20 books is a great number, and you have a lot of interesting titles on your list! The Stars, My Destination was not a good book. Had a lot of "social obstacles" as you put it and was too goofy at parts. Roadside Picnic was a mixed bag for me. The 1st and 4th parts blew my mind, some of the best sci fi horror I've read. But the 3rd part should have been WAY shorter, in my mind. It really weighs down the other brilliant parts. My favorite book of the year was Inverted World by Christopher Priest, followed closely behind by Flowers of Algernon and City.
I read Stars my destination this month and although it was a fun read I wouldn't put it even close to something the likes of I dunno, Childhood's end? Which I'm due for a re-read since it was almost two decades ago yet I think still holds up a lil better for a classic SF tho.
A lot of older books leave me cold these days as well. I can't bring myself to read much Heinlein again, and even found Lucifer's Hammer hard. The values of the time just feel wrong. The ones that are "Military Sci Fi" hold up a bit better, usually, but not always. I get what you mean. Love listening to you talk about books.
Some years ago, a critic I don't remember came up with the concept of van Vogt skew, what happens when a short story is haphazardly tossed into a novel. It sounds like there is a lot of this in Weapon Shops.
I think you'd enjoy Service Model (Adrian Tchaikovsky). I'll understand the science of trihydrogen cations sooner than getting why anyone likes Roadside Picnic. Love the channel.
Some day in the future you will say to yourself, "OK, I now understand the science of trihydorgen cations." And that is the day your next challenge hits, getting why anyone likes Roadside Picnic. 😀
Sad you didn't like the Bester. As you probably know, it often tops, or comes near the top, of many Best SF Novels. Perhaps you have to be 18 to read it for the first time. :)
That would help 😅 I think a lot of people read it early on in their reading careers so it holds a special place in their heart. Mine would be Stephen King and depending on the novel wouldn't hold up to well either
Ha, just finished Triffids this week. Perhaps being British I didn't like it as much as you. The gender and social attitudes really grated on me - it's a Britain that doesn't exist any more - largely. Thank God. For better writing and a more modern attitude (though not much more recent than Wyndham) perhaps try JG Ballard. I recently read a very early book of his, The Wind from Nowhere, and was knocked out by its descriptive writing. Published in 1962 but still reads contemporarily.
The best part of The Iron Heel is the footnotes from the future socialist utopian historian, who presents the story as a found manuscript and comments on the strange long-forgotten customs of the capitalists. It's a highly unusual book and certainly written with a pedagogical aim, but it's well-written and succeeds on its own terms, as an introduction to socialism and a prescient warning of fascism.
20 books is a great number, and you have a lot of interesting titles on your list!
The Stars, My Destination was not a good book. Had a lot of "social obstacles" as you put it and was too goofy at parts.
Roadside Picnic was a mixed bag for me. The 1st and 4th parts blew my mind, some of the best sci fi horror I've read. But the 3rd part should have been WAY shorter, in my mind. It really weighs down the other brilliant parts.
My favorite book of the year was Inverted World by Christopher Priest, followed closely behind by Flowers of Algernon and City.
Inverted World is high on my list. Agree about Roadside Picnic. It was pretty lopsided. Strange pacing
I read Stars my destination this month and although it was a fun read I wouldn't put it even close to something the likes of I dunno, Childhood's end? Which I'm due for a re-read since it was almost two decades ago yet I think still holds up a lil better for a classic SF tho.
Childhoods End gives you a lot more food for thought. Holds up way better in my opinion
A lot of older books leave me cold these days as well. I can't bring myself to read much Heinlein again, and even found Lucifer's Hammer hard. The values of the time just feel wrong. The ones that are "Military Sci Fi" hold up a bit better, usually, but not always. I get what you mean. Love listening to you talk about books.
Glad you are enjoying it! I find that older books need to be read through a certain lens
I love that you included the pregnancy book on the list.
One of these books is not like the others
Some years ago, a critic I don't remember came up with the concept of van Vogt skew, what happens when a short story is haphazardly tossed into a novel. It sounds like there is a lot of this in Weapon Shops.
Yes! I'm glad I'm not the only one
I think you'd enjoy Service Model (Adrian Tchaikovsky).
I'll understand the science of trihydrogen cations sooner than getting why anyone likes Roadside Picnic.
Love the channel.
I actually received that book from a viewer just last week. He thought I would like it too. Eager to read it
Some day in the future you will say to yourself, "OK, I now understand the science of trihydorgen cations." And that is the day your next challenge hits, getting why anyone likes Roadside Picnic. 😀
😅
Love to see you compare The Satyricon (Petronius) to On The Road.
I believe I own that one. Thanks for the prescription
Sad you didn't like the Bester. As you probably know, it often tops, or comes near the top, of many Best SF Novels. Perhaps you have to be 18 to read it for the first time. :)
That would help 😅 I think a lot of people read it early on in their reading careers so it holds a special place in their heart.
Mine would be Stephen King and depending on the novel wouldn't hold up to well either
Wyndham!
No. 17 sounds a bit like 1984. Maybe not exactly but similar
Love how you talk about Le Guinn and Vonnegut. But you never mention Earthsea, the first trilogy is among the best ever...
I read the first book. Probably would have changed my entire reading trajectory if I had picked it up as a kid
@@bookjack yes, there's that, but also so much more. It's Le Guinn ! Would she write "just a kid's book"?
True. It does have a lot of meaning hidden in there
Ha, just finished Triffids this week. Perhaps being British I didn't like it as much as you. The gender and social attitudes really grated on me - it's a Britain that doesn't exist any more - largely. Thank God. For better writing and a more modern attitude (though not much more recent than Wyndham) perhaps try JG Ballard. I recently read a very early book of his, The Wind from Nowhere, and was knocked out by its descriptive writing. Published in 1962 but still reads contemporarily.
I haven't read any Ballard but hear only good things. Thanks for the recommendation :)
The best part of The Iron Heel is the footnotes from the future socialist utopian historian, who presents the story as a found manuscript and comments on the strange long-forgotten customs of the capitalists. It's a highly unusual book and certainly written with a pedagogical aim, but it's well-written and succeeds on its own terms, as an introduction to socialism and a prescient warning of fascism.
It succeeds in that I agree. Forgot about the happy eventual ending that the footnotes add. A nice touch
Libra by DeLillo is good
5 minutes of adverts, still havent started the videos :O
🫤 press that skip button
@bookjack there wasn't one, worth it for the video though 😊