OT: Good Reading
Baseball-wise it is a little slow right now, outside of the HOF discussions. In addition, the stupid (valid, but annoying to me personally) writers strike has left me with little to watch. Gladiators is not how I remembered it as a kid and there is no way in hell I'm going to watch something like Celebrity Apprentice. Although I will probably check out that "Nothing But The Truth" game show where they hook the "contestant" up to a lie detector and ask them f-ed up questions. Mostly out of train-wreck curiosity.
Anyways, given all that, I'm looking for something good to read. My taste in books might not be on par with some of you, but I don't really care. My interests tend to skew towards baseball reading (not really interested in that right now) and sci-fi, although I'm open to other types if the subject is appealing. Preferably fiction. The last two books I've read are Starship Troopers and Snow Crash, if that helps with suggestions. I would definitely love to hear about some books in that genre or style.
For those that don't know, Starship Troopers focuses on a Marine in the future. It is supposed to be a very realistic view of military life, although I would not know. It also includes a somewhat harsh critique of our current political system and it's imminent failings. A movie was made which loosely followed the book; it was decent for a B-flick. Snow Crash is tough for me to describe. It's sort of a "hacker" book. Again, set in the future, where the internet has evolved into a cross between the Matrix and Second Life (a video game). The story follows the main character, Hiro Protagonist (awesome name), and his quest to prevent a person from spreading a virus that would kill everyone who viewed it (not as corny as it sounds, like in the movies where you visit a website and then die a few days later, at least I think not as corny). People who have read these books might be able to give a better description, when I read I don't look too deep.
Now this diary obviously isn't just about helping me find some good books to read. Please feel free to use it to discuss any and all books you've read, want to read, or that others should read.
This FanPost is reader-generated, and it does not necessarily reflect the views of McCovey Chronicles. If the author uses filler to achieve the minimum word requirement, a moderator may edit the FanPost for his or her own amusement.
0 recs |
82 comments
Comments
Re: OT: Good Reading
Anyway, I'm excited about reading that. It's a cool looking hardback, and it's not terribly long, either. Sounds like it might be a bit up your alley. Not really sci-fi or baseball, but hey, fantasy and horror are apparently related genres to sci-fi.
If, rather, you're looking for Giants oriented baseball sci-fi, I've mentioned this book before. Looks like you can pick it up cheap, too.
by howtheyscored on Jan 8, 2008 4:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by marcello on Jan 8, 2008 4:49 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
I reccomend the Dresden Files Books..
by Andy from DC on Jan 8, 2008 4:36 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by attinger on Jan 8, 2008 4:45 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
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by howtheyscored on Jan 8, 2008 4:49 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by prospecthound on Jan 8, 2008 7:33 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by Natto on Jan 8, 2008 5:19 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by howtheyscored on Jan 8, 2008 5:39 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by nvsfg on Jan 8, 2008 8:37 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by EliminateMe on Jan 9, 2008 9:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
it's a good one.
I wish i was more into Sci-Fi.
by SloIsLonelyForTheOrange on Jan 8, 2008 5:54 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
- Killing Yourself to Live, as well as Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs - both by Chuck Klosterman.
- Love is a Mixtape by Rob Sheffield.
- A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby. It's not nearly as good as some of his other books, though, but still worth a look.
by MidKnight on Jan 8, 2008 6:01 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by redhornet78 on Jan 8, 2008 7:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
I read Sex, Drugs, and Coco Puffs and while a lot of it was amusing the amount of just wordy smugness was overwhelming at times for me and got on my nerves. Not a terrible read.
One of my friends, who I think secretly wishes he was Chuck, loved the book and recommended it to me.
by xanthan on Jan 9, 2008 5:47 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by ResDog on Jan 9, 2008 8:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 9, 2008 9:02 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
Don't get me wrong, Chuck is funny, but everything that comes out of his mouth (pen?) just drips with uber-hipster pretentiousness. When I read him, I just can't shake the mental image of some guy wearing horn-rimmed glasses chuckling to himself about how witty and pop cultural he is.
by xanthan on Jan 9, 2008 10:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jan 9, 2008 3:25 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by Evan on Jan 9, 2008 9:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by victor frankenstein on Jan 8, 2008 6:11 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
For "hacker" / cyberpunk type books
It has a interesting and unconventional setting. It's a typical "post apocalyptic" cyberpunk type future setting, with the notable exception that the protagonist is a Moroccan in an Arab setting.
