Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Marky Lazer · 26th June 2006, 12:15 PM

We have Sci-fi recommendations and fantasy recommendations, but, as some of you might know, there's a whole world besides these marevelous genres. Well, that's the reason for this thread...

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
Jennifer Government - Max Barry
The Girl in the Flammable Skirt - Aimee Bender
Tumble Home - Amy Hempel
The Ice at the Bottom of the World - Mark Richard
Geek Love - Katherine Dunn
Survivor - Chuck Palahniuk
Dead Long Enough - James Hawes
Thank You for Smoking - Christopher Buckley
The Contortionist's Handbook - Craig Clevenger

[to be continued...]

Cobolt · 26th June 2006, 12:21 PM

Can you give me any info on the Jennifer government book, I have seen it and have often considered buying but always walked away unsure if it would be a good read.

Culhwch · 26th June 2006, 12:32 PM

Good idea, Marky. Stickied.

Marky Lazer · 26th June 2006, 12:51 PM

Cobolt,

Jennifer Government is hilarious. It's set in the near future where the big companies have the power. For example, if you work for Nike, it become your surname. The book features John Nike and John Nike... Anyway, an employee of Nike, Hack, is assigned for a big job, he signs the contract without reading it. He should kill some kids as a promotion for the new Nike sneakers. There the s**t begins.

I can't really tell it, but what if you have a look for yourself? Here you can find the first chapter: http://www.maxbarry.com/jennifergovernment/preview.html

Nesacat · 28th June 2006, 07:45 AM

This is a great idea Marky ... there's a world of books out there

Am trying to get a copy of The Girl in the Flammable Skirt by Aimee Bender

Istanbul - Orhan Pamuk
If on a winter's night a traveller - Italo Calviono (a book made up of little books and chapter headings that make up something else as well)
Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon (there's a cemetary of dead books ... nothing else need be said)
Paper - Bahiyyih Nakhjavani (for all those who love the written word)
Reef - Romesh Gunasekhara (there's the most amazing cake in this and the book reads like a poem)
Dante's Club - Matthew Pearl (round like a circle in a spiral on the paths of Hell)
Q&A - Vikas Swarup (all you need is life is for someone to ask the right questions at the right time)

Marky Lazer · 4th July 2006, 10:28 AM

I haven't even finished, but already going to put the next book on this list:

Torture the Artist - Joey Goebel

iansales · 4th July 2006, 11:03 AM

Some favourite mainstream novels/series...

The Alexandria Quartet, Lawrence Durrell
Earthly Powers, Anthony Burgess
The Master Mariner, Nicholas Monsarrat
The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe
The LA Quartet, James Ellroy
Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
Nice Work, David Lodge
The Heart of the Matter, Graham Greene

j. d. worthington · 4th July 2006, 11:31 AM

Since I don't recall this being limited to fiction, I assume we can put pretty much any category in here, yes? (If not, then I'm sure Marky will have no problem knocking me over the bean...)

The Lion in Winter, by James Goldman (play)
Sleuth, by Anthony Shaffer (play)
The Crucible, by Arthur Miller (play)
The Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri
The House of the Seven Gables, by Nathniel Hawthorne
Mosses from an Old Manse, by Nathaniel Hawthorne
The Spectator Papers, by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele
Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift (all right, this can be seen as fantasy/sf, but it was a satire long before it got accepted into those categories. I'd also include "The Battle of the Books" and "A Modest Proposal" as well as "The Tale of a Tub")
The Story of Philosophy, by Will Durant (popular book on the subject, but enjoyable and very informative)
The Outline of History, by H. G. Wells
The Odyssey, by Homer
Beyond Life, by James Branch Cabell
Abbotsford, by Washington Irving (utterly charming account of a stay with Walter Scott, including bits of folklore and traditions, and a very warm and human book)
Love Ain't Nothing But Sex Misspelled, by Harlan Ellison (one of his many non-sff books)
Requiem for a Heavyweight, by Rod Serling (play)

I'd include various plays by Shakespeare, Marlow, Webster, etc., but some of my favorites would at least marginally fit into fantasy or horror. I'm sure more will come....

