ajgoal
Almost always never serious
- Jun 29, 2015
- 9,537
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Redshirts is quite good. I've enjoyed every Scalzi book I've read, which includes the Old Man's War and Collapsing Empire series and Kaiju Preservation Society.
OT: Sci-Fi and Fantasy Thread - SPOILERS Part Three
- Thread starter CanadianFlyer88
- Start date
I really like Scalzi's stuff. Redshirts was a blast, Old Man's War was super cool and the sequels were also great (although I need to read the last two at some point), and I really enjoyed The Collapsing Empire too (still need to read the sequels for that too lol. My backlog of books is immense.)
I read Ringworld a few years back and did not enjoy it that much. I finished it, but have no desire to read the sequels.
I read Ringworld a few years back and did not enjoy it that much. I finished it, but have no desire to read the sequels.
ajgoal
Almost always never serious
- Jun 29, 2015
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The Old Man's War series is on my re-read list. I can't remember how many of them I actually read.
I thought it was fine? Nothing that made me think, "That's really cool," but interesting concepts.
I finished Last Argument of Kings just now.
Jesus, that was bleak. I think I need a hug.
Jesus, that was bleak. I think I need a hug.
Half A Song of Ice and Fire and half Lord of the Rings, but Gandalf turns out to be Saruman in disguise and sets off a fantasy nuke in the middle of Minas Tirith. Most of the POV characters seem to want to do better, but are dragged back down by the past, their circumstances, or their own nature.
That being said, all three books are low-key funny as hell. I guess they need to be to balance out .... all that....
That being said, all three books are low-key funny as hell. I guess they need to be to balance out .... all that....
A Wizard of Earthsea itself is aimed at younger readers. But it commences a trilogy series (followed by a second trilogy written some 20-30 years later) that is sort of canon-y for the entire fantasy genre? And pretty beloved....so try it sometime.
There's nothing wrong with YA books, and I've really enjoyed the Le Guin I've read so far (The Dispossessed and The Lathe of Heaven), and I could use a break from 'heavier' stuff after reading Before They Are Hanged and Last Argument of Kings in the span of a month.
Chinatown88
Daniels QB3
Brian Jacques got me into fantasy. Rest his soul but I wouldn't be an fantasy reader if I never picked up Redwall from my school library in middle school.
as soon as i get through Redshirts and a few other of his books I may finally get on to Percy Jackson..i also may not lol
It just felt a bit dated to me. Maybe it suffered a bit from the 'Seinfeld Isn't Funny' effect where a lot the stuff that followed it covered the same ground so the original lost a bit of its luster.
I cannot properly express how much I adored those books growing up. Them and the Chronicles of Narnia were what really got me reading as a kid.
BackToTheBrierePatch
Nope not today.
We finished off For All Mankind yesterday. 4 seasons. Not sure if there will be more. Started off strong, thought the last season plus were kind of up and down. Last episode was good though
I'm always a fan of alternate history stuff, and combined with NASA/space this was right up my alley.
I feel like it was really good until it got too soap-opera at times
With the whole Danny/Karen Baldwin stuff. UGH. Then the whole plot-line with his brother was annoying as well, although the pay-off with the explosion at the end was at least good.
Some of the Mars stuff was good, but then Danny was back again and self-destructing and sabotaging things. The idea that two North Koreans could be stuffed into a Russian satellite and have the food/water/air to make it to Mars and actually land was massively ridiculous though.
S4 was better at times than S3 IMO... although I'm not sure the ending was as big of a pay-off and the flash-forward felt weaker than previous seasons.
Some of the Mars stuff was good, but then Danny was back again and self-destructing and sabotaging things. The idea that two North Koreans could be stuffed into a Russian satellite and have the food/water/air to make it to Mars and actually land was massively ridiculous though.
S4 was better at times than S3 IMO... although I'm not sure the ending was as big of a pay-off and the flash-forward felt weaker than previous seasons.
Well, you won't regret picking it up, and following thru. I re-read the 2nd book Tombs of Atuan regularly, just such a compelling combo of character and perspective and setting.
p.s. Tombs of Atuan also skews YA because the PoV is that of a child. But quite a child.
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ajgoal
Almost always never serious
- Jun 29, 2015
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- 27,967
Forgot. I read Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Pretty good. I didn't read The Martian, this is a bit more "hard" sci-fi though still relatively grounded.
official trailer...all episodes drop on the 11th...i think it looks good but still being cautious about it
EXTRAS
Registered User
- Jul 31, 2012
- 8,906
- 5,357
Wizard of earthsea is kinda weird for me. Ursula le guin is such a fantastic writer in her adult stuff, and I realize wizard of earthsea is written for YA but it's like she completely dumbs down her writing too. Found the first two books pretty bland and boring. I'm sure I'll get to the rest just for the sake of it, but the quality to me is far below her other stuff.
It's kind of like cs lewis where I don't get the big deal with lion witch and wardrobe. It's okay. I guess it's more famous than it should be because it's elevated by the Christian community? Cs lewis is a much better writer In his other works, imo. Although he always seems to lose the thread on stories haha.
no disagreement...it was YA aimed. I read them as a YA, and enjoyed them a lot, definitely before I read LOTR or any other fantasy...and you know how it is with childhood favorites, they can endure.
similar response re: the Narnia books...it's (primarily) for children.
Captain Dave Poulin
Imaginary Cat
Chinatown88
Daniels QB3
finished Redshirts...really good..quite funny..emotional at the end..especially the Codas
I just finished A Wizard of Earthsea. That was a wonderful book and anybody who skips it because it’s for ‘young adults’ is doing themselves a disservice. It took me a while to get used to the prose and lack of exposition, but once I did I was hooked. I think I read the back half in one sitting. Man I wish I had read it 20 years ago.
BackToTheBrierePatch
Nope not today.
I am very glad to hear you enjoyed it so much! LeGuin is a precious treasure. And you have a few books to look forward to now...spread them out if you can.
The next one...Tombs of Atuan...has been on my re-read for enjoyment list for a long time. Very satisfying.
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I wouldn't say I enjoyed it. I absorbed it. A Wizard of Earthsea is a part of me now, in a way that few other novels are. I've only read a couple of other works by Le Guin (The Dispossesed and The Lathe of Heaven) but her worldview has become a significant part of mine.
Ged talking with Murre near the climax is a dialogue that will stick with me forever.
Somehow simultaneously terrifying and comforting.
Tombs of Atuan is probably next on my list of books to read. I started The Traitor Baru Cormorant today, but once I finish that I think I'll have to return to Earthsea.
Lord Defect
Secretary of Blowtorching
- Nov 13, 2013
- 18,754
- 34,770
The Spot series and dr Seuss got me into reading.
The sequel to mongol moon,
dance with Devils came out about a month ago. Life kept me from it, but I’m halfway through now.
Damn good book, the author really does a good job with a near future alternative present day type almost Tom Clancy-esq novel.
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