I have not read any of Ursula K. LeGuin's work. I should rectify that. Anyone particularly recommend a specific book? Or recommend avoiding any
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I've only read The Dispossessed and Lefthand of Darkness, both for school. I wouldn't recommended either, both seem too heavy-handed on the social issues. But that could have just been the context I was reading them in.
Thanks! I'll keep that in mind. I haven't read very much of the older/classic sci-fi, but plenty of what I have read seems more heavy-handed than the contemporary stuff. Even though I don't care for the heavy-handed style, it is kind of interesting to see how the genre has evolved.
I've always enjoyed Tamora Pierce's "Protector of the Small" quartet. I love Kel - honestly, sometimes I think I have a thing for leaders.
Hmm. I think I'll recommend the Obsidian Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory. The books are The Outstretched Shadow, To Light A Candle, and When Darkness Falls. They're kind of formulaic High Fantasy, but pretty well done anyway. These days I don't like Lackey nearly as much as I used to, but I love when she collaborates with other writers.
Lackey's Joust is also good, although the rest of the series just gets progressively less so. Joust is set in something like ancient Egypt with trained war dragons, which are as bright as dogs.
I like the various Guardsmen books. Monstrous Regiment was the first Pratchett I read, and I still have a soft spot for it.
I like the Alanna stories, but you might not want to start with them. They were Pierce's first books, and she wasn't that good at worldbuilding, pacing, or complex characters at the time. Not bad, but she's gotten much better. Kel from "Protector of the Small" was one of the first characters I loved, because... well, Badass Normal, I guess.
I like Le Guin, but she does have a tendency to let the theme overburden the story in some of her work. (And her attitude toward fanfiction is a touch bizarre -- mistaken for the real thing? Er, okay then.) I've only read bits and pieces out of her rather sizable listing, but I liked Rocannon's World and Gifts and some of the later Earthsea novels, although I couldn't really get into A Wizard of Earthsea when I first tried to read it... I keep meaning to give it another go but haven't gotten around to it yet. :p
Hm, other sci fi and fantasy.... most of the sci fi I've read is either a) Zahn's stuff, of which you've read more than I have anyway, or b) stuff from way back in the day by Bradbury and Clarke, which you may or may not have already read and I'm not sure I'd recommend anyway -- they have their worthy points but they often weren't my cup of tea. And, of course, c) everything by Lois Bujold, but you've heard that before. :p Did you read Ender's Game? *ponders
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LOL! I love fanfic dearly, but mistaken for the real thing? Fanfic of that quality is one out of a hundred at best, and even then, anyone who reads fanfic knows perfectly well what it is. I really don't think that's a genuine problem. :P I was curious about LeGuin's work mainly because I reread furrylittlebantha's In a Strange Land and wondered what sort of books could prompt that sort of fic, and then it occurred to me that she's kind of a big name and I should at least give her work a shot. I'll put those two on my Amazon list. (I've heard about Earthsea, but am hesitant to get into a series at the moment
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It's very hard to imagine someone reading fanfic and coming away with the impression that it was written by the author of the work itself, isn't it? I can't imagine it would happen very often, somehow. Possibly if it was that person's first exposure to the intrawebs, ever. :p
Furrybantha's story is fantastic, and it does have vaguely surreal sort of quality that a lot of Le Guin's work boasts. My experience with Earthsea left me with the impression that it's a touch anvilicious, so it may not be the best place to start, in any case. (Though I was reading the last book in the series, which I didn't realise until too late).
I've just realised I meant Heinlein rather than Bradbury (because, um, they sound so very alike). But the 'worthy points but not my cup of tea' stands for him just as well. Oddly enough it was your linking to furrylittlebantha's story that reminded me, because it triggered Stranger in a Strange Land flashbacks. :p And I don't think Vorkosigan would demand a complete re-read, unless you really wanted to, because it
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I know of Earthsea, but very little about it. I might try it at some point, but I hesitate to get into a series with an unfamiliar author. Too much of a commitment. :P
Sure, I'd give that a try. :) Promise not to be offended if I don't like it, though? Which is not that it sounds like I wouldn't, but just that I'm always nervous when people lend me books that if I don't care for it, they'll be upset. :P
Ooh, neat! Yes, I think I am free Friday. The only difficulty I can think of is that if you wanted to do something before 3, I'd need you to pick me up and drive; Mandy and Robert's car is out of commission so they're borrowing mine, and Mom doesn't get off work so that I could borrow hers until at least 2:30. But if you want to do something, just let me know what and when. :D
Edit: I forgot to say that I can lend you my KOTOR trade paperbacks if you want, too. :)
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I've always enjoyed Tamora Pierce's "Protector of the Small" quartet. I love Kel - honestly, sometimes I think I have a thing for leaders.
Hmm. I think I'll recommend the Obsidian Trilogy by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory. The books are The Outstretched Shadow, To Light A Candle, and When Darkness Falls. They're kind of formulaic High Fantasy, but pretty well done anyway. These days I don't like Lackey nearly as much as I used to, but I love when she collaborates with other writers.
Lackey's Joust is also good, although the rest of the series just gets progressively less so. Joust is set in something like ancient Egypt with trained war dragons, which are as bright as dogs.
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I've heard good things about Tamora Pierce's Alanna stories. Haven't read anything of hers yet, but she's on my Amazon list.
Haven't read any Lackey. I'll put those on my list so I don't forget them. :)
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I like the Alanna stories, but you might not want to start with them. They were Pierce's first books, and she wasn't that good at worldbuilding, pacing, or complex characters at the time. Not bad, but she's gotten much better. Kel from "Protector of the Small" was one of the first characters I loved, because... well, Badass Normal, I guess.
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Hm, other sci fi and fantasy.... most of the sci fi I've read is either a) Zahn's stuff, of which you've read more than I have anyway, or b) stuff from way back in the day by Bradbury and Clarke, which you may or may not have already read and I'm not sure I'd recommend anyway -- they have their worthy points but they often weren't my cup of tea. And, of course, c) everything by Lois Bujold, but you've heard that before. :p Did you read Ender's Game? *ponders ( ... )
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Furrybantha's story is fantastic, and it does have vaguely surreal sort of quality that a lot of Le Guin's work boasts. My experience with Earthsea left me with the impression that it's a touch anvilicious, so it may not be the best place to start, in any case. (Though I was reading the last book in the series, which I didn't realise until too late).
I've just realised I meant Heinlein rather than Bradbury (because, um, they sound so very alike). But the 'worthy points but not my cup of tea' stands for him just as well. Oddly enough it was your linking to furrylittlebantha's story that reminded me, because it triggered Stranger in a Strange Land flashbacks. :p And I don't think Vorkosigan would demand a complete re-read, unless you really wanted to, because it ( ... )
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Sure, I'd give that a try. :) Promise not to be offended if I don't like it, though? Which is not that it sounds like I wouldn't, but just that I'm always nervous when people lend me books that if I don't care for it, they'll be upset. :P
Ooh, neat! Yes, I think I am free Friday. The only difficulty I can think of is that if you wanted to do something before 3, I'd need you to pick me up and drive; Mandy and Robert's car is out of commission so they're borrowing mine, and Mom doesn't get off work so that I could borrow hers until at least 2:30. But if you want to do something, just let me know what and when. :D
Edit: I forgot to say that I can lend you my KOTOR trade paperbacks if you want, too. :)
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