Books

[thisgeek]

If you haven't read this, you should:

Aldous Huxley's Brave New World - http://www.huxley.net/bnw/ - It's the entire text online. It's still quite a viable story, considering that it was written in 1932.

The premise of that story is used as some background for Dean Koontz (http://www.randomhouse.com/bantamdell/koontz/)'s Frankenstein series - which is excellent, by the way. Can't wait for the last one to come out.

I must say though, that Dean Koontz's recent books have been quite brilliant. I went off him completely when I read 'One Door Away From Heaven'. What a load of utter cow manure - but he seems to have recovered quite nicely. I suppose all authors have their slumps - I mean, King still hasn't recovered from his. :p

It doesn't stop me from buying / reading his books though. For some reason I'm a complete Stephen King fan-boy. The man has a definite way with words, even if the story he weaves ends up being a load of codswallop. I consider some of his books, though, to be the best I've ever read.

Another author who is way "up there" on my fan boy list is Mr. Pratchett. Fuck, he's funny. There's nothing I like more than having a gut busting laugh while reading a book. It tends to garner some strange looks if you happen to be reading where there are people around. :D

In terms of the weird - apart from Mr. King - I also like Clive Barker, tho admittedly I haven't read anything of his for quite a long time. His "Books of Blood" anthologies really took my fancy.

For "mainstream" stuff (I use the term loosely), I have read many different authors. Take Dan Brown (http://www.danbrown.com/), for instance. He can spin a tale, yes - but it's like he's following a formular with his writing. He has major build up, and then near the end there's a twist as to who the antagonist is. In all of his books it's been the same, which gets a bit boring. I made the mistake of reading 4 of his books in a row, starting with the Da Vinci code, then moving on to Angels and Demons (yes, I know that DV is a follow on to A&D), then to Deception Point, which was quite good, and finishing the lot with Digital Fortress, which I believe was his first book. And boy does it show. It's REALLY badly written. I don't know how the hell it got published, unless his editor fished it out the bin after the others, or something. Good story, yes, but he executed it VERY badly. A book written that badly would get the author stoned in some countries. I'm certainly not holding my breath for his next book.

Brian Haig (http://www.brianhaig.com/index.html) was a pleasant surprise, considering that his genre (military law mystery type things) does not appeal to me in the slightest. I read Mortal Allies (his second book), and loved it. There was just the right amount of sarcastic humour to appeal to me. I then bought his first book, Secret Sanction, and loved it too. I need to get my hands on his other two.

And last (for this post), but definitely not least, John Connolly (http://www.johnconnollybooks.com/). This guy puts King to shame. He has written some of the best supernatural/crime/detective novels that I have ever read. When a buddy of mine introduced me to his books, I was dubious at first, but as soon as I started reading them, I was hooked. I'm missing two of his books in my collection - although I've read them.

I read many, many books - but those I've mentioned are just off the top of my head.

[rainynight65]

I am right up there with you concerning King and Pratchett. Still have to read the Huxley, I got it here somewhere. Read some John Connolly as well, but I have to be in the right mood in order to stomach him...

About Dan Brown: HIs best stuff was certainly Angels & Demons and Da Vinci Code. Digital Fortress was unrealistic from a computer perspective and nit very well written. Deception point was quite good though.

Other people I like to read:

David Baldacchi. Granted, not all of his novels are winners, but he's done some good ones. 'The Winner', 'Hour Game', 'Last Man Standing', just to mention some of them.

Jeffery Deaver is da man. His Lincoln Rhyme novels are classics already, and I love the latest one, 'The Twelfth Card'. He's also done an excellent novel on hackers, brilliantly researched and rather realistic: 'The Blue Nowhere'. And his last year's WW2 effort 'Garden of Beasts' appealed to me as well, not only because it played in my town of birth and I recognized a lot of the places ;)

Greg Iles. He's done some good stuff, his best one being "The Quiet Game". Damnit, somewhere between Deaver and the early Grisham novels, that was one of the best reads I ever had.

Michael Chrichton's novel 'State of Fear' gives you a whole new perspective on the whole global warming shebang. A bit scientific at times, but definitely worth a glimpse.

In terms of easy reading, hardly anyone beats Clive Cussler. He's getting a bit repetitive lately, maybe he should just stop it. But I still love Dirk Pitt's adventures, and the Kurt Austin spin-off is good as well.

