Recommend a Book: Entertaining + Thought Provoking

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around recommendations for books that are both entertaining and thought-provoking, with a focus on science fiction and speculative fiction. Participants share their personal favorites and suggest titles based on a provided list of previously read books.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants recommend "Oryx and Crake" and "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" as entertaining reads.
  • Others suggest "Snow Crash" by Neal Stephenson and "The Culture" series by Ian M. Banks for their thought-provoking content.
  • A participant expresses a strong preference for Michael Crichton's works, listing titles like "Sphere" and "The Andromeda Strain," while another mentions "Flatland" by Edwin Abbott as a noteworthy suggestion.
  • Some participants mention the "Dune" series, with a debate on the quality of books written by Frank Herbert versus those by his son, Brian Herbert.
  • Recommendations also include "The Diamond Age" by Neal Stephenson, "The Gods Themselves" by Isaac Asimov, and "Swan Song" by Robert McCammon.
  • A participant critiques "State of Fear" by Crichton, stating it felt forced in its message.
  • Several titles are suggested based on their connections to previously mentioned books, such as "Citizen of the Galaxy" and "Three Men in a Boat."

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants present a variety of recommendations without reaching a consensus on which books are definitively the best. There are differing opinions on the quality of certain authors' works, particularly regarding the "Dune" series and Michael Crichton's books.

Contextual Notes

Some recommendations depend on personal taste and prior reading experiences, and there is no agreement on the quality of adaptations from book to film, particularly regarding "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" and "Blade Runner."

brushman
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I want something entertaining and thought provoking. Here's the books I have already (something off this list is ideal):
-I, Robot
-War of the Worlds
-Have Space Suit -- Will Travel
-Ender's Game
-Prey
-Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
-Starship Troopers
-20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
-The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
-Stranger in a Strange Land
-Dune
-Eaters of the Dead
-State of Fear
 
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Oryx and Crake -- read it.

the curious case of the dog in the night time -- another great book
 
I haven't read it, but I've heard great things about Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

I'd highly recommend Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson.
 
I am a huge Michael Crichton fan, so:

Sphere
The Andromeda Strain
Eaters of the Dead
Lost World

Those are my favorites. In my opinion, you can't really go wrong with anything from either Crichton or Asimov.

I've heard good things about Flatland, by Edwin Abbott.
 
Malazan Book of the Fallen - Steven Erikson
 
I enjoyed Jules Verne's Master of the World. It has a vehicle called the Terror which is a boat, submarine, car and airplane.
 
Dembadon said:
I am a huge Michael Crichton fan, so:

Sphere
The Andromeda Strain
Eaters of the Dead
Lost World

Those are my favorites. In my opinion, you can't really go wrong with anything from either Crichton or Asimov.

I've heard good things about Flatland, by Edwin Abbott.

Also a huge Crichton fan; you can't forget Timeline from that list :-p
 
Weaveworld by Clive Barker or Altered Carbon by Richard k Morgan
 
  • #10
I've liked Crichton's books but I thought State of Fear was just bad. He was trying too hard to make his statement.


The Schrödinger's Cat Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson is where my SN comes from. Its more entertaining than anything but Wilson prided himself on his "guerrilla ontology" so if you are looking for something that may challenge the way you perceive the world this could work.
 
  • #11
Wow! Nice reading!

How about Sherlock Holmes? You could start with The Hound Of The Baskervilles...
 
  • #12
Time's Eye Trilogy - Arthur C Clarke/Baxter
 
  • #13
If you like "Have Space Suit -- Will Travel", then you should get a copy of "Citizen of the Galaxy", which is, IMO, the best of Heinleins juveniles.

You might also want to look at "Three Men in a Boat" since it is referenced in "Have Space Suit -- Will Travel". It is in the public domain and can de downloaded from here:

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/308"

Or you can view the 1889 version here: http://books.google.com/books?id=bf...CS4G-E5eUyASI-6nKDw&cd=3#v=twopage&q&f=false"

While the discussion on how to open a can without a can opener has it's points, my favorite is the discussion in Chapter IV - ADVANTAGES OF CHEESE AS A TRAVELLING COMPANION.
 
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  • #14
The Gods Themselves - Isaac Asimov
The Mote in God's Eye - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
Footfall - Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
The Wee Free Men - Terry Pratchett
The Genesis Quest - Donald Moffit
The Jupiter Theft - Donald Moffit
 
  • #15
The Dice Man - Luke Rhinehart.
 
  • #16
The whole Dune series by Frank Herbert starting with "Dune".
 
  • #17
edpell said:
The whole Dune series by Frank Herbert starting with "Dune".

Yes, but only the ones by Frank. The ones by his son, Brian Herbert, and Kevin Anderson aren't worth anything.
 
  • #18
thought provoking..hmm, check out The Kit Runner
 
  • #19
KrisOhn said:
Yes, but only the ones by Frank. The ones by his son, Brian Herbert, and Kevin Anderson aren't worth anything.

I have only read the ones by Frank. I will take your word for the poor quality of the non-Frank version.

Warning book two by Frank is lame but it gets much better after that.
 
  • #20
Based on the great books you listed...

The Sprawl Trilogy by William Gibson
Includes:
Neuromancer
Count Zero
Mona Lisa Overdrive

The Integral Trees and The Smoke Ring by Larry Niven

Only Forward or anything else by Michael Marshall Smith

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

I highly recommend Only Forward or perhaps Spares by Michael Marshall Smith.
 
  • #21
Recommend me a book

Strunk and White's "The Elements of Style".
 
  • #22
I really enjoyed the apocalyptic "Swan Song" by Robert McCammon.
 
  • #23
Evo said:
I haven't read it, but I've heard great things about Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
The basis of Blade Runner.
 
  • #24
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson is probably the best book on the list of past Hugo (or Nebula I don't remember which) winners. Unless you want to read the Harry Potter books, I'm partial to them. Someone mentioned a Terry Pratchett book if you are going to read his books, which I recommend, Night Watch is his best discworld book and Good Omens is pretty good. I also have to agree with Ivan, everyone should be forced to read Strunk and White.
 
  • #25
tribdog said:
The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson is probably the best book on the list of past Hugo (or Nebula I don't remember which) winners. Unless you want to read the Harry Potter books, I'm partial to them. Someone mentioned a Terry Pratchett book if you are going to read his books, which I recommend, Night Watch is his best discworld book and Good Omens is pretty good. I also have to agree with Ivan, everyone should be forced to read Strunk and White.
OMG, you're alive and not incarcerated. We assumed the worst, naturally. :biggrin: Welcome back!
 
  • #27
Oh look, pallidin disappears, and Tribdog shows up. I knew it!
 
  • #28
Elfenheim was an ok book I read a bit ago.
 
  • #29
I'm just testing out my new blackberry. I seem to be in the habit of getting kicked out of here and don't want to press my luck. I just like to pop in once in a while and remind everyone what true genius looks like (usually by pointing at Ivan and saying "yep that's a genius)
 
  • #30
Not to be confused with when I point at zooby and say "yep that's a new genus."
 

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