OT...great books

Randallw · #1 July 9th, 2004, 03:00 AM

I read mote many years ago, it seeemd quite good. Thats written by the same pair who wrote Footfall isn't it?.
I actually came across a "The Fleet" book the other day. Would have bought it except I have bought a lot of other books recently. It was about book 4 or so and I was surprised I had never heard of it before.
For good SF I have come to rely on Peter F Hamilton. I eagerly await the next book after Pandoras Star.

Edit: Getting on to fantasy. I used to read Wheel of Time. I got into it a few years after it had started and quickly grabbed the first few books, up to about book 8 or so, but it takes like 2 years for the next book and when I waited for that 2 years and got the latest one it advanced the story absolutely nowhere, basically they wandered in the forest and did nothing, I may grab the Last one if I hear it is the very Last one but otherwise Robert Jordan has lost my interest (plus I detest the Aes Sedai). Harry Turtledove's like that as well. His series just go on for ever and I got bored at that. Still I suppose its to be expected if the war goes for 4 years.

[ July 09, 2004, 02:07: Message edited by: Randallw ]

Hugh Manatee · #2 July 10th, 2004, 06:24 AM

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy trilogy(all 5 books of them, though it goes downhill during book 4 and fizzles by the end of 5 it's still a great adventure, ****ing hillarious too, plus the short story Zaphod Plays it Safe, and don't forget the Salmon of Doubt)

Also get your hands on the Gormenghast/Titus Groan series, it ****ing owns, Steerpike is a badass, and the rest of the characters are awesome(sometimes a little depressing, but still cool none the less), and it has the most awesome castle ever.

EDIT: Sadly both authors were struck down in their prime(both in their 40s or early 50s most likely 40s IIRC), Marvyn Peake(titus groan series) by Pnemonia, Adam Douglas(HHGttG by heart problems... Though there will never be any more to these series, I still use my imagination to kinda fill in the gaps. They are well worth the reads.

[ July 10, 2004, 05:30: Message edited by: Hugh Manatee ]

Randallw · #3 July 10th, 2004, 06:30 AM

I heard much of Gormenghast, specifically on Terry Pratchett forums, and eventually came across a copy in the library. I didn't find it to my liking though.

Hugh Manatee · #4 July 10th, 2004, 06:34 AM

Which one did you get? you got to read them in order(Titus Groan, Gormenghast then Titus Alone), and it's not really an easy read, but great if you get through it.

Randallw · #5 July 10th, 2004, 06:43 AM

They had the whole trilogy on the shelf. I took the first one and read it for awhile. I'll be honest it was a few years ago and I can't even remember what happened, I just remember I wasn't impressed and put it back. If you found it interesting then it will keep you entertained. I'll just read something else.

narf poit chez BOOM · #6 July 10th, 2004, 07:14 AM

How could I forget Katherine Kerr's Deverry series?!?! A truly epic adventure that is neither cliche nor boring and in which the mythology isn't just background, it truly integrates with the story.

Read it or no-one will be angry with you.

Why, yes, that statement does make sense.

And I just finished a book called 'Lord Darcy', a bunch of short stories written by Randall Garrett, now dead and compiled and edited by Eric Flint. Has a Sherlock Holmes feel, with some humor. Very good. Kept me up 2:30 hours more than normal. Finished the rest the next day.

* Humor example: Naming the head of the sorcerer's guide 'Gandolphus Gray'.

Webscription preview

[ July 10, 2004, 07:44: Message edited by: narf poit chez BOOM ]

gregebowman · #7 July 12th, 2004, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dumbluck:
/me worships before the alter of Tad Williams.

"All hail Tad! All hail Tad!"

Seriously, check out his Otherland series. And I liked his Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series even better!

edit: he is, however, NOT a light read...... We still joke with him about how he wrote a book that was so big, the publishers physically couldn't fit it into a paperback. They had to split it up into 2 parts...

I finished the Otherland series not too long ago, and although I loved his Memory, Sorry and Thorn trilogy (quadrology if you bought it in paperback), I just couldn't like this series. Maybe it was too long, maybe it was because the explanations were too long in coming, I don't know. I just didn't enjoy it as much as I did his other previous books. I just can't recommend it.

Another series of books I wouldn't recommend is the Skylark books by E.E. "Doc" Smith. I think mostly it's because of the language and grammer being used. The books were written mostly in the 40's and 50's, and it's very hard to read compared to today's fiction. I'm into the fourth and Last book, and I'm contemplating about whether I should finish it or not. I got a whole bunch of other books I could read, and in faster time too.