# \#books-writing-myths **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/tag/books-writing-myths/23.md [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) --- ## [About the Vorkosigan books](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-vorkosigan-books/1024913)
**Author:** [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Replies:** 427\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2026, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/about-the-vorkosigan-books/1024913 "2026-10-06T01:31:20Z")
Recently, in a different thread, several Dopers recommended that I try out the Vorkosigan books, by Lois McMaster Bujold, starting with Shards of Honor: Well, I’ve finished the first book, and yup, that’s definitel… --- ## [Khadaji’s Whatcha Reading Thread - October 2026 edition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2026-edition/1033495)
**Author:** [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2026, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-october-2026-edition/1033495 "2026-10-05T21:07:14Z")
October is here! Time to get the skellys out of the basement and hang the ghosts on my porch. If you’re up north, it’s time to bust out the long sleeved shirts and comfy hoodies. Down south, time get out the shorts and m… --- ## [What is the first sentence from the book you are currently reading?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-sentence-from-the-book-you-are-currently-reading/784858)
**Author:** [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Replies:** 3830\ **Last updated:** [October 4, 2026, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-first-sentence-from-the-book-you-are-currently-reading/784858 "2026-10-04T23:48:34Z")
“I think it was my love of wrestling that first took me to the dance hall.” -from Unfaithful Music and Disappearing Ink by Elvis Costello mmm ETA: Requested forum change to Cafe Society --- ## [Khadaji’s Whatcha Reading Thread - September 2026 edition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-september-2026-edition/1032704)
**Author:** [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Replies:** 58\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2026, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-september-2026-edition/1032704 "2026-10-01T01:13:26Z")
As August winds down, there is only ONE question on the mind of all North Americans: “Can we just cool down already?!” And if everything would stop burning that would be great too!!! Inerestingly, this has been the worst… --- ## [Die Drei ? (The Three Investigators)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-drei-the-three-investigators/1033336)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 32\ **Last updated:** [September 25, 2026, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/die-drei-the-three-investigators/1033336 "2026-09-25T23:00:57Z")
When I visited Germany last year on business trips I saw posters everywhere for something called Die Drei ???. It looked kinda like Scooby Doo – a trio of kid mystery investigators. I soon found copies of the books in th… --- ## [Ask the guy who is pretty good at SF Story Identification](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417)
**Author:** [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Replies:** 2068\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-who-is-pretty-good-at-sf-story-identification/462417 "2026-09-21T13:16:19Z")
Hi there. It’s been just about 4 years since I signed onto the SDMB, but I’m back. A few weeks back I helped out in this thread Help me find this Science Fiction short story - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board … --- ## [Are any of the "origin stories" of Mother Goose rhymes actually well-supported?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-the-origin-stories-of-mother-goose-rhymes-actually-well-supported/1033128)
**Author:** [@themapleleaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/themapleleaf)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 19, 2026, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-any-of-the-origin-stories-of-mother-goose-rhymes-actually-well-supported/1033128 "2026-09-19T20:16:38Z")
Every now and then, you come across an explanation for the supposed story behind this or that Mother Goose rhyme, often claiming that what we tell as a childish nursery rhyme actually stands for a specific event in Engli… --- ## [The Hardy Boys - Ever read them as an adult?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardy-boys-ever-read-them-as-an-adult/1032129)
**Author:** [@XOldiesJock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XOldiesJock)\ **Replies:** 138\ **Last updated:** [September 18, 2026, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardy-boys-ever-read-them-as-an-adult/1032129 "2026-09-18T03:03:08Z")
During a recent bout of insomnia, I decided some late-night reading might put me in a sleepy state of mind. I didn’t want anything too serious, nor with print so small I had to strain to read it (new glasses are on thei… --- ## [Classical Literature, pre-reading, and you](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-literature-pre-reading-and-you/1032972)
**Author:** [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2026, 11:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/classical-literature-pre-reading-and-you/1032972 "2026-09-15T11:40:31Z")
I was toying around with rebuilding my medieval European lit collection, but after a little time it was clear that to truly ‘get it’ I would need to get at least some Ovid under my belt, at least Metamorphoses. Great, b… --- ## [On Reading Literature](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-reading-literature/1032535)
