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Post by sps1000 on May 10, 2005 19:09:08 GMT
What are your favorite books? Here are mine:
1984 A Clockwork Orange Animal Farm
Can you tell I really enjoy books about dystopian futures?
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Post by Elliot Kane on May 10, 2005 19:22:52 GMT
You need to read Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, SPS I think you'd add it to your list *** My own favourite books: Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny Legend by David Gemmell The Belgariad series by David Eddings Soul Music by Terry Pratchett I think those are my most re-read books, too
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Post by SilvaShado on May 11, 2005 17:13:56 GMT
For book series, my top two favorite are: Xanth by Piers Anthony MYTH by Robert Asprin I have read quite a few Pern books by Ann McCaffrey, but I read the books so out of order that I couldn't get back into reading the older books after I had read the newer books. This experience has led me to always [/i]always[/i] start a series with the first book no matter what anyone says. For example, I've read the first 3 Discworld books, even though people say they are the worst and should not be read first. I didn't care and I enjoyed them. If the rest of the books are better, that's great. I'm looking forward to them.
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Post by Elliot Kane on May 11, 2005 18:42:14 GMT
'People' are wrong about the Discworld books The first two are the best out the first few, as Pratchett takes a while to find his full 'voice' as it were Gotta admit, I love Asprin's MYTH series, as well. Xanth - not so much. The first dozen or so are good, but after that he loses it quite a bit, IMO. I haven't read the last few though, so he might pick up again.
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Post by sps1000 on May 11, 2005 19:12:53 GMT
I've read Brave New World and I didn't like it because it was slightly hard to follow in a couple of parts, and I don't think I got a good enough feel for the future. Have to re-read it though because it's been about 3 or 4 years since I read it.
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Post by Shan on May 11, 2005 21:06:28 GMT
SPS, I've never read any of those books. What is it about them that you find so appealing? Put another way, what is it about them that makes them your favorites? Shan
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Post by Gray Lensman on May 11, 2005 21:17:58 GMT
Really tough list for me. There's too much stuff I love. "Doc" Smith's Lensman series is up there for me. Particularly "Gray Lensman", which influenced a ton of SF and comics that came later (including Star Wars, Babylon 5, the Green Lantern Corps, and others). But that goes without saying. Captain Blood by Rafael Sabatini. The definitive pirate novel. The movie is great, but the book is better. Michael Moorcock's body of work, but especially the Elric series. Elric is the definitive fantasy antihero, and Moorcock really set the tone when it comes to modern fantasy. Some of Robert Heinlein's work towards the middle of his career. I'm thinking mainly of things like Starship Troopers, Double Star, Glory Road, and so on. His earlier stuff was mainly juvenile-oriented, and his later work gets rather weird. Loved his work in his prime, though. I also love Steven Brust's Dragaera novels. Primarily the better Vlad books like Phoenix, Athyra, Orca, and Issola, but also the Khaavren Romances. Could go on with this one all day, really.
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Post by Shan on May 11, 2005 21:24:30 GMT
Silva, everybody knows I am not much of a reader, but looks like I may have to get interested at least to a certain extent. What are the Myth books about and why do you like them so much? Is there a particular one that you like the best? Shan
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Post by sps1000 on May 11, 2005 23:08:37 GMT
I'll start with 1984 and Animal Farm. Both were written by George Orwell, and both are about communism in a way. Animal Farm is an allegory (think that's the term, and I'm going to be an English teacher I know) to the early years of the Russian Revolution with pigs as communists and the animals as the working class. Basically the animals take over Manor Farm, and the pigs become leaders. I won't spoil the rest but I read it in high school and it made a lasting impression on me.
1984 is a negative Utopia where the entire world is divided into three communist super-powers and one man who lives in Oceania, ruled by a leader simply called Big Brother (which basically compromises all the countries that speak English now) and how he basically tries to cope.
Not a good description I know but this book has become more and more relevant over the years with the advent of the Patriot Act, GPS, and other things. Pretty amazing since the book was written in 1948. I heard about this book when a substituite teacher told me about it when we were reading Animal Farm in the 9th grade, luckily my stepmom had a copy of it and I promptly read it 3 years before we read it in High School.
If this is your first time reading the books I highly reccomend reading Animal Farm then 1984. Nowadays these books are standard high school reading depending on what school system you go to. I highly reccomend these books to anybody. Also stray away from any movie based on either of these books as they can't capture the feel of the books properly.
A Clockwork Orange is about a young hoodlum named Alex who commits a murder and gets sent to jail. There he undergoes a new treatment that is supposed to cure violence called the Ludovico treatment. He then is reintroduced into society except now whenever he has violent urges he gets sick. What I really like about the book is that it really comes full circle. I won't spoil what happens though.
You may have some trouble understanding the book if you get an older version as it lacks the NASDAT appendix, and the last chapter (which weakens the book a tiny bit). What's NASDAT you ask? Well my druges it is a mix of Russian and english, and several people talk in this style.
There is an excellent movie version out that is directed by Stanley Kubrick.
EDIT: Forgot to mention I re-read 1984 at least once or twice a year.
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Dr. Doom
Apprentice
I will not eat cat poop.
Posts: 428
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Post by Dr. Doom on May 11, 2005 23:26:24 GMT
My favorite books. Hm.
