|
uberkeyzer posted:Interesting. Any reason you suggest TDM over Stars my Destination? I recently finished both for the first time - both are clearly similar and great, but Stars felt much more alive and vibrant to me. Both are clearly products of their time (especially as relates to women in the novels) of course. Maybe I'm just a sucker for the Count of Monte Cristo. I just loved how espers were presented in the book, the cat and mouse game between the characters, the general flow of the (relatively short) novel, especially when I contrasted it to some 2-3 times as thick books from newer authors. I mean, both are great and I should get around giving them a new go after a long while honestly, but somehow TDM stuck with me the most.
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 00:34
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 31, 2024 20:41 |
|
|
uberkeyzer posted:Interesting. Any reason you suggest TDM over Stars my Destination? I recently finished both for the first time - both are clearly similar and great, but Stars felt much more alive and vibrant to me. Both are clearly products of their time (especially as relates to women in the novels) of course. Maybe I'm just a sucker for the Count of Monte Cristo. The Stars My Destination had me in it's grip from the beginning with the insane survival scenario the protagonist has to endure. I was engrossed until the part when I realized how much of Monte Cristo was in it's DNA. That really weakened it's hold on me. I felt like the story could have gone so many places and the tribute stuff was absolutely the weakest part of the book and felt very unnecessary compared to the otherwise cool themes and ideas already present. Overall I thought it was decent at the end. If you haven't read it, don't have the impression that it's a straight up remake with sci-fi trappings. It's not. Still, I was left a little cold by it. I'll need to check out the Demolished Man.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 03:58
|
|
|
The Demolished Man is tighter in focus. It explores less big ideas, as a result, but is the easier and more enjoyable read. They're both really good, of course. Most sci-fi writers earlier than, say, Neuromancer (to pick an arbitrary point) seemed focused on science ideas to the exclusion of all else, and didn't seem to worry about packaging them in enjoyable stories with interesting characters and good prose. Bester's stuff is an exception, and doesn't feel nearly as antiquated in style as many books from his contemporaries.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 04:20
|
|
|
I see Hannu Rajaniemi is doing a fantasy alternative history book, due out in August. Cool, though I hoped for more sci-fi.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 09:16
|
|
|
Folding Knife was amazing and the end was nowhere near as dark as The Company. That probably means I'm a sociopath, because the consequences were rather more significant in scope.... Basso's competence might have been overplayed a little, but it was still a very enjoyable read.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 12:10
|
|
|
Who are some younger (say, born in the 70s or later) female science fiction novelists who aren't writing YA?
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 14:11
|
|
|
deadgoon posted:Who are some younger (say, born in the 70s or later) female science fiction novelists who aren't writing YA? Elizabeth Bear.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 16:05
|
|
|
Neurosis posted:The Demolished Man is tighter in focus. It explores less big ideas, as a result, but is the easier and more enjoyable read. They're both really good, of course. Most sci-fi writers earlier than, say, Neuromancer (to pick an arbitrary point) seemed focused on science ideas to the exclusion of all else, and didn't seem to worry about packaging them in enjoyable stories with interesting characters and good prose. Bester's stuff is an exception, and doesn't feel nearly as antiquated in style as many books from his contemporaries. Let me tell you about a little thing called the New Wave. Reading a year's best sf collection from the early 60s and late 60s is eye-opening. Solitair posted:It's an intriguing site, though. Weirdly enough, they're not the first person I've seen recommend R.A. Lafferty. Has anyone here had the fortune of reading Lafferty's books, and if so, are they really all that? Lafferty's good and on the border of sf. I prefer his short stories.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 16:11
|
|
|
deadgoon posted:Who are some younger (say, born in the 70s or later) female science fiction novelists who aren't writing YA?
