Skip to content
  • Categories
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • World
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (No Skin)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Code Project
  1. Home
  2. The Lounge
  3. Summer reading recommendations?

Summer reading recommendations?

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved The Lounge
comquestionlearning
65 Posts 34 Posters 0 Views 1 Watching
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • J Jim Crafton

    Well here's some stuff I've either read or am enjoying right now, it's admittedly Sci-Fi lovers list :) Greg Bear: Eon Eternity Darwins Radio Darwin's Children The Forge of God Anvil of the Stars Vitals Peter Hamilton: The Night's Dawn Trilogy (The Reality Dysfunction, The Neutronium Alchemist, The Naked God) A Second Chance at Eden Fallen Dragon I'm looking into Misspent Youth / Commonwealth Saga and Void Trilogy Ian Douglas: Semper Mars Luna Marine Europa Strike Star Corps Dan Simmons: Hyperion The Fall of Hyperion Illium Olympos Children of the Night Edgar Rice Burroughs: A Princess of Mars John Norman: Tarnsman of Gor Outlaw of Gor Priest-Kings of Gor Nomads of Gor -- modified at 15:17 Wednesday 6th June, 2007

    ¡El diablo está en mis pantalones! ¡Mire, mire! Real Mentats use only 100% pure, unfooled around with Sapho Juice(tm)! SELECT * FROM User WHERE Clue > 0 0 rows returned Save an Orange - Use the VCF! VCF Blog

    M Offline
    M Offline
    MatrixCoder
    wrote on last edited by
    #21

    Event by David Golemon is supposed to be a really good Sci-Fi book, although I haven't read it yet.


    Trinity: Neo... nobody has ever done this before. Neo: That's why it's going to work.

    1 Reply Last reply
    0
    • M Member 96

      For those of us in the Northern hemisphere going into summer and potentially holidays it's traditional to stock up on books that can be read on holidays while lazing beside a large body of water sipping the beverage of your choice. A good summer read should be a book that suits the mood of a relaxing holiday, enjoyable, not too deep but thought provoking is ok (I.E. not War and Peace), definitely fiction (NO PROGRAMMING BOOKS), ideally a single self contained novel, not a huge series etc. I'm taking the summer off after a hard 5+ years of straight long hours, anyone have any summer reading recommendations? My recommendations for a couple of classics: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury[^] While I read it many years ago it's an all time classic and I'd recommend The left hand of darkness by Ursula LeGuin[^]


      "110%" - it's the new 70%

      R Offline
      R Offline
      Reagan Conservative
      wrote on last edited by
      #22

      Any book by Robert Ludlum (e.g., "Bourne Identity"). Any book by James Michener (e.g., "Hawaii").

      John P.

      M L 2 Replies Last reply
      0
      • R Reagan Conservative

        Any book by Robert Ludlum (e.g., "Bourne Identity"). Any book by James Michener (e.g., "Hawaii").

        John P.

        M Offline
        M Offline
        Member 96
        wrote on last edited by
        #23

        Yeah Michener definitely good summer reading there.


        "110%" - it's the new 70%

        1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • M Member 96

          For those of us in the Northern hemisphere going into summer and potentially holidays it's traditional to stock up on books that can be read on holidays while lazing beside a large body of water sipping the beverage of your choice. A good summer read should be a book that suits the mood of a relaxing holiday, enjoyable, not too deep but thought provoking is ok (I.E. not War and Peace), definitely fiction (NO PROGRAMMING BOOKS), ideally a single self contained novel, not a huge series etc. I'm taking the summer off after a hard 5+ years of straight long hours, anyone have any summer reading recommendations? My recommendations for a couple of classics: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury[^] While I read it many years ago it's an all time classic and I'd recommend The left hand of darkness by Ursula LeGuin[^]


          "110%" - it's the new 70%

          D Offline
          D Offline
          David Crow
          wrote on last edited by
          #24

          John Cardinal wrote:

          ...anyone have any summer reading recommendations?

          Are you interested in any of Steve Alten's books? I've read three of them!


          "A good athlete is the result of a good and worthy opponent." - David Crow

          "To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne

          M 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • D David Crow

            John Cardinal wrote:

            ...anyone have any summer reading recommendations?

