I got back from vacation last week, and since I’m physically incapable of going on vacation without hitting a bunch of used-book stores, I now have the problem of “an embarassment of riches”. (If only I always has this problem!). Anyway, I’m slooooowly plodding through Bank’s Player of Games, but when I’m done, what should I read next?
Here’s a few of the books that I picked up that I’ve got on my “short list”. Anyone wanna recommend one? (I’d appreciate a reason for the recommendation, not just a pick, btw):
[ul]
[li]Wild Talent - Wilson Tucker[/li][li]Aegypt - John Crowley[/li][li]Little Big - John Crowley[/li][li]Midnight’s Children - Salamon(sp) Rushdie[/li][li]Armageddon Rag - George R.R. Martin (finally got a copy!)[/li][li]Summer of Night - Dan Simmons[/li][li]Carrion Comfort - Dan Simmons[/li][li]Counterfit World - Daniel J. Galouyle[/li][li]Iron Dragon’s Daughter - Michael Swanwick[/li][li]Welcome Chaos - Kate Wilhelm[/li][li]Star Well - Alexi Panshin[/li][/ul]
I rather thought Iron Dragon’s Daughter was good. It’s a (dark) fairy tale, so it doesn’t require a lot of thought to read…but the intellect won’t wither and starve, either. Kinda depressing in parts, naturally enough.
I didn’t like the Simmons books listed in the OP (I know I’m in the minority on this one), but I thought his “Hyperion” books were absolute works of art.
There are two duologies:
Hyperion
Fall Of Hyperion
and
3) Endymion
4) Rise of Endymion
I cannot recommend these books more.
i just threw all 4 of those books away after trying to read them for over 4 years. every time i’d pick one up, i’d read a few pages, come to something like “woman-drake root”, scream with laughter and put it back down. i’ll stick with the horror stuff, i found his sci-fi to be stilted, boring and unoriginal. sorry.
Fenris – I’m not arguing that, but there are some who make a sharp differentiation between SF and horror and I wanted to make it clear that the horror is foremost. And yes, you’re right about the premise of “Carrion Comfort.”
I like some of Simmons’s work and don’t care for others. “Carrion Comfort” is probably my favorite, along with “Summer of Night” and “Hyperion.” (Though the sequels aren’t up to that level.) I found “The Hollow Man” badly cliched (not with old cliches, but with new ones – serial killers, mob hit men, etc.). “Song of Kali” was probably good, but I made the mistake of reading “Carrion Comfort” first, so guessed what was going to happen (Simmons has one very effective trick in his horror books, but it only works if you don’t know it’s coming).
It’s strange that I’ve never even heard of those two books by Simmons. The only ones every book store seems to carry are the Hyperion series (which I loved) and The Hollow Man (which I loathed).
I really wish I could recommend something from the list, but I haven’t read any of them. But, as I’m sure you already know, Martin is an amazing writer. I haven’t read anything bad by him yet, so he’ll get my vote.
Spaceweft and Tamerlane: I’d heard Iron Dragon’s Daughter features a “High Tech Magic” society (in other words, it’s not set in the faux generic Elisabethan or Arthurian setting that so many Extruded Fantasy Products are set in. It’s supposed to be a much higher “tech” society.) Is that accurate?
Steve: Well? Star Well (and the other two, most likely, they’re short) or Little, Big? I need you to pick one! If I could decide for myself, I wouldn’t be posting! (I’ve heard great things about both, but I gotta admit to being biased against Panshin for his…um…er…book…on Heinlein.)
Revtim: I read Hyperion and thought it was an extremely mixed book. Some of the stories (the Soldier’s and the Spy’s) bored me quite a bit. Others were beautiful (the Scholar’s tale moved me to tears.). What bothered me at the time is that there was no warning about the lack of ending (and no warning that it was the first book of a series). It was like reading a 400 page prologue and I was so disgusted that I didn’t make it to the next book. I’ve since learned that this wasn’t Simmon’s idea (it was the publishers), so maybe I’ll give it a second try. And I don’t remember a “woman-drake root” (or anything like it) either.
RealityChuck: I appreciate the comment that the horror was foremost. Frankly, that helps (I’m vaguely in the mood for horror.) I was just teasing about the “Spec Fic” thing. Can you compare his horror work to someone else who I might have read? I understand that Simmon’s horror is different in tone from Hyperion.
