The Polycount Book Club
polycounter lvl 18
I read a lot of books, and I'm guessing a few people on here do too. The last few I've bought have been pretty sub par so I thought perhaps we could all share some recommendations and talk about books we've read recently that we loved.
I'll start it out with some recommendations of the best three books I've read in the last year.
The Wrenchies
A kickass comic book that is too weird to describe. Worth buying just for the art.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Wrenchies-Farel-Dalrymple/dp/159643421X/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422940467&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=the+wrnechies"]Amazon.com: The Wrenchies (9781596434219): Farel Dalrymple: Books[/ame]
The Martian
Bought it for the cover, LOVED the realistic near future sci fi. Edge of my seat the entire way.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422940505&sr=8-1&keywords=the+martian"]The Martian: Andy Weir: 9780553418026: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]
The Postmortal
Why a drug that stops aging for humans will suck for the entire world.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Postmortal-Drew-Magary/dp/0143119826/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422940560&sr=8-1&keywords=the+post+mortal"]The Postmortal: Drew Magary: 9780143119821: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]
I'll start it out with some recommendations of the best three books I've read in the last year.
The Wrenchies
A kickass comic book that is too weird to describe. Worth buying just for the art.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Wrenchies-Farel-Dalrymple/dp/159643421X/ref=sr_1_sc_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422940467&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=the+wrnechies"]Amazon.com: The Wrenchies (9781596434219): Farel Dalrymple: Books[/ame]
The Martian
Bought it for the cover, LOVED the realistic near future sci fi. Edge of my seat the entire way.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Martian-Andy-Weir/dp/0553418025/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422940505&sr=8-1&keywords=the+martian"]The Martian: Andy Weir: 9780553418026: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]
The Postmortal
Why a drug that stops aging for humans will suck for the entire world.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Postmortal-Drew-Magary/dp/0143119826/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422940560&sr=8-1&keywords=the+post+mortal"]The Postmortal: Drew Magary: 9780143119821: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]
Replies
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Elemental-Magic-Special-Effects-Animation/dp/0240811631/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422942588&sr=8-1&keywords=elemental+magic"]Elemental Magic, Volume I: The Art of Special Effects Animation: 9780240811635: Computer Science Books @ Amazon.com[/ame]
Elemental Magic gets my +1 too. I recommend this to VFX artists in my studio.
my 3 recommendations based on last year's reading
Production Pipeline Fundamentals
I really enjoyed this one, as it gives a great overview of game and film production pipelines without losing itself into too many details.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Production-Pipeline-Fundamentals-Film-Games-ebook/dp/B00IOPYVIU/"]Amazon.com: Production Pipeline Fundamentals for Film and Games eBook: Renee Dunlop: Kindle Store[/ame]
Making Things Happen
I picked this up last year and it's one of the best project management books I got my hands on. Don't let the term "project management" scare you away though! It's written in a very readable style, full of examples and anecdotes how to run or not run your project. It's great reading if you're a producer or similar.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Making-Things-Happen-Mastering-Management/dp/0596517718/"]Making Things Happen: Mastering Project Management (Theory in Practice): 9780596517717: Computer Science Books @ Amazon.com[/ame]
Ancillary Justice
Next to The Martian it's the novel I remember most vividly. The style alone makes it a very different and interesting read. May not be for everyone though.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Ancillary-Justice-1-Imperial-Radch-ebook/dp/B00BAXFDLM"]Ancillary Justice (Imperial Radch) - Kindle edition by Ann Leckie. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.[/ame]
I've polished off a few book series this year already:
- The first law series - - Very dark and grimy fantasy taking the idea of heros and really fucking with it. Ends justify the means and progress has a horrific price. Approaches reciprocal history/nature. 3 books
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Graceling-Kristin-Cashore/dp/0547258305"]- Graceling - [/ame]A reasonably distinct 'superhuman' system, female protagonist quite a standard fantasy layout with an interesting build up. Kids born with/develop with two different eye colors have abilities, from climbing trees to reading minds.
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/014241591X/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_dp_ss_1?pf_rd_p=1944687762&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0547258305&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=03MM54SQG8Z8Q0S7A7WC"] - Fire - [/ame]Graceling companion novel. Set in the same world, however poles apart in style and superhuman elements. The 'monsters' are a visual library diet must.
Few series that i polished off last year and should be in everyones book bucket list.
- The Black Company - This is pretty long series spanning 10 books over 3 main arcs. Military fantasy with a darkness like few out there.
- The wheel of time series - - Excellent fantasy epic spanning 14! books. Fate, reciprocal nature and history with a hell of a fantasy/science base.
- Mistborn - What can i say about this? Entirely unique magic system, a story with so many twists and turns i read all three of the books in two days. I re-read them a week later, seriously a good read.
- The dragonriders of pern - 24 books! Fantasy/scfi with some pretty amazing details. This is a series and a half. * i have the actual books of these not kindle versions they were that good. Don't need to read all 24, there are filler's etc that can be missed. You need to find the read order for these books otherwise you may get some spoilers depending what books you go with.
- The Wizard of the earthsea - If you haven't read this then fool on you haha! Classic fantasy. Been reading these every 2-3 years.
Few nice suggestions above, noted them for reading ;D
Raven's Shadow - Guy gets trained to be a warrior to protect his religion, has a superpower that let's him hear the song of combat and kick ass by listening, he can sing it to mow down armies.
Stormlight Archive - Same author who wrote Mistborn, except this time superpowers come from making a pact with the embodiment of an idea, also has fantasy Iron Man armour and giant swords.
