Just finished reading Lem's mystery "The Chain of Chance," which I enjoyed. The tone was interesting and the main character, a former astronaut turned detective, was well developed. Part of the action takes place in Rome, for those members of the family who are reading Rome-related books. Somehow it wasn't quite what I expected, but I liked it nonetheless and would definitely read more by Lem. I would recommend.
The list of books I need to read grows longer!
ReplyDeleteyes, i know that feeling. i found your old asimov books in the basement, and would be interested in reading one this summer. do you have a fav? (other asimov fans please feel free to weigh in)
ReplyDeleteAsimov: there are two main series, the Foundation Trilogy (plus extras) and the Robots series. I read the Foundation first and really liked it, but later I liked the Robot books even more. When I say Robots, I don't mean Asimov's early "I, Robot" stories, but the ones featuring R Daneel Olivaw, which are excellent stories with very thoughtful consideration of the differences between human and robot "thought" and whether rules can bind robot behavior, etc. I believe Caves of Steel is the first in the series. Great reads!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, I should say that I like other Lem books a lot more than this one. This one does have an interesting thesis, but to me, the other Lem stories are either more gripping or a lot funnier.
ReplyDeleteNo bookstores ever have Lem when I look so my efforts to read him have been unfruitful so far.
ReplyDeleteFor reference the asimov chronology (not order written) is this (or something close):
I, Robot
Caves of Steel
Naked Sun
Robots of Dawn
Robots and Empire
The Stars, Like Dust
The Currents of Space
Pebbles in the Sky
Prelude to Foundation
Forward the Foundation
Foundation
Foundation and Empire
Second Foundation
Foundation's Edge
Foundation and Earth
plus lots of short stories sprinkled in.
I loved the Asimov books and devoured all of these and more. What I enjoyed most was the interesting ideas - like the robot laws. At the time, I enjoyed Foundation most.
ReplyDeleteFair warning, though: Asimov was never strong at character development or dialogue, and I recently re-read Caves of Steel and it felt much flimsier than I remember.
And all the sequels and prequels that Asimov wrote later (e.g., Foundation and Earth, Prelude to Foundation, Forward the Foundation) always felt much weaker.
For sure, his books have the emotional maturity of an agoraphobic second-grader, but who needs character development when you have sweet robots and megalomaniacal mutants?
ReplyDeleteI second Colin's motion! And I think Jesse would vote to approve.
ReplyDelete