# All about books! **URL:** \ **Category:** Off-topic\ **Created:** [May 31, 2018, 6:21am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758 "2018-05-31T06:21:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 23
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 7:36am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/447 "2025-07-18T07:36:10Z")
> [@LowLevel](#): > > I don’t think I can contribute much to this thread This _is_ a great contribution! Thanks for the hint! 😀 ---
**Author:** ![kaiman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kaiman](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/kaiman)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/448 "2025-07-18T16:26:28Z")
> [@LowLevel](#): > > I track them on The Storygraph. How do you like their recommendations? One promise that had me join Goodreads quite a long time ago was that they’d supposedly find you new reading material based on what you read so far. They never made good on that promise, and with a large and varied enough library I don’t even know how that would ever work. Ideally, I’d want to find something that’s reminiscent of a specific author, or belongs to a certain sub-genre, etc. I now switched to tracking my books in an app called [Bookshelf](https://www.bookshelfapp.info/), and while it seems to offer some social features, it’s more geared towards cataloging your collection and remembering where you put or whom you lent something. ---
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2025, 12:26am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/449 "2025-07-19T00:26:25Z")
> [@kaiman](#): > > How do you like their recommendations? Initially, I was dissatisfied with their default recommendation algorithm. I was only interested in “serious” science fiction (novels in which the narrative flows _through_ scientific themes) but the recommendations included a lot of irrelevant material. I even perceived some kind of systemic bias. Later, I was able to get exactly what I wanted by spending a few minutes personalizing my preferences. There is an option to specify preferred themes, and once I filled out that field, I received excellent recommendations! Did those suggestions help me discover interesting books to add to my to-be-read list? Some, but not many. My main recommendation apps are [Meet New Books](https://www.meetnewbooks.com/) and, more recently, ChatGPT (which I have instructed to provide very specific science-fiction-related metrics). ---
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2025, 12:26am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/450 "2025-07-19T00:26:54Z")
What hint? 🤔 ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 9:28am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/451 "2025-07-21T09:28:23Z")
Sorry, this was a bit misleading. I meant that your links and your list are useful. ---
**Author:** ![kaiman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kaiman](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/kaiman)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2025, 11:14am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/452 "2025-08-31T11:14:48Z")
> [@LowLevel](#): > > My main recommendation apps are [Meet New Books](https://www.meetnewbooks.com/) Thanks, that one seems pretty good, though so far I wasn’t in the mood to give it more than a cursory spin. I guess my biggest fear is that it spits out books already out of print, and therefore hard to obtain. > [@LowLevel](#): > > I was only interested in “serious” science fiction (novels in which the narrative flows _through_ scientific themes) I recently finished the _Remembrance of Earth’s Past trilogy_ by Liu Cixin, and it may or may not fall into that category, depending on what you’re looking for specifically. Though perhaps it’s leaning more towards philospophy than science. At any rate, it left me pretty impressed. Each volume has a bit of a different topic and tone to it, and different characters too, but it’s more or less the complete history of human civilization from 1967 until the heat death of the universe. Quite imaginative, and while the 2nd and 3rd book do not quite reach the level of suspense found in the first, they are still expertly told and full of surprises. Obviously, the timeline is rather condensed and restricted to the view point of not too many different characters, but that makes it also more relatable and tangible than an account in the abstract could ever by. Fully recommended. ---