And my personal insider's tip: Ms. Jane Jensen, who became famous as the creator of the Gabriel Knight games series, some of the best adventure games I've ever played. Two of the games have been put into novels, but she's also done some other stuff. "Judgement Day" is a brilliant read, albeit very hard to get :(

I sure can think of more, but not tonight... :D

[thisgeek]

About Dan Brown: HIs best stuff was certainly Angels & Demons and Da Vinci Code. Digital Fortress was unrealistic from a computer perspective and nit very well written. Deception point was quite good though.


I try not to let the realism - when it comes to computers - bother me... it is fiction, after all.



David Baldacchi. ...

Jeffery Deaver is da man. ...


I'll look them up.



Greg Iles. He's done some good stuff, his best one being "The Quiet Game". Damnit, somewhere between Deaver and the early Grisham novels, that was one of the best reads I ever had.


I've read "The Footprints of God" - That one blew me away. I'll definitely look into some of his others. My problem is that I've never kept a book wishlist. Time to start. ;)



Michael Chrichton's novel 'State of Fear' gives you a whole new perspective on the whole global warming shebang. A bit scientific at times, but definitely worth a glimpse.


I've read a couple of his books - the very first of which was Jurassic Park - quite a few years before the movie came out. I remember the cover was even quite boring - white with (as far as I remember) silvery blue dinosaur skeleton silhouettes. Story definitely wasn't boring! :)



In terms of easy reading, hardly anyone beats Clive Cussler.


I've never read one - I tried to, but just couldn't get in to it. I think my problem with him is that I feel he churns out one type of book that always follows the same theme - kind of like frikkin' Dick Francis and the bloody horses (Yeah, I've read A LOT of those, I'm ashamed to admit).



And my personal insider's tip: Ms. Jane Jensen, who became famous as the creator of the Gabriel Knight games series, some of the best adventure games I've ever played. Two of the games have been put into novels, but she's also done some other stuff. "Judgement Day" is a brilliant read, albeit very hard to get :(


Awesome stuff, I loved the premise behind those games, so those books should be interesting to say the least.

Thanks for the tips, I'll definitely investigate some of those authors.

[fivel]

Note to all bookworms, exclusive books sale is now on :)

[rainynight65]

I don't have an Exclusive Books where I live :(

TG: abebooks.com is a good way to get books that are rare or out of print.

[rainynight65]

And here's one more - how could I ever forget to mention the man himself, Mr. Douglas Adams? The Hitchhiker Trilogy (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy - The Restaurant at the End of the Universe - Life, the Universe and Everything - So long and thanks for all the Fish - Mostly Harmless) is a classic in its own right. Also try and get hold of "Last Chance to See", a non-fiction piece in which he teams up with a zoologist to visit places where near-extinct animals live. Brilliant!!! Unfortunately Mr. Adams left this earth far too soon. The last book "The Salmon of Doubt" is a compilation of some essays, short stories, interviews and a fragment of his last novel. If you can laugh about Pratchett, then you need to read Adams.

[stoke]

Peter F Hamilton - The Night's Dawn Triligy.
- The Reality Dysfunction = 11 out of 10 - beautiful - original - awe inspiring masterpiece of pure imaginative and scarey fiction.
- The Neutronium Alchemist = 8 out of 10 - continues nicely and starts rambling - but the build-up is worth it.
- The Naked God = 6 out of 10 - what a let down ... this book kills the series and should not have been rushed like that. Bleugh. It's a fitting - well told ending, but you get the impression that he's being paid per word.

But ... damn good concept if you're into vast imaginative space opera ... I've only read all three 7 times.

[thisgeek]

If you can laugh about Pratchett, then you need to read Adams.

I'm very familiar with Mr. Adams :) I was already getting long winded, so I didn't mention him. -- "He's just this guy, you know?"

[thisgeek]

Peter F Hamilton - The Night's Dawn Triligy.


Will definitely look in to it.

A good series, if you're into SF - Saga of Seven Suns, by Kevin J Anderson.
I've read the first two so far, and the third one is out.

So, who's read Battlefield Earth by the illustrious (and weird) L. Ron Hubbard?
I've read that book at least 10 times. What a pity about the movie.

[Bass]

Must agree with Rainy - I enjoy Clive Cussler, and the best sci-fi book I have ever read must be "Battlefield Earth" by L Ron Hubbard (his other stuff is useless though [no disrespect to current members ;)])

I collect Edgar Rice Burroughs books - the Tarzan, Mars & Venus series - all quite enjoyable .. :)

[stoke]

\me makes note to lookup clive cussler.

[thisgeek]

... and the best sci-fi book I have ever read must be "Battlefield Earth" by L Ron Hubbard (his other stuff is useless though [no disrespect to current members ;)])


Actually, his "Mission Earth" series is not too bad. Good satire.

