Read a good book lately? [Archive] - Page 2

HenryDorsetCase

11th October 2007, 22:33

Cock up something basic like one of Newtons laws or Einsteinian mathematics and you can be sure to get a lot of emails and letters from readers.

It sounds like we've read a lot of the same books. I quite like the stuff where just to make the story work they say "Well, here we have mastered faster than light travel (kind of) but all the other laws applicable to this universe still apply: so no instant communication between far flung planets etc (Thinking of CJ Cherryh's Merchanter stories here).

Having said that, Ive just finished reading Neil Gaiman's "Stardust" which I surprised myself by enjoying immensely. Goes to show a good writer will hold your attention no matter the genre. I loved his "Neverwhere", Anansi Boys and American Gods also.

HenryDorsetCase

11th October 2007, 22:40

The freelance materials and astrophysics work subsequentially done on Ringworld's design and environment and mailed to Niven's publisher was so impressive in both volume and complexity that they published it as a research paper. Before that nobody had calculated the strength of materials required to build a Dyson Sphere let alone an orbital ring. Niven had also neglected to explain one of the inherent instabilities in such a structure, an oversight he corrected in Ringworld Engineers iirc?

Greg Benford's (who IIRC is a professor of rocket science or something) The Martian Race is good in similar vein: Take existing technology and make it get to Mars and back. Put these people in the situation and see what happens. Its a while since i read it, but my recollection is that the science based stuff was really good, but the characters werent so good.

Pleased someone mentioned Zelazny also. One of my favourites: the Amber books are great, and he won a Hugo for Lord of Light in the '70's, which is amazingly good even now.

Who has read Samuel R Delaney's books: Dhalgren in particular? (I actually like the early stuff too like Empire Star and Babel 17 though I think the author has kind of disowned it......... his later stuff didnt grab me the same way)

Kickaha

12th October 2007, 05:48

My four favourite SF heroes for years were Louis Woo, Speaker-to-Animals, Nessus and Beowulf Schaeffer. Even though they weren't always particularly "likeable"...

Those and Gil Hamilton on my list

Ocean1

12th October 2007, 13:04

Pleased someone mentioned Zelazny also. One of my favourites: the Amber books are great, and he won a Hugo for Lord of Light in the '70's, which is amazingly good even now.

Good stories, but I prefered Doorways in the sand, brilliantly unorthodox and bloody funny.

Wolf

12th October 2007, 13:32

It sounds like we've read a lot of the same books. I quite like the stuff where just to make the story work they say "Well, here we have mastered faster than light travel (kind of) but all the other laws applicable to this universe still apply: so no instant communication between far flung planets etc (Thinking of CJ Cherryh's Merchanter stories here).
Heinlein's "Friday" - someone thinks having to rely on mail delivered by FTL ship (taking weeks or months) is stupid: "why don't we just use radio?"

Niven and Pournelle put a lot of thought into implications of technology in Mote in God's Eye - Need "FTL" travel and communications to be able to maintain a huge Interplanetary Empire but how do you wind up with an unexplored star system in the middle of it? They spent ages working out all the logistics on that. And as Niven said in one of his laws: "Technology sugggests technology" which means you have one thing (matter/energy conversion teleports a la Star Trek) you also have other things (matter replication).

Babylon 5 did very well with their technology - jump gates allowing "FTL" travel and communication (via subspace relays and, I gather, direct subspace links) but also having to stick with pure Newtonian physics for the shorter distances - accelerate, cruise, decelerate, match vector... - and smaller ships that can't carry a jump point generator.

They did far better than Star Trek with its 2-second full stops from Warp 8 and spaceships that coast to a stop when the engines stop working... :devil2:

Those and Gil Hamilton on my list
Yeah, ol' Gil the ARM is quite cool.

HenryDorsetCase

12th October 2007, 13:47

They did far better than Star Trek with its 2-second full stops from Warp 8 and spaceships that coast to a stop when the engines stop working... :devil2:

Yes but for all its faults, Star Trek has Captain James T Kirk, and Mr Spock, and Uhura etc.... so thats OK.

I must look out for Babylon 5 now I have access to stuffs on the interwebs. Ive never seen it on TV. (and Walter Koenig was in it)

To digress even further, I really love Joss Whedon's Firefly and Serenity. What Star Wars should have been... and I blame George Lucas personally for killing the franchise stone dead. Fuck him!

Wolf

12th October 2007, 14:58

Sorry, a bit :Offtopic:

Yes but for all its faults, Star Trek has Captain James T Kirk, and Mr Spock, and Uhura etc.... so thats OK.
Lt Cmdr Susan Ivanova. 'nuff said.

Oh, and then there're aliens that don't merely look like humans with a bit of silly-putty on their noses, Pulsed Plasma weapons, Star Furies and Daffy Duck. (Seriously)

I must look out for Babylon 5 now I have access to stuffs on the interwebs. Ive never seen it on TV. (and Walter Koenig was in it)
Ah, Bester. Proof that Star Trek never used Mr Koenig to his full capacity. Brilliant characterisation and acting.

Be warned, you have to watch B5 from "The Gathering" (Pilot) to its end in sequence or you'll never "get it".

There are (at grave risk of actually being on topic) some excellent books that are deemed part of the canon (as opposed to the usual drek written by various authors to cash in on the success of major movies/series) including a trilogy by J. Gregory Keyes that follows Bester's life. Best to read it after you've watched the series though as it contains serious "spoilers". Well written, delves into his character and finally answers a few questions that the series never did (and it's deemed canonical by JMS).

Also recommend the "Legions of Fire" trilogy by Peter David (what really happened on Centauri Prime) and "To Dream in the City of Sorrows" by Kathryn M. Drennan (which ties up a lot of loose ends in the series and explains/reveals a lot)

Edit:

Read them all and thoroughly enjoyed them. Well written and entertaining, all of them. Each of the authors does a great job of getting into the minds of the characters and the events/situations that test and shape them.

Wolf

13th October 2007, 08:12

Any of you heard of or read "Raven" by S A Swiniarski?

I found it in the cheap-bin at a book store and figured that if it sucked I'd probably get more than I paid for it at the second hand shop.

Turned out to be one of the best modern Vampire yarns I've ever read.

Basic premise is a bloke wakes up freezing in a culvert showing signs of a fight with very little memory. Comes to realise he's an ex-cop turned PI, his wife has been hideously murdered and he also finds he now has a disturbing appetite and an aversion to daylight...

The vampire aspect is well handled - a human doctor who helps the vampires is convinced it's some kind of transmissible virus that altered the body to regenerate it but it requires fresh blood to function. But one of the other vampires says something along the lines of "all very well and good, but his theories don't explain the other things you can feel and sense". So you're left making up your own mind about the nature of vampires.

His investigations - into what has happened to him, who killed his wife, who is vanishing young people (which he was investigating before his wife was killed and he was left for dead in a culvert) and where his daughter is - take him into the pagan community of the city and Swiniarski writes pagans as they really are with no retarded Hollyweird crap. They're Average Joes with non-standerd beliefs, no supernatural powers (there was a Tarot reading done that seemed on the mark but we all have our theories about that, right?) and no fucking idea that some of those in their midst are vampires.

Surprisingly good book, excellent read. Swiniarski seems to be a bit of a One Hit Wonder - unfortunately, as I'd love to read a sequel.

I really enjoyed Piers Anthony's Incarnations of Immortality series about how Death, War, Fate, Time, Gaia - and even Satan and God - are "offices" held by humans who are bestowed with the special powers that go with that office. There are various mechanisms whereby humans are inducted into the offices (the new Death takes the office by killing his predecessor).

Excellent stories but not for closed-minded people.

Anthony's Death (Zane) is my second favourite version of Death I've ever read. (No prizes for guessing who's Death is my #1 favourite).

Really enjoyed John Varley's Titan/Wizard/Demon trilogy about an space exploration team that encounters a strange sentient artifact that calls itself "Gaea" and seems to have watched way too many Earth movies and has the genetic engineering capacity to manufacture mythical creatures.

Sirocco Jones is right up there with Louis, Nessus, Speaker and Bey Schaeffer, IMO.

HenryDorsetCase

13th October 2007, 11:02

If we're confessing to guilty pleasures, I have read all four of Kim Harrisons vampire books starting with Dead Witch Walking. They're OK actualy (though appalling typesetting and editing errors abound in the paperback I have....) They arent generally my sort of reading at all but Ive enjoyed them.

Ive also enjoyed all of Anthony Bourdain's books: Kitchen Confidential, The Nasty Bits and A Cooks Tour. Bourdain is all over one of the sky channels apparently with TV: He is in his 50's, worked as a chef in New York for a number of years, and has a fantastic funny and jaded view of the world. Also his favourite band is the Ramones..... I like his books a lot.

Similar vein is Heat by Bill Burford: average joe wants to learn to cook like a professional chef.... really good, and really well told.

Kevin Cameron (technical editor of Cycle World magazine) has a book out of his collected writings (check the Cycleworld website). I am getting that next.

Curious_AJ

13th October 2007, 11:46

I've just finished "Jessica" by Bryce Courtney :crybaby::weep: It was so sad at the end.... Can't say too much as Doug hasn't read it yet. When he's finished "The Potato Factory" (same author) I'll read it;) In the meantime I'll read "Harry Potter's Last book to keep me going :2thumbsup

sounds like a brilliant idea to me... I'm reading The Deathly Hallows... it's the best by far i think.. the last book wasnt THAT good... but then I did have it spoilt for me before I got to the end :(

Winston001

13th October 2007, 13:02

An author I can thoroughly recommend is Richard Preston. "The Hot Zone" is a true story about viruses and potential breakout from USAMRID.

"The Cobra Event" is an excellent thriller about viruses. Scary stuff and educational.

Winston001

13th October 2007, 13:09

Wolf

13th October 2007, 14:04

I'm also a total fan of Larry Niven and have many of his books. Some of his collaborations with Gerry Pournelle work, others aren't quite so strong but always readable.

I recommend "Legacy of Heorot" and "Inferno" (which is sometimes overlooked) which is a retelling of Dante's Inferno. Both books are apart from the Known Space Universe.
I gather you've read Integral Trees and Smoke Ring? Some serious science at work in those to figure out how such an environment could plausibly exist and what living in it (and adapting to it, in the case of the humans) would entail.

Legacy of Heorot was brilliant. Haven't read any of its sequels yet. Inferno was an excellent retelling - love the bit how the mega-industrialists and the greenies were both in the Circle of the Wasters... Wish they'd carried on and redone Purgatorio and Paradiso. Or were they worried they'd drop dead on completing the third one?

In the non-fiction areas, I heartily recommend Lois on The Loose by Lois Pryce - riding her XT225 from Alaska to the bottom of South America. Delightfully and humorously written and a gripping read. Far easier going than Ted Simon's Jupiter's Travels.

Currently reading Race to Dakar by Charlie Boorman. Have the Silk Riders - In the Footsteps of Marco Polo and The Last Hurrah - Beijing to Arnhem to get through as well.

Ocean1

13th October 2007, 17:15

Legacy of Heorot was brilliant. Haven't read any of its sequels yet.

Worth doing so, in spite of some minor unnecessary character stuffing they're as good, or better.

I'll add Isle of the dead to my previous list, compulsory reading for Zelazny fans. He also fabricated The mask of Loki with Thomas T Thomas. A typical Zelazny blend of mythology, mysticism, science and awe. One of his last full novels and possibly my favourite. Pity it seems to have disappeared from my shelves...

I liked Jane Jensen's Dante's Equasion

And one completely off the wall: Robert Holdstock's The Fetch, very much avant guard and just creepy as hell.

