Topic awaiting preservation: Yippe!! A new book! :)

Well, my parents just got back from a trip to New Zealand, and while there, they picked up some books for me. Now, here on this island, it's really hard to get any books at all. In fact, I think the library over here is a time sink that collects all books printed before 1975.

Not only that, since they happen to be in that part of the world, they're able to pick up books not usually published in the US, and I have a rare chance to get "real" copies of books written by UK authors, not least of which is Terry Pratchett.

Suffice it to say, I was lucky enough to get a hardcover copy of his latest work, "Nightwatch". It is now 6 hours later and I have to say it was a great book. It's a lot more serious than his previous books, but it's classic Pratchett nonetheless. The price tag's a little steep, but I'd really recommend it, or any of the others in the Discworld series.

I just wanted to share that with you all before I settle down to read it again. Good books take a few readings to really enjoy.

Even though I assume anyone who'd care, knows -- allow me to cast a vote for Terry Pratchett. If you like Douglas Adams, for instance, read Pratchett; not only is he just as funny, but his work keeps getting better, with deeper and deeper characters and issues, whereas Douglas Adams, well....

If you're looking for a place to pick up some Pratchett, I'd recommend that you read Guards, Guards. It's not the first in the series, but it's one of the best, and it's the book that inaugurated the continuity of storyline that characterizes his later work. Really, any book in the series may be read on its own, though; like a good TV series, you'll miss a little bit of background, but you can pick it up at any point.

my fiancee just loves Terry Prachett. I think she is just missing a few of the Discworld books. I have yet been able to get around to reading any of them. They are on my "To Read" list.

The Neil Gammain Terry Prachett book "Good Omens" is really good. I *have* read that one

Maybe we should take up an "Asylum Fund" to get poor silence some up to date books

Later,

C:\


~Binary is best~

quote:

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Good books take a few readings to really enjoy.

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Good books just get better every time you read them

I started reading the Terry Pratchett books a couple of years ago, but didn't really like them that much. But I've heard so much good about them lately that I'll probably start reading them again just to see what I've missed..

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"There are 10 kinds of people; those who know binary, those who don't and those who start counting at zero"

V: Take my advice and read Guards, Guards! If you don't like that one, you probably won't like any of them.

Is "Nightwatch" really the latest?...
Thought it was a couple of years old. Anyway a hardcover...cool. Those are very rare in this country even the fantasy bookshops have only one or two. Oh I realy like the hardcover edition of any book.

And for those who don't like to read the book, get yourself an UK/GB edition, and look at the cover. I could stare at them for hours. I also some USA editions but the cover is not that nice (it comes close to plain ugly) as from the uk versions.

I agree with PT not to start on the firts books from the series they all handle about an would be wizard "Rincewind" (wonder where that name come from he...) and they start to be repitions. When Terry Pratchet starts with the other books he has found a better form and the land comes to live.

And if you relly hate to read get yourself a copy off the two games: "Discworld" or "Discworld: Noir" terry pratchet wrote the story line for both off them. In the latest game you really could have some fun but they both are a bit older. "Discworld" is almost 10 years old with very silly and ancient graphics.

<edit-on> Jut look at those covers <edit-off>
"Freedom of speech is by no means freedom to insult others" from the Razorart goodbye letter.

[This message has been edited by Rinswind 2th (edited 02-19-2003).]

[This message has been edited by Rinswind 2th (edited 02-19-2003).]

I have to say that I just got tired of Pratchet's flood of books and just couldn't be bothered keeping up with the latest books.

OK then we've had what music do you listen to (in many different ways) and the samee for films, radio stations, etc. so lets throw in some fiction recommendations (and why)

Stephen Donaldson's Thomas Covenant series - I mentioned these a while back and they are what I graduated to after LotR and it the series was very big for me in my early teens.

Iain Banks/Iain M. Banks (fiction/science fiction) - although some of his recent stuff has been ropey (and some have been slightly spoilt by adaptations) things like the Wasp Factory, Use of Weapons, Player of Games, etc. are still some of the great books of recent years (well pos. I exagerate).

Michael Moorcock - breathtaking stuff. Another author whos books I ploughed through in my teens.

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Emps

FAQs: Emperor

I think we had a 'great books' thread in the philosophy section not so long ago, but here we go again

Other great books are (with explanation where I had something to add):
'Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R Tolkien - doesn't really need to be explained...

'The Riftwar Saga' and 'the Daugther/Servant/Mistress of the Empire'-books by Raymond E. Feist - The combination of politics, standard fantasy and alien worlds in these books is simply amazing. I think these books are the only fantasy books that I've read that comes close to the same quality as LOTR. If you like fantasy these books should be read...

