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Does anyone have any recommendations for books about a person who takes over as the ruler of a place, and does a good job? I don't really mind if it's historical, fantasy, science fiction, or any other genre, but I'd prefer it be a fictional story. "Place" could be a country, a city, a space station, an army, whatever. But I think it'll be satisfying to read about someone getting something into good working order, along with any political savviness they have to use to make it happen.
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Apr 29, 2023 19:38
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ahobday posted:Does anyone have any recommendations for books about a person who takes over as the ruler of a place, and does a good job? I don't really mind if it's historical, fantasy, science fiction, or any other genre, but I'd prefer it be a fictional story. You could try Wolf Hall by Mantel, if you like historical fiction. Very good, and well regarded, and all about Thomas Cromwell (not Oliver) - Henry VIII's chief minister. (If you want his time in charge to be a success, leave it at that book - it ends badly for him in the end. As it did with many people in Henry's orbit.) Re. Dick-chat. Seconding the suggestion of the short stories. They're great.
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Apr 29, 2023 19:57
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If you're ok with comics, Miracleman gets into some interesting ideas about that when Gaiman takes over
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Apr 29, 2023 20:37
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ahobday posted:Does anyone have any recommendations for books about a person who takes over as the ruler of a place, and does a good job? I don't really mind if it's historical, fantasy, science fiction, or any other genre, but I'd prefer it be a fictional story. Vetinari in Ankh-Morpork
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Apr 30, 2023 10:26
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Mano posted:Vetinari in Ankh-Morpork Uh-huh.
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Apr 30, 2023 11:00
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ahobday posted:Does anyone have any recommendations for books about a person who takes over as the ruler of a place, and does a good job? I don't really mind if it's historical, fantasy, science fiction, or any other genre, but I'd prefer it be a fictional story. Maybe the Bobiverse books? Been a while since I read the first one but from what I recall it might be along the lines of what you're thinking. Man I ought to get around to books 2 and 3, I remember liking the first one but I never followed up
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Apr 30, 2023 13:39
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WHY BONER NOW posted:Maybe the Bobiverse books? Been a while since I read the first one but from what I recall it might be along the lines of what you're thinking. It's up to book 4 & book 5 is being worked on.
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Apr 30, 2023 14:30
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ahobday posted:Does anyone have any recommendations for books about a person who takes over as the ruler of a place, and does a good job? I don't really mind if it's historical, fantasy, science fiction, or any other genre, but I'd prefer it be a fictional story. Holly Black's Elfhame books have some of this element, although it's not the main focus.
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Apr 30, 2023 16:02
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ahobday posted:Does anyone have any recommendations for books about a person who takes over as the ruler of a place, and does a good job? I don't really mind if it's historical, fantasy, science fiction, or any other genre, but I'd prefer it be a fictional story. KJ Parker’s “Sixteen Ways to Defend a Walled City” series are pretty much this, though they only really do a good job by the skin of their teeth
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Apr 30, 2023 18:21
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ahobday posted:Does anyone have any recommendations for books about a person who takes over as the ruler of a place, and does a good job? I don't really mind if it's historical, fantasy, science fiction, or any other genre, but I'd prefer it be a fictional story. The Goblin Emperor?
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May 1, 2023 00:54
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Is there a book where the writer gives thoughts and analyses on every piece Beethoven/Mozart/Bach composed? It's great that I know of such books for the Beatles and David Bowie, to enliven my listening experience.
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May 1, 2023 01:08
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Trainee PornStar posted:It's up to book 4 & book 5 is being worked on. drat no poo poo? I thought it was a set trilogy...tbh hearing that it's ongoing makes it a little less appealing to me :/
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May 1, 2023 13:32
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WHY BONER NOW posted:drat no poo poo? I thought it was a set trilogy...tbh hearing that it's ongoing makes it a little less appealing to me :/ If you enjoyed the 1st book you'll probably enjoy the rest of them, it's kinda more of the same but with some new stuff to keep it interesting. I enjoyed them.
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May 1, 2023 21:35
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For the takes over a place and rules It's a isekai novel my Manga Twain A Connecticut Yankee and King Arthur's Court
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May 2, 2023 01:54
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So I’m really tired of the grim dark, rapey turn fantasy has taken recently (GRRM, Abercrombie, the Malazan books, I’m currently reading the most recent Kagen book and if he talks about rape in the creepy way he has again I’m going to throw my phone across the room). What are some good less creepy fantasy novels, assuming I’ve read most of the major stuff.
