From rlposs@rand.nidlink.com Wed Jan 31 23:24:20 1996
Subject: comments i.e. Wheel of Time and Timothy Zahn

        I read your comment about not reading a series until the whole thing
is in paperback.  That is a rather wise decision.  In my case the Wheel of
Time is the series that is teaching me the same thing Donaldson?? taught
you.  Robert Jordan's Epic the Wheel of Time promises to be an excellent
series.  Each book I have read so far is *superb*.  However, I agree that
you should wait and read it when it is completed.
        I like stories of Epic proportions, but on the opposite coin,
waiting for them to be completed is a torture to both the pocketbook and the
psyche.

     Another author I would like to mention, that you should mention in your
listings is Timothy Zahn.  Yes, I know you've listed him already for that
Star Wars trilogy...but...  Star Wars is something that can overshadow too
much about an author.
     His most recent work the Conqueror Trilogy promises to be one of the
best Sci-Fi series in a long time.  It is not perfect, but what written work
can be.  Wait a year and give it a try.  It's worth reading, if you like
Sci-Fi that is.

     By the way.  About the Wheel of Time.  I thank you for not reading it
early, and then giving it an opinion it may not deserve.
     Some guy on a Newsgroup was really pissing me off, because he read the
first book (The Eye of The World) and then promptly began complaining about
how unoriginal the characters were.  HE hadn't READ even a TENTH of the
series, but he felt certain he could pass judgement on it.
     I will gladly debate with someone who reads the whole series, when it
is fully written.  Or has at least read as much as I have.

     For good or bad, no one should have too strong of an opinion until they
know what the *hell* they're talking about.  At least I wish my roommate
would follow this advice...
Ryan L. Poss
rlposs@nidlink.com

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From RFBB@myna.com Sat Feb  3 18:46:32 1996
Subject: re: book reviews.

I've greatly enjoyed your reviews.  Try Tad Williams for
high-fantasy, if you don't mind a long series!
Also good reads; Robert Sawyer-----End of an Era
                 Stewart Gordon----Archon
                 Fred. Pohl--------World at the end of Time

Take Care!!

R.F.Briggs

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From Cory_Broadfoot_at_NOTES__DIRECTORY@wadsworth.com Thu Feb  8 08:28:42 1996
Subject: Orson Scott Card

  Have you ever read A Planet Called Treason?  It is aslo quite good,
  though again, not as good as Ender's Game You should give it a shot.
  
  --Cory

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From RFBB@myna.com Fri Feb  9 08:40:48 1996
Subject: New book recommondation.

Just finished "Sideshow" by Sheri S. Tepper, and I highly 
recommend it.  Strong 3-d characters, thrashing about in 
search of identity, love, dragons, gods, and the answer to 
"The Great Question".  Satire, pathos, political parallels, 
everything a fan of speculative sci-fi demands!!!  Prepare 
to lose yourself in this one.

Take Care!

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From checkman@du.edu Wed Feb 14 19:50:59 1996
Subject: Books to read

For a really good non-fiction read, try Richard Rhodes. _The Making of 
the Atomic Bomb_.  His newer _Dark Sun, The Making of the Hydrogen Bomb_ 
is ok but the first is the best history I have read on the subject.  Not 
only does it cover the science but also looks at the people.

Keep it up.  Love the reviews.

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From al@powergrid.electriciti.com Thu Feb 15 00:11:44 1996
Subject: another author for your collection

I adore your taste in authors.  David Brin, Greg Bear, Ray Feist, are all 
friends of mine and all come from San Diego.  I also admire, follow and 
idolize Richard Feynmann, so you and I seem to see eye to eye (also on 
other authors).  I would like to suggest you read Mark Clements books.  I 
think his best is Children of the END now in paperback.  Its wonderful.  His 
newest is the easiest to find I suppose, its called Land of Nod.  Great stuff.  
He's one of our local heros, too.  I think he's actually a good deal better 
writer than David -- at least at first.  I haven't read his newest stuff.  
Anyway, give Mark a try.  I'm sure he'll join the others.  Don't Panic.  
Alijandra Mogilner

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From ifoggo@ibl.bm Thu Feb 15 21:01:45 1996

hello, just got to see your page, sofar it looks good.
thought I would recomend the book Use of Weapons by Iain Banks.
I quite enjoyed it.
any way, good reading and hope you enjoyed it.

