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Fruity20 posted:can anyone recommend me some short stories, novels and novelettes where the setting is unorthodox or not commonly used of sorts. many fantasy books i've hear of or glance tend to have this stereotypical medieval setting that isn't even accurate most of the time. Porius by John Cowper Powys is set in the year 499 AD and features extensive discussion of the socio-political formations of the time as well as the effects of the sinking of the lost continent of Atlantis on the demographics of Britain.
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Dec 13, 2018 11:06
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tuyop posted:In no particular order: Aurora, Pushing Ice, Spin, The Three Body Problem, Seveneves, Rendezvous with Rama. Abusing this as an excuse to write some mini reviews: * Pushing Ice was okay but by the 2nd half I was so done with the 2 main characters and the willingness of everybody else to just roll over and take it. * House of Suns I read right after and that was so much better holy poo poo I couldn't put it down.
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Dec 13, 2018 12:35
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anilEhilated posted:Almost anything by China Miéville. Fair warning: guy writes like he swallowed a thesaurus. Still enjoyable. It's like he realized nobody says "bathos" anymore and feels the primal need to make up for decades of the word going underutilized That aside, the books are good. The Bas-Lag books are in a very unique setting, highlights there are probably Perdido Street Station and The Scar, for different reasons (former is just a wild fantasy city setting, latter takes place mostly on a giant ship-city). Embassytown is also excellent, the setting is sort of secondary to the story, but the alien culture is deeply unique and there are some compelling ideas there. MockingQuantum fucked around with this message at 20:20 on Dec 13, 2018 |
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Dec 13, 2018 17:36
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A human heart posted:Porius by John Cowper Powys is set in the year 499 AD and features extensive discussion of the socio-political formations of the time as well as the effects of the sinking of the lost continent of Atlantis on the demographics of Britain. That sounds fascinating, I may have to check that out. On another note, were you the one that recommended Dreams of Amputation somewhere on the forums? I have a terrible habit of adding books that interest me to a "to-read" list but never making note of why I added the book, so if you can tell me anything about it, that'd be great.
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Dec 13, 2018 17:40
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I keep forgetting about Embassytown but I think it’s his best novel.
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Dec 13, 2018 18:37
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Embassytown was so good, definitely one of the best books I read in 2018.
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Dec 13, 2018 19:50
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Any recommended translations for the Tibetan Book of the Dead?
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Dec 13, 2018 21:59
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MockingQuantum posted:That sounds fascinating, I may have to check that out. It's ostensibly a 'cyberpunk' novel but the author is a philosophy guy who is friends with the dude who wrote Cyclonopedia, so it has very little interest in dumb poo poo like plot. there are some excerpts here: http://htmlgiant.com/author-news/dreams-of-amputation/
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Dec 13, 2018 22:58
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Any Audiobook recommendations along the same vein of: - Brandon Sanderson: Mistborn Trilogy, Alloy of Law, The Stormlight Archive - Patrick Rothfuss: Kingkiller Chronicles - Scott Lynch: The Gentleman Bastards Not only are the stories amazing, the narrators are top notch and really immerse you in the world. I've listened to each of the author's series maybe two or three times each just from how good they are, and I've just finished The Gentleman Bastards series and boy does Michael Page knock it out of the park. Caveat: I don't normally mind sex scenes in a book, but listening to a man narrate it and go so far as to include moaning and groaning is a bit off putting and I usually skip over it, so books heavy with those scenes would preferably be left out. Recently finished Joe Abercrombie's Best Served Cold Audiobook and the sex scenes in that were awful to get through. I'm currently listening to Mordecai: The Riven Gates, but the narrator really isn't doing it for me, I keep picking it up and putting it right back down because it's painful to get through, but the book series is something I really enjoyed. I can't go back and listen to The Kingkiller Chronicle or The Way Of Kings, I've honestly listened to them back to front twice this year alone. A lot of books that I really enjoy on paperback haven't translated to Audiobook very well. I've included a pic of my bookcase with stuff I've read over the years, some I keep just for nostalgia (and no longer like) but a vast majority of the books are still enjoyable for me to read, to help you with recommendations.  
Qubee fucked around with this message at 03:49 on Dec 14, 2018 |
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Dec 14, 2018 03:46
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Qubee posted:Any Audiobook recommendations along the same vein of: Check out Kings of the Wyld, it should be right up your alley.
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Dec 14, 2018 04:04
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The First Law trilogy audiobooks ready by Stephen Pacey are top notch. As are the Sanderson Stormlight Archive audiobooks, can't remember the readers' names though.
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Dec 14, 2018 08:44
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MockingQuantum posted:It's like he realized nobody says "bathos" anymore and feels the primal need to make up for decades of the word going underutilized Kraken is loving awesome.
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Dec 14, 2018 16:38
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Humbug Scoolbus posted:Kraken is loving awesome.
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Dec 14, 2018 16:42
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Stringent posted:The First Law trilogy audiobooks ready by Stephen Pacey are top notch. This and the 4 standalone books that come after are exactly what you are looking for. The books are better then Stormlight / Kingkiller / Lies of Locke Lamora on their own but the really good part is that Steve Pacey is the best narrator of any audio book ever, saying this as someone who has listened to 100+ audio books.
