A Sci Fi Reading Odyssey - 50 Novels

[Matt H.]

Got my Review of Pillars of Eternity done. Will likely make some edits. I don't deny there can be a fun-gap in doing the reviews. I feel a responsibility to do the books justice, which is a bit of a looming bummer at times. (certain books more than others). Once done, though I'm glad I did. It helps me remember the book and solidify the impact, as well as to preserve that "un-influenced" first-time impression. You can't have a first time, twice, eh? Gain through pain. @ArthurFrayn, and gang, any thing to add or subtract?

 

[pogopossum]

Mostly Harmless.
On Lest Darkness - - -
You are the archtype of Hobbit's comment in the Anyone Help ID Books thread.
"I said we had members who were good.... "

A couple of cultural comments. When de Camp was writing the SF community as a whole was probably more cynical and less careful in it's religious skepticism than now. Due perhaps to leftism or techieness they were outside the much more common religious sensibilities of 1939. I am not aware of any of the period SF literature that involved religion as other than a cultural artifact, a delusion, or a hoax.
That's a minor disagreement. And as you point out deCamp is in fact in line with Van Loon, as popular a historian as there was in that or any period.
Rhetorical approval of slave revolts would also fit with the sort of attitudes of that time. That would be both modern and contemporary to his audience.

Your discussion of Belisarius takes me back to when I read Graves and deCamp as a kid (quite some years after they were written) Thanks for the education.

It's odd that my comment was about a comment rather than the review. Matt, you really got the spirit of the book. "Competent Male's Dream", humor, even slapstick et al. All on a background that was probably Terra incognita to the large bulk of readers. I was a nerd who read Graves - but was an exception (and for that matter, read deCamp first.) I think you overplay the lack of explanation for the time jump and incongruities, but that's my bugaboo. Rather than invented pseudo-science I much prefer that something just happened.
As you mentioned, I remember thinking that his pickup of language was improbable. But I was a teen who had struggled getting along in a foreign language country. So even that might have gotten by most readers.
As usual, very good job.

 

[pogopossum]

Got my Review of Pillars of Eternity done. Will likely make some edits. I don't deny there can be a fun-gap in doing the reviews. I feel a responsibility to do the books justice, which is a bit of a looming bummer at times. (certain books more than others). Once done, though I'm glad I did. It helps me remember the book and solidify the impact, as well as to preserve that "un-influenced" first-time impression. You can't have a first time, twice, eh? Gain through pain. @ArthurFrayn, and gang, any thing to add or subtract?

Damn you. Now you've added another book to be read to my pile.

edit 8/17/20 Just bought it from Biblio.com. $5.00 including shipping.
I asked elsewhere. Anyone have suggestions for el-cheapo paper purchases?

 

[Matt H.]

Damn you. Now you've added another book to be read to my pile.

Thanks very much for both the comments, Pogo. I hope I added *two*, lol... Don't forget The Long Tomorrow. I'm proud of that one because I consider it a "find", would be real fun to hear if anyone else agrees with me. Yes, Pillars is really worth reading. You can knock it out in a couple sittings -- it's only 160 pages.

(added) Yes, realize the book could/should have worked without much of an explanation of the time-slip. As a reader, though I was honestly expecting at least some mention at the end of the beginning 1908 time-line. And also a verification (or even more fun a contradiction) of Tancredi's theory that going back in time creates a new time-line and will not cause time-paradoxes. I just expected something, anything to just round out the tale in that respect, but it might be a quirky expectation....

 

[Mostlyharmless]

Firstly, I suspect that unexplained timeslips or shifts to different realities were quite common. There is another in "He Walked Around the Horses" by H. Beam Piper https://archive.org/details/hewalkedaroundth18807gut.

Secondly, one science fiction writer actually founded a religion. However, most of the writers supporting religion tend to write fantasy, especially children's fantasy on the principle of getting them young. I had The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe read to me by a teacher when I was 11 and naturally disliked the attempt to influence me.

I also struggled with French but now many years later there are a few rewards. A few months ago, I was able to send a link to Mateo Falcone by Prosper Merimee http://nmi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/1574.pdf to my neighbours for something calming to read if they became upset on seeing breaches of the lockdown regulations.

I agree with Matt that we shouldn't write anything that might start a religious argument and in Lest Darkness Fall, some restaurants had signs forbidding religious arguments. However, simply quoting the text must be safe:

“You don't like the Goths?"
"No! Not with the persecution we have to put up with!"
"Persecution?"
"Religious persecution. We won't stand for it forever."
"I thought the Goths let everybody worship as they pleased."
"That's just it! We Orthodox are forced to stand around and watch Arians and Monophysites and Nestorians and Jews going about their business unmolested, as if they owned the country. If that isn't persecution, I'd like to know what is!”

 

[Matt H.]

...However, most of the writers supporting religion tend to write fantasy, especially children's fantasy on the principle of getting them young. I had The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe read to me by a teacher when I was 11 and naturally disliked the attempt to influence me...

I have always avoided Lewis for this very reason, though I believe he is a probably a very skilled writer, and I know he is also highly influential - mostly in Fantasy, but also Sci Fi. The idea of a book being propaganda (even subtly), and worst of all in a religious vein, is just intolerable to me. Some may find this line a bit fuzzy, since all writers are influenced by various ideas - some they favor, some they excoriate. My test is was it a self-conscious stealth attack? Reading scripture, or overtly religious material is one thing, but at least you know what you're reading; it's not *disguised* That it's directed at children is the worst of all.

I also struggled with French but now many years later there are a few rewards. A few months ago, I was able to send a link to Mateo Falcone by Prosper Merimee http://nmi.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/1574.pdf to my neighbours for something calming to read if they became upset on seeing breaches of the lockdown regulations.

