Blade Runner predates Neuromancer---- Gibson walked into theater to see it while working on book and was so shocked by his ideas being realized before him walked out.
I've done the "Close the book, look at it and say wow" thing. It's a great feeling. Roadside Picnic I think was one; probably Stars My Destination as well.
I read an interview with Frank Zappa back in the mid 60's. When asked what would he want to have the most if he was stuck on an island, he said "the complete works of Cordwainer Smith". That name stuck and years later, in an old dusty bookstore I found an old pulp with Smith's story "The Lady Who Sailed the Soul". I was immediately hooked and went on to collect all of his works. I hope one day you might put some time in to discuss his short stories such as "A Planet Named Shayol" and well, all of them. Truly "neato" ( used to use that word for everything I loved when I was a little kid!) I'm 74 and love finding people like you dude! Keep going man!
"A Canticle for Liebowitz" by Walter Miller is one of the few SF novels that is officially listed in the Western Canon as "important literature". It is not an easy read, but well worth it. It is dystopian.
Well, Matt, you are really getting into the great stuff: 'Neuromancer', 'Norstrilia' and 'The Iron Dream' are all in my book '100 Must Read Science Fiction Novels'. Matt Dafoe at Science Fiction Reads is going through a Cordwainer jag at the moment, which got me re-reading 'The Rediscovery of Man' which I'm loving all over again - and he directed me to the NESFA edition, which is complete, unlike the UK one (Smith's stories were split over 3 vols last time they were all in print over here) - and yep, CS is far more interesting than Banks! Would love a copy of that Dickson with that jacket, impossible to find over here, a fun book. Shame about the Gerrold, I'd recommend 'The Man Who Folded Himself' instead (as in my latest hardcover haul video), but he's not in the same league as Spinrad, Smith and Gibson. Good vid again!
Ooooh. Just randomly been recommended your channel by an algorithm - who knew one would actually send me something I needed. Haha. I'll be going down a rabbit hole when I finish work. I'm new to reading. I have really bad adhd, i discovered audiable a few years ago and in hooked. So I've got a lot of catching up to do. And I loooooove Sci fi
The Harlie book is a funny review. David Gerrold is the guy who wrote The Trouble with Tribbles - probably the most beloved Star Trek episode ever. He still kicks around on FB if you have any desire to chat with him. Loving your channel. Keep it up!
Dune was published in 1965. Norstrilia (complete and final version) was published in 1975, but Norstrilia had short novelettes and stories as forefunners which were published in 1964. Not sure if either Dune and/or Norstrilia influenced the other or to what extent. In any case, I definitely love Cordwainer Smith and think he's hugely underrated. In fact, he's one of my favorite writers in any genre.
Love your videos, so interesting and thought-provoking, thank you. One minor point about Neuromancer - Blade Runner came first by a few years. The whole wet Japanese neon futuristic thing comes from there.
Neuromancer is the first book in the "Sprawl" trilogy by Gibson, the next two are: Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive. Read them all, each builds on the former book, and the whole cycle is amazing.
Hey mate. You might not remember this, or you may because you replied, but I recommended Cordwainer Smith to you a few months back. Delighted to see you enjoyed Nostrilla. Before you get to the doorstep size version of his short stories, can I recommend the smaller paperback version, short dive before the big dive. It contains A Game of Cat and Dragon, which Alastair Reynolds reckons is the best SF short story ever written. Also, I know fantasy disappoints you regularly but on foot of my CS recommend can I also recommend The Vorrh trilogy by B.Gatling. Enjoy.
All those Neuromancer covers and I didn't see the one I read. It blew my mind. I had a time figuring out the jargon at first but once I got it, wow, what a world.
Thoughtful reviews as always, Matt. Since you appreciated Neuromancer, I can't recommend Gibson & Stirling's "The Difference Engine" more highly. Laid the foundations of SteamPunk as the former did for Cyber. Those two works are superbly seminal 😎
The Mote in Gods Eye is easily in my top 5 sci fi novels.The storytelling is first rate,the characters are believable and it's just overall an enjoyable read.The story hints at an empire preceeding the present,where techniques were available then but lost now.Sadly,the follow up novel,whicj took Jerry Pounelle and Larry Niven almost ten years to write,is far less enjoyable,at least to my.And again,sadly,that universe wasn't really built upon,at least to my knowledge.And yes,Cordwainer Smith was a unique artist.Never vulgar or excessively violent,his stories are truly a rarity in sci fi.Great vid.
Nice video! Neuromancer is my #1 Sci-Fi book, I read it when it came out and re-read it a few more times back in the day. Burning Chrome is also a fantastic short story IMO. I read a few Bruce Sterling books, Heavy Weather and Islands in the Net I still have, but never found his works engaging enough.
I'm two years ate getting to this edition, but ... Thank You! for the link to Gregory B Sadler! As I've just found out, he has a 39-video series on PKD which I have now made a must-watch playlist!
Cordwainer Smith literally wrote THE textbook on psychological warfare for the US Army published in 1948 under his birth name, Paul Linebarger and titled Psychological Warfare (!)
Please persevere with the Culture novels. Player of Games is often considered one of the best, but it's Use of Weapons, and the Algebraist for me... I'm just beginning A Deepness in the Sky. All the best from Scotland 🙏🏴🙏😸
May I ask you a question, paz newis?: I own the first three Culture novels…what do you think of my plan to read Player of Games first, and then Use of Weapons, before then going back and reading Consider Phlebas…the idea being that the series will endear itself to me more quickly if I turn Consider Phlebas into a “prequel” that doesn’t perhaps launch the series in the best way possible?
I have an interview clip with SF writer Tom Toner coming up on thursday 12th May on my channel where we discuss Banks - I'm not much of a fan, but Tom is, so it'll be worth a look. I'm pretty much with Matt on this, I find Banks pretty dull.
@@sethball2475 start anywhere, I would reread many of them many times, but perhaps Excession is the zenith... I read Great Expectations first... It's all downhill from there....
@@Bookpilled as I just mentioned to Seth start anywhere, I reread many of them many times but perhaps Excession is the best. I read Great Expectations first, it's all downhill from there...
Terrific video! As soon as I see you prepared to talk about six books, it’s time to settle in and enjoy extensive commentary on the ones you especially loved, and you delivered. I remember reading When HARLIE Was One, and having exactly your problems. I think it got revised and “modernized”, so as to shed its 1970s tells, but I read what you read, and have no time for revamps. I have to recommend The Man Who Folded Himself, by Gerrold, instead. Will likely provide a totally different Gerrold experience. I love Norstrilia, and do not like Neuromancer - so let’s split the diff on those. Love that cheesy Gray Morrow cover on the Norstrilia edition we both own. I need to read the rest of Cordwainer Smith - gonna guess I’ve read and forgotten a few of his short stories in collections - but, on the other side of the coin, if you pursue more cyberpunk, especially from around Neuromancer’s time, maybe keep an eye out for the one I loved from 1985 - The Silicon Man, by Charles Platt. I also wonder what you would think of a neglected book by Christopher Priest, The Extremes. You make me want to order The Iron Dream immediately. I highly recommend Bug Jack Barron by Spinrad.
Spinrad is strange in that I never ever run into his books when browsing in meatspace. I have heard that title though, will pick it up if I do find it. And I've never heard of a book getting the Spielberg treatment like that before. Pretty wild.
