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littleorv posted:Can someone reccomend me some funny/satirical novels? My favorite book is Catch-22 if that helps. You absolutely must read A Confederacy of Dunces. I'm bad at ranking favorites and tend to have really swimmy lists depending on how my memory is working that day, but this is without a doubt always among the list of favorite books I can pull off the top of my head at any one time.
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Aug 29, 2012 18:47
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Thanks for all the help with my previous request - girlfriend is eating her way through a massive pile of new books and says thank you. Now it's my turn. Can anyone recommend me crime, mystery or thrillers where the enemy is political or widespread corruption. I know I'm going to explain it badly, but essentially think something that starts as a classic murder mystery but quickly escalates so that the protagonist is taking on politicians/organised crime/international targets rather than the victim's friends or family. I'd also ideally prefer something where the protagonist is ill suited for the work, or massively overwhelmed. I know these books exist, and the trope may even have a name, but a lot of what I can find is pulpy and seems unrealistic in its portrayal. There are books of other genres where this occurs (I know it happens in fantasy a lot - the stable hand rises to topple the corrupt empire or whatever), but I'm looking for something where the method of investigation and the solution are distinctly realistic to our world or one similar to it. Any ideas?
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Aug 29, 2012 18:48
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Captain_Indigo posted:Thanks for all the help with my previous request - girlfriend is eating her way through a massive pile of new books and says thank you. Now it's my turn. If you care for alternate history, there are two books that are exactly what you're looking for, Len Deighton's SS-GB and Robert Harris' Fatherland. They are both detective mysteries set in timelines in which the nazis won.
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Aug 29, 2012 19:01
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littleorv posted:Can someone reccomend me some funny/satirical novels? My favorite book is Catch-22 if that helps. Seconding Vonnegut. PKD's Clans of the Alphane Moon might also work, but the one you should really check out is Lem's Memoirs Found in a Bathtub. flymonkey posted:Can someone recommend me a 'dreamlike' story, something along the lines of The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro or various stories by Italo Calvino? Krzhizhanovsky's Memories of the Future has a few stories that might fit the bill.
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Aug 29, 2012 20:15
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flymonkey posted:Can someone recommend me a 'dreamlike' story, something along the lines of The Unconsoled by Kazuo Ishiguro or various stories by Italo Calvino? Insects Are Just Like You and Me Except Some of Them Have Wings by Kuzhali Manickavel would probably fit the bill. It's kind of a bizarre book, with strange characters and events that I like to describe as "half magic realism, half fever dream." It's also really good, I usually hate the 'quirky' characters and stories but I absolutely adored this one.
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Aug 29, 2012 22:31
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Can I have something with World War 2 and Paranormal creatures? Such as "Fiends of the Eastern Front"?
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Aug 30, 2012 03:42
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AARP LARPer fucked around with this message at 01:17 on Jan 22, 2016 |
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Aug 30, 2012 05:25
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KildarX posted:Can I have something with World War 2 and Paranormal creatures? Such as "Fiends of the Eastern Front"? The Keep by F Paul Wilson. Nazis in the Transylvanian Alps. You can guess what transpires.
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Aug 30, 2012 15:41
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This morning I woke up and decided I want to read all about Ancient Rome. I'm guessing The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire is the way to go, but I wanted to hear other suggestions too. I'm most specifically interested in the eastern part of the empire since it's the part I know the least about, if it makes any difference.
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Aug 30, 2012 19:24
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I'd actually go to more classical sources. Decline and Fall is immensely long, really dry for large sections, and has a lot of theorizing in it that's outdated by modern standards. So I'd read either something much newer or much older. Suetonius' Lives of the Twelve Caesars is a pretty bloody read. When I'm on a Roman kick I usually read Robert Graves' I Claudius and Claudius the God or other historical fiction. The fantasy author Guy Gavriel Kay did a neat fictionalization of a fantasy version of Byzantine Rome in his "Sarantine Mosaic" series.
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Aug 30, 2012 19:41
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Yeah, the classical sources are the way I'd recommend, too: Suetonius is a fun read and I've got soft spots for Tacitus and the anonymous Lives of the Later Caesars. If you're interested in the Byzantines, Procopius' The Secret History is a unrestrained blast on Justinian and Theodora. Plutarch's Lives are also a good place, they're little biographies for some of the more notable figures in Roman and Greek history. Rex Warner's translation of some of the lives, Fall of the Roman Republic is a fun read about Caesar, Cicero and the Civil War.
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Aug 30, 2012 20:07
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I just read You Can't Win by Jack Black and Junkie by William Burroughs. What more books can I read like that? Basically "true crime from the inside" type novels written matter-of-factly and without remorse or moralizing of any kind?
