I re-read the whole book for the fifth time, after ten years, and I just still cannot believe how good it is. I mean, it was my favourite book already, and re-reading had not changed that. But I think I had forgotten how enthralling it is, and especially how huge it is. I arrived to the ending fully feeling the weight of the journey, the increasing complexity of the worldbuilding and the increasing epicness of the plot, and it was almost alienating to think back to the first chapters once I had seen how much had changed in just 1100 pages (I guess that is another thing I had forgotten: it is a relatively short book for all it contains, but it manages to be utterly epic without bloating the pages).

I still think that what makes it so amazing is not only the story, characters, worldbuilding or even how influential it is, but the message. Despite how many times I’d read it, I was still a child when I last read it fully. Now that I am an adult I feel the theme of “hope beyond …

I find that a bad review can make me want to read a book as much as a good one. What are some common criticisms that let you know you will probably like a book?

For example when someone says “nothing happens” I know the book probably focuses on internal experiences and conflicts, which I personally prefer.

Similarly, if a book is described as too confusing or didn’t make sense. I know that it probably has enough complexity to be interesting to me. Or a non conventional narrative style, which I also enjoy.

I’m sure a lot of my 5 star reads are 1 stars for others too. I’m curious what kind of bad reviews make you want to read a book.

I feel like modern fantasy is obsessed with rigid, rule-based magic systems, where everything has to be explained like a science. Don’t get me wrong, I love a well-crafted system (Sanderson’s Mistborn is amazing), but I think we’ve lost something by making magic so predictable.

Some of the most memorable fantasy worlds had mysterious, almost unknowable magic—think Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, the Others in A Song of Ice and Fire, or even the surreal, dreamlike magic in The Green Bone Saga. The uncertainty made these worlds feel deeper, more immersive, and, honestly, more magical.

Moments where the main character lets a known villain, perhaps a torturer, perhaps someone even worse, walk free and spare their lives in trying to be ‘Better than they are’. To be clear, this doesnt include the times when such antagonists are jailed or imprisoned.

I was reading The Bound and Broken series, and for the sake of spoilers, I wont say who, but one of the main characters, lets his torturer walk free… In trying to be ‘better than he is’. This rightfully backfires on him, as the main antagonist uses the spared enemy against the mc.

This trope especially does not make sense when, protagonists kill soldiers, countless other people but only hesitate when it comes to the main antagonists. Like their value of life is higher than the blood of the countless other people the protagonist has killed.

Perhaps this trope comes from the Lord of the Rings. Bilbo and later Frodo’s mercy does lead to Mordor’s doom and save their lives. I …

I just now finished Paladin of Souls and I am so glad I took a chance on these novels. Like stated above, I’d occasionally see the names of these novels, by Lois McMaster Bujold, appear in the lower half of numerous recommendation threads, and curiosity finally won out.

Both novels, The Curse of Chalion and Paladin of Souls, take place in Bujold’s World of the Five Gods. Both novels are often said to be standalone, but I frankly disagree with that assessment, since Paladin regularly makes reference to the events that unfold in Curse, which takes place only a few years before. There are more novels in this series, but I have not yet read them.

Why should you read these? Both novels are extraordinarily well written, and Bujold’s natural dry wit permeates through the respective protagonists’ voices throughout each novel. Every word on the page feels 100% intentional, so precisely are they written, and yet despite the frequent witticisms and ironic observations …

Metro 2033 and The Road come to mind but then again The Stand feels like a complete nightmare. What do you think and thanks if you decide to take your time to interact. Have a good day!

What shows the human-scale horror of the day to day life of a space trooper?

And not 40k. that’s parody.

Edit: lots of good suggestions here, lot of which I’ve read:

Forever War, Armor, Starship Troopers, Old Man’s War, Altered Carbon.

I’m looking for some deeper cuts, more obscure stuff.

I have a bit of a specific request - looking for some reads that are mainly focused on exploration and uncovering some kind of cosmic mystery, whether it’s a planet, a strange phenomenon, cosmic object, aliens etc. Books I’ve loved that have captured this feel really well:

- Rendezvous with Rama - Arthur C Clarke

- Blindsight - Peter Watts

- Chindi - Jack McDevitt

- Dragon’s Egg - Robert L. Forward

- Manifold Time/Space - Stephen Baxter

- Spin by Robert Charles Wilson

- Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson

Something with a similar narrative and vibes to the above would be amazing. Basically a group of scientists exploring mysterious cosmic shit. i.e. really want that “sense of wonder” factor. Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar is another good example of a story with what I’m looking for.

Any recommendations?

Of course, not even the most forward-looking authors can guess how tech will evolve in the decades ahead, but some (particularly older) SF works have absolutely adorable deficits compared to our real-life technology level.

For example, I’m just reading Rendezvous with Rama, which takes place about 100 yrs in the future, humanity having permanent structures on multiple celestial bodies, a regular rocket traffic across the solar system, etc…

But an astronomer has to wait for his turn with computer time to analyse data, like in 70s/80s college mainframes.

I probably re-read (or re-listen) the bellow every 2 years or so. I guess I enjoy future histories and philosophical discussions around sci-fi. I notice something new every time.

Anathem by Neal Stephenson

The God Emperor of Dune by Frank Hebert

The Player of Games by Iain Banks

The Time Ships by Stephen Baxter.

Which books do you keep going back to and why?

I know of fantasy books that later reveal themselves to actually be science fiction, like Dragonriders of Pern by Ann McCaffrey or The True Game by Sheri S Tepper. But are there any books that start out as science fiction and later reveal themselves to actually be fantasy?

My dad always does something I’ve only ever heard of people occasionally doing. No matter what movie or TV show he’s watching at home, he will get up in the middle of it and with zero urgency, go to the bathroom, grab food, look out the window, or do any number of random things, all without pausing. He’ll then sit back down having missed 5-20 minutes without saying a word and never asks questions after the movie.

It used to drive me nuts when I lived at home over a decade ago and recently I stayed over one night and watched him do the same thing. My mom doesn’t even bother asking if she should pause.

Quality doesn’t matter either. It could be the greatest movie he’s ever seen, but he’ll still miss 10 minutes of it doing whatever. I’ve seen him take out the garbage, cook popcorn on the stovetop, and even fold laundry in another room all while a movie he wanted to watch was playing.

This is insane right? I understand not being in to a …