The Longest Sci-Fi Book I've Ever Read - [Recent Reads]

[@SciFiFinds]

It seems there's some audio issues here. Bear with me and it should be resolved by the next video.

[@JoeNicolosi-l8i]

Snow Crash by Stephenson is a lot more approachable, and along with Neuromancer is an important novel in the development of cyberpunk science fiction.

[@SciFiFinds]

I'll definitely read Snow Crash, particularly because of how much I love Neuromancer. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@antistition]

I know Snow Crash is one of the founding cyberpunk novels, but I hated it so so so much. You're right in that it is approachable. I just wish I hadn't. Neuromancer it is not.

[@pamstone8145]

Great video. Greetings from Columbus Ohio. KZbin just suggested your channel to me. I listened to Seveneves on Audible several years ago and loved it ! I seem to be alone with that take on the book. I've actually been meaning to listen to it again. I've liked and subscribed, looking forward to seeing more videos from you.

[@SciFiFinds]

I know that a lot of people love Seveneves, I don't think you're alone! Thanks for watching and commenting :)

[@sfwordsofwonder]

The Voyage of the Space Beagle is a classic. Malzberg is an interesting writer and an interesting fella, haven't read Overlay but I'll probably get around to it at some point. I have mixed feelings about Stephenson, I got 800 pages into the 1100+ page Cryptonomicon and DNF'd it. I'm going to go back and start from Stephenson's shorter, earlier works and see if I can get used to his writing before I commit to his newer longer works. Great job discussing and articulating your thoughts here. Great to see another reader and collector of classic and new SF. Looking forward to future videos.

[@SciFiFinds]

Thank you for that, I love your channel so that means a lot.

[@trumansparks2338]

Seveneves is the least accessible Stephenson novel. I would recommend Cryptonomicon. Part of the joy of reading a Stephenson novel are his many knowledgeable digressions. I'd find them annoying from just about any other author but I find him compelling and it's sort of fun when you pop out of one of these digressions back into the ongoing storyline. A few digressions I remember from the SOW trilogy included one on the hygiene habits in the court of Louis IV, a comparison of the pre-revolutionary economy of France with Britain, and a lengthy and disturbing description of the use of dogs and other animals in early scientific experiments establishing the fundamentals of anatomy. These digressions are usually fascinating - which is good because they can run for 20+ pages, to the point where you sort of forget you're reading a novel, then the digression ends and we are back to seeing what our hero is up to right now. It's a crazy style. It shouldn't work at all, but it sure works for me.

[@SciFiFinds]

While I didn't enjoy the novel overall, I do agree with you. I think I mentioned in the novel that you get a sense that Stephenson is an extremely intelligent man and I do feel like I was enriched with some knowledge here. I will definitely try his other works at some point! Thanks for such a thoughtful comment.

[@NiceTryGuvnah]

I'm surprised you got through that long book without enjoying it. I probably would of given up :)

[@SciFiFinds]

I'd heard about the final third being interesting, which it was ... but probably not enough to justify it. I have read things in the past where the final chapter or even sentence changed my opinion completely... I'm personally more inclined to stick things out

[@davinafelix6508]

Great video!

[@AnonymousAnonposter]

Overlay by Barry N. Malzberg has a really low rating on Goodreads, so I assume it's a good book or at least requires some thought. I need to read more Neal Stephenson, Snow Crash is one of the best books I've read in 2024, even if it's written with a lot of irony gave more food for thought than so many other books I have read in the genre.

[@SciFiFinds]

That's true but it also only has around 70 ratings so it's difficult to gauge the general feel on this one. I do think it's strange enough to alienate a lot of readers but it's genuinely unique as far as I can tell. I will definitely get to Snow Crash since I love Neuromancer so much and need to delve more into Cyberpunk. I don't necessarily think that Seveneves was bad, it's just 867 pages of telling rather than showing. Thanks for the comment.

[@wbbartlett]

Zodiac, Diamond Age & Snow Crash were enjoyable books. Then something happened to Stephenson - he decided that books needed to be six times longer than necessary. The last I read of his was Cryptonomicon which was his first 900 page yawn fest.

[@rabbitscooter]

By coincidence, I was just gifted a copy of SevenEves. I gave up after around 100 pages. His writing style was fine; but every point he wanted to make, every description he felt a need to provide, took far too long. And life's too short. I'd rather read three better books.

[@SciFiFinds]

I agree completely. What are you going to read instead?

[@rabbitscooter]

@@SciFiFinds Good question. I'm revisiting classics at the moment. Just finished The Silver Eggheads by Fritz Leiber; not a classic but weirdly prescient fun. Murray Leinster's First Contact is next on my list and then, I think, Bester's The Stars My Destination. Or Martian Time Slip by Philip K. Dick. never read that one, actually, and it looks like fun.

[@SciFiFinds]

@@rabbitscooter I haven't heard of a couple of those but I have read The Stars My Destination and loved it. On another day it probably could have slotted into my top 10.

[@DJ-mw6mm]

Seveneves is, by far, the worst scifi I have ever read. Like the guy said, first sentence is 'the moon blows up but don't know why'. That right there should have been the point where I lay it down and say nah...fuck this.

[@SciFiFinds]

While it's definitely not the worst sci-fi I've ever read, the guy agrees with you that it's not great! Thanks for watching

[@davidrobertson5996]

As lots of other people have recommended Snow Crash, I won't bother, but I enjoyed it a lot. You might enjoy trying Peter F Hamilton's "The Reality Dysfunction" for something different, but engaging. By the way, when you wave books around, it messes up the focus of your camera 🙂Good post though - will look forward to more.

[@SciFiFinds]

Thanks for that. Unfortunately I think it's a result of my camera being less than ideal for this kind of content, I hope to buy a new camera at some point

[@davidrobertson5996]

@@SciFiFinds No worries, great content!

[@SciFiFinds]

@@davidrobertson5996 Hope you can keep watching and leaving helpful feedback :)

[@DavidKetchin]

seveneves is basically 2 books mashed together.

[@SciFiFinds]

It certainly feels that way in terms of the shift into that final third

[@heidi6281]

Tell us your first name or put in the description.😀

[@SciFiFinds]

Hahaha sorry... my name is Jack :)

[@antistition]

Beyond Apollo is the only Malzberg I've read so far, but it was excellent. Weird - but excellent. Will have to pick up Overlay.

[@SciFiFinds]

I will definitely get to Beyond Apollo at some point. If you do read Overlay, let me know what you think