First things first: Dina – Stunde des Schicksals is now out. If you are looking for the whole Innkeeper series in German, here is the link.
A. writes,
I wanted to ask you about your knitting and if you could knit at all with your hand problems? Or with all the stress with Hugh´s book, Diamond Fire, Innkeeper, selling the house etc. you just had to skip this hobby of yours. Is knitting calming?
Knitting is calming, but I haven’t been able to do it. We finally finished the edits on the Diamond Fire yesterday, so I thought I would fire up the PlayStation. I got my new game, I got my controller, my blanket, my glass of tea, the dogs have arranged themselves around me, I pressed the Playstation button… and fifteen minutes later, my hands said, “Yeah, no.”
I was very sad.
It looks like this will be a long healing process. Gordon is cool with Innkeeper dictation, so that’s where we are.
Stressful crap keeps happening, but I am determined to vacation.
Watching Megalobox about boxing with a beautifully retro style and a completely silly Isekai Izakaya, which is about a little eatery that opens into another world, a kind of Medieval Germany. All they do is eat. It’s great if you want to snack.
Read Paper Magician. A cool concept, but didn’t think there was enough done with it. There is a sequence inside an heart in the middle of it that just goes on and on and on. It’s well written, so it’s more of a case of misplaced expectations. I wanted an exploration of a cool magic system and awesome adventures, but the author wrote a book about the condition of being human instead. It’s in KU, if you’re interested.
Read a translation of a Russian book for a quote. :shudders: No. Just no.
Would love to read some cool SF.
Playing Empyrion again.
Glynn stewart has some awsome scifi. Also, he can do math and does fact checking to make it seem like it belongs in the science fiction.
DITTO Glynn Stewart!!
Mwahahaha! Read all of the comments and now have an excellent reading list for the rest of the summer. Glad to hear that you’re being good to your hands. Just had a friend tell me that warm wax treatments really make a difference with her arthritis.
I recently read a couple of books by Daniel O’Malley – The Rook and Stiletto. He’s a new author and the books are 500 and 480 pp. He’s from Australia and has a master’s degree in medieval history. Loved, loved, loved The Rook from the first chapter. Stiletto was a bit slower for me at first but I was completely hooked by the third chapter. These are big books with complex plots and an unusual take on the development of magical traits.
An old favorite is Anne McCaffrey. I loved The Ship Who Sang and Restoree. And, of course, her Dragon Rider, Dragon Song, and Dragons of Pern are wonderful.
Enjoy your vacation. Hope you feel better soon.
If you want “an exploration of a cool magic system and awesome adventures” then I cannot recommend Diane Duane enough. The series starts with the book So You Want to Be a Wizard. There are 9 or ten in the series now plus some shirt stories and bonus content (which you will end up hunting down – be warned it will consume you).
It’s YA, but don’t let that out you off – also they cannot be overhypped, so I will go on. Delicious, delicious books…yum, nom nom nom…
Also excellent is a webcomic called Erfworld. Same thing, “an exploration of a cool magic system and awesome adventures.” But for adults.
https://archives.erfworld.com/Book%201/1
Both are tight, in that the more the author goes into it, the more unfurling happens – it’s practically fractal. No loose ends.
I have to stop now and restart one of the series…but which one….?
Totally agree re Diane Duane and Daniel O’Malley. They are great.
Funny. A. Just read The Rook – completely recommend. B. Rereading To ride Pegasus. We must have similar taste
I’ll try those!
You might enjoy PC Hodgell’s Kencyrath series. Starts out with Godstalk, (now in a compendium called Dark of the Gods). She just finished her penultimate book–it is at the publisher now. Very in depth world building with complex characters.
I’m hoping that your recovery is proceeding at a swift pace. In the meantime my to be read list is growing (not that it needs to expand) with all these suggestions
I forgot to mention Sharon Shinn
Kelley Armstrong
Keri Arthur, especially her Outcast series
Suzanne Johnson, Sentinels of New Orleans series.
In more vintage SF, have you ever read Lloyd Biggle Jr? Monument or The Still Small Voice of the Trumpet?
Have you ever tried Nathan Lowell? His Age of the Solar Clipper stories are excellent, the story of Ishmael Horatio Wang. We enjoyed them very much.
I agree, very good series.
Excellent suggestion! Great world setting and character development. I read it and then bought the audio. He has a great voice. I think Andrew will love it a hare more then Ilona.