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From dgoldrin@on.bell.ca Fri Feb 16 13:48:10 1996
Subject: Re: Review of _The_Death_Gate_Cycle_ by Weis & Hickman

In article  you wrote:
:                            The Death Gate Cycle
:                      by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman
:                  Review copyright (c) 1996 by Doug Ingram
: 
: [Bibliographic information at the end of the article.]
: 
: 	My last experience with the Very Long Fantasy genre, Jennifer
: Roberson's _Chronicles_of_the_Cheysuli_ (see my previous review on the Web
: at the URL http://www.astro.washington.edu/ingram/books.html), left me
: wondering if any author might be capable of holding a reader's interest over
: 7 or 8 books.  That series, while it had an extremely promising beginning,

You're a braver person than I.  I gave up after book two.
If you're looking for a long (but good) fantasy series, try
Louise Cooper's 'Indigo' series.  (Not her trilogies, rather the
six (?) volume series including Infanta, Troika, Revenant etc.)

Good reading!

Dmitri Goldring
ao199@freenet.carleton.ca

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From rasvats@ccnet.com Fri Feb 16 15:19:54 1996
Subject: books

An interesting page, I will be back. rex
You might think about
LeGuin, Lathe of Heaven
Burroughs, 1st three Mars books
Matheson, I am Legend
Abraham Merrett

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From "ELC111::MCWHORTE"@ecc4.ateng.az.honeywell.com Mon Feb 19 08:42:28 1996
Subject: I liked you SF/Fan page! Very Informative

Doug,

Like the subject says, I think your Book Reviews are great.
One author that you don't have listed but I enjoved very much
is Dave Duncan.  Read his triogy starting with the first book,
The Reluctant Swordsman.  You liked Larwence Watt-Evans books
and Duncan's writings are simaliar. Don't expect high fantasy, 
instead expect an easy reading enjoyable story.

Duncan's writing are a cross between Orson Scott Cards great 
storytelling and Watt-Evans light heartedness. 

Enjoy,
Steve McWhorter
MCWHORTE@eccx.ateng.az.Honeywell.COM

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From brassdog2@whidbey.com Mon Feb 19 11:09:18 1996

	I have a reccomendation for you.  There is a series of books which I 
call the "Myth" book series.  This series is written by Robert Asprin 
and includes about 6 books with more on the way.  It's a great series 
and it's very humorous.  The entire series is in paperback, so no 
problems there.  If you do end up reading any of the books, write me to 
let me know what you thought of them.  The address is probably on 
thisdocument already, but I'm at brassdog@whidbey.com. Enjoy!

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From TLRW69B@prodigy.com Tue Feb 20 10:03:16 1996
Subject: Steven Brust error

In the Taltos writeup, you stated that "you can't recommend them too 
highly" but then you stated (about the Taltos books) "get them. 
Period.".  I can only assume that what you meant to say in the first 
statement was "I can't recommend them highly enough" or something 
like that.  The other meaning is not a good recommendation.

BTW, I agree with your assessment, even though the newer Taltos books 
aren't as action oriented, the political and societal meanderings are 
fantastic.  Of course, this might drive off the teen reader.  Perhaps 
that is why Turow  sells more, though I've never read him.  

Enjoyed your bios....keep up the good work.

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From lundy.13@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu Tue Feb 20 17:15:10 1996
Subject: TC's Mirror Image

I just thought that you might like to know that, rest assured, 
Op-Center's Mirror Image is
NOT a real Tom Clancy book.  It only uses his name to sell books.  
It was really written by a 
ghostwriter named Jeff Rovin, who is credited as having 
"invaluable contributions t the 
creation of the manuscript."  If you want the real indepth 
scoop about it, including comments 
for TC himself, look up the FAQ to alt.books.tom-clancy.  
I hope that this sets your mind at 
ease about the future quality of TC books.  
By the way, sometime this summer, he will be 
releasing Executice Orders, apparently another of the Jack Ryan series.  

Deron T. Lundy
lundy.13@osu.edu

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From RFBB@myna.com Wed Feb 21 19:29:44 1996
Subject: Some book comments

Thought I'd send along some brief notes on a couple of 
books I recently finished.

1. Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said --- by Philip K.Dick

   Written in 1974, this is the story of a TV celeb who 
wakes up unknown and ID.-less in a policestate 1988 USA.  
The characters range from hedonistic to down right mentally 
unstable and their futures are as barren as the city scapes 
they're painted against. If you enjoy mind bender, sex and 
drugs stories you'll love this one.