            Are you interested in any of Steve Alten's books? I've read three of them!


            "A good athlete is the result of a good and worthy opponent." - David Crow

            "To have a respect for ourselves guides our morals; to have deference for others governs our manners." - Laurence Sterne

            M Offline
            M Offline
            Member 96
            wrote on last edited by
            #25

            Never heard of them, but they sound like ideal summer reading.


            "110%" - it's the new 70%

            1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • M Member 96

              I particularly love hard sci fi and have probably read everything there is short of stuff published in the last 6 months going all the way back to Jules Verne. Hogan is good, I also read the Rick Cook series and that's an ideal recommendation for a summer read for programmers in particular, good one! My only interest in myths and legends tends to be trippy fantasy stuff set in north america featuring native legends as part of it's theme, but as a child I *loved* sea stories and of course the mythos of HP Lovecraft.


              "110%" - it's the new 70%

              G Offline
              G Offline
              Gary R Wheeler
              wrote on last edited by
              #26

              John Cardinal wrote:

              fantasy stuff set in north america featuring native legends as part of it's theme

              Cyber Way by Alan Dean Foster.


              Software Zen: delete this;

              Fold With Us![^]

              1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • M Member 96

                For those of us in the Northern hemisphere going into summer and potentially holidays it's traditional to stock up on books that can be read on holidays while lazing beside a large body of water sipping the beverage of your choice. A good summer read should be a book that suits the mood of a relaxing holiday, enjoyable, not too deep but thought provoking is ok (I.E. not War and Peace), definitely fiction (NO PROGRAMMING BOOKS), ideally a single self contained novel, not a huge series etc. I'm taking the summer off after a hard 5+ years of straight long hours, anyone have any summer reading recommendations? My recommendations for a couple of classics: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury[^] While I read it many years ago it's an all time classic and I'd recommend The left hand of darkness by Ursula LeGuin[^]


                "110%" - it's the new 70%

                N Offline
                N Offline
                Nic Rowan
                wrote on last edited by
                #27

                I battled through that The left hand of darkness. Was a tough read. Looking at Jim Crafton's List there's some good stuff; Hyperion was good but the series went on a bit, definately not a quick read. I've heard good things about the Illium series though. I've just started Peter Hamilton's - Night's Dawn Trilogy, so far they're cool but they're also not quick reads. Some other old classic sci fi that I enjoyed: I. Asimov - Foundation Ray Bradbury - Fahrenheit 451 John Wyndham - The Day of the Triffids Philip K. Dick - Do Androids dream of Electric sheep (the book Blade runner was based on) Robert A. Heinlein - Starship troopers Orson Scott Card - Ender's Game, Speaker for the dead Larry Niven - Ringworld I don't know if you enjoy warhammer 40k but there was a book by Dan Abnett called Eisenhorn that was fantastic. I've also heard good things about William Gibson's Neuromancer although I haven't read it myself yet. Oh, and you can never go wrong with Terry Pratchett or Neil Gaiman.


                Dad always thought laughter was the best medicine, which I guess is why several of us died of tuberculosis. I can picture in my mind a world without war, a world without hate. And I can picture us attacking that world, because they'd never expect it.


                M 1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • M Member 96

                  I particularly love hard sci fi and have probably read everything there is short of stuff published in the last 6 months going all the way back to Jules Verne. Hogan is good, I also read the Rick Cook series and that's an ideal recommendation for a summer read for programmers in particular, good one! My only interest in myths and legends tends to be trippy fantasy stuff set in north america featuring native legends as part of it's theme, but as a child I *loved* sea stories and of course the mythos of HP Lovecraft.