Nesacat · 4th July 2006, 01:12 PM

The Cloud Machinery by Christopher Whyte

I just finished this book. Picked it up on a chance and it's a wonderful little book. It's about a tiny theatre at St Hyginus, in an obscure corner of Venice, which is about to reopen after 7 years. Domenico has been employed to rehearse the company and direct the operas. In the eaves of the theatre Domenico and his lover Rodolfo discover an ageing, half-mad castrato called Angelo Colombani in a room filled with theatrical machinery. It was the failure of his cloud machinery, on a disastrous night seven years before, that led to the closure of the theatre.

The book reads like a piece of classical music almost, maybe something by Mozart. It's elegantly written with a polished surface that does not however hide the disturbing pyschological undertones.

j.d. ... I like your choices

j. d. worthington · 4th July 2006, 03:46 PM

Thank you. Same here. I've heard mention of The Cloud Machinery before, but never knew much about it ... sounds like the sort of book I'd definitely enjoy.... This is worse than being a kid in a candy shop, carte blanche and five minutes to closing....

Drex · 4th July 2006, 04:03 PM

I tried to do a post here yesterday, but guess I fumbled. Anyway, glad to meet you all. Nice to be surrounded by others of the same interest. Your forum has lead me to many new avenues of sci-fi to explore and many of your suggestions listed here will go far with me. Now I don't have any other BOOK suggestions, but, if you don't mind E-BOOKS, then I stumbled across some GREAT ones this week! Since I recently lost my job, I've been spending alot of time surfin' lately and seem to have found many new different sci-fi sites. My current favorite (besides this one!) is one that has some really hot new sci-fi/fantasy stories and GREAT art. The stories have me totally hooked, I've read all the submissions so far and keep going back throughout the day to find more! The site is designed all around a mythical world named Mernac, and authors and artists from around the world keep adding interrelated stories to it. The next phase of the site will even include gaming (RPG)!

The site is still in Beta mode, so it's not yet open to the public, but if anyone reads this and wants to get into it, I'm currently a Beta Tester & could probably get you in as one.

Just send me a message & I'll see what I can do. Again, glad to meet you all & look forward to a long-term connection with you all.

Rane Longfox · 5th July 2006, 06:11 AM

Marky - I would definately classify Jennifer Government as sci-fi, personally...
Damn good book though, I agree

sielah · 21st July 2006, 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rane Longfox

Marky - I would definately classify Jennifer Government as sci-fi, personally...
Damn good book though, I agree

George Clooney and Steven Soderbergh have apparently been trying to make a movie out of it for the last few years. Given what they did to "Solaris", it's probably for the best that it's stuck in development hell :-)

Shrodinger's Cat · 21st July 2006, 01:34 PM

John Gribbin: In Search of Schrodinger's Cat: Quantum Physics & Reality
( I bought this prior to reading my all-time favorite novel, Schrodinger's Cat Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson, to help me understand both Quantum Physics and the Schrodinger's Cat theorey, and not only did it help me understand and interpret Wilsons novel, it also founded my extreme interestest in Quantum physics and mechanics, and was an magnificent read.)

Robert Anton Wilson: Prometheus Rising
( The best non-fiction book I have ever read. Everything within its pages is breathtaking and fantastic, even moreso than most fiction! This can be applied to everyone, and it indeed helps. An utterly fantastic read, mind-blowing and literally life-altering.)

James Gleick: Chaos
( Probably the most acessable book on the most unacessable topic. Intriguing, engaging nonfiction history book and science primer.)

