A Sci Fi Reading Odyssey - 50 Novels

[Matt H.]

Does that sound like it might have legs?
BTW, anyone read Forever Free?

Thanks more, Arthur.

I feel myself becoming a Haldeman Orgy Passage Scholar (H.O.P.S.) Khe, khe... I appreciate the depth.

No, haven't read that one.

 

[Matt H.]

Ha ha - I was thinking it was more like "the voice of experience".... for a while my motto was always "If you don't have enough room, move house!!

I am working on my addiction, though.... I even give some books away at work, these days. Baby steps...

Voice of experience? Do elaborate.

Um... I know an address in the US you can send all those raggedy golden-age paperbacks if you don't have room for em.

 

[Matt H.]

Chiming in here late.
....
Having read every RAH, starting at about the age of 9, he was (obviously) significantly creative, but not speculative. In other words he introduced characters and ideas to further the story, not to be predictive or genuinely interested so much in ideas. This became clearer as his so called SF veered into fantasy in later years. His politics did intrude, but in terms of plot and character scenerios were invented and he made them more interesting by letting them act out his preferred ideology. A fine line, but It's what I increasingly thought over the years. A storyteller much more than extropolator. He started writing "capable man" stories for Campbell, continued through his juveniles, and went totally overboard in his last several books. He wrote strong capable women, but with the possible exception of Hazel Stone, they were either cutsie stereotyped or "capable men" with no real difference in character than his male characters (see Friday)
....
edit: I deliberately waited to re-read Matt's review until after I wrote the above. He describes with better specifics much of what I thought. Thanks for posting Matt.

Sure thing Pogo! It's extra fun to have readers. I wanted to stick to my antiseptic, first-time response thing, but honestyl, I made a few minor tweaks reflecting some post-first reading thoughts (triggered by Westy's post)

Interesting observations on RH... still digesting them.

 

[Hobbit]

Voice of experience? Do elaborate.

I'm sure it's not that different to others here. The short answer is when I was young, I couldn't afford to buy many books. As I got older, I would. Any 'spare' money I had, I would buy books. I often would spend money on books rather than go out. A treat for me was to the sales at the library, or being left by the family in the bookshop, to be picked up hours later..

The local secondhand booksellers got to know me by name. And then, in the 90's.... Amazon, which led to books from the USA. The internet in the early 2000s led to more from other sellers... Ebay led to Job lots and collections. I would travel to get them. I bought an almost complete set of F&Sf Magazine that was about to be thrown away, spending a day to get there and back. I bought a fairly complete set of British Book Club editions by driving hundreds of miles one night after work, from an old man who was clearly upset that he was having to sell them. I gave him as much money as I could and told him that they were going to a good home... and then SFFWorld, which led to books being sent to me for free, to add to the ones I was buying anyway... and conventions, which led to more books!

BTW, anyone read Forever Free?

Yup. I have a signed copy somewhere. Didn't like it - it is very different, if I remember right. More internal navel-gazing, less action. It is more mature, more nuanced... and less enjoyable.

As I've just rediscovered it, I will point out my interview with Joe here at SFFWorld 5 years ago: LINK

 

[Matt H.]

I'm sure it's not that different to others here. The short answer is when I was young, I couldn't afford to buy many books. As I got older, I would. Any 'spare' money I had, I would buy books. I often would spend money on books rather than go out...

As I've just rediscovered it, I will point out my interview with Joe here at SFFWorld 5 years ago: LINK

Thanks, nice little narrative about the books. It's already a story. I think Erasmus said: I spend all my money on books. If I have anything left over I buy food. Read your interview with Joe. It was good! Did you need to read all those Haldeman books, had you already, or did you just know about them? I noticed he said he doesn't try to predict things with his writing... interesting. Fuzzy line, I think because any writing about the future must have some element of prediction... That's very cool, you got to do that interview.

 

[Hobbit]

Thank you.

Did you need to read all those Haldeman books, had you already, or did you just know about them?

No: I'd read them all, I think.

That's very cool, you got to do that interview.

I was pleased. One of the benefits of working with/at SFFWorld. There's been a few I've been really pleased with, over time. Brian Aldiss was an absolute gent.

 

[pogopossum]

Mark. Read your interview with Haldeman. Thank you. It (ahem) reinforces my feelings about him.
It also led me to look up Tool of the Trade with the possible intent of tracking it down. To my somewhat embarassment, I realized from the Wikpedia synopsis that I had read it. What does it say about you when you did not remember having read something by a favorite author?

