HellKat
SENATOR BABYHEAD  Posts: 177 Registered: 1/19/2005 Offline
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2/13/2007 at 17:55 |
it's fiction but...
Azron turned me onto an authoer Lee Childs. He writes a series of adventures nobels with the character of Jack Reacher. Reacher is an ex-military specialist who is always saves the day and gets the girl.
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JohnLenin
Putting the semen in amusement   SSHOLEPosts: 1051 Registered: 7/8/2005 Offline
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2/13/2007 at 18:03 |
magicchex: jwalker: The Book of Mormon: I could not get even halfway through this drivel. Just horrible - don't bother.
SRSLY?!? THANKS!
It truly is a horrible mess. And the lore surrounding it doesn't help it any.
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Sidechain
Funk Lord of the Universe.  SSHOLEPosts: 69 Registered: 8/18/2006 Offline
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2/13/2007 at 18:38 |
LOki: Harry Harrison's DeathWorld Trilogy, and Stainless Steel Rat series.
I forgot about the Stainless Steel Rat. I read several of these in my late teens. Do they stand up well? I've re-read a few things I loved then and think they're crap now. Not all, but some.
For me lately:
Dan Simmons's Hyperion books
Hyperion
Fall of Hyperion
Endymion
Rise of Endymion
Easily one of the best SF series ever.
Re-read Orwell's 1984 a couple months ago, just to watch the end come sooner. North Korea is our ally. North Korea has always been our ally.
Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods' - Awesome. Really.
Non-fiction:
The Whole Shebang by Timothy Ferris
Yes, it's 8 or 9 years old. Way too old really in terms of physics and cosmology, and is missing some recent developments, but it's really well written and is a good summary of the state of our knowledge.
On Order:
Wee Free Men - Terry Pratchett.
The first two of the Foundation Series - Isaac Asimov
It's been years since I read the Foundation works, and had the idea to read them all together. Sort of as a chronology of Asimov's life. Unfortunately, I no longer own any of them.
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sunny77
SENATOR BABYHEAD  Posts: 226 Registered: 11/2/2005 Offline
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2/14/2007 at 16:08 |
The Culture of Fear" - It was about how Americans are constantly told crime is everywhere and everything outside the home is dangerous, when statistically most crimes are as rare as lightning deaths. Also, it points a cold finger at the laziness of American media who don't dig deeper and fact check.
Nice link, lownotes.
LOL.
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l hate wrecker. That is all. |
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mundhra
dread pirate neckbeard  SSHOLEPosts: 1636 Registered: 3/25/2002 Offline
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2/15/2007 at 14:45 |
sunny77: The Culture of Fear" - It was about how Americans are constantly told crime is everywhere and everything outside the home is dangerous, when statistically most crimes are as rare as lightning deaths. Also, it points a cold finger at the laziness of American media who don't dig deeper and fact check.
Nice link, lownotes.
LOL.
why don't you contribute to the thread, you smarmy fucking cunt?
LOL.
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But the whole of modern so-called civilized existence is an attempt to deny reality insofar as it exists. When did Don last look at the stars, when did Norman last get soaked in a rainstorm? |
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jwalker
Token Discordian  SSHOLEPosts: 949 Registered: 8/6/2005 Offline
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2/15/2007 at 15:44 |
mundhra: sunny77: The Culture of Fear" - It was about how Americans are constantly told crime is everywhere and everything outside the home is dangerous, when statistically most crimes are as rare as lightning deaths. Also, it points a cold finger at the laziness of American media who don't dig deeper and fact check.
Nice link, lownotes.
LOL.
why don't you contribute to the thread, you smarmy fucking cunt?
LOL.
He said "smarmy".
LOL.
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To the dog who has money, men say "My Lord Dog". |
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Lownotes
They all float down here.  SSHOLEPosts: 183 Registered: 4/23/2005 Online
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2/15/2007 at 19:06 |
Here is your moonpie
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freakmachine
Web Fucko Extraordinaire  SSHOLEPosts: 590 Registered: 4/15/2004 Offline
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2/19/2007 at 02:59 |
Sidechain: LOki: Harry Harrison's DeathWorld Trilogy, and Stainless Steel Rat series.
