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Related, someone on Reddit re-read all the Hugo/Nebula/Locus/WFA winning books and reviewed them. I found their rating system, and how well the books aged, very

Related, someone on Reddit re-read all the Hugo/Nebula/Locus/WFA winning books and reviewed them. I found their rating system, and how well the books aged, very worthwhile: https://www.reddit.com/user/RabidFoxz/comments/stwi8k/vol_6_of_book_reviews_back_in_action/ https://www.reddit.com/user/RabidFoxz/comments/stwi8k/vol_6_...

retrocryptid 3y ago
Good list, but Orson Scott Card is a bit over-represnted. I recently re-read scheismatrix (plus) after 35 years. My spouse found a copy of Burning Chrome in the local tiny library, so I'm likely to review a few more cyberpunk works. I have fond memories of the 64-83 era, but it took me a while to warm to Sterling and Gibson. It almost seems like every new sci-fi story has a bit of cyberpunk embedded in it. All the cyberpunk authors were (I believe) influenced by Ballard and PKD. Anyway. Thx for the pointer.
- justsomehnguy 3y ago
  › found a copy of Burning Chrome most of Gibson's works I had read in ncview.exe I doubt I can replicate the experience now *sad smile*
  - drdaeman 3y ago
    There are a bunch of terminal apps that emulate CRT look-and-feel, and you can surely run NC in an emulator.
    - justsomehnguy 3y ago
      Sure, but I wans't talking about the visuals alone. I can run NC in DosBox on the glorious 43". I read Gibson on 15" in the native 320x200 and my 40Mb HDD shook the table table on the seeks.
      - squarefoot 3y ago
        This terminal emulator might help: https://github.com/Swordfish90/cool-retro-term https://github.com/Swordfish90/cool-retro-term As for other "effects", in theory the HDD led on the front panel could be interfaced with some actuator to produce vibration and sound when data is accessed. Personally, I can't wait for the PineNote to exit the development phase and become an usable product; other e-paper readers are too closed and/or depending on cloud services I have no intention to surrender my personal data to.
        OfSanguineFire 3y ago
        What's wrong with a Kobo reader? Kobo is friendly to modding, so you can install e.g. the open-source interface KOReader and never use the company's own interface. Even if you use Kobo's software, initial setup can be done without registration, and you can just leave the reader in airplane mode for the entire lifetime of the device, so it would never connect to any cloud. I have enough experience with Pine64 to not regard their products as anything other than toys that never meet their potential.
        getwiththeprog 3y ago
        I second a very positive vote for Kobo. There are great resources for setting them up with no registration, and they work very well. Easy to get inside and make any changes you want. Also second the downvote for Pine products. They look good off the bat, but there is no ongoing support and low compatibility.
        justsomehnguy 3y ago
        ... and I can run this video at startup, but still that would be just a lousy imitation of the experiences of a younger me. Thanks for suggestion, but you miss the point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65guhB-7w9U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65guhB-7w9U
drmpeg 3y ago
I couldn't finish Neuromancer. I guess I'm just not a fan of the antihero thing. Toward the end of the book, I just didn't care what happened to him.
- gopher_space 3y ago
  The next two books in that series are quite different in tone. I think the writing is much better too.
- lotsoweiners 3y ago
  I've tried to read it about 5 times over the last 20 years or so. Never made it past the first third or so of the book. Something about the way it is written is just so unappealing to me that I'd rather give up than finish. One of these days I might just read the synopsis.
  - 15457345234 3y ago
    I've seen that sentiment expressed elsewhere, it seems some people just aren't compatible with it. Likewise I can't get through Pat Cadigan's 'Synners' which I think is a Nebula award winner - the world seems like it _should_ be interesting enough but it just doesn't grip me at all... I must have tried about ten times now and I just end up either leaving it for something else or leafing aimlessly through the pages trying to jump ahead to a more 'engaging' part and not finding anything
    - getwiththeprog 3y ago
      I found the ideas in Neuromancer to be, at the time, revolutionary. Going back to it, I thought that it read like a kids book. Naive and cludgy - like a Drizzt D&D book. Neal Stephenson is I think a better writer, while also moving the genre and sci-fi concepts forward. I highly recommend "The Diamond Age" for people that couldn't make it through Neuromancer.
      - 15457345234 3y ago
MarketingJason 3y ago
Hyperion was awesome. Canterbury Tales-style narrative focused on a group of pilgrims on a crazy planet steeped in legend set against a galaxy-spanning empire that is being threatened by a faceless looming external threat. As if that wasn't enough, the pilgrims are threatened from within by mystery, murder and betrayal as much as they are hounded by the immortal blade-covered daemon they know they are eventually destined to face. Each pilgrims tale is unique and told in a different vibe - from pious and regretful to vulgar and indifferent.
- brazzy 3y ago
  Seconded. The segement "The River Lethe's Taste is Bitter" is the most heard-rendingly sad thing I have ever read.
- OfSanguineFire 3y ago
  The problem with Hyperion is that it was so successful, the author couldn't resist the temptation to write sequels, and those are of much lesser quality.
  - horns4lyfe 3y ago
    Opinion of course, but I couldn’t agree less. Taken as a whole, I think the whole work is beautiful, and I re read all of them occasionally. The way it all spreads out and then ties together is wonderful.
    - OfSanguineFire 3y ago
      Amusingly, within just a few hours of our exchange, Hyperion popped up in another comment thread[0], where my view on the sequels was reiterated by several other people. [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38424008 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38424008
alkyon 3y ago
Strangely enough, he thinks The Man in the High Castle is not worth reading, so I wouldn't follow his advice blindly. It is highly readable for me, a PKD's masterpiece. I've reread it multiple times and each time it seems better.

