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savinhill posted:You can't go wrong with Hyperion. The audiobook for it is top notch and easy to follow too. I really liked this book as well, although I thought of it as more future noir than cyberpunk, although the two things are so closely related, you could probably go either way. One of the things that kind of stunned me about the book was how crazy accurate it was about the fashion stuff. For a book centered so much on technology and its vision of the future, I wouldn't have expected such spot-on details about a side-aspect of the story and world. It was that level of detail that made the world of the book seem so vivid and real, since it really did seem like a logical extension of what is already happening right now, if we were to develop the new technologies they have in the book.
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Jul 27, 2015 17:52
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fritz posted:At one point I wanted to read the Vlad Taltos books, once they were all published, in internal chronological order, but I'll want someone else to figure out what that is. The problem with that is that you'd have to skip around between books. Frinstance, the first section of Jhereg, where Vlad finds and bonds with Loiosh, is the earliest part of Vlad's story ... but then Taltos, Dragon, Yendi, and part of Tiassa come between that and the rest of Jhereg.
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Jul 27, 2015 17:58
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Selachian posted:The problem with that is that you'd have to skip around between books. Frinstance, the first section of Jhereg, where Vlad finds and bonds with Loiosh, is the earliest part of Vlad's story ... but then Taltos, Dragon, Yendi, and part of Tiassa come between that and the rest of Jhereg. From wikipedia: quote:Chronological order of novels: ...so yeah, you're hosed, do publication order and move on.
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Jul 27, 2015 18:09
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Selachian posted:The problem with that is that you'd have to skip around between books. Frinstance, the first section of Jhereg, where Vlad finds and bonds with Loiosh, is the earliest part of Vlad's story ... but then Taltos, Dragon, Yendi, and part of Tiassa come between that and the rest of Jhereg. The hard part would be Tiassa where each chapter starts in one timeline, then there's a paragraph somewhere in the middle that's in another, and then chapters end in the third timeline.
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Jul 27, 2015 18:50
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Almost finished Dark Orbit by Carolyn Ives Gilman and it's really really very good. It crams a lot in; Little bit hard sci-fi, little bit first-contact story, cultural differences, quite philosophical in places. Definitely worth checking out. Genuinely thoughtful sci-fi. Bloody crap title though, makes it sound like some sort of Event Horizon space horror thing (which it absolutely isn't)
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Jul 27, 2015 19:30
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My friend Kim Stanley Robinson has written such a masterwork that it's a permanent part of canon as is, Red Mars first chapter is clearly POSTMODERN literary decision and it's barbaric to make the book fun even if AUTHOR IS DEAD. -Harold R.R. Bloom
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Jul 27, 2015 20:23
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Skip reading the Vlad Taltos books (for now, but definitely read them later because they're fun) and skip straight to reading the Khaavren Romance series. Much MUCH better.
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Jul 27, 2015 20:52
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So, is there anywhere I can read a breakdown of Proxima from? I bought it when it was recommended the other day, and I have very little idea what the gently caress happened. I *think* that Yuri Eden was an (maybe even the, with the way the hatches work) original donor to Earthshine, but random roman space marine blimps threw me so far off Fun Adventure Time with ColU that I do not comprehend anything any more. Is there a sequel? Can you even WRITE a sequel to an not-ending that batshit crazy? It nosedived so far through latter-day Card and Space Capone levels of stupidity so fast my neck hurts.
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Jul 27, 2015 21:04
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mallamp posted:My friend Kim Stanley Robinson has written such a masterwork that it's a permanent part of canon as is, Red Mars first chapter is clearly POSTMODERN literary decision and it's barbaric to make the book fun even if AUTHOR IS DEAD. people can read this poo poo out of order if they want but the guy recommending it managed to sound like an incredible fuckwit by delivering his advice in the most self satisfied way like his recommendation was mana from heaven we should be eternally grateful to receive
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Jul 27, 2015 21:54
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ulmont posted:From wikipedia: angel opportunity posted:Why does this thread have to rehash the pedophile/rape discussion like every 30 pages? It's so ridiculous and dumb. It feels like so many people in this thread are fixated on it rather than just not reading stuff with weird peophile and rape stuff.
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Jul 27, 2015 22:05
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Neurosis posted:people can read this poo poo out of order if they want but the guy recommending it managed to sound like an incredible fuckwit by delivering his advice in the most self satisfied way like his recommendation was mana from heaven we should be eternally grateful to receive *reads harmless, goofy nerd opinion, sucks air through teeth* "This fuckwit should really shut the gently caress up!"
