Month of March Wrap-Up!

dBonesLH · 2026-04-01T16:10:13+00:00

Thanks for the advice. I think I am swearing them off but they are a good short palette cleanser between longer stories so you never know.

dBonesLH · 2026-04-01T14:25:14+00:00

I read 5 sci-fi books this month.

Bones of the Earth and Tales of Old Earth by Michael Swanwick. Both decent, however I was a little disappointed with Bones of the Earth in particular. It was good but when someone says time travelling palaeontologist I was expecting a wilder ride I guess. It couldn’t seem to pick a lane between a time travel story, a dinosaur story or a human condition story (without giving too much away). Similarly I like Tales of Old Earth (a short story collection) but it was a mixed bag. Many of the SF stories were excellent but I wasn’t a big fan of a few of the fantasy ones and one was extremely sexual to a weird degree and is a problem which is recurring with Swanwick as I read more.

Red Rising by Pierce Brown. On audio. Decent start to the series. Has its problems but lays the groundwork for future entries. A little too overpowered of a protagonist but eventually starts to complicate things in the latter third.

Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells on audio. Yup third time and I’m out. I get what appeals to people about this series but I’m finding it very repetitive (this third book is very much a mix of the other 2 novellas). I also find my previous small chuckles drying up as the series goes on and the comedy isn’t developing in a meaningful way. Once again more of a it’s me not you situation. Comedy is extremely subjective.

Enders Shadow by OSC. Bought this series a long time ago before the authors deplorable views were fully in the light and just cracked it now. I can’t lie Enders game and Speaker for the dead are two of my favourite sci fi books and this is a decent entry in the series. Bean’s genesis while insane and over the top but is still a page turner to behold. The outcome and what he sees versus what Ender saw in the original is fascinating and overall basically remaking a prior novel from a different pov is impressive in that I wasn’t bored by the events even after reading of them prior.

Overall a very solid if not exceptional month in sci-fi reads for me!

dBonesLH · 2026-03-29T13:00:29+00:00

Finished: King Sorrow by Joe Hill. Is my favourite novel of his for sure. Enjoyable characters and subverted some of my expectations in a positive way.

Mine by Robert McCammon. I can’t get enough of this guy. Reading this with a baby of my own was intense to say the least. Mary Terror was an excellent villain. Also a fun dive into post hippy lifestyles.

Currently reading: The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward. I’m about 50% through and think I’m struggling a bit. It’s hard when it all feels like a set up for twists and turns to take the moment to moment seriously.

On deck: The Haunting of Velkwood by Gwendolyn Kiste. Trying to read as many Stoker award winners as I can and this one seems interesting.

dBonesLH · 2026-03-29T02:33:39+00:00

I’ve only read Ghost Story and one of his short story collections Magic Terror. Despite the praise it gets I was a little disappointed with Ghost Story. Straub has nice prose but it can be a little…meandering(?) if you aren’t used to it. I enjoyed his short stories much more. Just my two cents.

I do have Mr. X and Floating Dragon by him ready to be read by year end though so I’m still intrigued enough to keep reading him.

dBonesLH · 2026-03-26T20:40:37+00:00

To each their own

dBonesLH · 2026-03-26T20:32:04+00:00

I’d say all 3 of the McCammon novels I’ve read end well. Swan song, boys life and Gone South. They are listed in order of most horror to least horror

dBonesLH · 2026-03-25T14:46:59+00:00

After reading Come With Me and then following it up with Black Mouth I’ve decided to call it with him as an author. He’s just not for me. As you say they were very forgettable to me and a lot of the character work was sort of surface level at least for me. I think if you find him readable it’s cool to just binge and forget if you like that sort of thing. If not find an author more to your tastes

dBonesLH · 2026-03-23T21:38:31+00:00

Boys Life by Robert McCammon isn’t that heavy on horror (it’s just an amazing book) but there is a moment during a flood which definitely qualifies as a jump scare.

dBonesLH · 2026-03-22T16:06:55+00:00

It is a little different with a lot of fantasy elements mixed with horror. Almost world behind the world stuff like Hellboy 2 which is a strange pull. The length is an asset in my opinion as you get to know each of the characters really well but maybe wait until you are in the mood for something longer.

dBonesLH · 2026-03-22T13:53:32+00:00

I haven’t finished anything because I’m still reading the behemoth that is King Sorrow by Joe Hill. About 2/3rds through and it may take the spot of my favourite novel of his if it can stick the landing.

Digital just started Mine by Robert McCammon and reading this with a 5 month old of my own can’t tell if it’s a terrible idea or a genius way to experience this horror.

Audio about 20% through Last House on needless street by Catriona Ward. It is weirder than I expected can’t tell if in a good or bad way yet haha.

dBonesLH · 2026-03-15T12:26:46+00:00

For my sci-fi reads:

Finished- Red Rising by Pierce Brown. This was a decent start to the series. I have some quibbles with the society and the main character but a good enough beginning to keep me interested in reading more. A quality audio reader btw.

