What are you reading?

[Rare Bird]

I am sure this thread exists already but i cannot find it, maybe it should be sticky anyway!

As i collect 1950's & 1960's Sci-Fi novels, it's pretty much always going be this type of stuff from me.

Anyhoots reading now:

'Escape Across The Cosmos' by Gardner Fox' {The one i have is a 1st Edition, 1964}

I'm sure you will find a review of the book online somewhere..

[synsei]

I'm currently reading Clan Of The Cave Bear, the first in Jean M Auel's Earth Children series. Previous to this I was reading The Forge Of God written by Greg Bear ;)

[walpurgis]

Andr'e, I think I've got a few rare sixties 'Ace' sci-fi paperbacks tucked away. I believe they are the double ended ones with two stories. You read one then flip them over and read the other (two front covers, no back). Do you want them? They're surplus to requirements.

[Rare Bird]

Hi Geoff
Aye the ones with the split colour spines. Which ones are they?

[walpurgis]

Dunno mate. I'll have a dig about and see what I've got.

[brian2957]

Electronics for Dummies . Havin trouble understanding it :D

[John]

Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee

[Richard Kimber]

Currently, "Mao's Great Famine"

-Richard

[Rare Bird]

Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee

& also the titles of an album by German proggers GILA :eyebrows:

[Beobloke]

I've just finished "Poorly Made in China: An insider's account of the China production game" written by a chap who has spent 20 years living and working in China as an intermediary between American firms and the Chinese factories that make their items.

It was fascinating, but depressing, reading.

[pjdowns]

I'm reading 4th Of July from James Patterson...

[Thing Fish]

I always have about 3 books on the go at any one time...:scratch:

Currently these are -

3 men in a boat. A favourite of mine and now about it's 5th reading.
History of Jazz - Ted Gioia.
Miles Davis biography. Last few pages...:(

[walpurgis]

Just had a rummage Andr'e.

Here are the Ace double paperbacks:

http://i43.tinypic.com/2q08y87.jpg

Here are the backs:

http://i40.tinypic.com/1zfk95t.jpg

And here are some regular old Sci-Fi paperbacks I've found:

http://i40.tinypic.com/28hpdsh.jpg

'The Overman Culture' was a favourite of mine. I have no use for these now.

[Roy S]

Edmund Cooper, Transit & A far sunset were good uns. I'm currently reading treasure island

[walpurgis]

Edmund Cooper, Transit & A far sunset were good uns. I'm currently reading treasure island

I recall reading most of Cooper's books (many years ago). I only keep one sci-fi book to read occasionally these days, 'Fade-Out' by Patrick Tilley. A stunning tale! (I think I've got about three copies somewhere. Same for 'The Diceman' by Luke Reinhart, an all time favourite but not sci-fi. So much fun though)

[Roy S]

Look out Ben Bova's Exile Trilogy as well

[walpurgis]

Look out Ben Bova's Exile Trilogy as well

I've seen Ben Bova's books, but not read any. On the strength of your recommendation I've just ordered a copy off eBay to see what it's like.

If it's no good, I'll be round your house with 'the lads'. :D

[Roy S]

I'll be round your house with 'the lads'. :D

I'll have the kettle on

[walpurgis]

I'll have the kettle on

That's nice. A bit of Lyons Red Label goes down a treat! :)

[Roy S]

Anything by E.E.'Doc' Smith also gets my vote, particularly the 'Skylark' series

[Joe]

I am currently reading 'Mimesis' by Erich Auerbach, and 'Coleridge: Early Visions' by Richard Holmes.

[Rare Bird]

Just had a rummage Andr'e.

Here are the Ace double paperbacks:

http://i43.tinypic.com/2q08y87.jpg

Here are the backs:

http://i40.tinypic.com/1zfk95t.jpg

And here are some regular old Sci-Fi paperbacks I've found:

http://i40.tinypic.com/28hpdsh.jpg

'The Overman Culture' was a favourite of mine. I have no use for these now.

Hi Geoff

Yum yum i don't have any of those can i take them from you?

[bob4333]

Patrick O'Brian: Aubrey - Maturin series for about the fourth time around.

Currently on "The Letter of Marque": always a bit fed up when I finish the last book as I have to wait a few years before the brain's forgotten enough to start again.

"Chickenhawk" by Robert Mason: one of the best books about flying helicopters in Vietnam I've come across. Chopping tree branches off with the Huey rotor blades to make a descent? Impressive stuff............

"My Bass and Other Animals" - Guy Pratt. Pratt's interview with David Gilmour for a place in the band was interesting.

[walpurgis]

Yum yum i don't have any of those can i take them from you?

Just cover the postage and you can have them Andr'e.

If you haven't got it I'll bung a copy of Patrick Tilley's 'Fade Out', wonderful story!

[walpurgis]

Look out Ben Bova's Exile Trilogy as well

Well I just got back from holiday and found my copy waiting for me. I'll post my opinion when I've read it!

[Rare Bird]

Tom Godwin 'Space Prison'.. {1962 Ed}.. I need a 1960 Pyramid 1st Edition..

[synsei]

The Valley Of the Horses by Jean M Auel, book two of her Earth's Children series ;)

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c0/The_Valley_of_the_Horses_cover.jpg

[John]

Mans Search for Meaning Victor Frankel

[Gordon Steadman]

The Mind parasites - Colin Wilson
Radix - A A Attanasio
Bleak House - Dickens

In three different rooms and I read a bit of each depending where I park my bum!! Split personality.

[Rare Bird]

The Mind parasites - Colin Wilson


Hi Gordon
I have a late 60's 1st issue of that..