Winston001

13th October 2007, 17:23

I gather you've read Integral Trees and Smoke Ring? Some serious science at work in those to figure out how such an environment could plausibly exist and what living in it (and adapting to it, in the case of the humans) would entail.

Legacy of Heorot was brilliant. Haven't read any of its sequels yet

Beowulfs Children (sequel) is good as Ocean says.

Really liked the Integral Trees environment although once you'd left the tree survival seemed a bit hit and miss. Gravity does have it's benefits. :D

One other favourite SF writer whom I haven't read for years is Stanislaw Lem. I always found his books fascinating. Alas our local library has none of his books now.

JimO

13th October 2007, 17:26

angelas ashes is a good read

Wolf

13th October 2007, 18:52

One other favourite SF writer whom I haven't read for years is Stanislaw Lem.
And those who don't like Stanislaw Lem need a good "shellacking". :devil2:

Beowulf's Children is on my must own and must read list - I intend on owning every Niven Book ever written.

Kids destroyed my copy of "The Magic Goes Away" so I need a new copy of that as well.

Any of you SF fiends read "Dragon's Egg" by Robert L Forward? He makes Niven and Pournelle look like an easy read.

Very good story and you run the risk of learning a bit of science in the process.

Street Gerbil

13th October 2007, 19:12

Wow, Lem is known and appreciated in this part of the globe? People who love Lem should really try reading Roadside Picnic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roadside_Picnic) (Careful, link contains spoilers!!!) and The Hexer series by Sapkowsky (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrzej_Sapkowski) which at the moment, unfortunately are only available in rogue translations, but enjoyable nevertheless. Oh, did I mention that Goodkind's Phantom is out and it has *wink*wink* already leaked to the internet?

---- EDITED:
I was thinking about The Confessor and alas it is not due for another month.

kelleyb

13th October 2007, 19:19

For the music fan I would recommend I'll Sleep When I'm Dead: The Dirty Life and Times of Warren Zevon by Crystal Zevon.

Very good read and interestingly put together as a series of anectodes from the people who knew The Excitable Boy the best.

Bren

13th October 2007, 20:07

My wife does enough reading for both of us. She is a Childrens librarian and is always reading books...mainly young adult fiction. The scary thing is that she uses her "storytime" voice at times when we are doing interesting things in the bedroom (and I am not talking about reading)<_<
Anyway, guess ya could say she is a stereotypical librarian...eg glasses, sometimes has her hair tied up etc...seems sweet, but has a wild streak too:woohoo:

I dont read much myself, but when I do its usually sci fi/fantasy...

deanohit

14th October 2007, 16:10

In the non-fiction areas, I heartily recommend Lois on The Loose by Lois Pryce - riding her XT225 from Alaska to the bottom of South America. Delightfully and humorously written and a gripping read. Far easier going than Ted Simon's Jupiter's Travels.

You wouldn't be biased by the fact you both ride the same bikes?
She does tell a good story though, I have always enjoyed seeing whats happening on her website http://www.loisontheloose.com/ and where she is at the time. :2thumbsup

Wolf

14th October 2007, 16:35

You wouldn't be biased by the fact you both ride the same bikes?
She does tell a good story though, I have always enjoyed seeing whats happening on her website http://www.loisontheloose.com/ and where she is at the time. :2thumbsup
Nah, I did find her writing style a lot easier going. The same bike is just a bonus (besides, she went with the TTR225 for her African trip and I still found her writing on the website engaging.)

Loved her telling of her first night camping in bear country...

Street Gerbil

14th October 2007, 18:34

Has anyone yet mentioned Neil Gaiman? I am re-reading American Gods probably the third time and the magic is still there. Anansi Boys and Neverwhere is cool too.

HenryDorsetCase

25th June 2008, 13:14

Has anyone yet mentioned Neil Gaiman? I am re-reading American Gods probably the third time and the magic is still there. Anansi Boys and Neverwhere is cool too.

Gaiman is brilliant no question. You've obviously read William Gibson and Neal Stephenson as well? If not, check them both out.

I've just discovered Robert Crais. Its crime fiction which I really like. Turns out he has written a bunch of stuff: I am working my way backwards and forwards from a book called LA Requiem, which is one of the best crime books I have ever read.

ch ch ch ch check out www.robertcrais.com for a book list etc.

really highly rated.

Swoop

25th June 2008, 15:43

Zen and the Art of Motorcycling.

An oldie but a goodie. (No shoot-out or car chase at the end though).

Currently on "An Englishman and The Mafia".

Usarka

25th June 2008, 16:05

Ah the old Zen eh :)

I personally cannot recommend two authors enough:

Haruki Murikami

esp:
The Wind Up Bird Chronicle
After Dark
Hard-Boiled Wonderland at the End of the World
A Wild Sheep Chase

And

Victor Pelevin

esp:
The Clay Machine Gun
The Helmet of Horror (a version of The Labyrinth told via chat-room)
Oman Ra

Both from foriegn authors obviously, but quite surreal :wacko: and choice auuuw.

NOMIS

25th June 2008, 16:05

Conn iggulden - Emperor Series ( 4 books but its a series ) all aout Juluis Ceasears life amazing read

Conn Iggulden - Wolves ?? - Ghenkhis khan 1st
Lords of the bow - sequeal to above

Francine Rivers - Mark of Lion series, all are very good especially the 1st
Son's of engouragement ( 5 small books in one ) famous people who had a huge influence on christianity but are not mentioned much in the bible.

Dodger

25th June 2008, 16:09

I'm Currently reading "The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead (http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/Humour/Form/Parodies/product_info/1342835/?cf=3&rid=896664148&i=1&keywords=zombie)" It helps to be prepared :yes:

hellkat

25th June 2008, 16:45

Ah, the Reading Thread.
No good forum exists without one ;)

I read everything and anything that looks interesting, always got my nose in a book, if I'm not on the internet :laugh: But lately I've been trying to improve my knowledge of the classics, which is sadly lacking in content ... so recently I read Pride and Prejudice, the Pickwick Papers, War and Peace, and some other Victorian thing called Can You Forgive Her? by Trollope. I feel 'better read' now :laugh: Still loads of classics I've not read.

To top off my 'classics' session, I have just trudged (literally) through The Magus, by John Fowles (who write the French Lieutenants Woman, which I also have not read, and based on this book, I am not likely to read it, either. I dunno why I read The Magus, I suppose I decided it was probably a classic. It was just weird, and I am still wondering why I bothered to take over three months to finish it.

For a little light relief, my mother has just encouraged me to read a book called Matthew Flinders Cat, by an Aussie guy called (I think) Bryce Courtenay. Only ten pages in, so still not sure . . .

I am very fond of James Lee Burke, who writes crime based in the Deep South USA: his anti-hero/detective, Dave Robicheaux, is very human - feels like he could be a member of my extremely dysfunctional extended family :) - the way Burke writes about life in Louisana in one of the most evocative I have ever read (and believe me, I've read a LOT), and puts me into a deep (but good) mood when I read his stuff. I found an old copy of his book Cimarron Rose for a dollar in a charity shop the other day, how happy I am, can't wait to read it :banana:

For laughs I currently like Joe R Lansdale and Carl Hiassen. Both very funny American comic authors, similar style to Christopher Brookmyre.

Hitcher

25th June 2008, 16:48

I'm currently working my way through the complete works of Edmund Wells.

HenryDorsetCase

25th June 2008, 16:52

Zen and the Art of Motorcycling.

An oldie but a goodie. (No shoot-out or car chase at the end though).

Currently on "An Englishman and The Mafia".

do you mean Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"?

007XX

25th June 2008, 16:54

Devouring anything by David Gemmell at the moment...Just started Druss the Legend. Highly entertaining so far, especially with a hero built like a brick shit house and icy blue eyes (who needs Mills and Boons, eh?)

HenryDorsetCase

25th June 2008, 17:05

Swoop

25th June 2008, 17:27

do you mean Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"?
Correct. There was f*ck all maintenance going on, and substantially more riding!

Katman

25th June 2008, 18:42

Well worth a read, if you can find it, is 'And the Ass saw the Angel' by Nick Cave. Written in the first person it follows the narrators gradual descent into insanity.

Kickaha

25th June 2008, 18:50

do you mean Robert Pirsig's "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"?

I still consider that one of the most boring books I have ever read

Niterider

7th July 2008, 21:32

I can recommend the following:

A pact with the devil - John Allee
Avoiding Evangilism - Lillee Allee
Heaven and Hell - Richard Arbib
Is there a soul - Christopher Henderson
The Black Book of Satan - Conrod Robury (has all me bitches numbers in it)
At least it looks like you know what you're letting yourself in for...strange how people try to make hell look like fun, and heaven look dull. The One that created everything won't have a dull heaven - it's just the other way round. Satan is the best con artist alive - he doesn't want to burn alone...

I only read books on facts, truth and science.

sAsLEX

7th July 2008, 21:36

Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

Just finished that, well actually read the latest Reacher and a Clancey since, but close enough.

Funny thing is some of the themes covered in the book as still very relevant now even though it was written a while back.

Who is John Galt?

Niterider

7th July 2008, 21:54

The Gold of Exodus is definately worth a read - or a watch if you get the DVD (available from Amazon). An absolutely gripping and true story of 2 Americans on a hunt for the lost gold that the Israelites took from Mitsraim(Egypt) when they started the Exodus into the wilderness. It is not only a riveting true story, but it clears up a multitide of errors and blunders from history.

It gives one a good look into the mysterious world of the FBI, CIA and other secret services when the 2 Americans, unaware that their every step is being closely watched, forge their way into Saudi Arabia to get the gold.....:msn-wink:

alanzs

7th July 2008, 22:22

Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand

Who is John Galt?

Yeah, who is John Galt? Excellent book, as are all of her works.

Just read "The Art of the Warrior" and "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson, as well as "The Art of Happiness" By the Dalai Lama.

Read "London" by Edward Rutherford a little while ago. Another good read as well.

Kittyhawk

7th July 2008, 22:27

Horror, gruesome, and graphicial scenes is what I enjoy reading...

Currently reading 2 books by Graham Masterton

Started reading Darkroom, but puppy though she would read it and eat the novel it was that good lol...so will have to ask the library if they have puppy insurance, as dogs actually eat homework and books!!!

So now Im reading "Touchey and Feeley" who are the two main characters and the other is "Descendant"

Next week it will be "accounting papers" study starts again....aaarrrgghhh!!!

alanzs

7th July 2008, 22:29

hayd3n

7th July 2008, 22:38

currently reading
the zombie survival guide
its a good book if it ever happens lol
written by max brooks
top ten lessons for surviving a zombie attack
1 organize before they rise
2 they feel no gear why should you
3 use your head cut off theirs
4 blades dont need reloading
5 ideal protection = tight clothes short hair
6 get up the staircase then destroy it
7 get out of the car get onto the bike
8 keep moving keep low keep quiet keep alert
9 no place is safe only safer
10 the zombie may be gone but the threat lives on

Kittyhawk

7th July 2008, 22:43

Skyryder

7th July 2008, 22:53

WOLF OF THE PLAINS was the last decent read. Conn Igguldon.
Summut like that was the name of the author. Life of Gengis Khan
Been meaning to read the sequal.

At the moment I wading thru DUBLIN by
Edward Rutherford. He wrote LONDON and RUSSKA both are lengthy books. Have not read SARUM: anyone?

On the lighter side DAMAGE CONTROL by Gordon Kent. Lots of high tech weaponry set in the Indian ocean about an military excersise that gets hi-jacked.

Good read for the Rambo types. Another one is IMMEDIATE ACTION by Andy McNab.
Short bio of the author and his time in the SAS.

Skyryder

7th July 2008, 23:04

Niterider

16th July 2008, 20:16

I got this off a site -absolutely the limit of all reading! I cannot get enough of this stuff... Following is some of the reader comments:

Thanks for having the boldness to author the report;
we need to know that someone has been lying to us.
It needs to stop!

