THE FORMIDINE RIFT MYSTERY (Part 4)

Thatchinho

Thatchinho
JesusRocks1988 said:
I'm at chapter 21 now... Thanks for not posting spoilers guys. Also I am surprised at how much I am enjoying this book, I've not really read sci-fi novels before, but this is really... "Unputdownable", really like it Drew, well done.

Although you may want to have your copy editor take another pass at it, there are a LOT of typos.
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Glad you're enjoying your foray into sci-fi.

There's some fantastic works out there.

In spoilers as strictly it's OT:

Spectrum 4 is a great anthology if you can get hold of a copy.

Knock is worth a read (short version first. Just 2 sentences long IIRC). It's a good commentary on the power of the imagination.

Isaac Asimov has a huge wealth of works. Personally I'd say give some of the short stories a read. Robots of Dawn is essential reading. I'd suggest reading later works and all the series in order of publication if possible.

Arthur C. Clarke also has a huge wealth of works.

Iain M. Banks' sci-fi works are fantastic, particularly the Culture novels. With such a wealth of material and so many books which are great for different reasons, instead of recommending the best books, a consensus has been reached that it's better to recommend a good introduction and then let the best be discovered. Consider Phlebas.

I would also thoroughly recommend Frank Herbert's Dune series. I know at least one other will definitely do the same ;) (And probably many others too!). Personally I'd say just stick to the ones written by FH himself (or at least give a large gap between them and reading any of the others) but others may differ. Reading the entire Dune series does represent a bit of a mammoth endeavour, but it's worthwhile - it's a masterpiece.

Edit- Updated to bring in line with the terms of the Human-Penguin Banksian Accords of 3303 (long may they prevail!).
 
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[Diplomacy] Carnegie

[Diplomacy] Carnegie
Thatchinho said:
Spectrum 4 is a great anthology if you can get hold of a copy.

Knock is worth a read (short version first. Just 2 sentences long IIRC). It's a good commentary on the power of the imagination.

Isaac Asimov has a huge wealth of works. Personally I'd say give some of the short stories a read. Robots of Dawn is essential reading. I'd suggest reading later works and all the series in order of publication if possible.

Arthur C. Clarke also has a huge wealth of works.

Iain M. Banks' sci-fi works are fantastic, particularly the Culture novels. I'd recommend Excession as one of the best and also a great introduction to that universe (even though it's a few books into that universe, it's not a series on the most part and most can be read as standalone books)

I would also thoroughly recommend Frank Herbert's Dune series. I know at least one other will definitely do the same ;) (And probably many others too!). Personally I'd say just stick to the ones written by FH himself (or at least give a large gap between them and reading any of the others) but others may differ. Reading the entire Dune series does represent a bit of a mammoth endeavour, but it's worthwhile - it's a masterpiece.
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An OT response ;)

If you're recommending Iain M Banks then you HAVE to start with 'Use of Weapons'
 

Thatchinho

Thatchinho
DrewCarnegie said:
An OT response ;)

If you're recommending Iain M Banks then you HAVE to start with 'Use of Weapons'
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And an OT explanation!

Use Of Weapons is amazing and personally I consider it the joint best, if not the best of Iain M Banks' works.

However, I feel that in order for the reader to get the most out of it, they should be introduced to that universe with something slightly gentler and more conventional sci-fi.

Left to their own devices they will then eventually discover Use Of Weapons, and the impact of it will be oh so much greater.
;)
 

[Diplomacy] Carnegie

[Diplomacy] Carnegie
Thatchinho said:
And an OT explanation!

Use Of Weapons is amazing and personally I consider it the joint best, if not the best of Iain M Banks' works.

However, I feel that in order for the reader to get the most out of it, they should be introduced to that universe with something slightly gentler and more conventional sci-fi.

Left to their own devices they will then eventually discover Use Of Weapons, and the impact of it will be oh so much greater.
;)
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An OT counter-argument :D

Personally, I found Excession to be one of IMB's least accessible books (Feersum Endjinn, obviously) - although once you get to grips with the which ships are doing what then it becomes an awesomely good read.

