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I'm looking for a fun or exciting Sci Fi along the lines of The Expanse or Old Man's War, having read both recently
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Jul 2, 2014 01:37
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To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War I'm looking for some good books that explore the impacts on a grand scale. I looked through the last few pages of this thread and scanned as much of it as I could but I didn't see anything exactly like I was looking for. I'm not looking for something as "micro" as All Quiet on the Western Front, nor am I looking for something that is strictly a military history textbook that gives me the Xs and Os of trench warfare. I'd really like something that looks at the broad social, political, and economic factors leading up and resulting from the war. Obviously there are probably hundreds of books like this, so I'd really like a book(s) that run from roughly 1890-1932. Whenever I go searching for such a book I'm overwhelmed with the options, so any ability to narrow it down a little would be really helpful!
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Jul 2, 2014 03:14
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13Pandora13 posted:A while back I asked for a good Sci Fi/Fantasy/Action novel with a strong female lead who's motivation had nothing to do with children or a love interest. Someone recommended Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie, which I liked very much. My girlfriend told me to download the first book in the Silo series by Hugh Howie, Wool, before my business trip last week and it was loving awesome. So, if you're looking for a fun sci-fi/dystopian future novel with a female lead that isn't a terrible trope definitely check it out. It's like $5 on Google Play or Kindle. Good books but I only managed to read the first two of the trilogy. It was relentlessly gritty and depressing.
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Jul 2, 2014 09:05
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JD posted:I'm looking for a fun or exciting Sci Fi along the lines of The Expanse or Old Man's War, having read both recently Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga has a similar balance of humour and drama to OMW, though it's lighter on the action and heavier on the politics. The first Miles book in particular, The Warrior's Apprentice, has some amusingly insane escalation.
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Jul 2, 2014 13:26
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13Pandora13 posted:A while back I asked for a good Sci Fi/Fantasy/Action novel with a strong female lead who's motivation had nothing to do with children or a love interest. Someone recommended Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie, which I liked very much. My girlfriend told me to download the first book in the Silo series by Hugh Howie, Wool, before my business trip last week and it was loving awesome. So, if you're looking for a fun sci-fi/dystopian future novel with a female lead that isn't a terrible trope definitely check it out. It's like $5 on Google Play or Kindle. I completely agree with the Hugh Howie, I read Wool in 2-3 days and Shift is just as good, still got Dust to read but I loved the first two especially as I am mainly a crime reader I was kind of shocked I enjoyed them so much!
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Jul 3, 2014 20:27
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Sandwolf posted:I could really use a book right now that could make me cry, something powerful. Fictional history or very light sci-fi or post/pre/near apocalyptic (this especially) would be preferred. A Prayer for Owen Meany might just be the ticket for you (Sorry its from a page ago)
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Jul 5, 2014 05:17
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hello clarice posted:I know I'm late to the party on this one but I want to note something about the Anita Blake books - the scary doesn't start until a few books in. There's a lot of crazy sex in the Anita Blake series, but for the first few books Anita is mostly celibate and a total bad rear end. If you don't want to deal with crazy sex stop reading right before or right after Narcissus in Chains. There are some differing opinions-I say Narcissus is where the crazy starts but my best friend (who introduced me to the series) says it's still within the bounds of acceptable reading. That's how I would describe it. Though to be fair I don't think She ever has sex with a human If I was to credit the series for anything it was that after book 3 I became really sad at the idea of one day running out of Anita Blake books but by the time I finished "Hit List" I didn't really care. A nice wide arch there that left me satisfied and not looking for more.
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Jul 5, 2014 20:18
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Sandwolf posted:I could really use a book right now that could make me cry, something powerful. Fictional history or very light sci-fi or post/pre/near apocalyptic (this especially) would be preferred. I just remebered one more. Random Acts Of Senseless Violence by Jack Womack. Possible the saddest book ever.
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Jul 6, 2014 00:46
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To anyone who has played Fez, are there any books with a similar lore or setting? I just finished playing the game and I really enjoyed discovering the multitude of ruins, weird blade runner cities, and everything mysterious it had to offer. I know that there are many books which feature a post-apocalyptic earth that might fit the bill, but that's not exactly what I need to scratch the post-Fez "mind blown" itch.
