05-27-2008, 02:58 PM | #31 |
worthless joat
Posts: 14
Karma: 10
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Bloomington, IN
Device: eBookwise-1150, Handspring Visor Neo
|
I'm also kinda lost on where to start with the Baen freebies, and it certainly doesn't help that I've read nothing by any of the authors listed on there. Lately I've really been into Philip José Farmer, John Brunner, Harry Harrison, and Roger Zelazny. If anyone could recommend something new for me based on this, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks in advance!
|
05-27-2008, 03:13 PM | #32 | |
Sir Penguin of Edinburgh
Posts: 12,375
Karma: 23555235
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DC Metro area
Device: Shake a stick plus 1
|
Quote:
|
|
Advert | |
|
06-28-2008, 02:58 PM | #33 | |
Lector minore
Posts: 649
Karma: 1738720
Join Date: Jan 2008
Device: Aura One, Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e, Google Pixel Slate
|
Quote:
Any of the collections of Keith Laumer (but stay away from The Road to Damascus which is a Bolo story by John Ringo; I thought it was a stinker). Laumer often writes science fiction with a touch of humour and social commentary (like Harrison) although he also does great cliffhanger action. His Retief stories are sort of a commentary on Big Power meddling in small states. Interstellar Patrol and Pandora's Legions are collections of related Christopher Anvil stories which are also pretty good. Beware that you need to read Pandora's Legions as a collection of short stories. I think Eric Flint (the editor) tried to stitch them together, but it feels clumsy if you read it as a novel. These stories are less action oriented that the Laumer ones and are more in the problem solving vein (like, say Larry Niven short stories) If you like Harrison more in his Deathworld style, then I think you could try With The Lightnings by David Drake (and its sequels) which is about a young man in the navy who gets caught up in a war (much better written than the Harrington books imo) They have a Fred Saberhagen "Bezerker" collection up. I'm sure that needs no introduction. If you like Zelazny, you might also like Mercedes Lackey. |
|
06-29-2008, 05:46 AM | #34 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Interesting how different things appeal to different people. "Road to Damascus" is one of my favourite SF books. Superb, IMHO.
|
06-29-2008, 05:51 PM | #35 | |
Lector minore
Posts: 649
Karma: 1738720
Join Date: Jan 2008
Device: Aura One, Samsung Galaxy Tab S5e, Google Pixel Slate
|
Quote:
I don't generally mind Ringo all that much; his plotlines are usually exciting and he writes battles well. But some of his writing ticks really started to bother me after reading a few of his novels. For example, his habit of injecting contemporary US conservative views into his science fiction novels is up at L.Neil Smith levels of annoying. And the way he puts domination into his sex scenes is awful. I'd love it if it were done in a sexy way, but he wastes so much time explaining sub/dom that it comes off more like a Wikipedia article instead. In one of his books he is gimmicky enough to have one of his characters make fun of him as an author of trashy potboilers. Ugh! |
|
Advert | |
|
06-29-2008, 06:16 PM | #36 |
Retired & reading more!
Posts: 2,764
Karma: 1884247
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: North Alabama, USA
Device: Kindle 1, iPad Air 2, iPhone 6S+, Kobo Aura One
|
Actually I kind of like Ringo. I have the "Road to Damascus" but hadn't read it because I lose interest in the Bolo books if I read too many of them. I guess now I'll have to read this one.
|
06-29-2008, 07:50 PM | #37 | |
Wizard
Posts: 2,366
Karma: 12000
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Texas, USA
Device: Kindle; Sony PRS 505; Blackberry 8700C
|
Quote:
Fantasy: * Sheepfarmer's Daughter * Wizard's Bane * The Sea Hag SF -- non-human sentient races: * Black on Black * Stars over Stars (sequel to Black on Black) * Genellan: Planetfall SF -- Navy in space * On Basilisk Station * With the Lightnings |
|
06-30-2008, 03:13 AM | #38 | |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Quote:
|
|
06-30-2008, 05:58 AM | #39 |
Wizard
Posts: 1,462
Karma: 6061516
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Cascais, Portugal
Device: Kindle PW, Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2", OnePlus 6
|
When browsing the Baen site, I was curious about John Ringo's books. But then I've read this article/opinion and I thought I should just pass it. Now Harry T says it's one of the BEST... I'm confused.
Here's the article "OH JOHN RINGO NO": http://hradzka.livejournal.com/194753.html?format=light What do you think of it? |
06-30-2008, 07:16 AM | #40 | |
Sir Penguin of Edinburgh
Posts: 12,375
Karma: 23555235
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DC Metro area
Device: Shake a stick plus 1
|
Quote:
|
|
06-30-2008, 07:46 AM | #41 | |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Quote:
I like most of Mr. Ringo's stuff, but "Ghost" and its sequels are horrible books. Avoid! I honestly cannot imagine who they are written to appeal to, but I don't think I'd like to meet the sort of person who shares the viewpoint that they portray. |
|
06-30-2008, 07:48 AM | #42 |
Sir Penguin of Edinburgh
Posts: 12,375
Karma: 23555235
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DC Metro area
Device: Shake a stick plus 1
|
Harry, go read that review. Please.
|
06-30-2008, 07:54 AM | #43 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
I have done. I still think that these are truly revolting books. Perhaps it's a cultural thing. Did you actually enjoy reading "Ghost"?
|
06-30-2008, 08:20 AM | #44 |
Sir Penguin of Edinburgh
Posts: 12,375
Karma: 23555235
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DC Metro area
Device: Shake a stick plus 1
|
No. But I did enjoy reading the review.
|
06-30-2008, 08:27 AM | #45 |
eBook Enthusiast
Posts: 85,544
Karma: 93383043
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: UK
Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro 10.5", iPhone 6
|
Try the book and let us know what you think of it .
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Baen Help? | Amalthia | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 8 | 04-28-2009 01:41 AM |
Baen webscription down? | HarryT | News | 5 | 02-08-2009 11:20 AM |
Jeffrey at Baen | Gibbo | Deals and Resources (No Self-Promotion or Affiliate Links) | 18 | 02-07-2009 07:55 AM |
Baen CDs | Tblossom | News | 4 | 05-27-2008 12:00 AM |
Baen Books | Lameth | iRex | 10 | 08-23-2006 02:02 AM |