[Gordon Steadman]

Hi Gordon
I have a late 60's 1st issue of that..

Nice one, mine is the later Panther edition from 1969. The bindings were not the best and mine is taped up everywhere. every time I read it, another few pages detach themselves. One of these days, I must do a proper rebind job on all the old books that need attention.

[Rare Bird]

Nice one, mine is the later Panther edition from 1969. The bindings were not the best and mine is taped up everywhere. every time I read it, another few pages detach themselves. One of these days, I must do a proper rebind job on all the old books that need attention.

The Panther is the UK 1st edition..

[Gordon Steadman]

The Panther is the UK 1st edition..

Hmm, mine says first published in the Uk by Arthur Barker Ltd 1967!!:scratch:

[Rare Bird]

Thats odd my 1st Edition 1967 is a US edition

[John]

If you meet Buddha on the road kill him Sheldon Kopp

[sq225917]

The ocean at the end of the lane, Neil Gaiman.

[synsei]

If you haven't got it I'll bung a copy of Patrick Tilley's 'Fade Out', wonderful story!

Top novel that, I must read it again as it has been a few years, I like the way that Tilley's mind works. If I were forced to pick a favourite novel of his it would have to be Mission. If you haven't read it Geoff try and find a copy. It is about the second coming of Jesus but with a huge dollop of reality. He is found in a New York alleyway and it is assumed he is a drunk who has been the victim of a mugging. The story rolls on from there with a witty strut. Sometimes funny, often thought provoking and ultimately full of astute observations about human nature... ;)

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41VEpRAeNQL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_SX385_SY500_CR,0,0,385,500_SH20_OU02_.jpg

[Clive197]

Just started reading "The Kill List" by Frederick Forsyth after finishing "Killing Floor" by Lee Child which is the first Jack Reacher novel this afternoon.

[walpurgis]

Top novel that, I must read it again as it has been a few years, I like the way that Tilley's mind works. If I were forced to pick a favourite novel of his it would have to be Mission. If you haven't read it Geoff try and find a copy. It is about the second coming of Jesus but with a huge dollop of reality. He is found in a New York alleyway and it is assumed he is a drunk who has been the victim of a mugging. The story rolls on from there with a witty strut. Sometimes funny, often thought provoking and ultimately full of astute observations about human nature... ;)

Yes, read Mission. Rather similar in some ways if I recall to Michael Moorcock's 'Behold the Man'. I have to say I preferred 'Fade Out'. I rate that as the best Sci-Fi story I've ever read (I've still got two copies).

[Rare Bird]

Nearly finished - The Man From Uncle novel 'The Vampire Affair' {Four Square Books 1966}

:sofa:

[MartinT]

Patrick Tilley's 'Fade Out', wonderful story!

Excellent novel!

[MartinT]

Just finished Iain M. Banks' Surface Detail (I'm still mourning his recent death and this was his last Culture novel)...

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_vC_NYnaKRRs/TCIdFavFJiI/AAAAAAAABCI/ntNH83HkAVg/s1600/Iain+M.+Banks+-+Surface+Detail.JPG

...now reading Jack Campbell's Lost Stars: Tarnished Knight which gives the enemy's perspective on the Lost Fleet series.

http://dyn4.media.titanbooks.com/products/6097/loststarstarnishedknight.jpg

[Ali Tait]

Surface Detail is a great book, try his last novel "The Quarry" Martin, rather good I thought, and very apropos, as one of the main characters has a terminal illness (he started writing this before he knew he was ill)

[Gordon Steadman]

I've tried loads of times to read Iain Banks and been left totally unmoved on every occasion. Just can't get into it at all.

Just read Ethical Quotient by John Phillifent again. Used to have it in an Analog collection but I think I must have dumped that in the clearout before we came to France. Had to buy the October 1962 edition of Analog on ebay to get it again.

Only a short story but one I have always liked.

[Rare Bird]

Just read Ethical Quotient by John Phillifent again. Used to have it in an Analog collection but I think I must have dumped that in the clearout before we came to France. Had to buy the October 1962 edition of Analog on ebay to get it again.

Only a short story but one I have always liked.

Is that a conincidence or what with me reading man from uncle at the mo?

[MartinT]

try his last novel "The Quarry" Martin, rather good I thought

I believe it may be a birthday or Christmas present, so I'm waiting with baited breath. Reading his last ever book will be bittersweet, especially knowing the character in the story and his own impending tangle with the big C (not to mention my own).

[Joe]

Today I have mostly been reading shedloads of critical articles about Ezra Pound's amendments to TS Eliot's 'The Waste Land'.

[John]

Gods without Men Hari Kunzru http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/bookreviews/8709188/Gods-without-Men-by-Hari-Kunzru-review.html

[Rare Bird]

Mission to the stars: A.E.Van Vogt..

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w425/ELPFAN1968/Books%20600/020-MissionToTheStars-ACVanVogt.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/ELPFAN1968/media/Books%20600/020-MissionToTheStars-ACVanVogt.jpg.html)

[Rare Bird]

'Magnetic Man' by Norman Daniels.. {The Avengers No.8, 1968 - 2nd Issue USA Copy on Berkley}

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w425/ELPFAN1968/MagneticMan.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/ELPFAN1968/media/MagneticMan.jpg.html)

[Joe]

'The Letters of John Keats' and shedloads more books about T S Eliot.

[stupinder]

Reading the Hitchhikers' Guide books again. Just about to finish Life the Universe and everything and to be honest it's been a bit of a bind - -others good though!

[synsei]

Reading the Hitchhikers' Guide books again. Just about to finish Life the Universe and everything and to be honest it's been a bit of a bind - -others good though!