@@Bookpilled There’s a Bob Shaw novel that started life as Ground Zero Man, but got re-released years later as The Peace Machine. I agree with Outlaw Bookseller, the earlier title for the novel was so much more dynamic - “The Peace Machine” is a dull title, maybe more than Ground Zero Man being all that brilliant - but it wasn’t just a title change. The book had minor “revisions”, and The Peace Machine was “updated”. I never read the updated version, but Ground Zero Man, written in the 1970s, featured a newscast in its proposed future of 1988 that, in its Entertainment News, talked of John and Yoko living happily in a new house (or something like that). So I can see how that sort of thing would get deleted right out - but how could anyone foresee what happened to John Lennon. Regardless, my impression is that Gerrold’s novel got more things changed than Bob Shaw’s book.
I've been watching through your backlog of videos, and I was delighted to see you talk about Cordwainer Smith. He's my favorite author, and Norstrilia is my favorite novel. I actually just completed a feature-length documentary about Smith's life and work for my CZcams channel, and I think we're the first people to ever adapt/dramatize scenes from Norstrilia.
Gibson's more recent novels are even MORE divisive. I would be curious to see your take on one of those! _Norstrilia_ is now on my TBR as is _The Iron Dream_.
I read Masters of Everton many years ago and liked it. It’s below average among the Dickson novels I’ve read. His library is very diverse so I usually recommend the Dorsai books first. I read The Iron Dream not long ago. I DNFed it, mostly because I found myself saying “I get it” and didn’t see why it needed to be a full-length novel. Spinrad is a skilled writer and I will be back for more at some point.
Neuromancer is great and so is the rest of the Sprawl trilogy, in my opinion. I think a lot of the divisiveness comes from people's reading styles. If you're used to reading fast because the stuff you read is mostly filler with key words then you'll need to slow down for Neuromancer since you'll be missing most of the content since it's so dense. Neuromancer slowed my reading speed significantly because I noticed that I was missing out on so much. Also, Neuromancer feels like being dropped in the middle of a foreign city. You'll hear words and terms that you won't know about but you'll need to take a mental note of them because within a chapter you'll encounter more info about them and so if you go back and re-read the initial parts then everything will make sense. Kinda how when you learn what a word you've been hearing actually means and that gives you context to past conversations. I think people don't expect that from the book and end up struggling through it and disliking it.
Triplanetary is the worst in the series (and was added to the series after the fact as a prequel) .. If you want to try e.e. doc smith, try galactic patrol (It's the most pulp book i have read, so try not to laugh on stuff like Kolos galactic Balls :D Great video as always
I had the same experience reading Cordwainer Smith, except that I read his short stories first. Norstrilia is next. Reading him is an experience. There is a short story collection which I think Robert Silverberg helped put together with the title You Will Never Be The Same.
I am new to your channel and I am pleased to see someone review some of the great SF of the past 60 years (and earlier). Good Job. There is one glaring omission in your list of great first contact novels “The Sparrow” by Mary Doria Russell (1998). You may be familiar with it. Ms. Russell was a sociology professor and is interested in what happens when two totally different cultures meet. Since such an event is not possible on Earth now, she chose to construct an intricately structured alien culture. Like in “Mote in God’s Eye”, it is the humans who make the first contact. She then explores what happens to the alien culture and also followed what happens to the crew of the first contact ship AND what happens to several individuals in the alien race. Very personal. The book is wildly original. Example: the first chapter starts the story in the middle. The second chapter tells what happens in the beginning. The book continues to alternate chapters in the way and it WORKS ! Another factoid: the first expedition to the alien world was financed by the Jesuits, but religion plays a very minor role in the story. I think you will like it. The author has written only six books in the 24 years since her first novel “the Sparrow” was published. Only one was SF, a sequel to the “Sparrow”. The others have wildly different stories and settings. Two are Westerns. Again wildly original. Enjoy.
Regarding "The Iron Dream", your commentary, your take was straightforward, honest and refreshing. I thought about some apt word to describe your reaction to the first fifty pages of the book which you stated had you smiling yet doing so in the sober context of a very sensitive subject. I submit: 'schadenfreude'. And regarding Ursula K. LeGuin's critique that the book was 'too long', methinks she might have been unable to suppress some envy, as this book you describe sounds quite eloquent. I am partial to her novel "The Lathe of Heaven" for some reason. Her creations resonate with me inexplicably, especially that one. Love this channel. I subscribed with notifications and, glad I did. Cheers.
I've never read When Harlie was One. But I recall a couple of old books about AI that I really liked. Sea of Glass by Barry Longyear, and The Adolescence of P-1 by Thomas Ryan.
Just picked up Necromancer by Gordon R. Dickson (I misremembered the name of that one book EVERYONE recommends). Only a couple chapters in, but I like it so far. :)
Neuromancer is quite the novel. A couple years later Walter Jon Williams wrote Hardwired which if nothing else you need to read the first chapter, which is painted in vivid colors.
No question Neuromancer is one of those books thats was so influential it became a dividing line in science fiction writing. I was however shocked at the time at how bad the prose was. It reads like a graphic novel without the graphics. Its also interesting to note that it was so complete a vision that all cyberpunk that has followed has felt like a kind of parody of it. Its an entire genre that was completely played out in one novel. Though Stephenson's "Snow Crash" is quite good.
A book I did enjoy by David Gerrold was The Man Who Folded Himself. Kind of a time travel/ multiverse thing but interesting thought experiment about meeting yourself in different versions along the variable possible outcomes of time travel.
Great vid Matt. Just finished Children of Ruin and it contains some superb Sci-Fi horror which I know is your cup of tea, maybe one to add to the list/fireplace. You do have to read Children of Time first, but that is no bad thing!
Many thanks for the video recommendation of Gregory Sadler's. I'm looking forward to that as well as Norstrilia. I'm a good portion of the way through his short fiction collection and its superb. Especially reading them in chronological order and watching the worldbuilding expand as mankind advances, or in some cases declines along the way.
Cordwainer Smith is one of my favorite sci-fi authors on the strength of the stories collected in _The Best of Cordwainer Smith_ alone. “The Game of Rat and Dragon,” “Under Old Earth,” “The Dead. Lady of Clown Town” (etc etc) are all fantastically inventive and wonderful and create one of the most interesting future histories out there. But I haven’t read Norstrilia! I’ve been worried about how he would handle a longer story, especially as I don’t quite love _The Quest of the Three Worlds_ as much. Gonna have to read it now. Also a number of his short stories not included in _The Best of_ are big duds. Read them all if you can’t get enough of the Smith universe.
interesting pen name. a Cordwainer is a shoemaker of new shoes of cordovan leather, but also a smith! as opposed to a cobbler, whom just repairs. his father sent his mother to the states so he would be born as a natural citizen, groomed to be President someday. there is an interesting mix of east and west in his writing.
When you mentioned wanting to read more cyberpunk, I at once thought of Trouble and Her Friends by Melissa Scott, first published in 1994. It is probably best known for having a lesbian protagonist, but I just like that it takes the basic "hackers in virtual reality" setting and gives it a more grounded feeling.
I vaguely remember reading "When Harlie was One." I think it was serialized in Galaxy. No desire to read it again. Norstrilia was not Linebarger's only novel. He wrote a couple others, very early, before he started writing SF. Yes, you >>must
I was first introduced to Smith during university. I enrolled in a Psychobiology class taught by Dr. Alan Elms. It was the most memorable class of my college experience. Dr. Elms is a contributor on the official Cordwainer Smith website.