As a compromise, how about 'Look to Windward'?
There are so many layers to that story that only come to the surface on a second (or third) reading.
 

Thatchinho

Thatchinho
DrewCarnegie said:
An OT counter-argument :D

Personally, I found Excession to be one of IMB's least accessible books (Feersum Endjinn, obviously) - although once you get to grips with the which ships are doing what then it becomes an awesomely good read.

As a compromise, how about 'Look to Windward'?
There are so many layers to that story that only come to the surface on a second (or third) reading.
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An OT counter-argument which it would be churlish and arrogant of me to ignore, so:

I shall completely ignore it! ;)

I jest, of course. That's a view on Excession that I hadn't accounted for, and I feel that we can indeed reach an equitable compromise on this matter.

Before we progress, may I check whether you agree with my argument with regard to the reader benefitting from discovering Use Of Weapons for themselves, and are satisfied that this is the correct thing to do?

Assuming we are in principio of an agreement on that point then we just have the matter of the compromise.

My concern with Look to Windward is that it has not particularly stuck with me, and I would find it difficult to endorse a recommendation in that circumstance. (Though I may well follow your recommendation and undertake some re-reading, subsequent to which I may be able to revise my position.)

In the absence of agreement on Look To Windward, perhaps we could settle on another recommendation? Or if you find it amenable, I could update my list to include both Look To Windward and Excession, with suitable disclaimers against each and a note that we have left the best to be discovered for the reader for themselves?
 

[Diplomacy] Carnegie

[Diplomacy] Carnegie
Thatchinho said:
An OT counter-argument which it would be churlish and arrogant of me to ignore, so:

I shall completely ignore it! ;)

I jest, of course. That's a view on Excession that I hadn't accounted for, and I feel that we can indeed reach an equitable compromise on this matter.

Before we progress, may I check whether you agree with my argument with regard to the reader benefitting from discovering Use Of Weapons for themselves, and are satisfied that this is the correct thing to do?

Assuming we are in principio of an agreement on that point then we just have the matter of the compromise.

My concern with Look to Windward is that it has not particularly stuck with me, and I would find it difficult to endorse a recommendation in that circumstance. (Though I may well follow your recommendation and undertake some re-reading, subsequent to which I may be able to revise my position.)

In the absence of agreement on Look To Windward, perhaps we could settle on another recommendation? Or if you find it amenable, I could update my list to include both Look To Windward and Excession, with suitable disclaimers against each and a note that we have left the best to be discovered for the reader for themselves?
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I did wonder if I should have edited my comment to confirm that I had accepted your reasoning for allowing my initial suggestion to be 'discovered'. Fortunately you've jumped to the right conclusion, so, OT alternative suggestions:

Hydrogen Sonata is an option, as is Consider Phlebas, but I'd be tempted to go with Surface Detail - because the little Easter Egg that links it back to Use of Weapons will be better appreciated in that order.
 

[Diplomacy] Carnegie

[Diplomacy] Carnegie
nigeljk said:
Now you've done it.

Feersum Endjinn - gotta be the best intro to modern SF.
Old school but extraordinary would be Philip K. - there's a collected works of the shorts in 7 volumes.
Currently there are some phenomenal writers abroad.
P Hamilton and S Baxter to name two.
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More for your collection:

Hannu Rajaniemi's 'Jean le Flambeur' novels are worth checking out.

ps
Feersum Endjinn is migraine-inducing but still an awesome read ;)
 

Thatchinho

Thatchinho
DrewCarnegie said:
I did wonder if I should have edited my comment to confirm that I had accepted your reasoning for allowing my initial suggestion to be 'discovered'. Fortunately you've jumped to the right conclusion, so, OT alternative suggestions:

Hydrogen Sonata is an option, as is Consider Phlebas, but I'd be tempted to go with Surface Detail - because the little Easter Egg that links it back to Use of Weapons will be better appreciated in that order.
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I suspected that might be the case, but decorum dictated that I ask rather than assume.

All excellent choices. Personally I feel that The Hydrogen Sonata goes a little too far into the nature of the Sublime to be a first read. The Easter Egg in Surface Detail is a great moment and point, but the novel itself might be delving too far into in-universe esotericism with all the simulations and hells (although it is undeniably a very very good read). I'm also in a quandary as to which way round of reading Surface Detail and Use Of Weapons would be most satisfying.

So... Consider Phlebas, with an explanation that the consensus is that it's a good introduction to that universe, but that the best books are left for the reader to discover for themselves?
 

[Diplomacy] Carnegie

[Diplomacy] Carnegie
Thatchinho said:
I suspected that might be the case, but decorum dictated that I ask rather than assume.

All excellent choices. Personally I feel that The Hydrogen Sonata goes a little too far into the nature of the Sublime to be a first read. The Easter Egg in Surface Detail is a great moment and point, but the novel itself might be delving too far into in-universe esotericism with all the simulations and hells (although it is undeniably a very very good read). I'm also in a quandary as to which way round of reading Surface Detail and Use Of Weapons would be most satisfying.

So... Consider Phlebas, with an explanation that the consensus is that it's a good introduction to that universe, but that the best books are left for the reader to discover for themselves?
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jacksparrow-we-have-an-accord.jpg
 

Thatchinho

Thatchinho
Jorki Rasalas said:
Mmm, must have missed something here.....
is ECoPTMWACPPBAPT a new department in FD? The Cambridge large wreck/base perhaps?
(Active, coordinates: 52.2345, 0.1397, danger of flying pizza boxes and beer-soaked sticky carpet)
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A nod back to an old conversation which truth be told I thought you had been part of.

Even if my memory is incorrect, then I believe you are still aware of who they are. Them.
The Elite Corps of Powerful Twisted... beings of various descriptions, who we all got a bit carried with adding to the list.
Oh, and a slightly less RP tone - ha ha ha for the joke! I can only hope to aspire to such deftness!
 
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JesusRocks1988

JesusRocks1988
Just finished reading Premonition... Wow.

Excellent story, brilliant filling in of the gaps in our knowledge of Salome's movements - why she went here or there, who was behind this and that etc... And that reveal, woah, that's something I wasn't expecting.

I'm going to put the rest in spoiler tags because of can't refrain from commenting on it, so BEWARE SPOILERS FOR PREMONITION BELOW

Wow, so the Thargoids factions - Klaxians and Oresrians are in civil war and the Oresrians are drawing the fight towards us to use us as a mild distraction to the Klaxians while they make their escape?

All this time everyone thinks the Thargoids are returning because of something WE did, motivated by vengeance for Mycoid or angry that we destroyed their barnacles and stole their probes,
but in actual fact they don't regard us at all? We're only worthy of being disposable things to throw at their enemies?

That's my ego bruised! But I'm sure it'll please those who astutely noted that the Thargoid ships could be running away from something.

And damn those Engineers, the lot of them, all traitorous!

Thank you, Drew!
 

crushdepth

C
DrewCarnegie said:
More for your collection:

Hannu Rajaniemi's 'Jean le Flambeur' novels are worth checking out.

ps
Feersum Endjinn is migraine-inducing but still an awesome read ;)
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I read three of Rajaniemi's Flambeur novels. The first one (Quantum thief) was completely awesome, the second one (Fractal Prince) I simply could not understand. The third one was a bit better but still hard to get into.
 

Saool

Saool
Off topic, but how can anyone have a discussion about the Culture novels without mentioning Player of Games? In my not so humble opinion this is the absolute best of the bunch, followed by Use of Weapons. Sadly I found they seemed to go a bit down hill after that. I enjoyed then, but never finished Hydrogen Sonata as I was finding it so slow. I will go back and give it another go at some point.
 
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