Why do you assume that Christians make this assumption? That is a rather broad statement. Not all Christians (in fact most) feel betrayed by differing world views, and I don't think Parson does. Kind of hard to lump 2 Billion people together in one big lump and apply a label with any accuracy.
The 5 Most Influential Books in My Life
- Thread starter Fried Egg
- Start date
Why do you assume that Christians make this assumption? That is a rather broad statement. Not all Christians (in fact most) feel betrayed by differing world views, and I don't think Parson does. Kind of hard to lump 2 Billion people together in one big lump and apply a label with any accuracy.
This is the series. I should have goggled rather than rely on my oh so feeble memory.
What pray tell is a Gibbonite? Certainly not the followers of the religion started in 2009?
On another note: Aber, we will have to raid each other's libraries (except I suspect we already have a big crossover)... I love Laurie Lee, especially a collection of short stories, whose name escapes me. He writes one about Aberfan that's heartbreaking.
Narnia series
The Lord of the Rings
Virginia Woolf's Orlando
Austen's Pride and Prejudice
Marion Bradley's The Mists of Avalon
The Lord of the Rings
Virginia Woolf's Orlando
Austen's Pride and Prejudice
Marion Bradley's The Mists of Avalon
J-Sun
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Okay, then Card himself would agree with your friend that it is indeed a Mormon retelling.
No, sorry - that was just a joke. Card brought up Asimov not labeling his Foundation stories as being related to Edward Gibbon's The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (though he's certainly freely discussed the whole story of how the series came to be, crediting John W. Campbell and Gibbon) and I was saying that, whatever Card may or may not have been doing, Asimov was unlikely to have been trying to subliminally spread the gospel of Gibbon.
-- But, btw, what is a Gibbonite then? I didn't find anything in a quick web search. I didn't know I was making up an already-claimed word.
I did wonder for a second if Gibbonites were those who worshipped the words of Lewis Grassic Gibbon. As someone who was forced to read his work (evil teachers), the idea makes me shudder. I should probably try them again. Now that it's not forced upon me, I might like A Scots Quair.
As someone who was forced to read his work (evil teachers), the idea makes me shudder. I should probably try them again. Now that it's not forced upon me, I might like A Scots Quair.
Connavar
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I would like to put forward 5 books that have been most influential in my life, in the way i see,read literature and in my life in general. None of these are gateway books to SF or Fantasy or other types of literature i love reading.
I will start with two non-fiction i read only this last year but they have been immense,important in the way i thought,see very important issues.
The Subjection of Women by John Stuart Mill
This might be classic,famous one in its field but it was news to me. The gender issues it deals with, the way he wrote very convincingly,intelligently was eye opening to me. I come from a culture like many others where the traditional roles for women havent improved much since mid 1800s. Even enlightened western cultures like think much have improved in gender equality but still not enough have happen since his times. I liked reading how he wrote a woman having too many babies is a way to keep her stuck at home and too free her you need birth control. This is an issue we deal with today, that women in poor countries are getting help with now. He was way ahead of his times in many issues. This esssay reminded me how i dont like people who think we are so enlightened in gender issues today when a man in 1850s was writing,using his liberalism about issues that we talk about today.
Scum Manifesto by Valerie Solanas
I thought this was a bold,powerful book and there was alot street wise knowledge about the gender roles she wrote about when you got past the early vivid radical feminism man hate. She shouldnt be dismissed for the hate she wrote in when she had good things to say about different kinds of females etc
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
This is the single most important book i have read for personal reasons. Not only because its an important modern classic,powerful postcolonial story but because Achebe thought me about something i have struggled with my whole live. A big theme in the book is how Okonkwo the main character refuses to stop following the old ways of his tribe,his old pagan religion in other words the way of his people that have alot ignorant ways but also very important to him. The challenge to keep your cultural identity and take the good with the bad. I come from similar tribal culture that struggled with the old traditions but same time i didnt want to forget my ancestors and be quasi modern western person. I learned from Achebe and his main character all the bad sides cant make you forget your society,culture,your ancestors. Its a brilliant modern classic like 1984 that makes you see the world in a new way.
I will start with two non-fiction i read only this last year but they have been immense,important in the way i thought,see very important issues.
The Subjection of Women by John Stuart Mill
This might be classic,famous one in its field but it was news to me. The gender issues it deals with, the way he wrote very convincingly,intelligently was eye opening to me. I come from a culture like many others where the traditional roles for women havent improved much since mid 1800s. Even enlightened western cultures like think much have improved in gender equality but still not enough have happen since his times. I liked reading how he wrote a woman having too many babies is a way to keep her stuck at home and too free her you need birth control. This is an issue we deal with today, that women in poor countries are getting help with now. He was way ahead of his times in many issues. This esssay reminded me how i dont like people who think we are so enlightened in gender issues today when a man in 1850s was writing,using his liberalism about issues that we talk about today.