Agree 100% about Neuromancer. The writing is incredible - electric and startling. One note: Gibson was actually influenced by Blade Runner, as it was released several years before Neuromancer. Really enjoy your channel. I also hate much sci-fi that I read even though I adore the genre.
no, not at all. only that gibson was was writing neuromancer and so was shocked by the blade runner movie and walked out stunned. he did not know the pkd story either. so not really an influence on his book.
Glad to hear you're loving the cyberpunk. I hope you satill have that copy of Mirrorshades! I still say you'll probably like "Burning Chrome" even better. A number of PKD's short stories from the 50's blew me away at how cyberpunk they were. No I don't have any thing as usefull as specific titles ( and some of those 118 short stories read like early Heinlein - caveat lector.)
Great stuff. I’m enjoying your channel. Thank you. Regarding E.E. “Doc” Smith and Lensman… I just enjoyed the ride as the early Space Opera that it is. It’s fun. I especially enjoyed Grey Lensman. Something about the idea of graduating from the system and going independent just resonated. The Stars My Destination (Tiger, Tiger), still a major favorite. You’ve mentioned that in a couple of other videos. The Count of Monte Christo had nothing on Gullie. 😂
Speaking of cyberpunk, would love to hear your thoughts on K.W. Jeter(Farewell Horizontal, Noir, etc.) & Rudy Rucker's early output. Both authors were more prolific than the dearth of commentary might suggest. Also: not that easy to find in the wilds of northern california. Great overview of genre lit as always, Bookpilled ty
Rucker had a tendency to just get weird. I remember thinking he was doing some interesting drugs to come up with some of his stuff. I didn't like the writing, but I had to give him credit for getting so far out.
@@jumperpoint I kind of agree; rember getting weirded outt by a book in his wetware trilogy? something about robot brains controlling humans, and a P.I. that was into a body-melting drug called Merge
Neuromancer is short enough that it can and probably should be taken in a small number of big bites. Bill Gibson is prophetic not only of future sci-fi, but of future science and even how we see the actual future and our place in it.
NESFA Press released a collection of all of Cordwainer Smith's short stories titled The Rediscovery of Man. I highly, highly recommend you track down a copy.
Excellent channel, it just popped up on my feed. As to the two novels you DNF'd, some of the problem even with today's sci-fi, is the fattening up of a great short story idea to novel length. The publisher wants 60-100K words. The use of metaphors and cliche prose, whole chapters of exposition and other thinner is applied to get the word count. And the reader is stuck with the dilemma of skimming for jewels in the storyline or tossing the book.
The man who folded himself by David Gerrold is one of the best time travel stories ive read, similar in a way to to the short story By his Bootstraps by Heinlein
On the subject of old-school cyberpunk, you might really appreciate "Hardwired" by Walter jon Williams. It was published couple of years after the Neuromancer, and it shares a lot of the same DNA (both being 80s action-packed neon dystopia thrillers), but it's more politically charged and imho just higher quality prose. A hidden gem of the genre.
Having read science fiction since 1953 I have never read nor to think there is a more unique author than Cordwainer Smith , I don't think there will be another like him. Yes do read The Rediscovery of Man. I first read Smith because of the titles of his stories, first ever was "Scanners Live in Vain" , but how could you go wrong with titles like Think Blue, Count Two" , "The Ballad of Lost C'Mell" or "No, No, Not Rogov!" .... more... Or find out about the Mother of All Planetary Defense Systems in "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons".... alas died relatively young due to a health condition he had or there would have been more.
You often discuss works with underlying Conservative or Right-Wing Politics with a tone of disapproval. I can certainly understand that school of thought, being in many ways left-wing politically. However, I do think it would be fascinating to see you talk about some examples of Conservative/Right Wing Sci-Fi that, despite their uncomfortable/repugnant/horrific implied politics, impress you on a technical or conceptual level. That said, I think you'd get stick from those less comfortable with separating politics from skill and imagination. Would you be interested in making such a video? If not, would it be because there would be a bad reaction or is there another reason? Perhaps that you're of the opinion there is no quality Conservative/Right-Wing Sci Fi? I won't assume, but I would be interested in your thoughts on the idea. Enjoyed this video. Glad I subscribed.
I don't know if I'd make a full video about it because I already get enough whining comments from conservatives as it is. I've talked about this topic in a few places. I have no problem with right-wing literature as such. I read a lot of authors that people on the left dislike (Mishima, Houellebecq). What I have a real problem with is cheapness, ugliness, easy answers, jingoism, shallow adulation of power. Most if it is either dull or repugnant. Conservative SF writers I like, and of course the term is a loose designation: Cordwainer Smith, Gene Wolfe, Vernor Vinge, Gordon Dickson to a lesser extent.
just found your channel. I love me some science fiction. When you only read three pages and it sucks, it really shows you gotta his the ground running. Cheers
Good reviews. And sensible of you to not finish books. When I was young, I never did not finish a book - and I read a lot, basically all the time. But then I studied English and comparative literature, which I think rewired my until then all-consuming brain and made me a far more discerning reader, so now I don't have any qualms about putting a book down after a page or two. For self-published books, this usually happens when I encounter the second grammatical or text flow error in a few pages that is clearly not an accidental typo, for established writers it often happens when the motion of the story feels contrived right away, or they are trying too hard to write in a particular style that doesn't suit their abilities, the story, or both. That reminds me I should go back to do some more reading as I am halfway through Le Guin's "The Lathe of Heaven". Not a book one should stop reading. And I enjoy the Daoist references that many readers might miss, but which of course are not essential to understanding or enjoying it.
Yes, you really missed it by not finishing ‘When Harley was One’. You should try to finish it. David Gerrold is a wonderful author. The story was s about a computer program that becomes sentient, always accessing more and more memory, where ever it can find it. The interaction between Harley and real people is noteworthy. -Dennis
I like a lot of Dickson's stuff. Much of his Childe Cycle is very good. Although it's been probably 15-20 years since I last read it, I always felt his stand-alone novel The Way of the Pilgrim was great. I've only read one of Cordwainer Smith's short story collections, but I enjoyed it. WRT the Culture, Consider Phlebas was ok, but I found The Player of Games to be noticeably better. I'm looking forward to reading more Culture novels.
Really enjoying these reviews! Are you going to do Lord of Light? Another set I'd be interested to hear are the Demon Princes books by Jack Vance. Maybe not good, but interesting
I have the full set of Demon Princes in Daw paperbacks. I want to get to it soon but will finish the Dying Earth series first. Lord of Light is somewhere on the agenda, yes.
The first part of Norstrilia, The Planet Buyer, was published in 1964. A shorter version of the second part was published in 1964 in a magazine before being published in its complete form in 1968. It's unclear, however, if Herbert was aware of either story while developing Dune.
I read Norstrilia in my 20s (several centuries ago now). All I remember was it was way weird and enjoyable. Another book to re-read. (FD: I am Australian). Iron Dream. Another re-read. Bloomsbury book is quite good. So is the Pringle 100 Best SF Novels: an English-language selection, 1949-1984 (and the sequel 1985 - 2010 edited by Damien Broderick & Paul Di Filippo,) Time for a 3rd version soon? Also, Pringle's Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction..
