Science Fiction
Discussion
RizzoTheRat said:
Agreed. The fact it didn't end how I expected was nice too as it's always good to be surprised.
Indeed. I felt the same way. Having spent so much of the book becoming invested with both the spiders and the humans, I didn't want either to be wiped out and it seemed like that was the only resolution. But to pull a "happy ending" out of the bag, in a way that was completely consistent with the rest of the book rather than a clumsy Deus Ex Machina, was an absolutely masterstroke, I felt.
Bought Children of Time after all of the chatter on here and have devoured it in a few days, many thanks.
Like others I expected a landing of the humans and a protracted war for dominance that could only be concluded by a sequel or two. I was even questioning who I wanted to win in the end, but loved the elegant ending and the difference in logic between the prisoners dilemma and the way the spiders have overcame problems their own way, as they had all previous crises. Indeed it was treating them like humans and their trying to follow our human concepts which caused the spiders the most harm.
In terms of criticisms the only thing could perhaps fault was the first chapter which introduced the whole books pretext in a clunkier way than anything near the end. Once you were on board it was a joy to ride.
Like others I expected a landing of the humans and a protracted war for dominance that could only be concluded by a sequel or two. I was even questioning who I wanted to win in the end, but loved the elegant ending and the difference in logic between the prisoners dilemma and the way the spiders have overcame problems their own way, as they had all previous crises. Indeed it was treating them like humans and their trying to follow our human concepts which caused the spiders the most harm.
In terms of criticisms the only thing could perhaps fault was the first chapter which introduced the whole books pretext in a clunkier way than anything near the end. Once you were on board it was a joy to ride.
glazbagun said:
Bought Children of Time after all of the chatter on here and have devoured it in a few days, many thanks.
Like others I expected a landing of the humans and a protracted war for dominance that could only be concluded by a sequel or two. I was even questioning who I wanted to win in the end, but loved the elegant ending and the difference in logic between the prisoners dilemma and the way the spiders have overcame problems their own way, as they had all previous crises. Indeed it was treating them like humans and their trying to follow our human concepts which caused the spiders the most harm.
In terms of criticisms the only thing could perhaps fault was the first chapter which introduced the whole books pretext in a clunkier way than anything near the end. Once you were on board it was a joy to ride.
Very good summary. I felt the same way, especially questioning who I wanted to win. I too found myself wondering if the human race even deserved to survive. Like others I expected a landing of the humans and a protracted war for dominance that could only be concluded by a sequel or two. I was even questioning who I wanted to win in the end, but loved the elegant ending and the difference in logic between the prisoners dilemma and the way the spiders have overcame problems their own way, as they had all previous crises. Indeed it was treating them like humans and their trying to follow our human concepts which caused the spiders the most harm.
In terms of criticisms the only thing could perhaps fault was the first chapter which introduced the whole books pretext in a clunkier way than anything near the end. Once you were on board it was a joy to ride.
glazbagun said:
Bought Children of Time after all of the chatter on here and have devoured it in a few days, many thanks.
Will have to add it to the list... and I just did a book order from Amazon last week.I'm still going through the Neil Asher back catalogue, Just finished Orbus (Spatterjay book 3) and it took a a bit different from the previous 2 novels. Would highly rate it. I haven't even started on the Owner or Transformation series yet and he's started a new one (based on the later Agent Cormac novels by the sounds of it) released soon.
jmorgan said:
There are two stand alone books as well that are worth the read, If you pick up "Chasm City" and "The Prefect", they are not part of the main thread. Not read "Galactic North" and "Diamond Dogs" yet. Another two not part of the main thread.
Thinks its
Revelation Space
Redemption Ark
Absolution Gap
For the main story.
Galactic North and Diamond Dogs are both collections of short stories some of which add context to the Revelation Space stories. Worth reading.Thinks its
Revelation Space
Redemption Ark
Absolution Gap
For the main story.
Al Reynolds has done a few non Revelation Space universe books, House of Suns stands out for me. It was almost as good as Chasm City.
Should also be noted that The Prefect has been re-released under the title Aurora Rising and a sequel, Elysium Fire is due out in the new year.
Not sure where this needs to be but Hitchhikers Guide getting a reboot.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05zj9lm
Radio 4. Thursday 18:30.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05zj9lm
Radio 4. Thursday 18:30.
jmorgan said:
Not sure where this needs to be but Hitchhikers Guide getting a reboot.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05zj9lm
Radio 4. Thursday 18:30.
Hmmm...on the one hand it's being produced by Dirk Maggs, which gives it a good chance of being really well done.http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p05zj9lm
Radio 4. Thursday 18:30.
...on the other, it's based on Eoin Colfer's tribute...which has had very mixed reviews and i've so far avoided.
PS - looks like DM is doing an adaptation of Dirk Gently, due in October!
Is anybody else waiting anxiously for the next in Charles Stross' Laundryverse series?
For anybody unfamiliar with them, I'm pushing my luck by including them in a SciFi thread, but they're about British government secret service operatives versus nameless horrors from another dimension, with a healthy dose of bleak cynicism and civil service form-filling. As an ex-public servant, I find them hilarious and a little too plausible at the same time.
For anybody unfamiliar with them, I'm pushing my luck by including them in a SciFi thread, but they're about British government secret service operatives versus nameless horrors from another dimension, with a healthy dose of bleak cynicism and civil service form-filling. As an ex-public servant, I find them hilarious and a little too plausible at the same time.
