What are YOU Reading?? [Archive] - The Warring States of NPF

KefkaTaran

07-20-2004, 03:11 AM

So the General Forums have been pretty, erm, unsanitary lately. Anyways, perhaps in part because of this I felt the need to step in and start up a nice little topic for everyone.

What books and/or websites have you been reading lately?

My list:

"No Exit and Three Other Plays" by Jean-Paul Sartre -- A close friend of mine has been recommending this for a while, and I've been meaning to finally read some Sartre for a LOOONG time. I'm about 1/3rd through the book and enjoying it lots. "No Exit" is certainly one of the best plays I've ever read.

"Cryptonomicon" by Neal Stephenson -- Another book/author I've been meaning to get into for some time. I actually just picked this up from the library and have only barely cracked it open as of yet, but I think once I do I'm going to end up flying right through it.

www.zug.com -- The Internet's ONLY humor site!! How can you go wrong with that? If anyone reading this is unaware of the amazing writing skill/humor of John Hargrave, then by all means go there! Educate yourself. This is one large bit of reading you'll never regret... Now if only I could find old episodes of Computer Stew. :(

Also: my LiveJournal! Recommended reading for all (check my signature for a link). Anyone else here use LJ and if so, pimp that 's'. I'll add you to my friends list.

Side note: Yes, my LJ is ridiculously emo, but it's NOT like most 'whine about my life and post song lyrics/bad poetry' LiveJournals. This journal is meant specifically to exercise my writing skills by turning events from my real life into stories. The things I write about are, often times, only loosely based in reality. Anyways, leave some messages if you do check it out, I'd love to hear opinions.

Lockeownzj00

07-20-2004, 03:35 AM

Alright, in no particular order:

Kinki Japanese - A Guide to Kansai-ben (no, KINKI, a region in japan!)

Dude, Where's My Country? (Michael Moore)

Several religious texts from several different religions (thank you ebooks!)

And tons more...lectures...history...wow. Ebooks and audiobook mp3 collecting on soulseek is a gold mine of knowledge.

Peo

07-20-2004, 03:39 AM

Im currently reading Sherlock Holmes "A study in scarlet."

Though, for you fantasy fans out there, i suggest a series i just finished reading,well,two series that are related. The "farseer" and "The tawny man" trilogies. The author is a fellow Washingtonian by the name of Robin Hobb.

Otaku Son

07-20-2004, 03:42 AM

synkr0nized

07-20-2004, 03:47 AM

Data from my research (Freeze Tag Problem and Genetic Algorithms).
Articles pertaining to my current research (see above) and future research (communication levels, heirarchy, and methods in OSS communities).

The Harry Potter series, as I recently borrowed books one through five. I need to finish four and five. I spent a day on the first three and haven't gotten back to them for nearly a week.

Buttlord GT (http://www.atomictoy.org/comics/buttlordgt/buttlordgt.html), a webcomic of sorts that parodies Dragonball and its variations. I like to read this thring through, start to finish, after I have been away from it for several months.

Trigun and Trigun Maximum.

I'll likely have more time to read come a week from now, when I am done with research.

Thaumaturge

07-20-2004, 03:47 AM

I'm currently re-reading Tales of the Dying Earth, by Jack Vance (released as a single-volume collection in the masterworks series). It's classic fantasy, set in the dying decades of Earth. If you can ignore some of the incorrect science (such as the fate of our sun), then it's one of the best fantasy stories out there.

Despite the sci-fi-like setting, the stories are definitely fantasy, set in a future devoid of almost all technology, but with powerful magics. Under the red light of the dying sun, strange creatures seek human prey, and magicians create life in vats. If you like fantasy, this is one that you shouldn't miss.

On the web, I've been going to a great many sites, but these are my two favourites for news: New Scientist (www.newscientist.com), Fortean Times (www.forteantimes.com) (you have to love the news that they pick up :D)

BMHadoken

07-20-2004, 07:19 AM

Right now I'm reading posts about what a few other people are reading.

I seem to recall a thread like this existing before, but whatever.

I'm currently engaged in the Love Hina manga series. From there, I'm not sure where I'll go.