**Author:** ![LowLevel](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/lowlevel/32/48_2.png) [@LowLevel](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/LowLevel)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2025, 12:38am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/453 "2025-09-07T00:38:19Z")
Thanks for the recommendation! I haven’t read anything by Liu Cixin yet, but _The Three-Body Problem_ has been on my TBR list for a few months. From the little information I’ve gathered, I expect to love the kind of stories he writes. From the way you describe _Remembrance of Earth’s Past_, it has some Olaf Stapledon vibes. I discovered the author some time ago while researching for old, very inventive science fiction books that “predict” long-term human evolution and civilization. It’s difficult to pinpoint exactly what I’m looking for in a science fiction novel, but generally, I look for a plot that advances by relying on scientific principles. For example, I recently finished reading Asimov’s _The Gods Themselves_, and the underlying concept (an apparently free and inexhaustible source of energy) directly impacts how the plot evolves. Another example of such a narrative is pretty much every novel by Greg Egan. I have read _Diaspora_ and researched his other works, and he definitely focuses on that type of scientific curiosity that holds my attention. A few days ago, I asked for recommendations on Reddit exactly about this type or works. [Here is the post](https://www.reddit.com/r/printSF/comments/1n15lj9/science_fiction_where_science_actually_drives_the/). As expected, Egan received many upvotes, but the thread contains many other interesting suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![kaiman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kaiman](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/kaiman)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2025, 9:01am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/454 "2025-10-25T09:01:06Z")
I read (or rather devoured) Tad Williams’ _The Navigator´s Children_, now that it is out in German. As far as classic fantasy goes these days, I haven’t seen anything better, but even Williams shows some influence from a Song of Ice and Fire, when it comes to political intrigue, violence, word count, and sex. The first two thirds of the book conclude the main story, with excellent pacing, and plenty of twists and turns. The last third is what I’d call “The Scouring of the Shire”, and like the first 200 or so pages of the first book, it feels drawn out and excessive. Yeah, it’s nice to have all loose ends tied up, all remaining secrets spoiled, and the next “trilogy” set up too, just in case, but it lacked the excitement and high stakes of what came before. All things considered, I still like Shadowmarch better than Osten Ard, perhaps with the exception of Brothers of the Wind. With a bit tighter writing, and one or two subplots focusing on court politics instead of adventure cut, The Last King of Osten Ard would have been fantastic. As it is, it’s merely great 🙂. ---
**Author:** ![Sushi](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/sushi/32/163_2.png) [@Sushi](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Sushi)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2025, 7:30pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/455 "2025-10-26T19:30:09Z")
I am at page 530 out of 700 (not counting the appendix) of the English version of _The Navigator’s Children_ because I don’t want the book(s) to be over. I welled up when a story arc initiated in _Brothers of the Wind_ was tied up in this book. I can only fear what is to still come… On the bright side, I still have a bunch of unread short stories and English editions of Otherland and Shadowmarch that are waiting to be (re)read. And then I might start all over again. I’m also trying to start in Tolkien’s _The Silmarillion_ after watching Rings of Power. In the appendix, I stumbled upon a queen nick-named “Kementari”, which sounded familiar. it is the name of the Sithi city on Warinsten Oh, and I read a book about _Monkey Island_ by Nicolas Deneschau, but no one here is interested in _that_, right? > [@kaiman](#): > > Islington captures the essence of what I liked about The Wheel of Time like no one else I read so far, but more condensed and with less pulling of braids. 🤣 But the braid pulling is the whole essence! ---
**Author:** ![Frenzie](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/user_avatar/forums.thimbleweedpark.com/frenzie/32/4416_2.png) [@Frenzie](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Frenzie)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2025, 8:54pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/456 "2025-10-27T20:54:32Z")
I’m currently reading _De buitengewoon geslaagde opvoeding van Frida Wolf_. It’s quite amusing. The protagonist (Frida)’s father is a prison director who’s some kind of kleptomaniac intellectual. Also yesterday I read something called _Vampi_, from the current Vampirella Humble Bundle. A bit odd but kind of cool. ---
