We have moved to new forum software and posting here is closed!

PLEASE BOOKMARK THE NEW FORUMS

Posted By: T5 Nov 21, 2000 - 12:25 pm

The trendy books of today, which one´s are they?
I have just finished Cryptonomicon which was "yaaaaaaaaawwwnn" tiresome.
Any recommendations?

Posted By: The Master Nov 21, 2000 - 04:39 pm

If anything, scifi bestseller lists indicate that fantasy and "almost fantasy" scifi (like McCaffrey's Pern) are dominant with the masses right now. Even more importantly, note how many authors continue to pump out stories set in existing worlds (sequels everywhere!) instead of creating new ones. Rather stagnant creatively--even if the sequels are good and set in enjoyable worlds, I'd certainly welcome more fresh ideas from those talents.

Web fiction from "unknowns" has given me some pretty enjoyable and unexpected reads lately. Have you tried reading any webzines?

Posted By: T5 Dec 01, 2000 - 08:01 am

Not yet...please recommend.

Posted By: The Master Dec 01, 2000 - 11:48 pm

The best recommendation I can make is to browse the 'zines listed in the Resource Network.

Personally, I usually make a point of catching the latest issues of Dark Planet, Jackhammer, and Planet Magazine, but those are far from the only ones I read.

Be sure to set up a bookmark folder for 'zines so you can quickly return to the ones you find that you like on a regular basis!

Posted By: Magus Nov 02, 2004 - 05:55 pm

Trendy Books?

The DaVinci Code, an awsome book, is this week celebrating it's 82nd week on the best sellers list.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven, another awsome book, is celebrating it's 55th.

The South Beach Diet, nonfiction, has been up there even longer then The DaVinci Code, I don't recall its exact number of weeks up.

Harry Potter is up there with Trendy.

The Dark Tower, the seventh and final book in The Dark Tower series is up at number one for the fourth or so week.

I hope that this helps.

Posted By: Iznardi Dec 20, 2004 - 11:22 am

2004 Sign Off---

Okay, this heading looked as good as any. Just some miscellaneous recommendations.

(1) Don't let critics scare you away from "Finding Neverland." The Jacksonville, Fla., critic panned it. I don't know what his problem is. It was great--maybe the best I've seen this year--funny where it should be funny, and sad a lot of the time. Not based on reality, unfortunately, but close. Worth the money just to see the play with a play, and to find out the symbolism of the ticking crocodile.

(2) Have a go at the David Wishhart mystery series set in ancient Rome. I wouldn't go too wild on it, as the paperbacks are $9.95, but one makes good travel reading, the protagonist is funny (kind of a Roman Sam Spade) and as long as you can keep track of all the Luciuses, Agripinnas, Marcuses, and Scipios it's fairly easy on the grey cells. If you want something short and sweet and know something about Roman history, go for "Germanicus." If you want the most pages for your money and could care less about Roman history, go for "White Murder" (all about the four chariot racing franchises--white, red, green, and blue). Avoid "Ovid." It's dull.

(3) On the What's Coming Up front, the next Star Wars movie looks like it might actually be good; I've got hopes for the Chronicles of Narnia (at any rate, I'd like to find one of those "Wardrobe" displays they are using in the theaters--pretty cool); I'm not sure about Charle & the Chocolate Factory, although it pairs Johnny Depp with his 12 year old sidekick from "Finding Neverland" which could be a winner; and I think "Phantom of the Opera" will look good, but that's all.

Hopefully that makes up for not posting for a month.

Posted By: Pat0214 Dec 20, 2004 - 12:40 pm

Just to expand on Iznardi Rome subject...

A good series base on Rome is The Masters Of Rome by Collen McCllough (yes the one who did the Thorn Bird) is very good. There is 6 books in the series and each one are rather thick. But a very interesting series.

Posted By: Iznardi Dec 21, 2004 - 09:55 am

I forgot about those. I liked "Caesar" the best. It takes him from his campaigns in Gaul through to battle against the Senate. The descriptions of his sieges are incredible.

Posted By: Pat0214 Dec 22, 2004 - 09:09 am

Yes Iznardi the Caesar one was a very good one. I did enjoy the first two about Gaius Marius and Sulla at the start of their political career in Rome.
Caesar himself only start to be more important in the series with the fourth book.

Posted By: Magus Dec 22, 2004 - 09:32 am

Critics not liking Finding Neverland???

I loved it! It's by far the best movie I've seen all year! It's the best movie, as a matter of fact, since Return of the King! It's up there on my list of 10 greatest movies ever!

Another trendy book: State of Fear is the newest Michael Crichton book written.

Posted By: Iznardi Dec 22, 2004 - 10:25 am

Hey Magus--well, this guy also panned "Unfortunate Events" and "The Incredibles" so that tells you what his opinion is worth. I think the last movie he actually liked was the Bourne Identity.