Have you read "Quest of the Three Worlds" by C. Smith? I'm pretty sure it's not part of "The Rediscovery of Man" or "Norstrilia", but I can pass on the ebook to you if you like. I started Norstrilia.... but I shouldn't have dipped my toe into it because I'm knee deep in Abercrombie right now. I'll certainly come back to Norstrilia and Quest of the Three Worlds". Haven't tracked down "The Rediscovery of Man" yet.
You mentioned wanting to get into some Bruce Sterling so I went and looked up his bibliography to remind myself. I think he is a better short story and novella writer than novels. Two must reads by him are "Bicycle Repairman" and "Taklamakan". They can be found in either A Good Old-fashioned Future (1999) or Ascendencies: The Best of Bruce Sterling (2007). Of the novels I've read, I'd reread Distraction (1998) and Zeitgeist (2000).
Great vid, great reviews! Thank you for *actuality discussing* Iron Dream in more than a few sentences! I appreciate such satire, but have a low tolerance for Nazis. I really appreciate you sketching out the contents so I have some idea of the story I'm getting into. It really helps! Now I just have to find a copy in the wild! It's funny, back in the days before so many used book stores closed I was constantly tripping over Dickson, Brunner, Cordwainer Smith, Simak, while trying to find PKD & Ellison. They seemed confined to the dated dustbin of time in the 90s. Great hearing about you rediscovering them and finding out I probably should have bought them up too! I just have to figure out where to find them nowadays w/o breaking the bank! Death of a thousand cuts. . .
IS there any Nazi-sympathetic SF satire? I have never seen that. I wouldn't have expected it from the SF writing community, at least not until the age of web-based fanfic. Now you can probably find anything.
Having read almost everything in SF (& Fantasy) from Hugo Gernsback through the Golden Age and to the 1980s when SF finally entered the mainstream and produced more authors than I could afford to follow, I read ''Consider Phlebas, (1987) the first SF novel by Iain M Banks. It is literate, humerous, multi-stranded and contains elements of cyber-culture and hard science that foreshadow current developments and predict science based on quantum effects under control. It's also politically progressive, similar but in a more assertive way than the original Star Trek. Keeping track of the different storylines is not easy and a struggle for many readers, which tends to result in an opinion of ''boring''. I have a habit (and time) to read almost anything in a single sitting, which I think makes a lot of difference. For me it instantly became ''the best SF book I have ever read'' and along with subsequent ''Culture'' novels one of the gems of my personal collection which exceeds 3000 books in SF & Fantasy alone.
I've been meaning to go to verbatim books for some time now. Just found it online a few months ago and I've lived in San Diego all my life. Now I'm definitely going to poke my head in there and see what gems I find
Mona Lisa Overdrive is a cool book title and the book is a really good read. I knew nothing of Gibson--the book's title alone made me curious. So glad I picked it up and read a long time ago.
i just read norstrilia last month on a month and a half trip to australia. talk about perfect timing, right? heads up i left it there at an op shop in south melbourne if anyone wants it (sacred heart on clarendon st). really enjoyed it although i felt it just kind of petered out at the end it was still satisfying. amazing world building and ideas for sure.
'When HARLIE was One: Release 2.0' came out in 1988 (16 years after the original) and is a revised version of what had been one of Gerrold's earliest work. I can't comment on the changes as I've only read 2.0. Though I do recall liking it quite a bit. Also Blade Runner (1982) preceded Neuromancer (1984,) so any influence goes the other way. A lot of Philip K. Dick's work contains themes that would influence what would become Cyberpunk. For further Cyberpunk reading I would recommend 'When Gravity Fails' by George Alec Effinger.
That little book you have there is fantastic, it has informed my reading quite recently. It's one that you can take as much or as little as you won't from. I have found that the further reading section at the end of each main recommendation is better than the actual main review. Pat Caddigan is not someone I would have read without it. I would recommend reading Richard Morgan as an excellent post Cyberpunk author and Bruce Sterlings Artificial Kid is very strange and also Rudy Rucker is a bit of a head fuck.
Triplanetary is one of if not my favorite book. Listened to it several times (yes that’s cheating lol). Try the PKD short story “The Variable Man”. You won’t like it but I love it lol. And “Day of the Trifids”. A plant zombie book.
There was an incident in When HARLIE was One where they uploaded the program into a larger computer with lots of memory and the program responded as if it was high on drugs. The computer scientist figured out what was going on. My responses to HARLIE and Neuromancer are the exact opposite of yours. I was a Customer Engineer for IBM and soldered together my first computer in 1978. Is science fiction about being literary or technology affecting society? Of course the effects will be dependent on what most people comprehend about technology. Ever read C. P. Snow's Two Cultures?
I don't think I could do random SF, especially old. It's bad enough having Larry Niven talk about how women are for sex. At least he's crative and can rub two words together to get a spark.
@6:20 sorry if this is a dumb question. What do you mean by your use of “purple” in describing the ending of this book? I find it interesting. I’ve never heard that turn of phrase before.
Cordwainer Smith, and Norman Spinrad. I always, since reading their short stories, felt they were sort of from the same neighborhood. Different places on the same street. A block or two from lyrical fantasy. Neither are anywhere close to being as well known as they deserve to be. Spinrad's The Last Hurrah of the Golden Horde, and Smith's, Best of Cordwainer Smith, were my introduction to these writers. I had never read anything like them before, and nothing quite like them since.
I would like to see your review of science fiction books that are "kind of overrated." But I think you are already aware that it is good to mix a few negative reviews with positive in any video. But I would really like your opinion on, let's say, award winning books that are really not so hot. Thanks again for your interesting reviews.
I really like you're showing different versions of covers. Sometimes the covers are the best part. Really great video evolution
Thanks. Not my original idea, I copied that from Media Death Cult
@@Bookpilled All artists borrow but great artists steal
Blade Runner predates Neuromancer---- Gibson walked into theater to see it while working on book and was so shocked by his ideas being realized before him walked out.
FYI - Apologies for being "that inernet guy", but "Blade Runner" came out before "Neuromancer". Great channel. Keep up the awesome work!
yes, but did Norstrilia before Dune? being 'that guy' is what the internet is for.
I've done the "Close the book, look at it and say wow" thing. It's a great feeling. Roadside Picnic I think was one; probably Stars My Destination as well.
I read an interview with Frank Zappa back in the mid 60's. When asked what would he want to have the most if he was stuck on an island, he said "the complete works of Cordwainer Smith". That name stuck and years later, in an old dusty bookstore I found an old pulp with Smith's story "The Lady Who Sailed the Soul". I was immediately hooked and went on to collect all of his works. I hope one day you might put some time in to discuss his short stories such as "A Planet Named Shayol" and well, all of them. Truly "neato" ( used to use that word for everything I loved when I was a little kid!) I'm 74 and love finding people like you dude! Keep going man!
"A Canticle for Liebowitz" by Walter Miller is one of the few SF novels that is officially listed in the Western Canon as "important literature". It is not an easy read, but well worth it. It is dystopian.
I am SO glad they had me read Canticle in high school… a great book!
Canticle.for.lebowitz, Explains modern egyptology
Excellent book
Well, Matt, you are really getting into the great stuff: 'Neuromancer', 'Norstrilia' and 'The Iron Dream' are all in my book '100 Must Read Science Fiction Novels'. Matt Dafoe at Science Fiction Reads is going through a Cordwainer jag at the moment, which got me re-reading 'The Rediscovery of Man' which I'm loving all over again - and he directed me to the NESFA edition, which is complete, unlike the UK one (Smith's stories were split over 3 vols last time they were all in print over here) - and yep, CS is far more interesting than Banks! Would love a copy of that Dickson with that jacket, impossible to find over here, a fun book. Shame about the Gerrold, I'd recommend 'The Man Who Folded Himself' instead (as in my latest hardcover haul video), but he's not in the same league as Spinrad, Smith and Gibson. Good vid again!
