Comments on: Foundation – Isaac Asimov http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904 Book blog reviewing prize winning fiction, new releases and random recommendations. Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:02:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jackie http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904#comment-19443 Jackie Fri, 09 Oct 2009 14:49:32 +0000 http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904#comment-19443 Derek, Thank you for commenting on my blog for the first time! Don't worry - I'm not writing off speculative fiction! I'm currently reading Perdido Street Station and loving it! I haven't heard of Gene Wolfe or Robert Silverberg, so I'll keep an eye out for them. Ursula Le Guin is on my wishlist already, but I haven't read any of her books yet. Thank you for the recommendations! Derek, Thank you for commenting on my blog for the first time!

Don’t worry – I’m not writing off speculative fiction! I’m currently reading Perdido Street Station and loving it! I haven’t heard of Gene Wolfe or Robert Silverberg, so I’ll keep an eye out for them. Ursula Le Guin is on my wishlist already, but I haven’t read any of her books yet.

Thank you for the recommendations!

]]> By: Derek http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904#comment-19390 Derek Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:36:12 +0000 http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904#comment-19390 Anyone who has read your "About Me" section could have told you you would not have enjoyed Asimov. You nailed it on the head in your review: He was an "ideas" man who could write a passable (and often clichéd) plot and was notorious for a complete inability to develop characters. (That's probably why his "Robot" series is so successful -- nobody minds too much if artificial intelligence possesses a two-dimensional character!) If you really want to give speculative fiction (a much better label than sci-fi or fantasy) a try, pick something you're likely to like. (It really covers quite a range of styles and subjects.) I suspect we have similar tastes in books, so I feel comfortable in saying you cannot go wrong with anything by Ursula Le Guin. You might also enjoy Gene Wolfe or Robert Silverberg. After reading those authors, try painting speculative fiction with the same broad brush! ;) Anyone who has read your “About Me” section could have told you you would not have enjoyed Asimov. You nailed it on the head in your review: He was an “ideas” man who could write a passable (and often clichéd) plot and was notorious for a complete inability to develop characters. (That’s probably why his “Robot” series is so successful — nobody minds too much if artificial intelligence possesses a two-dimensional character!)

If you really want to give speculative fiction (a much better label than sci-fi or fantasy) a try, pick something you’re likely to like. (It really covers quite a range of styles and subjects.) I suspect we have similar tastes in books, so I feel comfortable in saying you cannot go wrong with anything by Ursula Le Guin. You might also enjoy Gene Wolfe or Robert Silverberg. After reading those authors, try painting speculative fiction with the same broad brush! ;)

]]> By: Jackie http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904#comment-6713 Jackie Sat, 04 Apr 2009 07:21:34 +0000 http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904#comment-6713 Diane, Thank you so much for taking the time to recommend a few SF books for us! I've heard of all the books you mention, so will keep an eye out for them. I don't like to rule out whole genres of fiction, so will try to find something I like. Thanks again, Jackie Diane,
Thank you so much for taking the time to recommend a few SF books for us! I’ve heard of all the books you mention, so will keep an eye out for them. I don’t like to rule out whole genres of fiction, so will try to find something I like.
Thanks again,
Jackie

]]> By: DianeG http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904#comment-6691 DianeG Sat, 04 Apr 2009 01:41:34 +0000 http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904#comment-6691 I love SF, but I understand others' aversion to it. If I may I'd like to suggest a few SF books that don't really feel like SF: The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell Father Emilio Sandoz, a Jesuit linguist, heads a team of scientists and explorers on an expedition to the planet Rakhat, where contact has been established with two apparently primitive races. The narrative shifts back and forth between 2016, when contact is first made, and 2060, to a Vatican inquest interrogating the maimed and broken Sandoz. REALLY so good--a personal favorite of mine. The Devil's Arithmetic by Jane Yolen Written for children, this short time travel story is powerful for all readers. I'll add my enthusiastic endorsement of John Scalzi's Old Man's War series! Also, his "Agent to the Stars" is a zany SF comedy about an ad man's most challenging assignment--loved it! I love SF, but I understand others’ aversion to it. If I may I’d like to suggest a few SF books that don’t really feel like SF:

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell
Father Emilio Sandoz, a Jesuit linguist, heads a team of scientists and explorers on an expedition to the planet Rakhat, where contact has been established with two apparently primitive races. The narrative shifts back and forth between 2016, when contact is first made, and 2060, to a Vatican inquest interrogating the maimed and broken Sandoz. REALLY so good–a personal favorite of mine.

The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen
Written for children, this short time travel story is powerful for all readers.

I’ll add my enthusiastic endorsement of John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War series! Also, his “Agent to the Stars” is a zany SF comedy about an ad man’s most challenging assignment–loved it!

]]> By: Rebecca Reid http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904#comment-4518 Rebecca Reid Wed, 18 Mar 2009 23:15:31 +0000 http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904#comment-4518 Jackie, I think Nymeth's point is great -- so much is sci-fi that people read, it's just not labeled that way. I really liked doing the joint review. Thanks again for doing this project with me! Jackie, I think Nymeth’s point is great — so much is sci-fi that people read, it’s just not labeled that way. I really liked doing the joint review. Thanks again for doing this project with me!

]]> By: Jackie http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904#comment-4448 Jackie Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:35:31 +0000 http://www.farmlanebooks.co.uk/?p=904#comment-4448 Nymeth - Old Man's War sounds intriguing - I've added it to my Bookmooch wishlist. I enjoyed Hitchhiker's Guide when I read it at school (but I think I liked everything as a teenager!) I'll keep an eye out for the others on my book scouting trips! Thanks for the recommendations! Nymeth – Old Man’s War sounds intriguing – I’ve added it to my Bookmooch wishlist. I enjoyed Hitchhiker’s Guide when I read it at school (but I think I liked everything as a teenager!) I’ll keep an eye out for the others on my book scouting trips! Thanks for the recommendations!

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