Read a good book lately?

[Winston001]

I have this half developed thought that science fiction as a genre is pretty much done: I havent read anything compelling in the genre for years, really. The stuff that has been worth reading (Cory Doctorow, Gibson, Stephenson) is set in the here and now.

Yeah, kind of agree. I prefer hard SF with an imaginative story to hold it all together, something based on solid science which expands the mind. Haven't found much over the past decade and I notice my teenagers have no interest in SF at all. Perhaps one problem is we are already living in the future and readers want the distraction of fantasy instead - vampires, wizards etc.

[SPman]

'Course it's more grounded, he's a Kiwi.

Anyone into Lee Childs and the Reacher stories?

Read all the Reacher stories - just finished the latest one - "The Affair".
Currently reading "Snuff", the latest Terry Pratchett Discworld book (good old Amazon Kindle readers)

I have this half developed thought that science fiction as a genre is pretty much done:

Just read all the Peter Hamilton books (got them on the phone) - they are pretty reasonable.

[Usarka]

I've started reading Iain M. Banks' stuff and quite enjoying it. Set very far future (or somewhere else) it seems to manage to avoid being too "fantasy" which I find a lot of these types of book can be (and then zabloodiggidly flew over Lapoozarone and engaged the Xielandian wobblecruiser with blah blah). Banks manages to write with depth and a fairly unique feel to it.

And he's the same Ian Banks (his non-sci-fi name) that wrote the The Wasp Factory (which is good).

[george formby]

I've started reading Iain M. Banks' stuff and quite enjoying it. Set very far future (or somewhere else) it seems to manage to avoid being too "fantasy" which I find a lot of these types of book can be (and then zabloodiggidly flew over Lapoozarone and engaged the Xielandian wobblecruiser with blah blah). Banks manages to write with depth and a fairly unique feel to it.

And he's the same Ian Banks (his non-sci-fi name) that wrote the The Wasp Factory (which is good).

One of my fav authors. Read The Algebraist a few times now, probbly his best SF book IMHO. He manages to mix physics, humour & convoluted plots very well. I'm slowly building up my collection of his SF & CF again. Currently re-reading Look to Windward.

[pete376403]

Years ago I read "Ancient Lights" by Davis Grubb. Haven't been able to find another copy locally, will try Amazon.
Slightly weird, lots of sex of various flavours, and really topical with the Occupy Wall Street protests going on right now.

[Conquiztador]

And so, apologies if already mentioned.

Nikky Sixx's Heroin Diaries.

For those who wonder who he is: Bass player in Motley Crew (and also main figure in his own band Sixx AM)

A insight in to the 80's Hard Rock scene. He died. Twice. Second time he went home straight after and changed his phone message to: (Sorry, can't remember exact words, but close to "I'cant answer the phone because I just died."

His album of same name ties in to the book. The book is written using his diaries while in the claws of heroin. And every episode has side comments from others who where there. (He tells of heavy partying with Slash. And also about Slash's problem of pissing in the bed... When Slash was in NZ and interviewed on Rock I wanted to ask the question if this was true... This was not PC enough I take...)

I was unable to put the book down before I had read it all. But I suppose there are those who would hate it. As they say: You only recognise things you know.

[Highlander]

I have read both. Bravo Two Zero is well written and a good read. But. McNab exaggerated and invented incidents to make it more exciting. For that reason I don't read him any more.

FYI Sgt McNab lead the Bravo Two Zero patrol to watch the MSR (main supply route - road) between Jordan and Baghdad. He could have taken trailbikes but elected to do it hard by tabbing in from the helicoptor drop off. With over 100kg per man. Bad decision. On top of that the guys had no warm gear despite it being winter with desert nights at freezing level.

Vince Phillips and Legs Lane died of hypothermia while evading the Iraqis.

McNab portrays himself to be the hero but the SAS debriefed the survivors and had a far different view. .

Soldier Five was book by the Kiwi Guy on loan in that patrol - Mike Coburn. Cracked me up that he gets horribly air sick and in training after two hours in the back of a Hurcules following the contour of the earth when they opened the door for his first jump he couldn't get out quick enough.
The One that got away was the Chris Ryan account that was good reading. He was the initial creator of the TV series "Ultimate Force" and made regular appearances in it.

