|
Horror authors that aren't Poe, Lovecraft or King? I crave horror stories lately and I have almost no idea what's out there.
|
#
?
Jun 10, 2009 16:00
|
|
|
|
| # ? Dec 14, 2024 00:59 |
|
|
Sodomy Non Sapiens posted:Horror authors that aren't Poe, Lovecraft or King? I crave horror stories lately and I have almost no idea what's out there. Can you give some more information on what aspects of horror you enjoy? It's a fairly broad genre and it's hard to tell from your post if it's no Poe, Lovecraft and King because you don't like them, or because you do like them and have read everything! If you do like short form horror like Poe and Lovecraft it might be worth checking out Clive Barker's Books of Blood. I enjoy his longer books as well, they sort of a blend of horror and grotesque fantasy (similar to some of King's Stuff).
|
|
#
?
Jun 10, 2009 16:26
|
|
|
Sodomy Non Sapiens posted:Horror authors that aren't Poe, Lovecraft or King? I crave horror stories lately and I have almost no idea what's out there. Perennial book barn recommendation: The Dark Descent, a 1000 page horror story collection. It has stories by all three of those guys, but a lot more besides; it's basically a textbook on 20th century horror stories and it's loving excellent. Here on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dark+descent Here on Google Books: http://books.google.com/books?id=pNgZxdPETK0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=the+dark+descent#PPP13,M1 (It says limited preview but it doesn't look that limited to me.)
|
|
#
?
Jun 10, 2009 16:50
|
|
|
Sodomy Non Sapiens posted:Horror authors that aren't Poe, Lovecraft or King? I crave horror stories lately and I have almost no idea what's out there. Someone's already mentioned Clive Barker, which would have been my response, so instead I'll say that if you want old-school horror in the same vein as Poe or Lovecraft you should check out Arthur Machen.
|
|
#
?
Jun 10, 2009 23:21
|
|
|
timeandtide posted:I'm interested in non-fiction books about nuclear weapons in a few areas: 1) history, 2) the sociological/cultural effects on Japan post-war or the world at large, and 3) any sort of philosophical books about the topic. Also, any Internet sites, online articles, etc. are fine too if you have a good one to recommend. I am interested in a similar topic, but moreso on the Nuclear Energy side of things. How the reactors work on a technical level (but not TOO textbookish) and maybe some good stories that can give the layman a good understanding of what happens inside a Nuclear Plant. I've read the howstuffworks articles on Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Radiation but still trying to get a sense of what the hell Nuclear reactions are on a practical level. For example, a book that explains the nuclear reaction and how/why it does not become a chain reaction that completely destroys the world. Hoping to find a regarded authority on the topic that isn't heady and overly scientific. In a NON-related topic. I am looking to read some on Confucius. Is there a good book that would be a great place to start? I'm looking to understand his teachings and maybe a book that has a good author who gives good scenarios and interpretations of them. Thanks much.
|
|
#
?
Jun 11, 2009 15:01
|
|
|
spixxor posted:What should I read when I finish up the Song of Fire and Ice series? I'm only halfway through the first book at the moment, but I read pretty quickly, so I'd like to have some good recommendations lined up for when I finish. Does anyone know of any other good fantasy series that's pretty close in quality and scope? If you want to stick to fantasy, I recommend Lois McMaster Bujold's Chalion Books. The Curse of Chalion Paladin of Souls (Winner of Hugo and Nebula Award) The Hallowed Hunt I have also heard a lot of good things about The Malazan Book of the Fallen Series by Steven Erikson
|
|
#
?
Jun 11, 2009 16:59
|
|
|
Yeah, the Chalion trilogy is pretty good and the Malazan series (what I've read of it) is good also. I'd also throw out J.V. Jones' Sword of Shadows series as a possiblity, though it's not finished (3 books out of a projected 4-5 book series, I believe). It does have the same gritty feel of Song of Ice and Fire as well as a very well-realized fantasy world. There's also the Coldfire trilogy by C.S. Friedman, for a series that's actually been finished for years. Very well-written dark fantasy with a touch of sci-fi. Edit: Also going to suggest Robin Hobb's original Farseer trilogy (Assassin's Apprentic, Royal Assassin and Assassin's Quest). I'm not that fond of Hobb's later work but this trilogy is pretty solid. Just remembered one more: Tad Williams' Memory, Sorrow and Thorn trilogy. Is a bit slow-paced in the beginning, but it's an excellent epic fantasy trilogy once you get into it, IMHO. Encryptic fucked around with this message at 18:32 on Jun 11, 2009 |
|
#
?
