Book chat!

[WayAbvPar]

On the advice of several posters in the past book threads, I finally ordered a couple of Neal Stephenson books from Amazon (Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon), and am eagerly awaiting their arrival (also ordered a Red Dwarf novel which sounds interesting). Are these THE Stephenson books to start with?

I am currently reading "Into The Wild", by Jon Krakauer. It is a true story about a 20-something kid who decides to go live off the land in Alaska, with tragic results. Interesting, but not as gripping as Krakauer's better known book "Into Thin Air" (which is just outstanding).

Also read a couple of poker books recently- A. Alvarez's 'Biggest Game in Town', and Tony Holden's 'Big Deal'. Both very well written, and interesting if you are into the poker 'scene'. Of the two, I would recommend "Big Deal", since there are more personal anecdotes.

[Snowspinner]

Yup, those are pretty much the two to go with.

[Alrindel]

I recommend reading Snowcrash first - it's a lighter and easier read (and thoroughly enjoyable).  Cryptonomicon is denser, and harder work.

[Rof]

I'd start with Snow Crash. It's arguably his best, and if you don't like that, you're not very likely to like any of his others.

Cryptonomicon (and Quicksilver) are... long. Good books, but more like ensemble pieces than tightly plotted stories.

[WayAbvPar]

I recommend reading Snowcrash first - it's a lighter and easier read (and thoroughly enjoyable).  Cryptonomicon is denser, and harder work.

That was my plan- I generally try to read new authors in chronological order if possible.

[Snowspinner]

Interestingly, though I started Snow Crash first, I finished Cryptonomicon first.

Something about Snow Crash lost my interest about ten chapters in the first time I tried it, and it wasn't until later that I was able to finish.

[Morfiend]

I recommend reading Snowcrash first - it's a lighter and easier read (and thoroughly enjoyable).  Cryptonomicon is denser, and harder work.

I third this. Snowcrash is a lot easer to read. But, Cryptonomicom does not resemble Snowcrash much, so dont get to thinking it is going to be any thing like a sequil.

I am reading Dan Brown (Da vinci Code) Digital Fortress, its not bad, but its kind of wierd how the afarage chapter is 1 and a half pages long. Im about 100 pages in, and on like chapter 35.

If you want fantasy, go with "A song of Ice and Fire" great stuff. Cant wait for the next book in April.

Seacrest Out

[Mr_PeaCH]

If you like "Into Thin Air" have you tried "A Perfect Storm" by Sebastian Junger yet?  In that same vein and riveting reading.  Don't be put off by the movie if you happened to see it; the book has a lot more to offer.

On Stephenson and Cryptonomicon.  This marked the first time that I ever got over on my dad by handing him a book and suggesting he read it and blowing him away with it.  I'm not sure how Stephenson escaped his radar because he is a lifelong science-fiction guy and got in on cyberpunk at the ground floor with guys like Rucker and Sterling and Gibson.  But anyways, that was the best book I read last year and one of the best in a long, long time for both me and my old man.

And to second the "A Song of Ice and Fire" fantasy series; easily the most rewarding fantasy series since LotR... 4th book due this year of a projected 6 or 7 now I think.

[Bstaz]

I don't remember anyone brining up Dan Simmons' Hyperion Series in the pervious chat .  It is hard Sci-Fi / Horror with a cult type twist. The horror grouping is for some graphic detail of bodily harm but I didn't find it that graphic. If anything it added to the readers relationship to the characters.  Four book series so it has some meat to it.

I also just finished his latest book Ilium, great setting for a story.  He brought back the greek gods in a far future setting.

Anyone else a Dan Simmons Fan?

[Rasix]

I am reading Dan Brown (Da vinci Code) Digital Fortress, its not bad, but its kind of wierd how the afarage chapter is 1 and a half pages long. Im about 100 pages in, and on like chapter 35.

I'm reading Brown's Angels and Demons. I'm just about finished with it.  He reads like the Clive Cussler of religion.  Big megacorporations and entities beyond human control do something nasty, a lone hero with a foxy chick solve the mystery, man has to save chick in unbelievable fashion. Can't comment on the end though, because I've still got about 60 pages to go.  However, he did pull a "bad guy slips away near the end while no one was looking" schtick which loses him a couple brownie points.

Some of the religious/scientific(very quasi, his research doesn't quite go as deep as say Crichton) stuff in the book is pretty interesting.  And dregging up the Illuminati is always good for quality fiction.  

Decent, fun read, on the level of Cussler.  I may actually have to read Da Vinci Code once it hits paperback.

[Rof]

very quasi, his research doesn't quite go as deep as say Crichton

Not that Crichton's research is particularly deep or accurate. (The dinosaurs must escape, because of Chaos!)

