I'm back from a few days away in Latvia (more on which later on today). Whilst enjoying the benefits of flexitime, I thought I'd recommend 2 books which I've recently finished.
Iain M. Banks' Excession. One in Iain's (notice the M initial, which isn't used in the non-science fiction novels) excellent series of science fiction novels. Set in a world where humans have far advanced and artificial intelligence has advanced even further, the Culture and rival civilisations investigate an anomaly that has appeared again.
Naturally this draws everybody into conflict (gasp!) and the story revolves about how the ship Minds and their human inhabitants investigate and deal with the Excession.
I must say I really love Banks' sci-fi universe. The immensity of the ships, the power with which they act and the way he writes about it it is always entertaining and enthralling. So if you like science fiction, read some of his stuff!
The other book, which I bought in Latvia as a slimline pocket book for reading in cafés etc, is H G Wells' War of the Worlds. You've seen the film, heard the music, now read the book! Written in a reporter style, as you know this is the story of the invasion of Earth by technologically advanced Martians.
I find it quite pessimistic in its outlook, as the defeat of the Martians is not brought about by human endeavour, but it's interesting in its view of potential alien technology and physiology. Definitely one of the most influential science fiction stories I think I've read. And also, there's very interesting and realistic behaviour from the protagonist and some of the people he meets along the way, some of whom are utterly non-heroic, others of whom are driven almost to madness by the events on Horsell common!
For those of you who have only seen the film, the story is really set in England around London, not in America!
Continuing the recommendation theme today, I also recommend War of the Worlds for your reading pleasure, particularly as an important work in the development of today's science fiction, and an enjoyable story in its own right.
Iain M. Banks' Excession. One in Iain's (notice the M initial, which isn't used in the non-science fiction novels) excellent series of science fiction novels. Set in a world where humans have far advanced and artificial intelligence has advanced even further, the Culture and rival civilisations investigate an anomaly that has appeared again.
Naturally this draws everybody into conflict (gasp!) and the story revolves about how the ship Minds and their human inhabitants investigate and deal with the Excession.
I must say I really love Banks' sci-fi universe. The immensity of the ships, the power with which they act and the way he writes about it it is always entertaining and enthralling. So if you like science fiction, read some of his stuff!
The other book, which I bought in Latvia as a slimline pocket book for reading in cafés etc, is H G Wells' War of the Worlds. You've seen the film, heard the music, now read the book! Written in a reporter style, as you know this is the story of the invasion of Earth by technologically advanced Martians.
I find it quite pessimistic in its outlook, as the defeat of the Martians is not brought about by human endeavour, but it's interesting in its view of potential alien technology and physiology. Definitely one of the most influential science fiction stories I think I've read. And also, there's very interesting and realistic behaviour from the protagonist and some of the people he meets along the way, some of whom are utterly non-heroic, others of whom are driven almost to madness by the events on Horsell common!
For those of you who have only seen the film, the story is really set in England around London, not in America!
Continuing the recommendation theme today, I also recommend War of the Worlds for your reading pleasure, particularly as an important work in the development of today's science fiction, and an enjoyable story in its own right.
