Glad your liking Dark Tower, so close to the end, I loved the ending. Doomsday Book was so-so for me too, I really want to read more from her those because she is a great writer. I really liked Player of Games too, I skipped Consider Phlebas but want to go back and read that one at some point. Oh yes, Simmons horror, now you got me thinking about picking one of his horror books for October.
@@sfwordsofwonder I’m so glad to hear you loved the ending of Dark Tower; I understand it is somewhat controversial. I’m really looking forward to finishing the series. 😀 Consider Phlebas is, in my opinion, well written and a ton of fun. Simmons has a few well received horror books. In addition to The Terror, I also will want to read Summer of Night at some point. It’s supposed to be in the vein of King’s IT.
@@bartsbookspaceSummer of Night was good, very SK-like coming of age horror. I was thinking of reading Children of Night next but I'm not sure, so many books to read 🧐
Getting me excited to get into the Culture series!!! I can’t wait Sorry Mercy of Gods didn’t work as great for you as it did for me, but hopefully the rest of the series will hook you in. Loved your energy here! 💪
@@BooksWithBenghisKahn Thanks Ben! Yes, Culture has, so far, been a ton of fun! Mercy of Gods wasn’t bad, but I just did not connect emotionally with the humans.
I loved Small Things Like These! Claire Keegan has been a wonderful discovery for me this year. If you're not in a hurry to watch the adaptation, I recommend reading that one at Christmastime. Great wrap-up and reading plans! 💚
@@Johanna_reads Thank you Johanna! Not sure I can put it off until Christmas. 😂 I actually flew to New York for work. I’ll be here 10 days and Small Things like These is one of the books I brought with me…
morning coffee with Bart. strong coffee! you are fortunate to start the Culture series from the beginning of publication. it's not necessary but preferable, i'd say. my first foray into Banks was Excession, and i was hooked too. now that i have read them all out of publication sequence i see that it's not required as they are all, as you say wildly dissimilar. suffice to say they got me back into reading SF in the 90s till this day. i bought Excession for the cool cover art. they put me onto Donaldson's Gap series and the Hyperion Cantos. speaking of the Dark Tower, i was surprised to read the first 'inklings' of the series in King's Hearts in Atlantis. fantastic. i read the Terror while stuck inside during our heatwave. you will soon see why. it's unrelenting. the video series was well done but by necessity, a bit of a distillation of a long and detailed book with Simmons as an adviser. i'm currently reading his Flashback. cheers.
I agree you don't need to read the Culture novels in order but I still think if you're new to his books that reading them in publication order is better as you get immersed in the Culture more as things expand and things and ships mentioned in later novels are little call backs that you'd otherwise miss.
@@stephenmorton8017 I’m loving the Dark Tower ride and am so happy to find Ian M Banks work for me. It feel like Culture is (so far) just the type of epic SF series I was hoping it would be. Dan Simmons has secured a place in my heart with Hyperion Cantos and I’m looking forward to reading more of his books. Cheers! ☕️
I've read The Terror and loved it. I know you want to read it in October, but I would wait to start it on a cold snowy day. Never have I read a book that made me feel bone chillingly cold in the warmth of my own home. It's a bit long but definitely worth a read., I haven't watched the TV series so I can't say if that is any good or not. I've read Foster by Claire Keegan., another short one but loved her writing and the story was good. I also want to read Small Things Like These.. Hopefully some day soon. Happy Reading!!
Thanks for the comment! This is the second comment on this video urging me to wait for it to get really cold before I pick up The Terror. I guess that settles it. I’ll wait for a winter! Thanks 🥶 Happy Reading!
Since you love time traveling novels here is some recommendations for you. First one guns of the South by Harry turtledove. Second one company of the Dead. This one deals with the Titanic.
@@rickwilson1732 These are great suggestions as I have heard Turtledove mentioned, but yet to read anything by him. Guns of the South seems like a good place to start. I’ll look for it. Thanks
Hey bart!!! I know mercy of gods was a bit of a mixed bag-- u should consider picking up Alien Clay. It really scratched that itch for me. Also u have me more than half convinced to retry dark tower series- i didnt love first book 😅
I thought about reading Alien Clay; I picked it up at a bookstore recently, but ended up not buying it. Your recommendation makes all the difference. I’ll definitely read it at some point. It’ll be my next Tchaikovsky. With Dark Tower, you have to read at least book 2 to get a sense of if the story will work for you.
