Recently Read..

Damn. So wouldn't people be hyper-creative in Communist countries? :smile:

No. Just lazy, why work when someone else can do it for you?

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

Curses! Dominant political ideologies have us everyway we turn!

Crono said:
Finished Contact by Carl Sagan about a month ago. Good stuff. SCIENTIFICALLY ACCURATE. Imagine that! A science fiction novel with real science. The movie kind of just ... cut all the science out of it, except for the prime numbers ... (Movie is still good ... just different)

I thought the book was better than the movie because of the ending. I guess its a big spoiler, so I'll put it in black.

At the end of the movie, it turns out there is, in a way, proof that something did happen to her. At the end of the book, there is no evidence apart from what the astronauts say. I think, with the themes of beleif and disbeleif (the woman's christian friend in the movie) that the book's ending is better, as it puts her in the same position her friend was in when talking to her, trying to convince people to beleive what is impossible to prove.

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"If you talk at all during this lesson, you have detention. Do you understand?"

• My yr11 Economics teacher

Yeah, I honestly don't know why they did that whole, "But what concerns me is that there's 18 hours of static" crap. That entire, "look you're crazy" thing was done much better in the book. Especially because it was basically the governments being pissed that no econimical value came back with them.

Also, in the movie, the machine design makes no sense.

On another note, there should be a spoiler tag, since not all the themes to the site give a black background.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

We should make a list of authors that created their own universes. In this way, we might get people to cross the gulf between the authors and types of books they do not normally read. I don't know about the rest of you but there are certain types, namely westerns and such that I cannot read. But on the other hand, there are authors that I never read before as a youth, that I now read because someone else told me in depth about the series. There is some fantastic reading out there gents.

Terry Brooks- Created at least 2 of his own unique universes.
Alan Dean Foster- Created many of his own, and somehow some of them actually cross one another.
Frank Herbert- Dune, need I say more.
Tolkien- 'ware Hobbits.
??????- I am unsure exactly who created the "Star Wars" universe, but it is unique as well.
??????- Here again, I am unsure if James Blish gets credit because he wrote the first books or Gene Roddenberry for the series that sparked it all.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

Asimov! Most of his books tie into one huge fictional universe starting
from Susan Calvin on Earth, to the Spacer worlds and the humaniforms,
to the galactic empire under Seldon + Demerzel/Daneel, to the I/We/Gaia
concept "chosen" by Bayliss et al.

fraggard said:
Asimov! Most of his books tie into one huge fictional universe starting from Susan Calvin on Earth, to the Spacer worlds and the humaniforms, to the galactic empire under Seldon + Demerzel/Daneel, to the I/We/Gaia concept "chosen" by Bayliss et al.

Yes!, How could I have forgotten the Robot-Foundation creator.

Thanks.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

I loved reading Asimov as a kid. I still remember reading Gold. Particularly that one story about the kids on Venus who only see sun once a lifetime... or something like that.<br style="color: white;">

Phillip K. Dick has created many universes. They all seem to be saturated with drugs, however.
Herbert George Wells, people forget the stuff he talked about was science fiction when he wrote it. Or complete metaphors for some obvious event.
Jules Verne. NEMO! Man, they should totally make a current version film of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. That's be so freakin' awesome.

Maybe, I should name people who're alive.

Well, there are a lot of people who've created universes in their books, even if they're not good books, Rocheworld, by Robert Forward is a realistic look at space travel. (Don't be fooled there are completely ridiculous things in the book ... like the aliens)

But ... uh ... Clive Staples Lewis. But he's dead also.

I tend to like stuff that's not completely pulled out of someone's ass, which is why I don't like Dune, besides his s**tty writing style. I think, Tolkien's work and the likes are about as "non-realistic" as I'm willing to go. Because, at the very least, they're knowledgeable. (Or Douglass Addams :smile: )
That's one of the reasons I liked The Vampire Chronicles by Ann Rice. It's the real world with vampires added in. It tries to make them very real, which is good. I also like that it's a modern take on the supernatural vampire, which is very well thought out and delivered.

Some of those might not seem like they create their own universe, but, they do.

