I need a book recommendation (Renamed : Recom'd me a book)

[Kewangji]

I would like some engaging, story-focused sci-fi. Currently really into Banks' Culture, for a guideline. The non-textbooks/non-children's books I'm reading at the moment feel too much like … uh, literary chores that I am put off them for now. Will pick up Inversions soon enough but would like to know if there's anything else I should pick up at the same time.

[ahammel]

I would like some engaging, story-focused sci-fi.

That's a pretty broad category. Have you read the Zones of Thought books? The Uplift books? Revelation Space?

[Kewangji]

I would like some engaging, story-focused sci-fi.

That's a pretty broad category. Have you read the Zones of Thought books? The Uplift books? Revelation Space?

I have not read Zones of Thought or the Uplift books. What are they about?

I have Redemption Ark; it took me ~4 months to finish and I enjoyed it eventually. Read Terminal World by Alastair Reynolds in a much shorter time, and Blue Remembered Earth took me the better part of a year. Have given up on him for now.

[ahammel]

I have not read Zones of Thought or the Uplift books. What are they about?

They're both space operas. In ZoT, it turns out that the level of technology possible depends on distance from the galactic centre. As you get further out from where we are it becomes possible to do things like travel faster than light, build hard AI's and make brain-computer interfaces. If you get too much close to the galactic core, technology (and, eventually, one's brain) stops working. Crazy stuff happens that changes the fate of the entire galaxy.

The Uplift books are set in a universe where it's supposed to be impossible to attain space-faring levels of technology without being 'uplifted' by a parent species. Being uplifted involves receiving education and genetic engineering from the parent race, and most of the politics in the galaxy is centred around who gets to uplift which species to sentience. Human are unpopular because we apparently self-uplifted, which isn't supposed to be posible. We escaped being adopted by a parent species because by the time anybody took any notice of us we had already uplifted other species (chimps and dolphins). Crazy stuff happens that changes the fate of the entire galaxy.

I have Redemption Ark; it took me ~4 months to finish and I enjoyed it eventually. Read Terminal World by Alastair Reynolds in a much shorter time, and Blue Remembered Earth took me the better part of a year. Have given up on him for now.

Startide Rising (the first Uplift book, sort of) would be a good choice if you don't want something in the "long enough to be used as a murder weapon" category.

[Kewangji]

Okay, the Uplift stuff seems right up my alley, thank you. Why is Startide Rising the first one and not Sundiver?

The ZoT concept reminds me of Terminal World (I'm sure it was an inspiration).

[ahammel]

Okay, the Uplift stuff seems right up my alley, thank you. Why is Startide Rising the first one and not Sundiver?

Sundiver is the first, but it's usually considered optional reading for the series as a whole. Startide Rising kicks off the plot arc for the rest of the series, and is generally considered much better than Sundiver. I've read the whole series except for Sundiver, FWIW.

I've not read Terminal World yet. Maybe I'll snag that one.

[PAstrychef]

CJ Cherryh has several sets of books you might like. The Chanur series, where the main characters are basically feline and the human among them is seen as scrawny and hairless; the Foreigner series, where a shipful of humans was forced to land on a planet already occupied by a tech- savvy race; the merchant wars, which includes Downbelow Station and Cyteen.
The early parts of Weber's Honor Harrington stuff is good, but the quality drops off around book 6.
Much of Elizabeth Moon's stuff.
John Barnes's A Million Open Doors, where interstellar coomunication is returning to a separated galaxy of planets.
LeGuin's Hanish Stories.

[Kewangji]

I love Le Guin but her stories are only rewarding at the end, for me. Hadn't heard of Cherryh or the others; will check them out if I see them. Thank you

[Metaphysician]

I have been consuming a lot of information on the origins of our current economic situation. I am wondering if anybody can recommend a book for me to pick up on the financial crisis. I have seen the four hour Money, Power, and Wall St. Frontline, and have also watched The Flaw. I'm basically looking for a book that can provide me with a deeper understanding of the factors at play here. I'm not afraid of books with a great deal of economic theory. I'd prefer to read something more concerned with analyzing the situation than getting on a soap box.

[emceng]

I would suggest The Mote in God's Eye.

[Cinemal]

Regarding the general thread; Chōhei Kambayashi's novels Yukikaze and Good Luck, Yukikaze are profoundly well-conceived science-fiction with deep (and direct) philosophical content.

Regarding a book on the economic crisis, Michael Lewis' The Big Short directly addresses a piece of that subject -- and his writing in general is consistently brilliant (one might suggest that Liar's Poker is as relevant to the current financial issues as any more recent book could be).

[dogma72]

The Selection by Kiera Cass

It's kind of a poor mans Hunger Games. It's really pretty good though.

[Nem]

Can anyone recommend me a book on Haskell that isn't Learn you a Haskell or Real World Haskell? I'm finding those books really difficult to get along with.