Douglas Adams possessed a sense of humour and outlook on life which really resonates with me. He is sorely missed...


"The art of learning to fly is to throw yourself at the ground....and miss"

and then there is this little gem:


“Another thing that got forgotten was the fact that against all probability a sperm whale had suddenly been called into existence several miles above the surface of an alien planet.

And since this is not a naturally tenable position for a whale, this poor innocent creature had very little time to come to terms with its identity as a whale before it then had to come to terms with not being a whale any more.

This is a complete record of its thoughts from the moment it began its life till the moment it ended it.

Ah … ! What’s happening? it thought.

Er, excuse me, who am I?

Hello?

Why am I here? What’s my purpose in life?

What do I mean by who am I?

Calm down, get a grip now … oh! this is an interesting sensation, what is it? It’s a sort of … yawning, tingling sensation in my … my … well I suppose I’d better start finding names for things if I want to make any headway in what for the sake of what I shall call an argument I shall call the world, so let’s call it my stomach.

Good. Ooooh, it’s getting quite strong. And hey, what’s about this whistling roaring sound going past what I’m suddenly going to call my head? Perhaps I can call that … wind! Is that a good name? It’ll do … perhaps I can find a better name for it later when I’ve found out what it’s for. It must be something very important because there certainly seems to be a hell of a lot of it. Hey! What’s this thing? This … let’s call it a tail – yeah, tail. Hey! I can can really thrash it about pretty good can’t I? Wow! Wow! That feels great! Doesn’t seem to achieve very much but I’ll probably find out what it’s for later on. Now – have I built up any coherent picture of things yet?

No.

Never mind, hey, this is really exciting, so much to find out about, so much to look forward to, I’m quite dizzy with anticipation …

Or is it the wind?

There really is a lot of that now isn’t it?

And wow! Hey! What’s this thing suddenly coming towards me very fast? Very very fast. So big and flat and round, it needs a big wide sounding name like … ow … ound … round … ground! That’s it! That’s a good name – ground!

I wonder if it will be friends with me?

And the rest, after a sudden wet thud, was silence.

Curiously enough, the only thing that went through the mind of the bowl of petunias as it fell was Oh no, not again. Many people have speculated that if we knew exactly why the bowl of petunias had thought that we would know a lot more about the nature of the universe than we do now.”


― Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

[walpurgis]

Look out Ben Bova's Exile Trilogy as well

Well I read it Roy. Not my cup of tea I'm afraid, I found it a bit simplistic and some of the science (what little there was) was questionable!


If you want a great Sci-Fi read get a copy of Patrick Tilley's 'Fade Out' off eBay for a couple of quid. That's got some real meat to the story and it's pretty vividly imaginative.

'Eon' by Greg Bear is pretty damn good too.

[Roy S]

I found it a bit simplistic

Probably why I like it :)

[walpurgis]

Probably why I like it :)

Oh come on! :)

The copy I bought was so ancient it started falling apart as I read it. Every letter 'S' looked like an 'f'.

[struth]

reading the complete sherlock holmes ...again on kindle....love these short stories

[Joe]

reading the complete sherlock holmes ...again on kindle....love these short stories

I can see my Penguin paperback copy of the complete Sherlock Holmes on the table in the room in which I'm sat.

[Roy S]

Oh come on! :)

The copy I bought was so ancient it started falling apart as I read it. Every letter 'S' looked like an 'f'.

Well it was written in the 18th Century

'What you take to be an f is actually the so-called long s, also known as the medial s, to be differentiated from the terminal or short or round s, which we regard today as the conventional form. Throughout its history, the long s has always looked a lot like the lowercase f, to the extent of having a little nubbin vaguely reminiscent of a crossbar appended to its middle sometimes. But the two letters are not otherwise related.'

[walpurgis]

Bet you Googled that. :) I couldn't remember what it was called, but I have a few books that use it!

[Andrew B]

I'm reading a great little book called E2 by Pam Grout (it's E Squared) but I have no idea how you get that symbol up on an Ipad.

[MartinT]

If you want a great Sci-Fi read get a copy of Patrick Tilley's 'Fade Out' off eBay for a couple of quid. That's got some real meat to the story and it's pretty vividly imaginative.

Two good authors with hard SF content that I like are Stephen Baxter and Alastair Reynolds.

[synsei]

I may have mentioned him before but another hard sci-fi author I enjoy reading is Greg Bear, especially his earlier stuff such as the Forge Of God trilogy and of course the epic Eon and its follow up, Eternity.

Geoff, have you read Tilley's fabulous Amtrak Wars series? The best quote from the series is from my favourite character, Mr Snow:


It is difficult to fly with eagles when one works with Turkeys :lol:

[Rare Bird]

Some good Sci-Fi books for you lot:


Eight Against Utopia: Douglas R.Mason {1967}
Planet Of Exile: Ursula H Le Guin {1966}
The Green Man: Frank Herbert (1966}
Close To Critical: Hal clement {1964}
Nine Tomorrows: Isaac Asimov {1959)
The Falling Torch: Algis budrys {1959}
People of the talisman: Leigh Brackett {1964}
Behold The Stars: Kenneth Bulmer {1965}
Bright New Universe: Jack Williamson {1969}
Conquest Earth: Manly Banister {1956}
Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep: Philip K.Dick {1968}
The Dark Side Of Earth: Alfred Bester {1964}
Galaxies Like Grains Of Sand: Brian Aldiss {1960}
Martian Timeslip: Philip K.Dick {1964}
The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress: Robert A.Heinlein {1966}
Time And Again: Clifford D.Simak {1951}
World Without Stars: Poul anderson {1967}
The Edge Of Tomorrow: Howard fast {1961}
The Sunless World: Neil R Jones {1964}
The Left Hand Of Darkness: Ursula K.Le Guin {1969}
Babel-17: Samuel R.Delany {1966}
The Fortec Conspiracy: Richard M.Garvin & G.Addeo {1969}
Seed Of Light: Edmund cooper {1959}
The Drowned World: J.G Ballard {1962}
The Asylum World: John Jakes {1969}
The Broken Lands: Fred Saberhagen {1968}
Destination Saturn: David Grinnell & Lin Carter {1967}
Hawksbill Station: Robert Silverberg {1967}
Solaris Stanislaw: Lem {1961}
The Einstein Intersection: Samuel R Delany {1967}
The Immortal: Roger zelazny {1966}

[synsei]

Have you read Hothouse by Brian Aldiss André?