I could start naming Japanese authors like, Hideyuki Kikuchi. Who wrote the entire Vampire Hunter D book series. Which, if you were wondering, holds the basis for every stereotypical anime villain ever. They're good though, and recently, but slowly, being translated to English. I think they're on book three.

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Blame it on Microsoft, God does.

Stephen Baxter is a good one. Much of his work is in a universe he created, except for one story which is an alternate history about a Mars landing in the 1980s. I like his work since it goes into some fairly obscure scientific principles as the basis for technology, and he's pretty creative with life forms (most planets in the solar system are found to have life, with fish in underground caves on Mercury, and trapdoor spiders on Pluto).

Asimov is good as well. I read as many of his books as I could when I was younger.

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"If you talk at all during this lesson, you have detention. Do you understand?"

• My yr11 Economics teacher

I like the Drenai novels by David Gemmell, who has made his own
universe for the series. I'm told a lot of people take this "universe"
to be a post-apocalyptic version of our own, which certainly make sense
at times, but it doesn't really scream out to be the case. For the most
part, it can be taken as a medieval world with no real-world bearing,
besides a few obvious comparisons between some of the countries and our
own ones. Anybody looking for some heroic fantasy to read could do a
whole lot worse than check out some of his work. I've yet to read any
of his non-Drenai books yet, though he does have quite a few.

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Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

My best friend loves David Gemmell... but the only book of his that
I've read is Winter Warriors. I read it years ago, but from what
I remember I really really liked it. I'm not sure if that book is
part of the Drenai universe or not... probably not.

Yeah it is if I'm thinking of the right book; it's about a bunch of old
soldiers escorting a pregnant Princess right? I enjoyed that one too,
but then I've enjoyed all the Drenai books so I guess that's a given :smile:
The core Drenai books are about three different characters - Waylander,
Druss, and Skilgannon - but a few, such as Winter Warriors, are kind of
asides. You can find a list of the books in the series, the order they
were written, and the order they fit in the world's timeline, right
here
if you are interested in checking some out :smile:

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Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

How could I have forgotten, Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Best know for his Tarzan books but he has equally good sci-fi (or better if you don't like Tarzan)

His John Carter series is great, and his Carson Napier series isn't to bad either.

I recommend both for the Burroughs enthusiast.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

Found a fantastic used book store today in Van Buren. There must have been over 10,000 books in there. I was in shock. Anyway, I found these great titles today. Had to stop looking because I wanted everything I saw. :biggrin:

I would be interested in setting up a book exchange service for those who cannot find certain old titles. If you guys want any books give me a yell and I will see if its there and send it to you.

Ghost from the Grand Banks.
Cradle.
The Sands Of Mars.
Imperial Earth.
A Fall of Moondust.

Along with the classic Rama series:
Rendezvous with Rama.
Rama II.
Garden of Rama.
Rama Revealed.

and
Cachalot.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

I really got into the older Dashiel Hammett books last spring. I
read Red Harvest and the Maltese Falcon. You wouldn't happen to
have any other works by him, would you?

@ReNo: After reading your post I turned my room upside down looking for
the David Gemmell books I know my friend left behind. I only
managed to find "The King Beyond the Gate" along with "Hero in the
Shadows" and "White Wolf." I know they're all out of order, but I
just finished reading "The King Beyond the Gate" and I'm going to start
on "Hero in the Shadows" next.

It occasionally feels like he overwrites, but I've enjoyed the stories
immensely. I never find myself checking to see how many
pages are left in the chapter so I can have a nice spot to put the book
down. :smile: I finished 300 pages in about 2 days... which is pretty
good.

Thanks for the heads up ReNo.

I'd suggest reading White Wolf instead if I were you. Hero in the
Shadows is the third Waylander novel, so it may lose some of its effect
without having read the first two and may also make the first two less
enjoyable if you hunt them down. White Wolf is the first Skilgannon
book (there are only two of them) so it makes sense to read it. The
order of the overall series isn't of that much importance since the
gaps between the sub-series are normally hundreds of years, but I'd
suggest reading the sub-series books in order (eg. Waylander books 1,
2, then 3). Anyways, glad you are enjoying them mate :smile:

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Designer @ Haiku Interactive | ReNo-vation.net

Ah... duly noted. I will start with White Wolf instead.

