Why Less is More
I read a lot. Perhaps less now than previous years. I'm sort
of busy with this whole get-a-new-game-company-up-and-running thing. And of
course there is the writing. I'm 67.23% of the way through Retribution, the
true sequel to Revelation.
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| Should this make the substantial reading list? |
Back to the original thought. I read a lot. Most years I put
paid to anywhere from twenty-five to thirty-five novels. I have eclectic tastes: apocalyptic fiction, military horror, quarterbacks playing in Italy , Kaijū
stomping the west coast, straight up horror, dead mockingbirds, and a universe
where there is only war. This year I have decided to reign in those tastes. Read less and get more out of it. Rather than rip though 30 short novels and graphic novels, I want to try to get
through ten to twelve substantial books.
What is substantial? It's tough question to answer.
Certainly size has a little to do with it. I'm currently reading Elizabeth Kostaova's The Historian and it's a
brick. But I think that substantial also has to do with depth of thought and
character development, as well as skill in writing. I intend to read Hamilton 's Great North Road .
His novels are well-written, intricate, and rich, but no one will ever accuse
him of starting fast. He rewards the patient reader.
The point? I'm not sure that there is one. I've never been a
fan of the "Blog as a Diary" type posts, but I guess these words
border that sleepy land. Bottom line, y'all have any substantial book
suggestions? Must be in the genre of military adventure, horror, creepy (is
that a genre?), military Sci-Fi, or quarterbacks in Italy . Less is more.
Till next time.
Mark H. Walker served 23 years in the United States Navy, most of them as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal diver. He is the owner of Flying Pig Games, and the author of Desert Moon, an exciting mecha, military scifi novel with a twist, with plenty of damn science fiction in it despite what any reviewer says, as well as World at War: Revelation, a creepy, military action, with a love story, alternate history, World War Three novel thing, Everyone Dies in the End, and numerous short stories. They are all available from Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing right here. Give them a try. I mean, what the hell?
Mark H. Walker served 23 years in the United States Navy, most of them as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal diver. He is the owner of Flying Pig Games, and the author of Desert Moon, an exciting mecha, military scifi novel with a twist, with plenty of damn science fiction in it despite what any reviewer says, as well as World at War: Revelation, a creepy, military action, with a love story, alternate history, World War Three novel thing, Everyone Dies in the End, and numerous short stories. They are all available from Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing right here. Give them a try. I mean, what the hell?
Comments
Hmmm...
The only thing "substantial" that comes to mind and fits your criteria is Red Badge of Courage. Maybe War and Peace or Doctor Zhivago. Moby Dick is definitely an adventure but doesn't quite fit your criteria. HP Lovecraft stuff might fit but maybe not substantial enough.
Then there's Tolkien. A whole lot of people consider his stuff substantial (I don't) but maybe the Lord of the Rings trilogy would fit.
Robert A Heinlein's Starship Troopers is a fun read but borderline substantial.
That's a start at least...