hitmouse
Well-Known Member
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I don't think you these two are related. It is a common Bengali surname.
April 2019: Reading Thread
- Thread starter Hugh
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I finished Francis Pryor's Home and really enjoyed it - a fantastic and refreshing book that aims to put the people of prehistory back on the page. Rather than a cold and calculating academic treatise, Pryor brings the past vividly to life through his relating of the latest discoveries in archaeology within the framework of his decades of professional experience, all told in a warm and comfortable voice.
Even better, his work in experimental archaeology and a life in farming means he can offer further insight and speculation, not least about the importance of community, that too many academics miss because their are too distant from their subject.
I wasn't sure whether I'd enjoy Pryor's work, but was finally tempted to buy this by its low price. Now I'm very much a fan.
Even better, his work in experimental archaeology and a life in farming means he can offer further insight and speculation, not least about the importance of community, that too many academics miss because their are too distant from their subject.
I wasn't sure whether I'd enjoy Pryor's work, but was finally tempted to buy this by its low price. Now I'm very much a fan.
Ian Fortytwo
A Poet, Writer and eclectic Reader.
I'm currently reading Munich, by Robert Harris, a what if fast paced thriller set at the beginning of the Second World War.
soulsinging
the dude abides
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I'm taking a pause on the Dragonbone Chair, which I'm enjoying quite a bit, to reread Catch-22. I've read it 3 times and often cite it as my favorite, but it's been at least 10 years since I last read it and apparently Hulu is launching a mini series based on it soon. There are some respectable names involved, including George Clooney and Hugh Laurie, so I'm intrigued enough to give it a shot but feel like I should definitely read the book again first.
something like:
- when i'm in, i'm not in. when i'm out,i'm in.
- if you don´t fly is because you're crazy. the only way that you are crazy is if you fly
Danny McG
Lid closed, monkey dead.
It's been a very long time since I last read it. Dragonflight
Funnily enough, as you leave Osten Ard for a bit, I'm returning. I've just picked up the third volume: To Green Angel Tower: Siege. I do enjoy these, I think they're superior fantasy, and its actually a finished series (wahaay).
I've finished The Blue Book of the War. Will review properly in due course, but I've got to say I found it very engaging indeed.
At long last, I've resumed the first three books of the Chronicles of the Black Gate, which had an intriguing and enormous (I guess about 40k words) sample which I read as part of my last set of snapshot reviews.
At long last, I've resumed the first three books of the Chronicles of the Black Gate, which had an intriguing and enormous (I guess about 40k words) sample which I read as part of my last set of snapshot reviews.
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- Mar 27, 2016
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Roger Zelazny: "Doorways in the Sand"
A really fun read. I read this several years ago and wasn't particularly impressed. This time round I thought it was great.
One example that tickled me: the main character wakes up in someone's flat after a drunken party to find that a telepathic alien disguised as a donkey is trying to read his mind...
" Go to hell," I said. "My uses for telepathic donkeys are limited, and what I do in the privacy of my own mind is my own business."
"The human mind, Mister Cassidy, is seldom worth the visit. I assure you I did not request the assignment of monitoring yours."
Zelazny wrote: " Doorways in the Sand is a pet book of mine because it's the first humorous book I wrote, and also because I decided I would play these outrageous tricks with flashbacks. I was amusing myself by writing the book, and when I finished with it I said 'Hey, I really like this'."
A really fun read. I read this several years ago and wasn't particularly impressed. This time round I thought it was great.
One example that tickled me: the main character wakes up in someone's flat after a drunken party to find that a telepathic alien disguised as a donkey is trying to read his mind...
" Go to hell," I said. "My uses for telepathic donkeys are limited, and what I do in the privacy of my own mind is my own business."
"The human mind, Mister Cassidy, is seldom worth the visit. I assure you I did not request the assignment of monitoring yours."
Zelazny wrote: " Doorways in the Sand is a pet book of mine because it's the first humorous book I wrote, and also because I decided I would play these outrageous tricks with flashbacks. I was amusing myself by writing the book, and when I finished with it I said 'Hey, I really like this'."
