I love the Sun, the Moon and the Stars and To Reign in Hell as well. Probably my two favourites. I actually wrote that I thought Feng's was one of the weaker books, but I pre-edited. I like Agyar and The Gypsy less than Feng's, for sure. But I should give them another try. Freedom and Necessity (with Emma Bull) is excellent too. The Vlad Taltos books are the bomb, but as ita noted, they vary a fair bit in tone, particularly around the middle of the run.
Don't belong. Dangerous, like you. Can't be controlled. Can't be trusted. Everyone could just go on without me and not have to worry. People could be what they wanted to be. Could be with the people they wanted. Live simple. No secrets.
River ,'Objects In Space'
We're Literary 2: To Read Makes Our Speaking English Good
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
JohnSweden - Apr 27, 2004 6:02:46 pm PDT #2420 of 10002
I can't even.
meara - Apr 27, 2004 6:04:13 pm PDT #2421 of 10002
See, I had a lot of trouble getting THROUGH Freedom and Necessity...it seemed like it ought to be interesting, but it just wasn't working for me.
§ ita § - Apr 27, 2004 6:04:55 pm PDT #2422 of 10002
Well not canonically, no, but this is transformative fiction.
I think I didn't get Freedom & Necessity. The Hegelian Dialectic (and its relevance) still escapes me. I don't remember The Gypsy, but Agyar was good, I recall that.
laurmb - Apr 27, 2004 6:07:06 pm PDT #2423 of 10002
Well I have snost and lost.
I love The Sun The Moon & The Stars -- it's sort of Microserfs for artsies.
I am swooning. Two of my favorite books, by authors (Brust & Douglas Coupland) I never hear mentioned at the same time.
Back to Brust - I'd suggest anyone start with the Vlad books, in publication order. I actually like the Paarfi novels better, but I think the Vlad stories are excellent (excellent=fun+smart in my book) and a better intro to that universe. I'm not a big Feng fan, but now I'm going to reread it because it's been ages (well before watching Firefly) since I read it.
Thanks for all the Tanith Lee suggestions. My library list is getting to be a mile long...
dcp - Apr 27, 2004 6:30:50 pm PDT #2424 of 10002
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.
I'm not much of a Brust fan, but I remember liking Cowboy Feng's Space Bar and Grille. It was so long ago that I can't remember any details, I'll have to go look it up again.
Polter-Cow - Apr 27, 2004 6:47:03 pm PDT #2425 of 10002
What else besides ramen can you scoop? YOU CAN SCOOP THIS WORLD FROM DARKNESS!
it's sort of Microserfs for artsies.
Ooh, I love Microserfs. And Generation X. I'll have to keep my eye out for this Brust book.
deborah grabien - Apr 27, 2004 9:19:26 pm PDT #2426 of 10002
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
Which? People keep telling me to read Tanith Lee but I don't know where to start.
Placing my vote for The Birthgrave and my alltime favourite of hers, Kill the Dead. There's something so charming about irony when it's genuinely loving.
hun_e - Apr 27, 2004 9:40:22 pm PDT #2427 of 10002
Meanwhile, back at the Hall of Justice...
a couple of books by Tanith Lee
I remember reading some of her books when I was younger, they were kind of shorter sf-ey kind of books, but really well written... everything I've seen of hers in a while isn't what I remember... does anyone else remember this, or am I losing it?
Also, I am *finally* finished my last semester so am looking for some non-school type reading. I would love some sort of fantasy-type books, along the lines of Mary Stewart's Merlin/Arthur books, maybe similar subject matter (no Guinevere, though, thanks)- although I know there are few out there to parallel Stewart's fabulousness in the genre.
Gris - Apr 27, 2004 9:58:49 pm PDT #2428 of 10002
Hey. New board.
I have Quicksilver and The Confusion sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read.
Very annoying, this time lack thing.
Considering I'm the only person I know who's read Cryptonomicon three times, I clearly NEED to read them.
dcp - Apr 27, 2004 10:04:00 pm PDT #2429 of 10002
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know.
I've read Cryptonomicon at least three times, and it is still ROFL funny.
Quicksilver I am still kinda "meh" about, I'll re-read in a couple of months and see if I like it any better. Mostly it made me want to go read Gleick's biography of Isaac Newton, and look for a bio of Hooke, just to see how much liberty Stephenson took with his portrayal of them.