2. The Magic of Recluse --- by L.E. Modesitt Jr.

   Even a different approach can't save this high fantasy 
adventure from it's snail pace.  Too bad, there was lots of 
potential here!!

Take Care!

??? The good reading guide you provide, is it updated 
regularly and if so how can one add comments to it???

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From magsig@acuson.com Thu Feb 22 16:48:08 1996
Subject: Your library

I like your library page very much. Nice terse descriptions and 
recommendations. Since I noticed that our tastes seem to run in
parallel, I'm going to give you a strong recommendation in contradiction
to what many have told you.

  Don't read the Wheel of Time books.

They start out just fine, but by the time you're into the fourth book
it's like eating a meal of pure fiber - no nutritive value whatsoever.
His character development dies off around book three and settles into
a somewhat juvenile approach to human relationships. It's not very often
that I start a series that I don't finish, but I gave up on this one.

Since I don't see them on your list, I am going to recommend the
Julian May books:

  The Many Colored Land
  The Nonborn King
  (some title I can't remember here)
  The Adversary

  Intervention
  Metaconcert

  Jack The Bodiless
  Diamond Mask
  Magnificat

The first and second set of books is in paperback. The last set is
not yet completely available in paperback. All three series are related,
but stand pretty solidly on their own. Wait, I take that back. Set 2
dovetails directly into set 3 - so I suppose they're more like a 5
book series.

I have more than 100 paperbacks. I've given away or traded many hundreds
more. I have only two sets of books in hard bound edition: The Dark Is Rising
sequence by Susan Cooper and the last three Julian May books. That's how
much I've enjoyed these books. I strongly recommend them.

Pete

P.S. I'm writing from work. That's bad. Please reply to magsig@best.com.
(I must now get back to creating medical ultrasound software)

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From byrnemi@iprolink.ch Fri Feb 23 01:51:16 1996
Subject: Homepage

Hi Doug,

Just thought I'd let you know that I visited your homepage after seeing the
review of the Death Gate Cycle in RABR and it is excellent.  

We have very similar tastes in books and when I have read all of your
reviews, maybe I can come up with some suggested reading.

We also share a common favourite author ie Steven Donaldson who I think is
the best fantasy and now Sci-fi author around.  I must agree with your
comments on waiting for all of the books in a series to be released before
starting though.  

I am at the moment going mad waiting on book 5 of the gap series.  As a
Donaldson fan I think I can state that you will definitely not be
disappointed with the Gap series when you finally read it.  Its similar to
other Donaldson books in that in my opinion the sci-fi setting is secondary
to the plot and interaction between the characters.  It is similar to
Mordants need in that there are so many sub-plots and double-crosses that
you really dont know what any of the characters underlying motives are.
Even now as I await book 5 I have so many questions that need answering.  

BTW do you have any idea if Donaldson has started book5 yet or when it will
be out.  Please dont say it will be in 1997...........

They are trampling the infidels with hooves of hot iron.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From oneilc96@sequent1.providence.edu Fri Feb 23 08:29:55 1996

Hey there,

I just want to let you know that I appreciate your reviewing Weis and 
Hickman's Death Gate cycle. These two authors have never gotten very much 
critical attention at all, while lesser writers like David Eddings have. 
Even though you had some complaints, its nice to see that the authors who 
got me interested in the fantasy genre are being noticed by someone. I 
disagree with your review on only one point, in that the many minor 
storylines encountered by the protagonist were trivial and useless. While 
they were not related to the main plotline of the series per se, they 
were related thematically. Every book began with a quote, and the 
situations in that book were meant to illustrate that quote, while on a 
larger scale every quote applied to the series as a whole. It's too bad 
you missed that. I'm very big on themes.
I would seriously recommend to you that you take some time to go back and 
read Weis and Hickman's previous (and much better) works, which were 
never published in hardcover. The Rose of the Prophet Trilogy is by far 
their best and most entertaining work. The Darksword Trilogy is slow 
compared to action-adventure books but is good, sophisticated 
stroytelling. Even the old Dragonlance Books from TSR are alot of fun- 
many fans feel that the Dragonlance Chronicles are second only to 
Tolkien (they are very derivative of Tolkien, but updated for a post-Star 
Wars generation).
Meanwhile, the book I just finished was Laura Kalpakian's sequel to Les 
Miserables, Cosette. I would recommend it, though most critics ignored it 
(except for Entertainment Weekly, which ripped it apart). It was much 
better than Ripley's sequel to Gone With the Wind. Kalpakian, unlike 
RIpley, does not try to imitate the style of the original author. It's a 
good historical reading.
Well, that's all. I'll keep in touch. THis is a pretty good web page- 
reviews of both Michael Cricton's Jurassic Park and Susan Faludi's 
Backlash in the same place! 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From magsig@best.com Sat Feb 24 17:34:34 1996
Subject: Re: Your library

