Lynn's six star list in February 2024

[Lynn McGuire]

Lynn’s six star list (or top ten list) in February 2024:

1. “Mutineer’s Moon” by David Weber
2. “Citizen Of The Galaxy” by Robert Heinlein
3. “The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress” by Robert Heinlein
4. “The Star Beast” by Robert Heinlein
5. “Shards Of Honor” by Lois McMaster Bujold
6. “Jumper” by Steven Gould
7. “Dies The Fire” by S. M. Stirling
8. “Emergence” by David Palmer
9. “The Tar-Aiym Krang” by Alan Dean Foster
10. “Under A Graveyard Sky” by John Ringo
11. “Live Free Or Die” by John Ringo
12. “Footfall” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
13. “Lucifer’s Hammer” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
14. “The Zero Stone” by Andre Norton
15. “Going Home” by A. American
16. “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card
17. “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline
18. “The Martian” by Andy Weir
19. “The Postman” by David Brin
20. “We Are Legion” by Dennis E. Taylor
21. “Bitten” by Kelley Armstrong
22. “Moon Called” by Patrica Briggs
23. “Red Thunder” by John Varley
24. "Lightning" by Dean Koontz
25. "The Murderbot Diaries" by Martha Wells
26. "Friday" by Robert Heinlein
27. "Agent Of Change" by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
28. "Monster Hunter International" by Larry Carreia

Lynn

[D]

Excellent! This will form the foundation of my search for a new book!

Best regards,
Daniel

[Titus G]

I have read 9 of 26. That figure is not likely to change.
2,3,4 The Heinleins to which I may have once awarded many stars but the
last time I tried to re-read The Moon..., it read so poorly with
unbelievably clunky style and dialogue that I did not get far.
6 Jumper. A pot boiler for teenagers resting between masturbations.
13 Not finished.
16 Ender's Game. 5 stars.
18 Recommended for insomniacs.
19 The Postman. 3 solid stars.
25 Murderbot. 3 stars.

It was interesting to read such a list. I doubt whether I could be so
precise with ranking but perhaps would prepare a group of close but
unranked favourites.

[D]

I'll add mine as well.

3. “The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress” by Robert Heinlein

4 stars. Have read it 2 or 3 times, and still like it.

16. “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card

3.5 stars. A bit too adolescent for me.

19. “The Postman” by David Brin

3 stars. Can't remember much to be honest.

So Heinlein for the win among the few that I read from the list.

Best regards,
Daniel

[Tony Nance]

I've read these, and enjoyed all of them, except the Cline

1. “Mutineer’s Moon” by David Weber

3. “The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress” by Robert Heinlein

5. “Shards Of Honor” by Lois McMaster Bujold

9. “The Tar-Aiym Krang” by Alan Dean Foster

16. “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card
17. “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline
18. “The Martian” by Andy Weir
19. “The Postman” by David Brin
20. “We Are Legion” by Dennis E. Taylor

25. "The Murderbot Diaries" by Martha Wells

27. "Agent Of Change" by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

28. "Monster Hunter International" by Larry Correia

And I will probably read these someday

6. “Jumper” by Steven Gould

8. “Emergence” by David Palmer

12. “Footfall” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
13. “Lucifer’s Hammer” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

And I am unlikely to read the rest.
- Tony

[WolfFan]

On Feb 1, 2024, Lynn McGuire wrote
(in article <uph2gr$2838k$2...@dont-email.me>):

> Lynn’s six star list (or top ten list) in February 2024:
>
> 1. “Mutineer’s Moon” by David Weber

severe suspension of disbelief issues. 2.25 stars

>
> 2. “Citizen Of The Galaxy” by Robert Heinlein

excellent. 4.75

>
> 3. “The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress” by Robert Heinlein

magnificent. re-read every ever so often. 5,75

>
> 4. “The Star Beast” by Robert Heinlein

excellent. 4.5.

