ISO calibrated book recommendations

[sraun]

I've got two books (OK, book and a series) I've been trying to get a calibrated recommendation about recently.

1) The Lies of Locke Lamora, by Scott Lynch

2) Old Man's War, by John Scalzi (and sequels)

I'm going to ask in a couple of places - sorry if you see this twice.

My favorite currently writing authors include Lois McMaster Bujold, Sharon Lee & Steve Miller, David Weber, Steve Brust, Terry Pratchett, and P.C. Hodgell. (This is NOT an exhaustive list!) I'm not certain why, but I have a weakness for Mercedes Lackey. I go back and re-read E.E. "Doc" Smith regularly. I cannot read Neil Gaiman - I can see the horror underpinnings, and that makes it unreadable. (I loved it when my wife read Good Omens, and read me the good parts.)

If you want an opinion on any other authors / books for calibration purposes, feel free to ask!

Comments

[kd5mdk.livejournal.com]

I recommend Old Man's War, and Scalzi's other writings (that I've read). I like the same authors you've listed, except I haven't read "Doc" Smith or P.C. Hodgell.

[trixtah.livejournal.com]

Well, I haven't heard of either of those books, so can't offer an opinion, but I am glad I'm not the only one allergic to Gaiman, for pretty much that reason. I don't like creepy fiction. I bounced off Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell in a major way for that reason.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I am surer about the former than about the latter, given the other things you've listed, but both seem worth your time to try.

(And I get to use my new "helpful nudge" icon!)

[sraun]

Thanks!

And that's a neat icon!

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

Niecelet + Como = good time.

[daveamongus.livejournal.com]

Haven't read the former, but strongly recommend the latter. In fact, I recommend his non-"Old Man's" work as well. The Old Man's series maps well in terms of military action and intrigue to the Vorkosigan books. Very strong writing, but "clean" and quick reading.

[ckd]

I haven't read the Lynch, but I'm a big fan of Old Man's War et seq. It has a good deal of well-done action and an interesting universe, leavened with humor much as the Vorkosigan books are.

The milSF aspects are definitely less infodump-heavy than Weber tends to be. :-)

[von-krag.livejournal.com]

Being a solder is too hard a thing to ask 90% of any age to do. This book pissed me off because it wasted in many ways human potential. Not to mention that a bad soldier gets not just himself killed or wounded but gets his comrades also. Fie upon this unethical piece of work.

[jrittenhouse.livejournal.com]

I was in a panel for a recent con, where we were asked to do readings from books - someone did LIES and everyone (me included) was really grabbed hard by the fragment read. It's on my list of "hmmmmm...." would be quite happy reading books.

Just finished OLD MAN'S WAR, and found it to be great. Heinlein, Haldeman and Stross influences, and a lot of good action and interesting situations; just started on the sequel.

I've read both

[thebluerose.livejournal.com]

I have to say I adored Lies of Locke Lamora, its story is two stories intertwined that eventually tell the whole story, and cleverly. And with enough twists in it that I didnt see the end. Bloody good read!

I read Ghost Brigades first then OMW and having done so I recommend it that way. Read all 3 and enjoyed. A bit Milesish in style and tone and dryness of humour. Not necessarily heavy reading but enjoyable.

[chris-gerrib.livejournal.com]

Old Man's War is very good, straight-up mil SF. I think it's better then the early Weber, but that's in part 'cause Scalzi doesn't spend 4 books to get a setup where somebody signs their name "Robspierre." (Apologies to Weber fans, YMMV, etc.)

I've not read Scott Lynch, but for what it's worth I seem to recall Scalzi endorsing him on his (Scalzi's) blog.

[pmrabble.livejournal.com]

Both series recommended (just finished Red Skies over the weekend).