I was originally going to say CD Roms, where else do you have a standard being used that 20 years old with all the refinements in sound technology we've had [never mind the tricks the NSA have hidden up thier non-existent sleeves for evesdropping]... but I digress... more than 95% of the DJ's out there still love their vinyl, simply because it works and is so easy to work with. Wow, a technology that's both accessible and user friendly [no TM here hehe] lasting awhile, maybe someone should inform M$ =)
Back in the mid 80's, when I was getting into computers, it seemed that every magazine had a few programs for you to type into your computer. Eventually becoming bored with the programs , that would run with my VIC 20, I noticed one day that the keyboard was really tough. So I decided, like any little maniac, to type in my next program, with a HAMMER. The moral iof the story... the program worked. Now being older and wiser... I miss my old VIC 20 keyboard, because it would make it so much easier to settle arguments with computer users making ID-10-T errors.
I'm going to presume that you've read most authors that have managed to get publicity or have been heavily promoted - so here's some authors that I think don't get enough attention:
Dave Duncan - Yes I know he is a Fantasy author, but I'm including him because if you liked Piers Anthony back when he had some decent stuff, then I believe you'll like Dave Duncan's "The King's Daggers" series. It's a trilogy featuring the same character, starting with Sir Stalwart. It decent sword and sorcery with a good pace. The only complaint I've ever had about Duncan's work is that while a bit bland, it's still interesting.
Phyllis Eisenstein - Technically an old author but she is well worth tracking down - 2 Duologies (Sorcereor's Son and The Crystal Palace)(Born to Exile and In the Red Lord's Reach). I'd always recommend her to people looking for an new writer [after I convinced the mgr to order her in], and no one ever complained.
David Feintuch - The Seafort Saga (4 book series with 2 stand alone add-ons - starts with Midshipman's Hope). He's also just released a sequel to The Still, his fantasy novel and I find that he does very good chracterization and following how his characters change as the story progresses.
Robert J Sawyer - Among the cream of today's Sci-fi writers publishing today. With several Hugo and Nebula credits, he doesn't seem to get a lot of press. I would recommed his books Frameshift and Calculating God.
Dan Simmons - I would have to rate this man among the 3 best writers today. If nothing else, I recommend reading Carrion Comfort. While it may be daunting at 884 pages, it starts small and gradually gets scarier. By page 200 you'll be wandering how this story could get even more suspenseful and you'll be wondering the same thing at page 300, and 400, and so on until the conclusion. This is a man who used to teach gifted children and I believe this helps to explain why he is so good at presenting his ideas in a way that is engaging and maintains your interest. You can also read the Hyperion series that has 4 books and begins with the same title.
Normally I'm happy to lurk because I'm still learning about the subjects being discussed, but I believe that I can help with this topic. [5 years in two book stores and over 2000 books read]:)
You should be clear if you want Fantasy or Sci-Fi. A lot of people are ignoring this distinction.
Good sci-fi [imho], either explains something about science, or else tries to help us understand the impact of technology by giving us a setting, and exploring the ramifications of technology on people. Of course the best technical writing doesn't mean crap if the writing style puts you to sleep.
Having said that, and keeping in mind that this material is for a 13 year old, I would recommend Robert Heinlein [anything]. His explanantions of Gravity wells, genetics, and relativity are among the best, while mixed a great story to back them up.
Isaac Asimov, Jules Verne, Frank Herbert and Larry Niven would be great as well.
If you want pure storytelling, then I would recommend Orson Scott Card, Daniel Simmons, Leo Frankowski, Harlan Ellison, Neal Stephonson, Dave Wolverton, and Piers Anthony.
For good Fantasy reading, because a little imagination never hurt anyone [excluding IRS agents], I would recommend Robert Aspirin, Piers Anthony [let her tire of Xanth at her own rate], David Eddings, Terry Goodkind, Anne McCaffrey, Orson Scott Card, and David Drake.
Reading is something that I would recommend to anyone at any age, not just for what it teaches you, but more importantly, the new ideas it exposes your mind to. It's that sense of believing in possibilities, that is the true reward of speculative fiction.
For those of you who would like a great read outside Sci-fi and Fantasy, I would recommend two books.
Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons, arguably the best suspense book I've ever read.
Soul of a New Machine, by Tracy Kidder, who describes the Life on the O/S front line with an amazing sense of passion and wonder. Please note that this book was written over a decade ago, but it is still well worth the read.
Feel free to let me know what you think, quietkarma@hotmail.com
Slashdot Mirror
Buy Pixar? So, you have 2 companies and you buy 1 with the other... would seem a little... odd.