I was going with the publication order, not the timeline order.

Addicted to Morphine said:
I really got into the older Dashiel Hammett books last spring. I read Red Harvest and the Maltese Falcon. You wouldn't happen to have any other works by him, would you?

If its me you are inquiring from, no. I do not even know the author but if you remind me after Christmas I will go to the store and look for you. If I find any I will let you know. We can worry about shipment then. :smile:

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

@UD; How were the other Rama books? I read Rendesvous with
Rama and loved it to death, but I've heard 2 is a load of crap.
Opinion?

For good or bad, you need to read #2 to understand #3 and #4.

I loved the whole series but, numbers 2-4 have little to do with #1 really. There are obvious references to it but you could read 2-4 without #1 if you really wanted to.

Numbers 2-4 are actually one long book to tell the truth.

My advice. Tough it out if you find #2 difficult. By the end of #4 you will be slobbering on yourself for the ending is so sad.

Assuming you like sappy tearful endings, you will like the books.

I would rate the entire series about 7/10. Not the best I have ever read but well worth the time.

In the end though, you will have to decide for yourself because my taste in books may not really be the same as yours even if we read exactly the same books each time.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

If its me you are inquiring from, no. I do not even know the
author but if you remind me after Christmas I will go to the store and
look for you. If I find any I will let you know. We can worry about
shipment then. :smile:

He's one of the most important authors when it comes to the
"hard-boiled" detective novel. I picked up a couple of his books
in one of the used book stores in my college town. Don't go out
of your way to buy any right now.. let me check the bookstore near me
first. Thanks very much for the offer though, I was just
wondering if you had any lying around your place.

Sadly, I do not read detective books. I am a Sci-fi/Fantasy adventure buff.

I would say avid reader as well. When I complete the Rama series this time it will be the 4th time.

I read the Borroughs "John Carter of Mars" books almost a dozen times each. There are 11 books in that set. each small to be sure, only about 175 pages average I think, but still a lot of repetitions.

Luckily, I enjoy reading enough that I can still glean something worthwhile in a book to read it more than once. :smile:

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

12 times! I can read certain books over again. Something
like a mystery or detective novel I can't, because there's no interest
in it once you know what happens. However, I can read adventure
books over and over and over again. Things like LOtR I can read
non-stop. And while I wait for the third disc world novel, I've
read the other 2 again as well.

But 12 times... that's beyond me.

French Toast said:
But 12 times... that's beyond me.

My likes back then were much narrower than today. I had perhaps 4 authors that I would even consider reading. We are talking in excess of 25 years ago. Yeah, there were great authors then too but I didn't know that then, I was a kid.

Anyway, since adulthood, I have read the set only once or twice.

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There is no history until something happens, then there is.

I started White Wolf
by David Gemmell Saturday afternoon and was finished by Sunday.
It was a page-turner to say the least. I wish my school library
had Gemmell books, but unfortunately I'm out of luck.

I also reread The Giver
by Lois Lowry. I read this book sometime around 5th grade for
school, and it was lying around my grandparents house so I decided I'd
give another read through. It had been so long since I'd last
read it that aside from a couple moments I remembered, it was like
reading it for the first time.

Despite the straightforward writing style (which makes it perfect for
younger readers) the book had some quite provocative ideas. It's
rather short (only about 180 pages) and it's a fast read, so if you've
never read it, it's definitely worth checking out of the library.
After reading it last night I've decided that it's probably one of my
top 3 favorite books, and the reason I like it so much is that it makes
me sad when I read it, in a beautiful way. It can't really be
explained, but it's the same feeling I get when I read The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. I think the right word for it is: touching. It's a touching book.

Almost finished GOLLUM by Andy Serkis (the guy who acted/voiced Gollum
in LotR). It chronicles how he first got the role and goes
through his 5 year journey on Lord of the Rings. It's really
interesting, and gives quite a good firsthand look at all the work that
went into designing and creating the Gollum that we see.

