SFBRP Listeners discussion
Books I would like to see reviewed
message 551:
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Ryan
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Jun 16, 2021 12:09PM
Luke, you mentioned CS Lewis a few times in your Piranisi review. Have you ever reviewed any of his science fiction work? (If you did, it was probably quite a few years ago, otherwise I'd most likely remember.)
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I’d like to recommend Heroes Die by Matthew Stover. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
A really exciting and well written mix of fantasy and sci-fi. Narrated well on audible, the author weaves in dystopian sci-fi with a fully convincing fantasy world with plenty of action and great character development. Don’t be put off by the cover ! A step above most fantasy books I’ve read. Keep well !
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I've not reviewed any of his books, fantasy or science fiction. I've read a lot of it though. You can see all the books I've reviewed on the podcast here: https://www.sfbrp.com/episode-lists-3
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I'm kinda put off by the cover.
Learning that Lukes dislike of The Swarm motivated him to start the SFBRP, I really want to hear what exactly annoyed him about the story but not if it means he'd have to read it again.
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It's possible I have some pre-SFBRP test recordings on an archive hard drive. If I do, there might be some recorded thoughts from when I read The Swarm in 2007.
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I can't find any pre-SFBRP recordings. A pity! I honestly thought SFBRP episodes would be between 5 and 10 minutes, which would be interesting to see how it would have gone if I'd have stuck with that plan. But now I can't find the test recordings.
No, The Long Earth, then? I saw on your page that you were interested in it for a little while.🤷🏼♂️🤷🏼♂️What…Stephen Baxter doesn’t get a second go, ala Neal Stephenson with anathem you like and snow crash, you didn’t ( I only listened to one audiobook from him - The Diamond Age, it’s good too😀)and Joe Haldeman etc. plus in one Ben Bova podcast you said he was dead and the second (on Venus book) you said he’s alive🤷🏼♂️He’s dead!🤦🏻
Mod
I've read many, many books by Stephen Baxter. It's not that he doesn't get a second go, he just has to appeal to me at the moment I look for a new book to read.
I'd like to recommend Ancestral Night by Elizabeth Bear. It is a quite well written/witty space opera. Told in the first person (largely inner dialog) by a crew member aboard a salvage tug which comes across an ancient derelict space ship. The action includes space pirates, mind augmentation, a funny ship AI and cats in space.Looking at your episode list, it doesn't seem you've reviewed any novels by the author. Neither had I, although I thought I had read something a while ago.
I liked that one too, and I actually think the second book is even better.
Mod
Okay I'll add it to my to-read list.
I just heard in your latest podcast that you're reading Piranesi.I just finished it myself as it was the last one off the Hugo novel nominee list that I hadn't read. It's a short novel, but it's still nearly twice the Hugo definition of novella-length though.
I'm really looking forward to hearing your impressions. I know you don't do fantasy all that often.
I actually have it as second on my list for this year, but I'll be the first to acknowledge that it's a really weak year for Hugo novels. First would be The Relentless Moon, but I'm aware you don't love that series.
Maybe, World Engines (destroyer and creator) would be a better books to read than the long earth to get back into Stephen Baxter. I’ve nearly finished those two, and like them😀🤓or a different author like Kevin Anderson and his Saga of seven suns, I always really like those, I’ve read them awhile ago and going to be listening to all the audio books now. You reviewed him with Brian Herbert before (with 0.5 stars😅) but not by himself.
Two suggestions of books I haven't read yet:I enjoyed the Odyssey review. Perhaps you'd like to try Maria Dahvana Headley's modern translation of Beowulf? It certainly has a comedic angle, conveyed with very modern slang.
There's an "official" audio version, and also a "crowd-sourced" reading by internet celebrities, including the author. (I can't post links so figure this out: vimeo.com / 494648680 )
Have you had any feedback yet on your "interpretation" of how the Odyssey should be approached?
We Are Satellites by Sarah Pinsker is near-future science fiction about a new brain implant that improves attention, as it's becoming a must-have item. The story focuses on a single family.
I also recommend We Are Satellites. The family in question is the author's vehicle to look at various different attitudes towards the new tech and it's social impacts. I would be interested to see if the issues you have with it are the same ones I had.