Jun 11, 2009 18:20
|
|
|
So I finished Infinite Jest about a year ago, and have been hunting for that sort of non-linearity while staying difficult, but still manageable. I liked Pynchon's The Crying of Lot 49 and Eggers's You Shall Know Our Velocity!, so if that gives anyone an idea of something I would like, I'd be grateful! edit: by staying manageable I probably mean no Joyce Ikrizzle fucked around with this message at 22:32 on Jun 11, 2009 |
|
#
?
Jun 11, 2009 22:29
|
|
|
Can anyone recommend a good science fiction space pew pew lazers "epic" series. Aka spanning multiple books with the same characters. I do not like when books end.  What would be the science fiction equivalent to the Wheel of Time?
|
|
#
?
Jun 11, 2009 22:45
|
|
|
JayJay posted:Can anyone recommend a good science fiction space pew pew lazers "epic" series. Aka spanning multiple books with the same characters. I do not like when books end. I can't guarantee that it's space pew pew lazers enough for you, but I'd strongly have to say start out with Ender's Game if you haven't read it. It's really great on its own, has three sequel novels out, a parallel (less sci-fi) storyline, lots of short stories supporting it, etc etc. In short:  It won't quit on you too quickly. Warning: After Ender's Game they get less and less pew pew lazers and iirc, more philosopho-sci-fi. Still awesome imo.
|
|
#
?
Jun 11, 2009 23:19
|
|
|
Ikrizzle posted:I can't guarantee that it's space pew pew lazers enough for you, but I'd strongly have to say start out with Ender's Game if you haven't read it. It's really great on its own, has three sequel novels out, a parallel (less sci-fi) storyline, lots of short stories supporting it, etc etc. In short: Sorry, should have said that I read Ender's Game and a few of the other books in the series. The only thing that bugged me was, the series really split up the characters and is all over the place in reading order/time & space. Other than that though, I really liked the series. Speaker for the dead was probably my favorite even though it barely had any pew pew. I guess im looking for more of a straight forward scifi epic. Also that chart kicks rear end, I wish I had that back when I was trying to figure out the reading order on wikipedia.
|
|
#
?
Jun 11, 2009 23:27
|
|
|
Sodomy Non Sapiens posted:Horror authors that aren't Poe, Lovecraft or King? I crave horror stories lately and I have almost no idea what's out there. Dude...Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
|
|
#
?
Jun 12, 2009 02:03
|
|
|
Need some non-fiction and fiction recommendations on these topics: 1. Non-fiction: The West, the frontier, gold rush, stuff leading up to the Civil War, etc. Basically, any major stuff in American history from 1820-1850, specifically about the West though. I did pick up "The American West" by Dee Brown, but couldn't find too much else. 2. Fiction: Westerns. What're the major ones in the genre I should read? Any cross-genre stuff like the Dark Tower?
|
|
#
?
Jun 13, 2009 21:12
|
|
|
Sodomy Non Sapiens posted:Horror authors that aren't Poe, Lovecraft or King? I crave horror stories lately and I have almost no idea what's out there. Dan Simmons' older horror stuff might be up your alley - Song of Kali, Summer of Night, etc. timeandtide posted:Need some non-fiction and fiction recommendations on these topics: For number one, I'd suggest Men To Match My Mountains: The Opening of the Far West 1840-1900 by Irving Stone. I read it some months ago and really enjoyed it. Stone's style is very engaging and covers a lot of history - Sutter's Landing, the Gold Rush, the Comstock Lode, the Mormon settlement of Utah, etc. For number two I'll just assume you've already read Blood Meridian since it gets mentioned at least once per thread in TBB, otherwise that's definitely a must-read, as are McCarthy's other Westerns. Haven't read a lot in the genre myself so I'm interested to hear what else is good. Encryptic fucked around with this message at 22:30 on Jun 13, 2009 |
|
#
?