I'm also polishing my Japanese reading skills by reading some H-doujin.
I made one a few weeks ago, but it got to 60 posts and Mash closed it. She said there could be a new one, I was just too lazy.

Well, I finally finished Dark Tower 6, and it makes me mad that DT 7 will be King's last book.

Finished Fahrenheit 451 too. I liked it.

Now I'm starting on Dave Barry hits below the Beltway. It's Dave Barry uncut on Washington and politics. The wild prehistoric zuchini run rampant.

(Also, Kefka, that approach to a livejournal sounds...very familiar. (http://www.livejournal.com/userinfo.bml?user=108) )

EVILNess

07-20-2004, 07:31 AM

I just finished the entire Sword of Truth series again. I am currently reading several novelizations of movies like X-men 2 and AVP. Its amazing how drasticll the ending is in the novelization of X-men 2. Its sad how its an even more satisfying end than the movie.

I'm trying to read the Wheel of time books but am having a hard time.

hawkboy204

07-20-2004, 07:47 AM

I just finished reading the first book in the Wheele of Time serise, and it was really good, though in some points it seemed a little repetative. Now im reading Neuromancer, but i haven't had much time to read.

Slackbot

07-20-2004, 08:09 AM

I'm a speed reader, so my book list changes from day to day.

The books I have in my purse to read during the bus commute: "Outlaw World" by Edmond Hamilton (a wonderfully cheesy author) and "Gateway" by Frederik Pohl (an author I've been meaning to try for a while). At home I'm reading "Bingo" by Rita Mae Brown (an author I've recently gotten to like quite a lot) and rereading my collection of "Futaba-Kun Change" (yeah, manga.)

Meister

07-20-2004, 08:19 AM

Good choice in Cryptonomicon, Kefka. Neal Stephenson must be one of the best contemporary authors.

I myself have been getting into comics over the past half year or so and haven't read much else since. Hey, I got catching up to do. So what I read/have read is:

Preacher (not yet finished)
Watchmen
Sandman (not yet finished/barely begun)
Lenore

Then of course my beloved list of webcomics...

8-Bit Theatre
Bob and George
Sluggy Freelance
8 Easy Bits
VG Cats
Something Positive
Walking Is Still Honest
The Villain
Not Metal Gear
The Order of the Stick
White Ninja Comics

... listed simply because I regard all of that literature in some way and to some extent.
Websites I read regularly or have read the archives of:

WrestleCrap
Something Awful
Encyclopedia Obscura
Seanbaby
I-Mockery
Retrocrush

I'll probably edit this some time later and insert links...

darkt0aster

07-20-2004, 08:48 AM

Vampire Chronicles vol 1 (Interview with a Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, and Queen of the Damned) -- just started into the third one.

Monty Python's Flying Circus - All the words vol 1 & 2 :D

Newest issue of PC Gamer Magazine

Toastburner B

07-20-2004, 09:09 AM

Currently, I am reading The Andrmeda Strain by Michael Crichton, after which I'm going to read Patriot Games by Tom Clancy.

Taking a little break from Sci-fi.

What I would really like to read is the novella "Who Goes There?" By Campbell. It's the story that the movies "The Thing From Another World" (black and white, can't remember the year), and John Capenter's "The Thing" (1980something) are based on.

Of course, the library doesn't have it. ::sigh:: Oh, well...there's always hope I guess.

Living Bobbeh

07-20-2004, 10:30 AM

I've been reading "The colour of magic" by terry Pratchet Before the school wanted it back. Been reading my PS2 mag a lot aswell

h4x.m4g3

07-20-2004, 11:05 AM

I'm taking a break from the Ultimate Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy to catch up on some books I had been meaning to read I, Robot, AVP, and Justice League of America.

KefkaTaran

07-20-2004, 11:18 AM

Locke: I think I'll have to check out that EBooks. Sounds cool.

Peo: I have a couple friends who are huge Robin Hobbs fans. I think I have a couple Hobbs books sitting around myself. Might need to check them out.

Otaku: That's the best part about a what are you reading thread... you can do one every month (or even every couple weeks) and it's ALWAYS going to change. Especially in a forum like this where so many of the people are fairly into reading.