**Author:** ![kaiman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kaiman](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/kaiman)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 6:51pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/457 "2026-01-07T18:51:07Z")
Read **Ocean’s Godori** and **Teo’s Durumi** by Elaine Cho, a Sci-Fi duology where Korea is the dominant spacefaring nation, spaceships control like cars, and everyone is socially awkward. It has its lows (particularly in the second book), but when everything comes together, it had me on the edge of my seat. I also liked how it’s all “show, don’t tell”, diving in without much exposition, even though it’s off to a slow start (maybe a bit like Anathem, my all-time favorite), where you get to take in the world and characters in their normal state before the advertised\* plot is set in motion. What I did not care for is the romance, though. There’s a tangle of love interests, and I guess it could have made for excellent additional drama, were it not for the aforementioned awkward behavior of everyone, and the author’s decision to not have it resolve in any kind of surprise, let alone heartbreak. Still, the good outweighs the bad, and the thrilling finale makes more than up for the few cringe chapters sprinkled over the books. Recommended, especially for fans of Korea. * * * [\*] I think you’d actually want to hold off reading the synopsis on the back, as it’s a bit too spoiler-y. But have a look at the amazing front covers instead! Bold colors! Art! ![image](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex030/uploads/thimbleweedpark/original/2X/d/d11bbfa557145c42596daa70f7aaa09e78d20ba7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![kaiman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kaiman](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/kaiman)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2026, 1:18pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/458 "2026-02-14T13:18:49Z")
Read **Moonbound** by Robin Sloan. When I first heard about it, I was, based on Sloan’s prior work, expecting another mixture of old and new tech, likely something to do with NASA. The German title, however, translates to _The last Tale of Mankind_, hinting at something less mundane. Still, true to form, it is a mixture of the old and the new, a re-imagining of Arthurian legends on a far-future Earth, wonderfully weird, witty, warmhearted and whimsical. It also leaves the door open for a possible sequel, and I certainly would want to see more of that world and its characters! That I followed up with the first three books of Max Gladstone’s Craft Wars series, the continuation of the rather fabulous Craft sequence. While former consists of a loosely connected set of stand-alone novels, the new series tells a larger story, to be concluded (hopefully!) in the as of yet unreleased fourth volume. Still, each book has a bit of its own theme and feel to it, with the spotlight on different characters (both returning fan-favorites and newcomers alike), not so different from the originals. - **Dead Country** is cowboys vs. zombies (and so much more) - **Wicked Problems** is superhero-level action (and fun!) and a wild-goose chase across half the globe - **Dead Hand Rule** returns to ~~New York~~ Alt Coloumb, where the powers of the world congregate to make plans against evil. Diplomacy, intrigue and the apocalypse ensue. ---
**Author:** ![kaiman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kaiman](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/kaiman)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/459 "2026-06-08T21:19:39Z")
> [@Someone](#): > > If you like this and you are/speak German, I can recommend “Alles außer irdisch” written by Horst Evers. I finally got round to reading that, and would argue that it’s not really comparable to Omni. I guess being more of a humorous book, it’s lacking in desperation and nail-biting suspense, though certainly not in plot-twists. Instead, it very much reminded me of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Shares a lot of the absurdity and overbearing imagination, but with a German touch, and in a more modern environment. I wonder if it will ever receive a sequel. ---
**Author:** ![Someone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b77776/32.png) [@Someone](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/Someone)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2026, 10:25am UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/460 "2026-06-09T10:25:01Z")
> [@kaiman](#): > > Instead, it very much reminded me of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. Never thought about that, but you are right! > [@kaiman](#): > > I wonder if it will ever receive a sequel. After reading the book the same question popped up into my mind - but after thinking a little bit about it, the story is told IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![kaiman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a698b9/32.png) [@kaiman](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/u/kaiman)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2026, 3:18pm UTC](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758/461 "2026-09-13T15:18:15Z")
Two interesting books I read over the summer are **Air** , by Christian Kracht and **Voidverse** by Damien Ober. Both are excellently written, and both left me puzzled with ambiguous endings that defy explanation. I’d recommend both if you can stomach never knowing what this was truly all about, and instead can appreciate the experience as such. [Previous page](https://forums.thimbleweedpark.com/t/all-about-books/2758.md?page=22)