[struth]

Well I read it Roy. Not my cup of tea I'm afraid, I found it a bit simplistic and some of the science (what little there was) was questionable!


If you want a great Sci-Fi read get a copy of Patrick Tilley's 'Fade Out' off eBay for a couple of quid. That's got some real meat to the story and it's pretty vividly imaginative.

'Eon' by Greg Bear is pretty damn good too.

I have fade out on my kindle but not got round to reading it yet ...came across it when trying to remember the name of z book I used to have....thin air ...which is a great read. They made a terrible mess of the film though...Philadelphia something?

[Rare Bird]

Have you read Hothouse by Brian Aldiss André?

Hi Dave
I have a late 60's re-issue of that..

[Rare Bird]

Funny you should mention Brian Aldiss Dave as i stumbled upon his 'The Interpreter' & 'The Primal Urge' whilst in the Oxfam shop Saturday. I was an happy bunny £1.49 each, in Ace condition anorl.

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w425/ELPFAN1968/Aldiss.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/ELPFAN1968/media/Aldiss.jpg.html)

[walpurgis]

I've read a lot of those books on your list Andr'e. Some excellent stuff there!

[Rare Bird]

Aye.. Thanks again for those books you sent..

:thumbsup:

[Tim]

I have two books on the go right now, as a hardback,

Bob Harris - The Whispering Years

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511i7PRsvnL.jpg

and on the Kindle,

John Kean - Lost Wife, Saw Barracuda

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51sqLaSm47L.jpg

(written by a friend of mine)

[Macca]

I have fade out on my kindle but not got round to reading it yet ...came across it when trying to remember the name of z book I used to have....thin air ...which is a great read. They made a terrible mess of the film though...Philadelphia something?

I have 'Thin Air' you are right, it is a good read. There are a couple of films called the Philadelphia Experiment, but neither is based on Thin Air. They all (Thin Air and both films) derive from a book called The Philadelphia Experiment which is not a novel but a documentary about an alleged WWII experiment to make a ship invisible using a huge electromagnet to bend light, which works but they get all kinds of unexpected side effects including teleporting the ship to a location several hundred miles away. Supposedly Einstein was involved. That's a good read too.

[synsei]

That will be The Philadelphia Experiment by Charles Berlitz then Martin. The final chapters of the book are fascinating and a bit of an eye opener. They concern the research and development projects of a very interesting chap, Thomas Townsend Brown. He conducted extensive research and development into anti-gravitic devices culminating in him building and testing flying discs in his own research lab and later on in a purpose built facility in conjunction with Matra in France.

http://www.rexresearch.com/ttbrown/ttbrown.htm

[Rare Bird]

Starting in the morning: 'Dark Continium' : John E.Muller {Badger Books, 1964}

[Marco]

Wow - sounds right up my street (especially if it were made into a film)! :)

Love the artwork on those old books, as it looks more like a painting... Can anyone else notice that the colours are so much richer/warmer looking and more 'vibrant and alive' than that shown on today's books?

I notice the same thing with the quality of the colours in some of the old 'Western' films from that era.

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

Marco:
I collect old 1950's/60's Sci-Fi Novels :eyebrows:

Stick to books pre decimalisation, everything i ever say will make sence in the end :D

[Rare Bird]

:eyebrows:

[Marco]

Nice one, dude. Do you see where I'm coming from about the colours? In comparison, the colours in today's artwork on books looks 'colder', more 'acid', and with a flatter, less '3D' perspective - at least it does to my eyes!

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

Certainly do, actually the covers started going down hill by the end of the 60's..

Here is a typical change by the late 1960's from your typical 1950's book

[synsei]

Nice one, dude. Do you see where I'm coming from about the colours? In comparison, the colours in today's artwork on books looks 'colder', more 'acid', and with a flatter, less '3D' perspective - at least it does to my eyes!

Marco.

Just a hunch but I'd say the vibrancy probably comes down to the use of similar colour palettes to those used in classic comic books from Marvel et al ;)

[Rare Bird]

Dave:

Everything from the 50's up to today has gone through cost cutting excersize along the way. I can look at products through the years & can spot changes that are solely cost cutting. If they can manipulate a photograph rather than pay someone to do the artwork they will.

Same with record covers, the sixties generally had propar group photos nicely laminated, that all went through the window by the late 60's progressively got worse over the years imho..

People think im bonkers sticking to the 60's but i do it for a reason..It's a certain way they did things & the quality back then for me.

[Marco]

Certainly do, actually the covers started going down hill by the end of the 60's..