Thaumaturge: "Tales of the Dying Earth" is one of the many on my least of stuff I still need to check out. Adding those websites to the list also. Heh.

BM: I have a couple Dave Barry books I've ready. I'm pretty 'into' him. As for the LJ thing... well, I've stated before that MUCH of my writing is certainly INSPIRED by Tim... but my journal's not really much like his is it? Besides, my stories are still a LITTLE more reality-based than it seems most of his are. Heh.

Ness: My girlfriend is currently on the second book of and addicted to the Sword of Truth series. Her and I are both huge Wheel of Time fans. Problem is we really need to re-read them before we read any new ones.

Meister: I have heard LOTS of good about Stephenson. Definitely looking forward to diving into his stuff, like I said.

Darktoaster: I might need to pick up those Vampire Chronicle books. I've read the first already, definitely interested in reading the others.

Toastburner: I've read quite a bit of Michael Crichton back in high school. Good stuff. As for the library issue, just wait till you're in college. I swear my college library (a small one at that) has everything I could ever imagine wanting to read.

Psymon: I'm a huge Pratchet fan. ALSO... a huge fan of PS2 mags.

Iced Earth

07-20-2004, 11:25 AM

I am not reading anything at the moment but I just ordered this book The Last Thane (Dragonlance Chaos Wars, Vol. 1) and when it arrives in about a week I will be reading that.

KefkaTaran

07-20-2004, 11:27 AM

Iced Earth: HUGE Dragonlance fan here. Not sure what it is about that series, but I always, always adore reading the books in the main series at least.

Deathosaurus Wrecks

07-20-2004, 11:38 AM

a long time ago i picked up Dune, but never got around to reading it. since i just finished Johnny Get His Gun, i started on Dune. yes, i can see what all the hub-bub was about. after i finish with that, i've got re-start Mystic River because i read halfway into it and then stopped for about half a year. thats assuming i can find the damn book in the bomb crater that is my room.

-edit-
oh yeah, i recently read book #10 of Transmetropolitan, which was fucking fantastic.

Stover

07-20-2004, 11:52 AM

Shiny Bunny Captain Socha

07-20-2004, 11:57 AM

www.zug.com -- The Internet's ONLY humor site!! How can you go wrong with that? If anyone reading this is unaware of the amazing writing skill/humor of John Hargrave, then by all means go there! Educate yourself. This is one large bit of reading you'll never regret... Now if only I could find old episodes of Computer Stew. :(

I just checked the site out, cuz I'm always up for new humor, and I cannot believe some of the crazy stuff that guy has there. I thought a couple of the articles were going to give me seizures I was laughing so hard. Awesome Site!

Currently, I am trying to read through the whole LOtR series,one after the other, for the first time. I've read them all but with large gaps between them. Then I am going to tackle the Silmarilion. After that, I am going to try to read through all the Hitchhiker's Guide books. I started the first book a couple of years ago, but got to busy and didn't finish.

BMHadoken

07-20-2004, 12:08 PM

Lets see, what I plan on reading:

Dirk Gently's Hollistic Detective Agency, The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul (Douglas Adams)

Tinker Taylor Soldier Spy (John le Carre)

I, Robot (Isaac Asimov)

The problem is that I have no money. And I refuse to go to the library to rent non-school books (join the revolution with me!). So I'm stuck re-reading various stuff.
People, don't pay for books. B&N (Barnes and Noble) is the stupidest company in the world, they have some of the comfiest chairs ever IN THE STORE. Its like they want you to read their books instead of giving them money.

And I read your thing Kefka and its a lot different. Tim's is just crazy. One entry a realistic look back at his 'homless life' (I have a gut feeling this is one of his elaborate lies, like the fact that his name ISN'T Tim Rogers), the next a fanfiction about Scabbers havin rat sex, a rant against Avril Lavigne...a good diversion if the boards are slow if anything else.

Lockeownzj00

07-20-2004, 01:41 PM

Kefka: My god, you don't even know the half of it. If you just saw PICTURES of my books directory you'd be frothing at the mouth. Every useful piece of information and more, ever.