NNH said:
Is anybody else waiting anxiously for the next in Charles Stross' Laundryverse series?
For anybody unfamiliar with them, I'm pushing my luck by including them in a SciFi thread, but they're about British government secret service operatives versus nameless horrors from another dimension, with a healthy dose of bleak cynicism and civil service form-filling. As an ex-public servant, I find them hilarious and a little too plausible at the same time.
I think he's said that the next one won't be before 2019 For anybody unfamiliar with them, I'm pushing my luck by including them in a SciFi thread, but they're about British government secret service operatives versus nameless horrors from another dimension, with a healthy dose of bleak cynicism and civil service form-filling. As an ex-public servant, I find them hilarious and a little too plausible at the same time.
I've just started reading Iain M Banks books.
I'd never picked any up before because I didn't like the not Sci-Fi stuff of his that I'd read but I impulse bought The Algebraist and Consider Phlebas from a charity shop and have enjoyed them both.
Does anyone have any recommendations for particularly good ones? I may just start picking up whatever I see when I'm out and about.
I'd never picked any up before because I didn't like the not Sci-Fi stuff of his that I'd read but I impulse bought The Algebraist and Consider Phlebas from a charity shop and have enjoyed them both.
Does anyone have any recommendations for particularly good ones? I may just start picking up whatever I see when I'm out and about.
ZedLeg said:
I've just started reading Iain M Banks books.
I'd never picked any up before because I didn't like the not Sci-Fi stuff of his that I'd read but I impulse bought The Algebraist and Consider Phlebas from a charity shop and have enjoyed them both.
Does anyone have any recommendations for particularly good ones? I may just start picking up whatever I see when I'm out and about.
Keep going through the Culture novels, I haven't found any of them bad. However if you want the best of the best, in my opinion of course.I'd never picked any up before because I didn't like the not Sci-Fi stuff of his that I'd read but I impulse bought The Algebraist and Consider Phlebas from a charity shop and have enjoyed them both.
Does anyone have any recommendations for particularly good ones? I may just start picking up whatever I see when I'm out and about.
- Excession
- Player of Games
Honourable mentions for
- Use of Weapons
- The Hydrogen Sonata
captain_cynic said:
ZedLeg said:
I've just started reading Iain M Banks books.
I'd never picked any up before because I didn't like the not Sci-Fi stuff of his that I'd read but I impulse bought The Algebraist and Consider Phlebas from a charity shop and have enjoyed them both.
Does anyone have any recommendations for particularly good ones? I may just start picking up whatever I see when I'm out and about.
Keep going through the Culture novels, I haven't found any of them bad. However if you want the best of the best, in my opinion of course.I'd never picked any up before because I didn't like the not Sci-Fi stuff of his that I'd read but I impulse bought The Algebraist and Consider Phlebas from a charity shop and have enjoyed them both.
Does anyone have any recommendations for particularly good ones? I may just start picking up whatever I see when I'm out and about.
- Excession
- Player of Games
Honourable mentions for
- Use of Weapons
- The Hydrogen Sonata
I'm still gutted that Banks died.
glazbagun said:
Agree with the above. I'd read Player of Games first as much of the enjoyment in excession cones from the exploration of a culture you know a bit about imo.
I'm still gutted that Banks died.
+1.I'm still gutted that Banks died.
I read the Culture novels in order of release, I'd recommend doing the same as he does use references explained in previous books. Player of Games is the 2nd novel, after that is Use of Weapons then Excession.
captain_cynic said:
glazbagun said:
Agree with the above. I'd read Player of Games first as much of the enjoyment in excession cones from the exploration of a culture you know a bit about imo.
I'm still gutted that Banks died.
+1.I'm still gutted that Banks died.
I read the Culture novels in order of release, I'd recommend doing the same as he does use references explained in previous books. Player of Games is the 2nd novel, after that is Use of Weapons then Excession.
Save it until last.
It's worth it.
ZedLeg said:
I've just started reading Iain M Banks books.
I'd never picked any up before because I didn't like the not Sci-Fi stuff of his that I'd read but I impulse bought The Algebraist and Consider Phlebas from a charity shop and have enjoyed them both.
Does anyone have any recommendations for particularly good ones? I may just start picking up whatever I see when I'm out and about.
Leave Feersumm Endjinn until last. Not because it's bad, but because it's different and takes some concentration in places.I'd never picked any up before because I didn't like the not Sci-Fi stuff of his that I'd read but I impulse bought The Algebraist and Consider Phlebas from a charity shop and have enjoyed them both.
Does anyone have any recommendations for particularly good ones? I may just start picking up whatever I see when I'm out and about.
I loved it, but can see why others don't.
Excession is superb. 
I read Consider Phlebas first, and so it was slightly odd to have The Culture introduced as the enemy of the protagonist. Although I would imagine it would be even more odd to have read a lot of Culture books first and then have them as the enemy.
Absolutely superb books. It was a shame that Banks died so young. And for him and pTerry Pratchett to die within a year or so of each other was a massive blow to me, since they were the two authors whose books I would buy as soon as they were released.
I read Consider Phlebas first, and so it was slightly odd to have The Culture introduced as the enemy of the protagonist. Although I would imagine it would be even more odd to have read a lot of Culture books first and then have them as the enemy.
Absolutely superb books. It was a shame that Banks died so young. And for him and pTerry Pratchett to die within a year or so of each other was a massive blow to me, since they were the two authors whose books I would buy as soon as they were released.
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