Jun 13, 2009 22:27
|
|
|
I'm working my way through The Origins Of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt (about the factors leading up to the rise of Nazi Germany/Soviet Russia) and it's a fascinating read. I was wondering if there were similarly well-sourced (socio)political history books out there, as most of the stuff I've seen out there seems to be sensationalist crap. 20th century history in general seems to have caught my interest recently, although it's not like I restrict myself solely to that.
Psychosomatic Tumor fucked around with this message at 00:41 on Jun 14, 2009 |
|
#
?
Jun 14, 2009 00:36
|
|
|
Sodomy Non Sapiens posted:Horror authors that aren't Poe, Lovecraft or King? I crave horror stories lately and I have almost no idea what's out there. Besides the others mentioned here, which I second, check out Peter Straub (he does more psychological horror, or quasi-thrillers; I'd recommend Lost Boy Lost Girl, Floating Dragon, or The Throat), John Farris (Scare Tactics, All Heads Turn When the Hunt Go By), Bentley Little for a more "gross-out" style horror (I liked The Return, The Collection, and University, but not much else of his was worth reading), Richard Mattheson (Hell House, Duel, and I Am Legend), Shirley Jackson (Haunting of Hill House), and Robert R. McCammon (whatever plot sounds most interesting to you.)
|
|
#
?
Jun 14, 2009 01:05
|
|
|
I don't really know what genre what I'm looking for falls under. Its sort of introspective and hosed up. I'm looking for books similar to The Elementary Particles by Michel Houellebecq, or The Stranger by Albert Camus, or to an extent American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. I've read everything by the last 2 authors, but not the first as I find Houellebecq's stuff to be a little too far into the lets talk about my boner spectrum. Does anyone know what I mean?
|
|
#
?
Jun 14, 2009 04:20
|
|
|
Two requests: Historical fiction, based on the pioneer life, or settling of the west. No westerns, or crime, etc. Mostly based around hardships and the actual move. I'm reading Giants in the Earth now, and this is exactly what I want, so I'd like to add something in the queue when I'm done. Second request is something along the lines of Bukowski. Not his poems, but rather his stories. I love the down and out Chinaski who never seems to get a break, but makes the best of it by drinking himself stupid and picking up ugly chicks for a night or two.
|
|
#
?
Jun 14, 2009 14:59
|
|
|
I'm looking for really unique books that are borderline experimental. I love John Zorn when it comes to music and that atonal stuff that no one really listens to, and I'd love to find a John Zorn of fiction. I've read 'House of Leaves' and 'Only Revolutions' and I thought they were amazing. I've gone to http://www.bookarmy.com and I've searched Amazon and while they can recommend me 'similar' authors they're not similar in the a prose/experimental sense. Does anyone know of any experimental authors?
|
|
#
?
Jun 14, 2009 18:41
|
|
|
AberrantBassist posted:Does anyone know of any experimental authors? First thing that comes to mind is William S. Burroughs - Naked Lunch. Pretty entry-level though, I'm not a huge lit snob.
|
|
#
?
Jun 14, 2009 21:40
|
|
|
AberrantBassist posted:I'm looking for really unique books that are borderline experimental. I love John Zorn when it comes to music and that atonal stuff that no one really listens to, and I'd love to find a John Zorn of fiction. I've read 'House of Leaves' and 'Only Revolutions' and I thought they were amazing. I've gone to http://www.bookarmy.com and I've searched Amazon and while they can recommend me 'similar' authors they're not similar in the a prose/experimental sense. Nabokov's Pale Fire (whole thread on this) and Jesse Ball's Samedi the Deafness: http://www.amazon.com/Samedi-Deafness-Vintage-Contemporaries-Jesse/dp/0307278859/ Samedi is pretty amazing even if the plot gets pretty tough to follow. You should have no problem with difficult plots since you like Only Revolutions, which kinda sorta almost has a plot (not really)
|
|
#
?
Jun 14, 2009 22:38
|
|
|
AberrantBassist posted:I'm looking for really unique books that are borderline experimental. I love John Zorn when it comes to music and that atonal stuff that no one really listens to, and I'd love to find a John Zorn of fiction. I've read 'House of Leaves' and 'Only Revolutions' and I thought they were amazing. I've gone to http://www.bookarmy.com and I've searched Amazon and while they can recommend me 'similar' authors they're not similar in the a prose/experimental sense. I like Gilbert Sorrentino, Mulligan Stew is his most famous and it's pretty fun, but I think Abberation of Starlight is his best.
|
|
#
?