**Author:** [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Replies:** 49\ **Last updated:** [September 3, 2026, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-reading-literature/1032535 "2026-09-03T23:53:09Z")
Trying to keep this post as general as possible and see where it leads. I got a book for $2 on Kindle called 50 Masterpieces to Read Before You Die which is straight up 50 full-length classic literature novels. Some I h… --- ## [Reading the Hugo packet](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-the-hugo-packet/1031616)
**Author:** [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Replies:** 38\ **Last updated:** [September 1, 2026, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/reading-the-hugo-packet/1031616 "2026-09-01T15:48:59Z")
I mentioned this in the vorkosigan thread, and thought it might be worth starting a new thread to discuss it. I bought the Hugo packet again this year. (Technically, i bought “voting-only” access to the Hugo convention, … --- ## [Khadaji’s Whatcha Reading Thread - August 2026 edition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-august-2026-edition/1032066)
**Author:** [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-august-2026-edition/1032066 "2026-08-31T00:53:09Z")
Ooooooo got it in just under the wire – at least in my time zone! So are we all cooked enough? I hope no one here has been severely impacted by all the fires raging around the world! Might be time to start reading dytop… --- ## [Name that Pratchett novel? {answered}](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-pratchett-novel-answered/1032669)
**Author:** [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2026, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-that-pratchett-novel-answered/1032669 "2026-08-30T01:05:12Z")
It’s the one where Death fecks off for a bit and goes to live in a little farmhouse. It’s been about 30 years since I read, but I want to say it’s the first one in which the Death of Mice appears as well. And a poor bu… --- ## [Good Bad Books](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bad-books/1032607)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [August 29, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/good-bad-books/1032607 "2026-08-29T02:21:09Z")
Since I have been reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin on audio (for the first time ever), I had a look at criticism about it, and stumbled upon George Orwell’s evaluation of it, in a 1945 essay entitled “Good Bad Books”. Here’s wh… --- ## [Help me stock the ultimate (fictional) library](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-stock-the-ultimate-fictional-library/671444)
**Author:** [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Replies:** 257\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2026, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-stock-the-ultimate-fictional-library/671444 "2026-08-23T03:24:23Z")
Reading this thread made me think; it’s been a long time since I’ve fired up the old multi-dimensional travelinator and I have some extra cash/gold/Galleons/beaver pelts, and I want to expand my library. What books shou… --- ## [The Bannerman books by John R. Maxim](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bannerman-books-by-john-r-maxim/1032399)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2026, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-bannerman-books-by-john-r-maxim/1032399 "2026-08-18T21:33:08Z")
I just read that AMC has a “Bannerman” series in development, based on the John R. Maxim series. By the way, as I told this to My Beloved she surprised me by saying “Ah, the surprise is spoiled! I just ordered the whole… --- ## [Dungeon Crawler Carl?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dungeon-crawler-carl/1026145)
**Author:** [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Replies:** 73\ **Last updated:** [August 16, 2026, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dungeon-crawler-carl/1026145 "2026-08-16T01:50:09Z")
Ok… so my wife made a new friend last year, and she and her husband are huge nerds. Board gaming, video gaming, fantasy, science fiction, you name it. They’re HUGE into all that stuff. They’re really pushing me to re… --- ## [Books of an unusual nature](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-of-an-unusual-nature/1032141)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 108\ **Last updated:** [August 9, 2026, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/books-of-an-unusual-nature/1032141 "2026-08-09T17:36:36Z")
Not the content, but the book itself. No audio books or e-books please, and it must have been released to the general public for purchase. First example: The Unfortunates by B.S. Johnson (1969) from Panther Books. The… --- ## ["The Martian Chronicles" is either a clumsy fix-up or a brilliant satire, and I'm not sure which but maybe it's both: A very belated book report](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-chronicles-is-either-a-clumsy-fix-up-or-a-brilliant-satire-and-im-not-sure-which-but-maybe-its-both-a-very-belated-book-report/1029062)
**Author:** [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Replies:** 172\ **Last updated:** [August 5, 2026, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-martian-chronicles-is-either-a-clumsy-fix-up-or-a-brilliant-satire-and-im-not-sure-which-but-maybe-its-both-a-very-belated-book-report/1029062 "2026-08-05T01:17:13Z")
.When I was in 4th grade I was in an advanced class for gifted learners. These days, I’m not sure if I actually was gifted or if I was just an undiagnosed autist whose neurodivergent way of thinking and obsessing over fa… --- ## [Nuclear War (Annie Jacobsen novel)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-war-annie-jacobsen-novel/1010477)
**Author:** [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [August 3, 2026, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nuclear-war-annie-jacobsen-novel/1010477 "2026-08-03T05:46:22Z")
Anyone read this book I’m about 35% of the way through. Interesting book, although there really aren’t characters in the book so far. No one to root for or despise. Quite frightening, in many ways. I do wonder if the b… --- ## [Khadaji’s Whatcha Reading Thread - July 2026 edition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-july-2026-edition/1031256)
