| I think Morgan has been going down hill personally. I really don't think Blackman and the Steel remains were anywhere near the standard of the Kovacs books. Blackman just seemed to be missing something and I read the Steel remains right after the Blade itself by Joe Abercrombie and it came off badly in comparison. He is still a good author but the last couple of books knocked him off my instant buy list. |
Book recommendation (sci-fi) • Page 7
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glaeken 12,070 posts
Seen 7 months ago
Registered 17 years ago -
phAge 25,487 posts
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Registered 18 years agoI prefer the Kovacs books as well. OTOH Black Man has an excellent tittyfuck-scene. -
President_Weasel 12,355 posts
Seen 2 weeks ago
Registered 17 years agoglaeken wrote:
I think Morgan has been going down hill personally. I really don't think Blackman and the Steel remains were anywhere near the standard of the Kovacs books. Blackman just seemed to be missing something and I read the Steel remains right after the Blade itself by Joe Abercrombie and it came off badly in comparison. He is still a good author but the last couple of books knocked him off my instant buy list.
Intriguing, because I had the opposite reaction. I thought The Blade Itself was decent, but The Steel Remains was better. Also I'd say Abercrombie was going downhill faster; Last Argument of Kings was better for its bleakness than for the actual writing, and Best Served Cold was a disappointment. -
chiefian 475 posts
Seen 4 years ago
Registered 13 years agoI've only read Altered Carbon and Broken Angels but I can definitely recommend Altered Carbon. It was a great read and I've read it twice now.
Currently reading Blood Pact, bit behind on my WH40K books. -
glaeken 12,070 posts
Seen 7 months ago
Registered 17 years agoPresident Weasel wrote:
glaeken wrote:
I think Morgan has been going down hill personally. I really don't think Blackman and the Steel remains were anywhere near the standard of the Kovacs books. Blackman just seemed to be missing something and I read the Steel remains right after the Blade itself by Joe Abercrombie and it came off badly in comparison. He is still a good author but the last couple of books knocked him off my instant buy list.
Intriguing, because I had the opposite reaction. I thought The Blade Itself was decent, but The Steel Remains was better. Also I'd say Abercrombie was going downhill faster; Last Argument of Kings was better for its bleakness than for the actual writing, and Best Served Cold was a disappointment.
Funny thing personal taste.gif)
I actually do agree Best served Cold was a disapointment. It just did not have the characters of the first law triolgy. Well apart from the characters it stole from the first law trilogy of which only Costas really worked for me.
On the Steel remains I understand Morgan actually plans to make it a trilogy. -
Gruff 3,940 posts
Seen 16 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoglaeken wrote:
You know that is the second book in a trilogy right? I think you can read that one without reading the first book if I remember correctly but I sure it has some references to stuff that happened in the first book. The first book being Altered Carbon.
Yeah i did, but its the Altered Carbon wasn't in stock, so i thought i would the second one a bash, glad i did. -
coastal 5,432 posts
Seen 2 days ago
Registered 15 years agoany sci-fi WWII book recommendations? -
coastal 5,432 posts
Seen 2 days ago
Registered 15 years agoreally i just want cryptomonicon II. -
glaeken 12,070 posts
Seen 7 months ago
Registered 17 years ago@Gruff Well you will probably be fine as I don't think it references the first book for any critical plot points. I think its just references to characters that you might not know anything about which you can probably get through.
Its a great book actually the second one and might just be my favourite of the Trilogy. They are all very good though. -
localnotail 23,079 posts
Seen 2 weeks ago
Registered 13 years agocoastal wrote:
any sci-fi WWII book recommendations?
erm... not strictly scifi (alternate reality) but Fatherland by Robert Harris? -
glaeken 12,070 posts
Seen 7 months ago
Registered 17 years agoI have read quite a bit of WW2 based Sci-Fi in my time but not much I would recommend. Certainly nothing to the standards of Cryptomonicon that I can think of. The best I can really come up with is Harry Turtledoves World war series but its not up to Stephenson's standards and it goes on for far too many books. The first book or two I remember being very good though if you like the general premise of an Alien invasion interrupting WW2. -
coastal 5,432 posts
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Registered 15 years agoi'll take a look, thanks. just trying to get my glasto reads sorted out. -
shamblemonkee 17,967 posts
Seen 4 days ago
Registered 17 years agoI was looking for some quality sci-fi to read, checked out a top 100 list, but unfortunately it seems i've read pretty much everything on there!
