Fandy if you want some good sci-fi, read Hyperion and the three books that come after, they are awesome. Ilium and Olympos, also by Dan Simmons, are good.
I really like Peter Hamilton's Commonwealth books, I don't see them mentioned on here very often.
All of them are posthumanist sci-fi, I think it's called. Super technology, relatively bright future: AIs, teleportation, longevity, etc.
I picked up Godel, Escher, Bach at the library today. Holy shit this is dense. Not sure if I'll make it through. Reading the preface was harder than reading most books.
I also go Acacia, by David Anthony Durham, it was on some best sci-fi of the year list, don't really know anything else about it. And the second Dresden Files book. I didn't really like the first, but everyone assures me that they get better so I'll give it a shot. I was going to get Drood, a Simmons book, but when I saw how thick it was I decided to not get it and GEB on the same trip.
Brovid Hasselsmof[Growling historic on the fury road]Registered Userregular
edited July 2010
I am really enjoying this book I'm reading on European history. It's an epic story, with lots of drama and suspense and cameos from loads of familiar characters. Anyone got any recommendations for other good history to read? I'm liking wide-ranging stuff, this book covers 3000 years or so. It'd be good to get an overall idea of timelines before reading up more detailed accounts of specific events.
Columbine flew by in only two posts pages ago before I could 'third' Pharezon's recommendation of it and say that it might actually be an important book for our modern times. I mean, I guess I've done that now. Still...
About a third of a way through Kraken and enjoying it, although the writing quality seems to fluctuate from awesome PSS/The Scar Mievielle to somewhat over-earnest King Rat Mieville from time to time. Who knew London was so wrapped around giant squid worship?
I agree! It's remarkable how wrong everyone was about the tragedy. To the point of absurdity, even.
No, it's non-fiction. But I think my brain has been broken by fantasy novels. I keep thinking how well fleshed-out the world is, and then I remember it's because it's real.
Columbine flew by in only two posts pages ago before I could 'third' Pharezon's recommendation of it and say that it might actually be an important book for our modern times. I mean, I guess I've done that now. Still...
About a third of a way through Kraken and enjoying it, although the writing quality seems to fluctuate from awesome PSS/The Scar Mievielle to somewhat over-earnest King Rat Mieville from time to time. Who knew London was so wrapped around giant squid worship?
I agree! It's remarkable how wrong everyone was about the tragedy. To the point of absurdity, even.
And then at the end of an excellent and thorough history and psychological profile of the event and actors, you get what amounts to a bonus essay about how Columbine single-handedly changed SWAT hostage response doctrine for the entire country.
Is he (prob.) a megalomaniac wanting his ego stoked and needing to be in charge, to be thought of as important - keep him talking and give him some of what he wants to keep him on the line. The old way.
Is he a literal psychopath who is doing it fundamentally to see other people's reactions to the pain he's causing and to leave a [truly fucked up] legacy? Safeties off and storm the building guns blazing. Hostage casualties are undesirable but may be necessary to keep the whole lot from being offed. The new way.
Fandy if you want some good sci-fi, read Hyperion and the three books that come after, they are awesome. Ilium and Olympos, also by Dan Simmons, are good.
I really like Peter Hamilton's Commonwealth books, I don't see them mentioned on here very often.
All of them are posthumanist sci-fi, I think it's called. Super technology, relatively bright future: AIs, teleportation, longevity, etc.
Two books yesterday:
"The 188th Crybaby Brigade" about an American guy who joins the IDF. Funny. Not as touching to me as it would have been to somebody who was actually there, but still good.
"Classy," a book about how to be stylish without being a skank, from this guy who seems to be the world's gay best friend. Maybe good advice but I felt so silly afterwards.
No, it's non-fiction. But I think my brain has been broken by fantasy novels. I keep thinking how well fleshed-out the world is, and then I remember it's because it's real.
What you described sounded like Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, which I think you might enjoy. It's fiction, but with a lot of fact worked in. It takes place in 18th century Europe and the rest of the world, it's about the misadventures of some latter-day alchemists, including Issac Newton.
The first movie with Patrick Stewart and Sting and oh Gosh I love it
My Dad and my brother were all about this movie, and I couldn't stand to watch it once. I haven't read the book yet, it was just too damn bizarre and weird.
Read the book, watch the movie, and marvel at the depths of it's radness
Or I will hunt you down
You know, I was going to buy a book by this Murakami guy you dudes rave about, but I have been meaning to read Dune for several years. I know my brother has a ton of Dune books, and I think he left them at our parents' place when he shipped out for the Navy. I will see if my parents can find the first one, as I have a nice vacation coming up soon.
