- What book is currently on your nightstand?
- Who is the author?
- What genre?
- How do you like it?
- Would you recommend it to others?
I’ve got 3 going at the moment:
[Physical]
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy Ultimate Collection - Douglas Adams
Technically this is 6 books back to back - it’s the whole series. These are some of my favorite books of all time, and I make sure to re-read them every few years to keep them fresh in my mind. I would recommend this series to everyone.The Andromeda Strain - Michael Crichton
Another one I’ve read previously and love. I read this many years ago and I’ve been craving some Crichton again recently so I decided to start back here. I recommend this to anyone who likes a good, science-based thriller.[Audio]
Nuking The Moon - Vince Houghton
This is an interesting book so far, but it’s not a favorite. I’m not super fond of the author’s writing style. It’s got a bit longer to impress me before I put it down and move onto something else, though. I can’t recommend it yet - we’ll see.I keep forgetting about Michael Crichton. I read the reviews on that book and they seem really hit or miss. I’ve never read any of his books, but I’m a fan of sci-fi and mystery so you caught my attention there. Knowing that it would be my first Crichton book, would you recommend this one, or would another be a better starting point to get me hooked on his style?
I probably wouldn’t recommend The Andromeda Strain as your first Crichton. Although it’s among his earlier books, it can be pretty dry at times, so you really have to be a fan of the science part of the sci-fi.
Something like Micro, Prey, or Next would probably be better places to start - those are among his later works (in fact he passed while writing Micro), and they have pretty good plots which move along at a fun pace. Sphere gets an honorable mention here too.
If you like any of those and you’re willing to try something a bit more on the sciencey side, check out Jurassic Park.
Thanks! I’ll check out those other 3 first. Also, I had no idea that Sphere was his story. I really enjoyed that movie when I was in highschool!
Dude, what!? Crichton did Westworld, Jurassic Park, Sphere, Congo, AND Twister?!?! I had no idea.
Oh yeah, he was a very prolific writer. He’s also partially responsible for the TV show ER
I just finished Children of Time by Adrian Tchaikovsky, and the first word to come to mind is a resounding “Eewwwwwwww”. Just spiders, all the spiders. sigh It really was a very good book, and the story telling from the spider’s perspective was wonderful, but ‘ugh’ it’s hard to stomach some of the visuals they illicit. Definitely a solid recommendation though, and I can’t wait to see where the next book takes the story.
(Maybe think twice if you have a thing with spiders and an active imagination?)I also finished Morning Star by Pierce Brown earlier this week. I’m addicted to this story and can’t recommend it enough… Although Morning Star ends on a pretty high note and I’m reluctant to move on to the next book because it started at a really low point and can only be downhill from here. I kind of want to hold on to the high point for a while before moving on to “Iron Gold”.
Next up is Abaddon’s Gate by James Corey, the first two were pretty good. I’ve seen all of the TV show, so I’m curious how the books differ from The Expanse.
Starting with the Children of Time series, I’ve gone through that man’s back catalogue and have just been impressed by all the many ways he creates worlds and ideas that explore the vastness of time and the science of change. I’ve just started his Shadows of the Apt and am excited for where it will go. As for CoT, I loved the spiders, but I’m weird and don’t fear spiders on sight, just when I know they’re venomous to humans or pets.
I JUST got back into Brown this week. I’m about half way through Golden Son and am loving the direction. It’s like he started a series when Hunger games was trailing off and had enough time to pivot once he learned how big an audience there was for Game of Thrones. I’m fascinated to see where it goes. After more than a year between the first and second, I can feel the draw to a “high point.” This one dives down in tone very quickly and I just want nice things for them.
Man, the expanse prose is so stylish to me. It’s my preferred way to experience it all because it builds a tone and a world that just feels bittersweet in a way the flash of the show hasn’t captured for me. I need to keep on the show though, as it is still well made. Though it might be fun to go back through the series.
Enjoy your upcoming reads! This kind of sci-fi just sucks me in. I’m glad to see someone else draw in too!
Children of Time is on my reading list. I have heard great things about it. I may read it next.
One of the few books that made me cry! I really loved it despite the spiders.
I’m curious what made you cry in there? I can’t think of any particularly emotional situations at all.
Well I don’t want to give any spoilers, but a particular spider dies at some point. I found it very moving!
Ah! I know what you’re talking about now. I dunno, I found it really hard to feel anything toward the spiders because of the way the author presents them in different time periods as the same ‘person’ even though there has been many generations in between each namesake in the story.
I just finished “The Singularity Trap” by Dennis E Taylor. Super fun SciFi book! Ich you don’t know his Bobiverse books you’re missing out.
I found the bobiverse books on kindle unlimited! It’s next on my list. :)
