OK OK I have finally started reading the first Wheel of Time book. I better not regret it, you guys ... ;-)
@NankerP - OK, this is how I see this undertaking FWIW. Once past the first few snoozy chapters when the action picks up, I'd say at least the first three books are an interesting proposition. Then, the time will come to ask yourself how far you want to ride this road, because there are sections ahead, I'd emphasize books 7-10 here, where things are a little drawn out and possibly a bit annoying in pacing. For myself, books 11-14 (the last original Jordan volume, followed by the three I'd say well-written posthumous co-authored volumes) redeemed those doldrums and fleshed out a lot of story line - maybe could have happened sooner, but it brought the series to a satisfactory conclusion for me. Not an overwhelming endorsement, perhaps, but a qualified one. If you've got the time, we've got the Trollocs.
I'm about 35% thru the first one and I'm certainly interested in it and its dragging me along HOWEVER (spoiler) the boys are so ungrateful, stupid and annoying I sincerely do not care if they get et by trollucs. In fact, I'd rather welcome it. ;-)
Dr. M: No problem. My greatest fear is to run out of reading material on a trip. I took several books, even though I was going to a writing convention (Association of Writers & Writing Programs) where I would pick up more books.
choiceweb0pen0 - A flight I was on 2 years ago pushed back from the terminal, ordered electronic devices turned off, then proceeded to sit on the tarmac for an hour. I'd neglected to bring anything printed to read. I spent my time considering a business plan to anesthetize passengers for the duration of the flight, but realized to my disappointment that it's already been done. It's called First Class.
Reading Anathem by Neal Stephenson. Loved Cryptonomicon a while back, and so quickly went on to Quicksilver, which I did not enjoy nearly as much, and that put me off reading more. Then I picked up Snowcrash in an airport, and Anathem came up in one of those recent Kindle sales. Am really enjoying it - best one I've read since Cryptonomicon.
Interesting, GP. I was a big fan of Stephenson until Quicksilver, or rather until the "Jack" section of Quicksilver, which I found an absolute chore to get through, so much so that even when I was finished it I couldn't bring myself to go further in the book despite the promise of getting back to Daniel's adventures, which I'd really enjoyed.
Cool, I have a copy of it too, GP. I couldn't get into his Baroque Cycle series either, perhaps too philosophical for me at the time, so am glad to hear you like Anathem and I think someone else on here read it not so long ago?
I picked up Anathem recently too. I really enjoyed the whole Baroque cycle, maybe even more than Cryptonomicon. I got them all on sale; I think at first I wasn't sure about it, never having been much of a historical fiction fan, but once I started I couldn't put them down.
I really liked Anathem. Have Reamde in the queue. Skipped the Baroque trilogy.
I will definitely add the Kim Stanley Robinson to the list. I've been a mild fan of his since his early days, publishing in Asimov's and his debut The Wild Shore, but particularly The Memory of Whiteness, which has a nice musical theme interwoven. Yow, that's coming up on 30 years ago.
Why doesn't anyone use the original book covers for sci- fi anymore?
They remind us that the actual future isn't nearly as cool as the predicted future. Well...except for the whole 'carrying all the world's knowledge around in our pocket' thing.
Two weeks time, we'll be there. I hope it is warmer than the UK is today. We've had about three or four inches of snow over the weekend (and I live where we actually get very little snow normally), elsewhere in the UK have had it far worse. This time last year it was 20C- that it one thing about the UK's climate - it is unpredictable!!
We've seen the same thing this year Greg. St. Patrick's day last year was in the 70s. This year it was in the 20s. Fahrenheit...obviously. Sadly, the 20s are the norm.
I hadn't had the reading urge recently and had been occasionally reading mindless fiction. Then the urge hit me, so I have been on a reading binge, all from the library. I had requested the Scientology book (Going Clear?) right after publication, but I am still way down the list for it.
