<!--QuoteBegin--Hawkeye+Jun 1 2003, 08:45 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Hawkeye @ Jun 1 2003, 08:45 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (pretty damn funny) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> that is very funny. theres 3 others as well
Bah no mention of R.A. Salvatore <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo--> How can you all forget about our dear friends Drizzt Do'Urden, Bruenor, Cattie-Brie, Wulfgar, Regis, and Pwent!? I think theres 3 or 4 trilogies of books based around their adventures. The latest trilogy looks like it will be the last.
The entire Forgotten Realms book series is pretty great if your a fan of Baldurs Gate and the likes, provides alot more depth to the game (as if it didn't already have alot). Only problem is my local library system LOVES to put the 2nd book in a trilogy on the shelf, yet they don't have the 1st book! Arg! Still, great series, although the books by Elaine Cunningham have a tendancy to slow down for a long time.
Tom Clancy is good, I can't believe I made it through Rainbow Six. IMHO they could have cut that book in half and not missed a beat of the story.
Also, if you like Halo, theres is a series called Ringworld by Larry Niven. Its based around the same prinicpal (a ring around a planet, oooh), but it came out before Halo was even thought of. The second book is much more boring and out of place though (Vampires? What the hell?) <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
Alan Dean Foster has written alot of very interesting books (the Dinotopia series, The Spellsinger series, The official book release of the alien films and many more)
Red Storm Rising - Tom Clancy - I still think it's the best book he's ever written, and I'm about 90% done with all his books <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
Dreamcatcher - Stephen King - This book has been around loooong before the movie, and is much, much better. Very scary...
It Doesn't Take a Hero - H. Norman Schwarzkopf - autobiography of the CINC of CENTCOM during the Gulf War. I love military history and this book was an incredible pageturner. Also very educational politically in its own rights.
Marine Sniper - Charles Henderson - The true story of Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, a world renowned Marine Corps sniper during the Vietnam War. Excellent story.
Terry Goodkind's "Sword of Truth" books are a very good fantasy series, if you're into that sort of thing. It's also targeted more towards a more mature audience.
Robert Jordan also has his good "Wheel of Time" series, but gets kind of monotonous past book five (IMO). I'm trudging through the books for at least the fifth time, and it's far more interesting each time I read it. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
I rather enjoy the Ender's Game series. I haven't gotten around to reading Speaker For the Dead yet. Also Oliver Twist is a good book, though slightly hard to get into for me. Most of the books I read are around the 8th grade level, 2 years over my head. But <i>all</i> Roald Dahl books are worth reading, regardless of your age. The BFG, George's Marvelous Medicine... and anything by Isaac Asimov, like Foundation.
Last one (and one i read +ALL+ the time) being CLAMP's manga of Chobits XD
Failing that, the last book i read was "Lords Of Chaos" (sorry, can't remember the author's name, and ia friend's borrowing it now) a darling piece of non-fiction into the early 90's norwegian black metal scene and all the controversy and murders related to it. It's an absolutely fascinating read.
The last book I enjoyed thoroughly was Greg Bear's latest, "Darwin's Radio". It's a magnificient story about human evolution based on the theory that when it comes to big leaps of progress, evolution works much faster than thought. Both clever and entertaining, I do indeed recommend it. And I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series, "Darwin's Children".
Currently I'm reading "The Theosophical Movement in Finland", which is very accurate but written in dictionary fashion, which makes it very tiring to read.
His Dark Materials Trilogy, Phillip Pullman - The Golden Compass, The Subtle Knife, and The Amber Spyglass.
Some really good High Fantasy stuff.
Fahrenheit 451, 1984, Catch - 22, and The Catcher in the Rye are all books I'm fond of as well. Catcher is probably my favorite out of those. Despite being a book, really, with no discernable point or theme, it captures perfectly the angst and tribulation of a teen just looking to find himself. I don't know, I guess I can just relate on some level, even if my experiences aren't the same has Holden's.
If you can afford it (or can stand reading it on a monitor as I did) then I suggest that EVERYONE, comic fan or not, read this Manga. It is teh godlike. End of story. I read it all in one sitting because I have no life, and I don't think I was ever the same after.
<!--QuoteBegin--Lumberjack Wannabe+Jun 1 2003, 05:53 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Lumberjack Wannabe @ Jun 1 2003, 05:53 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I am currently reading The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (note Ultimate). <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> <i>Hitchhikers</i> guide to the <i>galaxy</i>? Whaa?
