What are you reading?

Aerothorn on 28/10/2009 at 10:12

Quote Posted by dethtoll

I don't know how you expect me to answer "what makes you think people are praising Stephenson without reading his books" in any way other than what I did. There's a large contingent of people who enjoy discussing/praising things they've never actually read (or watched, or whatever) as if they actually have.

I was expecting you to back that up in a meaningful way, I guess. I can claim that 60% of people who eat bananas really only like them because they're phallic, but without any shred of evidence in favor of my position it's just idle speculation. I mean, is there a study on this somewhere? Are you speaking purely from personal experience? If you are speaking from personal experience, how many Stephenson readers have you talked to (what is your sample size) and how do you know who was/wasn't lieing about reading him? I just don't see where you're getting this information.

Also, Aja is spot on.

Elusive Paladin on 28/10/2009 at 11:40

Quote Posted by snowcap21

I started to read the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. To read book ten first probably wasn't the best idea, though. I don't think that I had to look in the internet before to understand a fantasy novel... Anyway, book one provides an as easy read as I hoped for.

I've just started this myself, after putting it off for years due to the terror that I'd get halfway, be hopelessly addicted, and find the next few novels were missing from my library.
The first novel definitely shows the telltale signs of a work painstakingly constructed over many years. But the story keeps you coming back for more, so...bring it.

Namdrol on 28/10/2009 at 11:53

Quote Posted by fett

Off to get the new Discworld tomorrow. Can't wait, and worried it may be the last...

I assume it's an Unseen University one?

How did you get on?
And has anyone else read it? I loved it but then I'm far from objective when it comes to Terry Pratchett.
I like the Patrician and I enjoyed how this one added a bit more to our understanding of his relationship to the Lady Margolotta.

suliman on 28/10/2009 at 14:24

A Fire upon the Deep. Which is getting interesting, only it's, like, 250 pages in.

june gloom on 28/10/2009 at 15:40

Quote Posted by Aerothorn

What the hell? Why the fuck are you asking me for sample sizes and shit? You do realize I'm exaggerating to make a point, right? It's just my personal suspicion/perception that a lot of people who praise Stephenson haven't actually read more than maybe half of Snow Crash and nothing else. I just made up a number because those people form the majority of Stephenson fans I've met. Yes, there are people like that. Just because you never met them does not mean they don't exist.

Yell Piranha on 28/10/2009 at 16:56

Quote Posted by Namdrol

I thought in places it was excellent and had some superb wit (Patrician is always great). However I though the Football theme was a bit weak compared with his better books. Going Postal is his best recent one IMO.

the_grip on 28/10/2009 at 18:03

Quote Posted by Elusive Paladin

Read book one and two, they were entertaining. Put the rest in a toilet and do your business on 'em.

PeeperStorm on 29/10/2009 at 01:26

Quote:

I started to read the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan.

Quote Posted by Elusive Paladin

So you're going to get addicted to it, get through the seres, and then realize that the the author is dead and any finale to the story will have to be written by a ghost writer?

Namdrol on 29/10/2009 at 07:28

Quote Posted by Yell Piranha

The bit I found a bit rushed was when Trevor and Juliet rose up into the sky. And I think more could have been fleshed out about the spirit of football.
But like so many of his books, it's not a standalone piece of work, it's an episode in the life of the disc.
Going Postal and TheThief of Time felt far more separate and complete. Maybe because they had a new setting and characters.
But Terry Pratchett on a bad day will play most others of the field. ;)

Aerothorn on 29/10/2009 at 17:34

Quote Posted by dethtoll

It's just my personal suspicion/perception that a lot of people who praise Stephenson haven't actually read more than maybe half of Snow Crash and nothing else.

Which is all I was asking. You stated your position as a definitive, so I thought you might actually KNOW this rather than merely guessing. I don't deny that they exist; I just wonder how prevalent their numbers truly are. Snow Crash isn't Ulysses.