[Gathu]

Now I know I joined the right clan! My favorites are also Terry Pratchett, Stephen King, Dean Koontz,Stephen Coonts, Tom Clancy, Raymond E. Feist, Isaac Asimov (the master), Douglas Adams and most definetly Heinlein (Startroopers, the book, not the sh@t movie).
Best books have however been John Irving.
In my younger days it was Eric von Lustbader (only certain sections though) ;)

[rainynight65]

Feist is great as well. Did you read Faerie Tale, Gathu?

[thisgeek]

... Stephen Coonts ...

Hmm.. ain't heard o' him. I'll go look 'im up.

Raymond E Feist. ;) I've seen his books around, don't know if I've ever read one... might have, but it's hard to say. :p

[Gathu]

Rainy,

No, not yet. My reading frequency has dropped significantly since BF2, so I guess I will not read it in the next few months. {How long does this BF2 addiction last?}

[rainynight65]

Gathu, I have no idea. I have been actively playing since the end of November, and I am still hooked...

[thisgeek]

Yeah - both XEye and I have been playing since mid August (I convinced him to buy a copy when I got mine), and well, we're still here. ;)

[w1z4rd]

Anything written by Wilbur Smith. I find his stories to be so well researched (I checked up on all his dates and names and events), and he is able to conjour up a wonderful image of South Africa in my imagination with extremely good stories. Im trying to get my paws on his latest book.

Most of the books I read come in a seriese, So its easier to mention the author. If you like fantasy I highly recommend the following authors:

Robert Jordon, Wheel of Time Series, I think its at about 10 books nows.
Raymond E Feist, Magician... and then the rest. I think the series is known as the Rift War saga. (8-9 books in that series, but he does have other series)
David Eddings, ... his got a lot of series of books out there, but his dry sense of humour makes the books interesting and funny.
David Gemmel, Couple of series (normaly no more than 3 books), but the books have griping story lines
Michael Moorcock, his got a whole lot of series of books out there, but when you read all the different series, they kinda form a bigger picture.

Ive been told I read to much. I dont think thats possible:P

[thisgeek]

Gemmel is brilliant. A friend of mine even had an autographed copy of one of the Drenai books, until it got stolen.

Eddings - I've read the Belgariad and the Mallorean series several times. I've also read the Tamuli and Elenium. I recently read Belgarath the sorcerer, and Polgara the sorceress -- I'm about to start reading the Elder Gods.

[w1z4rd]

*steals thisgeeks copy of the Elder Gods*

[thisgeek]

Heh, actually it's my wife's. :D

Btw, you can use /me - it works. :p

/me demonstrates...

[stoke]

/me demonstrates as well ... but naked :eek:!

[thisgeek]

*gag*

That thought made me kotch into my mouth...



:D

[w1z4rd]

/me recons thisgeek has this forum s0rted:P

[thisgeek]

Hmmm.. I finished the first two books in Dean Koontz's Frankenstein series a couple of weeks ago... and what do I find at CNA just now? The frikkin' DVD!

[SosmanSA]

Man ... you guys are stealing from my library... nearly all the mentioned.
But special mention of
1.) Robert Jordan and "Wheel of Time" series... *BLEEP* !! Started reading that series more than 15 years ago and he still hasn't finished !!!! The latest chapters in the series just go in circles (scuse the pun) and could be written up in a lot less pages.... man this monkey of a good author is milking it for pension plan !!
2.) Orson Scott Card ??? Hello ??? Not even a mention... I must say "Enders Game" rates as an all time classic !!! A must read !! The rest of series is quite good too.
3.) Another enjoyable series was "Amtrak Wars", about seven in total, and I think the author was Patrick Tilley.
4.) Koonz ...ones that stick in my mind are "Phantoms" and "Lightning"... quite different reads I might add.
5.) Read some nice ones recently "Wildside" , "Jumper" and "Reflex" by Steven Gould... well thought out I must say ! (all 3 electronic)

[thisgeek]

Orson Scott Card - I've read a couple of the Tales of Alvin Maker - some incredibly funny stuff there!

I agree with you about WoT - I stopped reading that.

I've seen the Amtrak Wars around, but never read them.

I've read ALOT of Koontz, including the ones you've mentioned.

Can't say I've read the last ones you've mentioned.

[NerdBoyZa]

A bit pointless posting this, as all the ones I like reading have already been mentioned.

Pratchett is definitely the one that causes the most stares from bystanders when I read in public though. :D