The Merchant Princes series by Charlie Stross is also a pretty good "tech geek" series. The heroine is a travels between the real world and another world trading contraband.
by rfloh on Jan 8, 2008 6:17 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
Cryptonomicon might be better than Snow Crash, but I liked all of Neal Stephenson.
Best sci-fi I read last year was "Plague Year".
by zenbitz on Jan 8, 2008 7:28 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by prospecthound on Jan 8, 2008 7:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Neal Stephenson
If you're into SF (horror and fantasy are NOT part of that genre, imho), I hope you've already read:
- Foundation series, Isaac Asimov
- "The Martian Chronicles,""Fahrenheit 451," Ray Bradbury
- "2000," "2010," & "Rendezvous with Rama," Arthur C. Clarke
- "Red Mars," Kim Stanley Robinson
- "Ringworld," "Lucifer's Hammer," & "Footfall," Larry Niven
- "The Handmaid's Tale," Margaret Atwood
- "Ender's Game,""Speaker for the Dead," Orson Scott Card
- "Timescape," Gregory Benford
- "Kiln People," David Brin
- "Mars," Ben Bova
by Lyle on Jan 9, 2008 3:06 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
Also finished "Get in the Van" by Henry Rollins. Basically a tour diary of Black Flag. Pretty depressing, too, frankly, but I liked it.
Now reading: "Son of a Witch" by Gregory Maguire.
I've heard a few people mention "Starship Troopers," so I'll have to check that out next.
by Dan from NM on Jan 8, 2008 7:40 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
Jeez.
Good book, though.
by Grant on Jan 8, 2008 7:44 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by howtheyscored on Jan 8, 2008 7:48 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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by ResDog on Jan 9, 2008 8:46 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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by howtheyscored on Jan 9, 2008 11:39 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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by prospecthound on Jan 8, 2008 7:44 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by Lyle on Jan 9, 2008 3:07 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
Duncan: The Brothers K
Irving: A Prayer for Owen Meany
Powers: The Time of Our Singing
Hosseini: Kite Runner
Atwood: The Blind Assassin
Niffenegger: Time Traveler's Wife
Zafon: Shadow of the Wind
Csikszentmihalyi: Flow, the Psychology of Optimal Experience
by uncle bob on Jan 8, 2008 7:56 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
"I Am Legend"
Robert Neville is a scientist that survived a bacterial outbreak, witnessing it take the lives of both his wife and daughter, as well as the rest of society. While Neville was immune to this bacteria, everyone else is wiped out by it. But they don't really die. They become vampires. So, Neville boards himself up every night in his house while the vampires outside call for him to come out, the women striking lewd poses and pummel his house with rocks. The only thing that keeps him safe are the necklaces of garlic, the mirrors, and the crucifixes he hangs on his doors and windows. The story is about his search for a cure, and his studies of vampirism. The ending is perhaps one of the best ever written for a horror story, and it's too bad that Hollywood ruined it. It's only about 300 pages, so it's a quick read for those of you that don't have much time.
It was written by Richard Matheson (for all you "Twilight Zone" fanatics), and this story inspired authors Brian Lumley, Dean Koontz, and Stephen King. This story gave King the idea for his famous "Salem's Lot," and inspired George Romero to create the classic "Night of the Living Dead," which in turn created the zombie genre. If Romero is the father of Zombie films, Matheson should be considered the Grandfather.
Anyways, as I said before, it's my favorite story and I love it to pieces. Anybody that enjoys vampires or psychological thrillers, you will LOVE this book.
by Anticon23 on Jan 8, 2008 8:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Forgot to mention . . .
Surprisingly enough, the dialogue from the film and pretty much everything is directly from the novel, for the most part. So I'm even more proud of the Cohen brothers now.
by Anticon23 on Jan 8, 2008 8:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Forgot to mention . . .