>
> 5. “Shards Of Honor” by Lois McMaster Bujold

very good. 4.25

>
> 6. “Jumper” by Steven Gould

no comment.

>
> 7. “Dies The Fire” by S. M. Stirling

he sahould have moved with the Nantucket castaways. 3.5

>
> 8. “Emergence” by David Palmer

very good. 4

>
> 9. “The Tar-Aiym Krang” by Alan Dean Foster

Excellent. 4.75

>
> 10. “Under A Graveyard Sky” by John Ringo

Dire. 0.5

>
> 11. “Live Free Or Die” by John Ringo

more dire. 0.25

>
> 12. “Footfall” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

Excellent. 5

>
> 13. “Lucifer’s Hammer” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

Excellent. 4.75

>
> 14. “The Zero Stone” by Andre Norton

didn’t read

>
> 15. “Going Home” by A. American

didn’t read

>
> 16. “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card

very good. 4.25

>
> 17. “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline

So-so. 3.75

>
> 18. “The Martian” by Andy Weir

Excellent. 5

>
> 19. “The Postman” by David Brin

you gotta be kidding. 2.5

>
> 20. “We Are Legion” by Dennis E. Taylor

didn’t read

>
> 21. “Bitten” by Kelley Armstrong

didn’t read

>
> 22. “Moon Called” by Patrica Briggs

So-so. 3.75

>
> 23. “Red Thunder” by John Varley

very good. 4.25

>
> 24. "Lightning" by Dean Koontz

didn’t read

>
> 25. "The Murderbot Diaries" by Martha Wells

Overrated. 4

>
> 26. "Friday" by Robert Heinlein

not his best, but even not his best is pretty good. 4

>
> 27. "Agent Of Change" by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

didn’t read

>
> 28. "Monster Hunter International" by Larry Carreia

not as dire as Ringo. Still dire. 0.75
>
>
> Lynn

[John]

On Thu, 1 Feb 2024 15:30:02 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmc...@gmail.com> wrote:

>Lynn’s six star list (or top ten list) in February 2024:
>
>1. “Mutineer’s Moon” by David Weber

Never read this.

>2. “Citizen Of The Galaxy” by Robert Heinlein

Read, didn't like.

>3. “The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress” by Robert Heinlein

Read many decades ago. I liked it then but I had at tat time read few
SF books. I do remember it so it must have made an impression.

>4. “The Star Beast” by Robert Heinlein

Read, remember, liked.

>5. “Shards Of Honor” by Lois McMaster Bujold
>6. “Jumper” by Steven Gould
>7. “Dies The Fire” by S. M. Stirling
>8. “Emergence” by David Palmer

I've not read 5-8 and probably never will.

>9. “The Tar-Aiym Krang” by Alan Dean Foster

The rest of the books in the series are better though a singing
weapon is nice.

Oh, a couple of the later books are slightly iffy, as though
ghost-written.

>10. “Under A Graveyard Sky” by John Ringo
>11. “Live Free Or Die” by John Ringo

10-11 not read, never will.

>12. “Footfall” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

**SPOILERS**

I really disliked the "aliens" in this one. Too USAlien. They could
have run for Senate seats. Yes, some Rednecks may have objected to
their shapes at first but that would last only until the elephants
promised them bread-and-circuses.

I did like the human attack ship. Not many stories have Orions in
them and I think they are neat. Loud, too. :)

The "aliens's" motive for coming here was idiotic. It was almost as
bad as stealing the Earth's core in that sequel to ID-3. Maybe worse
than coming here for water. (What, no visiting starship has sensors
that can detect Callisto? There's *tons* of easily lifted water
there.) (No, NOT THE RINGS! The Rings are sacred. Mining them, however
tempting and easy is blasphemy.)

The only things Earth has that nowhere else does are cats and humans.
Cats are nice but no sane alien would want humans. Probably no
*insane* one, either.

