h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Just finished Sylva by Vercors. That was my first encounter with the author. I picked up the book by accident -I was cleaning at home, dusting the bookshelves, when I saw that tiny book, hidden under a pile of SFs
A bit strange story - a fox turns into a woman in the middle of the hunting chase and the guy has to deal with all "ethical" issues arising from the fact that there is one naked not-really-woman in his back yard. It was actually good!
"Cause Celeb" by Helen Fielding"? I definitely didn't like that one I was actually rather annoyed I spent money on it... But may be I was not it the right mood... Though it's hard to imagine what that might be

Oh, and I have found REALLY good information on all Discworold related topics in the w***pedia...

Hi all

War & Peace - I read it earlier this year and enjoyed it more than I expected.

Many of the leading characters were really unlikeable, though. I think I only really liked the irascible old retired General Bolkonsky (and that only because I like awkward old b*****rs!)

I suppose Pierre was interesting, and kind of 'nice', but essentially a fool, even after his 'epiphany' in captivity in Moscow.

It was also interesting to discover that quite large chunks of it were really a quite academic study of history itself, how it is written (is that called 'historiography'?) and to what extent existing historical analysis is accurate and/or valid.

Anyway, I am now reading 'The Big Nowhere' by James Ellroy. It's been a funny time for me, having recently become daddy to a little girl (reading time has been severely curtailed!) and I seem to have been reading it for months, but I do like the style.

Personally, I still prefer Chandler (on current evidence) but I think I'll try some more Ellroy to get a broader view.

there was an entry on amazon (other online bookshops are available), that put the books in groups, me thinks. have just finished "sourcery". is sad at end. started to read feet of clay.

Sharpe's Waterloo by Bernard Cornwell.

I've seen lists like that SpaceCadette, I just don't remember where...

I am currently reading 'Broken Angels' by Richard K Morgan, what a find! He thanks in the acknowledgements, Robin Morgan for her book 'The Demon Lover' and John Pilger, that's what sort of an sf author he is, very refreshing!

I've been looking for some Richard Morgan; can't even find "Broken Angels", "Altered Carbon" or "Market Forces" even in secondhand stores. Sold out in new bookshops, so I'll have to either order it from Amazon or from the shops. Let me know how it goes -- I think "Altered Carbon" is the sequel...

BTW, has anyone here tried anything by Alistair Reynolds>

SC

I've just started Life of Pi by Yann Martel, having heard some good things about it.

I have enjoyed all of Morgans Kovacs books. Alistair Reynolds I did eventually enjoy (Though I have not read his latest one). They start off as a bit of a slog and then the ride takes over and you just cannot put the book down (well that is what I found). Reynolds universe is great, the characters and cultures are intresting, different and he writes some really good space opera (big ships, using big guns to make big holes). However, even with the 'Opera' tag it is fairly 'hard' scifi-wise. I would definately recommend it. Until later....
BCNU - Crescent

Spacecadette,

I've read some of Alistair Reymolds stuff. They've all been a good read so far.

So far, Broken Angels is pretty good!

(It was at our local library, and I'm going to look for Altered Carbon, because I think I can benefit from reading it, not that Broken Angels is one of those books that's not enjoyable if you haven't read the first one.)

Just finished 'The Sea' by John Banville.
I loved the writing, though I wish I had a dictionary next to me (on average for about 1 word per 2-3 pages). The story was gradual and took you along with it. You could see more or less where it was going, though there was an additional surprise that I had not anticipated early on.
I would recommend it if you enjoy the writing as much as the story itself.

Just finished 'Free Lunch' by David Smith, which is a layman's guide to economics, and blessedly (almost) equation-free. It was pretty good, and gives a decent introduction to economic ideas, and why they're so important.
I'm just about to start the Odyseey, having read the Iliad last year.

>> I've just started Life of Pi by Yann Martel, having heard some good things about it. <<

I hope you enjoy it...I certainly did, and I think the considered opinion of people on this thread (a few thousand posts ago ) was that it's a good book. It may seem like a bit hard going at first, so my advice is: persevere. It's worth it.

Currently re-reading Any Human Heart, by William Boyd. It really is fantastically good.

RF

Finished it this weekend, and it definitely is a good book. I liked the island (I think I can say that without it being too much of a spoiler) - very sinister.

The Riddle and the Knight by Giles Milton. It's about Sir John Mandeville, whether he was a real person and, if so, whether he really travelled to Asia. There's as much about the current situation in places Sir John claims to have visited as there is about Sir John, but it's still interesting.

Just started Kushiel's Scion by Jacqueline Carey. Also McNally's Bluff by Vincent Lardo, and Eye of the World by Robert Jordan - which I just can't seem to get into.

Have just finished "Overworld" by Larry Kolb. It's a (supposedly autobiographical) story of a man who was involved with American intelligence. Even more ambiguity than John le Carre

Just started Mary Tudor: The Spanish Tudor by H. F. M. Prescott.

I recently finished 'Love, and other Near Death Experiences' by Mil Millington. I've just started 'The Historian' by Elizabeth Kostova.

Soul Music - Pratchett

Favourite line so far: "his mind went wandering so often, it came back with souvenirs"