Snow Crash, Cryptonomicon, and The Big U, all by Neal Stephenson. (He wrote like 5 but one sucked and the other one wasnt as good as these)
Snow Crash was set kinda in around 10 years from now, after most governments (including the US) had collapsed due to something that happend in Cryptonomicon. Its an intresting take on the future, especialy of computer type stuff. Also a great look at the possible evolution of human society from one of Government into one of corporations based around the idea that you will pay to live in a safe place.
Cryptonomicon is actualy the story of some guy in WWII and his grandson. Its neat how the stories parralel and relate to eachother. This is the cause of the lack of government in Snow Crash, though I wont give to much away.
The Big U is about life in a fictional college, that is something of an expreriment because it so huge. Some people end up going somewhat insane and cultish and the school literaly erupts into a war with AK's and stuff at one point. Extremly funny but still a very good action and stuff.
All of the books mentioned above are VERY funny and exclelently writen.
<!--QuoteBegin--Lumberjack Wannabe+Jun 1 2003, 07:53 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Lumberjack Wannabe @ Jun 1 2003, 07:53 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I am currently reading The Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (note Ultimate). <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> whats so ultimate about it?
The best books I have read for a while are Rich Man, Poor Man by Irwing Shaw and the Winds of War by Herman Wouk.
Both books are somewhat old but extremely entertaining. The Winds of War is an excellent story about the second world war and Rich Man, Poor Man is simply an awesome tale about the american dream and of a broken family.
Another author who I like is Leon Uris. His novels, Mila 18 and Armageddon, left me shaking afterwards for a long time and still give me tremors when I think of them.
When i begun writing this post I thought just to write about Rich Man, Poor Man. But then I started to remember all the good books I´ve ever read but I think I'll spare you from all of them and leave my contribution to this subject to these three authors.
CplDavisI hunt the arctic SnonosJoin Date: 2003-01-09Member: 12097Members
Im rereading "Invasion" by Eric L Harry
China invades the US, sounds far fetched, but when chinas 60 million man military (considering china has like a 1 billion person population) started its 10 year invasion starting from India and then moving out into Japan, Russia, the middle east and so on, The US chose to stay neutral and went into isolationism. Later only the Isrealies chose to use nuclear retailiation but China had warned them not to use Nukes. After Isreal fell China quarentined Tel Aviv and simultaniously detonated multiple nukes right in the city killing the entire civilian population on live TV as a warning to the rest of the world. The second Jewish Holocaust. After a 1 million man EU force of British, German, French, Austria and many others, failed, Europe is going down and the US failed to mount an effective sea resupply route to northern Europe. Chinas new super carriers, out number the US carriers 10 to 1.
Doesnt look good. If you read the book he goes into politics and everything making this really sound like a possiblity.
All the books I've purchased in the last month or so: <img src='http://www.zibings.com/staff/olong/somanybooks.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
(I work for the Book of the Month Club, mmm 50 cent hardcovers)
I've read most of them, but not all. I'm heavy into history, war, and sci-fi, as you can tell. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
Blast it. If it doesn't work go to <a href='http://www.zibings.com/staff/olong' target='_blank'>www.zibings.com/staff/olong</a> and click on somanybooks.jpg. That should work.
But is it 3 times bigger? <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd.gif'><!--endemo-->
Comments
Good stuff...
As well as Anthony Burgess- Clockwork Orange.
<!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
that is very funny. theres 3 others as well
The entire Forgotten Realms book series is pretty great if your a fan of Baldurs Gate and the likes, provides alot more depth to the game (as if it didn't already have alot). Only problem is my local library system LOVES to put the 2nd book in a trilogy on the shelf, yet they don't have the 1st book! Arg! Still, great series, although the books by Elaine Cunningham have a tendancy to slow down for a long time.
Tom Clancy is good, I can't believe I made it through Rainbow Six. IMHO they could have cut that book in half and not missed a beat of the story.
Also, if you like Halo, theres is a series called Ringworld by Larry Niven. Its based around the same prinicpal (a ring around a planet, oooh), but it came out before Halo was even thought of. The second book is much more boring and out of place though (Vampires? What the hell?) <!--emo&:(--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/sad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='sad.gif'><!--endemo-->
Dreamcatcher - Stephen King - This book has been around loooong before the movie, and is much, much better. Very scary...