I'm recently back from Chamonix and now (hopefully) have time to participate again. I've been so busy that I've only managed 8 books in the last 4 months and so only a brief word on each:
Peter Watts - The Freeze-Frame Revolution - Very good imaginative piece of hard SF. How do you organise a revolution against a computer that controls your entire environment and you are only awake for several days every millennium and everyone else is awake for different days. 4/5
Iain Banks - Stonemouth - Classic Banks 'straight' novel. There's little of Banks' weirdness just a good thriller with a lot of angst! 4/5
John Wyndham - The Kraken Wakes - For me this was definitely one of Wyndham's weaker novels. Even allowing for when it was written I found most, if not all, of the societal behaviours irritating and unbelievable and the relationship between the husband and wife main protagonists painful to put it mildly. The premise was interesting and the plot sound it was just the flesh on those bones was almost entirely unbelievable. 3/5
Alastair Reynolds - Terminal World - Excellent book set in a fascinating far future. I know some have disliked Terminal World but it is an interesting mix between technology so futuristic it is effectively magic and steampunk. I found the whole thing engaging and gripping. 5/5
T J Bass - Half Past Human - Fascinating book from 1971 which, whilst it does suffer from some of the typical flaws of books from that era, such as the relegation of women to second class citizens, is not nearly as bad as some and that is balanced by an story that excellent challenges many preconceptions about good and evil. Here the 'hive' humans are not dissimilar to Wells' morlocks and they are easy to dislike but the savage humans, whilst closer to ourselves, are the ones that actual practise cannibalism. Bass makes no judgements as to which is better and challenges you to try and make your own. Very very good book which I picked up after seeing Neal Asher raving about it and which I highly recommend. 5/5
S J A Turney - The Great Game (Praetorian 1) - Picked up cheap in a charity shop before I realised they were self published POD books. But, despite my immediate bias, they were surprisingly good (and surprisingly well edited). As far as I can tell his research and accuracy are impeccable, the plot excellent and the characters mostly well drawn (the main character is a little too perfectly honourable at times). My main complaint would be the rather purple prose with far more adjectives in use than are needed. But still a solid piece of writing. I have another three of his, bought at the same time, which I am now encouraged to read as well. 4/5
Al Robertson - Crashing Heaven - An exceptionally good traditionally published debut novel. Not sure where I heard about this book/author but if it was someone here then thank you! This is, I suppose, post cyberpunk; it has many elements of cyberpunk - implants, AI, virtual reality, noir etc. - but, to it's advantage, it doesn't revel in the frenetic pacing so often associated with cyberpunk. The very difficult relationship between the two main protagonists, one an AI imbedded in the other's body, is handled masterfully and developed sympathetically throughout the story. I believe this is an author to watch. 4/5
Iain M Banks - The Player of Games - Part of my re-read of all Banks' SF. I think I enjoyed this even more than the first time around; I seemed to follow it much more easily this time. Maybe that's because I'm now much more familiar with the Culture. 4/5
A pretty good run of books, actually, with no real duds in there.
Peter Watts - The Freeze-Frame Revolution - Very good imaginative piece of hard SF. How do you organise a revolution against a computer that controls your entire environment and you are only awake for several days every millennium and everyone else is awake for different days. 4/5
Iain Banks - Stonemouth - Classic Banks 'straight' novel. There's little of Banks' weirdness just a good thriller with a lot of angst! 4/5
John Wyndham - The Kraken Wakes - For me this was definitely one of Wyndham's weaker novels. Even allowing for when it was written I found most, if not all, of the societal behaviours irritating and unbelievable and the relationship between the husband and wife main protagonists painful to put it mildly. The premise was interesting and the plot sound it was just the flesh on those bones was almost entirely unbelievable. 3/5
Alastair Reynolds - Terminal World - Excellent book set in a fascinating far future. I know some have disliked Terminal World but it is an interesting mix between technology so futuristic it is effectively magic and steampunk. I found the whole thing engaging and gripping. 5/5
T J Bass - Half Past Human - Fascinating book from 1971 which, whilst it does suffer from some of the typical flaws of books from that era, such as the relegation of women to second class citizens, is not nearly as bad as some and that is balanced by an story that excellent challenges many preconceptions about good and evil. Here the 'hive' humans are not dissimilar to Wells' morlocks and they are easy to dislike but the savage humans, whilst closer to ourselves, are the ones that actual practise cannibalism. Bass makes no judgements as to which is better and challenges you to try and make your own. Very very good book which I picked up after seeing Neal Asher raving about it and which I highly recommend. 5/5
S J A Turney - The Great Game (Praetorian 1) - Picked up cheap in a charity shop before I realised they were self published POD books. But, despite my immediate bias, they were surprisingly good (and surprisingly well edited). As far as I can tell his research and accuracy are impeccable, the plot excellent and the characters mostly well drawn (the main character is a little too perfectly honourable at times). My main complaint would be the rather purple prose with far more adjectives in use than are needed. But still a solid piece of writing. I have another three of his, bought at the same time, which I am now encouraged to read as well. 4/5
Al Robertson - Crashing Heaven - An exceptionally good traditionally published debut novel. Not sure where I heard about this book/author but if it was someone here then thank you! This is, I suppose, post cyberpunk; it has many elements of cyberpunk - implants, AI, virtual reality, noir etc. - but, to it's advantage, it doesn't revel in the frenetic pacing so often associated with cyberpunk. The very difficult relationship between the two main protagonists, one an AI imbedded in the other's body, is handled masterfully and developed sympathetically throughout the story. I believe this is an author to watch. 4/5
Iain M Banks - The Player of Games - Part of my re-read of all Banks' SF. I think I enjoyed this even more than the first time around; I seemed to follow it much more easily this time. Maybe that's because I'm now much more familiar with the Culture. 4/5
A pretty good run of books, actually, with no real duds in there.
I started to pine for something mediaeval, so started reading A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain: Amazon.co.uk: Marc Morris: 9780099481751: Books - a book I picked up in a Kindle daily deal a few weeks ago.
First few pages were dull, but once Edward reached his late teens everything became much more interesting - especially the way all social classes tried to take control from his father, King Henry III, and the repeated threats of civil war that developed. Certainly a lively period, and the book conveys it well.
First few pages were dull, but once Edward reached his late teens everything became much more interesting - especially the way all social classes tried to take control from his father, King Henry III, and the repeated threats of civil war that developed. Certainly a lively period, and the book conveys it well.
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