 |
|
|
|
Next: Here we go again...
|
| Author |
Message |
External
Since: May 07, 2004
Posts: 384
|
(Msg. 1) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:20 pm
Post subject: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs
Archived from groups: uk>rec>motorcycles (more info?)
|
|
|
Given that I loved Accelerando, and much preferred Iron Sunrise over
Singularity Sky, where do the other Stross books fit in, IYHO?
I'm almost done with the "Collapsium qualrology" (first one was my fave so
far), and am saving the last 2 John Wright books for xmas.
Any other recommendations? |
|
| Back to top |
|
 | |
External
Since: Apr 17, 2007
Posts: 242
|
(Msg. 2) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:20 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
On Dec 10, 2:20 pm, Switters <m... RemoveThis @privacy.net> wrote:
> Given that I loved Accelerando, and much preferred Iron Sunrise over
> Singularity Sky, where do the other Stross books fit in, IYHO?
I haven't read any of his "Family Trade" fantasy novels - no interest
in them. The two "Laundry" books - "Atrocity Archives" and "Jennifer
Morgue" are good - funny spoof lovecraft spy yarns, but not even close
to being hard SF. "Glasshouse" is of a similar feel to "Accelerando",
but to me it felt like he was just cracking one out, rather than
having taken a bit of time over it. "Halting State" looks interesting,
but I've not read it yet. The short story collection "Toast" is a very
mixed bag.
> I'm almost done with the "Collapsium qualrology" (first one was my fave so
> far), and am saving the last 2 John Wright books for xmas.
don't expect any more after that - one of the biggest reading-related
disapointments I had in years was when I found he'd become a Christian
and started writing allegorical fantasy with no intention of doing
more SF.
> Any other recommendations?
Tony Ballantyne's: "Recursion"/"Capacity"/"Divergence" trilogy.
Ian MacDonald: "River of Gods" and "Brazyl"
Alastair Reynolds: "Pushing Ice"
Chris Moriarty: "Spin State"/"Spin Control"
Robert A. Metzger : "Picoverse"
Adam Roberts: "Gradisil"
You might like Gregory Benford's "Galactic Center" series, though
that's a mix of hard SF and space opera.
HTH.
--
d. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: Apr 17, 2007
Posts: 242
|
(Msg. 3) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:20 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
On Dec 10, 2:57 pm, Phil Launchbury <ph....RemoveThis@launchbury.org.uk> wrote:
> In article <14d74cf9-cdda-4315-a8c5-7bcf09483....RemoveThis@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com>, darsy wrote:
>
> His writing style drives me up the wall. I started reading River of
> Gods and managed to get about 1/2 of the way through before giving up.
don't try "Brazyl" then - the style (in particular the use of local
cultural words and images that aren't explicitly explained) is even
more pronounced.
> > Adam Roberts: "Gradisil"
>
> Didn't like it. Got very very bored.. No real characterisation at all.
> And precious little hard science - it reminds me of some of the 50's
> pulp sci-fi.
Heh - I meant to cut'n'paste "On", not "Gradisil", though I think
you're wrong - Robert's work can be very subtle - not much seems to be
going on unless you catch some of the little hints he's left around
that not everything is as it seems. But you're right in one respect,
"Gradisil" isn't /hard/ SF. "On" is.
> > You might like Gregory Benford's "Galactic Center" series, though
> > that's a mix of hard SF and space opera.
>
> They are good - all apart from the last one which all gets a bit
> metaphysical.
well, yes.
> Greg Egan "Distress" (which I've just finished) is quite good (but
> again gets a bit metaphysical at the end - but then most of his books
> do..)
I liked all his stuff up until "Schild's Ladder" which was very
flawed. He doesn't seem to have written anything after.
Some more:
Stephen Baxter's "Destiny's Children" series (and the greater "Xeelee
Sequence" novels too)
Robert Reed : "Marrow" (the sequel to this: "The Well of Stars" isn't
so good, but his other novel "Down the Bright Way" is good)
Ken McLeod: "Learning the World" (ISTR you're not a McLeod fan)
--
d. >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: May 10, 2007
Posts: 51
|
(Msg. 4) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:20 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
On Dec 10, 4:38 pm, Switters <m....TakeThisOut@privacy.net> wrote:
> On Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:39:59 GMT, darsy <dar....TakeThisOut@gmail.com> allegedly
> wrote:
>
> >> I'm almost done with the "Collapsium qualrology" (first one was my
> >> fave so far), and am saving the last 2 John Wright books for xmas.
