SFBRP Listeners discussion
Books I would like to see reviewed
Mod
Thanks for the recommendation, but from my experience non-fiction futurism and speculation aren't a good fit for the podcast.
Inherit the Stars (a freebie on Audible) is a book you might like, Luke. It's late 70s hard SF (with typically thin characters) in which the protagonists use the tools of science to solve an incredible mystery, the discovery of a 50,000 year old human corpse in astronaut gear on the moon. Watch out for spoilers in some of the GR reviews, though!
Mod
I've read this before. I was convinced I'd find it in the SFBRP archive, but it isn't there.
Or maybe I haven't read it all, but downloaded an ebook and started it but didn't finish it?
Or maybe I talked about it on the SFFaudio podcast?
I notice that Yoon Ha Lee's latest, Phoenix Extravagant, is out in a few days time. Plans to read that?
I've read this before. I was convinced I'd find it in the SFBRP archive, but it isn't there.I did look there before making the suggestion.
Anyway, I enjoyed it well enough to continue the trilogy. Should be done with #3 soon and those who are interested can see my own reviews.
I just finished Frontera by Lewis Shiner, which I think is worth considering for the podcast. It’s free for Audible members. It’s a novel from the mid-80s, but it holds up pretty well, IMO. I thought the writing was pretty good and there are some cyberpunk elements. The premise is that it’s ten years after contact with America’s Mars colony was lost (and the USA fell apart) and an expedition is finally returning to salvage some interesting tech. I’ll say that I was a little underwhelmed by the ending, but that’s the sort of thing that’s subjective.
Marko Kloos's intraplanetary Aftershocks was pretty good as far as worldbuilding, but it's definitely the first in a trilogy. What's a gyrofoil??
Mod
You gave this book three stars! Why do you think I should read it?
It has better world building than Embers of War, which you weren't happy with. You might like it better than me.
Mod
I have zero memories of any aspect of Embers of War. I know I read it within the last year or so, but there is now a blank space in my mind in regards to that book.
In your goodreads review, you said it had no depth to the setting: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
It obviously had no depth to the characters, action, themes or anything else either, or I'd remember a single thing about it.
You've got to do more to sell me on a book you gave three stars to than comparing it to a book I gave three stars too :)
Mod
https://www.audible.com/pd/Fleet-of-K...
I thought the worldbuilding was above average. There's different planets, one like earth, one that's all mountains and higher gravity, one that's mostly ocean, one I think has poisonous gas and they have to live high in the air. Also one race is based on World War II Germany I think. You would probably appreciate it more than me. Lots of military scifi details. There's no faster than light travel, but there is faster than light communication. And yet the book isn't that long. But it's definitely 1/3 of the story. Kloos had a couple stories adapted in the Love Death & Rockets tv show. The one with the helicopter.If it doesn't peak your interest, I'm not overly invested in convincing you.
Mod
Okay, this kind of recommendation is more likely to convince me. I added it to my "to read" list yesterday anyway so if I see it recommended elsewhere it might be bumped up a bit.
And here’s where I have to add that while the first book is a good prologue to what looks to be a long series, even after the second book the pace is absolutely glacial. Where it might be of particular interest to you and Julianna is that the story is heavily informed by Mario Kloos’s childhood in post-war Germany. So it’s about a culture paying crippling reparations to the allies that defeated them and living with the previous generation being the aggressors in an interplanetary war.
Ugh, despite Hamilton's The Saints of Salvation (book 3) being out on Goodreads, it doesn't come out in America until November 17th.
I’ll put in a vote for Aftershocks. I enjoyed it quite a bit. The world building and character development were well done. It doesn’t quite have the realistic space physics of the Expanse, but it does stick to physics fairly well (other than gravity generators, anyway).It’s a quick read, and ends up being topical to today’s world.
The Raven Towerby Ann Lackie is on sale on audible for 6$. Told from the points of view of a god and a general/heir to the throne's attaché. With two time lines that eventually merge,
I especially enjoyed the god's point of view chapters.
https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Raven-...
I'll second that recommendation. I thought that book was brilliant. Fair warning though: a fair bit of the book is told in second person. Some people find that a bit jarring.