I skimmed through the 1st chapter of Digital Fortress in the supermarket, and already hit a few distinctly implausible bits. Didn't make me want to buy the thing, though I'll probably get The DaVinci Code eventually, to see what the fuss was about.

[schild]

very quasi, his research doesn't quite go as deep as say Crichton

Not that Crichton's research is particularly deep or accurate. (The dinosaurs must escape, because of Chaos!)

I skimmed through the 1st chapter of Digital Fortress in the supermarket, and already hit a few distinctly implausible bits. Didn't make me want to buy the thing, though I'll probably get The DaVinci Code eventually, to see what the fuss was about.

My big problem with Digital Fortress & the Davinci Code were that they were written for children. I can breeze through Brown's writing before I even know  what happened. I think that's why the bulk of America was able to comprehend it and kick up a fuss. Rednecks got it.

[Rasix]

My big problem with Digital Fortress & the Davinci Code were that they were written for children. I can breeze through Brown's writing before I even know  what happened. I think that's why the bulk of America was able to comprehend it and kick up a fuss. Rednecks got it.

Yep, that's why I likened it to Cussler. Written for any old village idiot.  

Quick, easy, and fun to read. Not much thinking involved.  It appeals to those types that liked reading Harry Potter. You don't have to think to hard and everything ends up making sense in the end.

I don't really have a preference between really profound, moving, intelligent, thoughtful books and your common dime store thriller.  As long as I'm entertained, that's all that matters.  And books like these seem to do that even if they end up somewhat intellectually disappointing in the end.

[WayAbvPar]

If you like "Into Thin Air" have you tried "A Perfect Storm" by Sebastian Junger yet?

I think I read them back to back a few years ago! As always, Junger's book is MUCH better than the movie (although the movie had Diane Lane as the girlfriend instead of the real life hideous crone, which was a plus).

I have read SoIaF, and recently added A Feast For Crows into my Amazon wish list (which is how I try to track what books and DVDs to buy next).

[Mr_PeaCH]

yada yada yada... Diane Lane ... yada yada yada

Its really all about Diane Lane with us, isn't it?  ;)

[Anger]

Oh noes!

I have The Da Vince Code here next to me in the bag it was just purchased in.  I was about to start in on it.  Unfortunate to read such reviews before I get to page one.  (Looks like only a day or two of reading in any case) Well...my wife is the one who picked it up for me, so I can blame her if I must.  Last book she got me was Neil Gaiman's "American Gods", which I considered "easy" reading, but enjoyed it nonetheless.

Cryptonomicon was indeed a great book.  I haven't read Snow Crash, and it seems I've stalled on Quicksilver.

[Soukyan]

Oh noes!

I have The Da Vince Code here next to me in the bag it was just purchased in.  I was about to start in on it.  Unfortunate to read such reviews before I get to page one.  (Looks like only a day or two of reading in any case) Well...my wife is the one who picked it up for me, so I can blame her if I must.  Last book she got me was Neil Gaiman's "American Gods", which I considered "easy" reading, but enjoyed it nonetheless.

Cryptonomicon was indeed a great book.  I haven't read Snow Crash, and it seems I've stalled on Quicksilver.

Simplistic writing or not, the Da Vinci Code has proven to be an enjoyable read. If you're a particularly quick reader, then enjoy it while at the beach one day. It's entertaining.

[LadyGuardian]

Snow Crash was a fun. I tend to stick to fantasy when I get a chance to read (finished off The Fionavar Tapestry a while back), but I definitely want to check out more of his books. Another great book that I picked up by accident was Paul Coelho's The Alchemist. Definitely something I'd pass around to anyone looking for an uplifting read.

[Romp]

I just finished Cryptonimicon and enjoyed it.  Its pretty long but thats a plus in my book, I normally finish a book in a couple of days then I have to find something else to read but it kept me going for about a week.

I read Snow Crash last year and actually had no idea they were by the same author til I read this thread :O

Both worth reading anyhow

[Eidolon]

Stephensons novels are by far a must for mind expansion.  Snowcrash is a very good book but you could just read the first 18 pages and stop there.  They are like a novellete in their own right, which I term the funniest 18 pages ever written by man.  I've lost 2 girlfriends in the past because they couldn't understand how I could laugh so hard I cried over just reading a book.

Cryptonomicon can definitely bring out the inner geek within you if Snowcrash doesn't manage to do so.  I would also recommend tracking down a copy of Zodiac, an earlier work of Stephensons that contains more of his humor than what is appearing in his later works.

