Gundam kinda sums up my thoughts.
I read the Hyperion books separately, so I should go out and look for those short stories included in the Cantos.
books you've read !
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I read the Hyperion books separately, so I should go out and look for those short stories included in the Cantos.
Isaac Asimov - The Naked Sun (Wikipedia). I didn't find it to be as good as the first of the robot novels, mostly because there seemed to come up unconnected ends of the investigation everywhere that were not followed up at all. I also felt the points of Baley having trouble standing the outside world and the Solarians fear and disgust of physical proximity to be overstressed. All in all, it's not bad by any standards but somewhat lacking the special 'Asimov touch' that I've grown to love in his robot short stories.
Dark Tower I - The Gunslinger, by Stephen King.
I bought this book because I heard good things around the internet about it. It was quite short coming in at around 260 pages (This is due to it being a 7 part series, although King describes it as being part of one large fragmented novel, the story of the dark tower was written across 30 years). It follows the adventures of Roland Deschain of Gilead, the last of the Gunslingers (pretty much just imagine a cowboy) trying to reach the Dark Tower, for reasons the first book does not clearly explain.
This first chapter follows Roland in his pursuit of 'The Man in Black', a minion of the ruler of the Dark Tower, across the Midean Desert (which is essentially just an endless, barren plain of red sand, dust and 'devil grass'). As he stops from time to time he recalls tales of his past to those who give him shelter or food, and many of his memories foreshadow a number of events. During his pursuit TMIB leaves various traps and tests behind to judge Roland's personal resolve, forcing him to question his own morals and honor. There are also touches of demonic possession and witchcraft dabbled throughout, making it sort of a Western/Post Apocalyptic Fantasy story. Except for the length (short), I enjoyed it a fair bit.
I bought this book because I heard good things around the internet about it. It was quite short coming in at around 260 pages (This is due to it being a 7 part series, although King describes it as being part of one large fragmented novel, the story of the dark tower was written across 30 years). It follows the adventures of Roland Deschain of Gilead, the last of the Gunslingers (pretty much just imagine a cowboy) trying to reach the Dark Tower, for reasons the first book does not clearly explain.
This first chapter follows Roland in his pursuit of 'The Man in Black', a minion of the ruler of the Dark Tower, across the Midean Desert (which is essentially just an endless, barren plain of red sand, dust and 'devil grass'). As he stops from time to time he recalls tales of his past to those who give him shelter or food, and many of his memories foreshadow a number of events. During his pursuit TMIB leaves various traps and tests behind to judge Roland's personal resolve, forcing him to question his own morals and honor. There are also touches of demonic possession and witchcraft dabbled throughout, making it sort of a Western/Post Apocalyptic Fantasy story. Except for the length (short), I enjoyed it a fair bit.
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I really didn't like the ending of the Dark Tower saga. but
Currently reading Against the Day by Thomas Pynchon, which I've been reading for the past...year and a half. It's 1085 pages of thickly populated wording, but it's crazy enough to keep me interested. If I could summarize the novel in one word, that word would be "crazy." If I had two words, "crazy awesome." Three words? "Crazy funny awesome." Hopefully I finish it in my lifetime
Speaking of Marge Piercy, have you read He, She, and It? Wikipedia I read that last year for my science fiction course. It's a pretty interesting book, the story centers on an android named Yod and a woman named Shira. The world is fairly dystopian and has a lot of cyberpunk elements that remind me of Shadowrun (big corporations run the world and are the center of life, cyber implants, world is pretty much destroyed). Overall it's a really good book. I'd recommend it.
As far as recently...
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson (Wikipedia)
This was an excellent novella, if not a little depressing. The short stories included with it were also pretty cool. I'm not usually a big fan of horror-type stories but the manner in which these were written was very cool. In particular, I liked the story called Witch War, it was an interesting idea similar to one I had myself.
I just finished re-reading three books.
Night- Eli Weisel. About him and his father being Jewish and in Auchwitz. True story of his life.
Of Mice And Men- Steinbach. Good book. good movie.
Tuesdays With Morrie- Mitch Albom. Its about Mitch spending time with his old professor who has Lou Gherit's Disease (ALS= Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
Night- Eli Weisel. About him and his father being Jewish and in Auchwitz. True story of his life.
Of Mice And Men- Steinbach. Good book. good movie.
