The Three Body Problem changed my entire outlook on First Contact. Don't do it, SETI ! This is a book series that has really stayed with me. I still ruminate on the concepts.
I would be doing the same thing with the cockroach!! Yuck 😮 🤢 good job for being brave….later 😂 and picking the book up. I’m going to have to look into some of the books you’ve mentioned. Good video :)
LOL The other day I was reading when the dog went crazy. I raced to the third floor and a small snake was slithering on the glass floor (our home is ultra-modern). No, I did not kill it but got long tongs, lifted and threw it near the woods. Circle of Life thing. Absolutely love your reviews. They are so different, so exciting, so entertaining that they stay with me long afterwards. Reading "One Year Later" on your recommendation.
I read a few Connie Willis books this year. She’s an amazing writer. I understand why it doesn’t feel like sci fi especially compared to the Dark Forest, but I keep it in the genre. It’s just not hard sci fi. She’s also more interested in relationships and humor. Doomsday Book made me cry which is rare for a sci fi book. I read TSNOTD and a collection of her award winning short stories. Both are very good. I want to finish the Oxford Time Travel series and read her new book The Road to Roswell.
Wait - they fly now? 😬 Have Cockroaches always flown? I never met a roach, but that could be much worse - at least it wasn't a colony. How appropriate it shows up when your reading about aliens!
I know what you mean about classifying the Doomsday Book - historical fiction or science fiction… many of her books walk that line. But as I generally don’t enjoy HF at all, I think of her writing as SF. Either way, the Doomsday Book is one I really enjoyed. I was less enthused by TSNOTD, but in general I’m a huge Connie Willis fan. Providence! You’re right about it being one for the round table discussion. I’ve read several Max Barry books so I was expecting it to be twisty. And I have learned not to trust literary fiction ever, precisely because of the terrible endings. They are often books by excellent writers who have the skills to take you to a nasty place and leave you there. Not my preferred reading experience.
@@secretsauceofstorycraft Hmm, recommendations are always chancy! A few years ago I shifted from exclusively reading books in print to almost exclusively listening to audiobooks, and I’m aware that this impacts what I like. Some books that I might otherwise enjoy don’t work as well as audiobooks, or they might have a narrator I don’t like. It’s an extra consideration for authors, that’s for sure. On the other hand, I’ve listened to some books I would otherwise pass by just because I really liked the narrator - Rivers of London series being a case in point. I don’t usually like fantasy all that much but KHS is a seductive narrator, at least for the many British accents. I’m told that his voicing of the one American character in one of the books didn’t quite pass muster with readers from the US though, shame about that. If you haven’t read/listened to Zero Day Code by John Birmingham, you might tuck it into your listening tbr somewhere - the narration is superb, including the single Australian in the cast, which most non-australian narrators struggle to pull off. Book 2 is also good, though I did think Book 3 was less so.
Ever read Evolution's Darling by Scott Westerfeld (no "i" in last name)? It looks very weird, but I think it's out of print. Back when he wrote adult sf. It's about a 5 hour read.
It’s what we (I?) call “Daddy Long Legs” that I cannot deal with. I hate them so much!!! But loved the interlude with your squished friend 😂 I’ve got that “Providence” on my TBR, unread, along with his “Lexicon” which I apparently hauled in 2015 and have read (after finding the correct record in The StoryGraph!).
I'm nearly finished on a reread of The Dark Forest. Also wondered why they decided to scrap having chapters in book 2? In any case it's a fantastic and absorbing read!
I guess no science fiction books end well! I guess that’s why the space opera sub genre was created: so writers can keep on writing until they can come up with a “satisfactory” closing 😂! But they never do! 😂
Absolutely love Max Barry books. He just brings ideas and perspectives that are otherwise so rare to find. You have such an incredibly large field of good books in front of you that it seems limiting to point out anything in particular. That said, Lexicon by Barry is not a waste of time. More, Devolution by Max Brooks (son of Mel Brooks, and author of the Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z) is a top tier novel in its own right. I feel badly referring you to anything! It's like I don't have that right, in some strange way. If you're in Italy and suddenly have a spare day to either go to Pompeii or Florence, how can someone point you away from either? Thanks for the time and effort you bring to your Channel.