Jill Masters, Newcastle

This is the best book of its kind I have ever read.
You cannot put it down; it keeps intruding into
your thoughts.

Ron Davies, London

I’ve just read the report through for the FIFTH Time. WOW!

Pat Brannigan, Los Angeles

This is one of the most fascinating, thought-provoking
mind-blowing books ever. The research is over-whelming.
You kept me in suspense from chapter to chapter.

Jim Brennan, Brisbane

:psst: Here's the link: http://www.beforeus.com/

Swoop

16th July 2008, 21:57

Another one is IMMEDIATE ACTION by Andy McNab.
Short bio of the author and his time in the SAS.
After his first novel "Bravo Two Zero", an explanation (http://www.amazon.com/Real-Bravo-Cassell-Military-Paperbacks/dp/0304365548/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216202101&sr=1-1) is in order...
Andy McN(that part of the name is correct...).

dhunt

17th July 2008, 12:37

After his first novel "Bravo Two Zero", an explanation (http://www.amazon.com/Real-Bravo-Cassell-Military-Paperbacks/dp/0304365548/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216202101&sr=1-1) is in order...
Andy McN(that part of the name is correct...).
If you like Andy McNabs books have a look at Chris Ryan's books. He was in the SAS under Andy from what I understand.

Skyryder

17th July 2008, 13:12

If you like Andy McNabs books have a look at Chris Ryan's books. He was in the SAS under Andy from what I understand.

You might be interested in this.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feather-Men-Sir-Ranulph-Fiennes/dp/0747510490

Click the link and read the first review.

I have read some others of this type. Rougue Warrior was a good yarn. Can't recall who wrote it but he was a Navy Seal. Another one unfortunately I don't recall the title or who wrote the book but it was an MI5 officer in Ireland and dealt with covert assasanations.

Skyryder

dhunt

17th July 2008, 15:27

You might be interested in this.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feather-Men-Sir-Ranulph-Fiennes/dp/0747510490

Click the link and read the first review.

I have read some others of this type. Rougue Warrior was a good yarn. Can't recall who wrote it but he was a Navy Seal. Another one unfortunately I don't recall the title or who wrote the book but it was an MI5 officer in Ireland and dealt with covert assasanations.

Skyryder
Just read the blurb on amazon about Feather Men. Sound quite interesting. It looks like our library has it here. So might have to check it out.

Would this be the Rougue Warrior you were talking about? http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Warrior-Richard-Marcinko/dp/0671795937
Thanks

Skyryder

17th July 2008, 15:36

Just read the blurb on amazon about Feather Men. Sound quite interesting. It looks like our library has it here. So might have to check it out.

Would this be the Rougue Warrior you were talking about? http://www.amazon.com/Rogue-Warrior-Richard-Marcinko/dp/0671795937
Thanks

Yep that's the guy. He's no pussy. It's a good sorta read but he may have tarted it up a bit. Still entertaining either way.

Skyryder

chrisso

17th July 2008, 15:54

If you like Andy McNabs books have a look at Chris Ryan's books. He was in the SAS under Andy from what I understand.

Similar book ''Cold Zero'' . about an ex FBI Sniper who was at Waco & Ruby Ridge-- great book

Skyryder

17th July 2008, 16:23

Another book or two books to be precise I have read sometime back

Silcon Snake Oil or Thoughts on the information Highway and The Cuckoo's Egg. both ar eby Clifford Stoll

The Cuckoo's Egg is the tracking down on a Cyber criminal. He had hacked into a banks data base and placed a program that deposited one cent for each transaction of the bank's into an off shore account. The Cuckoo's Egg is a detailed account of how they cought the guy. Silicon Snake Oil if I remember correctly deals mainly with legal and ethical problems of the internet.

Skyryder

Swoop

17th July 2008, 16:41

If you like Andy McNabs books have a look at Chris Ryan's books. He was in the SAS under Andy from what I understand.
"The one that got away". A great yarn! A legend in the Squadron...

You might be interested in this.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feather-Men-Sir-Ranulph-Fiennes/dp/0747510490
A bloody interesting book! Read it a few years ago and scary if true...

Pedrostt500

17th July 2008, 17:54

Im finding the telephone book a hard read as it doesnt have much of a plot.

chrisso

17th July 2008, 18:08

I like books from Denmark with lots of piccies. Storylines get a bit repetitive
but theres always a happy ending...:Oops:

fire eyes

17th July 2008, 23:19

Im finding the telephone book a hard read as it doesnt have much of a plot.
Hahahaha you smartarse :crazy:

fire eyes

17th July 2008, 23:39

:yes: The last book I read was:

The Four Agreements By Don Miguel & Don Jose Luis Ruiz

Breif of the book:

Everything we do is based on agreements we have made - agreements with ourselves, with other people, with God, with life. But the most important agreements are the ones we make with ourselves. In these agreements we tell ourselves who we are, how to behave, what is possible, what is impossible. One single agreement is not such a problem, but we have many agreements that come from fear, deplete our energy, and diminish our self-worth."

1. Be Impeccable With Your Word
Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.

2. Don't Take Anything Personally
Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.

3. Don't Make Assumptions
Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.

4. Always Do Your Best
Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.

*This book comes from the teachings of the Toltecs.

I am interested in books about the Universe/Energy Medicine/Self Empowerment/Holistic Wellbeing .. well you kind of get my drift eh lol .. I also like reading material regarding Atlantis/Lemuria/Pre & Post Civilizations/Egyptology/Indigenous/Anthropology & Archeology which seems the basis for the material I read anyway.

I am very interested in the connections between orthodox studies & research in conjunction with cultural knowledge passed down through generations of Indigenous Peoples regarding Star People/The Universe/Earth ..... also a fundamental cornerstone in this activity is understanding my own connection into the Universe so a fair amount of guidence to particular books of 'assistance' has been most helpful! ..

Unfortunately .. as I am working my ass off profusely trying to earn a buck I don't get as much time for reading as I would like .. but The Four Agreements was the very last book I read ... ohh ohh .. now .. if ANYONE knows where I can get my hands on a book regarding THE BOOK OF THE DEAD ... in reference to Egyptology .. please let me know .. thankyou!

James Deuce

18th July 2008, 00:28

Finally gotten around to starting Snow Crash.

I've left it so long it feels a bit creaky, but then I really LOATHE Neal Stephenson's writing.

It's actually good!

The Lone Rider

18th July 2008, 00:32

MARCH TO THE SOUND OF THE GUNS

By Ray Grover

BUY IT. BUY IT. BUY IT.

It's in all the stores, often with it's own little section or area of a stand.

MIXONE

18th July 2008, 16:28

Legendary Motorcycles by Basem Wasef.
A great coffee table book covering all sorts of famous motorcycles and bike riders including Steve McQueen,Elvis,Rollie Free etc.Two bikes from NZ are the Britten and of course the Munro Special.Full of great photos and I'm peeved that my scanner is not working as I have to take it back to the library(the book not the scanner!)
Well worth a look if your local library stocks it.

HenryDorsetCase

18th July 2008, 16:40

Finally gotten around to starting Snow Crash.

I've left it so long it feels a bit creaky, but then I really LOATHE Neal Stephenson's writing.

It's actually good!

so you wont be getting the Baroque Cycle or Cryptonomicon any time soon?

I LOVE Snow Crash. and stuff like the burbclaves and franchulates and all that.

I particularly liked Hiro Protagonist and Praisegod Satansbane as character names (wait: maybe Praisegod is in a Gibson book.....) aaargh.

I have Japanese Motorcycle Wars (http://www.amazon.com/Japans-Motorcycle-Wars-Industry-History/dp/0774814535/ref=pd_ybh_1?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1PG7NC8SQNVNW6XBE5CV) on the water from Amazon as we speak.

Skyryder

18th July 2008, 18:18

I have not noticed the Thomas Covenant Chronicles being posted . I've read the first two and gave up about middle of the third. Anyone finished the series?

Skyryder

James Deuce

18th July 2008, 18:31

so you wont be getting the Baroque Cycle or Cryptonomicon any time soon?

I tried to read Cryptonincompoopcom a few years back and gave up exasperated that that something that poorly written and constructed could get such rave reviews.

Hiro Protagonist is rather a clever construction. I like the Sovereign concept myself. The Raven dude is a bit scary. A one man Sovereign state, purely because he has a Harley whose sidecar happens to be a thermonuclear weapon. I want one.

Kickaha

18th July 2008, 19:33

I have not noticed the Thomas Covenant Chronicles being posted . I've read the first two and gave up about middle of the third. Anyone finished the series?Skyryder

Yeah I finished them,I thought there was a fair bit of promise in the storyline but I got a bit tired of them by the last book

Winston001

18th July 2008, 22:13

I have not noticed the Thomas Covenant Chronicles being posted . I've read the first two and gave up about middle of the third. Anyone finished the series?
Skyryder

Yes. So depressing. I kept thinking something good must happen, finally, surely, to alleviate 6 books of gloom. Nope. Well written though.

Snow Crash is good.

Andy McNab - as soon as I learned the Regiment disowned him, and the other survivors of Bravo Two Zero told a quite different story, I've ignored his books. The Chris Ryan account is worth reading even if the Regiment, following the debrief, also say he exaggerated stuff.

Ranulph Fiennes - always worth reading, including The Feather Men etc (fiction....??). He's written fiction and non-fiction books about his adventures, and about SAS days in Oman. He might be a Sir but he's a hard man. Cut off his frost-bitten fingertips in his garage with a skilsaw.

Must find The Cuckoos Egg, I've heard it is very good.

Steam

18th July 2008, 22:22

Snow Crash is good.

Snow Crash isn't just good, it's OUTSTANDING.
"The Diamond Age: or A Young Lady's Illustrated Primer" also by Neal Stephenson is also fantastic... "it won the Hugo Award for Best Novel and was short-listed for the Nebula and other awards, placing it among the most-honored works of science fiction in recent history."

But the best book I have read in the past two years is this... Oh wait, maybe it's The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat. ANyway, this is what sprang to mind first:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510QA3E52NL._SL500_AA240_.jpg
HMS Ulysses takes its place alongside The Caine Mutiny and The Cruel Sea as one of the classic novels of the navy at war. It is the compelling story of Convoy FR77 to Murmansk, where the convoy of 35 ships reached Russia with only 5 remaining afloat -- a voyage that pushed men to the limits of human endurance, crippled by enemy attack and the bitter cold of the Arctic.

James Deuce

18th July 2008, 22:33

Snow Crash isn't just good, it's OUTSTANDING.

It's of variable quality and merely good, not outstanding. Too much weed hippy, far too much weed.

Hugo & Nebula awards are for the boring literature arm of Sci-Fi. IMO "Cyberpunk" isn't Sci-Fi, it's speculative fiction based on extrapolated technology current to the author at the time of writing. The fashion aspect of Cyberpunk is repellent to me.

Sci-Fi is about people. Cyberpunk is about the author and his (I've often wondered if some of Doris Lessing's work deserves to be called Cyberpunk, though she'd be the only "chick" to receive that "honour") ego.

Steam

18th July 2008, 22:38

James Deuce

18th July 2008, 22:39

Fair enough! :)

Winston001

18th July 2008, 22:52

But the best book I have read in the past two years is this... Oh wait, maybe it's The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat. ANyway, this is what sprang to mind first:
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/510QA3E52NL._SL500_AA240_.jpg

Oh yes, two excellent books.