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 16:38
|
|
|
Probably Rachel Aaron and Becky Chambers.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 17:59
|
|
|
coyo7e posted:Yeah I consistently hear that Stover's star wars novels are the top of the pile when it comes to an enormous pile of mostly boring dross. I care about Star Wars slightly more than Star Trek - which is to say very little indeed - but if I ever had a gun held to my head and was forced to read a star wars novel, It'd be Stover. Cheat and read Margaret Weis's Star of the Guardians trilogy instead. Up to a point they're Star Wars with the serial numbers filed off and the Magnificent Seven chucked in, but the relationships are a lot more complex.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 18:24
|
|
|
Jedit posted:Cheat and read Margaret Weis's Star of the Guardians trilogy instead. Up to a point they're Star Wars with the serial numbers filed off and the Magnificent Seven chucked in, but the relationships are a lot more complex. Any seconds of this opinion? I've never heard this mentioned although I can remember it on the shelves.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 18:34
|
|
|
Number Ten Cocks posted:Any seconds of this opinion? I've never heard this mentioned although I can remember it on the shelves.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 18:35
|
|
|
Bhodi posted:I read it as a teenager and it was fine for that age, but it probably doesn't age any better than the deathgate cycle does. There are a lot of better options. If you're looking for the "feel" of a star wars novel, just read other books by the popular authors, like Zahn's The Icarus Hunt. It ages better than the Deathgate Cycle, even if only because the formula itself is still popular. If you want a Star Wars like experience in a non-Star Wars book it's hard to beat Deathstalker or Star of the Guardians. Whether you're reading the unlicensed works of Star Wars authors or otherwise.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 21:08
|
|
|
deadgoon posted:Who are some younger (say, born in the 70s or later) female science fiction novelists who aren't writing YA? Kameron Hurley.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 22:08
|
|
|
deadgoon posted:Who are some younger (say, born in the 70s or later) female science fiction novelists who aren't writing YA? Lauren Beukes Madeline Ashby Chris Moriarty* Emma Newman Becky Chambers Charlie Jane Anders Catherynne M. Valente* Nisi Shawl Nnedi Okorafor* *sometimes writes YA occamsnailfile fucked around with this message at 22:33 on Feb 26, 2017 |
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 22:27
|
|
|
nessin posted:It ages better than the Deathgate Cycle, even if only because the formula itself is still popular. If you want a Star Wars like experience in a non-Star Wars book it's hard to beat Deathstalker or Star of the Guardians. Whether you're reading the unlicensed works of Star Wars authors or otherwise.
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 23:18
|
|
|
The problem with Deathstalker is that it's written by Simon R. Green. He's really pretty good at the worldbuilding aspects and coming up with interesting ideas, and I love how Deathstalker's world was set up. The rogue AIs of Shub, the Hadenmen, the espers. Some really neat ideas. But then it ends with "And then the Deus ex Machina made them all into invincible supermen and they drew on their collective power and became super badass and they won the hopeless fight yaaaaaaaay".
|
|
#
?
Feb 26, 2017 23:45
|
|
|
Khizan posted:The problem with Deathstalker is that it's written by Simon R. Green. He's really pretty good at the worldbuilding aspects and coming up with interesting ideas, and I love how Deathstalker's world was set up. The rogue AIs of Shub, the Hadenmen, the espers. Some really neat ideas. It also has a serious problem with whoever has the narrative focus at the moment being an unstoppable superbadass and everyone else being complete chumps, which is really noticeable given that the focus jumps between half a dozen characters on a regular basis.
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 01:59
|
|
|
Rough Lobster posted:The Stars My Destination had me in it's grip from the beginning with the insane survival scenario the protagonist has to endure. I was engrossed until the part when I realized how much of Monte Cristo was in it's DNA. That really weakened it's hold on me. I felt like the story could have gone so many places and the tribute stuff was absolutely the weakest part of the book and felt very unnecessary compared to the otherwise cool themes and ideas already present. Overall I thought it was decent at the end. So for the past half a year I've been hitting up a lot of harder science-fiction. I just cleared through the Three Body Problem novels while also reading Dan Simmon's Hyperion, the combination of which has left me drained mentally and, to an extent, existentially, and I'm looking for something a bit lighter. Maybe something space-operay, but my past experience with that sub-genre hasn't been especially rewarding, so I guess I'm not sure what exactly I want. Caveat: I do most of my reading through Audiobooks these days, so I'd love it if whatever I look at next is available in that form. Basically, I'd love something more adventure oriented and softer, less confined by the cruel protocols of hard sci-fi. Hannu Rajaniemi was extremely up my alley in every way, in part because the science was so speculative that it might as well have been magic. I've read a few Culture books that I've really enjoyed but, again, they tend to get pretty heavy and I'd like something funner (and they have poor availability on audiobook). Any suggestions?
