Looking for a new book to read
POSTED BY: amygdala
UPDATED: Wednesday, November 30, 2005 04:52
VIEWED: 27073
PAGE 6 of 8
For something Firefly related, kinda, sorta, I'd recommend the Icarus Hunt by Timothy Zahn.
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I would try at least one more Honor. They aren't as flashy as some but the thing I liked (and I haven't read them all) is her integrity. Maybe more subtle in some ways and yeah, sometimes boring (I like lots of opera in my space opera) but okay. Guys seem to like them better.
Some more off-the-wall books: Melisa Michaels "Floater" books - dont' remember the proper titles right off hand but interesting use of language. I think she integrated Haiwaiin (sp??) - love it when people integrate unique language patterns.
Melisa also runs Embiid.net which publishes ebooks of the Liaden universe and her own and others...
A series a friend had me read, Debra Doyle and James MacDonald (plus??) was pretty fun. Returned the books to him, though, but you'll probably find them all on half.com.
If you like a very strange premise, odd but almost beautiful prose and again, very interesting use of language there is the Hellflower trilogy by eluki bes shahar who is also Rosemary Edghill - and her sister India is also pretty good, too. She wrote Regencies at one point, which helps decipher the Hellflower stuff if you know a bit about "cant" I think it's called. She has a site on sff.net and I'm pretty sure Baen has some of her newer stuff in their electronic library.
Anything by Peter David works for me, too. The man can write angst (Imzadi) and then turn around and have you ROTFL. (Sir Apropos of Nothing)
I think it's time to hit Amazon again...
Terry
p.s. almost forgot the Artemis Fowl books. technically they're for kids but I suspect more adults read them.
Quote:
- Note that Harrington series is mentioned a lot in this thread. Read the first one and (she cringes in anticipation of horrified replies) not totally convinced. Anyone else feel this way then get converted later on? I'm really not a pure adventure and space-battley reader - need a large proportion of human interest. Maybe I should just give up?
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Here's my votes:
Dark tower dark tower dark tower: its sci fi and its fantasy and its western- nuthin' else to say 'cept read Eyes of the Dragon- a related book not in the series
terry pratchett discworld: laugh out loud funny- he's done some kids books in the same world (Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents) and The Wee Free Men- appropriate for kids and great for us fogies too
stephen brust: To Reign in Hell and Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grill I won't describe 'em 'cause I can't do 'em justice
Harry Harrison: Bill the Galactic Hero and Stainless Steel Rat series- both get kinda odd towards the end, not sure if I mean that in a good way but fun as hell
fantasy hack 'n slash: William King's slayer series set in the world of Warhammer (Trollslayer, Skavenslayer, Beastslayer, etc.) Gotrek is the biggest badass in any genre EVER- a dwarf with a mohawk that doubles his height, eyepatch, facial piercings and a mystical axe. Perfectly willing to assault a siege engine or entire army solo, with a hangover. the books are short fast reads and the action is too intense
Cynicism is the smoke that rises from the ashes of burned out dreams.
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Harry Harrison wrote one of my all-time favorite time travel books "Rebel in Time" and every time I read it I think, Denzel, Denzel, why haven't you optioned this book? My daughter loves the Stainless Steel Rat series but they never got me. I did like a few of the Galactic Hero books way back when...
I should have seconded the first Diana Gabaldon book as a riveting, don't plan anything for the weekend kind of book. Well, if you like Scottish history, anyway, and one incredible smoking, steam -rising-off-the-pages hero. I didn't like the sequels as much but Jamie and Clair are great characters. (Warning: graphic sex and a rape that makes you want to cry when the victim recounts it.)
I do have a couple of favorite old, apocolyptic-style novels, "Alas Babylon" by Pat Frank (very dated now but so am I - lol - but it totally pegs the sixties nuclear fears) and "Lucifer's Hammer" by Niven and Pournelle (you'll never think of rats in quite the same way).
These days I don't read a lot of scific unless someone recommends a specific book. I read mainly mysteries and fluff like Janet Evanovich - btw, Reese Witherspoon as Stephanie Plum, no way - so I've been collecting recommendations too.
Terry
Quote:
Originally posted by OurMrReynolds:
Here's my votes:
...snip...