Should we start another thread, not about classic authors who are not remembered but about books/authors not remembered by readers in their dotage?

Thanks Matt for putting up with interruptions. Enjoy your Weapon Makers

 

[ArthurFrayn]

As I've just rediscovered it, I will point out my interview with Joe here at SFFWorld 5 years ago: LINK

Thanks for link to interview-just read it. I have War Year and Tools of the Trade. Never read either, maybe it's time to fish them out!!

 

[Hobbit]

To my somewhat embarassment, I realized from the Wikpedia synopsis that I had read it. What does it say about you when you did not remember having read something by a favorite author?

I do it all the time, pogo - you may have seen my recent examples in posts! Its even more scary when you think you've read something, and then realise that you haven't.

 

[ArthurFrayn]

I do it all the time, pogo - you may have seen my recent examples in posts! Its even more scary when you think you've read something, and then realise that you haven't.

This happens the most with me and short stories. I seem to forget them as soon as I finish them.

 

[pogopossum]

Matt,
Can you give us a summary list of the titles you have read? And perhaps if you've dropped any?
I somehow have gotten the impression that there are a few that you have read but not reviewed (Or not finished?)

Looking back at your original list I've read all but three. And I remember most of the plots!!!
Three that I didn't read, I started (Picnic & Solaris & Odd John) but just couldn't finish.
(Do I have an anti E. European bias?)
I do credit both versions of Solaris, the movies, for each giving me the best sleeps I ever had in years of attending years of SF Marathons.

 

[Matt H.]

Matt,
Can you give us a summary list of the titles you have read?

Sure. My entire Sci Fi readership consists of the books I have reviewed so far. (16, I think). Those are the ones linked in the head post. I write a response\review immediately after I read each one. Forever War was the last, reviewed. But since then I started and finished Left Hand. I'm writing the review now. (Also, admit I simultaneously started Neuromancer.

My gimmick is, that before reading Solaris (last year), I was a "blank slate" because I hadn't really read a single SFF novel or story (virtually) in about 30 years. Attempting to maintain monastic purity for each book I review. That means no opinions, no spoilers, no nothing. Even avoid cover-art sometimes. You guys here helping me build my self-mandated reading list! I commit to each book and see it through to the bitter end. Then I write an honest response. I'm building a type library of themes and styles so I have to select my books carefully. Now I am re-formulating the list and going to add quite a few new ones, drawn often from the gang's input. (running out of the original 21!)

 

[Matt H.]

Three that I didn't read, I started (Picnic & Solaris & Odd John) but just couldn't finish.

Picnic I actually liked a lot. Hated Odd John (see review). Was bored as everyone else with Solaris. Though I think if you read it, the Ocean thingy, is a pretty original creation. It should have been two books maybe. (see review)

I do credit both versions of Solaris, the movies, for each giving me the best sleeps I ever had in years of attending years of SF Marathons.

Hahaha! Hey, that's Mark's favorite movie, right Mark? hehehe..

 

[Hobbit]

Hahaha! Hey, that's Mark's favorite movie, right Mark? hehehe..

The horror, the horror! I'm sure watching paint dry could be more interesting....

 

[Hobbit]

"But I was told it was good!"

"Surely something else will happen now?" (An hour later....) "Surely something else will happen now?" I sat through the whole thing just in case.... but no.

The Clooney version was better.... it was shorter. Still made not much sense, though.

 

[Vince W]

Sure. My entire Sci Fi readership consists of the books I have reviewed so far. (16, I think). Those are the ones linked in the head post. I write a response\review immediately after I read each one. Forever War was the last, reviewed. But since then I started and finished Left Hand. I'm writing the review now. (Also, admit I simultaneously started Neuromancer.

My gimmick is, that before reading Solaris (last year), I was a "blank slate" because I hadn't really read a single SFF novel or story (virtually) in about 30 years. Attempting to maintain monastic purity for each book I review. That means no opinions, no spoilers, no nothing. Even avoid cover-art sometimes. You guys here helping me build my self-mandated reading list! I commit to each book and see it through to the bitter end. Then I write an honest response. I'm building a type library of themes and styles so I have to select my books carefully. Now I am re-formulating the list and going to add quite a few new ones, drawn often from the gang's input. (running out of the original 21!)

