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Underwaterbob
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
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 Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2015 10:44 pm Post subject: Terry Pratchett Dead |
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Author of the Discworld books. I liked his stuff a lot. I guess he'd been struggling with Alzheimer's for some time.
| Terry Pratchett wrote: |
| Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. |
Also how on Earth did I beat On The Other Hand to this? |
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geldedgoat
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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| I somehow managed to never read a Pratchett book my entire life, despite having consumed a fair number of particularly underwhelming fantasy and sci-fi books, from the Ringworld series to an embarrassingly healthy number of dreadful Black Library products. Odd as it is to say this about a work of literature, I suddenly regret not following a friend's advice and giving Discworld a shake while the author was still alive. |
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On the other hand
Joined: 19 Apr 2003
Location: I walk along the avenue
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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| Also how on Earth did I beat On The Other Hand to this? |
Good question. I actually saw numerous obituaries for the guy, read a few on-line discussions about hiim, but not once did it occur to me to post it here. Maybe because I knew absolutely nothing about him beyond his name and that he was a writer. |
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stilicho25
Joined: 05 Apr 2010
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Black library is mostly terrible, but Dan abnet is all kinds of awesome. Embedded was the best military scifi I have read. |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:27 pm Post subject: |
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| geldedgoat wrote: |
| I somehow managed to never read a Pratchett book my entire life, despite having consumed a fair number of particularly underwhelming fantasy and sci-fi books, from the Ringworld series ... |
You thought the Ringworld series was underwhelming? I suppose he's not the best writer from a narrative perspective, but the underlying ideas he introduces are great, and I always felt like the stories were just a vehicle to express those ideas. His aliens are especially interesting. |
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le-paul
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
Location: dans la chambre
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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| I met him once (about 20 years ago). He was a really nice guy but seemed to be a little bit detached from reality. After that, I tended to think of him to writing what Frank Zappa was to music. Anyway, sad news. |
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geldedgoat
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Fox wrote: |
| You thought the Ringworld series was underwhelming? |
The series, yes, at least as far as I got; I read the first four before giving up hope. The first book was amazing, without question; the second felt more like Niven was trying to correct errors in mathematics and physics from the first than add more literary depth and feeling to his universe; the third left me with the feeling that I was reading little more than alien porn (specifically, every single mention of the vampiric humans); and I don't recall a single thing about the fourth. By this point I was so disappointed that I didn't even crack Mote in God's Eye, which I'd bought along with Ringworld books 2-4 after so thoroughly enjoying the first, even though I've heard nothing but good things about it.
| stilcho25 wrote: |
| Black library is mostly terrible, but Dan abnet is all kinds of awesome. Embedded was the best military scifi I have read. |
Oh certainly, there are a few gems there, which is really what has kept me going back time and again; the Horus Heresy series in particular has its fair share of engaging reads. I think my favorites so far have been Lord of the Night, a few of the Gotrek and Felix novels, the Eisenhorn series, and, like I said before, many of the Horus Heresy books. My least favorite by far was the Soul Drinkers series, in part for the horrendous writing, but also for how highly recommended it was. |
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geldedgoat
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 7:16 pm Post subject: |
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| Fox wrote: |
| I suppose he's not the best writer from a narrative perspective, but the underlying ideas he introduces are great, and I always felt like the stories were just a vehicle to express those ideas. His aliens are especially interesting. |
I should say that I don't much disagree with this sentiment. I just feel that he got lost somewhere along the way fairly early on in the series.
The alien porn, though... |
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Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2015 7:33 pm Post subject: |
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| I agree, the sexual inclusions were awkward. The guy really seems fixated on orgies and casual sex, and it was probably what I liked least about his work. |
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geldedgoat
Joined: 05 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2015 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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| It's a shame, too, because, like you said, many of his ideas really are intriguing. The ringworld itself, the mobile solar system of the Puppeteer's, and his explanation for human aging were all very well crafted. My favorite, though, would have to be his description of the Kzin's sexual dimorphism, in particular how it affects Speaker's attitude towards human women and the tension between Louis and Teela. |
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