Read any good books lately?

[Drunk Monkey]

Originally Posted by HooptyHoops

Out of the 13, what books(s) where your favorite?

Probably Towers of Midnight. After toughing it out through a brutal stretch of bla bla bla for several thousand pages it was nice to see the story start to wrap up. Jordan started some quality story lines that have been treading water up for several books. It's about time they get into the action.

[mosca]

Originally Posted by steeledude

Have you read "the Terror" by Dan Simmons? It is way different from Hyperion, it is historical fiction mixed with an abominable snowman, but nonetheless, it is one of the best books I've read in a long time. It's huge too. Like 800 pages. I couldn't put it down. Takes place in the arctic (back when it was still cold and frozen), and I remember feeling cold the entire time I read it. I highly recommend it.

P.S. didn't realize I was responding to you from 8 years in the past! I was wondering why you were just reading Song of Susanah! Wolves of the Calla was pretty bad, and I quit there back in 2004.

Haha, no prob, 8 years ago is nothing when there are so many good books out. Yes, I've read 'The Terror' and it's actually the last new Simmons book I have read. Flashback is on my list to read, but alas my amount of reading has dropped lately. Anyways, 'The Terror' was awesome, I definitely felt that cold feeling you mention. Heck, that book actually put me into a somewhat grey, semi-depressed slothy state for about two weeks near the middle of the book. And I really loved the turn at the end with the Native American spiritual spin. Hope they make a movie sometime.

Speaking of Dark Tower, anyone notice that there's a new Dark Tower novel out by King? Forgot the name, but I'm tempted to read it... looks to be a flashback type story in the vein of 'Wizard and Glass' which I really loved.

[mosca]

Originally Posted by Jay3

Whoa, not only another Simmons fan, but a fan of The Terror. That's one of my favorites. He's been pretty hit or miss for years, but that one was hard to put down.

I agree... I absolutely love the Hyperion Cantos, and Ilium started off great, but by the time it ended I was pretty sure I had no desire whatsoever to read Olympos. Sad thing is that I bought Olympos... heh.

I've been thinking of picking of Carrion Comfort for a while, is it worth the read? I've never really been into horror but I love sci-fi.

Speaking of sci-fi - a great Hugo award winner I read last year was Robert Charles Wilson's 'SPIN'... Awesome concept for sci-fi and it really felt like something that could actually happen. There's a couple sequels out - 'Axis' and something else, which I haven't read, but the first book was definitely worth it.

[alkemical]

Wow, i read the first hyperion....but it was so long ago!

Originally Posted by mosca

I've been thinking of picking of Carrion Comfort for a while, is it worth the read? I've never really been into horror but I love sci-fi.

Yes, it's one of his best books, in my "top three" for him.

However, it was probably 20+ years ago since I read it, so maybe my discriminating taste has changed. But it was extremely well done -- horror that was actually scary.

[mosca]

Originally Posted by alkemical

Wow, i read the first hyperion....but it was so long ago!

I think the first book gets the most acclaim... but IMO the last two are by far the best of the Cantos. The tale of Raul Endymion and Aenea will stay with me forever...

[alkemical]

Originally Posted by mosca

I think the first book gets the most acclaim... but IMO the last two are by far the best of the Cantos. The tale of Raul Endymion and Aenea will stay with me forever...

I will have to re-read & get up to speed.

Originally Posted by mosca

I agree... I absolutely love the Hyperion Cantos, and Ilium started off great, but by the time it ended I was pretty sure I had no desire whatsoever to read Olympos. Sad thing is that I bought Olympos... heh.

You called it right -- I loved Ilium (all of it), but the Olympos was a hot mess and kind of ruined the "series" for me. I know longer have fond memories of Ilium because of what Olympos did to it. (Still a great idea, though).

I call this "The Matrix Syndrome."

[No1BroncoFan]

Originally Posted by HooptyHoops

Yes, after reading Elantris, I jumped right into Mistborn....it was good, but Elantris was better.

Agreed.

Originally Posted by HooptyHoops

What would you recommend from here?

The Halfblood Chronicles by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey (fantasy).

Anything by C.J. Cherryh, but especially the "Fortress" series (fantasy), the "Faded Sun" trilogy (sci fi) and the "Foreigner" series (sci fi).

The "Idlewild" series (post-apocalyptic sci-fi) from Nick Sagan, son of eminent cosmologist and author of "Contact," Carl Sagan.

"The Hunger Games" trilogy (distopian future sci-fi) by Suzanne Collins.

"The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocolypse" (think "Hitchikers Guide" but with fairy tale creatures ) by Robert Rankin.

The "Alcatraz" books (fantasy) by Brandon Sanderson are a lot of fun even if they are aimed at a juvenile crowd.

Also can't forget the "Artemis Fowl" books by Eoin Colfer.

Those are just some of the places you can go.

Ben

[alkemical]

I finished the "Walking Dead" compendium last week. I enjoyed it.

[Drunk Monkey]

Originally Posted by Taco John

Cool. I've been looking for a new sci fi book.

Just finished, not his best work. If you are going to read something by Reynolds I would recomend Chasm City

[HooptyHoops]

Originally Posted by No1BroncoFan

Agreed.



The Halfblood Chronicles by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey (fantasy).

Anything by C.J. Cherryh, but especially the "Fortress" series (fantasy), the "Faded Sun" trilogy (sci fi) and the "Foreigner" series (sci fi).

The "Idlewild" series (post-apocalyptic sci-fi) from Nick Sagan, son of eminent cosmologist and author of "Contact," Carl Sagan.

