What books do you recommend ?

GROGtheNailer · Post by **GROGtheNailer** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:06 pm

Lately i've been reading a lot of Authur C. Clarke books, the Rama series is awesome.

The best author i've read in the past while is George R. R. Martin's fantasy series ( A Song of Ice and Fire). If you like fantasy, this series is about as good as you can get with some seriously great writing skills with an edge to it. There are three out currently with the latest to be released very soon.

I read anything and everything so lay down some opinions on what is great. I'm picky when it comes to what i'll get into though, I don't like the same old re-hashed stuff though, any recommendations?

No Stephen King books though, I've read them all and own them all

GROGtheNailer · Post by **GROGtheNailer** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:07 pm

Oh yeah, a great book I just finished:

Crypto-Nomicon by Neal Stephenson

dbdynsty25 · Post by **dbdynsty25** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:16 pm

What the f&ck are books?

Slumberland · Post by **Slumberland** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:20 pm

If you haven't already read them... Joe Haldeman's The Forever War, and Frederick Pohl's Gateway series. All good.

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:39 pm

dbdynsty25 wrote:What the f&ck are books?

They are what gay people read so they have something to discuss at tea parties.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:40 pm

Lookin for some sci-fi, huh?

David Brin is an author I've been reading a lot of lately. His Uplift series is excellent. The 2nd trilogy of it is superb. Also, he wrote the novel The Postman that Costner made into a movie (my favorite bad movie, in fact), and it is entirely different than the movie, so don't be turned off! Certain basic elements are the same, but the overall thematic thrust of the book is long gone in the movie, nowhere to be found. He also recently wrote a really good page turner called Kiln People, that is sort of a sci-fi mystery book. That one shows he is becoming a better and better writer. Great sense of humor in that one.

Also, I am reading Steven Pressfield's Tides of War right now. His first book, Gates of Fire, is unbelievably good. It's about the Spartans at the battle of Thermopolae, and is simply one of the most engrossing narratives I've ever read. Great stuff, highly recommended. This new one is not quite as much of a page turner, but that Gates of Fire is a must-read.

And of course you've read Dune, right?

Parker · Post by **Parker** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:47 pm

I don't generally like bestsellers or books you can label as a particular genre. Most British postmodern fiction I like, but since it's hard to know what the latest books over there are, I usually go by what Radiohead mentions they are reading at their concerts...a sad way to find books but true in my case.

Try anything by Peter Ackroyd. He's a literally genious.

BBReBozo · Post by **BBReBozo** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 8:06 pm

Damn Grog, you just mentioned two books I'm reading right now:

Cryptonomicon and Storm of Swords (#3 in GRRM's series). Awesome books. Crypto is surprisingly funny and light-hearted, despite its bulk and the math never gets in the way of the fun. Of course, I've heard the book tapers off at the end, but I'm only 330 pages in, so I have a LONG way to go.

SoS, on the other hand, gets better with every chapter I read.

I'm also reading Stephen King's "The Drawing of the Three" (#2 in Dark Tower series) and Bill Bryson's "A Walk in the Woods" -- just to mix in some non-fiction with my fantasy...

BBReBozo · Post by **BBReBozo** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 8:09 pm

BTW, Grog have you thought of trying Stephenson's new "Baroque Cycle" series of books? The new title (second in the series), "Confusion" just came out last week I think, and the third and final is due later this year. Heard good things about them, in a similar vein to Crypto...

mobiggins · Post by **mobiggins** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 8:11 pm

The only book you'll ever need to read is The Brothers Karamazov, by Dostoevsky. It is an amazing piece of work. Just like the modern novel isn't what it is without Don Quixote, a HUGE chunk of twentieth century literature is basically a response to the Brothers K. in one way or the other.
I can't believe it came out of one man's head.

Granatofan · Post by **Granatofan** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 9:08 pm

This is going to look like a shameless pimp, but my intentions are good.

My wife and I have a second business selling used books. We started it at the beginning of the year to facilitate our hobby of collecting certain authors/titles. We don't even bother with the mass or hyper market fiction (i.e. Grisham) so don't bother to ask about that. We have about 1200 titles in stock now and growing every month so if there is something specific you are looking for drop me a PM or email (ted@calvertgames.com). Of course you'll get a good DSP brother discount.

We are real light on Sci Fi/Fantasy currently. We have a great deal of mystery and military. We also currently have a good mix general fiction and some political non-fiction.