Here’s another recommendation for S. K. Dunstall, there’s a three book series out, and a new book that might be in the same universe but does not seem to be a sequel or prequel or whatever, coming out soon from them [S. K. Dunstall is a sister-sister writing team]
Older stuff–Cheryl J. Franklin’s books. Fire Get is SF which has a feel of fantasy–but it’s SF. Some of the later books in the series or which tie into that universe, are much more clearly SF, and include spaceships. There’s a book by Jennifer Weingart[en] published by DAW years ago, which alas I’ve forgotten the name of. And there are Time Past and Time Future by Maxine McArthur, I really wish there were a third book for completion. There’s another author teasing at the edge of my memory that I can’t think of at the moment…. the first book was Warchild, maybe? Or maybe not…
I agree about JW, Grasp the stars, I keep waiting for another book from her. also like SK Dunstall. next month is the new book.
If you can get your hands on a copy of Gate of Ivory by Doris Egan, do so. She is the same person who has written a lot of the scripts for House.
Her storytelling is rich, her world is unique, her protagonist one very human and identifiable. Gate of Ivory is 3 books put together. I have read this thing at this point, has got to be at least 20 times.
Another recommend, read the Chronicles of Kencyrath by PC Hodgell. Start from the beginning. Major amazing world-building, quirky characters, and deep themes. Due to writing this, I’ve just found out a new one in the series comes out on August 1. I really really want to find out what happens to a bunch of characters that I’ve gotten to know. Again, these are books that I’ll read over and over and over.
Finally, on the fantasy side of things (and definitely urban fantasy romance), the two series by Seanan McGuire, the October Daye series (she’s a part-shee, somehow ending up as hero for the realm, involved in a long game of the shee gods in some way she doesn’t know how yet, niece of the sea witch, constantly dealing with things falling apart as the other side of the long game uses her as a pawn)- I read every single one of these as they come out, and then there’s the series about a family of cryptozoologists, the Incryptid series, lots of fun, lots of great cryptids who even marry into the family sometimes. And of course, the nemesis organization that wants to hunt down the family, the Covenant of St. George.
For SciFi I would recommend the Kris Longknife series.
And Schooled in Magic for the exploration of a world and magic construction.
Good suggestion.
103 degrees filthy air because of wildfires everywhere but let’s talk old school SF. I’m sure you’ve done the classics Asimov foundation series and always dune by Frank Herbert. Also not SF but recommend The Goldfinch for deluxe writing. BUT challenge yourself with that book. Start when the boys live in las vegas. Maybe sevond section. Your motto is rest. Dont quit. Rest.
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions! Many of them I’ve read, but as always a few that are new. Good luck with your hands and dictation Ilona. Thank you for all you do for the BDH.
The sweep of the blade chapter was a great surprise.
Yes loved the surprise chapter
I love your books and hope your hands get well soon.
For some relaxation and stress relief try this track by Macaroni Union
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UfcAVejslrU
And for something to give you a laugh
https://tapas.io/series/Erma
Also for some SciFi reading the Dahak series from David Weber. His Apocalypse Troll is pretty good too.
Lions,
Try the Kutheran Gambit by Michael Anderle. It has vampires, werewolves and aliens. It is a really fun series.
I hate spell check. It was supposed to say Ilona.
LOL You gotta admit though, it’s perfect.
I finally got Iron read yesterday and really enjoyed it. I’ll need another read for details but nothing new about that.
Maxed out my library holds on all the book recommendations and have a list! Always looking for more favorites.
Cool Sci Fi? If you haven’t read the old master Robert Heinlein…start with Time Enough for Love or Friday.
My first sci Fi was Witches of Karres by James Schmidt ( I was 11). I’ve rebought the book over ten times in the last 45 years because people just don’t give it back. It’s so funny. His other stuff is good too…
LOVE Witches of Karres ! I was 10 when my mom read it to us in the evenings. It was a great intro to science fiction 🙂
In the “someone else has probably recommended this” category, have you tried Dragon Naturally speaking software? The reviews say that its ability to learn your preferences has improved dramatically and it might be worth buying and training your Dragon for when your hands need a rest.
I like The Chronicles of St. Mary series by Jodi Taylor. Time traveling historians!
April whites time travel series immortal descendants is awesome too and she started a spin off now from a few of our fav characters!!
I offer a second on a few authors, Anna Carven (SF with some Romance and interesting alien cultures), Tanya Huff (Valor series 1 and 2), Lindsay Buroker (Just re-read her Forgotten Ages duology, and her Fallen Empire SF series), Martha Wells (ALL of hers – in process of re-reading Il-Rien, and glad of Murderbot Novel announcement), Lois McMaster Bujold (ALL of hers – SF or F), S K Dunstall (Linesman Trilogy), Sharon Lee/Steve Miller (Liaden series), Wen Spencer, and Elizabeth Moon (Remnant Population, heroine who I want to grow up to be).