@@secretsauceofstorycraft I guess it depends how long it’s been since you read Gunslinger. I, like you, read it years ago and did not continue… So, this year when I decide to give it a shot again, I started with book one before I drove into Drawing of the Three.
@@bookmarkswithjason9445 Yes, Drawing of the Three was great. But for me, so far, best book in the series would be #4 Wizard and Glass. It’s Roland’s back story and not everyone like it as the book doesn’t progress our main storyline much, but for me ot was amazing. 😃
Wastelands has always been my favorite in the series. I think Wastelands is placed in a complicated situation since it sits between the two books that are considered the best in the series.
@@AnonymousAnonposter Good point. Also, the “ending” of Wastlands kind of takes place at the beginning of Wizard and Glass and that steals some of its thunder. I loved the SF elements in Wastlands!
I read a book with time travel I particularly liked: 'Empire of Lies' by Raymond Khoury. It does not attempt to explain the science behind time travel instead making it supernatural. It also establishes rules for time travel that minimizes (there were still some issues) time paradoxes. Also, I have not read it yet, but I think Michael Crighton's 'Timeline' will be good judging from the movie adaptation.
@@OrangeLibrary Thanks. I have heard someone talk about Empire of Lies before. I think it was talked about as an alternative history book. I’ll have to look for it. The only Crighton I read was Jurassic Park & Lost World; I read them many years ago. I enjoyed the fast pace and easy to digest style.
Recently finished Nuclear Subtraction by Colin Roberts gave 4 ✨. Now I'm reading Star Science fiction stories no.2 and Riders to the stars by Robert Smith 😊
Consider Phlebas usually gets called the weakest of the Culture series but I've always liked it a lot. The Player of Games is tied for my Favourite Iain M. Banks with Use of Weapons. I'd recommend his non Culture SF too.
@@adrianmcmahon5731 Thanks, that’s good to know as it’s usually culture novels that are talked about in relation to his work. I have a long way to go with Ian M Banks! It’s exciting when you discover an author who is writing style appeals to you. 😃
My September so far in order. Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein 8/10 Conan the Barbarian (The Black Stranger) 6.5/10 by Robert E. Howard The Wind Through The Keyhole by Stephen King 7.5/10 Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne 5/10 The Steppe by Anton Tchêkhov 8/10 Death In Venice by Thomas Mann 7.5/10 The player of games by Ian M. Banks 6.5/10 War Lord (The Saxon Stories, #13) by Bernard Cornwell 8/10 The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien (rereading, in progress). So far in 2024 I have only read two books that would get 5 stars on Goodreads. And only two that would also earn two stars.
I enjoyed The Wasp Factory, but so far The Culture series did not prove to me to be anything above average or really intelligent as it claims to be. I have a close friend who is even more addicted to sci-fi than I am and she has always shown great contempt for Ian M Banks to the point of even being funny.
@@AnonymousAnonposter That is quite a list! Bernard Cornwell is great. Years ago I read all the Sharp books, and I also enjoyed the Saxon stories (though I stopped at book 5 or 6).
Wait until November for The Terror. When it is dark and cold. It is in my top ten all time and I am an old reader. Small Things was useless for me. Beautiful prose but no real story. I have read two of her books (novellas). They are the same. Prose no story.
@@jobuckley2999 That’s a solid tip. I can see how the weather element would add to the reading experience. Let’s see if I can hold out ‘till November. 😂 Thanks!
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Glad your liking Dark Tower, so close to the end, I loved the ending. Doomsday Book was so-so for me too, I really want to read more from her those because she is a great writer. I really liked Player of Games too, I skipped Consider Phlebas but want to go back and read that one at some point. Oh yes, Simmons horror, now you got me thinking about picking one of his horror books for October.
@@sfwordsofwonder I’m so glad to hear you loved the ending of Dark Tower; I understand it is somewhat controversial. I’m really looking forward to finishing the series. 😀
Consider Phlebas is, in my opinion, well written and a ton of fun.
