[Macros]

I think Ive read a banks book. Revelations space or something?

I might try what you suggested, but I wasnt a big fan of the revelation space thing

[Salt-Man Z]

Macros, on 12 September 2016 - 08:57 PM, said:

I think Ive read a banks book. Revelations space or something?

I might try what you suggested, but I wasnt a big fan of the revelation space thing

Revelation Space is Alastair Reynolds. Banks is totally different. (I loved Reynolds, but read Banks's Consider Phlebas and was underwhelemed.)

[worry]

Anyone with the name Alistair Reynolds should be off hosting Masterpiece Theater or signing the Magna Carta or whatever.

[amphibian]

Salt-Man Z, on 12 September 2016 - 09:33 PM, said:

Macros, on 12 September 2016 - 08:57 PM, said:

I think Ive read a banks book. Revelations space or something?

I might try what you suggested, but I wasnt a big fan of the revelation space thing

Revelation Space is Alastair Reynolds. Banks is totally different. (I loved Reynolds, but read Banks's Consider Phlebas and was underwhelemed.)

I have known you a while and I think you'll very much like the rest of the Banks books, even the non-Culture books (minus the Wasp Factory "real world" stuff). If you get the inclination, Salt-Man Z, try him out again - especially Excession.

[Salt-Man Z]

amphibian, on 12 September 2016 - 09:43 PM, said:

I have known you a while and I think you'll very much like the rest of the Banks books, even the non-Culture books (minus the Wasp Factory "real world" stuff). If you get the inclination, Salt-Man Z, try him out again - especially Excession.

I don't doubt it. Phlebas wasn't bad, it just never really grabbed me, but I enjoyed it overall. I do own Use of Weapons and intend to get to that at some point.

[Binder of Demons]

@ Salt-Man Z - When it comes to Iain M. Banks, I'd usually recommend starting with PLAYER OF GAMES as I think it's the most accessible while also being a great representation of the Culture universe. But of course, that's just my opinion.


And for MACROS, while the Iain M. Banks rec above holds true for you as well, I think the closest analogue to Richard Morgan in terms of sci-fi stuff might be NEAL ASHER. This is allowing for the fact that you didn't enjoy Alastair Reynolds' REVELATION SPACE that much. I enjoyed pretty much all of the POLITY books, as well s the most recent OWNER trilogy (which starts with The Departure), but after doing a quick look a the reviews online, I see that opinions vary. Others here might chime in on that.

For the record, I loved the KOVACS trilogy by Morgan, and have enjoyed several of Alastair Reynolds' books, especially Chasm City.


And now after looking at my bookshelf, I think i shall go back and reread STATIONS OF THE TIDE by Michael Swanwick. Years since I've read it, but remember loving it.

[Macros]

I had asked for sci fi recos before and was given reynolds, didn't enjoy it at all, I think my problems with it lay with too much on the sciency side and not really much happening (I recall my use of the phrase "psuedo science techno babbel" seemed to offend some people at the time on my review of it)
I think I have two Banks novels on my shelf, Whit and Matter, of the two which would be a better option, I'd say I'll have stardust wrapped up tonight/ tomorrow morn

[Binder of Demons]

Sorry Macros, can't really help with those 2 Banks novels. I think i have MATTER but haven't read it yet (bought it just before i moved back to ireland and so it fell by the wayside in a shipping crate and I forgot to actually read it yet). And WHIT is one of his "normal" novels written as Iain Banks, so I haven't read it. But if it's sci-fi that you want to read, then MATTER is the choice.

[Abyss]

@Macros - re SF recos, I second the Asher , but he's similar enough in tone to Morgan that you might want something else in between.

I can offer:

Hannu Rajaniemi's JEAN LE FLAMBEUR trilo. Very original, great concepts, bit of mindfuckery. I mildly liked the first book, massively enjoyed 2 and 3.


Patrick Lee's TRAVIS CHASE trilo. These are fast fast reads, closer to thriller in some ways but very much sf.

[polishgenius]

Macros, on 13 September 2016 - 01:59 AM, said:

I had asked for sci fi recos before and was given reynolds, didn't enjoy it at all, I think my problems with it lay with too much on the sciency side and not really much happening (I recall my use of the phrase "psuedo science techno babbel" seemed to offend some people at the time on my review of it)
I think I have two Banks novels on my shelf, Whit and Matter, of the two which would be a better option, I'd say I'll have stardust wrapped up tonight/ tomorrow morn

Your reasons for disliking Reynolds are precisely why I wouldn't necessarily recommend you Baxter, but Banks is of a different breed.