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Jul 6, 2014 03:35
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specklebang posted:I just remebered one more. That book seems more of like..a downer. I really am looking for something with someone just giving up on life, preferably how it affects others?
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Jul 6, 2014 18:47
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Sandwolf posted:That book seems more of like..a downer. I really am looking for something with someone just giving up on life, preferably how it affects others? The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
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Jul 6, 2014 19:00
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Sandwolf posted:That book seems more of like..a downer. I really am looking for something with someone just giving up on life, preferably how it affects others? I must be misunderstanding what you are seeking. I would think that RAOSV would be considered exactly that and yes - it is a downer because it's about giving up on life in a crumbling society. Did you look at Schrodinger's Telephone? Was that more appropriate or am I just not a good source of suggestions for this ;-).
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Jul 6, 2014 22:45
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Can anyone recommend some good political dramas set in the 20th/21st century? Particularly interested in non-Western countries, elections, and/or political violence.
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Jul 7, 2014 01:55
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I'm looking for some really good "exploration" horror fiction. Like, haunted house-type stuff where discovering more about the location is essential to the story, and can, at times, be the mechanism of the protagonists' downfall. "House of Leaves" is one of my favorite books of all time, and I really enjoyed "The Haunting of Hill House." Even though they're not horror books, "And Then There Were None" and even the nonfiction "Into Thin Air" really satiated this interest of mine. "The Turn of the Screw" wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but it's also in the neighborhood. Sorry, I hope that's enough information, thanks in advance!
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Jul 9, 2014 17:25
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Farchanter posted:I'm looking for some really good "exploration" horror fiction. Like, haunted house-type stuff where discovering more about the location is essential to the story, and can, at times, be the mechanism of the protagonists' downfall. "House of Leaves" is one of my favorite books of all time, and I really enjoyed "The Haunting of Hill House." Even though they're not horror books, "And Then There Were None" and even the nonfiction "Into Thin Air" really satiated this interest of mine. "The Turn of the Screw" wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but it's also in the neighborhood. H.P. Lovecraft's At The Mountains of Madness is a fictional log from an Antarctic expedition. Dan Simmons' The Terror is about explorers seeking the northwest passage. They are both rather good horror stories as well. I'm sure you'd find them enjoyable.
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Jul 9, 2014 18:52
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Farchanter posted:I'm looking for some really good "exploration" horror fiction. Like, haunted house-type stuff where discovering more about the location is essential to the story, and can, at times, be the mechanism of the protagonists' downfall. "House of Leaves" is one of my favorite books of all time, and I really enjoyed "The Haunting of Hill House." Even though they're not horror books, "And Then There Were None" and even the nonfiction "Into Thin Air" really satiated this interest of mine. "The Turn of the Screw" wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but it's also in the neighborhood. Into the Wild
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Jul 9, 2014 20:00
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Farchanter posted:I'm looking for some really good "exploration" horror fiction. Like, haunted house-type stuff where discovering more about the location is essential to the story, and can, at times, be the mechanism of the protagonists' downfall. "House of Leaves" is one of my favorite books of all time, and I really enjoyed "The Haunting of Hill House." Even though they're not horror books, "And Then There Were None" and even the nonfiction "Into Thin Air" really satiated this interest of mine. "The Turn of the Screw" wasn't exactly what I was looking for, but it's also in the neighborhood. Haunted House books: Richard Matheson's Hell House - number one of all time fave haunted house books (tied with Shirley Jackson's Hill House). Michael Rowe's Wild Fell which was nominated for the Shirley Jackson award this year. F.G. Cottam's House of Lost Souls (with bonus appearance by Aleister Crowley. Other haunted house books not as good but still strong: Joe Shreiber - No Doors, No Windows David Annandale - Gethsemane Hall Sarah Rayne - Property of a Lady Also good is Adam Nevill's stuff especially Last Days and The Ritual. The Ritual is actually about a group of guys who go backpacking into the Arctic Circle and end up getting chased by some malevolent evil. You might have already read this since it was made into a movie a few years ago but there's also Scott Smith's The Ruins.
