From: Wilkie
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 03:56:15 -0700
Subject: Other Great Books by Micheal Crichton
I, like you am a big Micheal Crichton fan.I have read most of his
books and was almost equally impressed with every one of them, except
for Sphere, I HATED IT!!!!
1. If you liked Jurassic Park, you'll love The Lost World!!! It is
the sequel, but it only has one of the same characters (Ian Malcolm, the
rebel scientist.) It has a great plot and is very suspenseful. Like
Disclosure, it is extremely difficult to put down. Every time you think
the story is going to settle down, something exciting happens. I read it
from cover to cover without stopping. I am not sure if ti is out in
pareback yet, so I would recommend going to your local library and
checking it out.
2. Five Patients, one of his very first books, is also another
must read. Although extremely outdated, it stands as a reference to what
medical care was like in the 1970's. In the book, he follows 5 patients
around in the hospital. It is extremely intense at times, well at other
times almost comical.
Well, that was my two cents. I love your web pages and keep up the
good work
deanna
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From: imagine8@ix.netcom.com (James E DILLARD)
Date: Thu, 15 Aug 1996 10:07:02 -0700
Subject: Robert Jordan
I've read all of the WoT books. One through seven. I read alot
and no writer that I have ever seen compares to the WoT. Let me be one
more person to tell you to read that series.
-Imagine8@Netcom.com
## Now hear this, Robert Jordan fans: I am a stubborn, stubborn person!
## The more email I receive urging me to do something, the less likely
## I am to do it. Take the advice on my Robert Jordan page if you want
## to see me read these books! :)
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From: Airny Huynh
Date: Fri, 16 Aug 1996 12:06:57 -0700
Hi Doug,
I just wanted to write to you because I'm that 16 year-old in the
bookstore. I'm not THE 16 year-old, but I too never have any idea what
to get when I go into a bookstore, so I generally end up hanging around
reading the little blurbs on the backs of books (that all sound the same
to me no matter how good or bad they end up being) not knowing what to
get.
Thank you for your wonderful web site: I'm writing stuff down. The only
problem is that you have SO MANY recommendations that I'm kind of dazed.
I might end up reading most of your library eventually, but I have quite
a ways to go. From your author's list I've read some Orson Scott Card,
Michael Crichton, Steven King, Anne McCaffrey, Larry Niven, Melanie
Rawn, Frank Herbert, Robert Heinlein, Terry Brooks, Douglas Adams, Piers
Anthony, Isaac Asimov, David Eddings, and Alan Dean Foster. Oh, wow. I
guess I have read quite a bit--never realized until I actually wrote it
down. Still, I'm lost. Even discounting the books I've already read,
there are many more authors and books left. What is your absolute,
have-to-read favorite fiction book that I just have to check out? So
many people tell me to read Ender's Game, which I have already read. I'm
going to the book store and library today, and I just don't know what to
get.
By the way, in case no one has recommended it, you should try Terry
Goodkind's Sword of Truth Series. I know the entire series isn't out in
paperback yet, but each book can be read individually--unlike David
Edding's books that leave you hanging. The only problem you might
have--as with any single-novel novelist--is that he is such a great
writer that you would really want to read his next book once it came
out. Octavia Butler is also a good writer, though not as good as
Goodkind who is a must-read author whose books are in my opinion as good
as Ender's Game (and unlike Ender's Game, the sequel is better than the
first novel). In one of her series (the books are in order: Dawn,
Adulthood Rites, and Imago) the earth is bombed out (suprise, suprise)
and destroyed; aliens come and save some earthlings. The aliens are
"traders": they traverse the universe trading the DNA of other beings
with their own. Along the way are some great issues of acceptance,
survival, and discrimination. Octavia Butler writes very fluidly, and
she is a very modern writer. In fact, she has won awards for her
writings. Well, happy reading!
Airny
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From: clemay
Date: Sat, 17 Aug 1996 23:59:55 -0400
Hi there...I was suitably impressed with your web page. You are
obviously a dedicated reader. I'm addicted to book reviews, so I will
visit your site often. The only problem I had with your reviews was the
general selection. You seem to read very well-known authors. Also,
most of the authors you read (as well as your favorites) are male. I'm
not a crazed feminist, but I do believe you need to branch out a bit.
Here are a few of my current recommendations:
Resurrection Man by Sean Stewart
City of Bones by Martha Wells
Grass by Sheri Tepper (also Raising the Stones)
Beggars in Spain by Nancy Kress (also Beggars & Choosers)
Becoming Human by Valerie Freirich
Bone Dance by Emma Bull
College of Magics by Caroline Stevermer
Lethe by Tricia Sullivan
Winterlong by Elizabeth Hand
In the Mother's Land by Elisabeth Vonarbutg
Memory & Dream by Charles DeLint
The Bohr Maker by Linda Nagata
These are by no means the best books you'll ever read, but they are
pretty darn good. I know you probably have piles of books you haven't
been able to read yet, but perhaps you can spare a few hours for one of
these. I am in the middle of The Phoenix Guards (Brust, of course). I
seem to be reading his books backwards. I started with Agyar, then I
read a few Vlad titles, then I read 500 Years After, now I'm finally
reading this one. I agree...he is one of the best writers around (in
any field). Did my comment about branching out sound harsh? I didn't
intend to criticize unfairly. You write concise reviews which are a joy
to read. Thank you for all the effort and time you've invested. Your
work is quite a find.
