Books Ok for the high brow crowd what books you are reading - Page 119

big nasty kcnut · 03-11-2006, 10:37 PM

I'm reading The New American Revolution by tammy bruce. She is a great thinker and funny.

NewChief · 10-21-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buck

Actually the whole reason I chose Ender's Game was this picture.

If you like sort of weird, humorous takes on our society mixed with some insane action, you really need to read Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. I also know that you run in semi-geeky circles, and reading Neal Stephenson will give you some cred (as will Ender's Game).

NewChief · 10-21-2011, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buck

I'm not a huge reader. I've been trying to change that. Reading puts me to sleep though. Any tips on staying awake? Maybe some caffeinated tea?

Coffee or tea. Read sitting up and not reclining. If you start to fall asleep, just put the book down and do something else. I'm an avid reader, and it sometimes makes me sleepy as well.

**Buck** · 10-21-2011, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

If you like sort of weird, humorous takes on our society mixed with some insane action, you really need to read Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. I also know that you run in semi-geeky circles, and reading Neal Stephenson will give you some cred (as will Ender's Game).

I am reading through this thread from start to finish right now, and I put Snow Crash on my list, as well as most of the other Stephenson works. Snow Crash will probably be the next book I read, then Rendevous with Rama, then Ender's Shadow.

Also I randomly picked another book off that picture that I'm going to read. Magician: Apprentice by Feist.

NewChief · 10-21-2011, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buck

I am reading through this thread from start to finish right now, and I put Snow Crash on my list, as well as most of the other Stephenson works. Snow Crash will probably be the next book I read, then Rendevous with Rama, then Ender's Shadow.

Also I randomly picked another book off that picture that I'm going to read. Magician: Apprentice by Feist.

I'll just warn you that anything by Stephenson is pretty freaking inaccessible and dense, other than Snow Crash. Snow Crash is a damned fun romp.

**Buck** · 10-21-2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

I'll just warn you that anything by Stephenson is pretty freaking inaccessible and dense, other than Snow Crash. Snow Crash is a damned fun romp.

Ok then maybe I won't.

My favorite author is Vonnegut and most of his works are actually science fiction too, I forgot about that. If you get a chance, read a short story (takes like 15 minutes to read) from him called 'Thanasphere.'

It makes you think.

**Buck** · 10-21-2011, 06:37 PM

Oh and I signed up for that good reads website. How do I become friends with you on there?

NewChief · 10-21-2011, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buck

Ok then maybe I won't.

My favorite author is Vonnegut and most of his works are actually science fiction too, I forgot about that. If you get a chance, read a short story (takes like 15 minutes to read) from him called 'Thanasphere.'

It makes you think.

If you like Vonnegut, you will completely dig Snow Crash. You might like everything by Stephenson, but definitely start with Snow Crash.

**kysirsoze** · 10-21-2011, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buck

Yeah. It's hard to not have any preconceived notions because of the movie. I think I'm going to read Ender's Shadow first. Rendezvous with Rama sounds cool too.

Dude, that book is awesome. Give it a shot. Night and day different from the movie.

Braincase · 10-21-2011, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

If you like sort of weird, humorous takes on our society mixed with some insane action, you really need to read Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. I also know that you run in semi-geeky circles, and reading Neal Stephenson will give you some cred (as will Ender's Game).

Ditto on Snowcrash.

NewChief · 10-21-2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Braincase

Ditto on Snowcrash.

BTW, if you haven't read the Cory Doctorow story "When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth," you owe it to yourself. I think you can listen to audio performances of it or grab the full text here. It's an awesome little short story that any computer geek would appreciate:

http://craphound.com/?p=1678

All of the stories in that collection can be downloaded free here:
http://craphound.com/overclocked/download/

Doctorow is a badass.

patteeu · 10-21-2011, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buck

I am reading through this thread from start to finish right now, and I put Snow Crash on my list, as well as most of the other Stephenson works. Snow Crash will probably be the next book I read, then Rendevous with Rama, then Ender's Shadow.

