Soloman Tump Posted July 29, 2019 Share Posted July 29, 2019 On 7/18/2019 at 5:33 AM, Embers said: Have been slowly churning through UNSOUND:UNDEAD https://www.urbanomic.com/book/unsoundundead/ "A brilliant multi-disciplinary, multi-genre exploration of reality as perceived and unperceived. Unsound:Undead exists at the intersection of fact, fiction and philosophy. It weaves these together into a collection of short essays that are both intriguing and thought-provocative. An absolutely fascinating compendium into audio research and audio intelligence and its application into physical and metaphysical realms." This looks really interesting, I might grab this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Embers Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 10 hours ago, Soloman Tump said: This looks really interesting, I might grab this. I really enjoy the format as I don't need to dedicate long sessions to reading. I can read one essay, let it churn in my mind and move on when I'm ready. The essays are short, sweet and to the point. They're grouped into "chapters" with a common theme, but are loosely connected so that you don't have to read it all in one sitting. What's been really surprising is the amount of research that has gone into this. All factual stuff is appropriately (scientifically) referenced which opens up further exploration of topics. Though you may find the references themselves equally bizarre. And this is all seamlessly blended with fictional narratives to create a kind of conspiratorial / esoteric vibe to the stories. Something that would sit comfortably within a dystopia framework. Reminds me of Blade Runner at times. For the price it's great value! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soloman Tump Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 4 hours ago, Embers said: I really enjoy the format as I don't need to dedicate long sessions to reading. I can read one essay, let it churn in my mind and move on when I'm ready. The essays are short, sweet and to the point. They're grouped into "chapters" with a common theme, but are loosely connected so that you don't have to read it all in one sitting. What's been really surprising is the amount of research that has gone into this. All factual stuff is appropriately (scientifically) referenced which opens up further exploration of topics. Though you may find the references themselves equally bizarre. And this is all seamlessly blended with fictional narratives to create a kind of conspiratorial / esoteric vibe to the stories. Something that would sit comfortably within a dystopia framework. Reminds me of Blade Runner at times. For the price it's great value! Ok sold. Sounds great. A birthday present to myself 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadellisTheSixth Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 (edited) Recently finished Rendezvous with Rama, Like Water for Chocolate, and the Master and Margarita. enjoyed em all, Rama didn’t age tooo well tho but maybe i just don’t enjoy arthur c c. currently still churning through a david graeber book and started The Dispossessed by Le Guin. Edited August 12, 2019 by MadellisTheSixth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadellisTheSixth Posted August 12, 2019 Share Posted August 12, 2019 On 7/19/2019 at 7:28 AM, Lada Laika said: Also the prequel books (co-written by Kevin Anderson & Herbert’s douchebag son who also lives in my neighborhood and called the cops on my unleashed dog while we were playing fetch on a fenced in school field on a Saturday in July) are all complete trash and should be avoided at all costs. why am i not surprised that herbert’s son is a dickwad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
custom knob Posted August 17, 2019 Share Posted August 17, 2019 ted chiang - stories of your life and others mostly pretty interesting scifi short stories with interesting ideas and writing good enough that it doesn't get in the way (except for the victorian era steampunk golem one which is too mannered and stuffed with cliched victoriangentlemanspeak) clearly inspired by borges, which is a good thing scifi/fantasy writing is generally pretty terrible imo so its nice to find an exception Henry Green - living bleak modernist novel that felt like a slog at times but has some genuinely beautiful melancholic moments in it, interested to try his later stuff 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadellisTheSixth Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 finished Gibson's Virtual Light, I feel like I enjoyed it a lot more than Neuromancer. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumbass Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 (edited) Just started in Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert. The first book was great Edited August 26, 2019 by thumbass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doublename Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Paradise Rot by Jenny Hval, I don't know that I've ever read something so... moist. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwmbrancity Posted August 28, 2019 Share Posted August 28, 2019 High Weirdness - Drugs, Esoterica & Visionary Experience in the 70's, from the same publisher as "Unsound:Undead". Just look at the cover... Profiles the McKenna bros, Robert Anton Wilson & Philip K Dick within various west coast scenes, substances & chronologies. Reads like a PhD thesis trimmed down & the better for it (who needs footnotes?). The RAW & PKD sections are easily the strongest, solid preamble (theory), allusions/influences, really enjoyed the excursion into "Chapel Perilous" & PKD's 2-3-74 exegesis fleshed out. Proper fun with a cornucopia of references that are as entertaining as the main protagonists themselves. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IDEM Posted August 29, 2019 Share Posted August 29, 2019 I'm always surprised that Terence McKenna isn't mentioned mote often ITT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nil Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 On 8/26/2019 at 10:26 AM, thumbass said: Just started in Dune Messiah by Frank Herbert. The first book was great About to finish The God-Emperor of Dune myself, quite a mind-fuck at times. I've been reading the whole saga for some month now, fascinating reading really. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumbass Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 22 minutes ago, Nil said: About to finish The God-Emperor of Dune myself, quite a mind-fuck at times. I've been reading the whole saga for some month now, fascinating reading really. Yeah I know right, it's fucking amazing! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milwaukeeeee Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 https://bepresentfirst.com/accumulators-energy-and-bi-polar-disorder/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nil Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 @thumbass : indeed! I read the first two volume ages ago and wanted to dive into the whole thing again, so I started from scratch early this year and I'm enjoying it even more than the first time. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewps Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 Also starting Dune for the first time! Reading No Country for Old Men as well, seen the movie a couple times, only Cormac McCarthy I haven't read - defo not as dense as his other work but fast paced and lotsa violence i enjoy it 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
auxien Posted September 8, 2019 Share Posted September 8, 2019 On 7/18/2019 at 4:26 PM, Lada Laika said: Almost entirely built on the first one. Dune Messiah is decent and I’m on record as a huge defender of Children of Dune, but the former is almost a novella compared to the others, and the latter can drag in parts. I’ve never made it past Book 4 (God Emperor of Dune? I think?) with any semblance of sanity remaining. There are the superfans who claim all 6 or 7 or however many there are are unparalleled achievements of literature but I think they’re just huffing spice. Or maybe my higher consciousness hasn’t ascended to being a thousand year old worm god yet. i've read all the originals, imo they're worth it if you're into the /world/ but even then no one's gonna claim the latter books are better than the first, of course. some interesting stuff going on though, and his writing is generally about on par with the first, but just the form and substance is being attacked in different ways in those last ones, and i assume he was sorta trying to just write these other type of books but trying to keep it in the Dune universe since that what was popular and essentially his cash cow (from my vague understanding), instead of exploring those ideas in a different universe. also the ending of the last Dune book (as you stated the ones by his son are undoubtedly fucking garbage, love the personal story lol) is fucking mental and just really....... very odd. don't wanna say too much since multiple people here are reading the series now (yay!) i really would like to read it back through again at some point but probably won't for a while, just read them for the first time about 7 years ago. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lada Laika Posted September 9, 2019 Share Posted September 9, 2019 On 8/26/2019 at 6:39 AM, doublename said: Paradise Rot by Jenny Hval, I don't know that I've ever read something so... moist. I loved this book, but yeah I would not recommend reading it while eating. 