Reading is still down. One reason: the hot weather has returned with a vengeance, we got to 98 yesterday and will reach 101 today. Another reason is getting up every morning at dawn to watch the Tour de France. Then I’m tired at night and stop reading earlier.
However I did read Veiled Alliances by Kevin J. Anderson, a prequel to his Saga of the Seven Suns series. I liked it a lot and will now look for the first of that series. I also read two books by Murray Leinster, The Forgotten Planet and The Planet Explorer. All three were quick, fun books to read.
Currently I’m reading The Little Paris Bookshop by Nina George, a book I came across quite by accident.
Barbara is still reading Stephen King’s latest, Finders Keepers, which she’s enjoying, but like me she’s been doing a little less reading this last week.
How about you? Have you read these books or authors? What are you reading?
Tip the Wink 
Leinster could definitely write a good story
I read a lot of Leinster years ago, Richard, and still enjoy an occasional dip in that pool.
This week I finished Joe Lansdale’s PARADISE SKY, a western about real-life character Deadwood Dick and Lansdale’s longest novel to date. Highly recommended. I also read Bill Pronzini’s latest Nameless mystery, VIXEN, and the latest Trash ‘n’ Treasure novel by “Barbara Allan” (Max Allan Collins and Barbara Collins) — both very good,entertaining books. I’m reading Patti’s CONCRETE ANGEL now and am really amazed (I really shouldn’t be, should I?) at the depth of the characters and Patti’s plotting. Loving this one.
Reading may take a back seat to household chores this coming week, although if the brutally hot weather keeps up, it’s goodby to chores and hello to air conditioning, a comfortable chair, a cold drink, and some good books.
I’m a Leinster fan. Jerry’s reading is a lot like mine. I’ve recently read Paradise Sky, am about to finish off Vixen, and read Concrete Angel a few weeks ago.
Read a good book as an arc: JACK IS BACK by Liam Sweeny. Reading THE BIRD’S NEST by Shirley Jackson. Creepy stuff.
I’m reading Don Winslow’s THE CARTEL. Grim stuff. Love Murray Leinster!
Reading was slow but is picking up. First I read Len Deighton’s (somewhat uneven) short story collection, DECLARATIONS OF WAR. (My favorite Deighton story was the one Martin Edwards related about Deighton and Agatha Christie at the end of THE GOLDEN AGE OF MURDER.) A couple more shorts you need to download and read: I AM A ROVING GAMBLER: Two Stories of the West by our own Dr. Crider. Good stuff. I read Julia Dahl’s second Rebekah Roberts book, RUN YOU DOWN and I’m nearly finished with Wallace Stroby’s latest Crissa Stone book, THE DEVIL’S SHARE. It’s surprising no one has really written Richard Stark/Parker-type caper stories featuring a woman before, but if you like Parker (and who doesn’t?) you need to get the first one of these (COLD SHOT TO THE HEART) and read it asap.
The Lansdale is about at the top of the pile now, though I have a few SF and other books vying for my attention too.
I finished the Stroby. Good stuff.
I also finished Paradise Sky by Lansdale. Loved it. Am halfway thru The Cartel by Don Winslow. Also just finished Armada by Ernest Cline. Fun but not as good as Ready Play Set. Read a lot of Leinster as a kid. reread Exploration Team last year but was turned off by the terrible dialogue.
Steve, I must admit that “Exploration Team” is one of my favorites. I try to be forgiving when reading stuff like that, considering the age and the times. Forgotten Planet was a bit of a slog, though, especially with the deux ex machina finish.
Interesting that many of the group are reading the same things. Great minds…
Hard to go wrong with Murray Leinster, no matter what the genre. I think I have all the books in that Kevin J. Anderson series but haven’t read any of them yet. They’re all so long! I like what i’ve read by Anderson, though. I’ve been reading mostly books I’m going to publish, although I did work in some Western pulp stuff and one of the unpublished Gil Brewer novels that Stark House is going to be bringing out soon.
James, I don’t mind a long fantasy or SF if it’s good. I dislike the long ones that turn into a slog, when I think lordy, let’s get on with it! when I’m reading. But then no one likes those, I guess.
I’m looking forward to those Gil Brewer sets.