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Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction?

From Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com>
Newsgroups rec.arts.sf.written
Subject Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction?
Date 2018-05-01 17:41 -0500
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <pcaqeg$jtd$1@dont-email.me> (permalink)
References (5 earlier) <XnsA8D4AB46873A5taustingmail@69.16.179.43> <pc8bck$dji$2@dont-email.me> <XnsA8D4D17423055taustincagmailcom@69.16.179.42> <pcajpu$al5$1@dont-email.me> <XnsA8D5934ABA779taustingmail@69.16.179.42>

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On 5/1/2018 4:28 PM, Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha wrote:
...
>>>> Remind me, what SF/F books are your favorites ?
>>>
>>> #1 book would be the Cordelia's Honor omnibus (which is really
>>> only one story), very closely followed by Brust's Phoenix
>>> Guards. Both series (including the Vlad stuff from Brust, which
>>> really is a separate series, I know) are at the top of my list.
>>> Those get reread regularly.
>>>
>>> Just finished the latest from Jack McDevitt. Keeping current on
>>> The Expanse books as they come out. Rereading the Discworld
>>> books right now. Mary Stewarts Merlin trilogy (all four books).
>>>
>>> While they don't hold up espcially well to today's standards
>>> (mine, that is, not the world's), I have a fondness for Julian
>>> May's Pliocene Exile books (and to a rather less extent, the
>>> sequels) and Katherine Kurtz's Deryni books (the first two
>>> trilogies, that is, the rest . . . OK, but not among my
>>> rereads), The first Pern trilogy.
>>>
>>> It holds up even less well in many ways, but I have a great
>>> fondness for Blish's Cities in Flight books. The Sten books by
>>> Bunch and Cole *does* hold up pretty well. Everything of Ryk's
>>> that I've read (haven't tried the fantasy stuff so far).
>>> Anything by Barry Hughart (but there's only three) or Tom Holt.
>>>
>>> Howl's Moving Castle (not the movie, though I like that, too,
>>> but it's a completely different story) and the two sequels.
>>> Pournelle's Falkenberg's Legion stuff, and the related stuff in
>>> the same universe. Maybe Hammer's Slammers. Maybe. I'd mention
>>> Ellis Peters, but Brother Cadfael isn't SF/F.
>>>
>>> Pretty much anything by Connie Willis.
>>>
>>> That's all stuff I've either reread, or probably will.
>>
>> I've got three by McDevitt
> 
> The Alex Benedict series is reminds me quite a bit of classic, old
> school stuff. Fairly optomistic view of the far future. The Academy
> (or Hutch) series is nearer future (though still a couple hundred
> years out), and not quite dystopic, but not a bright, shiny future.
> Given the sort of stuff you usually seem to like, I suspect you'll
> like the Hutch series better, but it's all good.
> 
>> and two from Connie Willis in my SBR.
> 
> Which ones? A lot of her stuff is the time travel series, but the
> rest is all over the place. (It, too, is all good.)
> 
>>   Maybe the last Deryni book.
> 
> The very first trilogy are classics of the genre. The first Camber
> trilogy really appeals to an appreciation of ritual and flowerly
> language. After that, you *really* need to like the writing style.
> A *lot*. With long, adoring descriptions of inane rituals, the
> content of which could be presented in about one paragraph. The
> latest, the Childe Morgan stuff, is better on that score, though.
> (A friend of mine has one of the Camber books dedicated to him, and
> Rhys Thuryn is based on him.)
> 
>> I've got one or two Expanse books
>> in my SBR.
> 
> I read the first one a long time ago, on a lark. It was OK, but too
> dark for my normal tastes. Then the TV show started, and really
> brought it all to life. They have mastered characterization to a
> rare degree. Hack writers rely on stereotypes, and never vary from
> them. Better hack writers rely on archtypes, but with a twist that
> virtually always reverses it so the character can grow beyond their
> flaws. Abraham and Franck manage to let their characters grow and
> expand while staying true to their archtype.
>>
>> The Sten books ARE great.
> 
> Classics. And Allan Cole is a hell of a nice guy. And his memoirs
> from his days as a Hollywood script writer are hysterical. (Chris
> Bunch is, sadly, no longer with us.)
> 
>>   I've got about three of Ryk's book in
>> my SBR.
> 
> Well, get to it.
>>
>> Sounds like you read more fantasy than I do.
>>
> Not much more, these days, unless you retreat to a purist
> definition of science fiction (which makes pretty much all of the
> above fantasy except The Expanse and some of Ryk's stuff). The
> actual fantasy - the Deryni stuff, the original Pern trilogy
> (which, regardless of what McCaffrey intended at the time or has
> claimed since, was certainly presented in a fantasy style), the
> Pliocene Exile stuff (same as McCaffrey), etc., that's all old
> stuff. I read very little *new* fantasy these days, other than
> Bujold's Penric stories. (Especially now that Pratchett is gone.)

