TBB Book Recommendation Superstation !!

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > The Book Barn > TBB Book Recommendation Superstation !!

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Take the plunge! Okay!: Feb 24, 2007

Also try Peake�s Gormenghast for fantasy and Lem�s Eden for science fiction, if you�re leaning that way.

# ? Jan 31, 2023 08:00

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# ? May 29, 2024 04:47

anilEhilated: Feb 17, 2014; But I say fuck the rain.; Grimey Drawer

deep dish peat moss posted:

Hey TBB, can anyone point me in the direction of any notable fiction books that are almost exclusively world-building, instead of character-focused stories?

I'm an artist and I have a fictional setting I've been developing and iterating on for years, but ultimately I don't know what to "do" with it. I'm far more interested in developing the world itself than telling stories set within it about the characters that fill it up which has made it difficult to package into a thing that can be delivered to an audience in a fun way (like a novel or graphic novel or whatever). So I'm looking for examples of storytelling that primarily tell you about a place, rather than telling you a chronological linear story set within that place, if that makes sense. Ideally something that's completely standalone as opposed to e.g. The Silmarillion which fleshes out the world that existing stories are set in, but I'm up for that stuff too because I just want some inspiration for ways of delivering a story that consists of pure world-building rather than character-based narrative.

e: The Codex Seraphinianus is one of my all-time favorite things, for what it's worth, and I'm familiar with the Voynich Manuscript, but I'm particularly interested in more traditional storytelling rather than surreal art cryptography stuff.

Kalpa Imperial.

# ? Jan 31, 2023 10:06

A human heart: Oct 10, 2012

deep dish peat moss posted:

Hey TBB, can anyone point me in the direction of any notable fiction books that are almost exclusively world-building, instead of character-focused stories?

I'm an artist and I have a fictional setting I've been developing and iterating on for years, but ultimately I don't know what to "do" with it. I'm far more interested in developing the world itself than telling stories set within it about the characters that fill it up which has made it difficult to package into a thing that can be delivered to an audience in a fun way (like a novel or graphic novel or whatever). So I'm looking for examples of storytelling that primarily tell you about a place, rather than telling you a chronological linear story set within that place, if that makes sense. Ideally something that's completely standalone as opposed to e.g. The Silmarillion which fleshes out the world that existing stories are set in, but I'm up for that stuff too because I just want some inspiration for ways of delivering a story that consists of pure world-building rather than character-based narrative.

e: The Codex Seraphinianus is one of my all-time favorite things, for what it's worth, and I'm familiar with the Voynich Manuscript, but I'm particularly interested in more traditional storytelling rather than surreal art cryptography stuff.

you need to read The Plains by Gerald Murnane asap.

e: Raymond Roussel's Locus Solus, also.

A human heart fucked around with this message at 11:14 on Jan 31, 2023

# ? Jan 31, 2023 11:07

Haystack: Jan 23, 2005

deep dish peat moss posted:

Hey TBB, can anyone point me in the direction of any notable fiction books that are almost exclusively world-building, instead of character-focused stories?

I'm an artist and I have a fictional setting I've been developing and iterating on for years, but ultimately I don't know what to "do" with it. I'm far more interested in developing the world itself than telling stories set within it about the characters that fill it up which has made it difficult to package into a thing that can be delivered to an audience in a fun way (like a novel or graphic novel or whatever). So I'm looking for examples of storytelling that primarily tell you about a place, rather than telling you a chronological linear story set within that place, if that makes sense. Ideally something that's completely standalone as opposed to e.g. The Silmarillion which fleshes out the world that existing stories are set in, but I'm up for that stuff too because I just want some inspiration for ways of delivering a story that consists of pure world-building rather than character-based narrative.

e: The Codex Seraphinianus is one of my all-time favorite things, for what it's worth, and I'm familiar with the Voynich Manuscript, but I'm particularly interested in more traditional storytelling rather than surreal art cryptography stuff.

King of Sartar

# ? Jan 31, 2023 13:16

Bilirubin: Feb 16, 2014; The sanctioned action is to CHUG

deep dish peat moss posted:

Hey TBB, can anyone point me in the direction of any notable fiction books that are almost exclusively world-building, instead of character-focused stories?

