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Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson
I read alot. I used to read more before the web, but I still plunk down a lot of money each month on dead trees. I thought I'd share some of my favorite books and authors here with you. If you want to purchase your own copies of any of the books listed below, you can click on the title and you can buy it from amazon.com. I do get a 5-15% commission on any books ordered through these links.
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Tomorrow's Parties by William Gibson
A sequel to Idoru and Virtual Light. A must for fans though those new to Gibson's work might find it confusing.
The
New New Thing: A Silicon Valley Story by Michael Lewis
The author of Liar's Poker turns his attention to Jim Clark, founder of Silicon Graphics, Netscape and Healtheon. Lewis's main contention is that Clark has, almost by accident changed the way companies are created and financed. Netscape changed the world in this view, not by popularizing the browser, but by being the first Internet IPO. Clark had pushed Netscape to go public before it had any profits because he wanted the money to build the world's largest sailboat. Many funny anecdotes about Clark and his career.
A
Prayer For Owen Meany - John Irving
"I am doomed to remember a boy with a wrecked voice – not because of his voice, or because he was the smallest person I ever knew or even because he was the instrument of my mother's death, but because he is the reason that I believe in God; I am a Christian because of Owen Meany."
So opens John Irving's best novel. I've long argued that this is the best opening sentence of any novel that I've read, and I'll stand by that here. Many have compared Irving to Dickens and I think the comparison is apt. Irving is not afraid of the big novel, the set piece, the large cast of supporting players. Yet he manages to tie it all together in a brilliant and stunning ending that makes perfect sense when revealed, but comes as a total shock when first read. I will not attempt to summarize the plot; it's too big a novel for easy encapsulation. Just read it if you haven't already, or reread it if it's been a while.
Zen
and the Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance - Robert
Pirsig
Subtitled "An Inquiry Into Values" it's overtly the story of a cross country motorcycle trip taken by the author and his son. But it's also a journey of self-discovery as the author confronts issues from his past which drove him mad. It's also an attempt to unite the objective viewpoint of science and technology with more subjective points of view. Quality is where subject and object meet. Pirsig creates a system where art and science can meet and speak the same language, the language of quality. The book is deep, but not difficult. It rewards multiple readings, as you'll pick up on points you missed the first time through.
Neuromancer
- William Gibson
William Gibson invented cyberpunk. Don't let the poor imitations which have followed deter you from reading this. This book won the Hugo, and the Nebula Awards for best science fiction novel of 1984.
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Updated November 19, 1999
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