You can tell that it's not written by a professional writer though, as
it seems kind of amateur. Luckily it doesnt detract from the book
much.

So if you're interested in that kind of thing, it's definitely worth a look.

There's this book that I read once, a few years ago, and I want to read
it again. I can't remember the title, only that it was something
about a road, and was written by a guy from Monty python.

Listened to the unabridged version of "DreamCatcher"

100 times better than the movie.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

There's this book that I read once, a few years ago, and I want to read
it again. I can't remember the title, only that it was something
about a road, and was written by a guy from Monty python.

Ahah! 'Tis called the Road to Mars, by Eric Idle. It's a great laugh, and a good story. Read it now!

I just finished reading Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness
for the second time. Both times were for class, and I have to say
its one of the more enjoyable books to read ... especially because Apocalypse Now is such a great companion to the novel.

Recently listened to The Summons. A great John Grisham book.

Will listen to Have Spacesuit Will Travel on my next run. A great Heinlein book.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

I'm in the middle of reading the best history book I've read since I discovered John Keegan.

The book is called
Giving
up the Gun and it's by Noel Perrin. I'm reading it for my
Modern East Asia history class, and the book is all about Japan's
Reversion to the Sword, 1543-1879.



I highly recommend this book (its only 92 pages and you can find a copy
on Amazon for 4 bucks) because its well written, with lots of really
interesting primary sources and Japanese artwork.

If you like Japanese culture / history in the least, or just think
samurai are badass, this book will grab you as much as it grabbed me.

I have been listening to a lot of audio books that I have purchased recently. (yes they are bought, I have the boxes to prove it. :wink: )

I am rapidly beginning to believe that the ONLY reason I wasn't a Steven King fan was because his movie adaptations are so poorly done when compared to the books themselves.

I listened to the unabridged version of "Carrie" and it was fantastic. Little or nearly little of the book made it into the movie. Sad really.

I also listened to Blowfly, by Patricia Cornwell. She is rapidly becoming my favorite author for audio books. If you get a chance, you need to read, or listen to this fantastic book.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

I started reading a book called God's Debris by Scott Adams (Dilbert) I
haven't read much, but it sounds really cool and I'm supposed to
recommend it to everyone I know (his orders).

Best part, it's free! Download it in pdf format here.

started a book called "2005 chevy silverado".... dry read, but a must for any chevy truck fan....you havent lived till yer kid beats you at yer own radio clock setup

Doc B... :dodgy:

Dr Brasso said:
started a book called "2005 chevy silverado".... dry read, but a must for any chevy truck fan....you havent lived till yer kid beats you at yer own radio clock setup

Doc B... :dodgy:

Beats the s**t out of my last "Must Read" books. It was one of those consumer reports on comparative shopping for adult diapers. :rolleyes:

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The best things in life, aren't things.

christ, i hope it isnt larger that an brochure...

Doc B... :dodgy:

Dr Brasso said:
christ, i hope it isnt larger that an brochure...

Doc B... :dodgy:

Wouldn't have been so bad except, it was crammed between "cream corn" and "aerosol airplane seat deodorizer"

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Currently reading "1984". Damn good book so far. About halfway through.

P.S. Can't belive George Orwell got a time machine and came to the future to steal ideas from Half Life 2's plot and the movie Equalliberium.

I am currently listening to The Zero Game.

An audiobook I purchased!.

Its quite intriguing and worth listening to if you have the chance.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Just finished reading Atlas of the skies. For the second time I might add.

Anyone besides me interested in this science?

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The best things in life, aren't things.

Just read one of Michael Moore's books Dude, where's my country.

And all those years I thought Moore was a nut-job. Now I'm convinced of it. :heee:

Just read "2001 A Space Odyssey" by Arthur C. Clarke again. The best science fiction book in my opinion. It even explains the cryptic ending of the Kubrick movie, actually makes it better.

reaper47 said:
Just read "2001 A Space Odyssey" by Arthur C. Clarke again. The best science fiction book in my opinion. It even explains the cryptic ending of the Kubrick movie, actually makes it better.