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Jul 9, 2014 20:18
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If I enjoyed the Haunting of Hill House (more than enjoyed, it is one of my favorite horror novels of all time), would I enjoy We Have Always Lived in the Castle?
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Jul 9, 2014 21:55
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It's not really horror, but Robert Holdstock's Mythago Wood might also interest you along those lines.
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Jul 9, 2014 23:34
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nate fisher posted:If I enjoyed the Haunting of Hill House (more than enjoyed, it is one of my favorite horror novels of all time), would I enjoy We Have Always Lived in the Castle? If you liked the way Jackson told the story, yes. If you're wanting the same spooky atmosphere, possibly not. It is arguably spooky, though, but not in the same way. We Have Always Lived in the Castle is not horror.
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Jul 10, 2014 02:47
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I just saw Dredd and I'm itching for some hyper-fascist dark sci fi or something, but hopefully with more substance than Dark Library books. Any suggestions?
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Jul 10, 2014 10:00
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WAFFLEHOUND posted:I just saw Dredd and I'm itching for some hyper-fascist dark sci fi or something, but hopefully with more substance than Dark Library books. Any suggestions? not really joking here: 86% of scifi written in the 1900-1950s are hyper-facist or dark compared to today. Check out EE Smith's LENSMEN series, any H. Rider Haggard book, Cordwainer Smith, or other authors in that timeframe. Facism, racist as gently caress, white mans genetic superiority, women being 2nd class citizens, genocide of alien civilizations, etc are only some of the things you'll encounter in those books as you read. For something slightly newer with dark sci fi tones try the following non-Dune novels by Frank Herbert. Hellstroms Hive, Destination Void + maybe it's sequels, the white plague, whipping star/dosadi experiment.
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Jul 10, 2014 14:07
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freebooter posted:Could somebody recommend me a good history book on England/Britain/the UK, ideally only one book or a couple of volumes? Not one of those massive Oxford 12-part series or whatever, I don't have the patience for that. Obviously it would have to be pretty concise/limited but that's OK. It would also be good if it assumes no background knowledge on the part of the reader (I'm not British). The Oxford History of Britain edited by Kenneth O. Morgan is a good one-volume general history. It covers about 2000 so you get a little of most things. You should be aware though, that it is a collection of essays written by specialists on the particular periods covered, so you won't get a consistent voice, but you do get excellent knowledge in each of the essays. Pork Pie Hat fucked around with this message at 18:34 on Jul 10, 2014 |
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Jul 10, 2014 18:30
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SpitztheGreat posted:To celebrate the 100th anniversary of the start of the Great War I'm looking for some good books that explore the impacts on a grand scale. I looked through the last few pages of this thread and scanned as much of it as I could but I didn't see anything exactly like I was looking for. I'm not looking for something as "micro" as All Quiet on the Western Front, nor am I looking for something that is strictly a military history textbook that gives me the Xs and Os of trench warfare. I'd really like something that looks at the broad social, political, and economic factors leading up and resulting from the war. Obviously there are probably hundreds of books like this, so I'd really like a book(s) that run from roughly 1890-1932. In your searching, have you considered The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went To War In 1914 by Christopher Clark? It won't be the single book you're looking for, as it only covers the causes for the war and not the aftermath, but it is very good for all that.
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Jul 10, 2014 18:38
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Pork Pie Hat posted:In your searching, have you considered The Sleepwalkers: How Europe Went To War In 1914 by Christopher Clark? It won't be the single book you're looking for, as it only covers the causes for the war and not the aftermath, but it is very good for all that. Second this for the opening part of the war, it's extremely thorough, as well.
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Jul 11, 2014 04:05
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Anyone have any recommendations for a scifi-ish book that exemplifies loneliness and isolation? I just finished watching Moon and it's really put me the mood.
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Jul 12, 2014 14:24
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de_dust posted:Anyone have any recommendations for a scifi-ish book that exemplifies loneliness and isolation? Hrm. Maybe Solaris by Stanislaw Lem?
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Jul 12, 2014 14:42
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de_dust posted:Anyone have any recommendations for a scifi-ish book that exemplifies loneliness and isolation? Perhaps "The Martian"? I wasn't a huge fan of the prose itself, but your mileage may vary.
