Some Good Reads (Long List) ...

[Goodthrust]

well, I liked 'em anyway.

We were talking about books last night, so i though I'd throw out some of my personal favorites.

SCIENCE FICTION
Iain Banks
Consider Phlebas
Against a Dark Background
Use of Weapons
Peter Hamilton
Reality Disfunction: Emergence
Reality Disfunction: Expansion
The Neutronium Alchemist: Consolidation
The Neutronium Alchemist: Conflict
The Naked God: Flight
The Naked God: Faith
Robert Heinlein
Time Enough For Love
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
Stranger In a Strange Land
Starship Troopers
Methuselah's Children
Sixth Column
The Door Into Summer
The Green Hills of Earth
Larry Niven
Protector
Ringworld
Ringworld Engineers
Ringworld Throne
Legacy of Heorot
The Mote in God's Eye
Neutron Star
N-Space
Lucifer's Hammer
Isaac Asimov
Foundation Trilogy
I, Robot
The Caves of Steel
The Naked Sun
The Robots of Dawn

SUSPENSE/THRILLERS
Carl Hiaassen
Skin Tight
Native Tongue
Tourist Season
Double Whammy
Dennis Lehane
A Drink Before the War
Darkness, Take My Hand
Sacred
Gone, Baby, Gone
Prayers For Rain
Norman Partridge
Saguaro Riptide
The Ten Ounce Seista
Neal Barrett, Jr.
Pink Vodka Blues
Dead Dog Blues
Skinny Annie Blues
Joe Lansdale
Savage Season
Mucho Mojo
The Two Bear Mambo

HORROR
Robert Devereaux
Deadweight
Santa Steps Out
Walking Wounded
Jack Ketchum
Off Season
Red
The Lost
Joe Lansdale
Act Of Love
Cold In July
Freezer Burn
The Nightrunners
Richard Laymon
Bite
Among The Missing
In The Dark
David Martin
Bring Me Children
Cul-De-Sac
Final Harbor
Robert McCammon
Gone South
Christopher Moore
Bloodsucking Fiends
Philip Nutman
Wet Work
Norman Partridge
Slippin' Into Darkness
John Shirley
Wetbones
John Steakley
Vampire$

POLITICS/MISCELLANEOUS
Walter Williams
More Liberty Means Less Government
Do the Right Thing: The People's Economist Speaks
The State Against Blacks
Thomas Sowell
The Quest for Cosmic Justice
Inside American Education : The Decline, the Deception, the Dogmas
Stephen Ambrose
Citizen Soldiers
D-Day June 6, 1944 : The Climactic Battle of World War II
Band of Brothers
Stephen Hawking
A Brief History of Time
Mark Bowden
Black Hawk Down
James Webb
Fields of Fire

For anybody that might be interested, my complete (almost) list is here booklist (http://www.geocities.com/guyvbarnes/Miscellaneous/booklist.xls) .

Guy

[Euroranger]

Goodthrust....that list. What is that? I noticed that some of them are read and some unread. Does that mean you have a list of books you want to read? I've never considered taking the time to catalog all the books I have...maybe I will now.

I really have no idea how many I have though...and I read pretty much for entertainment anymore. Sci-fi, some fantasy, and whatever else turns my crank. My favorite sci-fi authors so far are Timothy Zahn and Michael Stackpole. I used to read Tom Clancy religiously but his books lately have simply gotten to far-fetched for me. I like Harry Turtledove...he writes in a genre called alternate history and weaves some pretty amazing stories.

I tend to read books in series. I've got every single Star Wars book out there...every BattleTech novel...quite a few Star Trek books...stuff like that. Wow...I may have to sit down one day and actually think on what books I've read. Interesting list you have there. :)

PS: Nice family pics BTW. I oughta do something like that. :D

[xavierd]

OK since you started it I'll recommend some of the books I've read...
Stephen King
Bauchman(sp?) Books (this is a collection of stories)
Geralds Game (this is one of his most disturbing novels)
Dark Tower series

Orson Scott Card
Ender's Game (this is one of my all time favs. there is a whole series but this one and Ender's Shadow are the best)

Aldous Huxley
Brave New World

George Orwell
1984

William Golding
Lord of the Flies (definately a classic)

Tolkien
The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings

Antonio Damasio
The Feeling of What Happens (this guy is a neurologist and this book is basically his theory on consciousness. interesting stuff on diseases of the mind)

