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Wilhelm Riley
Center for Advanced Studies Gallente Federation
147
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Posted - 2013.03.30 03:32:00 -
[1] - Quote
For the last few years I've been reading a lot more, mostly science fiction but a few other genres here and there. I guess the tl;dr is that I need some suggestions, anything is welcome but if you have anything that is remotely like those that will follow and I like it, I might send a few iskies your way.
So far I've gone through: Most of the Ringworld/Known Space series (Larry Niven) (still working through his stuff) The Light of Other Days (Arthur C. Clarke & Stephen Baxter) The Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire series, done and dusted (George R.R. Martin) (I'll be getting around to the novellas at some point too) The Hunger Games series (Suzanne Collins) Dexter series (Jeff Lindsay) Brave new World (Aldous Huxley) Island (Aldous Huxley) The Doors of Perception (Aldous Huxley) (That sounds like a fun job) Chariots of the Gods, Signs of the Gods and Eyes of the Sphinx by Erich Von Daniken, because why not? A Brief History of Time (Stephen Hawking)
Last but not least and my favourite so far, Last and First Men (Olaf Stapledon) which is so amazing you have to go read it right now.
I've heard a lot about Rendezvous with Rama so that's already on my list, as is much of the work by Mr Clarke. I agree it's not much of a library but you have to start somewhere. So, what do you have for me? |
NightCrawler 85
Phoibe Enterprises Project Wildfire
371
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Posted - 2013.03.30 03:59:00 -
[2] - Quote
I have two, but it depends completely on your taste.
The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub really got my attention. The first time i tried t read it i dident get past the first chapter because it just seemed... boring. But one day when i was bored and had nothing else to read i picked it up again and started from the begging and forced my self to read trough it. Its a combination of horror/fantasy i guess you can say, and the two authors have really done a GREAT job writing together and i have found my self reading the book over again several times. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Talisman_(King_and_Straub_novel)
The second one is also Stephen King but its not the classic.."Big scary monster! Run for your lives!". Its more..physological (i really hope im using the right word here). The story is pretty simple, but its written in a way that made me really feel..mm..emotions? with the characters and it was really one of those where you just want to keep reading. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Walk
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Shandy McFoulster
Brutor Tribe Minmatar Republic
0
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Posted - 2013.03.30 04:23:00 -
[3] - Quote
It seems you like distopian novels as do I. Here are a few good ones:
1984, Orwell (animal farm is great too, and you can finish it in a few hours) Neuromancer, Gibson Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury Anthem, Rand
Some more political/philosophical reads you might enjoy. Starship troopers, Heinlein (absolutely nothing like the movie) Atlas Shrugged, Rand Fountainhead, Rand
Get through these last two and you wont be the same person you were before you read them. |
Eurydia Vespasian
Nova Insula Mining and Industrial
1947
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Posted - 2013.03.30 06:22:00 -
[4] - Quote
NightCrawler 85 wrote:I have two, but it depends completely on your taste. The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub really got my attention. The first time i tried t read it i dident get past the first chapter because it just seemed... boring. But one day when i was bored and had nothing else to read i picked it up again and started from the begging and forced my self to read trough it. Its a combination of horror/fantasy i guess you can say, and the two authors have really done a GREAT job writing together and i have found my self reading the book over again several times. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Talisman_(King_and_Straub_novel)The second one is also Stephen King but its not the classic.."Big scary monster! Run for your lives!". Its more..physological (i really hope im using the right word here). The story is pretty simple, but its written in a way that made me really feel..mm..emotions? with the characters and it was really one of those where you just want to keep reading. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Walk
*gasp* how can you mention king and not mention "the dark tower?" that's practically a crime!
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NightCrawler 85
Phoibe Enterprises Project Wildfire
371
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Posted - 2013.03.30 06:43:00 -
[5] - Quote
Eurydia Vespasian wrote: *gasp* how can you mention king and not mention "the dark tower?" that's practically a crime!
Lol two reasons actually. The dark tower series is a bit more...typical for King and is more something you read if you really like his style of writing. At least thats my own opinion on them. Second in a way i did since the follow up to The Talisman (Black House) actually ties into the Dark Tower Series.
"Connection to The Dark Tower
When first released, King and Straub did not intend a connection between The Talisman and Stephen King's The Dark Tower series. However, the book's sequel Black House presents a soft-retcon that the Territories are a parallel to All-World. This is most clear by King's introduction to The Little Sisters of Eluria where he states the pavilion where Jack Sawyer meets Sophie is the same one in The Little Sisters.[3]'
But both The Talisman and The long walk are books that can be enjoyed by people who dont like the "classic" idea of King (Scary clowns and movies that always gets the ending ruined by a "monster"), thus its a better choise to start off with if you have already decided to hate the author based on bad movies and "Oh no you cant like King! Everyone else does so ofc he is a bad writer!"