Man Who Folded Himself is great
Ooooh. Just randomly been recommended your channel by an algorithm - who knew one would actually send me something I needed. Haha.
I'll be going down a rabbit hole when I finish work.
I'm new to reading. I have really bad adhd, i discovered audiable a few years ago and in hooked. So I've got a lot of catching up to do.
And I loooooove Sci fi
I love the older SF because they were thin little books and had well constructed stories with original ideas.
The Harlie book is a funny review. David Gerrold is the guy who wrote The Trouble with Tribbles - probably the most beloved Star Trek episode ever. He still kicks around on FB if you have any desire to chat with him.
Loving your channel. Keep it up!
Dune was published in 1965. Norstrilia (complete and final version) was published in 1975, but Norstrilia had short novelettes and stories as forefunners which were published in 1964. Not sure if either Dune and/or Norstrilia influenced the other or to what extent. In any case, I definitely love Cordwainer Smith and think he's hugely underrated. In fact, he's one of my favorite writers in any genre.
Love your videos, so interesting and thought-provoking, thank you. One minor point about Neuromancer - Blade Runner came first by a few years. The whole wet Japanese neon futuristic thing comes from there.
Neuromancer is the first book in the "Sprawl" trilogy by Gibson, the next two are: Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive. Read them all, each builds on the former book, and the whole cycle is amazing.
Hey mate. You might not remember this, or you may because you replied, but I recommended Cordwainer Smith to you a few months back. Delighted to see you enjoyed Nostrilla. Before you get to the doorstep size version of his short stories, can I recommend the smaller paperback version, short dive before the big dive. It contains A Game of Cat and Dragon, which Alastair Reynolds reckons is the best SF short story ever written. Also, I know fantasy disappoints you regularly but on foot of my CS recommend can I also recommend The Vorrh trilogy by B.Gatling. Enjoy.
All those Neuromancer covers and I didn't see the one I read. It blew my mind. I had a time figuring out the jargon at first but once I got it, wow, what a world.
You always got books I never heard of and they always sound great. My TBR is already at 200+ so thanks for adding more 😂
Listening while on a long drive - excellent Sunday treat. Thanks for the new vid bookpilled!
Thoughtful reviews as always, Matt.
Since you appreciated Neuromancer, I can't recommend Gibson & Stirling's "The Difference Engine" more highly. Laid the foundations of SteamPunk as the former did for Cyber. Those two works are superbly seminal 😎
The Mote in Gods Eye is easily in my top 5 sci fi novels.The storytelling is first rate,the characters are believable and it's just overall an enjoyable read.The story hints at an empire preceeding the present,where techniques were available then but lost now.Sadly,the follow up novel,whicj took Jerry Pounelle and Larry Niven almost ten years to write,is far less enjoyable,at least to my.And again,sadly,that universe wasn't really built upon,at least to my knowledge.And yes,Cordwainer Smith was a unique artist.Never vulgar or excessively violent,his stories are truly a rarity in sci fi.Great vid.
Nice video! Neuromancer is my #1 Sci-Fi book, I read it when it came out and re-read it a few more times back in the day. Burning Chrome is also a fantastic short story IMO. I read a few Bruce Sterling books, Heavy Weather and Islands in the Net I still have, but never found his works engaging enough.
I'm two years ate getting to this edition, but ... Thank You! for the link to Gregory B Sadler! As I've just found out, he has a 39-video series on PKD which I have now made a must-watch playlist!
Cordwainer Smith literally wrote THE textbook on psychological warfare for the US Army published in 1948 under his birth name, Paul Linebarger and titled Psychological Warfare (!)
My main takeaway from this video- thrilled that someone is keeping the word "neato" alive in 2022.
"Colossus: the Forbin Project" is a good one. The movie version was excellent.
Please persevere with the Culture novels. Player of Games is often considered one of the best, but it's Use of Weapons, and the Algebraist for me... I'm just beginning A Deepness in the Sky.
All the best from Scotland 🙏🏴🙏😸
May I ask you a question, paz newis?: I own the first three Culture novels…what do you think of my plan to read Player of Games first, and then Use of Weapons, before then going back and reading Consider Phlebas…the idea being that the series will endear itself to me more quickly if I turn Consider Phlebas into a “prequel” that doesn’t perhaps launch the series in the best way possible?
I do intend to read Player of Games. I hear Phlebas is lesser.
I have an interview clip with SF writer Tom Toner coming up on thursday 12th May on my channel where we discuss Banks - I'm not much of a fan, but Tom is, so it'll be worth a look. I'm pretty much with Matt on this, I find Banks pretty dull.
@@sethball2475 start anywhere, I would reread many of them many times, but perhaps Excession is the zenith... I read Great Expectations first... It's all downhill from there....
@@Bookpilled as I just mentioned to Seth start anywhere, I reread many of them many times but perhaps Excession is the best. I read Great Expectations first, it's all downhill from there...
Thank you for not playing random music in the "background."
Terrific video! As soon as I see you prepared to talk about six books, it’s time to settle in and enjoy extensive commentary on the ones you especially loved, and you delivered.
I remember reading When HARLIE Was One, and having exactly your problems. I think it got revised and “modernized”, so as to shed its 1970s tells, but I read what you read, and have no time for revamps. I have to recommend The Man Who Folded Himself, by Gerrold, instead. Will likely provide a totally different Gerrold experience.
I love Norstrilia, and do not like Neuromancer - so let’s split the diff on those. Love that cheesy Gray Morrow cover on the Norstrilia edition we both own. I need to read the rest of Cordwainer Smith - gonna guess I’ve read and forgotten a few of his short stories in collections - but, on the other side of the coin, if you pursue more cyberpunk, especially from around Neuromancer’s time, maybe keep an eye out for the one I loved from 1985 - The Silicon Man, by Charles Platt. I also wonder what you would think of a neglected book by Christopher Priest, The Extremes.
You make me want to order The Iron Dream immediately. I highly recommend Bug Jack Barron by Spinrad.
Spinrad is strange in that I never ever run into his books when browsing in meatspace. I have heard that title though, will pick it up if I do find it. And I've never heard of a book getting the Spielberg treatment like that before. Pretty wild.
@@Bookpilled There’s a Bob Shaw novel that started life as Ground Zero Man, but got re-released years later as The Peace Machine. I agree with Outlaw Bookseller, the earlier title for the novel was so much more dynamic - “The Peace Machine” is a dull title, maybe more than Ground Zero Man being all that brilliant - but it wasn’t just a title change. The book had minor “revisions”, and The Peace Machine was “updated”. I never read the updated version, but Ground Zero Man, written in the 1970s, featured a newscast in its proposed future of 1988 that, in its Entertainment News, talked of John and Yoko living happily in a new house (or something like that). So I can see how that sort of thing would get deleted right out - but how could anyone foresee what happened to John Lennon. Regardless, my impression is that Gerrold’s novel got more things changed than Bob Shaw’s book.
I've been watching through your backlog of videos, and I was delighted to see you talk about Cordwainer Smith. He's my favorite author, and Norstrilia is my favorite novel. I actually just completed a feature-length documentary about Smith's life and work for my CZcams channel, and I think we're the first people to ever adapt/dramatize scenes from Norstrilia.