Bill Bryson - A Short History of Nearly Everything

Robert Service - Stalin: A Biography

Robert Service - Lenin: A Biography

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

star.torturer · 21st July 2006, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Bill Bryson - A Short History of Nearly Everything

its good isnt it

all books are great, so i cant recomend any of them

26th June 2006, 12:15 PM	#1 (permalink)
Marky Lazer Plastic Paddy Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 2,589	Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened We have Sci-fi recommendations and fantasy recommendations, but, as some of you might know, there's a whole world besides these marevelous genres. Well, that's the reason for this thread... The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon Jennifer Government - Max Barry The Girl in the Flammable Skirt - Aimee Bender Tumble Home - Amy Hempel The Ice at the Bottom of the World - Mark Richard Geek Love - Katherine Dunn Survivor - Chuck Palahniuk Dead Long Enough - James Hawes Thank You for Smoking - Christopher Buckley The Contortionist's Handbook - Craig Clevenger [to be continued...]

26th June 2006, 12:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cobolt Dreamer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: UK: ENGLAND: Posts: 69	Re: Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened Can you give me any info on the Jennifer government book, I have seen it and have often considered buying but always walked away unsure if it would be a good read.

26th June 2006, 12:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
Culhwch Queenslander! Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Australia, Queensland Posts: 2,630	Re: Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened Good idea, Marky. Stickied.

26th June 2006, 12:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
Marky Lazer Plastic Paddy Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 2,589	Re: Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened Cobolt, Jennifer Government is hilarious. It's set in the near future where the big companies have the power. For example, if you work for Nike, it become your surname. The book features John Nike and John Nike... Anyway, an employee of Nike, Hack, is assigned for a big job, he signs the contract without reading it. He should kill some kids as a promotion for the new Nike sneakers. There the s**t begins. I can't really tell it, but what if you have a look for yourself? Here you can find the first chapter: http://www.maxbarry.com/jennifergovernment/preview.html

28th June 2006, 07:45 AM	#5 (permalink)
Nesacat The Cat Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Malaysia Posts: 2,564	Re: Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened This is a great idea Marky ... there's a world of books out there Am trying to get a copy of The Girl in the Flammable Skirt by Aimee Bender Istanbul - Orhan Pamuk If on a winter's night a traveller - Italo Calviono (a book made up of little books and chapter headings that make up something else as well) Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon (there's a cemetary of dead books ... nothing else need be said) Paper - Bahiyyih Nakhjavani (for all those who love the written word) Reef - Romesh Gunasekhara (there's the most amazing cake in this and the book reads like a poem) Dante's Club - Matthew Pearl (round like a circle in a spiral on the paths of Hell) Q&A - Vikas Swarup (all you need is life is for someone to ask the right questions at the right time)

4th July 2006, 10:28 AM	#6 (permalink)
Marky Lazer Plastic Paddy Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Netherlands Posts: 2,589	Re: Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened I haven't even finished, but already going to put the next book on this list: Torture the Artist - Joey Goebel

4th July 2006, 11:03 AM	#7 (permalink)
iansales Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: South Yorkshire Posts: 1,645	Re: Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened Some favourite mainstream novels/series... The Alexandria Quartet, Lawrence Durrell Earthly Powers, Anthony Burgess The Master Mariner, Nicholas Monsarrat The Right Stuff, Tom Wolfe The LA Quartet, James Ellroy Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks Nice Work, David Lodge The Heart of the Matter, Graham Greene

4th July 2006, 11:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
j. d. worthington Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,203	Re: Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened Since I don't recall this being limited to fiction, I assume we can put pretty much any category in here, yes? (If not, then I'm sure Marky will have no problem knocking me over the bean...) The Lion in Winter, by James Goldman (play) Sleuth, by Anthony Shaffer (play) The Crucible, by Arthur Miller (play) The Divine Comedy, by Dante Alighieri The House of the Seven Gables, by Nathniel Hawthorne Mosses from an Old Manse, by Nathaniel Hawthorne The Spectator Papers, by Joseph Addison and Richard Steele Gulliver's Travels, by Jonathan Swift (all right, this can be seen as fantasy/sf, but it was a satire long before it got accepted into those categories. I'd also include "The Battle of the Books" and "A Modest Proposal" as well as "The Tale of a Tub") The Story of Philosophy, by Will Durant (popular book on the subject, but enjoyable and very informative) The Outline of History, by H. G. Wells The Odyssey, by Homer Beyond Life, by James Branch Cabell Abbotsford, by Washington Irving (utterly charming account of a stay with Walter Scott, including bits of folklore and traditions, and a very warm and human book) Love Ain't Nothing But Sex Misspelled, by Harlan Ellison (one of his many non-sff books) Requiem for a Heavyweight, by Rod Serling (play) I'd include various plays by Shakespeare, Marlow, Webster, etc., but some of my favorites would at least marginally fit into fantasy or horror. I'm sure more will come....

