Any more Sci Fi fans her?

[Damariscotta]

Speaking of Dune books, anyone have an opinion on the books written by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson? I've been generally disappointed with them.

 

[papillon24]

I havebt gotten into those yet but am a bit scared to. Haven't heard good things about them

 

[Damariscotta]

I havebt gotten into those yet but am a bit scared to. Haven't heard good things about them

They could never have equaled Frank Herbert's genius, but even accounting for that, I found the plots to be very soap opera-ish and the writing to be very...ordinary. I couldn't help but feel disappointed. My advice is if you're really curious...don't spend a lot of money on them.

 

[papillon24]

They could never have equaled Frank Herbert's genius, but even accounting for that, I found the plots to be very soap opera-ish and the writing to be very...ordinary. I couldn't help but feel disappointed. My advice is if you're really curious...don't spend a lot of money on them.

I'll look for them used when I have a chance but I think it will be on my someday read list

 

[Damariscotta]

I'll look for them used when I have a chance but I think it will be on my someday read list

Their newest collaboration is Hunters of Dune, which is supposedly based on notes Frank Herbert left for Dune 7. I will wait for the paperback if I read it at all.

 

[papillon24]

Their newest collaboration is Hunters of Dune, which is supposedly based on notes Frank Herbert left for Dune 7. I will wait for the paperback if I read it at all.

I'll put it on my christmas wish list

 

[Damariscotta]

I'll put it on my christmas wish list

Of course you will.

 

[ShinigamiSama]

Dune Movies or Books?

books
first movie had the best acting imo
second moovie/mini-series followed the plot better

but the actor they picked for paul in the first one rocked imo


I'm almost done chapterhouse
page 381 or something like that
I've got butrilian jihad, battle of corin and machine crusades to read now
I have the feeling I'm getting faces of a marter or one of the house books for x-mass as well

I started to read jihad before I got chapterhouse
i'll agree
they're no where near as good but its dune, and I've wanted to know what was going on in jihad since book one
just wish I had more time to read them

 

[lena]

What I liked about Voyager was that most of the episodes were standalone episodes. I hear loads of people ranting about another gosh darned holodeck episode or how Janeway was such a hard ass (who changed her mind with each episode/season), but honestly I loved all of it. It's a show where I can put in the DVD and view an episode by itself - it's actually a great show to get someone hooked on.

I'm thinking of getting into Babylon 5 - but am unsure whether all 5 seasons + movies, is worth the time. I've heard good and bad things about it. From what I've seen of it, back when it was on TV (Season 1), I didn't particularly like it. What do you think?

Books. I've only recently started reading sci-fi (although I'm not sure of the category). Got hooked into it by reading Jennifer Government by Max Barry. Now I'm reading Neal Stephenson's Snow Crash. Will be finished with that today. Are there any other must-reads in sci-fi?

I made a quasi-list of things so far, but I'll be heading to the bookstore this weekend so would like an extensive list Thanks.

- Do Androids Dream
- Enders Game
- Neuromancer
- Altered Carbon

 

[Vandren]

Speaking of Dune books, anyone have an opinion on the books written by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson? I've been generally disappointed with them.

I haven't read them, but my wife (another former English major, I ought to add), has enjoyed them so far.

They could never have equaled Frank Herbert's genius,

Sorry, I had to chuckle at this, since Herbert basically lifted the history of Islam and the Ottoman Empire, then set it in space. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, seeing as Lucas lifted the rise of the Roman Empire/Julius Caesar and Kurosawa's movies.

Are there any other must-reads in sci-fi?

There's a huge can of worms.

