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Posted: Fri Aug 23, 2002 6:54 pm
by /-\lastor
I'll have to read 8 books of dutch literature for school this year, so not much fantasy or sf this time.
But school hasn't started so I'm taking every oppurtunity to read David Gerrold's War against the Chtorr series.
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2002 1:28 am
by Tamerlane
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2002 8:02 am
by Osiris
@Tamerlane - The first three novels in the Rama series were really good. The fourth one I only got a few weeks ago and haven't read, but it attracted poor reviews when it was issued iirc. Arthur C Clarke wrote the first book (Rendezvou with..) and the last three were ghosted by Gentry Lee (Clarke's name appears as co-author).
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2002 9:03 pm
by Koveras
Stephen King's 'Salem's Lot. Great vampire novel.
Posted: Sat Aug 24, 2002 10:09 pm
by Weasel
Well I have finished reading the last Clive Cussler novel .....Flood Tide.
As with the other two I read, Dirk this time is on a mission to stop the Evil Hong Kong King of Shipping from blocking the Mississippi River...while stopped the President of the US from using illegal aliens to get reelected...all for the benfit of the US.
My personal opinion of all three...watch TV before you decide to read this junk.
Now to better news, I will start on Julian May, the Saga of the Exiles. (Read these 4 books years ago, but I do like to reread) folowed by the 'The Galactic Milieu' a two book series continuing the first four books.
1.The many-coloured land.
(I always considered Aiken Drum my alter ego)
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2002 2:12 am
by Tamerlane
Thanks Osiris, at least the series as a whole seems to be of good quality. Arthur C. Clarke, thats the name
He did Space Odyssey did he not?
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2002 3:07 am
by Astafas
I read a book of 880 pages on Swedish indirect taxes for 2002. I'm not sure if you'll be able to find it translated into English in your local bookstore...
I'm also rereading Peter Hoegs excellent "Tales of the night" consisting of nine shortstories about the nature and conditions of love, all taking place on the night of March 19th 1929.
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2002 6:13 am
by Ode to a Grasshopper
Right now I'm about halfway through Harry Harrison's
Bill the Galactic Hero on the Planet of Tasteless Pleasure, it being the only Harry Harrison book in the library, I decided to check it out after seeing someone (Fable, IIRC) recommending it somewhere.
Quite good.
@Weasel-LOL, my dad likes those Dirk Pitt books.
I've read most of them, they crack me up. Especially the latest one.
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2002 6:32 am
by frogus
Similar situation for me as Sleep and Kam. I just finished 'A Scanner Darkly' an exceptionally accurate and thought provoking Philip K **** drugs novel. It really is a drugs novel, with no sci-fi elements at all other than a fictional drug called Death, but it also fits in an excellent paradox (surprise surprise) and some very serious questions about reality and perception.
Now I am reading FILTH by Irvine Welsh, and yes, @Sleep, I probably am too young to be reading that sort of thing. It is horrible, but I will read it through to see if he does anything clever with the utterly dispicable characters he has created... Trainspotting was just a commentary on junkies, with no real 'meaning' or 'moral', and I suspect that FILTH may just be a commentary on utterly unpleasant people...but all will be revealed soon.
@Sleep, I have not read Great Apes, but my dad has it, and I have read some other Self. Would you recommend it?
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2002 7:52 am
by fable
Originally posted by Ode to a Grasshopper
Right now I'm about halfway through Harry Harrison's Bill the Galactic Hero on the Planet of Tasteless Pleasure, it being the only Harry Harrison book in the library, I decided to check it out after seeing someone (Fable, IIRC) recommending it somewhere.
Quite good.
Great! I'm glad you like it. Although I'd still suggest finding the original, as that's the most satricial of the lot.
Posted: Sun Aug 25, 2002 11:34 am
by Mr Sleep
Originally posted by frogus
@Sleep, I have not read Great Apes, but my dad has it, and I have read some other Self. Would you recommend it?
One thing i didn't mention was the sexual nature of the book, from what i have read there is a great deal of very articulate scenes involving sexuality.
I would recommend it if you want a very strange and thought provoking novel, it is a little boring and doesn't really prompt the reader, i am not exaclty on the edge of my seat. It is more of an intellectual novel than a page turner.
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2002 12:27 am
by Ode to a Grasshopper
Originally posted by fable
Great! I'm glad you like it. Although I'd still suggest finding the original, as that's the most satricial of the lot.
I'll have to look for that, some of the satire in the current one is quite funny. I love the bit about "Drunkards and Flagons" (a D&D take-off).
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2002 1:41 am
by thantor3
I have finally decided to take the plunge and read LOTR...
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2002 3:38 am
by Ode to a Grasshopper
Originally posted by thantor3
I have finally decided to take the plunge and read LOTR...
Good luck, the first book is remarkably tedious. It gets better with books 2-6 though.
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2002 11:35 am
by Mr Sleep
I also started a new book by Martin Amis, i have picked up every one of his books i see since THE JAKER recommended him.
His writing style is very interesting and the characters are intruiging. The strangest of his books i have read so far is called Times Arrow, it charts the life of a doctor only in reverse...it is quite bizaare and really interesting.
Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2002 12:07 pm
by frogus
@Sleep, you evidently share a taste in literature with...my dad
. He is a big fan of Amis, though I have only read 'The War Against Cliche' which was journalism rather than fiction, and started reading 'Night Train' and a book of short stories which I forget the title of...the first story was about a poet and a screenplay writer, but both this and Night Train were excedingly boring IMHO. I suppose I must be missing something, so maybe I'll take on a differenty book soon and do the whole thing...
Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2002 6:42 am
by Mr Sleep
Originally posted by frogus
@Sleep, you evidently share a taste in literature with...my dad .
He is obviously a man of culture and sophistication
He is a big fan of Amis, though I have only read 'The War Against Cliche' which was journalism rather than fiction, and started reading 'Night Train' and a book of short stories which I forget the title of...the first story was about a poet and a screenplay writer, but both this and Night Train were excedingly boring IMHO. I suppose I must be missing something, so maybe I'll take on a differenty book soon and do the whole thing...
I have the book of short stories at home somewhere and i am yet to read it...i have also forgotten the title
The one i am currently reading (Other People) is charting an amnesiac and her return to memory. It is based in the streets of London and is far from a Jackie Collins novel
The way Mary starts to learn things is fascinating, there are assumptions made that are misinterpretations.
She seems to learn certain things in the wrong order and also make conclusions that make sense to a mind who doesn't understand their setting. Probably the most riveting Amis book i have read so far. The other works have been heavily intellectual and tiring to read, this is definately more of a page turner.
So what else does you dad read?
Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2002 7:45 pm
by physco monkey
The book series i am reading now is Robert Jordans Wheel of Time series and i think it is one of the best fantasy series i have ever read. If a bit long. I highly recomend it.
Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2002 8:27 pm
by humanflyz
After the first five books I gave up Wheel of Fortune. Robert Jordan is just trying to squeeze money out of the series. After a while the books become repetitions of each other. Just end the series for heaven's sake!