I'll start off with two suggestions: first, for Lord of the Rings fans, I recommend Bored of the Rings by the Harvard Lampoon. I read this book about 25 years ago, but I still remember LMAO while reading it . In retrospect, it is probably somewhat sophomoric, but I was probably a sophomore when I read it . An approximate example from the mines of Moria:

quote: A dark figure emerged from the midst of the narcs. Written in cruel runes across his chest was the word "Villanova". "Aieeee!" cried Legolam, "a Ballhog!"

The Rise and Fall of Great Powers by Paul Kennedy

how nations get to be tops and what happens then...

What you guys ought to read though is The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham, it's a damn good book, they just made a diabolical mess of the film!!!

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Scouse Git[1]

quote: I have to admit that my current favourite is Terry Pratchett probably because I've read little else for about a year and a half

Well said that civer.

I think I ought to add any of Stephen Baxters Xeelee Sequence is a damn good read. Should inspire any civer to think long term strategy...

A Study of History by Arnold Toynbee

quote: Originally posted by tonic on 08-26-2000 06:08 AM For an insight into the rise and fall of civilisations, a pattern that's been repeated since recorded times, I'd recommend an old classic: A Study of History by Arnold Toynbee I only have the abridged illustrated edition (1972) co-authored with Jane Caplan but I reckon that makes a useful introduction. At a time when academic historians have taken to the analysis of minutiae, it is refreshing to get the whole picture.

Okay, I'm ashamed, I've owned this book since the mid-eighties and have never read it! I think I'll start, since the only think I've been reading lately are monographs on atomic absorption spectroscopy and ACS Forum threads!

Xanth Series by Piers Anthony

Any Turtledove alternate history book; notably "The Guns of the South"

Stainless steel rat books by Harry Harrison or Stars and Stripes forever, a funny look at the Civil war with Britain declaring war on everyone and the US taking over Canada.

Robert Asprin's "Myth" series

Any Alternate history

The Dragonriders of Pern are all technically the same story and thus
boring. If you have read one you have read them all.

The Hitchikers Guide to the Galaxy is good in the first two books
but become increasingly more incoherent as the series progresses and
thus they become unreadable.

quote: Originally posted by Sten Sture on 08-28-2000 01:24 PM Isn't the unabridged edition 20+ volumes?? I think MacUsers should have to read that one and report back to us!

!!!

well, I might as well do that. After all, I seem to remember seeing a map in the archives for randland (or WoT)

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T(one time)PB Mynal Silvar
Gaidin to Celes Sedai of the Green Ajah

I think Hueij might have got confused with another Heller book, "Something Happened", which was his second novel, I believe, and an excellent book in its own right, but not a sequel.

Heller was once challenged that he had never again written anything as good as Catch-22. He replied "Neither did anyone else".

Yes, "Bored of the Rings" is hillarious. I read it when it first came out, and I dissolved into tears of laughter over the Ballhog bit. But you *have* to have read the LOTR for any of it to make sense since it is a parody.

Asprin's "MYTH" series is also superb spoof material of the whole genre, and I fully recommend it.

Along that same line, Civer's might enjoy the "Heroes in Hell" series, since it is much like a Civ game; people from all times jumbled together in Machiavellian chaos of diplomacy and warfare. Romans vs French vs Viet Cong vs etc.

And while these are not necessarily Civ2 related, the best series of books, IMHO, are the Tom Clancy books that follow Jack Ryan/John Clark and those by James Clavell.

Actually, I suppose Clavell's books could be Civ2 related. They deal with life in Japan, China/Hong Kong, and Persia. Okay, it's really Iran but you get the idea. But could someone tell me if I heard correctly? Did he pass away recently?

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Frodo lives!

quote: Originally posted by kcbob on 09-08-2000 08:30 AM [ And while these are not necessarily Civ2 related, the best series of books, IMHO, are the Tom Clancy books that follow Jack Ryan/John Clark and those by James Clavell. Actually, I suppose Clavell's books could be Civ2 related. They deal with life in Japan, China/Hong Kong, and Persia. Okay, it's really Iran but you get the idea. But could someone tell me if I heard correctly? Did he pass away recently?

Yes, he died in roughly the last 2 years, I forget exactly when.

Here's an excerpt from McNeil's "World History":

"[The ALPHABET] democratized learning by allowing ordinary men to master the rudiments of LITERARY."

Hey, a few more developments like that and you're well on your way to MONARCHY.

I'd put forward "red storm rising" by Clancy ... but not his other works.

in red storm clancy writes like (almost) an impartial observer, in his later works, he becomes such a flagwaver that it quickly becomes quite nausiating(sp?).

red storm realy makes you think twice before ordering your armour divisions into an open field ... yes, i sometimes actually care about the people who are in my army, to bad you don't get any points for that.