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Noriko Satomi
Center for Advanced Studies Gallente Federation
168
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Posted - 2013.03.30 07:27:00 -
[6] - Quote
Anathem - A stunning achievement of hard science fiction. This is how science fiction used to be, matched to the literary elevation of Dune.
The Elegant Universe - String theory for the curious and intelligent non-scientist.
Dune - Seriously, just read it.
Nine Princes in Amber, or really all of the Amber Chronicles - Unique fantasy of multiple parallel universes that are all a pale reflection of the one true Amber.
The Dresden Files - Harry Dresden, Wizard, the only one in the phone book. Hard-boiled noir detective meets Lord of the Rings. The only problem with these books is that you'll read each one in a single sitting (neglecting food, sleep and work) and be sad that book 14 isn't out yet.
In the Ocean of Night and the Galactic Center series - Over the course of the series you get an amazing look at machine life as dominant, and mankind hanging on and trying to survive. Written by a physicist, it is very good hard SF.
The Xeelee sequence - Massive in scope, these books take you through a war between "real matter" beings and dark matter beings. We come to understand that the war has already been lost for a long long time. Another physicist penning grand SF.
There's so much more, but let's start there. |
Zimmy Zeta
Red Federation RvB - RED Federation
13513
|
Posted - 2013.03.30 08:14:00 -
[7] - Quote
Why is Philip Jose Framer never mentioned in these threads? He is my favorite SF author, 1950's SF is still the best.
The Green Odyssey and The Stone God Awakens are both excellent books.
Also, anything written by Frederic Brown- many of his stories are so weird that they meet somewhere in the middle ground between SF and satire, but Brown is maybe the most important writer of this genre. Just think of how bad an average post by me is, and then realize half of them are even worse |
Graygor
1kB Realty 1kB Galactic
16921
|
Posted - 2013.03.30 09:38:00 -
[8] - Quote
If you want a good chuckle and like your SF I recommend the Ciaphas Cain series of 40k books. It's a very refreshing take on the 40k universe with some good laughs and really fleshes out the people. "I think you should buy a new Mayan calendar. Mine has muscle cars on it." --áKenneth O'Hara
"Something I don't say very often: The welshman is right." - Marcus Gord |
mr ed thehouseofed
Sebiestor Tribe Minmatar Republic
62
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Posted - 2013.03.30 09:56:00 -
[9] - Quote
The second one is also Stephen King but its not the classic.."Big scary monster! Run for your lives!". Its more..physological (i really hope im using the right word here). The story is pretty simple, but its written in a way that made me really feel..mm..emotions? with the characters and it was really one of those where you just want to keep reading. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Walk
[/quote]
this.... read it when came out brilliant book the stand and the dark tower series are also good real gamers only need one toon-á |
Krixtal Icefluxor
INLAND EMPIRE Galactic
3927
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Posted - 2013.03.30 11:46:00 -
[10] - Quote
Shandy McFoulster wrote:It seems you like distopian novels as do I. Here are a few good ones:
Anthem, Rand Atlas Shrugged, Rand Fountainhead, Rand
Get through these last two and you wont be the same person you were before you read them.
Yeah. You'll be a neo-conservative Capitalistic jerk about to join the Tea Party.
Boo!
EDIT: even Neal Peart of Rush has now disavowed espousing any of her ideas and has posted a recant of the dedication on the album cover of "2112". It's on the web searchable. There is much to be said in favour of modern journalism. By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, it keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.-á-á-á-á - Oscar Wilde |
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Krixtal Icefluxor
INLAND EMPIRE Galactic
3927
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Posted - 2013.03.30 11:48:00 -
[11] - Quote
Noriko Satomi wrote:Anathem - A stunning achievement of hard science fiction. This is how science fiction used to be, matched to the literary elevation of Dune.
Yay ! Someone else likes it. My favorite novel OF ALL TIME. Read it 9 times so far. (You left out the author's name here: Neal Stephenson, author of "Snow Crash").
But it is NOTHING like Dune at all. ( )
It's more of an assemblage of the entirety of Western Philosophical Thought from Plato to Wittgenstein and beyond !
Don't forget to read the 14 page Acknowledgements on the Web. There is much to be said in favour of modern journalism. By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, it keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.-á-á-á-á - Oscar Wilde |
Kitty Bear
Disturbed Friends Of Diazepam Tribal Band
607
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Posted - 2013.03.30 11:55:00 -
[12] - Quote
Ken Follet - Pillars of the Earth, World without End, Fall of Giants
Lionel Shriver - We need to talk about Kevin
Jack Campbell (John G Hemry) - Lost Fleet series.