The only aliens I've ever seen that had a good reason for coming here
were the Daleks from "Dr. Who". Their rationale was to exterminate
humans. From a non-human perspective, that makes heaps of good sense.
Especially if the aliens have ever seen "Parliament TV".

>13. “Lucifer’s Hammer” by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

"Footfall" without the elephants. I liked this one.

"You can fly, but we control the lightning!" Beautiful.

>14. “The Zero Stone” by Andre Norton

I've read lots of Ms. Nrton's work but not this one. I don't know how
I missed it. She has done some really excellent work.

>15. “Going Home” by A. America

>16. “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card
>17. “Ready Player One” by Ernest Cline

15-17 nope. I really don't like Mr. Card's stuff. I don't know why.

>18. “The Martian” by Andy Weir

I liked the movie so much that I read the book that came free with
the DVD. The book was different. Not better but it has more details
and more Science. The book is good.

I'd recommend seeing the movie before reading the book but that's a
personal view.

>19. “The Postman” by David Brin

Read, liked. I've yet to see the movie. I doubt that I'd like it.

>20. “We Are Legion” by Dennis E. Taylor
>21. “Bitten” by Kelley Armstrong
>22. “Moon Called” by Patrica Briggs
>23. “Red Thunder” by John Varley

Not read 20-23 though I have read others by Mr. Varley. I like his
"humans-kicked-off-of-Earth" books.

>24. "Lightning" by Dean Koontz

With "Watchers", this is probably the best thing Mr. Koontz has ever
written. Well worth reading.

>25. "The Murderbot Diaries" by Martha Wells

Nope, won't.

>26. "Friday" by Robert Heinlein

Read, regretted it. It's not so poor as "Sunset" nor "Number" but it
is dreadful. I read "The Cat Who Walked Through Walls" with great
expectations and was utterly disappointed in that one, too. Not enough
cat in it.

I'm still waiting on a review of "Pantera" but it is the first
Heinlein I'll probably skip.

>27. "Agent Of Change" by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
>28. "Monster Hunter International" by Larry Carreia

Neither of those.

What, no Turtledove, Hamilton or loads of others?

well, I supposed we're all different. Certainly different from me.
The world would be *horrible* were you all me.

An interesting list but what are your criteria for inclusion?

And why not "Watchers"? I liked the doggie.

Have you tried Alan E. Nourse?

J.


>
>Lynn

[Scott Dorsey]

In article <68c9b8e2-fb02-a708...@example.net>,
>19. =E2=80=9CThe Postman=E2=80=9D by David Brin

>3 stars. Can't remember much to be honest.

Isn't that the one with Pablo Neruda? What a great poet!
--scott

--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

[Lynn McGuire]

6. “Jumper”, "Reflex", "Impulse", "Exo" by Steven Gould

Lynn

[Lynn McGuire]

Try 23. “Red Thunder” by John Varley. It has an immense suspension of
disbelief for the new energy device and the rest is a serious look at
what will happen if we ever get past the energy requirement to get out
of the gravity well. One gravity to Mars and back becomes a week long
vacation. BTW, Varley is a serious Heinlein disciple, almost as much as
Jo Walton.
https://www.amazon.com/Red-Thunder-Lightning-Novel/dp/0441011624/

Lynn

[Tony Nance]

Thanks - it seems like it should work for me, and I've thought about it
several times over the years, BUT the thing that always stops me is that
I'm pretty much Heinlein-blind (sad for me). I like TMIAHM; and SIASL &
TDIS are...okay; and I haven't/won't read any of the others. Since Red
Thunder is often portrayed as Varley doing a Heinlein juvie, that kinda
stops me.

Tony

[Lynn McGuire]

"Red Thunder" is a mix of a Heinlein juvie and "Friday". "Red Thunder"
is not a juvie book, in fact it may not even be a young adult book. If
you have read Friday, you will understand. If not, then Friday is
another book to add. Of course, you want to read the prequel for Friday
too.

Lynn