More topical than excellent is "Ultimate Risk" by Mark Nicol. Written in 2003 it's about the SAS in Afghanistan and specifically about an action against an Al Quaeda stronghold. Much commentary about bravery under fire including a Kiwi.....then later on discussion about why the VC is never awarded in the Regiment......!!

http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/History/Military_History/General/product_info/233268/?cf=3&rid=1493870309&i=13&keywords=sas

Yep - Willie Apiata. Helleva coincidence I happened to pick up this book the same time his award was announced. So much for nobody talking about the action he was involved in - officially at least.

Winston001

18th July 2008, 22:57

While I remember, a very good book about the SAS is "Eye of the Storm: 25 Years in Action with the SAS" by Peter Ratcliffe. Another hard man. Regimental Sergeant-Major at retirement.

Skyryder

19th July 2008, 11:53

Yeah I finished them,I thought there was a fair bit of promise in the storyline but I got a bit tired of them by the last book

Yes I gave the books my best shot hoping the story would improve but it didn't.

I have to say the charecters were amazing. These were what held me so long.

Skyryder

scumdog

19th July 2008, 12:54

Im finding the telephone book a hard read as it doesnt have much of a plot.

But look at the number of characters!!

NighthawkNZ

19th July 2008, 12:57

I can't read...

Well I am a mod and mods can't read... right? :scratch:

Skyryder

19th July 2008, 14:47

I can't read...

Well I am a mod and mods can't read... right? :scratch:

Off topic. Got to Pointles Drival and miss a turn (Binn ya self for a Day):jerry:

Skyryder

erik

20th August 2008, 22:41

I used to read books in my teens/early 20's then took a break for a bit (while studying I guess).
Stuff I enjoyed reading way back then (I'm 27 now so not that long ago I guess):

Discworld series.
Enders Game series.
Good Omens
The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy
Harry Potter
Foundation series by Asimov

I recently started reading again, started back into the Harry Potter series where I left off. Then re-read Asimov's Foundation books. Now I've started reading the Vorkosigan books by Lois McMaster Bujold. They were recommended to me ages ago, but I went through a period of not reading novels and only just now thought I'd see what they're like.
I thoroughly recommend them. I started with Shards of Honour then Barrayar and have just finished reading the Young Miles collection (3 small books stuck together).
You get to know the characters (well, the main character) a lot better than say characters in Asimov's Foundation series. In the Vorkosigan books the main character seems to understand the other characters more than other books I've read. The social psychology underlying the characters behaviour seems the most realistic/interesting to me out of anything I've read so far.

I've read one review that complained that Bujold's books didn't have really mind-blowing sci-fi technological stuff or weren't creative enough in that direction. But I'm happy to stick to a sci-fi universe that doesn't push the limits of the imagination (particularly after reading "Man of Two Worlds" by Brian Herbert), it makes it seem more real, easier to believe. The books are about the characters more than the sci-fi.

James Deuce

21st August 2008, 06:10

LMB does some top notch fanatsy too - The Curse of Chalion is well worth a read.

If you like hard core Sci-Fi with decent characters, Ken MacLeod's Engines of Light series is both challenging and engaging.

HenryDorsetCase

22nd August 2008, 10:44

I'm gradually working through Ellmore Leonard and Robert Crais.

In fact just this morning finished "The Watchman" by Robert Crais.

I also have the Kevin Cameron TDC book and Leanings 2 by Peter Egan to read.

mmmm good books.

Laava

22nd August 2008, 22:41

Just read Twisting throttle by Mike Hyde. His account of going anti clockwise round Oz. Funny and easy reading. Tried to get into Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance but was like falling asleep in church!

FiendishRogue

22nd August 2008, 23:18

It's of variable quality and merely good, not outstanding. Too much weed hippy, far too much weed.

Hugo & Nebula awards are for the boring literature arm of Sci-Fi. IMO "Cyberpunk" isn't Sci-Fi, it's speculative fiction based on extrapolated technology current to the author at the time of writing. The fashion aspect of Cyberpunk is repellent to me.

Sci-Fi is about people. Cyberpunk is about the author and his (I've often wondered if some of Doris Lessing's work deserves to be called Cyberpunk, though she'd be the only "chick" to receive that "honour") ego.

Not sure if he's been mentioned before (tried wading through the 20 odd pages but didn't finish so please excuse me), but Richard Morgan writes some fantastic SF I think you'd like. He concentrates on the characters and story, leaving the SF aspects as the setting. Have read the Takeshi Kovacs trilogy (Altered Carbon, Broken Angels, Woken Furies) and was wowed. Also read Thirteen (may be known as 'Black Man' depending on how PC your publishers are) which was also a good yarn.

Winston001

22nd August 2008, 23:38

The two authors I've enjoyed the most in SF are Larry Niven and Harry Harrison.

Harrison does funny stuff like the Stainless Steel Rat, then serious such as West of Eden. Recommended.

Winston001

25th August 2008, 13:36

Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell - you can decide for yourself as to whether to read it.

It is about an actual SEAL battle in North-West Afghanistan but half the book concentrates on SEAL training. In terms of describing the training it is good and the actual battle it is very good.

However as a non-American you've got to swallow a lot of gung-ho nonsense to get to the good stuff. No doubt about Luttrell's bravery and heroism, its a great read but written for red-blooded Americans which is a shame because it distracts from the real stuff.

I've read a lot of SAS books and the "flag" is basically absent. They are about comrades and hardship, politics etc doesn't rate a mention except to explain the background.

And for anyone who wonders, Delta (probably including SEALS) and the SAS run an annual Escape and Evade exercise. The SAS usually get the most guys home.

Swoop

25th August 2008, 16:11

Tried to get into Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance but was like falling asleep in church!
You missed out on the car Vs bike chase and shootout at the end.

Headbanger

26th August 2008, 08:46

The two authors I've enjoyed the most in SF are Larry Niven and Harry Harrison.

Harrison does funny stuff like the Stainless Steel Rat, then serious such as West of Eden. Recommended.

Interesting, I loved the West of Eden series, Though it ran out of gas by the third book, I don't very often see them as recommended. his hammer and the cross series of books are also very good, set in alternative Britain where Christianity failed to become the major religion, instead Norse mythology is the fairy tale of the times.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hammer_and_the_Cross

The numerous Bill the Galactic hero and Deathworld books are also worth reading though inconsistent in their quality

Winston001

26th August 2008, 08:50

The Sword and Cross books are great. Harrison is a remarkable writer in the way he can swing from comic genius like Bill, and the Stainless Steel Rat to West of Eden etc. Excellent. I think I've read all of his books.

wysper

26th August 2008, 12:33

For all you Discworld fans, you should try Robert Asprin

A bit harder to find but well worth the effort. Funny and good to read again.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Asprin

He will be missed

RiderInBlack

26th August 2008, 23:56

For all you Discworld fans, you should try Robert Asprin If "Myth Conceptions" is anything to go by, he's ok, but no where nearly as good as Terry Pratchet IMHO. Find books written in 1st person annoying to read.

wysper

27th August 2008, 07:30

If "Myth Conceptions" is anything to go by, he's ok, but no where nearly as good as Terry Pratchet IMHO. Find books written in 1st person annoying to read.

He is different to TP, but still worth reading and I find the books quite funny. However the style of writing, if it annoys you may be too much to ignore.

I think the comedy books are pretty hard to write well.

read on!

James Deuce

27th August 2008, 09:13

If "Myth Conceptions" is anything to go by, he's ok, but no where nearly as good as Terry Pratchet IMHO. Find books written in 1st person annoying to read.

I like Phule's Company better than the Myth series. The Myth series was great when I was 14 and playing D&D but I tried to re-read it recently and gently put it down and walked away. Thieves World is bloody good, but gets overlooked with all the fake guffawing over the Myth books. Glen Cook does the PI in a fantasy setting much better than Asprin.

Piers Anthony is another one people rave about and his pun titled books got me through a few months flat on my back and kept my outlook bright. Tried reading them lately - pap! Total Rubbish!

Blue Babe

2nd October 2008, 07:32

"Shadows in the Gass" by Berverley Harper.
I wasn't sure what to make of it as it's different from the normal stuff I read, but I've thoroughly enjoyed it. Based in Africa & on alot of accurate research. Tells the story of a young man from Scotland who was accused of raping a woman, flees to Africa to start a new life. The Zulu war breaks out with the British & Boers, He finds his loyalties are affected as he has great respect for the Zulu.
Theres a bit of a love story in there too :love:
Well worth a read.

rachprice

2nd October 2008, 07:51

Hmmm I have just read the constant gardener -John Le Carre
I enjoyed it though it too a while to get into it.
Currently reading The Rum Diary by Hunter Thompson....its pretty crazy but I can imagine his voice by the way he writes!
I need light relief after all the dam textbooks I read

Skyryder

2nd October 2008, 15:43

Just finished GONE WITH THE WIND by Mageret Mitchel.

Hitcher

2nd October 2008, 15:48

I've just finished Clive Cussler's Treasure of Khan. This was an airport purchase while we were away.

It is complete and utter predictable crap.

Last night I started SM Stirling's Protector's War. The first chapter suggests that this should be a vastly more satisfying read than Mr Cussler's effort.

Kickaha

2nd October 2008, 16:03

I've just finished Clive Cussler's Treasure of Khan. This was an airport purchase while we were away.

It is complete and utter predictable crap.

His books got worse and more unbelievable the more of them he wrote

Swoop

3rd January 2009, 12:13

*Dredge*
Richard Hammond - "As you do".
A very pleasant read in the style that he presents in. Simple and straightforward.
Very interesting story regarding the Arctic race programme. A fair bit of preparation beforehand that never reached the tv viewing audience!
His "Riding with the Hells Angels" exploit, for the Evel Knievel documentary/interview.

The Hamster is really a big kid at heart. His family dedication is another area that we hear little about, but running through the pitch-black night, in rain, to be home for his daughters birthday... Respec!

Gibbo13p

3rd January 2009, 13:45

Twist of the wrist 2
and clive cussler - The Chase (Thought it was a good one!) who gives a ---k if he was mad as a meat axe he wrote some good books....some of you ----s are just fussy like bloody woman

Winston001

4th January 2009, 00:09

Blood River by Tim Butcher.

Butcher is a journalist who in 2004 decided to follow Stanley's route across the Congo (formerly the Belgian Congo, then Zaire). Fascinating, highly risky, and a journey even the Congolese wouldn't undertake unless they were armed rebels.

This is a huge country in a state of anarchy, sort of the worst of Africa and a good indicator of the downward direction of other African countries. Butcher survived by luck and getting to islands of UN peacekeeping safety scattered along the Congo River. Even with weapons the UN soldiers do not travel in the Congo - they fly from base to base or use the river.

trump-lady

4th January 2009, 00:12

I LOVE to read, Vampire chronicles, anne rice my fav. I like murder tourtue and psychopaths, shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Fav of all time Hannibal,,,,

TLDV8

4th January 2009, 01:44

What books have you read lately.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flyboys:_A_True_Story_of_Courage

<img src=http://mytwocents.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/flyboys.jpg>

LBD

4th January 2009, 03:21

Definately an Adams fan, Pratchett a close second.

How may read Adam's "The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul" and "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective agency"?

erik

4th January 2009, 08:47

How may read Adam's "The Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul" and "Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective agency"?

I have, iirc I enjoyed them but it was a long time ago that I read them.

I've been working my way through the Vorkosigan books (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vorkosigan_Saga) by Lois McMaster Bujold. I've just finished the last one (Miles, Mutants and Microbes) so will have to pick something new from my list of things to read.

fire eyes

4th January 2009, 18:31

I was sent a book for christmas from a very good KBer friend called "The Time Travellers Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger.

Not my usual type of reading material but I couldnt put it down until I had read it all! Sad, romantic story ... *sighhhhhhh ...

Big thumbs up from me though!

ynot slow

4th January 2009, 21:05

Read both Lance Armstrongs books,"Not about the bike" is farkin awe inspiring,gives an idea what it is like to be told you have 20%chance to live and win.