I have read all of the older Deryni books and McDevitt books.  I have 
read the first 4 ? 5 ? Expanse books.  The Connie Willis book that I 
have in my SBR is _Blackout_.  I am unsure what the other one is.  Or, I 
might be thinking of Jo Walton's _My Real Children_.

I have 400 to 500 books in my SBR.  I could stop buying new books now 
(that would make the wife happy) and never finish them all.

Should you be bored, you can see everything that I have read in the last 
fourteen years at:
 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/profile/amzn1.account.AHV2C7F5C3SWNVJAYRZOU7ORTWYA/

Lynn

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Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? The  Zygon <stafford.martin@gmail.com> - 2018-04-30 02:29 -0700
  Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Bill Gill <billnews2@cox.net> - 2018-04-30 08:09 -0500
    Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-04-30 14:04 +0000
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com> - 2018-04-30 08:55 -0700
    Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? The  Zygon <stafford.martin@gmail.com> - 2018-04-30 08:30 -0700
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-04-30 21:02 +0000
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-04-30 22:21 -0500
        Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-04-30 22:24 -0500
          Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? 103134.3516@compuserve.com - 2018-05-02 09:45 -0700
            Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? The Last Doctor <mike@xenocyte.com> - 2018-05-02 17:24 +0000
              Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-05-03 06:10 -0500
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? D B Davis <g@crcomp.net> - 2018-05-03 13:06 +0000
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? 103134.3516@compuserve.com - 2018-05-04 10:10 -0700
        Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Moriarty <blues95@ivillage.com> - 2018-04-30 20:30 -0700
          Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? The  Zygon <stafford.martin@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 21:27 -0700
          Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-05-03 06:15 -0500
        Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-05-01 13:24 +0000
          Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Greg Goss <gossg@gossg.org> - 2018-05-02 05:49 -0600
        Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? The  Zygon <stafford.martin@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 21:34 -0700
          Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-05-03 06:31 -0500
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? -dsr- <dsr-usenet@randomstring.org> - 2018-05-01 19:10 -0400
  Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Panthera Tigris Altaica <northerntiger@outlook.com> - 2018-04-30 07:54 -0700
    Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com> - 2018-04-30 09:41 -0700
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Wolffan <akwolffan@gmail.com> - 2018-05-03 08:53 -0400
        Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com> - 2018-05-03 10:02 -0700
          Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Peter Trei <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2018-05-03 10:49 -0700
            Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-03 11:23 -0700
              Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com> - 2018-05-03 12:15 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-03 13:02 -0700
              Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2018-05-03 18:56 -0400
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-05-03 23:28 +0000
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Jaimie Vandenbergh <jaimie@sometimes.sessile.org> - 2018-05-04 01:40 +0100
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2018-05-03 21:56 -0400
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Moriarty <blues95@ivillage.com> - 2018-05-03 19:42 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-05-04 04:10 +0000
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-03 22:54 -0700
              Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Robert Woodward <robertaw@drizzle.com> - 2018-05-03 22:29 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Peter Trei <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2018-05-04 06:58 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-04 09:17 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Kevrob <kevrob@my-deja.com> - 2018-05-04 09:40 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-04 14:45 -0700
            Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-05-03 21:18 -0500
          Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-05-03 20:02 +0000
    Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Bill Gill <billnews2@cox.net> - 2018-04-30 11:44 -0500
  Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? David Johnston <davidjohnston29@yahoo.com> - 2018-04-30 10:50 -0600
    Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2018-04-30 16:55 +0000
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? David Johnston <davidjohnston29@yahoo.com> - 2018-04-30 10:59 -0600
  Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2018-04-30 15:24 -0500
    Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2018-04-30 15:26 -0500
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-04-30 15:48 -0700
        Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2018-04-30 18:03 -0500
          Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-04-30 16:50 -0700
            Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2018-04-30 19:12 -0500
              Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Ninapenda Jibini <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 03:35 +0000
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 15:47 -0500
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 14:28 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 17:41 -0500
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 15:43 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 18:00 -0500
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 16:48 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? D B Davis <g@crcomp.net> - 2018-05-02 03:01 +0000
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? D B Davis <g@crcomp.net> - 2018-05-02 03:02 +0000
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 15:48 -0500
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? The  Zygon <stafford.martin@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 21:53 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-05-02 00:11 +0000
          Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Panthera Tigris Altaica <northerntiger@outlook.com> - 2018-04-30 16:54 -0700
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Magewolf <Magewolf@nc.rr.com> - 2018-05-01 19:38 -0400
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? The  Zygon <stafford.martin@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 21:17 -0700
    Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? mvp@web1.calweb.com (Mike Van Pelt) - 2018-05-01 00:03 +0000
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2018-04-30 20:46 -0400
        Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Ninapenda Jibini <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 03:38 +0000
          Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? djheydt@kithrup.com (Dorothy J Heydt) - 2018-05-01 05:21 +0000
            Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 08:49 -0700
              Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? mcdowell_ag@sky.com - 2018-05-01 12:10 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 13:12 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-01 15:34 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 19:53 -0400
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-01 19:41 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 19:49 -0400
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-01 19:36 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2018-05-01 22:51 -0400
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 09:25 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Lynn McGuire <lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 15:49 -0500
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-02 14:45 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 15:07 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? J. Clarke <jclarke.873638@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 19:10 -0400
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? mcdowell_ag@sky.com - 2018-05-02 21:09 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-05-03 06:23 -0500
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Gene Wirchenko <genew@telus.net> - 2018-05-01 22:43 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? The  Zygon <stafford.martin@gmail.com> - 2018-05-02 21:49 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-03 08:10 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-05-03 06:21 -0500
          Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Greg Goss <gossg@gossg.org> - 2018-05-04 06:14 -0600
            Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Jibini Kula Tumbili Kujisalimisha <taustinca@gmail.com> - 2018-05-04 08:15 -0700
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Robert Woodward <robertaw@drizzle.com> - 2018-04-30 21:55 -0700
        Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2018-05-01 05:26 +0000
          Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Robert Woodward <robertaw@drizzle.com> - 2018-05-01 21:39 -0700
            Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2018-05-02 05:01 +0000
              Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-01 23:17 -0700
              Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Greg Goss <gossg@gossg.org> - 2018-05-04 06:45 -0600
            Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? hamish.laws@gmail.com - 2018-05-04 06:28 -0700
              Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2018-05-04 14:41 +0000
              Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-04 09:16 -0700
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? David Johnston <davidjohnston29@yahoo.com> - 2018-05-04 11:05 -0600
                Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Dimensional Traveler <dtravel@sonic.net> - 2018-05-04 14:45 -0700
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Greg Goss <gossg@gossg.org> - 2018-05-04 06:11 -0600
  Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Robert Carnegie <rja.carnegie@excite.com> - 2018-04-30 15:19 -0700
    Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? Robert Carnegie <rja.carnegie@excite.com> - 2018-05-01 14:23 -0700
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? ted@loft.tnolan.com (Ted Nolan <tednolan>) - 2018-05-01 21:30 +0000
      Re: Who do you rate as your best read in science fiction? David DeLaney <daviddelaney@earthlink.net> - 2018-05-03 06:25 -0500

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