Hello once again,

Just thought I'd let you know that a new Glen Cook book is due out
in April. I called my local bookstore and they said it is called "Bleak 
Season". I believe that this is what "Glittering Stone" turned into.
The scuttlebut on the web is that he has signed up to do at least two
more Black Company books. From what I can glean from the interview
I read, it sounds like he's splitting Glittering Stone into two books.

Pete

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From mgenne@merlin.ladue.k12.mo.us Tue Feb 27 13:55:51 1996
Subject: Steven Brust

Doug, I enjoyed your page, and will return.

Some comments about Steven Brust.  Though Brust is my favorite novelist, I
recognize that what fires me up may not do the same for another reader with
an equally valid opinion.  But I hope to persuade you to see Brust not just
as a good storyteller, but as one of the most skilled stylists working
today.

Brust strikes me as a master of syntax, mood, and nuance.  The Khaavren
romances, for example, are a sensational melange of homage and gentle
parody.  His "Paarfi" persona, and the conversation that Brust writes
between "Paarfi" and "Brust" is one of the most subtle self-examinations
I've ever read from an author, a far cry from, for example, the plodding
and sentimental Author's Notes at the end of Piers Anthony novels.

Look at Hemingway's "Hills Like White Elephants" and compare it to any
given conversation between Vlad and Cawti; Billy and Souci; Pel, Tazendra,
Aerich, and Khaavren; or Satan and Michael.  (In fact, this kind of
dialogue-driven plot is the key to appreciating To Reign in Hell.  It took
me a few tries to enjoy it, and I would no more read it every day than read
Milton every day, but it is masterfully done.  Have another look sometime,
if only to appreciate the tragic irony.)  But I digress.  Brust, like
Hemingway, invests in his dialogue a thoroughly modern voice, taking time
to edit the obvious signposts, leaving only the meat of the conversation.
A challenge for the reader, but aah, the reward!

By the way, if you want to read an author who does with setting and mood
what Brust does with dialogue and mood, read Tam Lin by Brust's compatriot
Pamela Dean.

So I must take exception with your review of Cowboy Feng's.  It's got some
of Brust's snappiest dialogue yet-very highly quotable.

I just may write back later.  Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Matt Genn=E9

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From jbrake@umich.edu Mon Mar  4 10:48:52 1996
Subject: Dragonbone Chair

I'm sure you're enjoying that one... I really did.

I just wanted to agree with you about the Jordan thing.  I'm actually 
reading the 6th book right now, because I friend told me the series was 
done and I started reading not knowing it wasn't finished.  I'm sure 
you'll enjoy it once it's out though...  (who knows how many more are 
forthcoming though...)

jbrake@umich.edu

ps -- I'm glad I found your page, I'll
be checking out a couple of those books
for sure... I started reading Chronicles
of the Unbeliever, but got really pissed
off when Covenant raped that girl, is he
an asshole or is the series really worth
reading???

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From jenber95@astud.chalmers.se Fri Mar  8 03:54:50 1996
Subject: Just dropping by.

        Hi Doug!
   I just wanted to thank you for the review you did on the Covenant
chronicles. It was good reading, and I just passed it on to some of my
friends who haven't read any of Donaldsons books - yet. (unfortunately, I'm
not very good at persuading) 
        
   Ha en bra dag! (=Have a nice day)

                /Jenny Berggrund.

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From barish@eglin.af.mil Fri Mar  8 13:25:15 1996
Subject: Correction about Anvil of Stars

Let me preface my comment by saying I really enjoyed your pages.  
However, I found an inconsistency in the section on Anvil of Stars.  
While the moral question you asked is in fact addressed in the book, you 
must remember the race that the Ship destroyed was not innocent.  At the 
center of their world was found a host of  the world killing machines, 
just after it was destroyed!  

Still, a great book and a great website.

Kudos!
Farstrider

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From catty@magna.com.au Sat Mar  9 07:39:02 1996
Subject: Books..(well, what else?)