I bought him Hyperion, and have yet to read it, so I will see if that can be located too.
Don't bother with any Dune books that say Brian Herbert on the cover.
The first movie with Patrick Stewart and Sting and oh Gosh I love it
My Dad and my brother were all about this movie, and I couldn't stand to watch it once. I haven't read the book yet, it was just too damn bizarre and weird.
Read the book, watch the movie, and marvel at the depths of it's radness
Or I will hunt you down
You know, I was going to buy a book by this Murakami guy you dudes rave about, but I have been meaning to read Dune for several years. I know my brother has a ton of Dune books, and I think he left them at our parents' place when he shipped out for the Navy. I will see if my parents can find the first one, as I have a nice vacation coming up soon.
I bought him Hyperion, and have yet to read it, so I will see if that can be located too.
Don't bother with any Dune books that say Brian Herbert on the cover.
Don't bother with any Dune books that aren't Dune.
Children is kinda ok, but God Emperor is just plain terrible...the protagonist is completely unrelatable.
The first movie with Patrick Stewart and Sting and oh Gosh I love it
My Dad and my brother were all about this movie, and I couldn't stand to watch it once. I haven't read the book yet, it was just too damn bizarre and weird.
Read the book, watch the movie, and marvel at the depths of it's radness
Or I will hunt you down
You know, I was going to buy a book by this Murakami guy you dudes rave about, but I have been meaning to read Dune for several years. I know my brother has a ton of Dune books, and I think he left them at our parents' place when he shipped out for the Navy. I will see if my parents can find the first one, as I have a nice vacation coming up soon.
I bought him Hyperion, and have yet to read it, so I will see if that can be located too.
Don't bother with any Dune books that say Brian Herbert on the cover.
Don't bother with any Dune books that aren't Dune.
Children is kinda ok, but God Emperor is just plain terrible...the protagonist is completely unrelatable.
I really like them, but I love political sci-fi and the setting was just so delicious. So, I am basically the target audience. Also, which protagonist are you talking about? Duncan or Leto II? Because, you're not really supposed to relate to Leto II by then. That was kind of the point. Dude gave up his humanity to save...uh, humanity.
As for Brian Herbert: it's really fucking ironic that he was the one to coin the term "talifan".
The first movie with Patrick Stewart and Sting and oh Gosh I love it
My Dad and my brother were all about this movie, and I couldn't stand to watch it once. I haven't read the book yet, it was just too damn bizarre and weird.
Read the book, watch the movie, and marvel at the depths of it's radness
Or I will hunt you down
You know, I was going to buy a book by this Murakami guy you dudes rave about, but I have been meaning to read Dune for several years. I know my brother has a ton of Dune books, and I think he left them at our parents' place when he shipped out for the Navy. I will see if my parents can find the first one, as I have a nice vacation coming up soon.
I bought him Hyperion, and have yet to read it, so I will see if that can be located too.
Don't bother with any Dune books that say Brian Herbert on the cover.
Don't bother with any Dune books that aren't Dune.
Children is kinda ok, but God Emperor is just plain terrible...the protagonist is completely unrelatable.
I really like them, but I love political sci-fi and the setting was just so delicious. So, I am basically the target audience. Also, which protagonist are you talking about? Duncan or Leto II? Because, you're not really supposed to relate to Leto II by then. That was kind of the point. Dude gave up his humanity to save...uh, humanity.
As for Brian Herbert: it's really fucking ironic that he was the one to coin the term "talifan".
Leto was the unrelatable one. If you want an inhuman protagonist, he should still be relatable in some way. If you want an unrelatable prominent character, he should not be written as a protagonist.
Duncan was just dull, especially compared to the original.
I've never bothered with any of Brian's stuff-- if the original author couldn't write sequels (to be fair, the ending of the original would be kinda hard to follow-up), I'm not going to put much faith in his kid. What I know of them hasn't done much to make me reconsider.
I'm pretty sure good pulp falls under the porn test; you can't define it but you know it when you see it. That's how I feel about junk reading in general, everybody's got stuff they link and stuff they don't, there's no reason to look down on someone for their junk reading.
Now if they start to say it's "good" or has some literary merit, that you can flog someone for.
I'm pretty sure good pulp falls under the porn test; you can't define it but you know it when you see it. That's how I feel about junk reading in general, everybody's got stuff they link and stuff they don't, there's no reason to look down on someone for their junk reading.
Now if they start to say it's "good" or has some literary merit, that you can flog someone for.
Isn't porn media of people banging/masturbating?
