tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post5606025471699294355..comments2024-03-28T11:17:43.586+00:00Comments on Read-warbler: Consider PhlebasCathhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-16759212866670190672014-01-28T00:07:02.383+00:002014-01-28T00:07:02.383+00:00Susan: The science in it was not tedious at all. T...Susan: The science in it was not tedious at all. The writing just had a little too much in the way of descriptive detail for my taste. I now have Excession on my library pile as this is the one Geranium Cat and Kamo recommended here in the comments. <br /><br />Look forward to seeing what you read for Peggy's Scottish challenge.Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-25661704019185168672014-01-27T03:18:35.970+00:002014-01-27T03:18:35.970+00:00I haven't tried any Ian Banks yet, and I'd...I haven't tried any Ian Banks yet, and I'd really like to. I think I'm kind of scared of it, it looks very scientific, which to my mind still sadly translates to boring. And yet he is loved by so many readers. Your review opened my eyes to some of his ideas and what he writes about, so I'm nearer to picking one up now, Cath!<br /><br />It is fun when books count for several challenges, isn't it? I've just signed up for the Scotland Reading challenge for this year :-) First one for 2014 for me.....thanks to you and Geranium Cat!Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09095246748581382752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-18267625730180882682014-01-16T10:12:49.835+00:002014-01-16T10:12:49.835+00:00Kamo: I wasn't terribly interested in the Dama...Kamo: I wasn't terribly interested in the Damage game either, but the Orbital itself fascinated me and I wanted to know more about it. I agree that its destruction was an amazing scene, and ever so slightly heart-breaking too! His imagination was awesome... what a sad loss he is to the reading world. <br /><br />I've just reserved Excession from the library. I like the sound of 'droll glory' and Geranium Cat recommended that one too. Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-38543811787880450942014-01-16T01:44:20.980+00:002014-01-16T01:44:20.980+00:00I'm halfway through rereading this right now, ...I'm halfway through rereading this right now, and while I absolutely adored it the first time I read it, I get what you mean about it feeling like it could be shorter. However, for me the bit on the orbital surrounding the Damage game has been the closest it's got to dragging.<br /><br />I'm happily surprised at how much of it I've forgotten, so even though I know the ending lots of the little details seem fresh to me. I've normally got little patience for Worldbuilding, but the scale of Bank's imagination was awesome. The escape from the GSV and destruction of the orbital almost feel worth the cover price on their own.<br /><br />Not many Minds in this one, either. Like Geranium Cat above, I'd say give Excession a go. The Culture is all about the Minds and when they get into their droll glory there's nothing quite like it :)kamohttp://fightstart.blogspot.jpnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-48628633493281808722014-01-15T23:04:37.106+00:002014-01-15T23:04:37.106+00:00Peggy: It certainly is!
Kelly: I too will be curi...Peggy: It certainly is!<br /><br />Kelly: I too will be curious to see what you think of his books.<br /><br />Geranium Cat: Books certainly are like that. Oh yes, wince moments... there was one in this book wasn't there? I thought, 'Oh Gosh,' when he was on the island with that weird lot. I think I probably will read more as the universe he created is fascinating.<br /><br />Bev: You might have felt completely differently about the book to me. Lots of people do! LOL<br /><br />Margaret: I'm normally quite OK with meandering, well sometimes, but this time I seemed to have no patience with it.<br /><br />I'm going to be slightly harder with my ratings this year. My problem though is that if I don't like a book I don't finish it and I wouldn't put it on GR, so it's going to be rare for me to give a book one or two stars.<br /><br />Pat: It does seem odd that you love sci-fi films so much but not the books. I wonder if you maybe have not read the right books. Although... Pern is sci-fi. LOL <br /><br />Nope... I like nearly everything. It's a real problem. LOL.<br /><br />Cathhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06371069000185280668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-9581161572852816192014-01-15T11:29:16.505+00:002014-01-15T11:29:16.505+00:00I will never understand why I never cared for read...I will never understand why I never cared for reading much sci fi when I love watching the movies so much! Is there any sort of books that you don't enjoy???? (doubting it lol)DesLilyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02582481597658080464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-29487718837438198202014-01-15T07:30:26.994+00:002014-01-15T07:30:26.994+00:00I have yet to read any of Banks's book, althou...I have yet to read any of Banks's book, although I have two waiting to be read - but not this one, and I'm not sure it's one for me, meandering and superfluous detail sounds a turn-off.<br /><br />I've been thinking that I've been getting harder with my ratings - a few years ago I was giving more five stars than I do now. And I agree about the half stars on Goodreads and sometimes make a note in the comments section that my rating is actually 3.5 stars (or whatever).Margaret @ BooksPleasehttp://www.booksplease.orgnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-17346405043643607662014-01-15T00:21:12.288+00:002014-01-15T00:21:12.288+00:00I owned this book once upon a time--back in my &qu...I owned this book once upon a time--back in my "buy everything SF" days. But never read it. I"m not sure that I missed anything--doesn't sound like it was a stunner.Bev Hankinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01127476456755776574noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-51905491707397407112014-01-14T18:46:52.822+00:002014-01-14T18:46:52.822+00:00Sorry you didn't love it more, but books are l...Sorry you didn't love it more, but books are like that. If you do go for more Culture novels, so for the early ones though - later on they get more violent (he's one of those authors who tends to have at least real wince moment per book, but they get more frequent) and more meandering. My favourite is Excession, because I love his AIs, and most particularly, the Culture ships - it has ship-to-ship conversations which are wonderful.GeraniumCathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03010199887691558717noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-33624829026215143252014-01-14T17:04:25.782+00:002014-01-14T17:04:25.782+00:00I have never read Banks before, but I do have a bo...I have never read Banks before, but I do have a book by him on my TBR. I will be curious to see what I think of him.Kailanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11136262232046813471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3958492963483272678.post-40210044254519159922014-01-14T11:40:40.112+00:002014-01-14T11:40:40.112+00:00Isn't it great when a book counts for multiple...Isn't it great when a book counts for multiple challenges? Peggy Annhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00426356514707257708noreply@blogger.com