Blue pill. I’d miss my wife and kids, and even if I were transported back in time, I doubt I’d do all the required steps to get to them again.
Blue pill. I’d miss my wife and kids, and even if I were transported back in time, I doubt I’d do all the required steps to get to them again.
I read it a while ago (still had David Wong listed as the author), and really enjoyed it. Fun read with some good ideas. However, about halfway in I started getting exhausted. The author just throws so much at you, both in content (ideas) and form (language), and the pacing is always hectic, and I just found it too tiring. I have yet to pick up the second book in the series.
I’ve read most of them, and I must say that I’m impressed by the list. A good half of the works are ones that I didn’t care about or outright didn’t like, but this is not a “best” list. As far as “essential” goes, they ought to be included.
If I may, I would only do a few changes.
To remove:
To add:
Why, if I may ask? I had trouble keeping reading about halfway through, when I learned about the antagonist’s character and methods (too brutal even for a fiction book, and he became one of my most hated fictional characters ever), but I also heard of people who aren’t too fond of spiders and had to put the book down. In that case, Tchaikovsky’s Children of Time wouldn’t be for them, either.
Vernor Vinge’s A Fire Upon the Deep and A Deepness in the Sky. While humans are not the most advanced species in the galaxy, the books deal with the interaction between humans and vastly inferior (but absolutely fascinating) alien races.
The Coode Street Podcast. Their tastes are quite similar to mine, so I usually enjoy their recommendations.
You are indeed well-read, and I’m finding it difficult to give you an entire list, based on your tastes (which are remarkably close to mine). The two authors that come to mind, whom I haven’t seen on your list are
And since you mentioned Timothy Zahn, in comparison with Card, I take it you already read his The Icarus Hunt? If not, it’s also highly recommended for its unabashed fun and good plot.