Well, what can I say? Nice list you have compiled..I found the link
through Flint, from Ancient Anguish. (http://ancient.anguish.com/flint).

I thought I would send you a few of my recommendations (if you ever get
the time to read them :).

Peter F. Hamilton

A fantastic British SF author. Quite cyberpunk..he has written several books:
Mindstar Rising, A Quantum Murder, The Nano Flower, and has just released
The Reality Dysfunction, which I am yet to obtain. These books are seriously
good, and if you read nothing else from my list, pls. look at one of The Nano 
Flower.

Greg Egan

An Australian SF author. He can get technical enough to make your head spin,
but has plots and ideas to really make you think. Look at Permutation City
and Quarantine. He has recently released 2 more which I am yet to read.
(I wish I made more money *sigh*).

Martin Millar

On a different theme. He is a contemporary English writer. Rather dark humour,
very amusing, and probably best described as "grunge".
Look for 'Lux the Poet' as a start. Short books that you can finish
in one sitting.

Terry Pratchet

Yes, I know you have read some of the Discworld series, but have a look
at the book he wrote with Neil Gaman (apparently better know for his
work with graphic novels) called 'Good Omens'. A satire of the coming
of the anti-christ. His most humorous work so far, and doesn't need a
grounding in english culture to get all the hidden references and jokes.


Well, just my favourites. Hope you can enjoy some of them too. If
you do read any of them, pls. let me know what you think, i love to
hear what others think of the books i enjoy :).

BTW, if you are a mudder and haven't tried it or are already on it,
join us on AA, ancient.anguish.org 2222.

Regards,

Catty (Liam).

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From HFSDP@aol.com Sun Mar 10 12:17:15 1996
Subject: Magic of Recluse Novels

Have you read/are you planning to read any of L. E. Modest's Recluse books?
  They look interesting, yet I am about 15 books behind (currently reading
_Ender's Game_ and _Live and Let Die_).  A good word, or a bad one, from you
or some other person who has read these books will tell whether or not to
place them on my list.

Thanks
Scotty

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From stryker@netgate.net Sun Mar 10 17:19:14 1996
Subject: Books you many enjoy, sir

Hi, my name is Krishna Sampath. I enjoy reading, but I am 15, so I have a 
lot of schoolwork, and can only read about a half-hour a day, so it 
usually takes me a week to finish a book...It'll take me a while to get 
through all the books you have reviewed, so I won't be able to thank you 
for recommending the best series I have ever read, or anything...yet.

These are some books I have read, which I think you may enjoy.
I don't know if you have read them or not, but I didn't see any reviews 
on them...so...

If you have time, I hope you will check them out.

A series by Weis and Hickman: The Darksword Trilogy, about a young man 
named Joram, born without magic in a world where magic is Life, and those 
without magic are considered Dead and cast out. I found the ending of the 
series to be surprising. I hadn't expected what actually happened.
I read this recently, and it started me going for the Death Gate cycle.
	1) Forging the Darksword
	2) Doom of the Darksword
	3) Triumph of the Darksword

A series by Robert Asprin: the "Myth" series. This I recommend if you 
want a laugh; it is not intended as heavy fantasy. It cocerns a young 
sorceror's apprentice, Skeeve, who finds himself in trouble time and time 
again, but managing somehow to come out on top. He becomes a court 
magician, mainly through trickery, and eventually founds a magic 
business, in which he and his friends do some heroic deed or another.
Again, this is intended for a few laughs, and most of the books are 
geared towards that, although they are interesting...not as funny as 
Hitchhiker's Guide to the galaxy, but still pretty good.
	1) Another Fine Myth
	2) Myth Conceptions
	3) Hit or Myth
	4) Myth-ing Persons
	5) Little Myth Marker
	6) M.Y.T.H. Inc. Link
	7) Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections
	8) Myth Directions
	9) M.Y.T.H. Inc. in Action

A book by Robert Heinlein: Citizen of the Galaxy. This is about Thorby, 
who travels around the Galaxy aboard a large spaceship, after being a 
beggar's son. This is the best Heinlein book I have read, and the second 
best one is next.

The other one: Tunnel in the Sky. This is about a futuristic survival 
class's final exam gone awry. Stranded on an unknown planet, a group of 
teenagers must survive, using survival skills they have learned in a 
class.

Richard Adams: Waterhship Down. An allegory about society, represented by 
a group of rabbits. I read this first in 4th grade, and I have read this 
more times than any other book I own, because it's simple, yet I still 
like it.