Rita Carter
Mapping the Mind (what can I say, i was on a brain kick for awhile)

Morton Hunt
The Story of Psychology (this is a HUGE book and I only recommend it to someone who really has an interest in psychology. its basically a history of psychology and tells of some really crazy diseases)

Will Durant
Story of Philosophy (goes through all the well known western philosophers through out history. again I wouldn't read this unless you like philosophy or history)

Well that's it for now. I can't remember any of my other books right now, besides I should really get to work.:)

[Goodthrust]

Euro - I tend to buy books sort of, uh, compulsively you might say. Because of that, I have quite a few that I haven't read yet. It takes me a hell of a lot longer to read a book now than it used to (wife, kid, MOH :) , work, baseball, guitar, etc. all interfere with my reading). I cataloged them (and my CDs and albums) because I'm an anal SOB :D .

Even though I have a pretty long list of books, I'm actually fairly picky about who I read and as far as S-F, haven't read too many new guys I really like (Iain Banks is an exception). Have read a Turtledove or two years and years ago. I can't tell you why, but I absolutely hate fantasy and for some reason am always irritated when they combine it with the S-F books in bookstores :gitsum: .

Thanks for the compliment on the family pictures, I need to add some new ones, as those are a couple of months old. You know, Majki suggested we have pictures of ourselves in some private section of our website. I know some folks may be private about that sort of thing, but it would be kind of nice to put faces with all those voices on BC :) .

Xavier - Man, you do a lot deeper kind of reading than this shallow minded guy does. That's an impressive list of some classic stuff - I've read most of them, except for the psychology stuff. I'd add 'The Stand' and 'The Shining' to the King list.

[xavierd]

Goodthrust - I don't see why you would call yourself shallow minded. From what I can tell you've read twice as many books as I have, and not "just for entertainment" books, which btw I find have a lot of insightfull things in them. I wasn't really into Sci-Fi novels until a friend of mine lent(sp?) me of few of his (Ender's Game series and some others). And I've never read a Fantasy novel that I can think of. I haven't read the Stand or the Shinning but they are on my to read list, which is like a billion pgs long! But you got me thinking and I'm on break :D so here are a few more titles I've read:

Sun Tzu's Art of War

The Prince by Macheivelle(sp?)

The Bible - only up to after Moses leads his people away and some of Revelations (I'm not religious but very curious)

The Satanic Bible (don't freak out, I'm not a devil worshipper or anything just curious)

Kinds of Minds (another psychology type book)

Bag of Bones by Stephen King (good ghost story)
Nighmares and Dreamscapes by Stephen King

Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco (this one is translated from Italian I think, so is a very difficult read. took me a while to get into it but was worth it at the end)

Right now I'm finishing up Gerald's Game and working one Mein Kampf (again only curious) and plan to read The Descent of Man by Darwin. I've read more but again titles elude me.

Anyone else have a read list they'd like to share?

[Goodthrust]

Xavier, you've got a good point about picking up some insightful ideas from what some would consider 'just sci-fi stuff' or 'just horror stuff'. Actually, much of my libertarian thought comes from Heinlein (e.g. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress) and that lead to me reading serious political commentary by Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell, among others. You know, coming from a small East Texas town (no offense Dr. Doom), I grew up very conservative, both socially and fiscally.

I think reading science fiction and other forms of 'escapist' literary fare, helped me to become a more tolerant person that respects and admires people for their differences, instead of ostracising them. I might not agree with certain people on lifestyle or personal choices, but I've learned to respect others opinions, especially when different from my own (no matter how WRONG I know they are :) ).

You've definitely got an eclectic taste in literature, I mean, there probably aren't too many people with The Bible and The Satanic Bible in their library :enh: . I am religious (well I'm Lutheran, does that count :confused: ), but I too, am curious about things satanic and dark. Doesn't mean I'm sacrificing children or animals in my basement, I'm just not worried about going to Hell for being interested in reading dark suspense or horror. Can't help it, strange and weird stuff has always interested me. Oddly enough, I'm about as average, normal and boring of a guy as you could meet. Go figure.

Sorry man, didn't mean to get too philisophical on you, but YOU got ME to thinking ...

[TotalCarnage]

I'm Lutheran too...Catholic Light ;)

[EviL McGyver]

talk about learning new things about your teammates....

Lutheran = Catholic light , hehe, never heard that one TC...

I am Catholic, but wouldnt shout out too loudly as I havent practiced since leaving Arizona....

