The Sword and Laser discussion

Hi all, it has been a very long time since I posted in these forums and a lot seems to have changed since I last visited.

I am posting today to seek your knowledge and expertise. My wife has just recently joined a book club and they read books from any genre mostly old classics. The criteria is that the author of the book has to be European but not from the United Kingdom.

Now my wife is not a sci-fi or fantasy reader. In fact she has ducked every recommendation for great sword or laser reads I have given hear. The last book she read from this club was Jules Vern's journey to the centre of the earth. needless to say she loved it. It will be her turn to choose a book soon and she has said I can pick one for her. This is where you all come in. I want a book that is not going to be to heavy but give her another great insight into these genres. Something that is a bit of a classic too. Now obviously this will be a little more difficult as the author has to be European but not from Uk. Without much research the only book that comes to mind is 'roadside picnic' by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky which I found to be a good read but it is probably a not a good book for my wife's second endeavour in the genre.

Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated.

Possibly Alexei Panshin's Rite of Passage. A little checking should tell you if it works or not.

We by Yevgeny Zamyatin is an excellent book, the original dystopia that inspired Orwell's 1984.

Paul 'Pezski' wrote: "We by Yevgeny Zamyatin is an excellent book, the original dystopia that inspired Orwell's 1984."

Is this heavy reading?

Simon wrote: Is this heavy reading?"

I didn't find it so. It's quite short, with good characters and very well written. I have to say, I find it more readable than Orwell, much as I like him.

War with the Newts by Karel Čapek is another dystopia from the author who coined the word "robot". Not sure if this one falls under sci fi or fantasy, but it's definately a European classic.

Also, does Ireland count as part of the UK? My grandmother was gaelic and I love her fairy tales.

Paul 'Pezski' wrote: "We by Yevgeny Zamyatin is...

Perfect recommendation.

Jeff wrote: "Paul 'Pezski' wrote: "We by Yevgeny Zamyatin is...

Perfect recommendation."

I guess i only have one question then. Is this book going to be the right card to play to encourage my wife into the sci-fi/fantasy genre?

Mapleson wrote: "War with the Newts by Karel Čapek is another dystopia from the author who coined the word "robot". Not sure if this one falls under sci fi or fantasy, but it's definately a European classic.

Also..."

I will also check out this recommendation. But I think they have said main-land Europe as the requirement for the book club, so not sure Ireland would work but I will check.

Simon wrote: I guess i only have one question then. Is this book going to be the right card to play to encourage my wif..."

We is similar in tone and content to Brave New World and 1984. It actually inspired 1984. Considering the perimeters you set (European but not from the UK, a bit of a classic, not too heavy) I think it's perfect. I'm not sure if you'll consider it heavy or not, but it's short and easy to read.

Simon wrote: "Mapleson wrote: "War with the Newts by Karel Čapek is another dystopia from the author who coined the word "robot". Not sure if this one falls under sci fi or fantasy, but it's definately a Europe..."

My suggestion was Czech, the question about Ireland was secondary.

Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle.

Too recent to be a classic, Hannu Rajaniemi is listed as being born in Finland and now living in Scotland. Quantum Thief would be fairly difficult to read if you're not versed in sf I think.

Actually, Neverending Story might be a good fantasy pick. It was originally written in German, and there have been a couple movies made out of it, and it's pretty well known. Much more readable. I enjoyed it. It is a bit more YA than adult, if that matters.