Somebody name me a decent Clancey novel. And if one of those is Rainbow 6, name me two.
Without Remorse is an awesome action movie but with pages.
Also I liked Clear and Present Danger and Patriot Games (if you don't mind the dumb cement truck subplot). And I hear that Hunt for Red October was good.
Without Remorse was awesome. John Clarke was like mother-fuckin` Batman.
Oh I agree, I really liked Dune. A bit long winded if anything, but not overly so. I suppose that's necessary when you're creating an entire new universe.
Very true about creating a new universe, just one reason it had a huge following. As for Dune being long winded.. I would have to say that is a matter of interpretation. I found it to be too short but I am really into the political intrigue and the possible ramifications for various actions.
On a side note, I picked up "The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire" on clearance from a book store that was going out of business and it is the best book I have read in a while. It is also the only book outside of a text book i have read in the past year, but my statement still stands. Thanks to everyone who recommended it.
Calculating God is the new near-future SF thriller from the popular and award-winning Robert J. Sawyer. An alien shuttle craft lands outside the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. A six-legged, two-armed alien emerges, who says, in perfect English, "Take me to a paleontologist." It seems that Earth, and the alien's home planet, and the home planet of another alien species traveling on the alien mother ship, all experienced the same five cataclysmic events at about the same time (one example of these "cataclysmic events" would be the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs). Both alien races believe this proves the existence of God: i.e. he's obviously been playing with the evolution of life on each of these planets.From this provocative launch point, Sawyer tells a fast-paced, and morally and intellectually challenging, SF story that just grows larger and larger in scope. The evidence of God's universal existence is not universally well received on Earth, nor even immediately believed. And it reveals nothing of God's nature. In fact. it poses more questions than it answers.When a supernova explodes out in the galaxy but close enough to wipe out life on all three home-worlds, the big question is, Will God intervene or is this the sixth cataclysm:?Calculating God is SF on the grand scale.
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FandyienBut Otto, what about us? Registered Userregular
edited January 2008
That sounds pretty interesting. If you want a fucking grand science fiction bonanza, though, read The Foundation series. It's some of the most epic shit ever put to ink.
So guys I have some extra money I've been wanting to use to treat myself to something "artsy" and I don't know if I should go with a limited edition print book signed by the author or a signed art print? I found some info on a Snow Crash edition that is coming out and I'm trying really hard not to be impulsive about it. What are you guys thoughts on that stuff?
Dune was really good, but I enjoyed it more listening rather than reading it. Not really sure why, but it seemed to have more impact when I was hearing everything.
Started the Diamond Age again after a pretty long hiatus. The beginning was pretty slow, which is why I stopped for other books, but wow. It has really picked up in all the best ways. The characters are phenomenal, and the setting really excellent too. Can't believe I stopped reading it.
Dune really seemed to be the best of the huge number of sequels and prequels. Also damnit now I need to try and pick up Diamond Age again (I got distracted by Neverwhere which at the time was much more fun to read).
Muse Among MenSuburban Bunny Princess?Its time for a new shtick Registered Userregular
edited January 2008
I'll say it here: I hate Nabokov for writing an excellent book that made such a pretty name taboo. Seriously, Lolita is too pretty to not name babies that.
So guys I have some extra money I've been wanting to use to treat myself to something "artsy" and I don't know if I should go with a limited edition print book signed by the author or a signed art print? I found some info on a Snow Crash edition that is coming out and I'm trying really hard not to be impulsive about it. What are you guys thoughts on that stuff?
Go with a print. A signed book is useless unless you go out of your way to show someone that you have a signed copy of a book. I mean, if you're going to blow a wad of cash, I wouldn't do it on a signed book.
Unless it was Vladimir Nabokov or someone else important and dead.
So guys I have some extra money I've been wanting to use to treat myself to something "artsy" and I don't know if I should go with a limited edition print book signed by the author or a signed art print? I found some info on a Snow Crash edition that is coming out and I'm trying really hard not to be impulsive about it. What are you guys thoughts on that stuff?
Go with a print. A signed book is useless unless you go out of your way to show someone that you have a signed copy of a book. I mean, if you're going to blow a wad of cash, I wouldn't do it on a signed book.