Happy Hooker,as a teenager,took me years to realise she was bisexual after speed reading it lol.

Gibbo13p

5th January 2009, 11:25

Read both Lance Armstrongs books,"Not about the bike" is farkin awe inspiring,gives an idea what it is like to be told you have 20%chance to live and win.

Whats Every second counts like? Mate gave me to read while I was recovering from losing lefty during the year and haven't got round to it..... haven't had any more treatment as yet as driving trucks for a while. Wondering whether to get the chemical whack or the zapping...

This is a good thread, beats some of the other stuff thats been on here lately

portokiwi

5th January 2009, 11:33

Reading Clive Cussler The Navigator at the moment

MisterD

5th January 2009, 12:12

Read both Lance Armstrongs books,"Not about the bike" is farkin awe inspiring,gives an idea what it is like to be told you have 20%chance to live and win.

I've just finished "The Death of Marco Pantani - A biography", a fascinating read and a properly depressing tragedy. It also gives a pretty chilling insight into the endemic abuse of doping in cycling (riding on the rollers at 3am to stop your blood from clotting...:( ).

I'd now firmly say that the chances Lance was clean whilst dominating all the now known and proven dopers is 0%.

ynot slow

5th January 2009, 16:19

I've just finished "The Death of Marco Pantani - A biography", a fascinating read and a properly depressing tragedy. It also gives a pretty chilling insight into the endemic abuse of doping in cycling (riding on the rollers at 3am to stop your blood from clotting...:( ).

I'd now firmly say that the chances Lance was clean whilst dominating all the now known and proven dopers is 0%.

Very hard to work out what is true,all I think is Armstrong was clean after chemo and his tour d france victories.He said in his bio he was random tested at anytime,and each time gave a sample,even when he was about to go for dinner with friends etc.

ynot slow

5th January 2009, 16:29

Whats Every second counts like? Mate gave me to read while I was recovering from losing lefty during the year and haven't got round to it..... haven't had any more treatment as yet as driving trucks for a while. Wondering whether to get the chemical whack or the zapping...

This is a good thread, beats some of the other stuff thats been on here lately

Both good books,I was given Not about the bike on my 41st birthday from my brother,took me another couple of months to read it but did so in 3 sittings.
Every second counts is more his riding and family trials etc,going through invetro for kids with his wife and what she went through,both inspiring reads.

Definately easier to relate to his survival when you have had chemo and radiation,and man his chemo regime was intense so able bodied may not be able to really understand what he went through.

That's not sounding like look at me I've had chemo so only I understand what he went through,but as my brother said after reading Not about the bike,he could understand how his family felt,but not how Lance felt.Can understand that,I know what the medicine is like,but not the fear and concern my family and friends felt,the uncertainty gives strength to all.

HenryDorsetCase

6th January 2009, 08:10

I'vebeen doing a bit of reading over the holidays. My picks are:

"We Owe you Nothing: Punk Planet, the collected Interviews" Punk Planet was a punk rock magazine that went on during the 90's, and this is reprints of the best of their interviews. Some very interesting (Ian MacKaye, Henry Rollins, Greg Ginn, Thurston Moore, plus some I hadnt heard of who were really interesting, a graphic designer called Art Chantry, bands I have heard of but never heard (Sleater-Kinney, Jawbreaker) and industry people: independent record distributors, Steve Albini the producer) Obviously you have to have some interest in the subject matter, but it is worth reading. Plus its something you can read a bit of at a time because the interviews are all self contained. Good in holiday mode.

"Paris: After the Liberation" by Antony Beevor and Artemis Cooper. I've read a few of Beevor's books (his "Stalingrad" is brilliant, as is "Berlin") these are history books, but very readable, he was in the military and is now an historian. Paris is written with his wife, who is also a published author, and because her family were there, they have some great personal archive material. The immediate Post war focus is good, too, and it goes a long way to explaining some aspects of European history in the latter half of the 20th Century. I also have (but have not yet read) Beevor's book about the Spanish Civil war.

And on the motorbike side, I am reading that MotoGP Technology book by Neil Spalding. Worth buying just for the pics. Its about the 990cc era in MotoGP.

Ive got a book about China to read next too.

MisterD

6th January 2009, 09:07

Very hard to work out what is true,all I think is Armstrong was clean after chemo and his tour d france victories.He said in his bio he was random tested at anytime,and each time gave a sample,even when he was about to go for dinner with friends etc.

There are plenty of top riders that never tested positive, but have since admitted doping. Marco Pantani never tested positive for EPO, it's only analysis of blood tests that show changes that can't be explained by any other means that proves he did...

vifferman

6th January 2009, 10:18

Richard Hammond - "As you do".
I was given his "On the Edge" for Christmas (or was it my birthday? :confused:). A surprisingly good read, although having suffered from mentalness myself, I found some of it a bit harrowing.

I was sent a book for christmas from a very good KBer friend called "The Time Travellers Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger.
Yeah, that's a great book. Read it quite a while ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I'm currently reading Michelle Sagara's "Elantra" series. The stories are OK, but her writing style pisses me off a bit, with her characters' smart quips to one another. Sometimes I can't work out who is currently speaking, so have to read things two or three times. Not a patch on JV Jones or some of my other favourite fantasy authors.

I'm also currently writing something myself. Dunno what it's about, but so far only one person has died, unlike that psycho JV Jones whose characters die horrible deaths. The last series I read, she killed someone by having them gutted in the very first paragraph of the first novel! :eek: It was the first of thousands of painful and horrible deaths.
I wrote to her recentlyish, and told her she was mean to her characters; she disagreed, which to me shows she truly is the psycho her picture seems to indicate...

fire eyes

6th January 2009, 10:45

I'm also currently writing something myself. Dunno what it's about, but so far only one person has died, unlike that psycho JV Jones whose characters die horrible deaths. The last series I read, she killed someone by having them gutted in the very first paragraph of the first novel! :eek: It was the first of thousands of painful and horrible deaths.
I wrote to her recentlyish, and told her she was mean to her characters; she disagreed, which to me shows she truly is the psycho her picture seems to indicate...

:niceone: theres a movie of the Time Travellers wife coming out this year as well.

Ohh good luck with the writing! am laughing at the fact that you wrote to her! :niceone:

Winston001

6th January 2009, 11:44

"We Need To Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver. Quite an engrossing read, it is about a woman struggling to fathom why her son became a high-school killer like at Columbine. Its a good book because the mother is humanly flawed, so she seems real.

The Time Travellers Wife is good too.

vifferman

6th January 2009, 12:14

Ohh good luck with the writing!
Thanx! I suspect I'll need it. Like I said, I dunno what the story's about yet. :confused:
Mebbe some drugz'll help?

am laughing at the fact that you wrote to her! :niceone:
She has her own website. After being blown away by her books, I signed up on there and posted a message saying how good they were, but that I thought she was mean to her characters (most of the 'baddies' get easier lives/deaths than the 'goodies'. She said she didn't think she was mean to them, but she IS! I annoy the fellow readers in our house by reporting the death toll as I read, and had to laugh at "The Bakers Boy" when she killed a character so early on. (I also annoy them by frequently asking whenever they're reading any book, "Are they all dead yet?")

fire eyes

6th January 2009, 12:28

I also annoy them by frequently asking whenever they're reading any book, "Are they all dead yet?"

:niceone: :lol::lol::lol:

BMWST?

6th January 2009, 12:43

havent read the whole thread so hope i havent repeated this...
Space Race by Deborah Cadbury...interesting human and techy book...ie the saturn V burns 40 000 galllons(prolly US gallons) a MINUTE!

Curious_AJ

6th January 2009, 13:28

vifferman

6th January 2009, 13:32

The Clan of The Cave Bear series is really good.. nothing action packed or anything, but it's very interesting and well researched, if you read up about the author she's a fantastic lady. Jean M. Auel.
I dunno.
While I enjoyed some of them, the last one I read wasn't well paced and was rather formulaic, so it wasn't as good to read. Mebbe she's past it or needs a new editor.

Curious_AJ

6th January 2009, 13:36

I dunno.
While I enjoyed some of them, the last one I read wasn't well paced and was rather formulaic, so it wasn't as good to read. Mebbe she's past it or needs a new editor.

which was the last you read?

vifferman

6th January 2009, 13:50

which was the last you read?
"The Shelters of Stone".

MsKABC

6th January 2009, 14:10

"Life Expectancy" by Dean Koontz is a hilarious, quirky and action-packed thriller. Loved it :niceone:

Hitcher

6th January 2009, 14:31

as with the above post, dunno if this has been said, but The Clan of The Cave Bear series is really good.. nothing action packed or anything, but it's very interesting and well researched, if you read up about the author she's a fantastic lady. Jean M. Auel.

Clan of the Cave Bear, and its endless sequels, is crap. It's just rampant sex and Aryanism. And this one woman who invented every fucking thing, including fucking.

vifferman

6th January 2009, 14:34

Curious_AJ

6th January 2009, 14:43

Clan of the Cave Bear, and its endless sequels, is crap. It's just rampant sex and Aryanism. And this one woman who invented every fucking thing, including fucking.

An interesting (and not inaccurate) summary, Mr H. :lol:

each to their own... grumpy old bums... lol...

however, yeah you're right about her inventing everything... but I find it beautiful how she paints a picture with her words personally... besides, it's a FICTION so who cares if its about sex and aryanism... I like the former and well the latter... don't care. but yes... to me i like the style and the descriptiveness (sp?) ... as do i like the same about Stephen King books. I'm not so much subject as the actual WAY a book is written. but that's just me.

Big Dave

6th January 2009, 15:03

Just finished the 'Chronicle of Impressionism' - a history as extracts from the diaries and letters of Degas, Van Gogh, Renoir, Pissaro, Monet et al.
Fasckinatin and so much influence on the arts of today.

Big Dave

6th January 2009, 15:04

as do i like the same about Stephen King

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HenryDorsetCase

6th January 2009, 16:32

Clan of the Cave Bear, and its endless sequels, is crap. It's just rampant sex and Aryanism. And this one woman who invented every fucking thing, including fucking."just" rampant sex and Aryanism? Sign me up!

ynot slow

6th January 2009, 20:59

Justice by Kevin Ryan,good old lawyer stories from NZ past cases,entertaining insight about cases.

Laava

19th February 2009, 16:53

I have just finished 2 books which I read concurrently for no good reason. The first is book 2 in the 3 book series by Stieg Larsson, "The girl who played with fire". I really enjoyed both this and the 1st book, "The girl with the dragon tattoo" and am hanging out for book 3. If you like action mixed with wicked venegeance and rampant sexual encounters, then you will love this!
The 2nd book I read was an autobiography by Jeanette Walls,"The Glass Castle", who grew up in poverty, dodging the authorities and others with her dodgy parents. It was friggen hilarious but quite sad at the same time given that it was true.
Recommend all these books to anyone.

slofox

19th February 2009, 17:09

"The Scandalous Summer of Sissy LeBlanc" - loved her "Southern Belle's Guidebook"...e.g. Rule 13: A girl doesn't have to give in to temptation - but she might not get another chance....
Tres amusant...

Hitcher

19th February 2009, 17:14

Uneasy Rider, by Mike Carter. A motorcycle book with a twist.

Mikkel

19th February 2009, 17:43

Ben Elton
Blind Faith

Warmly recommended. If you ever feel this modern world is an insane place you'll really like this one. If you ever feel annoyed that your fellow human beings behave like sheep you'll be both amused and disturbed by this book.
Read it, you won't regret it.