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Tee Kay Solus
Poseidon Industries And Trading
29
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Posted - 2013.03.30 12:35:00 -
[13] - Quote
If you enjoyed "Brief History of Time" by Hawking you`ll really like "The God Particle. If the universe is the answer, what is the question?" by L.Lederman (who received the nobel prize for elemental particles research) and D. Teresi.
It`s a scientific approach to the evolution of the universe, its future, quantum physics and who we really are, laid out in simple terms mixed with peculiar, scientific humor. |
Graygor
1kB Realty 1kB Galactic
16949
|
Posted - 2013.03.30 12:40:00 -
[14] - Quote
Speaking of science and humour.
The Science of Discworld trilogy are pretty damn good. They explore literally, the creation of life, the universe and everything. "I think you should buy a new Mayan calendar. Mine has muscle cars on it." --áKenneth O'Hara
"Something I don't say very often: The welshman is right." - Marcus Gord |
Krixtal Icefluxor
INLAND EMPIRE Galactic
3932
|
Posted - 2013.03.30 13:32:00 -
[15] - Quote
Just remembered:
Gene Wolfe's original "Book of the New Sun" quadrilogy.
"The Shadow of the Torturer" "The Claw of the Conciliator" "The Sword of the Lictor" "The Citadel of the Autarch"
and the coda: "The Urth of the New Sun"
Utterly blurs the line between fantasy and science fiction. And some of the best writing of the 20th Century.
Fascinating, but so complex after 7 readings I'm still not sure what exactly is going on in some of the passages. Neither are a lot of people. Appeals because it's never completely resolved in the mind.
There is much to be said in favour of modern journalism. By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, it keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.-á-á-á-á - Oscar Wilde |
Akita T
Caldari Navy Volunteer Task Force
1694
|
Posted - 2013.03.30 13:59:00 -
[16] - Quote
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Night%27s_Dawn_Trilogy http://wiki.eveonline.com/en/wiki/User:Akita_T T2 BPO poll: https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=114789 Buying this: https://forums.eveonline.com/default.aspx?g=posts&t=147098 |
Frank Millar
131
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Posted - 2013.03.30 15:19:00 -
[17] - Quote
As per usual for this kind of thread I'm gonna push Dan Simmons' Hyperion- (4 books) and Ilium- (2 books) series.
You also might want to look into the various Culture-books by Iain M. Banks. |
Shandy McFoulster
Brutor Tribe Minmatar Republic
0
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Posted - 2013.03.30 15:26:00 -
[18] - Quote
Krixtal Icefluxor wrote:Shandy McFoulster wrote:It seems you like distopian novels as do I. Here are a few good ones:
Anthem, Rand Atlas Shrugged, Rand Fountainhead, Rand
Get through these last two and you wont be the same person you were before you read them. Yeah. You'll be a neo-conservative Capitalistic jerk about to join the Tea Party. Boo! EDIT: even Neal Peart of Rush has now disavowed espousing any of her ideas and has posted a recant of the dedication on the album cover of "2112". It's on the web searchable.
I'm not sure if you've read these or not. I am a moderate progressive that can appreciate personal responsibility and achievement. I don't claim Rand as being the answer to anything, just one of those writers that will change your life. Rand's world would never work which is why I lump it in with the Distopia genre. Needless to say some of her ideas have merit. Regardless of your political position. |
Jno Aubrey
Galactic Patrol
48
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Posted - 2013.03.30 17:42:00 -
[19] - Quote
Since you like Larry Niven, I'd recommend his collaborations with Jerry Pournelle, especially "The Mote In God's Eye." Name a shrub after me.-á Something prickly and hard to eradicate. |
Bear Templar
iMine Industries
6
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Posted - 2013.03.30 18:05:00 -
[20] - Quote
The Horus Heresy series.
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Kirjava
Deep Core Mining Inc. Caldari State
1427
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Posted - 2013.03.30 18:45:00 -
[21] - Quote
I find your lack of Alastair Reynolds disturbing....
Revelation Space House of Suns. Pushing Ice.
The two last compete for my favorite book.
Haruhiists - Overloading Out of Pod discussions since 2007. Cardinal Kirjava - Redeclaring the Crusade in the name of the Goddess since 2012. |
Ovv Topik
Proposition Thirteen The Third Rail
360
|
Posted - 2013.03.30 18:55:00 -
[22] - Quote
I heard the Honorverse series is a very close parallel to New Eden in a lot of aspects.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honorverse
Haven't read them yet (top of my 'to read' lis)t, but can anyone comment on this? Innominate Nightmare, :"Your Mother is an exotic dancer, and your Sister works in a Quafe factory!GÇ¥ |
Noriko Satomi
Center for Advanced Studies Gallente Federation
169
|
Posted - 2013.03.30 19:33:00 -
[23] - Quote
Ovv Topik wrote:I heard the Honorverse series is a very close parallel to New Eden in a lot of aspects. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HonorverseHaven't read them yet (top of my 'to read' lis)t, but can anyone comment on this? I'm currently reading through them, and I'm on book 7. I can say these are actually quite good if you like military SF. These books are in the same vein as their spiritual successors like Jack Campbell's Lost Fleet series (also good).