For a taste of Pinsker's work, I can recommend the novella And Then There Were (N-One) (available online), where a Sarah Pinsker goes to a convention of Sarah Pinskers from across the multiverse.
Ori, I really enjoyed And Then There Were (N-One). Juliana would probably enjoy it too, as it’s a murder mystery. I listened to the audio version as a 3 part series on the Escapepod podcast, episodes 652-654.
As with most speculative fiction that involve a murder mystery, I didn't feel like it was ABOUT the murder mystery. I think the premise is what made it shine.The story was published together with an author interview: https://uncannymagazine.com/article/i...
Finished The Quantum War which is the third book in the The Quantum Evolution series by Derek Künsken today. Its officially released next month and is well worth reviewing, but having also listened to your review of the second book (4.5 stars) I'm going to recommend letting Julianne read the series first. Luke did say he wanted to read the first book again...
I have mentioned it before but it must have gone below the radar. I would really like you to read and review «Night Watch» (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...) by Sergei Lukyanenko (https://www.goodreads.com/author/show...)It’s an interesting twist on the modern city fantasy genre. It has kind of Dostoyevsky vibes going on in there. Well worth a read.
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I think I’ve looked at this before, but I’m not really interested in urban fantasy. It’s just not my thing compared to other types of genre fiction. I’ll need way more recommendations and convincing to try it. Sorry!
Try Calcutta Chromosome for a British Indian Science Fiction book. the author is better known for his literary works but this definitely belongs in the Sci Fi genre. probably the most famous Sci Fi by an Indian author and it has a British connection. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6...
Night Watch is a book I found interesting for what felt like a particularly Russian take on urban fantasy, with the "light" and "dark" sides being more morally complicated than they usually are in Western fantasy. It seemed like the author had the 20th century history of his country on his mind.The storytelling, however, was a little messy to me, and I enjoyed Night Watch more on an idea level than page by page. That's just my opinion from book one; the series might find more of a footing in the sequels.
A bunch of requests:Authors whose novels I haven't read yet, and don't have an SFBRP episode. Maybe someone else can recommend specific works by them:
* Paul McAuley - British science fiction author. Best known for the Quiet War series.
* qntm - self-published. Mostly known for short stories on qntm.org/fiction (sorry, can't link directly but are all free on the website) (Lena, I Don't Know Timmy, Being God is a Big Responsibility, Antimemetics SCP stories). Has a bunch of novels exploring "big ideas".
For actual recommendations:
* It's past Halloween, but have you read Zelazny's A Night in the Lonesome October? It's a short fantasy tale featuring a cast of characters from real-life and fiction. Like Lord of Light, there are a lot of details that are left for the reader to work out. Each chapter is a different day in October, so it's traditionally read one chapter a day. Most importantly, the audiobook is read by Zelazny.
* Hellspark - one of the few novels by Janet Kagan. A classic trope of a planetary survey team encountering indigenous aliens and having to decide if they sentient (or sapient, forgot the difference). Features a Competent Protagonist, I'm-almost-Human Ship AI, and a colorful cast of characters from different alien cultures that have to live together.
Mod
Authors whose novels I haven't read yet, and don't have an SFBRP episode. Maybe someone else can recommend specific works by them:
* Paul McAuley "
I've glanced at Paul McAuley's novels now and then over the years, but I've always been put off by is VERY average ratings on Goodreads.
The blurb about him makes me feel he could fit right in with my British Space Opera Author group, but his ratings don't compare.
Iain M Banks: 3.8 to 4.2
Alastair Reynolds: 3.8 to 4.2
Peter F Hamilton: 3.9 to 4.4
Neal Asher: 3.8 to 4.2
Paul McAuley? 3.3 to 3.8!
He has one book with a rating above 4 stars (4.02 for Into Everywhere) but that is a second book in a series that begins with Something Coming Through, rated only 3.58.
So if someone has a specific book recommendation of Paul McAuley, which they think has similar quality to the above authors, let me know. But I'm not going to pick one at random, knowing his peak is the same height as those other authors' lows.
Ryan, you are absolutely correct. Got to find the Lost Steersman. Will be the next book.
