I'm impressed with his lack of what I think is called 'information dumping'which is where characters spout long paragraphs of information at each other about some technology/alien race/galactic civilisation.
But he does have a kind of old-fashioned style to his writing sometimes. I think his stuff has aged a lot better than other 'classic' sci-fi, though.
I don't think that it's too wanky, no.
edit : for modern sci-fi, I quite like Adam Roberts - 'Salt', 'Wall', etc.
(But he does have a kind of old-fashioned style to his writing sometimes. I think his stuff has aged a lot better than other 'classic' sci-fi, though.
I don't think that it's too wanky, no.
edit : for modern sci-fi, I quite like Adam Roberts - 'Salt', 'Wall', etc.
The Alchemist king of the needlessly complicated,
Fri 27 Mar 2009, 18:51,
archived)
As someone who has only relatively recently started readinghim, I would say Minority Report and Second Variety were my favourites.
However, if you're starting out, the film books may be a good place to start.
Like Do Androids dream of electric sheep, which became Blade Runner, and We can remember it for you wholesale which became Total Recall.
(However, if you're starting out, the film books may be a good place to start.
Like Do Androids dream of electric sheep, which became Blade Runner, and We can remember it for you wholesale which became Total Recall.
Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!,
Fri 27 Mar 2009, 18:59,
archived)
this is the problem, I know so many of his books, via the films, I was having a hard time choosing which one to read
Duke Otterby you pre-verts,
Fri 27 Mar 2009, 19:07,
archived)
Well it's a tough one,what with him having written so many :)
I would suggest finding a book of the hilm you enjoyed most and starting with that. But I don't think it is gonna matter because you'll end up reading them all eventually anyway :)
(I would suggest finding a book of the hilm you enjoyed most and starting with that. But I don't think it is gonna matter because you'll end up reading them all eventually anyway :)
Redsushi! Whoop! Whoop! Yes, that one!,
Fri 27 Mar 2009, 19:10,
archived)
Go for short-story collectionsHe's at his best in short stories. The novels can get a bit... extended. As if he didn't really know what was going on any more than you do. Not all of them, but certainly a significant number.
In a PKD short story you get about as much 'idea' as a novel (by mass) without too much extended plot. Hence why films are usually adapted from his short stories.
(I have a soft spot for Eye in the Sky, but I know it isn't considered a classic. I just think it's the perfect archetype of his novels)
(,
Fri 27 Mar 2009, 20:40,
archived)
In a PKD short story you get about as much 'idea' as a novel (by mass) without too much extended plot. Hence why films are usually adapted from his short stories.
(I have a soft spot for Eye in the Sky, but I know it isn't considered a classic. I just think it's the perfect archetype of his novels)