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Aug 31, 2012 22:51
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I'm looking for suggestions on books featuring thieves, spies, and assassins, or even all 3 simultaneously, preferably within a fantasy/medieval setting. I like a fair amount of political intrigue as well, so if it involves more than just a repetition of "I killed/robbed this guy, then this guy, etc., then that's great. I've not read too many books on this subject, but one that springs to mind is Redemption of Althalus. It got pretty heavy on the magical/theological side of things, but overall I enjoyed the thievery parts. In relation to this book are two series by the same author, David Eddings. Both feature small parts of what I'm looking for (Silk and his merchant dealings/spying in Belgariad, Platime/Stragen/et. al. in the Elenium), but I'm looking for something where this is the main focus of the novel, rather than a side plot. The book Thieves by Noton, while primarily a Christian novel, was quite interesting, enough so that I was able to slog through the heavy theological messages in it.
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Aug 31, 2012 23:41
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Subway Ninja posted:I'm looking for suggestions on books featuring thieves, spies, and assassins, or even all 3 simultaneously, preferably within a fantasy/medieval setting. I like a fair amount of political intrigue as well, so if it involves more than just a repetition of "I killed/robbed this guy, then this guy, etc., then that's great. I just started The Gentleman Bastard series by Scott Lynch. So far, it matches your description perfectly. The Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson may also be up your alley.
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Sep 1, 2012 02:42
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U4RiiA posted:I just started The Gentleman Bastard series by Scott Lynch. So far, it matches your description perfectly. The Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson may also be up your alley. Thanks for the suggestion, just ordered them all. Turns out that Brandon Sanderson guy picked up the Wheel of Time series that I gave up on so long ago. Has he improved it at all? I think I got up to book 8 or 9 or so and just got so tired of all the irrelevant description and walking around. Maybe it was because I was younger and not as well read, but the series seemed to have such potential. Speaking of which, Melanie Rawn needs to get off her butt and finish the last Exiles book. It's been at least 15 years and I still can't wait to finish it.
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Sep 1, 2012 04:30
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Subway Ninja posted:I'm looking for suggestions on books featuring thieves, spies, and assassins, or even all 3 simultaneously, preferably within a fantasy/medieval setting. I like a fair amount of political intrigue as well, so if it involves more than just a repetition of "I killed/robbed this guy, then this guy, etc., then that's great. As someone whose asked the very same thing in this thread here's what I found: Kingkiller Chronicle - Patrick Rothfus - Thief character sorta Night Angel Trilogy - Brent Weeks - Assassin Character [Warning: Contains some REALLY random screwed up scenes] Vlad Taltos Series - Steven Brust- Wise cracking Assassin Gentleman Bastard Series - Scott Lynch - Thieves Farseer Trilogy - Robin Hobb - Assassin character Sellswords Series - R.A Salvatore - Assassin main character D&D setting, I don't know if you'll be able to read this without at least reading some of the Drizzt Books, which some hate or love. Defenestrategy fucked around with this message at 15:05 on Sep 1, 2012 |
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Sep 1, 2012 14:58
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KildarX posted:As someone whose asked the very same thing in this thread here's what I found: I'll check out the other ones you mentioned, but this one definitely sounds interesting. I love clever/smart-rear end characters.
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Sep 1, 2012 17:51
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Subway Ninja posted:Turns out that Brandon Sanderson guy picked up the Wheel of Time series that I gave up on so long ago. Has he improved it at all? I think I got up to book 8 or 9 or so and just got so tired of all the irrelevant description and walking around. Maybe it was because I was younger and not as well read, but the series seemed to have such potential. KildarX has great suggestions. (Thanks for the new list of reading material, KildarX!) I've read and thoroughly enjoyed Robin Hobb and Brent Weeks. If you like the assassin character in Farseer, check out the continuation of the story in Tawny Man. Then, if you're interested in intertextuality, read the Liveship Traders trilogy, also by Hobbs. Brandon Sanderson inherited WoT. It's definitely worth checking out what he does on his own. U4RiiA fucked around with this message at 12:15 on Sep 2, 2012 |
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Sep 2, 2012 12:12
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Sanderson's Mistborn trilogy, or at least the first novel, might be up your alley.