We have a lot of paperbacks and a lot of first edition/first printings of titles going back up to 80 years.

Also, if there is something you want and we don't have it then we'll put it on the list to keep an eye out for. You would be surprised at some of the stuff that has passed through our hands in the last 4 months.

Sorry for the pimp.

mixdj1 · Post by **mixdj1** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:04 pm

My all time favorite series is the Necroscope series by Brian Lumley. Awesome vampire novels (if you're into that kind of thing) with a real bite.

None of that romantic mushy vampire stuff put out by other authors.

As far as sci-fi goes, back in the day I loved the Mission Earth series by L. Ron Hubbard. Read all ten novels between my junior and senior year of high school. It was some funny s*** back when I was in high school (don't know if it would hold up if I tried to re-read it today).

mixdj1

WillHunting · Post by **WillHunting** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:35 pm

LOL, I was about to recommend GRRM's Song of Fire and Ice... Well, after that, I would give Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series a shot.

The first 5 to 7 books are really good, the last 3 are kinda boring. I still enjoyed it but nothing much happens (and I am talking about almost 3000 pages). I recently bought the prequel New Spring, it is good, but not something you can really enjoy unless you read through at least the first few books of the series.

I am reading Modesitt's Recluce saga. The first book is decent, better than I thought and the magic system is intriguing. Oh, if you like sci-fi, try Bujold's Vorkosigan's series, I enjoyed it alot. The world is not super complex, it is more of a growing up of a brillant (but flawed) teenager. There are a ton of books too if you enjoy the first one.

I tried Sword of Truth series, it sucks. I also tried Terry Brooks' books, again, they tried so hard to be like Tolkien. I just couldn't get into it. Oh, I just remember another awesome fantasy book, it is Tigana. It is awesome and quick read.

cootdog · Post by **cootdog** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 10:52 pm

I'd recommend the book that I just finished reading: Angels, by Denis Johnson. Quite a searing experience, along the lines of Hubert Selby, but quite not as blunt. Especially considering that it's the author's first book, it's pretty great; I like it better than most of his later novels. Other good ones by the author include Jesus' Son (his most famous one, made into a movie starring Billy Crudup) and Already Dead (a self-described "California Gothic," complete with shade-grown weed and new-age witches).

If you want funny, the funniest book I've read remains At Swim-Two-Birds, by Flann O'Brien. A Confederacy of Dunces has nothing on this one.

Sci-fi/fantasy, I remember liking Philip K. Dick's Through A Scanner Darkly, but it's been a long time.

I second the recommendation of The Brothers Karamazov, but with less enthusiasm. All told, I think I prefer Crime and Punishment more.

GROGtheNailer · Post by **GROGtheNailer** » Mon Apr 19, 2004 11:43 pm

They are what gay people read so they have something to discuss at tea parties.

That's what IQ challenged always say when they don't understand, and then afterward they hawk a loogie on the floor and scratch their ass.

Not just looking for science fiction either but it's interesting to see some of your suggestions and I will definitely be reading those mentioned at some point.

David Brin is an author I've been reading a lot of lately. His Uplift series is excellent. The 2nd trilogy of it is superb. Also, he wrote the novel The Postman that Costner made into a movie (my favorite bad movie, in fact), and it is entirely different than the movie, so don't be turned off!

Sounds interesting, I will check it out. I really dug the bad guy in that movie (forrget his name though)

BBReBozo....what a coincidence eh? Sounds like we have some of the same tastes. Have any of you guys read Stephen Hunter? Hard edged books. A couple you need to read are :

Black Light and Point of Impact (read this one first)

Going to have to check out "Baroque Cycle" series of books.

The only book you'll ever need to read is The Brothers Karamazov, by Dostoevsky

I have never read any, what is this about or rather what makes it stand out?

My all time favorite series is the Necroscope series by Brian Lumley. Awesome vampire novels

This was a great series, read these about 8 years ago or so and they were great. Man, hadnt thought about those books in awhile.

If looking for new fantasy, you have to get George R. R. Martin's fantasy series ( A Song of Ice and Fire).

Hard edged writing...go with Stephen Hunter. Ok, best book you have ever read??

