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Finished Junji Ito's "Dissolving Classroom". The story, separated across several short stories, follows a devil-obsessed young man with a compulsion towards apologizing and his demented little sister. Along the way everyone they cross paths with meet with unfortunate and disgusting ends.

I've really been neglecting this thread. Since I last posted, I've finished:

Fire Ice by Clive Cussler
Lost City by Clive Cussler
The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein

Safe to say I'm a big fan of the Cussler nautical techo-thrillers. Looking back, I've read 7 of them on this thread

Thanks for pushing me towards The Hobbit. It didn't disappoint. I liked the much quicker pace compared to LOTR.

I just started....

Chalpie wrote:I've recently read an old classic - Dune.

When i was starting this book, i felt like the language was intentionally simplified for a younger audience. That might still be the case - however after reading it is clear as day that this was a brilliantly thought out and modeled world after a ton of existing myths and religions that have gone through earth.

The plot is reasonably simple, interactions transparent, but there is a ton of wisdom in every other sentence.

Dune by Herbert!

I've wanted to read this for a longggg time. Only about 100 pages in (of 700). So far he's created an amazing world that I feel immersed in. I think it's going to live up to the hype.

Jagosaurus wrote:Thanks for pushing me towards The Hobbit. It didn't disappoint. I liked the much quicker pace compared to LOTR.

Hobbit is a much quicker pace than the LOTR books. It felt like it was over in a snap.

It's a great introduction in the LOTR series and one that should not be missed.

Dune was highly influenced by Herbert’s environmental knowledge and interest in Islam and the Middle East. You’ll find Dune incorporates ideas from both.

marurun wrote:Dune was highly influenced by Herbert’s environmental knowledge and interest in Islam and the Middle East. You’ll find Dune incorporates ideas from both.

It's also an incredible read. Dune is one of my absolute favorite sci-fi novels.

I follow space news and theories as a hobby and life-long interest. I'm pretty surprised how much Herbert has already incorporated that is discussed regularly today (40+ years later) when you really dig into what it will take to become an interplanetary civilization. Being an ecologist really translates well to knowing what we'll need to sustain life elsewhere apparently. Makes sense.

Did you guys read any of the other 6 main books?

I can see myself digging into those, but the dozen+ sequels by his son might be a bit much.

I never did, though I have been told Children of Dune is worth checking out. Unfortunately, it appears things went on a decline after the first, based on the opinions of friends, so I did not continue. I dislike being burned by series.

Ack wrote:I never did, though I have been told Children of Dune is worth checking out. Unfortunately, it appears things went on a decline after the first, based on the opinions of friends, so I did not continue. I dislike being burned by series.

I read similar. Check out the first few & hang it up. Looks like Children is #3.

Dune (1965)
Dune Messiah (1969)
Children of Dune (1976)

Might look at getting through those. We'll see. I still have Jurassic Park & Lost World sitting on my shelf that need attention.

Ooh, Jurassic Park is what got me into reading Crichton's work, and he became one of my favorite authors. Lost World isn't as good. You might choose to go straight through or skip around, but read Jurassic Park soon!

Lately I have been in the mood for some military sci-fi, so I am reading John Steakley's Armor. The book gets flak for a massive change that occurs about 20% of the way in, and the shift (characters, perspective, tone) is jarring when it happens. Thankfully I knew it was coming, but I see a lot of back and forth about whether this is truly a classic of its subgenre, to be held up along with the likes of Starship Troopers or The Forever War. We'll see how I feel when I finish it.

I'm a huge fan of the original JP movie. I wore my old VHS out. I just never got around to reading them. No excuses! I think the only Chrichton novel I've read is State of Fear. It was about 10 years ago & I really enjoyed it.

I'll look up those other 2 sci fis. Obviously know Starship Troopers...