Adding Julie Czerneda – she has several series, but I really enjoyed her SF Species Imperative series – future Earth, Alien cultures, mysteries and scientific theory. Adding Violette Malan – She writes fantasy, about a pair of mercenary partners – really enjoyable adventure series. Adding Kristine Smith (her SF Jani Kilian series is finally all on Kindle). Adding Rosemary Kirstein (her SF/Fantasy Steerswoman series is also finally all on eBook). Adding Kate Elliott – various series, some fantasy and some SF – really glad that her Jaran quartet and her Highroads trilogy are on eBook now. Adding Connie Willis (To say Nothing of the Dog is a great intro to her work – alternate history, time travel, humor and drama intertwined). – and cheers to having favorite authors on eBook, so I don’t have to dig through boxes and shelves of books, unless I WANT to.
FWIW, I had/have Carpel Tunnel issues with some arthritis, including surgery, and was shocked at how long nerve damage takes to heal. But it eventually does get better. As long as I have respect for the pain and don’t go back to the ‘shake it off’ school of thought, I can do my work and hobbies again, just as intensely, but admittedly for shorter periods of time. Anyway, best wishes on having patience with your healing process and figuring out accommodations to keep your joys in life – and thank you, thank you, for sharing your worlds with us.
I totally agree on the Martha Wells recommendation, All of her books are amazing. All of them. Lois McMaster Bujold-same. Wen Spencer is great, as is Elizabeth Moon, but for Fantasy and sheer poetic enjoyment in her writing, I love Patricia A McKillip. The kind of fantasy that takes you back to being 12 and dreaming of romance and laughter.
Right, so SF where a tad harder. So I put a few that came to mind. Then added some for those that wants some sustenance while waiting for the next installment or book from you.
I devoured the ‘IRON AND MAGIC’. Top notch.
Where did the videos go? After only saw some snippets, not even that.
Did the recording fail?
https://www.twitch.tv/ilonaandrews/videos/all
SF
Author:Title (# in series, name of series)
Isaac Asimov : The Caves of Steel (1 of 4, Robot Series)
Isaac Asimov : Foundation (1 of 7, Foundation series)
Arthur C Clarke : Rendezvous With Rama (1 of 6, Rama)
A E Van Vogt : The World of Null-A (1 of 3, Null-A)
Alex Huges : Clean (1 of a few)
Justina Robson : Keeping it real (1 of 5 )
Larry Niven : Ringworld (1 of 4, Ringworld)
Jack Campbell : “The lost fleet:Dauntless” (1 of 6 (11), The lost fleet)
Jean Johnsson : A soldiers duty (1 of 5, Theirs Not to Reason Why)
Fantasy (While waiting 🙂
Author:Title (# in series, name of series) [Comment]
James Barclay : Dawnthief (Del 1 av 7 i serien Chronicles of The Raven) [Group dynamics]
Brandon Sanderson : Steelheart (Del 1 av 3 i serien Reckoners) [If a ton got to have powers]
Brandon Sanderson : Mistborn: The Final Empire (Del 1 av 3 i serien Mistborn) [Reagent magic]
Anne Bishop : The invisible ring (1) [Suprise wont tell]
/Cheers
I LOVE Anne bishop what is this book tho!?’
no one has mentioned the alis a Rasmussen, aka kate Elliott the Highroad trilogy kept me re reading it for quite some time.
I am exploring a career path of my chosen industry ( think old dog new tricks)
new, being how the industry is evolving. I have to take lots of pictures (on my phone)
save them to pictures on computer so can upload to show I did assignments
Yipes Yeeps Drats and gosh nab it, post got me distracted and now I want to go check out new books to read
Oh well, back to the career path
If you can get ahold of Courtship Rite by Donald Kingsbury, it’s probably my all time favorite science fiction novel. It won the Compton Crooke award and was a Hugo finalist. Unfortunately, it’s out of print and isn’t available on kindle. Aside from that, any of the Culture novels by Iain M. Banks, particularly Use of Weapons and The Player of Games. Also, another of my all time favorites is Camp Concentration, by Thomas Disch.
Thanks for all the book recommendations – Ben Aronovitch also brilliant and well worth a read: https://www.orionbooks.co.uk/Authors/Ben+Aaronovitch.page
SF David Brin Sundiver series.
Your poor hands. I have had a carpal tunnel surgery on each of mine- I sympathize. If you want a little silliness, try Piers Anthony. Also, Patricia Mckillip’s The Riddle Master of Hed trilogy.
Ooh! I haven’t seen the Riddle Master in so long!
Best fantasy books EVER !!!
For quick insta-fun reading, I’d suggest Webtoons. Some of the art is just breath taking, not to mention some storylines you might enjoy! I’d suggest Siren’s Lament, UnOrdinary, I Love Yoo, and The Devil is a Handsome Man. Possibly Lookism.
