<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:comic sans ms,sans-serif;font-size:large;color:#000000">It won a Hugo, so most people liked it. I liked it but did not love it. bill w</div></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Sat, Apr 22, 2023 at 9:36 AM efc--- via extropy-chat <<a href="mailto:extropy-chat@lists.extropy.org">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">No, not the Edda, the sagas if the icelanders <br>
(<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagas_of_Icelanders" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sagas_of_Icelanders</a>).<br>
<br>
The edda is quite commonly available, although I can be a bit dry. The <br>
sagas (see link) are a much better read in my opinion. If you are curious <br>
and want to give it a try, I'd recommend Njals saga which is very <br>
available (<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103104.Njal_s_Saga" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/103104.Njal_s_Saga</a>).<br>
<br>
I heard both good and bad things about the three body problem, did you <br>
read it? I also have a chinese tv series based on it although I have not <br>
yet watched it.<br>
<br>
Best regards,<br>
Daniel<br>
<br>
<br>
On Sat, 22 Apr 2023, William Flynn Wallace via extropy-chat wrote:<br>
<br>
> Are you referring to the Edda,which comes up often in crossword puzzles? <br>
> <br>
> Ted Chaing, Liu Cixin, and a few others are very good. Here is a good<br>
> link: <a href="https://booksandbao.com/great-works-of-chinese-science-fiction/" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">https://booksandbao.com/great-works-of-chinese-science-fiction/</a><br>
> <br>
> Dick, of course.<br>
> <br>
> Give Pratchett a try. No character is pat - witches and wizards are not what you expect. Start with Rincewind. Nothing at all<br>
> like Tolkien. bill w<br>
> <br>
> 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>
> 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<br>
> 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<br>
> Banks,<br>
> > Andy Weir, CHarles Stross (not the Laundry horror stuff), quite a few others of lesser importance and interest. Like<br>
> Ann Leckie.<br>
> ><br>
> > I really need to read Borges. Maybe you read my post about Father Brown mysteries - highly recommended. Perhaps Nero<br>
> 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<br>
> 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.<br>
> Chesterton.<br>
> > > ><br>
> > > > Absolutely first rate. Many of them better than Doyle. and most of them more complex- even<br>
> astonishing. <br>
> > > ><br>
> > > > About 10-12 pages per story.<br>
> > > ><br>
> > > > bill w<br>
> > > ><br>
> > > >_______________________________________________<br>
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> > ><br>
> > ><br>
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</blockquote></div>