Gibson's more recent novels are even MORE divisive. I would be curious to see your take on one of those! _Norstrilia_ is now on my TBR as is _The Iron Dream_.
I read Masters of Everton many years ago and liked it. It’s below average among the Dickson novels I’ve read. His library is very diverse so I usually recommend the Dorsai books first.
I read The Iron Dream not long ago. I DNFed it, mostly because I found myself saying “I get it” and didn’t see why it needed to be a full-length novel. Spinrad is a skilled writer and I will be back for more at some point.
Great vid as always Matt. Thanks for heads up on new books to consider. I’ll be reading Neuromancer soon. Hope all is well. God bless
Neuromancer is great and so is the rest of the Sprawl trilogy, in my opinion. I think a lot of the divisiveness comes from people's reading styles. If you're used to reading fast because the stuff you read is mostly filler with key words then you'll need to slow down for Neuromancer since you'll be missing most of the content since it's so dense. Neuromancer slowed my reading speed significantly because I noticed that I was missing out on so much.
Also, Neuromancer feels like being dropped in the middle of a foreign city. You'll hear words and terms that you won't know about but you'll need to take a mental note of them because within a chapter you'll encounter more info about them and so if you go back and re-read the initial parts then everything will make sense. Kinda how when you learn what a word you've been hearing actually means and that gives you context to past conversations. I think people don't expect that from the book and end up struggling through it and disliking it.
Triplanetary is the worst in the series (and was added to the series after the fact as a prequel) .. If you want to try e.e. doc smith, try galactic patrol (It's the most pulp book i have read, so try not to laugh on stuff like Kolos galactic Balls :D Great video as always
Get Gordon Dickson's "Tactics of Mistake".
I had the same experience reading Cordwainer Smith, except that I read his short stories first. Norstrilia is next. Reading him is an experience. There is a short story collection which I think Robert Silverberg helped put together with the title You Will Never Be The Same.
You will never be the same
@@marlo9507, thank you for the correct title.❤
I am new to your channel and I am pleased to see someone review some of the great SF of the past 60 years (and earlier). Good Job. There is one glaring omission in your list of great first contact novels “The Sparrow” by Mary Doria Russell (1998). You may be familiar with it. Ms. Russell was a sociology professor and is interested in what happens when two totally different cultures meet. Since such an event is not possible on Earth now, she chose to construct an intricately structured alien culture. Like in “Mote in God’s Eye”, it is the humans who make the first contact. She then explores what happens to the alien culture and also followed what happens to the crew of the first contact ship AND what happens to several individuals in the alien race. Very personal. The book is wildly original. Example: the first chapter starts the story in the middle. The second chapter tells what happens in the beginning. The book continues to alternate chapters in the way and it WORKS ! Another factoid: the first expedition to the alien world was financed by the Jesuits, but religion plays a very minor role in the story. I think you will like it. The author has written only six books in the 24 years since her first novel “the Sparrow” was published. Only one was SF, a sequel to the “Sparrow”. The others have wildly different stories and settings. Two are Westerns. Again wildly original. Enjoy.
Regarding "The Iron Dream", your commentary, your take was straightforward, honest and refreshing. I thought about some apt word to describe your reaction to the first fifty pages of the book which you stated had you smiling yet doing so in the sober context of a very sensitive subject. I submit: 'schadenfreude'. And regarding Ursula K. LeGuin's critique that the book was 'too long', methinks she might have been unable to suppress some envy, as this book you describe sounds quite eloquent. I am partial to her novel "The Lathe of Heaven" for some reason. Her creations resonate with me inexplicably, especially that one. Love this channel. I subscribed with notifications and, glad I did. Cheers.
I've never read When Harlie was One. But I recall a couple of old books about AI that I really liked. Sea of Glass by Barry Longyear, and The Adolescence of P-1 by Thomas Ryan.
Just picked up Necromancer by Gordon R. Dickson (I misremembered the name of that one book EVERYONE recommends).
Only a couple chapters in, but I like it so far. :)
Neuromancer is quite the novel. A couple years later Walter Jon Williams wrote Hardwired which if nothing else you need to read the first chapter, which is painted in vivid colors.
No question Neuromancer is one of those books thats was so influential it became a dividing line in science fiction writing. I was however shocked at the time at how bad the prose was. It reads like a graphic novel without the graphics. Its also interesting to note that it was so complete a vision that all cyberpunk that has followed has felt like a kind of parody of it. Its an entire genre that was completely played out in one novel. Though Stephenson's "Snow Crash" is quite good.
snow crash starts out beyond great but then gets boring in the middle. 😂
A book I did enjoy by David Gerrold was The Man Who Folded Himself. Kind of a time travel/ multiverse thing but interesting thought experiment about meeting yourself in different versions along the variable possible outcomes of time travel.
You hesitation to read Nueromancer is exactly my hesitation as well. Your review has pushed me closer to checking it out.
Great vid Matt. Just finished Children of Ruin and it contains some superb Sci-Fi horror which I know is your cup of tea, maybe one to add to the list/fireplace.
You do have to read Children of Time first, but that is no bad thing!
yes, those are good. i read them right after the Three Body Problem series. great big stories.
The horror element in Children of Ruin was very unexpected for me and pretty disturbing.
Many thanks for the video recommendation of Gregory Sadler's. I'm looking forward to that as well as Norstrilia. I'm a good portion of the way through his short fiction collection and its superb. Especially reading them in chronological order and watching the worldbuilding expand as mankind advances, or in some cases declines along the way.
Cordwainer Smith is one of my favorite sci-fi authors on the strength of the stories collected in _The Best of Cordwainer Smith_ alone. “The Game of Rat and Dragon,” “Under Old Earth,” “The Dead. Lady of Clown Town” (etc etc) are all fantastically inventive and wonderful and create one of the most interesting future histories out there. But I haven’t read Norstrilia! I’ve been worried about how he would handle a longer story, especially as I don’t quite love _The Quest of the Three Worlds_ as much. Gonna have to read it now. Also a number of his short stories not included in _The Best of_ are big duds. Read them all if you can’t get enough of the Smith universe.
interesting pen name. a Cordwainer is a shoemaker of new shoes of cordovan leather, but also a smith! as opposed to a cobbler, whom just repairs. his father sent his mother to the states so he would be born as a natural citizen, groomed to be President someday. there is an interesting mix of east and west in his writing.
When you mentioned wanting to read more cyberpunk, I at once thought of Trouble and Her Friends by Melissa Scott, first published in 1994. It is probably best known for having a lesbian protagonist, but I just like that it takes the basic "hackers in virtual reality" setting and gives it a more grounded feeling.
I vaguely remember reading "When Harlie was One." I think it was serialized in Galaxy. No desire to read it again.
Norstrilia was not Linebarger's only novel. He wrote a couple others, very early, before he started writing SF. Yes, you >>must
OOOH! I can see the Lord Of Light by Zelazny in the pile behind you, Love that book!
Norstrilia is about a year older than Dune but the setting goes back as far as 1945.
I was first introduced to Smith during university. I enrolled in a Psychobiology class taught by Dr. Alan Elms. It was the most memorable class of my college experience. Dr. Elms is a contributor on the official Cordwainer Smith website.
Agree 100% about Neuromancer. The writing is incredible - electric and startling. One note: Gibson was actually influenced by Blade Runner, as it was released several years before Neuromancer.