Tuesdays With Morrie- Mitch Albom. Its about Mitch spending time with his old professor who has Lou Gherit's Disease (ALS= Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)
I only read Insomnia out of The Dark Tower Saga, and it was... interesting. I've never been a huge Stephen King fan, honestly.
I just finished reading I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert, which contained enough laughs for a read.
I just finished reading I Am America (And So Can You!) by Stephen Colbert, which contained enough laughs for a read.
I thought it supposedly played into it somewhere, based on faint recollection of something a friend said roughly eight years ago when I read it... granted, I'm often wrong, so I'll go ahead and chalk that up as another "L."
I will also stress I'm not a big Stephen King guy... so I have little shame in said "L."
I will also stress I'm not a big Stephen King guy... so I have little shame in said "L."
Insomnia was imo a huge letdown. The book started out fine, and I was really intrigued by what exactly was causing Ralph's lack of sleep. Until well...the other one joined. Then it all started going downhill. The finale was too short, and the ending just plain sucked.
To be honest, this is the first Piercy I've ever read outside of some feminist criticism. One of the reasons I'm taking this class (Women is Sci-Fi--a feminism/literature/pop culture class) is to read up on some things I haven't read before (the only book I'd read out of my massive stack is Snow Crash--which I'll be reading again next week after I finish The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood--which I'm really looking forward to). I'm curious to read He, She, It because Woman on the Edge of Time is really obsessed with this organic utopia and the other possible future is pretty much what you just described. She's not my favorite writer, by far, but she's certainly interesting, I'll add it to my (massive) stack.
Just read: The Female Man by Joanna Russ--
This book is a total mindf*ck. Seriously, you don't have any real sort of clarity until the end (which is annoying as hell, I'm gonna have to read it again to piece it together which isn't how a book should be made. Mystery is one thing, rampant confusion another altogether), and it's all over the place, which makes me want to say it sucks.
The thing is, it's really well written (when not completely confusing), very, very funny at times and extremely interesting, presenting various states of exaggeration of presentations and reception and social standing of women within our society (well, particularly 1975 but much is still applicable). I wouldn't really recommend this book flatout unless you're into feminist theory, in which case I would wholeheartedly recommend it.
~Jason
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
It took me almost a week to read (it's a big, substantial book), but it was so freaking worth it. The writing is so lush and vivid, the descriptions so identifiable and fresh that I was simply in awe. I suppose I could have read through this a bit faster, but it was pretty routine for me to stop to admire Atwood's craft (Poor Myra was baffled, as she always is by theological discourse. She likes her God plain--plain and raw, like a radish). I honestly haven't read anything by Atwood, but I've just ordered Handmaiden's Tale and I'll probably start stocking up on her books. She's a truly astounding writer and I very strongly recommend The Blind Assassin.
~Jason
It took me almost a week to read (it's a big, substantial book), but it was so freaking worth it. The writing is so lush and vivid, the descriptions so identifiable and fresh that I was simply in awe. I suppose I could have read through this a bit faster, but it was pretty routine for me to stop to admire Atwood's craft (Poor Myra was baffled, as she always is by theological discourse. She likes her God plain--plain and raw, like a radish). I honestly haven't read anything by Atwood, but I've just ordered Handmaiden's Tale and I'll probably start stocking up on her books. She's a truly astounding writer and I very strongly recommend The Blind Assassin.
~Jason
I had a bit of fun the other week with Clive Barker's 'Mister B. Gone', but to be honest it wasn't much chop compaired to his other works. Usual visual fair, but nothing that touched me in places that required a form of afterthought.
An epic read would be his book Imajica, and the books of The Art (The great and secret show, Everville). Look into 'Weaveworld' as well.
About two months ago, I read 'Pilo family circus', good fun since it started in my home town Brisbane. Disturbing stuff.
This thread reminds me to pick up something to read.
An epic read would be his book Imajica, and the books of The Art (The great and secret show, Everville). Look into 'Weaveworld' as well.
About two months ago, I read 'Pilo family circus', good fun since it started in my home town Brisbane. Disturbing stuff.
This thread reminds me to pick up something to read.
I've just begun reading Herman Melville's Moby-Dick for my research paper in English. Big book, but it's easy to find secondary sources and criticisms for it, though.
It was the biggest book out of all of the choices available, but oh well...I don't mind the book so far.
"Call me Ishmael," is about all I read.
It was the biggest book out of all of the choices available, but oh well...I don't mind the book so far.
"Call me Ishmael," is about all I read.