Unless it was Vladimir Nabokov or someone else important and dead.
Thats all I needed to hear. But your comment on famous dead people reminds me that I let a 300 dollar copy of The Curse of Lono rerelease in 2005 and signed by Hunter S and Ralph Steadman (making it pretty much the last thing he signed) slip through my fingers. I nearly cried when I saw it was going for a grand on ebay.
Just bought Blood Meridian. I started the audiobook a while ago, but there were things I didn't like about it, so I put it on hold.
I'm sure I'll like the print version much better.
Calculating God sounds interesting because at first it was reading like a byline for some shitty Christian SF novel but then the whole "so he exists but WHAT THE FUCK IS HE EXACTLY" angle makes it interesting.
Oh, I can't remember much of Dune anymore, but I know I read a bunch of them. I'm pretty sure they were only the Frank Herbert sequels, but iirc the story was too unfinished for me with the first bit.
It wasn't written like a 'world creation' novel, but it he manages to get across at least as significant much information about the universe as most 'world creation' novels do, which is one of the reasons I liked it.
Yeah I think this is it, I read a lot of the exposition stuff as purely that, rather than just more story, which is how he give the history of it all. I would probably get a lot more out of it if I read it today, I was about 14 when I read it.
So I remembered the name of the Murakami thing I read last year, and I feel like I need to reccomend it to anyone not familiar with his work. It was called Hard Boiled Wonderland at the End of the World and it was super fucking good.
Anyone else read it? I love the way he blends really modern stuff with almost traditional fantasy, noir-ish detective fiction, and incredibly surreal stuff that is almost always allegorical in the coolest ways.
yeah after the first dune they get progressively wackier and wackier.
I too read Soon I Will Be Invincible and I liked it a lot. It's light reading for sure but a fun look at the super hero genre.
I also liked Special Topics in Calamity Physics (not a science novel). It's got a girl and a murder mystery but also a surprising amount of character and revolutionary/guerilla warfare, if you can get past the narrator's crippling superiority complex
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FandyienBut Otto, what about us? Registered Userregular
So I remembered the name of the Murakami thing I read last year, and I feel like I need to reccomend it to anyone not familiar with his work. It was called Hard Boiled Wonderland at the End of the World and it was super fucking good.
Anyone else read it? I love the way he blends really modern stuff with almost traditional fantasy, noir-ish detective fiction, and incredibly surreal stuff that is almost always allegorical in the coolest ways.
Tell me more.
Well, it's basically about a down-on-his luck hard-boiled Japanese detective in the '80s who is sucked into a bizzare series of experiments by a government subsidised scientiest. The book takes place in two seperate worlds, each of which are tied to each other by metaphors and events - one world is a surreal town that is full of people but has only three articulated characters and is sorrounded by herds of some mythical beast.
Essentially, one half of the book is an incredibly surreal allegory for the life process, self-discovery, cynicism, love, and that which drives us. The other half is a fantastic noir narrative with elements of science fiction, horror, really weird romance, and fantasy all integrated in. I like to think of Murakami as the Neil Gaiman of Japanese writing, but he really is so much more than just creative.
As for the diction itself, it's neither too verbose nor overly simplistic, and it's pretty obvious how extensive his ability as a wordsmith is without going too overboard. It almost reminds of me of some sort of postmodern Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett.
STOVER, MATTHEW WOODRING:HEROES DIE (0345421450) 4-7 arkipäivää 7,50 €
PRATCHETT, TERRY:WYRD SISTERS (0552134600) 3-5 arkipäivää 8,80 €
PRATCHETT, TERRY:PYRAMIDS (0552134619) 3-5 arkipäivää 10,20 €
LYNCH, SCOTT:RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES (0575079673) 3-5 arkipäivää 13,20 €
MATHESON, RICHARD:I AM LEGEND M/TV (0765357151) 4-7 arkipäivää 7,50 €
Maksettava: 47,20 €
Anyone got any other recommendations? (Reading through Pratchett chronologically, so I don't miss out on details in later books.)
I fear I am missing on steam and cyber punk. Can anyone reccomend me some?