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May 3, 2023 01:03
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sbaldrick posted:So I’m really tired of the grim dark, rapey turn fantasy has taken recently (GRRM, Abercrombie, the Malazan books, I’m currently reading the most recent Kagen book and if he talks about rape in the creepy way he has again I’m going to throw my phone across the room). OK I'm sure people are tired of me recommending manga but If you want a really good fantasy story with a richly detailed world and well-developed characters of a variety of races and genders and a compelling plot and fun action that isn't grimdark and has zero rape, I can not recommend Delicious in Dungeon enough.
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May 3, 2023 01:17
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Gripweed posted:OK I'm sure people are tired of me recommending manga Seconded
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May 3, 2023 01:44
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op ignore the weebs and go pick yaself up a copy of wheel of time book 1
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May 3, 2023 02:05
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sbaldrick posted:So I’m really tired of the grim dark, rapey turn fantasy has taken recently (GRRM, Abercrombie, the Malazan books, I’m currently reading the most recent Kagen book and if he talks about rape in the creepy way he has again I’m going to throw my phone across the room). Have you heard the gospel of Bridge of Birds? I like the 5 Gods series Lois McMaster Bujold, starting with The Curse of Chalion. She's also got The Sharing Knife quartet, which is a different vibe but has some great worldbuilding underpinning a romantic storyline.
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May 3, 2023 02:44
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It's never a bad day to start The Night-Bird's Feather.
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May 3, 2023 02:53
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Kvlt! posted:op ignore the weebs and go pick yaself up a copy of wheel of time book 1 Does your book series feature a reasonable explanation for animate suits of armor as living biological animals?
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May 3, 2023 03:00
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Gripweed posted:Does your book series feature a reasonable explanation for animate suits of armor as living biological animals? No it does not and thats a good thing
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May 3, 2023 03:06
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sbaldrick posted:So I’m really tired of the grim dark, rapey turn fantasy has taken recently (GRRM, Abercrombie, the Malazan books, I’m currently reading the most recent Kagen book and if he talks about rape in the creepy way he has again I’m going to throw my phone across the room). The Goblin Emperor, Mage Errant, Piranesi, and Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell are all good and not at all rapey.
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May 3, 2023 04:11
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sbaldrick posted:So I’m really tired of the grim dark, rapey turn fantasy has taken recently (GRRM, Abercrombie, the Malazan books, I’m currently reading the most recent Kagen book and if he talks about rape in the creepy way he has again I’m going to throw my phone across the room). Michael Bishop's Brittle Innings about Frankenstein's Monster playing Minor League baseball in the post-war south.
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May 3, 2023 10:07
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wheatpuppy posted:Have you heard the gospel of Bridge of Birds?
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May 3, 2023 10:20
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ahobday posted:Does anyone have any recommendations for books about a person who takes over as the ruler of a place, and does a good job? I don't really mind if it's historical, fantasy, science fiction, or any other genre, but I'd prefer it be a fictional story. Hadrian the Seventh is a good novel about a failson author stand in becoming the pope.
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May 3, 2023 12:07
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Augustus by John Williams is an epistolary historical novel from 1973 about the first Roman Emperor. The title character doesn't appear too much directly -- instead you hear the story of his life mainly through reports from his friends and rivals.
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May 3, 2023 12:18
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ahobday posted:Does anyone have any recommendations for books about a person who takes over as the ruler of a place, and does a good job? I don't really mind if it's historical, fantasy, science fiction, or any other genre, but I'd prefer it be a fictional story. Lyndon B. Johnson biographical series, The Years of Lyndon Johnson by Robert Caro, is occasionally great for this because as terrible as LBJ often was, his entire method of politics got poo poo done. There's genuinely thrilling moments of good governance in there.
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May 3, 2023 22:41
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I'm curious to read anything on the art of translation, with considerate thoughts about the differences between languages. My translator relative recommended I look at her copy of the Translation Studies Reader. Also, any fun one volume histories of movies and/or television? FPyat fucked around with this message at 08:53 on May 4, 2023 |
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May 4, 2023 07:55
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FPyat posted:I'm curious to read anything on the art of translation, with considerate thoughts about the differences between languages. My translator relative recommended I look at her copy of the Translation Studies Reader. I enjoyed David Bellos' Is That a Fish in Your Ear? Translation and the Meaning of Everything. He's one of the most highly regarded French to English translator who's done Georges Perec among others - which includes re-translations of Ismail Kadare's work from the French translation (in collaboration with the author), so the book has a lot of reflections on that as well. Burning Rain fucked around with this message at 09:56 on May 4, 2023 |
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May 4, 2023 09:54
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FPyat posted:I'm curious to read anything on the art of translation, with considerate thoughts about the differences between languages. My translator relative recommended I look at her copy of the Translation Studies Reader. Through the Language Glass by Guy Deutscher is a fun read, it raises a variety of topics and might help you find which ones interest you.