I recommend Hiroshi Sakurazaka's All You Need Is Kill, the novel. It is the basis for the movie Edge of Tomorrow starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Its a different treatment from the movie's, and the author also gives a statement on how he came up with the idea. Then there's Paolo Bacigalupi's The Windup Girl. It's not just another sci-fi novel going over the same underlying problems the future holds. Essentially the battleground here involves using genetics to interrupt (or potentially enhance) agriculture, draft animals, livestock...and other life. Some tropes never change, but some do. @@secretsauceofstorycraft
Also, you mentioned that you listen to audio books. Audible has added several books to the plus catalog that you may want to check out if you haven’t already. Pandoras Star by Peter Hamilton, the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson and House of Suns by Alistair Reynolds to name a few.
Fantastic video Whitney. You always have books I've never heard of. Thank you for all the work you put into your videos to make them so enjoyable to watch.
That cockroach story was too vivid...😱 I'm just finishing Death's End and it's pretty good, feels like concepts get crazier with each book! I also noticed that Dark Forest didn't have chapters in audio version as well.
Poor Gregor Samsa will not be happy that you tried to squooosh him.
Ha!!!
The Three Body Problem changed my entire outlook on First Contact. Don't do it, SETI ! This is a book series that has really stayed with me. I still ruminate on the concepts.
Sign of a good book series! Can’t wait to finish it
I read "how to live..." a few years ago. I loved the retirement home idea and the few star wars references were totaly hilarious!
Glad u enjoyed it!!
I would be doing the same thing with the cockroach!! Yuck 😮 🤢 good job for being brave….later 😂 and picking the book up. I’m going to have to look into some of the books you’ve mentioned. Good video :)
Thanks so much! 😆 it was a rough situation…. Let me know how it goes with the books!
In Ascension sounds really interesting! Thanks for the heads up.
Any time! 👍🏻
LOL The other day I was reading when the dog went crazy. I raced to the third floor and a small snake was slithering on the glass floor (our home is ultra-modern). No, I did not kill it but got long tongs, lifted and threw it near the woods. Circle of Life thing. Absolutely love your reviews. They are so different, so exciting, so entertaining that they stay with me long afterwards. Reading "One Year Later" on your recommendation.
I hope you love one second after! Also way to be on the snake 🐍 i just couldnt with cockroachs tho…. If it had been anywhere but on my bed-
Sounds like the dogs didn’t do their job. They get dollar store treats for the next week.
You are right! They sniffed it and left! Bad dog!
I read a few Connie Willis books this year. She’s an amazing writer. I understand why it doesn’t feel like sci fi especially compared to the Dark Forest, but I keep it in the genre. It’s just not hard sci fi. She’s also more interested in relationships and humor. Doomsday Book made me cry which is rare for a sci fi book. I read TSNOTD and a collection of her award winning short stories. Both are very good. I want to finish the Oxford Time Travel series and read her new book The Road to Roswell.
I am excited for TSNOTD!! She is a particularly good short story author
Wait - they fly now? 😬 Have Cockroaches always flown? I never met a roach, but that could be much worse - at least it wasn't a colony. How appropriate it shows up when your reading about aliens!
Yes sadly they fly
I know what you mean about classifying the Doomsday Book - historical fiction or science fiction… many of her books walk that line. But as I generally don’t enjoy HF at all, I think of her writing as SF. Either way, the Doomsday Book is one I really enjoyed. I was less enthused by TSNOTD, but in general I’m a huge Connie Willis fan.
Providence! You’re right about it being one for the round table discussion. I’ve read several Max Barry books so I was expecting it to be twisty.
And I have learned not to trust literary fiction ever, precisely because of the terrible endings. They are often books by excellent writers who have the skills to take you to a nasty place and leave you there. Not my preferred reading experience.
I’m glad im not alone in these opinions. Sounds like we have similar taste! Let me know if you have any recommendations!!
@@secretsauceofstorycraft Hmm, recommendations are always chancy! A few years ago I shifted from exclusively reading books in print to almost exclusively listening to audiobooks, and I’m aware that this impacts what I like. Some books that I might otherwise enjoy don’t work as well as audiobooks, or they might have a narrator I don’t like. It’s an extra consideration for authors, that’s for sure. On the other hand, I’ve listened to some books I would otherwise pass by just because I really liked the narrator - Rivers of London series being a case in point. I don’t usually like fantasy all that much but KHS is a seductive narrator, at least for the many British accents. I’m told that his voicing of the one American character in one of the books didn’t quite pass muster with readers from the US though, shame about that.