Living Bobbeh

07-20-2004, 01:48 PM

KefkaTaran: (if your in england) What Ps2 mags you read? I only really read "Officail Playstation2" mag, The others don't have playable demos and they all seam boring compaired to OPS2

Mr. Wind-Up Bird

07-20-2004, 01:58 PM

I downloaded and read all of Transmetropolitan and all of you should read it.

I'm also reading The Great Shark Hunt by Hunter Thompson.

Stephanos

07-20-2004, 02:07 PM

I just finished this afternoon soul music by Terry Prachet. Not one of his best works but very injoyable and anything that has death riding a motor bike with a leather jacket gets my vote.

slightly aboveaverage man

07-20-2004, 02:14 PM

I'm nearly finished reading "The Prince." by Niccolo Machiavelli.

Very interesting indeed...

But the books I tend to gravitate towards are of the Sci-fi variety... Specifically Star Wars.

Rock on Timothy Zahn!

Atma

07-20-2004, 02:43 PM

I'm reading Timeline by Michael Chrichton. Though I haven't found much time to read since I just bought a new video game.

Jonsgirl

07-20-2004, 02:45 PM

Right now, I'm on book 2 of the Dark Tower series, by King. Other than that I'm waiting on my amazon order to get here. Since it's only four books, that'll only last me a couple of weeks.
It's really hard to get books out here. :(

RaiRai

07-20-2004, 03:17 PM

RaiRai's list:

Ragnarok Online Tokyo Pop Graphic Novels: Phew. There's a mouthful. I much prefer actually playing the game and look forward to my Ragnarok Online roleplay which I should get running at Avariel. Though the artwork is cute, the character names are laughable.

I'm not actually reading any books at the moment. I kind've get bored too easily, because all of the books I've read either have really bad endings or I can't find the next in the series. I'm looking to buy 'In the Net of Dreams' by Wm. Mark Simmons. I read 'When Dreams Collide' and loved it.

I should really start back on my own fantasy stories. I've had them lurking around for many years now, a whole series of books regarding the elements. Some longer than others, some nothing more than a title. But I really need to get into the right state of mind again to begin writing.

LiveJournal (www.livejournal.com/users/_rairai_)

And there we have it.

Muffin Mage

07-20-2004, 03:50 PM

Hmm... right now, I'm supposed to be reading a bunch of books for AP classes next year. Arrg! They bore me!

As far as recommendations, I'll say Catch-22 and The Caine Mutiny. Both are teh awesome!

pochercoaster

07-20-2004, 06:31 PM

I haven't seriously read anything lately, but I've been flipping through Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain (which I highly recommend to anyone interested in drawing), and I finished The House of All Sorts by Emily Carr the other day (which I also recommend if you want a quick read).

Another recent one is Tales of Spells and Enchantment compiled by Jack Zipes, which is a collection of classic western fairy tales. I didn't read much of it but it's pretty good and I also recommend it (and anything by Jack Zipes, he makes excellent books.)

Other than that I've just been trying to find Snowalker and the 4th Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy book (I only have the first, second, third, and fifth ones- argh!)

Stover

07-20-2004, 07:35 PM

People, don't pay for books. B&N (Barnes and Noble) is the stupidest company in the world, they have some of the comfiest chairs ever IN THE STORE. Its like they want you to read their books instead of giving them money.

Read the books in the store? Sorry, I usually don't have two to five hours to blow in one stretch. And the real reason I don't go to the library is that they invariably make me pay for the book anyway (to say my backpack and I are rough on books is like saying it is difficult to pass through a concrete wall).

BMHadoken

07-20-2004, 07:42 PM

Then we're probably reading different books. I finished off half the Dave Barry/humor section. But then again, those are the kinds of books where you can read for however long, put them down, come back whenever and finish them normally.

KefkaTaran

07-20-2004, 09:17 PM

Shiny Bunny Captain: Glad you enjoyed. John Hargrave is MOST CERTAINLY one of my heros and one of the best humor writers I've ever read. Definitely stick with the site. It only gets more and more hillarious.