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May 4, 2023 11:06
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FPyat posted:I'm curious to read anything on the art of translation, with considerate thoughts about the differences between languages. My translator relative recommended I look at her copy of the Translation Studies Reader. There’s a cool essay collection called On Translation, ed. Reuben A. Brower. It has short-ish contributions from a wide variety of mid-century translators explaining their general approach to translation as well as special problems in the specific language they work with. Including Nabokov, Lattimore, the Muirs, Achilles Fang, and others.
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May 4, 2023 14:11
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FPyat posted:I'm curious to read anything on the art of translation, with considerate thoughts about the differences between languages. My translator relative recommended I look at her copy of the Translation Studies Reader. I feel like I recommend this every 10 pages or so but it's super worth it. Le Ton Beau de Marot by Douglas Hofstadter. It's not a technical study about translation, it's more philosophical and romantic (if that's the right term) in nature.
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May 4, 2023 18:42
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sbaldrick posted:So I’m really tired of the grim dark, rapey turn fantasy has taken recently (GRRM, Abercrombie, the Malazan books, I’m currently reading the most recent Kagen book and if he talks about rape in the creepy way he has again I’m going to throw my phone across the room). Grace of Kings and the rest of the Dandelion Dynasty series (4) is what all other fantasy should aspire to imo
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May 4, 2023 19:00
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ahobday posted:Does anyone have any recommendations for books about a person who takes over as the ruler of a place, and does a good job? I don't really mind if it's historical, fantasy, science fiction, or any other genre, but I'd prefer it be a fictional story. Matrix by Lauren Groff for the nun version of this
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May 5, 2023 03:07
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I'm looking for fiction that is set in a particular time and place, that gives a good feel for that time and place, where the action and narrative voice is tied to that time and place. Examples of this that I've enjoyed include The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, and Kidnapped by Robert Lewis Stevenson. I'd love to find more things situated in China, or even something out there like ancient Sumeria or something, but really any time and place is of interest. I prefer non-aristocratic characters as a rule, since I find regular people more interesting and relatable.
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May 5, 2023 09:20
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Kenning posted:I'm looking for fiction that is set in a particular time and place, that gives a good feel for that time and place, where the action and narrative voice is tied to that time and place. This may not be precisely on point, but I've found that reading the Nero Wolfe books *in order of publication*, because each is set very precisely in Manhattan in the year of publication, and because there are about forty of them, give a *really* interesting picture of the growth and change of Manhattan, and by extension America generally, over time from the 30's to the 70's. The Travis McGee books by John D. McDonald provide a similar effect for coastal florida in the 60s, 70;s, and 80;s.
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May 5, 2023 19:23
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Kenning posted:I'm looking for fiction that is set in a particular time and place, that gives a good feel for that time and place, where the action and narrative voice is tied to that time and place. Examples of this that I've enjoyed include The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, and Kidnapped by Robert Lewis Stevenson. I'd love to find more things situated in China, or even something out there like ancient Sumeria or something, but really any time and place is of interest. I prefer non-aristocratic characters as a rule, since I find regular people more interesting and relatable. Are you interested in Dublin, 16 June 1904 … ??
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May 6, 2023 11:47
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Kenning posted:I'm looking for fiction that is set in a particular time and place, that gives a good feel for that time and place, where the action and narrative voice is tied to that time and place. Examples of this that I've enjoyed include The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, and Kidnapped by Robert Lewis Stevenson. I'd love to find more things situated in China, or even something out there like ancient Sumeria or something, but really any time and place is of interest. I prefer non-aristocratic characters as a rule, since I find regular people more interesting and relatable. e: Ooh, Baudolino might be a great pick for this, being about medieval mystification from medieval point of view. e2: Actually, The Name of the Rose fits as well. anilEhilated fucked around with this message at 20:21 on May 6, 2023 |
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May 6, 2023 12:39
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Kenning posted:I'm looking for fiction that is set in a particular time and place, that gives a good feel for that time and place, where the action and narrative voice is tied to that time and place. Examples of this that I've enjoyed include The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, and Kidnapped by Robert Lewis Stevenson. I'd love to find more things situated in China, or even something out there like ancient Sumeria or something, but really any time and place is of interest. I prefer non-aristocratic characters as a rule, since I find regular people more interesting and relatable. The Far Pavilions by MM Kaye, perhaps?
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May 6, 2023 19:51
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