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Blistex posted:Looking for some good 1950-1970's science fiction, or some modern stuff that's in the same spirit. I've been googling lists of recommended stuff, and it's usually the same 20 results over and over. This sounds like you're describing the "Golden Age" of science fiction, which Asimov, Clarke and Herbert definitely fall into. Alfred Bester and Jack Vance are popular authors from that period. A E Van Vogt is in there for sure. Its been a long time since I've read them but I remember enjoying The World of null-A, Slan (though the sequel(s?) not so much), and especially Voyage of the Space Beagle, which Amazon tells me was the inspiration for the original Alien film. Harlan Ellison is one of my favorite authors, and he wrote a TON of short stories during that period. They're not so much Epic Sci Fi but they're definitely in the spirit of the time, and IMO might be the best example of it.
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Jan 3, 2020 06:27
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StrixNebulosa posted:Eon or Queen of Angels by Greg Bear. Are his "Foundation and Chaos" books worth reading, or should I skip them?
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Jan 3, 2020 06:49
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Blistex posted:Looking for some good 1950-1970's science fiction, or some modern stuff that's in the same spirit. I've been googling lists of recommended stuff, and it's usually the same 20 results over and over. I'm not a massive fan of the guy myself, but I think Frederik Pohl would be more in line with your tastes than mine. Try Gateway, maybe? There's also Gordon Dickson's (unfinished) Dorsai series, which is pretty epic.
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Jan 3, 2020 07:16
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Blistex posted:Looking for some good 1950-1970's science fiction, or some modern stuff that's in the same spirit. I've been googling lists of recommended stuff, and it's usually the same 20 results over and over.
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Jan 3, 2020 07:17
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Wow, I'm going to have a lot of reading materials this summer. Thanks.
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Jan 3, 2020 09:09
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Blistex posted:Are his "Foundation and Chaos" books worth reading, or should I skip them? I don't know because I haven't read them yet. Sorry!
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Jan 3, 2020 11:44
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Blistex posted:Looking for some good 1950-1970's science fiction, or some modern stuff that's in the same spirit. I've been googling lists of recommended stuff, and it's usually the same 20 results over and over. Hal Clement Clifford Simak (City) Lester Del Rey
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Jan 3, 2020 13:11
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TommyGun85 posted:V Tempted to just go through all of them in order of publication now, knowing that several are behemoths and even though it's eight novels and a short story collection it will take a long time. Anyway, looking for some non-fiction recs. I'm currently reading Satanic Panic: Pop Cultural Paranoia in the 1980's and really loving it. It's a series of essays by different writers examining different elements of the 80's Satanic Panic through the various pop culture outrages of the time -- from DnD to Saturday morning cartoons to heavy metal music. Only thing is, depending on who's writing it doesn't always go as in depth on the political elements as I'd like and would love if anyone has some recs for other books on the topic.
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Jan 3, 2020 19:26
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TrixRabbi posted:Tempted to just go through all of them in order of publication now, knowing that several are behemoths and even though it's eight novels and a short story collection it will take a long time. You might like The Utopia of Rules by David Graeber. It’s a series of essays about how society, through technological solutions to non-problems, is limiting the accessibility of “normal” life and expanding the carceral and disability programs to cover the people who fall off the edge of the narrowing bell curve. And it has an excellent essay about how superheroes are a tool of state oppression.
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Jan 3, 2020 23:55
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Hello thread. What's the go-to recommendation for people who like Banks' culture series and Melville's general output? Perhaps some progressive Sci-fi, but with the progressive part more being a backdrop than the reason d'etre? If there is nothing really good like that I suppose I take fantasy too, even though I am not such a big fan of the genre. If you don't mind, here's a second question. Is there any good cosmic horror? I like Lovecraft's universe and ideas, but not his writing. Perhaps other authors exist that don't sound like a unimaginative dungeon master. I don't care about year of release for either. Thank you very much!