Fandy, I would say pulp can be a lot of things, noir, romance, sci-fi, "historical," thriller, mystery, military whatever, etc. The difference between a commuter novel/pulp and literature is dicey though. A novel all about cyborg badasses killing aliens could be pulp to one person and literature with themes of isolation, desperation, post-traumatic stress disorder and the dehumanizing nature of technology to a different person.
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facetiousa wit so dryit shits sandRegistered Userregular
edited July 2010
Not really new, but I'm fiiiiiiinally going to be finishing Mary Renault's "The Charioteer". I read most of it while waiting in lines for panels at PAX East and haven't touched it since. For.. various reasons, partly being busy, partly dreading the ending (basically I want him to end up with one guy, but I suspect he'll choose the other).
I'm finishing it because I'm going to be rereading the entire Harry Potter series for the first time. Starting today, the third anniversary of the release of Deathly Hallows. I finished it before July 21, 2007 had ended, and haven't reread any of the books since.
facetious on
"I am not young enough to know everything." - Oscar Wilde
The first movie with Patrick Stewart and Sting and oh Gosh I love it
My Dad and my brother were all about this movie, and I couldn't stand to watch it once. I haven't read the book yet, it was just too damn bizarre and weird.
Read the book, watch the movie, and marvel at the depths of it's radness
Or I will hunt you down
You know, I was going to buy a book by this Murakami guy you dudes rave about, but I have been meaning to read Dune for several years. I know my brother has a ton of Dune books, and I think he left them at our parents' place when he shipped out for the Navy. I will see if my parents can find the first one, as I have a nice vacation coming up soon.
I bought him Hyperion, and have yet to read it, so I will see if that can be located too.
Don't bother with any Dune books that say Brian Herbert on the cover.
Don't bother with any Dune books that aren't Dune.
Children is kinda ok, but God Emperor is just plain terrible...the protagonist is completely unrelatable.
I really like them, but I love political sci-fi and the setting was just so delicious. So, I am basically the target audience. Also, which protagonist are you talking about? Duncan or Leto II? Because, you're not really supposed to relate to Leto II by then. That was kind of the point. Dude gave up his humanity to save...uh, humanity.
As for Brian Herbert: it's really fucking ironic that he was the one to coin the term "talifan".
Leto was the unrelatable one. If you want an inhuman protagonist, he should still be relatable in some way. If you want an unrelatable prominent character, he should not be written as a protagonist.
Duncan was just dull, especially compared to the original.
I've never bothered with any of Brian's stuff-- if the original author couldn't write sequels (to be fair, the ending of the original would be kinda hard to follow-up), I'm not going to put much faith in his kid. What I know of them hasn't done much to make me reconsider.
God this.
Every Dune book went downhill after Dune. I can't even bring myself to finish Chaperhouse and I re-read Dune every Year or so.
but it lays down the basic questions pretty effectively, and answers the things most people are liable to ask. stuff like "where do you get morality?" and "how do you derive meaning from life?" and "isn't atheism a kind of faith in itself?" are pretty tidily answered in human terms
instead of saying "theists do this, atheists do that," it's a lot more like "well, actually, everyone makes moral choices for themselves regardless of divine law." it bridges the gap instead of attacking religion.
if you're looking for a good atheist read though I'd highly recommend
the little book of atheist spirituality definitely helped me get my beliefs in line when believing in god wasn't an option anymore. it's very human, and academically rigorous without being academically dry. basically it tries to convey the idea that christianity lent a lot to western culture, and even without God we still have a lot to gain from its influence. being atheist does not imply being amnesiac; we can't just dump all of religion in a river.
sorry that's probably more than you wanted to hear but these kinds of books excite me
I might pick up that Atheism - A Brief Insight to us as a loaner. Don't really think I need to read about atheist spirituality, though - I got my shit figured out already. :P
I have a 33% off coupon for Borders. My Mom is looking for Dune and Hyperion. Maybe I should buy that big wh40k Inquisitor whoever book? Or some comics?
I am potentially getting those books for free. I am looking to spend cash money and use a coupon on a book. I really enjoy the wh40k setting, so I may buy Eisenhorn. I'm also a few books behind on Hellboy, and there was a Hellboy feature in USAToday that reminded me of that, so maybe a Hellboy trade. I also need volume 1 of the Umbrella Academy, man I just don't know.
Posts
The Forever War is one of the superior examples of the medium
But man, I love The City and the Stars and A Fall of Moondust so much, I don't think anything will ever top them for me
I really like Peter Hamilton's Commonwealth books, I don't see them mentioned on here very often.
All of them are posthumanist sci-fi, I think it's called. Super technology, relatively bright future: AIs, teleportation, longevity, etc.