A series David Eddings: the Elenium. This is about Sparhawk, a Pandian 
Knight. Deals with gods, trolls, knights, and all that good stuff. I 
realize you don't like Eddings, but I had to put it down anyways, because 
it's different from the Belgariad and the Mallorian.

Thanks for your time. :)

		-Krishna Sampath

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From hconard@skidmore.EDU Mon Mar 11 18:51:51 1996
Subject: read this book

A book that I think you should read is Lords Of The Sky by Angus Wells.
reply to AllenRulz@aol.com please, not the adress on the top

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From STUSPRAT@ACS.EKU.EDU Thu Mar 14 08:53:38 1996
Subject: Check out this book.

The book is by J.V Jones. It's called "Baker's Boy" It's the first in a trilogy.
It's a very good book.

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From sheik@coventry.ac.uk Fri Mar 15 16:29:57 1996
Subject: Greetings Doug,

-- Hi!  I have just found your homepage and read a selection of reviews.
I have to say that I really agree with virtually everything I've read
so far.  I would like to suggest that you read the Drenai saga by David
Gemmell - heroic fantasy at its best in my opinion with heavy emphasis
on honour and courage but in a grim style that I really appreciate after
something like Eddings.
 
  I don't know anything about the reputation of Jordan fans in America but 
have to say that I thoroughly regret the 6Uk pounds that I shelled out on
the first `wheel' book. It is one of the few books that I have never
finished reading - I found it tedious in the extreme. Jordan suffers from
the worst kind of fantasy anal retentiveness in my humble opinion.  

  Thanks to your review I intend to check out Greg Bears `songs' series as
soon as possible - thanks!

  I also found Wyrd Sisters by Pratchet something of a disappointment.
However, if you are still searching for the five best then I would urge
you to read Pyramids.  From the admittedly rough idea I have of your 
tastes I would imagine that you too will dissolve into hysterics when
Teppic attempts his "Assassins Test"

  The only review I disagree with is the cyberpunk series by Gibson. The books
as you say were classics and mould breaking but I found the writing style 
original and daring.  I suppose that by choosing that style he would 
inevitably alienate some of his readers.  I am just gutted that Keanu Reaves
and Dolph Lundgren were cast in Johnny Mnemonic - a class short story but no
doubt ruined in this holywood version.

	Regards for now, I will put a link to your page in my own soon,

		/\rrow

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From lthsad@northstar.k12.ak.us Tue Mar 19 09:36:51 1996

What do you mean terry brooks is a rip off of tolkien?  There are so 
many books with the same kind of sword and sorcery plots. Besides, 
terry brooks kept me more interested in his books than tolkien did in 
the hobbit and the lord of the rings. I don't know why everybody 
thinks he's such a great writer.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From ATPLUS@ACCENT.NET Tue Mar 19 14:48:17 1996
Subject: tolkien series

I am a bit dissapointed in the quality of your review of the 
amazing novel "The Lord Of The Rings". I found it to be extremely vague 
and it gave no insight to what the book was about. I am presently doing a 
book review on the series and I wanted some outside input and comments to 
add so thats why I looked your sight up. Too bad it didn't do any good!
any way thats all..
									
			Aline Aharonian

## My response below (you didn't think I would let this pass, did you?)

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From ingram@u.washington.edu Tue Mar 19 15:03:08 1996
To: ATPLUS@mail.ACCENT.NET
Subject: Re: tolkien series

What can I say?  I can't write a Magnum Opus review on every series.
If I were being paid for this, then I'd sink some more time into it.
As it is, if you don't like it, then PLEASE try to do better!  The
whole point of my book review site is two-fold:

	1) To encourage others to send me their own comments so
		that I have good ideas for new books to explore.

	2) To encourage others to build similar sites so there will
		be more review material out there on the Web.

It is NOT to provide specific source material for people who want to
see reviews about author X or book Y.  Someday, I may expand upon
my Tolkien reviews, but the more comments like yours I see, the less
likely I am to do so.  It's rather discouraging, to be honest.

