Read a good book lately?

[Laava]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

"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
Well worth a read.

[rachprice]

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]

Just finished GONE WITH THE WIND by Mageret Mitchel.

[Hitcher]

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.