[Cathode Ray Sunshine]

Hello everyone. I've been thinking of buying some Stephen King books. I loved The Stand, and I liked Night Shift very much as well. I'm somewhat familiar with his work, but I want some recommendations as to what I should look into. I'm definitely buying The Shining, and I'm sure eventually I'll end up buying more of his books later on, but I'd rather start with 2 or 3 in the meanwhile. My choices right now are : The Shining, It and Salem's Lot. I'm thinking later getting Carrie, Pet Sematary The Long Walk and Dead Zone, unless you think I should pick one of those instead of the 3 I mentioned before (except The Shining, I'm dead set on that one).

I know there's probably gonna be suggestions for The Dark Tower series, but I'd rather read his more horror (or less fantasy) books right now, and I don't really have the time for such a long series at the moment.

Also please feel free to recommend me other horror stories/books/authors. Can't promise to check them all out, but if it gets my interest I'll give it a try. I haven't read many horror books but mainly I have liked King's collection of short stories and Lovecraft's work as well.

[emceng]

I really liked The Eyes of the Dragon. It wasn't horror really, but it was very good.

[emceng]

I'm looking for a sci-fi or fantasy re-telling of the Count of Monte Cristo. The Stars My Destination was suggested, but I have already read it. Anyone have another?

[Znirk]

I'm looking for a sci-fi or fantasy re-telling of the Count of Monte Cristo.

That's very specific ...

The only regurgitated Monte Cristo I can think of is The Stars' Tennis Balls by Stephen Fry, and that is set in the early Dotcom Age - not really fantasy or science fiction, apart from taking a few liberties with How Things Work. It's not my favourite Fry novel, but worth checking out I'd say.

[sarahnade]

Halp!

I like scifi and have not had enough exposure to fantasy to decide on it (but I imagine I'd be into it).
I like world building and strongly emotive characters.
I prefer complex plots.
I'd rather it be hopeful than bleak.
I have zero tolerance for disturbing things (nothing unsettling or creepy (gore and violence are weirdly not so bad but I don't prefer it)).
I LOVE dragons and would be super pleased with a female protagonist, though neither of these things are required.

Go go go!

[addams]

Halp!

I like scifi and have not had enough exposure to fantasy to decide on it (but I imagine I'd be into it).
I like world building and strongly emotive characters.
I prefer complex plots.
I'd rather it be hopeful than bleak.
I have zero tolerance for disturbing things (nothing unsettling or creepy (gore and violence are weirdly not so bad but I don't prefer it)).
I LOVE dragons and would be super pleased with a female protagonist, though neither of these things are required.

Go go go!

Persistence of Vision
by John Varley.

It is science fiction.
It is a collection of Short Stories.

Each with Human Characters in Highly Unusual circumstances.
The Book Persistence of Vision was written by a person that may have truly loved human beings.

I remember the book as having Depth.
And Fun Stories.

One Story tells of a A Brother and Sister playing in pools of Mercury.
Safe in their Fancy Suits and Safe in Their Family.

My favorite one in the collection is the Mars Team.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1863 ... _of_Vision

I do not remember what, "Over Drawn at the Memory Bank" is about.
It is a provocative title.

EDIT:
I found it online.
https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/ ... eb-service

You may enjoy Retrograde Summer.
I did.

[ahammel]

I LOVE dragons and would be super pleased with a female protagonist, though neither of these things are required.

Go go go!

You've read the Pern books, of course.

[sarahnade]

I LOVE dragons and would be super pleased with a female protagonist, though neither of these things are required.

Go go go!

You've read the Pern books, of course.

I haven't!

*wiki searches*

0.0 yes please.

[PAstrychef]

The Paksenarrion series by Elizabeth Moon is also nice.

[sarahnade]

I LOVE dragons and would be super pleased with a female protagonist, though neither of these things are required.

Go go go!

You've read the Pern books, of course.

I haven't!

*wiki searches*

0.0 yes please.

I just read some goodreads reviews and have decided against this one.

Spoiler:

A lot of the critical reviews cite an abusive relationship between the main characters and that she "comes around" to loving him. Not my cuppa.

The Paksenarrion series by Elizabeth Moon is also nice.

I'll check this out!

[Angua]

How about the Pride of Chanur series by C J Cherryh?

[bigglesworth]

Have you read His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman?

[PAstrychef]

How about the Pride of Chanur series by C J Cherryh?

I'll second this one!
And there are some very nice YA books about Pern without the sexual sidelines.
ETA: check out Elizabeth Hand as well.

[Suzaku]

Halp!

I like scifi and have not had enough exposure to fantasy to decide on it (but I imagine I'd be into it).
I like world building and strongly emotive characters.
I prefer complex plots.
I'd rather it be hopeful than bleak.
I have zero tolerance for disturbing things (nothing unsettling or creepy (gore and violence are weirdly not so bad but I don't prefer it)).
I LOVE dragons and would be super pleased with a female protagonist, though neither of these things are required.