**Author:** [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Replies:** 66\ **Last updated:** [August 1, 2026, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-july-2026-edition/1031256 "2026-08-01T00:10:59Z")
So here we are, July about to slap us in the face, heat beginning to ramp up, Europeans buying out our Ranch Dressing supply like crackheads who found a stash of 100$ bills, and the World Cup marching merrily onward. In… --- ## [107 Days (Kamala's campaign diary)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/107-days-kamalas-campaign-diary/1023783)
**Author:** [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [July 28, 2026, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/107-days-kamalas-campaign-diary/1023783 "2026-07-28T04:34:10Z")
Just finished Kamala’s book….a few notes. It’s fairly candid, but it will be an actual historian/journalist who writes a complete unvarnished account of the 2024 presidential campaign. This isn’t it. She is bitter abo… --- ## [Favorite short stories](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-short-stories/1030512)
**Author:** [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Replies:** 110\ **Last updated:** [July 26, 2026, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/favorite-short-stories/1030512 "2026-07-26T01:00:59Z")
I was in a discussion with friends about our favorite short stories and there wasn’t a single person who could come up with an absolute favorite. We had to narrow it down to a favorite by different authors. I have six… --- ## [Girl-led adventure series for young kid](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-led-adventure-series-for-young-kid/973078)
**Author:** [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Replies:** 36\ **Last updated:** [July 14, 2026, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/girl-led-adventure-series-for-young-kid/973078 "2026-07-14T16:09:50Z")
My great niece is a bit over three years old and has fallen in love with the Dinosaur Cove books, which center on the adventures of two young boys who surreptitiously explore a world full of living dinosaurs. The books a… --- ## [Trying to find an SF story](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-find-an-sf-story/1031517)
**Author:** [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [July 10, 2026, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trying-to-find-an-sf-story/1031517 "2026-07-10T09:58:58Z")
The punch line is that someone says “I want it Yesterday” and in fact some odd package had shown up in the mailbox yesterday without them realising it. The protagonists run a consulting agency offering mathematical help… --- ## [In Praise of Classics Illustrated](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-classics-illustrated/1031331)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [July 5, 2026, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-praise-of-classics-illustrated/1031331 "2026-07-05T19:09:01Z")
I was brought up on Classics Illustrated. Those comic books that aspired to present classic literature to kids in the form of fumetti-infested sequential art. The bane of teachers, who thought them even worse than Cliff… --- ## [Looking for a science fiction short story](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-science-fiction-short-story/1030540)
**Author:** [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Replies:** 9\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2026, 1:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-a-science-fiction-short-story/1030540 "2026-07-01T13:08:04Z")
It is about someone who discovers that the farthest away the mail comes from the faster it arrives. Then one day they (accidentally) receive a package from a non-earth address that is postmarked and dated just after (or … --- ## [Khadaji’s Whatcha Reading Thread - June 2026 edition](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-june-2026-edition/1030498)
**Author:** [@DZedNConfused](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DZedNConfused)\ **Replies:** 67\ **Last updated:** [July 1, 2026, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/khadaji-s-whatcha-reading-thread-june-2026-edition/1030498 "2026-07-01T02:25:37Z")
June, we are now six months into 2026… and honestly it feels like six decades. On the other hand, my goal to read one T.Kingfisher book a month is cooking along nicely and I have the next three months lined up and waitin… --- ## [Opinions on this top 10 books list?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-top-10-books-list/1029839)
**Author:** [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Replies:** 91\ **Last updated:** [June 13, 2026, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/opinions-on-this-top-10-books-list/1029839 "2026-06-13T18:31:20Z")
I tend to read the same books over and over and over. Mainly all of Tolkiens works. I decided I should read some other things and looked up various lists of “top 10 books”. Right now I’m working through this: I’d nev… --- ## [The Guardian's Top 100 Works of Literature](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guardians-top-100-works-of-literature/1030116)
**Author:** [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [June 7, 2026, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-guardians-top-100-works-of-literature/1030116 "2026-06-07T13:49:32Z")
Yet another book list has emerged, and while reading it I thought, instead of bitching and moaning about what’s excluded, or talking about how many we’ve read, how about calling out a few delightful surprises? There were… [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/tag/books-writing-myths/23.md?match_all_tags=true&page=1&tags%5B%5D=books-writing-myths)