what book should I read next?

[such_heights]

I have a bunch of shiny-looking books to dive into now that I've finished my Masters and actually have time to read novels again. These are all sitting on my to-read shelf: what should I read first?

In the case of Left Hand of Darkness it's sort of a reread - I skim-read it very quickly for a book group once but honestly couldn't tell you much about the second half of the book and need to rectify this.

Poll #8022

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 49

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What should I read next?

View Answers

The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin
23 (46.9%)

Swordspoint - Ellen Kushner
18 (36.7%)

The Persian Boy - Mary Renault
12 (24.5%)

Spirit - Gwyneth Jones
1 (2.0%)

Elaboration in comments welcome!

Also, heads up: the next London Collectormania is the first weekend of October and has a bunch of cool people as guests. Including Arthur Darvill, Alex Kingston, Caitlin Blackwood, Eve Myles, Joe Flanigan, Evanna Lynch, Diana Rigg, John Hurt and Armin Shimmerman. Full list and other details here. This is ameliorating my happy envy at reading all of your awesome Dragon*Con reports. That and having just booked tickets to see Arthur's Doctor Faustus at the Globe next week. \o/

Comments

[just_ann_now]

*waves from lurkdom to beg you to read Swordspoint and bend your mighty ficwriting talents in that direction* (I think you might enjoy the sequel, The Privilege of the Sword as well.)

[aoftheis]

I second this! I think you'd love Swordspoint, and then love The Privilege of the Sword even more. They're -- I think you'd call it a fantasy of manners? Swordspoint is slashy but ultimately about men's stories; in Privilege the female character(s) is/are central, and it's femslashy. There need to be more novels like it.

[walkthegale]

This! I actually read Privilege first, and vastly prefer it to Swordspoint, but it does contain massive spoilers for Swordspoint, so you're probably best off reading them in the right order. ;)