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Jul 12, 2014 18:25
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Just read Blood Meridian and I really enjoyed Judge Holden, any other characters similar to him and his ominous presence?
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Jul 12, 2014 18:56
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I'm about to finish up with The Forsyte Saga after a decade of it sitting unread on my shelf. Is there anything else by John Galsworthy that I should read (the Wikipedia list is massive) or some similar author? What I really love is the examination of Victorian and Edwardian society and culture and morals. So more of that would be good.
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Jul 14, 2014 07:30
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So, any books centered/themed around time travel/manipulation that aren't YA trash? Probably a shot in the dark there, but hey, it's a theme I'm loving lately.
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Jul 14, 2014 10:27
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Galick posted:So, any books centered/themed around time travel/manipulation that aren't YA trash? Probably a shot in the dark there, but hey, it's a theme I'm loving lately. Someone recommended 'The Man Who Folded Himself' by David Gerrold to me in the same vein. I've not been able to find it in any stores near me but what I've read about the book online sounds great.
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Jul 14, 2014 10:31
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What's a really good, gritty "portal fantasy" book? I just finished Lev Grossman's The Magicians for the third time and I'm looking for something similar: people from our world who get transported to a second world and realise how loving terrifying it is to suddenly be fighting to survive amongst all these weird creatures and landscapes. I guess also something like Eddie and Jake's experiences in the Dark Tower books. I don't want anything wholesome like Narnia.
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Jul 14, 2014 10:43
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Galick posted:So, any books centered/themed around time travel/manipulation that aren't YA trash? Probably a shot in the dark there, but hey, it's a theme I'm loving lately. To Say Nothing of the Dog, by Connie Willis.
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Jul 14, 2014 10:58
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Galick posted:So, any books centered/themed around time travel/manipulation that aren't YA trash? Probably a shot in the dark there, but hey, it's a theme I'm loving lately. there's always HG Wells, but I guess you've read that already
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Jul 14, 2014 11:07
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de_dust posted:Anyone have any recommendations for a scifi-ish book that exemplifies loneliness and isolation? Galick posted:So, any books centered/themed around time travel/manipulation that aren't YA trash? Probably a shot in the dark there, but hey, it's a theme I'm loving lately. Charles Yu's How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe
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Jul 14, 2014 11:54
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Shitshow posted:Perhaps "The Martian"? I wasn't a huge fan of the prose itself, but your mileage may vary. I read exactly 5 pages of this book before the prose became too annoying.
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Jul 14, 2014 12:02
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Hedrigall posted:What's a really good, gritty "portal fantasy" book? I just finished Lev Grossman's The Magicians for the third time and I'm looking for something similar: people from our world who get transported to a second world and realise how loving terrifying it is to suddenly be fighting to survive amongst all these weird creatures and landscapes. I guess also something like Eddie and Jake's experiences in the Dark Tower books. I don't want anything wholesome like Narnia. Liminal States, by SA's very own Zack Parsons, especially in Book Three. You'll have to do a fair amount of reading things that aren't that, but the parts that take place in an alternate universe will fit exactly what you're looking for. (There's also hints of it peppered throughout other sections of the book) Unrelated, but Book Two was my favorite and actually got me interested in the noir genre. It's a really cool book.
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Jul 14, 2014 13:16
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Galick posted:So, any books centered/themed around time travel/manipulation that aren't YA trash? Probably a shot in the dark there, but hey, it's a theme I'm loving lately. ulvir posted:there's always HG Wells, but I guess you've read that already The Map of Time, by Felix J. Palma, is kind of a fun one, especially if you've read Wells. I also enjoyed The Time Traveler's Wife, which is ostensibly a romance, but it really takes full advantage of its central conceit, surprisingly much more so than other time travel books. It's also way better than the lovely movie adaptation. DirtyRobot fucked around with this message at 13:20 on Jul 14, 2014 |
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Jul 14, 2014 13:16
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timp posted:Liminal States, by SA's very own Zack Parsons, especially in Book Three. You'll have to do a fair amount of reading things that aren't that, but the parts that take place in an alternate universe will fit exactly what you're looking for. I tried that when it came out, didn't like it. Anyway, looking for more outright fantasy secondary worlds.
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Jul 14, 2014 13:19
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