Really enjoy your channel. I also hate much sci-fi that I read even though I adore the genre.
no, not at all. only that gibson was was writing neuromancer and so was shocked by the blade runner movie and walked out stunned. he did not know the pkd story either. so not really an influence on his book.
Glad to hear you're loving the cyberpunk. I hope you satill have that copy of Mirrorshades! I still say you'll probably like "Burning Chrome" even better.
A number of PKD's short stories from the 50's blew me away at how cyberpunk they were. No I don't have any thing as usefull as specific titles ( and some of those 118 short stories read like early Heinlein - caveat lector.)
I flipped the mirror shades on ebay before I knew what it was. Alas, alas.
Great stuff. I’m enjoying your channel. Thank you.
Regarding E.E. “Doc” Smith and Lensman…
I just enjoyed the ride as the early Space Opera that it is. It’s fun. I especially enjoyed Grey Lensman. Something about the idea of graduating from the system and going independent just resonated.
The Stars My Destination (Tiger, Tiger), still a major favorite. You’ve mentioned that in a couple of other videos. The Count of Monte Christo had nothing on Gullie. 😂
Speaking of cyberpunk, would love to hear your thoughts on K.W. Jeter(Farewell Horizontal, Noir, etc.) & Rudy Rucker's early output. Both authors were more prolific than the dearth of commentary might suggest. Also: not that easy to find in the wilds of northern california. Great overview of genre lit as always, Bookpilled ty
Rucker had a tendency to just get weird. I remember thinking he was doing some interesting drugs to come up with some of his stuff. I didn't like the writing, but I had to give him credit for getting so far out.
@@jumperpoint I kind of agree; rember getting weirded outt by a book in his wetware trilogy? something about robot brains controlling humans, and a P.I. that was into a body-melting drug called Merge
Blade Runner came out before Neuromancer
Neuromancer is short enough that it can and probably should be taken in a small number of big bites. Bill Gibson is prophetic not only of future sci-fi, but of future science and even how we see the actual future and our place in it.
Neuromancer - great dystopian read and weird to see how much of Gibson's vision has become a reality.
NESFA Press released a collection of all of Cordwainer Smith's short stories titled The Rediscovery of Man. I highly, highly recommend you track down a copy.
Excellent channel, it just popped up on my feed. As to the two novels you DNF'd, some of the problem even with today's sci-fi, is the fattening up of a great short story idea to novel length. The publisher wants 60-100K words. The use of metaphors and cliche prose, whole chapters of exposition and other thinner is applied to get the word count. And the reader is stuck with the dilemma of skimming for jewels in the storyline or tossing the book.
The man who folded himself by David Gerrold is one of the best time travel stories ive read, similar in a way to to the short story By his Bootstraps by Heinlein
On the subject of old-school cyberpunk, you might really appreciate "Hardwired" by Walter jon Williams. It was published couple of years after the Neuromancer, and it shares a lot of the same DNA (both being 80s action-packed neon dystopia thrillers), but it's more politically charged and imho just higher quality prose. A hidden gem of the genre.
Sounds cool, thanks
Agreed! A book I loved and am planning to read again.
Neuromancer is my favourite SF book of all time. Absolutely brilliant
Having read science fiction since 1953 I have never read nor to think there is a more unique author than Cordwainer Smith , I don't think there will be another like him. Yes do read The Rediscovery of Man. I first read Smith because of the titles of his stories, first ever was "Scanners Live in Vain" , but how could you go wrong with titles like Think Blue, Count Two" , "The Ballad of Lost C'Mell" or "No, No, Not Rogov!" .... more... Or find out about the Mother of All Planetary Defense Systems in "Mother Hitton's Littul Kittons".... alas died relatively young due to a health condition he had or there would have been more.
Scanners Live in Vain is a Trip! I can't always kranch it tho.
Great to hear from a reader who is even older than I am! LOL
@@peterpuleo2904 Yeah I am so old that when I was born the Dead Sea was just Ill.
@@aajiv1748 LOL. It seems that wherever I go nowadays, I am always the oldest guy in the room, and older than the building I am in, too.
The other unique author (I know!) is Jack Vance
I find Spinrad fascinating. I like everything I have found by him specifically, Bug Jack Baron and Child of Fortune.
I could listen to you talk about books all day
If you want a scary and remarkably old novel about self aware computers try The Adolescence of P1
You often discuss works with underlying Conservative or Right-Wing Politics with a tone of disapproval.
I can certainly understand that school of thought, being in many ways left-wing politically.
However, I do think it would be fascinating to see you talk about some examples of Conservative/Right Wing Sci-Fi that, despite their uncomfortable/repugnant/horrific implied politics, impress you on a technical or conceptual level.
That said, I think you'd get stick from those less comfortable with separating politics from skill and imagination.
Would you be interested in making such a video? If not, would it be because there would be a bad reaction or is there another reason? Perhaps that you're of the opinion there is no quality Conservative/Right-Wing Sci Fi?
I won't assume, but I would be interested in your thoughts on the idea.
Enjoyed this video. Glad I subscribed.
I don't know if I'd make a full video about it because I already get enough whining comments from conservatives as it is. I've talked about this topic in a few places. I have no problem with right-wing literature as such. I read a lot of authors that people on the left dislike (Mishima, Houellebecq). What I have a real problem with is cheapness, ugliness, easy answers, jingoism, shallow adulation of power. Most if it is either dull or repugnant.
Conservative SF writers I like, and of course the term is a loose designation: Cordwainer Smith, Gene Wolfe, Vernor Vinge, Gordon Dickson to a lesser extent.
just found your channel. I love me some science fiction. When you only read three pages and it sucks, it really shows you gotta his the ground running. Cheers
Good reviews. And sensible of you to not finish books.
When I was young, I never did not finish a book - and I read a lot, basically all the time. But then I studied English and comparative literature, which I think rewired my until then all-consuming brain and made me a far more discerning reader, so now I don't have any qualms about putting a book down after a page or two. For self-published books, this usually happens when I encounter the second grammatical or text flow error in a few pages that is clearly not an accidental typo, for established writers it often happens when the motion of the story feels contrived right away, or they are trying too hard to write in a particular style that doesn't suit their abilities, the story, or both.
That reminds me I should go back to do some more reading as I am halfway through Le Guin's "The Lathe of Heaven". Not a book one should stop reading. And I enjoy the Daoist references that many readers might miss, but which of course are not essential to understanding or enjoying it.
My Favorite by Gordon Dickson is hands down Way of The Pilgrim it's a very fascinating concept.
Yes, you really missed it by not finishing ‘When Harley was One’. You should try to finish it. David Gerrold is a wonderful author. The story was s about a computer program that becomes sentient, always accessing more and more memory, where ever it can find it. The interaction between Harley and real people is noteworthy. -Dennis
I like a lot of Dickson's stuff. Much of his Childe Cycle is very good. Although it's been probably 15-20 years since I last read it, I always felt his stand-alone novel The Way of the Pilgrim was great. I've only read one of Cordwainer Smith's short story collections, but I enjoyed it. WRT the Culture, Consider Phlebas was ok, but I found The Player of Games to be noticeably better. I'm looking forward to reading more Culture novels.