Recently, I’ve enjoyed Michelle Diener’s Dark Horse trilogy and A.M. Sohma’s Second Age of Retha.
Hope I could contribute to your reading enjoyment! We really hope your hands feel better and that life lets up a bit while you heal!
Karen Robards’ “The Ultimatum” (2017) and “The Moscow Deception (2018)
are a little bit SIFY, but a whole lot edge of your seat, don’t start this book before going to bed or you won’t get any sleep, can’t read fast enough, and so hilarious, all while feeling like being on a scary roller coaster ride. They should be read back to back because like the AL’s books, and a great dessert, one just isn’t enough. They actually read as Part One and Part Two, starting 2 weeks later. These 2 and “Saturn Run” are the only really memorable books other than the ALs that I’ve read in the last 2 years, and I’ve read many. I really want these books (Ilona’s included) to be made into movies.They all read as if they were already movies. Enjoy. ?
Ilona, Have you tried the compression gloves with open tips for typing, knitting, etc. such as Dritz Creative Comfort Crafter’s Comfort support gloves. Apparently they are comfortable enough to wear all day and all night.
Hope this helps. ? ?
I recently read Lisa Blackwood, A gargoyle and Sorceress Tale. I really enjoyed it; it was different, an interesting take on fae, vampires, and gargoyles, of course. I also love Melanie Rawn’s Exiles. It is kind of torture, since the trilogy is incomplete for over 20 years now, but I love it enough to have worn out the spines on each book at least 12 times. Yasmine Galenorn’s The Wild Hunt series is also great. There is not as much graphic sex in this series, and they are coming out quickly. Jenn Stark has a great complete series, Immortal Vegas, and a new series, Demon Enforcers. I dont often read books without magic, but I fell in love with Meli Raine’s Harmless and Shameless series. There are two trilogies that take place prior to those, which are also wonderful, Breaking Away and Coming Home, but Harmless and Shameless are my favorites. You dont need to have read the previous trilogies to understand what’s going on in any of them, but it does provide background on the characters. Right now, I’m rereading The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu. One last recommendation before I stop is Three Dark Crowns by Kendare Blake. It won’t be complete until September. It is supposed to be YA, but it is extremely dark and twisted. It is about triplets born every generation to rule an island , supposedly a line chosen by their goddess. They are raised together until 5, then separated and trained in whatever talent they have by a foster family with the same talent. The year they turn 16, they have one year to kill each other and the last one standing is queen until she has triplets of her own. It is so good, but I dont really see how it was deemed YA. I’ll stop now. I could go on all day! ???
There’s a new(ish) book out titled Knitting Comfortably: The Ergonomics of Handknitting, written by Carson Demers, that *might* be of interest to you. It’s hella expensive and only out in print form, but trusted sources (knitting podcasters) say it’s a buy it now. (I’m waiting for the ebook or for someone in Europe to offer it for sale because OMG the shipping charges from the States. And customs will surely have their hand out also… Do I buy yarn, or an ergonomics book? Yarn? Ergonomics book? The decisions a knitter has to make! I think I’ll convince my library that they should buy it…)
As for cool SF, I realized I haven’t yet read the newest Liaden installment. It’s only been six-ish months since Sharon and Steve released it. Oops!
Starship mage – Glynn Stewart
New to me, just found him, space opera with magic twist.
Get well soon Ilona (or at the very least – really ENJOY your convalescence 🙂
Have you read The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers? If not – it’s on offer on kindle and gets a 4.2 on Goodreads.
If you like Elves, Vampires, weird magic, and feisty heroines, Lisa Shearins Magic Lost, Magic Found series is a romp to read. Light humor, dire consequences from failure, romance, pirates, magic…..as I said, a romp.
Sorry, not vampires but tall luscious sexy Goblins.
Now I have a whole list of things to read. If you want good SF I can second the recommendations for Glynn Stewart’s Starship Mage. Christopher Nuttall also writes some good SF, and fantasy. Barbara Hambly is always wonderful, and if you haven’t come across the Silent Tower and its sequels, do try them – a wizard and Silicon Valley and walking between worlds – so good. As for trad heroic fantasy my top recommendation would be Helen Lowe’s the Wall of Night trilogy. For a totally different approach, if you haven’t come across them, do please try Deborah Harkness’s A Discovery of Witches, Shadow of Night and The Book of Light…Vampires, witches daemons and science!
Sorry the hands are not healed yet, patience and rest – and I suspect you don’t do either very well. Wish you better soon. And dictation may not be your method of choice, but Sweep of the Blade continues to be just fabulous.
I agree with you about Paper Magician. She lost me in the sequence of the heart. I think her Frozen book is much better at looking at the condition of the heart.