"The Hunger Games" trilogy (distopian future sci-fi) by Suzanne Collins.

"The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocolypse" (think "Hitchikers Guide" but with fairy tale creatures ) by Robert Rankin.

The "Alcatraz" books (fantasy) by Brandon Sanderson are a lot of fun even if they are aimed at a juvenile crowd.

Also can't forget the "Artemis Fowl" books by Eoin Colfer.

Those are just some of the places you can go.

Ben

Thanks for the recommends, as I had an awesome run on books(The Shack, then Elantris, then the Mistborn series), but then went to Peter Watts and the Starfish series.....yep, I stopped reading midway through the 2nd book!

[BroncoMan4ever]

Originally Posted by No1BroncoFan

Agreed.



The Halfblood Chronicles by Andre Norton and Mercedes Lackey (fantasy).

Anything by C.J. Cherryh, but especially the "Fortress" series (fantasy), the "Faded Sun" trilogy (sci fi) and the "Foreigner" series (sci fi).

The "Idlewild" series (post-apocalyptic sci-fi) from Nick Sagan, son of eminent cosmologist and author of "Contact," Carl Sagan.

"The Hunger Games" trilogy (distopian future sci-fi) by Suzanne Collins.

"The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocolypse" (think "Hitchikers Guide" but with fairy tale creatures ) by Robert Rankin.

The "Alcatraz" books (fantasy) by Brandon Sanderson are a lot of fun even if they are aimed at a juvenile crowd.

Also can't forget the "Artemis Fowl" books by Eoin Colfer.

Those are just some of the places you can go.

Ben

i liked most of those, but found The Hunger Games trilogy to be extremely overrated.

the books are put together in a way that they feel rushed, as if they were missing several chapters, especially the 2nd and 3rd books. also, Katniss is one of if not the least likeable lead characters i have ever followed in any book.

the books were decent, but on a scale of 1-10 i give the series a 5.

[Taco John]

I'm on my second read through the Song of Ice and Fire books and am enjoying it just as much on the second read-through as I did on the first. It's amazing the little details you pick up the second time through.

[Broncomutt]

Originally Posted by Taco John

I'm on my second read through the Song of Ice and Fire books and am enjoying it just as much on the second read-through as I did on the first. It's amazing the little details you pick up the second time through.

5000 pages is alot to read twice.

Have you tried Martin's The Hedge Knight trilogy? Set about 80-90 years before GoT. Not as good as any of the ASOIAF books IMHO, but an interesting look at Westeros under Targaryen rule and just as violent. Combined I think it's about 400-500 pages.

[No1BroncoFan]

Originally Posted by HooptyHoops

Thanks for the recommends, as I had an awesome run on books(The Shack, then Elantris, then the Mistborn series), but then went to Peter Watts and the Starfish series.....yep, I stopped reading midway through the 2nd book!

Really? I've enjoyed everything I've read from Peter Watts (including "Starfish" books). To each his own.

[HooptyHoops]

Originally Posted by No1BroncoFan

Really? I've enjoyed everything I've read from Peter Watts (including "Starfish" books). To each his own.

It just didn't grab me...moved too slow....kinda like a game of baseball to me.

I agree, we all like and have different tastes, but I would much rather read something somebody really liked as a starting point.

[SouthStndJunkie]

I read "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemmingway the other day.

It was a book I'd been meaning to read for a while.

I enjoyed it.

I read the Name of the Wind, and the Wise Mans Fear.. They are the first 2 books of a trilogy and the third book hasn't released yet, I thought they were awesome.

[SouthStndJunkie]

Has anyone read the Pendergast Series of books by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child?

I think there are 11 of them out right now, with a 12th on the way.

I've enjoyed them all, for the most part.

Agent Pendergast is one cool and interesting character.

Both authors have also written some pretty good solo novels.

I really liked Douglas Preston's books 'Tyrannosaur Canyon', 'The Codex', and 'Blasphemy'.

[Baba Booey]

Talk about awesome

[gyldenlove]

Originally Posted by SouthStndJunkie

I read "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemmingway the other day.

It was a book I'd been meaning to read for a while.

I enjoyed it.

I liked that book as well.

War and Peace is a must read, so well written.

[No1BroncoFan]

Originally Posted by HooptyHoops

It just didn't grab me...moved too slow....kinda like a game of baseball to me.

I agree, we all like and have different tastes, but I would much rather read something somebody really liked as a starting point.

Try the "Idlewild" books by Nick Sagan. I've read them four times in the last three years (just finished the fourth time today). This series is at or near the top of all sci-fi written in the last 30 years.

[steeledude]

Originally Posted by Taco John

I'm on my second read through the Song of Ice and Fire books and am enjoying it just as much on the second read-through as I did on the first. It's amazing the little details you pick up the second time through.

Some of my favorite books of all time, except for Dance. I just hated Dance so much, I can't say why. Too much hype in my brain? I must've had a Martin-Hype-Overload or something.

It's friggin' nuts seeing guys like Conan O'brien say words like "Winterfell" and the "Iron Throne."

[steeledude]

Originally Posted by SouthStndJunkie

I read "The Old Man and the Sea" by Ernest Hemmingway the other day.

It was a book I'd been meaning to read for a while.

I enjoyed it.

I have For Whom the Bell Tolls on my bookshelf ready to read, and I just finished the short story the short happy life of francis macomber. Jeez, I think he had periods of his life where he hated women! Great story.