Hi man, just see your channel and subscribed immediately. We lots of hauls! We see also want to see you unhauls! That would be fun too 😌
Really enjoying these reviews! Are you going to do Lord of Light? Another set I'd be interested to hear are the Demon Princes books by Jack Vance. Maybe not good, but interesting
I have the full set of Demon Princes in Daw paperbacks. I want to get to it soon but will finish the Dying Earth series first. Lord of Light is somewhere on the agenda, yes.
@@Bookpilled ok I will eagerly await those!
The first part of Norstrilia, The Planet Buyer, was published in 1964. A shorter version of the second part was published in 1964 in a magazine before being published in its complete form in 1968. It's unclear, however, if Herbert was aware of either story while developing Dune.
I read Norstrilia in my 20s (several centuries ago now). All I remember was it was way weird and enjoyable. Another book to re-read. (FD: I am Australian). Iron Dream. Another re-read. Bloomsbury book is quite good. So is the Pringle 100 Best SF Novels: an English-language selection, 1949-1984 (and the sequel 1985 - 2010 edited by Damien Broderick & Paul Di Filippo,) Time for a 3rd version soon? Also, Pringle's Ultimate Guide to Science Fiction..
Have you read "Quest of the Three Worlds" by C. Smith? I'm pretty sure it's not part of "The Rediscovery of Man" or "Norstrilia", but I can pass on the ebook to you if you like. I started Norstrilia.... but I shouldn't have dipped my toe into it because I'm knee deep in Abercrombie right now. I'll certainly come back to Norstrilia and Quest of the Three Worlds". Haven't tracked down "The Rediscovery of Man" yet.
You mentioned wanting to get into some Bruce Sterling so I went and looked up his bibliography to remind myself. I think he is a better short story and novella writer than novels. Two must reads by him are "Bicycle Repairman" and "Taklamakan". They can be found in either A Good Old-fashioned Future (1999) or Ascendencies: The Best of Bruce Sterling (2007). Of the novels I've read, I'd reread Distraction (1998) and Zeitgeist (2000).
I've been reading a lot of Larry Niven and Robert Silverberg, enjoying both of them.
Great vid, great reviews! Thank you for *actuality discussing* Iron Dream in more than a few sentences!
I appreciate such satire, but have a low tolerance for Nazis. I really appreciate you sketching out the contents so I have some idea of the story I'm getting into. It really helps! Now I just have to find a copy in the wild!
It's funny, back in the days before so many used book stores closed I was constantly tripping over Dickson, Brunner, Cordwainer Smith, Simak, while trying to find PKD & Ellison. They seemed confined to the dated dustbin of time in the 90s. Great hearing about you rediscovering them and finding out I probably should have bought them up too! I just have to figure out where to find them nowadays w/o breaking the bank! Death of a thousand cuts. . .
IS there any Nazi-sympathetic SF satire? I have never seen that. I wouldn't have expected it from the SF writing community, at least not until the age of web-based fanfic. Now you can probably find anything.
Having read almost everything in SF (& Fantasy) from Hugo Gernsback through the Golden Age and to the 1980s when SF finally entered the mainstream and produced more authors than I could afford to follow, I read ''Consider Phlebas, (1987) the first SF novel by Iain M Banks. It is literate, humerous, multi-stranded and contains elements of cyber-culture and hard science that foreshadow current developments and predict science based on quantum effects under control. It's also politically progressive, similar but in a more assertive way than the original Star Trek.
Keeping track of the different storylines is not easy and a struggle for many readers, which tends to result in an opinion of ''boring''. I have a habit (and time) to read almost anything in a single sitting, which I think makes a lot of difference. For me it instantly became ''the best SF book I have ever read'' and along with subsequent ''Culture'' novels one of the gems of my personal collection which exceeds 3000 books in SF & Fantasy alone.
I've been meaning to go to verbatim books for some time now. Just found it online a few months ago and I've lived in San Diego all my life. Now I'm definitely going to poke my head in there and see what gems I find
Mona Lisa Overdrive is a cool book title and the book is a really good read. I knew nothing of Gibson--the book's title alone made me curious. So glad I picked it up and read a long time ago.
You should flash the boom spoon and knock the cats helmet.
i just read norstrilia last month on a month and a half trip to australia. talk about perfect timing, right? heads up i left it there at an op shop in south melbourne if anyone wants it (sacred heart on clarendon st). really enjoyed it although i felt it just kind of petered out at the end it was still satisfying. amazing world building and ideas for sure.
'When HARLIE was One: Release 2.0' came out in 1988 (16 years after the original) and is a revised version of what had been one of Gerrold's earliest work. I can't comment on the changes as I've only read 2.0. Though I do recall liking it quite a bit.
Also Blade Runner (1982) preceded Neuromancer (1984,) so any influence goes the other way. A lot of Philip K. Dick's work contains themes that would influence what would become Cyberpunk. For further Cyberpunk reading I would recommend 'When Gravity Fails' by George Alec Effinger.
Probably already mentioned but Neuromancer was released way after Bladerunner. Both still excellent though...
That little book you have there is fantastic, it has informed my reading quite recently. It's one that you can take as much or as little as you won't from. I have found that the further reading section at the end of each main recommendation is better than the actual main review. Pat Caddigan is not someone I would have read without it. I would recommend reading Richard Morgan as an excellent post Cyberpunk author and Bruce Sterlings Artificial Kid is very strange and also Rudy Rucker is a bit of a head fuck.
Triplanetary is one of if not my favorite book. Listened to it several times (yes that’s cheating lol). Try the PKD short story “The Variable Man”. You won’t like it but I love it lol. And “Day of the Trifids”. A plant zombie book.
There was an incident in When HARLIE was One where they uploaded the program into a larger computer with lots of memory and the program responded as if it was high on drugs. The computer scientist figured out what was going on.
My responses to HARLIE and Neuromancer are the exact opposite of yours. I was a Customer Engineer for IBM and soldered together my first computer in 1978. Is science fiction about being literary or technology affecting society? Of course the effects will be dependent on what most people comprehend about technology.
Ever read C. P. Snow's Two Cultures?
I don't think I could do random SF, especially old. It's bad enough having Larry Niven talk about how women are for sex. At least he's crative and can rub two words together to get a spark.
Do not know if you have addressed this before -- relatively new subscriber here -- but how long before you DNR one book?
Go with your gut
@6:20 sorry if this is a dumb question.
What do you mean by your use of “purple” in describing the ending of this book?
I find it interesting. I’ve never heard that turn of phrase before.
"Purple prose" is writing that's overloaded with attempts at profundity or artfulness. When an author overreaches their actual descriptive abilities.
Have you read Gerrold’s Chtorr series? Great world building even if the dialogue is wonky and the characters are flat.
Cordwainer Smith, and Norman Spinrad. I always, since reading their short stories, felt they were sort of from the same neighborhood. Different places on the same street. A block or two from lyrical fantasy. Neither are anywhere close to being as well known as they deserve to be.
Spinrad's The Last Hurrah of the Golden Horde, and Smith's, Best of Cordwainer Smith, were my introduction to these writers. I had never read anything like them before, and nothing quite like them since.
Have you read Annalee Newitz-Autonomous- I thought it was great
PAXWAX!
The only thing that makes this comment better is Google keeps trying to translate it!
I would like to see your review of science fiction books that are "kind of overrated." But I think you are already aware that it is good to mix a few negative reviews with positive in any video. But I would really like your opinion on, let's say, award winning books that are really not so hot. Thanks again for your interesting reviews.
Read Dickson's Dorsai Novels in the Childe Cycle!