Top 10 in Bordem
So I stumbled upon the Top 10 Science Fiction novels of 2008. The typical authors are there, namely Neal Stephenson and Ian M. Banks. I don't know what it is, but I find science fiction and fantasy quite a chore to get through.
After Snow Crash I couldn't really read another Stephenson book. I always felt like the guy was trying to hard. I tried reading Cryptonomicon because my friends said it was great. After forcing my way through the first couple of chapters where it was clear the author was trying to be really clever, I simply put the book down. It was the same with Snow Crash, but I forced myself to finish that one, but with this book, I just wasn't willing to suffer through how clever the author thought he was. He writes like things he is the "greatest science fiction writer evar."
Then there is Ian M. Banks. I posted a review of one of his books I read. It felt similar to Stephenson's writing in the attempts to be clever, but pulled it off better. I thought his settings were fascinating, but the characters were just not people I was really interested in. I am told, that I should try some of his other novels, but I hear that about every one of these guys.
Then there is George R.R. Martin, who wrote the Game of Thrones series. I found the first chapter of the book completely engrossing and wanted to read more. Then I get five or six chapters of nobles riding horses and a 15 year old girl getting their nipples pinched by their older brother who is trying to sell her. I put it down after that. Mainly because my friends state that the storyline that hooked me in the first chapter isn't addressed again for until the next book! I have decided to try to read the book again, in spite of the nipple pinching.
Finally, we come to other science fiction I have been reading. I read Perdido Street Station a few months back. I will go on the record today as definitively stating that China Melville is a fucking hack. Talk about a story trying to be cool, and really thinks it is cool, but isn't. When I discussed the book with a guy at work, he described all his books as "attempts to give a blow job to Hollywood." It literally feels like the guy is trying to write books just so Hollywood will notice him and he will get a movie deal. Perdido Street Station has bio-cyborgs, crazy alien bugs, talking bird men, and these weird parasites which are hands with snake tails. Lost yet? Apparently his novel, The Scar, have pirates, cyborgs, and vampires. All and all, it just felt juvenile.
And talk about fucking juvenile, even though this author isn't on the list I have to rant about Karen Miller. I started reading her novel, Empress. The setting is some faux middle-eastern/Arab set story, which I would find interesting, if I knew nothing about Middle Eastern culture. It reads like what a western person thinks medieval, middle eastern culture might have been. And for fuck's sake, if I have to read sex described as "plowing the field" one more fucking time I am going to rip my god damn eyes out!
Okay... now that I have gotten that out of my system. I guess I shouldn't expect much from someone who proudly displays writing a Stargate SG-1 novel on their home page.
The only redeeming science fiction I have read lately was Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge. It was actually a very interesting story if not somewhat strange. The aliens were very interesting and the story was very well done. There were times when I simply couldn't put it down. I would recommend it.
Speaking of random authors, I picked up The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie. His writing style isn't bad. Not sure what to make of it at this point but I am only a few chapters in.
Needless to say, two writers that I am not highly impressed with are in this list. I really want to be drawn into a story, and I try picking up random books that sound interesting, but when I find I don't enjoy the "Champions of Science Fiction", I really am having trouble justifying a random new author. I am going to check out these authors just out of curiosity and because I am a glutton for punishment, but I don't have high hopes.
After Snow Crash I couldn't really read another Stephenson book. I always felt like the guy was trying to hard. I tried reading Cryptonomicon because my friends said it was great. After forcing my way through the first couple of chapters where it was clear the author was trying to be really clever, I simply put the book down. It was the same with Snow Crash, but I forced myself to finish that one, but with this book, I just wasn't willing to suffer through how clever the author thought he was. He writes like things he is the "greatest science fiction writer evar."
Then there is Ian M. Banks. I posted a review of one of his books I read. It felt similar to Stephenson's writing in the attempts to be clever, but pulled it off better. I thought his settings were fascinating, but the characters were just not people I was really interested in. I am told, that I should try some of his other novels, but I hear that about every one of these guys.
Then there is George R.R. Martin, who wrote the Game of Thrones series. I found the first chapter of the book completely engrossing and wanted to read more. Then I get five or six chapters of nobles riding horses and a 15 year old girl getting their nipples pinched by their older brother who is trying to sell her. I put it down after that. Mainly because my friends state that the storyline that hooked me in the first chapter isn't addressed again for until the next book! I have decided to try to read the book again, in spite of the nipple pinching.
Finally, we come to other science fiction I have been reading. I read Perdido Street Station a few months back. I will go on the record today as definitively stating that China Melville is a fucking hack. Talk about a story trying to be cool, and really thinks it is cool, but isn't. When I discussed the book with a guy at work, he described all his books as "attempts to give a blow job to Hollywood." It literally feels like the guy is trying to write books just so Hollywood will notice him and he will get a movie deal. Perdido Street Station has bio-cyborgs, crazy alien bugs, talking bird men, and these weird parasites which are hands with snake tails. Lost yet? Apparently his novel, The Scar, have pirates, cyborgs, and vampires. All and all, it just felt juvenile.
And talk about fucking juvenile, even though this author isn't on the list I have to rant about Karen Miller. I started reading her novel, Empress. The setting is some faux middle-eastern/Arab set story, which I would find interesting, if I knew nothing about Middle Eastern culture. It reads like what a western person thinks medieval, middle eastern culture might have been. And for fuck's sake, if I have to read sex described as "plowing the field" one more fucking time I am going to rip my god damn eyes out!
Okay... now that I have gotten that out of my system. I guess I shouldn't expect much from someone who proudly displays writing a Stargate SG-1 novel on their home page.
The only redeeming science fiction I have read lately was Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge. It was actually a very interesting story if not somewhat strange. The aliens were very interesting and the story was very well done. There were times when I simply couldn't put it down. I would recommend it.
Speaking of random authors, I picked up The Blade Itself by Joe Abercrombie. His writing style isn't bad. Not sure what to make of it at this point but I am only a few chapters in.
Needless to say, two writers that I am not highly impressed with are in this list. I really want to be drawn into a story, and I try picking up random books that sound interesting, but when I find I don't enjoy the "Champions of Science Fiction", I really am having trouble justifying a random new author. I am going to check out these authors just out of curiosity and because I am a glutton for punishment, but I don't have high hopes.