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Dec 14, 2018 18:11
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Qubee posted:Caveat: I don't normally mind sex scenes in a book, but listening to a man narrate it and go so far as to include moaning and groaning is a bit off putting and I usually skip over it, so books heavy with those scenes would preferably be left out. Recently finished Joe Abercrombie's Best Served Cold Audiobook and the sex scenes in that were awful to get through. Sorry, I missed this part, but really? Like you are cool with Kovoth the fairy fucker but don't like Steve Pacey's magic voice narrating golden shower requests? 
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Dec 14, 2018 18:14
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Ornamented Death posted:Check out Kings of the Wyld, it should be right up your alley. seen this pop up in my recommended tonnes, definitely gonna give it a go now. Stringent posted:The First Law trilogy audiobooks ready by Stephen Pacey are top notch. bless you, will give these a listen too spandexcajun posted:Sorry, I missed this part, but really? Like you are cool with Kovoth the fairy fucker but don't like Steve Pacey's magic voice narrating golden shower requests? hahaha, you're 100% right. I'd read the physical book twice before the Audiobook so I skipped that entire fae / Felurian chapter cause I couldn't handle it, the only part I listened to was the part where he speaks with the Cthaeh on a sidenote: kids should be told to stay in school, don't do drugs, and never give Audiobooks a go. I remember when I first tried them out, I thought they were awful, "they don't even come close to the feel of reading a physical book!". now I can't sleep at night without listening to a few chapters before bed. Amazon also has an incredible return policy so any time I get a book and it turns out less than stellar (which is usually obvious within a couple of chapters) I can exchange it and get a credit back, but they still let you keep it which is amazing. Qubee fucked around with this message at 18:25 on Dec 14, 2018 |
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Dec 14, 2018 18:22
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The first law does not have that many sex scenes (maybe only one if the first trilogy IIRC) for sure less then Best served cold, but they do have the grunts and unfs and such. They are so silly as to be comical, but they exist.
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Dec 14, 2018 18:28
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Looking for realistic/grounded fiction that depicts the coming climate apocalypse and how it will affect society.
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Dec 15, 2018 06:27
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cult member at airport posted:Looking for realistic/grounded fiction that depicts the coming climate apocalypse and how it will affect society. The Windup Girl. It's science-fiction, but definitely more on the realistic/plausible end of the spectrum. I remember there being some climate fiction anthologies out there- like I'm With the Bears and Drowned Lands- but I've not read them.
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Dec 15, 2018 11:30
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spandexcajun posted:Steve Pacey is the best narrator of any audio book ever Word.
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Dec 15, 2018 12:33
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cult member at airport posted:Looking for realistic/grounded fiction that depicts the coming climate apocalypse and how it will affect society. Maybe The Water Knife.
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Dec 15, 2018 16:30
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Subjunctive posted:Maybe The Water Knife. Definitely The Water Knife
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Dec 16, 2018 21:48
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Qubee posted:Any Audiobook recommendations along the same vein of: Sword of Truth is on Audible
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Dec 21, 2018 22:35
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is there an unabridged version of the Mistborn trilogy? Just realised I've never listened to them on Audible, and there's the Mistborn trilogy then the 3 books afterwards set in the future, but I don't fancy buying each one separately. Would rather get 3 books in 1 for 1 credit.
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Dec 21, 2018 22:44
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I think you mean omnibus, not abridged. And probably not; why should the publisher bother when they can make triple the money by doing them individually. Generally omnibus editions are for older works. The Foundation trilogy or HHGTTG
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Dec 21, 2018 23:08
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BravestOfTheLamps posted:Sword of Truth is on Audible anilEhilated fucked around with this message at 20:14 on Dec 22, 2018 |
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Dec 22, 2018 18:52
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BravestOfTheLamps posted:Sword of Truth is on Audible This is cruel and unusual.
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Dec 22, 2018 19:03
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I'd like a recommendation of a sci-fi book or series with a relatively optimistic/positive/uplifting outlook. it doesn't have to be all rainbows and sunshine but I'm kind of burnt out on misanthropic, pessimistic, debbie downer type poo poo. some stuff I'd consider to fit this bill is the Jean Le Flambeur trilogy, the Culture and Radch books, most Stanislaw Lem short stories, The Girl With All The Gifts, even something fantasy-tilted like the Broken Earth jawns.
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Dec 27, 2018 03:02
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indigi posted:I'd like a recommendation of a sci-fi book or series with a relatively optimistic/positive/uplifting outlook. it doesn't have to be all rainbows and sunshine but I'm kind of burnt out on misanthropic, pessimistic, debbie downer type poo poo. some stuff I'd consider to fit this bill is the Jean Le Flambeur trilogy, the Culture and Radch books, most Stanislaw Lem short stories, The Girl With All The Gifts, even something fantasy-tilted like the Broken Earth jawns. Murderbot is set in a depressing universe but the character is adorable and reading it makes me happy
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Dec 27, 2018 03:19
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indigi posted:I'd like a recommendation of a sci-fi book or series with a relatively optimistic/positive/uplifting outlook. it doesn't have to be all rainbows and sunshine but I'm kind of burnt out on misanthropic, pessimistic, debbie downer type poo poo. some stuff I'd consider to fit this bill is the Jean Le Flambeur trilogy, the Culture and Radch books, most Stanislaw Lem short stories, The Girl With All The Gifts, even something fantasy-tilted like the Broken Earth jawns. Brian Stableford's stuff tends to be deeply optimistic even if Earth's been through a plague war or something. Humanity will survive.