I look forward to your updates.
Michelle
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From veen@loop.com Mon Aug 19 00:48:46 1996
Subject: It's Gone...
Doug,
Thank you for the nice review of my book and your kind comments about my
broadcasting. As convenient as San Diego is for me I miss Seattle, Dave
Niehaus, and the Mariners quite a bit. I was dying last year when they
finally got into the playoffs. How's that for my timing, huh? Anyway,
maybe this year a San Diego/Seattle world series. A boy can dream,
can't he? Thanks again,
Ken Levine
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From: GS Johl
Subject: DAVID GEMMELL
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 96 14:33:06 BST
Dear Mr Ingram,
I was browsing through SF/Fantasy book reviews and luckily happened upon your
page. After reading your review of Thomas Covenant (which seems like a series
I might enjoy) I thought you might be interested to hear of one of my
favourite authors: David Gemmell.
He is one of Britain's leading authors of heroic fantasy, and has written
series based upon the exploits of Alexander the Great, the Mongul Empire, and
a parallel existence of past present and future earth.
For me, the overwhelming appeal of Gemmell's style is that he creates
characters and heroes that are often flawed and hence cannot be
compartmentalised into the restrictive 'Knight in shining armour' and
'Evil Tyrant' categories that proliferate in so much of modern fantasy - in
particular that of David Eddings. I don't mean to say that I am not
entertained by Edding's books, but I don't think he generates characters
that have the natural shortcomings and endearing qualities needed to overcome
those shortcomings nearly as well as Gemmell does.
As a plug! I would heartily recommend that you try the LION OF MACEDON or
DRENAI series to start with as they illustrate perfectly the muscular, pacey,
complex, twisting and daringly imaginative plots that epitomise Gemmells work
Here is a description of one of his series
1) LION OF MACEDON and DARK PRINCE
Gemmell's fantasised telling of the rise and deeds of Alexander the Great.
The story concentrates on the general Parmenion who as a mixed-race outcast
rises to the envied position as King Philip II's leading general, advisor and
friend before guiding his successor Alexander onto even greater and darker
things. The plot is thick with betrayal, close friendships, love, lust,
honour, self interest, duty and greed
Gemmel's unique style brings the life, loves, politics and dark magic of
Ancient Greece alive in the reader's mind. Extensive reasearch into the
military confrontations of the day, coupled with Gemmells knack of describing
vividly the mechanisms of battle, makes this THE best series I have ever
read...
Hope you enjoy it
Yours sincerely
Guru Johl
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From: Joe Pusateri
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 10:10:20 -0500
Doug,
I browsed thru the Author index, looking for common authors
with which to compare my opinions to yours and found a fairly solid
intersection of opinions.
Your Covenant reviews are right on the head!
Pretty much so with Adams, Anthony, Asimov, Brooks (I never got past
the first chapters of Shannara because Bilbo kept yelling in my head
"been there, done that"), Brust, deCamp, Heinlein, Herbert and Tolkien.
I did think, though, that Zelazny's Amber was a little better than all
that because of Merlin's computer aspect that I kind of got into.
I also thought Eddings' books weren't that re-hashed, but I see your
point. Try Belarath the Sorcerer for size. It covers the history of
the (Lazarus Long-type) old bastard up until the start of the
Belgariad.
My personal "cross to bear" is Stasheff's The Warlock in Spite of Himself
I know, I know, none of the other books is as rich as this one, but I
like Rod Gallowglass and the later books that deal with his kids (late
teens) fill out the picture but can't, of course, stand too well on their own.
The first book, though, is my reread "reward" when I need to recharge on
a good SciFi/Fantasy mix story. Also, his "Her Majesty's Wizard" I really got
a kick out of, but, true to form, the story sagged after a book or two.
I find that my interest is aroused when you get a good mix of "current,
real-earth (or at least "practical and sensible") Joe Schmo meets
world-where-magic-really-works" or something of that type.
Thus my interest in Stasheff, Donaldson, Zelazny, Eddings, Anthony (Man
from Mundania) and Adams. Any other suggestions???
Lastly, all hail to the great J.R.R. Tolkien for his misplaced hobbit
and the rich history that surrounds him. BTW, Unfinished Tales is exactly
what you were told.
I've gotten so much more from them than the Silmarillion.
Great Thanks for putting finger to keyboard and letting me listen in!