Winston001

20th February 2009, 12:06

"Running With The Moon" by Jonny Bealby. An excellent motorcycle adventure around Africa on a Yamaha Tenere. Highly rated http://www.adventuremotorcycle.org/book-reviews/running-with-the-moon.html

Winston001

7th March 2009, 00:31

Here's a good one for anyone interested in current events and military stuff. "Sniper 1" by Dan Mills is about a British Battlegroup posted to a city in southern Iraq, 2004. Ordinary soldiers rather than SAS. Its a very good read, well written, straight-forward, tense, and a bit of an eyeopener.

I thought the Brits had an easy time of it in the south, partly because it is a Shia province, and because the Brits are better at handling Arabs. But there was nothing easy about this place. One guy got a VC.

Highly recommended.

Skyryder

7th March 2009, 15:14

Just finished reading THE CHILDREN HURIN Tolkein.
http://www.tolkienlibrary.com/form.html
Middle Earth types.

Still trying to get thru WORLD WITHOUT END.
http://www.ken-follett.com/bibliography/world_without_end.html

Skyryder

kiwifruit

1st May 2009, 09:44

I'm reading "CEO of the Sofa" by P.J O'Rourke. Its had me laughing out loud a few times and i'm only a third the way through.
http://www.amazon.com/CEO-Sofa-P-J-ORourke/dp/0871138255

Okey Dokey

1st May 2009, 09:54

I've recently "discovered" New Zealander CK Stead. "My Name Was Judas" is beautifully written. I've been following up with some of his other novels and short stories. He is also a poet, and critic; I just love the way he handles the language and the clarity of his writing.

If there are other kbers who like Stead, can they recommend any other authors who write in a similar style, please?

cc rider

1st May 2009, 14:33

Just finished reading the last of 7 books, over the last 12mths, by Sean Russell.

First 2 dualogies that are linked-

The River into Darkness
'Beneath the Vaulted Hills' & 'The Compass of the Soul'

Moontide and Magic Rise
'World Without End' & 'Sea Without Shore'

followed by a trilogy -

The Swans' War
'The One Kingdom' & 'The Isle of Battle' & 'The Shadow Road'

They're all fantasy books. Arcane magic, mages, quests, sword fights & battles, nagars, bit of sex (Mmmm!), hidden worlds, puzzles.

I really enjoyed them all. A fantasy getaway.
But now I'm having withdrawals & need a fix, so any suggestions along the same lines would be brill :yes:

Mikkel

1st May 2009, 15:11

Another book I can warmly recommend:

The demon-haunted world: science as a candle in the dark.
Carl Sagan

Should be a mandatory part of every high-school curriculum if I had a say in anything. A very entertaining and informative read.

James Deuce

1st May 2009, 15:15

No! Carl Sagan wore tan trousers, cardies with leather elbow patches and had huge sidies. He's not a desirable role model!

Mikkel

1st May 2009, 15:24

No! Carl Sagan wore tan trousers, cardies with leather elbow patches and had huge sidies. He's not a desirable role model!

He also caused public outcry by being a widely recognised and respected astro-physicist who admitted to smoking weed on a regular basis, thus debunking the established propaganda.

As for his fashion sense - I wouldn't have picked you as being too concerned with such matters ;)

Now just read the book Jim, I promise you will enjoy it. If not I'll be happy to send you a bottle of PTSD-medicine as an apology for wasting your time.

MisterD

1st May 2009, 15:28

No! Carl Sagan wore tan trousers, cardies with leather elbow patches and had huge sidies. He's not a desirable role model!

I beg to differ...

http://www.the-goodies.co.uk/images/graeme/gg04.jpg

James Deuce

1st May 2009, 15:39

That's Graham Garden in his Isaac Asimov phase.

Hitcher

1st May 2009, 15:40

When will burns and over-the-ears-hair make a comeback?

MisterD

1st May 2009, 16:10

That's Graham Garden in his Isaac Asimov phase.

*sigh* exactly James, expansive sidies and science-teacher stylez do not exclude one from role model status...

James Deuce

1st May 2009, 16:16

Yes it does!

Mikkel

1st May 2009, 16:51

Yes it does!

No it doesn't!

Winston001

4th May 2009, 22:18

Yes it does!

This is ridiculous. You can't just say no it doesn't.

James Deuce

4th May 2009, 22:54

Yes you can!

Winston001

4th May 2009, 23:04

Ding.

Thankyou. Goodbye.

Ixion

4th May 2009, 23:05

You *can* say it, but you most certainly *may* not say it.

Winston001

4th May 2009, 23:15

I'm very sorry but I'm not allowed to argue unless you've paid......

cc rider

5th May 2009, 02:05

I'm very sorry but I'm not allowed to argue unless you've paid......

Sorry, is that a new book tittle or just a fetish that's on the wrong thread? :D

James Deuce

5th May 2009, 06:54

Sorry, is that a new book tittle or just a fetish that's on the wrong thread? :D

If you're not a Monty Python fan (as you obviously aren't), you aren't allowed to post on KB. You need to read the terms and conditions.

Fatt Max

5th May 2009, 07:41

I'm reading the Frank Zappa autobiography at the moment, but Quasieveil has got me onto Wishart's 'Air Con' book.

I can also highly reccomend the Football Factory trilogy by John King, good old fashioned football hooligan stuff but with a good angle on life in general.

Winston001

5th May 2009, 09:28

If you're not a Monty Python fan (as you obviously aren't), you aren't allowed to post on KB. You need to read the terms and conditions....

La de da.......(tuneless whistling.......)........

Oh very well!! Kaching!

Now - you most definitely cannot!!

Hitcher

5th May 2009, 09:45

I'm very sorry but I'm not allowed to argue unless you've paid......

For five minutes or the full half hour?

HenryDorsetCase

5th May 2009, 09:52

For CC rider:
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Lissa

5th May 2009, 09:56

Good to know I can post in here, I do like a little Monty Python. :D

Book I am reading at the moment, - Yes Man by Danny Wallace. I havent seen the movie and I really dont want to, Jim Carrey would have turned it into an American disaster. The book is an autobiography by Londoner Danny and his decision to say Yes to everything, even a Penis Enhancer, only got through two chapters but its a laugh.

The book I really wanted to get but settled for the above, is Join Me, when Danny began a Cult. Will wait for this to come out in the Wairarapa, apparently we are a bit behind the times. :crazy:

Hitcher

5th May 2009, 10:10

Yes Man is a fantastic read. All hopes of it becoming a great movie were dashed once I learned that the Americans were going to do it and Jim Carrey was to take the lead role.

Lissa

5th May 2009, 10:13

Going to finish the book first before I get the movie out, I just cant see how the americans can turn this book into something great, and too much like Liar Liar with Jim in the lead.

Join Me also has a website, I might join them! :D

Swoop

5th May 2009, 10:53

Ladies, this is a thread about books. Please take the Python to its own thread.

Another great read (http://www.amazon.com/ROGER-BALL-ODYSSEY-MONROE-FIGHTER/dp/1605280054/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1241477296&sr=1-1). This time in the form of F-4's and F-14s.
A life well lived sums up Hawk's career going from F-4 RIO to CO of TOPGUN.
Taking Tomcat's into the Vietnam war, and beyond. Also, having the ability to injure himself on a motorbike...

cc rider

5th May 2009, 13:08

If you're not a Monty Python fan (as you obviously aren't), you aren't allowed to post on KB. You need to read the terms and conditions.

Who put you incharge? :bleh:

You'rw foolin' yourself! We're living in a dictatorship. A self-perpetuating autocracy in which the working class...

Winston001

5th May 2009, 13:14

Who put you incharge? :bleh:

You'rw foolin' yourself! We're living in a dictatorship. A self-perpetuating autocracy in which the working class...

Thas right sister....er..brother..er comrade!

We're an anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week.

ARTHUR: Yes.

DENNIS: But all the decision of that officer have to be ratified at a special biweekly meeting.

ARTHUR: Yes, I see.

DENNIS: By a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs,--

ARTHUR: Be quiet!

DENNIS: --but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more......:gob:

Winston001

5th May 2009, 13:16

Ladies, this is a thread about books. Please take the Python to its own thread.

Is a book innit?!! And we's discussin it. Right? You better be careful son or we'll send Sir Robin around wiv the Holy Handgrenade of Antioch, then we'll see whose a pedant eh!! :argh:

cc rider

5th May 2009, 13:35

Thas right sister....er..brother..er comrade!

We're an anarcho-syndicalist commune. We take it in turns to act as a sort of executive officer for the week.

ARTHUR: Yes.

DENNIS: But all the decision of that officer have to be ratified at a special biweekly meeting.

ARTHUR: Yes, I see.

DENNIS: By a simple majority in the case of purely internal affairs,--

ARTHUR: Be quiet!

DENNIS: --but by a two-thirds majority in the case of more......:gob:

”Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-Ekki-PTANG. Zoom-Boing. Z'nourrwringmm. :woohoo:

HenryDorsetCase

5th May 2009, 14:16

God I love Monty Python

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand to bring us shuddering, moaning and quivering back on to topic, we've all heard of Kevin Cameron, right (Tech Editor of Cycle World: absolutely brilliant at explaining technical stuff to retards like me).

He done writ a new book:

Its on Amazon (though out of stock)

Its called

"The Grand Prix Motorcycle: the official Technical History"

I am getting a copy. I might be prepared to get a few if anyone wants to split shipping..... not sure when they will be in stock or whatever. Bear in mind the US dollar has near doubled in value....
clicky (http://www.amazon.com/Grand-Prix-Motorcycle-Official-Technical/dp/1935007017/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241489661&sr=8-1)

Mikkel

5th May 2009, 14:59

Who put you incharge? :bleh:[/FONT]

The wet tart who lobbed the scimitar at him of course...

HenryDorsetCase

5th May 2009, 15:20

The wet tart who lobbed the scimitar at him of course...
damp women in ponds handing out cutlery is no basis for a system of government.....

Winston001

5th May 2009, 15:37

Supreme executive power arises from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony. Why if I was to go around sayin I was a Emperor just cos some moistened bint lodged a scimitar at me - they'd put me away. :eek5:

cc rider

5th May 2009, 16:34

damp women in ponds handing out cutlery is no basis for a system of government.....

The wet tart who lobbed the scimitar at him of course...

Go and boil your bottoms, sons of a silly person. :shake:

Winston001

5th May 2009, 20:02

Just to interrupt for a moment, finished an enjoyable sci-fi book The Androids Dream by John Scalzi http://www.amazon.com/Androids-Dream-John-Scalzi/dp/0765309416

Its a light enjoyable read, shades of Harry Harrison in the humour. Recommended.

HenryDorsetCase

6th May 2009, 15:05

Who is that talking about books in the Monty Python Appreciation thread?

"Have a mint, Sir: Its waffffer theeen"

cc rider

6th May 2009, 17:06

Who is that talking about books in the Monty Python Appreciation thread?

"Have a mint, Sir: Its waffffer theeen"

"No. Fuck off - I'm full....." :puke:

and now for something completely different - GROWTH AND LEARNING :whistle:

Kickaha

6th May 2009, 19:21

ON topic you bastards or I'll try and organise some "off topic" infractions for you
:finger:

The last few books I had a look at
Long way Down
Long Way Round
eeerrrrrrrr and some book about a guy doing the Paris-Dakar by himself for the first time (help me out here James)

Long way Down/Round give considerable more detail than the Tv series and if you like the whole motorcycle/travel thingy well worth a read but the Dakar one was by far my favourite out of the three

jrandom

6th May 2009, 19:56

I'm reading 'Let the People Think' by Bertrand Russell. Found a first (only?) edition from 1941 tucked in a dusty corner of the local second-hand bookstore last weekend. Opened it and a Lotto ticket from 1988 that someone had been using as a bookmark fell out. I suspect it hadn't been off the shelf in a while.

