OT: Read a book!

[Thermodyne]

Here's a link to his web site

http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/turtledove.html

The guy looks like he'd fit right in around here

[Erax]

I started reading SF pretty much in the order it was written. I began with Jules Verne as a kid, then moved on to H.G. Wells. From there I was ready to tackle my dad's SF collection, which had quite a bit of Asimov, Clarke, Heinlein and Bradbury, along with other authors. I'd go through a 'Niven phase', then a 'Philip K. Dick phase', and so on. I don't read as much SF these days, but I read a LOT of it as a teenager.
Clarke is my all-time favorite SF author.

My fantasy collection began with Tolkien, which I read at 11. I'd say it spoiled me - for years I couldn't find anything to compare with his work, but finally I found the Dying Earth series by Jack Vance and 'Magician' by Raymon E. Feist.

I also went through a 'Lovecraft phase' a few years back and I recommend anything by him or by Robert Bloch.

I started reading Terry Pratchett (he's in a Category all by himself) in 1988 and haven't stopped since.

My wife is a big Stephen King fan and I've read some of his books. Not one of my favorite authors but he's got great characters and gives me a good window into American culture. His 'On Writing' (nonfiction) is good reading if you intend to become a writer.

[geoschmo]

IMHO Hubbard was just too caught up in the whole series thing. A good sci-fi series is one that develops over time, like Foundation which was originally never intended to be more then one book if I remember corectly. The invasion Earth series might have even made a really good trilogy, but forcing ten books out of it from the begining was a huge mistake. There just wasn't that much idea in the idea.

I like Turtledove as well. Guns of the South was a really good story if you are into the alternate history stuff like I am.

[Geckomlis]

I have been re-reading CJ Cherryh’s Alliance-Union and Foreigner books this summer - always a joy.

A selection of non-fiction books:
(I am a history of technology enthusiast)

The Japanese Merchant Marine in World War II
Mark P. Parillo

Aircraft of the Second World War: Development of the Warplane, 1939-45
E. R. Hooton, Philip Jarrett (Editor)

Shipping Revolution: The Modern Merchant Ship
ALastair Couper

[ July 15, 2003, 17:49: Message edited by: geckomlis ]

[Erax]

How could I have forgotten... I also read the seminal cyberpunk novels : Islands in the Net and Neuromancer. Snow Crash is also quite good (wild, butgood).

[Thermodyne]

Originally posted by geoschmo:

I like Turtledove as well. Guns of the South was a really good story if you are into the alternate history stuff like I am.

I loved that book. Went so far as to load up 60 rounds of 7.62x39 with black powder to see if an AK would fire them. Couldn't hit much with them, but it fired all 60 without a stoppage. Man what a mess it was to clean when I was done.

[Wardad]

I am really enjoying Deborah Chestor's Alien Chronicles series.