Simmons has a few well received horror books. In addition to The Terror, I also will want to read Summer of Night at some point. It’s supposed to be in the vein of King’s IT.
@@bartsbookspaceSummer of Night was good, very SK-like coming of age horror. I was thinking of reading Children of Night next but I'm not sure, so many books to read 🧐
@@sfwordsofwonder tbr vs booktuber - It’s a loosing battle! 😂
Getting me excited to get into the Culture series!!! I can’t wait
Sorry Mercy of Gods didn’t work as great for you as it did for me, but hopefully the rest of the series will hook you in.
Loved your energy here! 💪
@@BooksWithBenghisKahn Thanks Ben!
Yes, Culture has, so far, been a ton of fun!
Mercy of Gods wasn’t bad, but I just did not connect emotionally with the humans.
I loved Small Things Like These! Claire Keegan has been a wonderful discovery for me this year. If you're not in a hurry to watch the adaptation, I recommend reading that one at Christmastime. Great wrap-up and reading plans! 💚
@@Johanna_reads Thank you Johanna!
Not sure I can put it off until Christmas. 😂
I actually flew to New York for work. I’ll be here 10 days and Small Things like These is one of the books I brought with me…
morning coffee with Bart. strong coffee!
you are fortunate to start the Culture series from the beginning of publication. it's not necessary but preferable, i'd say.
my first foray into Banks was Excession, and i was hooked too. now that i have read them all out of publication sequence i see that it's not required as they are all, as you say wildly dissimilar. suffice to say they got me back into reading SF in the 90s till this day. i bought Excession for the cool cover art. they put me onto Donaldson's Gap series and the Hyperion Cantos.
speaking of the Dark Tower, i was surprised to read the first 'inklings' of the series in King's Hearts in Atlantis. fantastic.
i read the Terror while stuck inside during our heatwave. you will soon see why. it's unrelenting. the video series was well done but by necessity, a bit of a distillation of a long and detailed book with Simmons as an adviser. i'm currently reading his Flashback.
cheers.
I agree you don't need to read the Culture novels in order but I still think if you're new to his books that reading them in publication order is better as you get immersed in the Culture more as things expand and things and ships mentioned in later novels are little call backs that you'd otherwise miss.
@@stephenmorton8017 I’m loving the Dark Tower ride and am so happy to find Ian M Banks work for me. It feel like Culture is (so far) just the type of epic SF series I was hoping it would be.
Dan Simmons has secured a place in my heart with Hyperion Cantos and I’m looking forward to reading more of his books.
Cheers! ☕️
@@adrianmcmahon5731 yes! agreed.
it's more a body of work than a series.
I've read The Terror and loved it. I know you want to read it in October, but I would wait to start it on a cold snowy day. Never have I read a book that made me feel bone chillingly cold in the warmth of my own home. It's a bit long but definitely worth a read., I haven't watched the TV series so I can't say if that is any good or not. I've read Foster by Claire Keegan., another short one but loved her writing and the story was good. I also want to read Small Things Like These.. Hopefully some day soon. Happy Reading!!
Thanks for the comment! This is the second comment on this video urging me to wait for it to get really cold before I pick up The Terror.
I guess that settles it. I’ll wait for a winter!
Thanks 🥶
Happy Reading!
Since you love time traveling novels here is some recommendations for you. First one guns of the South by Harry turtledove. Second one company of the Dead. This one deals with the Titanic.
@@rickwilson1732 These are great suggestions as I have heard Turtledove mentioned, but yet to read anything by him. Guns of the South seems like a good place to start. I’ll look for it. Thanks
two recent reads i rec: Baxter's The Timeships and Asher's COWL.
Excellent reviews and reading update. Good vibes all around.
@@elichilton7031 Thank You Eli!
Happy Reading😃
@@elichilton7031 Thank You Eli!
Happy Reading😃
Good month for you!
@@joannaolszewska7948 It was. This whole year has been full of great reads. 😀
Hey bart!!! I know mercy of gods was a bit of a mixed bag-- u should consider picking up Alien Clay. It really scratched that itch for me. Also u have me more than half convinced to retry dark tower series- i didnt love first book 😅
I thought about reading Alien Clay; I picked it up at a bookstore recently, but ended up not buying it. Your recommendation makes all the difference. I’ll definitely read it at some point. It’ll be my next Tchaikovsky.
