I haven't read a lot of her work.
Doesn't she do quite epic sci fi stories?
( girlinthehole, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 21:48, 2 replies, latest was 15 years ago)

Some of them are really good
The Earthsea Quartet was decent enough fantasy though apparently she regretted it in later years. The Left Hand of Darkness is seminal in some aspects though again she regretted bits of it later
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 21:50, Reply)

Earthsea was dull
I got a few chapters in and just left it, couldn't be arsed to pick it up again
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 21:51, Reply)

I very rarely not finish a book
Earthsea was good, definitely one of the better examples of fantasy I think. The reason she regretted it was she felt it betrayed her feminist ideals
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 21:53, Reply)

better examples of fantasy??!
hell no, there are far better things than that.

I used to always finish books, but then I realised I could be reading better things. Doesn't happen often, I have to be pretty cross/bored with them.
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 21:56, Reply)

I read really fast
so most standard sized books will take me a couple of hours.

There's better stuff, but especially for children it's an excellent introduction
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 21:57, Reply)

like Anne McCaffrey
I wish I'd read them when I was 10, then I'd like them rather than feeling patronised
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:00, Reply)

I liked her when I was about nine
then I realised that she was misogynistic, boring and just fundamentally a poor writer
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:01, Reply)

the problem with hanging around with other role players
is people make you read terrible fantasy books.

On the other hand, George RR Martin
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:03, Reply)

Meh never been much of a fan of him myself

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:06, Reply)

I liked Armageddon Rag
which wasn't really fantasy, not read any more of his.

Which reminds me best under appreciated book ever is Wrack and Roll by Bradly Denton.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:08, Reply)

not heard of that
why is it great and underappreciated?
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:09, Reply)

it's about an alternate timeline
where a sort or punk evolved in the second world war, or just after, it's very 1980s and it about how rock music will save the world. you'd probably hate it, most people do, but I love it and wish it was true.

www.trashfiction.co.uk/wrack_and_roll.html
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:13, Reply)

hehe
sounds fun - is it like that bizzaro sci-fi? I bought my friend that one about a universe of Shatners (the same person who wrote the gorilla/shatner porn)
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:16, Reply)

all these words are english, but at the same time....
I don't know, realistically it's naive 80s trash, but I like the idea that music, especially rock, has power, hence Armageddon Rag.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:21, Reply)

there's a sub-genre of sci fi
which is all about the ridiculous, trashy and downright fucked up.
www.amazon.co.uk/Shatnerquake-Jeff-Burk/dp/1933929820/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311369816&sr=1-1

The shatner porn is something I posted the other day
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:23, Reply)

missed that.
glad I think.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:27, Reply)

i could link it?

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:38, Reply)

Shatner porn?
is it as disturbing as the cat thing?
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:47, Reply)

you decide
www.b3ta.com/questions/offtopic/post1286254
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:50, Reply)

Ha ha!
substitute 15 for 9 and I'm agreeing with you again on that one.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:03, Reply)

I don't like the big sprawling sci fi sagas that go on for several books.
I prefer the more intimate stories.
( girlinthehole, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 21:53, Reply)

I kind of like big stories
but it's annoying when they crash and burn - Peter F Hamilton's Night's Dawn Trilogy was gripping and brilliant until the last 20 pages at which point it suddenly became the biggest disappointment ever.

Littler sci fi tends to have more ideas which it explores in depth rather than spinning out for a trilogy
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 21:59, Reply)

you're dull.

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:00, Reply)

you're wrong

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:00, Reply)

No, I'm a terrible bully who picked on Chompy.
seriously though, the first trilogy was nothing special, but then she came back and wrote a second one many years later and it was much more fun, mostly from a female perspective and really great.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:05, Reply)

but I'd have to get through the first trilogy first
and that isn't going to happen soon

in fact I think I didn't like it enough that I left it at the ex-husband;s house
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:07, Reply)

fair enough
I still like the first, but that's because I read it as a child, like LOTR.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:09, Reply)

Quixote in agrees wholeheartedly with Amberl shocker!
The later earthsea is awesome, come at it from a whole new perspective, the 1st 3 are strait fantasy.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:00, Reply)

Not really
Her parents were anthropologists, and it shows. She writes well observed alien/human cultures with good politics and social stuff.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:02, Reply)

Might give her another go then.