BM: I generally enjoy reading Tim's stuff. Like some people, I used to get sort of annoyed at the fact that it seems like a lot of his great, wonderful stories are FLAT-OUT LIES... but then I just reckoned it with the fact that he's probably one of the best writers anywhere near my generation. That said, I'll just stick with reading his stuff every once in a while. And feel free to leave a message on my LJ some time telling me what you think. I'm hoping to post some more uplifting stories in there soon.
Also: I can see reading Barry's books in the store, since they're pretty short generally, but what about an author like Neal Stephenson? Anyways, my solution for the no-money problem is the massive library I mentioned earlier. WOO.

Locke: ... can I see pictures?

Psymon: Not in England, sorry. I actually tend not to read PS2 (or any console)-EXCLUSIVE magazines cause I prefer having a more rounded look at games. I will admit that I bought last months PSM, but only for the 15-minute MGS3 trailer that was included. That said: game magazines I do enjoy reading often include EGM, Game Informer, Computer Gaming World, and ocassionally a friend's copies of PC Gamer.

Slightly Above Average Man: We had a discussion about "The Prince" in my senior English class a couple months ago. I'm also fairly interested in checking it out, though I've always been very turned off by the general concepts that the book supposedly promotes.

Rai: Thanks for the LJ link! You're added to my friend's list now, feel free to add me and leave comments any time.

Spade Harlequin

07-20-2004, 09:32 PM

I just read the entire Space Odysessy series, 2001, 2010, 2061, and 3001. Those are good, much better then the movies.

I'm also reading The War of the Spider Queen saga. It's set in the forgotten Realms Campaign and stars a bunch of drow. A very good series most of the books are in paperback now if you don't want to spend 25$ for hardback.

TheZeroMan

07-20-2004, 09:35 PM

Here are some titles of the books I'm reading on and off at the moment...

The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy( I believe I'm on "Thanks for all the Fish" the 4th one MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAXHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....)

The Illiad (just to make myself angrier at that damn movie)

The Wheat Field

The Things they Carried

Che: A Revolutionary Life (so when I wear my Nifty Che Shirt I understand fully that he's spinning in his grave)

Brave New World (How did I escape High School without reading that?)

Oh yea am I've been Reading "Don Quixote" on and off for like the last 4 years for some reason the Humor just doesn't seem to translate that well to modern times. I'm sure it was scathingly funny for the 1500s though.

Omega

07-20-2004, 09:41 PM

im currently reading Lord Brocktree by: Brian Jacques

i might also recomend to anyone the Sword of change series

Spade Harlequin

07-20-2004, 09:54 PM

The Things they Carried
I read that book. It's depressing....so very depressing. It's like taking the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan liquidating it and injecting it straight into your brain...

Otaku Son

07-21-2004, 01:03 AM

Wasn't the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan of Ryan going to the graveyard?

Spade Harlequin

07-21-2004, 01:10 AM

I thought the opening was the soldiers storming the beach at Normandy(or was it another place...)

Peo

07-21-2004, 01:59 AM

hmm, little late here, but Another Huge Dragonlance fan here, great series, though the war of souls wasnt as good as the first two trilogies

Demon with a Glass Hand

07-21-2004, 02:50 AM

Last book I read was The Chocolate covered Bunnies of the Apocalypse.

That was a fun read.

sephiroth666

07-21-2004, 02:51 AM

i am reading...umm

harry potter series
dragon lance
this forum
8-bt
i am also engage in the online love hina manga(although i can only find parts of it)
(who ever else is reading it. where at?)
wut ever is typed in a chatting room
and wut im typing right now.
and stuff.

Thaumaturge

07-21-2004, 06:05 AM

KefkaTaran: If you can find Dying Earth, I highly recommend it. And E-Books, in any of their incarnations, are very cool. I've got Call of Cthulu for Tome Raider, Revolutions of Time and The Raven and Other Stories (E.A. Poe) for Microsoft Reader (I think), and some others for other readers that I can't remember right now.