Frank Millar wrote:As per usual for this kind of thread I'm gonna push Dan Simmons' Hyperion- (4 books) and Ilium- (2 books) series.
You also might want to look into the various Culture-books by Iain M. Banks. I heartily agree, these are all fantastic reads with Big Ideas. |
Noriko Satomi
Center for Advanced Studies Gallente Federation
169
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Posted - 2013.03.30 19:59:00 -
[24] - Quote
Krixtal Icefluxor wrote:Noriko Satomi wrote:Anathem - A stunning achievement of hard science fiction. This is how science fiction used to be, matched to the literary elevation of Dune. Yay ! Someone else likes it. My favorite novel OF ALL TIME. Read it 9 times so far. EDIT: (You left out the author's name here: Neal Stephenson, author of "Snow Crash"). But it is NOTHING like Dune at all. ( ) It's more of an assemblage of the entirety of Western Philosophical Thought from Plato to Wittgenstein and beyond ! Don't forget to read the 14 page Acknowledgements on the Web. I did better than list the author's name, I gave the link to the book on Amazon so he could see the author, the reviews, and order it.
As for my comparison to Dune:
Dune is one of the more amazing efforts in "world building" on par with Lord of the Rings. Like these two works, Anathem builds a unique vocabulary, though Stephenson does it much more seamlessly than Herbert. Like Dune, Anathem builds not only a world, but synthesizes realistic cultures from extrapolation (in the case of Dune), and abstraction in the case of Anathem.
It is true that the narrative structures of Dune and Anathem are completely different. As are their messages as they speak to the reader. Dune's Big Idea brings together late 50's and early 60's drug culture, then new ideas on genetics, Herbert's own studies in environmental conservancy, and his studies of Zen mysticism and Arabic cultures. Herbert's underlying themes of religion-as-political-tool, tyranny, and freedom also shine through.
As you mention, Stephenson breathes life into Platonic Idealism through the lens of modern physics and mathematics. As you read, you gain an education, in much the same way you do regrading desert ecology from reading Dune. These are the literary similarities I was referring to in spite of the fact that the two works are vastly different. |
Noriko Satomi
Center for Advanced Studies Gallente Federation
169
|
Posted - 2013.03.30 20:01:00 -
[25] - Quote
Kirjava wrote:I find your lack of Alastair Reynolds disturbing.... Revelation Space House of Suns. Pushing Ice. The two last compete for my favorite book. +1 |
Jonah Gravenstein
Khalkotauroi Defence Labs
7650
|
Posted - 2013.03.30 20:04:00 -
[26] - Quote
The Honorverse series. As far as I know they're all available via Baenbooks as free ebook downloads.
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Jonah Gravenstein
Khalkotauroi Defence Labs
7650
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Posted - 2013.03.30 20:07:00 -
[27] - Quote
Ovv Topik wrote:I heard the Honorverse series is a very close parallel to New Eden in a lot of aspects. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HonorverseHaven't read them yet (top of my 'to read' lis)t, but can anyone comment on this?
They're good reads, don't expect hard sci-fi, do expect lots of space ships throwing missiles at each other across solar systems.
Free ebooks of them (legit ones at that)
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Kitty Bear
Disturbed Friends Of Diazepam Tribal Band
607
|
Posted - 2013.03.30 20:22:00 -
[28] - Quote
Forgot to list
Nancy A. Collins - Sonja Blue series ...
has been a while since i read them, but they are a fun read. |
Frank Millar
131
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Posted - 2013.03.31 05:06:00 -
[29] - Quote
Jno Aubrey wrote:Since you like Larry Niven, I'd recommend his collaborations with Jerry Pournelle, especially "The Mote In God's Eye." Good call. I find the Niven/Pournelle-combo exceptionally strong.
About Honor Harrington: it's good, but Weber would do well to end this in the near future because it's getting a bit silly with the ever escalating numbers of missiles thrown about. |
Krixtal Icefluxor
INLAND EMPIRE Galactic
3937
|
Posted - 2013.03.31 11:00:00 -
[30] - Quote
Jno Aubrey wrote:Since you like Larry Niven, I'd recommend his collaborations with Jerry Pournelle, especially "The Mote In God's Eye."
I love "Ringworld", and I have a story about a very drunk Niven at WorldCon 1988 in New Orleans. There is much to be said in favour of modern journalism. By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, it keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.-á-á-á-á - Oscar Wilde |
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