( girlinthehole, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:04, Reply)

She's no
Mary Doria Russell :)
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:05, Reply)

I think you might like her.
Can lend you some if you like, when next you are in Lahndin.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:06, Reply)

Will do.
And I'll lend you the Mary Doria Russell when you've got through your pile of to-reads.
( girlinthehole, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:09, Reply)

did you see?!
the second one is back in print - has been a few months, I think
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:10, Reply)

oh yeah -
CQ: get ready to have your heart torn out by the book BGB's about to lend you, seriously, you need to prepare
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:11, Reply)

He'll love it : )
And if he doesn't I'll hit him with a blunt object until he does.
( girlinthehole, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:13, Reply)

my ex was underwhelmed by it
I think that should have been a sign
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:15, Reply)

my ex was underwhelmed by it
I think that should have been a sign
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:15, Reply)

have your heart torn out by the book BGB's about to lend you, seriously, you need to prepare be seriously underwhelmed
(Zoz prayed for twink on, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:26, Reply)

You are dead to me.

( girlinthehole, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:27, Reply)

OMG
you have NO soul
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:28, Reply)

This may be more likely
My heart is not easily torn out any more. We shall see.
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:30, Reply)

I'm the bloody ice maiden and I was moved by it.

( girlinthehole, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:33, Reply)

you are so not.

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:43, Reply)

Shhhh!
It's supposed to be a secret.
( girlinthehole, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:45, Reply)

Let me know if you find any one who doesn't know what a big softy you are.

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:47, Reply)

Pfft!

( girlinthehole, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:48, Reply)

no me
the first time I read it I nearly cried on a train. The second time I made the mistake of reading it just after I left The Idiot. I blubbed like a baby.
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:34, Reply)

you're both daft
and probably have a thing for priests
(Zoz prayed for twink on, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:35, Reply)

I'm not daft.
But the priest thing might be true.
( girlinthehole, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:36, Reply)

Priests, nuns, monks
what next?
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:40, Reply)

I know. *shames*

( girlinthehole, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:42, Reply)

altar boys

(Zoz prayed for twink on, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:57, Reply)

She's going up the foodchain not down
oh wait
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 23:11, Reply)

Worth it
and although I flog it an awful lot (it's one of my favourites) if you're looking for a really good science fiction book 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' is one of the best ever written.
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:07, Reply)

It was pretty damn good - but best ever?

( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:08, Reply)

One of :)
Name me some science fiction books (not series) which are similar in scope
( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:11, Reply)

Olaf Stapleton
Star Maker. Made me feel dizzy.

in a good way
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:18, Reply)

It is good, but agree with Cavey, maybe not that good.

( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:09, Reply)

You're all wrong :(

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:28, Reply)

Hey, I said it was good
I can just think of several better, I suppose it depends hoe high up the list it needs to be to be 'one of the best'
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:31, Reply)

For me it's in the top ten sci-fi novels ever

( Amberl was stripey and dominated Europe, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:35, Reply)

No, I think everything by Iain M Banks come first for me
and he's done more than 10, although maybe some of the recent stuff wouldn't make it.... and then there's Le Guin and Hienlien and Gibson and...
( CQ Knows the truth, all of it., Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:50, Reply)

Mary Doria Russell
and Jeff Noon and whoever wrote Raw Shark Texts and Richard Morgan and Frank Herbert.

oooh! Cordwainer Smith - I read short stories of his the other day and WANT MOAR
( Citizen Cavy Admires your passion for conformity, Fri 22 Jul 2011, 22:52, Reply)