I also go Acacia, by David Anthony Durham, it was on some best sci-fi of the year list, don't really know anything else about it. And the second Dresden Files book. I didn't really like the first, but everyone assures me that they get better so I'll give it a shot. I was going to get Drood, a Simmons book, but when I saw how thick it was I decided to not get it and GEB on the same trip.
I agree! It's remarkable how wrong everyone was about the tragedy. To the point of absurdity, even.
I think I need to take a break and hug a puppy or something.
No, it's non-fiction. But I think my brain has been broken by fantasy novels. I keep thinking how well fleshed-out the world is, and then I remember it's because it's real.
alice munro, i'm looking at you
yessss
yesssssss
And then at the end of an excellent and thorough history and psychological profile of the event and actors, you get what amounts to a bonus essay about how Columbine single-handedly changed SWAT hostage response doctrine for the entire country.
Is he (prob.) a megalomaniac wanting his ego stoked and needing to be in charge, to be thought of as important - keep him talking and give him some of what he wants to keep him on the line. The old way.
Is he a literal psychopath who is doing it fundamentally to see other people's reactions to the pain he's causing and to leave a [truly fucked up] legacy? Safeties off and storm the building guns blazing. Hostage casualties are undesirable but may be necessary to keep the whole lot from being offed. The new way.
Steam profile.
Getting started with BATTLETECH: Part 1 / Part 2
I'm on to some Borges next, and then maybe some Kafka.
I've heard a lot about these
You guys have just stolen money from me
"The 188th Crybaby Brigade" about an American guy who joins the IDF. Funny. Not as touching to me as it would have been to somebody who was actually there, but still good.
"Classy," a book about how to be stylish without being a skank, from this guy who seems to be the world's gay best friend. Maybe good advice but I felt so silly afterwards.
http://numberblog.wordpress.com/
What you described sounded like Neal Stephenson's Baroque Cycle, which I think you might enjoy. It's fiction, but with a lot of fact worked in. It takes place in 18th century Europe and the rest of the world, it's about the misadventures of some latter-day alchemists, including Issac Newton.
Don't bother with any Dune books that say Brian Herbert on the cover.
Don't bother with any Dune books that aren't Dune.
As for Brian Herbert: it's really fucking ironic that he was the one to coin the term "talifan".
Duncan was just dull, especially compared to the original.
I've never bothered with any of Brian's stuff-- if the original author couldn't write sequels (to be fair, the ending of the original would be kinda hard to follow-up), I'm not going to put much faith in his kid. What I know of them hasn't done much to make me reconsider.
Now if they start to say it's "good" or has some literary merit, that you can flog someone for.
Isn't porn media of people banging/masturbating?
Fandy, I would say pulp can be a lot of things, noir, romance, sci-fi, "historical," thriller, mystery, military whatever, etc. The difference between a commuter novel/pulp and literature is dicey though. A novel all about cyborg badasses killing aliens could be pulp to one person and literature with themes of isolation, desperation, post-traumatic stress disorder and the dehumanizing nature of technology to a different person.
I'm finishing it because I'm going to be rereading the entire Harry Potter series for the first time. Starting today, the third anniversary of the release of Deathly Hallows. I finished it before July 21, 2007 had ended, and haven't reread any of the books since.
Steam: Chagrin LoL: Bonhomie
God this.
Every Dune book went downhill after Dune. I can't even bring myself to finish Chaperhouse and I re-read Dune every Year or so.
And Ian Fleming.
how is it?
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
it's pretty good! it's a little basic for me
but it lays down the basic questions pretty effectively, and answers the things most people are liable to ask. stuff like "where do you get morality?" and "how do you derive meaning from life?" and "isn't atheism a kind of faith in itself?" are pretty tidily answered in human terms
instead of saying "theists do this, atheists do that," it's a lot more like "well, actually, everyone makes moral choices for themselves regardless of divine law." it bridges the gap instead of attacking religion.
if you're looking for a good atheist read though I'd highly recommend
the little book of atheist spirituality definitely helped me get my beliefs in line when believing in god wasn't an option anymore. it's very human, and academically rigorous without being academically dry. basically it tries to convey the idea that christianity lent a lot to western culture, and even without God we still have a lot to gain from its influence. being atheist does not imply being amnesiac; we can't just dump all of religion in a river.
sorry that's probably more than you wanted to hear but these kinds of books excite me
Rock Band DLC | GW:OttW - arrcd | WLD - Thortar
I am potentially getting those books for free. I am looking to spend cash money and use a coupon on a book. I really enjoy the wh40k setting, so I may buy Eisenhorn. I'm also a few books behind on Hellboy, and there was a Hellboy feature in USAToday that reminded me of that, so maybe a Hellboy trade. I also need volume 1 of the Umbrella Academy, man I just don't know.