The Algebraist (and other book recommendations)

On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 22:18:36 +0100, Mr Scummy wrote:

> I'm getting pretty desperate for another Culture "fix". I know The
> Algebraist isn't a Culture story, but is it worth a read (I've seen
> mixed reviews)?

It's a mixed bag. It has a lot of good stuff, but in the end I felt a
little let down. Like the other recent Banks novels, some kind of final
polish is missing. (YMMV of course, but reading "Raw Spirit" I got the
impression that Banks has earned enough of fame and fortunes and now has
lost some of the motivation. Especially "Dead Air" felt like he was just
going through motions, and can't really be bothered anymore.)

Still, I'd say "The Algebraist" is a good read, and better than majority
of current SF. It feels slightly disappointing only when compared with
earlier works of Banks.

> In addition, can anyone recommend any other SF books or series that
> might also appeal to a Banks/Culture fan?

Don't know if it has anything to do with being Banks/Culture fan, but I've
enjoyed Vernor Vinge's "A Fire Upon the Deep" and "A Deepness in the Sky".
"Across Realtime" wasn't that great, but the ideas of singularity are
pretty mind-boggling. See
http://www-rohan.sdsu.edu/faculty/vinge/misc/WER2.html (won't spoil any of
the books).

Other recommendation is Alastair Reynold's "Revelation Space" series. A
little on the hard SF side (No FTL, alien races or galaxy-spanning
empires), but space opera nevertheless. Gives a pretty good solution for
the Fermi's Paradox, too.

Vesa

--
"I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I
can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it."
- Jack Handey, Deep Thoughts
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Mr Scummy wrote:

> I'm getting pretty desperate for another Culture "fix". I know The
> Algebraist isn't a Culture story, but is it worth a read (I've seen
> mixed reviews)?

I'm a writer myself, so I really love well-crafted, well-written books.
As a result, I have liked every Banks book I've ever read. I
particularly liked The Algebraist; it's a very good mystery story and
the point of the mystery is foreshadowed in the initial section of the
story, but the story is so good, I didn't realize this until the end.

> In addition, can anyone recommend any other SF books or series that
> might also appeal to a Banks/Culture fan?

Although they are not SF, I can highly recommend the books of Edward
Rutherfurd. "Sarum," "London" and "The Forest" are excellent reads,
especially if you love England.

Terry Pratchett writes wonderful Fantasy novels, using Fantasy as a
Swiftian tool to illuminate the foibles and magnificence of human
behavior. The only warning I must give you is that they will make you
laugh loudly on trains and buses and in fine restaurants, which might
prove embarrassing.

Other writers I can recommend are Jack Vance and Patricia McKillip.

-Rock http://www.rocky-frisco.com
--
Rocky Frisco's LIBERTY website: http://www.liberty-in-our-time.com/
The World's Best Daily News Service: http://www.rationalreview.com/
Rock onstage with JJ Cale and E. Clapton: http://tinyurl.com/3modw
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MS wrote:
>
> Also see here for Banks's own 'Top 10 SF' book list.
> http://www.i-dig.info/culture/culturefaq.html#RECOMMENDS

I am astounded that anybody would put William Gibson's
"Neuromancer" on a top 10 list. I've only got about 400 SF books
but out of those there are only a handful that I wouldn't rate
higher than Neuromancer.

A few SF books no one else has mentioned that I have enjoyed a
lot include:

"Emerald Eyes" and "The Last Dancer" by Daniel Keys Moran

"Stranger in a Strange Land" and "I Will Fear no Evil" by Heinlein

"Glory", Alfred Coppel


I could go on and on but I don't want to spend all day here ...
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Rob Stow wrote:

> MS wrote:
>
>>
>> Also see here for Banks's own 'Top 10 SF' book list.
>> http://www.i-dig.info/culture/culturefaq.html#RECOMMENDS
>
>
> I am astounded that anybody would put William Gibson's "Neuromancer" on
> a top 10 list. I've only got about 400 SF books but out of those there
> are only a handful that I wouldn't rate higher than Neuromancer.
>
> A few SF books no one else has mentioned that I have enjoyed a lot include:
>
> "Emerald Eyes" and "The Last Dancer" by Daniel Keys Moran
>
> "Stranger in a Strange Land" and "I Will Fear no Evil" by Heinlein
>
> "Glory", Alfred Coppel
>
>
> I could go on and on but I don't want to spend all day here ...

May I add one here? One of my all-time favorites is "Emphyrio," by Jack
Vance.

-Rock http://www.rocky-frisco.com
--
Rocky Frisco's LIBERTY website: http://www.liberty-in-our-time.com/
The World's Best Daily News Service: http://www.rationalreview.com/
Rock onstage with JJ Cale and E. Clapton: http://tinyurl.com/3modw
 >> Stay informed about: The Algebraist (and other book recommendations) 

Mr Scummy wrote:
> I'm getting pretty desperate for another Culture "fix". I know The
> Algebraist isn't a Culture story, but is it worth a read (I've seen
> mixed reviews)?
>
> In addition, can anyone recommend any other SF books or series that
> might also appeal to a Banks/Culture fan?
>

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions - I'll look into them. A
lot of suggested books I already have (e.g. most of Terry Pratchett's
output) or have tried (e.g. Altered Carbon - I tried reading it only a
week ago but for some reason couldn't get into it; I'll give it another
go), but there are a few new recommendations to try out.