Mine...I've read too many too count but my favorite of all time has to be:

The Stand by Stephen King

Started seriously reading at age 12 with Louis LaMour (SP?)

mobiggins · Post by **mobiggins** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 1:31 am

The Brothers Karamazov is just a book you need to read to appreciate. It's so layered, complex, and deeply personal. Dostoevsky had a tough life, and each of the three brothers in the book is based on the author at some point in his life. He treats each brother with respect as a character, even though two of the three he's "left behind," so to speak, as they are no longer who he was when he wrote it. Dimitri is a sensualist, Ivan an intellectual, and Alyosha a deeply religious mystic. Dostoevsky embraced Russian Orthodoxy later in life after boozing, womanizing, gambling away his money, wandering around Europe in intellectual circles, and then having a death sentence reversed literally when the gun was to his head. It's a book of ideas, mostly, but it's also a really good read that stays with you for a long time afterward. Crime and Punishment was good, but it was, like all of Dostoevsky's other work, just a piece of the puzzle that all came together so beautifully in Karamazov, his final work. Hope that helps.

Airdog · Post by **Airdog** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 3:16 am

I've been reading too much 'classic' English lit stuff to recommend anything you'd be even remotely interested in. <sigh>

'Journal of a Plague Year' by Daniel Defoe is actually pretty decent and readable, and fairly interesting.

Post by **Jared** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 4:28 am

Mo,

I've only read Crime and Punishment. It's one of my favorite novels of all-time though. I never made the time to read The Brothers Karamazov. I might have to make a summer reading list, and put it on there.

Garcia Marquez is an excellent author. One Hundred Years of Solitude is great...definitely not science fiction, but terribly engrossing.

kevinpars · Post by **kevinpars** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 8:53 am

Living in Atlanta with no children (and with my wife out of town for a project) I have had nothing to do but work, game and read. I do a lot of listening to books on tape/CD as well. I have gone through a lot of books lately.

As for mysteries, I really enjoyed Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch books as well as his other stand alone mysteries. Very LA noir and well written.

If you like British mysteries, Ruth Rendell is a good one. I have read about all of the Inspector Wexford mysteries.

If you like a mix of science/Sci Fi/horror, then read anything by Doug Preston and Lincold Child (website: http://www.prestonchild.com/default.htm) They wrote the book that was made into the movie 'The Relic.' Their latest book together 'Still Life with Crows' is very good. As you can see from their website, they have a cult following.

I also recently read through all of Dennis Lehane's mysteries (Mystic River). His series of books (Patrick Kenzie & Angela Gennaro, private eyes in Dorchester, Massachusetts) are very well written with a lot of humor but also very violent. I like his Boston more than Spencer's Boston.

I also read another Boston mystery by William Tappley (website: http://www.williamgtapply.com/) The author is the son of the late Field and Stream writer (Remember Tap's Tips??). His detective is a lawyer who would rather be fly fishing.

As for other writers, I enjoy Peter Carey, I go back and forth on John Le Carre, but some of his stuff is great (but not easy reading).

I thought that Carolyn Parkhurst's 'The Dogs of Babylon' was as good a book as 'Lovely Bones' in dealing with the theme of the death of a loved one. It is a story about a man who's wife dies under somewhat unusual circumstances and the only witness is the dog. The man is a linguist and decides that he will teach the dog to communicate and therefore be able to tell him what happened to his wife. Sounds a bit absurd, but Parkhurst does a great job with it.

If you like Biography and reading about the artic, try Jennifer Niven. 'The Ice Master' reads like a novel. She also may be the hottest looking biographer you will ever read. (website: http://www.jenniferniven.com/)

I could on on and on - with books on tape and an Atlanta commute and plenty of reading time, I go through 4 books a week.

Brando70 · Post by **Brando70** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 12:36 pm

If you're looking for good collections of very original short stories, I'd recommend George Saunders "Pastoralia" and Kevin Brockmeier's "Things That Fall From the Sky."

Saunders is a brilliant, Vonnegut-style satirist, and his title story from "Pastoralia" is a hilarious account of two people working a cave-man exhibit in a living museum of natural history.

Brockemeier's book has a really original story called "Half of Rumplestilskin," describing the life of one-half of Rumplestilskin after he is torn in half at the end of the fairy tale.

I'm reading Catch-22 right now, which is very good but I'm also finding it's taking me forever to finish.

Zeppo · Post by **Zeppo** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 12:47 pm

I cannot recommend highly enough anything by Philip K. Dick. He is weird, and some people just don't like his stuff, but I happen to think it's brilliant.

Aslo I loved Eden by Stanislaw Lem (a great Polish sci-fi writer, the author of Solaris).

