/lit/ - Literature

>>5644563

/lit/ hates it because they probably were forced to read it in high school or something, or think that its meant to be deeper than it is. Personally, I enjoyed it.

>>5643922

They dont, its pure confirmation bias because the main characters interact most with the Gryffindor-friendly teachers (most of which were gryffindors themselves).

>>5639723
Yes. Although it makes pretensions to being somewhat higher brow than it is, its still quite fun.

>>5573960

That was PRECIOUS. The hilarious bit is that people still act as thought there is some mystery and doubt about him. It ought to be completely obvious for everyone by now.

>>5573860

worse than that, jon is actually azor ahai all along, and is just going to reborn or some such relating to either Mel's magic, or Dany thats my bet, anyways. Jamie also has bretty stronk armour too. Everyone else is probably eligible for slaughter, since he does have a reputation at this point.

>>5573799

But ASOIAF's main characters have massive plot armour. GRRMartin just uses tropes slightly less obtusely than your average fantasy schlock.

>>5385495

but he's alcoholic and short-sighted.

>>5385441

>look to windward
>"woe is me I am sad I am still alive"
>the most laid back suicide mission in the universe
>culture hobnobbing
>mission fails

As opposed to
>Excession
>Thingy appears everyones interested in
>Ship conspiracy
>human drama influencing ship drama
>bitching space battles
>obnoxious alien assholes get asses handed to them

How is the second one not better?

>>5383527

I personally cant stand Consider Phlebas, and would only ever recommend it after you read some of the good Culture stories.

The best Culture novel to start off with is Player of Games, it's decently all round, introduces most key concepts if you dont like diving straight into a universe. The best Culture novels, are, in approximate order: Use of Weapons, The Hydrogen Sonata, Surface Detail.

If you want to try his other SF stuff, Feersum Endjinn >>>>>>>>>>>>>everything else.

>>5385353

Dunwich Horror

>>5362604

Sounds kind of like Drouds from Larry Niven's known space stuff. Seriously, >>5362586 has it right, check out some Snow Crash or read just the first 3 chapters of The Diamond Age, and you will have nearly all the source material you need.

>>5318826

I agree with you that Stephenson is an ideas man foremost.

Ian Mcdonald is good for the opposite reasons that Stephenson is good - his stories are intensely personal, focusing on the characters thoughts and choices, though as a backdrop you still have the cyber-punk and societal change.

>>5318771

I find that Snow Crash is just a massive dividing line in taste, some people read it and like it (because it get thrown around all the time here as an example of good "modern" cyberpunk) and others think its inane tripe. I liked it, though I can admit it has problems. I think a better book, and a less polarising one that provides a better overall sample of Stephenson's style is Cryptonomicon.

In other cyberpunk authors/stories worth reading:

River of Gods - Ian Mcdonald
Terminal Cafe(sometimes alternately titles Necroville) - Ian Mcdonald

>>5318719

If you read past the first chapter or two of either The Diamond Age or Snow Crash, than after that the writing style doesnt change much. Both stories could be classified as coming-of-age stories, but they wind up very different in how its handled. If it's Stephenson's prose in general that you have a problem with, I cant really help you, as I personally enjoy it and find it refreshingly unique. If you want something thats written more "mature", I'd say try out Cryptonomicon, but if you really just hate his style, than that's probably it.

>>5318604

Yes. The society that he portrays in that and the Diamond age is a surprisingly well realised future. The writing in Snow Crash is fun, compelling, and doesnt take itself too seriously. If you dont like it, thats fine, but he's definitely worth a try.

>>5318575

His short stories are probably better than his novels, but he is still fun to read. My favourite was Anansi Boys, gave me brotherly feels. Also didnt feel like he was forcing the fantasy or deeper meanings, like it sometimes did in Neverwhere and American Gods

>>5182131

So how many people is he meant to have killed? The impression that I got was that he had killed at least a few (Paul Allen, a couple of hookers, and the homeless dude) but not as many as you are shown (like 20-more). I havent read the book.

>>5164663

In no particular order:

Good morning, Vietnam
Casablanca
Groundhog day
The Last Samurai
Catch Me If You Can
Shrek
Swordfish
Natural Born Killers
Seven Psychopaths
Men In Black

judge me

>>5148252

Cool, I'll have to check it out, thanks for the tip.

>>5148275

forgot Tyrion

>>5148208

See this >>5148242 , but In addition

Fucking Cersei becomes more interesting than her by the third book. Cersei, the character who you are built up to hate. Dany gets power, uses a little bit, and then spends practically entire books acting out little teenage mini-dramas, when she could be conquering shit. Cersei is a better ruler than joffrey, isnt afraid of ruthlessly crushing any opposition to her rule, and still finds time to try and pursue her love interests, without losing any badass points or losing her cool. The main characters that people like at this point have a modicum of maturity about them, e.g. Jon Snow, Arya, The Onion knight, Jamie.

>>5143468

River of Gods, Ian Mcdonald. Check it out. I'm not sure if its strictly cyber-punk, but Dick isnt either. Nano-tech and AI in India. Sort of like how The Diamond Age by Neal Stephenson is Nano-tech wars in China, but better.

>>5144532
>>5144553

>Not jaunita

Shit taste, guys. Stephenson is one of my favourite fun authors, but he still cant do a well-paced ending to save his life. Snow Crash is probably the most fun to read, Cryptonomicon is probably better.

But god damn, the first chapter is the most hilariously over-the-top cyberpunky thing that has ever been devised.

>>5111443

At heart, based means basically being true to oneself, e.g. being secure in the face of outward adversity, hence having a strong "base". Used mainly to refer to popular personas, whether they be youtube personalities, tv hosts, or just popular trip-users, especially when they are percieved to "not give a fuck" or to otherwise hold themselves above drama in the scene they represent.

Basically, its just the hip new word for "very cool person"