Also I randomly picked another book off that picture that I'm going to read. Magician: Apprentice by Feist.

I thought Snow Crash was great, but I liked Stephenson's Diamond Age even better. Go for Snow Crash first though since it's more iconic.

Another good old school SciFi book that was on your NPR chart was Lucifer's Hammer.

salame · 10-21-2011, 08:04 PM

reading the new Chuck Pahlaniuk book "damned" right now. I love chuck

blaise · 10-22-2011, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NewChief

BTW, if you haven't read the Cory Doctorow story "When Sysadmins Ruled the Earth," you owe it to yourself. I think you can listen to audio performances of it or grab the full text here. It's an awesome little short story that any computer geek would appreciate:

http://craphound.com/?p=1678

All of the stories in that collection can be downloaded free here:
http://craphound.com/overclocked/download/

Doctorow is a badass.

That's funny because when Buck said he read Ender's Game I was going to mention another Doctorow story called, "Anda's Game"
It was first published on salon.com, I think, but ended up making one of the Best American Short Story editions a few years ago.
It's a good short story.

NewChief · 10-24-2011, 07:43 PM

Almost through Ready Player One.

This is a must-read for about half of ChiefsPlanet (those of us who actually fondly remember the geek boom of the 80s, especially). Constant riffing on geek subculture of the past and today throughout the book. Let's put it this way:

Early in the book, the protagonist is looking for easter eggs in the virtual world (that's the whole premise of the novel: rich uber creator of virtual world dies and leaves forture to those who can find his easter eggs in said world). Protagonist ends up playing through a virtually-created environment based on the legendarily tough AD&D module, Tomb of Horrors, culminating in him playing the arcade classic, Joust, against the "boss" of the lich from Tomb of Horrors, Acererak, in order to uncover an easter egg. Ridiculous fun. Sadly, the niche for this novel will be regretably small.

Braincase · 10-24-2011, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patteeu

I thought Snow Crash was great, but I liked Stephenson's Diamond Age even better. Go for Snow Crash first though since it's more iconic.

Another good old school SciFi book that was on your NPR chart was Lucifer's Hammer.

Read Lucifer's Hammer right after it first came out. I still remember some of the imagery, the old Travelall, his wife from Grosse Pointe, and "Hot Fudge Sundae falls on Tuesdae". Classic. Better than Armageddon and Deep Impact.

03-11-2006, 10:37 PM
big nasty kcnut The pizza king of kansas Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Somewhere in the u.s.a. Casino cash: $-2139100	Ok for the high brow crowd what books you are reading I'm reading The New American Revolution by tammy bruce. She is a great thinker and funny.
Posts: 19,387

10-21-2011, 06:37 PM	#1776
Buck Take a Chill Pill Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Carolina Casino cash: $6060295	Oh and I signed up for that good reads website. How do I become friends with you on there?
Posts: 44,605

10-21-2011, 08:04 PM	#1782
salame Under the Sofa Join Date: Apr 2009 Casino cash: $10010607	reading the new Chuck Pahlaniuk book "damned" right now. I love chuck
Posts: 4,907

10-24-2011, 07:43 PM	#1784
NewChief In Search of a Life Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Fayetteville, AR Casino cash: $7200204	Almost through Ready Player One. This is a must-read for about half of ChiefsPlanet (those of us who actually fondly remember the geek boom of the 80s, especially). Constant riffing on geek subculture of the past and today throughout the book. Let's put it this way: Early in the book, the protagonist is looking for easter eggs in the virtual world (that's the whole premise of the novel: rich uber creator of virtual world dies and leaves forture to those who can find his easter eggs in said world). Protagonist ends up playing through a virtually-created environment based on the legendarily tough AD&D module, Tomb of Horrors, culminating in him playing the arcade classic, Joust, against the "boss" of the lich from Tomb of Horrors, Acererak, in order to uncover an easter egg. Ridiculous fun. Sadly, the niche for this novel will be regretably small. __________________ In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican. - H. L. Mencken
Posts: 21,845