Groups > sci.electronics.design > #454177

Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories

From	Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid>
Newsgroups	sci.electronics.design
Subject	Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories
Date	2017-03-29 19:00 -0700
Organization	A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID	<obholo$m2o$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References	(5 earlier) <b50dbd60-58a5-4290-8ddf-50cd86aed79e@googlegroups.com> <obfc9b$b2t$1@dont-email.me> <79e46e95-a3f2-439e-9062-dc6c7ec81de4@googlegroups.com> <obgqdh$s3p$1@dont-email.me> <810ba95f-333d-4f9b-b830-684179175869@googlegroups.com>

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On 3/29/2017 6:02 PM, George Herold wrote:
>> My problem with "recreational reading" is that I have a voracious
>> appetite and "inhale" books (I budget 100pp daily and can usually
>> guarantee 80pp -- about 25000pp/year).
>>
>> So, I need to find authors that have written a fair amount.  I won't
>> start book 1 of a multi-volume series until I'm pretty sure the
>> *last* volume has already been published -- I look at the front matter
>> to see if it lists "other volumes in this series" and examine each of
>> them, in turn, before starting the first; I don't want to have to wait
>> a year, or more, for a story to "resume"; rereading a book just to
>> refresh my memory of what had happened in order to appreciate the
>> next volume isn't a good use of my time -- esp if there is no reason to
>> start on it until its sequels are ready!  :>
>
> Well if you pick dead writers, you should be OK.

Yes.  The flip-side is you'll *never* find another title,
once you've "consumed" them all.  :<  At least, with living
authors, you can hope that taking a many year hiatus from
their work will result in <something> filling in the void,
later.

E.g., DAdams wrote *far* too little!  As a result, I am "forced"
to keep rereading the same titles.  And, while enjoyable, it would
be nice to be able to stumble on "something new".

[I recall finding a "new" van Vogt title some 30 years ago.
It was as if I'd found a palm-sized lump of *gold*... caress
it, don't rush the experience, etc.  :< ]

> My mother had a collection ~10 vol. of Alexander Dumas...
> (he wrote much more.)
>
>> Of course, this doesn't innoculate you from an author revisiting
>> a series and augmenting it.
>>
>> And, some authors just keep beating the same theme far too long (Piers
>> Anthony, Terry Pratchett, etc.) -- "Move along; nothing to see, here!"
> I like Terry Pratchett,  (well not the early stuff.. starting somewhere
> with the witches.)  I guess I mostly just want a good story,
> with characters that I like.  If I get hold of a good book it will be
> gone in no time... A bad novel can linger forever.
>
> Bujold is space opera, fantasy, romance.  She draws wonderful characters!
> And tells a nice tale.
>
>> van Vogt is my favorite "classic" author.  But, many of the stories
>> are more "adventure" than SciFi -- despite the themes involved.
>> And, some have been reworked over the years so I will encounter
>> a story that "seems awfully familiar"; then, have to plow through
>> the rest of the collection in search of the OTHER story that it
>> resembles (but, his books are short so it turns into a delightful
>> excuse to reread much of the set!)
>>
>> Gene Wolfe is another that requires an "investment" to enjoy.
>> I'm due to reread "Soldier", soon (have to leave enough time
>> between readings that I can "forget" many of the details else
>> it wouldn't be as "fresh")
>>
>> Ditto Neal Stephenson (avoid _Anathem_ until you've decided if
>> you want to make that sort of investment)
>
> Huh, I've read all those guys but never got into any of them...
> Which is fine, we all have different tastes... books are art
> after all.

It's rare for an author to have a consistent set of "hits".
OTOH, I've had better luck sticking to authors that have
written <something> I liked than bouncing around between
"unvetted" authors.

> (When I find an author I like, I'll eat 'em up...
> In general, I think the early stuff (from some writer) is the best.)
>
> I don't really want to work too hard.  When the plot lines get too
> numerous, I get confused.  I started "Game of Thrones" but stopped
> 3/4 of the way through the first vol.

I try really hard to finish every book / series I start.  I couldn't
wade through _The Silmarillion_, regardless of the level of determination.
And, after *forcing* myself through _Perelandrea_, gave up on The Space
Trilogy and anything else Lewis may have authored!

> When I want to work hard, I read a technical/science book.

Technical books take far more effort.  Especially if you are trying to learn
something new.  My reading speed/rate drops by an order of magnitude, there.
So, I revel in the things I can read "for entertainment" and find ways to
squeeze in a few minutes, here and there.  E.g., I have found that I can
comfortably read with a Nook while walking -- whereas a paperback is nust
not practical (probably due to the size of the text and having a harder
time keeping track of which *line* you're on as it bobs-and-weaves in front
of you).

