this post was submitted on 19 Jul 2024
7 points (76.9% liked)

Books

10369 readers
2 users here now

Book reader community.

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
gary_host_laptop@lemmy.ml
wraptile@lemmy.ml
7
Looking for two book recommendations (first SciFi and "48 rules of Power" with ethics) (lemmy.ml)
submitted 4 months ago by en1gma@lemmy.ml to c/books@lemmy.ml
14 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Hello everyone!

I'm looking for two book recommendations:

  1. an "entry" book into SciFi. Something that is easy readable. I prefer sth. "positive" or utopian.
  2. A similar book like "48 rules of power" but without the Machiavellian touch and the religious touch of "How to win Friends and Influence People". Maybe there is something more "universal" available on how to connect to people on a respectful level.
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) (1 children)

For entry, easy to read sci-fi that is positive or utopian, I think the author Ursula K. LeGuin is an obvious choice.

Maybe start with The Dispossessed.

[–] Drusas@kbin.run 1 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm not sure I agree that she is the most accessible to a modern reader.

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Oh, that's surprising to me. I find her books simple in vocabulary and plot, but still enjoyable. What did you have in mind?

[–] Drusas@kbin.run 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I'm not referring to simplicity of vocabulary so much as...I guess feeling like it's written in natural language? This is a problem with a lot of earlier sci-fi in general. It tends to be really good on ideas and not be especially well written when it comes to characters and relatability.

I'm sure I could think of something to recommend over it, but I have not put the thought into it at this point. I just think she is a great example of a sci-fi writer with great ideas but not the most natural and welcoming writing style.

[–] dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 4 months ago (1 children)

I think I sort of get what you mean, maybe it's more like her writing isn't as entertaining, gripping, or as well paced? I hadn't really thought of that, I was mostly thinking about accessibility in terms of whether the writing was easy to read or more literary. I do sort of agree that LeGuin's works are not always so compelling as much as they are just mildly interesting.

Andy Weir's books like The Martian have more compelling characters and plot, but I worry that the overly-technical / problem-solving approach might be off-putting for general audiences.

[–] Drusas@kbin.run 3 points 4 months ago

The Martian is a little hard science for a lot of people, I agree. Great book, though.