[ExI] book

[efc at swisscows.email]

Hello Bill,

I think from the science fiction list, Kage Baker looks like what I would 
appreciate (I did a quick search and the first hit was the Company series) 
so this I will add to my reading list! =)

Vinge I really like, True Names is one of my favourites (especially these 
days), but his AI stuff and the others is great.

When it comes to science fiction short stories, I like Ted Chiang and 
of coure Philip K. Dick. Did you ever read Ted Chiang?

Father Brown I'e only seen on TV, but I am absolutely certain that the 
books are better, so that's also on the reading list.

Speaking of Brown, I saw the TV series inspector Morse, and although I 
haven't read the books perhaps that could be something? Otherwise in terms 
of detectives, I'm pretty conventional, which means Holmes and some Agatha 
Cristie.

Now fantary is a tough one for me. For some reason, after lord of the 
rings, nothing ever really caught on, but just felt like variations on the 
same theme.

Although not fantasy, the stories that are closest are probably the old 
icelandic sagas from a 1100 years ago or so. The problem is that I do not 
think any good english translations exist for all of them. You have the 
more famous ones such as Njals Saga, Vinlands Saga and some others, but 
have not seen a complete translation. In fact, in my native swedish, I had 
to go to a used book store and found one translation from the 1960s, and 
that's about it. But if you're not into history, vikings and scandinavia 
I do not think you'll find them interesting.

Another favourite of mine is a short story collection written by Lars 
Gustafsson who used to be a professor of philosophy at the university of 
texas, but sadly it is also only available in swedish. It's about an AI on 
a long journey in space, and to entertain itself, it splits itself into 8 
personalities of old navy admirals who entertain themselves by telling 
stories exploring philosophical questions such as identity, intelligence, 
time travel etc.

Actually this book is so short (around 200 pages or so) I would be 
delighted to translate it into english, but I have no idea about how
to even start such a project (finding the owner of the copyright, 
negotiating, what to do, what not to do, renumeration etc.).

Best regards,
Daniel


On Fri, 21 Apr 2023, William Flynn Wallace via extropy-chat wrote:

> Hey DAniel
> Heinlein is the best (later novels with incest did not bother me).  I like Asimov but he is so dry- not much color, not much
> emotional relationships.  Read all of Clark. Neuromancer and Snowcrash I read, but they are really not my style.  
> 
> Two favorites:  Bujold.  Kage Baker.  Oh, I read and have re-read all of Orson Scott Card,  Some SCalzi, Vinge, Iain Banks,
> Andy Weir, CHarles Stross (not the Laundry horror stuff), quite a few others of lesser importance and interest. Like Ann Leckie.
> 
> I really need to read Borges. Maybe you read my post about Father Brown mysteries - highly recommended.  Perhaps Nero Wolfe is my
> favorite detective.  
> 
> Fantasy you did not mention.  Terry Pratchett - comedic fantasy satire - unequalled in my opinion.  Some people seem to miss the
> satire.
> 
> I am leaving out tons of books I had liked, but this is a start.
> bill w
> 
> On Fri, Apr 21, 2023 at 2:58 PM efc--- via extropy-chat <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>       Hello Bill, sounds like a deal!
>
>       Alright, so Le Carré is not your thing. When it comes to science fiction
>       then, to get a feeling for your taste, some of the classics that I like
>       are Neuromancer, Snowcrash, most of Asimov and Clarke, Heinlein.
>
>       Are any of those books/authors something you appreciate?
>
>       When it comes to mystery, would you classify Jorge Luis Borges short
>       stories as mystery?
>
>       Best regards,
>       Daniel
> 
>
>       On Fri, 21 Apr 2023, William Flynn Wallace via extropy-chat wrote:
>
>       > Thanks Daniel- have tried leCarre several times and just cannot finish a book of his.  I would be glad to trade
>       recommendations in
>       > science fiction, science nonfiction, humor, psych, mystery.  bill w
>       >
>       > On Fri, Apr 21, 2023 at 11:17 AM efc--- via extropy-chat <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:
>       >       Thank you for the recommendation Bill!
>       >
>       >       From my side, I'll add John le Carré. If you enjoy spy books, I think most
>       >       of his books are great!
>       >
>       >       Best regards,
>       >       Daniel
>       >
>       >
>       >       On Fri, 21 Apr 2023, William Flynn Wallace via extropy-chat wrote:
>       >
>       >       > I am glad I lived long enough to run across this book:  complete Father Brown mysteries by G. K. Chesterton.
>       >       >
>       >       > Absolutely first rate.  Many of them better than Doyle. and most of them more complex-  even astonishing.  
>       >       >
>       >       > About 10-12 pages per story.
>       >       >
>       >       > bill w
>       >       >
>       >       >_______________________________________________
>       >       extropy-chat mailing list
>       >       extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org
>       >       http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat
>       >
>       >
>       >_______________________________________________
>       extropy-chat mailing list
>       extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org
>       http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat
> 
> 
>