Harry Harrison: Bill the Galactic Hero and Stainless Steel Rat series- both get kinda odd towards the end, not sure if I mean that in a good way but fun as hell
...snip...
Cynicism is the smoke that rises from the ashes of burned out dreams.
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Went to Amazon to look this up and got looking at other TZ books. (I had only read the Star Wars ones.) Anyway I was reading through the reviews of a Dragon/Thief trilogy and thinking that I needed to pick it up until I read the review of the last book. Recommended for reluctant readers, boys 10-15. ;-)
Terry
Quote:
Originally posted by Sniper:
For something Firefly related, kinda, sorta, I'd recommend the Icarus Hunt by Timothy Zahn.
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Quote:
Originally posted by terryo:
A series a friend had me read, Debra Doyle and James MacDonald (plus??) was pretty fun. Returned the books to him, though, but you'll probably find them all on half.com.
That would be the Mageworlds series which is fluffy space opera about the offspring of a scoundrel and a princess, with psychic powers thrown in. It's all very Star Wars (up to and including Wookies), but I mean that in the best possible way, and it's all a helluva lot of fun. If you're a fan of the Vorkosigan and Liaden books and are looking for more in a similar vein, you'll enjoy the Mageworlds series.
There's a fair pile of books in the series, but at it's core Mageworlds is a trilogy: Price of the Stars, Starpilot's Grave, and By Honor Betray'd. Beyond that there's a prequel, a next-generation sequel, and several way-prequel books that I haven't gotten to just yet.
On the Vorkosigan front, as someone who was advocating beginning with the Miles books I should say that beginning with his parent's adventures (as collected in Cordelia's Honor) is just as good if not better. When recommending the series I've found the first couple of Miles books to be a solid hook, at which point folks usually go back and read the first two books - but they're really just as good, if not better, starting point. To be honest, it's really hard to go wrong no matter what - as long as people are picking up and buying the Vorkosigan books, I'm happy.
Also, I was pleased to see that the first collection of the Liaden chapbooks, The Liaden Universe Compainion (Volume One) is now out in trade paperback, collecting all sorts of short stories and novellas that fill in gaps (or just go off on fun tangents) in the Liaden series. These were way too pricey when they were being sold as the chapbooks, but collected this is a helluva deal. Highly recommended!
Finally, my ludicrous to-read backlog has kept me from reading anything recommended in this thread so far, but I have been keeping notes and hope to enjoy some of the recommendations Real Soon Now.
FnordChan
"I do have a cause, though. It's obscenity. I'm for it." - Tom Lehrer
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Thanks for posting the Mageworlds titles. I agree that they were fun. I don't know if I would reread them like I do the Vorkosigan novels but if you need something new it fits the bill.
And thanks for the update on the Liaden chapbooks - I think I have them all but they are scattered in boxes. Digest format tends to slip through the cracks. Book format is good. And lendable. Also need to replace my Plan B, which seems to have disappeared.
Terry
Quote:
Originally posted by FnordChan:
...snipping Mageworlds list but yes, that's the one...
Also, I was pleased to see that the first collection of the Liaden chapbooks, The Liaden Universe Compainion (Volume One) is now out in trade paperback, collecting all sorts of short stories and novellas that fill in gaps (or just go off on fun tangents) in the Liaden series. These were way too pricey when they were being sold as the chapbooks, but collected this is a helluva deal. Highly recommended!
...snipping...
"I do have a cause, though. It's obscenity. I'm for it." - Tom Lehrer
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- So, I've finished the Vorkosigan Series, and wow. Highly recommended. Have achieved my goal in making this thread of finding more books that you don't want to ever end.
For those who have yet to discover this series, the author is Lois McMaster Bujold, the genre is sci-fi, and the series is just so much fun. If you love your heroes smart, sarcastic, fighting stacked odds, and more than a little crazy (and you know you do), start reading.
The stories in order are: Shards of Honour, Barrayar, The Warrior's Apprentice, The Mountains of Mourning, The Vor Game, Cetaganda, Labyrinth, Brothers in Arms, Borders of Infinity, Mirror Game, Memory, Komarr, A Civil Campaign, Winterfair Gifts, Diplomatic Immunity.
