1705

Thanks, folks!

Just one dollar per nostril!

It is indeed. Kudos to her!

1706

Thanks! It’s still on sale, but it’s a Kindle countdown sale so the price goes up marginally about every day or so. Regular price is $7.99 so you got a real bargain!

1707

I see that Look to Winward, which is book 6 in the culture series (but a sequel to book 1), is on sale for $1.99.

1708

The Dark Forest, the second book in Cixin Liu’s Remembrance of Earth Past trilogy, is available today for $2.99.

1709

Thanks! This hasn’t been below $10 that I’ve seen so I’d been holding out on getting it.

1710

Going to pick this up on sale, but is the first book likely to go on sale soon as well, or should I just try to grab it from the library whenever I’m ready to read them? I somehow wasn’t aware of these books until a few days ago, but they certainly sound good.

1711

I’m not sure, but I think so. I have a copy of the first ebook and I don’t really remember how exactly I got it, but I usually wait for sales on ebooks. Sometimes you just have to wait until their turn comes up. This is the first time I remember seeing the second book on sale though.

1712

The first book went on sale for about 3 bucks in April and then June this year, so it might rotate back down to that price. Tor also had it in their monthly free ebook promo back in 2016 (it’s how I have my current copy).

This is probably a ways off, but I assume that when there is something concrete about the Netflix version, the first book will be promoted via sale or free ebook again.

1713

There is a Netflix version planned? Last I knew it was in Amazon’s hands until it was cancelled by Bain’s estate saying that they felt the timing was not right for a TV adaptation. Perhaps they are holding out for a major potion picture adaptation? Anyway, it seems like the TV series is dead in the water at this point.

1714

I think you might be thinking of The Culture? Cixin Liu is still alive and writing.

1715

By everyone’s favorite GOT adaptation team, Benioff and Weiss!

1716

Yep. I thought this was in reference to The Culture series, as Look To Winward was mentioned right before the comment. Just confusion on my part tis all. I wasnt aware that Liu’s books were possibly being adapted by Netflix probably because I couldnt make it through the first one, so it wasn’t on my radar. I made it about halfway through but It just did not connect with me.

1717

If you’ve never read the late Roberto Bolaño but have wanted to, here’s your chance to give him a try.

Don’t expect this to be a science fiction story. I haven’t read it (I just grabbed it myself, on the strength of having read the far less scrutable 2066), but the synopsis doesn’t make it sound like an sf story.

I have read 2066 twice and am still not entirely sure I understand what it is, but the writing is spectacular, the characters gripping, the scenes unforgettable. Bolaño reminds me of Pynchon, adjusted for the Latin American setting and cultural background. And, for $2, I’m happy to have another book to try.

1718

I noticed that Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty is on sale today for $2.99. I don’t really know anything about this other than that it was nominated for a Hugo, so I’m guessing it’s at least pretty good. Anyone have a recommendation for this?

1719

yes - it was also Nebula nominated as best novel. I’ve yet to find something nominated for BOTH that did not have some merit… which is why my pocket review (elsewhere) was very positive:

A classic Agatha Christie murder for the science fiction crowd - 6 people wake up in a generation ship decades out from earth - their own corpses at their feet, and their memories 30 years out of date. Even the murderer doesn’t know who did it… yet. For anyone who loved Agatha Christie, and likes SF - they should run to their local library and grab it immediately - just a fantastic science fiction murder mystery. For everyone else - its a clever book that runs with a lot of interesting ideas in a world where your body isn’t as important as your backups, and then spins off a lot of stunning permutations of all sorts of trouble that the technology could lead to. The opening concept was enough to support a book, but this has at least 3-4 other “big” ideas it explores as well. Highly Recommended!

1720

Gah. My reading backlog is already too huge. But I can’t resist a comparison to Agatha Christie murder novel.

1721

Yeah. Ya got me. Purchased.

1722

Yeah, me too. Thanks @divedivedive for the heads up and @dtolman for the thumbs up.

1723

As an aside, I crossed paths with Mur at a Mythic event back in the day. She was representing Computer Games (Steve’s old magazine) and I was there for either PC Gamer or Worthplaying.

She’s obviously gone further with writing than I did.

1724

This isn’t strictly books, I guess, but this feels like an appropriate thread anyway:
https://www.humblebundle.com/books/kieron-gillen-and-jamie-mckelvie-showcase-books?

These comics are universally excellent. The Wicked + The Divine is one of the best I’ve ever read, and the bundle includes up to the complete run depending on where you buy in. But even dropping a buck lets you sample WicDiv’s first volume and ongoing series Die’s first volume. (Kind of “what if the D&D cartoon went horribly wrong and now the battle-scarred survivors have to return to deal with their legacy”. It’s amazing.)