Military-wise, I've finished re-reading The Forgotten Soldier and Operation Drumbeat and I'm rounding the month out with The U-Boat War in the Caribbean.

Non military reading is: The Corner (a David Simon/someone else collaboration) and the occasional snippets of things out of RPG books here and there.

I'm going to re-read The Prince by Machiavelli, after I've finally got around to read the Discorsi cover to cover.

Non-fiction, but both are nonetheless entertainingly written (at least in my translation), and very enlightening for those interested in politics and history. This Florentinian is just the master of realpolitik.

Still, you can't read to much of him without becoming a cynical scumbag when it comes to politicos, and without becoming cattily when talking about the dumbasses who are in charge of the states these days. (Not that I had much to lose in this regard :haw: )

Quote from: walkerpThis sort of convinced me that Palahniuk was a great writer but also sort of turned me off of him at the same time.  It's just so dark!  Some crazy ideas, though.

I've read Fight Club, Invisible Monsters, and Choke so far.

Survivor is convincing me that perhaps Palahniuk is actually a one trick pony. He only has one voice, one style of writing and I keep getting the feeling I've read this book before, only the details have been changed slightly. I'm only a thried of the way through, so perhaps things will change.

Quote from: flyingmiceTrullian is possibly my favorite Vance book. I have always wanted to do a Hussade RPG.

-clash

How about a recommendation for a first time Vance reader. Which book should I read first, particularly if I'm in the mood for a traditional fantasy adventure story?

-Jeff

Quote from: McrowCan't go wrong with that one.

I picked it up because I've heard so many raves about it. Last night I was discussing the book with two friends of mine and they both were putting it down to some extent. Their opinion was that the first book was tolerable and the others were poor and annoying.

I'm enjoying the first book so far (just under halfway through), although I can understand some of their complaints that several of the main characters, even those put forward as "good guys" can be annoyingly foolish and nearsighted.

Like I said, I'm enjoying the book and think they were over-reacting a bit.

Quote from: GoOrangeHow about a recommendation for a first time Vance reader. Which book should I read first, particularly if I'm in the mood for a traditional fantasy adventure story?

-Jeff

The Dying Earth. It's the first of a brilliant series, and IIRC is still in print.

-clash

China Mieville's Perdido Street Station, which I'm thoroughly enjoying.

Quote from: AosWithout a doubt.
Of the Allastor novels, I prefer Trullian. It really gets to the heart of some of Vance's concerns, as does Wyst, actually. Marune is a bit of an oddball, but still a lot of fun. I need to reread it soon.

I have had some problems with Trullion, actually - the prose is outstanding as always, the clash of bucolic images and more somber undertones are spot on, but in the end, it lacked a particular something.

I consider Wyst a more well-realised example of Vance's concerns and philosophy. It is fascinating how the first part is about the downsides and dangers of collectivism, while the second appears to give you a counterpoint at first, until it turns out it is vulnerable to different, but just as damaging collectivist practices.

Marune is indeed the odd one, but very satisfying to read.

My next book is Lorelei of the Red Mists, a collection of Leigh Brackett's planetary romances. So far, I think I have only read The Lake of Gone Forever (in the original pulp magazine, too! ). If the others are as good... damn, I am in for a treat.

Quote from: GoOrangeHow about a recommendation for a first time Vance reader. Which book should I read first, particularly if I'm in the mood for a traditional fantasy adventure story?

-Jeff

The Dying Earth books are rather odd compared to most mainstream fantasy, but very enjoyable. Start with The Dying Earth or Eyes of the Overworld (or get the thick omnibus edition, Tales of the Dying Earth, from the Fantasy Masterworks series).

There is another option, the Lyonesse trilogy. It is high fantasy (some characteristically Vancian detours notwithstanding), and starts with a slow and rather long exposition, but turns into a complex, vibrant and elegantly written saga by the second volume.

Three non-fiction books at the moment.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford, Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection by John Man and May 13: Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969 by Kua Kia Soong

Regards,
David R

Quote from: flyingmiceThe Dying Earth. It's the first of a brilliant series, and IIRC is still in print.

-clash

Thirded.  And as Melan points out, the Tales of the Dying Earth collection that includes all of Vance's DE stories is very available.


TGA

Quote from: David RThree non-fiction books at the moment.

Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World by Jack Weatherford,

A very good book!

Quote from: David RGenghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection by John Man

Never heard of this one before, but it looks like it is right up my alley.  Speculation about the death and burial of Genghis Khan?  Fuck yeah, that's now on my reading list!    Thanks, David!


TGA

You're welcome TGA. Good to hear that I'm not the only one whose interested in old the Khan. Both books were gifts from my father.

Regards,
David R

Just finished Glen Cook's Black Company series and Hans-Georg Gadamer's Dialogue and Dialectic. I'm now starting Gadamer's Hegel's Dialectic and possibly Cormac McCarthy's Suttree.

Quote from: Pseudoephedrine.... possibly Cormac McCarthy's Suttree.

This one is beautiful.

Somewhere buried in there (if I'm remember correctly) is this little bit of wisdom about the protagonist - "were there provinces darker than the night, he would have sought them out" . Good stuff.

Regards,
David R