I've been using the library and used book stores to get back to reading this year and have discovered some real gems. <br /><br />C.J. Cherryh- I had read Pride of Chanur back in the day and while I did enjoy it I did not become smitten with her as an author. Having read Merchanter's Luck, Hestia, and Serpents Reach this year she's become one of my new favorites. She writes pretty good sci fi but her characters are very believable and she's been working in a sub current of romance into her stories which I've found very refreshing since my tastes have usually gone to action-adventure. The romance doesn't get in the way of the story or make you want to drop the book as its not really romance for the sake of being romance but rather it can be important to the resolution of the story.<br />Currently reading "Cuckoo's Egg" by Cherryh<br /><br />"Siege Perilous" by Lester Del Rey short read and interesting concept though his story is "dated" in a way that Cherryh's works remain kind of timeless. Still I have enjoyed two Del Rey's stories this year for the ideas in them dispite some of the out dated setting elements. Plus at 150 pages he's a quick read. It's odd though, at a 150 pages I'm actually ready for the story to be over as I feel like I've gotten the ideas I'm going to get out of it. His characters are not the deep nor compelling.<br /><br />Jack McDevitt- WOW, this guy is good and his stuff is not like anything I've encountered before. My hand's down new favorite. He writes mysteries and while wikipedia says that it usually involves first contact with an alien species that is not exactly correct. The Alex Bennidict series of which I just put a hold on the 3rd book at the library has not gone in for first contact stuff at all. While there has been only a little action in this series both books that I read were compelling- I had to just keep turning pages. The mystery hooked me and a mystery/sci fi adventure has been another breath of fresh air. Highly Recommend: "A Talent for War" and "Polaris"
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