May 2021 Reading Discussion.
- Thread starter Ian Fortytwo
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Garfunkel
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I read Duma Key last year and really enjoyed it; hopefully you will too! If you appreciate the themes it's exploring (especially the trauma recovery aspects), you might also like The Dead Zone, which is a terrific read.
I have this sitting on my to-read pile, so glad to hear it's worth the time. Maybe one to not read straight after food...
I'm making headway with The Last House on Needless Street and I'm hopeful my reading pace, in general, is about to improve. It feels like a book that will live or die based on its narrative revelations, but it's pretty good so far, with a rather foreboding atmosphere and well-drawn characters.
Someone on GoodReads described one scene ~mid-way through in Jones' novel as a literary jump scare. It didn't quite effect me like that, but that reader wasn't far off.
Good to hear about ... Needless Street. I've been curious about it since I first heard of it, but it's not due until Fall here.
Danny McG
Lid closed, monkey dead.
This was an okay(ish) story but had a lot of sums in it to show how clever the author was. Every few pages my eyes glazed over as I skimmed right past these equations.
Surprised to see that doing this didn't affect my comprehension of the plot at all, clearly mathematical info dumping
Danny McG
Lid closed, monkey dead.
Firewatching by Russ Thomas.
A police procedural crime thriller
A police procedural crime thriller
dask
dark and stormy knight
The aliens in the para universe are amongst the most imaginative and well realized I’ve yet come across. Asimov is doing a spectacular job.
Danny McG
Lid closed, monkey dead.
Gamechanger by L.X. Becket
A cyberpunk and aliens story on a post environment collapse Earth - I think I might have already read it as some bits seem very familiar, however I'm enjoying it so I'll carry on.
I have the sequel Dealbreaker ready and waiting
A cyberpunk and aliens story on a post environment collapse Earth - I think I might have already read it as some bits seem very familiar, however I'm enjoying it so I'll carry on.
I have the sequel Dealbreaker ready and waiting
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therapist
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Tried reading Malazan. Got halfway through book 2 and gave up. Didn't really enjoy being confused in every scene. I really wanted to like it as it seemed like the quintessential epic fantasy book.
Now i'm reading Lies of Locke Lamora. A book about thieves/scam artists in a fantasy setting. Pretty good so far.
Now i'm reading Lies of Locke Lamora. A book about thieves/scam artists in a fantasy setting. Pretty good so far.
Paul_C
Well-Known Member
. . . which I really liked, though it is book one of three and stops really abruptly, which is disappointing.
I shall return to Vagabonds now.
As though having four other books on the go wasn't enough, I started another: William Blake Now: why he matters more than ever, by John Higgs. Fortunately, as it was only 69 pages long, I was able to finish it in one short sitting. I got it from the library mostly to judge the author's style and see if I wanted to buy his forthcoming William Blake vs the World. I shall certainly be doing so.
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William Tenn “the human angle” (1956)
A collection of eight stories first published between 1948 and 1955. All fairly unexceptional pot boilers.
Tenn (Philip Klass) has written better stories than these, but I’ve definitely read worse in 1950s SF.
A collection of eight stories first published between 1948 and 1955. All fairly unexceptional pot boilers.
Tenn (Philip Klass) has written better stories than these, but I’ve definitely read worse in 1950s SF.
I recently finished a couple of books, which I reviewed on my site. Copied here with slight edits:
Aurora - Kim Stanley Robinson
Aurora is a very good, beautifully-written and thought-provoking book. This is Robinson's take on generational ships, and humanity's dream to travel to and colonise worlds outside our solar system. This is, as ever with Robinson, 'hard SF' and he pulls no punches when it comes to outlining the problems that would be faced with such ventures. It's hard to say too much about the plot without spoiling the story for new readers, but suffice to say, he's not positive about the chances it will ever really be possible. However, this is ultimately a cry for us to preserve what we have - an argument that Earth is perfect for us, and nowhere else will be. As well as clearly outlining our need to properly appreciate Earth, and not rely on unlikely dreams of living elsewhere as a last resort to climate change and overpopulation, this book has many other qualities. The greatest of these is undoubtedly the development of the consciousness and 'voice' of the book's main narrator: the ship itself. This is quite possibly the best story arc and emotionally-charged representation of an artificial intelligence yet written in SF. So, this is recommended. That said, its likely to be one that splits readers - some won't like it that Robinson so effectively dismantles the SF dream of space travel, and its seriousness and message can appear coldly rendered at times. This is not exactly escapist literature (which is one reason many of us love SF), though it is very good literature, and is a compelling read. Whether Robinson is right that space travel to other stars is a silly pipe dream, or will in fact become a reality, is not ultimately that important. The message that we should care for Earth foremost, is what counts here.
Seeker - Jack McDevitt
Seeker is McDevitt's third novel in the Alex Benedict series after A Talent for War, and Polaris, and it won the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 2006. I read this just before reading Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson and its interesting to compare the two novels, as they are both good, but are 'chalk and cheese' in many ways.
