yes, me, i have read all of the discworld books and some of his others. i believe he is one of the most talented novelists writing today, and if it wasnt for his fantasy subject matter he would be universally acclaimed as such.

I just finished reading Margaret Atwood's _After the Flood_, her recent companion novel ("companion" because it's not a sequel in the sense of coming after in time) to _Oryx and Crake_. Both are post-apocalyptic narratives that take place after a civilization-destroying pandemic.
I very much enjoyed it and I recommend it. I'm now rereading _Orxy and Crake_ and the connections are fascinating. The new book describes many of the same events but from the point of view of those on the other side of conflicts already in existence before the plague hit: thus you gain information that fills in gaps about things that you already knew something about.

Atwood has said in interviews that she is at work on a concluding volume to this story.

Whoa very cool. I am currently working on a thesis for my bachelor´s degree (paper of about 60 pages +) and what I have in mind is to investigate Thud, Jingo, Feet of Clay, and The Fifth Elephant. The title is going to be something like: Clash of cultures in Terry Pratchett´s watch novels ( I know those aren´t all the watch novels, but the others aren´t as well suited for that thesis).

I´d like to show how he portrays trolls, humans, dwarves, undead, and humans (basically Ankh-Morporkians and Klatchians) and their relations/conflicts with each other, might also go into racism/speciism as well as slavery (Feet of Clay).

I would love to hear your (and others!) opinion about this.

i've had similar reactions to Huxley. I think it's just the "first book" thing. I read "Brave New World" first, then moved onto to "Doors of Perception" and almost immediately noticed the pedantic, over-vocabulary, weird prose, blyucky style... First time you read, maybe it's amusing.... Second time, gets old in a hurry.

I relegated Huxley to the scrap-heap of overrated writers. Don't like him or his nihilistic, dystopian, misanthropic views.

I felt that way when I tried to read _Island_, which had intrigued me because of the way Huxley's notion of soma predated tranquilizers, etc.

I sometimes think I'd like to try _Antic Hay_, Huxley's "serious" novel--because it was much praised in its day. Has anyone on the list read it?

dr amanda hopkins (she lectures at the university of warwick, how i met her) would agree with me btw, so she might be worth contacting. really friendly (though a little crazy)

http://www.amandahopkins.co.uk/

the website might illustrate her craziness.

the dwarves so are so clearly meant to represent pakistani immigrants imo.

I'm reading Atlas Shrugged again right now.

Just felt like the time to read it again.

About to finish The Songs of Distant Earth by Arthur C. Clarke, the first science fiction novel I have read in a very long time. It's pretty enjoyable, easy reading and the scenario is interesting.

Next up: The Savage Detectives by Roberto Bolano.

about 110 pages into 'blindsight', book is starting to pick up alot. i'm still confused on the 'vampires' in this book, hope they give some clarification.

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein. At every age I read it, it takes on a different meaning.

Finally gave up on The Idiot, started Count Zero. About 100 pages in and looking good.

I know it's confusing...but they do get into their biology at some point, if I remember correctly. This book really benefits from a second reading...it's pretty dense. I still think it's the best science fiction novel I've read in years.

about to start The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson.

Been looking forward to this book for for about 8 years.

They get into it a little bit in the book, he gets into it in more detail in the notes in the back of the book, and I imagine even more detail still on his website.

Read about half of it and then went to Brandon's signing in Vegas. Good stuff all around. You can find fault with anything, but it's a hell of an effort and a hell of a lot faster paced than any of the last 6 or 7 books.

I'm about 40 pp. into Thomas Pynchon's new novel, Inherent Vice. It's had mixed reviews but it's sure making me laugh. It's a send-up of the California detective story but the twist is that the private eye is completely and comically stoned all the time ...

I've started three new books lately, largely on the recommendations of this forum and family.





No Country for Old Men has me most interested right now. It seems to be quite a quick read, and it easily parallels the movie plot so I'm able to picture things quite easily.

I've been *this close* to buying this during my last couple of visits to the bookstore but haven't pulled the trigger yet. I'll probably get it when it comes out in paperback.

Can anyone recommend any good post-apocalyptic books besides The Road?

I Am Legend

Atwood's last two novels, which I mentioned above. Quite strong entries in the genre.

Well let me start by saying, I am not a reader I never have been. Can probably count the books ive read on 1 hand. This is my first post ITT ldo. I came across this book called "They used to call us game wardens" It's a nonfiction/story book about a guy that was a game warden around Lake of the Woods in Minnesota from 1960-1980. He wanted his family to publish the book after he died. It tells stories of all the odd things he saw and experienced as a game warden. Arrests he made and fun things he got to do. why it was the best job he could of ever imagined. For those who don't know LOTW is rural but it is a fishing and hunting paradise. Being farely young, I really got a kick out of the punishments. For example, if you were over your limit on walleyes the fine was $1 per fish or basically 1 day in jail. People would get caught with 30 extra fish and spend a month in jail because they couldn't pay the $30 fine. Also talk of squad cars that topped out at 90 mph. Just the differences in life between now and then amazed me. I started reading it and couldn't put it down. I guess it was one of 2 books and if i can find the other one i'm buying it. If anyone ever sees it, sit down and read a few stories, its very interesting.

There was a old thread on it. http://forumserver.twoplustwo.com/63...novels-246339/

any new additions?

Ugh, Count Zero fizzled out pretty badly near the end. I've got Mona Lisa Overdrive on deck though, maybe that'll wrap things up a bit better.

Just finished The Alchemist. Pretty good but disappointing at the same time. Wouldn't recommend it, what do other people think of it?