TSF Book Club
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="dogmeat" data-cid="602446" data-time="1470123779"><p>
That didn't read like Birmingham to me. Is all the writing that florid? I'll get it but hope the action carries me along so I forget the purple prose. <br><br>
Have to say I have found some real gems through this thread</p></blockquote>
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Despite all his drug taking Birmingham works for the defence dept and loves explaining weapons and tech , these books are like that . Didnt strike me as too purple ? That's if purple means the same thing to me as it does to you. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="602419" data-time="1470121095"><p>
Nice jegga. I'll grab that one</p></blockquote>
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There's another one I found along the lines of Girt I was going to check out, if it's any good I'll let you know . -
<p>I was in the library a couple of weeks back looking at the Matthew Reilly and Chris Ryan books for some easy reads, and saw 'Empire of the Moghul - Raiders of the North' by Alex Rutherford.</p>
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<p>A historical fiction in the Iggulden mould, about the Moghul Empire..the fact I had never heard of them had me interested.</p>
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<p>Is a pretty good read, the main character, Babur is a descendant of Genghis Khan and it charts his rise as a boy king and the failures he has as he plays the 'game of thrones' (boom, see what I did there...I'll get my coat) in the ancient city of Samrkand, Ferghana and Kabul, think there are 6 books in the series.</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="jegga" data-cid="602457" data-time="1470125207"><p>There's another one I found along the lines of Girt I was going to check out, if it's any good I'll let you know .</p></blockquote>
Speaking of: David Hunt is supposed to have another one coming out soon -
<p>I'm halfway through the 2nd book of some bloke called Mark Lawrence's "The Red Queen's War" (books are Prince of Fools, The Liars Key, and the Wheel of Osheim).</p>
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<p>Picked it on a whim off the book store shelf, and I'm not sure why, but i am happy i did.</p>
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<p>Two polar opposite main characters get a spell put on them that seems to drive them north on a quest, which neatly ties in to one of their revenge missions. The main character is great, a petty princeling who freely admits to being a liar and a coward with no morals. When we meet him he's being chased by brothers for fucking their sisters, and bookies because he owes them a fuck load of money. Almost halfway through the story and he hasn't changed much, which makes a bit of a change from the usual fantasy hero who is damn near invincible. He can't really fight, and he can't resist women. I can relate!</p>
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<p>It's written in the first person, which i usually hate, but seems to work here, as the guy telling the story is so fucking selfish. Much like the Joe Abercrombie books, it's almost as if the overall story is less important than what is happening to the main characters. </p>
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<p>It's an entertaining little read. </p>
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<p>Oh, and although never actually confirmed, it appears to be set in Europe, in the future, a few hundred years after a catastrophic nuclear war. I'm pretty sure the Wheel of Osheim is the Hadron Collider. </p> -
<p>Just finished "Ronin" by Edward W Robertson, which is a continuation of his <em>Rebel Stars</em> series (third of five books).</p>
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<p>It is an extension of his very good <em>Breakers</em> series, featuring a plague hitting earth followed by some interstellar shit going down. Going too far into the details just spoil it, but you can pick up Breakers on Google Play for a few dollars and its pretty good.</p>
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<p>Has a bit of a different take on a few things and its one of the sci-fi series I've enjoyed without it getting all uber-nerdy</p> -
<p>Just finished Zeitoun, by Dave Eggers.</p>
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<p>It's basically about one family's experience of hurricane Katrina and the aftermath in New Orleans. Interesting story, and pretty shocking some of the stuff that went on there.</p>
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<p>The book pissed me right off though, so I wouldn't really recommend it.</p> -
<p>I'm reading The Martian at the moment. I haven't seen the movie but the book is excellent, so will watch it once I've finished.</p>
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<p>Just finished this <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.amazon.com/Devotion-Story-Heroism-Friendship-Sacrifice/dp/0804176582'>https://www.amazon.com/Devotion-Story-Heroism-Friendship-Sacrifice/dp/0804176582</a></p>
<p>It was a good read I thought,mostly about mateship and the nasty little war Korea was and had a very sad ending . The bits about segregation in the states and how he had to fight to become a pilot and the effect he had on other blacks in the navy who were usually relegated to cooks cleaners etc were really interesting but hard to comprehend especially as California sells itself on being one of the more enlightened parts of the states but wouldn't let him bring in a bar or attend a movie. There's a bit in the book where a couple of black marines look up and see a black pilot in the cockpit of the plane supporting their retreat I thought might have been put in there for dramatic effect but he actually tracked down the guys that saw him.</p>
<p>It's on sale at the warehouse now, $9.95</p> -
<p>Enjoyed this Widboy by Brando Yelavich <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='https://www.amazon.com/Wildboy-Brando-Yelavich-ebook/dp/B00XMPRJG8'>https://www.amazon.com/Wildboy-Brando-Yelavich-ebook/dp/B00XMPRJG8</a></p>
<p>Basically an 18 year old kid with dyslexia, adhd who smoked a lot of pot and treated his parents like shit [all of this he admits right at the start] decides to turn his life around by being the first person to ever walk around the New Zealands coast . It takes him two years and supports himself by catching food to eat, staying with people following him in the news and various lions clubs around the country while he also raises money for Ronald MacDonald house. </p>
<p>It's written by him and not polished up too much by an editor and gives you a good understanding of what he was feeling throughout the trip. </p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="611120" data-time="1472637130">
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<p>Damn. That dude just lived one of my dreams. Hiking/tramping/whatever around NZ would be awesome.</p>
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<p>Have you heard of this? <a data-ipb='nomediaparse' href='http://www.teararoa.org.nz/'>http://www.teararoa.org.nz/</a></p> -
On return to NZ my aim is to do a length of the Southern Alps walk. Takes about 8-9 weeks with the route I have worked out. Start at St Arnaud finish at Te Anau. <br>
Not a traverse, that takes skill I don't have, but plotting a route through valleys and passes with a few detours toward support stops to resupply. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="NTA" data-cid="611217" data-time="1472690555">
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<p>Doing some reading on that site - they reckon can be done in 80 days at "leisurely" pace :think:</p>
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<p>So that's either a lottery win or a divorce...</p>
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<p>Yeah, one of the things I would love to do someday. There are great bits and monotonous bits, but it would be one of those bucket list things to tick off. Just need to get 4 months off work and buy-in from the wife</p> -
<p>Problem is, once you'd done that, there are so many other awesome tracks to do over there.</p>
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<p>So, divorce it is! ;)</p>
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<p>From the look of it, one big advantage in NZ over Oz is water - there is a hell of waterways on the trail, so you don't have to carry litres of the stuff to do a long walk. Most walks I do in Australia I'll carry 2-3 litres per day just because I don't know where the next source is, or if its potable.</p>
