<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000">Are you referring to the Edda,which comes up often in crossword puzzles? </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000">Ted Chaing, Liu Cixin, and a few others are very good. Here is a good link: <a href="https://booksandbao.com/great-works-of-chinese-science-fiction/" target="_blank">https://booksandbao.com/great-works-of-chinese-science-fiction/</a></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000">Dick, of course.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000">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</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Apr 21, 2023 at 5:55 PM efc--- via extropy-chat <<a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org" target="_blank">extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex">Hello Bill,<br>
<br>
I think from the science fiction list, Kage Baker looks like what I would <br>
appreciate (I did a quick search and the first hit was the Company series) <br>
so this I will add to my reading list! =)<br>
<br>
Vinge I really like, True Names is one of my favourites (especially these <br>
days), but his AI stuff and the others is great.<br>
<br>
When it comes to science fiction short stories, I like Ted Chiang and <br>
of coure Philip K. Dick. Did you ever read Ted Chiang?<br>
<br>
Father Brown I'e only seen on TV, but I am absolutely certain that the <br>
books are better, so that's also on the reading list.<br>
<br>
Speaking of Brown, I saw the TV series inspector Morse, and although I <br>
haven't read the books perhaps that could be something? Otherwise in terms <br>
of detectives, I'm pretty conventional, which means Holmes and some Agatha <br>
Cristie.<br>
<br>
Now fantary is a tough one for me. For some reason, after lord of the <br>
rings, nothing ever really caught on, but just felt like variations on the <br>
same theme.<br>
<br>
Although not fantasy, the stories that are closest are probably the old <br>
icelandic sagas from a 1100 years ago or so. The problem is that I do not <br>
think any good english translations exist for all of them. You have the <br>
more famous ones such as Njals Saga, Vinlands Saga and some others, but <br>
have not seen a complete translation. In fact, in my native swedish, I had <br>
to go to a used book store and found one translation from the 1960s, and <br>
that's about it. But if you're not into history, vikings and scandinavia <br>
I do not think you'll find them interesting.<br>
<br>
Another favourite of mine is a short story collection written by Lars <br>
Gustafsson who used to be a professor of philosophy at the university of <br>
texas, but sadly it is also only available in swedish. It's about an AI on <br>
a long journey in space, and to entertain itself, it splits itself into 8 <br>
personalities of old navy admirals who entertain themselves by telling <br>
stories exploring philosophical questions such as identity, intelligence, <br>
time travel etc.<br>
<br>
Actually this book is so short (around 200 pages or so) I would be <br>
delighted to translate it into english, but I have no idea about how<br>
to even start such a project (finding the owner of the copyright, <br>
negotiating, what to do, what not to do, renumeration etc.).<br>
<br>
Best regards,<br>
Daniel<br>
<br>
<br>
On Fri, 21 Apr 2023, William Flynn Wallace via extropy-chat wrote:<br>
<br>
> Hey DAniel<br>
> 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<br>
> emotional relationships. Read all of Clark. Neuromancer and Snowcrash I read, but they are really not my style. <br>
> <br>
> Two favorites: Bujold. Kage Baker. Oh, I read and have re-read all of Orson Scott Card, Some SCalzi, Vinge, Iain Banks,<br>
> Andy Weir, CHarles Stross (not the Laundry horror stuff), quite a few others of lesser importance and interest. Like Ann Leckie.<br>
> <br>
> I really need to read Borges. Maybe you read my post about Father Brown mysteries - highly recommended. Perhaps Nero Wolfe is my<br>
> favorite detective. <br>
> <br>
> Fantasy you did not mention. Terry Pratchett - comedic fantasy satire - unequalled in my opinion. Some people seem to miss the<br>
> satire.<br>
> <br>
> I am leaving out tons of books I had liked, but this is a start.<br>
> bill w<br>
> <br>
> On Fri, Apr 21, 2023 at 2:58 PM efc--- via extropy-chat <<a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org" target="_blank">extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org</a>> wrote:<br>
> Hello Bill, sounds like a deal!<br>
><br>
> Alright, so Le Carré is not your thing. When it comes to science fiction<br>
> then, to get a feeling for your taste, some of the classics that I like<br>
> are Neuromancer, Snowcrash, most of Asimov and Clarke, Heinlein.<br>
><br>
> Are any of those books/authors something you appreciate?<br>
><br>
> When it comes to mystery, would you classify Jorge Luis Borges short<br>
> stories as mystery?<br>
><br>
> Best regards,<br>
> Daniel<br>
> <br>
><br>
> On Fri, 21 Apr 2023, William Flynn Wallace via extropy-chat wrote:<br>
><br>
> > Thanks Daniel- have tried leCarre several times and just cannot finish a book of his. I would be glad to trade<br>
> recommendations in<br>
> > science fiction, science nonfiction, humor, psych, mystery. bill w<br>
> ><br>
> > On Fri, Apr 21, 2023 at 11:17 AM efc--- via extropy-chat <<a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org" target="_blank">extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org</a>> wrote:<br>
> > Thank you for the recommendation Bill!<br>
> ><br>
> > From my side, I'll add John le Carré. If you enjoy spy books, I think most<br>
> > of his books are great!<br>
> ><br>
> > Best regards,<br>
> > Daniel<br>
> ><br>
> ><br>
> > On Fri, 21 Apr 2023, William Flynn Wallace via extropy-chat wrote:<br>
> ><br>
> > > I am glad I lived long enough to run across this book: complete Father Brown mysteries by G. K. Chesterton.<br>
> > ><br>
> > > Absolutely first rate. Many of them better than Doyle. and most of them more complex- even astonishing. <br>
> > ><br>
> > > About 10-12 pages per story.<br>
> > ><br>
> > > bill w<br>
> > ><br>
> > >_______________________________________________<br>
> > extropy-chat mailing list<br>
> > <a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org" target="_blank">extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org</a><br>
> > <a href="http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat</a><br>
> ><br>
> ><br>
> >_______________________________________________<br>
> extropy-chat mailing list<br>
> <a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org" target="_blank">extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org</a><br>
> <a href="http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat</a><br>
> <br>
> <br>
>_______________________________________________<br>
extropy-chat mailing list<br>
<a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org" target="_blank">extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org</a><br>
<a href="http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://lists.extropy.org/mailman/listinfo.cgi/extropy-chat</a><br>
</blockquote></div>