As JA requested…..
A little while ago I complained that the Greg Bear novel Darwin’s Radio wasn’t all that it could’ve been which prompted JA (over at Jewish Atheist – check out the link) to ask me for examples of books containing interesting ideas with a narrative power to match. So, here are ten books I can recommend.
The Traveller by John Twelve Hawkes
The Martian Race and The Sunborn by Gregory Benford
Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson
The Chronoliths and Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson
Look to Windward by Iain M Banks
The Bridge by Janine Ellen Young
A Deepness in the Sky by Vernor Vinge
Earthquake Weather by Tim Powers.
I hope you enjoy them.
About Me
- CyberKitten
- I have a burning need to know stuff and I love asking awkward questions.
10 comments:
Hidee Ho! I'm reading Lisey's Story by Stephen King. I love it and I'm putting off the end so that it won't be over. I still haven't found an author that can engage my emotions like he can. I could have sat and read this one straight through--only pausing for eating.
Thanks for visiting me while I was gone and then now that I'm back--I hope to visit you more often too!
KittyCat: Clearly, I've missed a whole lot of authors and titles, as I am familiar with not one of those books. Thanks for the list. I haven't done a list of good books lately, and I think I must now. You're an inspiration.
I've only read the Years of Rice & Salt. Thought it was his worst book - I found it a bit of a hard slog to care about the characters - although characterisation is not his strong point anyway:-)
All lists are personal - though I fully agree with the Ian m Banks and Kim Stanley Robinson Entries. I would add Alistar Reynold's 'Century Rain', Margart Atwood's 'Oryx and Crake' (both of which I've read recently), Douglas Coupland's 'Girlfriend in a Coma' and (if you can stick with it as it starts out rather slowly) David Mitchell's 'Cloud Atlas'. Finally as a bit of a classic I still think Issac Asimov's 'Foundation' is such an interesting idea - but its been a long time since I read it so not sure how its dated...
If this is asking too much, just ignore my request, but if not, could you provide maybe a 2-3 sentence description of each title? Thx!
Thanks! I just checked out the first book in that Vinge series. I'll let you know how I like it. :-)
Nice to have you back Sadie. I've missed your input. I know that I've annoyed you more than once and that we'll never agree on some things - so its all the more gratifying to see a comment from you.
FW - I've been called many things in my time. I'm not sure that inspiration is one of them. It's funny with books though. I think that most of what I read is pretty much 'mainstream' - but it turns out that its only mainstream in a fairly narrow niche. Most of what I read is SF/Fantasy with a sprinkling of other stuff and it does surprise me sometimes when people haven't heard of the authors or titles. Then again I've been reading SF for 30+ years so the whole genre is pretty much 2nd nature to me.
I've read your posting about books you've enjoyed and admit that 90% of the time I have no idea of the book or the author. Its a *very* big world where literature is concerned I think..
JM - I really enjoyed 'Rice & Salt' I thought it was an interesting idea presented in an interesting way.
rca - Apart from the original Foundation series (not counting the numerous books based in that universe) I haven't read any of those others. I think I might have some Alistar Reynold somewhere in 'the pile' but I couldn't swear to it.
V V - I'll do you a quick two liner on each of the books a little later. I'm scheduled to be killing people on-line for the next few hours so I'll post something after I've cleaned the blood off my uniform [grin].
Right... The Galaxy is safe for another day... [grin].
The Traveller is a presnt day fantasy story where Travellers move between worlds and bring back esoteric knowledge. Protected by Harlequins and hunted down by those who wish to control mankind they are freedom incarnate. First in a trilogy - though the other books are yet to be published.
The Martian Race is about a race to Mars and the subsequent discovery of advanced lifeforms.
The Sunborn is the sequel to The Martian Race taking place 18 years later. The mars life still remains a mystery but something even more amazing is happening on pluto... I'm reading this ATM so I'll be reviewing it fully this weekend.
Years of Rice and Salt is an alternate history where the Black Death kills most Europeans allowing Islam & the Chinese to rule the world. The story spans hundreds of years with the same characters being reincarnated from generation to generation.
The Chronoliths is about the sudden appearence of future monuments comemerating a war that hasn't happened yet and its impact on present day society.
Darwinia is about the sudden disapearence of Europe during the Victorian age - replaced by a continent wide jungle. Explorers from the USA arrive and find something truely amazing about the nature of the universe.
Look to Windward revisits the utopian but ruthless interstellar Culture introduced in Consider Phlebas, exploring the complex aftermath of a rare Culture mistake--humanitarian tinkering with an unjust civilization that accidentally led to massive civil war and billions dead. [I actually had to cut that from Amazon as I couldn't remember the details...]
The Bridge is about an alien probe that communicates by viral DNA - with rather unintended consequences for the human race.
A Deepness in the Sky is about an interstellar trading company trapped in an alien star system. Unfortunately their technology is too low to help them - so they manipulate the alien culture whilst leap frogging the years in cold sleep.
Earthquake Weather is a very strange tale of ancient Gods fulfilling prophecy in California.
Oh, and JA. I think you'll like the Vinge novel(s).
Thanks CK. Now I have a top 3 to look for in my bookstore (Rice & Salt, Chronoliths, and Darwinia). Now I just have to find time to fit in pleasure reading between the day job and the night job. :-)
You're right! Even though there is much to separate us--I still find that when we DO agree--it feels ever so nice.
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