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Conference noted::sf

Title:Arcana Caelestia
Notice:Directory listings are in topic 2
Moderator:NETRIX::thomas
Created:Thu Dec 08 1983
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1300
Total number of notes:18728

1154.0. "New books?" by ARCANA::CONNELLY (is pleasure necessary?) Mon Aug 02 1993 23:43

Is anyone else reading any new, non-series books?  (I mean new books that
aren't already tagged as book I or book XXVII of the "__________ Saga".)

I read "Doomsday Book" by Connie Willis, "China Mountain Zhang" by Maureen
McHugh and "The Wall at the Edge of the World" by (?) Aiken.  They were all
pretty well done, with some unexpected upbeat and downbeat endings.  I think
the first two might've been nominated for Hugo or Nebula awards.  As someone
who's trying to stay away from "marketing concept" series and TV/movie-related
books, i'm interested in hearing if anyone else has read any new books that
don't fall into that rut (especially books by relatively new writers).

								paul
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1154.1"Steel Beach" by John Varley is out in paperback....QUARRY::petertrigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertaintyTue Aug 03 1993 14:5912
I'm currently reading "Steel Beach" by John Varley.  Not necessarily a
new author (though not that old either).  It seems to be set in a 
milieu similar though not necessarily identical to the Ophiuchi 
Hotline.  Good read so far, but I'm not really sure where he's going 
with it (ie is there a plot here? or just some interesting vignettes?)
There are some indications something is going on that will tie things
together, but I don't find it the can't put down variety.  I grabbed this
when it came out in paperback a few weeks ago, and aside from interrupting
to read 'Jurassic Park' before I saw the movie, I've been enjoyng it
slowly.  

PeterT
1154.2"Carve the Sky"QUARRY::petertrigidly defined areas of doubt and uncertaintyTue Aug 03 1993 15:036
Also worthy of note is a book by a local (to Mass.) author, Alexander Jablonsky
(I think that's spelled right.)  The book is "Carve the Sky" and it
tells an intriguing tale of art (sculpture mostly) and interplanetary
conflict.  I found it in my library and it was well worth the read.

PeterT
1154.3CNTROL::HUBERFile and ForgetTue Aug 03 1993 16:2214
    
    Re .1
    
    Before I read Steel Beach, I thought Varley's strength was his short
    stories - many of which are brilliant.  After reading Steel Beach, I
    still think he's better at shorts than novels.  Not that his novels
    are bad - those I've read, including Steel Beach, have been worthwhile
    reads - just that they pale in comparison.
    
    As far as Steel Beach goes, what you've seen is what you get.  It's
    pleasant, interesting, and ocassionally engaging, but never
    outstanding.
    
    Joe
1154.4Other VarleyCAMONE::ARENDTHarry Arendt CAM::Tue Aug 03 1993 19:356
    
    Varley also has a three book set called Titan, Wizard and Mumble
    (that is to say something I don't remember) which make a good read
    as a set (Ie buy all three and then read them sequentially as if
    they were one book.
    
1154.5DemonUNXA::BEUTEWe apologize for the inconvenience.Tue Aug 03 1993 20:1810
    
>>    Varley also has a three book set called Titan, Wizard and Mumble
>>    (that is to say something I don't remember) which make a good read
>>    as a set (Ie buy all three and then read them sequentially as if
>>    they were one book.
    
	The 3rd book was Demon.

	- Chris

1154.6QUIVER::ANILTue Aug 03 1993 23:313
    Arthur Clarke has a new book out, "Hammer of God".  Haven't read it
    yet, but I've heard the story is along the lines of Niven's
    "Lucifer's Hammer".
1154.7NETRIX::thomasThe Code WarriorWed Aug 04 1993 11:151
Made a decent short story.
1154.8try Virtual Girl by Amy ThomsonUPSAR::ROBINSONAndy RobinsonSun Aug 15 1993 04:077
      You could try Virtual Girl by Amy Thomson
      
      I enjoyed it quite a bit.  It is her first novel and is not a
      series. Her second novel is in the works and has nothing to do
      with the first one.
      
      -Andy- 
1154.9A couple moreNWD002::REID_PASI - Lookin' for a bigger hammerFri Jan 07 1994 20:508
  Two I've enjoyed recently:  The Sword and the Lion, Roberta Cray and The
Legend of Nightfall.  The first has has an interesting twist of Goddess/Human/
Planetary conquest.  The second deals with a thief/assassin being magically
tied up with a doofus extraneous prince.  Both entertaining reads, as least
better than most I've read lately.

Paul