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[randomways]

Also, in addition to my brief tale of conversational gaffes and soul-sucking awkwardness in my last post, I meant to direct a question to my f-list:

On the heels of KdS's analysis of spec-fic, I've been thinking about my on-going struggle to update my personal canon of sci-fi and fantasy. My dilemma has been to avoid the "pulp" stuff (if, while

Comments

[ann1962]

I just starting reading Connie Willis' To Say Nothing Of The Dog. It is funny with a interesting premise. I couldn't find the story KDS recc'ed by her, but found this one instead. So far, so good.

I also started The Historian, but meh.

[randomways]

It looks interesting in the review. I'm a little leery about the "comedy of manners" aspect -- seems like everybody and their little dog too is doing that nowadays -- but I'm willing to look past these things for a good story, which usually trumps any gimmick.

[oceloty]

I've really enjoyed most of Connie Willis' stuff. I actually like Three Men and a Boat and I think To Say Nothing of the Dog is (a) a nice tribute, (b) actually funny, (c) actually a good story, too. But tastes vary, and all that. I think it's a comedy of manners in Wodehouse-Blandings sense rather than the Wodehouse-Jeeves sense, if that makes any ... sense. Let me know if you want to borrow my copy. I'd be interested to see if you find it funny.

Bellweather I don't hear much about, but it is the most ridiculously accurate portrayal of academic research I have ever read. Well, not actually accurate, except in its portrayal of the ridiculousness and futility and the frustration and what can you do but laugh and go to lunch? My entire lab (at least, the native English readers) passed the book around for weeks like it was some crack pipe our boss might discover, confisticate, and send us to jail for.

Of her serious stuff, can I recommend Fire Watch and Doomsday Book? She certainly likes to recycle her themes, but it's to good

[ann1962]

Also! Writer scott_lynch's first novel will be out in June. It has been receiving excellent reviews, and I think his brand of humour and writing would something you might like! Plus pirates!!

[randomways]

Heh. The best-reviewed unpublished book in recent memory?

[snacky]

p.s. I've now read 15 pages of "The Da Vinci Code" in 5 days. I hate it more than even Snacky does.

Could that be possible?

[randomways]

I could be. Because I am a dreamer, it definitely could be.

[deecers]

Overall, I dislike fantasy, so there's strike one. For strike two, my tastes in sci-fi tend toward the socio-political. And steeerike three: I have yet to find a 21st century novel I like.

So I'm no help at all.

*goes off to re-read all her Philip K. Dick novels*

[randomways]

Unhelpful bitch.

I mean, enjoy your Dick.

Er...I mean...well, just have fun reading. I keep meaning to re-read Niven and P.J. Farmer myself, but need to reacquire their books first.

[scrollgirl]

Thing one: I am completely unqualified to recommend sci-fi or fantasy lit. The only books I read, if I even read at all, are the same youth and children sci-fi/fantasy authors I grew up with: Lloyd Alexander, L'Engle, C.S. Lewis, Tamora Pierce, Bruce Coville, K.A. Applegate. They're like comfort food to me.

Thing two: Happy birthday, sweetie! I hope you're doing something fun to celebrate with your friends :)

*big hugs*