4th July 2006, 01:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
Nesacat The Cat Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Malaysia Posts: 2,564	Re: Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened The Cloud Machinery by Christopher Whyte I just finished this book. Picked it up on a chance and it's a wonderful little book. It's about a tiny theatre at St Hyginus, in an obscure corner of Venice, which is about to reopen after 7 years. Domenico has been employed to rehearse the company and direct the operas. In the eaves of the theatre Domenico and his lover Rodolfo discover an ageing, half-mad castrato called Angelo Colombani in a room filled with theatrical machinery. It was the failure of his cloud machinery, on a disastrous night seven years before, that led to the closure of the theatre. The book reads like a piece of classical music almost, maybe something by Mozart. It's elegantly written with a polished surface that does not however hide the disturbing pyschological undertones. j.d. ... I like your choices

4th July 2006, 03:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
j. d. worthington Moderator Join Date: May 2006 Location: Texas Posts: 8,203	Re: Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened Thank you. Same here. I've heard mention of The Cloud Machinery before, but never knew much about it ... sounds like the sort of book I'd definitely enjoy.... This is worse than being a kid in a candy shop, carte blanche and five minutes to closing....

4th July 2006, 04:03 PM	#11 (permalink)
Drex Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 1	Re: Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened I tried to do a post here yesterday, but guess I fumbled. Anyway, glad to meet you all. Nice to be surrounded by others of the same interest. Your forum has lead me to many new avenues of sci-fi to explore and many of your suggestions listed here will go far with me. Now I don't have any other BOOK suggestions, but, if you don't mind E-BOOKS, then I stumbled across some GREAT ones this week! Since I recently lost my job, I've been spending alot of time surfin' lately and seem to have found many new different sci-fi sites. My current favorite (besides this one!) is one that has some really hot new sci-fi/fantasy stories and GREAT art. The stories have me totally hooked, I've read all the submissions so far and keep going back throughout the day to find more! The site is designed all around a mythical world named Mernac, and authors and artists from around the world keep adding interrelated stories to it. The next phase of the site will even include gaming (RPG)! The site is still in Beta mode, so it's not yet open to the public, but if anyone reads this and wants to get into it, I'm currently a Beta Tester & could probably get you in as one. Just send me a message & I'll see what I can do. Again, glad to meet you all & look forward to a long-term connection with you all.

5th July 2006, 06:11 AM	#12 (permalink)
Rane Longfox Blood-filled vision Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Greater Manchester Posts: 3,168	Re: Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened Marky - I would definately classify Jennifer Government as sci-fi, personally... Damn good book though, I agree

21st July 2006, 01:34 PM	#14 (permalink)
Shrodinger's Cat Registered User Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 4	Re: Other Recommendations - for the unenlightened John Gribbin: In Search of Schrodinger's Cat: Quantum Physics & Reality ( I bought this prior to reading my all-time favorite novel, Schrodinger's Cat Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson, to help me understand both Quantum Physics and the Schrodinger's Cat theorey, and not only did it help me understand and interpret Wilsons novel, it also founded my extreme interestest in Quantum physics and mechanics, and was an magnificent read.) Robert Anton Wilson: Prometheus Rising ( The best non-fiction book I have ever read. Everything within its pages is breathtaking and fantastic, even moreso than most fiction! This can be applied to everyone, and it indeed helps. An utterly fantastic read, mind-blowing and literally life-altering.) James Gleick: Chaos ( Probably the most acessable book on the most unacessable topic. Intriguing, engaging nonfiction history book and science primer.) Bill Bryson - A Short History of Nearly Everything Robert Service - Stalin: A Biography Robert Service - Lenin: A Biography The Autobiography of Malcolm X

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