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You guys have dropped some good recommendations, I've already ordered a few. I have read Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and I have Dirk Gently, and I just forgot to mention those, but they fit the criteria well. If anyone has any more recommendations, I'd love them. I'm building my reading list for this year. You guys are awesome, by the way!
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Jan 22, 2014 15:10
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Franchescanado posted:So I'm on a mystery kick lately, and enjoy detective fiction. But I prefer something different. Can anyone recommend me good mysteries with an eccentric detective, or one that has an unusual handicap/circumstance? you might be interested in The City and the City by China Mieville. the mystery takes place in two cities overlaid over the top of each other where you can be walking in one city and there is a taboo against acknowledging the fact the other city is even there, even tho you can see them. definitely fits the unusual circumstances aspect.
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Jan 22, 2014 15:25
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Hey all, was really hoping to get a recommendation for a fantastic Cyberpunk book. I've really been itching for something in this genre and haven't read any in nearly two decades. What are the definitive books/series that I must read that I can't refuse. I have tried to read Neuromancer a few times in the past but never got far into it, that is not to say that I shouldn't get it another chance, but that's not likely where I'm headed right now. Also, I'm not afraid of epic series/trilogies either. Thanks!
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Jan 22, 2014 16:06
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CestMoi posted:you might be interested in The City and the City by China Mieville. That reminds me- add Jeff Vandermeer's Finch to the list, too... and I suppose Mieville's Kraken could work, as well.
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Jan 22, 2014 17:28
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TraderStav posted:Hey all, was really hoping to get a recommendation for a fantastic Cyberpunk book. Snow Crash?
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Jan 22, 2014 17:40
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DannyTanner posted:Snow Crash? Already read that, and loved it. I also read Anathem and found that to be very good, although extremely long. edit: Looks like I also have to rescind my comment about not reading any for nearly two decades as I forgot about Snow Crash!
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Jan 22, 2014 17:42
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Franchescanado posted:So I'm on a mystery kick lately, and enjoy detective fiction. But I prefer something different. Can anyone recommend me good mysteries with an eccentric detective, or one that has an unusual handicap/circumstance? The Boy Detective Fails fits your requirements I believe.
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Jan 22, 2014 18:02
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TraderStav posted:Hey all, was really hoping to get a recommendation for a fantastic Cyberpunk book. I've really been itching for something in this genre and haven't read any in nearly two decades. What are the definitive books/series that I must read that I can't refuse. I have tried to read Neuromancer a few times in the past but never got far into it, that is not to say that I shouldn't get it another chance, but that's not likely where I'm headed right now. Also, I'm not afraid of epic series/trilogies either. Snowcrash is very good, and I actually prefer Gibson's Bridge trilogy to the original Sprawl trilogy, but I think I'm in a minority with that.
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Jan 22, 2014 19:06
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I think Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose counts as a detective in an unusual circumstance, since it's set in a medieval monastery and all the characters are monks.
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Jan 22, 2014 19:10
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Chas McGill posted:Snowcrash is very good, and I actually prefer Gibson's Bridge trilogy to the original Sprawl trilogy, but I think I'm in a minority with that. Dang, that does look good! You may be turning me on to revisiting Gibson now that I'm much older. Aside from Gibson and Stephenson are there any other cyberpunk staples? I fell in love with Jeff Noon and his Vurt series in my teens but was also big into (light) drugs and counter culture at the time.
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Jan 22, 2014 19:24
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TraderStav posted:Dang, that does look good! You may be turning me on to revisiting Gibson now that I'm much older. Aside from Gibson and Stephenson are there any other cyberpunk staples? I fell in love with Jeff Noon and his Vurt series in my teens but was also big into (light) drugs and counter culture at the time. Oh man, I love Jeff Noon too. You might like Jon Courtenay Grimwood's stuff - British s/f writer of Noon's generation. I'm not sure how well it fits into the cyberpunk genre but it shares a lot of the countercultural themes. I'd go for 9tail Fox or reMix with him. Another is Michael Marshall Smith, who's now probably better known as a thriller writer. Spares and Only Forward are really good reads. edit: Pat Cadigan and Bruce Sterling are considered part of the CP canon too, but it's been so long since I read them that I'm not sure what to recommend. One of the best stories that I consider cyberpunk is The Girl Who Was Plugged in by James Tiptree, Jr. It was written before the genre was defined in the way we understand it, yet it's still super relevant and ahead of its time. Chas McGill fucked around with this message at 19:34 on Jan 22, 2014 |
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Jan 22, 2014 19:29
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Might be hard to find but Dreams of Flesh and Sand by W.T. Quick was an early cyberpunk novel I liked.