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Johann Willett
Date: Mon, 19 Aug 1996 14:01:34 -0400
Subject: The Unread
Are you posting reviews for every book you read?
For instance, you talk as if you read most of Stephen Kings novels,
yet you only review
four of them.
Do you ever plan on reading anymore Robert Heinlein or some of
Kim Stanley Robinson's
Mars novels???
Later.
## To be honest with you, I have several King novels sitting on my wife's
## shelf waiting to be read. I've enjoyed everything I've read by him,
## but I've been very slow to read new stuff because I have to be in a certain
## state of mind to read King, I guess. Rest assured that the King section
## in my reviews library will slowly fill to completion, but it may take
## another couple of years. Yeah, I'll read Robinson (altogether now)
## when it all comes out in paperback...at which time it goes to the end of
## a rather lengthy "to read" queue (moving has really slowed my pace, though
## I'm starting to read more again). I don't know about more Heinlein. I
## really liked Past Through Tomorrow, but I hated his other novels that I
## read. I have heard wonderful things about a few of his first novels and
## I do intend to follow up those recommendations eventually. You will note
## that my mailbag has about 360K worth of recommendations of varying quality
## (usually good to great and believeable).
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: John Leavitt
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1996 15:03:52 -0400
Subject: Speculative Fiction Clearing House
Hi.
I'm glad to see you like my site "The Speculative Fiction Clearing
House", but it has moved recently (and will be moving again shortly).
It currently lives at http://polarbear.eng.lycos.com/sf-clearing-house/
It will shortly be moving for the last time to:
http://www.steampunk.com/
At that time, it will also finally undergo the massive facelift it
needs and will contain 2-3 (4? 5? haven't counted) times as many links
as the current version.
-John.
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From: BHodges000@aol.com
Date: Tue, 20 Aug 1996 18:33:11 -0400
Thanks for creating this interesting web site. I'm an avid SF reader, first
edition collector and I had fun browsing through some of your pages. I agree
with you about Dan Simmons - an incredible writer. I think I'll read Phases
of Gravity next. I didn't see mention of any books by Iain Banks on your
list. For me he's an equal to Simmons and a real up and coming star. I also
like authors like Tim Powers and Neal Stephenson - for the sheer audacity of
their imaginations, and for possessing a refreshing sense of humor.
Anyway thanks, I'll be back.
Cheers, Brett
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From: kyrilson@juno.com (Paul L Spencer)
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 05:54:53 PST
Hi! I stumbled across your Library Page the other day, as I was
looking for some reviews of SF and Fantasy books. I'm a very avid
reader, but, unfortunately, I've been away from the SF and Fantasy genre
for about 10 years (since I was about 15 or so), when I used to read
Piers Anthony, and other ah, how should I say it, "pulpy" SF/Fantasy
writers. In the time between, I have stuck to mainly thrillers and
other "so called real world" books. Every now and then I'd pick up a
SF/Fantasy book as well, but not often enough. I tried to read the
Covenant series when I was about 14, but, after reading the rape scene,
I was so ashamed of the leading protagonist's actions, I couldn't
continue reading the book. After reading your review of the series, I'm
considering giving it another try.
After I went through your reviews, I went out and picked up a
copy of Jhereg by Brust, and I LOVED it!! :) Just today, I went out
and picked up Yendi, and Hyperion by Simmons, I'm currently reading
Hyperion, and so far, it's a terrific book!! I can't thank you enough
for pointing me in the right direction!! :)
My tastes are something of an anomaly (btw, I also am an INFJ
personality), in that, I must be the only person in the world that
hasn't read Tolkein. Yes, I know, everyone tells me he's the
_penultimate_ fantasy writer, etc. However, I've tried to read The
Hobbit 3 or 4 times, and I've never been able to get through it. I'm
not really sure why. *shrug*
Keep up the good work, your page is by far, the best SF/Fantasy
book review page on the internet that I've found so far. Right now, I
don't have any recommendations for you for reading material, but,
hopefully, I will soon, as I expand my SF/Fantasy readings. I have a
lot of ground to cover, since I have never read any of the classics,
like Asimov's Foundation Series, Heinlein, Herbert, or any of the
others. I think I'm gonna have fun reading them though!! :)
Thanks again for awakening the SF/Fantasy nut that's lurked
inside me all these years. :)
Rob Hall
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From: Michael Waite
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 08:09:35 -0700
Subject: Lonely Hearts of the Universe
Greetings from Ypsilanti MI,
I just read your review of Dennis Overbye's, Lonely Hearts of the
Cosmos. I, too, enjoyed the book and do not regret paying full price
for it when it first came out.
Andrew Franknoi, in Sky and Telescope, lists Lonely Hearts of the
Cosmos as one of the astronomy books he would take with him, if
stranded on a desert island. Check out the article, "The Stranded
Astronomer's Library", it’s worth reading. (Sky and Telescope,
September, 1996, p. 52)
You also mentioned that Lonely Hearts of the Cosmos was one of the
dumbest titles for a book. I agree, and would like to add another
title to the "dumbest title" list -- Have Spacesuit Will Travel by
Robert A. Heinlein. I think the book is great, perhaps Heinlein's
best (along with Citizen of Galaxy), but the title . . .