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Sep 3, 2012 00:47
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Hieronymous Alloy posted:I just read You Can't Win by Jack Black and Junkie by William Burroughs. What more books can I read like that? Basically "true crime from the inside" type novels written matter-of-factly and without remorse or moralizing of any kind? Well I am very well read in the drug memoir genre, but it doesn't sound like that's your focus. Burroughs' Queer is very similar to Junkie in style and also quite good, being gay was of course as much a crime then as being a junkie. Honestly the first thing that came to my mind is a book I just read called Girlvert by Oriana Smalls aka Ashley Blue. Ashley Blue is a well known porn star, and ordinarily I would avoid porn star memoirs for the same reason I avoid sports memoirs, i.e. they're badly written and vapid, but this is very different. This review is what made me buy it, and I think it's accurate. Believe it or not, Girlvert is very similar in style to Junkie (some reviewers have likened it to Hemingway, but early Burroughs is much more accurate,) and offers an incredible insight into a world that, although not criminal, is still dark, harrowing and largely unknown. It's not for everybody (very graphic and upsetting) but I liked it a lot. Edit: Just noticed you said novels, sorry. I'll keep thinking. Old Janx Spirit fucked around with this message at 22:17 on Sep 3, 2012 |
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Sep 3, 2012 19:14
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Hieronymous Alloy posted:I just read You Can't Win by Jack Black and Junkie by William Burroughs. What more books can I read like that? Basically "true crime from the inside" type novels written matter-of-factly and without remorse or moralizing of any kind? How about The Killer Inside Me by Jim Thompson, it's a classic.
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Sep 3, 2012 21:58
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The Killer Inside Me is a fun novel, but it's not exactly a true crime book. Hieronymous, have you read Wiseguy by Nicholas Pileggi? It's the book that inspired GoodFellas, but it's a little different than the movie.
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Sep 3, 2012 23:35
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Hieronymous Alloy posted:written matter-of-factly and without remorse or moralizing of any kind? This is the part that's tricky. I think noir novels are a good place to look, specifically the aforementioned Jim Thompson and James M. Caine. I was also thinking Clockers or other books by Richard Price.
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Sep 4, 2012 01:50
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Subway Ninja posted:I'm looking for suggestions on books featuring thieves, spies, and assassins, or even all 3 simultaneously, preferably within a fantasy/medieval setting. I like a fair amount of political intrigue as well, so if it involves more than just a repetition of "I killed/robbed this guy, then this guy, etc., then that's great. Death of the Necromancer by Martha Wells - Criminals looking for revenge accidentally get swept up into a more sinister scheme. There's some nice thieving & spying scenes in the book. The Queen's Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner - Main character's a thief, and the later books deal a bit with the politics of the neighbouring kingdoms. YA, 4 books so far. Among Thieves by Douglas Hulick - Main character's an informant in a criminal empire. First book in a series. The Legend of Eli Monpress series by Rachel Aaron - Main character's a thief and a wizard. Mostly I love the way the main character uses magic in his heists. 4 books so far, last one coming out later this year. The Riyria Revelations by Michael J. Sullivan - One of the main characters is a thief. Bit of a generic fantasy adventure, but a decent read. Nightrunner series by Lynn Flewelling - Main characters are thieves/spies. First 3 books are kinda of a trilogy. Don't bother with books 4 & 5. Mairelon the Magician by Patricia C. Wrede - Thieving street rat gets picked up by a spy. YA, there's a sequel but not as much thieving or spying.
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Sep 4, 2012 03:04
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My husband likes to read books where the main character is a psychopath. His favorite is American Psycho and he also enjoyed The Wasp Factory as well as the 'true crime' parts of The Psychopath Test. I had a look at The Killer Inside Me and think that will be right up his alley, but I'd love some more recommendations.
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Sep 4, 2012 13:21
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Old Janx Spirit posted:Well I am very well read in the drug memoir genre, but it doesn't sound like that's your focus. Burroughs' Queer is very similar to Junkie in style and also quite good, being gay was of course as much a crime then as being a junkie. Thanks, I'll check those out (and the other suggestions as well, thanks everyone). I shouldn't have said novels, autobiography is fine and perhaps even preferred, electronic editions strongly preferred (sadly Girlvert seems to be hard copy only).
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Sep 4, 2012 14:10
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elbow posted:My husband likes to read books where the main character is a psychopath. His favorite is American Psycho and he also enjoyed The Wasp Factory as well as the 'true crime' parts of The Psychopath Test. This might be pretty obvious, but has he read the Dexter novels? I'd ignore the third one, which was horrible, but the others were all good.
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Sep 4, 2012 14:25
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Hieronymous Alloy posted:Thanks, I'll check those out (and the other suggestions as well, thanks everyone). I shouldn't have said novels, autobiography is fine and perhaps even preferred, electronic editions strongly preferred (sadly Girlvert seems to be hard copy only). The tricky part, as I said before, is finding books with that flat, nihilistic tone that Burroughs uses in Junkie (and that he took from classic Noir fiction.) I think I have one for you: The Adderall Diaries by Stephen Elliot. It's a pretty fascinating book, certainly unapologetic and not at all moralizing. I recommend it pretty highly.