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Jan 22, 2014 19:31
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Ok, you've all got my brain going. I've been on a big fantasy kick the past few years and was wondering if there was any good cyberpunk/scifi series with fantasy elements which could include magic, medieval structures of rule, etc. Thinking there could be some really fun stories provided the author doesn't make them too gimmicky.
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Jan 22, 2014 19:48
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TraderStav posted:Hey all, was really hoping to get a recommendation for a fantastic Cyberpunk book. I've really been itching for something in this genre and haven't read any in nearly two decades. What are the definitive books/series that I must read that I can't refuse. I have tried to read Neuromancer a few times in the past but never got far into it, that is not to say that I shouldn't get it another chance, but that's not likely where I'm headed right now. Also, I'm not afraid of epic series/trilogies either. Try Hardwired, by Walter Jon Williams. http://www.amazon.com/Hardwired-Walter-Jon-Williams-ebook/dp/B005O5VR3U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390418593&sr=8-1&keywords=hardwired
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Jan 22, 2014 20:23
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TraderStav posted:Ok, you've all got my brain going. I've been on a big fantasy kick the past few years and was wondering if there was any good cyberpunk/scifi series with fantasy elements which could include magic, medieval structures of rule, etc. Thinking there could be some really fun stories provided the author doesn't make them too gimmicky. Tad Williams - Otherland
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Jan 22, 2014 22:48
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regulargonzalez posted:Tad Williams - Otherland Yup- started posting that and got distracted. Gene Wolfe's Book of the New Sun could work, as well.
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Jan 23, 2014 00:07
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Thanks guys, appreciate the suggestions. Will check them out!
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Jan 23, 2014 00:14
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TraderStav posted:Ok, you've all got my brain going. I've been on a big fantasy kick the past few years and was wondering if there was any good cyberpunk/scifi series with fantasy elements which could include magic, medieval structures of rule, etc. Thinking there could be some really fun stories provided the author doesn't make them too gimmicky. The Petrovitch Series by Simon Morden is a lot of fun. Here's the link to the first three books on Kindle. I know I am always recommending it, but it's a good read.
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Jan 23, 2014 01:34
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Franchescanado posted:You guys have dropped some good recommendations, I've already ordered a few. I don't think I've seen this recommended yet, but it really fits the bill: Motherless Brooklyn by Jonathan Lethem. Can't recommend this one enough!
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Jan 23, 2014 02:54
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TraderStav posted:Hey all, was really hoping to get a recommendation for a fantastic Cyberpunk book. I've really been itching for something in this genre and haven't read any in nearly two decades. What are the definitive books/series that I must read that I can't refuse. I have tried to read Neuromancer a few times in the past but never got far into it, that is not to say that I shouldn't get it another chance, but that's not likely where I'm headed right now. Also, I'm not afraid of epic series/trilogies either. The Continuing Time series by Daniel K. Moran is (opinion follows©) the best Cyberpunk I have ever read. Emerald Eyes The Long Run The Last Dancer The A.I. War Also very good are the 2 books comprising one story by Daniel Suarez. Daemon Freedom ™ I also like the definitely Cyberpunk books by Gary Ballard: Under The Amoral Bridge The Know Circuit If [Tribe] The Long and Short Swords My most obscure favorites are by Eric Gabrielsen Gideon's Fall Augment
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Jan 23, 2014 04:11
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Is there any good fiction about solders or people in general dealing with PTSD?
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Jan 23, 2014 06:01
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I'm looking for something with pirates as the protagonists. My girlfriend has been on a major pirate kick lately and has been asking me if I know of any books other than Red Seas Under Red Skies, which I've suggested to her. I don't think she wants to read the first book in the series and just wants to jump straight into piracy.