STOVER, MATTHEW WOODRING:HEROES DIE (0345421450) 4-7 arkipäivää 7,50 €
PRATCHETT, TERRY:WYRD SISTERS (0552134600) 3-5 arkipäivää 8,80 €
PRATCHETT, TERRY:PYRAMIDS (0552134619) 3-5 arkipäivää 10,20 €
LYNCH, SCOTT:RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES (0575079673) 3-5 arkipäivää 13,20 €
MATHESON, RICHARD:I AM LEGEND M/TV (0765357151) 4-7 arkipäivää 7,50 €
Maksettava: 47,20 €
Anyone got any other recommendations? (Reading through Pratchett chronologically, so I don't miss out on details in later books.)
I fear I am missing on steam and cyber punk. Can anyone reccomend me some?
cyberpunk: neuromancer, the diamond age, altered carbon
STOVER, MATTHEW WOODRING:HEROES DIE (0345421450) 4-7 arkipäivää 7,50 €
PRATCHETT, TERRY:WYRD SISTERS (0552134600) 3-5 arkipäivää 8,80 €
PRATCHETT, TERRY:PYRAMIDS (0552134619) 3-5 arkipäivää 10,20 €
LYNCH, SCOTT:RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES (0575079673) 3-5 arkipäivää 13,20 €
MATHESON, RICHARD:I AM LEGEND M/TV (0765357151) 4-7 arkipäivää 7,50 €
Maksettava: 47,20 €
Anyone got any other recommendations? (Reading through Pratchett chronologically, so I don't miss out on details in later books.)
I fear I am missing on steam and cyber punk. Can anyone reccomend me some?
cyberpunk: neuromancer, the diamond age, altered carbon
steampunk: the difference engine
Thanks, not gonna order more, cos holy fuck, that is now suddenly expensive.
So I remembered the name of the Murakami thing I read last year, and I feel like I need to reccomend it to anyone not familiar with his work. It was called Hard Boiled Wonderland at the End of the World and it was super fucking good.
Anyone else read it? I love the way he blends really modern stuff with almost traditional fantasy, noir-ish detective fiction, and incredibly surreal stuff that is almost always allegorical in the coolest ways.
Tell me more.
Well, it's basically about a down-on-his luck hard-boiled Japanese detective in the '80s who is sucked into a bizzare series of experiments by a government subsidised scientiest. The book takes place in two seperate worlds, each of which are tied to each other by metaphors and events - one world is a surreal town that is full of people but has only three articulated characters and is sorrounded by herds of some mythical beast.
Essentially, one half of the book is an incredibly surreal allegory for the life process, self-discovery, cynicism, love, and that which drives us. The other half is a fantastic noir narrative with elements of science fiction, horror, really weird romance, and fantasy all integrated in. I like to think of Murakami as the Neil Gaiman of Japanese writing, but he really is so much more than just creative.
As for the diction itself, it's neither too verbose nor overly simplistic, and it's pretty obvious how extensive his ability as a wordsmith is without going too overboard. It almost reminds of me of some sort of postmodern Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett.
Seeing as Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors (along with like Anthony Burgess I suppose) I think I need to get this book. Also because it sounds fucking amazing.
StraightziHere we may reign secure, and in my choice,To reign is worth ambition though in HellRegistered Userregular
edited January 2008
Good good. I need to read a lot in the next couple of months, I have plans for a League of Extraordinary Gentlemen styled GURPS game and I am feeling rather inadequate in terms of my knowledge of modern literature.
Pretty much anything set in the modern day or near future is my focus for the setting. The one good thing I can say is I've been rereading some of my favorite books because of it.
Pretty much anything set in the modern day or near future is my focus for the setting. The one good thing I can say is I've been rereading some of my favorite books because of it.
Posts
Without Remorse was awesome. John Clarke was like mother-fuckin` Batman.
Red Rabbit was pretty awesome too.
Very true about creating a new universe, just one reason it had a huge following. As for Dune being long winded.. I would have to say that is a matter of interpretation. I found it to be too short but I am really into the political intrigue and the possible ramifications for various actions.
On a side note, I picked up "The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire" on clearance from a book store that was going out of business and it is the best book I have read in a while. It is also the only book outside of a text book i have read in the past year, but my statement still stands. Thanks to everyone who recommended it.