Here it gets confusing. Some are stand-alone novels, some come in short story form with other stories from the series, or even with stories from other authors. I highly recommend just downloading them all as ebooks. Between baenbooks, fictionwise and amazon they should all be available. There are also two stories: Ethan of Athos and Falling Free, which aren't nescessary to the series, and don't directly involve Miles.
Do try to read them in order, especially the later ones. After a delay getting the books from Amazon, I gave in and read Komarr before the preceding three books, and I hugely regret it. Two of these books were hugely affecting, and I didn't get the full impact of the story as I knew what the main outcomes would be.
Favorites? Warrior's Apprentice and The Vor Game. Maladaptive alter ego of a troubled young man or no, the early Admiral Naismith bluffing his way around the universe makes for stunning, hilarious reading. Also Mirror Game and Memory were wonderful in a completely different way. Before these novels, I thought Bujold's stories could start getting formulaic and tired, but she goes off on a whedonesque tangent and makes everything new. Magnificent.
- Just wanted to add to the mention of Stephen Donaldson's Gap Series. Started reading it again after I saw it mentioned here (forgot I had it, actually). Space opera on a truly operatic scale. Literally. It's actually based on Wagner's four-part opera cycle The Ring of the Nibelung. It's not my favourite series ever, but is pretty compulsive reading with an truly explosive climax. It's the sort of series where if you imagine the worst thing that could ever happen to a character, it happens and then some. And it never lets up.
- Have also just read the latest book in the Alvin Maker trilogy, The Crystal City. This series is my favourite of Orson Scott Card's. It has a charm and humour that appears to be missing in his other work. It's a fantasy series set in an America that failed to achieve Independence, and where magic exists. In this latest book I finally twigged that Alvin has become a Christ-like figure. Not sure if I want to read the next novel in the series, 'cos that never turns out well.
- Lastly, noticed the widespread approval of The Dark Materials trilogy, and thought I'd suggest a children's trilogy that I thought was even better. Called: The Wind On Fire. Author: William Nicholson. Check it out.
Would love other people's feedback on books featured in this thread.
'Til next time
----
"She was naked, and all ... articulate."
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Why don't you try Eragon and Eldest, the first two books in the new 'Inheritence' trilogy.
They're amazing, I've not enjoyed books this much since I read the His Dark Materials trilogy.
Cracking.
...and we will call it...this land...
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Anything by Terry Pratchett - this man is a genius.
If you love the slightly twisted viewpoint of the world, and his ability to turn common situations on their head and show us just how daft and shallow we really all are!
They are definately the thinking persons comedy. You can read them superficially and roll on the floor laughing, or read them again and get the hidden message.
WARNING: he has written thirty-odd discworld novels, so once you're hooked, be prepared to buy them all!
Check out http://www.ie.lspace.org/
They have a suggested reading list etc -my advice is read them in the order they were written, then they all flow.
I love writing, but this man makes me wonder why I try! in one line he can create a city for you to explore.... he is amazing. And did I mention FUNNY!
Quote:
- "If you're going to suggest I try dropping twenty feet down a pitch dark
tower in the hope of hitting a couple of greasy little steps which might
not even still be there, you can forget it," said Rincewind sharply.
- "There is an alternative, then."
- "Out with it, man."
- "You could drop five hundred feet down a pitch black tower and hit stones
which certainly are there," said Twoflower.
Dead silence from below him. Then Rincewind said, accusingly, "That was sarcasm."
-- (Terry Pratchett, The Light Fantastic)
another one:
Only one creature could have duplicated the expressions on their faces, and that would be a pigeon who has heard not only that Lord Nelson has got down off his column but has also been seen buying a 12-bore repeater and a box of cartridges.
-- (Terry Pratchett, Mort)
and another one:
It is a fact that although the Death of the Discworld is, in his own words, an ANTHROPOMORPHIC PERSONIFICATION, he long ago gave up using the traditional skeletal horses, because of the bother of having to stop all the time to wire bits back on.
-- (Terry Pratchett, Mort)
OH GOD STOP ME!!!! I can quote TP until the end of time......
Must stop, must stop....
They say they want a soulmate and a helpmeet, but sooner or later the list includes skin like silk and a chest fit for a herd of cows....Angua in 'Jingo' by Terry Pratchett
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