Looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernor_Vinge#Uncollected_short_fiction ,there’s a tiny chance it could be A Dry Martini, as I was at ConJose, but I would expect that to be food themed. It’s not Cookie Monster. I’ve not read any of the other collections except True Names … [checking] … nope.
I don’t read Banks (see explanation at the page I linked to at the bottom of the post, if you care).
Huh. I read Consider Phlebas, and have no memory of the eaters… or of much else from that book [looks it up] okay, yeah, that was disgusting, just not enough to remember it. I wasn’t that into Consider Phlebas anyway. I loved The Player of Games and Excession. Please give them a chance; they are head and shoulders above the others. On the other hand, I may just have a low ick threshold: looking back, there are one or two things in each of those that might be disturbing. Possible gross concepts, rot′13d (description is not graphic):
Rkprffvba unf n fcrpvrf jvgu na hacyrnfnag phygher: uvtu yriryf bs zvfbtlal naq qbtsvtugvat/tynqvngbe svtugvat.
Gur Cynlre bs Tnzrf unf bar bss-fperra pnfgengvba naq bar gbegher fprar va abg zhpu qrgnvy.
Basically nothing as bad as the eaters and nothing significantly worse than what ancient cultures did in real life.
What you mentioned there sounds perfectly fine and reasonable. I enjoy Terry Goodkind and Neal Asher, I’m hardly a lightweight in this respect normally. Perhaps I just have more issues with cannibalism and/or disgusting food than other people (the “disgusting food” part seems likely, actually).
I don’t read Banks (see explanation at the page I linked to at the bottom of the post, if you care).
You’ll want to avoid his recent Surface Detail then. A major plot component is virtual hells built from the religious specifications of multiple civilisations (according to the story, but it looked to me more like Bosch and Brueghel brought to virtual life), in which billions of people are tortured forever. Substantial parts are set within them, described in detail.
I remember the Eaters in Consider Phlebas, but my only reaction to that episode was “why is this in this novel at all?” It served no purpose and could, and I think should, have been cut without leaving a gap.
Torture doesn’t actually bother me much at all. -_- The more I talk about this the more I think it’s just me being weird.
I remember the Eaters in Consider Phlebas, but my only reaction to that episode was
“why is this in this novel at all?” It served no purpose and could, and I think should,
have been cut without leaving a gap.
That is exactly why it bothered me: it seemed to exist for the sole purpose of grossing me out, with no actual connection to the plot. I can deal with just about anything as long as it advances the plot.
I don’t read Banks (see explanation at the page I linked to at the bottom of the post, if you care).
I’m fighting a terrible temptation here to try to convince you that The Wasp Factory actually turns out to be singularity-themed SF two thirds in. (Vg qbrfa’g.)
I don’t read Banks (see explanation at the page I linked to at the bottom of the post, if you care).
I’m pretty sure I’d remember if it was Vinge or Stross, but:
It’s not anything at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Stross#Short_fiction , and I’ve never read either of his collections.
Looking at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernor_Vinge#Uncollected_short_fiction ,there’s a tiny chance it could be A Dry Martini, as I was at ConJose, but I would expect that to be food themed. It’s not Cookie Monster. I’ve not read any of the other collections except True Names … [checking] … nope.
-Robin
Huh. I read Consider Phlebas, and have no memory of the eaters… or of much else from that book [looks it up] okay, yeah, that was disgusting, just not enough to remember it. I wasn’t that into Consider Phlebas anyway. I loved The Player of Games and Excession. Please give them a chance; they are head and shoulders above the others. On the other hand, I may just have a low ick threshold: looking back, there are one or two things in each of those that might be disturbing. Possible gross concepts, rot′13d (description is not graphic): Rkprffvba unf n fcrpvrf jvgu na hacyrnfnag phygher: uvtu yriryf bs zvfbtlal naq qbtsvtugvat/tynqvngbe svtugvat. Gur Cynlre bs Tnzrf unf bar bss-fperra pnfgengvba naq bar gbegher fprar va abg zhpu qrgnvy. Basically nothing as bad as the eaters and nothing significantly worse than what ancient cultures did in real life.
What you mentioned there sounds perfectly fine and reasonable. I enjoy Terry Goodkind and Neal Asher, I’m hardly a lightweight in this respect normally. Perhaps I just have more issues with cannibalism and/or disgusting food than other people (the “disgusting food” part seems likely, actually).
I will take a look at them. Thanks.
-Robin
I’m glad I was able to help and I hope you enjoy. Your page of recommendations is a great resource.
You’ll want to avoid his recent Surface Detail then. A major plot component is virtual hells built from the religious specifications of multiple civilisations (according to the story, but it looked to me more like Bosch and Brueghel brought to virtual life), in which billions of people are tortured forever. Substantial parts are set within them, described in detail.
I remember the Eaters in Consider Phlebas, but my only reaction to that episode was “why is this in this novel at all?” It served no purpose and could, and I think should, have been cut without leaving a gap.
Torture doesn’t actually bother me much at all. -_- The more I talk about this the more I think it’s just me being weird.
That is exactly why it bothered me: it seemed to exist for the sole purpose of grossing me out, with no actual connection to the plot. I can deal with just about anything as long as it advances the plot.
-Robin
I’m fighting a terrible temptation here to try to convince you that The Wasp Factory actually turns out to be singularity-themed SF two thirds in. (Vg qbrfa’g.)