Book Recommendation

[oumahexi]

This sounds a bit daft, but I've spent the last ten years or so reading very little other than "self help" and study material. Now I think it's time to get back to reading. Has anyone read anything that they think may be interesting enough for me?

I used to like Sci-fi - in particular I loved Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion books, so anything along those lines...

 

[KenHigg]

Stewart is you man on this. He does excellent reviews on his web site. I think he has a link to them in his signature -

 

[GaryPanic]

a good book is Time enough for Love - bit of a classic
for pure fantasy and easy reading dragon series by Anne McCaffrey

start at the beginnning of the series .

anything by tad williams seems to be good

 

[Mile-O]

Has anyone read anything that they think may be interesting enough for me?

I used to like Sci-fi - in particular I loved Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion books, so anything along those lines...

I'm not a big sci-fi fan, preferring less genre driven literature, although literary has become a genre in itself these days. For sci-fi, the nearest thing I've read this year was The Invention Of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares, which is a slim volume that can be read again and again. Being that it's set on island where everything is not quite as it seems, I think this little Argentinean classic from 1940 is quite an influence of the television show Lost.

I suppose you could have a nosey through my blog (in signature) and see if anything takes your fancy there. It's quite a varied mix.

 

[oumahexi]

Stewart is you man on this. He does excellent reviews on his web site. I think he has a link to them in his signature -

Who is Stewart?

 

[KenHigg]

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Mile-O

 

[oumahexi]

a good book is Time enough for Love - bit of a classic
for pure fantasy and easy reading dragon series by Anne McCaffrey

start at the beginnning of the series .

anything by tad williams seems to be good

Dragons, now we're talking!

I just can't get out of this blooming trap! Went to a local bookshop at lunch time and end up coming back with a book on practicle magick. Maybe I shop in the wrong bookshops. Think I'll try Amazon

 

[oumahexi]

I'm not a big sci-fi fan, preferring less genre driven literature, although literary has become a genre in itself these days. For sci-fi, the nearest thing I've read this year was The Invention Of Morel by Adolfo Bioy Casares, which is a slim volume that can be read again and again. Being that it's set on island where everything is not quite as it seems, I think this little Argentinean classic from 1940 is quite an influence of the television show Lost.

I suppose you could have a nosey through my blog (in signature) and see if anything takes your fancy there. It's quite a varied mix.

Thanks Mile (or Stewart, sorry), I'll take a look. I've heard of that book, so maybe I can find it on Amazon. I'm thinking, if I don't do a specific search I'm going to end up with the same old, same old.

 

[BarryMK]

Who is Stewart?

And you a Scot!

Mod Mr S J McAbney aka Mile o Phile is a national treasure (here at least). His technical input (much reduced nowadays due to other commitments) is much missed by those of us who benefitted from his elegant coding.

 

[oumahexi]

And you a Scot!

Mod Mr S J McAbney aka Mile o Phile is a national treasure (here at least). His technical input (much reduced nowadays due to other commitments) is much missed by those of us who benefitted from his elegant coding.

Darn! I should have known that because we're practically related both being Scots ha ha ha.

And now that you've blown his cover name I'm guessin' MFI are going to recall him

 

[KenHigg]

...is much missed by those of us who benefitted from his elegant coding.

I would like to echo that sentiment. I have never seen anyone that can churn out more elegant code and - do it as fast as he can. I was amazed...

 

[oumahexi]

I suppose you could have a nosey through my blog (in signature) and see if anything takes your fancy there. It's quite a varied mix.

Where do you get the time? LOL, here am I making the decision to read something "just for the fun of it" for a whole 30 minutes a day! Unfortunately that's all I can afford out of my busy schedule as my boss insists on me being here for 8 hours a day and if he doesn't hear the keyboard clatter he thinks I've fallen asleep and prods me with a cattle prod! Time theives, that's what they are. (rant finished, apologies, I get rather emotional about being forced to spend time here when I could be, oh, I don't know, watching paint dry )

 

[Leffe78]

I got a recommendation:

Conn Iggulden:
* The Gates of Rome (2003)
* The Death of Kings (2004)
* The Field of Swords (2005)
* The Gods of War (2006)

Not historically correct in any sense, other than bits and pieces, but he makes it for the greater good
All in all, very good to start your history carrer with And the Roman Empire is very much like our civilization.... just have to read between the lines.

Happy reading!

 

[sandy6078]

Ouma,

My son is a great sci-fi / fantasy fan. He is currently reading Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Huge volumes and many books in the series.

 

[Rabbie]

Of course if you want something a little nearer to home you could try the Rebus books by Iain Rankin. For the authentic Edinburgh/Fife settings

 

[wazz]

ever read 2001: a space odyssey? it's really quite good.

 

[oumahexi]

Wow, this will take me right through my retirement! Thanks everybody.

I've read most of the Rebus books Rabbie, I just love the way Ian Rankin writes. The final one is due out this autumn I think. Pity Ken Stott won't be doing the TV show though.

 

[oumahexi]

ever read 2001: a space odyssey? it's really quite good.

LOL, yes, actually, we read that way back at high school. Then it was Dune, now THERE is a boring book! 2001 was quite good as I remember.

 

[MSAccessRookie]

If you have not read Philip Pullman's trilogy titled "his dark materials", I think that it might be a good read for you. It has three books:

1. The Golden Compass (Made into a movie in 2007)
2. The Subtle Knife
3. The Amber Spyglass

 

[Mile-O]

So, why is it so many techie folk seem to be into sci-fi and fantasy? I've never seen the appeal.

oumahexi, if you want something completely different to strike you out of a rut, but with a hint of sci-fi, then what about Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro?