nickthegun wrote:This is 99p on Kindle right now, for anyone interested. |
Rate the last book you read • Page 103
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GrandpaUlrira 3,871 posts
Seen 31 minutes ago
Registered 16 years ago -
Mola_Ram 25,619 posts
Seen 6 minutes ago
Registered 9 years agoProject Hail Mary
The new one from Andy Weir, writer of The Martian. It's not actually out until May, but I got an advance copy through work.
I liked The Martian, and after Artemis (which I didn't like) I remember wondering whether Weir was a one-trick pony. You know, science man (or woman) is in a fix, needs to use real science to get out of it, etc. Like a more science-fictioney MacGyver.
And after reading this... yeah, one-trick pony. But it's better than Artemis, because at least he's not trying (and failing) to write believable female point of view characters anymore. He's gone back to what he knows, and that at least is an entertaining read.
So, probably recommend if you liked The Martian. Just don't expect it to break any new ground.
Edited by Mola_Ram at 09:45:47 07-04-2021 -
Murbs 25,068 posts
Seen 2 hours ago
Registered 16 years agoI didn’t enjoy Artemis either. Thought it was incredibly average.
I’m re-reading Perdido Street Station at the moment (recently picked up the other two New Crobuzon books). First read it ten years ago - it was the first book I bought on my OG Kindle. Finding it hard going though, which surprises me as I remember it as one of the best books I’d read at the time. We’ll see. -
Mola_Ram 25,619 posts
Seen 6 minutes ago
Registered 9 years agoHe reminds me a bit of Ernest Cline, in that he's not the best writer but (sometimes) makes up for it by bringing something unique and nerdy to the table.
(he's an infinitely better writer than Cline though) -
Tonka 31,725 posts
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Registered 17 years agoI enjoyed the Martian but felt that after about 90% I'd had my fill of "The little rock rested on a layer of sand about 39mm thick for thousands of years..." Won't read any of his other.
I tried to re-read Perdido Street Station about two years ago and I also struggled. Gave up half way through. The Scar is just the better book (I've read it thrice as a matter of fact). IRon Council is waaaay too depressing however. Won't read that one again.
I loved Perdido and I still think it's a marvellous achievement. It's just a bit too much.
I recently finished The Kings Assassin the second entry in the Farseer Trilogy, and it was just as good, if not better than the first one. Straight onto number three.
For those that like fantasy and haven't read them I'd say they're a must read. -
Armoured_Bear 30,281 posts
Seen 3 minutes ago
Registered 9 years agoMurbs wrote:
I thought it was terrible, full of cringe, horrendous dialogue that can only be aimed at teenagers.
I didn’t enjoy Artemis either. Thought it was incredibly average.
Amazed at how successful such poor writing can be. -
Your-Mother 7,277 posts
Seen 2 minutes ago
Registered 4 years agoThe Martian was an okay read, but two things really annoyed me.
1) The relentless optimism of Watney. By the end I was basically taking it as "this guy is mentally ill in some way" but that isn't an intentional subtext and more a head canon.
2) The sheer volume of sign-posting through bad writing. You can tell when something bad is about to happen because the POV and tense changes, and the narration becomes more abstract. It's lazy and inelegant, and I'm surprised it wasn't tidied up by an editor on its journey from a publicly blogged first draft to commercially published product. -
TechnoHippy 18,913 posts
Seen 9 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoWalking to Aldebaran by Adrian Tchaikovsky
The style of this surprised me after his previous books, but it was quite engrossing and I enjoyed it a lot. It's a short read with a furious pace, although the ending was a little obvious.
8/10 -
dmj 1,055 posts
Seen 1 week ago
Registered 17 years agoTonka wrote:
I’ll spoiler tag the below just in case you’re not aware there are two more trilogies.
I recently finished The Kings Assassin the second entry in the Farseer Trilogy, and it was just as good, if not better than the first one. Straight onto number three.
For those that like fantasy and haven't read them I'd say they're a must read.
I still haven’t read the third part of the final Fitz trilogy (presumably. I mean, it’s called Assassin’s Fate) as I’m not sure I’m ready to say goodbye yet. It’s been sitting on the shelf since 2015...
Edited by dmj at 00:06:31 08-04-2021 -
dmj 1,055 posts
Seen 1 week ago
Registered 17 years agoThings I’ve recently read:
The Terror - Dan Simmons
Very much enjoyed this, especially as it didn’t go to shit during the final third. Unlike The Abominable, which really did.
The Eagle of the Ninth - Rosemary Sutcliff
Haven’t read it since I was 13 or something, but still great. A ‘proper good’ historical novel, though arguably not as wonderful as:
The Lantern Bearers (same author)
Another re-read. Set during the Roman withdrawal from Britain as the barbarians take over. Quite melancholy, but great. The sequel, Sword at Sunset, is one of her adult novels and possibly her best. It’s about the ‘historical’ King Arthur (kinda like the King Arthur movie with Clive Owen, only not crap).
Plain Bad Heroines - Emily M. Danforth
A horror novel but one I didn’t find at all frightening. Beautifully written, but the plot just kinda stops.
Currently reading: Sleeping Beauties - Stephen and Owen King
Started it this afternoon. I’m not sure if it’s going to be vintage King (shit has only just started hitting the fan for real) but I’m really enjoying it. -
Nazo 1,754 posts
Seen 18 minutes ago
Registered 11 years agoThe Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
Superb. I've somehow never seen the film and didn't really know what to expect but this kept me utterly captivated throughout. I think I'll have to read more of his works, the two I've read so far have been wonderful.
5/5 -
Tonka 31,725 posts
Seen 6 hours ago
Registered 17 years agoOoohhh, great news. I have it in my bookshelf and I'm a sucker for the whole Upstairs/Downstairs thing. I really enjoyed The Remains of the Day film, Downton Abbey, and Gosford Park.
Will make sure to read this book once I've worked through my pile. -
RichDC 9,067 posts
Seen 1 hour ago
Registered 17 years agoSourcery - Terry Prachett
Great wizardry writing from Prachett. Loving slowly working my way through the whole Discworld series.
Under the Blue - Oana Aristide
Post apocalyptic novel following a global pandemic set in 2020. It follows an artist who apparently missed the end of the world because he's a bit of a self obsessed arty farty dick. That may not be how the author intended him to come across but that's certainly what he is. Luckily when he does notice, he's able to get from his London flat to his second home in Devon where he hopes to wait things out. He's joined by his hot neighbour who he then spend the rest of the book pining for but never doing anything about, and her sister and they all go on a road trip to Africa. There's also a side story about a could of scientists creating an AI and then debating ethics with it. (None of that's a spoiler btw, it's basically the blurb.)
An easy read, but never really goes anywhere or does anything interesting. It was recommended in a Guardian list of new sci-fi and does seem to be getting good reviews, but it's an Avoid from me.
Edited by RichDC at 21:18:20 11-04-2021 -
Nazo 1,754 posts
Seen 18 minutes ago
Registered 11 years agoThe Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger
I know this is meant to be one of the greats but I found it tedious and annoying. The narrator has about 5 set phrases that he repeats ad nauseum and the whole book is basically him whining about how much he hates everyone and everything.
2/5 -
Asterix the gaul. 1,2 and 3
Wonderful. Nice sometimes to feel shit, revisit a childhood favourite and it is still good. In fact better, so many puns!
8/10
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