Science Fiction
Discussion
DibblyDobbler said:
Heresy! I recently re-read it for the second time and it is classic Banks for me - brutal, brilliant yet somewhat unsatisfying at the finish. I always felt these books ended rather than concluded if you see what I mean. Use of Weapons is the daddy but it's pretty bloomin' complicated and maybe not the best starter for one new to the genre IMHO 
However I would agree that the books don't really conclude. Not sure why he used to do this but it's the only part of his Culture novels I don't like. I don't mind if authors leave a few thought provoking strands left open or unexplained but a lot of the time, the main characters you've been reading about for the last several hundred pages are just left hanging. Always leaves me with the feeling that I must be missing the last few pages of the book or something, I like a conclusion to my books, good or bad.
Guvernator said:
DibblyDobbler said:
Heresy! I recently re-read it for the second time and it is classic Banks for me - brutal, brilliant yet somewhat unsatisfying at the finish. I always felt these books ended rather than concluded if you see what I mean. Use of Weapons is the daddy but it's pretty bloomin' complicated and maybe not the best starter for one new to the genre IMHO However I would agree that the books don't really conclude. Not sure why he used to do this but it's the only part of his Culture novels I don't like. I don't mind if authors leave a few thought provoking strands left open or unexplained but a lot of the time, the main characters you've been reading about for the last several hundred pages are just left hanging. Always leaves me with the feeling that I must be missing the last few pages of the book or something, I like a conclusion to my books, good or bad.
tertius said:
Guvernator said:
DibblyDobbler said:
Heresy! I recently re-read it for the second time and it is classic Banks for me - brutal, brilliant yet somewhat unsatisfying at the finish. I always felt these books ended rather than concluded if you see what I mean. Use of Weapons is the daddy but it's pretty bloomin' complicated and maybe not the best starter for one new to the genre IMHO However I would agree that the books don't really conclude. Not sure why he used to do this but it's the only part of his Culture novels I don't like. I don't mind if authors leave a few thought provoking strands left open or unexplained but a lot of the time, the main characters you've been reading about for the last several hundred pages are just left hanging. Always leaves me with the feeling that I must be missing the last few pages of the book or something, I like a conclusion to my books, good or bad.
The old deus ex machina - rather appropriate in some respects given the Culture is run by godlike machines!
Suggestions welcomed Baron Greenback said:
DibblyDobbler said:
Baron Greenback said:
You read any Neil Asher books?
No I haven't actually - good shout. Any suggestions?
DibblyDobbler said:
Thanks a lot - will have a browse through the Amazon Kindle store later and download one
Seconded on Agent Cormac, they are brilliant IMO. Read them all several times. Think of them as James Bond set in the future. Not as serious as some sci-fi but what it lacks in deep theorising, it more than makes up for in the action stakes.Guvernator said:
Seconded on Agent Cormac, they are brilliant IMO. Read them all several times. Think of them as James Bond set in the future. Not as serious as some sci-fi but what it lacks in deep theorising, it more than makes up for in the action stakes.
Thanks - that's what I went for I recently read all the Roger Zelazny Amber chronicles. I started on the 'damn of Amber' series written by another author after his death, and usually I feel that a story continued by someone that wasn't the original author feels like it was written by someone else. However, these have been very well done, and it really does feel like it is set in the Amber/courts of chaos universe.
grumbledoak said:
jmorgan said:
Started Ian M Banks, Consider Phlebas, not sure I can keep up with it. Maybe something else.
It is well worth skipping that one and reading Use Of Weapons or Player of Games instead. You won't miss anything by coming back to it later. Or never, frankly. Need another fix.
I've just started "Crashing Heaven" by Al Robertson. Very promising so far, the puppet character is pretty sinister but very compelling.
Being read as an audiobook so has some additional verve to it, although I will say the production is pretty amateur with quite a few repeated phrases not being edited out.
Being read as an audiobook so has some additional verve to it, although I will say the production is pretty amateur with quite a few repeated phrases not being edited out.
[quote]Just read the first 3 of 4 books - Hyperion and Endymion thanks to the recommendations here.
Great reads and would recommend thus far.
[/quote]
[quote=DibblyDobbler]
+1 Brilliant books - maybe just maybe the best Sci-Fi I have read
[/quote]
I really enjoyed these books, very well written. I am considering reading more of Dan Simmons' material after reading these brilliant books.
Great reads and would recommend thus far.
[/quote]
[quote=DibblyDobbler]
+1 Brilliant books - maybe just maybe the best Sci-Fi I have read
[/quote]
I really enjoyed these books, very well written. I am considering reading more of Dan Simmons' material after reading these brilliant books.
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