I'm an artist and I have a fictional setting I've been developing and iterating on for years, but ultimately I don't know what to "do" with it. I'm far more interested in developing the world itself than telling stories set within it about the characters that fill it up which has made it difficult to package into a thing that can be delivered to an audience in a fun way (like a novel or graphic novel or whatever). So I'm looking for examples of storytelling that primarily tell you about a place, rather than telling you a chronological linear story set within that place, if that makes sense. Ideally something that's completely standalone as opposed to e.g. The Silmarillion which fleshes out the world that existing stories are set in, but I'm up for that stuff too because I just want some inspiration for ways of delivering a story that consists of pure world-building rather than character-based narrative.

e: The Codex Seraphinianus is one of my all-time favorite things, for what it's worth, and I'm familiar with the Voynich Manuscript, but I'm particularly interested in more traditional storytelling rather than surreal art cryptography stuff.

The Bible OP

# ? Jan 31, 2023 15:54

LLSix: Jan 20, 2010; The real power behind countless overlords

deep dish peat moss posted:

Hey TBB, can anyone point me in the direction of any notable fiction books that are almost exclusively world-building, instead of character-focused stories?

I'm an artist and I have a fictional setting I've been developing and iterating on for years, but ultimately I don't know what to "do" with it. I'm far more interested in developing the world itself than telling stories set within it about the characters that fill it up which has made it difficult to package into a thing that can be delivered to an audience in a fun way (like a novel or graphic novel or whatever). So I'm looking for examples of storytelling that primarily tell you about a place, rather than telling you a chronological linear story set within that place, if that makes sense. Ideally something that's completely standalone as opposed to e.g. The Silmarillion which fleshes out the world that existing stories are set in, but I'm up for that stuff too because I just want some inspiration for ways of delivering a story that consists of pure world-building rather than character-based narrative.

e: The Codex Seraphinianus is one of my all-time favorite things, for what it's worth, and I'm familiar with the Voynich Manuscript, but I'm particularly interested in more traditional storytelling rather than surreal art cryptography stuff.

Mother of Learning was written as a world-building exercise. It's pretty good considering the author's first language is not English.

# ? Jan 31, 2023 16:11

deep dish peat moss: Jul 27, 2006

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, this is quite a reading list but I started Invisible Cities already and it was the exact kind of thing I was hoping for, so I'm looking forward to making it through all of these!

# ? Jan 31, 2023 18:04

istewart: Apr 13, 2005; Still contemplating why I didn't register here under a clever pseudonym

I�m looking for some fast-paced sci-fi with solid characterization, the kind of thing that might compel me to burn through it in one or two sittings. My recent favorites have been the Locked Tomb trilogy and Lavie Tidhar�s Central Station. Something that gets as weird as Charles Stross� Accelerando or Rudy Rucker�s Ware tetralogy would be most welcome, too (although I�m not sure there is anything that gets as weird as the latter???).

Also, I�d like to be able to write a solid mystery one day in the far-off future. What would be some solid suggestions for approaching the genre to learn structure and form, if my last literary exposure was the complete Sherlock Holmes as a youngster?

# ? Jan 31, 2023 23:55

tuyop: Sep 15, 2006; Every second that we're not growing BASIL is a second wasted; Fun Shoe

istewart posted:

I�m looking for some fast-paced sci-fi with solid characterization, the kind of thing that might compel me to burn through it in one or two sittings. My recent favorites have been the Locked Tomb trilogy and Lavie Tidhar�s Central Station. Something that gets as weird as Charles Stross� Accelerando or Rudy Rucker�s Ware tetralogy would be most welcome, too (although I�m not sure there is anything that gets as weird as the latter???).

I finished Shards of Earth a few months back and really enjoyed it for that

# ? Jan 31, 2023 23:58

LLSix: Jan 20, 2010; The real power behind countless overlords

istewart posted:

I�m looking for some fast-paced sci-fi with solid characterization, the kind of thing that might compel me to burn through it in one or two sittings. My recent favorites have been the Locked Tomb trilogy and Lavie Tidhar�s Central Station. Something that gets as weird as Charles Stross� Accelerando or Rudy Rucker�s Ware tetralogy would be most welcome, too (although I�m not sure there is anything that gets as weird as the latter???).

Also, I�d like to be able to write a solid mystery one day in the far-off future. What would be some solid suggestions for approaching the genre to learn structure and form, if my last literary exposure was the complete Sherlock Holmes as a youngster?

It's hard to find something more gripping and fast-paced than the Interstellar Patrol I & II by Christopher Anvil. He's a golden-age of sci-fi writer and this, like most of his stuff, is a collection of short stories.

Also goon favorites, anything in the Vorkosigan Saga by Lois McMaster Bujold. Bujold usually does an excellent job of writing strong, believable characters.

It's been a long, long time since I read them, but I remember the Stainless Steel Rat books being fast-paced and they could get pretty weird.