Out of the two you've got, Matter is the only SF one but it's unfortunately (1) rubbish and (2) one of the later Culture entries- this isn't generally a huge problem, they're broadly standalone, but you might want an earlier entry point.
I haven't read Whit so I can't say if it's good.

[Tiste Simeon]

Banks is unlike any other author tbf I wouldn't really put him in the same style as anyone else. His books definitely aren't space opera and they're not hard sci-fi. I guess I see the comparison to Kovacs in that the culture agents are often quite specialist at what they do etc.

Now I want to read a bunch of Banks again.

[worry]

Finished Wheel of Osheim. Another beautiful end to another wonderful trilogy. So much to love about this book in particular. Lawrence doesn't screw up by transforming his antiheroes into somebody else; he just shapes them -- through nightmare ordeals -- to be their most necessary selves. Works wonders.

I've timed my WOT read near-perfectly to do New Spring next, knock it out cuz it's so short, and dive right into the new Jemisin.

[polle]

After reading The Vagrant and enjoying it, I am currently reading The Malice. Halfway through at the moment and, again, enjoying it. I find it intriguing.

Also reading Butcher's Grave Peril. While it's generally a fun read, the quality of Butcher's writing has not convinced me (yet). But as it has been pointed out to me that the quality improves after the 4th instalment, I'll give it some more time.

[Chance]

Macros, on 13 September 2016 - 01:59 AM, said:

I had asked for sci fi recos before and was given reynolds, didn't enjoy it at all, I think my problems with it lay with too much on the sciency side and not really much happening (I recall my use of the phrase "psuedo science techno babbel" seemed to offend some people at the time on my review of it)
I think I have two Banks novels on my shelf, Whit and Matter, of the two which would be a better option, I'd say I'll have stardust wrapped up tonight/ tomorrow morn

Which reynolds did you try...revelation space seems pretty well liked but I've found it very inferior to his Poseidons Children. I had the same pseudo science tech babbel complaints against revelation space and find Asher, Morgan and Banks go very well together nearly like different stages of similiar development with Morgan (somewhat nearer future), Asher a bit further out there and Banks in a post scarcity reality with the galaxy as the playground.

Don't start the culture books on Matter, it is set very late in the cycle and is generally one of the weakest enteries. Player of games, consider phelbas or use of weapons are better entry points and I'd recommend publishing order for any completionist.

This post has been edited by Chance: 13 September 2016 - 12:49 PM

[QuickTidal]

It should be noted that a vehement, angry climate change denier like Asher...should not be writing science fiction...because if we all thought as he does about our planet we will never GET to the future.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Isn't Alastair Reynolds a hard SF author who used to be an astronomer? I'm not sure anything he writes can be considered "pseudoscience".

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 13 September 2016 - 01:26 PM

[QuickTidal]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 13 September 2016 - 01:25 PM, said:

Isn't Alastair Reynolds a hard SF author who used to be an astronomer? I'm not sure anything he writes can be considered "pseudoscience".

Indeed. He has a phD in Astronomy and Physics and worked for many years for the European Space Agency in their research and tech division. I think most of his science is pretty sound. That's what attracted him to writing science fiction, to make realistic space exploration and such.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 13 September 2016 - 01:21 PM, said:

It should be noted that a vehement, angry climate change denier like Asher...should not be writing science fiction...because if we all thought as he does about our planet we will never GET to the future.

I respect this point of view, tho i find Asher's climate change denial less offensive than Card's anti-gayism. Believing in bad science isn't as bad as promoting hate.

Also, super-pirates versus crab aliens versus planetary AIs is a LOT of fun to read.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 13 September 2016 - 03:02 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 13 September 2016 - 01:21 PM, said:

It should be noted that a vehement, angry climate change denier like Asher...should not be writing science fiction...because if we all thought as he does about our planet we will never GET to the future.

I respect this point of view, tho i find Asher's climate change denial less offensive than Card's anti-gayism. Believing in bad science isn't as bad as promoting hate.

I think they are different sides of the same asshole-coin. One is against LGBT human rights and the other is against us all living on this planet for much longer.

[Salt-Man Z]

QuickTidal, on 13 September 2016 - 01:21 PM, said:

It should be noted that a vehement, angry climate change denier like Asher...should not be writing science fiction...because if we all thought as he does about our planet we will never GET to the future.

This is such a nonsensical statement I don't even know where to start. I'll just say that, having only read one Asher book, I don't think I'd want to live in his future anyway.

...

Okay, I'll also say that I don't see what his views on climate change have to do with his ability to write about aliens, A.I., and body horror (my three-term summary of Dark Intelligence.)