Heres a typical change by the late 60's

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w425/ELPFAN1968/Sci-Fi%20Novels/AllTheTrapsOfEarth-CliffordDSimak-1.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/ELPFAN1968/media/Sci-Fi%20Novels/AllTheTrapsOfEarth-CliffordDSimak-1.jpg.html)

below is a typical 50's book

http://i1075.photobucket.com/albums/w425/ELPFAN1968/Sci-Fi%20Novels/AManCalledDestiny-LanWright-1.jpg (http://s1075.photobucket.com/user/ELPFAN1968/media/Sci-Fi%20Novels/AManCalledDestiny-LanWright-1.jpg.html)

Good example. The bottom one looks more like an original that someone has drawn and painted, as opposed to a flatter looking, more diluted entity, due to the ravages of cost cutting and mass production techniques, and as such has a 'humanity' and 'soul' the late 60s example lacks. It simply looks more lifelike!

Marco.

[synsei]

Dave:

Everything from the 50's up to today has gone through cost cutting excersize along the way. I can look at products through the years & can spot changes that are solely cost cutting. If they can manipulate a photograph rather than pay someone to do the artwork they will.

Same with record covers, the sixties generally had propar group photos nicely laminated, that all went through the window by the late 60's progressively got worse over the years imho..

People think im bonkers sticking to the 60's but i do it for a reason..It's a certain way they did things & the quality back then for me.

I get all that André but that has nothing to do with my comment dude, I simply suggested that the earlier book covers look vibrant because they appear to employ a similar colour pallet to those used in the classic comic book franchises such as Marvel and DC :)

[Marco]

...which was a superior (more vibrant looking) 'colour palette' than what's used now on most books - and where the artwork also contained rather more originality than is generally in evidence on today's publications! ;)

Marco.

[Rare Bird]

I get all that André but that has nothing to do with my comment dude, I simply suggested that the earlier book covers look vibrant because they appear to employ a similar colour pallet to those used in the classic comic book franchises such as Marvel and DC :)

Yeh i get you dave but like i say it's all part of cost cutting, if they can find a cheaper more advanced :lol: way of performing printing techniques & in whole create a cheap way of producing a book i guess they will regardless of Quality or what we love about the older ways..Things have & will continue to change for the sake of costing. Nothing exists in my ideal past the very early 70's, i certainly wouldnt be seen dead with a 1970's publication :D

[synsei]

I think it is a matter of differing techniques and rose coloured spectacles myself although that is not meant to detract from the obvious quality of some of these early works. With respect to André his fixation with the period is personal to him but rather colours his judgement on anything more modern. I can think of a few award winning sci-fi artists who did their best work from the late 70's onward, Ralph McQuarrie being one... ;)

http://www.signatureillustration.org/illustration-blog/wp-content/ralph-mcquarrie005.jpg

[Rare Bird]

Hi Dave
A good picture & although the little ships have a rather 50's shape i can tell straight away it's a modern artwork, probably the clean cut & the detail!.. Rose tinted glasses! :whistle: No no there is some late 70's sci-fi artwork that does look a lot older, that i happen to like ie: The Angus McKie art used for Brian Stablefords 'Promised Land' novel {1978 Pan Edition}.. The same as used on the Vangelis 'Hypothesis' record packet.. However It's nothing to do with all that with me it's the authenticity of a product made back then that's important to me..

Can i just add that unlike Vinyl record re-issues that use the original Artwork when they do get re-introduced, books are different they use a different cover art each time hence an original book is a must. It's not a matter of being an Hypocrite buying re-issue vinyl but on the other hand insisting on an original product from back then regarding books, it's just that the astronomical cost of a 1st issue records i want renders it impossible for me to do so, hence the re-issue is the only viable way to get hold of that record, but as i mentioned the artwork is the same as back the with records...

Dank.

[Marco]

I see a very similar thing, Dave, whenever I compare the best film photography with its digital counterpart. The lack of richness and vibrancy (and flatness of colour perspectives) with the latter, in comparison with the former, appears to be something rather fundamental and repeatable, which intrinsically permeates the whole image-making process.

Unlike (arguably, Andre), I have no 'rose-tinted spectacles' - I simply judge it as I see it! :)

Marco.

[Marco]

A good picture & although the little ships have a rather 50's shape i can tell straight away it's a modern artwork, probably the clean cut & the detail!.. Rose tinted glasses! :whistle: No no there is some late 70's sci-fi artwork that does look a lot older, that i happen to like ie: The Angus McKie art used for Brian Stablefords 'Promised Land' novel {1978 Pan Edition}.. The same are used on the Vangelis 'Hypothesis' record packet.. However It's nothing to do with all that with me it's the authenticity of a product made back then that's important to me..

Yup, the overall quality of that Vangelis cover (on the left) is in a different league!!! It has all the attributes I've been describing with artwork of its era.

Marco.

[Joe]

Back when I read sic-fi, I preferred the Gollancz hardback editions; simple yellow covers with just the author's name and book title.

[synsei]

I see a very similar thing, Dave, whenever I compare the best film photography with its digital counterpart. The lack of richness and vibrancy (and flatness of colour perspectives) with the latter, in comparison with the former, appears to be something rather fundamental and repeatable, which intrinsically permeates the whole image-making process.

Unlike (arguably, Andre), I have no 'rose-tinted spectacles' - I simply judge it as I see it! :)

Marco.

The painting I posted is just that Marco, there's nothing digital about it. I own the entire collection from which the above was taken. The collection consists of quality reproductions taken from the original artwork. The artwork was commissioned by George Lucas for the film The Empire Strikes Back and might possibly be worth a small fortune now, not that I'm selling as they are beautiful ;)

[Marco]

Yes, but that's just because you're rather staid and boring... ;)

Marco.

[Joe]

Yes, but that's just because you're rather staid and boring... ;)

Marco.

Nah; it's because I can read the words rather than just look at the cover.