Needless to say, before the strike the script was already being written!
by howtheyscored on Jan 8, 2008 8:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Forgot to mention . . .
The dialog would transfer over easily, but most of the beauty of the book is in McCarthy's description and command of the language. So unless the Coens want to have a Darabont/King joined-at-the-hip kind of thing, I'd give any "The Road" movie about 5% chance of being good.
by Grant on Jan 9, 2008 12:20 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Forgot to mention . . .
That's just how I felt, anyway.
by howtheyscored on Jan 9, 2008 12:58 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Forgot to mention . . .
by howtheyscored on Jan 9, 2008 1:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
Anyway, it's light fantasy as far as fantasy goes, so it's accessible to anyone that just plain likes good writing. Oh, and it's long, real long. So you'll need to be a voracious reader to attempt it. It's a series of seven books and he's so far written four -- and all are around 1,000 pages a pop. You'll fall in love with the characters though, and Martin is a master of making complicated, twisting plotlines very simple to follow. By the middle of the first book, A Game of Thrones, you will crap your pants and be a Martin follower forever. Try it out, you may be surprised how much you enjoy these books.
by Dolorous Edd on Jan 8, 2008 11:10 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
+1
by Andy from DC on Jan 9, 2008 8:56 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: +1
Jon Snow = Pitching coach
Tyrion = Manager
The Hound = Closer
Robert Baratheon = Clean up hitter
by Dolorous Edd on Jan 9, 2008 11:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: +1
by Andy from DC on Jan 11, 2008 2:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
But in my eyes, the fantasy-type series better than ASoIaF is The Prince of Nothing trio, by R. Scott Bakker. It's like Conan the Barbarian meets The Crusades meets Cormac McCarthy.
by biff pocoroba on Jan 9, 2008 10:25 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by xanthan on Jan 9, 2008 5:50 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by xanthan on Jan 9, 2008 5:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by zenbitz on Jan 9, 2008 7:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by xanthan on Jan 9, 2008 7:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by prospecthound on Jan 9, 2008 10:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
Also, there are five volumes of "The Collected Stories of Philip K. Dick" which I highly recommend.
by EliminateMe on Jan 10, 2008 10:28 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
If a book fits scifi-fantasy-horror, it might be Gaiman and Pratchett's "Good Omens". I got it for Christmas from my sister and read it last week. An end of the world tale with Angels, Demons, little kids, chatty Satanists, goofy Witchhunters, and a lot of humor. it might be a better TV-replacement book than PKD. Dick's works are more of a drug-replacement variety.
by kennv on Jan 9, 2008 7:45 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: Gaiman
by attinger on Jan 9, 2008 8:54 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: Gaiman
Good Omens is pretty ridiculously funny. One line will always always be ingrained in my head, whether I'm remembering it exactly or not. "People say the road to hell is paved with good intentions, but that's not true. It's paved with lawyers."
by howtheyscored on Jan 9, 2008 11:44 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by prospecthound on Jan 9, 2008 11:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
Coraline is a wonderful children's book (being adapted in stop motion by Nightmare Before Christmas director Henry Selick, which is very cool - though I've seen a clip released online and I'm not thrilled with the Coraline model itself). Fragile Things as a short story collection is better than Smoke and Mirrors, both of which are better, but neither of which are cooler than Angels and Visitations.
And I'm looking very forward to The Graveyard Book.
Also, I'm pretty sure you can get his new Odd and the Frost Giants for about $1 on amazonuk.
by howtheyscored on Jan 9, 2008 11:52 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by Natto on Jan 10, 2008 10:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by howtheyscored on Jan 10, 2008 10:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by Stoned Slacker on Jan 9, 2008 9:06 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
I had an idea for a sci-fi novel which is about alien archeologists studying why intelligent life never evolved on a series of planets where "it should have".