Just regarding your recent episode on Velocity Weapon, I think you'll be even more cranky about the way the author handled Jules in the first book after seeing where she's at in Chaos Vector.And I'll put in another plug for Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff. It also deals with a powerful ship AI. The book is epistolary in format and is presented as a collection of files at a court case trying to convict the responsible parties. In print, this means that the presentation is art-heavy and brilliantly done. In audio (which this book won awards for), it's a full-cast audio with sound effects.
I would love to see the Nightlord series by Garon Whited reviewed! Nightlord Boxed Set: Books 1, 2, and 3: Sunset, Shadows, and Orb
Mod
How long are those novels?
Stephen Baxter books are good 😀 He’s as good as Peter Hamilton and Alastair Reynolds which you reviewed a lot . You’ve reviewed one of his books once (flood) 🤷🏼♂️I haven’t listened to that one yet, so I don’t know if you like him or not.? He’s got lots more and he’s British too and was a real scientist. Also should review Kevin Anderson’s Saga of the seven suns and Saga of shadows.
Not sure if I should recommend a novel by Elizabeth Moon as the two books you've rated of hers have gotten 1.75 stars and 3.5 stars, but I enjoyed Remnant Population and suspect that you'll like it too.There's also The Steerswoman Road by Rosemary Kirstein. A book first published in 1989 in which the author plays with the secret society trope. I'd be interested in hearing yours and Juliane's thoughts on it.
Mod
Did you listen to the recent episode where I talked about Ben Bova? It's the same deal with Stephen Baxter. I read loads of his novels in the 90s and 00s, but moved on to other authors and styles of science fiction since starting the SFBRP.
But if you have a specific novel you'd like me to read or re-read, I'll put it on my list!
Luke wrote: "RamRom wrote: "Stephen Baxter books are good 😀 He’s as good as Peter Hamilton and Alastair Reynolds which you reviewed a lot . You’ve reviewed one of his books once (flood) 🤷🏼♂️I haven’t listened ..."No, haven’t listened yet but downloaded 😀 there’s been a few lately from Stephen Baxter He’s written the long earth series with Terry Patchett, and done new xeelee novels (vengeance in 2017 and redemption in 2018) and the world engines novels ( with the guy from manifold series)in 2019 and 2020. Wrote a novel with Alastair Reynolds. You can pick if want.😀
Andreas wrote: "Over the summer I listened to all of the Vorkosigan Saga books on Luke & Juliane's recommendation. Frankly, I think they gave up on the series too soon. The reason being how different the later boo..."Ethan of athos planet sounds like the planet moclas in Orville 🤨
Sutherland wrote: "I'd love to see you review "The Long Earth" by Stephen Baxter and Terry Pratchett"👍👍
Luke wrote: "Jonathan wrote: "Luke, have you (or anyone else here) tried Stephen King's Dark Tower books?I did not care for The Gunslinger at all, but I'm halfway through The Drawing of the Three, and it's pre..."
😧😧😲😲☹️Dark towers great. The movie packed 8 thick big books into 90 minutes. 😂😲which not good at all.
Luke wrote: "RamRom wrote: "Stephen Baxter books are good 😀 He’s as good as Peter Hamilton and Alastair Reynolds which you reviewed a lot . You’ve reviewed one of his books once (flood) 🤷🏼♂️I haven’t listened ..."Listened to Ben Bova podcast now, I, like you read the grand tour books too. And the expanse I think copied a lot of it.
RamRom wrote: "Sutherland wrote: "I'd love to see you review "The Long Earth" by Stephen Baxter and Terry Pratchett"👍👍"
Yes those books were a lot of fun!
Mod
Only a 3.77 average rating on Goodreads. And only a 3.4 average rating from my friends on Goodreads.
You're going to have to convince me a little harder.
Luke wrote: ""The Long Earth" by Stephen Baxter and Terry Pratchett.Only a 3.77 average rating on Goodreads. And only a 3.4 average rating from my friends on Goodreads.
You're going to have to convince me a..."
