[Puck]

polishgenius, on 12 March 2018 - 10:50 PM, said:

Puck, on 12 March 2018 - 10:22 PM, said:

Have started The Will to Battle by Ada Palmer, book three of the Terra Ignota series, which has seriously grown on me. I was not too keen on the premise/setting at first, but cannot wait to find out more now. May end up as one of my favourite series. I love it when a series just keeps getting better.

Having read all three, there are still a few things thematically/socio-politically that I'm not sure about (it could be read to be saying some really dubious things about gender and sexual interaction) but it is fantastically written.

I agree. It's not that I don't perceive these things as iffy anymore, just that for me the good things about the series have come to outweight the eeeh ones. It's very well written and plotted.

[Mentalist]

Wrapped up "The end of all things". Good story progression, and another solid, feel-good ending- until the inevitable next galactic crisis comes along.

Need to think of a new commute book. Lovecraft is still coming along steadily but slowly at home, and I wanted to time the Psalms of Isaak re-read/completion with finishing that book. Might start the re-read of the first 3 as commute-only, unless I pick a short-ish book I feel I can finish in commute in a week or so. I'll have to take a look-see @ my shelves.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

Finished the excellent Matter. Aside from that, I've also previously read Consider Phlebas and Use of Weapons. Which other Culture books should I read and in what order?

Starting The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet tomorrow.

This post has been edited by Whisperzzzzzzz: 14 March 2018 - 12:05 AM

[amphibian]

Read all the Culture books. I'd just go publication order.

[Salt-Man Z]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 14 March 2018 - 12:04 AM, said:

Starting The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet tomorrow.

Fun book; a little too episodic for me, but the characters are fun. The sequel is very different, but also IMHO a lot better.

[Andorion]

Salt-Man Z, on 14 March 2018 - 02:06 AM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 14 March 2018 - 12:04 AM, said:

Starting The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet tomorrow.

Fun book; a little too episodic for me, but the characters are fun. The sequel is very different, but also IMHO a lot better.

I really liked both. The author tried to do sci-fi in a different way and IMO succeeds.

[Vengeance]

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 14 March 2018 - 12:04 AM, said:

Finished the excellent Matter. Aside from that, I've also previously read Consider Phlebas and Use of Weapons. Which other Culture books should I read and in what order?

Starting The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet tomorrow.

No idea of order. I am reading surface detail. I love 'use of weapons' which should now that I think about it probably be read before surface detail. The hydrogen sonata is a good one (the last culture he wrote I believe). Player of games is quite good as well. Personally I just pick one and go with it.

[Andorion]

Vengeance, on 14 March 2018 - 02:36 AM, said:

Whisperzzzzzzz, on 14 March 2018 - 12:04 AM, said:

Finished the excellent Matter. Aside from that, I've also previously read Consider Phlebas and Use of Weapons. Which other Culture books should I read and in what order?

Starting The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet tomorrow.

No idea of order. I am reading surface detail. I love 'use of weapons' which should now that I think about it probably be read before surface detail. The hydrogen sonata is a good one (the last culture he wrote I believe). Player of games is quite good as well. Personally I just pick one and go with it.

My favourite is Excession, then Use of Weapons

[Tiste Simeon]

Yeah you don't really need to read Culture novels in a particular order. There are some that are sequentially set after others and make reference to events that happened in the prior story (e.g. Look to Windward follows Consider Phlebas IIRC) but it doesn't matter that much.

[polishgenius]

Tiste Simeon, on 14 March 2018 - 05:31 AM, said:

Yeah you don't really need to read Culture novels in a particular order. There are some that are sequentially set after others and make reference to events that happened in the prior story (e.g. Look to Windward follows Consider Phlebas IIRC) but it doesn't matter that much.

Basically, as long as all the books before Look to Windward are read before you start with that and onwards, you're safe - as you say it doesn't matter that much though I do think the books are genuinely improved by reading the later ones after their thematic pair from earlier.

[Aptorian]

I've got an order of Consider Phlebas at the library. I've never read any culture novels or any of Alastair Reynolds for that matter. I've heard they're essential when it comes to Sci-fi.

[Macros]

I'm not a big sci fi reader apt, but really enjoyed the two I've read so far.

I read consider phlebas and player of games.

Two vastly different books, both good for different reasons.

I'd say try consider and if you like it carry on

[Morgoth]

Use of Weapons is on my top 10 list of favourite books.

[Chance]

Currently reading Stonewielder for the first time and while a lot is going on and some nice worldbuilding occationally pop up I'm not very invested in the characters, is there always a new group of people more or less for 75% of the POW's in Esslemonts books?

amphibian, on 14 March 2018 - 02:00 AM, said:

Read all the Culture books. I'd just go publication order.

Listen to this wise man, it will enhance the experience. Personal top three is likely Excession, Player of Games and Surface Detail, Use of Weapons is awesome but think these three are even better.

This post has been edited by Chance: 14 March 2018 - 02:46 PM

[Morgoth]

The answer to that question is always publication order.

[polishgenius]

Morgoth, on 14 March 2018 - 03:01 PM, said:

The answer to that question is always publication order.

The thing is though, not really. The answer to Discworld for example is very rarely publication order. And Banks has a similar thing in that while there's nothing wrong with pub order, the combination of Consider Phlebas being often considered a weaker novel (and I know I personally read it first and took ages to read another Banks) with it not really mattering means I always suggest the more representative Player of Games or Use of Weapons to start.

That said, if you've already read Consider Phlebas, then after that publication order makes sense.

[Tiste Simeon]

I hear if you read the Malazan books in reverse order there's a SINISTER HIDDEN MESSAGE!!

[Macros]

If you read the Malazan books in reverse order I'd be surprised if many made it to the good books (read, the first 6/7)

[Mentalist]

Had a hard time picking a commute book this morning. Ended up tossing the 2nd Greatcoats book into my backpack.

[Abyss]

Tiste Simeon, on 14 March 2018 - 05:35 PM, said:

I hear if you read the Malazan books in reverse order there's a SINISTER HIDDEN MESSAGE!!

Who told you it was sinister?