I rather get the impression that the Vorkosigan books – and Bujold generally – tend to appeal more to female, than to male, readers. Not in every case: I’m male, and I love the “Vorkosiverse”.
My brother and I are both keen readers – but we have a running joke that except in very rare instances, it’s a “given” that a book or author that I like, he will hate; and vice versa. I introduced him to the Vorkosigan novels. Initially, his response was very positive; but some way into The Warrior’s Apprentice – the first one in the series in which Miles himself is the central character – he ran up against an incident which in his view, horrendously over-stretched the long arm of coincidence: he promptly set the book aside, and pronounced himself utterly finished with Bujold. As said – usually the way of it with him, me, and reading matter.
[Maserschmidt: Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels]
I rather fear, the ultimate confession of heresy around here; but, I can’t stand Pratchett. So many people, for many of whom I have much respect, love his books, that I suspect “it can’t be him, it’s got to be me”. Nonetheless: I’ve tried a couple of his novels – could get nowhere near finishing either. For me, they were totally un-funny, and in fact unreadable. (As it happens, my brother has never been interested in trying this author.)
Or maybe Pratchett just doesn’t tickle your funnybone. Some of his books are not what I’d give to someone who wants to try reading Pratchett (Faust/Eric, for instance), so it might be that you tried the wrong books. But I guess it’s possible that an otherwise intelligent person just doesn’t get Pratchett.
I’d say if you don’t like Douglas Adams then you won’t like Pratchett either, and vice versa. They use similar kinds of language, imagery and comedic absurdity*.
Yeah, I love Adams, but have only finished 2 books by Pratchett - Wyrd Sisters and Last Hero, the latter of which is basically a jumbo sized child’s storybook.
I did manage to get through The Colour of Magic in comic book form, and the Soul Music miniseries (though I remember almost naught about either), so I think it’s just Pratchett’s prose that I have a problem with.
Or you just don’t like him. Nothing wrong with that. I’m a huge Pterry fan, but I’ll be the first to say that some of his stuff (Color of Magic, Light Fantastic, Eric, Pyramids) just plain sucks. If you decide to try again, I’d recommend Night Watch and Carpe Jugulum - these are the two that I think he really hits out of the park. But if you don’t - hey, life’s too short to read bad fiction.
Stross’ Laundry Series I just read, and enjoyed very much - it’s about a secret agent of the British government who has to deal with soul-sucking eldritch abominations like Nyarlothetep, Human Resource departments, and PowerPoint. Funny satire, but built on the bones of strong, interesting stories. (Anyone else think they’re starting to get a bit dark, though?)
William Gibson’s postcyberpunk Blue Ant trilogy is one I’m currently re-reading. He’s said Zero History is the last one, and I’m sorry about that. I find them unexpectedly absorbing, and am very taken with some of his characters, Hollis Henry and Milgrim especially.
Carpe Jugulum was one of those which I tried ! I must just be one of those rather few individuals for whom Mr. P. completely “doesn’t do it”. With me, it’s partly because of feeling it all to be so laboured: he tries hugely ever-so-ever-so hard, to be ever-so zany… JMHO, and for everyone like me and Kamino Neko, there seem to be ten people who revel in – anyway, a great deal of Pratchett’s output.
Then doff your hat and move on! Like I said, there’s nothing wrong with not liking a particular author - I can’t get into Game of Thrones - and I’m not about to get into a “Oooh, but this is why Pratchett is so good! You must have missed this” conversation. There’s a lot of good fiction out there - you’re bound to find something that appeals.
Not just. “Rough Music”, the second chapter of I Shall Wear Midnight is the single best piece of writing Terry’s done. I haven’t read it in a year or so, and I have goosebumps just recalling it.
My favorite bit: Tiffany has been told that she must return an abused girl to her home:
OTOH, I think I’d read all the Honor Harrington stories I could stand by about the third one… after Weber retconned her into Wonder Woman it got pretty tedious.
Yeah, I’d move Diplomatic Immunity back into the “peak” group, and Captain Vorpatril’s Alliance as part of the “slide.” The best thing I can say about it is that it made me appreciate Cryoburn.
Yeah; The only thing I flag people for when they say “I don’t like Pratchett” is to make sure they read one that was good. Some uh…well intentioned individual of dubious taste suggested that I should start with Small Gods, which, to this day I think was pretty awful, and it put me off the man for YEARS until I picked up Men At Arms on a whim.
@Smeghead - I shan’t get into a big argument, but suffice it to say: Those weren’t wild dragons. But yes, it’s true, she put more time into the societal impact of dragons than the biological one. But strangely, I have found that I don’t tend to read my fantasy for their detailed representations of modified biomes. Do you do this sort of thing everytime you run into a fantastic creature in a book?
Two series worth mentioning. One is fantasy the other thriller/mystery.
The First Law - Joe Abercrombie
Some of the best newer fantasy I have read/listened to in years. Lately I have been listening to books. This is an excellent series to listen to. The narrator is great and the story is excellent, no fluffy fantasy here. One of the main characters is an inquisitor that enjoys torturing people.
The Troubles Trilogy - Adrian McKinty
Wow, great series. Another great one to listen to as well. The first book does get a bit wordy in the middle but the pay off for the rest is well worth it. He has other another series that ties in a bit and is set around the same time frame. This guy is getting better and better as he writes. This is a mystery/thriller set in New York, Ireland and around the world. It goes through the tough times in Belfast and has taught me more about the Protestant/Catholic issues there than I have read in history books. Can’t say enough about this series and all of his books.
I may have missed it, but I didn’t notice anyone speaking up for Octavia Butler.
All of her work is intriguing. At the risk of being labeled racist and as a white person, I don’t think a white person could have written her stuff. Her characters are incredibly resilient yet passive or subtly active. Her protagonists are unlike anything I’ve encountered in sci-fi.