                  "110%" - it's the new 70%

                  F Offline
                  F Offline
                  Flynn Arrowstarr Regular Schmoe
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #28

                  John Cardinal wrote:

                  My only interest in myths and legends tends to be trippy fantasy stuff set in north america featuring native legends as part of it's theme

                  The David Sullivan series by Tom Dietz[^] would be right up your alley. It's a blend of Celtic and Native American mythology set in Georgia. There are nine books in the series, though most stand on their own pretty well. Flynn

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • M Member 96

                    For those of us in the Northern hemisphere going into summer and potentially holidays it's traditional to stock up on books that can be read on holidays while lazing beside a large body of water sipping the beverage of your choice. A good summer read should be a book that suits the mood of a relaxing holiday, enjoyable, not too deep but thought provoking is ok (I.E. not War and Peace), definitely fiction (NO PROGRAMMING BOOKS), ideally a single self contained novel, not a huge series etc. I'm taking the summer off after a hard 5+ years of straight long hours, anyone have any summer reading recommendations? My recommendations for a couple of classics: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury[^] While I read it many years ago it's an all time classic and I'd recommend The left hand of darkness by Ursula LeGuin[^]


                    "110%" - it's the new 70%

                    V Offline
                    V Offline
                    Vikram A Punathambekar
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #29

                    The New Life by Orhan Pamuk.

                    Cheers, Vıkram.


                    After all is said and done, much is said and little is done.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • R Reagan Conservative

                      Any book by Robert Ludlum (e.g., "Bourne Identity"). Any book by James Michener (e.g., "Hawaii").

                      John P.

                      L Offline
                      L Offline
                      Liam OHagan
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #30

                      Be careful, there was a book released recently with Robert Ludlum's name emblazoned across the front cover. I picked it up with great curiosity, as Robert Ludlum has been dead for quite a while. In the fine print was a note that the book had been commissioned by the Robert Ludlum foundation, or something along those lines, to be written in the 'style' of Robert Ludlum. In my mind that's worse than the tripe put out by shadow writers, of which Clive Cussler seems to have taken a great fancy. As for a good book, written by the guy with his name on the cover (well how about that) try 'From Here To Eternity' by James Jones. Quite old fashioned (in a middle of last century way) but beatifully written and very moving.

                      I have no blog...

                      1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • M Member 96

                        I particularly love hard sci fi and have probably read everything there is short of stuff published in the last 6 months going all the way back to Jules Verne. Hogan is good, I also read the Rick Cook series and that's an ideal recommendation for a summer read for programmers in particular, good one! My only interest in myths and legends tends to be trippy fantasy stuff set in north america featuring native legends as part of it's theme, but as a child I *loved* sea stories and of course the mythos of HP Lovecraft.


                        "110%" - it's the new 70%

                        R Offline
                        R Offline
                        ResidentGeek
                        wrote on last edited by
                        #31

                        So, how are you with David Weber? I love the Honor Harrington books, but there are a number of other series that he wrote or co-wrote that are certainly worth the reading. Or Modesitt's science fiction can be fun (the fantasy is, too, but you have to be into that sort of thing). Elizabeth Moon's stuff can be excellent, either sci-fi or fantasy. And of course, there's always Asimov, Poul Anderson (The "Time Patrol" stuff is usually a nice time-waster for me), Larry Niven/Jerry Pournelle ("The Mote in God's Eye is an old favorite!). Heinlein is a good read if you're in the right mood - in fact his young adult sci-fi was among the books that got me really hooked on science fiction. Andre Norton if you're more into character than hard-core sci-fi. And if I'm in a full-on fantasy mode, bring on the Mercedes Lackey :)

                        Caffeine - it's what's for breakfast! (and lunch, and dinner, and...)

                        M 1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • R ResidentGeek

                          So, how are you with David Weber? I love the Honor Harrington books, but there are a number of other series that he wrote or co-wrote that are certainly worth the reading. Or Modesitt's science fiction can be fun (the fantasy is, too, but you have to be into that sort of thing). Elizabeth Moon's stuff can be excellent, either sci-fi or fantasy. And of course, there's always Asimov, Poul Anderson (The "Time Patrol" stuff is usually a nice time-waster for me), Larry Niven/Jerry Pournelle ("The Mote in God's Eye is an old favorite!). Heinlein is a good read if you're in the right mood - in fact his young adult sci-fi was among the books that got me really hooked on science fiction. Andre Norton if you're more into character than hard-core sci-fi. And if I'm in a full-on fantasy mode, bring on the Mercedes Lackey :)

                          Caffeine - it's what's for breakfast! (and lunch, and dinner, and...)