>
> > don't expect any more after that - one of the biggest reading-related
> > disapointments I had in years was when I found he'd become a Christian
> > and started writing allegorical fantasy with no intention of doing
> > more SF.
>
> Are you referring to Wright or McCarthy?
Wright[1]. McCarthy's actually formed a company and filed patents with
a view to try and get wellstone actually made (his non fiction book
"Hacking Matter" covers what's been done so far in this field).
> And:
>
> > Ken McLeod: "Learning the World" (ISTR you're not a McLeod fan)
>
> I get Amazon pushing McLeod in their recommendations, but a) he gets very
> mixed reviews and b) Amazon recommendations are increasingly useless. So,
> so far, I've not ventured there. Must add him to me woman's "look out for
> in charity shops" list.
heh.
[1] I find it a struggle to reconcile the themes in The Golden Age
with this nonsense:
http://johncwright.livejournal.com/59241.html
--
d. >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: May 10, 2007
Posts: 51
|
(Msg. 5) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:20 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
On Dec 10, 4:51 pm, "Dan White" <m....RemoveThis@privacy.net> wrote:
> "darsy" <dar....RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:14d74cf9-cdda-4315-a8c5-7bcf09483c09@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>
> > On Dec 10, 2:20 pm, Switters <m....RemoveThis@privacy.net> wrote:
>
> > You might like Gregory Benford's "Galactic Center" series, though
> > that's a mix of hard SF and space opera.
>
> Any opinions of the Kevin J Anderson, "Saga of Seven Suns" series? I picked
> up, "Hidden Empire" for 50p in a second hand shop the other day. Halfway
> through it and it seems a little simplistic, but I could persevere. However
> I notice there's 5 or 6 books in the series!
Read the first one, thought it was utter bilge.
There are very few American SF writers that are capable of writing
anything other than single layered pap.
--
d. >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: Oct 26, 2004
Posts: 978
|
(Msg. 6) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 2:57 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
In article <14d74cf9-cdda-4315-a8c5-7bcf09483c09 DeleteThis @s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com>, darsy wrote:
>
> Tony Ballantyne's: "Recursion"/"Capacity"/"Divergence" trilogy.
Not read yet - added to list..
> Ian MacDonald: "River of Gods" and "Brazyl"
His writing style drives me up the wall. I started reading River of
Gods and managed to get about 1/2 of the way through before giving up.
> Alastair Reynolds: "Pushing Ice"
Not read that one - all his others are excellent.
> Chris Moriarty: "Spin State"/"Spin Control"
Not read yet - added to list..
> Robert A. Metzger : "Picoverse"
Good.
> Adam Roberts: "Gradisil"
Didn't like it. Got very very bored.. No real characterisation at all.
And precious little hard science - it reminds me of some of the 50's
pulp sci-fi.
> You might like Gregory Benford's "Galactic Center" series, though
> that's a mix of hard SF and space opera.
They are good - all apart from the last one which all gets a bit
metaphysical.
Greg Egan "Distress" (which I've just finished) is quite good (but
again gets a bit metaphysical at the end - but then most of his books
do..)
Phil.
--
Phil Launchbury, IT PHB
'I'm training the bats that live in my cube
to juggle mushrooms' >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: Oct 26, 2004
Posts: 978
|
(Msg. 7) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:15 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
In article <d788b1d5-f632-450d-a1a3-4c8bab0bf12d.TakeThisOut@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com>, darsy wrote:
> On Dec 10, 2:57 pm, Phil Launchbury <ph....TakeThisOut@launchbury.org.uk> wrote:
>> In article <14d74cf9-cdda-4315-a8c5-7bcf09483....TakeThisOut@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com>, darsy wrote:
>>
>> And precious little hard science - it reminds me of some of the 50's
>> pulp sci-fi.
>
> Heh - I meant to cut'n'paste "On", not "Gradisil", though I think
> you're wrong - Robert's work can be very subtle - not much seems to be
Ah - well (as everyone here can attest) I don't do subtle terribly
well. Subtle needs to be wearing flashing red LEDs for me to notice it.
> "Gradisil" isn't /hard/ SF. "On" is.
I'll give it a try.
>> Greg Egan "Distress" (which I've just finished) is quite good (but
>> again gets a bit metaphysical at the end - but then most of his books
>> do..)
>
> I liked all his stuff up until "Schild's Ladder" which was very
> flawed. He doesn't seem to have written anything after.
I've not read that one.
> Stephen Baxter's "Destiny's Children" series (and the greater "Xeelee
> Sequence" novels too)
I've yet to read a bad book by Steven Baxter.
> Ken McLeod: "Learning the World" (ISTR you're not a McLeod fan)
I am.