Pax,
Michael (sosadmin@tir.com)
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From: "Williams, Joe"
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 96 14:40:04 -700
I am looking for a review of Greg Bears latest novel, a sequal
to Eon and Eternity. The book is called Legacy. I dont expect
you to read this book just to give me a review (unless it's
available in paperback and then you could afford to) but maybe
you could turn me on to another site that would have one.
Thanx
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Casey Stratton
Date: Sat, 24 Aug 1996 00:51:50 -0700
Doug,
I like fantasy tales and tend to stay on the traditional side. (JRRT,
Brooks, etc)
I did however pick up a little paperback book produced under the
Dungeons and Dragons TSR folks. Usually I stay away from anything
having to do with the D&D stroy tell, but this caught my eye.
There are currently 9 books in this series (I think that is right
anyway), and I have read 6. I first read book 1 in the late 80's while
unemployed and not having anyone to do anything with. It was called the
crystal shard by R.A. Salvator. It was a captivating little book, and a
bit too violent at times, but I enjoyed it. So, I decided to read the
next in the series, and so on. I enjoyed them also.
The 2nd set of books, however, really captivated me. These are no
great literary works of art mind you, they do however have a way of
getting your attention.
Check them out if you would. Not a bad bedside book.
Casey
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From: "W. Bradbury"
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 00:16:01 -0700
Dude, stop whatever you are doing right now and go out and get either
Labyrinths or Ficciones by Borges. (Labyrinths has all the stories in
Ficciones, and then some.. so get it if you can.) If you like Eco, you will
love this guy. Trust me. It's tough reading, but great stuff.
Also, Eco has a new book out.
And you might try some Harlan Ellison too.
Will
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From: Johann Willett
Date: Sun, 25 Aug 1996 21:27:18 -0400
Why are Robert Jordan fans so put down?
What about Terry Brooks fans?
Which one is supposed to be better?
(Sorry, I know those aren't Comments.
I won't break down in tears if you don't reply.)
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: kamchar@ibm.cl.msu.edu (SunCat)
Date: Wed, 28 Aug 1996 19:18:50 -0400
Subject: Sommers
## Ed. Note: This is in reply to a previous mailbag letter + response.
##
## Some excerpts from the past letter:
##
## -------------------------------------------------------------
## >> From: sam@peta.ee.cornell.edu (Samuel Lin)
## >> Date: Fri, 25 Aug 95 18:19:40 EDT"
##
## >> I'was browsing through your book reviews and saw your Backlash /
## >> The Beauty Myth reviews.
## >> I haven't read these books, but I would like to recommend another
## >> feminist book I recently read:
## >> _Who Stole Feminism?_ by Christina Hoff Sommers.
## >> ...
## >> Sommers' book is a sharp, incisive criticism of the Faludi, MacKinnon,
## >> style feminism. Sommers' accounts of some of their behaviors and
## >> tactics are absolutely appalling. Sommers has been criticised as being
## >> "a radical right winger", but as a strong anti-fundamentalist, I found
## >> Sommers' criticisms to be extremely penetrating and on-target.
## >> ...
## >> I would certainly be in terested in your thoughts/reviews
## -------------------------------------------------------------
## I had responded that I had found a couple of silly and obviously
## untrue statements on Sommers part, stating "NOBODY but NOBODY
## speaks like this" and that Sommers doesn't strike me as credible.
##
## And so the issue was put to rest, until...
>OPEN LETTER TO AAUW MEMBERS FROM
>CHRISTINA HOFF SOMMERS
>
>In December of 1993 I debated AAUW Executive Director Anne Bryant on
>ABC's Lifetime Magazine." When I said I had found the AAUW studies on
>gender bias to be tendentious and
>unconvincing, Ms. Bryant shook her finger at me and issued a warning:
>"Christina, stop it!
>Do you want to know something? This is the last time you'll criticize
>the incredibly prestigious and well- run organization the American
>Association of University Women."
"NOBODY but NOBODY speaks like this" except on planet earth. I have
seen this kind of behavior myself. Goodtime and hightime that someone has
finally written about it. Do you think it's even possible for a woman
to call herself feminsit and have a flaw? Is there *any* amount of
corruption you will not excuse?
We can always check the videotape and see.