For a suggested reading, I recommend Calculating God.
Started the Diamond Age again after a pretty long hiatus. The beginning was pretty slow, which is why I stopped for other books, but wow. It has really picked up in all the best ways. The characters are phenomenal, and the setting really excellent too. Can't believe I stopped reading it.
He should have totally named the book Agatha.
I know.
"Honey, who's that man outside the yard?"
"He's a friend - I'm helping him fulfill a literary fantasy!"
Unless it was Vladimir Nabokov or someone else important and dead.
there are a couple of good stories, especially by tim pratt, who i love
there's also one by joyce carol oates about some housewife wishing her husband would suck her nipples
Thats all I needed to hear. But your comment on famous dead people reminds me that I let a 300 dollar copy of The Curse of Lono rerelease in 2005 and signed by Hunter S and Ralph Steadman (making it pretty much the last thing he signed) slip through my fingers. I nearly cried when I saw it was going for a grand on ebay.
I doubt D signed any of his novels though.
I'm sure I'll like the print version much better.
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It's a quick read, only 288 pages.
It's a superhero/villain book. Fun to read.
Yeah I think this is it, I read a lot of the exposition stuff as purely that, rather than just more story, which is how he give the history of it all. I would probably get a lot more out of it if I read it today, I was about 14 when I read it.
kpop appreciation station i also like to tweet some
it was pretty good
Tell me more.
It so is.
Alot of stuff is different though, the film has changed alot of this, but I love both versions.
Man, that shit was horrible
I too read Soon I Will Be Invincible and I liked it a lot. It's light reading for sure but a fun look at the super hero genre.
I also liked Special Topics in Calamity Physics (not a science novel). It's got a girl and a murder mystery but also a surprising amount of character and revolutionary/guerilla warfare, if you can get past the narrator's crippling superiority complex
Well, it's basically about a down-on-his luck hard-boiled Japanese detective in the '80s who is sucked into a bizzare series of experiments by a government subsidised scientiest. The book takes place in two seperate worlds, each of which are tied to each other by metaphors and events - one world is a surreal town that is full of people but has only three articulated characters and is sorrounded by herds of some mythical beast.
Essentially, one half of the book is an incredibly surreal allegory for the life process, self-discovery, cynicism, love, and that which drives us. The other half is a fantastic noir narrative with elements of science fiction, horror, really weird romance, and fantasy all integrated in. I like to think of Murakami as the Neil Gaiman of Japanese writing, but he really is so much more than just creative.
As for the diction itself, it's neither too verbose nor overly simplistic, and it's pretty obvious how extensive his ability as a wordsmith is without going too overboard. It almost reminds of me of some sort of postmodern Raymond Chandler or Dashiell Hammett.
PRATCHETT, TERRY:WYRD SISTERS (0552134600) 3-5 arkipäivää 8,80 €
PRATCHETT, TERRY:PYRAMIDS (0552134619) 3-5 arkipäivää 10,20 €
LYNCH, SCOTT:RED SEAS UNDER RED SKIES (0575079673) 3-5 arkipäivää 13,20 €
MATHESON, RICHARD:I AM LEGEND M/TV (0765357151) 4-7 arkipäivää 7,50 €
Maksettava: 47,20 €
Anyone got any other recommendations? (Reading through Pratchett chronologically, so I don't miss out on details in later books.)
I fear I am missing on steam and cyber punk. Can anyone reccomend me some?
man these books are great.
"just don't say monkey. ohshit."
the librarian is the best character ever
most of all, most of all
someone said true love was dead
but i'm bound to fall
bound to fall for you
oh what can i do
cyberpunk: neuromancer, the diamond age, altered carbon
steampunk: the difference engine
Thanks, not gonna order more, cos holy fuck, that is now suddenly expensive.
Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr | Last.fm | Pandora | LibraryThing | formspring | Blue Moon over Seattle (MCFC)
Seeing as Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors (along with like Anthony Burgess I suppose) I think I need to get this book. Also because it sounds fucking amazing.
but you'd like it ,straizi
What's with the compass though?
Pretty much anything set in the modern day or near future is my focus for the setting. The one good thing I can say is I've been rereading some of my favorite books because of it.
The Road