I've also been reading various MilScifi recently (Hammers Slammers et.
al) of varying quality - most of it trades quality for booms - the
bigger the better. Drake is reasonably good though as is Pournelle.
The early Honor Harrington books (David Weber) were an enjoyable
space opera/milsci read but the later ones have gone all American[1].
And I'm reading a lot of Warhammer (40K and Fantasy) novels at the
moment - again of mixed quality. The Ciaphas Cain series are very
enjoyable as are the Ravenor series but some of them are definately
written just to keep the franchise ticking over..
Phil.
--
Phil Launchbury, IT PHB
'I'm training the bats that live in my cube
to juggle mushrooms' >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: Oct 26, 2004
Posts: 978
|
(Msg. 8) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:36 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
In article <slrnflqpg7.ng5.phill.DeleteThis@tabby.launchbury.org.uk>, Phil Launchbury wrote:
> In article <d788b1d5-f632-450d-a1a3-4c8bab0bf12d.DeleteThis@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com>, darsy wrote:
> space opera/milsci read but the later ones have gone all American[1].
Garn.
[1] As in ' more concerned with how the characters feel about it all
rather than blowing up the baddies in glorious technicolour'.
Phil
--
Phil Launchbury, IT PHB
'I'm training the bats that live in my cube
to juggle mushrooms' >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: May 07, 2004
Posts: 384
|
(Msg. 9) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:38 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
On Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:39:59 GMT, darsy <darsyx DeleteThis @gmail.com> allegedly
wrote:
>> I'm almost done with the "Collapsium qualrology" (first one was my
>> fave so far), and am saving the last 2 John Wright books for xmas.
>
> don't expect any more after that - one of the biggest reading-related
> disapointments I had in years was when I found he'd become a Christian
> and started writing allegorical fantasy with no intention of doing
> more SF.
Are you referring to Wright or McCarthy?
And:
> Ken McLeod: "Learning the World" (ISTR you're not a McLeod fan)
I get Amazon pushing McLeod in their recommendations, but a) he gets very
mixed reviews and b) Amazon recommendations are increasingly useless. So,
so far, I've not ventured there. Must add him to me woman's "look out for
in charity shops" list. >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: May 07, 2004
Posts: 443
|
(Msg. 10) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:51 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
"darsy" <darsyx.RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:14d74cf9-cdda-4315-a8c5-7bcf09483c09@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 10, 2:20 pm, Switters <m....RemoveThis@privacy.net> wrote:
>
> You might like Gregory Benford's "Galactic Center" series, though
> that's a mix of hard SF and space opera.
Any opinions of the Kevin J Anderson, "Saga of Seven Suns" series? I picked
up, "Hidden Empire" for 50p in a second hand shop the other day. Halfway
through it and it seems a little simplistic, but I could persevere. However
I notice there's 5 or 6 books in the series!
--
Dan White
(dan@finex666.org.uk)
Perform an exorcism when replying. >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: Dec 29, 2003
Posts: 3302
|
(Msg. 11) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 4:54 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
In article <slrnflqqnt.pn0.phill.TakeThisOut@tabby.launchbury.org.uk>, Phil
Launchbury <phill.TakeThisOut@launchbury.org.uk> writes
>In article <slrnflqpg7.ng5.phill.TakeThisOut@tabby.launchbury.org.uk>, Phil Launchbury
>wrote:
>> In article <d788b1d5-f632-450d-a1a3-4c8bab0bf12d.TakeThisOut@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com>,
>darsy wrote:
>> space opera/milsci read but the later ones have gone all American[1].
>
>Garn.
>
>[1] As in ' more concerned with how the characters feel about it all
>rather than blowing up the baddies in glorious technicolour'.
Ahah. Now I know why I don't read it as often as I did and don't enjoy
it when I do.
--
steve auvache
A Bloo one with built in safety features >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: Jan 02, 2004
Posts: 4780
|
(Msg. 12) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:07 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
On Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:20:51 +0000 (UTC), Switters <me.DeleteThis@privacy.net>
wrote:
>Any other recommendations?
<thread hijack>
My request for a copy of The Death of Grass was met by a very nice
lurker. I picked it up the other evening, and read it in two sittings
- very much a page turner. It absolutely fits the "Comfy Catastrophe"
of some of Wyndham's books (in fact, it felt exactly like a Wyndham
book), but apart from the was very enjoyable. I think with an update
to the present day, it could make a good movie.
