Best read books in 2012

pj · Post by pj » Wed Jan 25, 2012 12:25 pm

Two of them.

The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick

He is not my favourite author, and

I didn't get his other books (after reading).

I didn't get it either. But it rulez.

It's about the alternative history.

Sixties after Germany and Japan has won the

Second World war.

I suspect that many of his "facts" (flip cards,

the historical weapons etc.) are simply not

true. Neither he shows the Japanese psyche nor

ties the loose ends. Whatever.

The book is worth a try.

Another one, sort of counterpoint.

Black Easter by James Blish.

In a sentence, it's about magic.

And not the nowadays emasculated

fantasy stuff.

Real magic, how it is really supposed to work.

And also about the end of the world.

Don't read about it the wikipedia.

Don't spoil the impression.

Read the book.

CreO M · Post by **CreO M** » Thu Jan 26, 2012 2:29 am

The Prague Cemetery by Umberto Eco

Still in keeping with historical fiction (all but one of the characters is based on a historical figure or the combination of a few) and his interest in conspiracies, it is a bit of a departure for Eco and is more "pop" in style. Do recommend reading in as few sittings as possible given his use of flashbacks and "doppelgangers" which can get confusing.

pj · Post by pj » Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:39 am

Filter Bubble

Briefly your Google search results crucially

belong on who you are (True. Inadvertently

tried out on 'Greek default ISDA'

on my PC and my wife's.)

The guys up there (Google, Amazon, Zuckerberg,

Acxiom etc) think they know who you are and

filter all irrelevant (in their humble opinion)

information. Thus closing us in a nice bubble where

no cognitive dissonance may happen. Because

unhappy peeps consume less.

I would say that Pariser is not raising much hope

for our future, although he is trying hard.

pj · Post by pj » Wed Apr 04, 2012 12:59 pm

Watching the English: The Hidden Rules of English Behaviour By Kate Fox.

Actually a serious book explaining lots of

English quirks to the outsiders (like me).

It is a amusing book written by a serious

anthropologist. And it's not a satire.

pj · Post by pj » Fri Apr 06, 2012 4:05 pm

Sorry, couldn't help.

Zeroes

by Randall Lane.

Much much better than that Streat Freek.

(I do have a speller)

A voyeuristic pleasure.

What a decade I have missed.

Although I do not pray for yet another bubble.

Chuck · Post by **Chuck** » Sat Apr 07, 2012 6:43 pm

American Psycho and House of Cards

tripitaka · Post by **tripitaka** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 7:30 pm

I quite enjoyed 'Sense of an Ending' by Julian Barnes. It's not perfect by any means, but I found it set me thinking, which has to be a good sign

ganon · Post by **ganon** » Mon May 07, 2012 6:52 am

Diaspora - Greg Egan

Just finished reading. The best hard sci-fi story I've read; assumes the reader has had some exposure to analytic geometry, quantum mechanics, and computer science concepts. Reading it changed my view on transhumanism, personal identity, and the possibilities that come from 'brain upload' and computational consciousness.

urnash · Post by **urnash** » Mon May 07, 2012 8:58 am

Yes, Greg Egan is very very nice indeed. One of my favourites. You can read some of his works online for free on his website, see e.g. here and here. (EDIT: removed error)

chiral3 · Post by **chiral3** » Tue May 08, 2012 1:56 am

I've tried to get into sci-fi, mainly because I have a strong desire to have some escapist stuff to escape into. Gibson bored me. Stevenson bored me. I've tried. Years ago FDAX recommended some related stuff, I couldn't get into it. So I've spent part of the day reading up on the mysterious Greg Egan. I bought a couple of books. Seems cool. Hopefully it'll take this time. Thx for the recommendation.