[ExI] book

Sat Apr 22 13:32:03 UTC 2023

Are you referring to the Edda,which comes up often in crossword puzzles?

Ted Chaing, Liu Cixin, and a few others are very good. Here is a good
link:  https://booksandbao.com/great-works-of-chinese-science-fiction/

Dick, of course.

Give Pratchett a try.  No character is pat - witches and wizards are not
what you expect.  Start with Rincewind.   Nothing at all like Tolkien.
bill w

On Fri, Apr 21, 2023 at 5:55 PM efc--- via extropy-chat <
extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org> wrote:

> 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
> >       >       >
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> >       >
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