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Dec 27, 2018 03:34
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I’m trying to make an effort to be more socially conscious, so I’m looking for recommendations for non-fiction books that deal with social issues. I’ve got The New Jim Crow, Nickel and Dimed and I’m about to start Asking for It. Anything that has to do with race, gender, sexuality, class or any other societal problem would be great.
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Dec 27, 2018 17:43
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Need suggestions for January BOTM. Looking for books that fit one or more of the following criteria: 1) Accessible (available in ebook format, cheap/free, not Finnegan's Wake) 2) Intelligent (something that is worth actually discussing, not just pablum) 3) Off the beaten path a bit -- something most people around here probably have not already read.
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Dec 27, 2018 17:45
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big fork small knife posted:I’m trying to make an effort to be more socially conscious, so I’m looking for recommendations for non-fiction books that deal with social issues. You should read Straight: The Surprisingly Short History of Heterosexuality by Hanne Blank I haven't read it yet, but I've heard good things, and it's on my list.
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Dec 27, 2018 19:49
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big fork small knife posted:I’m trying to make an effort to be more socially conscious, so I’m looking for recommendations for non-fiction books that deal with social issues. Salt Sugar Fat, Reefer Madness, No Logo, The Culture of Fear, The Other Wes Moore, Between the World and Me, Black Like Me, pretty much any James Baldwin. Sherman Alexie is a fantastic Native American author whose hosed-up early life informs a lot of of his fiction, but I'm not sure if he has any collections that are purely non-fiction.
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Dec 27, 2018 21:31
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big fork small knife posted:I’m trying to make an effort to be more socially conscious, so I’m looking for recommendations for non-fiction books that deal with social issues. Settlers by J Sakai
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Dec 28, 2018 00:45
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funkybottoms posted:Salt Sugar Fat, Reefer Madness, No Logo, The Culture of Fear, The Other Wes Moore, Between the World and Me, Black Like Me, pretty much any James Baldwin. Sherman Alexie is a fantastic Native American author whose hosed-up early life informs a lot of of his fiction, but I'm not sure if he has any collections that are purely non-fiction. I am on a similar kick. I have read bell hooks' Takling Back, Ta-Nehisi Coates's We Were 8 Years in Power, currently reading Thomas King's The Inconvenient Indian. All are excellent looks at race and gender (hooks also deals well with class, and is an amazing writer). On tap is W. E. B. DuBois' The Souls of Black Folk. Have you read Howard Zinn's A People's History of the United States yet?
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Dec 28, 2018 06:48
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Hieronymous Alloy posted:Need suggestions for January BOTM. Vonnegut's Hocus Pocus if only because I'm planning on reading it shortly. Seriously though, have you done Robertson Davies yet? Fifth Business is a great character-driven story set in Edwardian Upper Canada, so fairly off beat but super entertaining and accessible.
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Dec 28, 2018 06:57
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Bilirubin posted:I am on a similar kick. I have read bell hooks' Takling Back, Ta-Nehisi Coates's We Were 8 Years in Power, currently reading Thomas King's The Inconvenient Indian. All are excellent looks at race and gender (hooks also deals well with class, and is an amazing writer). On tap is W. E. B. DuBois' The Souls of Black Folk. No, I've picked it up and put down a few times, though. In a similar vein, I love Lies My Teacher Told Me and have been picking at The March of Folly for a minute now. And Bell Hooks is absolutely one to include in this conversation. Hieronymous Alloy posted:Need suggestions for January BOTM. Ryan Boudinot’s Blueprints of the Afterlife
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Dec 28, 2018 13:29
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big fork small knife posted:I’m trying to make an effort to be more socially conscious, so I’m looking for recommendations for non-fiction books that deal with social issues. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond. Its all about the mass evictions during the 2008 financial crisis and it will make you want to eat all landlords.
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Dec 28, 2018 15:40
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funkybottoms posted:No, I've picked it up and put down a few times, though. In a similar vein, I love Lies My Teacher Told Me and have been picking at The March of Folly for a minute now. On gender, my partner did a women's study degree (which then led to admission to the top law schools in our country, if you ever wondered what someone does with one of those) would say read Simone de Beauvoir's Second Sex. Apparently the prologue covers the entirety of the subject matter. She's (edit: my partner, not de Beauvoir) the one who gave me her copy of bell hook's book after bar conversations stemming from Charlottesville Bilirubin fucked around with this message at 17:44 on Dec 28, 2018 |
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Dec 28, 2018 17:37
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