Scum Manifesto by Valerie Solanas
I thought this was a bold,powerful book and there was alot street wise knowledge about the gender roles she wrote about when you got past the early vivid radical feminism man hate. She shouldnt be dismissed for the hate she wrote in when she had good things to say about different kinds of females etc
Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe
This is the single most important book i have read for personal reasons. Not only because its an important modern classic,powerful postcolonial story but because Achebe thought me about something i have struggled with my whole live. A big theme in the book is how Okonkwo the main character refuses to stop following the old ways of his tribe,his old pagan religion in other words the way of his people that have alot ignorant ways but also very important to him. The challenge to keep your cultural identity and take the good with the bad. I come from similar tribal culture that struggled with the old traditions but same time i didnt want to forget my ancestors and be quasi modern western person. I learned from Achebe and his main character all the bad sides cant make you forget your society,culture,your ancestors. Its a brilliant modern classic like 1984 that makes you see the world in a new way.
Connavar
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The last two books are by authors who has influenced my interest,respect for quality fantastic literature the most.
The King of Elfland's Daugther by Lord Dunsany
This book and author influenced me in that i learned from the beautiful prose,story to read slow prose,imaginative authors only for the pleasure of reading wordsmith ability and not for storytelling reasons. I learned to be more patient for these kind of authors in a way i could never be before. I read only for entertainment before and other books for social,political reasons before this. I had too narrow scope of literature. I have read many others since then just because they were surreal,imaginative prose stylist. That influenced the way i read books and not a coincidence i turned to reading poetry after this book too.
The Eyes of Overworld by Jack Vance
This was the first read of Vance for me and i really didnt respect and look to read fantasy for literary quality before because i was a SFF newbie then and afterwards i know authors like Jack Vance are rare gems in any field. When i saw the famed prose style of his,pseudo archaic language i was amazed. That plus the witty stories of Cugel and the immense world building. Vance and Lord Dunsany have in common that i have much respect for Fantasy after them and i dont only read these stories enjoyment anymore. I read literary fantasy because of authors like them. I read many hailed literary strong SFF because of them. Hoping to find an author like them. Peake,Eddison,Zelazny,Angela Carter,Borges,Calvino etc i read because of them.
The King of Elfland's Daugther by Lord Dunsany
This book and author influenced me in that i learned from the beautiful prose,story to read slow prose,imaginative authors only for the pleasure of reading wordsmith ability and not for storytelling reasons. I learned to be more patient for these kind of authors in a way i could never be before. I read only for entertainment before and other books for social,political reasons before this. I had too narrow scope of literature. I have read many others since then just because they were surreal,imaginative prose stylist. That influenced the way i read books and not a coincidence i turned to reading poetry after this book too.
The Eyes of Overworld by Jack Vance
This was the first read of Vance for me and i really didnt respect and look to read fantasy for literary quality before because i was a SFF newbie then and afterwards i know authors like Jack Vance are rare gems in any field. When i saw the famed prose style of his,pseudo archaic language i was amazed. That plus the witty stories of Cugel and the immense world building. Vance and Lord Dunsany have in common that i have much respect for Fantasy after them and i dont only read these stories enjoyment anymore. I read literary fantasy because of authors like them. I read many hailed literary strong SFF because of them. Hoping to find an author like them. Peake,Eddison,Zelazny,Angela Carter,Borges,Calvino etc i read because of them.
nightdreamer
Elf in Space
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- Apr 20, 2012
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- 431
1. The Holy Bible
2. The whole Tom Swift, Jr. Series - "Victor Appleton, II" whom we all know didn't exist.
3. The Riddlemaster trilogy - Patricia McKillip
4. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
5. Have Space Suit - Will Travel - Robert Heinlein
Honorable mention:
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
2. The whole Tom Swift, Jr. Series - "Victor Appleton, II" whom we all know didn't exist.
3. The Riddlemaster trilogy - Patricia McKillip
4. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
5. Have Space Suit - Will Travel - Robert Heinlein
Honorable mention:
A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
billhafan
Optimist Primer
In no particular order ...
1. Chambers 20th Century Dictionary - A gift from my Grandfather when I was a boy, and as much for the inspirational inscription he added inside in his immaculate copperplate hand-writing, as for the joy it has provided over the years since.
2. Way Station by Clifford D. Simak - introduced me to reading Sci-Fi rather than Sci-fi comics, and the simplistic writing style and subtle plots running through the story truly caught my imagination.