Doug

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From tesla10@sage.wt.com.au Wed Mar 20 22:35:29 1996
Subject: Hambly and McCaffrey

Hambly's "SunWolf and StarHawk" series is a lot better than her Darwath 
trilogy

		SunWolf and StarHawk series

		Ladies of Mandrigyn
		Witches of Wenshar
		The Dark Hand of Magic

I also liked her Vampire Series
		Those Who Hunt the Night
		Travelling with the Dead

While I liked her Windrose series the mistakes she made about computer 
science and physcics in the first two books where jarring

Her SunCross series was a disappointment it covered to much ground her 
already covered in her previous books and the books wandered and lacked a 
clear focus

a lot of Hambly's books have a strong Mystery/WhoDunIt element and she 
has a has habit of taking a story concept that seems unoriginial or even 
down right idiotic and adding twists that make it fresh.  Case in point 
her "startrek/here comes the brides" crossover novel _Ishmael_ I would be 
hard pressed to think of a more moronic concept yet she spun a reasonable 
yarn out of it.

McCaffrey's HarperHall trilogy is a lot better than her Dragon Rider trilogy

		Harper Hall trilogy

		DragonSong
		DragonSinger
		DragonDrums

These cover the same time period as DragonQuest and White Dragon but 
followed a "ugly duckling/cinderella" type story line rather than the "save 
the world" type story line of the Dragon Rider books.

after the first 6 books the Pern series went down hill.

McCaffrey's "Restoree" was a very enjoyable old fashioned 1950's type 
pulp sf.  Better characterisation than 50's sf though.  I think it was her 
first book. It lacked polish but was a very charming "feel good" story. 
Similar in style to her "Ship that Sang" stories.  

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From fo156@mail.erols.com Thu Mar 21 06:38:00 1996
Subject: Book Suggestion

I'm pretty sure that you get a lot of these but I just couldn't resist the 
chance. 

There is one novel by David Brin called Glory Season, which I think was 
better than his others, although it felt more like fantasy than science 
fiction. It really is a good book to read, though.

Also, you seem to not have read Angus Wells, and although some of his 
books  are annoying, I think that they're worth reading. The Godwars 
Trilogy is the annoying series, but Lords of the Sky is a VERY well 
written and good book. His latest book, Exile's Children, looks  promising 
also, but I haven't finished it yet and won't give a definitive 
recomendation. 

Some suggestions,
Alaya Dawn Johnson

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From shanna_swendson@mccom.com Thu Mar 21 16:02:18 1996
Subject: Hi!

Hi, Doug!

A former 11th floor person here (and I think we had a Spanish class 
together once, too).  Just ran across your books page, and it's great.  
When I get a chance to read (when I'm not writing), now I have a good 
"to read" list.

A few comments:  the Jordan books are pretty good, but be careful about 
reading them all in a row.  They'll melt your brain.  I got hooked on 
the first, then started checking them out of the library.  Midway 
through the third (or maybe the fourth), I suffered complete meltdown 
and had to take a break.  Eventually, I plan to go back and finish them.

I've been reading the "Memory, Sorrow and Thorn" trilogy, too.  Just 
started the first part of the third installment, but I'm taking a break 
to avoid the aforementioned brain meltdown.

You were relatively kind to the Kevin J. Anderson Star Wars books.  I 
loved the Zahn series, eagerly bought the first Anderson book, but never 
got beyond the first chapter.  His writing is amateurish, to say the 
least, and his characterizations were weak.  I haven't read any of the 
rest of his, and I even avoided his recent attempt at an X-Files novel 
(and it doesn't help matters that he really pissed me off in a newsgroup 
discussion).  Supposedly there's a new Star Wars book coming up in April 
by Michael P. Kube-McDowell.  He's got some decent credentials behind 
him.

Shanna Swendson
another INFJ

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From fo156@mail.erols.com Sat Mar 23 14:41:58 1996
Subject: Yet another book suggestion

I know I already sent you one the other day, but after reading your review 
of Terry Pratchet's Discworld series I had to recomend some others to you.

So, the top five in the series are (in no particular order):

--Small Gods

--Lords and Ladies(part of a mini trilogy which you should read in order)

--Mort(but you've already read that)

--Guards!Guards!

--Pyramids

Just thought you might want to know,

Alaya Dawn Johnson

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From victord@mail.bcpl.lib.md.us Sun Mar 24 17:48:39 1996
Subject: the library

Hey man, that's a lot of books, did you really read all of them ?
very good page by the way, I tryed to make my own page but I  couldn't 
come up with a title or a purpose... so far I have a worthless bunch of 
electrons sitting on the web :)

Well, the reason I am writing is that I was searching Heinlein and got 
to your page. You should try Double Star (by heinlein) or even more: 
Orphans of the Sky, Orphans was my first sci-fi book, and it is great, 
its about a big ship... well try reading it, it's really cool.

