divegeek said:
Here's a book of a completely different sort: "A Fire Upon the Deep", by Vernor Vinge. If you like science fiction, you've GOT to read this book. Sci-fi is all about new and interesting ideas, mixed of course with good characters and good stories, but if you read much sci-fi you know that there's relatively little new ground being broken. Except by Vinge. This book contains a dozen mind-blowing ideas, any one of which would provide the basis for a great sci-fi novel, but he packs them all into one, and then follows it up with "A Deepness in the Sky" which is, if anything, better and even more amazing. The third book in the series (they all deal with different characters and stand alone) is "Rainbows End", which I plan to pick up from the library later today.
Each of the three books won the Hugo award for the year they were published. This is like a director winning the Academy award for "Best Picture" for every film he makes.
I somehow missed this thread the first go-around, but I'll gladly jump onboard for it's revival!
+1 to Divegeek. "A Fire Upon the Deep" and "A Deepness in the Sky" were both mindblowing. "Rainbows End," however, it not really part of the series. It takes place on nearly-modern Earth. I thought the plot to "Rainbows End" was...meh. However, Vinge's vision of our near-term future I thought was very believable and just amazing.
Other things I've read lately that have been worth mentioning:
"Black Hearts: One Platoon's Descent into Madness in Iraq's Triangle of Death." Boy, I thought the USAF had some severe leadership and bureaucratic problems...but the US Army apparently reigns supreme in that department. This book is an excellent look at the day-to-day ugly of Iraq. Unlike other modern war-history books I've read lately, this one is actually written very well and easy to read (assuming you know a bit about Army command structure).
The entire Turtledove "South Wins The Civil War" series (called Timeline 191 by the nerds/fans). Huge, long series, and great fodder for a history buff...but not a great intellectual exercise or life-altering series. Perfect for all my business travel
"One Second After" by Wiliam Forstchen. A post EMP apocalypse book. Not bad. Excessivley pessimistic, I think, about the effects of a well-executed EMP attack, but generally a good read.
"#
[email protected] My Dad Says" was a short, but hilarious book. I just admit to being a fan of grumpy, witty old men. I loved Red's character on "That 70's Show" for example.
I actually travel, and read so much as a result, I can't even recall all the stuff I've read this year. I'll have to go back and check out the bookshelves when I get home.