Piransei ❤ I need to read more Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is calling to me. I think she's got a bunch of short stories set in the Jonthan Strange world. A lot went over my head when I read Book of The New Sun, but what stuck really stuck. What Wolfe does with the perspective alone is impressive, seriously I'll applaud that any chance I get. A weirdly (and entertainingly) warped Christ retelling, I was raised Catholic so I was able to connect some of the themes. I second everything you've said about Second Apocalypse.
I really want to read that book too but it’s so chunky haha. I think she’s writing another book now. I 10000% agree with you on BotNS. Another series that’s probably best reread.
I would add one: Embassy Town by China Meilville. About the connection(s) between language and how we think (and organize our societies). Another one: Ursula LeGuin, The Dispossessed. (and others by her). Another one: China Meilville's The City and the city - about how culture and society determine what we see (and don't see).
@@Calcprof the first two are high on my list. I read The City and the City a few years back and I agree with you. Fantastic book. I think I need to do a part two for this video tbh.
Awesome list Zara! I've only read Piranesi of these, but it was brilliant and you captured its magic well! I'll definitely look into these others. I'd never heard of you Hiero's Journey until you mentioned it previously, but it does sound quite fascinating!
I have Book of the New Sun on my shelf. I started it a long time ago, but it fell by the wayside. I'll take this is as an encouragement to get back to it! I also have Piranesi and am looking forward to it. Hiero's Journey sounds like it has some thematic parallels to A Canticle for Liebowitz which is my FAVORITE sci-fi book. I admit I'm daunted by Bakker, not for the depth, but for the darkness...
Please let me know your thoughts once you finish BotNS! I’m definitely going to check out A Canticle for Liebowitz. I’m intrigued! I’d say for Bakker, give it a go BUT if you find the first half of the book too dark then definitely don’t continue as it only gets darker. I’m curious, have you read anything thus far that’s been too dark for you? Might help me figure out whether it’ll be too much.
@@bookswithzara I really had to pause and think about this! I think I can handle darkness best in non-fiction/history because, well, it's fact and has to be faced honestly. Regardless of genre, I have a pretty low tolerance for sexual violence, and zero for sexual violence towards children. If no character has a shred of humanity, or even a chance of change...that's rough. I think of one certain character from East of Eden. I loved that book, but I hated that in a book which is all about "having a choice and not being bound by your birth" that particular character was just born evil incarnate with no hope. That was so bleak. Summary: if the circumstances are horrible and bleak, I can usually handle it. If there is not even a shred of good/hope WITHIN any of the characters, that I tend to dislike. Sorry that's so abstract! I couldn't think of a specific example.
@@jlodomauthor not abstract at all! Based on this, I wouldn’t recommend the series. There is graphic sexual violence in the first couple of books. And there really is very little to no shred of hope in the characters/world.
I am currently reading “The Prince of Nothing”, so will give my thoughts on it once I have finished it! I had not heard of “The Just City” before, definitely putting it on my TBR List! Cheers!
Thank you for these specific recommandations, I love philosophical topics in fantasy! would highly recommend the terra ignota-series by ada palmer, though it's a bit challening and I've not made it through the first one yet. But the concept is so interesting, in that we are following a distant future on earth, where a lot of western philosopher's utopias have been implemented in the structures (e.g. there are no countries any more, just different political systems where you can choose freeliy, which one you want to belong to, or none of them; abandonement of the nuclear family, abandonement of gender conventions, no imprisonment of criminals etc.).
Great list! I need to check out "Hiero's Journey" and "The Spear Cuts Through Water" One book that I'd put on my list if I were to do one like this is "Rejoice, A Knife to the Heart" by Steven Erikson. Yes, the same author as Malazan series lol but just a single book not TEN lmao XD The one thing to keep in mind though is that Rejoice is very much a traditional sci fi book in that the idea is front and center. I only say that because I've seen folks complain that Rejoice has weaker character work than Malazan, but Erikson's goal and approach to writing Rejoice is way different from his goal and approach to writing Malazan lol. Another book that could go on here is "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. People don't typically think of it as sci fi but it does have enough sci fi elements to count as part of sci fi genre IMO lol. Anyway, I don't recommend it because I agree with it necessarily, but this book is the gift that keeps on giving as far as I'm concerned when it comes to starting conversations about politics haha especially as an American XD I've had a lot of really good and insightful conversations with folks across political spectrum here in the good ol' US of A regarding the ideas in this book over the years since I first read it. Oh, and also, "The Dispossessed" and "The Left Hand of Darkness" both deserve a place on this list a well. Both written by Ursula K. Le Guin and both a part of her Hainish Cycle. Reading order doesn't matter for Hainish cycle btw lol so don't stress about which to read first like I did XD
Thanks V3! I had no clue that Erickson wrote a standalone. I am definitely going to add that to my list. I’ve also never read Atlas Shrugged. I definitely should as I disagree with quite a bit of Rand’s philosophy (only the bits I’ve read in dribs and drabs) so it’ll be interesting to see how those ideas come into the book. Dispossessed and The Left Hand of Darkness… I neeeed to read these. Guin is seriously shaping up to be one of my favourite authors. Thank you for your recs!