In the past week I have read:
The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper. My, oh, my! I won't be forgetting this one any time soon. Well written, and for me, emotionally difficult to read. These soldiers are so young, yet so courageous, so committed to their fellow soldiers. It is unbelievable that they could have been put in such a dangerous situation, a situation that the men recognized as unrealistic, yet the top dogs generally did not listen or did little to assist them.
I am now about halfway through Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior by Rorke Denver. I haven't had much interest in reading the rash of books about SEAL missions, but this one I wanted to read -- it's about the training. Easy to read, entertaining, mind-boggling at what it takes to get through the training. Tough men? Yep. No wonder there are Damn Few.
So I'm about halfway through Infinite Jest, and am loving it so far.
Then last night, I'm watching Thursday's Parks and Recreation, and some of the characters have to go to a law firm. The name of that firm? "Gately, Wayne, Kittenplan, & Troelsch". I think one of the writers on the show is also a fan of Infinite Jest.
Listening to this on audiobook while I run in the afternoons, while googling it I see that the Coen brothers have a film very loosely based on it coming out this year.
Comments
@NankerP - OK, this is how I see this undertaking FWIW. Once past the first few snoozy chapters when the action picks up, I'd say at least the first three books are an interesting proposition. Then, the time will come to ask yourself how far you want to ride this road, because there are sections ahead, I'd emphasize books 7-10 here, where things are a little drawn out and possibly a bit annoying in pacing. For myself, books 11-14 (the last original Jordan volume, followed by the three I'd say well-written posthumous co-authored volumes) redeemed those doldrums and fleshed out a lot of story line - maybe could have happened sooner, but it brought the series to a satisfactory conclusion for me. Not an overwhelming endorsement, perhaps, but a qualified one. If you've got the time, we've got the Trollocs.
Which starts off as historical fiction but we're promised time travel. Yay!
I will definitely add the Kim Stanley Robinson to the list. I've been a mild fan of his since his early days, publishing in Asimov's and his debut The Wild Shore, but particularly The Memory of Whiteness, which has a nice musical theme interwoven. Yow, that's coming up on 30 years ago.
Now:
And:
Why doesn't anyone use the original book covers for sci- fi anymore? They're so much better (ok, except not the Octavia E. Butler example above)
They remind us that the actual future isn't nearly as cool as the predicted future. Well...except for the whole 'carrying all the world's knowledge around in our pocket' thing.
Craig
His reaction was "Ah! Now there's a cover!"
Two weeks time, we'll be there. I hope it is warmer than the UK is today. We've had about three or four inches of snow over the weekend (and I live where we actually get very little snow normally), elsewhere in the UK have had it far worse. This time last year it was 20C- that it one thing about the UK's climate - it is unpredictable!!
Craig
In the past week I have read:
The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor by Jake Tapper. My, oh, my! I won't be forgetting this one any time soon. Well written, and for me, emotionally difficult to read. These soldiers are so young, yet so courageous, so committed to their fellow soldiers. It is unbelievable that they could have been put in such a dangerous situation, a situation that the men recognized as unrealistic, yet the top dogs generally did not listen or did little to assist them.
The Secret Knowledge: On the Dismantling of American Culture by David Mamet. Tells his journey from liberal to conservative. Definitely worth reading, whether or not you agree with his observations.
Global Brain: The Evolution of Mass Mind from the Big Bang to the 21st Century by Howard Bloom. Getting through the first one-third of the book was a bit of a slog, but the last two-thirds was much easier to read. The hardback was published in 2000, so his "predictions" about the future were thought-provoking.
I am now about halfway through Damn Few: Making the Modern SEAL Warrior by Rorke Denver. I haven't had much interest in reading the rash of books about SEAL missions, but this one I wanted to read -- it's about the training. Easy to read, entertaining, mind-boggling at what it takes to get through the training. Tough men? Yep. No wonder there are Damn Few.
Then last night, I'm watching Thursday's Parks and Recreation, and some of the characters have to go to a law firm. The name of that firm? "Gately, Wayne, Kittenplan, & Troelsch". I think one of the writers on the show is also a fan of Infinite Jest.
Craig