Book Recommendations

Alex Moon · Post by **Alex Moon** » 2004-02-17 03:53pm

Ok people. Anything you've read lately that you would recommend others read ? Can be any genre, not just sci-fi. I'll go first.

Baudolino, by Umberto Eco

The story of an italian peasent who is adopted by Emperor Fredrick Barbarossa. Baudolino is given the task of finding the legendary kingdom of Prestor John, a task which becomes the focus of his life. Eco writes very well, and the relationship between him and Fredrick provides for some of the best parts of the story. Some of the secondary characters are a little weak, but the characters of Abdul and the Poet make up for it. The story touches upon love, friendship, betrayal, and the death of ideals.

The Girl Who Played Go, by Shan Sa

A coming of age novel and love story about a Japanese Soldier in occupied Manchuria during the 1930s and a young Chinese girl in a remote Manchurian town. The flawed personalities of both characters makes the ending all the more powerful. Sa manages to create very human characters who find themselves in conflict with their desires and who struggle to understand a world that they cannot. As the world around them begins to deteriorate, the two play a series of games in the town square, neither knowing the other's name, and yet both trying to understand their mysterious opponent.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-02-17 03:56pm

Battle Royale by Koshun Takami.

Forget the movies, forget the manga, just read the book. It's the best fucking movie you'll ever read in your life.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-02-17 04:02pm

The Reality Dysfunction by Peter F. Hamilton. First in the Night's Dawn trilogy and I love it. The LotR of sci-fi thus far, has some slow points and some characters can leave a lot to be desired, but epic is a gross understatement.

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2004-02-17 05:04pm

Well, obviously the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan...

...and King's On Writing was amazing...

I'm more into GLBT lit, though. E.M. Forster's Maurice is a good place to start. Also Angels in America, though the author's name escapes me now...

Lord Pounder · Post by **Lord Pounder** » 2004-02-17 05:11pm

A friend from work said she'd get me the Spellsinger books. Where they any good?

El Moose Monstero · Post by **El Moose Monstero** » 2004-02-17 05:20pm

Life of Pi was quite good, enjoyed that. My mates disagree however... I forget who wrote it.

InnerBrat · Post by **InnerBrat** » 2004-02-17 05:24pm

Memoirs of a Geisha
Adored it. Absolutely adored it.

Pillars of the Earth
A little too WoT/SoT in terms of characteristion, but at least there's some kick ass heroines (really. If you're sick of weak women who get rescued by richard Rahl, this is great). Not fantasy, but Medieval.

CmdrWilkens · Post by **CmdrWilkens** » 2004-02-17 05:33pm

The Elegant Universe by Brain Greene.

I picked it up as I was slightly curious about the hoopla over Superstring Theory. Thereaosn I really recommend it is that he offers, perhaps, the most clear and easily followed explanation fo Relativity (Special and General) as well as the fundamental underpinnings of Quantum Mechanics. Now he doesn't get into equations (which means I have no fancy math to abuse on the board) but the understanding of the root of the theories is a REAL big help if you'e interested in the topics which I suspect many here are.

SyntaxVorlon · Post by **SyntaxVorlon** » 2004-02-17 07:45pm

I've enjoyed reading Wittgenstein's Poker, a really good book about the philosopher and his personality and the personality of Karl Popper.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-02-17 07:53pm

Steve Pressfield's "Gates of Fire" & "Tides of War" cool anchient Greek historical fiction.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2004-02-17 08:19pm

Good Omens
From Terry Pratehett creator of Discworld
A pretty good take on the Apocalypse and how the birth of the Anti-Christ is mishandled and he grows up an ordinary child whilest an Angel and a Demon do their best to stave off The End of Everything whilst the forth Bikers of the Apocalypse ride forth

The Aliens · Post by **The Aliens** » 2004-02-17 08:23pm

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy- a Trilogy in Five Parts, by the late Douglas Adams. A mixture of Scie-Fi and comedy that everyone should read.

Also- Rendezvous with Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke. Story about an extra-terrestrial ship that enters the Solar System in the year 2150. As opposed to Star Trek, Clarke knows his science, which makes for an excelent read.

Cornelius · Post by **Cornelius** » 2004-02-17 08:25pm

Brave New World is a good choice

Or books of Redwall...if you like fantasy.

HemlockGrey · Post by **HemlockGrey** » 2004-02-17 08:36pm

Catch-22: Simply the greatest book ever.

Shogun: Absolutely fantastic historical novel about an Englishman trapped in feudal Japan. An epic tale about a clash of societies, the role of mankind, and the coming of a greater age. Some of the exposition drags and you won't exactly root for the Japanese (at least, I didn't), but its one of the best books I've ever read.

The Black Company: It forms the first of a trilogy, followed by Shadows Linger and The White Rose, which together make up quite possibly the greatest fantasy series I have ever read. Dark, funny, and epic.

salm · Post by **salm** » 2004-02-17 09:03pm

the "dark future" series by jack yeovil.

SylasGaunt · Post by **SylasGaunt** » 2004-02-17 10:39pm

On a Pale Horse- How can you not like a book where hte main character shoots Death in the face within the first 30 pages?

SeebianWurm · Post by **SeebianWurm** » 2004-02-17 11:03pm

American Psycho - Be afraid.

Post by **Dalton** » 2004-02-18 02:30am

Anything by Neal T. Stephenson, especially Snow Crash.

Shinova · Post by **Shinova** » 2004-02-18 02:44am

I very doubt many have read Alastor by Jack Vance. If you somehow manage to find it, try it out.

Dorsk 81 · Post by **Dorsk 81** » 2004-02-18 02:45am

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:Battle Royale by Koshun Takami.

Bastard beat me to it, although I was a little slow on the up take.

Forget the movies, forget the manga, just read the book. It's the best fucking movie you'll ever read in your life.

Don't forget the manga! It's brilliant!

Anyway, more on topic...

I've just read The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks for about the seventh time. It's meant to be humor, but it's written soooo seriously, and that's what makes it so funny.

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-02-18 02:46am

If the manga is at all different from the book, you better fucking forget it.

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-02-18 03:09am

TH White: The Once and Future King, Arthur and Merlin Rock!, and the half demon is much more pro-human then in almost any other depiction.

Dorsk 81 · Post by **Dorsk 81** » 2004-02-18 03:10am

Spanky The Dolphin wrote:If the manga is at all different from the book, you better fucking forget it.

Have you read the manga? It's fucking brilliant!
And speaking of the book, I had one of my best friends whining about it the other day, saying it was boring!

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2004-02-18 03:14am

I have only read the book: I simply refuse to read the manga or see the movie. There is simply no way that either of them could even compare to what I generated in my head while reading the book, and I wish not to possibly corrupt it in any way.

Sarevok · Post by **Sarevok** » 2004-02-18 03:27am

The Animal Firm by Orwell is a great book. Its is about animals but yet clearly demonstrates the conflict between communism and capitalism.