Three in One Night

[reldnahkram]

I've got 60-90 minutes daily on the train getting to and from work. I've finished re-re-reading Cryptonomicron. Should I read Snow Crash, The Baroque Cycle, or something else (I've only ever read pieces of Dune and Narnia, which are the things that come to mind as series to start reading)?

Comments

[kyree.livejournal.com]

Cryptonomicon! *love!*

I'd say that Snow Crash just goes too darn quickly to be of much use on a long commute. I'd go for the Baroque Cycle, which will keep you in reading material for a few weeks at least. As for other things...hm. Tad Williams's Otherland series (four books, >500 pages each) is probably a decent pick. They're engaging and fairly original, although I found the conclusion to be sort of half-assed. (N.B.: I have not read these for years, but I loved them when I did read them.)

[reldnahkram.livejournal.com]

Isn't it fabulous?

I don't mind if it goes by quickly - I'm working 1/2 hour-45 minute chunks, so getting somewhere in that time isn't a bad thing.

Skimming the brief Amazon blurb for the first otherland book makes it seem a little intriguing.

[crystalpyramid]

I'd second the nomination of Otherland (along with the judgment that the conclusion is sort of half-assed). I read them in high school and adored them, though this might have been influenced by the fact that when I was in high school, they were still in the process of coming out, so there were long lags between them.

I couldn't get through Cryptonomicon, but the Baroque Cycle is allegedly better anyway. Not that I've read it. Read Snow Crash because you must, but don't expect it to take a long time. (:

[kyree.livejournal.com]

Who told you that the Baroque Cycle was better than Cryptonomicon? They must be hunted down and re-educated! Cryptonomicon is a work of art--nothing less! And, erm, if you couldn't get through it, I'd suggest not picking up the Baroque Cycle, as it's about three times as long and goes approximately three times as slowly and has around three times as much flowery language/digressions that might, to the undiscerning reader, be deemed unnecessary.

[tirerim.livejournal.com]

Snow Crash is good; I haven't read the Baroque Cycle yet.

Dune itself is a fantastic book; Dune Messiah, Children of Dune, and God Emperor of Dune are not bad, but skippable; Heretics of Dune and Chapterhouse Dune should be avoided.

You should also read Narnia.

[reldnahkram.livejournal.com]

I've read Dune, Messiah, and God Emperor, and enjoyed them to varying amounts (the earlier in the series, the better). I feel that I should read the whole thing, even though I know the later books are awful.

[tirerim.livejournal.com]

Well, you should definitely read Children, since as I recall that was better than Messiah and God Emperor. But the last two are really just awful, and also have very little to do with the others. If you want more Frank Herbert, pick up the Destination: Void series (Destination: Void, The Jesus Incident, The Lazarus Effect, and The Ascension Factor -- 2 and 3 are cowritten with Bill Ransom, and the last is actually just Bill Ransom, though I think based on stuff that he had worked on with Herbert before he died).

[blaketh.livejournal.com]

I like the first of those best of all. I find the plot and characterization cleaner and tighter. The other three in the series seem full of madness without vision.

[q10.livejournal.com]

all of the above.

Snow Crash is in many ways better than The Baroque Cycle, but i think it'd be interesting to read The Baroque Cycle with Cryptonomicon still fresh in one's mind, so i'm going to encourage that (and, although the cycle does drag for some large stretches, parts of it are really excellent).

[ultranurd.livejournal.com]

Snow Crash is a bit more immersive, but I really enjoyed the Baroque Cycle. Part of the challenge is figuring out exactly who all of those damn historical characters are, and keeping them straight.

[gerbilicious85.livejournal.com]

One sci fi used bookstore proprieter warned me away from Otherland, and steered me towards Snow Crash, which I enjoyed very much.

[jere7my.livejournal.com]

Go for Baroque. Just after Cryptonomicon is the ideal time to read them; all the little mysteries that get explained in the Baroque Cycle will still be fresh in your mind.

[kyree.livejournal.com]

Gomer Bolstrood! The gold in the submarine! I truly adore Stephenson and his attention to detail.

[sildra.livejournal.com]

Narnia. It's a very quick read, so you can just read it first and move on to other stuff. I don't know what it would be like to first read the whole thing as an adult, but if you've read some of it it shouldn't be so bad (when I read it I get all sorts of childhood nostalgia).

Not that I've read any of the others you've listed (except Dune). But the Narnia books were my favorite books ever for a very long time.

[irilyth]

Wheel Of Time?

[sildra.livejournal.com]

I don't think reldnahkram would like Wheel of Time, although I suppose I can't be sure until he's read it.

word

[lula-vampiro.livejournal.com]

I tried the first two WoT books and said to myself, "I can't take ten more volumes of this …"

[aryky.livejournal.com]

Personally, I just don't think that, at this point in time, recommending WoT to someone who didn't start reading it long ago is very nice. I may change my mind if the end of the series turns out really good, but I'm not optimistic.

[sylvansafekeepe.livejournal.com]

Read both. You'll have the time, eventually. Also, I heartily also recommend Williams' Otherland. Also, his 'Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn' trilogy. And his 'War of the Flowers'. Can you tell I'm a bit of a fan of his? Also, George R.R. Martin.

[tirerim.livejournal.com]

George R. R. Martin is good, but I don't recommend starting A Song of Ice and Fire (Game of Thrones, Clash of Kings, Storm of Swords, and (finally soon) Feast of Crows) anytime soon unless you like having to wait several years to find out what happens in your books -- those four books have taken ten years, and there are two more to go.

[liegt-am-meer.livejournal.com]

BAROQUE CYCLE. BAROQUE CYCLE!
It has been taking over my brain all summer and I love it with unhealthy abandon.