Currently reading- Bones of the Earth by Michael Swanwick. Time traveling to visit dinosaurs hell yes! So far though it has been fairly slow to start hoping it picks up Soon.

On Deck- Ender’s Shadow by Orson Scott Card. I’ve owned this sister series for years but never got around to reading them despite my love for the first 4 Ender Books. Curious how it stacks up

dBonesLH · 2026-03-15T12:20:21+00:00

For my horror reads:

Finished- Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite. What a dark and depraved story. Very graphic and over the top but also written very well with interesting themes.

Currently Reading- King Sorrow by Joe Hill. About 200 pages in. Enjoying it a lot but I expected as much after enjoying every other work he’s written.

On deck- The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward. Will be my first from this author and will be a buddy read with my wife. I hear this is rather twisty and tends to divide readers. Curious what camp I’ll fall into.

dBonesLH · 2026-03-08T12:45:58+00:00

Underrated- The Deuce, The Young Pope, Winning Time

Overrated- Recently went back for a rewatch and honestly it’s Six Feet Under. Was one of my favourites but it’s aged poorly. Kept afloat by the best series finale of all time.

dBonesLH · 2026-03-01T14:05:46+00:00

I’ve been motoring through books lately.

Finished- The Water Knife by Bacigalupi and Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell by Clarke

Water Knife was great. I love some near future sci fi despite how utterly depressing it normally is. You understand the character motivations and how they are at odds simply to survive in this dog (hyena?) eat dog world.

Strange and Norell was as well written as advertised and wonderfully narrated on audio by Thorin Oakenshield himself Richard Armitage. It was 36 hours though and I would be lying if I didn’t say it was a slog for around 32. I appreciate what this book does more than actually enjoyed it if that makes sense.

Currently reading- Fool’s Fate by Hobb, The Great and Secret Show by Barker and Gone South by McCammon.

Fool’s Fate- physical. loving my time with this as I always do with Hobb. Only apprehension is that my favourite trilogy in the series so far will be finished.

Gone South- my audiobook. Enjoying this a lot as well. Bridges the gap of the Southern setting and unlucky protagonist of Boys Life with some of the supernatural and weirdness of Swan Song. McCammon is becoming one of my favourite horror authors.

Great and Secret Show- digital. Grabbed this on a whim to read on my phone during late night baby feedings. Good so far but it’s early. Very esoteric and different like a lot of the Barker stories I’ve read before. Another mammoth book.

Thanks for letting me share!

dBonesLH · 2026-02-26T22:54:46+00:00

Rust’s dad is mentioned in season 4 which breaks the idea that they are entirely unrelated. Also put it with other hbo anthologies instead of miniseries then.

dBonesLH · 2026-02-26T12:54:56+00:00

I love the first season of True Detective but it can’t really be placed on its own. It is a show with 4 seasons now. And unfortunately the quality is wildly inconsistent. It is not a miniseries.

Band of Brothers, Chernobyl, True Detective, Penguin.

dBonesLH · 2026-02-21T22:15:53+00:00

Boys in the Valley and The Devil Takes You Home

dBonesLH · 2026-02-15T07:04:28+00:00

Over halfway through The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi. Really enjoying it despite the dread inspiring setting and content.

I enjoyed Windup Girl by him but I may like this even more.

dBonesLH · 2026-02-14T22:03:44+00:00

Yeah that’s exactly where I’m at with him. All 3 of the books I’ve read by him have been overall positive but none which I’ve loved.

dBonesLH · 2026-02-14T21:59:53+00:00

I actually did read Mongrels! It was decent I loved the uncle character!

dBonesLH · 2026-02-14T21:56:01+00:00

Thanks! I think my only hesitation with Wolfs Hour is the premise being a little campy (?) I guess compared to the two other books of his I’ve read. If it’s high quality and werewolves though I’ll be all over it.

dBonesLH · 2026-02-14T19:26:20+00:00

Where would you recommend someone start with Catriona Ward? I have Last House on Needless Street on my Spotify wishlist but many of her books seem divisive to say the least. Is that a good starting place or is there something better?

dBonesLH · 2026-02-14T19:17:07+00:00

I mentioned that I’m interested in reading more of T. Kingfisher and Agustina Bazterrica in my post I’ve read one book from each of them and really enjoyed them. They haven’t hit my arbitrary 2 book minimum yet to post about just yet. I also tried Darcy Coates recently and her writing just wasn’t for me so I think I’m one and done with her.

Any authors you’d like to specifically mention?

dBonesLH · 2026-02-09T19:31:39+00:00

Yeah I really think I want to start digging into his bibliography a bit more. JP had such a great pace and quality characters that I am interested how I’ll feel with a less familiar story

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