Read the other 3. Then you'll know what "Best" is. :smile:

Clarke is a superb writer.

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The best things in life, aren't things.

reaper47 said:
Just read "2001 A Space Odyssey" by Arthur C. Clarke again. The best science fiction book in my opinion. It even explains the cryptic ending of the Kubrick movie, actually makes it better.

Read the other 3. Then you'll know what "Best" is. :smile:
Clarke is a superb writer.

You know what... I did! :smile: They're all great. This is just the one that started it all.

I also read "The Light of Other Days" by Clarke and Stephen Baxter. Excellent book, too. It almost presents science as a religion which I found interesting in a disturbing way. I assume that's quite a provocative thought in the US.

reaper47 said:
You know what... I did! :smile: They're all great. .

So you meant to post originally "Just re-read "2001:A Space Odyssey"

I have been looking at his books and am surprised at how many I have missed.

These however I have read and enjoyed.

THE SANDS OF MARS, 1951 - Marsin aamunkoitto
ISLANDS IN THE SKY, 1952 - Ilmojen saaret
CHILDHOOD' END, 1953 - Lapsuuden loppu
THE DEEP RANGE, 1957
ACROSS THE SEA OF STARS, 1959
A FALL OF MOONDUST, 1961 - Selene I
REACH FOR TOMORROW, 1962
VOICES FROM THE SKY, 1965
PRELUDE TO MARS, 1965
THE NINE BILLION NAMES OF GOD, 1967
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, 1968 - Avaruusseikkailu - film 1968, dir. by Stanley Kubrick
MEETING WITH MEDUSA, 1971
OF TIME AND STARS, 1972 - T?htiaika
THE LOST WORLDS OF 2001, 1972
REPORT ON PLANET THREE, 1972
RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA, 1973 - Uhka avaruudesta
IMPERIAL EARTH: A FANTASY OF LOVE AND DISCORD, 1975
THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE, 1979 - Paratiisin suihkul?hteet
2010: ODYSSEY TWO, 1980 - 2010 Avaruusodysseia - film 1984, dir. by Peter Hyams
THE SONGS OF DISTANT EARTH, 1986 - Kaukaisen maan laulut
2061: ODYSSEY THREE, 1987 - suom.
CRADLE, 1988 (with Gentry Lee) - Kehto
RAMA II, 1989 (with Gentry Lee) - suom.
THE GHOST FROM THE GRAND BANKS, 1990
THE GARDEN OF RAMA, 1991 (with Gentry Lee)
THE GHOST FROM THE GRAND BANKS, 1991
THE HAMMER OF GOD, 1993
RAMA REVEALED, 1993
3001: THE FINAL ODYSSEY, 1996

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The best things in life, aren't things.

THE SANDS OF MARS, 1951 - Marsin aamunkoitto
ISLANDS IN THE SKY, 1952 - Ilmojen saaret
CHILDHOOD' END, 1953 - Lapsuuden loppu
A FALL OF MOONDUST, 1961 - Selene I
2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY, 1968 - Avaruusseikkailu - film 1968, dir. by Stanley Kubrick
OF TIME AND STARS, 1972 - T?htiaika
RENDEZVOUS WITH RAMA, 1973 - Uhka avaruudesta
IMPERIAL EARTH: A FANTASY OF LOVE AND DISCORD, 1975
THE FOUNTAINS OF PARADISE, 1979 - Paratiisin suihkul?hteet
2010: ODYSSEY TWO, 1980 - 2010 Avaruusodysseia - film 1984, dir. by Peter Hyams
THE SONGS OF DISTANT EARTH, 1986 - Kaukaisen maan laulut
2061: ODYSSEY THREE, 1987 - suom.
CRADLE, 1988 (with Gentry Lee) - Kehto
RAMA II, 1989 (with Gentry Lee) - suom.

Are those finnish translations?

reaper47 said:
Are those finnish translations?

I have no clue why you asked but I took this straight from this page.

I only omitted the books I had never read. The list is much longer than the one I posted.

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The best things in life, aren't things.