[MartinT]

I see a very similar thing, Dave, whenever I compare the best film photography with its digital counterpart.

You probably went for either the Kodachrome super-vibrant reds look (very warm photos) or the Fujichrome brilliant greens (great for landscapes). I took a lot of photos with Kodachrome 64 and it created wonderful images, but they were not strictly realistic. Ektachrome was probably more accurately balance but not so popular!

[Rare Bird]

Nah; it's because I can read the words rather than just look at the cover.

The cover is the most important thing about collecting Sci-Fi books.

[Marco]

Nah; it's because I can read the words rather than just look at the cover.

:D

Yes, dear boy, but this specific part of the discussion is about cover art. As someone who works in the art industry, I'll always be attracted to the visual side of any product.

It's always nice to put a bit of colour into one's life. I abhor drabness of any description.

Besides, you haven't exactly shied away from the use of colour at home in your velvet/burgundy boudoir!! :eyebrows:

Marco.

[Joe]

:D

Yes, dear boy, but this specific part of the discussion is about cover art. As someone who works in the art industry, I'll always be attracted to the visual side of any product.

It's always nice to put a bit of colour into one's life. I abhor drabness of any description.

I'm a Northerner. Drabness is in my DNA.


Besides, you haven't exactly shied away from the use of colour at home in your velvet/burgundy boudoir!! :eyebrows:

Marco.

I's not my choice of colour; I'd be fine with off-white meself. My parents had some eye-watering decor back in the 1960s/70s; walls in the same room with different wallpaper, 'sunburst' clocks. Horrible, really, but at the time it just seemed 'normal'.

[Rare Bird]

My parents had some eye-watering decor back in the 1960s/70s; walls in the same room with different wallpaper, 'sunburst' clocks. Horrible, really, but at the time it just seemed 'normal'.

:drool:

[The Barbarian]

'The Mr Whippy Story' followed by 'The Tonibell Story'

[The Grand Wazoo]

Map of a Nation: A Biography of the Ordnance Survey

http://stanfords.s3.amazonaws.com/promotion/9781847082541.jpg

[MartinT]

James Herbert: Nobody True

In view of his death last year, I thought I'd see if he still had it in him.

http://i43.tower.com/images/mm101094229/nobody-true-james-herbert-paperback-cover-art.jpg

[Gordon Steadman]

James Herbert: Nobody True

In view of his death last year, I thought I'd see if he still had it in him.

http://i43.tower.com/images/mm101094229/nobody-true-james-herbert-paperback-cover-art.jpg

Probably not now:scratch:

[Ali Tait]

Good book.

[MartinT]

Yes, I'm rather enjoying it.

[Gordon Steadman]

Just finished re-reading The Battle of Corrin by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson.

Although its based on the world created by Frank Herbert in the Dune series, this and others in the 'new' series always leave me disappointed although I find the ideas interesting enough to revisit. Neither of these writers has the story telling power required, its all 'this happened and then this happened' almost just a list of statements. None of the characters seem so real that you forget you are reading a book and seem to live in the story.

Frank Herbert was a great story teller and I still go back to all his books on a regular basis.

[Tarzan]

Dennis Bergkamp auto biography:youtheman:

[The Barbarian]

:steam: People that buy Biography & Autobiography books

[Ali Tait]

Just finished re-reading The Battle of Corrin by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson.

Although its based on the world created by Frank Herbert in the Dune series, this and others in the 'new' series always leave me disappointed although I find the ideas interesting enough to revisit. Neither of these writers has the story telling power required, its all 'this happened and then this happened' almost just a list of statements. None of the characters seem so real that you forget you are reading a book and seem to live in the story.

Frank Herbert was a great story teller and I still go back to all his books on a regular basis.

Yes have to agree, these new books are not a patch on the originals.

[Tarzan]

:steam: People that buy Biography & Autobiography books


:doh:

[Gordon Steadman]

:steam: People that buy Biography & Autobiography books

Why is that then?? There are some people out there who are actually interesting enough to want to know a bit more about!!

I might write mine:lol:

[The Barbarian]

Why on earth would you want to know about another persons life?

[Gordon Steadman]

Why on earth would you want to know about another persons life?

Some of us like to know about all sorts of stuff, its not just their lives but how they fit into our experience of life. All part of life's rich pageant and all that. Sometimes,what other people say actually might give us further insight. It could happen.

Of course, if you don't find other people interesting..................:scratch:

[John]

Seven Arrows H. Storm

[The Grand Wazoo]

Biographies: Probably as baffling to you as it is to some of us that someone might want to read, not one, but two books about ice cream vans!

[Gordon Steadman]

Biographies: Probably as baffling to you as it is to some of us that someone might want to read, not one, but two books about ice cream vans!

Nah..that's just plain wierd:)

[Macca]

Biographies: Probably as baffling to you as it is to some of us that someone might want to read, not one, but two books about ice cream vans!

In fairness I thought they looked like a riveting read compared to the one about co-op transport :)

Actually that is the sort of thing I will read if I come across it, don't know why I am interested in it I just am.

Also like those local history books where they have a photo from say 1890 then a photo taken from the same spot in the present day. I can look at those for hours.

[The Grand Wazoo]

No judgement Martin, just pointing out that people have different interests and all are valid.

[Joe]

Five books about Gothic literature, plus 'American Smoke' by Iain Sinclair (about the Beat poets), 'View From The Train' by Patrick Keiller, and the Notebooks of Samuel Taylor Coleridge (vols 1&2).

[Joe]

No judgement Martin, just pointing out that people have different interests and all are valid.

Or as Jane Austen put it in 'Emma':

'One half of the world cannot understand the pleasures of the other.'

[Joe]

Biographies: Probably as baffling to you as it is to some of us that someone might want to read, not one, but two books about ice cream vans!

I can read and enjoy books about anything unless they include maths or technical drawings.

[Gordon Steadman]

I can read and enjoy books about anything unless they include maths or technical drawings.

I can agree with half of that, I quite like technical drawings!! As soon as any maths appear, my mind switches off. If ten is good enough for my fingers (the expression fingers includes two thumbs) its quite good enough for me:)

[The Barbarian]

Biographies: Probably as baffling to you as it is to some of us that someone might want to read, not one, but two books about ice cream vans!

Cut the attitude..

[The Grand Wazoo]

What attitude? None here.
You obviously missed the part where I said "No judgement Martin, just pointing out that people have different interests and all are valid."
Which is a bit different in tone to the comment you made that started the whole thing off.


:steam: People that buy Biography & Autobiography books

[The Barbarian]

Save the laim excuse, read my quote above again your the one with the attitude. 'not one, but two books about ice cream vans!'

[Tim]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51oiqJ6reoL.jpg

Unexpected present sent from my mate in China - what a great bloke he is :)

[The Grand Wazoo]

Fine.
What I wrote was totally intolerant of your reading interests and what you wrote was not confrontational or rude.
I'm sure everyone will agree with you.

[Joe]

I tend to read biographies of dead authors, and of historical characters, rather than of the currently 'rich and famous'. I find that biograpies of living people are usually of limited value, because a) we lack perspective on their lives and b) because of the libel laws, which means that we only read half the truth about them.

[Gordon Steadman]

I tend to read biographies of dead authors, and of historical characters, rather than of the currently 'rich and famous'. I find that biograpies of living people are usually of limited value, because a) we lack perspective on their lives and b) because of the libel laws, which means that we only read half the truth about them.

I admit that I tend to enjoy biographies a lot more the autobiographies. The only time I have ever actually bought such a thing is as holiday reading or when one pops up in the 50P (or centimes) box at a fair. As I do a lot of fairs selling woodturnings, I tend to see a lot of bargain boxes. Usually they are nothing of the kind.

The last two were Nelson Mandela and Ian Botham. Mandela was fascinating and Botham was utter crap.

[mr sneff]

Why on earth would you want to know about another persons life?

Same reason you might want to collect stamps, spend £1000s on a turntable, climb Everest, etc. It's just Life expressing in a particular way through different body/minds. Other peoples obsessions can seem strange, while our own seem perfectly reasonable. What's the problem?

[MartinT]

Some people's lives, like Richard Feynman, are worth reading about because they were incredibly fascinating people. Most people's lives aren't. The idea of reading about a celebrity (celebrity = worthless individual) is an utter anathema to me.

[mik_rik]

Eleanor of Aquitaine......By the Wrath of God,Queen of England .......by Alison Weir

[agk]

As a voracious reader of many many years I have finally exhausted most of the "modern" genre and have now gone period. No! Not bodice rippers!
I'm getting my swash buckled with Captain Aubrey, he of Master & Commander fame. Seems to be at least fifteen of these novels by Patrick O''Brian.
Only drawback I've found is a tendency I have to get into character a bit too much and start using the language of the time. D'you see there?

[agk]

As a voracious reader of many many years I have finally exhausted most of the "modern" genre and have now gone period. No! Not bodice rippers!
I'm getting my swash buckled with Captain Aubrey, he of Master & Commander fame. Seems to be at least fifteen of these novels by Patrick O''Brian.
Only drawback I've found is a tendency I have to get into character a bit too much and start using the language of the time. D'you see there?

[MartinT]

Not to mention... Umm, oh you did, mention it twice.

[The Barbarian]

Another one for peeps to take the pish out of :rolleyes:

'Eating People Is Wrong' by Malcolm Bradbury

[Joe]

Another one for peeps to take the pish out of :rolleyes:

'Eating People Is Wrong' by Malcolm Bradbury

Nah, that's a good 'un. 'The History Man' is excellent too.

[Gordon Steadman]

God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert. After reading the follow up books by his son, its good to revisit the original. So much better written and its easy to be drawn into and believe the strange future he created.

[The Barbarian]

Nah, that's a good 'un. 'The History Man' is excellent too.

Hi Joe
I don't read anything post 1970.. The only other one i have is 'Stepping Westward'

[Joe]

Hi Joe
I don't read anything post 1970..


I don't read much post 1870 these days.


The only other one i have is 'Stepping Westward'

That's good too. It's strange that David Lodge wrote a book called 'Changing Places' with exactly the same theme as 'Stepping Westward' only a few years later.

[MartinT]

God Emperor of Dune by Frank Herbert

I loved the entire Dune series. Some of his lesser known works were excellent too, such as Hellstrom's Hive, Whipping Star and Soul Catcher.

[The Barbarian]

'The Masters' C.P.Snow

[Tim]

Tim Winton - Dirt Music

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51l-kKSj2RL.jpg

[The Grand Wazoo]

I've got a couple on the go at the moment:

Kate Fox - 'Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour'
This is brilliant - have you ever wondered, for example, why we say sorry when it's not our fault?!

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51HNeu0BL%2BL._.jpg


and

Jerry Wexler & David Ritz - 'Rhythm and the Blues: A Life in American Music'
The man from Atlantic records

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/511DU42JbBL._BO2,204,203,200_.jpg

[Gordon Steadman]

I loved the entire Dune series. Some of his lesser known works were excellent too, such as Hellstrom's Hive, Whipping Star and Soul Catcher.
Much as I love the Dune series, my favourite Frank herbert book is Dragon in the Sea. The fact that it was the first of his books I ever read might have something to do with it but I still rate it very highly. The whole scenario just feels real - which was his great talent I reckon.

