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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Racer on June 4, 2008, at 11:38:28
OK, I can't remember what this is from, so I'm hoping someone recognizes it and can tell me...
Time travel, with people being plucked off airplanes which are about to crash.
Can anyone tell me what that's from? First, I thought, "Oh, it's that Barry Longyear thing..." Then I remembered that was HEGEL, which wasn't at all the same thing. Then I thought, "No -- didn't Orson Scott Card write a short story about something like that?" Maybe he did, but I don't think it's that, either.
Actually, I kinda think it's John Varley, but again -- I cannot remember!
This is driving me out of what's left of my mind, so I'm hoping someone can remind me...
Thanks!
Posted by TexasChic on June 4, 2008, at 18:41:11
In reply to Obsessive -- SciFi book, can't remember which..., posted by Racer on June 4, 2008, at 11:38:28
Posted by TexasChic on June 4, 2008, at 19:46:14
In reply to Obsessive -- SciFi book, can't remember which..., posted by Racer on June 4, 2008, at 11:38:28
I LOVE SciFi and I LOVE reading, but I've always been a bit intimidated by the Scifi section of the book store. I never can figure out where to start. I don't want to get something stupid.
I've read Clive Barker (deliciously freaky) and CS Lewis (the Narnia Chronicles and a couple more, one about going to Venus and another one I can't quite remember. I really liked them all though, I was amazed at his imagination. It was especially cool to read fiction about space travel before it had actually been done IRL.) I've also read a book that lists the best Scifi stories of whatever year it was then. I guess I should look for more of those. But I was wanting to ask if you could recommend some to me. Or a favorite author - you're obviously much more knowledgeable than I am about it.
I've been wanting to read The Wizard of Oz, I've read that it was toned way down for TV. I need to get myself to Half Price Books!
- T
Posted by Racer on June 5, 2008, at 11:57:24
In reply to Re: Obsessive -- SciFi book, can't remember which., posted by TexasChic on June 4, 2008, at 19:46:14
>... but I've always been a bit intimidated by the Scifi section of the book store. I never can figure out where to start. I don't want to get something stupid.
Ah, yes -- but my answer is to pick up anything that sounds interesting. That's why I've read so many of the Something Stupids... ;-)
>
> But I was wanting to ask if you could recommend some to me. Or a favorite author - you're obviously much more knowledgeable than I am about it.Only because I've had more experience, probably because I'm older -- and because I binge on Potato Chip Books...
Sure, here are some recommendations, in no particular order:
Orson Scott Card is probably my favorite SciFi writer, although I've had some problems with some of his books. He's a Saint, and many of his books reflect this quite strongly. Here are some solid recommendations from me -- if you like these, try the others, but keep in mind what I just wrote.
"Ender's Game"
"Speaker for the Dead"
"Xenocide"
"Children of the Mind"
"Lost Boys" -- this one comes with a trigger warning, if you try it
"Treason"Larry Niven/Jerry Pournelle co-write a lot of really excellent books. I'd say "any by," but let me offer some of my favorites:
"Inferno"
"The Mote in God's Eye"
"The Gripping Hand"
"Legacy of Heorot"
"Children of Beowolf"
"Protector"C. J. Cherryh, who I think I recall was a Latin teacher before she started writing most excellent books.
"The Pride of Chanur"
"Chanur's Venture"
"The Kif Strike Back"
"Chanur's Homecoming"
"Chanur's Legacy"
"Cuckoo's Egg" -- which I most highly recommend
Pretty much any of her books will be good. I can't remember all the titles, but I've enjoyed them all.Zenna Henderson, if you can find anything, was quite good. A bit of religion to it, but that's actually quite common in SciFi
"Pilgrimage"
"The People: No Different Flesh"
"The Anything Box"
"Holding Wonder"
The last two are short stories, and are great.Phillip Pullman
"His Dark Materials" -- this is the trilogy The Golden Compass comes from.
John Christopher, who is now known primarily for his childrens books, wrote some great stuff for adults, too. I'm including both sorts. (Note: I have not read all of these, and some I haven't read since childhood. I still feel safe recommending them.)
"The White Mountains"
"The City of Gold and Lead"
"The Pool of Fire"
"No Blade of Grass"
"Sword of the Spirits"
"The Guardians"
"The Possessers"
"Lotus Caves"
"The Year of the Comet"
"The Prince in Waiting"
"Beyond the Burning Lands"
"A Dusk of Demons"
"Bad Dream"For a short list of childrens books, I also recommend Robert C. O'Brien:
"Z For Zachariah"
"The Silver Crown"
"Mrs Frisby and the Rats of NIMH"For a list of books that you might like, I'd suggest checking out http://www.lostbooks.org/ Somewhere on that site there is a list of the best speculative fiction which might help point you in a good direction.
I hope that helps, and that you enjoy anything you read from my list. Otherwise, I'll wonder what that says about my taste... ;-)
Posted by TexasChic on June 5, 2008, at 18:00:30
In reply to Re: Obsessive -- SciFi book, can't remember which. » TexasChic, posted by Racer on June 5, 2008, at 11:57:24
Thank you so much!!! I will definitely print that out the next time I go to the book store... well, as soon as I figure out how to hook up my printer (its been sitting there not hooked up for a couple of months now). I just may email it to myself at work. Have you read any Clive Barker? His stuff is sometimes considered Horror rather than scifi, but it seems pretty scifi to me! Here's a few of my favorites:
"Weaveworld"
"Abarat"
"The Great and Secret Show: The First Book of the Art"Then of course there's my all time favorite, Stephen King. Some of his more scifi ones are:
"The Talisman" (this one may just be my favorite book of all time).
And the "Gunslinger series" which is very Lord of the Rings.Thanks again for all the suggestions! I will definitely check them out!
-T
Posted by TexasChic on June 5, 2008, at 18:13:49
In reply to Re: Obsessive -- SciFi book, can't remember which., posted by TexasChic on June 5, 2008, at 18:00:30
Looks like those I listed are considered Fantasy rather than SciFi - I don't really know what the difference is.
-T
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