Agreed! A sci-fi short story. Could be your very own 'Nightfall.' dj
On Fri, Jul 31, 2009 at 6:43 PM, deripsni<[email protected]> wrote: > > I suggest you write instead of read ;-] > > On Jul 31, 6:25 pm, frantheman <[email protected]> wrote: >> I've a couple of weeks holidays coming up ta the end of August and >> would be interested to hear some reading suggestions. But, as one >> shouldn't take without giving, I thought I'd get the ball rolling with >> a brief description of some of the books I've found good in the past >> few months ;-) >> >> Harry Thompson, This Thing of Darkness: I owe this tip to Ian - thanks >> mate! A well researched, very well written historical novel, based >> mainly on the voyage of the Beagle and the lives of its captain, >> Robert FitzRoy and his most famous passenger, Charles Darwin. The >> character of FitzRoy, an interesting historical figure in his own >> right, is particularly well done. Sadly, there will be no more gems >> from this author, as he died tragically young four years ago. >> >> Tom Holland, Persian Fire: Who says ancient history is boring? >> Holland's excellent book describing the war between east and west, a >> war between a superpower representing then civilised values (the >> Persian empire) against barbarian rogue states (Athens and Sparta) >> challenging the world order reads like a thriller. His previous work, >> Rubicon, about the fall of the Roman Republic is equally good. I'm >> loking forward to reading his latest, Millenium, about the early >> European Middle Ages, featuring the crusades. >> >> Patrick Rothfuss, The Name of the Wind: This is the best fantasy book >> I've read in a long time (and I read quite a bit of fantasy). >> Extremely well written, it's hard to describe. As the author himself >> says, "If I could sum it up in 50 words, I wouldn't have needed to >> write a whole novel about it." The first of a trilogy, the second part >> of which is due out this summer, it's simply an amazing first novel. >> >> Daniel C. Dennett, Consciousness Explained: For anyone wanting to get >> into contemporary philosophy, and particularly the vexed questions of >> consciousness and epistemology, this is a very good starting point. >> Dennett's position is unashamedly empirical (he identifies himself as >> a Bright and is a pal of Dawkins [though a much more incisive >> thinker]) but, more importantly, he also, unusually for a philosopher, >> writes lucidly, entertainingly and well. >> >> Mary Doria Russell, The Sparrow/Children of God: These two have to be >> read together. Wonderful science fiction, the hero being a Jesuit >> scientist whose first contact with an alien civilisation brings his >> faith into fundamental crisis. The books take a sympathetic position >> regarding rational faith in a personal God, although the author >> describes herself as an agnostic. Many issues discussed on Minds Eye >> come up here, along with complex characters, a compelling story and >> good science fiction. >> >> So, what about you? >> >> Francis > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
