Former Introduction Thread Showing 1,401-1,450 of 6,846

[[deleted user]]

Welcome. Don't forget to tip your waitresses.

[Al "Tank"]

Al Kalar, and I'm a Science Fiction fanatic. I even write the stuff (for shame), but to be able to hold my head up in public, I write under a pen name.

I've had this particular disease since I was a wee tad with a brand-new library card. I grew up on Robert Heinlein (he always seemed to be writing stuff in my current age group) and still love his style (except in the later years when he forgot how to end a story).

I'm also old, but I don't think I've gone into my dotage just yet.

I probably won't promote my own stuff here, but I'll mention other people's work when it interests me.

I'm currently on an eBook kick brought about by my association with an eBook publisher (I work as a copy editor -- "retirement therapy"). And yes, I'll mention stuff I've worked on if I think it's worth reading (and since I have a say in accepting manuscripts, it should mostly be worth reading -- except when I'm outvoted).

[[deleted user]]

Al wrote: "I probably won't promote my own stuff here"

what is this...i don't even...

[[deleted user]]

All kidding aside, welcome Al :)

[Al "Tank"]

Thanks, Ala.

[Elizabeth]

Hi there

I'm an IT professional who has recently entered the world of writing. Had a scifi novel published called The Empire.

I've been a long time scifi and fantasy fan, though more of a closet one. Never been part of the fan or convention scene until recently.

I live in Toronto, Canada.

I'm currently re-reading Piers Anthony's Incarnations series and just finished a YA fantasy by Gerry Huntman called, Guardian of the Sky Realms.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Elizabeth.

I never could quite get into the Incarnations series, and I don't know why

[Elizabeth]

Ala wrote: "Welcome Elizabeth.

I never could quite get into the Incarnations series, and I don't know why"

Do you like his other stuff?

[[deleted user]]

Never read anything else of his. Always meant to, but ended up veering away to other series/authors.

Figure I'll eventually steer back to Piers at some point, though.

[Richard]

Elizabeth wrote: "Hi there

I'm an IT professional who has recently entered the world of writing. Had a scifi novel published called The Empire.

I've been a long time scifi and fantasy fan, though more of a clo..."

Welcome, Elizabeth and all those who've introduced themselves since my last time here (deadlines, deadlines, everywhere)

I actually think On A Pale Horse is a great read. I also definitely enjoyed the second a lot. Of course, I was always a Xanth fan, too!

[Elizabeth]

On a Pale Horse is my favorite of that series. I love the Blue Adept series, which were the first PA stories I read. The Xanth stuff was good fun, especially the earlier ones. I stopped reading them after awhile. It just got to be too much of the same thing.

[Lee]

Hi,
My name is Lee Gimenez and I'm the author of five books and over fifty short stories. I primarily write science fiction and fantasy. My books are available on Barnes & Noble, Amazon and Fictionwise. Feel free to add me as a friend on Goodreads. For more info about my books, please visit my website at:
http://leegimenez.com/home
Thanks,
Lee

[Richard]

Elizabeth wrote: "On a Pale Horse is my favorite of that series. I love the Blue Adept series, which were the first PA stories I read. The Xanth stuff was good fun, especially the earlier ones. I stopped reading the..."

The Adept Series is good, too. I think I read about 11-12 Xanth books. I like puns and humor, although only one of my publications --- a short story called "Contract Hit" in the Ace anthology SUPERHEROES --- really shows that.

[Christopher]

Hi all,
I'm new here. I live in California. Work in farming, though I've worked many different jobs on all the continents except for Antarctica (everything from TV production, construction, refugee work, cooking, interactive production to welding). I love the fantasy genre. My big heroes are Tolkien, Lewis, MacDonald, LeGuin, Cooper, and Alexander. I'm married and have two little dynamo boys.
regards,
Christopher

[Bob]

Hello everyone! I was born in 1970 and love Sci-Fi. I recently got a Kindle so I'm looking for stuff to read. I am currently reading Rendezvous with Rama and enjoying it.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome Bob, please place your tray table in the upright and locked position.

edit: Didn't see ya, but Hi Christopher. You ever find a job you wanted to stay at?

[Christopher]

Heh. I did, actually, but it was in freelance TV production. Feast or famine. Got hit by a time of famine (money at the BBC was drying up for outside production), so I moved back to the States. Alas and alack. That's life.

[Lily]

Hi everyone,
My name is Lily, I'm new here and new to Goodreads. I'm a first year grad student studying Entertainment Technology (I'm a programmer and 2D artist). I love fantasy books and would appreciate any recommendations for great books to read!

[Stuart]

Welcome Lily. What sort of fantasy books are you looking for, i.e what themes or subgenres?

