Here are the books I've read - and have tried to read - recently.

Dune by Frank Herbert

I really enjoyed this book. Strange thing is that I don't now what, exactly, it was about the novel I enjoyed so much; perhaps it was no single major thing - or things - but several small things working together.

I'm certainly going to buy a copy should I ever happen upon one, and I'm certainly going to go ahead and read the first sequel.

Fright Time #1 by various

Knowing this was a kids' book, I didn't go into it expecting stellar Stephen King-level material. Still, this has to be the lamest juvenile horror I've ever read, and I've read lots of R. L. Stine. Each of the three stories was weak - especially the second one, where a bunch of evil trolls and their robot annihilators(!) came out some artist's scanner.

Suffice it to say, I'm not keeping my copy, cool cover art notwithstanding.

Fright Time #11 by various

Unlike the above-mentioned entry in the series, this book actually contained some actually decent stories (the one with the albino ghouls was particularly interesting).

Unfortunately, it's not a book that I consider keep-worthy - especially in light of the limited shelf space I have available - so it goes.

The Death and Life of Superman by Roger Stern

The only reason I decided to buy and read this book was because I was hoping to get a version of the story that differed noticeably from the version told in the comics. Once I realised I was just getting the comics' story in novel form, I stopped reading; I've got better things to do (and read) than go over a story I've already gone over before in a more interesting format.

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds by various

I had an epiphany while reading through this book - I have no interest in any Star Trek EU that takes place outside of the TOS era, none whatsoever; and all but about five of the stories in this collection are TNG/DS9/VOY-centric.

So, with that in mind, I stopped reading and I plan on getting rid of my copy (along with Star Trek: Strange New Worlds II, which I also - stupidly - bought).

Independence Day: Silent Zone by Stephen Molstad

The story was interesting at first, by it lost its energy halfway through and ended on a flat note. It was nice to get some insight into the aliens' culture/history/technology, though, so it wasn't what I would call a waste of time.

On Writing: A Memoir on the Craft by Stephen King

I regret buying this book. Not because it was bad by any means - it was fairly entertaining and insightful - but it really isn't something I can see myself reading again.

All in all, I convinced more than ever I should take a book out from the library and read it before deciding to buy it.