I haven't read the Blind Assassin, it's one of those books where it's been on my to read list for ages but I've never gotten around to it. I should try and remember it; The Handmaid's Tale is a brilliant book, bleak but somehow never dull; Atwood's writing provides the colour that the world of the handmaid lacks, almost as strikingly as the red and blue cowls as compared to a grey existence.
Off post topic: I bought Endymion on Weds ... eeee!
/Edit I realise the Atwood stuff sounds like arty rubbish, but to me that effect was about as subtle as being hit in the face with a brick, so there
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The Abstinence Teacher by Tom Perrotta
This was a nice, quick read. There was a little bit of an adjustment time coming from Atwood, as Perrotta is most certainly not a poet, but his utilitarian writing style forces the reader into the plot of the story rather than lingering on the phrases. While most of this story is people we all pretty much know, saying things we've all heard, there is a smartness and a cleanness of style that really makes us root for both the sex educator atheist as well as the reformed addict member of a overzealous religious organization and want to know how it's all going to end up. I can't say I liked this nearly as much as Little Children, but it's certainly a good book and a good choice for fans of Perrotta's other work.
~Jason
This was a nice, quick read. There was a little bit of an adjustment time coming from Atwood, as Perrotta is most certainly not a poet, but his utilitarian writing style forces the reader into the plot of the story rather than lingering on the phrases. While most of this story is people we all pretty much know, saying things we've all heard, there is a smartness and a cleanness of style that really makes us root for both the sex educator atheist as well as the reformed addict member of a overzealous religious organization and want to know how it's all going to end up. I can't say I liked this nearly as much as Little Children, but it's certainly a good book and a good choice for fans of Perrotta's other work.
~Jason
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Necronomicon I & II - I'm still reading this book,at the moment I'm at the half of the first part of the book (Necronomicon I) and it is quite fascinating and beautiful.I only read this book at the moment,my other books I already read.
the black magician trilogy by Trudi canavan.
medieval-fantasy : Sonea is a girl who lives in the Slums and discovers that she has magic powers. however she is unable to control them and believes that the magician's guild wants to kill her. In reality, the guild wants to find her, have her control her powers and maybe train her to use it.
I had a great time reading the whole thing, but I think the first book is the best. The author tries bringing some love plot or whatever, but is terrible at it, and it's what I believe is what makes the ending less enjoyable.
The first book is really brilliant since we discover many things.
the second book is the worst IMO since almost each chapter is divided in 4 : following the story of 4 different characters. it gets better towards the end, but it's still very annoying. still a good read though.
the third book still has the separate characters, but there's a lot of action and we discover more things. the love plot(s) is made of fail though IMO.
I recommend this trilogy, but the end is very very unsatisfying. sure, it ends up well, but there are still many things to discover.
7.5/10
medieval-fantasy : Sonea is a girl who lives in the Slums and discovers that she has magic powers. however she is unable to control them and believes that the magician's guild wants to kill her. In reality, the guild wants to find her, have her control her powers and maybe train her to use it.
I had a great time reading the whole thing, but I think the first book is the best. The author tries bringing some love plot or whatever, but is terrible at it, and it's what I believe is what makes the ending less enjoyable.
The first book is really brilliant since we discover many things.
the second book is the worst IMO since almost each chapter is divided in 4 : following the story of 4 different characters. it gets better towards the end, but it's still very annoying. still a good read though.
the third book still has the separate characters, but there's a lot of action and we discover more things. the love plot(s) is made of fail though IMO.
I recommend this trilogy, but the end is very very unsatisfying. sure, it ends up well, but there are still many things to discover.
7.5/10
I finally finished The Transmigration of Timothy Archer by P.K. Dick
I enjoyed reading the book but I am at a loss as to what to think of the ending and thus I am a bit disappointed.
The book deals with many philosophical subjects, life after death, fate/self-fulfilling prophecies, science vs. faith, religion in general and the book has the typical what's reality what isn't epiphany...
Luckily I am now directing my attention at Pyramids by Terry Patchett. Discworld novels never fail to make me laugh alot hard.
I enjoyed reading the book but I am at a loss as to what to think of the ending and thus I am a bit disappointed.
The book deals with many philosophical subjects, life after death, fate/self-fulfilling prophecies, science vs. faith, religion in general and the book has the typical what's reality what isn't epiphany...
Luckily I am now directing my attention at Pyramids by Terry Patchett. Discworld novels never fail to make me laugh alot hard.