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blue_ant4. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
As a librarian and avid science fiction reader, it came as some surprise that I'd never even heard of this book before. My sister suggested it's because the book is more fantasy than science fiction, but I think it's because it as Eyre in the title and I don't actually like Jane Eyre. That being said, The Eyre Affair is one of the most interesting and amusing books I've read in a long time. I thought the plot was good, the writing story (and witty) and, well, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel. I can't wait to read more of Fforde's works in this series.
5. Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester
Not being a big fan of historical fiction, I wasn't sure I would like a book about sailing during the Napoleonic Wars. Turns out, though, that I absolutely loved this book. It's the first in the Hornblower series and it's a great introduction to the character of Horatio Hornblower. The book is made up of several interconnected short stories that take place over several years. They begin with 17-year old Horatio boarding his first ship, and end with an older, though not always wiser, Horatio captaining a captured French vessel into Spanish territory. What makes these stories so good is how well Forester writes of Horatio's experiences. His writing is so vivid that it's hard not to see yourself by Horatio's side, suffering as he does. I plan to eventually read the remaining novels, especially since this was such a good introduction.
6. The sheep look up by John Brunner
Not being a big fan of "classic" science fiction, I'd pretty much never even heard of this title. I don't even know how I found out about it, but it had sheep in the title and I had to read it. Basically, this book is an extremely bleak look at our future. Brunner, in the 1970s, saw a future that most people couldn't even begin to dream of. Sure, there weren't really computers or iPods or cell phones, but there was pollution, food shortages, gas shortages and all manner of environmental and health problems. In many ways, our future is exactly as Brunner described, but in other ways, we've made the advancements that he expected us not to make. Regardless of how we're living now, I feel that The Sheep Look Up should be required reading for everyone. Because this book is how our future might be, if we don't fix things. Brunner's book is excellent, if depressing. I highly recommend it, even to those who don't ever read science fiction.
6 / 100 books read. 6% done!
As a librarian and avid science fiction reader, it came as some surprise that I'd never even heard of this book before. My sister suggested it's because the book is more fantasy than science fiction, but I think it's because it as Eyre in the title and I don't actually like Jane Eyre. That being said, The Eyre Affair is one of the most interesting and amusing books I've read in a long time. I thought the plot was good, the writing story (and witty) and, well, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel. I can't wait to read more of Fforde's works in this series.
5. Mr. Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester
Not being a big fan of historical fiction, I wasn't sure I would like a book about sailing during the Napoleonic Wars. Turns out, though, that I absolutely loved this book. It's the first in the Hornblower series and it's a great introduction to the character of Horatio Hornblower. The book is made up of several interconnected short stories that take place over several years. They begin with 17-year old Horatio boarding his first ship, and end with an older, though not always wiser, Horatio captaining a captured French vessel into Spanish territory. What makes these stories so good is how well Forester writes of Horatio's experiences. His writing is so vivid that it's hard not to see yourself by Horatio's side, suffering as he does. I plan to eventually read the remaining novels, especially since this was such a good introduction.
6. The sheep look up by John Brunner
Not being a big fan of "classic" science fiction, I'd pretty much never even heard of this title. I don't even know how I found out about it, but it had sheep in the title and I had to read it. Basically, this book is an extremely bleak look at our future. Brunner, in the 1970s, saw a future that most people couldn't even begin to dream of. Sure, there weren't really computers or iPods or cell phones, but there was pollution, food shortages, gas shortages and all manner of environmental and health problems. In many ways, our future is exactly as Brunner described, but in other ways, we've made the advancements that he expected us not to make. Regardless of how we're living now, I feel that The Sheep Look Up should be required reading for everyone. Because this book is how our future might be, if we don't fix things. Brunner's book is excellent, if depressing. I highly recommend it, even to those who don't ever read science fiction.