# ? Feb 1, 2023 03:01

ulvir: Jan 2, 2005

deep dish peat moss posted:

Hey TBB, can anyone point me in the direction of any notable fiction books that are almost exclusively world-building, instead of character-focused stories?

I'm an artist and I have a fictional setting I've been developing and iterating on for years, but ultimately I don't know what to "do" with it. I'm far more interested in developing the world itself than telling stories set within it about the characters that fill it up which has made it difficult to package into a thing that can be delivered to an audience in a fun way (like a novel or graphic novel or whatever). So I'm looking for examples of storytelling that primarily tell you about a place, rather than telling you a chronological linear story set within that place, if that makes sense. Ideally something that's completely standalone as opposed to e.g. The Silmarillion which fleshes out the world that existing stories are set in, but I'm up for that stuff too because I just want some inspiration for ways of delivering a story that consists of pure world-building rather than character-based narrative.

e: The Codex Seraphinianus is one of my all-time favorite things, for what it's worth, and I'm familiar with the Voynich Manuscript, but I'm particularly interested in more traditional storytelling rather than surreal art cryptography stuff.

volusp�

# ? Feb 1, 2023 16:58

Burke: Jul 27, 2005; Simba-Witz!

StrixNebulosa posted:

Nonfiction, but:

In the Heart of the Sea: The Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick is really good. You'll learn a lot. You'll learn a lot about cannibalism.

I came in here and caught up with the thread to ask for a recommendation for something similar to B.R. Yeager's Negative Space because apparently I want to be miserable and Amygdalatropolis isn't on Kindle. I'm probably going to check Heart of the Sea out so thanks! I'm still curious what others might suggest though. When I say miserable, I'm thinking generally good but feel-bad books. Normally I'd re-read Starfish or Blood Meridian but I already did that.

# ? Feb 3, 2023 05:39

yaffle: Sep 15, 2002; Flapdoodle

Burke posted:

I came in here and caught up with the thread to ask for a recommendation for something similar to B.R. Yeager's Negative Space because apparently I want to be miserable and Amygdalatropolis isn't on Kindle. I'm probably going to check Heart of the Sea out so thanks! I'm still curious what others might suggest though. When I say miserable, I'm thinking generally good but feel-bad books. Normally I'd re-read Starfish or Blood Meridian but I already did that.

Jeez, "The drowned and the saved" by Primo Levi? In fact, anything by him.

# ? Feb 3, 2023 06:28

Burke: Jul 27, 2005; Simba-Witz!

yaffle posted:

Jeez, "The drowned and the saved" by Primo Levi? In fact, anything by him.

Yikes, that looks rough. Might be a bit too much but I'll give it a try, thanks!

# ? Feb 3, 2023 14:28

Rythe: Jan 21, 2011

Trying to track down the title of a sci fi book series I read years and years ago that I never finished but can't remember the name.

Essentially earth was destroyed by an advanced alien race that was able to detect the higher forms of technology emitted into space from the planet. Arch ships were sent out to save the human race, they landed on distant planets where the church became the dominating power over the medieval culture. The new planets for forbidden advanced technology in fear of the alien race finding them. The main character is an android with the memories of one of them original settlers I think named Merlin and I believe the main goal is to fight the church while increasing the planets technology levels to fight the aliens as Merlin knows it's only a matter of time before they are going. The main character allies/saves a small country's prince and the story builds from there.

Hopefully this is enough to go on as I enjoyed the series but never finished it.

# ? Feb 3, 2023 19:06

TheCog: Jul 30, 2012; I AM ZEPA AND I CLAIM THESE LANDS BY RIGHT OF CONQUEST

Rythe posted:

Trying to track down the title of a sci fi book series I read years and years ago that I never finished but can't remember the name.

Essentially earth was destroyed by an advanced alien race that was able to detect the higher forms of technology emitted into space from the planet. Arch ships were sent out to save the human race, they landed on distant planets where the church became the dominating power over the medieval culture. The new planets for forbidden advanced technology in fear of the alien race finding them. The main character is an android with the memories of one of them original settlers I think named Merlin and I believe the main goal is to fight the church while increasing the planets technology levels to fight the aliens as Merlin knows it's only a matter of time before they are going. The main character allies/saves a small country's prince and the story builds from there.

Hopefully this is enough to go on as I enjoyed the series but never finished it.

This is the David Weber's Safehold series.

# ? Feb 3, 2023 19:58

Trainee PornStar: Jul 20, 2006; I'm just an inbetweener

TheCog posted:

This is the David Weber's Safehold series.

Goddammit!! this is another series that sounds awesome...

I'm never going to finish my 'to read' list.