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Jul 27, 2015 22:10
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Nullkigan posted:So, is there anywhere I can read a breakdown of Proxima from? I bought it when it was recommended the other day, and I have very little idea what the gently caress happened. Sorry, I almost posted and warned you not to read it, but I had to leave suddenly or something. It's the single worst ending to a book I've read in many years. The entire book is made twice as bad from that ending, and I'm never reading anything from that author again.
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Jul 27, 2015 22:33
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coyo7e posted:These don't take into account stuff like The Pheonix Guards and Five Hundred Years After, which actually were how I got into the Taltos stuff, and it really made a lot of the small side-hand comments about events make so much more sense, as well as Vlad's interactions with the folks who are kind of A Big Deal That's easy though - all of the Khaavren Romances predate the Jhereg intro and everything else and are already in internal chronological order from publication. I'd still recommend publication order for all things Dragearea.
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Jul 27, 2015 22:50
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Drifter posted:Skip reading the Vlad Taltos books (for now, but definitely read them later because they're fun) and skip straight to reading the Khaavren Romance series. Much MUCH better. Those books are so much fun. From the narrative voice, to the chapter titles, to the dialog it captured the feel of Dumas so drat well.
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Jul 27, 2015 23:16
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Neurosis posted:people can read this poo poo out of order if they want but the guy recommending it managed to sound like an incredible fuckwit by delivering his advice in the most self satisfied way like his recommendation was mana from heaven we should be eternally grateful to receive I only sounded like a fuckwit after some snide comments, such as this ridiculous statement: Hedrigall posted:Ah yes, I also only watch Memento in chronological order. I was half-joking about 'public service'. I even said that if the dude listening to the audiobook couldn't work it out, then don't worry. Not exactly heavily invested, am I? But let's just leave it here, it isn't worth a drawn out argument. angel opportunity posted:To be fair, the first part of Red Mars confused the poo poo out of me and had no weight whatsoever. I finally got past it, but I could barely tell what was happening because it really did feel just 'out of order' rather than a good decision to move it. That's all the proof anyone needs, thankee sai. How is the narration? I'm listening to the Coode Street Podcast with KSR as guest (do listen to it, he talks about Aurora and other books and it's awesome) and he says that he was very pleased with the narration of Shaman so I might have to re-read it, by listening to it. PS. does anyone listen to Coode Street, and does anyone listen to other good spec fic/fantasy podcasts? thehomemaster fucked around with this message at 02:08 on Jul 28, 2015 |
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Jul 28, 2015 02:05
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The narration is okay, but not amazing. He doesn't make any attempt to do any of the accents for various nationalities, which is either good or bad depending on your preferences. I tend to prefer it, because it can get really tedious hearing accent parodies go on forever.
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Jul 28, 2015 02:19
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Drifter posted:Skip reading the Vlad Taltos books (for now, but definitely read them later because they're fun) and skip straight to reading the Khaavren Romance series. Much MUCH better. I realize this isn't a popular opinion, but while I liked the Taltos novels, I hated what little of the Khaavren Romance novels I read.
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Jul 28, 2015 03:58
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Patrick Spens posted:I realize this isn't a popular opinion, but while I liked the Taltos novels, I hated what little of the Khaavren Romance novels I read. Nah, it makes total sense. If you like Dumas' writing style, you'll like the Khaavren Romances. If you don't, you won't. And, since it happens to be the case that the writer Dumas was, as befit the style of the times, paid the going rate for each word rather than (as we do in this more enlightened era) paid a portion of each sale of his works (after the publisher, of course, had recouped his appropriate expenses made in advance to publish said works), certainly the style of Messr. Dumas is readily distinguishable from the styles of other writers these days (we express no opinion as to whether those styles represents an improvement upon the style of Messr. Dumas, of course, times being what they are and matters of taste being so difficult to judge).
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Jul 28, 2015 04:11
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ulmont posted:Nah, it makes total sense. If you like Dumas' writing style, you'll like the Khaavren Romances. If you don't, you won't.   Sir? Pardon, are you speaking to me?Yes sir, as a matter of fact I am.How singular, was there a reason you hailed me?Why yes, now that you mention it. There was.Please, pray tell me what it is you wish to say.Well, it is something in the manner of compliment.A compliment, you say? How extraordinary.It shouldn't be, sir. In fact, I'd say this is rather on the order of the ordinary for one such as yourself.Your kindness is too much. And please what is the compliment?The compliment?YesWhy the compliment is simple in it's execution.Execute it at once, if you would.Very well. That was a good post.