Jun 14, 2009 22:58
|
|
|
timeandtide posted:Besides the others mentioned here, which I second, check out Peter Straub (he does more psychological horror, or quasi-thrillers; I'd recommend Lost Boy Lost Girl, Floating Dragon, or The Throat), John Farris (Scare Tactics, All Heads Turn When the Hunt Go By), Bentley Little for a more "gross-out" style horror (I liked The Return, The Collection, and University, but not much else of his was worth reading), Richard Mattheson (Hell House, Duel, and I Am Legend), Shirley Jackson (Haunting of Hill House), and Robert R. McCammon (whatever plot sounds most interesting to you.) I second the recommendation for Robert R McCammon. I have not read a bad book by this man. I also really enjoy F. Paul Wilson as an author.
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2009 13:29
|
|
|
America sucks because you're... I've already got: Black=Native Son, Richard Wright A poor immigrant=The Jungle, Upton Sinclair (I think, feel free to correct me) Looking more in the way of fiction.
|
|
#
?
Jun 15, 2009 16:01
|
|
|
LooseChanj posted:America sucks because you're... Poor and White= The Redneck Manifesto by Jim Goad http://www.amazon.com/Redneck-Manifesto-Hillbillies-Americas-Scapegoats/dp/0684838648/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245147192&sr=1-1 Poor and White (fiction) =Knockem Stiff by Donald Ray Pollock http://www.amazon.com/Knockemstiff-Donald-Ray-Pollock/dp/076792830X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245147223&sr=1-1 Black (fiction)= Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison http://www.amazon.com/Invisible-Man-Ralph-Ellison/dp/0679732764/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245147259&sr=1-1
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2009 10:15
|
|
|
timeandtide posted:Need some non-fiction and fiction recommendations on these topics: I don't know about #1, but for #2, Lonesome Dove may be the best American western ever written. Larry McMurtry wrote a bunch of others in that series, including Comanche Moon and some others I can't think of, but Lonesome Dove is definitely the place to start. Incredibly well fleshed-out characters and a great backdrop of the West in its prime. It's a long book, but if you make it past the first 100 or so pages you will be absolutely hooked. It also moves fairly quickly, although widely fracturing storyline can occasionally be frustrating, if you get really into one character and then the book switches for 75 pages. Also excellent is Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses . The movie's great, the book is better. Again, a great backdrop, and John Grady Cole is a classic badass protagonist. Finally, check out Jim Harrison's Legends of the Fall . It's a mini-epic in [100 pages, but it covers a lot of ground. It usually comes in a book with two other short stories, Revenge and The Man Who Gave Up His Name . I was never big on Revenge but the Man Who Gave Up His Name is one of my all-time favorites, although it's not a western in the traditional sense.
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2009 20:02
|
|
|
Philthy posted:Historical fiction, based on the pioneer life, or settling of the west. No westerns, or crime, etc. Mostly based around hardships and the actual move. I'm reading Giants in the Earth now, and this is exactly what I want, so I'd like to add something in the queue when I'm done. R. A. Lafferty's "Okla Hannali" fits that description... sort of. It deals with a fictional chief of the Choctaw tribe who settles in Oklahoma after the Trail of Tears.
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2009 20:33
|
|
|
I'm doing research for a novel on the post war reconstruction of Japan and would also like to know about the relationship between Japan, Okinawa and the US throughout the post war period and up to the present day. Information about Asia in general from 1939 onward would be appreciated. As would firsthand accounts of military personnel stationed in Okinawa. I'd also like some good books concerning Afganistan during the US led invasion and the 2003-2005 period in Iraq. Especially concerning being removed from an unfinished job in Afghanistan and being moved to Iraq. Memoirs would be appreciated. Liquidator fucked around with this message at 22:20 on Jun 16, 2009 |
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2009 21:02
|
|
|
Does anyone know of any books that describe in detail the structure of the Mafia? I've never quite understood how it worked, and am interested in a book that highlights the different levels (e.g. capos, etc.) and the roles they play.