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Sep 4, 2012 19:48
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WeaponGradeSadness posted:This might be pretty obvious, but has he read the Dexter novels? I'd ignore the third one, which was horrible, but the others were all good. I had a look at those but the reviews I read all said the show is much better, and we've seen the first 3 seasons of it. He can definitely give it a try, though!
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Sep 4, 2012 21:16
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Any books fiction/fantasy/scifi whatever, that has large scale battles, that are explained and detailed a lot. Like I said it doesn't matter if it was a real battle or a fictional one, as long as there are battles.
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Sep 4, 2012 23:51
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elbow posted:My husband likes to read books where the main character is a psychopath. His favorite is American Psycho and he also enjoyed The Wasp Factory as well as the 'true crime' parts of The Psychopath Test. If he likes disturbing violence from main characters he might want to check out Cows by Matthew Stokoe. I read the books you mentioned but Cows hosed with me hard. So hard I couldn't finish it (one of the few times). It could of been my mood and I might try again, but I feel like I need a shower just thinking about it. Read some of the Amazon reviews. Also I ordered Girlvert. Sounds right up my alley in subject and writing style.
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Sep 4, 2012 23:54
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elbow posted:My husband likes to read books where the main character is a psychopath. Child of God for sure, maybe also Geek Love. Ulio posted:Any books fiction/fantasy/scifi whatever, that has large scale battles, that are explained and detailed a lot. Like I said it doesn't matter if it was a real battle or a fictional one, as long as there are battles. Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series has the best fighting/battle scenes of any fantasy story I've read, but you have to get a few books in before the large-scale stuff takes place (and then, in the later books, wade through a bunch of crap to get to the good stuff). For something real and modern, Karl Marlantes' Vietnam novel Mattherhorn is amazing (and very thinly fictionalized).
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Sep 5, 2012 01:09
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elbow posted:My husband likes to read books where the main character is a psychopath. His favorite is American Psycho and he also enjoyed The Wasp Factory as well as the 'true crime' parts of The Psychopath Test. Check out Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates, it should also fit the bill. (The book is not actually about Zombies).
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Sep 5, 2012 02:36
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Let's direct all Burroughs discussion here: http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3505231 I'm going to sleep for the night, but I have a few more things to post in there, but I figured I'd start you guys off.
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Sep 5, 2012 03:06
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AARP LARPer fucked around with this message at 01:17 on Jan 22, 2016 |
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Sep 5, 2012 05:26
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Honor Harrington are also based off of Horatio Hornblower, which do go into a lot of detail in its Napoleonic-era naval battles, so those'll be worth checking out too. I only read one, whichever one it was that was published first, and thought it had some of the most exciting battle scenes I've ever read.
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Sep 5, 2012 05:35
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Thanks everyone for the psychopath recommendations, this should keep him busy for a while  I'm going to have to read most of these myself as well, they all seem really interesting.
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Sep 5, 2012 06:19
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Ulio posted:Any books fiction/fantasy/scifi whatever, that has large scale battles, that are explained and detailed a lot. Like I said it doesn't matter if it was a real battle or a fictional one, as long as there are battles. For sci-fi I would recommend David Drake. His Hammer's Slammers series is about a group of mercenary soldiers and draws pretty heavily from his own experience in Vietnam. The Lt. Leary series is more space opera, and draws from everything from Suetonius to Hornblower. John Ringo has the Legacy of the Aldenata which I guess is pretty battle-heavy but I couldn't get past the first book so I don't know if it's any good.
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Sep 5, 2012 07:38
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WeaponGradeSadness posted:Honor Harrington are also based off of Horatio Hornblower, which do go into a lot of detail in its Napoleonic-era naval battles, so those'll be worth checking out too. I only read one, whichever one it was that was published first, and thought it had some of the most exciting battle scenes I've ever read. If you want period naval battles with lots of detail the place to go is the Aubrey/Maturin series.
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Sep 5, 2012 14:40
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wheatpuppy posted:
The Legacy of the Aldenata series by John Ringo is filled with stuff that would make GBS have a conniption [A lot of it boils down to "gently caress the liberals!"], but if you get around that Ringo describes the fictional battles in decent detail even going so far as to print battle maps in some of his books. They're not a bad series of books as long as you don't take offense to "gently caress THE LIBERALS OOHRAH" and Totally ignore the side books except for Hero which didn't have anything face palm worthy that I can remember. This Series is basically Starship Troopers without what little pretentiousness there was in Starship Troopers. Defenestrategy fucked around with this message at 15:03 on Sep 5, 2012 |
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Sep 5, 2012 14:56
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