I think if you're taking Stephenson, PKD, and Gibson, you're off to a good start. I'd recommend:

Alfred Bester (Demolished Man)
R.A. Heinlein (especially Tunnel in the Sky and Stranger in a Strange Land)
Canticle for Leibowitz
Douglas Adams (a must have for comedic/satiric sci-fi)
Issac Asimov (some would add him, personally, I think he's boring)
Ray Bradbury (Martian Chronicles is a definite classic)
C.J. Cherryh (the Foreigner series especially)
Larry Niven (fairly quick read)
Alan Dean Foster (the Damned series is pretty good)
Fritz Leiber (Gather, Darkness! is a phenomenal book)
L. Ron Hubbard (some consider him a classic, personally, I think he's a wacko)

Spider Robinson's a good one
Octavia Butler's a good read, though she's more into the alternate history aspect, from what I've read

If you like Stephenson and Gibson, try out Bruce Stirling (the third big name in cyberpunk).

 

[Damariscotta]

Sorry, I had to chuckle at this, since Herbert basically lifted the history of Islam and the Ottoman Empire, then set it in space. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, seeing as Lucas lifted the rise of the Roman Empire/Julius Caesar and Kurosawa's movies.

Allow me to rephrase. Compared to the style and depth Frank Herbert brought to his writing, I find the Brian Herbert / Kevin Anderson collaborations to be wanting.

 

[Flashh]

Just remembered another great book, though I can't seem to recall the authos name. I *think* it was Heinlien, and call "Job". Job like the bible, not Job like going to work. realcool.

 

[yogiforlife]

re

Anybody read "Day Of The Triffids"? I know a movie was made a long time ago, but they should make an updated version.

 

[ShinigamiSama]

There's a huge can of worms.

*inserts (A)Rakis+Chapterhouse*

 

[plumperlover]

Job was by Heinlen. It's not bad but my favorite by him was The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

 

[Vandren]

Just remembered another great book, though I can't seem to recall the authos name. I *think* it was Heinlien, and call "Job". Job like the bible, not Job like going to work. realcool.

Yes . . . full title "Job: A Comedy of Justice." Very good book. One of my top four favourites from Heinlein (along with the aforementioned two and Starship Troopers). Though "Rolling Stones" was a good one too.

 

[korus]

Anybody read "Day Of The Triffids"? I know a movie was made a long time ago, but they should make an updated version.

there has also been a old tv seris and ai new one off on bbc4 at the moment in the uk

 

[Wyldfire]

I haven't read them, but my wife (another former English major, I ought to add), has enjoyed them so far.



Sorry, I had to chuckle at this, since Herbert basically lifted the history of Islam and the Ottoman Empire, then set it in space. Not that this is necessarily a bad thing, seeing as Lucas lifted the rise of the Roman Empire/Julius Caesar and Kurosawa's movies.



There's a huge can of worms.

I think if you're taking Stephenson, PKD, and Gibson, you're off to a good start. I'd recommend:

Alfred Bester (Demolished Man)
R.A. Heinlein (especially Tunnel in the Sky and Stranger in a Strange Land)
Canticle for Leibowitz
Douglas Adams (a must have for comedic/satiric sci-fi)
Issac Asimov (some would add him, personally, I think he's boring)
Ray Bradbury (Martian Chronicles is a definite classic)
C.J. Cherryh (the Foreigner series especially)
Larry Niven (fairly quick read)
Alan Dean Foster (the Damned series is pretty good)
Fritz Leiber (Gather, Darkness! is a phenomenal book)
L. Ron Hubbard (some consider him a classic, personally, I think he's a wacko)

Spider Robinson's a good one
Octavia Butler's a good read, though she's more into the alternate history aspect, from what I've read

If you like Stephenson and Gibson, try out Bruce Stirling (the third big name in cyberpunk).

Add to the ;ist Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light, The Amber Chronicles (Even the new ones written with permission of his estate), and Mc Caffery's Pern

 

[plumperlover]

Zelazny

Zelazny's amazing, one of those authors I made a real effort to get literally everything by - which mostly involved haunting used bookstores. Fortunately forty or so used paperbacks don't break the bank.