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 15:33
|
|
|
Strange Matter posted:One thing I think you have to give The Stars My Destination credit for is that it has, for my money, maybe one of the most satisfying and complete endings of any book in the genre.
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 15:59
|
|
|
I recommend Cosmicomics by Italo Calvino.
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 16:57
|
|
|
Vorkosigan Saga should scratch the "softer SF with an adventure orientation" itch nicely.
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 17:06
|
|
|
Number Ten Cocks posted:Any seconds of this opinion? I've never heard this mentioned although I can remember it on the shelves. Anyone who enjoys the Star Wars novels will probably be happy with them. I really feel they're poo poo, albeit with a compelling opening scene and general backstory that the authors aren't skilled enough to deliver on. Xotl fucked around with this message at 19:35 on Feb 27, 2017 |
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 17:09
|
|
|
Strange Matter posted:Basically, I'd love something more adventure oriented and softer, less confined by the cruel protocols of hard sci-fi. Hannu Rajaniemi was extremely up my alley in every way, in part because the science was so speculative that it might as well have been magic. I've read a few Culture books that I've really enjoyed but, again, they tend to get pretty heavy and I'd like something funner (and they have poor availability on audiobook). Any suggestions?
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 19:24
|
|
|
Runcible Cat posted:Try Neal Asher's Polity series. The Skinner is an especially good start if you like hilarious and homicidal alien ecosystems; it's set on what's basically Space Australia with even more ridiculously dangerous wildlife and the main protagonists include a man who works for a swarm of hornets and a cop so stubborn he's a preserved corpse still trying to hunt down a particularly evil gang of war criminals.
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 19:48
|
|
|
Runcible Cat posted:Try Neal Asher's Polity series. The Skinner is an especially good start if you like hilarious and homicidal alien ecosystems; it's set on what's basically Space Australia with even more ridiculously dangerous wildlife and the main protagonists include a man who works for a swarm of hornets and a cop so stubborn he's a preserved corpse still trying to hunt down a particularly evil gang of war criminals. While I'm shopping for suggestion, my wife has been looking for some sci-fi with a good romance angle, which I've always found to be extremely hard to pin down. Any ideas? In the past she's tried reading both The Quantum Thief and The Diamond Age and got frustrated, but on the other hand her favorite novel is Anna Karenina and she loves Ray Bradbury and Stranger in a Strange Land it's not like she's illiterate, she's just got a low tolerance for high concept technobabble (which I love).
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 21:31
|
|
|
Strange Matter posted:While I'm shopping for suggestion, my wife has been looking for some sci-fi with a good romance angle, which I've always found to be extremely hard to pin down. Any ideas? The Vorkosigan series pretty much goes full rom-com at times.
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 21:40
|
|
|
anilEhilated posted:Not to mention several flavors of rear end in a top hat robot. Seconding the Spatterjay books, the rest of Asher is a lot weaker IMO. I like the rest of his Polity series too, but yeah, it's mainly for the AIs and drones. And insane wildlife. (No-one should bother with Gridlinked, though, you can can pick up the Cormac series from In the Line of Polity with no loss.)
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 23:16
|
|
|
Strange Matter posted:While I'm shopping for suggestion, my wife has been looking for some sci-fi with a good romance angle, which I've always found to be extremely hard to pin down. Any ideas? In the past she's tried reading both The Quantum Thief and The Diamond Age and got frustrated, but on the other hand her favorite novel is Anna Karenina and she loves Ray Bradbury and Stranger in a Strange Land it's not like she's illiterate, she's just got a low tolerance for high concept technobabble (which I love). Depending on exact taste, All the Birds in the Sky by Charlie Jane Anders might suit.
