[TheForge] Re: Fall Reading

[Ries Niemi]

On Sep 26, 2006, at 3:24 PM, Steve Smith wrote:

> Snow Crash and Diamond age are pretty good, with Snow Crash having a 
> definite 'edge'.
>
> I tried a couple of Iain Banks books. I didn't really like Excession. 
> Look to Windward was pretty good, but I haven't followed up on other 
> titles. Recommendations will be appreciated.
>
> Another author to take a look at is Karl Schroeder. I've read Ventus 
> and Lady of Mazes, both are pretty good. The stories aren't directly 
> connected, but reading Ventus first might make LOM make sense quicker. 
> On the other hand, maybe the same applies in reverse.
>
> Charles Stross is mostly great. I'd go with Singularity Sky and Iron 
> Sunrise first, to get hooked. Accelerando is good, but not quite as 
> smooth story wise. The Merchant Princes series is ok to pass the time, 
> but nothing like the same stuff. Toast is old stuff that may not be 
> worth picking up. Atrocity Arcive is amusing and good, but again, 
> completely different. Glasshouse is pretty good, better than 
> Accelerando. I suspect I won't be able to wait for the paperback 
> version of Jenifer Morgue. Stross is probably just a step behind 
> Stephenson in authors that I can't wait for their next book.
>
> In a completely different vein of writing, I liked Darwinia by Robert 
> Charles Wilson, but haven't been able to get into Chronoliths, which 
> seems to get a lot of interest by others.
>
> There are, of course, many favorite books I could go on about, but 
> these are what fits (or don't fit) the current thread.
>
> Steve

I like the earlier Iain Banks, like Player of Games, Use of Weapons, 
and especially Against a Dark Background
I am, like Steve, a big Charles Stross fan.  Like he said, Singularity 
Sky and Iron Sunrise are great.
In a similar vein, I really like the Richard Morgan books featuring 
Takeshi Kovacs, Altered Carbon and Broken Angels.
Just getting into this guy Neil Asher- his book The Skinner is pretty 
intense, although I didnt really go for Cowl.

So many books, so little time.


Ries Niemi
Industrial Artist

http://www.RiesNiemi.com