I also have to 2nd the recommendation for Dan Simmons.  I've had his sci/fi Hyperion novels for several years and his first novel Song of Kali (Horror).  I felt all were very good and I've recently read several of his other works, Carrion Comfort, Darwin's Blade, The Crook Factory and Summer of Night.  I would recommend any of them, although Carrion Comfort seems to drag out a bit at 900 pages and be a bit slow at times.

He is definitely trending towards more of a Horror author if I had to nail him into a category.  There also appears to be a bit of mutual cock sucking between him and King, but as they are both great authors who respect each others work I can't complain about the occasional mention of the other author in their works.

[Daydreamer]

Stephensons novels are by far a must for mind expansion.  Snowcrash is a very good book but you could just read the first 18 pages and stop there.  They are like a novellete in their own right, which I term the funniest 18 pages ever written by man.

Seconded, but the funniest nineteen pages ever written by man have to the introduction and first chapter to HG2TG by Douglas Adams.

[Ballast]

I see a lot of people mentioning Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon, which are both excellent, but I have yet to see a single person make mention of The Diamond Age. It's not quite as "fun" of a read as Snow Crash, but worth the time nonetheless.

[Paelos]

I'm reading Song of Ice and Fire series on the suggestion of everybody at the boards, and I'm into book three now. I must say I love the really seemingly disjointed characters and subplots working together to form up the main story line. Tyrion Lannister ranks up there as one of my favorite characters in a novel.

That being said I've heard the release of the 4th book has been pushed back into August, or so it was reported on Amazon when I last looked. Does anybody have more information about this, or am I getting a bad estimate?

[Odysseus]

Can't comment on the end though, because I've still got about 60 pages to go.  However, he did pull a "bad guy slips away near the end while no one was looking" schtick which loses him a couple brownie points.

I'm interested to hear what you think of it after those last 60 pages. IMO, he cranked the Cheese knob up to 11 at the end. Very, very disappointing.

As for Dan Simmons, I enjoyed Summer of Night quite a bit. It's like he packed every horror trope and urban legend into it. I'm a sucker for that stuff. I've been meaning to read Song of Kali, so maybe now's the time to pick it up.

[Rasix]

Can't comment on the end though, because I've still got about 60 pages to go.  However, he did pull a "bad guy slips away near the end while no one was looking" schtick which loses him a couple brownie points.

I'm interested to hear what you think of it after those last 60 pages. IMO, he cranked the Cheese knob up to 11 at the end. Very, very disappointing.

The end was just bad.  BAD.  It seems these types of books just can't end without having the hero and heroine flirt and then fade to fuck.  

Really, it was an entertaining book so I don't feel cheated. But this guy appears to ride cliches to victory a tad too much.   It's like he took a course from Cussler and Flemming and followed their lead word for word.  

I'm hoping in Da Vinci Code he establishes somewhat of a more unique style.  I'm wagering it'll still be a fun, quick read even if the style stays relatively the same.

[Bunk]

I'm a Simmons fan as well.  Just waiting for my roomate to finish reading Illium so I can start it.  The Hyperion series is deffinately great Sci-fi.  If you want more of his horror vein, I really enjoyed Carrion Comfort - you thought Nazi's were bad? This book is about Psychic Vampire Gastapo agents and porn producers.

[Mr_PeaCH]

I've heard the release of the 4th book (of A Song of Ice and Fire series) has been pushed back into August, or so it was reported on Amazon when I last looked. Does anybody have more information about this, or am I getting a bad estimate?

The best guess over at the definative ASoIaF fansite is that he's about two months away still from 'finishing' "A Feast for Crows" and then there'll be final editing and publishing... so August is as good a guess as any.  Basically nobody, including the author, really knows.  The real die-hards have their orders in at UK sites since for some reason his publisher is able to get books on the shelves many weeks earlier overseas than here.

[Matt]

II also just finished his latest book Ilium, great setting for a story.  He brought back the greek gods in a far future setting.

Anyone else a Dan Simmons Fan?

I LOVED Ilium. Hell, any book that starts out talking about Achaeans must be good! Can't wait for the second part of the story.

--matt

[Eidolon]

As to Stephensons The Diamond Age, I would have to judge it a good book but, it simply did not strike me the same way some of his other novels have.  I'm one of those people who can re-read the same book several times and still derive the same or greater amount of enjoyment out of it.  I partially rate books on their re-readability factor and The Diamond Age is one I have only felt inclined to read twice in the time I've had it, which would be shortly after it first hit the shelves.

[Fraeg]

re: books

I always feel obligated to make a pitch for my hometown hero Kim Stanley Robinson.  His trilogy on Mars are THE books to read on the colonization of Mars in my perfect little world.  The Years of Rice and Salt and Antarctica are great reads as well.