SunCat
## Yes, it is possible for a woman to call herself a feminist and have a flaw.
## Take Christina Hoff Sommers, for example. :)
##
## It is also possible for someone to disagree with someone else's political
## philosophy and then get so wrapped up in it that he/she goes off on some
## weird tangent or generalizes the other person's position to such an extent
## that what is being debated turns into a useless straw man.
##
## Here's an example of just that:
##
## >Is there *any* amount of corruption
## >you will not excuse?
##
## If you can point me to a good counter-feminism book that I have reason to
## believe is good, I'll stick it on my "watch for" list. I will no more
## read a political book off the shelf on the basis of a "I saw it in the
## bookstore" recommendation than I would any other book...not when I get
## so many thoughtful recommendations every day.
##
## The other problem is, I'm having a problem believing that your opinion
## of a good book and mine will have any kind of significant intersection.
## That's because you're recommending books to me based upon what they
## say (which you, generally, agree with) while I like to read books based
## upon HOW THEY SAY IT (and I don't, in general, agree with much of what
## they're saying, as with Naomi Wolf). With that said, here are a few
## recommendations of books that I'll bet you'll like:
##
## "The Things That Matter Most" by Cal Thomas
## "The Real Anita Hill" by David Brock
## "Unlimited Access" by Gary Aldrich
## Any book by Rush Limbaugh
##
## See...knowing absolutely nothing about the quality of writing in these
## books or their plausibility, I'm fairly certain you'll enjoy them, based
## upon what I know about your literary tastes (which is very little).
## On the other hand, you have puh-lenty of evidence about my tastes in
## literature and yet you're recommending books to me that you haven't
## even read based upon what you feel is their subject matter. So if you're
## insulted that I am being assumptive about your tastes in reading,
## consider it a little quid pro quo.
##
## I still stand by my statement that NOBODY on EARTH speaks like that
## quotation. But a WHOLE LOT of people who don't know how to write
## believeable dialogue (I am one of them) often write words that sound
## good on the printed page but sound silly if spoken aloud. Find me
## that videotape, and I'll be happy to print a prominent retraction
## of my statement in the mail bag.
##
## Doug
##
## PS. Just so we're completely clear, if I were to read "Between Hope
## and Destiny" by Bill Clinton, I'm sure I would barf. I'm an
## equal-opportunity, non-partisan basher of bad books.
## ------------------------------------------------------------
## Ed. Note:
##
## I eventually received another response from that same person, but
## since it failed to say anything new, I exercised my editorial
## privilege and now return you to your regularly scheduled mailbag
## fare regarding speculative fiction books.
##
## PS. As expected, no videotape was produced.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: "Chuck Collins"
Date: Fri, 30 Aug 1996 01:49:19 -0600
Subject: Steakley
Hi Doug.
I just read your review of Vampire$ and I agree with you 100%. It was a
very enjoyable read. You mentioned another book in the review by Steakley,
_Armor_. I hadn't known about this one before so it's off to the used book
store tommorow to hunt it down. As if my pile of books to read wasn't big
enough yet... sigh! :)
I also came across a book by David Gerrold and Larry Niven called 'The
flying sorcerers'. It was published in 1971. I am a big Niven fan and
thought I had everthing he had written until I came across this. I'm about
half wat through it now and it is also a good book with a lot of tongue in
cheek humour. If you get a chance and can find a copy I recomend it.
-Chuck
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From morin@agate.net Sun Sep 1 01:05:14 1996
Subject: william gibson
I can understand your lukeworm review of Gibson. The first time I tried
to read Neuromancer back in 1986 I barely made it through half the book.
But a few years later (with a few english lit.courses under my belt), I
picked him up again. Neuromancer blew me away. After that I read all
his stuff. I think the reason he get's so much attention from the
mainstream press is because of how well he writes. His prose is so
polished it shines.(excuse the cliche)
I admit he can be tough to read, but just take it as it goes.Well worth
it. In my opinion,Neuromancer is his best work,Virtual Light his weakest.
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From: ppowers@bkbank.com
Date: Sun, 1 Sep 1996 11:04:39 -0700
I enjoyed your page, and read a number of your reviews. I found myself
agreeing with you about half the time, which probably average. I read much
more non-fiction than fiction (part of my job as a history/theology teacher)
but when I do read for pleasure, it is usually scifi/fantasy.
I was interested in your comments about personality type. I am a qualified
examiner for the Myers-Briggs, and I use the Kiersey in my 12th grade class
as part of a unit on influences on decision making. My own type is XSTJ,
which as you probably know shows that my score on the Introvert/Extrovert
scale were exactly balanced. I function as an Extrovert most of the time, but
must have the "down-time" of the Introvert to preserve my sanity.
Keep up the good work.
Ruth Powers
Natchez, MS
## Thanks for the comments. From my own informal survey of responses, I'd
## say that personality type isn't correlated to a significant extent
## with reading tastes. The sample size is small, though. :)
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Yvette Montoya
Date: Mon, 02 Sep 1996 08:20:27 -0700
Subject: Rama II & II
Nice web page It will be one of my book marks.
I just wanted to comment on the Rama trilogy.