[Maria]

Cool, Lily--do you have an online portfolio of your artwork?

[Lily]

Stuart: I'm not really looking for anything that specific any recommendation is fine =D

Maria: My portfolio can be accessed here. It's still a work in progress.

[Maria]

Cool! Looks to me like you'll make a good cozy mystery artist when you set your mind to it! :>) Be sure and study cozy covers--you have that cartoonish look down well, I think. I like that brick wall. Nice shading. Of course the blue water scene is very good. Three of my covers were done by artists (two of them are cozy). I regret asking for the snake in the one cover (despite it being VERY well done, my cozy readers have told me that snakes are too scary looking.) It has PINK stripes for crying out loud...!

:>)

Maria

[Leslie]

Hi everyone - new member here. My name is Leslie and I've been reading Fantasy since I was a little girl. I'm just finishing up Deadhouse Gates by Erikson. Eagerly awaiting several sequels (admit it we all are... Rothfuss, Martin, grrrr)
Favorite auther is Guy Gavriel Kay, though I love so many.

I got a Nookcolor for xmas and am looking for friends for the LendMe. Also any SQL professionals would be a great add.

Happy Holidays everyone and I see I have the January book already so might pop in for the discussion on that.

Leslie

[Maria]

Hi Leslie,

There's a lendme group over on the nookboards (I think.) I don't know how active it is. There's also an ereader group here on goodreads that might benefit from such. You'd probably have to start the thread...

Here's the goodreads:

http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/3...

And nook:

http://www.nookboards.com/forum/index...

I know I saw a lendme thread there somewhere...

Oh yeah--welcome!!!

[[deleted user]]

Welcome new peoples :)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Leslie, Hi Lily welcome.

Lily, I'm always happy to recommend books (maybe I'm just pushy? LOL). Check my profile and look at my favorites shelf, the bulk of it is fantasy. I especially like The Deed of Paksenarrion for epic and high fantasy or the Harry Dresden series (the first one is Storm Front) for urban fantasy.

Anyway, welcome.

[Robin]

Nell-lu - have you read Nathan's Lowell's Trader Tale books? (ONly two out at the moment but 5 on audio (free from itunes or podiobooks.com). They are very reminicent of Heinlein.

[Mark]

Hello all!

I'm pretty new to goodreads, thus far only have a fraction of the books I've read entered.
Some of you have been kind enough to give me some recommendations in a topic I created...thanks for that.

About me...I'm 37 and work as a Power Engineer for Suncor in the Alberta oilsands. In my early years I seriously pursued a career in the arts, following a variety of disciplines, including visual art, acting, stagecraft and music. While I experienced limited success with all of them (ie enough to survive, and critical recognition), I eventually moved on to my current position. I do still persue the arts as a hobby.

[Maria]

Mark wrote: "Hello all!

I'm pretty new to goodreads, thus far only have a fraction of the books I've read entered.
Some of you have been kind enough to give me some recommendations in a topic I created...th..."

Most of us in "arts" have to go on to make a real living, at least for a while. I know I did. The great news is that your life experience is going to make you an ever better artist--wherever and whenever you pursue it. Art is, after all, a reflection of life.

Welcome!!!

[Jason]

Hello all, I'm an unemployed history teacher. I live in northern California. I fell in love with sci fi about 10 years ago after finishing Lucifers Hammer by Niven and Pournelle. Since then I have been across the spectrum of the genre. I joined to broaden my understanding of sci fi literature and authors. I love to read and thought this would be a good place to spend some time. Here is a sample of the books I've read this past year.

Gateway (All of them)
Moat in God's eye
Titan
The Word for World is Forest
The Dosadi Experiment
Roadside Picnic(see the movie "Stalker")

There are more but most of my books are in storage. I'm trying to read the standards and classics but I get side tracked easily. I'm sure compared to many on this site I'm a rookie but I have passion and too much time due to job status. Please feel free to advise on must read books. I just finished my first book by LeGuin...amazing! Can't wait to read more by her.

[Silvio]

Jason wrote: "Hello all, I'm an unemployed history teacher. I live in northern California. I fell in love with sci fi about 10 years ago after finishing Lucifers Hammer by Niven and Pournelle. Since then I have ..."

I'm glad you liked The Word for World is Forest. It's a good bet you'd like the other books set in the same universe:Rocannon's World*, Planet of Exile, City of Illusions, The Left Hand of Darkness, The Dispossessed: An Ambiguous Utopia, Four Ways to Forgiveness and The Telling.

*I included this for completeness' sake, but it's her first published novel and actually nowhere near as good as the others.