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Jan 24, 2014 01:33
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Kavingi posted:I'm looking for something with pirates as the protagonists. My girlfriend has been on a major pirate kick lately and has been asking me if I know of any books other than Red Seas Under Red Skies, which I've suggested to her. I don't think she wants to read the first book in the series and just wants to jump straight into piracy. I heartily (with a yo-ho-ho) suggest Now and Then by John Locke. This is book 4 in the series (but the only one with pirates) http://www.amazon.com/Now-Then-4-Donovan-Creed-ebook/dp/B003IWYY4U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1390525588&sr=8-1&keywords=now+and+then+locke I really liked the whole series (The Donovan Creed series by John Locke).
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Jan 24, 2014 02:08
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Kavingi posted:I'm looking for something with pirates as the protagonists. My girlfriend has been on a major pirate kick lately and has been asking me if I know of any books other than Red Seas Under Red Skies, which I've suggested to her. I don't think she wants to read the first book in the series and just wants to jump straight into piracy. quote:The buccaneers found nobody in the village but a poor ignorant simpleton. They asked him where the folks had fled. He said he did not know - he had not inquired. They asked whether he knew of any plantations; he said he must have been on twenty in his lifetime. Then they demanded whether he knew where to find the gold and silver of the churches. It's a great book for anyone who likes pirates, unless they're averse to nonfiction.
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Jan 24, 2014 03:55
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Kavingi posted:I'm looking for something with pirates as the protagonists. My girlfriend has been on a major pirate kick lately and has been asking me if I know of any books other than Red Seas Under Red Skies, which I've suggested to her. I don't think she wants to read the first book in the series and just wants to jump straight into piracy. Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini. It's a really weird feeling when you realize that this book is pretty much what gave us the Hollywood version of pirates...
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Jan 24, 2014 05:02
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Tim Powers's On Stranger Tides is a fantastic pirate book that was somewhat ruined by being made into an official Pirates of the Caribbean movie. The book itself is awesome sans Jack Sparrow.
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Jan 24, 2014 16:49
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I just want to say thanks again for all the detective novel recommendations. There were some cool gems, and I got a good reading list to start this year. Thanks everyone!
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Jan 25, 2014 02:01
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Thanks everyone for the suggestions! I'll show them to her next time she's over, and maybe look into a few myself.
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Jan 25, 2014 05:04
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I'm not at all well read and I'm an uncultured philistine who hates boring things*. I was thinking about checking out some of Hemingway's work. Any recommendations? Does it sound like I would actually appreciate it? I hear The Old Man and the Sea is a short one and it got some praise on the last page. I'm hoping my library has these things in. *boring things to me includes Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, which I did not enjoy at all. I don't know if that is a good comparison for Hemingway?
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Jan 25, 2014 12:57
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VagueRant posted:I'm not at all well read and I'm an uncultured philistine who hates boring things*. I was thinking about checking out some of Hemingway's work. Any recommendations? Does it sound like I would actually appreciate it? I hear The Old Man and the Sea is a short one and it got some praise on the last page. I'm hoping my library has these things in. If you haven't read much and are easily bored, I don't know that Hemingway would be my recommendation. Perhaps I'd recommend Animal Farm or Ender's Game, which are both really good and gripping books. I guess I should ask what your reading goals are. Do you want to become better read and try to fill in the gaps in the classics? Are you trying to get into reading via some entertaining books? e: maybe Charles Bukowski - Post Office
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Jan 25, 2014 16:07
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VagueRant posted:I'm not at all well read and I'm an uncultured philistine who hates boring things*. I was thinking about checking out some of Hemingway's work. Any recommendations? Does it sound like I would actually appreciate it? I hear The Old Man and the Sea is a short one and it got some praise on the last page. I'm hoping my library has these things in.
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Jan 25, 2014 16:26
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The Old Man And The Sea is going to probably bore you.
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Jan 25, 2014 17:58
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Chamberk posted:Tim Powers's On Stranger Tides is a fantastic pirate book that was somewhat ruined by being made into an official Pirates of the Caribbean movie. The book itself is awesome sans Jack Sparrow. Loved this book--very philosophical for a swashbuckling pirate adventure. Any recommendations for fictional Mafia/organized crime novels besides The Godfather or Wiseguy?