                          M Offline
                          M Offline
                          Member 96
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #32

                          I've read all of the books and pretty much all the books and short stories written by the authors you mentioned, all good choices. I too first got addicted to sci fi reading Heinlein in junior high school, however going back and reading some of it now it's very different.


                          "110%" - it's the new 70%

                          R F 2 Replies Last reply
                          0
                          • M Member 96

                            I've read all of the books and pretty much all the books and short stories written by the authors you mentioned, all good choices. I too first got addicted to sci fi reading Heinlein in junior high school, however going back and reading some of it now it's very different.


                            "110%" - it's the new 70%

                            R Offline
                            R Offline
                            ResidentGeek
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #33

                            Sounds like you have the same issue I do - while it's fun re-reading old friends, some books just aren't the same on a re-read, and finding *new* books can be a problem! I definitely agree about Heinlein - although I have probably read each and every thing he's written at some point, it's definitely different reading his stuff with adult eyes. And some of the last stuff he wrote, while entertaining, was just a little... well, odd. If I find anything new, I'll definitely pass it along. I'm looking, myself, since I have a few weeks' vacation coming up in less than a month.

                            Caffeine - it's what's for breakfast! (and lunch, and dinner, and...)

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • N Nish Nishant

                              I don't know if you like Sherlock Holmes, but if you do - get his complete collection which is worth a week or two's reading :-) [I've re-read the entire collection some 7-8 times; though I haven't done that in several years now]

                              Regards, Nish


                              Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
                              My latest book : C++/CLI in Action / Amazon.com link

                              S Offline
                              S Offline
                              Sarath C
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #34

                              Nishant Sivakumar wrote:

                              I don't know if you like Sherlock Holmes, but if you do - get his complete collection which is worth a week or two's reading

                              Yea! I decided to purchase one... Nish who authored the one you specified? I got confused with Search Result from ebay.in[^]

                              -Sarath_._ "Great hopes make everything great possible" - Benjamin Franklin

                              My blog - Sharing My Thoughts, An Article - Understanding Statepattern

                              N 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • M MatrixCoder

                                Dean Koontz and Michael Crichton have some great books. If not any of those, then What To Read Next might help you find a good book.


                                Trinity: Neo... nobody has ever done this before. Neo: That's why it's going to work.

                                J Offline
                                J Offline
                                JDL EPM
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #35

                                Dean Koontz was in the year before me in high school. He dedicated some of his books to Miss Garbrick - a heck of an English teacher!

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • M Member 96

                                  For those of us in the Northern hemisphere going into summer and potentially holidays it's traditional to stock up on books that can be read on holidays while lazing beside a large body of water sipping the beverage of your choice. A good summer read should be a book that suits the mood of a relaxing holiday, enjoyable, not too deep but thought provoking is ok (I.E. not War and Peace), definitely fiction (NO PROGRAMMING BOOKS), ideally a single self contained novel, not a huge series etc. I'm taking the summer off after a hard 5+ years of straight long hours, anyone have any summer reading recommendations? My recommendations for a couple of classics: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury[^] While I read it many years ago it's an all time classic and I'd recommend The left hand of darkness by Ursula LeGuin[^]


                                  "110%" - it's the new 70%

                                  S Offline
                                  S Offline
                                  si618
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #36

                                  As a sci-fi geek I've been chastising myself having missed Frank Herbert's "Dune" from my reading list until only recently. Fantastic read that I have a hard time putting down! Will definitely be buying the rest of the series. A fave of my favorite sci-fi authors: Issac Assimov: Foundation series for an enthralling (long) read, or pick up one of his great robot books (e.g. Caves of steel) for a quick read. William Gibson: Early work like the sprawl series (Nueromancer, Burning Chrome, Monolisa overdrive) are easier IMHO to read than his more recent work, but I enjoy almost anything he releases. Neil Stephenson: Cryptonomicon and Snow-crash are my faves...i'll be starting on his latest trilogy after I finish Dune. Iain Banks: Most of his sci-fi work follows a similar, but enjoyable theme. Or perhaps just flick threw the Hugo and/or Nebula award winners and take your pick?