# ? Feb 3, 2023 20:11

TheCog: Jul 30, 2012; I AM ZEPA AND I CLAIM THESE LANDS BY RIGHT OF CONQUEST

Trainee PornStar posted:

Goddammit!! this is another series that sounds awesome...

I'm never going to finish my 'to read' list.

I read the first... 6? I want to say. They're serviceable military sci-fi, with a hard focus on "technology is really awesome".

I don't know I would strongly recommend them, the good news is you can read the first one and if you like it, the rest are very similar/just a natural continuation.

# ? Feb 3, 2023 21:06

Rythe: Jan 21, 2011

TheCog posted:

This is the David Weber's Safehold series.

Thank you so very much, I'm excited to have another series to read. I kind of hit a Sci Fi drought lately and this should be a good start.

# ? Feb 4, 2023 02:51

FPyat: Jan 17, 2020

I'd like to read a novel plotted with a wonderfully intricate level of cause and effect, where actions' consequences keep on compounding and combining in sensible ways that surprise me.

# ? Feb 6, 2023 18:21

ulvir: Jan 2, 2005

Burke posted:

I came in here and caught up with the thread to ask for a recommendation for something similar to B.R. Yeager's Negative Space because apparently I want to be miserable and Amygdalatropolis isn't on Kindle. I'm probably going to check Heart of the Sea out so thanks! I'm still curious what others might suggest though. When I say miserable, I'm thinking generally good but feel-bad books. Normally I'd re-read Starfish or Blood Meridian but I already did that.

trieste by dasa drndic will leave you pretty devastated afterwards

# ? Feb 6, 2023 19:18

LLSix: Jan 20, 2010; The real power behind countless overlords

FPyat posted:

I'd like to read a novel plotted with a wonderfully intricate level of cause and effect, where actions' consequences keep on compounding and combining in sensible ways that surprise me.

Dune and the Dune series as a whole do this fairly well.

If you want something snappier, the Interstellar Patrol is a collection of short stories that build on each other.

I too would enjoy more books like that.

# ? Feb 6, 2023 21:57

Teach: Mar 28, 2008; Pillbug

FPyat posted:

I'd like to read a novel plotted with a wonderfully intricate level of cause and effect, where actions' consequences keep on compounding and combining in sensible ways that surprise me.

You could try Walking On Glass by Iain Banks. I enjoyed it, and it's a short mid-80s read.

Wikipedia says,

quote:

Walking on Glass is formed of three storylines that initially do not appear to be linked, but eventually come together. The extent to which these stories are interconnected is dependent on how deeply into the book the reader is willing to read.

# ? Feb 7, 2023 00:24

FPyat: Jan 17, 2020

Teach posted:

You could try Walking On Glass by Iain Banks. I enjoyed it, and it's a short mid-80s read.

I read about it in one of the critical overviews of Banks' work I read. Did sound charming.

# ? Feb 7, 2023 00:37

PRADA SLUT: Mar 14, 2006; Inexperienced,
heartless,
but even so

FPyat posted:

I'd like to read a novel plotted with a wonderfully intricate level of cause and effect, where actions' consequences keep on compounding and combining in sensible ways that surprise me.

A Confederacy of Dunces?

Can someone rec me a �comedy of errors� genre book?

# ? Feb 7, 2023 00:54

Kvlt!: May 19, 2012

FPyat posted:

I'd like to read a novel plotted with a wonderfully intricate level of cause and effect, where actions' consequences keep on compounding and combining in sensible ways that surprise me.

maybe Being There?

# ? Feb 7, 2023 00:58

fez_machine: Nov 27, 2004

PRADA SLUT posted:

Can someone rec me a �comedy of errors� genre book?

If you've not read Wodehouse that's the rec, read all of Wodehouse. Past Wodehouse, there's Donald Westlake's comedic novels especially the Dortmunder books.

Depending on your taste you might like Connie Willis' Oxford Time Travel books.

# ? Feb 7, 2023 01:14

yaffle: Sep 15, 2002; Flapdoodle

PRADA SLUT posted:

A Confederacy of Dunces?

Can someone rec me a �comedy of errors� genre book?

Most of Tom Sharpe's books would fit, but especially the Wilt books

# ? Feb 7, 2023 01:25

FPyat: Jan 17, 2020

Being There sounds delightful, thanks.