It's always good fun to read the essays of some famous philosopher type, realise that you've already independently arrived at the same conclusions, and tuck their arguments away in a corner of your mind for future use.

Hitcher

6th May 2009, 20:02

Mr B Russell and I share a birthday. That's about the extent of it.

jrandom

6th May 2009, 20:10

Mr B Russell and I share a birthday.

And a whole lot of opinions.

erik

26th June 2009, 09:53

Winston001

26th June 2009, 10:28

Winston001

26th June 2009, 10:33

I just finished reading "The light of other days" by Arthur C. Clark and Stephen Baxter.
It was kind of more about the technological ideas and development and how they affected society than about the characters, but the ideas were interesting and new to me. I thought it was a good read.

If you want to try an ideas man, look around for non-fiction books by Jerry Pournelle. Specifically - A Step Farther Out http://www.amazon.com/Step-Farther-Out-Jerry-Pournelle/dp/0441785867 Visionary stuff.

His ideas are probably available on his website too.

HenryDorsetCase

26th June 2009, 10:41

My copy of Kevin Camerons book about GP motorcycles arrived this week.

Looks fantastic.

Ive not read it yet. but dem pitchers are reeeeeeeeal goooood.

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2009/04/28/the-grand-prix-motorcycle-the-official-technical-history-by-kevin-cameron-review/

HenryDorsetCase

26th June 2009, 10:42

Just read No Country For Old Men by Cormac McCarthy which is very good. I kept thinking it would make a good film until I discovered it won Best Picture in 2007. :doh: Must get it out.

McCarthy is a fine writer and I'll read more of his books. No Country is a sort-of modern day western, good, bad, and a humble dogged sheriff.

I LOVE the film (Coen brothers, whats not to like): it is very worthy indeed. Javier Bardem is OARSOME in it. Woody Harrelson also surprisingly good.

I intend to read the book one day

Skyryder

26th June 2009, 11:51

THE MACHIAVELLI COVENANT by Allan Folsom

http://www.fantasticfiction.co.uk/f/allan-folsom/machiavelli-covenant.htm

Skyryder

gijoe1313

26th June 2009, 14:45

Space Marine by Ian Watson ... ahh love my grimdark warhammer 40K novels ...

Kickaha

26th June 2009, 17:44

If you want to try an ideas man, look around for non-fiction books by Jerry Pournelle.

Well it isn't non-fiction but his collaboration with Larry Niven in "The Mote in God's Eye" is one of my favourite books of all time

Ocean1

26th June 2009, 18:23

Well it isn't non-fiction but his collaboration with Larry Niven in "The Mote in God's Eye" is one of my favourite books of all time

Was good, and for once I enjoyed the sequel more than the first...

Winston001

26th June 2009, 18:34

Well it isn't non-fiction but his collaboration with Larry Niven in "The Mote in God's Eye" is one of my favourite books of all time
Here are my favourite Niven/Pournelle collaborations:

The Mote in God's Eye (1974)

Inferno (1976) Excellent book.

Lucifer's Hammer (1977)

Oath of Fealty (1982)

Footfall (1985)

The Legacy of Heorot (1987), with Steven Barnes - Probably my favourite.

Fallen Angels (1991) with 2003 Heinlein Award winner Michael Flynn - Rough rushed writing but good science

The Dragons of Heorot AKA Beowulf's Children (1995), with Steven Barnes - A great sequel.

Larry Niven is THE MAN!!:love:

Gibbo13p

27th June 2009, 22:11

off getfrank.co.nz:first:

THE SIGN by Raymond Khoury

and

The Bourne Deception by Eric Van Lustbader

Haven't read anything apart from Readers Digest lately so looking forward to a good read.:clap:

Skyryder

28th June 2009, 10:56

Just finished THE LAST DAYS OF POMPEII by Eward Bulwer Lord Lytton. This book was written in 1834 so might explain the flowery prose. Still if you like the classics and can wade through the archaic text it's not a bad sorta story. Like most well heeled aristrocarats where the 'grand tour' was a required education Lytton wrote the book in Naples so had access to Pompeii and it's historical record for what was known at the time.

The story revolves around three main characters, Glaucus the Athenian and bit of a playboy of the times and the evil Egyptian Arbaces. Both fancy Ione the femme fatale of Pompeii.

For those that have an interest in Roman history you might be interested too see if your local library has this book in stock. There's an interesting chapter on the entertainment of the day in the arena and that's apart from the general life of a small roman city.

Skyryder

Hispid

28th June 2009, 14:48

Dan Brown
Clive Cussler
Wilbur Smith
Lee Child
John Grisham
Arthur Hailey
Ken Follet

to name a few.......

gijoe1313

28th June 2009, 15:39

Book I am currently also perusing is Dante's Divine Comedy ...

Blue Babe

9th October 2009, 09:09

Has anyone read the New "Dan Brown, The Lost Symbol"? If so what did you think about it? My daughter bought it yesterday & is reading it first. At the moment I'm busy reading The Series "Terry Goodkind" Has written, which the series "The Seeker" was taken from. The books are much better than the series. I'm on the third "Blood of The Fold".

george formby

9th October 2009, 09:57

Anything by Iain M Banks, his startling contemporary fiction or mind bending sci fi.
Chewing through The war for civilisation by Robert Fisk. It's drastically changing my opinion of world politics & terrorism.
James A Michener, Alaska or South Africa, the history from before men to modern times through the eyes of settlers, conquerors, traders etc.
Enjoyed The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins.
Sniper One by Dan Mills a rollicking, bullet ridden account of being under siege in Iraq, a book they tried to ban.
Future. Tense, Gwynn Dyer questioning why America invaded Iraq in the first place. Scary & very thought provoking.
The life of Pi a stunning, pungent & fantastic novel.
Yamaha TDM 850 workshop manual, downloade for free from JBX tech pages.
John Irving, The world according to Garp, genius, Hotel New Hampshire, maddness, a bear riding a sidecar outfit into a lake!
That will do I think. Great day for a thread like this.

george formby

9th October 2009, 09:59

bill bryson

Elysium

9th October 2009, 10:00

The only good books I read are Sci Fi. Lately I'm engrossed in the Warhammer 40k Horus Heresy novels. I'm waiting for the next Honor Harrington book from David Weber.

SPORK

9th October 2009, 10:15

Just finished a collection of Kafka's works, now I'm working through Either/Or by Soren Kierkegaard.

Always keen for a good reccomendation for after I'm finished with that...

avgas

9th October 2009, 10:22

Anything by Ayn Rand is worth the read. Atlas Shrugged, Fountainhead.....

avgas

9th October 2009, 10:23

The only good books I read are Sci Fi. Lately I'm engrossed in the Warhammer 40k Horus Heresy novels. I'm waiting for the next Honor Harrington book from David Weber.
Awesome. I should really have a read - I remember hugging my codex's as a kid. The stories were always fantastic in those books.

avgas

9th October 2009, 10:25

Space Marine by Ian Watson ... ahh love my grimdark warhammer 40K novels ...
Holy crap - I knew coming to this thread was a bad idea.
Now I have a whole new series of books to read........and I only just started on the Mechwarrior ones dammit

Elysium

9th October 2009, 10:27

Awesome. I should really have a read - I remember hugging my codex's as a kid. The stories were always fantastic in those books.
Yep good read. I own all the Heresy books up to Fallen Angels.

avgas

9th October 2009, 10:28

http://www.around.com/chaos.html

Laava

9th October 2009, 11:18

Just finished Catcher in the rye. Big fookin MEH!

SPORK

9th October 2009, 11:26

Anything by Ayn Rand is worth the read. Atlas Shrugged, Fountainhead.....
I've read a few chapters here and there over the years, her writing really doesn't grab me. Plus I associate her objectivist philosophy with the pretentious self-involved idiots I met at school last year... Maybe I should be more open minded, who knows.

p.dath

9th October 2009, 11:36

I'm reading Keith Code's "Twist of the Wrist" at the moment.

george formby

9th October 2009, 12:11

I'm reading Keith Code's "Twist of the Wrist" at the moment.

Cool, can I borrow it when your finished?:clap:

p.dath

9th October 2009, 12:34

It might be a long ride from Pahia to get it. :)

I bought all three of his books from Amazon. About US$13 each. The freight cost more.

Number One

9th October 2009, 13:10

Maos Last Dancer. True story of Li Cunxin (http://www.licunxin.com/) Good HTFU story...even if it is about a ballet dancer!

Swoop

9th October 2009, 15:09

Good HTFU story...even if it is about a ballet dancer!
Top Tip: Don't piss-off ballet dancers. They are tough and fit little bastards and it is not a good look to be beaten up by someone wearing a tutu. (hopefully others saw the news last night...!)

george formby

9th October 2009, 15:36

Top Tip: Don't piss-off ballet dancers. They are tough and fit little bastards and it is not a good look to be beaten up by someone wearing a tutu. (hopefully others saw the news last night...!)

I used to date a ballet dancer & can vouch for many talents, some of which came as a great but very pleasant suprise to me. Aaah, the memorys.:rolleyes:

Hans

9th October 2009, 15:36

A Song for Lya - George Martin PM me for text file. Best sf I've read in years.

george formby

9th October 2009, 15:36

I used to date a ballet dancer & can vouch for many talents, some of which came as a great but very pleasant suprise to me. Aaah, the memorys.:rolleyes:

I should state, BALLERINA!

Maha

9th October 2009, 15:43

TV Guide ...does that count?

Latest issue not as good as the last, in fact, the last 50 or so issuse's have been pretty slack to be honest, making my time on the morning bog not as exciting as it could be.

Skyryder

9th October 2009, 15:44

Book II of the Serpent Saga RISE OF A MERCHANT PRINCE.

Raymond Fiest.

Usarka

9th October 2009, 17:11

Richard Morgan writes some fantastic SF I think you'd like. He concentrates on the characters and story, leaving the SF aspects as the setting. Have read the Takeshi Kovacs trilogy (Altered Carbon, Broken Angels, Woken Furies) and was wowed. Also read Thirteen (may be known as 'Black Man' depending on how PC your publishers are) which was also a good yarn.

+1

lickmyhairynutsack10characters

Winston001

10th October 2009, 11:53

Chewing through The war for civilisation by Robert Fisk. It's drastically changing my opinion of world politics & terrorism.

Enjoyed The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins.

Sniper One by Dan Mills a rollicking, bullet ridden account of being under siege in Iraq, a book they tried to ban.

John Irving, The world according to Garp, genius, Hotel New Hampshire, maddness, a bear riding a sidecar outfit into a lake!
That will do I think. Great day for a thread like this.

Currently reading the War for Civilisation by Fisk. Its very good even if he is a bit of a lefty. A journalist who has lived in Lebanon for years and can quote Shakespeare to fit George Bush has to be respected.

Richard Dawkins book, The Ancestors Tale is better.

Sniper One is simply excellent.

And John Irving is a fine writer. A disturbed man I'm sure but good books. Keep away from the windows.....:D

Kickaha

10th October 2009, 13:55

And John Irving is a fine writer. A disturbed man I'm sure but good books. Keep away from the windows.....:D

The world according to Garp would have to rate as one of the crappiest books I have ever had the misfortune to read

Although some of his others were pretty good

Usarka

10th October 2009, 13:57

The world according to Garp would have to rate as one of the crappiest books I have ever had the misfortune to read

+1

lickmyhairynutsack10characters

Dafe

10th October 2009, 14:05

Nah, Haven't read a story book in the last 10 years.

Have watched heaps and heaps of DVD's though......

puddytat

10th October 2009, 14:09

Knut Hamsun's Growth of the Soil is a fine book,saturated with wisdom, humour & tenderness.
Mark Helprin's Winters tale is also another favourite....
Adrian Edmonsons How to be a complete Bastard is also good.

kit

10th October 2009, 16:24

MY Fave Authors !