Turns out they all have a thin "line" (like the K/T) boundary in their geological strata which is basically compressed concrete and plastic, with extraordinary amounts of refined metal ores.
by zenbitz on Jan 9, 2008 10:04 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by Evan on Jan 9, 2008 9:37 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jan 9, 2008 3:26 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
Very rich story telling. Author was a doctor. Got through the entire read in two or three days.
by biff pocoroba on Jan 9, 2008 11:12 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by Anticon23 on Jan 9, 2008 12:00 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by xanthan on Jan 9, 2008 12:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
I haven't read Lunar Park yet, but it's definitely on my "must read" list.
by Anticon23 on Jan 14, 2008 10:50 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
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by Anticon23 on Jan 14, 2008 10:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by howtheyscored on Jan 9, 2008 12:02 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
T.C. Boyle writes novels about odd and difficult people, they sure grab me and they're thought provoking. Here's the titles I've read by him:
Drop City, a hippie commune moves to Alaska and meets survivalists.
Riven Rock, fictionalized biography of rich guy who flips out, and is cared for by ignorant 1920's-era shrinks and private nurses. way better than that sounds
A Friend of the Earth, about radical earth firsters and tree sitters, set in future after climate has gone crazy
In Sci Fi, Robert J Sawyer is great, especially if a dinosaur is on the cover (Fossil Hunter, Far-Seer, Foreigner, End of the Line)
"Rose" by Martin Cruz Smith (his big hit was Gorky Park) is fine thriller/mystery set in English coal mining town around 1830
by foothillsfan on Jan 9, 2008 12:48 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by foothillsfan on Jan 9, 2008 12:58 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
I usually don't get to read for funsies during the semester, but the upcoming term looks to be light on required reading outside of a dry anthropology text. So I hope to get started on two books I have lying around: The Hardball Times. I got the last two editions as gifts from our friend the Mayor of 311. I want to read John Amaechi's book soon too. I devour books on the subject of homosexuality in sports. I read Billy Bean's autobiography and it made me want to cry in places. Same with Esera Tuaolo's autobio. I have Behind the Mask: My Double Life in Baseball still to read too, Dave Pallon's autobio. Pallon was an MLB umpire who infamously clashed with Pete Rose in a game and ended up being gay.
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jan 9, 2008 3:37 PM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by Dolorous Edd on Jan 9, 2008 3:41 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by Grant on Jan 9, 2008 3:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
Would that qualify as a valid argument about Pete Rose not being in the Hall of Fame? Not voting for Pete Rose makes you gay?
by BaronVonCurrentEvents on Jan 9, 2008 4:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
Thanks for the heads up.
by xanthan on Jan 9, 2008 7:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
Notes From a Small Island - Bill Bryson (fantastic account about traveling through the UK)
Blackwater: The Rise of the World's Most Powerful Mercenary Army - Jeremy Scahill (cuz I haven't been really pissed off in a while and I'm sure that this one will do it)
Just Finished:
Among the Thugs - Bill Buford (a insider look English football hooligans, loved it)
How Starbucks Saved My Life: A Son of Privilege Learns to Live Like Everyone Else - Michael Gates Gill (fabulously uplifting book...wish I would of found this BEFORE I got layed off a while back)
The Bourne Ultimatum - Robert Ludlum (meh...whatever...I like the movies way better than the books in this series)
On Deck:
Pour Your Heart into It : How Starbucks Built a Company One Cup at a Time - Howard Schultz (I've always been fascinated with their business model)
Soccer in Sun and Shadow - Eduardo Galeano (Supposed to be a well written brief history of the game by a Uruguayan author...looking forward to it as the guy can supposedly write really well)
The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream - Barack Obama (cuz the dude is gonna be the next President, people!!!)
by PacBellBoozer on Jan 10, 2008 12:29 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by sam23 on Jan 10, 2008 9:56 AM PST reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by marcello on Jan 10, 2008 12:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by sam23 on Jan 10, 2008 5:11 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by marcello on Jan 11, 2008 1:10 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
The movie is satire of militarism (and in many ways, Heinlein's work itself).
I am not sure Heinlein was trying to accurately depict historical military service. I think the point of the book (other than fun times bug huntin') is that only soldiers have the right to vote. ( I am not sure that Heinlein personally believed this, or if he actually did any military service, but the society he presents is certainly presented in a postive light).
Heinlein is like a Libertarian demi-god.
by zenbitz on Jan 11, 2008 12:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs
Re: OT: Good Reading
by sam23 on Jan 12, 2008 11:01 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

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