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Thiuda
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.
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 Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:06 pm Post subject: Summer Reading |
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I've been reading a lot and am scrounging around for more brainfood. Any recommendations?
I just finished Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, which I thought was a damn good read, and Niven's Ringworld, which I enjoyed thoroughly as well. Previously, I read Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead. A book that I enjoyed very much for its story and its ideas, though on the whole I consider the philosophy behind it formulated in too shrill a manner. Rand's Atlas Shrugged is waiting for me on the shelf, but it is intimidatingly thick...
If you enjoy science writing, I highly recommend The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing, edited by R. Dawkins. Not too expensive and an interesting way to spend many an evening exploring the way our universe works and how the minds of scientists tick. |
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Chambertin
Joined: 07 Jun 2009
Location: Gunsan
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| Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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| I always enjoyed The Foundation Trilogy |
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nosmallplans
Joined: 10 Oct 2008
Location: noksapyeong
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| Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Chambertin wrote: |
| I always enjoyed The Foundation Trilogy |
This.
Might I also suggest everything written by Neal Stephenson. Also, take a look at the original Dune series (just what was written by Frank Herbert, the stuff written by his son, Brian, is crap). |
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Emeliu
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
Location: Korea, i'm OMW
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| Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 9:46 pm Post subject: Re: Summer Reading |
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| Thiuda wrote: |
I've been reading a lot and am scrounging around for more brainfood. Any recommendations?
I just finished Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, which I thought was a damn good read, |
Keep reading, Ender's Game was good, but Speaker for the Dead is probably the most tragic and amazing book ever to be written. |
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Arthur Dent
Joined: 28 Mar 2007
Location: Kochu whirld
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| Posted: Wed Jul 15, 2009 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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If you liked Ender's game, you may like John Steakley's Armor.
Most of Niven's books are good but I recommend A World out of Time. |
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Thiuda
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:02 am Post subject: Re: Summer Reading |
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| Emeliu wrote: |
| Thiuda wrote: |
I've been reading a lot and am scrounging around for more brainfood. Any recommendations?
I just finished Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, which I thought was a damn good read, |
Keep reading, Ender's Game was good, but Speaker for the Dead is probably the most tragic and amazing book ever to be written. |
Right on. I just received Speaker for the Dead in the mail today, as well as Ringworld Engineers and A Thousand Splendid Suns. I guess I know which one I'm reading first! |
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seonsengnimble
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Location: taking a ride on the magic English bus
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| Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:28 am Post subject: |
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| Arthur Dent wrote: |
Most of Niven's books are good |
They're all pretty good, but he has a weird obsession with interspecies sex.
If you're looking for some good sci-fi, I recommend anything by Frank Herbert or Bill Ransom.
If you're looking for some mediocre pulpy stuff, check out Piers Anthony. http://www.guppies4me.org/ebay/Mercycle024Front.jpg
Personally, I just need to finish any of the four books I'm switching between. I'm now reading Foccault's Pendulum, The history of the English Language, The Demonic Verses, and The Witches(I have a lot of good children's books at my school and have a habit of reading one of those during my down time instead of something requiring any intellectual investment). |
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seonsengnimble
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
Location: taking a ride on the magic English bus
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| Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:32 am Post subject: |
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| nosmallplans wrote: |
| (just what was written by Frank Herbert, the stuff written by his son, Brian, is crap). |
Agreed. Why do so many dead authors have worthless sons that write terrible books to tack on to a finished series? Just look at any of the histories of middle earth books that are pumped out every year by Christopher Tolkien. |
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samcheokguy
Joined: 02 Nov 2008
Location: Samcheok G-do
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| Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:36 am Post subject: |
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| seonsengnimble wrote: |
| nosmallplans wrote: |
| (just what was written by Frank Herbert, the stuff written by his son, Brian, is crap). |
Agreed. Why do so many dead authors have worthless sons that write terrible books to tack on to a finished series? Just look at any of the histories of middle earth books that are pumped out every year by Christopher Tolkien. |
I guess talent isn't genetic, but greed skips a generation? |
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Arthur Dent
Joined: 28 Mar 2007
Location: Kochu whirld
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| Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:16 am Post subject: |
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seonsengnimble wrote:
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| They're all pretty good, but he has a weird obsession with interspecies sex. |
Ha! True! Rishathra. I find his humour quirky and refreshing. Footfall was a good one.
seonsengnimble wrote:
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| I'm now reading Foccault's Pendulum |
I read this many years ago. Long but interesting. Name of the Rose was good too.
If you can't get away this summer, try some travel books.
Jonathan Raban's two books traveling in America.
Hunting Mr. Heartbreak and Old Glory.
Any by Theroux, and if you can find them, Eothen, by Kinglake or Robert Byron's Russia then Tibet, or Road to Oxiana.
Last pick, Chatwin's On the Black hill. |
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Rusty Shackleford
Joined: 08 May 2008
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Thiuda
Joined: 14 Mar 2006
Location: Religion ist f�r Sklaven geschaffen, f�r Wesen ohne Geist.
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| Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:46 am Post subject: |
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| Arthur Dent wrote: |
| If you can't get away this summer, try some travel books. |
Great idea! To your list I'd add The Best American Travel Writing series. Each book contains a selection of 25 of the best travel articles published in America any given year. I really enjoy this series and at 14 bucks a pop you really can't complain about the price. |
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meursault
Joined: 19 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 6:58 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, Ender's Game was pretty good--and I say this as someone who's generally not too fond of science fiction. I also read The Fountainhead recently, but frankly I can't stand Ayn Rand.
Anyway, I'd recommend The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Kundera. |
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Tweed0123
Joined: 03 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 7:20 am Post subject: |
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I read the whole Ender and Bean series a couple years ago. The first 2 of Ender's, Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead, are amazing. The 3rd and 4th of that series are so-so.. not really worth reading. But the whole Bean quartet is good. None are as good as the first 2 Ender books though.
Harry Potter is always a good choice. Catch-22, Dune, Wonder Boys, Lord of The Rings, The Hobbit, 1984 are all good choices. |
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Emeliu
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
Location: Korea, i'm OMW
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| Posted: Thu Jul 16, 2009 7:41 am Post subject: |
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| Tweed0123 wrote: |
| I read the whole Ender and Bean series a couple years ago. The first 2 of Ender's, Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead, are amazing. The 3rd and 4th of that series are so-so.. not really worth reading. But the whole Bean quartet is good. None are as good as the first 2 Ender books though.. |
Yeah, the first 2 are amazing. I re-read them once a year, and they're still amazing. |
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