[Dagger]

I worship at the temple that is Zelazney's "Lord of Light". My copy has been through a couple decades of rereads now.

Banks is the king of space opera. "Consider Phlebas" is a good place to start, but my favorite is "Excession".

If we're going to talk about Peter Hamilton, I must rant for a moment about his "Fallen Dragon", a great stand-alone novel. Dickens/hard-core space opera. Another one that I've had to reread.

And no conversation about space opera is complete without Vernor Vinge. "A Fire Upon the Deep" and "Deepness in the Sky" are modern classics of the genre.

Regarding Tolkien and Galadriel, I was reading some notes on her in one of the Christopher Tolkien collections. JRRT said that Galadriel was very obsessed with power. The test of her refusing the ring is a major development for her, and I credit Jackson for portraying it so well in the movie. Oh, and she had a fondness for dwarves - because the little guys did such a good job of killing orcs. I'm telling you, this is a gal after my own heart.

[Agraba]

I stopped at Chapters today, and found out that they only had Hamilton's series split into 6 books, and they only had part 2 of Reality Dysfunction, not part 1. So I picked up Good Omens instead; even with just a bit of side-reading, it should still be a quick to finish book.

[Dolorous Menhir]

You would probably get a much better deal online, I imagine six books cost considerably more than three.

[Astra]

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0...d=20I0O7R02NVT8

[Agraba]

Thanks, but I'd rather not pay $8.00 to have it shipped over from the UK to Canada.

[Astra]

Oh, I am sorry. I thought you are from the UK.
On the other hand there might be a similar book on amazon.ca?

[Agraba]

If it ain't at Indigo tomorrow, then I'll probably order it from amazon.ca.

By the way, Good Omens isn't all that funny so far. I don't think it will match up to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

[namo]

Agraba said:

By the way, Good Omens isn't all that funny so far. I don't think it will match up to Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

I concur. I started a few months ago... and still haven't finished it. It's less funny than the usual Pratchett and is miles below the Sandman (ok, the topic is also completely different).

[caladanbrood]

Jay Tomio said:

Stories of you Life and Others by Ted Chiang

This may be the definitive SF collection, by perhaps the best SF short story writer of the generation.

Very true, it's a wonderful collection of stories.

The other sci-fi author I would mention is Neal Asher. "The Skinner" is simply mesmerising:) "The Cowl" is the only vaguely weak book he's written. He creates some really great characters, both human and AI.

[Sir Thursday]

caladanbrood said:

Very true, it's a wonderful collection of stories.

The other sci-fi author I would mention is Neal Asher. "The Skinner" is simply mesmerising:) "The Cowl" is the only vaguely weak book he's written. He creates some really great characters, both human and AI.

Is it just a coincidence, or does he name all his books after members of the Crimson Guard? :)

[caladanbrood]

Hehehe. It has been mentioned. Maybe theres some cosmic literary significance behind the names;)

[Agraba]

Well, I finished Good Omens, and I'm still hunting Reality Dysfunction.

Good Omens wasn't laugh out loud hilarious (but that's because the standards have been raised since 1990), but I still really liked the style. I've never seen it before, but it's what I always knew I'd do if I was a writer. Most scenes start out in different ambiguous places, through miscellaneous people before you see how the known characters come into the picture through their eyes and see how they play through.

Also, I like how they make truths appear by different separated scenes, and make things implied, rather than making things way too blatant.

And there were parts that did make me laugh out loud. Like the whole scene with Famine, and his MEALS tm. Or the four Hell's Angels' conversation, following the horsemen. Or Agnes Nutter's prophecy of Crawly's car catching fire (something with the Queen, and he was listening to Queen).

[drinksinbars]

although its not fantasy i think dan simmons is a better writer. the hyperion cantos is awesome, endymion is amazing, and ilium olympos is GOD-LIKE!!!

[Tattooed Hand]

Not better, because what is better - certainly not thinking about it as much after. But, Carey and Kay row my little boat. (Shrug, sorry, sometimes, feelings and sex are a welcome slap in the face).

[Whelp]

potsherds said:

Ummm....what could match up to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?
I know I just have a HUGE chip on my shoulder, but a book that nearly every physicist and astrophysicist that I've asked has read, is certainly a dern good book. And that book is completely brilliant.

For RPG geeks, the answer would be Tales From The Floating Vagabond

[polishgenius]

potsherds said:

Ummm....what could match up to The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy?

Stanislaw Lem's Star Diaries (and the first book, which I'm not sure of the title of) -I'm almost certain that DA was inspired by it.
However, it's quite hard to get hold of in English (or at least in England) and I don't know how good the translation is.
His Cyberiad is also a piece of gonzoid genius. And again, incredibly difficult to translate. Mainly thanks to invented words that make sense because of similarities and context - bit like Hitchhikers being translated the other way, really.

Lem > Adams though.
In fact, I'd go so far to say that Lem is one of the best Sci-Fi authors ever, in my opinion.

[Whelp]

polishgenius said:

However, it's quite hard to get hold of in English (or at least in England) and I don't know how good the translation is.
His Cyberiad is also a piece of gonzoid genius. And again, incredibly difficult to translate. Mainly thanks to invented words that make sense because of similarities and context - bit like Hitchhikers being translated the other way, really.

The Hungarian translation of Lem is quite good ( ) - and the Cyberiad is imho one of the best SF books around.