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By late
#15176772
Pants-of-dog wrote:
I woke up this morning in the mood for a new Iain M. Banks novel.

RIP.



I didn't know he had died. I liked some of his books.
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By Drlee
#15177602
"Star Testing Astronomical Telescopes" HR Suiter
By late
#15177603
I ordered a used copy of What Hath God Wrought to give to my nephew for Christmas. We buy Christmas presents year round, we often have too many. But it spreads out the pain, and when you finally get a good idea, you jump right on it.

I'm not even a 1/3rd of the way through my copy. It's not what you'd call a light read. But I am enjoying it.
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By Heisenberg
#15177751
Pants-of-dog wrote:I woke up this morning in the mood for a new Iain M. Banks novel.

RIP.

I'm just coming to the end of Consider Phlebas. I'll admit it hasn't really gripped me, but I've enjoyed it enough that I'll happily give another of his books a try. I've heard it's not necessarily the best of the Culture series, after all. Are there any Banks novels you really recommend?
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By Potemkin
#15177757
Heisenberg wrote:I'm just coming to the end of Consider Phlebas. I'll admit it hasn't really gripped me, but I've enjoyed it enough that I'll happily give another of his books a try. I've heard it's not necessarily the best of the Culture series, after all. Are there any Banks novels you really recommend?

Use of Weapons. It was actually the first Culture book he wrote, but every publisher he approached rejected it as being too 'difficult'. He therefore wrote an 'easier' Culture novel, Consider Phlebas, which was accepted for publication. The rest is history.... Lol. Use of Weapons is, of course, far superior to Consider Phlebas.
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By Heisenberg
#15177760
Potemkin wrote:Use of Weapons. It was actually the first Culture book he wrote, but every publisher he approached rejected it as being too 'difficult'. He therefore wrote an 'easier' Culture novel, Consider Phlebas, which was accepted for publication. The rest is history.... Lol. Use of Weapons is, of course, far superior to Consider Phlebas.

Cool. That's kind of been my issue with Consider Phlebas - it's perfectly enjoyable, but it feels more like a Michael Bay film than a particularly thoughtful sci fi book. :lol: With that context, I can understand why it is the way it is, though.
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By Tainari88
#15177761
I am reading La Historia de los Vencidos, a novel about the Mayans and how they responded to the Spanish Conquest in the Yucatan. It is very interesting. The Mayans were very aware of how there was a contradiction between the message of Christ given by the priests of the church and the behavior of the Spanish soldiers. They often felt they were hypocritical with their religious beliefs and if you are a hypocrite with the Gods? You usually wind up losing it all.
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By Godstud
#15177776
I am listening to audio books of Orson Scott Card novels. I finished Ender's Shadow, which is book 5 in the Ender Series. Very enjoyable.

I am now on Shadow of the Hegemon. It's rather enjoyable and continues the story. His continuity is superb and his books are made for audio.

I enjoy a good ride to a coffee shop 90 km away while listening to it. It passes the time, nicely. Then I plop down and continue reading.
Image
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By fuser
#15177777
Consider Phlebus is considered to be worst book in the Culture series. The main issue is that we don't see the Culture itself enough. I did find it alright though. But the actual Culture starts from "The player of the games" second book of the series, in the order of their publication.
By Pants-of-dog
#15177784
Either Player of Games or Use of Weapons is a good read after Consider Phlebas.

I did not know the history behind Consider Phlebas which explains a lot, actually.

I would read all of them, and save Use of Weapons for last. It is just so good.
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By Potemkin
#15177785
Pants-of-dog wrote:Either Player of Games or Use of Weapons is a good read after Consider Phlebas.

I did not know the history behind Consider Phlebas which explains a lot, actually.

I would read all of them, and save Use of Weapons for last. It is just so good.

Agreed. Use of Weapons is definitely Banks' sf masterpiece. :up:
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By Tainari88
#15177793
@Potemkin never heard of that novelist or author. Banks?
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By Potemkin
#15177799
Tainari88 wrote:@Potemkin never heard of that novelist or author. Banks?

Iain M. Banks was a very famous Scottish science fiction writer, @Tainari88. He also wrote mainstream literary novels as well, under a cunning pseudonym: 'Iain Banks', without the 'M'. Lol.
By late
#15177802
fuser wrote:
Consider Phlebus is considered to be worst book in the Culture series. The main issue is that we don't see the Culture itself enough. I did find it alright though. But the actual Culture starts from "The player of the games" second book of the series, in the order of their publication.



That would be a good place to start.
By late
#15177803
John Hubbard wrote:
I am finishing reading the witcher. Can anyone suggest something similar?



I played the game a little. Have you read Game of Thrones (and not watched the tv show)?
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By fuser
#15177812
Potemkin wrote:Iain M. Banks was a very famous Scottish science fiction writer, @Tainari88. He also wrote mainstream literary novels as well, under a cunning pseudonym: 'Iain Banks', without the 'M'. Lol.


Hey I would add him being socialist as well when introducing Banks. :)
User avatar
By Potemkin
#15177814
fuser wrote:Hey I would add him being socialist as well when introducing Banks. :)

Cheerfully conceded, @fuser. :)
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