My eldest brother, faced with a knee operation, asked me what books I would recommend for him since he won’t be running around much. Recent books, generally. So, reacting to that on the spur of the moment and referencing some things I’ve read this year:
Science fiction:
Blindsight – Peter Watts, and any of his previous series if available (Starfish etc).
Alastair Reynolds, Gary Gibson, Vernor Vinge,
Blood Music – Greg bear
Stories of Your Life: And Others – Ted Chiang
Fantasy:
Scar Night – Alan Campbell, followed by Iron Angel and The God of Clocks
Farlander – Col Buchanan
American Gods – Neil Gaiman
Crime etc:
Lisa Gardner, Karin Slaughter, the Steig Larssen books (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo etc)
Archangel – Robert Harris
Flesh House – Stuart MacBride
Bait – Nick Brownlee
Humour:
Jeremy Clarkson, Littlejohn’s Britain,
That’s it for now. If I think of any more I’ll put them here.
12 comments:
I suspect you mean 'last year', unless you can read exceptionally fast.
I'd also add Jim Butcher's Dresden Files series in there somewhere. Quite good IMO.
OK. I'm officially jealous. That's 2 books (Scar Night, Prince of Thorns) that you've recommended that have not yet been published. Damm you authors with your advance reading copies.... And the sad thing is that by the time they're released I'll have forgotten about them. I need an auto reminder...
Yeah, last year, Eric, and before.
Sean, Scar Night was published years ago. If you're American go here for free delivery:
http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9780330444767/Scar-Night-Bk.-1
I think you mean Archangel - Robert Harris (although I though Fatherland was a better book)
Thanks Pavlov's Cat - I've changed it. Yeah, Fatherland was very good, but as I said, I was just thinking of recent reads.
oof, American Gods blew in my dumble opinion. if you get a chance to visit 'House on the Rock' mentioned in the book, do. its much more incredible than the couple sentences thrown at it.
http://tinyurl.com/lhennk
wish Gaiman would've made The House a little more vivid, and the book implied a lot, but the din created was only a salt shaker behind a big typewriter. that's me though..
will check out the rest of the (sf) list anyhow, your recommendations have been gold.
I have to agree with vaude on American Gods, I somehow managed to finish it, but was underwhelmed.
Yup. You're right about Scar Night being published years ago. I mistook that one for "Farlander". My bad.
However, the jealousy about the advance reading copies still stands. LOL
The Windup Girl and The Passage are two I'd recommend.
I'd like to recommend the Malazon books by Steven Erikson.
The writing is outstanding and the world-building is just unbelievable. The characters are complex and evolving and out opinions of them are change within and between books.
The only complaint I ever hear is that the plots are too complex and intertwined. Most of my friends have kids and just can't devote the time that this series requires to delve into it.
Plus, with the final book (#10)due out next month this series will keep him reading for a very, very long time.
i thought blindsight was excellent - apart from the vampires, which didn't really add anything interesting.
I got given all of Karl Pilkington's books for christmas. Some people hate him, but i think he's hilarious and should give your brother a good laugh. Very easy reading.
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