The last book you read that was truly fantastic

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The last book you read that was truly fantastic

#21 Illuyankas

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Posted 21 March 2013 - 10:38 PM

The Quantum Thief is amazing, The Fractal Prince is better.

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#22 Obdigore

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Posted 22 March 2013 - 03:19 AM

Reading The Cold Commands again, and it is still truly fantastic.

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#23 Morgoth

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Posted 22 March 2013 - 11:40 AM

Illuyankas, on 21 March 2013 - 10:38 PM, said:

The Quantum Thief is amazing, The Fractal Prince is better.

Yeah, those were also an amazing experience. Another SM recomendation

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#24 Serenity

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Posted 22 March 2013 - 12:49 PM

For me two spring immediately to mind: Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes and Ken Grimwood's Replay. The latter is one of the best books I've read in any genre.

#25 Mikkelinski

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Posted 22 March 2013 - 02:04 PM

Perdido Street Station and The Heroes. Easily.

#26 MTS

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Posted 22 March 2013 - 03:15 PM

Probably wasn't the last mind-blowing book I read, but The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is truly phenomenal. By the way, if you like Lolita, read Pale Fire immediately.

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#27 Pig Iron

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Posted 22 March 2013 - 06:38 PM

Illuyankas, on 21 March 2013 - 10:38 PM, said:

The Quantum Thief is amazing, The Fractal Prince is better.

Fractal Prince and Red Country were the books that came to mind immediately for me.

Obdigore, on 22 March 2013 - 03:19 AM, said:

Reading The Cold Commands again, and it is still truly fantastic.

Yes!

Serenity, on 22 March 2013 - 12:49 PM, said:

For me two spring immediately to mind: Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes and Ken Grimwood's Replay. The latter is one of the best books I've read in any genre.

Thanks for reminding me of Replay, agree.

#28 Morgoth

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Posted 23 March 2013 - 07:52 AM

MTS, on 22 March 2013 - 03:15 PM, said:

Probably wasn't the last mind-blowing book I read, but The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon is truly phenomenal. By the way, if you like Lolita, read Pale Fire immediately.

Oh I have. Stone Monkey posted somewhere about re-reading Pale Fire so obviously I had to buy it. I fell completely in love with the book and bought a whole bunch of Nabokov titles soon after, including Lolita.

Pale Fire i probably enjoyed more during the actual reading. I mean, it's hilarious. Yet, Lolita stays with me like few other books have. It's an incredible literary achievement, and anyone who've yet to read it need to rectify that flaw immediately.

Although, I also loved The Shadow of the Wind, but I think I read that this fall so it doesn't count. It's another beautiful book, which to my mind was written as love story where the protagonist's romantic interest is literature.

Take good care to keep relations civil
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To speak friendly, Even to the devil

#29 Use Of Weapons

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Posted 23 March 2013 - 12:05 PM

I'm reading _Shōgun_ at the moment, and it is blowing me away. I love it, and even this early it's clearly going to be my favourite book of 2013.

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#30 RodeoRanch

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Posted 26 March 2013 - 02:49 AM

Serenity, on 22 March 2013 - 12:49 PM, said:

For me two spring immediately to mind: Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes and Ken Grimwood's Replay. The latter is one of the best books I've read in any genre.

I picked up "Replay." About half done and it's just fucking riveting.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations!

#31 Aooga

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Posted 06 April 2013 - 07:59 PM

Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons is a profoundly brilliant horror novel and just as good as Hyperion Cantos for very different reasons.

#32 Tsundoku

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Posted 07 April 2013 - 01:58 AM

Under Heaven by Guy Gavriel Kay.

Redshirts by John Scalzi was a good, quick, fun read.

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#33 LinearPhilosopher

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Posted 07 April 2013 - 09:48 PM

My top read from last year was Existentialism is a humanism by Jean-Paul Sartre, it's a good and quick read. I highly recommend it.
I'm also really digging what the buddha taught, eastern thought is something else man. Also an easy read.

This post has been edited by BalrogLord: 07 April 2013 - 09:48 PM

#34 Dolorous Menhir

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Posted 18 April 2013 - 12:10 AM

I'm reading the Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, it's excellent. But Gnaw beat me to my all-time favourite:

Gnaw, on 21 March 2013 - 05:42 PM, said:

i thought I had posted this last night. I recently re-read Alfred Bester's "The Stars My Destination". I'd definitely rate it A+.

#35 Morgoth

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Posted 18 April 2013 - 09:47 AM

Dolorous Menhir, on 18 April 2013 - 12:10 AM, said:

I'm reading the Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, it's excellent. But Gnaw beat me to my all-time favourite:

Gnaw, on 21 March 2013 - 05:42 PM, said:

i thought I had posted this last night. I recently re-read Alfred Bester's "The Stars My Destination". I'd definitely rate it A+.

If you enjoy Collins you should really try reading Drood by Dan Simmons.

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#36 Mentalist

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Posted 20 April 2013 - 11:54 PM

Morgoth, on 18 April 2013 - 09:47 AM, said:

Dolorous Menhir, on 18 April 2013 - 12:10 AM, said:

I'm reading the Moonstone by Wilkie Collins, it's excellent. But Gnaw beat me to my all-time favourite:

Gnaw, on 21 March 2013 - 05:42 PM, said:

i thought I had posted this last night. I recently re-read Alfred Bester's "The Stars My Destination". I'd definitely rate it A+.

If you enjoy Collins you should really try reading Drood by Dan Simmons.

I loved Moonstone. Will have to look into Drood.

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Jump Around, on 23 October 2011 - 11:04 AM, said:

And I want to state that Ment has out-weaseled me by far in this game.

#37 Gust Hubb

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Posted 30 April 2013 - 02:29 AM

RodeoRanch, on 26 March 2013 - 02:49 AM, said:

Serenity, on 22 March 2013 - 12:49 PM, said:

For me two spring immediately to mind: Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes and Ken Grimwood's Replay. The latter is one of the best books I've read in any genre.

I picked up "Replay." About half done and it's just fucking riveting.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations!

Just finished this one. Amazing recommendation. Loved it.

Moving onto The Terror next.

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#38 Studlock

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Posted 30 April 2013 - 03:29 AM

The last book that made me feel something outside of slight amusement would be the Crippled God but I don't read as much as I should.

#39 Serenity

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Posted 02 May 2013 - 01:31 PM

corv, on 30 April 2013 - 02:29 AM, said:

RodeoRanch, on 26 March 2013 - 02:49 AM, said:

Serenity, on 22 March 2013 - 12:49 PM, said:

For me two spring immediately to mind: Joe Abercrombie's The Heroes and Ken Grimwood's Replay. The latter is one of the best books I've read in any genre.

I picked up "Replay." About half done and it's just fucking riveting.

Thanks everyone for the recommendations!

Just finished this one. Amazing recommendation. Loved it.

Glad you enjoyed it! :apt:

#40 McLovin

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Posted 02 May 2013 - 03:11 PM

I'll kick in.

The last book I read that I couldn't put down was THE PASSAGE. Zombie apocalypse with telepathic and vampiric elements. A secret military weapons program. A special little kid who may save the world. So utterly unoriginal in concept it should totally suck. But Cronin's writing and characters sell it.

Before that, MATTERHORN by Karl Marlantes. Haven't read much Vietnam stuff outside Tim O'Brien, but based on a review in Newsweek I picked this up. Characters exist to portray societal archetypes of the time and therefore aren't terribly compelling in themselves, but the time and place are evoked so strongly it is riveting.

OK, I think I got it, but just in case, can you say the whole thing over again? I wasn't really listening.