Originally posted by bvbIt's always interesting to see how radically different people's interpretations of novels can be: a lot of fans say this is the best thing Heinlein ever wrote; I think it's easily the worst novel ever written...I have never been so irritated by a central character (and one I know we're all supposed to admire) as I was by Jubal Harshaw.
Stranger in a Strange Land - Robert Heinlein
The beginning of Ilium:
Rage.
Sing, O Muse, of the rage of Achilles, of Peleus' son, murderous, man-killer, fated to die, sing of the rage that cost the Achaeans so many good men and sent so many vital, hearty souls down to the dreary House of Death. And while you're at it, O Muse, sing of the rage of the gods themselves, so petulant and so powerful here on their new Olympos, and of the rage of the post-humans, dead and gone though they might be, and of the rage of those few true humans left, self-absorbed and useless though they may have become. While you are singing, O Muse, sing also of the rage of those thoughtful, sentient, serious but not-so-close-to-human beings out there dreaming under the ice of Europa, dying in the sulfur-ash of Io, and being born in the cold folds of Ganymede.
Oh, and sing of me, O Muse, poor born-again-against-his-will Hockenberry -- poor dead Thomas Hockenberry, Ph.D., Hockenbush to his friends, to friends long since turned to dust on a world long since left behind. Sing of my rage, yes, of my rage, O Muse, small and insignificant though that rage may be when measured against the anger of the immortal gods, or when compared to the wrath of the god-killer, Achilles.
On second thought, O Muse, sing of nothing to me. I know you. I have been bound and servant to you, O Muse, you incomparable b*tch. And I do not trust you, O Muse. Not one little bit.
If I am to be the unwilling Chorus of this tale, then I can start the story anywhere I choose. I choose to start it here.
Originally posted by AmauroteIt may depend on the timing: I liked it, but I was 16 or 17 at the time that I read it. I don't know if I'd still feel that way, which is why I haven't added to this thread before now.
It's always interesting to see how radically different people's interpretations of novels can be: a lot of fans say this is the best thing Heinlein ever wrote; I think it's easily the worst novel ever written...I have never been so irritated by a central character (and one I know we're all supposed to admire) as I was by Jubal Harshaw.
Heinlen, Asimov and Wyndham were master story tellers. Great original tales.
A series that suprised me was the "Star of the Guardians" by Margaret Weis. A great futuristic tale of bloody politics. Weis has constructed a believable political web. All of her "evil" characters have rationales for their actions and believe that they are doing good. They are so convincing that I couldn't decide whether I wanted them to fail or not.
Its old now, so the second hand book shops should have the four book series.