Well, take care

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From peeblesm@email.spjc.cc.fl.us Mon Mar 25 10:34:09 1996
Subject: Recommendation

 Doug,
  
  I have been reading your library list for month's and I wholeheartedly agree
  with most of your recommendations.  I took the personality sorter test and
  scored as an ENFP, maybe this explains why you like Stephen R. Donaldson so
  much and I do not. (however,I enjoy both Brust and Simmons).
  
  I have recently finished two books by Nancy Kress and thought that you might
  also enjoy them.  I do not know if there is a third book planned, but both
of
  the books stand alone well, that is, she does not leave you hanging at the
end
  of either book.
  
  BEGGERS IN SPAIN describes a future of widespread genetic manipulation and
  cheap energy.  The main subject of the book is a new type of genetic
  manipulation that removes the human requirement for sleep.  Even though many
  parents did not specify high intellegence, most of the Sleepless are
brighter
  than the normal population.  As they grow older it is also discovered that
  they do not age, which leads to widespread resentment and the eventual
  migration of most of the Sleepless to outer space.   
  
  The second novel, BEGGERS AND CHOOSERS takes place several decades after the
  first novel.  New laws have made it illegal to genetically manipulate humans
  in such a way as to allow inheritance (the Sleepless have Sleepless
children).
   The much stricter laws about genetic manipulation were prompted by the
  advanced genetic research of the Sleepless and by the "invention" of another
  catagory called the Supersleepless which are essentially no longer human and
  think in ways no one can imagine or understand.  This novel looks at a
society
  that has drastically changed (and is about to collapse) from that of the
first
  novel.
  
  I hope you get a chance to read these books, Nancy Kress makes very
believable
  characters and technology and is a superb writer.  I would place her on the
  same level as Dan Simmons and Steven Brust, whom I think are two of the best
  writers today.
  
  Keep on reading, and reviewing :),
  
  Mark Peebles

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From jim_dwyer@macgate.csuchico.edu Wed Mar 27 17:21:10 1996
Subject: Vonda S. McIntyre and Earth Works

I'm trying to find an e-mail address, address, or phone number for 
Vonda S. McIntyre, one of the fine authors included at your site. Do 
you have any leads?
I talked to her in Seattle once and she had some good ideas for my 
book, Earth Works, so IO acknowledged her in the book and would like 
to send her a copy of the acknowledgement.
In case you're interested, Earth Works is a guide to 2600 books about 
nature and the environment and includes including 132 science fiction 
or fantasy novels.

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From cracredolo@ucdavis.edu Wed Mar 27 22:58:18 1996

Check out Pellegrino and Zebrowski.
_The Killing Star_
So so as a novel, but concepts!!!!!!

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From chae@kristie.wcis.com Thu Mar 28 17:42:25 1996
Subject: Asimov

You know what?  The Robot series by Asimov are really good.

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From chae@kristie.wcis.com Thu Mar 28 18:13:54 1996
Subject: Terry Brooks

Did you ever read the Heritage of Shannara series?  Or how about the 
"Magic Kingdom For Sale" series.  They're pretty good.  He wrote another 
Shannara book called "The First King of Shannara" but I didn't read it 
yet.

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From swift@netaxis.com Fri Mar 29 03:43:34 1996
Subject: Dennis Schmidt

Dear Doug,
Dennis Schmidt is my favorite sci-fi writer.
Not prolific and of late not to be found.
The only Zen + SF writer I know of...do you know others ?
I recommend all of his books...two series.
Also, can you help me find his books...they are out of print...
I want to buy all of them...I've lent out my copies and they've 
disappeared .
Julio Valdes Ramos.
Thank you.

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From fischer@dynanet.com Sun Mar 31 07:24:54 1996
Subject: Short Stories

I'm looking for an anthology of short stories entitled "Science Fiction
Machines," or something like that. One of the stories was about a package
from the future which contained a machine that drew art masterpieces.
Another was about a a machine installed on Earth by aliens, which would
eventually destroy the planet unless someone figured out a way to stop
it; a million people died trying as the story begins.

If you have any idea who the authors of these stories are, please let me
know. Thanks.

A.S.Fischer

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From JoraJorel@aol.com Sun Mar 31 23:15:19 1996
Subject: Splinter of the Mind's Eye

Found an original hardback copy in local Sal. Army.  I agree with your
review!  As good as any of the new Star Wars novels... I think I'll keep
this copy for my grandkids!