If you have not read books two and three I strongly suggest you
do. Although they tend to stray from Clarkes usual hard core scifi
writing and start to delve in to some
mysticism the stories are very good. I agree with you in that the
first story ended in a somewhat lacking way
by not fulfilling my expectations. He hinted at an incredible climax
only for us to discover that the thing
totally ignored us. Made me feel like we(the human race) are very
irrelevant. In book two it pretty much
happens again. In book three guess what it happens again,
but he does explain everything and I do mean
everything. I really enjoyed the series and every time I
reread them I find some new nuance I did not see
before. This story is very well thought out and the
message that it gives is very humbling. These books
reflect are society very well and they depict human
arrogance(which I believe was the goal of the first story
and ultimately the trilogy) in a subtle way which is true to classic scifi.
I hope you found my thoughts on this subject
interesting(at least entertaining)
I look forward to visiting you site again.
Thanks
Lawrence
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
From: Aquino Colaiacomo
Subject: other books to reae
Have you tried Larry Niven/Pournelle's Lucifer's Hammer ?
Also Gibsons Virtual Light (pretty bizzare)
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From: Randy Tatum
Date: Tue, 3 Sep 1996 23:07:22 +-1000
Subject: Good Books
Doug,
I would recommend several authors to your automatic buy list:
S. M. Sterling and Daniel Keys Moran. I have never been disappointed
by one of Sterling's books. His Draka series and the General series were
first rate. Daniel Keys Moran's Continuing Time Saga's are also well written.
What I like about his writing is that the books in this
series all stand alone even
though they are related. This is a good page
and I'll add it to my ist of favorites.
Randy D. Tatum
Lieutenant Colonel, Armor
US Army
Canberra, Australia
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From: MIKE
Date: Mon, 04 Sep 1995 10:22:50 +0200
Subject: Philip Kindred Dick
Why didn't you even mention the mad Philip? He's brilliant.
Have a look at "The Man In The High Castle" or "Do Androids Dream Of
Electric Sheep".
By the way, congratulations for the marvellous site.
Bye.
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From NolanB4495@aol.com Thu Sep 5 22:05:34 1996
Date: Thu, 5 Sep 1996 22:04:58 -0400
I was looking through your Author's Index and couldn't find any listing for
David Drake. Is there a reason?
Nolan Bond
## Again, this site is not meant to be comprehensive. I simply haven't
## read anything by Drake yet.
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From: Barbara Wagner
Date: Fri, 6 Sep 1996 20:12:21 -0400
Subject: Comment's on Your Library Page(s)
Just a short e-mail to let you know how much I enjoy your Library
and book reviews. I don't see how you have time to read all those
books and keep up such great commentaries. Ifind your book reviews
some of the best I've seen since I started cruising the Net.
You're one of the few people who reads as much as I do.
I especially like your science fiction reviews. I enjoy science fiction
on a selective basis. (My taste in books is eclectic) Most of my
interests in sci fi lie in time travel, alternate histories &
what if, and the Star Trek books. I never developed a taste for
the fantasy side of science fiction. I prefer science fiction
where there's a possibility (even if it's a very remote) of happening
some day. As you probable already, many scientists are rethinking
the possibility of time travel. This is a roundabout way to get to
my point which is I've used your reviews to find a whole new group
of sci fi authors to read.
I have a few book choices you might enjoy. (I haven't gone
through your entire list yet so you may have already read them)
- I normally don't like Piers Anthony, but two books
I really enjoyed were "Isle of Woman" and "Shame of Man",
the first two books of the Geodyssey series.
Each book follows the same basic format -- tracing a group
of characters who represent the evolution of mankind. He
selects different key periods in history and tells the story
of the characters based on what was effecting mankind during
that time period.
One period may be set in China, another in Egypt, and so on.
( The time periods covered are different in each book.) As a
background, there is a continuing storyline that ties all the
different time periods together.
Piers did a great deal of research on each time period which adds
to the fabric of books. Not only are the books entertaining,
but they're very thought provoking.
I know you don't like to buy books until the series is complete,
but each of these books can be read as a "stand along".
If you like Robin Cook, you'll like "The Select" by F. Paul Wilson
(another doctor turned author.) The subject deals with one
healthcare group's "answer to the rising costs of health care".
I won't tell you more because it might ruin some of the suspense.
This was one book that kept you on you toes with a whole "medicine
cabinet" full of plot twists. I had a really hard time putting
it down for things like sleeping, eating, etc.
I read "Final Diagnose" by Robin Cook (another of my favorite authors)
about the same time as "The Select". It too was about another
healthcare group's solution to cutting health care costs. Their
approach is not quite as novel as the group in "The Select",
but still good enough to keep you tied to the pages.
If you have health care insurance, belong to an HMO, plan to go to the
hospital, etc., reading these books will really think twice about going
to the doctor. In some ways these books are the "scariest" I've read --
from a person who loves Stephen King, Dean Koontz... because never
group's solution are outside the realm of the "impossible."
I'm sure that some real healthcare group or radical right-winger
somewhere has thought of some similar solutions.