Proteus Jones fucked around with this message at 06:01 on Jul 28, 2015 |
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Jul 28, 2015 04:52
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I managed to finish only the first book of Khaavren Romances and that with a certain amount of skipping. At first I thought the writing was kind of funny then it became boring and I had to force myself to finish the book.
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Jul 28, 2015 07:15
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The Phoenix Guards is a great book with a lot of good humor, and Five Hundred Years After may be one of the best single fantasy novels I have ever read. I would still suggest anyone interested in them should start with at least the first few Vlad Taltos books though, they're a lot more approachable in terms of style.
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Jul 28, 2015 09:52
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Finished with Aurora, KSR somehow managed to make it depressing and uplifting at the same time. Really enjoyed his take on AI evolution and consciousness. It was my first book from the author and I'll definitely be looking into his older work now. Trying to get through Lock In by Scalzi but it is just not grabbing me, much like most of his other stuff. All of his work seems to suffer from poor characterization and a lack of any individual voice. It just feels like one big pastiche of bland dialogue. Readable but boring, I'm done trying with his books.
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Jul 28, 2015 13:54
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The Ninth Layer posted:The Phoenix Guards is a great book with a lot of good humor, and Five Hundred Years After may be one of the best single fantasy novels I have ever read. I would still suggest anyone interested in them should start with at least the first few Vlad Taltos books though, they're a lot more approachable in terms of style. I liked both of them too but for some reason I've stalled on the third in the series. Its not that the book is bad, I'm thinking maybe reading the first two one after the other has drained me of the patience required to read the style. In fact I think I nearly insist upon it.
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Jul 28, 2015 15:35
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johnsonrod posted:I'm reading Aurora right now and considering I'm not a huge fan of KSR, I'm actually really enjoying it. I'll be done it in a day or two though and am looking for some sci fi recommendations on what to read next. Bruce Sterling's Schismatrix (Plus) seems to fit your bill. Vernor Vinge's Zones of Thought series misses several, but I'd still strongly recommend it. Give A Deepness in the Sky a try.
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Jul 28, 2015 15:51
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How 'bout some Greg Egan.
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Jul 28, 2015 18:03
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ulmont posted:Nah, it makes total sense. If you like Dumas' writing style, you'll like the Khaavren Romances. If you don't, you won't. I like Dumas just fine, he uses those excess words to add texture and detail to everything, whereas Brust was using them (badly) as a joke.
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Jul 28, 2015 18:45
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On the topic of KSR, he has compacted down his Climate Change Trilogy into one volume called Green Earth. I haven't read them before, but apparently he's cut a lot of the superfluous boring bits (about 15%!) so now would be a good time.
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Jul 28, 2015 20:34
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thehomemaster posted:On the topic of KSR, he has compacted down his Climate Change Trilogy into one volume called Green Earth. I haven't read them before, but apparently he's cut a lot of the superfluous boring bits (about 15%!) so now would be a good time. Goodness, I never even knew these books existed. Now I'm feverishly gulping down the first one. Will purchase on release date. By the way, does the Mars trilogy exist in an omnibus edition anywhere? I think a collector's edition would sell, but I doubt it's been given the chance.
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Jul 29, 2015 03:58
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I love cyberpunk/postcyberpunk/technoir/near-future sci-fi but there doesn't seem to be much of it that I haven't already read. I've read all of Gibson's stuff and I don't like Stephenson. I couldn't get through the first chapter of Snow Crash. I read and liked both Altered Carbon and Broken Angels. I like gritty, violent, noirish if possible. Any recommendations?
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Jul 29, 2015 17:05
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Do you mind ridiculous levels of action? The Mirrored Heavens by David J Williams. Daniel Keys Moran's Continuing Time series - the first book has a prologue that doesn't represent the rest of the series, mind. Emerald Eyes is the first book, the second (The Long Run) has more of a focus on crime. I'd post better suggestions but I'm heading out. You've read Effinger right? 90s Cringe Rock fucked around with this message at 17:24 on Jul 29, 2015 |
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Jul 29, 2015 17:22
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Bruce Sterling? Melissa Scott Trouble and Her Friends Raphael Carter The Fortunate Fall Ken MacLeod's Fall Revolution novels Vernor Vinge Rainbow's End Walter M Miller's Dagmar Shaw novels Greg Egan Quarantine Lauren Beukes Moxyland Darren Bradley Noise Europe in Autumn might qualify though its SFnal elements are fairly understated--but it is near-future and fairly grim. Matt Ruff's Bad Monkeys is...similar in tone but not exactly cyberpunk. Still a good quick read.