'The Foundation Series' by Asimov - One of the better, acctually one of the few good sci-fi series I've read.

'Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams - People might looks strange at you at the bus when you suddenly burst out laughing when reading the book, but that is a sacrifice one has to make to enjoy this master piece

'1983' and 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell - Classicals. Among the best books I've read ever...

... and a lot of other books

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"There are 10 kinds of people; those who know binary, those who don't and those who start counting at zero"

[This message has been edited by Veneficuz (edited 02-20-2003).]

All science fiction and fantasy so far, eh? Okay, here's one: Radix, by A. A. Attanasio. If I had to pick the single best science fiction book I could think of, this would be it. (Attanasio's The Last Legends of Earth would be a close second.) If any of you are fans of high-concept science fiction, the really brain-twisting stuff, I practically demand that you read one or both of these books. Quite aside from the plot and settings, the man is a master of language, and his books are poetry.

By the same token, although it's not science fiction and only slightly fantasy, I recommend Winter's Tale, by Mark Helprin. Memoir from Antproof Case is also very good.

There, I've made my recommendations -- now on with the flood of "Have you read Stranger in a Strange Land? Best book ever!"

You live in seattle, what island do you live on?

Actually, I moved and haven't changed my profile yet.

And if we're talking recommendations I'd have to say David Brin's Uplift series is really great stuff. Also, "A Fire Upon the Deep" by Vernor Vinge would definitely be another one. Vinge's idea of a universal USENET is an almost comic take on the newsgroups and usenets of old.

As for Dr. Asimov, I have yet to read anything of his that I haven't thoroughly liked. From "I, Robot" to his many short stories and even his scientific writing, I've adored them all. From the same time period are several short stories and novellas by John W. Campbell that I've also enjoyed.

Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker series are also works of genius IMO.

Getting into Fantasy, I'd say Rick Cook's Wiz Zumwalt series have to be one of my favorites. The basic premise is that of a world where magic works by the rules of computer and the first two books see the birth of the magic compiler. Any techhead needs to have these books as part of their collection.

I've also enjoyed anything Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman have done together. Personally, they defined Dragonlance for me. Also, Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle have come up with some great stuff.

If you like a long series with lots of books, try either Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series or L. E. Modesitt's Recluce series. The Recluce series isn't written in chronological order, but each of the books can be read as a standalone novel, whereas, you'll get the most out of Jordan's works by reading them in order.

For a shorter series, try Mickey Zucker Reichert's Renshai chronicles. It borrows heavily from Norse mythology and I found the most recent trilogy to be a really good read.

As for Mr. Pratchett, if you prefer a more serious tone, try The Fifth Elephent or Nightwatch. They are less comic than most of the other books and have a more serious bend. For pure comedy, any of the other books will do you well, however, his writing and his style have improved markedly in the more recent books so pick these up first if you have the chance.

Now, outside of these two genres, I'd recommend Robin Cook if you're into medicine at all. His medical thrillers are the best.

Another good series for those who like short fantasy books without necessarily all the magic, they should read any of the Tamora Pierce books: the Song of the Lioness Quartet, Circle of Magic or The Circle opens are the best ones.

Emps, do mean the series 'The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever'?

Well, among fantasy afficionados, saying "Thomas Covenant" is like saying "Empire" among Star Wars fans... people immediately know what you're talking about. The first Thomas Covenant trilogy stands only a little bit below Lord of the Rings in the epic fantasy universe. I'm certain there are better books out there that I haven't heard of, but Rings, Thomas Covenant and (I admit to loving it) the Wheel of Time are the "industry standards" for epic fantasy.

Hmm... I probably won't be able to convince anyone to get Radix, because a) it's very hard to describe in a few sentences, and b) it's very hard to find these days. So here's one better -- if you see one of Attanasio's Arthurian books (The Dragon and the Unicorn, The Eagle and the Sword, The Wolf and the Crown, or The Serpent and the Grail,) pick that up. Then, if you decide you like the guy's writing style, take the Radix plunge.

I tell ya, A.A. Attanasio is so little-known that I feel obliged to evangelize.

Venificuz: you got the title wrong....1983---->1984. if you liked thos you might also try 'boys from brazil' by Ira levin one off the best books i read so far.

I just finished an Umberto Eco book, though i don't know the title in english, i think it should be 'Foucault's Pendulum' I really liked the book, but i am not shure if i realy did understand what it was all about....
The same thing happend when read another Umberto Eco book. So should read them both again.

when i was an kid i realy liked the story "White Fang" about a wolf which got a civilized man's beat friend.

~thinks of getting an library card again..~


"Freedom of speech is by no means freedom to insult others" from the Razorart goodbye letter.