I've just started reading Tom Clancy's new book, "Executive Order."
If you like, I can give you my review when I'm done.
Again, thanks for some great reviews.
Barbara Wagner
major_babs@wow.com
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From: Jacquelyn M Griffin
Date: Sat, 7 Sep 1996 14:30:34 -0500 (CDT)
Subject: review of "Black Like Me"
Mr Ingram:
I appreciated finding your review of my uncle's book on the Internet, and
jsut wanted to point out that "Black Like Me" was published in 1961,
although it became popular as high school reading material inthe '70's.
In any case, thanks for including it on your reading list!
Sincerely,
Jacquelyn M. Griffin
jgriffi2@ bayou.uh.edu
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From: Sean Miller
Date: Wed, 11 Sep 1996 18:57:21 -0500
Dear sir,
You did a pretty good job of criticizing the stuff you had read but
there are a few more books I would recommend.
There is one very large book by John Myers Myers entitled Silverlock.
If you have ever read any amount of classic literature, you will love
it. It has great drinking songs and has just come back into print and
is one of the most fun books I have ever read.
As for Glen Cook: you should read more of the Garrett series,
especially the first one, Sweet Silver Blues. This one should be fairly
easy to find. Now, for your Ludlum reading: the reason the two books
you posted commentary on were just so-so is that those are the second
two in the trilogy. The first one is similar in style to the others but
it is much better and keeps you pulled into it and is one of the best
thriller novels I have ever read.
Now to Jennifer Roberson: she has also written another excellent
series called the Novels of Tiger and Del. The books are (in order):
Sword Dancer, Sword Singer, Sword Maker, and Sword Breaker. The novels
are very good and are probably my favorite set of books to read (I can't
tell you how many times I've read the series. I try to do it at least
twice a year). I highly recommend them.
Joel Rosenburg has written a couple of other books about two other
worlds. One of them is calle D'Shai and it has a sequel that I don't
remember the name to. They are about a world where everyone has a power
that is special to them and what they do. It is an interesting novel.
He wrote another one about a group of people that reminded me a lot of
the Dorsai: the Metzada. They are confined to a planet with a hostile
environment and can only get money by being mercs. It is an interesting
novel that I think was written primarily as a money-making exercise.
Roger Zelazny: one of my favorite authors who had a knack for leaving
the reader hanging. A prime example of this is Jack of Shadows. This
one is an ok novel, but one of his best ones (and one of his own
favorites) is one called This Immortal. Set in post-nuclear war earth
that has been rescued by a powerful foreign race, the protagonist is
someone who reached about age 30 and quit aging and has become a very
powerful man. This was Zelazny's first full novel and was extremely
good. He had also written a few more short stories that got published
in Phlogistan magazine I believe. I've only read one of them that was
put in an anthology that he edited about Chance and luck.
That's all. Thanks for listening.
Sincerely,
Sean Miller (kanan@flash.net)
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From: "Kristian André Gallis"
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 15:42:45 +0200
http://personal.tcu.edu/~ingram/books/mweis.html
She has also written a series alone (I recommend it). It is called "The
star of the Guardians". 4 books, named(from 1-4): The lost King
King's test
King's sacriface (sp?)
Ghost legion
Nice pages!
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From: Eric Neuman
Date: Thu, 19 Sep 1996 22:45:43 -0700
Subject: Tad Williiams
This is to let you know that the Official Tad Williams Fan Page will be
launching on October 1st. If interested, you can place a link to the
site at:
http://www.halcyon.com/eneuman/tad.htm
Go ahead and check it out, but please refrain from posting messages on
the Message Board section until the 1st, since I'll be cleaning some
things up there before that time and messages would get deleted. If you
have any suggestions or contributions, please let me know. :)
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X-Sender: randy@mach10.tsearch.com
Date: Fri, 20 Sep 1996 11:41:37 PDT (-0700)
Subject: Just read your review of..
REPLAY!
Last night I finished reading the book for the third time. I first read it
on my mothers recommendation in 1989, then again while in college in 1992,
and then just recently. All three times were at very different stages of
my own life and I think that makes a difference each time I read it. I
liked what you said about it being a time travel book without all sorts of
science-fictiony stuff thrown in. A similar theme was used in the film
Groundhog Day, I am not comparing the content mind you, where no
explanation for the phenomenon is ever given.
Anyway, I might check out some of your other choices after I finish the
last 2 Clancy books, Debt of Honor and the most recent one.
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From Tanj99@aol.com Fri Sep 20 18:21:19 1996
Subject: books books books
Doug,
We don't see absolutely eye to eye on books but I highly (!!!!!!!!!) suggest
that you try C.J. Cherryh's Cyteen series. I see you didn't enjoy Downbelow
Station but the Cyteen books are everything you want them to be and more.