Oh my, I need to read. Hiero's Journey is on my rader, but since I'm going through the SF Masterworks, I'll wait for it. Have you read The Affirmation by Christopher Priest? Imagine Algernon's themes, less heartbreaking, but with a heavy discussion on memory and truth like Book of the New Sun; I think you may really enjoy it. "The Spear..." I just need my library to have it not-booked for me to book it. I didn't know it explored trauma and violence; now I must read!
Thanks :) Vita Nostra has been on my list for a while. You've reminded me that I really should pick it up sooner rather than later, so thanks for that. I'll add it to my tbr for this year.
The Just City sounds very good. Love seeing Wolfe mentioned more now days. New sun is one of my absolute favorites. Considering Just City and that you enjoyed New Sun I highly recommend R.A. Lafferty’s novel “Past Master”. I think you might love it.
@@bookswithzaraOf course! I’m so happy to hear you find it interesting. I need to mention @Doctor_Rocker , a Lafferty scholar, and friend, who has some fantastic videos on Lafferty (thinking of his recent “Ludic Mythos”) you might find interesting/entertaining. If you do read it I would absolutely love to hear what you think.
Piransei ❤ I need to read more Clarke, Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell is calling to me. I think she's got a bunch of short stories set in the Jonthan Strange world.
A lot went over my head when I read Book of The New Sun, but what stuck really stuck. What Wolfe does with the perspective alone is impressive, seriously I'll applaud that any chance I get. A weirdly (and entertainingly) warped Christ retelling, I was raised Catholic so I was able to connect some of the themes.
I second everything you've said about Second Apocalypse.
I really want to read that book too but it’s so chunky haha. I think she’s writing another book now.
I 10000% agree with you on BotNS. Another series that’s probably best reread.
I would add one: Embassy Town by China Meilville. About the connection(s) between language and how we think (and organize our societies). Another one: Ursula LeGuin, The Dispossessed. (and others by her). Another one: China Meilville's The City and the city - about how culture and society determine what we see (and don't see).
@@Calcprof the first two are high on my list. I read The City and the City a few years back and I agree with you. Fantastic book. I think I need to do a part two for this video tbh.
Definitely something I want more of in my reading. Thank you for the recommendations!!
You’re welcome, Maeve!
Awesome list Zara!
I've only read Piranesi of these, but it was brilliant and you captured its magic well! I'll definitely look into these others. I'd never heard of you Hiero's Journey until you mentioned it previously, but it does sound quite fascinating!
Thank you! I think you’ll like it based on previous chats.
I have Book of the New Sun on my shelf. I started it a long time ago, but it fell by the wayside. I'll take this is as an encouragement to get back to it! I also have Piranesi and am looking forward to it. Hiero's Journey sounds like it has some thematic parallels to A Canticle for Liebowitz which is my FAVORITE sci-fi book. I admit I'm daunted by Bakker, not for the depth, but for the darkness...
Please let me know your thoughts once you finish BotNS! I’m definitely going to check out A Canticle for Liebowitz. I’m intrigued!
I’d say for Bakker, give it a go BUT if you find the first half of the book too dark then definitely don’t continue as it only gets darker. I’m curious, have you read anything thus far that’s been too dark for you? Might help me figure out whether it’ll be too much.
@@bookswithzara I really had to pause and think about this! I think I can handle darkness best in non-fiction/history because, well, it's fact and has to be faced honestly. Regardless of genre, I have a pretty low tolerance for sexual violence, and zero for sexual violence towards children. If no character has a shred of humanity, or even a chance of change...that's rough. I think of one certain character from East of Eden. I loved that book, but I hated that in a book which is all about "having a choice and not being bound by your birth" that particular character was just born evil incarnate with no hope. That was so bleak.
Summary: if the circumstances are horrible and bleak, I can usually handle it. If there is not even a shred of good/hope WITHIN any of the characters, that I tend to dislike. Sorry that's so abstract! I couldn't think of a specific example.
@@jlodomauthor not abstract at all! Based on this, I wouldn’t recommend the series. There is graphic sexual violence in the first couple of books. And there really is very little to no shred of hope in the characters/world.
The Spear Cuts Through Water ❤ Piranesi ❤
💙
I really want to check out Susanna Clarke's Piranesi and Jonathan Strange.