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Jan 25, 2014 18:21
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regulargonzalez posted:If you haven't read much and are easily bored, I don't know that Hemingway would be my recommendation. Perhaps I'd recommend Animal Farm or Ender's Game, which are both really good and gripping books. Chas McGill posted:What do you like? It's hard to recommend things to you based on what you don't like. I read constantly and I've never enjoyed Hemingway, despite revisiting his work at different stages in my life. I read Stephen King's Cell and I didn't care for it very much. The story didn't really go anywhere. But I did feel some emotional attachment to the characters and was genuinely sad when something terrible randomly happened to one of them. So that part was good, I suppose. As with any medium, I like satisfying stories where Stuff Happens, I guess. Everything else I've read (well, fiction, anyway), I barely remember and was unimpressed by. I told you I wasn't well-read! Stravinsky posted:The Old Man And The Sea is going to probably bore you.
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Jan 25, 2014 18:42
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tonytheshoes posted:Loved this book--very philosophical for a swashbuckling pirate adventure. James Ellroy's Underworld USA novels are my favorites, American Tabloid is the first one.
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Jan 25, 2014 19:07
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VagueRant posted:drat. I assume his other books are similar or worse? At the risk of greatly overgeneralizing, I'm going to say that by and large, authors considered literary or "great writers" are much more about mood and tone than about laying down lots of plot points one after another. Those types of stories tend to be what's considered "genre fiction" -- fantasy, science fiction, thrillers, detective stories, and so on. To further oversimplify, one might consider an analogy with music; pop music is the catchy, easily accessible stuff but it often lacks the depth or complexity of other genres. Let's say jazz. And to be honest, jazz bores me, I don't understand it. But I still recognize that John Coltrane's music is more complex than Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball, even if I can find the latter more immediately appealing. As one develops more as a reader or listener of music, the more straightforward stuff becomes less interesting and I'd definitely rather listen to, say, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon than a Lady Gaga record (and incidentally, DSoTM's poppiest, "catchiest" song is probably its least liked from that album among hardcore fans of their music). And if someone came to you and said they'd only heard a couple pieces of music in their life, none had really grabbed them, and asked where to start, you probably wouldn't recommend a Schoenberg 12-tone composition or Richard Wagner opera, you'd suggest The Beatles early stuff. So for any famous literary-style authors you've heard of, they're probably famous for their use of tone, mood, and language rather than having amazing plots. The plot of something like Rabbit, Run would be ridiculous to summarize (a mediocre guy lives a typical life), but this is probably the first book where I consciously realized how much I loved reading it for the use of language. And don't get me wrong, there's plenty of genre fiction I like. I love A Song of Ice and Fire, and there's plenty of good stuff among genre fiction. It's just that this is where I'd suggest you start until you get bored of it. The Sherlock Holmes books are a great example of very readable but addictive and fun writing. Also my earlier recommendations of Ender's Game, Animal Farm, and Post Office (the last I wouldn't consider genre fiction, but it's maybe a good gateway into something not entirely plot reliant). I'm concerned that the above sounds terribly condescending and it's honestly not my intent whatsoever. It is great you want to read more. I just think you'll have the most success with certain types of books now and branching out from there.
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Jan 25, 2014 19:55
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regulargonzalez posted:I'm concerned that the above sounds terribly condescending and it's honestly not my intent whatsoever. Don't worry, it didn't at all. It's helpful, not condescending.
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Jan 25, 2014 21:02
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If you're really curious about Hemingway and aren't sure if you'll like him, his short stories are pretty rad and will give you a taste of what his writing is like. I especially liked The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Hills Like White Elephants (interesting annotations on that one, too), but I don't think you can go wrong with picking up any collection of them and opening at random.
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Jan 25, 2014 21:08
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savinhill posted:James Ellroy's Underworld USA novels are my favorites, American Tabloid is the first one. D'oh! Thanks, I keep meaning to check those out. Can't wait.
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Jan 26, 2014 02:47
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Got an Amazon deal to grab these for 99 cents each: Crimes Against Magic (The Hellequin Chronicles, Book 1) and Born of Hatred (The Hellequin Chronicles, Book 2) by Steve McHugh, The Seventh Day by Scott Shepherd, and Fireblood (Whispers from Mirrowen) by Jeff Wheeler. Any worth reading?
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Jan 26, 2014 10:20
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