Reading Neuromancer while reading something else is not the best idea, Matt. Neuromancer requires the reader's full attention. Gibson is half a linguist and develops an entirely new language in Neuromancer. You can miss a lot if you're not careful.

 

[Matt H.]

Reading Neuromancer while reading something else is not the best idea, Matt...

Thanks, Vince! I'm not actually reading anything simultaneously with Neuromancer. I avoid that especially in my "student" phase. But I just haven't finished writing my review of Left Hand. I can already see Neuromancer requires full attention. (try to give it to all of them!)

 

[Vince W]

Thanks, Vince! I'm not actually reading anything simultaneously with Neuromancer. I avoid that especially in my "student" phase. But I just haven't finished writing my review of Left Hand. I can already see Neuromancer requires full attention. (try to give it to all of them!)

I'll be very interested to read your review when you're done, Matt.

 

[Matt H.]

I'll be very interested to read your review when you're done, Matt.

Vince, I'm trying to be equal-handed with the books and judge them by a single standard (an illusion, I know), but for better or worse, I'm not always great at understanding complex plots and a lot of characters.

Here is a puzzle about a "non-scholarly"/"impression-based" response -- If I miss something because I'm not a great reader, then that's a legit criticism in this case. Lame in a way, but perhaps reflects the realistic impression of a general, first-time, not-necessarily-swift reader response.

 

[Matt H.]

My new proposed list. Assembled with a lot of help from you guys!

Note the smoothness of the pub year distribution. ;-) I guess it's "read em and weep" (or hopefully NOT weep), lol I need more from the 40's! Is Genus Homo going to be real bad?

** Don't forget, whether I personally end up "liking" them or not, I am always grateful for your suggestions!

The primary point being that they have a place on the list, not that Matt necessarily likes them.

As per Mark's suggestion, highlighted those I've read so far in Green.
* I put an asterisk by the books I have added to the original list of 21

1. Odd John, Olaf Stapledon [1935]
2. *The Other Side of Here, Murray Leinster [1936]
3. *Star Maker, Olaf Stapledon [1937]
4. *Lest Darkness Fall, Sprauge de Camp [1939] *READING NOW
5. *Genus Homo, Sprague de Camp/Miller (1941)
6. *Destiny Times Three, Lieber (1943)
7. *The World of Null-A, Van Vogt [1945]
8. *One Against Eternity, A.E. Van Vogt [1947]
9. The Humanoids, Jack Williamson [1949]
10. *Earth Abides, Stewart, [1949]
11. *The Paradox Men, Harness [1949]
12. *The Voyage Of The Space Beagle, A.E. Van Vogt [1950]
13. *The Puppet Masters, Robert A. Heinlein [1951]
14. City, Clifford Simak [1952]
15. *More Than Human, Theodore Sturgeon [1953]
16. Childhood’s End, Arthur C. Clarke [1953]
17. The Kraken Wakes, John Wyndham [1953]
18. *The Long Tomorrow, L. Brackett [1955] *REVIEWING NOW
19. Double Star, Robert A. Heinlein [1956]
20. The Stars My Destination, Alfred Bester [1956]
21. *Citizen of the Galaxy, Heinlein [1957]
22. *Wolfbane, F. Pohl/Kornbluth [1959]
23. Solaris, Stanislaw Lem [1961]
24. Little Fuzzy, H. Beam Piper [1962]
25. *The Dragon Masters, Jack Vance [1962]
26. *Martian Time-Slip, P.K. Dick [1964]
27. Babel-17, Samuel Delany [1966]
28. *The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Heinlein [1966]
29. This Immortal, Roger Zelazny [1966]
30. *Lord of Light, Roger Zelazny [1967]
31. The Left Hand of Darkness, Ursula K. Le Guin [1969]
32. Ringworld, Larry Niven [1970]
33. Tau Zero, Poul Anderson [1970]
34. Roadside Picnic, Arkady and Boris Strugatsky [1972]
35. *Star Smashers Of the Galaxy Rangers, H. Harrison [1973]
36. The Forever War, Joe Haldeman [1974]
37. The Shockwave Rider, John Brunner [1975]
38. Gateway, Frederik Pohl [1976]
39. Ender's Game, Orson Scott Card [1977]
40. *Downbelow Station, C.J. Cherryh [1981]
41. *The Pillars of Eternity, B. Bayley [1982]
42. *The Crucible of Time, John Brunner [1983]
43. *Startide Rising, David Brin [1983]
44. Neuromancer, William Gibson [1984]
45. ---