18 hours ago, auxien said: i've read all the originals, imo they're worth it if you're into the /world/ but even then no one's gonna claim the latter books are better than the first, of course. some interesting stuff going on though, and his writing is generally about on par with the first, but just the form and substance is being attacked in different ways in those last ones, and i assume he was sorta trying to just write these other type of books but trying to keep it in the Dune universe since that what was popular and essentially his cash cow (from my vague understanding), instead of exploring those ideas in a different universe. also the ending of the last Dune book (as you stated the ones by his son are undoubtedly fucking garbage, love the personal story lol) is fucking mental and just really....... very odd. don't wanna say too much since multiple people here are reading the series now (yay!) i really would like to read it back through again at some point but probably won't for a while, just read them for the first time about 7 years ago. I’ve been thinking about just jumping into God Emperor again for the hell of it once I finish my reread of The Expanse. I like a lot of it in concept but felt it meandered a lot in its delivery, plus Spoiler all the Duncan Idaho ghola stuff seems kinda silly - you can totally tell he was both an inexplicable fan favorite character and somewhat self-insert wish fulfillment by Frank himself. But the Golden Path/Scattering stuff is really heady and interesting and could save it this time around. Of course, going into philosophical millenia-spanning SF after reading the pulpy action of the Expanse might give me total whiplash. We’ll find out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roo Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 Haven't been able to read much in the last 6 months, so relishing small opportunities. Recently reread Under the Volcano. Was only 22 when I first read it so connected with a lot more this time around. Reminded me a little of Nostromo at times, and touches upon so much. I'm still not completely on board with the final chapter, felt the earlier chapters had such genius momentum and then it sort of peters out. Might be among the 25 finest novels I've read. currently on Desolation Island (Aubrey-Maturin #5). As an Australian, the convict transport plot line to Bligh on New Holland is something Ive had my eye on since the first volume. As ever, deeply humorous and somewhat idyllic historical fiction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prdctvsm Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 ^ there's no escaping the convict past in australia. the place is unfortunately still a residual penal colony, imho. have just dipped a bespectacled toe into what a good friend recommended : https://www.academia.edu/8370045/Psychopathologies_of_Cognitive_Capitalism_Part_1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prdctvsm Posted September 18, 2019 Share Posted September 18, 2019 ^ finished the above. iStruggle w. academic writing, but thankfully this series is just a collection of shorter papers all based around the information economy; a bit heavy going, but worth it for the ideas imo. A̗̝͚̤̥̦̩̯̝̟̤̥̻̬͉͉̜̟̱̿ͧ̓ͥͨͪ͐̈́ͯ͒̚̕͞A̢̟̻͔͙̞͉̯̱̝̜͙̞̠͈͎̐ͩ̈̌͌͛̆̍̒̇͑̀͠Ả̶̴̖̯̮̣̮̝̝̣͖̱̫̥̲̮̝̰͌͋̌͐̓ͤͥ͟͢A̙̞̣̔ͤ͒ͧͭͥ̾ͦ̀̀͟A̵̸̸̖̼̪̮̝͇͙̼̫̘̦̲͈̦ͪͬͫ̈́̒̏ͦͯ͘͜ͅA̶̸̢̞̖͕̣͉̭̘̦̲̤̪̦̒͂̆̓ͨͭ̽ͧ̾ͭ͛̈́͒͌̈͌ͣ̚͡Ḁ̴̛̦͍̘̰̠̙͎̠̝̬̘̭͎͑͊̔ͤͮͧ͊͐͢͞͡ͅĀ̵͇̳̟͎͖͓̼͗ͨ̆̿̽̂͊́́͞͝ͅͅͅȀ̡̢͍̼͓̺̥̱ͩ͌͊ͦ̌̎̒̋̀ͥ̓̐ͭA̷̧͚͈̦̠̝̣̮͔̟̿̾ͭ̎ͥ̀̈́̄́ /10 will read some comic books, then on to: Psychopathologies_of_Cognitive_Capitalism_Part_2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iococoi Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 xcllnt https://archive.org/details/KunstformenDerNaturErnstHaeckel 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hello spiral Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 I'm reading The City & The City. This might actually be weirder than Embassytown. But it's way drier. Still enjoying though! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thumbass Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 Reading Children of Dune right now 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dpek Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 The City & The City is dry as hell, but I love the concept of it. Not really a spoiler, but still: Spoiler I would prefer it if it didn't tip its toe in the paranormal, even though it never truly dived. This way "Breach" wouldn't have conflicting roles and powers throughout the novel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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