Raiziel wrote:Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks
This one wasn’t for me, for various reasons. I’m beginning to realise that settings in which the galaxy is positively bristling with intelligent alien life, the backbone of many space opera worlds, aren’t really my jam. I prefer my sci-fi where the universe is vast and frightfully unknowable, and contact with an alien lifeform would be virtually incomprehensible to us; so less Star Wars/Star Trek, more 2001: A Space Odyssey. The most similar thing to Consider Phlebas I’ve read recently was Revelation Space by Alistair Reynolds, and while that book too has a similarly populated universe, Reynolds’ epic has a mind-bending mystery at its heart, and he managed to keep me enthralled throughout by continually drip-feeding the reader little morsels of the grand mystery right up until the very end. But Consider Phlebas doesn’t really have any of that, and seems instead to define itself as a sprawling action piece. I don’t mind a little action in my sci-fi, but there’s just too much of it here for me, and very little else. The characters are bland and the story does little to surprise. On the plus side it’s well written for what it is. There’s some nice descriptive language for all those whiz-bang action sequences. But that’s not nearly enough to keep me entertained.
acemuzzy wrote:Try The Algebraist
Sci-fi has always been highly political.davyK wrote:Raiziel wrote:Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks
This one wasn’t for me, for various reasons. I’m beginning to realise that settings in which the galaxy is positively bristling with intelligent alien life, the backbone of many space opera worlds, aren’t really my jam. I prefer my sci-fi where the universe is vast and frightfully unknowable, and contact with an alien lifeform would be virtually incomprehensible to us; so less Star Wars/Star Trek, more 2001: A Space Odyssey. The most similar thing to Consider Phlebas I’ve read recently was Revelation Space by Alistair Reynolds, and while that book too has a similarly populated universe, Reynolds’ epic has a mind-bending mystery at its heart, and he managed to keep me enthralled throughout by continually drip-feeding the reader little morsels of the grand mystery right up until the very end. But Consider Phlebas doesn’t really have any of that, and seems instead to define itself as a sprawling action piece. I don’t mind a little action in my sci-fi, but there’s just too much of it here for me, and very little else. The characters are bland and the story does little to surprise. On the plus side it’s well written for what it is. There’s some nice descriptive language for all those whiz-bang action sequences. But that’s not nearly enough to keep me entertained.
I know what you mean about filled universe. It becomes almost soap opera in space, politics and intrigue which isnt what scifi is about.
davyK wrote:Watership Down. This is no kids' book. Well maybe it is , but it can be read at two levels. This is about leadership, bravery, teamwork , friendship, altruism and other qualities we hold in high regard. Adams builds a brilliant world set from the point of view of a rabbit with its own mythology and language. It's a great adventure story too - truly gripping in places - you forget they are rabbits at times even though the limitations of being an animal are skillfully woven in.
This is one of the best books I have ever read. I can't believe it took me this long to get around to it.
Raiziel wrote:I think I was initially disappointed with Authority because it didn’t behave like the type of sequel I was anticipating. But I ended up really enjoying it.
ooooh, I've not read that one yetdavyK wrote:Jack Reacher 4 : The Visitor.
Another highly readable Reacher story. Whats good about these books is that they are not (as yet) formulaic. So I will keep reading these as long as they interest me. There is usually a love interest which is simplistic but thats not why people read these and largely thats the only common feature so far. Real page turner stuff and great fodder for holiday reading. This one would be very filmable.
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