vodkafan

As you are more fantasy oriented I would start with the Lyonesse trilogy

No I remembered the poem from a Lynn Marshall Yoga book my mother had. It just popped into my head just like that after 40 years! Human brains are so weird aren't they?

Moon is awesome. Didn't like Skyfall.

Going to write this now while I have internet access, even though I have not done my saturday walk yet. Good week but very tiring, added 2 weight sessions. Aching all over. Had to increase my food especially protein but it was difficult as stomach is sometimes sore and I feel too tired (not in a sleepy way) to eat high protein. Anyway here it is: WEEK 6 Monday (rest day) only 40 minutes incidental walking. Took buses a lot this day to avoid walking as much as possible. Tuesday Walk 5 miles plus 40 minutes incidental walking Wednesday Walk 5 Miles Weights session at gym , plus 40 minutes incidental walking (to gym and back) Thursday Walk 5 miles Friday Walk 5 miles Weights session at gym, plus 40 minutes incidental walking Saturday Walk 5 miles Walking times have not changed at all by more than a couple of minutes over the whole 6 weeks. I had supposed that I would gradually shave time off but it doesn't seem to work like that. I realise now that even a small increase in walking speed will require a large amount of effort, as I was already an efficient walker. The only way to increase my speed will be to change gait (ie run). I am not ready for that yet though. I sometimes feel like I want to break into a run but now I have started the weights again I want to let my body adjust to that new workload before making another change. My body will know when it is time. Listen to your body, Handle it with care. Step inside it with your mind And then you're almost there!

That's his posh full dress shirt. You usually see it when he is showing an ambassador around the Enterprise or something. But usually he wears an amber top

Ah you just love being able to say that casually. "after work"

The Durdane Trilogy Jack Vance The Anome 3/6 The Brave Free Men 4/6 The Asutra 2/6 I thought that I would review this all in one. Although I knew of this series I had never got to read it, I could never get hold of the books in paperback. So I was especially looking forward to checking this out and snapped it up when it became available on kindle. It's very hard to write a review of a trilogy without giving away plot details, so I will keep it very general and just set the scene. The events start on the planet Durdane. A thousand years in the past the inhabitants of one continent Shant fought a disastrous war with a neighbour state which ended in a stalemate, each combatant withdrawing within his own borders. The government of Shant collapsed internally and a new civil war started lasting a hundred years. Eventually a new system of benign dictatorship was instituted under a single "Faceless Man" or The Anome. Every citizen of Shant wore a torc filled with explosive that the Anome or his agents could detonate to blow off the head of the wearer. The Anome's instant justice had bought peace for hundreds of years. However, the young runaway Gastal Etzwane is dissatisfied with the system. But first he must find out who the Anome is.... Like most Jack Vance stories, there is not too much character development and the narrative is fast and plot driven. I think he wrote this series when he was slowing down a bit, perhaps a bit lazy and I was a bit dismayed to see him re-using some plot devices that had appeared to better effect in his earlier books. So the first book was nothing really that special. In the second book there is a welcome return to his usual form , and an interesting plot twist, the seeds of which were in the first book unseen all the time. The third book however, I must say was a disappointment. It is as if Vance got to a point (which should have been) three quarters in and got bored of writing it. So then he literally wrapped up the whole thing- this huge rip-roaring planet wide tale- in two pages. I couldn't believe it!! I was gutted. Even as a Jack Vance fanboy, I cannot decently give this one a glowing review.

That disabilty book does sound it might be difficult to get through Athena. It would probably make me feel sad. I would read it one story at a time in between other things. Just reading your review made me count my blessings!

I Married An Axe Murderer. Early Mike Myers film, before Austen Powers, and much funnier in my opinion.

Never too late to start your reading blog! No Jack Vance in your fantasy list.... a serious omission sir

I find walking can be really relaxing, because I have the choice of focusing on just the exercise and making my body work hard, or just taking my mind out and letting it wander while my body is on autopilot. It's the same with swimming. Either way it can be sort of taking a little mental and spritual holiday for an hour or more. But I guess it is different for you Athena, your brain doesn't wander or switch off. That's great that you have lost some weight, if you wanted to.

Good idea to make a quick reference list.. not enough SF in there...[sigh]

Ah that's cool chaliepud!. I have read a couple of pages so far

Got my copy of Dream Science through today.

Oh man I am so hoping that hubster gets the city job. I have everything crossed here for you.

That's good Athena how much have you been doing?

That's still 3 exercise sessions a week Brian nowt wrong with that

Cut back last week, I had lots of things in the flat and out to sort out, so just contented myself with the walking. So Week 5 Monday "rest" day, but ended up walking 2 hours total here and there. Tuesday walk 5 miles plus 50 minutes incidental walking during the day Wednesday walk 5 miles Thursday walk 5 miles Friday walk 5 miles Saturday walk 5 miles Sorry this is looking boring

I never managed to read any Brian Aldiss! I think later on in life he became more of an editor and a resource for other SF writers? I liked Damon Knight though.

I get your drift. Might I mention Jack Vance? He is my favourite writer of all time. His use of language is like nobody else. And I dare you to read one of his books and not get into it. It's like having a Rowntrees Fruit Pastille in your mouth and not chewing it..For you I would recommend To Live Forever (also called Clarges) Another old forgotten English SF writer I had in mind for you is Leonard Daventry. He wrote several books all very hard to find now. I have only read A Man Of Double Deed. You can find them second hand on Amazon sometimes.

This is the best and most informative review. If you are thinking of reading the book though be warned it may contain spoilers. http://www.lewisshiner.com/liberation/dreamsci.html

Yes gardengirl! It is Thomas Palmer by the way. He is a bit of a mystery man. Looks like he has written at least one other book, non-SF. Here is a link: http://greatsfandf.com/AUTHORS/ThomasPalmer.php

That last one is a big claim! OK you got me curious. No reviews on Amazon UK but I found 4 reviews on the US amazon site (all very good)so I bought a second hand copy for 1p plus postage.

Haha that was funny Kylie thanks I never thought of that

Good going pontalba!