I
Iaculus
Ooh, colour me interested in your rantings.
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Is yours the version with the titles on the spine "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe" and "The Restaurant at the End of the Galaxy"? That's what mine has on it.
Is yours the version with the titles on the spine "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe" and "The Restaurant at the End of the Galaxy"? That's what mine has on it.[/QUOTE]
yep and...
So Long and Thanks for All the Fish
Young Zaphop Plays it Safe - I don't think I ever finished that short story...
Is yours the version with the titles on the spine "The Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe" and "The Restaurant at the End of the Galaxy"? That's what mine has on it.[/QUOTE]
yep and...
So Long and Thanks for All the Fish
Young Zaphop Plays it Safe - I don't think I ever finished that short story...[/QUOTE]
I just get a kick out of the fact that they swapped the words in the titles on the fancy leather cover, it's correct in the book, but wrong on the spine.
I don't think I'm getting what you are saying...
---------- Post added at 09:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:46 PM ----------
---------- Post added at 09:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:46 PM ----------
Yours is the corrected version, the original version swapped the words "Galaxy" and "Universe" in the first two titles on the spine. So instead of being "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy" as it should be and is on your copy, it was printed "Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe."I don't think I'm getting what you are saying...
---------- Post added at 09:48 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:46 PM ----------
Yeah, I did not read your first post with an editor's eye. I skim a lot...
Read through the entire Hunger Games trilogy in the last few days. I am seriously having a hard time dealing with the end of Mockingjay. I could sort of feel the end coming, and I could sort of predict the flavor of the final chapters before I actually experienced them, but I sincerely expected things to turn around, and for the book to end with a beautiful sunset or a rainbow or something pretty and nice.
Instead I got something real, which I really appreciate, but have trouble dealing with. The Hunger Games trilogy is almost exactly the story that I want to write ... that I have been plotting in my mind for years. The story of young and hopefuls being sucked into a whirlwind of events that are larger than them. Almost completely out of their control, except for how they will deal with the consequences of their own actions.
Seriously. I will be out of sorts for a few days. I'm not sure how else to put it but "The Hunger Games Trilogy left me deeply affected."
Instead I got something real, which I really appreciate, but have trouble dealing with. The Hunger Games trilogy is almost exactly the story that I want to write ... that I have been plotting in my mind for years. The story of young and hopefuls being sucked into a whirlwind of events that are larger than them. Almost completely out of their control, except for how they will deal with the consequences of their own actions.
Seriously. I will be out of sorts for a few days. I'm not sure how else to put it but "The Hunger Games Trilogy left me deeply affected."
W
Wyrminarrd
I just finished reading "A Time Odyssey" trilogy by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter. While the books have been good i found that the ending of the series wasn't all that strong, hopefully Stephen Baxter will write more set in this world ( He might even have done so already, I haven't checked".
Next up on the reading list is "The Evolutionary Void" by Peter F. Hamilton, hopefully it will be as great as the first two books in the series.
Next up on the reading list is "The Evolutionary Void" by Peter F. Hamilton, hopefully it will be as great as the first two books in the series.
J
Jiarn
Being the WoW geek that I am, and my new job allowing me alot of reading time, I just finished STORMRAGE and am going to go back and read up on a few manga/novels/comics that have slipped past me. Placing an order of nearly $100 today of just WoW literature....
All I've had time for is my required reading for class: The Iliad, translated by Richmond Lattimore.
It is pretty awesome, although I have to admit to having to discuss it with others and use sparknotes in order to actually understand a lot of the prose.
It is pretty awesome, although I have to admit to having to discuss it with others and use sparknotes in order to actually understand a lot of the prose.
P
Philosopher B.
Psmith In the City - P.G. Wodehouse
I'm not hugely familiar with cricket (nor its rules), but I love Plum so goddamn much. Psmith is an awesome character. Reading about his shenanigans in the bank (based, no doubt, on the bank at which P.G. Wodehouse's worked) was a real treat.
Highlights include the fight in the park, and basically every single thing out of Psmith's mouth.
Gunpowder Empire - Harry Turtledove
I have not read much alternate history, so perhaps I enjoyed this more than I should've. But there were some annoying aspects to it. For one thing, the book's *message* that all cultures are wrapped up in themselves and therefore can't see their own eccentricities was rather clumsily illustrated by the ridiculous extent to which fur nauseated the main characters.
Also, despite this book (which I guess was supposed to be YA) featuring blood and destruction, there wasn't enough conflict. In the end, the Crosstime Traders were able to keep their operation fairly stable without major hassle.