--
Champ
I don't know, but I been told, you never slow down, you never get old
ZX10R | GPz750turbo | GSX-R600 (race)
neal at champ dot org dot uk >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: Jun 23, 2005
Posts: 181
|
(Msg. 13) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:08 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
darsy <darsyx DeleteThis @sticky.co.uk> writes:
> On Dec 10, 4:51 pm, "Dan White" <m... DeleteThis @privacy.net> wrote:
>> "darsy" <dar... DeleteThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:14d74cf9-cdda-4315-a8c5-7bcf09483c09@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> > On Dec 10, 2:20 pm, Switters <m... DeleteThis @privacy.net> wrote:
>>
>> > You might like Gregory Benford's "Galactic Center" series, though
>> > that's a mix of hard SF and space opera.
>>
>> Any opinions of the Kevin J Anderson, "Saga of Seven Suns" series? I picked
>> up, "Hidden Empire" for 50p in a second hand shop the other day. Halfway
>> through it and it seems a little simplistic, but I could persevere. However
>> I notice there's 5 or 6 books in the series!
>
> Read the first one, thought it was utter bilge.
AOL - I made the mistake of buying the first one as well and have been
given the rest of his books a wide berth.
> There are very few American SF writers that are capable of writing
> anything other than single layered pap.
You pay peanuts...
--
Morini Corsaro 125 | CB450K4 | XL250 Motosport | 900SSD | R1150RT
Laverda SF2 | Harley FXD BOTAFOF #33 TWA#10
The UKRM FAQ: http://www.ukrm.net/faq/index.html
"Je profite du paysage" - Joe Bar >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: Sep 12, 2007
Posts: 33
|
(Msg. 14) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:09 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
"Dan White" <me RemoveThis @privacy.net> wrote in message
news:_MadnY40_dtS8MDaRVnygwA@pipex.net...
> "darsy" <darsyx RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:14d74cf9-cdda-4315-a8c5-7bcf09483c09@s8g2000prg.googlegroups.com...
>> On Dec 10, 2:20 pm, Switters <m... RemoveThis @privacy.net> wrote:
>>
>> You might like Gregory Benford's "Galactic Center" series, though
>> that's a mix of hard SF and space opera.
>
> Any opinions of the Kevin J Anderson, "Saga of Seven Suns" series? I
> picked up, "Hidden Empire" for 50p in a second hand shop the other day.
> Halfway through it and it seems a little simplistic, but I could
> persevere. However I notice there's 5 or 6 books in the series!
>
I've read a couple of his Star Wars novels and they were utter carp.
--
Alex
New laptop - Sig missing >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
External
Since: May 07, 2004
Posts: 443
|
(Msg. 15) Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 5:45 pm
Post subject: Re: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)
|
|
|
"darsy" <darsyx DeleteThis @sticky.co.uk> wrote in message
news:24a69a7f-6cf5-4f02-889b-09258d6e4be9@x69g2000hsx.googlegroups.com...
> On Dec 10, 4:51 pm, "Dan White" <m... DeleteThis @privacy.net> wrote:
<snip>
>> Any opinions of the Kevin J Anderson, "Saga of Seven Suns" series? I
>> picked
>> up, "Hidden Empire" for 50p in a second hand shop the other day. Halfway
>> through it and it seems a little simplistic, but I could persevere.
>> However
>> I notice there's 5 or 6 books in the series!
>
> Read the first one, thought it was utter bilge.
Bugger, I was coming to that conclusion too...
Ho hum, only a couple of months until the new Iain M. Banks...
--
Dan White
(dan@finex666.org.uk)
Perform an exorcism when replying. >> Stay informed about: Paging darsy & hard sci-fi buffs |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
| Related Topics: | Paging Ben Blaney (and other jazz buffs) - "Imagine" BBC1 : Wed 16 Jun, 10:35 pm - 11:20 pm 45mins "On the 40th anniversary of John Coltrane's most famous record, A Love Supreme, Alan Yentob examines the life and work of the legendary jazz saxophonist, whose obsession with music ...
Paging darsy - Get the books? -- Trophy 1200 (Doctored) 750SS CB400F CD200 ST70 DT50MX GAGARPHOF#30 GHPOTHUF#1 BOTAFOT#60 ANORAK#06 YTC#3 BOF#30 WUSS#5 http://www.chateau.murray.dsl.pipex.com/
paging darsy - this post is not archived.
Paging Darsy - You expressed an interest in my KMX 200 a few days ago, If you are still interested, it has become available again. -- Speedgazebo
Paging Darsy - Did the cunts deliver yet? -- Hog |
|
You can post new topics in this forum
You can reply to topics in this forum
You can edit your posts in this forum
You can delete your posts in this forum
You can vote in polls in this forum
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
Profile
Private Messages
Log in
