Tell Me What To Read

[coalescent]

OK, gang, here's the deal: I'm on holiday next week. I am looking forward to nine consecutive days filled with sleeping, reading, and writing (and maybe just a little bit of socialising). But there's a problem, which is that even my I-must-read-this-soon buffer is overflowing, never mind my actual to-be-read pile (or the to-be-read sprawl, as I more accurately like to think of it). I know that I'll be reading the new Stephen Baxter, Transcendent, because who can resist an opening line like "The girl from the future told me that the sky is full of dying worlds"? Not me. But I don't know what else to read. Consequently, a poll:

[Poll #605320]

I may read the three that receive the most votes, or I may ignore you all. But that shouldn't stop you exercising your democratic right.

(If it makes any difference to anyone, I've already been dipping into all the collections on that list--the Hill, Mieville, Phillips and Tiptree--it's just a question of which ones I try to actually finish. And I was planning to keep Camp Concentration to the end of the month--it's the instant_fanzine book choice for November, so I want to read it just before the discussion, and I know I've got a flight on which I'll have time to read it. And if anyone wants to justify their votes with a comment, that'd be cool too.)

UPDATE: Those write-in votes in full:


immortalradical suggests PASSAGE TO INDIA, YOU NUMPTY. It's true, I do have Passage to India around here somewhere, but it's second in the Literature pile. The Periodic Table comes first (third is Dubliners).

ajr votes for Damon Knight's In Search of Wonder, which I acquired from the fishlifters earlier this year. That, along with Clute's Look at the Evidence and Parietal Games, is one of the books that sits in the bathroom for me to read in those idle moments. So I'm getting through it, but slowly. Books of reviews are not one of those things I can just sit down and read straight through.

grahamsleight nominates Rogue Moon by Algis Budrys. Two pre-1995 books is enough for one week, Graham.

tefkas' entry is Judas Unchained by Peter F. Hamilton. Flaw in this plan: it's part 2 of 2, and I haven't read its predecessor, Pandora's Star (although I do have a copy).

Comments

[veggiesu.livejournal.com]

I'm on holiday next week.

Snap! Well, except Monday. And possibly Thursday, because for thefirst time in aaaaages I have both Stuff To Do, and Deadlines To Do It By. But almost snap.
I've not even heard of most of those books, you'll be unsuprised to hear, so I've voted for the Mark Gatiss, so you can join in the i_f discussion, and because it shouldn't take you more than a day, if that.
If I forget to say in the meantime, enjoy your week off :-)

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Snap!

Yes, but you're on holiday so much it barely counts. :p

[veggiesu.livejournal.com]

Oh hush; jealousy doesn't suit you at all :-p

*basks in having 30 days leave per year*

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

I'm not jealous of the 30 days half so much as I am of the fact that you can claim back travel time and overtime as holiday.

[pikelet.livejournal.com]

Shit, if I could do that I'd take literally half my year as holiday.

[pikelet.livejournal.com]

who can resist an opening line like "The girl from the future told me that the sky is full of dying worlds"?

When an opening line makes me think 'Christ, he really spent far too much effort trying to come up with a first line', it doesn't entice me.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Quiet, philistine!

(Did I pick the right Who book? Technically they should both be on the list but this one looked more fun.)

[veggiesu.livejournal.com]

Stupid LJ ate the wrong bit of my comment :-(

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

I got it in email. "Oh, woe is me having to decide whether to claim money or time for working extra hours!" I get NOTHING.

[veggiesu.livejournal.com]

You should bask in the knowledge that at least you're being paid more orless the market rate the rest of the time :-p

[sparkymark.livejournal.com]

Its not that great, treading familiar SF ground. And its the only 8th Doctor Novel with a map at the start of it. But it does have tigers that walk up to you and say "Hurroo".

[sparkymark.livejournal.com]

Multiple apostrophe crime, sorry.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

The other one he gave me is The Adventuress of Henrietta Street by Lawrence Miles.

[sparkymark.livejournal.com]

Well that one is just great: a pale city of apes and house full of whore-spys. My sole reservation is how, although the book is made up of reports from different characters, some of those characters unconvincingly decided to write down dialogue, which is a structural cop out.

[grahamsleight.livejournal.com]

There's a serious point here... I have the feeling writers get it battered into their heads repeatedly that Thou Shalt Have A Good First Line Else The Editor Will Read No Further, and so we get deluged with tons of first lines that are just trying too hard.

[white_hart]

The only one of those I've heard of is The Vesuvius Club, and what I know of it suggests that it's something T might enjoy but I probably wouldn't, and I'm not sure you would either. And I can't think of anything else that I've read recently that I think you might like and haven't already read.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty sure I won't enjoy it, too, but I'm trying to keep an open mind. (veggiesu lent it to me so I could read it for IF.)

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

What's the difference between a good first line and a first line that's trying too hard?

[abrinsky.livejournal.com]

Putting aside the ones you should read (with my reviews ed hat on) then I'd suggest that you take China's collection. Just finished this and most of the stories are good, many are very very good and one is possibly the best short story I've read for years (but with a note of caution that I don't read that many short stories).

Otherwise if you have not yet read it then take Maximum City by Suketu Mehta or JCG's new one 9tail Fox - my two best books so far this year.

[grahamsleight.livejournal.com]

a) It's a judgment call, of course.
b) Whether the first line is integrated with the tone/approach/content of all the other sentences that follow it. Whether you can imagine it working, and moving the story forward, and not sticking out like a sore thumb, if it was in the middle of the book starting a chapter or something.

Problem is, you can only really conduct this sort of argument by example. Perhaps if I dig out some good/bad first lines and post them on my LJ for folk to agree or disagree with?

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Whether the first line is integrated with the tone/approach/content of all the other sentences that follow it.

Which this one obviously is. I mean, c'mon! None more Baxter.

Perhaps if I dig out some good/bad first lines and post them on my LJ for folk to agree or disagree with?

For this you really need the powers of the clicky.

[grahamsleight.livejournal.com]

None more Baxter.

You *really* need to see Spinal Tap :)

For this you really need the powers of the clicky.

I fear you are right. Let me ponder.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Maximum City is in the meta-to-be-read pile, otherwise known as my amazon wishlist. It's tempting, you're right.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

You *really* need to see Spinal Tap :)

I hate to break it to you, bu it's a long time since that phrase had anything to do with that film. :p

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Also, if you don't know Tiptree, you should try this and this. :)