Former Introduction Thread Showing 4,151-4,200 of 6,846

[V.W.]

Welcome Scott, Markus!

Scott: Oh yeah! Big stompy monsters never get old.

Markus: Did you read MZB's "Hunters of the Red Moon"? A lot of people miss that one (and it's sequel) and just read the Darkover books.

[Markus]

Thanks!

I have actually only read the Avalon series by MZB. I'm planning to read Darkover when I'm done with Shannara. Though I must admit I'm a bit scared by the people calling it radically feminist and stuff like that. Is it really that much of a focus on feminism, or is it more like the Avalon series (which contained more than enough of it for me)?

As for Hunters of the Red Moon, I'm embarrassed to say that I've never even heard of it, though the title intrigued me! Is it a new universe, or is it connected to her other works?

[V.W.]

Markus wrote: "Thanks!

I have actually only read the Avalon series by MZB. I'm planning to read Darkover when I'm done with Shannara. Though I must admit I'm a bit scared by the people calling it radically femin..."

Um, the feminist theology is pretty heavy, even though the concept of the series is pretty good. It varies though. The earlier ones like "The Planet Savers" and "The Sword of Aldones" aren't bad. The later ones get a bit heavier, especially (that I can recall) "The Forbidden Tower" which I seem to remember had a lot about menstrual pains and other womanly things, and how useless the men were.

Naturally the women in the group might have a different view, but since we are talking about reading for pleasure, I see no need to place PC considerations in front of my own feelings or taste.

Hunters of the Red Moon however is a different kettle of fish. Not related to any of her other books at all. Basically a group of aliens, including an Earth man, are kidnapped by different aliens to be hunted for sport. They are all chosen because they look like they would provide a good fight and they are given time to select weapons, train with them, and form teams before the actual event.

Not incredibly sophisticated, but a good exciting read and quite well developed characters. Since we are talking about swords and spears and the like, and aliens, not so much feminism around.

[Markus]

Thanks for the reply. I'll try a few of the Darkover books, and then we'll see if I like them or not.

Hunters of the Red Moon doesn't really seem like my kind of book, sadly, but perhaps I'll give it a shot anyway. Thanks for the recommendation!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I read Hunters of the Red Moon years ago and liked it greatly. It can be hard to find, but it's a good read.

Hi Scott and anyone else I missed. Welcome.

[Ryan]

@allison
I haven't the slightest idea in how to answer that. So, I'll just describe it as best I know how.

Hard science fiction to be sure. Operatic space battles, but it's heart is the characters and relationships between them. Witty dialog, and moments of sincerity and charm make it worth while. It appeals to the swashbuckling star captain in me but also the bundled up hopeless romantic.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Not the one you asked Allison, but I'm a big fan of the Lost Fleet series. I'd call it excellent space opera. I gave all of them good reviews. It's loosely based on an ancient Greek classic by Xenophon (as is the fantasy novel The Tenthousand).

The Lost Fleet is about the primary battle fleet of the apparently free space alliance trapped deep in the space of their enemies (they fell for a trap). The only way home seems to be through space gates controlled by the enemy.

During the earlier battle the fleet came across an "escape pod" from a battle ship in one of the first battles 100 years before. In it they find in suspended animation the "greatest hero" of the war. John "Black Jack" Geary is the hero all the people of the alliance look up to. As it happens having been lost 100 years he has more "time in grade" than any captain in the fleet so it falls to him to get them home.

None of that is a spoiler as it's where the first book The Lost Fleet: Dauntless begins. The book(s) has some good hard sci/fi yet is full of human relationship, action, intrigue and so on. Great story telling.

Hope that helps.

[Allison]

Thank you for the recommendation! The sound awesome! I think I will be making a trip to the local bookstore to see if they have a copy!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I got them from Audible...and downloaded them one after another.

:)

[Ryan]

@allison
You won't regret it. Prrhaps you have some book recommendations to offer as well?

[Allison]

Oh that's tough. I'll have to give that some more thought. I primarily read old science fiction, (I'm stuck in a rut really.) I would say the last book that stuck with me was Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. I think she's a great author with a good sense for character development and world building. I'm bad at giving a short synopsis without spoiling things, so I won't try. But yeah, I enjoyed it.

[Ryan]

Oryx and crake. Very well. Sounds like I have a mission/quest whilst I'm at the bookstore. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Chrissy]

Hello! I am a 21 year old from New Zealand.
I've decided its about time I joined a group of some sort and this seemed to fit.

So far this year I've read:
V for Vendetta
Black Orchid
Flowers for Algernon
Legion
Elantris

So yes, I mostly read comics (sorry, graphic novels...) and fantasy. I also read more childrens books than I probably should but there are some really excellent ones like Wonderstruck and A Monster Calls.


Current favourites are probably Brandon Sanderson (Words of Radiance tomorrow!), Neil Gaiman and Patrick Rothfuss but I'll read basically anything :D

Other non-bookish stuff about me: soccer player, engineer, Doctor Who fan, love all things comedic.

[V.W.]

Welcome Chrissy!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Welcome.

[Michael]

Recently joined and just wanted to say Hi. I'm Mike from London. I grew up reading SF and fantasy, but studying English at university pushed me more into "contemporary literature". Getting back into the swing of things now after about a 20 year layoff (Game of Thrones has a lot to answer for...)
Mike

[DavidO]

Welcome Michael and Chrissy.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Mike from London, I'm Mike from Nashville. :) Welcome.

[V.W.]

Welcome Mike from London!

[Pat]

Hey all. I've been a GR member for ages now but this is my first foray into this whole group thing so I thought I'd better introduce myself.