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Jan 4, 2020 23:21
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lllllllllllllllllll posted:Hello thread. What's the go-to recommendation for people who like Banks' culture series and Melville's general output? Perhaps some progressive Sci-fi, but with the progressive part more being a backdrop than the reason d'etre? If there is nothing really good like that I suppose I take fantasy too, even though I am not such a big fan of the genre. Kameron Hurley's works might be what you're looking for re: sci-fi, or Ada Palmer's Terra Ignota series, and for cosmic horror you want Caitlin R Kiernan's works. Any of them will do, but Threshold, Agents of Dreamland, and Black Helicopters go hard on the cosmic scope of the horror.
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Jan 4, 2020 23:29
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lllllllllllllllllll posted:Hello thread. What's the go-to recommendation for people who like Banks' culture series and Melville's general output? Perhaps some progressive Sci-fi, but with the progressive part more being a backdrop than the reason d'etre? If there is nothing really good like that I suppose I take fantasy too, even though I am not such a big fan of the genre. I recommend American Elsewhere by Robert Jackson Bennett for lovecraftian horror. And the Southern Reach Trilogy by Jeff Vandermeer, of course. I think The Ballad of Black Tom is in the Lovecraft universe, if that’s more what you’re looking for. And Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff is excellent, progressive, and totally in that universe.
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Jan 5, 2020 01:31
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Seconding The Ballad of Black Tom, it's a retelling of one of the worst (and most racist) Lovecraft stories from the other side. Victor LaValle's stuff is usually good. Lovecraft Country did nothing for me but YMMV. Felt too simplistic, too preachy and honestly lacking any horror.
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Jan 5, 2020 12:34
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Perfect. Thank you StrixNebulosa, tuyop and anilEhilated. I will try all of these recommendations and report back someday! 
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Jan 5, 2020 15:18
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If I were to pick five Agatha Christie novels to read, which ones would you recommend? I've already read Murder on the Orient Express and liked it.
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Jan 7, 2020 05:00
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Badger of Basra posted:If I were to pick five Agatha Christie novels to read, which ones would you recommend? I've already read Murder on the Orient Express and liked it. Personally, I'd say And Then There Were None, Endless Night, Crooked House, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and ABC Murders. Not all of them are Poirot mysteries but they're all good. Edit: Though now that I think about it I would put Peril at End House as another option, maybe in the place of ABC Murders. They're both good though.
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Jan 7, 2020 06:02
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Sad Cypress.
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Jan 7, 2020 06:33
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MockingQuantum posted:Personally, I'd say And Then There Were None, Endless Night, Crooked House, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and ABC Murders. Not all of them are Poirot mysteries but they're all good. I think that's a pretty good list, although I might throw in Evil Under the Sun myself.
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Jan 7, 2020 12:53
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looking for books both fiction and non about the french resistance/early 20th century french life. i’m sadly becoming a ouiaboo
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Jan 9, 2020 20:32
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obvious answer is of course In search of lost time, it’s set from late late 19th to early 20th century discard all need to merely focus on plot and ~world building~ and you’re all set to go
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Jan 9, 2020 20:46
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i’ve been irritated because my cursory searches have only returned stuff about americans but i want something from the perspective of the native french. i remember really enjoying down and out in paris and london back in college and i’d love to read stuff that doesn’t focus on the american perspective
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Jan 9, 2020 20:49
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Journey to the End of the Night.
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Jan 9, 2020 20:56
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Sham bam bamina! posted:Journey to the End of the Night. This, a million times. It’s probably the best French novel of the twentieth century.
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Jan 9, 2020 23:24
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Any other sort of grand fantasy series worth diving into? Just about to finish The Black Company series (enjoyed it quite a bit), read The Malazan Book of the Fallen prior to that (took forever, really didn’t enjoy it all as much as I’d hoped). May swap to historical fiction since I’d asked about that before, but any completed series recommendations are appreciated.
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Jan 9, 2020 23:27
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Gormenghast (making certain allowances for "completed").