[Jason]

Silvio wrote: "Jason wrote: "Hello all, I'm an unemployed history teacher. I live in northern California. I fell in love with sci fi about 10 years ago after finishing Lucifers Hammer by Niven and Pournelle. Sinc..."

which would you suggest first...if any

[A.J.]

hey,

I'm new to the group and hope to find some new scifi reads and participate in discussions.

[[deleted user]]

Welcome, welcome, one and all.

Glad to see new people. Don't hesitate to post in any discussions, he more the merrier and all that.

Also, beware of Brad. He bites.

[Stuart]

Lily wrote: "Stuart: I'm not really looking for anything that specific any recommendation is fine =D

You might want to consider

[David]

Jason wrote: "Hello all, I'm an unemployed history teacher. I live in northern California. I fell in love with sci fi about 10 years ago after finishing Lucifers Hammer by Niven and Pournelle. Since then I have ..."

Moat in God's Eye, a cracking read, Jason

David

[Lee]

Hello to all the new members. Happy New Year!

[Aleix]

Hi everyone! Just introducing myself to the group...

I'm 33 years old and a science fiction nerd. What I like the most is hard sci-fi.

As you can see in 'My Books' I've read most of the classics and I'm eager to find more from the discussions in this group.

See ya!

Aleix.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

You should try John Ringo and Travis S. Taylor's Looking Glass series. I mildly like hard science fiction but these got too technical for my taste in a lot of places. However hard sci/fi folks really like them.

[Paul]

I can recommend John Ringo, though his style is too hard-edged for some.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I like a lot of his stuff, the more overtly military reads. Into the Looking Glass is more this way. As the series progresses it's gets more "hard science" oriented. I don't have the math to do more than simply accept a lot of the rest of the series (LOL).

[Aleix]

Alright! That was fast! I have to say I had never heard of John Ringo (shame on me?) but anyway Into the Looking Glass is on the way!

Let's see how hard it can get!

Thanks!

[[deleted user]]

Captain TWSS swoops through the thread, mumbling as he flies through

"Too easy..."

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Ringo has several books out there. The Posleen War series and it's spin off the Cally's war series are more overtly military, but I mentioned the Looking Glass series because it's heavy on theoretical science.

[Silvio]

Jason wrote: "Silvio wrote: "Jason wrote: "Hello all, I'm an unemployed history teacher. I live in northern California. I fell in love with sci fi about 10 years ago after finishing Lucifers Hammer by Niven and ..."

It doesn't really matter what order you read the Hainish books in, there's not much connection between them. I tried to list them in publication order, which would be as good as any, as long as any disappointment with Rocannon's World isn't going to make you drop the series.

I should mention that my personal favorite of all UKL's books is Always Coming Home. It's a very unique format and structure and I imagine it gets love it or hate it reactions.

[Al "Tank"]

...I mildly like hard science fiction but these got too technical for my taste in a lot of places. However hard sci/fi folks real..."

Maybe we need to define "hard" science fiction. I'm often confused by what some people really mean when they use the term.

I'm a member of a "hard" SF writing workshop and we define it basically as a story that avoids magic or other things that break the "rules" of physics -- with a wink towards FTL flight, some (but not all) mental abilities (which may actually exist), and similar stuff. We have no requirement that the science be "explained" (especially if the writer doesn't really know how to build an FTL speedster).

In other words, to us, "hard" SF is the antithesis of fantasy.

How do you (anyone?) define it?

[Janny]

Al wrote: "...I mildly like hard science fiction but these got too technical for my taste in a lot of places. However hard sci/fi folks real..."

Maybe we need to define "hard" science fiction. I'm often conf..."

Hard SF defines the story by the hardware of the IDEA/scientific and speculative - and evolves that as the central core of the plot. The characters are involved to enact it, and the suspense will not (generally) be as character-driven.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Right, but Ringo and Taylor's books are definitely hard sci/fi. Some are more technical than others some are more detailed than others and some lean on different schools of science. I was just pointing out that some who like hard sci/fi will love Ringo's work. Some of Robert Heinlein's work (for example) is considered hard sci/fi but it's far from as involved as these, it's a sort of "what you enjoy" sort of thing.

[Jonathan]

My name is Jonathan and I'm new to Goodreads. I'm a lawyer in Montreal Canada and 33. While I wait for George R.R. Martin to complete his blog reviews of the NY Giants, and finish Dance, I'm juggling four space-operas (with the Xeelee perhaps instead being hard sci-fi): Stephen Baxter's Xeelee sequence,
Iain M. Banks's Culture novels, Peter F Hamilton's Night's Dawn trilogy, and one of my favourite authors, Dan Simmons's Hyperion Cantos. I see Hyperion is the chosen book for next month. For those who are about to read it, what a treat!

[Stuart]

Welcome Jonathan