Well it’s nearly 4.5 rating for the 5 book box set . It’s 5 book series, I read 1st, seems alright. Person invents this device powered by a a potato 🥔😄 that enable you to travel to parallel universes (like sliders) but some are natural travellers (steppers in this)like Joshua and he travels to these worlds in a sort of zeppelin with an a.i called lobsang.
I would love to see you continue to read THE MALAZAN BOOK OF THE FALLEN by Steven Eriksonand have two more shorter fantasy standalones to recommend:
THE KING OF ELFLAND'S DAUGHTER by Lord Dunsany
THE BOOK OF ATRIX WOLFE by Patricia Mckillip
I see you have THE BLACK COMPANY by Glen Cook on your To-reads. I would second that one, but the series takes a big step up in quality with book 2 SHADOWS LINGER, so I would recommend that one as well.
J.R. wrote: "I see you have THE BLACK COMPANY by Glen Cook on your To-reads. I would second that one, but the series takes a big step up in quality with book 2 SHADOWS LINGER."I liked the Black Company books. They were pretty innovative, for the 1980s, in that the protagonists were regular foot soldiers serving the evil sorcerer, so we got the story from their point of view. The author was a Vietnam veteran and gave his narrator a cynical perspective that reminded me of Joe Haldeman's in The Forever War (also a Vietnam vet). The people he's fighting against might be "the good guys" in a different fantasy novel, but here, they aren't so wonderful. Not the best writing, but I enjoyed them.
It's also double-secret realistic/logical in that, while the world of the Black Company has magic and all kinds of strange stuff, the Company is tactically smart and tries to avoid open battle rather than just stupidly rushing at the enemy line. (Which is both quite realistic and also exactly what you would probably want to do when fighting wizards who fling fireballs at will.)
If you really want to go on a parallel worlds kick, then I strongly recommend the recent The Doors of Eden by Adrian Tchaikovsky. That's the guy that wrote Children of Time that you also liked. (I also strongly recommend Children of Ruin, the sequel to Children of Time).
Luke has reviewed Children of Ruin as well.
Ryan wrote: "Luke has reviewed Children of Ruin as well."I must have missed that. I should go back and listen to it.
Lindsay wrote: "If you really want to go on a parallel worlds kick, then I strongly recommend the recent The Doors of Eden by Adrian Tchaikovsky. That's the guy that wrote [book:Ch..."I like parallel universe stories. Marcher by Chris beckett is another one.😉
Ryan wrote: "The Steerswoman Road by Rosemary Kirstein"I second this and highly recommend the series. No longer published as "The Steerswoman's Road", which combined the first two novels. All of it (except the last 2 yet-to-be-published books) is available on Smashwords for very low prices: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view...
It's about an order of scientists mapping and documenting the world. They're all about sharing the information with everyone, but they're opposed by an order of powerful wizard who guard their secrets. The setting is fantastical, but this is firmly science fiction.
In the last episode I heard that you were reading In the Quick. That was on my tbr, so I bumped it up so that it would be fresh for your review.I'm about 75% through and I think your review will be interesting. Frankly, I'll be shocked if you give it more than 2 stars. It's an ok story, but nothing about the science or space program in the book makes any sense at all.
I'd love to see "The Ministry for the Future" by Kim Stanley Robinson reviewed. It wasn't what I expected, and I'm quite curious what Luke thinks about it.
A thumbs-up from me for Doors of Eden by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Definitely a book with plenty of fodder for discussion.
Hi Luuk an the rest of you guys Just finished “The Wind up Girl” by Paolo Bacigalupi. It’s really worth a read - after a couple of days I change my rating from 4 to 5. It is not a space ship sci-fi, earth based and really realistic in the world building. During the read I had a very “early Neal Stephenson”-vibe, starts with a slow pace which accelerate constantly.
I’d rather not get into the plot, since is very complicated, any attempt will not really give it justice.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
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It does tackle topic of the time travel, that I believe Luke has a certain very strong feelings about."
We'll get to Tenet when it comes to a streaming service of iTunes or whatever. I like cinema, but I don't see myself doing a cinema visit for a while.
If we think it is worth an SFBRP episode we'll talk about it for sure.