And I cannot recommend highly enough any novel by Graham Greene. I've read a number of his novels over the years, many 2 and 3 times, and they have all been superb, every single one. The first I read was A Burnt Out Case, in high school, but then there is also The End of The Affair, The Quiet American, The Power and the Glory, Our Man in Havanna, The Human Factor, on and on.

And if you've never seen it, give The Third Man a rent. It's a truly great film (Joseph Cotton and Orson Welles are both superb), story and screenplay by Graham Greene, and directed by Carrol Reed (the two collaborated on one other film, can't remember the name, but it's not nearly as much of a classic).

fossen · Post by **fossen** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 12:49 pm

Don't post here often these days, but can't resist one of the few topics that'll easily get me going more that sports and gaming.

It's a habit I fell out of quickly, but I used to try to get my thoughts up on Amazon's Reviews: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/cm ... 16-6568833

Some scattershot stuff:

I loved Cryptonomicon - absolutely played to my deep interests in cryptography, especially ENIGMA. I think he falls apart at the end (as in Snow Crach, Diamond Age, etc.). But still one of my favorite books of all time.

The Baroque Cycle - I read most of Quicksilver, then it got put away in my cross-country move. I need to re-read it. The first section of the book - essentially a novel of the Enlightenment - is brilliant. Completely compelling look at the minds that created science as we know it. I felt he lost his way with the other plot - it didn't hold my interest. I need to finish it, and see how it all pans out.

I highly recommend House Of Leaves. I'm not a horror reader, but this book really did it to me. Intellectual, funny, mind-bending, and emotional. It is consumed with postmodern conceits, but in the end tells a powerful story about the distance between people who love each other. (Full disclosure - I am in the minority in my passion for this book. Many like it, but not many people were flattened by it, as I was.)

To get off the sci-fi/horror tip: A Heartbreaking Work Of Staggering Genius by David Eggers is a great book. A true story, it takes Oprah material (after Dave's parents both die in a short timeframe, he has to raise his 8-year old brother) ... and then spins it though a postmodern haze. Really funny - and the cat can write like nobody's business.

I could go on and on, but I'll end with some authors to look out for: William T. Vollmann, Don DeLillo, John LeCarre, David Foster Wallace.

slimer · Post by **slimer** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 12:51 pm

I am a big Neal Stephenson fan, I have read everything by him including the two books co-authored by him as Steven Bury. I have read Quicksilver and am just starting The Confusion. I would say the Baroque Cycle compares very favorably to his Crypto novel, it even shares some of the same characters.

My favorite current author is Gene Wolfe. He just started a new series called The Wizard Knight, the first book, The Knight, was incredible. He also wrote a number of series, The Book of the New Sun, Long Sun, and Short Sun. The series are some of the best books that I have ever read. The best of the bunch are the Shadow of the Torturer and the Nightside the Long Sun. Although you can't go wrong with anything he writes.

Lately, I have been gobbling up anything by the Japanes author, Haruki Murakami. The best of his are Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

Finally, the book I just finished is Middlesex by Jeffrey Euginides, a suprisingly good read about a hermaphrodite growing up in Detroit.

JackB1 · Post by **JackB1** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 1:35 pm

damn Grog......you must have a lot of free time on your hands. I can barely get to open the games I have, let alone read books.

p.s. one summer when I was unemployed I read a ton....my favorite author is Dean Koontz.

BBReBozo · Post by **BBReBozo** » Tue Apr 20, 2004 1:52 pm

slimer wrote:
My favorite current author is Gene Wolfe. He just started a new series called The Wizard Knight, the first book, The Knight, was incredible. He also wrote a number of series, The Book of the New Sun, Long Sun, and Short Sun. The series are some of the best books that I have ever read. The best of the bunch are the Shadow of the Torturer and the Nightside the Long Sun. Although you can't go wrong with anything he writes.

I tried my damndest to get through "Shadow of the Torturer" but found the language to vague and flowery for my tastes. In fact, I was confused nearly from the outset of the story. A shame, really, because I've never heard a bad thing about this book. I just need to give it another shot, I guess.

Lately, I have been gobbling up anything by the Japanes author, Haruki Murakami. The best of his are Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.

Read Wind-Up Bird on my honeymoon and it was immensely readable, until you close the book and realize, "I just read a 450-page novel about a guy sitting around, most of the time in a well." Still, his ability to create mood is incredible.[/quote]