Mosca's comments (member since Mar 31, 2009)

Mosca's comments from the Beyond Reality group.

Bjtriton,

Cyteen was the first book by C.J. Cherryh that I read. So, at least for me, the world building worked. Another excellent Merchanter/Union book of hers is Downbelow Station.

She seems to "info dump" a bit in most of these books so that a new commer will, hopefully, not be left scratching their head. I found that after a bit of background, Cyteen picked up and was easy to follow.

The Bujold series is easier, and enjoyable; but the future world is not so philosophically interesting. IMHO

The first half of Red Mars is really slow; but the second half really takes off. The rest of the trilogy is one of science fictions best.

Bjtriton,

I've read both Cyteen by C.J. Cherryh and the "Mars Trilogy" i.e. Red Mars-Green Mars-Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson.

Both of these trilogies (Cyteen was originally published as a trilogy, but later combined, unabridged, as a single work) are excellent works. And both trilogies have a huge complex social/political/science structure as a backdrop for the story as you say.

But I found them very different. Largely because the world views of the two authors are very different. Kim Stanley Robinson is justifiably recognised as a visionary; while C.J. Cherryh is unjustifiably overlooked by many. I guess this is because her future vision is so cynical and decadent (although not an unlikely projection from where we are today).

I hope you enjoy "Cyteen" as much as I did. C.J. Cherryh deserves more attention from "serious" readers than she gets.

Have you read any of her other books from the Merchant/Union worlds?

C12vt swrote: "I recently read Anathem myself and loved it."

I read Anathem earlier this year and really enjoyed it too. It has set me on a Neal Stephenson binge. I've since read Cryptonomicon. And I'm now reading the first book of the Baroque Cycle: Quicksilver.

I've known about Stephenson for a long time; but have only recently begun reading him. What a treat.

Right now, I'm reading Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson. I'm enjoying it.

Very recently, I read Cryptonomicon and really enjoyed it, So I'm now tempted by the Baroque Trilogy.

SpyNavy, I read Lucifer's Hammer more than twenty years ago. If you like large scale disaster sci-fi, you'll love this. I'm not sure why Goodreads lists this as written by Larry Niven alone. This book was one of a number of books Larry Niven wrote as a team with Jerry Pournelle. So if you like this book, be sure to also read The Mote in God's Eye, also written by those two authors.

The book To Say Nothing of the Dog is apparently the second book of an intended trilogy (or series?), the first book is Doomsday Book.

The third book is expected to be published this year. It is titled "All Clear". And it will focus more on World War II Coventry, I think. Connie Willis's web site says that she has completed the book; and it is with the publisher.

Now I'm reading Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. It's been a very long while since I've read anything by him.

Finished reading Anathem by Neal Stephenson. Second book I've read of his. So far, he is consistently excellent.

Now I'm reading Children of God by Mary Doria Russell. This is the second part of the science fiction duette she started withThe Sparrow. The unlikely premise she establishes--a Jesuit space project--leads to a remarkable experience thru a pretty significant personal hell. I'm only half-way done with this second book; but she's keeping me guessing and very enthralled.

Hi! This is a thread idea from another group I follow.

This gives us all a chance to share our reading choices; and thoughts about the books we're reading and those others are reading. We get to know each others' perspectives. And we get to discover new books.

I'll start: Now I am about 40% through Anathem by Neal Stephenson. This is my second book by him. So far I really like it. It establishes a world not unlike what our's could be in a few thousand years. Using Stephenson's inclination for his own vocabularies, complex questions are becomming clear that seem eternal. Really liking how he rewards the reader for the efforts we make to understand his premises.

I may well be becoming another Stephenson fan.


Your turn.

Thank you for posting the Hugo nominees.

The only one of these that I know of at all is Anathem. This is because it is one of the books on my table checked out from the library. So I'm definitely going to reads it soon.

The others I will look into.