Book thread

[stray]

Dickens writes in an era that few Americans can understand due to the ideas that we created of a country without classes. Some of the aspects of that period of British history simply don't translate well into our minds. That is why I find many of the characters frustrating because they are bound by forces that we simply rejected in our culture.

He is also very slow in his prose, although extremely eloquent. Compare him to the style of Alexander Dumas. I can read 1200 pages of Dumas and be flipping away happily. If you made me read 1200 pages of Dickens I'd want to die.

My favorite writer is probably Dostoevsky. Yet, 19th century Russia is more foreign than 19th century England in every way.

It's not that I find Dickens' stories and characters to be foreign and remote -- it's that I simply find them to be (as someone else already stated) unlikeable. I think I'm able comprehend him as well one could (And just to mention: I'm a student of acting. Trying to understand cultures and people other than myself is part of what I do...Not to say I'm entirely successful in accomplishing that, but I do make the effort).

Also worth mentioning: I don't like Tolstoy for similar reasons. He was a comtemporary of Dostoevsky. Same culture, same language, but an entirely different choice in subject matter. One which does not appeal to me.

[HaemishM]

I can read Russian lit like Tolstoy and love it. Try to make me read Dickens and I'll give you a rendition of "Ode to the Nutshot." Ain't happening. I'd rather have sweaty mansex with half the posters on this board, and I do not like the cock. I LOATHE Dickens. I read Henry James recently with little problems, other than the desire to slap the shit out of all the main characters for being such idiotic tools. A Christmas Carol is mildly entertaining. Anything longer gets me stabby. I feel like the man abuses the English language with the sin of gluttony. He feeds the dictionary fetish until it is engorged, slothful and easy prey, then he feeds it some more. I don't think it has anything to do with class roles; I read Balzac, Zola and Flaubert for enjoyment, and they deal with many of the same class issues. Dickens is just a torturous read.

When I'd rather read Henry James than an author, SOMETHING IS WRONG.

On the other hand, at least Dickens isn't a pedophiliac hack like Piers Anthony.

[Sky]

Almost forgot the other book I'm reading right now, one of the best books I've ever read: On Food and Cooking, the Science and Lore of the Kitchen. Simply an amazing book, and an essential read for anyone who enjoys cooking or is interested in knowing more about what they eat.

[Ardent]

I'd rather have sweaty mansex with half the posters on this board, and I do not like the cock.

Okay, everyone, admit it. You're wondering which half category you fall into.

[Paelos]

I'd rather have sweaty mansex with half the posters on this board, and I do not like the cock.

Okay, everyone, admit it. You're wondering which half category you fall into.

I know which half you fall into...now.

[Margalis]

I have to say that the Hyperion sequels did get progressively worse, kind of turning into a data dump at the end. Has anyone read anything else by Simmons? Like Song of Kali? I also remember he put out a book of horror short stories but I'm having trouble figuring out what it was called.

I said in another thread that Cordwainer Smith is great, I'll repeat that here. Some wacky, cool stuff.

Also, I really most of the stuff written by Robert E. Howard of Conan fame. Conan and Solomon Kane in particular. BUT NEVER EVER read a Conan knock-off story!

[Ardent]

Has anyone read anything else by Simmons?

Pretty much everything he's written. If you like horror, you must read Carrion Comfort. His newest, Ilium, is quite good as well, as mentioned upthread, but if you've read all of Hyperion/Endymion, you'll be wise to his tricks. And, the story doesn't end, there is a sequel that he's still writing, so that's a bit frustrating. I just keep reading him because his imagination is fucking enviable in the extreme.

[Paelos]

I picked up Black Company because of this thread. If it sucks I will be most displeased. So far the first 25 pages is interesting, though.

[MaceVanHoffen]

Has anyone read anything else by Simmons?

Pretty much everything he's written. If you like horror, you must read Carrion Comfort. His newest, Ilium, is quite good as well, as mentioned upthread, but if you've read all of Hyperion/Endymion, you'll be wise to his tricks. And, the story doesn't end, there is a sequel that he's still writing, so that's a bit frustrating. I just keep reading him because his imagination is fucking enviable in the extreme.

I've read everything I can get my hands on by Simmons.  Hyperion is my favorite thing he's done, and the sequels are fairly good.  Carrion Comfort and Song of Kali are both very good as well.

Simmons is also one of the best short fiction writers I know.  Prayers to Broken Stones is an anthology of his short stories.  One or two of them still make me afraid of the dark.

Any recommendation of Simmons's work need to contain this disclaimer though:  Simmons definitely writes science horror, not pure science fiction.  Think Lovecraft with a phaser rifle.  That's not for everyone.  Just be prepared for some unusual blendings of fiction styles.

[Ardent]

Also, if you like horror, you should be ashamed if you haven't already read Swan Song by Robert R. McCammon. There are few things as good to me as a big fat fucking brick of a scary book that gives you nightmares for weeks. McCammon has written some other good horror novels, such as Mine and Stinger, but Swan Song is easily his apocalypic, blow-the-shit-out-of-the-Earth-with-nuclear-weapons masterpiece.

I don't know why, but McCammon disappeared for over a decade. He's back with his newest, Speaks the Nightbird, which is not horror, but is quite good.

[blackotter]

I have to say that the Hyperion sequels did get progressively worse, kind of turning into a data dump at the end. Has anyone read anything else by Simmons? Like Song of Kali? I also remember he put out a book of horror short stories but I'm having trouble figuring out what it was called.

He also put out a short story collection called Lovedeath, which had some horror stories in it.

I loved the Hyperion books, will have to look up his new one.

McCammon is great as well.  One of my favorites by him is his collection of short stories, Blue World. One of the short stories reminds me of the Watchmen, with an old serial moviestar putting on his old superhero costume to track down a serial killer. Usher's Passing is good too, creepy and reminded me of Lovecraft.

If you can find it, look for a short story anthology called Midnight Graffiti.  It has a short story by Gaiman that is still my favorite to this day, named "Murder Mysteries"  Great detective story featuring angels.  Also has works by J. Michael Straczynski and others.  Great book.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0446363073/qid=1109951811/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-6787323-4712821?v=glance&s=books&n=507846


Edit:  Browsing Amazon and just found a graphic novel of the same short story I mentioned above.  Wow.

[WayAbvPar]

So, the first of my 2 Barnes & Noble orders has arrived. All 3 books I ordered were on the packing slip, and the order included 3 books. 2 were correct. The 3rd, however, was a bit wide of the mark. I ordered this:





Instead, I got this-




Are they trying to tell me something??

[Paelos]

Now THAT is pricless.








Um, can I borrow it when you're done?

[stray]

Now THAT is pricless.

Moment of genius? Or accidental genius?

Good answer either way.

[HaemishM]

Hope that new book helps! 

That's akin to getting emails that say "Increase your manhood 25%!" and thinking, WAIT, THEY DON'T KNOW ME!

[Abagadro]

That is classic.

[Bunk]

Lots of good stuff in this thread. Simmons and McCammon are by far my two favorite horror authors. The new McCammon Nightbird books were a change of pace from his usual stuff, but really a good read. Kind of a historical/murder mystery/horror blend. Carrion Comfort is likely my favorite Simmons.

Currently reading Gibson's newest - Patern Recognition.

Spent most of the last month on an airplane on business, and when I fly I need books. Lots of em.  On a suggestion from someone here, I checked out Laurell K Hamilton's vampire novels. Honestly, they are total fluff, but addictive as hell. Picture murder mysteries set in the White Wolf world of Darkness, but without the Masquerade, and with exhorbent amounts of sex.

Going to pick up Ilium for my next trip, later in the week.

[Johny Cee]

Spent most of the last month on an airplane on business, and when I fly I need books. Lots of em.  On a suggestion from someone here, I checked out Laurell K Hamilton's vampire novels. Honestly, they are total fluff, but addictive as hell. Picture murder mysteries set in the White Wolf world of Darkness, but without the Masquerade, and with exhorbent amounts of sex.

Going to pick up Ilium for my next trip, later in the week.

Ugh....  Hamilton....   The books start off with a decent premise,  but it turns into alot of macho-female wish fullfillment.  All of the interesting moral dilemmas have been thrown by the board (Blake's relation to the Church/religion, dealing with here feelings on her family and relationships/monogamy,  differences between monsterish behavior by humans/human behavior from monsters) in return for alot of multiple male sex and power inflation that's pretty nuts.  And the awful male stereotypes...

But the first few books are interesting.

Kelly Armstrong deals with similar issues in the modern world with alot more meat and less...  whatever it is Hamilton has.

Tax season....   I pretty much go through 4 or 5 books a week,  so I end up reading alot of junk I don't particularly like....

I'll pump "The Prince of Nothing" series though.  It's Dune, set in a fantasy world with the equivalent of the First Crusade going on.  And of course,  nameless evil is coming but everyone is too busy slaughtering each other to pay attention.  Great stuff, very smart.  I think the author just got his Phd in philosophy,  and it shows.

"Better" mindless reading are most of Gemmel's books.  Geat mindless reading,  entertaining.  Not high literature.

Anne Bishop's "Dark Jewels" trilogy is decent.  Dark fantasy,  more modern setting.  Alot of strong male and female characters,  but less of the female-as-male bizarre wish fullfillment.

For the record:  the male version of it really turned me off to Jordan's Wheel of Time.  When Rand'al-whatever-the-fuck-his-name-is started screwing around with more than two women it pretty much killed any decent basis for developing the characters/relationships.

[Bunk]

I agree fully that Hamilton went a little off the deep end in the last few books, but they still work for me on a fluff reading level - which is exactly what I'm looking for when I'm reading on a plane. Reading something like Gibson like I am right now takes too much concentration to do when Im flying.

I like a certain mix of adult content in my fantasy occasionally, but Hamilton has reached the point of devoting entire chapters to one act of sex. Oh well, its still entertaining :)

If anyone wants to recomend any writers in the fantasy/sci-fi genre that delve in to some more mature themes than the standard fare, I'd love to hear it.

And before it happens, no one needs to bring up Gor...