EM

[TotalCarnage]

I used to be Episcopal (Gramps Still is), then I converted. Not much difference betweent he two religions really...not much difference between either in Catholcism really. The Lutherans are just much more laid back and birth control isn't a problem :) I'd call them both Catholic Light.

[Goodthrust]

Hehe, actually, I think Episcopalian is Catholic Light and Lutheran is Episcopal Light :D ...

Well, my wife was raised VERY Italian-Catholic and I was born into the Southern Baptist community, raised Presbyterian and became pretty much non-denominational until my wife and I met and the Lutheran Church (ELCA) really met all our needs.

EM, I've never understood that 'practicing' thing and my wife can't really explain it either, care to take a swag at it :) ?.

[Goodthrust]

Ha, we posted at the same time, TC, with about the same thoughts :D ... funny or scary - you make the call.

[EviL McGyver]

means that I would be attending mass EVERY Sunday and on all days of obligation. Also, taking communion and doing the confession thing. Thats what it means to me anyways.

I am sure there are many diff viewpoints on the subject and that is why it is hard to pin down. There are strict rules in the Catholic church as well as other rules that my family instilled in me while growing up.

We have recently started again so my boys can get their 1st communion and confirmations out of the way. I stopped practicing due to working Sundays and the churches here are really OLD School Catholics. Our church in Arizona was great they had more upbeat music and made it fun. I know that's not what its supposed to be all about but I have always believed that you have to have fun in whatever you do or else it becomes a chore and you get turned off.

I was raised catholic and my wife was raised episcopalian (sp?). She converted when we got married so that we could get married in the church. I remember her being really amazed when she went through RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) and learned more about the Catholic religion. She made a lot of statements about what the Episcopalians left out.....

When it all comes down to it for me, as long as you believe in God and do your best to help your fellow man then you are ok. I think most religions are the same underneath it all anyways.

EM

[xavierd]

Originally posted by Goodthrust
You've definitely got an eclectic taste in literature, I mean, there probably aren't too many people with The Bible and The Satanic Bible in their library :enh: .

This is part of my curse. I have a mind that likes to wander. So much information out there and my mind wants it all. I'm interested in so many different subjects that its hard to quench this little thirst of mine. Any little thing crosses in front of me and I want to know more about it. I guess I have a short attention span :) . If I could I'd probably be a full time student for the rest of my life. What I need is to be able to download stuff into my head like on the Matrix.

The worst part about it is that I didn't really feel this way until it was to late. When I was in high school I was a bit of a slacker. Now after haveing 2 kids and a now ex-wife I have less time to learn/read about things :( .

Sorry man, didn't mean to get too philisophical on you, but YOU got ME to thinking ...

No problem. There's nothing better than the sharing of ideas. BTW, just curious, what exactly did I get you thinking about?

[Goodthrust]

EM - Thanks for your take on being a 'practicing' Catholic. You know, I like the rituals, liturgical service, formality of the Catholic church, but never could get past certain rules/tenents that just never sat well with me (e.g. priests not marrying, no birth control, not much focus on the Bible - until recently, annulments, etc.). The Lutheran Church has a lot of the trappings of the Catholic church, without all of the aforementioned rules. They also don't try to find explanations for every nuance that is part of life and chalk a lot of what we don't know to the 'mysteries of God'. Fun stuff to think about and ponder (e.g. If God is omnipotent, can he make a boulder big enough that even He can't lift?), but in the end not really crucial to our development as Christians or human beings.

When it all comes down to it for me, as long as you believe in God and do your best to help your fellow man then you are ok. I think most religions are the same underneath it all anyways.

Yeah, I tend to agree with you there ...

[Goodthrust]

Xavier, I guess you just got me thinking about the influence reading has had on my life and how it has helped shape the person I am, I guess it was MY mind that was wandering :) . I mean, I've certainly had people who were major influences in shaping who I am (the most important being my Dad, who has been dead for 23 years now, but who I still think about every day in some way), but reading the books I have has also had a profound effect on how I view the world and what I tend to 'ponder' on. I just feel fortunate to enjoy reading, because it has really opened up the way I see and think about things.

You know, I LOVE talking about games and MOH especially, but it's also pretty cool getting to know your teammates better with 'off topic' stuff such as this. Maybe we should have a separate private forum just for conversations like these :) .

[Goodthrust]

So, anybody else with some good book recommendations???