Science Fiction

13617 readers

2 users here now

Welcome to /c/ScienceFiction

December book club canceled. Short stories instead!

We are a community for discussing all things Science Fiction. We want this to be a place for members to discuss and share everything they love about Science Fiction, whether that be books, movies, TV shows and more. Please feel free to take part and help our community grow.

Be civil: disagreements happen, but that doesn’t provide the right to personally insult others.
Posts or comments that are homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist, ableist, or advocating violence will be removed.
Spam, self promotion, trolling, and bots are not allowed
Put (Spoilers) in the title of your post if you anticipate spoilers.
Please use spoiler tags whenever commenting a spoiler in a non-spoiler thread.

Lemmy World Rules

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

Tenthrow@lemmy.world

What’s something you couldn’t get into, but feel like you should? (kbin.social)

submitted 1 year ago by stopthatgirl7@kbin.social to c/sciencefiction@lemmy.world

104 comments fedilink hide all child comments

What’s something that you feel like you should like,, but for some reason can’t get into, no matter how many chances you give it?

For me, it’s The Three Body Problem. It should be right up my alley from everything I’ve heard about it (especially the second book, which looks at the Fermi Paradox and the Great Filter!), but for the life of me, I can’t get past the first chapter at all. I even tried reading it in another language to see if it was the translation that kept me from getting into it, and nope.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] AcornCarnage@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I read Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson earlier this year. It took me around 5 months because I was determined to finish it but HATED reading it. There's some good world building and ideas going on, but it was just a slog. I'm normally a kind of slow reader, but it doesn't take me half a year to finish a book.

And so the direct answer to the question would be: Neal Stephenson. Just doesn't seem to be for me.

[–] anakin78z@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I think I've tried Snow Crash 2 or 3 times, but have never made it very far in. It's my friend's favorite book, so I may try again sometime, but I think it's just not for me, even though the subject matter is totally up my alley.

[–] Mechanismatic@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 year ago

It took me two attempts to get through Stephenson's Cryptonomicon even though it was thematically up my alley. He includes so many tangents and explanations that it can be tedious at times, however interesting some of them might be. I'd almost prefer footnotes to the longer tangents so I could just get into them optionally if I choose.

I enjoyed Snow Crash, but I think he's better at world building than following a plot to a satisfying ending. It seems a common criticism that some of his books end a bit abruptly without enough investment in the conclusion, especially in contrast to the significant detail he puts in to the world building.

[–] ttmrichter@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Oooh... Yeah, Stephenson is another one I should have added to my list. In fact I think I will!

[–] Eq0@literature.cafe 1 points 1 year ago

For me, Stephenson is a hit or miss. I hated Snow Crash, I disliked the Cryptonomicon, but I absolutely loved Anathem. I can’t tell you why, just that that’s how it is.

[–] SonyJunkie@feddit.uk 1 points 1 year ago

I agree, Neil Stephenson is hard work for me too. I kind of enjoyed Snow Crash and didn't find it hard work.

But the other two I've read I've struggled with. Seveneves was amazing for the first 2 thirds but then I just couldn't finish it. I eventually completed the book when I got in to audiobooks.

Termination Shock was just soooo slllloooowwww, nothing happened I almost quit it too.