                                  M 1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • M Member 96

                                    For those of us in the Northern hemisphere going into summer and potentially holidays it's traditional to stock up on books that can be read on holidays while lazing beside a large body of water sipping the beverage of your choice. A good summer read should be a book that suits the mood of a relaxing holiday, enjoyable, not too deep but thought provoking is ok (I.E. not War and Peace), definitely fiction (NO PROGRAMMING BOOKS), ideally a single self contained novel, not a huge series etc. I'm taking the summer off after a hard 5+ years of straight long hours, anyone have any summer reading recommendations? My recommendations for a couple of classics: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury[^] While I read it many years ago it's an all time classic and I'd recommend The left hand of darkness by Ursula LeGuin[^]


                                    "110%" - it's the new 70%

                                    M Offline
                                    M Offline
                                    Mark II
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #37

                                    John Cardinal wrote:

                                    NO PROGRAMMING BOOKS

                                    That doesn't sound like much of a holiday to me! ;) My Blog: http://allwrong.wordpress.com[^]

                                    M 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • S Sarath C

                                      Nishant Sivakumar wrote:

                                      I don't know if you like Sherlock Holmes, but if you do - get his complete collection which is worth a week or two's reading

                                      Yea! I decided to purchase one... Nish who authored the one you specified? I got confused with Search Result from ebay.in[^]

                                      -Sarath_._ "Great hopes make everything great possible" - Benjamin Franklin

                                      My blog - Sharing My Thoughts, An Article - Understanding Statepattern

                                      N Offline
                                      N Offline
                                      Nish Nishant
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #38

                                      Sarath. wrote:

                                      Yea! I decided to purchase one... Nish who authored the one you specified? I got confused with Search Result from ebay.in[^]

                                      Author is Arthur Conan Doyle. The one you need is "Complete Works Of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle"

                                      Regards, Nish


                                      Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
                                      My latest book : C++/CLI in Action / Amazon.com link

                                      S 1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • N Nish Nishant

                                        Sarath. wrote:

                                        Yea! I decided to purchase one... Nish who authored the one you specified? I got confused with Search Result from ebay.in[^]

                                        Author is Arthur Conan Doyle. The one you need is "Complete Works Of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle"

                                        Regards, Nish


                                        Nish’s thoughts on MFC, C++/CLI and .NET (my blog)
                                        My latest book : C++/CLI in Action / Amazon.com link

                                        S Offline
                                        S Offline
                                        Sarath C
                                        wrote on last edited by
                                        #39

                                        Thanks Nish.

                                        -Sarath_._ "Great hopes make everything great possible" - Benjamin Franklin

                                        My blog - Sharing My Thoughts, An Article - Understanding Statepattern

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • M Member 96

                                          For those of us in the Northern hemisphere going into summer and potentially holidays it's traditional to stock up on books that can be read on holidays while lazing beside a large body of water sipping the beverage of your choice. A good summer read should be a book that suits the mood of a relaxing holiday, enjoyable, not too deep but thought provoking is ok (I.E. not War and Peace), definitely fiction (NO PROGRAMMING BOOKS), ideally a single self contained novel, not a huge series etc. I'm taking the summer off after a hard 5+ years of straight long hours, anyone have any summer reading recommendations? My recommendations for a couple of classics: Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury[^] While I read it many years ago it's an all time classic and I'd recommend The left hand of darkness by Ursula LeGuin[^]


                                          "110%" - it's the new 70%

                                          M Offline
                                          M Offline
                                          mrwh
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #40

                                          If you have lots of spare time & fancy something different & very rewarding, I'd recommend "In Search of Lost Time" by Proust. It's quite a sizeable series but worth the effort. Science Fiction/Fantasy-wise Tad Williams' "The Dragonbone Chair" is one of my favourites, & up there with Tolkien IMO. History: "A People's History of the United States: 1492-present" by Howard Zinn Quick & brilliant Philsophy: "The Consolations of Philosophy" by Alain de Botton Inspiring Biography: "Che Guevara: A Revolutionary Life" by Jon Lee Anderson Superb classics: "The Iliad"; "Dangerous Liaisons"; "One Hundred Years of Solitude"; "The Catcher in the Rye"; "1984 Nineteen Eighty-Four" (Perhaps relevant now more than ever). Enjoy!

                                          M 1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Categories
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • World
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups