io9 on 10 Science Fiction Novels You Pretend to Have Read (And Why You Should Actuall - Page 2

DiapDealer · 07-11-2012, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

even more outrageous still works for me cause that background is not really what the story is about

But would it "still work for you" if you read it for the very first time today? I know its sort of impossible to answer that question impartially/truthfully, but these are the things I worry about when considering going back to read "influential genre classics." I'm weird that way. I want the same experience people had when reading those influential works at the time they were busy being influential. And I don't think that's possible. So it's not that I'm worried about them not being "good," or not "holding up," but rather that I've already missed out what made them special in the first place -- the fact that nothing else like them existed when I first experienced them.

ametzler · 07-11-2012, 01:51 PM

4/10. I started so well: 1 check, 2 check, 3 check, 4 no, 5 check, nothing else.

I definitey would not place Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell on a top list, as I cannot remember a lot about it except for kind-of-nice but not gripping.

Regarding Dune: The story is great, but I would have prefered if it was told with suspense as major goal instead of like a messiah story.

kennyc · 07-11-2012, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

But would it "still work for you" if you read it for the very first time today? ...

Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying. Anything that is properly written will stand the test of time because it is self-contained, this is what the classics are. IMO.

Wait are you talking about Dune or Princess of Mars?

Both work for me and I've recently re-read the Burroughs. I have also re-read some of the Martian Chronicles and would say that it does not stand up as well as either of the others.

Apache · 07-11-2012, 02:33 PM

I think Dune holds up real well also. I try to read it again every few years.
Apache

DiapDealer · 07-11-2012, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Both work for me and I've recently re-read the Burroughs. I have also re-read some of the Martian Chronicles and would say that it does not stand up as well as either of the others.

I think you might have misunderstood what I'm asking. Your re-reads are influenced by your initial reading. That's unavoidable. Even if you don't remember specific details when you re-read, you have nostalgic feelings about the book from reading it way back when that are ever present. What I'm asking is how could you possibly know how well Dune (or Princess of Mars) "holds up today"... unless you were reading them for the very first time, ever... today?

I did mention I'm weird, right?

tubemonkey · 07-11-2012, 02:50 PM

Dune is my absolute fav sci-fi book and series! I'll take it over anything done by Asimov and Bradbury.

tubemonkey · 07-11-2012, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I did mention I'm weird, right?

Whistling softly, monkey just walks away without comment

carld · 07-11-2012, 02:54 PM

I've read Dune, the whole Foundation series, and 1984. I've heard of several of the others, but other than an abortive attempt at reading Cryptonomicon, I've never picked them up. The Long Tomorrow looks like something I'd like so I'll probably give that a go, also Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell.

I'm surprised Childhood's End isn't on the list. It's much talked about as one of the best SF book ever written, but most people haven't read it. I thought it was only okay.

cjr72 · 07-11-2012, 03:00 PM

I've read the Foundation series and 1984. I have to admit that I had started Cryptonomicon but didn't finish it. At the time that it came out the only Stephenson book that I had read was Snow Crash and I think that was clouding my expectations.

kennyc · 07-11-2012, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

I think you might have misunderstood what I'm asking. Your re-reads are influenced by your initial reading. That's unavoidable. Even if you don't remember specific details when you re-read, you have nostalgic feelings about the book from reading it way back when that are ever present. What I'm asking is how could you possibly know how well Dune (or Princess of Mars) "holds up today"... unless you were reading them for the very first time, ever... today?

I did mention I'm weird, right?

No, I understood your question perfectly and no it's not that I have an attachment to them at all, they simply hold up. Try it, you'll like it.

DiapDealer · 07-11-2012, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kennyc

No, I understood your question perfectly and no it's not that I have an attachment to them at all, they simply hold up. Try it, you'll like it.

Sorry... no offense. But it's my contention that reading them initially at a much earlier date renders you ill-equipped to impartially determine a work's current "hold up-ed-ness." I would need the opinion of someone who has read it for the very first time within the past year.

I believe you believe it it holds up well though, for what that's worth ... and I still may try it some day, but frankly, there's little hope that it could possibly live up to the expectations that others' praise over the years have built up around it. I'm sure it's a fine book/series, but its prime "need to be read right now" moment and my prime "really in the mood to read something like this" moment have just missed each other I'm afraid. Happens all the time.

kennyc · 07-11-2012, 04:09 PM

Again I understand what you are saying, I just disagree. Otherwise there would be no such thing as classics.

A classic can be read anytime, any age (yes, for the first time) and have something to say to the reader.

din155 · 07-11-2012, 05:59 PM

I have read Dune, 1984 and Foundation. Just out of curiosity, has anyone read later books of Dune series? I could not bring myself to read rest of the series as the characters got altered just too much for my taste.

twowheels · 07-11-2012, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrNefario

Are there really any SF readers who haven't read Dune?

It's on my Kindle vying for attention, and I've finished the Foundation Trilogy, so it's not that I'm afraid of heavy SF.

kennyc · 07-11-2012, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by din155

I have read Dune, 1984 and Foundation. Just out of curiosity, has anyone read later books of Dune series? I could not bring myself to read rest of the series as the characters got altered just too much for my taste.

I believe I read the first two sequels but not beyond that....got too crazy.

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07-11-2012, 01:51 PM	#17
ametzler Zealot Posts: 129 Karma: 567800 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Austria Device: Kindle Paperwhite II	4/10. I started so well: 1 check, 2 check, 3 check, 4 no, 5 check, nothing else. I definitey would not place Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell on a top list, as I cannot remember a lot about it except for kind-of-nice but not gripping. Regarding Dune: The story is great, but I would have prefered if it was told with suspense as major goal instead of like a messiah story.

07-11-2012, 02:33 PM	#19
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,132 Karma: 89858112 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I think Dune holds up real well also. I try to read it again every few years. Apache

07-11-2012, 02:50 PM	#21
tubemonkey monkey on the fringe Posts: 45,476 Karma: 158151390 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Seattle Metro Device: Moto E6, Echo Show	Dune is my absolute fav sci-fi book and series! I'll take it over anything done by Asimov and Bradbury.

07-11-2012, 02:54 PM	#23
carld Wizard Posts: 2,698 Karma: 4748723 Join Date: Dec 2007 Device: Kindle Paperwhite	I've read Dune, the whole Foundation series, and 1984. I've heard of several of the others, but other than an abortive attempt at reading Cryptonomicon, I've never picked them up. The Long Tomorrow looks like something I'd like so I'll probably give that a go, also Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. I'm surprised Childhood's End isn't on the list. It's much talked about as one of the best SF book ever written, but most people haven't read it. I thought it was only okay.

07-11-2012, 03:00 PM	#24
cjr72 Groupie Posts: 172 Karma: 2900000 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: A Yankee in Texas Device: Nexus 6p, Nexus 10	I've read the Foundation series and 1984. I have to admit that I had started Cryptonomicon but didn't finish it. At the time that it came out the only Stephenson book that I had read was Snow Crash and I think that was clouding my expectations.

07-11-2012, 04:09 PM	#27
kennyc The Dank Side of the Moon Posts: 35,872 Karma: 118716293 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Denver, CO Device: Kindle2; Kindle Fire	Again I understand what you are saying, I just disagree. Otherwise there would be no such thing as classics. A classic can be read anytime, any age (yes, for the first time) and have something to say to the reader.

07-11-2012, 05:59 PM	#28
din155 Guru Posts: 880 Karma: 7556602 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: UK Device: Kindle PW, Win 10 thinkpad 8in	I have read Dune, 1984 and Foundation. Just out of curiosity, has anyone read later books of Dune series? I could not bring myself to read rest of the series as the characters got altered just too much for my taste.