Names Pat. Late 40s. From the UK (just north of the middle). I've been a fan of SF since I was a nipper (mainly thanks to Dr Who) - I like all flavours of the genre (apart from Cyberpunk... never could get into it, still can't). I'm kind of an eclectic reader really but SF is where my heart is & accounts for probably more than half of what I read & although I could list all my favourite authors/books but there are so many that it'd take too long.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Pat, welcome.

You know I've had the same experience with "Cyberpunk". I see books I think I ought to like (from their synopsis) but can never get into them.

[Derek]

Hello everyone!

My name is Derek and I'm 24 years old. I graduated with a Bachelor's in Computer Science. I currently work as a programmer.

I've never been much of a reader. I always found that I lost interest and realize I didn't comprehend full pages at a time. My mind would just wander. I'm not sure if it was stress, fatigue or just lack of interest. I'm sure it was mostly all three. I would get discouraged because I'd have to reread things over and over.

I now have a desire to read. I struggle finding books to read, instead of just picking one and diving in, I get worried I may not like the book. I figured, if I found a group of people who enjoy reading the same genres as me and that pick books to read on a regular basis, I may have more success in reading!

So here I am, I just finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? and I absolutely loved it! I had previously read Hyperion and loved that one as well! I've come to realize, what good is it to read a great book with no one to talk about it with? So here I am! I can't wait to read some awesome books with an awesome group of people!

See ya around!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi, welcome.

[Derek]

Thanks Mike! Excited to be here!

[Joer'ct(These battle scars, don't look like they're fading)]

My name is Joer'ct Drew Phillips. I'm a 13 year old, so feel free to use profanity around me, cause I hear 3x worse at home, anyway. And if you wonder what I'm reading right now, I'm read Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card. I was born in Ohio, and had my childhood stolen from me by DSS. I now live in Waynesville,NC, with my mom after 7 1/2 years with my grandmother. And if you google my name you will get a lot of results, so don't even think about trying.

[V.W.]

Welcome Derek!

Reading is one of life's great pleasures. Glad that you are finding enjoyment in it.

[V.W.]

Welcome Joer'ct!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Derek, welcome....I don't generally use profanity but, okay.

:)

Hope things are looking up.

[Ryan]

Welcome Derek,
On book recommendation I can make that j think you'll like is March upcountry by John Ringo and David Weber.

[MK]

Haha I just accidentally welcomed and wished happy birthday to someone from the first page of this thread :p.

Anyway! Welcome!! To the actual new members :)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

I know. For some reason when I clicked on the link it opened to the first page...good old Goodreads.

[MK]

Glad it wasn't just me ;-)

[Derek]

thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

Thank you for the recommendation, I'll add it to my "books to read" shelf!

[Derek]

Thank you Ryan for the recommendation, sorry, meant to direct that to you Ryan!

[Zang]

Hi

Just joined this group a few minutes back. I joined the site less than two years ago and haven't been tremendously active. Maybe that will change now.

I've been a huge fan of (what I like to call) "Vintage Sci-Fi" since I was a child. I started with the classics (Verne, Wells...) and worked my way forward more or less. Although I occasionally check out newer stuff, I don't find that I like it as much. For the past 15 years or so, I have been immersing myself in stuff from the period around 1945 through 1963, particularly the earlier stuff from that period. I kind of have my own way of categorising this stuff. I'm not one to get all bent out of shape over "hard science fiction" the way that most fans do. I like the kind of stuff that conveys a sense of nostalgia. Philip K. Dick did it really well in his short story "Paycheck" and that helped to lead me to search out more stuff along similar lines. Ray Bradbury and Clifford Simak do it really well too. I love it when guys rocket through space with a glass of whisky in one hand and a cigarette in the other... Women portrayed as stereotypical 1950s housewives... The evil Soviet Union of the 21st century... High tech gizmos involving vacuum tubes... The more they get it wrong, the more I love it.

I'm not real fussed about accuracy when using terms like "Sci-Fi" either. Usually what I mean is stories written by authors who are predominantly associated with science fiction, even if the story in question is closer to fantasy or horror or hard-boiled detective fiction.

I also love the artwork associated with this stuff; the old pulp mag covers etc. My enthusiasm for the artwork is equal to my enthusiasm for the stories themselves.

[V.W.]

Welcome Zang!

Have you read "The Wailing Asteroid" by Murray Leinster? Or "Interstellar Patrol" by Christopher Anvil. Both classics and very amusing.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi, welcome.

[Isaac]

Hey guys, joined right now.
I am a writer and big fan of both fantasy and sci-fi!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Welcome.

[V.W.]

Welcome Chris!

Never too many SF authors.

My work is a bit more on the pulpy side though :)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Welcome.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

That's okay we'll forgive you.

[Joer'ct(These battle scars, don't look like they're fading)]

Thanks. couldn't get back here for a while. was having to fight a "Hunger Games" and now I'm the "Victor".

[Kathryn]

Hey guys! :] I'm really glad I came across this group. I mostly love reading fantasy but I've started chucking in a bit of scifi lately. Hopefully, I'll learn to love it too! xD

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Cool. Welcome.

[Luke]

Welp, I figured I'd join another fantasy group.

I'm Luke, I read adult, epic fantasy almost exclusively (I read a few classics and a little sci-fi too). I want to be an author someday, but not for a long time.

I'm very good at derailing threads. I don't do it on purpose, I just have a natural propensity to go on rabbit trails which turn out to be more like rabbit highways. I'm on here all day while at work, so I tend to talk a lot.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Luke, welcome....so who's your favorite fictional rabbit?

[Luke]

It would most definitely be The Killer Rabbit of Caerbannog from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail"

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Humm....I think I'm more a Bugs Bunny guy.

[MK]

Easter bunny, or jackalope :)