Hello to the Forum.

[ChrisC]

Hi there,

Big Iain Banks and Iain M. Banks fan here. Although for my first post I seek some advice.

I'm currently reading Absolution Gap by Alastair Reynolds. Just over half way through. It's not as good as the the previous books in the Revelation Space universe. It's still good but not up to the previous standards.

Anyway the list of books I have to hand are:

Brightness Reef by David Brin. I have read the first three uplift books and really enjoyed them.

Woken Furies by Richard Morgan. I have read the previous two Takeshi Kovacs books. Enjoyed Altered Carbon and Broken Angels.

Ringworld by Larry Niven. Never read anything by this guy. I know nothing about this, although it's supposed to be a classic.

Dune by Frank Herbert. I read this in my teenage years, I can't remember much about it.

Galactic North by Alastair Reynolds. Nothing needs to be said here. I'm familiar with Alastair Reynolds.

The Prefect by Alastair Reynolds.

So which would you go for next. I'm thinking of giving Alastair Reynolds a break. Although would go for another one if it's good.

Cheers.

[rac]

Hi Chris- welcome to the forum!

Personally, I find Reynolds a bit of a slog- though I know a lot of folk here are fans.
I'd go for Dune.

[ChrisC]

Really? I always thought he was quite fast paced. Each to his own I suppose.

[RedKing]

I'd go for Ringworld - but then I'm a big early Niven fan.

[claverhouse]

I can thoroughly recommend Ringworld and The Ringworld Engineers ( Forget Ringworld Throne And Ringworlds Children, strictly for completists and the theme is too stretched and ill thought out in execution by those). To properly "get" Ringworld & Engineers you will need to read the rest of Niven's "Known Space" works which is also a very good thing...

[BeckyH]

I'd go for Woken Furies. It's good to take a break from an author, or you start to see the bones beneath the skin, as it were.

[Deep Black]

Welcome Chris.

Out of your list I have only read Dune, so I'd vote for that.
I also have Ringworld on a pending shelf, supposed to be a great novel

[Hagbard Celine]

Woken Furies times 2, it's a nice break from the space opera style of all the other books you mentioned.

[Adamus]

Woken Furies times 3, it's better than Broken Angels imho (though not quite up to the level Morgan attained in Altered Carbon). If you enjoyed the first two Kovacs novels you'll probably enjoy Woken Furies.

And yes, I'll also add my voice to the Dune recommendations. Deservedly a classic of the genre.

[Hilarity Unit]

Ringworld 3 times. Read it first in the 70s & again a handful of years ago and it can still hold its own. Went on to read Ringworld Engineers but followed the general advice not to bother with the other two followups.

The David Brin (Brightness Reef) is not so much the first of a trilogy but the first part of a [big] single book. A good read but definitely best if you read them together.

But IMHO they are all great books - so just enjoy :)

[RedKing]

So we recommend you read everything on your list, basically. See how helpful we are? :)

[ChrisC]

I think I'm going to go with Dune or Woken Furies. Not sure which, I'll toss for it.

[disrepdog]

Hi, I'd go for the latter. Not that I've read it but I like the title :p Welcome to the mad house.

[Chiaroscuro]

I think I'm going to go with Dune or Woken Furies. Not sure which, I'll toss for it.

Careful now. ;)

Welcome from me too.

[198505]

Lowering the tone again, Chiaroscuro?;)

Personally I'd go with Ringworld and Ringworld Engineer, as has been said the others in that story line go off he boil.

And welcome .:D

[ChrisC]

Careful now. ;)

Welcome from me too.

Thanks, after I posted that. I thought someone would comment.

[Chiaroscuro]

Lowering the tone again, Chiaroscuro?;)
Thought I'd get in before RedKing.


Thanks, after I posted that. I thought someone would comment.

I never used to make comments like that before joining this forum. Pure as the driven snow, I was.

[198505]

Oh that's all right, just blame it on us!:p

[Champagne Socialist]

Thought I'd get in before RedKing.
I never used to make comments like that before joining this forum. Pure as the driven snow, I was.

yeah, I've seen snow that's been driven through.
dirty, rutted, moist slush.

surely not appropriate at all

[RedKing]

Thought I'd get in before RedKing.

Shocked, I am. Shocked! :eek:


Pure as the driven snow, I was.

And then you drifted... :rolleyes:

[ChrisC]

What a nice bunch you are!

[Deep Black]

Why thank you kind sir.

(I assume "sir", but I've been caught out by that one before)

[Champagne Socialist]

What a nice bunch you are!

yeeaaaaah, you think that now, but wait till the whisky starts flowing, then we become louche.

[Champagne Socialist]

And then you drifted... :rolleyes:

hahahahahaaaaaaaa.

driven snow.... drift.... driven, you see. Drift. Like. Driven....

I'll get my coat.

[RedKing]

I think that was a Mae West line, but if it gets a laugh I'm claiming it for my own.

[ChrisC]

Well I have decided to go with Dune by Frank Herbert. Just need to finish Absolution Gap by Alastair Reynolds.

[Deep Black]

Good choice, great novel. Though don't expect loads of action.

[ChrisC]

I know what to expect, I haven't read it since my teenage years. I thought it would be a good time to re-visit it. It's not an action orientated book. More a huge background and traitors and messiahs.

[rac]

I know what to expect, I haven't read it since my teenage years. I thought it would be a good time to re-visit it. It's not an action orientated book. More a huge background and traitors and messiahs.

Yup- I first tried to read it as a teen and hated it. But reading it again in my late twenties I thought it was awesome.

[RedKing]

Avoid the movie.

[198505]

Which one?

[Hagbard Celine]

Avoid the movie.

Ah yes, an Alan Smithee classic.

[RedKing]

Which one?

They vary in quality from TV-movie to dreadful. The Dune movie with Sting qualifies very much as dreadful.

[Deep Black]

How could anything with this in be bad?
http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/070515/scifi/dune_l.jpg

[disrepdog]

I saw that movie ages and ages ago, totally put me off reading the books. I'd completely forgotten that Sting was in it.

Am now speechless!

[198505]

How could anything with this in be bad?
http://img2.timeinc.net/ew/dynamic/imgs/070515/scifi/dune_l.jpg

MY EYES!
Pass the spoons and the brain bleach

[Champagne Socialist]

this link may prove useful for all who have suffered the pic above
Scientists selectively erase memories (http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081022135801.htm)

[Deep Black]

I just knew you'd all enjoy that picture :cool:

[RedKing]

We're not asking why you have that pic in your collection, though. :eek:

[Deep Black]

I have many picture out back in the private collection ;)