Timeline, Great Train Robbery, and State of Fear are all favorites by Michael Crichton.
Treasure Island has also been a personal favorite since I was a wee tot.
One thing I don't like in books is boringness. No matter what the philosophical message, I just can't stand uneventful books. I find it hard to stick with them.
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BJC
Apprentice
We Own The Night
Posts: 301
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Post by BJC on May 12, 2005 12:12:08 GMT
In no particular order....
Live And Let Die- Ian Fleming The Hobbit-J.R.R Tolkein Seafire-John Gardner The Client- John Grisham The Original Rainbow Six- Tom Clancy
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Post by philster on May 14, 2005 5:23:06 GMT
My absolute favorite book is Dumas' Count of Monte Cristo.
I'm also a big fan of David Eddings' Belgariad and Malloreaon series, Piers Anthony's Xanth series (though it has had its ups and downs, as Elliot mentioned, and Tracy Hickman & Margaret Weis' Dragonlance Chronicles.
Yes, I am a fantasy lover. lol.
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Post by Shan on May 15, 2005 17:11:55 GMT
Why do you like the Count of Monte Cristo so much? Did I miss something? I didn't care for it at all. Shan
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Post by Shan on May 15, 2005 17:39:03 GMT
Thanks SPS. What amazes me is the fact that people can write about things years before things happen and then being able to see things happening in our lifetime that were written about years before. Sounds like you 1984 might be your favorite out of these 3 since you re-read it so often. Never can tell, someday I might venture that way and try reading them. Shan
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Post by philster on May 15, 2005 23:32:52 GMT
Count of Monte Cristo was the only book I loved back in high school (it was required reading for an English class).
I loved the storytelling flow, all the intrigue and the style in how the chapters were written.
In the end, I've read it three times. But the funny thing is I don't much care for Dumas' other books (Man in Iron Mask, etc.)
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Post by Elliot Kane on May 16, 2005 4:11:27 GMT
It helps if you read the Musketeer quintology in order. Only The Three Musketeers is really a standalone. The rest are one story spread over the four books. If you tried to read The Man In The Iron Mask on its own, Phil, you'd be utterly lost right from the start...
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Post by SilvaShado on May 16, 2005 17:12:14 GMT
Silva, everybody knows I am not much of a reader, but looks like I may have to get interested at least to a certain extent. What are the Myth books about and why do you like them so much? Is there a particular one that you like the best? Shan I gotta admit that it's been a very long time since I've read them, though as soon as I move out, I'll be looking to get my own copies and reread them at that point. It was in high school that I borrowed my mom's copies. That was almost 8 years ago. Anyway, it's the humor and the characters and the setting that I loved the most. It's first and foremost a comedy set in a fantasy world. Those two together sold me on the concept. It was the fun and dynamic characters that kept me reading. Besides, the titles are hilarious. Here's a chronological list of the books: Another Fine Myth Myth Conceptions Myth Directions Hit or Myth Myth-ing Persons Little Myth Marker M.Y.T.H. Inc Link Myth-Nomers and Im-Pervections M.Y.T.H. Inc in Action Sweet Myth-tery of Life Myth-Ion Improbable Something M.Y.T.H. Inc Myth Told Tales Myth Alliances Myth-Taken Identity The first set is what I think I've read. I'm not sure if I read Myth Inc in ACtion, but the cover on Amazon looks familar. The next set is what he continued to write solo, while the last set is co-written with Jody Lynn Nye. From what I've heard, those books are terrible. Not at all what the series had been up to that point. The humor changed, the characters changed, even some of the facts were wrong. But that's just what I've read online. As for my favorite, well, I'll always have a weak spot for the first book since it introduced me to the MYTH world. And each book had its own good moments that I'll always remember, even if I can't remember which book its from. But I think Little Myth Marker is one I remember the most. The little girl is so cute! I think these are all sold in two-in-ones now because the original books were so short. I'd recommend starting at the beginning, of course. ;D
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Post by janggut on May 17, 2005 8:31:59 GMT
generally i like books on mythology & folklore so any book that has compilations of such will be my fav re-read. as for others, they'll be - bible (if u call it a book ;D one of fav re-read) - Frank Herbert's Dune series (still looking for time to re-read) - 1984 (also looking forward for spare time to re-read) good thing SPS did not add 'of all time' to the Fav Book topic or i'll be cracking my head trying to figure it out.
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Post by Shan on May 17, 2005 20:21:34 GMT
If you like mythology and folklore, Jags, then I will have to start digging and see what I can come up with. Surely we can find some folklore around here that might be of interest to you, and I will have to revive out favorite myths thread in the general section so you can add your favorites to it. We've never talked about that, so I would be insterested in finding out more. You got it Jags, the Bible holds the best reread of all time. Has some of the best stories in it too. And yeah, I think you would call it a book. It sure looks like one to me and reads like one. Hey, you and SPS have a favorite in common. He really liked 1984 too. Maybe the two of you should compare notes and see if you like the same parts or if it said the same thing to him as it did to you. Shan
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Post by janggut on May 20, 2005 2:51:25 GMT
hey Shan,
it's been too long since i last read that book that i can't recall anything about it other than its bleakness & the fact that there is a movie based on the book. ;D
actually another book that i like is Catch-22. very funny. i only knew about this book 2 years ago.
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