Re:I don't read web articles anymore, but I read books
by ckozlowski on Monday January 09, 2023 @12:28PM
(#34312954)
Incidentally, I was given a copy of Peltzold's "Code", second edition (2022), for Christmas. I'd read the first many, many years ago. I'm looking forward to reading it again.
Re:I don't read web articles anymore, but I read books
by shepherdjerred on Monday January 09, 2023 @03:34PM
(#34315619)
It's a fantastic book. I'm surprised universities don't assign it in introduction courses.
Re:I don't read web articles anymore, but I read books
by sss111 on Monday January 09, 2023 @06:43PM
(#34318161)
We actually used this book as part of our CS curriculum in my undergrad at Georgia Tech!
Re:I don't read web articles anymore, but I read books
by DoingSomeThings on Monday January 09, 2023 @01:56PM
(#34314409)
Re "Epic Fantasy"
I'm a recent fan and discovered I enjoy the worlds. I find them engrossing. imo Sanderson could cut down 10-20% (Rhythm of War in particular suffered from length). But, I did appreciate his own defense of length in the genre.
https://www.tor.com/2014/03/04/words-of-radiance-and-the-art...
His insight seems to boil down to
1. Treat it as multiple books if you prefer. 2. "I get the chance to write what I enjoy. I understand it's not for everyone. That doesn't bother me."
Re:I don't read web articles anymore, but I read books
by edanm on Tuesday January 10, 2023 @08:58AM
(#34324875)
I mean, #2 isn't a defense. He's just saying that's what he likes. I don't think parent was saying that Stormlight Archive is objectively too long, it was too long for them.
That said, I'm a huge Sanderson fan so as far as I'm concerned the more Sanderson the better! :)
This applies to many non-fiction best-sellers in the self-help and pop science categories, but is very unfair as a generalization about non-fiction. (and bloat is not restricted to non-fiction, either - do we really need 10,000 pages of Wheel of Time or Stormlight Archive?).
I'm looking at my bookshelves now and see great books like Ryan's "A Bridge Too Far," Peltzold's "Code", Hodges' "The Enigma," Koestler's "The Sleepwalkers," Churchill's "Marlborough." None of these feel "bloated" or "padded" (okay maybe "Marlborough" is a little bloated). None of them were written to convey a handful of ideas to make you look smart at a cocktail party. Surely the information in these books could be condensed, but that condensed form wouldn't produce the same experience.