Ender: <Grandpa Simpson voice> Listen whippersnapper: Don’t you recommend Ender’s Game to ME! I read the original story in Analog(?) when it came out! </Grandpa Simpson Voice>
Anyway, Armageddon Rag looks cool. From the back-cover description and what I’ve heard, apparently a rock band named “Nazgul” has sold it’s collective souls to become superstars. And somehow they’re bringing about armageddon. I can’t wait to see how Martin handles this. It seems perfect for him.
Fenris: Ehhh…Yes and no. It’s more like a bizarre fusion of the two. And it’s mostly not played for laughs - At times it approaches grim ( not Grimm ). I certainly would call it fantasy, rather than SF. For example its unclear in the book if dragons are wholely mechanical high-tech constructions with an intelligent A.I. or if they are some sort of fantastical bio-tech fusion with stealth technology and missile systems. Whatever they are, they’re sentient. All the standard faerie types are in the book, but in weird permutations. Elves are the snotty upper-class that control the wealth and military. Strip-malls exist along with love-spells. Pre-destination wars with free-will. It is all rather like some strange fever dream. Fairly inventive really.
I do recommend it, despite the fact it is a downer in some ways. And like I said, I was intrigued by the ending which is one of those that makes you think just a little ( I’m trying to avoid spoilers here - It’s not necessarily tremendously profound, but I didn’t quite expect the change of pace ).
You’re plodding through The Player of Games? Plodding? Plodding. Hmmm. I hope you mean you’re making it last.
Anyway, here’s my vote. Drop everything but Armageddon Rag. And when you’re done with it, find Martin’s A Game of Thrones. Read it, and the next few in the series. Then find everything you can by Banks, including his so-called mainstream fiction. Have yourself a binge.
Errr… except while reading The Wasp Factory. There are bits of that book that don’t go well with food at all. Come to think of it, you could say the same for Consider Phlebas - especially the opening.
(Oh yeah, the OP. Star Well should be an interesting contrast directly after an Iain Banks book. That’s what I think.)
No, I’m kind of surpised but I’m just not enjoying it. But I’ve gotten to the part where Gurgeh got to the Empire, so I’m hoping it’ll pick up. The problem is that I’m close to uttering “the Eight Deadly Words”.(The “Eight Deadly Words” which, when uttered, will kill any book:I don’t care what happens to these characters!)
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I’ve read Martin’s Game of Thrones series and I hate the fact that I’ve gotta wait for the next goddamn book! After the events where you-know-who reappears at the end of Storm Of Swords, I’m suffering!
I don’t read much horror, but Simmons is very good at giving the heroes no easy out. His plotting is quite unpredictable, with twists that are perfectly logical, but which you can never anticipate.
I guess if we all had the same tastes, this old world would be a bland, bland place.
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Yep. The only consolation I have is a little voice in my head telling me, “Oh, but just before the next one comes out you can read the others again so it’ll be like you never had to wait at all.” It’s been a long time since I’ve felt the degree of anticipation I’ve experienced all through Game of Thrones.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist. My pick is on your list but isn’t science fiction: Little, Big. Everything by John Crowley that I’ve read I have loved, but that book just cannot be surpassed. To me, it was like reading a cross between Lewis Carroll’s Sylvie and Bruno and Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine. Absolutely the most beautiful book I have ever read. I’d recommend it over Ægypt (even though that was good as well), as Ægypt is Part One of a four part epic, and Part Four has yet to be published (although I see he has a release coming in March 2002, so I’m crossing my fingers). The most "SF"y of his books that I’ve read was Beasts, which is also wonderful.
). I certainly would call it fantasy, rather than SF. For example its unclear in the book if dragons are wholely mechanical high-tech constructions with an intelligent A.I. or if they are some sort of fantastical bio-tech fusion with stealth technology and missile systems. Whatever they are, they’re sentient. All the standard faerie types are in the book, but in weird permutations. Elves are the snotty upper-class that control the wealth and military. Strip-malls exist along with love-spells. Pre-destination wars with free-will. It is all rather like some strange fever dream. Fairly inventive really.
- It’s not necessarily tremendously profound, but I didn’t quite expect the change of pace ).