Hatrack River Writers Workshop: Heady stuff?

This is topic Heady stuff? in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Mind Surfer (Member # 1686) on :

I'm in the search of some "Heady" type science fiction or fantasy reading. When I think about heady stuff, I think like Frank Herbert's Dune. Anyone have any other "heady" books they want to throw out here?

Posted by PE_Sharp (Member # 1654) on :

Heady is so subjective. I know one book I would recommend as heady in that it truely challenged me values in relation to race and racism.

The Iron Dream by Norman Spinrad. It is SF with a strong fantasy vibe up untill the very end of the book.

This I believe may be my second time recomending this book on this forum. But what the hell, the book always makes me think, and I think it is good, so it probably fits here.

PE Sharp

Posted by TruHero (Member # 1766) on :

Try Neal Stephenson's Qucksilver. I am reading it right now, and I am finding it pretty interesting. I am only into it about 200 pages or so, but it has over 900 pages total. Give it a try!

Posted by Ergoface (Member # 1429) on :

I don't know if this fits your definition of "heady" but if you haven't read A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge, you should. You all should, Yeah you! Go and read it now, if you've already read it, do it again.

Sorry, I must be channeling someone else--hey why haven't you read it yet . . .

[This message has been edited by Ergoface (edited January 12, 2004).]

Posted by Jules (Member # 1658) on :

I'm not sure what you mean by 'heady'.

One possibility that strikes me: having recently read Dune, it stands out that it was written in a very unusual voice... switching point of view very frequently, but getting deep into each POV character's internal thoughts.

Is that what you mean, or are you talking about something else?

Posted by ccwbass (Member # 1850) on :

I can heartily recommend Gene Wolf's 4-volume "Torturer" series and Jack Vance's "Dying Earth" quartet on the sci-fi end, and Vance's "Lyonesse" trilogy (out of print) and Moorcock's "Elric" sextet on the fantasy end.

And for a change of pace, R. F. Delderfeld's "To Serve Them All My Days," you know, just to keep your heart firmly planted earthside while your head explores the upper reaches of speculative fiction.

Posted by Mind Surfer (Member # 1686) on :

Hmm...What do I mean by "heady"?? I guess I feel like Herbert brought an amazing idea to the table with Dune. It was different than anything I had ever read. It was philosophical. It was thought provoking.

I haven't finished all of the chronicles yet. I'm on #5 now. But so far I've been most struck by Dune and Dune Messiah.

I guess I'm looking for reads that have or will potentially "blow your mind away".

Posted by wetwilly (Member # 1818) on :

If by "heady" you mean books that are not very interesting, then I agree, Dune falls in that category. I can't figure out what it is about that book that so many people loved. I mean, obviously there must be a reason that I missed out on, but I thought the book was completely boring. Is there something common to human psychology that I don't have that makes everybody love this book?

Posted by punahougirl84 (Member # 1731) on :

Mind Surfer - have you tried the newest Dune books by Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson? I recommend them. William Gibson might fit your description. You could check out the Nebula and Hugo award winners, then read their descriptions on borders.com.

Wetwilly - it's called opinion, and we are all allowed one! Yes Dune is popular, but not universally - just by lots of people (myself included). By the time I hit book 4 I was having troubles and gave up. I remember having trouble getting into The Hobbit - it took a couple of years, then someone recommended LOTR, I realized The Hobbit came first, tried it again and loved it. Has it been a while since you tried Dune? Maybe try again! I read all the Thomas Covenant books and am mad at the waste of time and money Donaldson caused me, because I feel my expectations were not fulfilled - not that an author can't twist stuff and surprise you, but his character never grew - never overcame stuff - he can do that, but I personally was upset. Fortunately, in A Mirror of Her Dreams and A Man Rides Through (two book series) he did a great job, my expectations were met, and I've read them more than once. So while I would not give Covenant another chance, I did give the author another chance and was not disappointed.

The Wheel of Time books by Robert Jordan cause controversy - I did enjoy them through number 9, but just finished 10 and am not happy - I feel like it was one big transition, nothing got accomplished, he barely touched on the most significant main character, a major event that started in the previous book and finished in this one basically did not get discussed, no resolutions but tons of repetitive description on all the ways women can be arrogant and pains in the (I am female, and protest!)... I will read the rest when he gets them out, but in paperback (as most of mine are).

Posted by Mind Surfer (Member # 1686) on :

wetwilly: I think you misinterpreted what I wrote. I loved Dune. I admit some parts were boring, but overall I thought it was great.

punahougirl84: I did a very similar thing with The Hobbit. I attempted to read it and failed miserably. I tried again a couple of years later and it was great. I couldn't actually read LOTR. I found it boring in comparison to The Hobbit. I confess, the only way I could "read" LOTR, was by listening to it in my car on the way to work. I just couldn't take pages and pages of description.

I've had the same trouble with the Dune Chronicles. After number 3, I had to take a couple of month break. I read 4 and am taking another break until I read 5. There is something about the books, I can only take so much.

Posted by Nick Vend (Member # 1816) on :

I don't know if these fit your definition, but Valis (and the other two that go with it for that matter, Divine Invasion and The Transmigration of Timothy Archer) by Philip K Dick discusses humanities need for/exploration of God. And, as all of Dick's books (well, all the ones I've actually read so far), it's a great read.

Posted by yanos (Member # 1831) on :

Have you tried reading some of Sheri Tepper's books? They have some interesting ideas from a philosophical and cultural bent.