So - I have these book vouchers...

[Vermilion]

...to spend.

One thing I am definitely buying is 'Self-Editing for Fiction Writers' but I would like to mix it up a little, buy some fiction, some poetry - anything inspirational...

So I would like to know - what book inspires you, and why? What does it bring to you? Why should I get it?

x
V <-- revelling in the delicious potential of lots of new books

 

[starrkers]

A Canticle for Liebowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. Possibly the best post apocalyptic novel - the best I've ever read anyway. I read it 20 + years ago as part of my uni studies. It stays with me.

 

[impressive]

I just ordered some of the written & audio work of Clarissa Pinkola Estes. Two friends who I both trust & respect recommended her.

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

I echo starrkers "canticle for liebowitz" and add to it "The Incomplete Enchanter" by L Sprague DeCamp and Fletcher Pratt. The writing is laugh inducing as well as thought provoking, and the concept of all of the works of fiction as parallel universes, but authors are a special breed that perceive them always made me wonder and wish it were more true.

The other is "Escher Godel and Bach: The Eternal Golden Braid" by Douglas Hoffstaedler. It was my first foray into recursion and the best insight I've ever had into Godel's theorem. But remember, I'm a very strange man.

 

[Anna_Malia75]

"Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable." Absolutely fascinating entries on all kinds of things.

 

[rachlou]

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez is a wonderful book.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

A Canticle for Liebowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. Possibly the best post apocalyptic novel - the best I've ever read anyway. I read it 20 + years ago as part of my uni studies. It stays with me.

How odd. I used that book in the Sci-Fi Class I taught at PSU years ago. Excellent book by a relatively unknown author. My other favorite was by Alfred Bester - a one hit wonder who later went on to do some good stuff on the BBC after writing "Demolished Man".

I'm impressed, Starrkers

 

[impressive]

A Canticle for Liebowitz by Walter M. Miller, Jr. Possibly the best post apocalyptic novel - the best I've ever read anyway. I read it 20 + years ago as part of my uni studies. It stays with me.

The one I studied was Earth Abides (George R. Stewart) ... and I highly recommend it, as well.

King acknowledges it as his inspiration for The Stand.

 

[English Lady]

*points at Tshirt*

<--------------


Well osmeone was gonna do it eventually, might as well be me

 

[impressive]

*points at Tshirt*

<--------------


Well osmeone was gonna do it eventually, might as well be me

For that matter, several of the Coming Together volumes are on Amazon:


Under Fire

For the Cure

For Gabrielle*

Colly's

... and more if you have a Kindle.


* Second edition coming soon. I'd hold off on ordering this one, for now.

 

[starrkers]

How odd. I used that book in the Sci-Fi Class I taught at PSU years ago. Excellent book by a relatively unknown author. My other favorite was by Alfred Bester - a one hit wonder who later went on to do some good stuff on the BBC after writing "Demolished Man".

I'm impressed, Starrkers

Bester wasn't quite a one hit wonder - he was a two hit - His other one was "The Stars My Destination" Great stuff too.
eta and he had a bunch of great shorts.

 

[R. Richard]

A story you should read is "The Man Who Counts," by Poul Anderson. The story features the adventures of one Nicholas van Rijn. Many consider "The Man Who Counts" as the best science fiction story ever written. It is an old story and you can probably obtain it from your library. [Read it and then do a search on Nicholas van Rijn to get the rest of the connected stories.]

 

[Frank Noir]

I like a lot of authors, but who inspires me? Good question.

The first name that came to mind was Julian Barnes, author of Flaubert's Parrot and A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters.

It's a fine example of writing that makes you think, without telling you what to think. Hell, it even makes you feel without telling you what to feel. And with a fine sense of humour. His writing is very calm, almost understated - but it does amazing things.