The Color of Magic (Discworld series) -- Terry Pratchett—pretty funny, top British author. The first book (this one) seems to be unmatched by at least the next five in the series, but there are like 30 in the series total, so...
Neutron star—Larry Niven—a collection of short stories in Larry Niven’s fascinating future.
Fire upon the deep—Vernor Vinge—just the best picture of a future filled with GAI’s that I have read.
Neuromancer—William Gibson—incredible action/cyberpunk story, incredible characters. Gets pretty boring at the end though.
Some nonfiction...
Madness and civilization—Michael Foucault—exquisite historical/philosophical writing. This book I think shows an example of what it means to be a real scholar.
Road to reality—Roger Penrose—an interesting attempt to delve into the exact sciences of physics/mathematics in one, singular drive. Not recommended without extensive prior experience in math/physics, since unfortunately it doesn’t explain so much as shed new light on things you might have already learned. There needs to be more books like this.
Die nigger die—H. Rap Brown—this book is written with such passion and intelligent revolutionary spirit, it really had a major impact on me when I read it. (Brown was an important figure in the civil rights movements of the 60′s. )
That’s funny. Well, perhaps Foucault may not have been very accurate—I’m not at all qualified to comment. But the book still stands as an amazing work of intellectual writing.
Some fiction....
The Color of Magic (Discworld series) -- Terry Pratchett—pretty funny, top British author. The first book (this one) seems to be unmatched by at least the next five in the series, but there are like 30 in the series total, so...
Neutron star—Larry Niven—a collection of short stories in Larry Niven’s fascinating future.
Fire upon the deep—Vernor Vinge—just the best picture of a future filled with GAI’s that I have read.
Neuromancer—William Gibson—incredible action/cyberpunk story, incredible characters. Gets pretty boring at the end though.
Some nonfiction...
Madness and civilization—Michael Foucault—exquisite historical/philosophical writing. This book I think shows an example of what it means to be a real scholar.
Road to reality—Roger Penrose—an interesting attempt to delve into the exact sciences of physics/mathematics in one, singular drive. Not recommended without extensive prior experience in math/physics, since unfortunately it doesn’t explain so much as shed new light on things you might have already learned. There needs to be more books like this.
Die nigger die—H. Rap Brown—this book is written with such passion and intelligent revolutionary spirit, it really had a major impact on me when I read it. (Brown was an important figure in the civil rights movements of the 60′s. )
Some claims that Foucault’s “Madness and Civilization” was a terrible example of scholarship from the mindhacks blog: http://mindhacksblog.wordpress.com/2009/09/15/fifty-years-of-madness-and-civilisation/ http://mindhacksblog.wordpress.com/2008/09/14/a-history-of-the-history-of-madness/
That’s funny. Well, perhaps Foucault may not have been very accurate—I’m not at all qualified to comment. But the book still stands as an amazing work of intellectual writing.
I liked the end of Neuromancer (and the rest). “Fire” is definitely good.