I love reading. One of the reasons I became a writer is because of how much I love to read.
The stuff I usually read is, predictably, science fiction. I read a lot of Fantasy when I was younger and, given the time and opportunity, I’ll read it now… the last book I finished was high fantasy that was shockingly good. But my usual fare is sci-fi, which I read widely and joyously.
Currently I’m reading a bunch of Battletech novels. These are classic cotton-candy sci-fi. Predictable to a large extent, with big stompy robots beating up other robots, but the good ones are focused on the characters rather than the tech. And, honestly, some of them are really good… Michael Stakepole in particular is a great example of Battletech author (he’s also written for Star Wars and a dozen other IPs), but the book I’m working on right now is a Bryan Young, and it’s been a lot of fun. Fox Patrol is a neat little book following a protagonist that might be too young to be a mercenary commander, but by jove she’s going to try. It’s been really good! And encouraging, because unlike somebody like N.K. Jemisin who is an absolute genius, Young’s writing is very approachable. He feels like just a really good writer, and not somebody who is a super genius that I will never be able to write like.
I mean that as a compliment. It’s the difference between… oh, James Shaw and Jimi Hendrix. Hendrix was a genius, but Shaw is just out there making incredible music that… honestly? I like better… anyway. Ramble ramble.
Hope everyone out there is staying safe and healthy!