And they go to all this trouble for a smidgen of goddamn grain? For a society capable of such impressive technology, you'd think someone could do something about the food/fuel crisis.
And yes, slavery is bad. We get it.
... actually, you know what? Screw this book.
Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception - Eoin Colfer
I was mildly amused, if not particularly impressed, by the first Artemis Fowl book. I felt as though it had some plot/pace issues. The pace of this book was much better, though I got the distinct impression that Colfer wished he was writing a screenplay.
I'm not hugely familiar with cricket (nor its rules), but I love Plum so goddamn much. Psmith is an awesome character. Reading about his shenanigans in the bank (based, no doubt, on the bank at which P.G. Wodehouse's worked) was a real treat.
Highlights include the fight in the park, and basically every single thing out of Psmith's mouth.
Gunpowder Empire - Harry Turtledove
I have not read much alternate history, so perhaps I enjoyed this more than I should've. But there were some annoying aspects to it. For one thing, the book's *message* that all cultures are wrapped up in themselves and therefore can't see their own eccentricities was rather clumsily illustrated by the ridiculous extent to which fur nauseated the main characters.
Also, despite this book (which I guess was supposed to be YA) featuring blood and destruction, there wasn't enough conflict. In the end, the Crosstime Traders were able to keep their operation fairly stable without major hassle.
And they go to all this trouble for a smidgen of goddamn grain? For a society capable of such impressive technology, you'd think someone could do something about the food/fuel crisis.
And yes, slavery is bad. We get it.
... actually, you know what? Screw this book.
Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception - Eoin Colfer
I was mildly amused, if not particularly impressed, by the first Artemis Fowl book. I felt as though it had some plot/pace issues. The pace of this book was much better, though I got the distinct impression that Colfer wished he was writing a screenplay.
I've just finished the first volume of the Baroque Cycle, Quicksilver by Neal Stephenson. It was alright. I wish I had The Confusion and The System of the World as well, so that I could keep reading - the story feels woefully unfinished at this point. Like a sort of overly large (919 pages) introduction. Despite that, it was amusing and intriguing. His portrayal of both Newton and Leibniz are amazingly fun to read but the main characters are definitely engaging as well.
W
Wyrminarrd
I've been reading books from the Honor Harrington series by David Weber. I've had several unread books in this series sitting in my collection for years but somehow never got around to reading until now. Currently on "In enemy Hands" and will probably move on to the next one when I'm finished with it.
The Lovely Bones
K
kaykordeath
Just started How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Wu.
On the surface, it seems to be just what you take from the title...the story of a time machine repairman. And time travel is based on science fiction universes and rules...with allusions to literary and grammatical influences on universe creation. But it's also a somewhat sad (so far) tale of a son and his lost (in time and/or in other ways) father.
His first customer is L. Skywalker. Linus. The son. There's also a very strong Dr. Who vibe about the main character...though less of a Time Lord and more of a Time Janitor/Lackey.
Will follow up as I continue.
On the surface, it seems to be just what you take from the title...the story of a time machine repairman. And time travel is based on science fiction universes and rules...with allusions to literary and grammatical influences on universe creation. But it's also a somewhat sad (so far) tale of a son and his lost (in time and/or in other ways) father.
His first customer is L. Skywalker. Linus. The son. There's also a very strong Dr. Who vibe about the main character...though less of a Time Lord and more of a Time Janitor/Lackey.
Will follow up as I continue.
I am reading a history about Dracula
http://www.amazon.com/Search-Dracula-History-Vampires/dp/0395657830
I have a first edition from the 70's that is in pretty bad shape. The premise of the book is these two guys find the "Historical Dracula," Vlad Tepes. I thought Stoker used Vlad's name in the book, but it has been a long time since I read it. Out side of that, there is some interesting work done with their research.
http://www.amazon.com/Search-Dracula-History-Vampires/dp/0395657830
I have a first edition from the 70's that is in pretty bad shape. The premise of the book is these two guys find the "Historical Dracula," Vlad Tepes. I thought Stoker used Vlad's name in the book, but it has been a long time since I read it. Out side of that, there is some interesting work done with their research.
Rereading Metamorphosis by Kafka. Just finished Transmetropolitan: The New Scum, which was great and makes me very disappointed that this is where my access ends in the series until the library picks up more of them. Also started the Harry Potter books, but promptly lost access to the first one when my daughter started reading it.
Just as I planned.
Just as I planned.
GasBandit
Staff member
Just finished Zombieslayer, the latest Gotrek and Felix novel, and now reading The Emperor's Finest, the latest Ciaphas Cain (HERO OF THE IMPERIUM!) novel.
