Audience participation

[lightreads]

Okay, you guys were so great last time, let’s try this again. Any opinions on where one ought to start with these guys? Cautionary tales?

• Iain M. Banks’s Culture series: I understand they’re mostly standalones and that the first book by pub order is not great, so where do I start?
• Charles de Lint: *gestures helplessly* that is a pile of books.
• Andre Norton: ditto
• Gene Wolfe

Also, if anyone can rec a relatively sane biography of Anne Boleyn, I’d be most grateful. For values of “relatively sane” meaning with at least a pretense at considering evidence before speculating.

Comments

[eagle]

I started Banks with Excession and don't seem to have been harmed by it. I think the only Culture book you really should not start with is Look to Windward, since half of what's going on is pointless without the background. But there are probably two choices that are better than the others: Consider Phlebas if you like to start things at the very beginning, and Player of Games if you want to start with one of the best. Be warned that Consider Phlebas, while fun and containing some nice set pieces, has some issues and isn't as good as the books that follow.

For Charles de Lint, I started with Someplace to Be Flying and that worked well for me. I think it's one of his best. Waifs and Strays is an interesting option if you want to start with short stories instead. I've not read as much of him as many others, though.

For Gene Wolfe, definitely start with the Book of the New Sun, specifically with The Shadow of the Torturer. The first four books of the Book of the New Sun (The Urth of the New Sun was tacked on much later and is missable) are a great example of what Wolfe does, and work well on the multiple levels that the best of Wolfe works on.

[eagle]

Ah, hm, I should have read the other replies first. I see Kate disagrees with me on Look to Windward, so I should temper my comment. I thought it gained from being read later in the series so that one understands more of the political situation, but I could be wrong.

It does have one of the best cocktail parties in fiction.

[kate_nepveu]

I did say _Look to Windward_ was a dark horse for a reason . . .

[rydra_wong]

For Wolfe, another option would be The Fifth Head of Cerberus to get a feel for what he does at a somewhat shorter length. But yes, otherwise starting with The Shadow of the Torturer would be the way to go.