3.Henry V by Shakespeare - well, the complete works to be honest, but Henry V is probably my favourite. Was forced to read 12th Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream and the Tempest at school, along with the sonnets, but wasn't really ready for it. Also, de-constructing the characters and motives or theme etc. of each play or verse, also took the enjoyment away from it, for me. Got into Shakespeare again in my twenties and still read, marvel and enjoy the rhythm and writing style to this day - but personally, always best without guidance notes and then just allow myself to flow with the plots and blank verse. Love Henry V for the historical aspects, plot and characterisations that grow and evolve with the story as the play unfolds whilst reading.
4. Foundation by Asimov - for the sheer genius, scale and mastery that draws me in to Hari Seldon's vision, mathematics and psychohistory. Was going to cheat and say the Trilogy, but staying with Foundation, even though the story opens up spectacularly in the later books.
5. The next book I read - hopefully - and then the one after that, and ad infinitum
1. Chambers 20th Century Dictionary - A gift from my Grandfather when I was a boy, and as much for the inspirational inscription he added inside in his immaculate copperplate hand-writing, as for the joy it has provided over the years since.
2. Way Station by Clifford D. Simak - introduced me to reading Sci-Fi rather than Sci-fi comics, and the simplistic writing style and subtle plots running through the story truly caught my imagination.
3.Henry V by Shakespeare - well, the complete works to be honest, but Henry V is probably my favourite. Was forced to read 12th Night, A Midsummer Night's Dream and the Tempest at school, along with the sonnets, but wasn't really ready for it. Also, de-constructing the characters and motives or theme etc. of each play or verse, also took the enjoyment away from it, for me. Got into Shakespeare again in my twenties and still read, marvel and enjoy the rhythm and writing style to this day - but personally, always best without guidance notes and then just allow myself to flow with the plots and blank verse. Love Henry V for the historical aspects, plot and characterisations that grow and evolve with the story as the play unfolds whilst reading.
4. Foundation by Asimov - for the sheer genius, scale and mastery that draws me in to Hari Seldon's vision, mathematics and psychohistory. Was going to cheat and say the Trilogy, but staying with Foundation, even though the story opens up spectacularly in the later books.
5. The next book I read - hopefully - and then the one after that, and ad infinitum
Great choice!
Connavar
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Not an original choice but no one has influenced My respect for lit, My reading as much. I didnt reach much before 2007 and read DE tales, Vance. Thank god he is prolific, i have read 27 books and barely read more than half. Other Writers i have read close to 20 books is hardly literary geniuses...
You know its him in my av heh.
We can fairly apply the word 'brilliant' to him.
Lukron
Member
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Some really awesome books here, I love Things Fall Apart, truly one of the most beautiful books I have read.
The Perennial Philosophy by Aldous Huxley
I was never really into spiritual enquiry but because Huxley wrote this I started paying more attention. Also from reading the excerpts from people like Meister Echkart I got more insight into religious thoughts. Much more interesting than the second-hand christianity that I had been exposed too.
The Commanding Self by Idries Shah
I learned a lot about self-reflection and also running groups from this book. One thing that struck me was about reading the parts you didn't agree with more than the parts you understood.
Impro by Keith Johnstone
About how people like to learn, really changed my view on creativity and teaching/learning situations.
Non-Violent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg
I found this to be very useful, changed how I understand the workings of humans. That and Idries Shah are the most useful books I have ever read.
Instrumentality of Mankind by Cordwainer Smith
I remember reading an overview of his fiction in the RPG magazine Dragon, and it sounded like an impossibly arcane and fascinating setting. When I finally read his work years later it made an indelible impression on me. Something that actually lived up to its mystique for me.
The Perennial Philosophy by Aldous Huxley
I was never really into spiritual enquiry but because Huxley wrote this I started paying more attention. Also from reading the excerpts from people like Meister Echkart I got more insight into religious thoughts. Much more interesting than the second-hand christianity that I had been exposed too.
The Commanding Self by Idries Shah
I learned a lot about self-reflection and also running groups from this book. One thing that struck me was about reading the parts you didn't agree with more than the parts you understood.
Impro by Keith Johnstone
About how people like to learn, really changed my view on creativity and teaching/learning situations.
Non-Violent Communication by Marshall Rosenberg
I found this to be very useful, changed how I understand the workings of humans. That and Idries Shah are the most useful books I have ever read.
Instrumentality of Mankind by Cordwainer Smith
I remember reading an overview of his fiction in the RPG magazine Dragon, and it sounded like an impossibly arcane and fascinating setting. When I finally read his work years later it made an indelible impression on me. Something that actually lived up to its mystique for me.
Timba
Well-Known Member
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This is really tough but here they are in no particular order.