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2009 21:42
|
|
|
timeandtide posted:2. Fiction: Westerns. What're the major ones in the genre I should read? Any cross-genre stuff like the Dark Tower? quote:Holiday, vol. 38, #6; December 1965, pp. 164-5
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2009 23:00
|
|
|
Lee Harvey Oswald posted:Does anyone know of any books that describe in detail the structure of the Mafia? I've never quite understood how it worked, and am interested in a book that highlights the different levels (e.g. capos, etc.) and the roles they play. From Amazon: quote:The First Inside Account of the Mafia He had a bounty put on him, and he had to be carefully protected in jail.
|
|
#
?
Jun 16, 2009 23:14
|
|
|
Merou posted:I don't really know what genre what I'm looking for falls under. Its sort of introspective and hosed up. I'm looking for books similar to The Elementary Particles by Michel Houellebecq, or The Stranger by Albert Camus, or to an extent American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis. Introspective and hosed up: Try The Tunnel by Ernesto Sabato, and maybe Farabeuf by Salvador Elizondo. Introspective and self-lacerating: Youth by J.M. Coetzee and Season of Migration to the North by Tayib Salih. Introspective and just plain mean: The Loser or Old Masters by Thomas Bernhard.
|
|
#
?
Jun 17, 2009 04:10
|
|
|
Philthy posted:Two requests: You should look at the rest of Rolvaag's trilogy to see if you like it. Also, O Pioneers!, My Antonia, and The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather; Angle of Repose and Wolf Willow by Wallace Stegner. For the Dust Bowl period, you could look at The Bones of Plenty by Lois Hudson. Peace Shall Destroy Many by Rudy Wiebe is set on the Canadian prairie during World War II, but it is about Mennonites, and preserves the grittiness that you'd associate with pioneer-type novels.
|
|
#
?
Jun 17, 2009 04:15
|
|
|
Lee Harvey Oswald posted:Does anyone know of any books that describe in detail the structure of the Mafia? I've never quite understood how it worked, and am interested in a book that highlights the different levels (e.g. capos, etc.) and the roles they play. There's one by the undercover cop who spent like 2 years in the Mob gathering evidence. It's called Donnie Brasco: AKA Joseph K. Pistone. It's pretty awesome, although there is obviously a lot of attention paid to the law enforcement perspective. StroMotion fucked around with this message at 13:13 on Jun 17, 2009 |
|
#
?
Jun 17, 2009 13:07
|
|
|
Could anyone recommend some interesting or essential books for engineering? Perhaps interesting primers on physics and maths.
|
|
#
?
Jun 17, 2009 14:16
|
|
|
I'm trying to stock up on some books for when I do some house-sitting in a month. I've already got some fiction picked out (mainly from the Hall of Fame thread) so right now I'm looking for some relatively light non-fiction, preferably something science, history, and/or political science related. Any recommendations?
|
|
#
?
Jun 17, 2009 16:10
|
|
|
Wilderness survival stories or books? A friend was telling me a while back about this book written by a guy who went on a skiing trip with a buddy, and they ended up getting caught in an avalanche and had to survive on their own. The story sounded really interesting - apparently one of the guys had to leave his friend behind when he got hurt, or drama along those lines. I'm not looking for that specific book or story; I am looking for books in that spirit - especially survival in the desert or at sea, but anything that involves the basic idea of people stranded or lost and having to fend for themselves or survive in harsh conditions. Non fiction is always best, but fiction is OK too as long as it is realistic and written well
|
|
#
?
Jun 17, 2009 16:16
|
|
|
Supreme Allah posted:Wilderness survival stories or books? You could try Endurance by Alfred Lansing, or Young Men and Fire by Norman MacLean.
|
|
#
?
Jun 17, 2009 18:14
|
|
|
Thanks for the suggestions. I've been thinking of reading Donnie Brasco and the Valachi Papers sounds right up my alley.
|
|
#
?
Jun 17, 2009 18:44
|
|
|
|
| # ? Dec 14, 2024 00:59 |
|
|
LooseChanj posted:I've already got: Have you read Wright's Black Boy (it's a very loose autobiography but reads like fiction)? Also, check out Invisible Man if you haven't already.
|
|
#
?
Jun 17, 2009 19:11
|
|
