Whatcha reading redux.

[Highspeed]

I finished Cryptonomicon after about three days. I paced my reading, if I hadn't then I think I could have read it at one sitting.
It's meant to be the ultimate geek novel and shit like that according to the internet, but this redneck biker loved it.

Then I read 'Gates Of Fire' - that's good stuff.

Then I tried some Larry Niven\Jerry Pournelle. Great googly moogly, it's boring as hell. 'Lucifers Hammer' introduced me to a whole cast of characters I couldn't give a fuck about ( a third of the book seems to be about people talking about comets at Hollyweird cocktail parties ) and 'Ringworld' introduced me to a very different cast of characters I couldn't give a fuck about either.
I do like those Kzinti cat dudes though, but not enough to read any more.

[HTRN]

If you liked the Kzinti, you might want to check out the Man/Kzin wars series of books. They're basically short story collections by various authors on the fictional wars in the title.

[Greg]

I finished Cryptonomicon after about three days. I paced my reading, if I hadn't then I think I could have read it at one sitting.
It's meant to be the ultimate geek novel and shit like that according to the internet, but this redneck biker loved it.

Outstanding. If you liked that, there's lots more waiting for you. You have to read Snow Crash, it was his breakthrough novel and it's amazing. Also try the massive collection of volumes known as The Baroque Cycle. Even his older stuff (pre Snow Crash) is fun.

Then I tried some Larry Niven\Jerry Pournelle. Great googly moogly, it's boring as hell. 'Lucifers Hammer' introduced me to a whole cast of characters I couldn't give a fuck about ( a third of the book seems to be about people talking about comets at Hollyweird cocktail parties ) and 'Ringworld' introduced me to a very different cast of characters I couldn't give a fuck about either.
I do like those Kzinti cat dudes though, but not enough to read any more.

A lot of Niven (and collaborations) is hit or miss. IMO Niven's characters tend to suck, simply because as human beings I find them annoying as fuck. I actually like Pournelle's characters better, believe it or not.

Some of the Niven/Pournelle collaborations that are more enjoyable are Footfall, The Mote in God's Eye (and sequels, and yes you can tell the best characters are Pournelle's work) and Oath of Fealty. Some of Niven's Known Space stories are quite good, some... aren't. Protector is a must-read.

There are a bunch of story anthologies about the Man/Kzin Wars (titled accordingly) and the best stories tend to not be by Niven.

[Greg]

Just finished Frozen Heat. Yes, I've read all the Castle tie-in novels, and I like them. They're cheesy, but they're also pretty decent lightweight mysteries and they do amusing things with the tie-in.

[Weetabix]

Then I tried some Larry Niven\Jerry Pournelle. Great googly moogly, it's boring as hell. 'Lucifers Hammer' introduced me to a whole cast of characters I couldn't give a fuck about ( a third of the book seems to be about people talking about comets at Hollyweird cocktail parties ) and 'Ringworld' introduced me to a very different cast of characters I couldn't give a fuck about either.
I do like those Kzinti cat dudes though, but not enough to read any more.

You might try "Footfall" if you're not ready to give up on them. It moves a bit better. You might identify a bit with Harry Red.

But definitely skip "The Mote In God's Eye."

[Highspeed]

I'll check out the Man\Kzin wars then.

I chose Larry Niven because he wrote a book of short stories I really, really enjoyed when I was a teenager - Inconstant Moon.
Jerry Pournelle's political thinking appeals to me, and I thought the combination of the two would be good.

I was genuinely surprised to read that Cryptonomicon is considered a difficult book by many people. Like I said, I'd 'embargoed' any research into Neal Stephensons writing because I didn't want to read any spoilers. The ending is a little rushed, but what the hell. If you don't like the lectures on crypto then you can skip them without hurting the plot.
I already have Snow Crash ( Kindle is a good thing, mostly ) , but I'm holding off on reading it for a while.

In the interim I have also read Redshirts by John Scalzi - which I loved, despite it being not the most original premise for a story and my utter hatred and contempt for Star Trek ( apart from watching the first series as a kid, I cannot abide that corny space garbage. If it is playing on a TV at a friends house I will ask them to change channels or walk out of the room - I still have absorbed enough of the damn thing to make Redshirts understandable though. Osmosis probably )

I'm allowing myself some non-fiction as well. I have " The First War Of Physics " which is a history of the development of the atomic bomb. I am prepared to be disappointed, as I usually know more than the authors on that subject ( arrogant, moi ? )
I'm also reading the Bible ( parts of )

[Darrell]

If you like Niven & Pournelle, try Legacy of Heorot. It's about human colonists on a new world coming to grips with the alien fauna.

[SeekHer]

Imperial Governor, by George Shipway
Eagle in the Snow, by Wallace Breem
The Three Legions, by Gregory Solon (been a while since I read this one, but I read the first two within the last two years and enjoyed the hell out of both).
You may or may not find Turtledove's Videssos cycle worth a look. I thought they were all right, 20 years ago.

Thank you for the titles.

Was actually able to pick up all three books yesterday and will start on them later next week as I've got some started that I really want to finish first.

I have quite a number of Harry's titles including those as I really enjoy his writing.

[Rich]

Picked up a bargain book that proved to be fascinating. Up Country by Nelson DeMille.

The hero is a bit difficult to believe, as he is a mouthy former CID investigator who had been forcibly retired from the Army, and who is then tapped for a clandistine mission to post war Vietnam. Along the way he meets a woman....... Well you know all the cliches and you will find them here. The plot is telegraphed pretty early in the story.

So, with all that, why did I like the book? Well, it is written in a charmingly insouciant manner (it is written in the first person), that I liked partly because of it's flaws.

[evan price]

If you like Niven & Pournelle, try Legacy of Heorot. It's about human colonists on a new world coming to grips with the alien fauna.

This, and its sequel Beowulf's Children, were good books. Only complaint is pacing is slow, however the ending was abrupt....But otherwise well written.

"Ice on the brain...."