I read the first 3 Dune books after seeing the movie and hearing about the challenges of getting that story on the screen. Love the first 2, the ending of the 3rd was ok.

I’m 3/4ths through the 4th and final Hyperion books. Absolutely incredible, I’m disappointed knowing I’ll be done with it soon. I highly recommend it if you’re at all curious. The author does an excellent job sneaking deep references into the colorful narrative; Keats and Ancient Greek mythology among them. The characters are vivid, varied, and somehow all relatable.

When I was younger I liked Vonnegut, specifically Galapagos, cats cradle, and slaughter house 5. I recently read Philip K Dicks “do androids… electric sheep” and wasn’t a fan. I loved the film blade runner, but the book kind of trudged on for me with, what I felt was, a let down of an ending. Asimov’s foundation was ok, but it lacked action and the characters seemed thin; I do like the concept a lot, it was just missing something for me.

So what’s next? I read a few classics in school and wasn’t terribly moved by most of them. I’ve considered giving Philip K Dick another chance, and possibly exploring the Dune books not authored by Herbert. I’m not a big fan of fantasy- at least in the horse riding, sword wielding, magic and sorcery vein.

Thanks for any suggestions

  • eightpix
    2•6 days ago

    Maybe Flowers for Algernon? I read this for the first time near when when I read Canticle. I much more connected to Algernon.

    MaddAddam trilogy also touches close to home for me, not least because Atwood is Canadian.

    I was also late to Childhood’s End and The Chrysalids.

    • @[email protected]
      1•6 days ago

      Flowers for Algernon is one of my top books of all time.

      That being said, it’s definitely a different vibe than Hyperion or Dune. It’s a lot more personal and almost doesn’t read like scifi.

          • eightpix
            2•6 days ago

            12 more drinks.

            Honestly, now — not promoting binge drinking or alcohol consumption at all — but that book tears something in you. It can’t be undone.