And I agree with all the comments that say Alastair Reynolds WUZ ROBBED. And putting the Baroque Cycle on there instead of Anathem is just crazypants.

I'm surprised Rainbows End is on there, that wasn't as good as I expect from Vinge. I actually thought it was older than this decade because the "5 minutes in the future" touches already feel dated...

Probably still a decent list to start catching up on SF again, though, right? Most of those I haven't read, many I haven't even heard of

And putting the Baroque Cycle on there instead of Anathem is just crazypants.

True. The Baroque Cycle was good fun but Anathem is a masterpiece.

Ok, i know i am months behind but i LOVED GWTW as a tween. The only photo of my in my 6th grade yearbook (aside from the obligatory one for parents to buy copies of and hold on to for mortification in later years) is of me sitting in home room re-reading that massive tome. I was ambivalent towards Scarlett but felt that she belonged with Rhett, and the staircase scene never struck me as rape-y at all until reading this discussion. Somehow i doubt i would enjoy re-reading the book as an adult, and i have avoided the "sequel" that came out a few years back.

re: blood ....mentrual blood smells very different than regular blood, but it is still blood and seems like a female writer should be aware of that and considering the implications, even if she is to squicked out to include it in her tweeny romance.

If i were a vampire (note use of subjunctive for a contrary to fact conditional clause) i suspect that lady-time blood would be a little less savoury than the real thing. Maybe even syrupy sweet. And clumpy. Yuck.

Are the _house of night_ books worth reading? As brain candy, of course.

Most of those I haven't read, many I haven't even heard of

Oh yeah - in a way I'm glad some of my favorites were left off because now I have a bunch of new things for my TBR list.

Probably still a decent list to start catching up on SF again, though, right? Most of those I haven't read, many I haven't even heard of

I read Perdido Street Station a couple years ago and loved it. Mostly. It's an impressive novel, for sure, but the last forty pages cast a dark pall over the entire book.

House of Night books... I'd say avoid them. The first few were fluffy fun, but the main character drives me insane (she's constantly juggling 3 different guys). And the story just keeps going on, and on, and on, and it feels like the writers don't have enough story for how many books they were given (the series was just expanded by several more books I believe.)

The most recent book was horrible (pretty much nothing happened until the last 5 pages or so). I rarely give up a series before it's complete, but I'm done with this one.

If you're looking for a really kick ass series, try The Hollows series (Rachel Morgan) by Kim Harrison. I discovered it while reading Mercy Thompson series (LOVED!) by Patricia Briggs (which you guys turned me on to).

Discovering a new author is one of my favorite things, and I've been in heaven since I've been on this Briggs/Harrison kick!

I've read the first three House of the Night Series. I enjoy the begining of each book, wonder why I am reading them in the middle and then enjoy the end of each book.

the 4th book is staring at me

I've seen The Hollow series in the store but haven't picked them up, I'll have to try it.

I have a Literary Hive Mind question-- I'm trying to get Mom a Xmas present and I though about an online book rental service. I know there are a few, even though the library is close Mom doesn't frequent it, she just ends up buying books both hard back and paperback and then sometimes they get traded in but often times just sent to Goodwill (because the closest used bookstore doesn't take them).

So I thought an online rental service would be a good idea because it would be easy for her and save her money. She can go through a book in a couple of days or a couple of books in day (depending).

Does anyone have any experience with any of the online book rental places? Any recommendations?

Going back to the GWTW, sorry... I've been wondering, what if fanfic took Rhett and Scarlett and Tara and dropped them off into Hurricane Katrina Louisiana? I bet with Scarlett's business acumen, she'd be scoring loans and working in construction and turning up her pretty nose at whatsisface, Sue Ellen's fella. (Frank Kennedy?) Would she have been such a cut throat bitch if she hadn't ever had to wonder where her next meal was coming from, if her life had had more comfort, if her Visa had never been charged up to the limit on necessities?

Then I think either: wow, that's so brilliant, food for thought! What would she do, how would it all be different?

Or I think, maybe the pain killers are working a little too well for me right now.