That looks like a great little story. Are you saying you made that translation? Or do you mean that you are able to read it in the original French? That's cool, either way. I learned Portuguese and I did a short translation of an intro for a colleague of my mom's. It was great fun and makes you think real hard about words, lol.

 

[Windshadow]

I agree with Matt that we shouldn't write anything that might start a religious argument

I also agree with that but as this topic is being danced around I feel I need to toss this book into the pile

Small Gods: Discworld Novel, A - Kindle edition by Pratchett, Terry. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Small Gods: Discworld Novel, A - Kindle edition by Pratchett, Terry. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Small Gods: Discworld Novel, A.

www.amazon.com

 

[Matt H.]

I also agree with that but as this topic is being danced around I feel I need to toss this book into the pile

Small Gods: Discworld Novel, A - Kindle edition by Pratchett, Terry. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Small Gods: Discworld Novel, A - Kindle edition by Pratchett, Terry. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Small Gods: Discworld Novel, A.

www.amazon.com

Hmmm... I will meditate on the meaning of this, lol... Secret handshake? Joking around.

Btw, Windy, while I have you on Pratchett. 1.) Can the Discworld books be enjoyed as independent novels? 2.) What's the best Pratchett novel (influential, and representative of his style) before 1985?

 

[Windshadow]

Yes almost all of them but there are several that are either stand-alone or start arcs of stories/
tas to your cutoff date that is a bit harder as he did not start seriously working as a full-time author till about 1988 If you can push your date to include written but not yet published works then the first two books which are basically a single story but they are most would say some of his weakest in the series... the fires is in essence 4 long-form short stories for example and the second a single story that ends that arc the first started.
some of his best work was in the 90s and several of these are fully realized standalone works; Pyramids is one of the first and its first section a master class in fantasy writing IMO
this link has all of the mainline Discworld titles so you can see when they were published if you want to take a look at Pratchett you might want to make a major single author project out of it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TYGGG76?ref_=dbs_p_mng_rwt_ser_shvlr&storeType=ebooks

 

[Trollheart]

I'm always going to go for Mort. Anyone who could make Death not even acceptable, but an almost fatherly figure, gets my vote. Even Piers Anthony couldn't do that (though On a Pale Horse was brillant). The last Pratchett I read was Going Postal, and to my surprise I found it very disappointing, even boring.

 

[pogopossum]

I'm always going to go for Mort. Anyone who could make Death not even acceptable, but an almost fatherly figure, gets my vote. Even Piers Anthony couldn't do that (though On a Pale Horse was brillant). The last Pratchett I read was Going Postal, and to my surprise I found it very disappointing, even boring.

Yup. Sir Terry got better (brilliant) and then got worse. Going Postal was perhaps the first book where I thought that he declined. With perfect 20/20 hindsight I think that it might have been part of what eventually killed him.
Go for any of his middle 20 or 30 and you can't go wrong.

 

[Vince W]

The review of The Pillars of Eternity was good enough for me to order a copy myself @Matt H. That's one I haven't read although I do remember it on the shelves in the 80s.

 

[Matt H.]

The review of The Pillars of Eternity was good enough for me to order a copy myself @Matt H. That's one I haven't read although I do remember it on the shelves in the 80s.

Thanks a million Vince! Made my day. Would really enjoy hearing how your response compares and contrast with mine. Please keep us posted.

 

[Vince W]

Thanks a million Vince! Made my day. Would really enjoy hearing how your response compares and contrast with mine. Please keep us posted.

Your review makes me think that it might fair favourably to Bester, so I'll dive right in when it arrives.

 

[Matt H.]

Your review makes me think that it might fair favourably to Bester, so I'll dive right in when it arrives.

Cool. Well, let's just see what you think. I know you'll give us an honest impression. Like I told Possum, it's only 160 pages. Still plugging Long Tomorrow too.

 

[Matt H.]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07TYGGG76?ref_=dbs_p_mng_rwt_ser_shvlr&storeType=ebooks

Yes almost all of them but there are several that are either stand-alone or start arcs of stories...

Thanks for the in-depth response. I guess there's not a Pratchett book that fits within my arbitrary criteria (part of my review list thing). From the quick browse I did on Amazon of Small Gods, it just seems that I would like him. Thanks for the TP. link. Will check it out.

 

[Windshadow]

Thanks for the in-depth response. I guess there's not a Pratchett book that fits within my arbitrary criteria (part of my review list thing). From the quick browse I did on Amazon of Small Gods, it just seems that I would like him. Thanks for the TP. link. Will check it out.

Consider pratchett for some recreational reading without the pressure of self imposed review writing. Just a bit of pleasant reading To clear the mental pallet between your main reads for review...

 

[ArthurFrayn]

Got my Review of Pillars of Eternity done. Will likely make some edits. I don't deny there can be a fun-gap in doing the reviews. I feel a responsibility to do the books justice, which is a bit of a looming bummer at times. (certain books more than others). Once done, though I'm glad I did. It helps me remember the book and solidify the impact, as well as to preserve that "un-influenced" first-time impression. You can't have a first time, twice, eh? Gain through pain. @ArthurFrayn, and gang, any thing to add or subtract?

Nope -good review! At least not at the moment! Glad you liked it!

 

[Matt H.]

Finished Puppet Masters, It was solid, fun, action-adventure, and a lot more too. A pretty breezy read, conventional in ways, but not a piece of fluff, by any means. Working on review.

Started Martian Time-Slip. Anyone want to revisit your favorite, druggy writer, PKD and read it with me? This is one of his earlier ones, 1964 (corrected).... and according to the sage panel here, should be among his better.

 

[Trollheart]

Can't keep up with you guys. Gasp! I hardly get a chance to read anything these days.