McNab spins a good yarn and if his books are read for entertainment value, they do come accross as someone who knows what he is talking about though Chris Ryans novels just seam more authentic.

Also, for the 1991 Iraq War, Sabre Squadron by Cameron Spence is an excellent book. Its about SAS squadrons in Pinkies roving around the deserts of Iraq and giving the locals some nasty surprises. Recommended.

That was a really good read.

John Nichol was a Tornado pilot in the RAF that got shot down in Iraq and spent the rest of the war as a POW his book "Tornado Down" is pretty interesting too.

[Highlander]

This is the book the movie "Shooter" was based on, staring Mark Whalberg, Danny Glover and Kate Mara (among others).

Really enjoyed the movie until I read the book.
Well written, after the first half dozen pages you don't want to put it down.


Have read a couple of others by Stephen Hunter too, all good reading.


Has anyone read the series of books the TV series "Game Of Thrones" is based on? The ads for the TV series look good, but I would rather read a book than watch telly.

[SMOKEU]

I'm just about to start reading the English version of "Mein Kampf". Anyone else here read it?

[pete376403]

[QUOTE=Highlander;1130189241Has anyone read the series of books the TV series "Game Of Thrones" is based on? The ads for the TV series look good, but I would rather read a book than watch telly.[/QUOTE]

Yup. And they are all as good as "Game of Thrones" (Both the book and the series. HBO really stuck to the storyline, about the only obvious change is the children were made a bit older)

Hopefully HBO will make further TV series sticking as closely to the boos as they did for GoT.

[quickbuck]

Finished reading Croz=Larrikin Biker,very easy read biography of the legend,and written the way he rode,loose as lol.Can still recall the kwaka at Wanganui around 1977 ish on one wheel,he was our hero to all us kids at the time.

Yup,
I have too.... Great read.
Has some awesome stuff in it... I have to read Barry Sheene the Biography again, as they were written about events during the same era.
It has a small connection to the RNZAF too, as John Woodley used to work here, and Croz makes mention of his monoshock set-up.....


Another great read is "You don't know the half of it", by Aaron Slight (with Paul Owen), Aaron has even signed my copy!
There is also "Murphys Law", and "Bourne to Rally" that Paul Owen helped with.... Possums was finished after he was tragically killed.

[BoristheBiter]

Yup. And they are all as good as "Game of Thrones" (Both the book and the series. HBO really stuck to the storyline, about the only obvious change is the children were made a bit older)

Hopefully HBO will make further TV series sticking as closely to the boos as they did for GoT.

I'm just about to finish book 4 in the series. all the books are great, keep you guessing as just when you think what's about to happen something else does.

[Swoop]

Hostile Waters.


The Soviet boomer K-219 is an ancient submarine missile boat that is assigned to patrol off of the American coastline. Normal standards of communist repairs and maintenance develop into an explosion of a ballistic missile which causes poison acid gas AND radioactivity in compartments.
The boat uncontrollably dives into the depths. Sailors have to climb into the melting-down reactors and MANUALLY (with a spanner!) shut down the nuclear powerplants while battling with a toxic acidcloud atmosphere which eats everything it touches.

Impressive bravery and also cowardice (fucking Zampolits!) make this a great read. Could not put it down, literally.

9/10

[blue rider]

Rip
Christopher Hitchens 1949 - 2011

best quote ever
"Calling Henry Kissinger a 'war criminal' is not an epithet, it's a job description."

good read

Why Orwell Matters


currently re-reading

Issac Assimov - Cages of Steel - The Robot Series

Haynes Johnson - Sleepwalking through History - America in the Reagan Years

Marquis the Sade - Justine, or the Misfortunes of Virtue

Anais Nin - Little Birds

Ben Elton - Stark

[Usarka]

Rip
Christopher Hitchens 1949 - 2011

Arse. For those who aren't familiar with him, search youtube for "hitchslap".