Cryptonomicon next, yes, but make sure you dig in for a challenging read at first. It takes a lot of getting into but is thoroughly worth it.
Book review thread
Re: Book review thread
Re: Book review thread
If you fancy another excellent fantasy read might I suggest The Name of the wind by Patrick Rothfuss.
Re:JLs above comment on Crypyonomicon I wonder whether it's driving audio book suitable? Snow Crash was great to listen to but more complex stories like Iain M Banks' stuff get frustrating as you can miss a lot very quickly and rewind quite often.
- DeskJockey
- Posts: 4685
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 8:58 am
Re: Book review thread
Currently reading "Eyeless in Gaza" by Huxley. Was a birthday present and it is possibly one of the most frustrating books I've read since I had a go at reading the Icelandic Sagas in the original language.
It is peppered with random French and Latin quotes (which makes sense as the protagonist is a public school boy) and words that have me asking Google for a definition. It is very much of its time (1930s) including using the N-word a couple of times. Nothing much seems to happen, but I will finish it because I hate not finishing a book. After that I am going back to my comfort zone with either "The Hydrogen Sonata" (Banks) or "The Diamond Age" (Stephenson).
It is peppered with random French and Latin quotes (which makes sense as the protagonist is a public school boy) and words that have me asking Google for a definition. It is very much of its time (1930s) including using the N-word a couple of times. Nothing much seems to happen, but I will finish it because I hate not finishing a book. After that I am going back to my comfort zone with either "The Hydrogen Sonata" (Banks) or "The Diamond Age" (Stephenson).
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Driving a Galaxy far far away
Driving a Galaxy far far away
Re: Book review thread
I've read the obvious Huxley books (Brave New World and The Doors of Perception) and enjoyed them but I've never really felt the need to read any more.DeskJockey wrote: ↑Tue May 08, 2018 9:22 pm Currently reading "Eyeless in Gaza" by Huxley. Was a birthday present and it is possibly one of the most frustrating books I've read since I had a go at reading the Icelandic Sagas in the original language.
Started The Player of Games by Banks last night, It's the third of his that I've read and I'm starting to notice his main characters are very similar between books.
Would you say those books are high fantasy Rob? I've got the urge for some dumb grand fantasy.
Also, multiple quotes in a post, it's as if we've become gods
An absolute unit
Re: Book review thread
I would say on the whole, yes, very much so. However from memory (and I read it a long time ago now, back when I actually read books!) you get the odd visual doodad on the page that warrants viewing. Not sure if it would hinder the story much if you couldn't see them, I guess.
Re: Book review thread
Think I might buy it on cassette, Amazon has it listed for £9000 - bargain!JLv3.0 wrote: ↑Wed May 09, 2018 10:05 amI would say on the whole, yes, very much so. However from memory (and I read it a long time ago now, back when I actually read books!) you get the odd visual doodad on the page that warrants viewing. Not sure if it would hinder the story much if you couldn't see them, I guess.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cryptonomicon- ... dpSrc=srch
Re: Book review thread
Not high but not dumb either, like Gentleman Bastards I recon, the characters spend more time scraping a living than fighting epic fights.
Bit like IM Banks you get many skirmishes and maneuovrings before all hell breaks loose.
As for big and really dumb, I enjoyed listening to the full Belgariad again last year, that is truely tropetastic popcorn fantasy.
Re: Book review thread
Cryptonomicon is a good read (And presume, listen) as is Anathem, although Anathem needs a bit more concentration - it's not a casual read.
Re: Book review thread
Finished this on the train this morning. It was very good, the best of his I've read so far. A very different kind of story than Consider Phlebas and The Algebraist, much more low key. Would recommend.
Going to start the Three Musketeers on the train home, looking forward to it. I've read The Count of Monte Christo a few times but never read this.
An absolute unit
Re: Book review thread
I should have really got into Iain M. Banks' books, and really tried, but always found myself bored to death and not caring what happened next.
Re: Book review thread
I get that, I'd ignored his SF stuff for years because I didn't like his other stuff. He seems to be better at plot than characters so you never get particularly attached to anyone. Doesn't help that all three of the books I've read have had the same type of slightly unlikeable main character.
I've been looking for some new Sci Fi to get into though and this is ticking the boxes so far.
I've been looking for some new Sci Fi to get into though and this is ticking the boxes so far.
An absolute unit
Re: Book review thread
Agreed, most are slow moving, Surface Detail springs to mind as one that keeps things on the boil although I needed a wiki in the end to work out some of what happened!
Half way through Cryptonomicon audio book, it's brilliant thank you.
- PreacherCain
- Posts: 195
- Joined: Wed Apr 11, 2018 3:36 pm
Re: Book review thread
I am halfway through "Exactly: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World" by Simon Winchester and recommend it wholeheartedly. Not as shooty as an Iain M Banks, but extremely interesting and, I'd have thought, right up our collective and slightly "on-spectrum" street.
Re: Book review thread
Sounds excellent!
My favourite engineering book is "Don't tell mum I work on the rigs, she thinks I'm a piano player in a whorehouse"
Light on technical, big on funny.
My favourite engineering book is "Don't tell mum I work on the rigs, she thinks I'm a piano player in a whorehouse"
Light on technical, big on funny.
Re: Book review thread
Just finished reading How Not To Be a Boy by Robert Webb. Basically telling the story of his childhood (he had quite a rough ride), through school and university and up to the start of his TV career. Unsurprisingly it reads like one long episode of Peep Show
I've seen most of his TV stuff, Mitchell and Webb and the odd panel show but never knew he could write so well.
I've seen most of his TV stuff, Mitchell and Webb and the odd panel show but never knew he could write so well.
- Jimmy Choo
- Posts: 2007
- Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2018 7:43 am
Re: Book review thread
In the last couple of weeks I've listened to Player of Games and I'm almost done with Rivers of London.
I've also had a binge on the Dresden Files short stories in preparation for the latest release.
I've also had a binge on the Dresden Files short stories in preparation for the latest release.
Banal Vapid Platitudes
Re: Book review thread
Just ordered that solely on the basis of the title!PreacherCain wrote: ↑Thu May 31, 2018 2:37 pm I am halfway through "Exactly: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World" by Simon Winchester and recommend it wholeheartedly. Not as shooty as an Iain M Banks, but extremely interesting and, I'd have thought, right up our collective and slightly "on-spectrum" street.
Re: Book review thread
I enjoyed the Secret Race by Tyler Hamilton a couple of years ago and found it quite an eye opener in terms of what cyclists would do to be competitive. Any suggestions for something similar ?
Re: Book review thread
Belgariad, Mallorean, spin offs and the Sparhawk ones - I think I first read them when I was 9 or so (grew up without a TV, read an awful lot). On average re read them once a year or so.
Mind you, WTF he was on with The Redemption of Althalus? Didn't get that at all
The Evo forum really is a shadow of its former self. I remember when the internet was for the elite and now they seem to let any spastic on
IaFG Down Under Division
IaFG Down Under Division
Re: Book review thread
Love these
The Evo forum really is a shadow of its former self. I remember when the internet was for the elite and now they seem to let any spastic on
IaFG Down Under Division
IaFG Down Under Division