A dealer's room is a dangerous place

[fivemack]

I know Stars in my Pockets ... is the first half of an unfinished duology; is it a sane second Delaney to read, after Triton long ago?

The first half of the Peter F Hamilton I have on (DRMed) disc, but the e-publisher hasn't released the second half in that format.

Several people pointed out even at the con that you can read award shortlists much more cheaply, in shoulder-strain and wallet-ache and waste of bookcase alike, if you wait a year ... but having obtained this pile, where should I start?

Comments

[sphyg.livejournal.com]

Ooh, we'll be expecting reviews. You have legs! I saw you cycling down Jesus Lane in shorts. Are you going to shave your beard off for summer?

[naath.livejournal.com]

Reynolds. It's sooooo good.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Stars in My Pocket is what you heard me read a bit of once at New Year. I really like it, and I think it's a perfectly sensible thing to read, but there will probably never be any more of it.

And Air or The Barbie Murders.

[coalescent.livejournal.com]

Air, or Living Next-Door to the God of Love. I didn't much care for the Grimwood. Most of the way through the Reynolds and it's ... ok.

[dd-b.livejournal.com]

Delany was one of my favorite authors -- until Dhalgren. Triton was a *little* better, but I haven't read any fiction of his since then; I gave up.

I'd suggest that somebody interested in Delany should read his Driftglass collection, whether or not they also like his later work.

I have a strange or at least rare fondness for Donald Moffitt, so The Jupiter Theft should get read eventually (I don't like his "Crescent in the Sky" books so much, but they might make interesting reading against today's geopolitics).

[vyvyan.livejournal.com]

Stars in my Pockets... was the first Delany I read. I've read four or five others since then, but I think that was my favourite, so I'd have no problem recommending it.

Similarly, though, Consider Phlebas was the first Iain M Banks I read, and remains my favourite; Raft likewise for Baxter, and The City and the Stars for Clarke. Maybe it's just an extension of the sequel/cover version thing...