In this novel, Alex Benedict and his associate Chase Kolpath come across an ancient plastic mug stamped with the logo of a colony ship, Seeker, which was lost 9000 years ago. This is a major find, as Seeker was used to populate the lost colony world, Margolia, which has by now attained mythical status, like Atlantis. The book then follows the detective work, and much necessary flitting around the galaxy to try and find first the Seeker itself, and then if possible, the colony of Margolia. In addition to the trail being 9000-years cold, they are also hampered by present day villains who wish to beat them to their find. The novel is freshly-written, exciting and characterisation is good.
This is very different to Robinson's Aurora, of course, though there are similarities of theme. Both books feature early efforts to colonise a planet outside the solar system. But McDevitt is not so concerned with hard science and technological problems. While Aurora is a literary, contemplative, and realistic vision of the future, McDevitt's book is all escapism and the can-do possibilities of a bright future for humanity. That doesn't make it lesser - it's a blast - just different. The world needs both types of SF (at least, I do).
Aurora - Kim Stanley Robinson
Aurora is a very good, beautifully-written and thought-provoking book. This is Robinson's take on generational ships, and humanity's dream to travel to and colonise worlds outside our solar system. This is, as ever with Robinson, 'hard SF' and he pulls no punches when it comes to outlining the problems that would be faced with such ventures. It's hard to say too much about the plot without spoiling the story for new readers, but suffice to say, he's not positive about the chances it will ever really be possible. However, this is ultimately a cry for us to preserve what we have - an argument that Earth is perfect for us, and nowhere else will be. As well as clearly outlining our need to properly appreciate Earth, and not rely on unlikely dreams of living elsewhere as a last resort to climate change and overpopulation, this book has many other qualities. The greatest of these is undoubtedly the development of the consciousness and 'voice' of the book's main narrator: the ship itself. This is quite possibly the best story arc and emotionally-charged representation of an artificial intelligence yet written in SF. So, this is recommended. That said, its likely to be one that splits readers - some won't like it that Robinson so effectively dismantles the SF dream of space travel, and its seriousness and message can appear coldly rendered at times. This is not exactly escapist literature (which is one reason many of us love SF), though it is very good literature, and is a compelling read. Whether Robinson is right that space travel to other stars is a silly pipe dream, or will in fact become a reality, is not ultimately that important. The message that we should care for Earth foremost, is what counts here.
Seeker - Jack McDevitt
Seeker is McDevitt's third novel in the Alex Benedict series after A Talent for War, and Polaris, and it won the Nebula Award for Best Novel in 2006. I read this just before reading Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson and its interesting to compare the two novels, as they are both good, but are 'chalk and cheese' in many ways.
In this novel, Alex Benedict and his associate Chase Kolpath come across an ancient plastic mug stamped with the logo of a colony ship, Seeker, which was lost 9000 years ago. This is a major find, as Seeker was used to populate the lost colony world, Margolia, which has by now attained mythical status, like Atlantis. The book then follows the detective work, and much necessary flitting around the galaxy to try and find first the Seeker itself, and then if possible, the colony of Margolia. In addition to the trail being 9000-years cold, they are also hampered by present day villains who wish to beat them to their find. The novel is freshly-written, exciting and characterisation is good.
This is very different to Robinson's Aurora, of course, though there are similarities of theme. Both books feature early efforts to colonise a planet outside the solar system. But McDevitt is not so concerned with hard science and technological problems. While Aurora is a literary, contemplative, and realistic vision of the future, McDevitt's book is all escapism and the can-do possibilities of a bright future for humanity. That doesn't make it lesser - it's a blast - just different. The world needs both types of SF (at least, I do).
Ian Fortytwo
A Poet, Writer and eclectic Reader.
I'm currently reading Great Expectations, by Charles Dickens.
My favourite Dickens novel.
My favourite Dickens novel.
MartinChis
Member
Just finished reading The Space Merchants by Frederik Pohl and Cyril M. Kornbluth. Really didn't enjoy it, the story and characters just didn't engage with me at all. Possibly I had too many other things on my mind to enjoy it properly.
Has anybody else here read this?
Has anybody else here read this?
I'm re-reading Restorer of the World: The Roman Emperor Aurelian, by John F White (NB if anyone's into that period then be aware there's a revised version that came out last year). Getting through it pretty quickly. Very skilled and underrated/overlook emperor without whom the empire may have collapsed entirely in the 3rd century.
When I've finished that I may return to the Chronicles of the Black Gate, or the Emperor's Edge. The agony of choice.
When I've finished that I may return to the Chronicles of the Black Gate, or the Emperor's Edge. The agony of choice.
Yes - I thought it was excellent.
I thought it was good, but maybe a bit long for what in some ways was a one-joke story.
MartinChis
Member
I'll keep a hold of it and re-read when I've got less work/studying/life happening.
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Richard Wilson “those idiots from earth” (1957)
A collection of ten stories first published between 1952 and 1957. Nothing outstanding, but good enjoyable fifties stuff. It had some added interest for me as Wilson was a Futurian and I'd only read a few of his stories.
A collection of ten stories first published between 1952 and 1957. Nothing outstanding, but good enjoyable fifties stuff. It had some added interest for me as Wilson was a Futurian and I'd only read a few of his stories.
A sentiment that made him perfect for the role of Victor Meldrew.
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