Another plug is for David Wingrove's Chung Kuo series.  8 books of great alternate history.

As for Simmon's Hyperion, they get the double thumbs up from me as well.


-fraeg

[Foix]

Stephensons novels are by far a must for mind expansion.  Snowcrash is a very good book but you could just read the first 18 pages and stop there.

I've always wondered if Stephenson originally planned to extend to book length the cyberpunk parody that Snow Crash begins with but simply didn't find enough material, or if it was an unrelated tidbit he wrote at some point and later shoehorned into the novel. To be sure, while Snow Crash itself is a good novel, it pales in comparison with that manic beginning. Overall, I wish Stephenson contented himself with being a genre writer rather than veering as he does into left-of-center mainstream fiction, which I feel pales in comparison with his earlier work.

Myself, I am presently reading Jack Vance's Lyonesse for the nth time. Oddly enough, although a significant portion of his work never went out of print and more of it is being reprinted in omnibus editions, the Lyonesse trilogy is only in print in the UK, which is a pity. Vance is essentially a fantasist who presumably spent decades working solely in science fiction because there was little market for non-Tolkien fantasy until the 1970s; none of his science fiction is remotely interested in science, as he has always been more interested in drawing interesting characters and spinning an entertaining yarn than technological particulars.

This might actually have been all for the best, however. Vance was always one hell of a prose stylist, but he arguably hit his peak between the late 1970s and mid-1980s. The books he wrote during that period--the first two Lyonesse novels, the last two novels of the Dying Earth tetralogy and a few others--are undeniably his best. Beyond his gift for writing the sort of lush, verbose prose that makes me green with envy, he also has the particular gift of tossing off dozens of fully-realized characters in the course of a novel, even if they're only minor characters mentioned in passing. For Song of Ice and Fire fans, a significant part of the cast from the Red Viper of Dorne to Dolorous Edd can be traced back to Martin's emulation of Vancean tics. I can't recommend his novels highly enough.

Aside from that, I have the following books sitting in a pile on the steamer trunk that functions as my night stand: The Bruce Trilogy by Tranter (engaging if not compulsively page-turning historical fiction about the life of Robert the Bruce); Kushiel's Dart by Carey (overheated fantasy that reads too much like a bodice-ripper for me to continue with it); Crimea by Royle (dry but interesting recounting of the events surrounding the Crimean War); Anti-Intellectualism in American Life by Hofstadter (a social history of the title subject from colonial times until the 1960s, just as true today as it was then); Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire by Gibbon (a classic that I'd always meant to read; I normally can't stand anything written in anachronistic prose, but Gibbon is hugely readable); The Golden Age by Wright (weird space opera that I'm probably going to bounce off of); The Wheels of Commerce by Braudel (interdisciplinary history of commerce and industry in early modern Europe, much less boring than it sounds); The Code of the Warrior by Fields (superficial but entertaining recounting of warrior traditions throughout the world, from the Indo-European to the Chinese, Japanese and Native American, plus New Agey speculation on the role of the warrior in the modern day); Paris 1919 by Macmillan (the story of the Versailles conference told in the style of Barbara Tuchman by Lloyd George's granddaughter); The Curse of Chalion by Bujold (fantasy novel picked up because of massive recommendation on rec.arts.sf.written).

So, yeah. It's a big (and messy) trunk. And I read alot.

[Lurk]

I liked Diamond Age better than Snowcrash (more wacky than interesting). Or Cryptonomicon (more long winded than interesting). (Curiosity: I virtually never re-read books. Don't re-watch movies much either.)

I'm reading Across the Sea of Suns by Gregory Benford right now, it's pretty good. Been a while since I found some good fiction.

[Ironwood]

Waterthread got me rereading Asimov's robot books.  Small and easy going, but they're still damn good after all these years...

[daveNYC]

I see a lot of people mentioning Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash and Cryptonomicon, which are both excellent, but I have yet to see a single person make mention of The Diamond Age. It's not quite as "fun" of a read as Snow Crash, but worth the time nonetheless.

Diamond Age seems to be set in Snow Crash's future.

[WayAbvPar]

While awaiting Amazon's delivery of my earlier mentioned books, I hit Barnes and Noble this weekend for a fix. Went strictly for mind candy this time-

Fight Club (I recently watched the movie again and wanted to check the book out)

The Bourne Identity- enjoyed the popcorn flick, and want to see how much better the book is.

Timeline- Crichton's stuff is light on hard science, but is usually entertaining.

Prey- See Crichton comment above

After these and the Amazon delivery, I am thinking about launching myself into some of the classics. First on the list to reread is To Kill A Mockingbird. From there, I will try to hit some of the big names I missed during my school years- any suggestions?