FREE/BARGAIN — Science Fiction & Fantasy

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by GlennD

He's got some gems in his catalog; I like the first 5 incarnations of immortality but stopped when he started playing around with Satan and God. Other folks may not be bothered by those themes. I also enjoyed the apprentice adept series.

You do have to tolerate a rather adolescent view of sexuality when you read any of his series - had I started reading his books as an adult rather than as a teen I might not have the affection for them that I do.

I read On a Pale Horse and just never bothered with the rest. My better half read the initial five Incarnations of Immortality. We have no issues with the Satan and God ones, they just were not available as e-books at the time. He's written an 8th book about Night (Under a Velvet Cloak).

I read the first volume of Bio of a Space Tyrant. I appreciated that he pulled no punches and intended to read further. I just never did.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by GlennD

I think I made it as far as 10 books, and will occasionally reread the first 4 or 5 (although not the second one, I find it pretty boring). Can you believe he's cranked out 41 of them?

He is still cranking them out. #42 is due out in November.

I also stopped after the first few.
Apache

[cc_in_oh]

I had the 1st 3 Incarnation, 5 Adept and 8 Xanth paperbacks - tried to sell on eBay last year for $1 per book plus $4 for shipping and fees. Only the Adept set sold, for the minimum bid of $9 in like-new condition. Gave the rest to the library, which probably trashed them.

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I've never read any. I've tried other Piers Anthony books and they just weren't for me. But looking at his vast body of work, I get the feeling the Xanth books just sort of took over his career, whether he liked it or not. Sort of like Latka did for Andy Kaufman.

I've never read any of his other, old cliched series stuff.

But when he first started, about 50 years ago, I read and loved his SOS the Rope series [the 3 short novels are collected in "Battle Circle"], along with his very first published book (before he gave up on 'serious' genre fiction), titled "Chthon". Additionally, I recommend "Macroscope".

I DO recommend those 5 books, but please keep in mind I was a very young person.

[bgalbrecht]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I've never read any of his other, old cliched series stuff.

But when he first started, about 50 years ago, I read and loved his SOS the Rope series [the 3 short novels are collected in "Battle Circle"], along with his very first published book (before he gave up on 'serious' genre fiction), titled "Chthon". Additionally, I recommend "Macroscope".

I DO recommend those 5 books, but please keep in mind I was a very young person.

I also liked Orn and Omnivore. As far as I know, Battle Circle and Macroscope have never made it to Kindle/ePub format, although at one point, there was a PDF edition of Macroscope. I might have finished his Adept series, and I probably read the first 5 or 6 Xanth novels, but the rest of his series, I never got past the first or second novel before dropping it.

[Little.Egret]

Originally Posted by CRussel

And, for those who didn't see it elsewhere, Liaden Constellation #4 is out and available from all the usual sources.

And Amazon UK have discounted it to £5.49

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07SPDBDRY/

[binaryhermit]

The Fall of Gondolin by JRR Tolkien is a Kindle Deal of the Day for $2.99 on Amazon US https://www.amazon.com/Fall-Gondolin...dp/B07CFKN31Z/

[Rev. Bob]

Originally Posted by bgalbrecht

I also liked Orn and Omnivore. As far as I know, Battle Circle and Macroscope have never made it to Kindle/ePub format, although at one point, there was a PDF edition of Macroscope. I might have finished his Adept series, and I probably read the first 5 or 6 Xanth novels, but the rest of his series, I never got past the first or second novel before dropping it.

I quit Xanth around the time Piers decided plaid was a color. I liked the Incarnations series, but haven’t picked up the eighth and feel no special pressure to do so. I do remember liking the three Tarot books, which he insisted were not a trilogy but one book split into three volumes.

[salty-horse]

Two Kindle Daily Deals of note:

Dying of the Light by George R. R. Martin - $1.99 - Link

A whisperjewel has summoned Dirk t’Larien to Worlorn, and a love he thinks he lost. But Worlorn isn’t the world Dirk imagined, and Gwen Delvano is no longer the woman he once knew. She is bound to another man, and to a dying planet that is trapped in twilight. Gwen needs Dirk’s protection, and he will do anything to keep her safe, even if it means challenging the barbaric man who has claimed her. But an impenetrable veil of secrecy surrounds them all, and it’s becoming impossible for Dirk to distinguish between his allies and his enemies. In this dangerous triangle, one is hurtling toward escape, another toward revenge, and the last toward a brutal, untimely demise.

Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison - $1.99 - Link
The basis for Soylent Green.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by salty-horse

Two Kindle Daily Deals of note:

Dying of the Light by George R. R. Martin - $1.99 - Link


Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison - $1.99 - Link
The basis for Soylent Green.

Thanks for both!

I've not yet read Make Room! Make Room!, but I've heard it is one of the rare instances where the movie outdid the book.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Thanks for both!

I've not yet read Make Room! Make Room!, but I've heard it is one of the rare instances where the movie outdid the book.

It's people

[TrevorViking]

Had some free shipping credit to burn, and only $1.99 to add the audible book. Thanks!

[Difflugia]

Originally Posted by salty-horse

Make Room! Make Room! by Harry Harrison - $1.99 - Link
The basis for Soylent Green.

B&N
Kobo

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I've not yet read Make Room! Make Room!, but I've heard it is one of the rare instances where the movie outdid the book.

I agree, for the same reason that I liked Blade Runner better than Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The film adaptations were changed enough that there's no scene-to-scene comparison ("That's not how it happened in the book!"). Additionally, both books are good, but neither aged particularly well. Both exhibit "women, amirite?" sexism and distractingly anachronistic visions of a dystopian future common in early SF, but smoothed out of the later films.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

It's people

That's a movie only addition

Not every story needs a dramatic twist ending. But for the story being told and the point being made, that ending was so perfect that I have to wonder if Harry wasn't kicking himself for not having thought of it.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by Difflugia

B&N
Kobo



I agree, for the same reason that I liked Blade Runner better than Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? The film adaptations were changed enough that there's no scene-to-scene comparison ("That's not how it happened in the book!"). Additionally, both books are good, but neither aged particularly well. Both exhibit "women, amirite?" sexism and distractingly anachronistic visions of a dystopian future common in early SF, but smoothed out of the later films.

Make Room! Make Room! and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? I've just resolved to make both part of this year's reading challenge. I've meant to read both for quite a while.