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Jan 10, 2020 00:33
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REMEMBER SPONGE MONKEYS posted:Any other sort of grand fantasy series worth diving into? Just about to finish The Black Company series (enjoyed it quite a bit), read The Malazan Book of the Fallen prior to that (took forever, really didn’t enjoy it all as much as I’d hoped). May swap to historical fiction since I’d asked about that before, but any completed series recommendations are appreciated. Depends what you're in the mood for. If you want generic fantasy, wheel of time. If you want excellent quality writing, Patrick O Brian.
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Jan 10, 2020 00:39
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Hieronymous Alloy posted:Patrick O Brian. This. If you're in a fantasy mood, take all of the nautical jargon that sometimes throws people off and just consider it the "magic system."
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Jan 10, 2020 04:53
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Is there anything similar to American Elsewhere, but maybe with a little more mystery? I liked the book, but I felt the author spent a long, long time setting up some pretty obvious payoffs and then having extended ‘No, that’s not possible!’ conversations. This is not me bragging about getting the twists early, or complaining about the book. As I said, I enjoyed it, I’m just looking for authors who are maybe a little more subtle in their twists. I realize this may be a weird request.
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Jan 11, 2020 16:19
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Captain Monkey posted:Is there anything similar to American Elsewhere, but maybe with a little more mystery? I liked the book, but I felt the author spent a long, long time setting up some pretty obvious payoffs and then having extended ‘No, that’s not possible!’ conversations. But still Lovecraftian? The Croning by Laird Barron was pretty good.
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Jan 11, 2020 16:40
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Not necessarily Lovecraftian, though I do enjoy the genre. It was just a book I recently finished, and it spawned my desire.
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Jan 11, 2020 16:57
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I'd like to read a really good mystery novel. Ideally, something that goes off the rails as the mystery unfolds. With things that are genuinely surprising, but internally consistent.
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Jan 11, 2020 22:38
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Casual Encountess posted:looking for books both fiction and non about the french resistance/early 20th century french life. Every Patrick Modiano book is a reminiscence of an extremely French youth lived during the war or the 60s
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Jan 11, 2020 23:05
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Dr.D-O posted:I'd like to read a really good mystery novel. The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is easily my favorite Agatha Christie
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Jan 11, 2020 23:13
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^^ is it still worth reading if the reveal has been spoiled for me?Dr.D-O posted:I'd like to read a really good mystery novel. The Curious Incident of the Dog might work. I don't know that it goes off the rails so much as it is just a unique presentation of a mystery story. Going in blind is best. regulargonzalez fucked around with this message at 23:18 on Jan 11, 2020 |
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Jan 11, 2020 23:16
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Dr.D-O posted:I'd like to read a really good mystery novel. The Westing Game, perhaps?
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Jan 11, 2020 23:23
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StrixNebulosa posted:The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is easily my favorite Agatha Christie I recently read Murder on the Orient Express and found it kind of underwhelming. How would you say it compares (without spoiling it)?
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Jan 11, 2020 23:39
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regulargonzalez posted:^^ is it still worth reading if the reveal has been spoiled for me? My boomer mother always recommends this book because it has something to do with Autism (I have autistic family members). Selachian posted:The Westing Game, perhaps? Wikipedia is telling me that this is a children's novel? Is this true?
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Jan 11, 2020 23:42
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Dr.D-O posted:
It's a Newberry Award winner so technically yes but it's a good read and very clever. Sure it's for kids which means you'll be able to solve who the murderer is pretty easily, no? Only if you're a careful and insightful reader.
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Jan 11, 2020 23:44
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Dr.D-O posted:I'd like to read a really good mystery novel. Maybe something like The Maltese Falcon, if you haven't read that already. It kinda set the tone for a lot of mystery/detective novels that came after it.
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Jan 12, 2020 01:36
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Currently reading a non-fiction book about the history of the gypsies and their way of life, and I dig it. I'm looking for similar stuff where I can learn some fascinating things about other cultures.
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Jan 12, 2020 02:06
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