Tade Thompson's new Far from the Light of Heaven is getting great reviews. It's a locked-room murder mystery in space. It's on sale on Amazon.com ATM (which is probably not relevant to most readers) so I grabbed it and intend to read it next.Is there any interest in revisiting The Sandman by way of the new Audible full cast adaptation? It's based on the original scripts so it's very faithful, with every word and panel description read aloud. ATM, two parts are out, which cover slightly more than half of the original run.
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I have no interest in any full-cast adaptation of any story. It's just not my thing. Sorry!
Wouldn’t like all the big finish dramas on dr who then? Your novel, old judgement fled, I’ve never read, but I’ve read one of the authors(James White) books. A novel in the universe of one of my favourite scifi shows (Earth Final Conflict) and probably his last novel before James died. Also, In the absolution gap podcast Julianna said Baxter ( accidently🤷🏼♂️When guessing a character) and you said the long earth. (Accidently🤷🏼♂️🤭 a while latter) listen 👂🏼.? The two macleods ( ken and Ian🤨) are also british
Ori wrote: "Tade Thompson's new Far from the Light of Heaven is getting great reviews. It's a locked-room murder mystery in space.Having read it, I'm now ambivalent about suggesting it. I enjoyed it, but not for the murder mystery. Most of it is about surviving increasingly-difficult situations in space, and most of the ideas and characters aren't special.
A worthwhile read from the Audible Plus catalogue.More Than Human, holds up surprisingly well for a book from 1953.
Because it is set mostly in its own time and is not based on technology, we are spared the wrenching anachronisms of a future as imagined by an author in the early 50s.
There is no attempt to explain the mechanism behind the abilities of the post humans, there is a MacGuffin but it is indistinguishable from magic.
There is some psychology that felt credible if sometimes simplistic to me, though I am no expert.
The main thing I liked was that a Novel published in 1953 managed to subvert my 2021 expectations.
The appearance of super humans did not result in a super hero scenario, they are neither hated nor revered, they keep to themselves, on the sidelines, trying to survive, trying to understand themselves and their relationship to old humanity.
For most of the Novel there are more questions than answers, yet again helping the modern reader in avoiding anachronisms. It is when answers are given that the crudeness of 1950s sci-fi creeps in.
Some of the side characters are cartoonish.
The circumstances behind the creation of the MacGuffin are my favorite idea of the Novel.
A bit surprised that Luke has not explored anything byThomas Pynchon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_...
His 1973 novel "Gravity's Rainbow" has ... well just read the intro on the Wiki page:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity...
"The novel is regarded by many scholars as the greatest American novel published after the end of the Second World War,[6] and is "often considered as the postmodern novel, redefining both postmodernism and the novel in general"."
Wiki does classify many of this author's novel;, incl. GR, as "science fiction"
And there appears to be several dedicated "examination" or interpretation books for GR.
FYI: I HAVE NOT READ ANY BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR.
Hollowman wrote: "A bit surprised that Luke has not explored anything byThomas Pynchon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_...
His 1973 novel "Gravity's Rainbow" has ... well just read the intro on the Wiki pa..."
Okay... just got a hold of copy of GR .... up to about page 10 .... ummmm .... um .... it ain't AC Clarke .... it ain't Asimov ... it ain't.... Hmmmm ...
Luke, I dares ya ta read this ... this ... this ...."Time [magazine] named Gravity's Rainbow one of its "All-Time 100 Greatest Novels" ... "Nebula nominated [masterpiece]" .... I double darez ya ... uh .... we need another RANT podcast ;)
Mod
“Although selected by the Pulitzer Prize jury on fiction for the 1974 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the Pulitzer Advisory Board was offended by its content, some of which was described as "'unreadable,' 'turgid,' 'overwritten' and in parts 'obscene'". No Pulitzer Prize was awarded for fiction that year.”
Not my kind of book.
If anyone's looking for a good introduction/explainer of Pynchon's work, to get a sense of whether or not it's for you, I recommend this podcast: https://toomuchnotenough.site/episode...(My impression was it's not for me)
Luke wrote: "Yeah no. Not happening. “Although selected by the Pulitzer Prize jury on fiction for the 1974 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, the Pulitzer Advisory Board was offended by its content, some of which wa..."