Ready Player One - Guy who created the ultimate MMO left a bunch of clues after his death that gives ownership of it to whoever completes the quest, loads of 80's pop culture references.
Alloy of Law - Sequel series to Mistborn, but in an industrialised era. Not as epic as Mistborn, but the characters are far better.
Powder Mage - Magic with muskets. Guy overthrows the monarchy and fucks all the shit up by accident.
Demon Cycle - Demon's come out at night and murder everything that isn't behind a magic ward. Then one guy has the bright idea to put wards on himself and starts kicking ass.
Kingkiller Chronicle - Guy sees family murdered by myths, becomes science-sorcerer Harry Potter.
Also I've posted about it before but the [ame="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hyperion-GOLLANCZ-S-F-Dan-Simmons/dp/0575076372/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423008126&sr=1-1&keywords=hyperion"]Dan Simmons Hyperion audiobook[/ame] is awesome
I'm currently listening to [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Peripheral-William-Gibson/dp/0399158448/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423008216&sr=1-1&keywords=peripheral+william+gibson"]William Gibsons new book Peripheral [/ame]
The tech in Gibsons new book isn't as crazy as it is in neuromancer,mona lisa overdrive etc but It's good so far
Also listened to a few autobiographies recently these are great,
[ame="http://www.amazon.com/Scar-Tissue/dp/B003AOVPHK"]Anthony Kiedis autobiography[/ame]
autobiography of the lead singer of the red hot chilli peppers also recommend checking out the bio's of Richard Feynmen, , arnold schwarzenegger,Richard Branson etc
Also been reading [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Left-Hand-Darkness-Science-Fiction/dp/0441007317/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1423008496&sr=1-1&keywords=left+hand+of+darkness"]Ursula Leguin's - Left hand of Darkness[/ame] on and off it's interesting but I'm finding it hard to get into it
Otherland Near science fiction with VR internet. I dunno how to describe it past big piles of intrigue and adventure in bizzare, impossible locations as MANY characters try to unravel a massive conspiracy and save lives from very powerful people. Four Huge books. Tiny type. Very good. Pack a lunch and take notes.
Extra Lives: Why Video Games Matter And interesting and thorough look at whether games are art, full of thoughtful points for either side of the argument.
Terry Pratchett's Discworld series is fantastic; it's recommended to start with Guards! Guards! and read in character storyline order rather than release order. But really you can pick up any book in the series and have a good read.
Going to add The Black Company and Mistborn to my list
I love "The name of the Wind" and its sequel "Wise Mans Fear" by Patrick Rothfuss. Its got a fantastic scientific magic system and genuinely captivating characters and it is actually very well written!
+1 to mistborn series and stormlight archive and elemental magic
Blood Song by Anthony Ryan and The Painted Man by Peter V Brett are good reads but I found their sequels less satisfying.
In terms of art books, I recommend the Halo 4 art book, the assassins creed black flag art book and of course the district 9 art book. The Darksiders art books are great too though some of the pictures are just too small.
I listen to mostly audio books but here are a few of the best I have listened to over the last year.
The Mote in God's Eye - One of the very best Sci-Fi books ever IMO. Its follow up books The Gripping Hand and king David's space ship are also awesome.
The Painted Man (The Demon Cycle, Book 1) - Onto book 3 of these now. All very good so far.
The Empire's Corps - Book 1 - Not ground breaking but very enjoyable even more so if you like space marines. A lot of stuff you can read into about the future of the path humanity could be on too.
Ark Royal - Book 1 A VERY British Sci-Fi novel. Its a little optimistic about the extent of the Royal Navys power in the future but I loved all three books in this series.
Star Force Think these is like 12 books in this series so far I am not done yet. Some flaws but a really fun read/listen.
nice work on the technical tidbits though. the kind of stuff that normally gets omitted. just googled this and there seems to be a film version coming, omg. ridley scott can't stop working! http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3659388/
not currently reading anything but enjoyed the works of david mitchell in recent years. now that's more what i would call competent writing.
Last year I went through a bunch of 40s to 80s sci-fi.
Starting with
Asimov's Foundation trilogy : [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Foundation-Isaac-Asimov/dp/0553293354/ref=tmm_mmp_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-2&qid=1423045976"]Foundation: Isaac Asimov: 9780553293357: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]
The first Dune trilogy : [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Dune-Frank-Herbert/dp/0441172717/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1423045873&sr=8-3&keywords=dune+trilogy"]Dune: Frank Herbert: 9780441172719: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]
The Star Wars Thrawn trilogy : [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Heir-Empire-Star-Wars-Trilogy/dp/0553296124/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423046096&sr=8-1&keywords=star+wars+thrawn"]Amazon.com: Heir to the Empire (Star Wars: The Thrawn Trilogy, Vol. 1) (9780553296129): Timothy Zahn: Books[/ame]
Ender's Game : [ame="http://www.amazon.com/Enders-Ender-Quintet-Orson-Scott/dp/0812550706/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423046344&sr=8-1&keywords=enders+game"]Ender's Game (The Ender Quintet): Orson Scott Card: 9780812550702: Amazon.com: Books[/ame]
Yesterday I finished Neuromancer, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. All the others are great though and deserve to be called classics. Especially Dune, it really blew me away. Foundation was a breath of fresh air aswell, originally short stories, the narrative is epic and more about a growing society than individuals themselves.
Love that book. Sci-fi at it's best.