By the way, it's nice to see that so many people do lurk here - I was
afraid it was a near-dead newsgroup!

Thanks again.
 >> Stay informed about: The Algebraist (and other book recommendations) 

"Mr Scummy" wrote in message

> I'm getting pretty desperate for another Culture "fix". I
know The
> Algebraist isn't a Culture story, but is it worth a read
(I've seen
> mixed reviews)?
>
> In addition, can anyone recommend any other SF books or
series that
> might also appeal to a Banks/Culture fan?

Welll...there's really nothing that can compare to the
culture, but 2 damn good SF reads would be Greg Bear's
masterpieces, Queen of Angels and his Anvil of Stars (sequel
to Forge of God, but the first few pps. can fill you in on
that one; Forge... is a good book but a one-note
one...lovely though if ya love disaster movies--this one's
the mother of 'em all.) Vinge's "A Fire Upon the Deep" is a
fantastically great book! That's for starters. ...tonyC
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Paul Walker wrote:

> On Sat, 30 Jul 2005 17:46:05 -0400, Anthony Cerrato wrote:
>
> > Welll...there's really nothing that can compare to the culture, but 2 damn
> > good SF reads would be Greg Bear's masterpieces, Queen of Angels and his
> > Anvil of Stars (sequel to Forge of God, but the first few pps. can fill
>
> While those are good books, you've forgotten to mention Blood Work, which is
> probably one of the best things he's done.

YM _Blood Music_.

--
Scott C. Beeler scottbeeler.RemoveThis@home.com
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Rocky Frisco wrote in
@okepread06:

> I'm a writer myself, so I really love well-crafted, well-written books.
> As a result, I have liked every Banks book I've ever read. I
> particularly liked The Algebraist; it's a very good mystery story and
> the point of the mystery is foreshadowed in the initial section of the
> story, but the story is so good, I didn't realize this until the end.

Yes, I really think it ranks as one of his best. It has its little
tricks like the one you mention and, for me, a good enough end to the
mystery. (He's done much worse).

--
Adrian
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Mr Scummy wrote in
@news.zen.co.uk:

> Mr Scummy wrote:
>> I'm getting pretty desperate for another Culture "fix". I know The
>> Algebraist isn't a Culture story, but is it worth a read (I've seen
>> mixed reviews)?
>>
>> In addition, can anyone recommend any other SF books or series that
>> might also appeal to a Banks/Culture fan?
>>
>
> Thanks for all the comments and suggestions - I'll look into them. A
> lot of suggested books I already have (e.g. most of Terry Pratchett's
> output) or have tried (e.g. Altered Carbon - I tried reading it only a
> week ago but for some reason couldn't get into it; I'll give it another
> go), but there are a few new recommendations to try out.
>
> By the way, it's nice to see that so many people do lurk here - I was
> afraid it was a near-dead newsgroup!

It was just sleeping. (Like a Norwegian Blue Parrot).

--
Adrian
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 >> Stay informed about: The Algebraist (and other book recommendations) 

On Thu, 28 Jul 2005 12:38:44 -0500, the trouble really kicked off when
Rocky Frisco said:

>Rob Stow wrote:
>
>> MS wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> Also see here for Banks's own 'Top 10 SF' book list.
>>> http://www.i-dig.info/culture/culturefaq.html#RECOMMENDS
>>
>>
>> I am astounded that anybody would put William Gibson's "Neuromancer" on
>> a top 10 list. I've only got about 400 SF books but out of those there
>> are only a handful that I wouldn't rate higher than Neuromancer.
>>
>> A few SF books no one else has mentioned that I have enjoyed a lot include:
>>
>> "Emerald Eyes" and "The Last Dancer" by Daniel Keys Moran
>>
>> "Stranger in a Strange Land" and "I Will Fear no Evil" by Heinlein
>>
>> "Glory", Alfred Coppel
>>
>>
>> I could go on and on but I don't want to spend all day here ...
>
>May I add one here? One of my all-time favorites is "Emphyrio," by Jack
>Vance.
>
>-Rock http://www.rocky-frisco.com

Guilty secret - I really enjoyed Peter F Hamilton's Night's Dawn
trilogy, and his "Pandora's Star" is an intriguing first half of a
two-parter (second half due out soon, I believe , "Judas Unchained").

Not in Banks' league, but a rip-roaring read with some fascinating
ideas, all the same.

I'll get me coat.
--
Loz {>
GCU Ducati 999
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Mr Scummy said something:
> In addition, can anyone recommend any other SF books or series that
> might also appeal to a Banks/Culture fan?

I picked up M. John Harrison's 'Light' on the basis of the
following quote on the front:

"'Light is brilliant' Iain M. Banks"

and I love it. I'm also reading his 'Viriconium' collection,
which I'm thoroughly enjoying.

I think he should definitely appeal to Banks fans.

cheers,
iain

--
"If sharing a thing in no way diminishes it, it is not
rightly owned if it is not shared." -- St. Augustine
#rm -rf /
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