# ? Feb 7, 2023 01:57

Kvlt!: May 19, 2012

FPyat posted:

Being There sounds delightful, thanks.

the movie is great too once you finish the book

# ? Feb 7, 2023 02:01

regulargonzalez: Aug 18, 2006; UNGH LET ME LICK THOSE BOOTS DADDY HULU YES YES GIVE ME ALL THE CORPORATE CUMMIES ADBLOCK USERS DESERVE THE DEATH PENALTY, DON'T THEY DADDY?
WHEN THE RICH GET RICHER I GET HORNIER

FPyat posted:

I'd like to read a novel plotted with a wonderfully intricate level of cause and effect, where actions' consequences keep on compounding and combining in sensible ways that surprise me.

Maybe The Count of Monte Cristo

# ? Feb 7, 2023 06:05

SEX HAVER 40000: Aug 6, 2009; no doves fly here lol

i just finished both Silence and Fires on the Plain, and Canticle for Leibowitz and The Book of the New Sun are two of my all time favorite novels. what are some similarly unique/complex/outsider works on catholicism? i've been trudging through The Name of the Rose for what feels like years now, but i crave more

# ? Feb 7, 2023 06:40

Take the plunge! Okay!: Feb 24, 2007

SEX HAVER 40000 posted:

i just finished both Silence and Fires on the Plain, and Canticle for Leibowitz and The Book of the New Sun are two of my all time favorite novels. what are some similarly unique/complex/outsider works on catholicism? i've been trudging through The Name of the Rose for what feels like years now, but i crave more

Terra Nostra is the big one. At least the half that deals with the Iberian roots of Mexico. The other half, of course, deals with the Aztec part. But it is very unique and complex.

# ? Feb 7, 2023 06:50

Hieronymous Alloy: Jan 30, 2009; Why! Why!! Why must you refuse to accept that Dr. Hieronymous Alloy's Genetically Enhanced Cream Corn Is Superior to the Leading Brand on the Market!?!; Morbid Hound

SEX HAVER 40000 posted:

i just finished both Silence and Fires on the Plain, and Canticle for Leibowitz and The Book of the New Sun are two of my all time favorite novels. what are some similarly unique/complex/outsider works on catholicism? i've been trudging through The Name of the Rose for what feels like years now, but i crave more

Have you read The Sparrow?

# ? Feb 7, 2023 13:59

SEX HAVER 40000: Aug 6, 2009; no doves fly here lol

i have not read the sparrow, and it seems like exactly what i'm looking for! it and terra nostra have both been added to the top of the backlog. still open to more recs, if anyone has em

# ? Feb 7, 2023 18:48

A human heart: Oct 10, 2012

SEX HAVER 40000 posted:

i just finished both Silence and Fires on the Plain, and Canticle for Leibowitz and The Book of the New Sun are two of my all time favorite novels. what are some similarly unique/complex/outsider works on catholicism? i've been trudging through The Name of the Rose for what feels like years now, but i crave more

RA Lafferty's Fourth Mansions. also most of his other books but that one is probably a better entry point than most

# ? Feb 7, 2023 19:32

fez_machine: Nov 27, 2004

SEX HAVER 40000 posted:

i just finished both Silence and Fires on the Plain, and Canticle for Leibowitz and The Book of the New Sun are two of my all time favorite novels. what are some similarly unique/complex/outsider works on catholicism? i've been trudging through The Name of the Rose for what feels like years now, but i crave more

Hyperion by Dan Simmons (although it's much less authentically Catholic than the other recommendations)

# ? Feb 7, 2023 22:17

Bilirubin: Feb 16, 2014; The sanctioned action is to CHUG

FPyat posted:

I'd like to read a novel plotted with a wonderfully intricate level of cause and effect, where actions' consequences keep on compounding and combining in sensible ways that surprise me.

Fifth Business by Robertson Davies

# ? Feb 8, 2023 02:46

PatMarshall: Apr 6, 2009

SEX HAVER 40000 posted:

i just finished both Silence and Fires on the Plain, and Canticle for Leibowitz and The Book of the New Sun are two of my all time favorite novels. what are some similarly unique/complex/outsider works on catholicism? i've been trudging through The Name of the Rose for what feels like years now, but i crave more

Flannery O'Connor perhaps?

# ? Feb 9, 2023 01:04

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# ? May 29, 2024 04:47

Franchescanado: Feb 23, 2013; If it wasn't for disappointment
I wouldn't have any appointment; Grimey Drawer

PatMarshall posted:

Flannery O'Connor perhaps?

Yeah, Wise Blood is mostly about a lapsed Catholic in the south having a mental breakdown from losing his faith and taking it out on anyone who will listen. It's more about what faith and Christianity and religious guilt can do to people on the fringes of society rather than structural Catholicism. It's a quick read.

# ? Feb 9, 2023 13:40

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > The Book Barn > TBB Book Recommendation Superstation !!

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