I have all his books (the ones I know about anyway) and find I can constantly re-read them without any sense of deja vu, they seem fresh every time.

[Joe]

Lessee:

Lionel Trilling: 'The Opposing Self'

Alistair Duckworth: 'The Improvement of the Estate'

Gregory Dart: 'Metropolitan Art and Literature, 1810-1840'

'The Cambridge Companion to Jane Austen'

David Bromwich: 'Hazlitt: The Mind of a Critic'

[Tim]

Kate Fox - 'Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour'
This looks interesting Chris, might have to check that one out, thanks.

[MartinT]

Much as I love the Dune series, my favourite Frank herbert book is Dragon in the Sea.

Yes, I liked that one, too.

[MartinT]

Stephen Baxter - Proxima

Stephen Baxter has written some awesome SF novels and I'm expecting this one to soar, too.


http://www.scifinow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Stephen-Baxter-Proxima.jpg

[radio]

Escape from camp 14,about a boy born in north koreas concentration camp and he escapes to freedom,he also snitched on his mother and brother and had to watch them executed.

[mr sneff]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51NncqEyvVL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_SX342_SY445_CR,0,0,342,445_SH20_OU02_.jpg

[Kember]

This looks interesting Chris, might have to check that one out, thanks.

Tim

It is very interesting and highly amusing.

I'm reading "How England Made The English" by Harry Mount at the moment. Well worth it if a bit of a light read, as so often the case with books by journos.

P

[Joe]

Jane Austen: 'Pride and Prejudice'

And a jolly good read it is too.

[Macca]

Jane Austen: 'Pride and Prejudice'

And a jolly good read it is too.

One of the things I really appreciated about finishing my degree course was that I would never again have to read any nineteenth century literature :)

Still, each unto his own...

Now this is what I call a good read:

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac233/Macca_photos_2009/sven.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/Macca_photos_2009/media/sven.jpg.html)

[Joe]

One of the things I really appreciated about finishing my degree course was that I would never again have to read any nineteenth century literature :)

Still, each unto his own...

Now this is what I call a good read:

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac233/Macca_photos_2009/sven.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/Macca_photos_2009/media/sven.jpg.html)

As always, that reminds me of a Half Man Half Biscuit lyric:

Got my weed and I’ve got my Sven Hassel
Omni stacked tenfold under the bed

In my rugby shirt, signed by Justin Hayward
I will rule the world
Playing Risk

Half Man Half Biscuit: 'I, Trog'

[Macca]

HMHB - was there anything they couldn't satirise? You've reminded me I've been meaning to get a copy of 'Back In The DHSS' for some time.

[mik_rik]

Boy Soldiers of the Great War,their own stories for the first time ..... Richard Van Emden.... all I can add is the old saying "there but by the grace of God go I"

[Straff]

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41bMFQccEAL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-v3-big,TopRight,0,-55_SX278_SY278_PIkin4,BottomRight,1,22_AA300_SH20_ OU02_.jpg

http://tinyurl.com/pcav572

Read the blurb - its the mundane life of your average tube roller :eyebrows:

[The Barbarian]

'The Last Tresiliaris' [J.I.M Stewart]

[Kember]

'The Last Tresiliaris' [J.I.M Stewart]

Andre

J I M Stewart - there's a blast from the past!

He wrote some rather good, if slightly donnish, crime books, which is not surprising as he was a don at Oxford:) . Must dig them out and re-read them.

P

[Tim]

http://olearyandcooper.co.uk/images/drake_hb_packshot.jpg

[agk]

One of the things I really appreciated about finishing my degree course was that I would never again have to read any nineteenth century literature :)

Still, each unto his own...

Now this is what I call a good read:

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac233/Macca_photos_2009/sven.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/Macca_photos_2009/media/sven.jpg.html)

Man, I read the whole series of those at least twice some years ago. A great saga and nice to get a German take on it. I'm fairly sure that the Coburn movie 'Cross of Iron' is loosely based on them.
Just reading Karl Marlantes 'Matterhorn', Vietnam novel. He did some serious service out there so knows his "shit". Very good book, equal parts moving, funny and exciting.

[Macca]

Man, I read the whole series of those at least twice some years ago. A great saga and nice to get a German take on it. I'm fairly sure that the Coburn movie 'Cross of Iron' is loosely based on them.
Just reading Karl Marlantes 'Matterhorn', Vietnam novel. He did some serious service out there so knows his "shit". Very good book, equal parts moving, funny and exciting.

I think Cross of Iron was based on someone else's memoirs. There is a film of 'Wheels of Terror' but it's not that great. I'm surprised no-one other attempt have been made to film them or maybe do a TV series like they did with the 'Sharpe' novels.

Speaking of military autobiographies this is one of the best I have ever read. Superbly written too:

http://i903.photobucket.com/albums/ac233/Macca_photos_2009/QSOH.jpg (http://s903.photobucket.com/user/Macca_photos_2009/media/QSOH.jpg.html)

[Lawrence001]

Just found this thread when searching for something, worth reviving?

[walpurgis]

Just found this thread when searching for something, worth reviving?

Possibly not, it was last used nine years ago. The other thread, 'What Are You Reading Today' is regularly active already. It's up to members to choose though.

[Lawrence001]

Possibly not, it was last used nine years ago. The other thread, 'What Are You Reading Today' is regularly active already. It's up to members to choose though.Fair point I didn't notice that I only look at the "what are you watching today" thread.

[Andy831]

I thought Andre was back.

[struth]

close this as its old and there is a new sticky