Just FYI, my favorite authors are Ann McCaffery, C.J. Cherryh, Robert
Heinlein and Jo Clayton. But since I have over 500 hundred paperbacks
sitting in my spare room I don't limit myself to them. I just finished 2
series of David Weber's (Mutineers Moon and Honor Harrington) and enjoyed
them throughly.
Also, please take the time to read Orson Scott Card's Alvin Journeyman
series.
In terms of classics - I hope you've read Philip Jose Farmer's Riverworld
series.
Thanks for the page!!!
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From: Rod Pennington
Date: Sat, 21 Sep 1996 19:34:54 -0700
Subject: Benford's IN THE OCEAN OF NIGHT
Doug,
I was sorry to read that you didn't enjoy Benford's TIMESCAPE as much
as I did or as much as I expected you would. I just finished my 3rd
Benford book, IN THE OCEAN OF NIGHT (I read ARTIFACT a couple of months
ago, and thoroughly enjoyed it) and I have a couple of comments to
make.
What I'm having a hard time understanding is how you could view
OCEAN so much more favorably than TIMESCAPE. I found OCEAN nearly
impossible to finish. It certainly had a couple of interesting ideas,
but,...well, I'll let your description of TIMESCAPE illustrate my
opinion of it..
" Fascinating stuff. Unfortunately, while these ideas would be
enough to make a magnificent 80-page short story, they have been
stretched out to the limit in this behemoth of a novel, diluted
by countless pages of pure boredom...."
OK, OCEAN wasn't a behemoth (the paperback I have is 321 pages), but
there's really only 4 or 5 actual events in the entire novel. The rest
of it is Benford's endless descriptions of every blade of grass, the
trajectory of every clod of dirt flying out from under his foot, the
marbling of the beef his female companion brings home for dinner, etc.,
etc., etc. And then two thirds into the book, he introduces Bigfoot
for God's sake, right out of the blue! And then there's the phrase "the
place where all her lines/parts came together/converged..." which he
trots out in every awkward love scene (a friend of mine up at work has
read a lot of Benford and she told me about getting tired of reading
this phrase in just about every Benford book she's read).
Well, despite my griping, I still found it to be worthwhile. I might
even read the next in the series, just to see what becomes of old
Nigel. It occurs to me that if you had read TIMESCAPE before OCEAN
and I had read OCEAN before TIMESCAPE, our views might have been
reversed. Maybe the excessive minutia is bearable, even interesting,
the first time around, but unbearable thereafter.
Despite the poor success of my last recommendation (ie, TIMESCAPE),
I'll recommend two more novels for you. One is Benford's ARTIFACT
(lot's more action than TIMESCAPE or OCEAN, plus a fascinating physics
premise set in a present day millieu). The other is Greg Egan's
PERMUTATION CITY. Best artificial intelligence/virtual reality story
I've ever read. Plus, includes a couple of "big ideas", the main
thing I look for in SF these days.
Best regards,
Rod Pennington
Temple, TX
rodpenn@sage.net
## Thanks for the note about Benford. I may have been too
## harsh on Timescape, but I'll be the first to admit that my liking
## of a book depends a lot on my mood at the time I read it. With
## that said, let me warn you about Benford's "Galactic Center" series...
## I, too, felt as you did after Ocean...I wanted to continue reading
## to see what happened to Nigel. But he apparently doesn't appear
## again until at least the 6th book!!!
##
## If you didn't like Ocean that much, take my advice and desist.
## It only gets worse. I'll keep an eye out for those other two.
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From: "Miller, Andrew"
Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996 21:44:19 GMT-5
In the Op-Center series of short novels, Tom Clancy is NOT the
author. He is merely the creator of the premise. A guy by the name
of Jeff Rovin takes the ideas Mr. Clancy gives him and writes the
manuscript. His name is barely listed on the "Acknoweledgments (is my
speeling correct)" page. I didn't check the time of your last update so I
may be a little off. The important thing is that TC will probably keep up
with writing quality novels with the addition of these little action
for when the brain needs an occasional break.
Andy Miller
Indiana State University
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From: Robert Sankner
Date: Thu, 26 Sep 1996 10:58:42 -0400
I enjoyed your book list and find your critiques entertaining and
useful. I guess I'll just have to go back and read Donaldson again. By
the way, don't rush on the Jordan thing. It can wait. I had to skim the
ending of volume 3 because it was too draggy and with too much s&m. It
seems like he was thinking "yeah- I can stretch this out for another 100
pages or so." The man needs a good editor with power. Thanks for a
very nice site. I got here through the Myst page, by the way. I'm
working my way through that game slowly. I am a Brust fan and enjoyed
Kay. Right now I have too much to read and not enough time. Since we
got this computer last year most of my reading has been computer
related. Right now I'm trying to decide what book to start. Jordan vol
4 feels me with dread, Terry Brooks Shannara series, or just re-read
Tolkien and remind myself how it should be done. Thanks for a great
site. I've bookmarked it and will be back.
Bob Sankner