Diana Gabaldon, Katherine Kerr, Robert Jordon, Raymond Fiest, Tolkien, Terry Goodkind, Margaret Weiss & Tracy Hickman, Eddings, Wilbur Smith.......oh so many, hard to remember them all!
Currently reading Fiona MacIntosh, and have the John Britten story to read + Keith Code, A twist of the wrist.

phred

10th October 2009, 16:55

Almost anything for me except Mills and Boon, Enid Blyton or Stephen King.
Having said that I enjoyed Kings The Dark Tower.
Favourites are: Anything by Tolkien, Dune except the trash by his son, All the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant , Anything by Heinlein, The Wheel of Time (waiting impatiently for the end of the series) It's very bad form for the Author to die before finishing the story.
I also like history, autobiographies and weirdness, Pincher Martin is definitely in that camp.

phred

10th October 2009, 16:56

Another addition to the crappiest books ever written.
Catcher in the rye. Boring pointless drivel.

Blue Babe

12th October 2009, 12:50

Nah, Haven't read a story book in the last 10 years.......
That is a very sad state of affairs.:Oops: You don't know what you are missing. A DVD or movies is all very well, but it takes the fun out of using your imagination. Don't get me wrong I love to watch a good movie, but a book means I can let my mind do the working of how things should be. Bet everyone else who reads agrees with me :yes::niceone:

Swoop

12th October 2009, 13:01

Nah, Haven't read a story book in the last 10 years.

Have watched heaps and heaps of DVD's though......
There is a saying "never judge a book by its movie"...

george formby

12th October 2009, 13:29

It might be a long ride from Pahia to get it. :)

I bought all three of his books from Amazon. About US$13 each. The freight cost more.

Auks & back is what I call a nice run. Kaikohe - twin bridges- Maungatapere - Dargaville- Brynderwyn- Wellsford - Kumeu- Scenic drive. And then back again. Lovely. Go the twisty roads & a comfy seat.:scooter:

Grumpy Gnomb

12th October 2009, 15:39

Best series Grumpy is reading is Wheel of Time which is SF by Robert Jordan. I am waiting for the 13th book in the series to come out and its coming out on 26th October. Been long time coming as the author has died so they had to get someone else to write the book as he could not do.
This series had better finish soon

avgas

12th October 2009, 16:04

I've read a few chapters here and there over the years, her writing really doesn't grab me. Plus I associate her objectivist philosophy with the pretentious self-involved idiots I met at school last year... Maybe I should be more open minded, who knows.
Truth be told - her genre of books was the last section I would have ever read. But I found that after about 3 or 4 chapters her books take a evil yet realistic terms. And the objective point of view breaks down to some basic morals.
- If you rely on others to do your work - what happens when they go?
- If you want something, go out there and achieve it - it should be yours
- Don't slack off, earn your way in the world

Something sadly missing in todays "Harry Potters" and "Da Vinci Code's"

But your write he actual "line-by-line" style is as dry as the sahara. But you must read the book cover to cover to actually enjoy it

HenryDorsetCase

12th October 2009, 16:22

Ive just finished "Farewell My Lovely" by Raymond Chandler. Ive read a bit of crime fiction over the years but never been to the source.

This and "The Big Sleep" are essential reading if you like crime fiction.

I am currently reading "I'll sleep when I'm Dead" by Crystal Zevon. Its the biography of Warren Zevon written by his second wife. Its quite good, though Warren would not have been a nice man to know. quite the self destructive zone.

I recently finished Neal Stephenson's "Anathem" which is truly excellent science fiction. If you say you like science fiction and havent read Neal Stephenson then you really don't. I like the way he deals with some very heavy subjects (cosmology, cryptology, geology etc etc) in a way even I can understand. Totally recommended.

I still have my "Japans Motorcycle Wars" to read.

Oh, and I recently bought this book: its more about the pictures but its really great.

http://www.amazon.com/Custom-Bicycles-Passionate-Christine-Elliott/dp/186470313X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255321291&sr=8-1

Street Gerbil

12th October 2009, 19:51

Dune except the trash by his son,
You will probably enjoy "Dune encyclopedia" and "the science of Dune", although neither is readily available in New Zealand.

Another one I love is "Space Marine" by Ian Watson, but that's a bibliographic rarity.

Skyryder

12th October 2009, 20:12

Has any one read

OUTLAWS OF THE MARSH. Attributed to Shi Naian, whom some believe to be Luo Guanzhong,

http://outlawsofthemarsh.com/default.aspx

Skyryder

Brett

13th October 2009, 14:56

Just finished Man Is Wolf To Man by Janusz Bardach

Very interesting story about a young man and his survival through the Soviet gulags.

Also, Exodus by Leon Uris. Old book from the 1960's but incredibly interesting about the history of Israel. Written as a story, it is an easy read.

Just finishing, Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin about a young boy who is raised in China and is hand picked to be a dancer in an era where the Communist Party is at its height. Very good book that gives an insight into the Mao Dinasty's rule and how things were for the people of China.

Skyryder

13th October 2009, 18:19

Also, Exodus by Leon Uris. Old book from the 1960's but incredibly interesting about the history of Israel. Written as a story, it is an easy read.

Just finishing, Mao's Last Dancer by Li Cunxin about a young boy who is raised in China and is hand picked to be a dancer in an era where the Communist Party is at its height. Very good book that gives an insight into the Mao Dinasty's rule and how things were for the people of China.

Exodus I read many years back. Topaz another of Uris novels that's worth a read. It's about the Cuban missile crisis.

THE MAO CASE by Qiu Xiaolong is another of inspector Chen thrillers. If you can get past the Carp's head for dinner bit. slowish read but some interesting stuff on China society etc. Have not finished this yet. There is another one on China that I have just finished but goddam it can't remember the name. Two books in fact one on China and another where the Secret Service is trying to assasinate their President. Will post when I remember.

Skyryder

Wren

13th October 2009, 18:54

Ive read A mote in gods eye as well.Wasnt there a sequel also? and yeah it was quite good.
Am currently reading the Seeker series , its not to bad!!!:rockon:

Skyryder

13th October 2009, 19:07

Kickaha

13th October 2009, 19:11

Ive read A mote in gods eye as well.Wasn't there a sequel also?

One of my favourite books, the sequel was The Moat around Murcheson's Eye.

Wren

22nd October 2009, 14:18

Yeah that was it ,might have to read them again ,its been a while since I read it.Have you read any Stephen Donaldson esp the Thomas Covenant series,that is my alltime favorite it got me started into sci-fi/fantasy novels when I was only 13 :2thumbsup

Usarka

7th September 2010, 20:15

bogan

7th September 2010, 20:23

I have to plug Alastair Reynolds. If you're into sci-fi definitely give him a read. He's an astrophysicist by training so knows his stuff, and can also spin a good yarn.

I've read most of his novels, but the cruncher is that I picked up a collection of his short stories (Zima Blue) and can't put it down. And I hate short stories with a passion.

Do it. Do it now.

+1 read some of his, very good, though I enjoyed Neal Ashcer's books (dunno if thats spelt right) even more, hardout action packed sci-fi :yes:

Swoop

7th September 2010, 20:35

The Lonely Sky, by William Bridgeman.
Published in 1956. The author was the pilot of the Douglas Skyrocket aircraft which was first to set records to 79,000ft and mach 1.88. Essentially writing the book on aircraft development and what was achievable aerodynamically.
Having to learn how to "reverse breathe" in the first generation of pressure suits... that also had fogging faceplates!
Having Chuck Yeager flying chase on his wingtip, ground launching a rocket/jet aircraft, air-launching the later development of this aircraft from a converted B-29 bomber. Really well written and covers his wartime service from a seaman during Pearl Harbour, bomber pilot in the pacific campaign, testing for Douglas Aircraft and ending with the X-3 Stiletto aircraft being the next phase of his life.

Winston001

7th September 2010, 21:02

This is a great thread, there are always fresh suggestions popping up.

Chloe by Helen Brown. For anyone fond of cats this is strongly recommended. I usually read thrillers, a bit of sci-fi, and sprinkle true stories in between. This book deals with a real-life tragedy and the cat who came to stay. The surprise was that this all happened in Wellington because initially I thought it was in Britain.

http://www.fishpond.co.nz/Books/Health_Wellbeing/Self_Help/Death,_Grief,_Bereavement/9781741759075/

HenryDorsetCase

7th September 2010, 23:52

just a quick plug for a site you might not know about:

www.bookdepository.co.uk

Big deal you say, another online bookstore. Ah yes: but, the prices are very good, and they post freight free all round the world. Suck on that amazon. An example: our local bookstore wanted $38.99 for a trade size paperback which seem sto be the going rate: from memory the same book was 25 landed. Paperbacks under ten squid. They have a motorcycle section too: thinking about Top Dead Center 2 by Kevin Cameron next.

Ive read Generation Kill (the book on which the tv series was based) by Evan Wright recently: very good. Then followed it up with

"One Bullet Away: the making of a Marine Officer" by Nathaniel Fick: He was the Lt in charge of the guys Evan Wright was embedded with. Its the better book, actually. Very interesting indeed.

Presently reading David Kilcullen's book "Counterinsurgency".

After that some light relief perhaps?

HenryDorsetCase

7th September 2010, 23:53

I have to plug Alastair Reynolds. If you're into sci-fi definitely give him a read. He's an astrophysicist by training so knows his stuff, and can also spin a good yarn.

I've read most of his novels, but the cruncher is that I picked up a collection of his short stories (Zima Blue) and can't put it down. And I hate short stories with a passion.

Do it. Do it now.going to check this out: thanks for the recommendation. Hard to find decent SF these days, and I dont do fantasy books really.

William Gibson's new book "Zero History" is released next week I think: I've preordered from book depository.

george formby

8th September 2010, 11:11

HenryDorsetCase

8th September 2010, 23:02

Almost finished The Omnivores Dilemma, fascinating read about food production in the US. I never realised you could do so much with corn & that cattle cannot digest it without antibiotics. I'm off to firebomb a Maccas.

His other one is also good. In a similar vein Taras Grescoe "The Devil's Picnic" talking about the history of prohibition when it comes to plants and alcohol, and the abject failure that is prohibition, of any substance.

Usarka

8th October 2010, 11:01

Swoop

8th October 2010, 11:18

+1 for this. I'm half way through and thoroughly enjoying some pioneering aviation history.

This had to be dug out of the archives of the library. Awesome recommendation Swoop, wouldn't have known about it otherwise. Thanks!
You are very welcome!
Quite amazed that you managed to locate it.
I only stumbled upon it by chance (as you do) and enjoyed it.

Have just finished Sir Frank Whittle's book on the invention of the gas turbine engine which he pioneered. Written around 1950.
Truly remarkable that all of his work could be taken away from him and given to other companies to exploit. Rolls Royce essentially gave up on piston power as they saw the future lay in jet engines.

Another great book is The First and The Last (http://www.amazon.com/First-Last-Adolf-Galland/dp/0899667287), by Adolph Galland.
From fighter pilot to general of the fighters... and back to a fighter pilot (jet) at wars' end.

Winston001

8th October 2010, 19:53

+1 for this. I'm half way through and thoroughly enjoying some pioneering aviation history.

This had to be dug out of the archives of the library.

Ah - that would explain why my library net-search for it was fruitless. Probably get it on interloan, sounds good.

Another great book is The First and The Last (http://www.amazon.com/First-Last-Adolf-Galland/dp/0899667287), by Adolph Galland.
From fighter pilot to general of the fighters... and back to a fighter pilot (jet) at wars' end.

I read this when I were a lad, having feasted on Bader and others. Must find a copy. :D