Another classic to look out for is The Traveller in Black, by John Brunner. The setting is either the immensly distant past or the immensly distant future. At this point, chaos reigns, order is overthrown. The world is ruled by myriad capricious elementals and gods. In this setting we have the Traveller, who has many names but one nature, and who is charged with bringing order to the cosmos. He does this not by immense works, but generally by giving people what they want, albeit in a genie-like fashion. Thus, what people get is often not exactly what they were expecting, or has unforseen side-effects. I'm not describing this very well, but trust me, it's very good.

There is just one problem though - the book is nightmarishly difficult to find. If you do find it, however, it is a good read.

Nietz

07-21-2004, 08:59 AM

I'm in a desesperate need of new books to read.
I'm now (and once again) reading Children of Dune. I've read about three times each of the Dune books already, though I never read any of Brian Herbert's and Kevin Anderson's new books. I do wish to read them, but I'm hesitating because people told me that they suck.
I'm also reading What is Sex?, by Lynn Margulis and Dorion Sagan, it's kinda like the complement to their What is Life? book, focusing on the history of reproductive biology.
And I just finished reading Miyamoto Musahsi's The Book of Five the Rings, and now I just got to get a copy of the Musashi novel.
Gee, luckily I'm on vacations now. I will probably spend a lot of time and money on new books.

Edit: Oh, and Kefka, try reading Sartre's The Nausea, it was the first book I read from him, and I loved it. (Be carefull, though, it kinda of put me in an existentialist crisis by that time.)

KefkaTaran

07-21-2004, 11:25 AM

Thamau: I dunno, I thought your description was sufficient enough to intrigue me. I'm going to check if that library has a copy.

Nietz: I have several Sartre books on the list. I was recommended "No Exit" as a first read by him cause it's supposed to be fairly light compared to his other stuff. I'm really like it so far, so I'll have to move onto "The Nausea" next.

Mashirosen

07-21-2004, 11:29 AM

Um, "Spade Harlequin"? You got banned for a month for a reason. If I catch you here under another SN before your time is up, you're gone for good. Don't push your luck.

Grandmaster_Skweeb

07-21-2004, 02:06 PM

The Alien Effect by Stan Lee.

To sum it up in a nutshell: A UFO is shot down in german territory during world war two and the Axis and Allied Powers are both trying to get it first and find out how it works and whatnot. Classic Stan Lee style.

Archbio

07-21-2004, 02:14 PM

Osterbaum

07-22-2004, 06:40 AM

What am I reading? I am reading: The 50 Battles That Changed The World...And I just read some works of Platon.

AndyBloodredMage

07-22-2004, 10:47 AM

Currently I'm reading Palace Walk for school so I can get the assignment out of the way.

When I'm done with that I'm gonna read Hacking: The Art of Exploitation.

Nietz

07-22-2004, 01:37 PM

My biggest (but not only) problem with Brian Herbert's books is that he's basically taking details that gave the Dune universe depth and making books out of it. Since history isn't a series of books he's really demystifying everything.

No, Bio, I feel the same way. I always though of the unexplained as being the best part about the consistency of Frank Herbert's Dune universe.
I mean, just for reading a review of The Butlerian Jihad, I learned that it got it's name from some woman with the last name Butler, and them I discovered that Holtzmann, the guy who invented the shield generators is actually a character in one of the books. Well, I was sure curios about some details of the Dune universe, but that kind of thing just seemend to make it less interesting and mystified to me.

EVILNess

07-23-2004, 04:16 AM

Last book I read was The Chocolate covered Bunnies of the Apocalypse.

That was a fun read.

I may regret it later, but damn-it I'm curious and want to know more!

Muffin Mage

07-23-2004, 09:54 AM

As do I.

sephiroth666

07-23-2004, 02:57 PM

ME TOO!!!!. chocolate bunnies of the apocolypse. AHAHAH i soo wanna read that.

Red Bird

07-23-2004, 03:10 PM

Right now, I'm near the end of The Talisman, by Stephen King and Peter Straub. I don't know why the hell it's taking me so long to read it, though. It's been months already. Then I bought Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time for when I finished Talisman, but I'm not sure if I made a mistake; it kind of looks like a children's book. Then again, if it was, it'd be in the children's section, right?

As for sites, I like browsing around Pick-Me.net, because they're all so pretty.