The Harrad Experiment by Robert Rimmer. Hey, I was 16, what can I say.
Canticle for Leibowitz by Miller
Foundation by Asimov
Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein.
Sadly I cannot recall the name of the 5th book which was a great tale, environmental in nature long before anyone talked about the environment. Involved the story of a man who restored a section of land, primarily by reintroducing beaver to the area. My first exposure to the concept of keystone animals and it had a lasting effect on me but my aged brain will not cough up the title.
The Harrad Experiment by Robert Rimmer. Hey, I was 16, what can I say.
Canticle for Leibowitz by Miller
Foundation by Asimov
Stranger in a Strange Land by Heinlein.
Sadly I cannot recall the name of the 5th book which was a great tale, environmental in nature long before anyone talked about the environment. Involved the story of a man who restored a section of land, primarily by reintroducing beaver to the area. My first exposure to the concept of keystone animals and it had a lasting effect on me but my aged brain will not cough up the title.
J-Sun
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Scalzi's posted a couple of things on The 10 SF/F Works That Meant the Most to [Him] and the 10 Non-SF/F Books That Meant the Most to [Him] (as a Writer). That's 20 books instead of 5 but still more or less on topic and maybe bumping the thread will encourage others to play.
Lilmizflashythang
Dogs win, every time.
The Holy Bible - preferably KJV
The Lord of The Rings - Tolkien
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott (first book I remember reading, first book I read the print off the pages as well)
What the Night Knows - First Dean Koontz Book I read
Wolfwalker - Tara K. Harper
All in all, a pretty odd list I suppose.
The Lord of The Rings - Tolkien
Little Women - Louisa May Alcott (first book I remember reading, first book I read the print off the pages as well)
What the Night Knows - First Dean Koontz Book I read
Wolfwalker - Tara K. Harper
All in all, a pretty odd list I suppose.
For the sake of simplicity and avoiding controversy, I'll stick to fiction. Even the fiction I prefer tends to be that of a more spiritual nature, works that encourage us to look beyond ourselves into something greater.
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis - my earliest fantasy series. My mom used to read them to me, and I have reread them on my own several times.
The Tripod Trilogy, by John Christopher - my first venture into sci fi when I was about 12. Its another series I keep coming back to over the years.
The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley - I was first introduced to this book at a time in my life when I really needed to see strong women, as well as a break from Christianity. This book changed my perspective of the world as a teenager, and I get something different out of it with each reread.
2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke - I love this perspective on human history and transcendent evolution. It puts humanity into a different perspective.
The Silmarillion, by Tolkien - I choose this over LOTR because its the best mythology I've ever read, including "real" mythology!
The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis - my earliest fantasy series. My mom used to read them to me, and I have reread them on my own several times.
The Tripod Trilogy, by John Christopher - my first venture into sci fi when I was about 12. Its another series I keep coming back to over the years.
The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley - I was first introduced to this book at a time in my life when I really needed to see strong women, as well as a break from Christianity. This book changed my perspective of the world as a teenager, and I get something different out of it with each reread.
2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke - I love this perspective on human history and transcendent evolution. It puts humanity into a different perspective.
The Silmarillion, by Tolkien - I choose this over LOTR because its the best mythology I've ever read, including "real" mythology!
Most influential sounds a mite pretentious (like "Boy, it changed my life!!"). I would say the five greatest reads. It is difficult to limit it, so here goes:
Pure SF/F:
A Canticle for Leibovitz
City
Martial Chronicles
Hobbit & LOTR
Dune (at least the first half)
Fiction:
Iliad & Odyssey
War & Peace
London's short stories
Ancient Evenings
The Sound & The Fury (Falkner)
But also many, many more. Politics and Prose motto, a fabulous bookstore in Washinton DC, "So many books, so little time".
Pure SF/F:
A Canticle for Leibovitz
City
Martial Chronicles
Hobbit & LOTR
Dune (at least the first half)
Fiction:
Iliad & Odyssey
War & Peace
London's short stories
Ancient Evenings
The Sound & The Fury (Falkner)
But also many, many more. Politics and Prose motto, a fabulous bookstore in Washinton DC, "So many books, so little time".
Grunkins
Couch Commander
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I don't know about "most influential," but these are all important and influential to me.
(no particular order)
For Whom the Bell Tolls - Hemingway
Cannery Row - Steinbeck
Armies of the Night - Mailer
Excession - Banks
The Lions of al-Rassan - GGK
Mailer doesn't get enough love.
(no particular order)
For Whom the Bell Tolls - Hemingway
Cannery Row - Steinbeck
Armies of the Night - Mailer
Excession - Banks
The Lions of al-Rassan - GGK
Mailer doesn't get enough love.
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