Comments on: Sigh-Fi: Seeking Less Boring Books

By: Dale

Dale — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 08:38:30 +0000

I must say that Iain Bank’s “Consider Phlebas” is one of the best science fiction novels of the last twenty years or so: stuffed to the gills with intriguing technological ideas, and (most importantly) a considered approach to how socialism might work in “space opera”. A blast-off beginning with a vivid prison escape, and an ambiguous protagonist. Banks’ “Culture” novels are stunning achievements.

By: Dan

Dan — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:03:06 +0000

Re: Scalzi. Indeed, I've used the "Ender's Game" pitch for the book, though it kind of reduces it a bit. It's probably not as good as Ender's Game, but it's still engaging and entertaining, if not quite as ambitious. The subsequent sequels are also pretty good.

I don't remember if you actually went and read Richard K. Morgan, but I enjoyed Altered Carbon and, to a lesser extent, its two sequels.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:25:37 +0000

Bouncing off of Evan’s classics in sf theme, I’ve got to throw out Alfred Bester. The Stars My Destination, The Demolished Man, and his early short story collection are all phenomenal.

By: Evan

Evan — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 18:06:27 +0000

What about Rendezvous with Rama (Arthur C. Clarke)? Again, something old school, but REALLY well done, and not necessarily as troped in other fiction.

By: Jason

Jason — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 15:06:06 +0000

I haven’t read Old Man’s War yet, largely because everyone describes it as being like Ender’s Game (with old people) and that pitch just seems very predictable in terms of how it’s likely to unfold. I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually, but right now, I am interested in being surprised (which is admittedly a tall order when talking about genre fiction).

By: Evan

Evan — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 04:46:24 +0000

I would be all about the doombook of the month. I am on shelfari, but rarely use it. I think I am too lazy to blog about the books that I read.

In other sci-fi books, Jason, have you read John Scalzi yet (Old Man's War)? It smacks of Ender's Game, but remains an enjoyable read (and even the sequels are worth reading - no cliffhangers either, everything is a distinct story, though characters are reused).

Also, I am currently reading Jack Vance (Tales of Dying Earth). Old "classic" stuff, more fantasy than sci-fi, but the prose itself is absolutely wonderful.

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:31:04 +0000

Sorry the link didn’t work http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=jmgold

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 16:30:32 +0000

Actually I do the same over on

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 05:13:40 +0000

For what it's worth, I've been keeping track of what books I read over on a tumblelog for about a year now, as part-experiment, part-memory aid (since sometimes I have a hard time remembering when I've read books, or what they're about).

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 23:54:29 +0000

Does anyone else thing we should just start a book club?