retrocryptid 3y ago

Good list, but Orson Scott Card is a bit over-represnted. I recently re-read scheismatrix (plus) after 35 years. My spouse found a copy of Burning Chrome in the local tiny library, so I'm likely to review a few more cyberpunk works. I have fond memories of the 64-83 era, but it took me a while to warm to Sterling and Gibson. It almost seems like every new sci-fi story has a bit of cyberpunk embedded in it. All the cyberpunk authors were (I believe) influenced by Ballard and PKD. Anyway. Thx for the pointer.

justsomehnguy 3y ago
› found a copy of Burning Chrome most of Gibson's works I had read in ncview.exe I doubt I can replicate the experience now *sad smile*
- drdaeman 3y ago
  There are a bunch of terminal apps that emulate CRT look-and-feel, and you can surely run NC in an emulator.
  - justsomehnguy 3y ago
    Sure, but I wans't talking about the visuals alone. I can run NC in DosBox on the glorious 43". I read Gibson on 15" in the native 320x200 and my 40Mb HDD shook the table table on the seeks.
    - squarefoot 3y ago
      This terminal emulator might help: https://github.com/Swordfish90/cool-retro-term https://github.com/Swordfish90/cool-retro-term As for other "effects", in theory the HDD led on the front panel could be interfaced with some actuator to produce vibration and sound when data is accessed. Personally, I can't wait for the PineNote to exit the development phase and become an usable product; other e-paper readers are too closed and/or depending on cloud services I have no intention to surrender my personal data to.
      - OfSanguineFire 3y ago
        What's wrong with a Kobo reader? Kobo is friendly to modding, so you can install e.g. the open-source interface KOReader and never use the company's own interface. Even if you use Kobo's software, initial setup can be done without registration, and you can just leave the reader in airplane mode for the entire lifetime of the device, so it would never connect to any cloud. I have enough experience with Pine64 to not regard their products as anything other than toys that never meet their potential.
        getwiththeprog 3y ago
        I second a very positive vote for Kobo. There are great resources for setting them up with no registration, and they work very well. Easy to get inside and make any changes you want. Also second the downvote for Pine products. They look good off the bat, but there is no ongoing support and low compatibility.
      - justsomehnguy 3y ago
        ... and I can run this video at startup, but still that would be just a lousy imitation of the experiences of a younger me. Thanks for suggestion, but you miss the point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65guhB-7w9U https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65guhB-7w9U

drmpeg 3y ago

I couldn't finish Neuromancer. I guess I'm just not a fan of the antihero thing. Toward the end of the book, I just didn't care what happened to him.

gopher_space 3y ago
The next two books in that series are quite different in tone. I think the writing is much better too.
lotsoweiners 3y ago
I've tried to read it about 5 times over the last 20 years or so. Never made it past the first third or so of the book. Something about the way it is written is just so unappealing to me that I'd rather give up than finish. One of these days I might just read the synopsis.
- 15457345234 3y ago
  I've seen that sentiment expressed elsewhere, it seems some people just aren't compatible with it. Likewise I can't get through Pat Cadigan's 'Synners' which I think is a Nebula award winner - the world seems like it _should_ be interesting enough but it just doesn't grip me at all... I must have tried about ten times now and I just end up either leaving it for something else or leafing aimlessly through the pages trying to jump ahead to a more 'engaging' part and not finding anything
  - getwiththeprog 3y ago
    I found the ideas in Neuromancer to be, at the time, revolutionary. Going back to it, I thought that it read like a kids book. Naive and cludgy - like a Drizzt D&D book. Neal Stephenson is I think a better writer, while also moving the genre and sci-fi concepts forward. I highly recommend "The Diamond Age" for people that couldn't make it through Neuromancer.
    - 15457345234 3y ago

MarketingJason 3y ago

Hyperion was awesome. Canterbury Tales-style narrative focused on a group of pilgrims on a crazy planet steeped in legend set against a galaxy-spanning empire that is being threatened by a faceless looming external threat. As if that wasn't enough, the pilgrims are threatened from within by mystery, murder and betrayal as much as they are hounded by the immortal blade-covered daemon they know they are eventually destined to face. Each pilgrims tale is unique and told in a different vibe - from pious and regretful to vulgar and indifferent.

brazzy 3y ago
Seconded. The segement "The River Lethe's Taste is Bitter" is the most heard-rendingly sad thing I have ever read.
OfSanguineFire 3y ago
The problem with Hyperion is that it was so successful, the author couldn't resist the temptation to write sequels, and those are of much lesser quality.
- horns4lyfe 3y ago
  Opinion of course, but I couldn’t agree less. Taken as a whole, I think the whole work is beautiful, and I re read all of them occasionally. The way it all spreads out and then ties together is wonderful.
  - OfSanguineFire 3y ago
    Amusingly, within just a few hours of our exchange, Hyperion popped up in another comment thread[0], where my view on the sequels was reiterated by several other people. [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38424008 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=38424008

alkyon 3y ago

Strangely enough, he thinks The Man in the High Castle is not worth reading, so I wouldn't follow his advice blindly. It is highly readable for me, a PKD's masterpiece. I've reread it multiple times and each time it seems better.