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 23:20
|
|
|
Strange Matter posted:While I'm shopping for suggestion, my wife has been looking for some sci-fi with a good romance angle, which I've always found to be extremely hard to pin down. Any ideas? In the past she's tried reading both The Quantum Thief and The Diamond Age and got frustrated, but on the other hand her favorite novel is Anna Karenina and she loves Ray Bradbury and Stranger in a Strange Land it's not like she's illiterate, she's just got a low tolerance for high concept technobabble (which I love). It's not quite SF (it's got that basically-fantasy with SF overlays that was popular for a while) and it's not really romance but I think CS Friedman's Coldfire Trilogy might scratch the itch. Either way I have a bit of an urge to reread it now lol.
|
|
#
?
Feb 27, 2017 23:26
|
|
|
Strange Matter posted:While I'm shopping for suggestion, my wife has been looking for some sci-fi with a good romance angle, which I've always found to be extremely hard to pin down. Any ideas? In the past she's tried reading both The Quantum Thief and The Diamond Age and got frustrated, but on the other hand her favorite novel is Anna Karenina and she loves Ray Bradbury and Stranger in a Strange Land it's not like she's illiterate, she's just got a low tolerance for high concept technobabble (which I love). As mentioned, The Vorkosigan Saga would be high on my list. If only because it will bring her to A Civil Campaign: A Comedy of Biology and Manners, which is wonderful book.
|
|
#
?
Feb 28, 2017 03:50
|
|
|
flosofl posted:As mentioned, The Vorkosigan Saga would be high on my list. If only because it will bring her to A Civil Campaign: A Comedy of Biology and Manners, which is wonderful book. Have you seen the Reader's Companion ? It's a massively detailed breakdown of all the Regency-era references in ACC. http://dendarii.com/accc.html
|
|
#
?
Feb 28, 2017 04:07
|
|
|
Strange Matter posted:While I'm shopping for suggestion, my wife has been looking for some sci-fi with a good romance angle, which I've always found to be extremely hard to pin down. Any ideas? In the past she's tried reading both The Quantum Thief and The Diamond Age and got frustrated, but on the other hand her favorite novel is Anna Karenina and she loves Ray Bradbury and Stranger in a Strange Land it's not like she's illiterate, she's just got a low tolerance for high concept technobabble (which I love). I've been reading Kage Baker's stuff which is super accessible, fairly light, romance angled. Her Company or Dr. Zeus series is about a society of time travellers that discovers that it's easier to make immortal cybernetic slaves to do all the time fuckery than it is to actually invest in doing it themselves. The series follows one of these slaves, who tend to be super competent and accomplished if only because of how long they've lived, as she lives her life through the centuries until she reaches the time her creators came from, falling tragically in love with either a mortal or one of her "co-workers". Tor just re-issued them on e-book: http://www.tor.com/2016/03/29/rereading-kage-bakers-company-series-introduction/ fez_machine fucked around with this message at 07:36 on Feb 28, 2017 |
|
#
?
Feb 28, 2017 07:32
|
|
|
This is better and certainly funnier than any of the short story nominees you'll see this year. The ultimate shaggy dog story with classical mythology and urban fantasy elements. https://slatestarcodex.com/2017/02/27/a-modern-myth/
|
|
#
?
Feb 28, 2017 20:57
|
|
|
That was bad.
|
|
#
?
Feb 28, 2017 21:32
|
|
|
BravestOfTheLamps posted:That was bad. It was pretty good, actually.
|
|
#
?
Feb 28, 2017 22:32
|
|
|
It's fanfic-level burlesquing of mythology. I say fanfic because it's so occupied with trappings of Greek myth instead of their deeper meaning. Did you know Zeus sleeps around a lot? Ares is not just a chocolate bar! The dialogue is not witty or funny, especially after Jack Vance and Ivy Compton-Burnett. It's just a laundry list of cutesy banalities.
|
|
#
?
Feb 28, 2017 22:38
|
|
|
Nah.
|
|
#
?
Feb 28, 2017 23:00
|
|
|
|
| # ? May 31, 2024 20:41 |
|
|
Isn't that website from the guy who goes 'I'm not a nazi honest just all my buddies are nazis and some of them have some good ideas so i'll give them a platform'?
|
|
#
?
Feb 28, 2017 23:01
|
|