It Doesn't Take a Hero - H. Norman Schwarzkopf - autobiography of the CINC of CENTCOM during the Gulf War. I love military history and this book was an incredible pageturner. Also very educational politically in its own rights.
Marine Sniper - Charles Henderson - The true story of Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock, a world renowned Marine Corps sniper during the Vietnam War. Excellent story.
Robert Jordan also has his good "Wheel of Time" series, but gets kind of monotonous past book five (IMO). I'm trudging through the books for at least the fifth time, and it's far more interesting each time I read it. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
Isaac Asimov - Naked Sun
And so on...
Everything Isaac Asimov, it's just great.
and anything by Isaac Asimov, like Foundation.
Failing that, the last book i read was "Lords Of Chaos" (sorry, can't remember the author's name, and ia friend's borrowing it now) a darling piece of non-fiction into the early 90's norwegian black metal scene and all the controversy and murders related to it. It's an absolutely fascinating read.
Currently I'm reading "The Theosophical Movement in Finland", which is very accurate but written in dictionary fashion, which makes it very tiring to read.
Some really good High Fantasy stuff.
Fahrenheit 451, 1984, Catch - 22, and The Catcher in the Rye are all books I'm fond of as well. Catcher is probably my favorite out of those. Despite being a book, really, with no discernable point or theme, it captures perfectly the angst and tribulation of a teen just looking to find himself. I don't know, I guess I can just relate on some level, even if my experiences aren't the same has Holden's.
<span style='font-size:21pt;line-height:100%'><span style='color:yellow'><b>AKIRA!</b></span></span>
If you can afford it (or can stand reading it on a monitor as I did) then I suggest that EVERYONE, comic fan or not, read this Manga. It is teh godlike. End of story. I read it all in one sitting because I have no life, and I don't think I was ever the same after.
It's about this Marine Sniper in Vietnam, pretty cool if you're interested in any war books like that.
<i>Hitchhikers</i> guide to the <i>galaxy</i>? Whaa?
I'll leave this to someone else <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
(He wrote like 5 but one sucked and the other one wasnt as good as these)
Snow Crash was set kinda in around 10 years from now, after most governments (including the US) had collapsed due to something that happend in Cryptonomicon. Its an intresting take on the future, especialy of computer type stuff. Also a great look at the possible evolution of human society from one of Government into one of corporations based around the idea that you will pay to live in a safe place.
Cryptonomicon is actualy the story of some guy in WWII and his grandson. Its neat how the stories parralel and relate to eachother. This is the cause of the lack of government in Snow Crash, though I wont give to much away.
The Big U is about life in a fictional college, that is something of an expreriment because it so huge. Some people end up going somewhat insane and cultish and the school literaly erupts into a war with AK's and stuff at one point. Extremly funny but still a very good action and stuff.
All of the books mentioned above are VERY funny and exclelently writen.
whats so ultimate about it?
Both books are somewhat old but extremely entertaining. The Winds of War is an excellent story about the second world war and Rich Man, Poor Man is simply an awesome tale about the american dream and of a broken family.
Another author who I like is Leon Uris. His novels, Mila 18 and Armageddon, left me shaking afterwards for a long time and still give me tremors when I think of them.
When i begun writing this post I thought just to write about Rich Man, Poor Man. But then I started to remember all the good books I´ve ever read but I think I'll spare you from all of them and leave my contribution to this subject to these three authors.
China invades the US, sounds far fetched, but when chinas 60 million man military (considering china has like a 1 billion person population) started its 10 year invasion starting from India and then moving out into Japan, Russia, the middle east and so on, The US chose to stay neutral and went into isolationism. Later only the Isrealies chose to use nuclear retailiation but China had warned them not to use Nukes. After Isreal fell China quarentined Tel Aviv and simultaniously detonated multiple nukes right in the city killing the entire civilian population on live TV as a warning to the rest of the world. The second Jewish Holocaust.
After a 1 million man EU force of British, German, French, Austria and many others, failed, Europe is going down and the US failed to mount an effective sea resupply route to northern Europe. Chinas new super carriers, out number the US carriers 10 to 1.
Doesnt look good. If you read the book he goes into politics and everything making this really sound like a possiblity.
<img src='http://www.zibings.com/staff/olong/somanybooks.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image'>
(I work for the Book of the Month Club, mmm 50 cent hardcovers)
I've read most of them, but not all. I'm heavy into history, war, and sci-fi, as you can tell. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
That's a lot of books.