help! -
glaeken 12,070 posts
Seen 7 months ago
Registered 17 years agoJust remembered on the WW2 front "The man in the high castle" by Phillip K Dick is actually pretty good. Its sort of bit like Fatherland though with added Dick weirdness. -
shamblemonkee wrote:
Interesting list. Read the top 5 and about 30 others. No GAP series by Mr Donaldson though? Shameful
I was looking for some quality sci-fi to read, checked out a top 100 list, but unfortunately it seems i've read pretty much everything on there!
help! -
glaeken 12,070 posts
Seen 7 months ago
Registered 17 years agoThere is some nice stuff in that list but also some duffers. It seems to have a few too many books that were influential for when they were published but are actually not that good if you read them now. I am looking at you Brave New world and you 20,000 leagues under the sea. Also Valis is in the list which has to be Dick's worst book by miles. I would also question Michael Criton appearing 3 times in a top 100 Sci/Fi books of all time list. -
And two of Orson Scott Cards Ender novels. -
glaeken 12,070 posts
Seen 7 months ago
Registered 17 years agoYeah I did not mention them as most seem to hold them in high regard. I thought they were Ok but they would not feature in any top 100 list I put together. I never really got the hype around those books. -
I've read half a dozen ender/bean books and they're okay, none of the sequels are remotely like the original.
Darwins Radio should be in there too- all this mention of Ender reminds me of that as I read it round the same time -
opalw00t 12,836 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 17 years agoEverything I've read by Adam Roberts is great - almost thought experiments, rather than straight science fiction. -
glaeken 12,070 posts
Seen 7 months ago
Registered 17 years agoI can barely remember Darwins Radio though I do remember it being good. Some times I think I should actually give up buying new books as I have so many old books I read years ago I can barely remember now I could probably save a lot of money. Still new shiny thing and all that.
On Bear they do have Blood music in there. -
localnotail 23,079 posts
Seen 2 weeks ago
Registered 13 years agocoastal wrote:
i'll take a look, thanks. just trying to get my glasto reads sorted out.
Don't take anything you are not prepared to roach the cover of.
Does Jeff Noon count as scifi? -
shamblemonkee wrote:
Hmm, I've read half of them, but that's a pretty shit list. Even the good books there are usually not the best by that author. Also several (many) seem to have been included because of 'classic' status rather than because they're actually any good.
I was looking for some quality sci-fi to read, checked out a top 100 list, but unfortunately it seems i've read pretty much everything on there! -
localnotail wrote:
Most definitely. Shit sci-fi mind. ;p
Does Jeff Noon count as scifi? -
opalw00t 12,836 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 17 years agoThat list is poop. No Dhalgren?
Edit: And I think I've read about 70 of them. -
glaeken 12,070 posts
Seen 7 months ago
Registered 17 years agow00t wrote:
Everything I've read by Adam Roberts is great - almost thought experiments, rather than straight science fiction.
Hmm not too sure on Roberts. I initially thought he was great as he is very good writer for a Sci-Fi writer but the last couple of books I have read of his were not great. Splinter and Swiftly. When I say not great I feel overall the stories were not satisfying though there is decent writing in both.
Some of his early stuff was really good though. Salt, On and PolyStom I think are excellent.
He is an interesting writer though as he really does seem to make a real effect to do something different in each of his books. -
ChocNut 2,471 posts
Seen 2 years ago
Registered 18 years agoDont know if its already been mentioned but The artefact by Gregory Benford is one im reading (and loving) now - I'm only halfway through though. It has a Michael Crichton vibe to it.
I hate dystopic sci-fi and I also don't enjoy sci-fi that is more than 15 years old because the tech ideas/concepts feel age quickly imo... -
localnotail 23,079 posts
Seen 2 weeks ago
Registered 13 years agootto wrote:
localnotail wrote:
Most definitely. Shit sci-fi mind. ;p
Does Jeff Noon count as scifi?
ooh Otto, you are so straight it's a wonder you can sit down
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I... don't really understand, I just think Jeff Noon's a bit shit! I think I read him hoping for lots of pervy sexy wordy fun and it was just really really boring. -
Which ones did you read? I really liked everything I've read apart from Falling Out Of cars, which was just ok. Vurt was realy nicely trippy I thought, and the others in that series. And I liked the remix stuff he did with Needle in the Groove.
.gif)
I actually do agree Best served Cold was a disapointment. It just did not have the characters of the first law triolgy. Well apart from the characters it stole from the first law trilogy of which only Costas really worked for me.
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