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Jul 29, 2015 17:27
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Martello posted:I love cyberpunk/postcyberpunk/technoir/near-future sci-fi but there doesn't seem to be much of it that I haven't already read. I've read all of Gibson's stuff and I don't like Stephenson. I couldn't get through the first chapter of Snow Crash. I read and liked both Altered Carbon and Broken Angels. I like gritty, violent, noirish if possible. Any recommendations? If you've read and enjoyed Altered Carbon and Broken Angels, then I would get started on Woken Furies right away. I think it's a safe bet you'll enjoy it as much as the first two Kovacs books. It's pretty different in plot, just like the first two were different from each other, but it's going to check at least all the boxes for gritty and violent, and I'd say there's some noirish stuff there. In any event, I liked it just as much as the first two books, and it has some neat stuff about Quell and the Martians, if you liked the bits about those in the two prior books.
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Jul 29, 2015 18:05
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chrisoya posted:Daniel Keys Moran's Continuing Time series - the first book has a prologue that doesn't represent the rest of the series, mind. Emerald Eyes is the first book, the second (The Long Run) has more of a focus on crime. Holy crap, he's finally put out a fourth book. I remember reading the 1st three in the series in the early nineties, then discovering he had planned on it spanning 33 volumes. Not long after I finished the 3rd, I started casting a net to find what I could. I seem to remember one the sci fi Usenet groups mentioning he had a publisher dispute and couldn't write anymore in the series until he got the rights back (something like that). He fell off my radar a while ago, which is probably why I never noticed he put The AI War out 4 years ago. Going to have to grab those up in ebook format now.
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Jul 29, 2015 19:01
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Martello posted:I love cyberpunk/postcyberpunk/technoir/near-future sci-fi but there doesn't seem to be much of it that I haven't already read. I've read all of Gibson's stuff and I don't like Stephenson. I couldn't get through the first chapter of Snow Crash. I read and liked both Altered Carbon and Broken Angels. I like gritty, violent, noirish if possible. Any recommendations?
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Jul 29, 2015 20:08
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flosofl posted:Holy crap, he's finally put out a fourth book. I remember reading the 1st three in the series in the early nineties, then discovering he had planned on it spanning 33 volumes. Not long after I finished the 3rd, I started casting a net to find what I could. I seem to remember one the sci fi Usenet groups mentioning he had a publisher dispute and couldn't write anymore in the series until he got the rights back (something like that). He fell off my radar a while ago, which is probably why I never noticed he put The AI War out 4 years ago. Trent the Uncatchable is a better SF/F thief than Locke Lamora 
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Jul 29, 2015 20:28
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chrisoya posted:Yes, excellent. Although the future plans sound batshit and unlikely, at least the books that were written are good. Ralf the Wise and Powerful has to be my favorite AI.
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Jul 29, 2015 20:34
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Martello posted:I love cyberpunk/postcyberpunk/technoir/near-future sci-fi but there doesn't seem to be much of it that I haven't already read. I've read all of Gibson's stuff and I don't like Stephenson. I couldn't get through the first chapter of Snow Crash. I read and liked both Altered Carbon and Broken Angels. I like gritty, violent, noirish if possible. Any recommendations? Hardwired by Walter Jon Williams. I honestly can't remember much of it, but check the plot introduction on Wikipedia. CrashCourse, ClipJoint and PsyKosis by Wilhelmina Baird. The first one was pretty drat good, second one a bit meh and the third kind of lost it. I never got around to reading the forth, Chaos Comes Again.
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Jul 29, 2015 21:46
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Fart of Presto posted:Hardwired by Walter Jon Williams. I honestly can't remember much of it, but check the plot introduction on Wikipedia. Haha holy poo poo that cover. Definitely not Dolph Lundgren. Nosirree. 
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Jul 30, 2015 00:25
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Martello posted:I love cyberpunk/postcyberpunk/technoir/near-future sci-fi but there doesn't seem to be much of it that I haven't already read. I've read all of Gibson's stuff and I don't like Stephenson. I couldn't get through the first chapter of Snow Crash. I read and liked both Altered Carbon and Broken Angels. I like gritty, violent, noirish if possible. Any recommendations? Maybe I'm wrong in feeling that Holy Fire or this Good Old-Fashioned Future weren't sexier and more beliavable than anybody else at the time? Of my 3 cyberpunks gospels I am on the Stephenson, Sterling, and..... Well I guess you have to read Gibson however, he's pretty loving dry in my opinion. Gibson writes about crowded scifi soap opera, and Sterling and Stephenson paint. Although a lot of newer Stephenson stuff is 
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Jul 30, 2015 05:03
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This is quite the long, boring epilogue Aurora has....
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Jul 30, 2015 10:59
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