I'm not keen on stories that are total fluff (e.g., like watching a
Flash Gordon serial!)

> But that's just me,

Thread

OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Cursitor Doom <curd@notformail.com> - 2017-03-28 17:12 +0000
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 10:46 -0700
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "Dave M" <dgminala@mediacombb.net> - 2017-03-28 14:23 -0500
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Robertson <spam@flippers.com> - 2017-03-28 10:47 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 10:53 -0700
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "Paul Hovnanian P.E." <paul@hovnanian.com> - 2017-03-28 19:49 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Larkin <jjlarkinxyxy@highlandtechnology.com> - 2017-03-28 10:58 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Jim Thompson <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon@On-My-Web-Site.com> - 2017-03-28 11:01 -0700
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "Michael A. Terrell" <mike.terrell@earthlink.net> - 2017-04-02 00:47 -0400
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net> - 2017-03-28 14:09 -0400
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Phil Hobbs <pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> - 2017-03-28 14:39 -0400
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Devereux <john@devereux.me.uk> - 2017-03-28 19:45 +0100
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-28 20:11 +0100
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-28 12:34 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "Kevin Aylward" <kevinRemovAT@kevinaylward.co.uk> - 2017-03-28 21:20 +0100
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-28 13:30 -0700
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Gunther Heiko Hagen <guntherxxx@quantserve.de> - 2017-03-28 21:36 +0000
        Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Gunther Heiko Hagen <guntherxxx@quantserve.de> - 2017-03-28 21:53 +0000
        Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-28 17:12 -0700
          Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 19:39 -0700
            Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-28 21:16 -0700
              Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-29 06:23 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Devereux <john@devereux.me.uk> - 2017-03-29 15:19 +0100
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 10:28 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-29 17:24 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 19:07 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 10:23 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-29 19:01 +0100
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 11:15 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-29 19:58 +0100
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 12:23 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com> - 2017-03-29 17:05 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 19:02 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2017-03-29 22:06 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com> - 2017-03-30 21:18 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2017-03-31 08:59 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-31 11:47 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2017-03-31 12:46 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-31 13:27 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2017-03-31 21:09 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-31 22:32 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "Michael A. Terrell" <mike.terrell@earthlink.net> - 2017-04-02 01:32 -0400
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2017-04-02 09:49 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "Michael A. Terrell" <mike.terrell@earthlink.net> - 2017-04-04 21:50 -0400
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-29 18:02 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 19:00 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-30 08:06 +0100
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-30 00:17 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Frank Miles <fpm@u.washington.edu> - 2017-03-30 15:46 +0000
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bill.sloman@ieee.org - 2017-03-29 17:53 -0700
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Larkin <jjlarkinxyxy@highlandtechnology.com> - 2017-03-28 13:49 -0700
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net> - 2017-03-28 17:16 -0400
        Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bill.sloman@ieee.org - 2017-03-28 16:12 -0700
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-28 23:40 +0100
        Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Larkin <jjlarkinxyxy@highlandtechnology.com> - 2017-03-28 15:46 -0700
          Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net> - 2017-03-28 18:51 -0400
            Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-29 00:19 +0100
            Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 19:17 -0700
          Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bill.sloman@ieee.org - 2017-03-28 16:22 -0700
        Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-28 17:08 -0700
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 15:48 -0700
        Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Cursitor Doom <curd@notformail.com> - 2017-03-28 23:14 +0000
          Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bill.sloman@ieee.org - 2017-03-28 16:30 -0700
          Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-29 10:12 +0100
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bill.sloman@ieee.org - 2017-03-28 16:19 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "nuny@bid.nes" <alien8752@gmail.com> - 2017-03-28 14:59 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 15:40 -0700
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories dplatt@coop.radagast.org (Dave Platt) - 2017-03-28 16:18 -0700
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 19:29 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Adrian Jansen <adrian@qq.vv.net> - 2017-03-29 09:12 +1000
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Chris <cbx@noreply.com> - 2017-03-28 23:26 +0000
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-28 17:15 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Wond <gboot.phil@gmx.com> - 2017-03-29 14:31 +0000
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories jurb6006@gmail.com - 2017-03-29 08:15 -0700
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Robertson <spam@flippers.com> - 2017-03-29 10:59 -0700
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Ingvald44 <noone@nowhere.com> - 2017-03-29 20:00 -0400
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "David Eather" <eather@tpg.com.au> - 2017-03-31 07:58 +1000

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