The Book of the New Sun V. I: Shadow and Claw
@CASSETTEISGOD I'd recommend this if you haven't read it already.
The Books/Reading Thread
- Thread starter Matt
- Start date
The Book of the New Sun V. I: Shadow and Claw
@CASSETTEISGOD I'd recommend this if you haven't read it already.
CiG
Approximately Infinite Universe
Well, it has grim and complex setting with interesting characters and a compelling premise.
Einherjar86
Active Member
Yeah, Book of the New Sun is great. Funny, but when I first saw the cover I thought it was The Black Company (for some reason I confuse Gene Wolfe and Glen Cook), which is excellent if you're into dark epic fantasy (also influential on the Malazan series):
TageRyche
Active Member
- May 13, 2007
- 1,850
- 353
- 83
I don't have my lists for 2015 and 2016, but here's three other years lists:
2013 Books
2014 Book
2017 Books
CiG
Approximately Infinite Universe
Legion was definitely one of the best and most engrossing Horus Heresy books I've read thus far.
Einherjar86
Active Member
I started reading Reynolds's Revelation Space a while back, made it a couple hundred pages and then didn't finish. Wild fucking book, serious far-future hard sci-fi. I loved it, it was just so much to keep up with. Have to return to that someday...
It's a good series. Was thinking about going through them again later in the year but I think after re-reading all the original Dune books it's gonna be a while before I go through anything of significant length for a second time. Found out the other day that he'd just released a sequel to The Prefect so I'll probably do that next.
no country for old wainds
Active Member
- Nov 23, 2002
- 26,684
- 9,658
- 113
same. definitely super weird and full of interesting ideas, but it left me pretty detached. i'm not really a hard sci-fi guy though.
Einherjar86
Active Member
Detachment is definitely one effect that books achieves, I think. Typically I'm a fan of detachment (or estrangement) in fiction, especially science fiction; but that book handles it pretty coldly, I'll admit.
I get really into hard sci-fi when it's done well. Arthur C. Clarke excels at it, in my opinion. As far as contemporary writers go, I'm tempted to say that Ted Chiang and Peter Watts are two of the best in general, not just in hard sci-fi.
More writers should stick in references like Watts. Even when it's really far fetched, it's cool to read the science behind the ideas.
CiG
Approximately Infinite Universe
Einherjar86
Active Member
Must be out of print. Is it any good...?
There's a really big divide over Marx that has less to do with politics than methodology. Economists and philosophers simply don't agree on what his work is; economists see it mostly as bad economics, and philosophers see it as good philosophy. Given that divide, I'm not surprised a book on critical assessments of Marx's economics didn't sell well.
There's a very good collection of essays titled Reading Capital, compiled by Louis Althusser. Althusser's essay goes to heart of the controversy over Marx, basically saying it's because contemporary critics misidentify exactly what his work is/is doing.
There's a really big divide over Marx that has less to do with politics than methodology. Economists and philosophers simply don't agree on what his work is; economists see it mostly as bad economics, and philosophers see it as good philosophy. Given that divide, I'm not surprised a book on critical assessments of Marx's economics didn't sell well.
There's a very good collection of essays titled Reading Capital, compiled by Louis Althusser. Althusser's essay goes to heart of the controversy over Marx, basically saying it's because contemporary critics misidentify exactly what his work is/is doing.
CiG
Approximately Infinite Universe
I actually don't remember if it's any good, didn't get around to reading it tonight.
I remember enjoying it when I first read it though, I think it had some good stuff he wrote against Malthusianism or something.
Honestly it's been ages, sorry. My ex gave it to me so long ago.
I remember enjoying it when I first read it though, I think it had some good stuff he wrote against Malthusianism or something.
Honestly it's been ages, sorry. My ex gave it to me so long ago.
Might want to check out Terminal World. First 1/3 or so has been pretty good and it's definitely not hard. Been more noir/steampunk than sci fi so far.
unknown
fuck ftagn
I've gone through four Alastair Reynolds' books in the past year: House of Suns, Pushing Ice, The Prefect, and Diamond Dogs Turquoise Days. I would rank them in that order, too. House of Suns, especially, just blew me away
unknown
fuck ftagn
Since I know a few of you are into Ligotti and weird fiction in general, the founders of www.ligotti.net (whom I've known about as long as I've been on this forum) are beginning their own literary journal and are preparing to print the first issue via Kickstarter. I've backed it and would recommend it:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/867956165/vastarien-a-literary-journal
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/867956165/vastarien-a-literary-journal