If you haven’t read/listened to Zero Day Code by John Birmingham, you might tuck it into your listening tbr somewhere - the narration is superb, including the single Australian in the cast, which most non-australian narrators struggle to pull off. Book 2 is also good, though I did think Book 3 was less so.
Ever read Evolution's Darling by Scott Westerfeld (no "i" in last name)? It looks very weird, but I think it's out of print. Back when he wrote adult sf. It's about a 5 hour read.
No -- sounds interesting tho…
It’s what we (I?) call “Daddy Long Legs” that I cannot deal with. I hate them so much!!! But loved the interlude with your squished friend 😂
I’ve got that “Providence” on my TBR, unread, along with his “Lexicon” which I apparently hauled in 2015 and have read (after finding the correct record in The StoryGraph!).
Ooh 😲 was lexicon good?
Ohhh, speaking of Max Barry, have you read his book Lexicon?!? I think you might really like it! I thought it was so fascinating.
Its on my list!!! Hopefully soon
I'm nearly finished on a reread of The Dark Forest. Also wondered why they decided to scrap having chapters in book 2? In any case it's a fantastic and absorbing read!
I hate lack of chapters…. Maybe its the translators decision?
I guess no science fiction books end well!
I guess that’s why the space opera sub genre was created: so writers can keep on writing until they can come up with a “satisfactory” closing 😂! But they never do! 😂
Ha!! I hope thats not true!
I understand your hatred of cockroaches. Thanks for posting. I always enjoy your presentations
So nice of you… and just say no to cockroaches!! Hah
Absolutely love Max Barry books. He just brings ideas and perspectives that are otherwise so rare to find. You have such an incredibly large field of good books in front of you that it seems limiting to point out anything in particular. That said, Lexicon by Barry is not a waste of time. More, Devolution by Max Brooks (son of Mel Brooks, and author of the Zombie Survival Guide and World War Z) is a top tier novel in its own right. I feel badly referring you to anything! It's like I don't have that right, in some strange way. If you're in Italy and suddenly have a spare day to either go to Pompeii or Florence, how can someone point you away from either? Thanks for the time and effort you bring to your Channel.
Im always interested in recommendations!!! Please keep them coming… i have several barry books on my shelf 🤓 just gotta get to them!
I recommend Hiroshi Sakurazaka's All You Need Is Kill, the novel. It is the basis for the movie Edge of Tomorrow starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Its a different treatment from the movie's, and the author also gives a statement on how he came up with the idea. Then there's Paolo Bacigalupi's The Windup Girl. It's not just another sci-fi novel going over the same underlying problems the future holds. Essentially the battleground here involves using genetics to interrupt (or potentially enhance) agriculture, draft animals, livestock...and other life. Some tropes never change, but some do. @@secretsauceofstorycraft
@@nstents7781 ive read wind up girl, but i do have plans to read all u need is kill- because i LOVED the movie!! 👍🏻
Also, you mentioned that you listen to audio books. Audible has added several books to the plus catalog that you may want to check out if you haven’t already. Pandoras Star by Peter Hamilton, the Mars trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson and House of Suns by Alistair Reynolds to name a few.
What!? Thank you for telling me!! Ima go check it out now!
Okay 👍🏻 i got some of those!! Thank u so much for telling me!!
@@secretsauceofstorycraft great. I’ve always been on the fence with the Mars trilogy, but I’m going to give them a shot now.
Your cockroach story made my day, I'm sitting at my desk laughing my head off.
😆 glad someone enjoyed it! It was a real problem….
Fantastic video Whitney. You always have books I've never heard of. Thank you for all the work you put into your videos to make them so enjoyable to watch.
Thank you so much!
It was a Trisolaran not a coakroach. 😊
A dehydrated one 😄
🔥 🔥 😳 🤯
That cockroach story was too vivid...😱
I'm just finishing Death's End and it's pretty good, feels like concepts get crazier with each book! I also noticed that Dark Forest didn't have chapters in audio version as well.
Who doesnt have chapters?! Still annoyed. Haha- cant wait to finish it off with death’s end.
Richard Powers did the original cover for A Case of Conscience!? 🤩
Ooh i didnt know that!
Providence is fantastic.
🔥
How many different books would you say you read at a time? And do you think your raiding more then a book a week?
Yes absolutely. I usually have two books going at a time…. 1 physical and 1 audio. I dont do more than that.
great video, i envy your reading speed!
Thank you!
And you start video with that MUSIC 🙀
Haha
Can you read in Spanish?
Nope. Wish i could…