With Dark Tower, you have to read at least book 2 to get a sense of if the story will work for you.
@@bartsbookspace haha i just got the audiobook for send book- do u think i need to reread book 1?
@@secretsauceofstorycraft I guess it depends how long it’s been since you read Gunslinger.
I, like you, read it years ago and did not continue… So, this year when I decide to give it a shot again, I started with book one before I drove into Drawing of the Three.
Recently read Wastelands. Pretty good but didn’t top Drawing of the Three. I really hope that wasn’t the peak of the Dark Tower series
@@bookmarkswithjason9445 Yes, Drawing of the Three was great. But for me, so far, best book in the series would be #4 Wizard and Glass. It’s Roland’s back story and not everyone like it as the book doesn’t progress our main storyline much, but for me ot was amazing. 😃
Wastelands has always been my favorite in the series.
I think Wastelands is placed in a complicated situation since it sits between the two books that are considered the best in the series.
@@AnonymousAnonposter Good point. Also, the “ending” of Wastlands kind of takes place at the beginning of Wizard and Glass and that steals some of its thunder. I loved the SF elements in Wastlands!
I read a book with time travel I particularly liked: 'Empire of Lies' by Raymond Khoury. It does not attempt to explain the science behind time travel instead making it supernatural. It also establishes rules for time travel that minimizes (there were still some issues) time paradoxes.
Also, I have not read it yet, but I think Michael Crighton's 'Timeline' will be good judging from the movie adaptation.
@@OrangeLibrary Thanks. I have heard someone talk about Empire of Lies before. I think it was talked about as an alternative history book. I’ll have to look for it.
The only Crighton I read was Jurassic Park & Lost World; I read them many years ago.
I enjoyed the fast pace and easy to digest style.
#teamlovetheendingofdarktower 🌹
🙌
Recently finished Nuclear Subtraction by Colin Roberts gave 4 ✨.
Now I'm reading Star Science fiction stories no.2 and Riders to the stars by Robert Smith 😊
@@avacollins4018 Interesting! Those are Not titles you hear much about on Booktube. 👍
Thanks
Consider Phlebas usually gets called the weakest of the Culture series but I've always liked it a lot. The Player of Games is tied for my Favourite Iain M. Banks with Use of Weapons. I'd recommend his non Culture SF too.
@@adrianmcmahon5731 Thanks, that’s good to know as it’s usually culture novels that are talked about in relation to his work. I have a long way to go with Ian M Banks! It’s exciting when you discover an author who is writing style appeals to you. 😃
My September so far in order.
Starship Troopers by Robert A. Heinlein 8/10
Conan the Barbarian (The Black Stranger) 6.5/10 by Robert E. Howard
The Wind Through The Keyhole by Stephen King 7.5/10
Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne 5/10
The Steppe by Anton Tchêkhov 8/10
Death In Venice by Thomas Mann 7.5/10
The player of games by Ian M. Banks 6.5/10
War Lord (The Saxon Stories, #13) by Bernard Cornwell 8/10
The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien (rereading, in progress).
So far in 2024 I have only read two books that would get 5 stars on Goodreads.
And only two that would also earn two stars.
I enjoyed The Wasp Factory, but so far The Culture series did not prove to me to be anything above average or really intelligent as it claims to be.
I have a close friend who is even more addicted to sci-fi than I am and she has always shown great contempt for Ian M Banks to the point of even being funny.
@@AnonymousAnonposter That is quite a list! Bernard Cornwell is great. Years ago I read all the Sharp books, and I also enjoyed the Saxon stories (though I stopped at book 5 or 6).
Wait until November for The Terror. When it is dark and cold. It is in my top ten all time and I am an old reader. Small Things was useless for me. Beautiful prose but no real story. I have read two of her books (novellas). They are the same. Prose no story.
@@jobuckley2999 That’s a solid tip. I can see how the weather element would add to the reading experience. Let’s see if I can hold out ‘till November. 😂
Thanks!