlín R. Kiernan 
King Pole, Gallows Pole, Bottle Tree By Elizabeth Bear

Paul and Storm: "Write Like the (Name of the) Wind"

Worldbuilders 
 50,000 Paul & Storm Mock Pat.  stretch goal achieved!
This amazing song was written  after reaching one of the stretch goal for the awesome Worldbuilders fundraiser.
If you have not checked out this amazing fundraiser please do!

see more video's  here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/WorldbuildersInc?feature=watch

Book Review: How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea by Mira Grant

How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea by Mira Grant
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Though this novella could stand alone I recommend that it be read only after reading the entire trilogy, since there are key spoilers to the trilogy and much that would not be understood as well without the background.

In this Newsflesh Novella set a few years after the ending of the main Newsflesh Trilogy Mira Grant takes her world building and examination of the evolution of society after the apocalypse to Australia. Where the difference in cultural attitudes present a different evolution of the post-apocalyptic society.

In many ways once again Grant has used her location more as a stage. Forget the zombies, forget the apocalypse or even that this is in Australia and this is an examination on a possible evolution of society between 'civilization' and wilderness; and the different survival mentalities when fear is not the controlling factor.

Mahir's reactions and fears in this wild environment are similar to reactions you might get if you were to take anyone raised exclusively in suburban or urban area's separate from nature environment and take them into the remaining true wilderness areas that exist today. Grant in true science fiction fashion pulls from many of today's environmental debates, controversies and challenges and examines them in her fantastic world.

This novella is a fun read for anyone wanting just a little more of the NewsFlesh world, but the story really does not feel like a full Novella, but more of an extended intro to a new book or series, there was no resolution, more questions were asked and issues raised than answered.

Visit the authors website: http://miragrant.com/index.php

How Green This Land, How Blue This Sea

by Mira Grant

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Book Review: Feed by Mira Grant

Feed by Mira Grant
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Feed is the first book in the award winning zombie apocalypse Newsflesh Trilogy by Mira Grant, pseudonym for New York Times bestselling author Seanan McGuire.

Though Feed is basically a near future zombie apocalypse book, it is not really a story about zombies. The zombie apocalypse is just the stage that Mira Grant has set through believable and fantastic worldbulding. This is a story of the evolution of society. This is a biological terror thriller, and a story of humanity both at our best and our worst.

With a seamless twining of cultural, historical and scientific accuracy, in an eerily realistic evolution of society this Science Fiction story depicts an all too real view of human nature. Drawing from all aspects of science, historical events; and current societal trends and issues Grant in true science fiction fashion asks whats next? and what if?

Unlike some thriller, apocalyptic or dystopian stories in Feed Grant avoids the often narrow or flat apocalyptic world by not focusing on any one thing but an intricately woven tapestry with direct connections to society and issues today.
From the loss freedoms of a post 911 world, and the politics of fear. To the changing roles of Network News Media, Bloggers and the internet and the information privacy wars. Throw in a little bit of the threats of corporate and governmental powers, corruption and greed, and the scary stuff that is coming out of true scientific 'advances' today. When you add all of that to a well developed plot, likable developed characters and the obvious research and attention to worldbuilding, you get a great story!

The only flaws I was able to see was that I would have liked to have seen more character growth over time, and a little less info dumping, though the use of blogging and news dumps to accomplish this was done extremely well, and since the main protagonists were news bloggers I am not sure how you can really avoid the show and don't tell.

I highly recommend this book (and series) to anyone looking for an intelligent biological/conspiracy/science thriller or an apocalyptic science fiction.

If you are looking for a standard Zombie Apocalypse or typical horror movie zombies you maybe disappointed, because Feed is much much more than that.

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Prayers in a Song by Tall Paul

Prayers in a Song | Tall Paul

Published on Nov 13, 2012 Free MP3 download: http://theways.org/story/prayers-in-a-song

 Follow http://twitter.com/thewaysorg

Book Review: Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch

Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What happens when you take a great urban fantasy story, mix in a bit of religious satire and add two of the best authors today? You get a book that is witty,thought provoking, humorous, brilliant and engaging.

Good Omens is full of biting satire, outright one-liners and subtle wit. Pratchett and gaiman, manage to weave the humor in a way that they never overpower or lose the thread of the story.

Pratchett and gaiman, manage yo follow all of the standard tropes, and archetypes of the battle of Good and Evil, all the while poking fun at it at the same time. With a list of typical urban fantasy characters, a witch, an angel, and a a demon. A common theme of the inevitable apocalypse

The difference is that while typical they have created characters and a plot that are parodies and yet engaging, interesting and well developed.



Links:
Neil Gaiman
Terry Pratchett


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Book Review: New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear

New Amsterdam by Elizabeth Bear

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Reminiscent of the shorter stories of Sherlock Holmes, each chapter is a separate mystery. Unfortunately the book misses the mark.

Elizabeth Bear has mixed and crossed many genre lines in this book. Including: Detective Mystery, Romance, Paranormal, Alternate Histry, fantasy, and Steampunk, but does not invoke any of them enough to have the world building add to the stories.

The main characters, a poly-amorous 1000 + year old vampire detective, Sebastien de Ulloa, and forensic sorceress Lady Abigail Irene Garrett; are interesting concepts, and could heave been great, but the format of the book limits the depth that may have been possible in a cohesive story-line. We are told too much of them and not actually shown any of the traits that would make the protagonists real or truly interesting.
As for the mysteries and antagonists, we have nothing that makes us care about them or want to know bad enough to keep turning pages.

One of the few series I have started and have no real desire to read the next book. I do not think this review has any bearing on any of Bear's other series or works, there are many others that I have loved, this one just did not appeal to me.

Book Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch

Gentleman Bastard series Book 1

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A fresh perspective in a fantasy novel, with a pace that pulls you in and pushed you on. The characters are rich and well developed, and intriguing. A fantasy built on city world building combining the best of fantasy and urban fantasy for believable and fascinating worldbuilding.

Unfortunately I found it difficult at first to move past the language used in the book initially it was jarring and pulled me out of the story. Though I am very glad I was able to move beyond this as I feel this is one of the best fantasy series written

I received this book for free from the GoodReads First Reads Program in exchange for an honest review. After receiving the free copy I re-read the book. I think I enjoyed the book even more on a second read through.

With a second reading I was less distracted by the language and the sheer newness of the world and was able to really enjoy and appreciate the gritty and in depth world that Scott Lynch created.


Details:

Series: Gentleman Bastard Book 1
Published July 27th 2006 by Bantam Spectra

Awards:
World Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel (2007) 

Compton Crook Award Nominee (2007)

British Fantasy Award Nominee for Best Novel (2007)

Tähtifantasia Award Nominee (2008)

Links:
Visit authors website: http://www.scottlynch.us/index.html
Authors Blog: http://www.scottlynch.us/blog/