Actually, the "overwritten" part is how I'd describe many of the books you've reviewed ... A. Reynolds (Revelation Space, etc) -- abandoned that mess in less than 10 pages.
Back to GR ... well, here on GoodReads, it's luuuuuuuuuuv'd like a mofo : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
3.95, 43,112 ratings.
And then there it's the king's ballz on Amazon. And several YouTube vloggers have multi-hour-long videos on how Pynchon is the shit,
Must be some sorta mass psychosis ... or I'm too dumb to 'preciate it. Fawwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwk ....
I've read Gravity's Rainbow twice and still don't think I understood what the author was trying to do. I think it's better to read David Foster Wallace, who was heavily influenced by Pynchon but uses other techniques to create unreadability (and once you get into the rhythm of them, they slip into the background.)But actually I'm recommending neither. Thank yewwww.
In #450 "Subgenres and Expectations" you mentioned that Alastair Reynolds' Terminal World had a concept you seemed to like, of zones with different levels of technology.If you feel like reviewing any more vintage sf, Jack L. Chalker's Midnight at the Well of Souls has a similar concept. Most of the book is set on an artificial planet with zones of externally enforced levels of technology (eventually revealed to have an important reason behind it). I read it in the early 1980s and it still occupies real estate in my imagination.
I recently reread that one and the first book at least holds up. (Midnight at the Well of Souls).
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(My impression was it's not for me)"
After listening to the podcast, I also think it's not for me. But the "Too Much Not Enough" podcast itself? I found it delightful, and then listened to the other 15 episodes in the same RSS feed. A good listen!
Luke wrote: "Gregg wrote: "Childhood's End was an important early influence on me. Like mist classic SF, it's fairly short and quick to get through. I wonder how well it's aged?"I didn't particularly like Chi..."
ah darn, was hoping you would review that one!
I would be interested to see Robert L. Forward's 'Dragon's Egg' reviewed - it's about the encounter between earth scientists and creatures living at a faster rate of time on a neutron star. I really enjoyed it but often don't recognize the flaws of a book until listen to SFBRP!
Richard wrote: "I would be interested to see Robert L. Forward's 'Dragon's Egg' reviewed - it's about the encounter between earth scientists and creatures living at a faster rate of time on a neutron star. I rea..."
Sounds like an episode of Star Trek voyager( Blink Of An Eye), but voyager it was a planet not neutron star.Sounds interesting 🧐Also…You never did an Australian author, how about Greg Egan ( from here, Perth😋)
Greg Egan's Diaspora was reviewed in episode 370. Do you have a specific novel in mind?
In a recent review, Juliane mentioned that it was hard to find good Science Fiction written natively in German. Although it's written originally in English, German author Marko Kloos as a great series of novels starting with Aftershocks. They are well-written Military-themed SF that seem to draw on the post-WWII German experience. I enjoyed the whole series, which is ongoing.
Ori wrote: "Greg Egan's Diaspora was reviewed in episode 370. Do you have a specific novel in mind?"I actually haven’t read any of his books (coming from my city.🤦🏻) but I didn’t know Luke reviewed a book of his. ( I will listen😀) But thinking “permutation city (or 1 from the series it’s in)
I have an odd suggestion that has many reasons to not be on the podcast, but maybe it will spark an interest.Subcutanean is an experimental weird/horror novel where each copy is unique - randomly generated from a pool of possibilities. It's about a spooky basement that leads to alternate realities. The core of the story is the same, but each chapter has at least one unique scene, and there are lots of smaller changes in phrasing, behaviors of characters, backstory, etc.
It would probably be interesting to review ONLY if Luke and Juliane each read their own copy. Now, I seem to recall horror is very much outside of your comfort zone. Mine, too - but I still enjoyed it. There's no gore, torture or anything like that, although I did avoid reading some of the spooky parts at night.
The book was nominated for last year's LAMBDA award for queer fiction, in the SF/F & Horror category. I didn't hear much about it outside of the interactive fiction games scene that the author is active in.
If this is still of interest, the way to get a copy is straight from the author's website - there are discounts for bulk copies. There's also a free audiobook recording by the author, but naturally it's for a single "version" of the story.
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