Didn't this happen to a little company run by Jobs called NeXT?
I was originally going to say CD Roms, where else do you have a standard being used that 20 years old with all the refinements in sound technology we've had [never mind the tricks the NSA have hidden up thier non-existent sleeves for evesdropping]... but I digress ... more than 95% of the DJ's out there still love their vinyl, simply because it works and is so easy to work with. Wow, a technology that's both accessible and user friendly [no TM here hehe] lasting awhile, maybe someone should inform M$ =)
Back in the mid 80's, when I was getting into computers, it seemed that every magazine had a few programs for you to type into your computer. Eventually becoming bored with the programs , that would run with my VIC 20, I noticed one day that the keyboard was really tough. So I decided, like any little maniac, to type in my next program, with a HAMMER. The moral iof the story... the program worked. Now being older and wiser ... I miss my old VIC 20 keyboard, because it would make it so much easier to settle arguments with computer users making ID-10-T errors.
I'm going to presume that you've read most authors that have managed to get publicity or have been heavily promoted - so here's some authors that I think don't get enough attention:
Dave Duncan - Yes I know he is a Fantasy author, but I'm including him because if you liked Piers Anthony back when he had some decent stuff, then I believe you'll like Dave Duncan's "The King's Daggers" series. It's a trilogy featuring the same character, starting with Sir Stalwart. It decent sword and sorcery with a good pace. The only complaint I've ever had about Duncan's work is that while a bit bland, it's still interesting.
Phyllis Eisenstein - Technically an old author but she is well worth tracking down - 2 Duologies (Sorcereor's Son and The Crystal Palace)(Born to Exile and In the Red Lord's Reach). I'd always recommend her to people looking for an new writer [after I convinced the mgr to order her in], and no one ever complained.
David Feintuch - The Seafort Saga (4 book series with 2 stand alone add-ons - starts with Midshipman's Hope). He's also just released a sequel to The Still, his fantasy novel and I find that he does very good chracterization and following how his characters change as the story progresses.
Robert J Sawyer - Among the cream of today's Sci-fi writers publishing today. With several Hugo and Nebula credits, he doesn't seem to get a lot of press. I would recommed his books Frameshift and Calculating God.
Dan Simmons - I would have to rate this man among the 3 best writers today. If nothing else, I recommend reading Carrion Comfort. While it may be daunting at 884 pages, it starts small and gradually gets scarier. By page 200 you'll be wandering how this story could get even more suspenseful and you'll be wondering the same thing at page 300, and 400, and so on until the conclusion. This is a man who used to teach gifted children and I believe this helps to explain why he is so good at presenting his ideas in a way that is engaging and maintains your interest. You can also read the Hyperion series that has 4 books and begins with the same title.
Normally I'm happy to lurk because I'm still learning about the subjects being discussed, but I believe that I can help with this topic. [5 years in two book stores and over 2000 books read]:)
You should be clear if you want Fantasy or Sci-Fi. A lot of people are ignoring this distinction.
Good sci-fi [imho], either explains something about science, or else tries to help us understand the impact of technology by giving us a setting, and exploring the ramifications of technology on people. Of course the best technical writing doesn't mean crap if the writing style puts you to sleep.
Having said that, and keeping in mind that this material is for a 13 year old, I would recommend Robert Heinlein [anything]. His explanantions of Gravity wells, genetics, and relativity are among the best, while mixed a great story to back them up.
Isaac Asimov, Jules Verne, Frank Herbert and Larry Niven would be great as well.
If you want pure storytelling, then I would recommend Orson Scott Card, Daniel Simmons, Leo Frankowski, Harlan Ellison, Neal Stephonson, Dave Wolverton, and Piers Anthony.
For good Fantasy reading, because a little imagination never hurt anyone [excluding IRS agents], I would recommend Robert Aspirin, Piers Anthony [let her tire of Xanth at her own rate], David Eddings, Terry Goodkind, Anne McCaffrey, Orson Scott Card, and David Drake.
Reading is something that I would recommend to anyone at any age, not just for what it teaches you, but more importantly, the new ideas it exposes your mind to. It's that sense of believing in possibilities, that is the true reward of speculative fiction.
For those of you who would like a great read outside Sci-fi and Fantasy, I would recommend two books.
Carrion Comfort by Dan Simmons, arguably the best suspense book I've ever read.
Soul of a New Machine, by Tracy Kidder, who describes the Life on the O/S front line with an amazing sense of passion and wonder. Please note that this book was written over a decade ago, but it is still well worth the read.
Feel free to let me know what you think, quietkarma@hotmail.com