Everyone mentions Lord of Light and the Amber books -and they're both great in their own way - both representing sort of the polar extremes of his work, both featuring conflicted immortals with amazing powers. Which describes most of his characters actually.

I also reccomend checking out some of his lesser known stuff like Damnation Alley about the last Hell's Angel on Earth crossing a devestated wasteland to save the world. The books is fun, the Jan Michael Vincent movie is to be strenuously avoided. Or Doorways in the Sand, Roadmarks and Eye of Cat, middle period novels and great becaue they just show the effortless skill of a master story-teller.

Donnerjack is one of his last books, finished after his death by Jane Lindskold is a fascinating mix of cyber-punk and high fantasy - it could almost be seen as a precursor to the Second Life online environment.

He's great because he never disapoints - even his most piffling lesser works are exciting fun reads.

One note: he actually expressed extreme resistance before his death to anyone else writing Amber books the crappy knockoffs - actually I thought there was only one - was done without his permission - just his publishers desire for cash.

 

[Wyldfire]

Zelazny's amazing, one of those authors I made a real effort to get literally everything by - which mostly involved haunting used bookstores. Fortunately forty or so used paperbacks don't break the bank.

Everyone mentions Lord of Light and the Amber books -and they're both great in their own way - both representing sort of the polar extremes of his work, both featuring conflicted immortals with amazing powers. Which describes most of his characters actually.

I also reccomend checking out some of his lesser known stuff like Damnation Alley about the last Hell's Angel on Earth crossing a devestated wasteland to save the world. The books is fun, the Jan Michael Vincent movie is to be strenuously avoided. Or Doorways in the Sand, Roadmarks and Eye of Cat, middle period novels and great becaue they just show the effortless skill of a master story-teller.

Donnerjack is one of his last books, finished after his death by Jane Lindskold is a fascinating mix of cyber-punk and high fantasy - it could almost be seen as a precursor to the Second Life online environment.

He's great because he never disapoints - even his most piffling lesser works are exciting fun reads.

One note: he actually expressed extreme resistance before his death to anyone else writing Amber books the crappy knockoffs - actually I thought there was only one - was done without his permission - just his publishers desire for cash.

Don't forget his Jack Of Shadows book. As to the knock offs I read them and it is stated they are written with his estate's permission. From what I heard the ideas for the books where his son's. But his son isn't a fiction writer so he handed it off to Belancourt.

I also adore Zelazny's contribution to the Wildcards books. The Sleeper was just plain great.

 

[Wyldfire]

Spider Robinson. What can I say, I love his work too. The Callahan's books, both the bar and his wife's place are places I could easily live in.

The Stardance books he wrote with his wife are wonderful. As a dancer I really liked them.

Mindkiller was good as was Telempath.

 

[Vandren]

Add to the ;ist Roger Zelazny's Lord of Light, The Amber Chronicles (Even the new ones written with permission of his estate), and Mc Caffery's Pern

Sadly, the only Zelazny I've gotten to read so far are:

Bring me the Head of Prince Charming
Creatures of Light and Darkness
If at Faust You Don't Succeed
A Night in Lonesome October

But, they've all been great (though a little off-topic for the request, seeing as they're all fantasies, in my book). Though I supposed "Creatures" is a bit more SF.

 

[plumperlover]

The great thing about Zelazny was that he wrote fantasy as if it was SF and SF as if it were fantasy.

 

[Flashh]

Anyone watch that series "Dead Like Me"? I just caught the first episode in reruns and it seems interesting. Wondering if theseries works, or if it flops after the first few episodes?

 

[jacintexas]

Anyone watch that series "Dead Like Me"? I just caught the first episode in reruns and it seems interesting. Wondering if theseries works, or if it flops after the first few episodes?

it's petty interesting.. I think this is it's second season.. I missed the premiere so figuring out what was going on took a few episodes.. I enjoy watching it but I typically don't go out of my way to catch it.. if I see it on I watch..