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Dan Brown Fans

PostPosted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 9:49 pm
by integspec
Any Dan Brown fans here?

PostPosted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 10:45 pm
by aviationwiz
I don't know a Dan Brown, but Dale Brown is a very good author, I suggest you read some of his books. Is Dan Brown an author?

PostPosted: Fri Nov 28, 2003 11:01 pm
by treemana
I've read "The Da Vinci Code" and "Angels & Demons" both were excellent.

I have already purchased, "Digital Fortress" and "Deception Point", but haven't read them yet. (They're on my "To-Do" list!)

PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 1:03 am
by integspec
Treemana,
What a coincidence, I also have read the code and angels-demons (but in the reverse order). Didn't purchase the other two yet because will read them only after about few months. I find it overlapping to read from same author within a short period of time (or watch movie with same actors/characters). I'll wait until my need becomes unbearable to read Deception Point and Digital Fortress.

Aviationwiz,
Thanks for your suggestion. Dan Brown is for History as Michael Crichton is for Science. I'll try Dale Brown but suggest you check Dan because I'm sure youll not regret it.

All the questions I have posted in Labs have given me good answers (thanks everyone). I hope CDRLabs will be a an interesting place also for book discussions (my favorite pastime) :) :) :)

http://www.danbrown.com/

(Edited typos)

PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 6:24 am
by treemana
intergspec, It sounds like you read them in the proper order, since Angels-Demons came first chronologically. I also like to switch off between authors. Between the Dan Brown books I’ve read R. A. Salvatore and Terry Brooks, two of my other favorite authors.

PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 10:18 am
by integspec
RA Salvatore is a very gifted author. I read his Ice Wind Dale triology and Home land. I have the first three books from Demon Wars but have stopped in half in the first book. I think in Demon Wars series he has deviated from his natural style and maybe because of this they don't have Salvatores edge in them.

From Brooks, Wish Song and First King. Well Wish Song was good but First King's plot was limited for the thickness of the book. He is also a very good author but somtimes spends chapters elobarating on small stuff. I hope I'm not the only one feeling this way :( .

Which ones are your favourites from both authors?

PostPosted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 7:47 pm
by treemana
integspec, I am currently finishing the third book of “The Voyage of the Jerle Shannara” trilogy, by Terry Brooks. I enjoyed the trilogy and would recommend it.

As for Salvatore, I recently finished “The Thousand Orcs”. It is the first book of a trilogy, that seems like it will also be very good. It is the same cast of characters from the “Icewind Dale” books you mentioned.

Next on my slate is “Digital Fortress”; I’ll let you know how I like it.

PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 2003 12:59 pm
by integspec
Thanks, Thousand Orcs is in my list down the line. How about the plot in Jerle Shannara triology? As I said in my previous post sometimes in Terry Brook's books there is more description than action.

Currently I'm reading 'The Code Book' by Simon Singh. It's a book about cryptology and cryptanalysis (hieroglyphs, Enigma machine, etc...). From the first few chapters I'm getting the impression that it's going to be an interesting one.

Has any of you read Cuckoos Egg by Clifford Stoll?

Cheers.

PostPosted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 5:06 am
by treemana
I enjoyed the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara trilogy. It had a good balance of action/plot development. I would recommend it.

Yes, I've read "Cukoo's Egg". (Good Stuff.) Clifford Stoll used to do a 5-minute segment for a nightly TV show on MSNBC. It is not on any longer, but I enjoyed his perspective on things.

I'll either read "Digital Fortress" or Crichton's "Prey" next.

PostPosted: Tue Dec 02, 2003 9:14 pm
by integspec
Thanks for the recommendation of Jerle Shannara Triology. Will add it to my list.

I have seen this MSNBC show. If my memory serves me correct, it had this chick Soledad O'brien (I'm not sure though, this was years ago). But anyways she was cool and she knew how to run a tech program. Cliff used appear there with messed up hair and explain about vintage machines. (was this in 90s?)

Crichton, that's one author I can say somthing about. I'm sure you must've read most of everything he has written. Here are my favourites in order:
Andromeda Strain, Time Line, 13th Warrior
Rising Sun, Air Frame
Congo, Prey

I have not read Terminal Man yet. Saving it late because I think it’ll be one of the last of Crichton’s for me.

Btw, If you are a William Gibson / Bruce Sterling fan, Keep AWAY from Difference Engine. It’s disaster and makes me wonder how could both of them write such a book.

Nice talking to you.

PostPosted: Wed Dec 03, 2003 10:46 am
by treemana
integspec wrote:I have seen this MSNBC show. If my memory serves me correct, it had this chick Soledad O'brien (I'm not sure though, this was years ago). But anyways she was cool and she knew how to run a tech program. Cliff used appear there with messed up hair and explain about vintage machines. (was this in 90s?)

That's the one. I believe it was called "The Site". Aired in the late-nineties, or so.

BTW: Just started "Digital Fortress".

PostPosted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 8:59 am
by integspec
If any of you guys are interested in cryptography or cryptoanalysis but don't want to waste hours on theory, check out this book:

The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography - by: Simon Singh

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... 83-3257721

Everythings explained in laymens terms while giving a high degree of understanding on types of cryptography/analysis.

PostPosted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 1:47 pm
by dodecahedron
sounds interesting!

PostPosted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 1:32 pm
by integspec
dodecahedron wrote:sounds interesting!

Happy to see you find it interesting.

Guys Please post your favourite books, if possible with a small review.

Cheers.

PostPosted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 5:39 pm
by dodecahedron
integspec wrote:
dodecahedron wrote:sounds interesting!

Guys Please post your favourite books, if possible with a small review.

LOL

J.R.R. Tolkien - The Lord of The Rings

can't post a review! :o :wink:

Digital Fortress

PostPosted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 9:38 am
by treemana
I just finished Dan Brown's "Digital Fortress".

I would put this is the "Good Book" category, but I feel that it is about a half-notch below the other two Dan Brown books I've read. (Angels & Demons, and DaVinci Code).

Considering this was his first novel, maybe it was to be expected.

PostPosted: Fri Dec 12, 2003 10:47 pm
by Turkeyscore.com
I've been trying to remember the name of a book since this was posted. Skyhook by John J. Nance is a good book.
American Airlines pilot flying in Alaska, mysteriously crashes, get's picked up by Coast Guard, liscense revoked for recklessness and Flying under influence, insists on innocence, thinks he hit something. At time of crash, a top secret test flight was taking place in the same area.
Didnt want to give too many details...but good.

Another that I like is The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams.

And yet another good one is The Oath by Frank Peretti.