Read a good book lately?

[HenryDorsetCase]

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-Bicycle...5321291&sr=8-1

[Street Gerbil]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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!!!

[Skyryder]

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.

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-en...g-1605277.html

Skyryder

[Kickaha]

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]

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

[Usarka]

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.

[bogan]

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

[Swoop]

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]

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/Heal...9781741759075/

[HenryDorsetCase]

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]

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.