Go go go!

Bit of a late reply to this, but if you're still reading the thread:

The Crown of Stars series by Kate Elliot.
It's fantasy, but heavily influenced by science fiction (the author is also a science-fiction writer).
Complex world, loosely based on medieval Europe.
Female protagonist, dragons (kinda), time travel, maths-based magic...

On the down side, given your comment about disturbing things, there are some pretty nasty scenes of abuse and rape

Spoiler:

of the female protagonist by one of the chief villains (a truly nasty piece of work). She doesn't come around to loving him, at all, but they're definitely affecting,

which you may find disturbing, which would rule it out.

Spoiler for actual (but minor) spoiler of the book.

[PeteP]

I am searching for a good urban fantasy book. Oh and should there be a love interest please let it not be a vampire of werwolf please.

Spoiler:

(I have read quite a bit urban fantasy with female MCs and there are so many vampire or wer LIs, so annoyingly many.) Werwolf love interests in UF tend to be all territorial and hierachical (and they tend to be pack alphas) and all Macho and I just usually find them annoying in the role of love interest. Vamps have their own problems and tend to exhibit behaviour I often find annoying. That is not universal but often the case (though I admit in the hollows I do ship Rachel Morgan with Ivy (ignoring the problems that might cause). I tend to ship many pairings where it is one sided and the interested party is open about it as long as I don't dislike the interested party. Also to be honest I am just a bit more likely to like female love interest. But I disgress.)
For me the romance part of stories tends to become a detriment if I constantly think: "He is a overbearing, worringly jealus ass, so what if he is hot?" or "he has killed innocent people just 100 pages/a book ago. A few books in this series earlier he was an antagonist, why are you interested in him? Does becoming a love interest give you absolution?"
I just prefer liking the person the MC flirts with

Anyway Urban fantasy, if romance ideally not a werewolf or vamp because I am tired of macho wolf alphas and slightly psychotic sexy vamps. Maybe I should make a list of books I already know but I have a hard time making lists like that from memory so I just hope to be lucky. No other specifications, long/short, complex or relatively simple - it does not matter that much, just please recommend wath you consider good.

[ahammel]

Have you read Zoo City?

[PeteP]

Have you read Zoo City?

No and the description I read makes it sound interesting, I will have a look. Thanks.

[PAstrychef]

You might enjoy Charles DeLint,mod you haven't read his stuff already. Definitely no vampires.

[ahammel]

Have you read Zoo City?

No and the description I read makes it sound interesting, I will have a look. Thanks.

Might want to read the wiki page about South African pop music before you dive in.

[PeteP]

I enjoyed Zoo City despite failing to look the music stuff up first, thank you.

Pastrychef could you suggest a specific book from Charles DeLint? Can't decide which one I should try.

[emceng]

Dang, I need to read more. I have Zoo City from a humble book bundle from like 3 years ago, and haven't read it. Have two DeLint novels as well, unread on shelves at home.

[PAstrychef]

I enjoyed Zoo City despite failing to look the music stuff up first, thank you.

Pastrychef could you suggest a specific book from Charles DeLint? Can't decide which one I should try.

The Little Country or Memory and Dream.
DeLint recommends the short story collection Dreams Underfoot as an entry to his city of Newford and it's cast of characters, who appear and reappear in many of his books. You can read them on their own, and just come to see the relationships as you do.

[Izawwlgood]

Late to the party, but Urban Fantasy suggestions:

Sixty-One Nails. Interesting world creation and fun storytelling though not terribly compelling writing.
Crooked Little Vein. Extremely graphic.



I just read The Guiding Nose of Ulfant Banderoze, which was one of the most entertaining short stories I've read in ages. Sword and Sworcery to the max.

[PeteP]

I just read worm (http://parahumans.wordpress.com/table-of-contents/) and am a bit exhausted by the endless conflict followed by bigger conflicts. (There are just so many and so detailed fights between people with superpowers, they are some of the most interesting fight scenes I have read but there were so many of them that I need something with another focus.)
I want something a bit calmer now. I prefer fantasy over scifi over other genres most of the time. Just give me a story with good characters with more peaceful periods than worm had. (For this purpose I count everything beside fights as peaceful even if they are just plotting how to best stab each other in the back. Or let's say heavier focus on dialog.) Just recommend me something with good characters / character interaction, preferably but not necessarily fantasy.

[ahammel]

The last fantasy I read was A Song for Arbonne. There's a certain amount of violence, but it's mostly plotting to stab one another in the back. That and singing courtly love songs. And screwin'.

It's better than I'm probably making it sound.

[addams]

What about, 'The Once and Future King' by T. H. White.
I know it is old. Still...It is a Book and it is Fantasy.

And; It is not all stabbing people.
Someone gets stabbed. (maybe)

It has been a long time.
The writing style may be dated.

[josewong]

The Hobbit Book
The Prequel To The Lord Of The Trilogy Of Books