Books - What are you reading?

Patience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9xhJrPXop4&ab_channel=WarnerBros.Pictures

I saw that! My thought process is "I like Lynch, it turns out I like Dune, can it really be as bad as I remember?"

Is that the shipping forecast? I rremember really enjoying that, maybe 15 years ago?

Yes, the shipping forecast. Up next.

Need to finish off the McEwen, which is going down well

Will charity shop the books posted ^ at the weekend if no one wants to swap.

can it really be as bad as I remember?

Fear is the mind killer

Need to finish off the McEwen, which is going down well

Really enjoyed that one too!

Years ago. Solaris is good.

Unrelated - currently reading How to Change Your Mind by Michael Pollan. All about the history of psychedelic research and science behind it as well as the more recent resurgence in scientific interest. Fascinating stuff and very eye opening (pupil dilating perhaps!).

"I like Lynch, it turns out I like Dune, can it really be as bad as I remember?"

But how do you feel about Sting and Toto?

I’m glad it looks like the new Dune won’t try and tackle the whole book in one go - I heard it’s either going to span either 2 or 3 movies.

Always enjoyed that book. The sequels get worse with each iteration, though; I was much happier with my imagination filling in the gaps than the author doing it in the sequels, which is often the case with SF/Fantasy franchises.

The Herbert sequels were horrible enough, I dread to think what the interminable versions his son keeps churning out are like

Thanks for the warning! I was tempted to delve a bit deeper but maybe I won't bother. I've seen some articles online suggesting reading some of the sequels in non-linear order, any chance that would help?

If you're going to read the series, sequentially is better. Personally, I regret reading past the first sequel and thought the last by Frank Herbert himself (Chapterhouse Dune) was pure drivel. Some series have a plan and surprise you as they go on (e.g Gene Wolfe's New Sun quartet, Aldiss's Helliconia trilogy), but Herbert only had fresh ideas for the first. The next two are just a moderately interesting Galactic Dynasty soap opera and the rest...

Yes, very much what you said. I definitely regret pressing on with the sequels as it kind of diluted how I remembered the first book.

Big fan of the Helliconia trilogy by the way. Dizzying scale.

Yeah I probably won't bother! Thanks for the warnings.

I definitely regret pressing on with the sequels as it kind of diluted how I remembered the first book.

Very much this. Applies to a large number of franchises I have started on. Have learned to walk away. Took a while, as it leaves me with this nagging feeling something has been left unfinished and maybe the author pulls it back together by the end. Oh, no, they didn't and I don't get my time back.

It’s hard though, when you finish a book and are left wanting more like with the first Dune book. Just a shame it’s diminishing returns from then on.

N K Jemisins shattered Earth series was the other end of the spectrum for me. Amazing world building that was paced really well though out all the books. I guess series are approached more holistically now perhaps, as publishers know it’s a good way to sell books.

Can’t remember if I’ve mentioned it on here before or not, but I’m a big fan of the Semiosis duology by Sue Burke. Reminded me of Helliconia in some ways - the way the flora and fauna is painted perhaps. Don’t seem to get that many 2 book series either!

I had exactly the same thing with Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer. I enjoyed it so much and there were so many unanswered questions that I was desperate to read the 2 sequels. The 2nd book in the series was mind numbingly tedious, almost entirely unrelated to the 1st and quite badly written so I never bothered with the 3rd.

Ha, yeah I was going to mention Annihilation - exactly the same experience for me. I’m currently reading Borne and I think I’m about to bail on it

There are fans who are going to strenuously disagree with us on this. The fact that a lot of fans really just want more of the same, just with cosmetic changes (and publishers know this), is part of the pressure on authors.

I think expecting answers from that series is missing the point a bit but I understand that being the drive to read more. Agree the second was hard work but I really liked how it was written. Third one I enjoyed more. Made it worth reading the second imo.

I quite enjoyed the first few Dune prequels (by his son). They tailed off a bit though.

Started reading the Falco series for some holiday entertainment. Quite fun, nicely cynical, period detail apparently historically accurate. Onto the third book,a week in, so not taxing.

Looking forward to starting this

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