Before Zombieslayer I just finished reading most of the Drizzt books.
Fun fact: Whenever I read a book, I read it out loud to the little woman. We start to notice repetitive tendencies in their writing style, and turn it into a drinking game... Like in the Wheel of Time series, every time a female character "sniffed" = take a drink... or every time an entire paragraph was devoted to intricately describing in great detail the exact compositions of someone's clothing right down to the pattern and color of the thread, for a couple examples. Drizzt books had the phrase "called upon the innate magic of his heritage" when drizzt summons a globe of darkness (or levitates, in the early books), or someone "rested their hand on the pommel of their sword." For Ciaphas Cain novels, it's whenever Gunner Jurgen's abilities are described as "preternatural" or a large drop is described as "vertiginous" or Cain's narration pulls a "if I'd known I was about to be thrust into the most terrifying ordeal of my life, I'd have run the hell away" type foreshadow. For Gotrek and Felix books, whenever Gotrek runs his thumb along the blade of his axe until he draws blood, or hates something "almost as much as I hate elves," two drinks if the thing he hates is or is related to trees. Also, naturally, any time Felix thinks "this is finally it, we're going to die."
Of course, those are just a partial list, there are lots more drinking cues from repetitive writing in those books, and others. Usually there's at least one every chapter or two. Don't even get me started on how bad I had to whiz after a session of reading a Shannara book. Four words: "Little company from Culhaven."
Before Zombieslayer I just finished reading most of the Drizzt books.
Fun fact: Whenever I read a book, I read it out loud to the little woman. We start to notice repetitive tendencies in their writing style, and turn it into a drinking game... Like in the Wheel of Time series, every time a female character "sniffed" = take a drink... or every time an entire paragraph was devoted to intricately describing in great detail the exact compositions of someone's clothing right down to the pattern and color of the thread, for a couple examples. Drizzt books had the phrase "called upon the innate magic of his heritage" when drizzt summons a globe of darkness (or levitates, in the early books), or someone "rested their hand on the pommel of their sword." For Ciaphas Cain novels, it's whenever Gunner Jurgen's abilities are described as "preternatural" or a large drop is described as "vertiginous" or Cain's narration pulls a "if I'd known I was about to be thrust into the most terrifying ordeal of my life, I'd have run the hell away" type foreshadow. For Gotrek and Felix books, whenever Gotrek runs his thumb along the blade of his axe until he draws blood, or hates something "almost as much as I hate elves," two drinks if the thing he hates is or is related to trees. Also, naturally, any time Felix thinks "this is finally it, we're going to die."
Of course, those are just a partial list, there are lots more drinking cues from repetitive writing in those books, and others. Usually there's at least one every chapter or two. Don't even get me started on how bad I had to whiz after a session of reading a Shannara book. Four words: "Little company from Culhaven."
if she likes the light weight detective novels, she might try the "The Cat Who..." series of novels. Not gritty crime but fun.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Who_series
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cat_Who_series
Reviving this because books are important too.
I recently started Mogworld, Yahtzee's book. Surprise, surprise, it's pretty damn funny! Actually, I am impressed because while his humor online is generally turn of phrase, it's used for vulgarity and insult. Here he puts it to less venomous use, and it's great. It's reminiscent to Terry Pratchett, and worth checking out if you're into that sort of humorous fantasy.
I recently started Mogworld, Yahtzee's book. Surprise, surprise, it's pretty damn funny! Actually, I am impressed because while his humor online is generally turn of phrase, it's used for vulgarity and insult. Here he puts it to less venomous use, and it's great. It's reminiscent to Terry Pratchett, and worth checking out if you're into that sort of humorous fantasy.
I finished a few books the past couple weeks, didn't get around to mentioning them though.
First was A Tough Trip Through Paradise. It's the journal of a fur trader who spent a year with the Native Americans in the Yellowstone area during 1878. Very interesting read.
Second was Deadeye Dick. Loved this book. I flew though it in no time, I couldn't put it down. I think it's one of my favorites.
Last was Out of the Silent Planet. It took a bit for me to get into it, but I really enjoyed it. I'm reading the next book, Perelandra, now.
First was A Tough Trip Through Paradise. It's the journal of a fur trader who spent a year with the Native Americans in the Yellowstone area during 1878. Very interesting read.
Second was Deadeye Dick. Loved this book. I flew though it in no time, I couldn't put it down. I think it's one of my favorites.
Last was Out of the Silent Planet. It took a bit for me to get into it, but I really enjoyed it. I'm reading the next book, Perelandra, now.
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