Piranesi is super short, could probably read it in a couple of hours!
I am currently reading “The Prince of Nothing”, so will give my thoughts on it once I have finished it!
I had not heard of “The Just City” before, definitely putting it on my TBR List! Cheers!
Yes, please do! I think you’ll enjoy Just City A LOT!
Thank you for these specific recommandations, I love philosophical topics in fantasy! would highly recommend the terra ignota-series by ada palmer, though it's a bit challening and I've not made it through the first one yet. But the concept is so interesting, in that we are following a distant future on earth, where a lot of western philosopher's utopias have been implemented in the structures (e.g. there are no countries any more, just different political systems where you can choose freeliy, which one you want to belong to, or none of them; abandonement of the nuclear family, abandonement of gender conventions, no imprisonment of criminals etc.).
You’re welcome! I kid you not, my copy of Too Like the Lightning arrived last week. I am so excited to read it. You’ve only sold it to me further.
Great list! I need to check out "Hiero's Journey" and "The Spear Cuts Through Water"
One book that I'd put on my list if I were to do one like this is "Rejoice, A Knife to the Heart" by Steven Erikson. Yes, the same author as Malazan series lol but just a single book not TEN lmao XD The one thing to keep in mind though is that Rejoice is very much a traditional sci fi book in that the idea is front and center. I only say that because I've seen folks complain that Rejoice has weaker character work than Malazan, but Erikson's goal and approach to writing Rejoice is way different from his goal and approach to writing Malazan lol.
Another book that could go on here is "Atlas Shrugged" by Ayn Rand. People don't typically think of it as sci fi but it does have enough sci fi elements to count as part of sci fi genre IMO lol. Anyway, I don't recommend it because I agree with it necessarily, but this book is the gift that keeps on giving as far as I'm concerned when it comes to starting conversations about politics haha especially as an American XD I've had a lot of really good and insightful conversations with folks across political spectrum here in the good ol' US of A regarding the ideas in this book over the years since I first read it.
Oh, and also, "The Dispossessed" and "The Left Hand of Darkness" both deserve a place on this list a well. Both written by Ursula K. Le Guin and both a part of her Hainish Cycle. Reading order doesn't matter for Hainish cycle btw lol so don't stress about which to read first like I did XD
Thanks V3!
I had no clue that Erickson wrote a standalone. I am definitely going to add that to my list. I’ve also never read Atlas Shrugged. I definitely should as I disagree with quite a bit of Rand’s philosophy (only the bits I’ve read in dribs and drabs) so it’ll be interesting to see how those ideas come into the book.
Dispossessed and The Left Hand of Darkness… I neeeed to read these. Guin is seriously shaping up to be one of my favourite authors. Thank you for your recs!
Looks like I really need to check out The Just City and Hiero's Journey. Awesome list!
Thanks!
Oh my, I need to read. Hiero's Journey is on my rader, but since I'm going through the SF Masterworks, I'll wait for it. Have you read The Affirmation by Christopher Priest? Imagine Algernon's themes, less heartbreaking, but with a heavy discussion on memory and truth like Book of the New Sun; I think you may really enjoy it. "The Spear..." I just need my library to have it not-booked for me to book it. I didn't know it explored trauma and violence; now I must read!
I haven’t but it’s on my list thanks to you :)
"The Book of the New Sun" by Gene Wolfe, caught my attention.
Hope you like to. Based on what we’ve chatted about in the past, I think you’ll enjoy it.
@@bookswithzara Thanks, Im curious regarding Sci-fi using religious elements.
Nice recommendations, 🎉.
I think you should check out Vita Nostra, if you're into paranormal/philosophical books like Piranesi. 📚
Thanks :) Vita Nostra has been on my list for a while. You've reminded me that I really should pick it up sooner rather than later, so thanks for that. I'll add it to my tbr for this year.
The Just City sounds very good. Love seeing Wolfe mentioned more now days. New sun is one of my absolute favorites.
Considering Just City and that you enjoyed New Sun I highly recommend R.A. Lafferty’s novel “Past Master”. I think you might love it.
I hope you check it out! Book two is also solid. I will definitely check out Past Master. Thank you for the recommendation!
Past Master looks amazing! Thanks again!
@@bookswithzaraOf course! I’m so happy to hear you find it interesting.
I need to mention @Doctor_Rocker , a Lafferty scholar, and friend, who has some fantastic videos on Lafferty (thinking of his recent “Ludic Mythos”) you might find interesting/entertaining.
If you do read it I would absolutely love to hear what you think.
@@bookswithzaraI think you’ve convinced me 😁
Whats written on the green book spine two books to the right of thw book that i think is an orwell book??
Cage of Souls by Adrian Tchaikovsky!
@@bookswithzara aha! Thanks very much.