I forgot about the Stainless Steel Rat. I read several of these in my late teens. Do they stand up well? I've re-read a few things I loved then and think they're crap now.
No. I used to love them too but I listened to a couple recently and they read like kid's stories. They are still sort of fun though.
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Recently read (atually listened to, mostly, and I can't limit it to six):
Freakonomics - what's his face
Fuking cool and then some
The Odessa File - Frederich Forsythe
Fairly OK, all about nazi hunters. It was made into a fucked up and extraordinarily dull movie that would suck all of the Interesting out of a six block radius and leave you passed out on the floor.
The Ninth Life of Louis Drax - Liz Jensen
This was a random dl from usenet, it surprised the fuck out of me that I liked it so much. Psychological drama and ghosts and stuff.
Dune - you know who
I must second L0ki's opinion that it is the best fucking sci fi ever.
Longitude - Dava Sobel
Very fucking entertaining. True story about how the longitude problem, i.e., where the fuck am I on this here map, for sailing ships was solved by a guy who invented amazingly acurate mechanical clocks in the 1700's.
Typee - Herman Melville
Likeable story but just not up to fucking par with Moby Dick. This describes his experience of being stranded on a tropical island with polynesian natives after he jumps ship. His story made me want to live there real bad, but the island isn't so great since the whities ruined it.
The Mysteries of the Middle Ages - Thomas Cahill
This guy makes history fun to read. I can't even think of a good way to use some form of the word fuck about this one.
His dark Materials - Phillip Pullman
Interesting. I liked this even though it apparently is supposed to be juvenile fiction. Intelligent, literate, it turns Dante's inferno inside out and makes something cool. Oops I forgot to say "fuck."
The Bartimaeus Series - Johnathan Stroud
Sort of like Harry Potter but better and not a fuking cheap copy. More gritty and believable. Fun, but light reading.
Dracula - Bram Sotker
Good read. What more can I say? Oh, good fucking read.
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Currently listening to:
The Long Dark Teatime of the Soul - Douglas Adams
Haha, I like this guy's humor.
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Marquez
This caught me from the very first sentence, Marquez an write like few I've ever read.
The Sound and the Fury - Faulkner
Only just started, not sure I follow what's happening.
I aspire to read Moby Dick, but I have a feeling it would be like swimming through Peanut Butter: tasty but slow going and kind of nutty. I have no idea how I got through it in high school.
On 2007-02-18 at 21:02:23, freakmachine pooped back and forth... forever |
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Slex
Tender vittles  Posts: 11 Registered: 7/10/2006 Offline
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2/19/2007 at 15:04 |
Better Then Sex - Hunter S. Thompson
I can't believe I didn't discover Dr. Thompson before he died. Pure, unadulterated genius.
Haunted - Chuck Palahniuk
One of the coolest contemporary story tellers. (Author of Fight Club)
What It Means To Be A Libertarian - Charles Murray
Even though I'm trying to take a break from current politics until 2008, it's always nice to reevaluate your beliefs and ethics.
Eat The Rich - P.J. O'Rourke
A decent evaluation of different economic models. A very libertarian author who's always a good read.
The God Delusion - Richard Dawkins
Dawkins 1 - Religion 0 End game bitches.
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jwalker
Token Discordian SSHOLEPosts: 949 Registered: 8/6/2005 Offline
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2/19/2007 at 17:48 |
Sidechain: thanks for mentioning American Gods - I needed something for the plane. It's a good read, although I can't help wondering how much of it was influenced by "Long Dark Teatime".
On 2007-02-19 at 11:49:44, jwalker pooped back and forth... forever
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To the dog who has money, men say "My Lord Dog". |
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Sidechain
Funk Lord of the Universe. SSHOLEPosts: 69 Registered: 8/18/2006 Offline
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2/20/2007 at 04:27 |
jwalker: Sidechain: thanks for mentioning American Gods - I needed something for the plane. It's a good read, although I can't help wondering how much of it was influenced by "Long Dark Teatime".
Glad you're enjoying it. Other than the common Norse Mythology, not a whole lot I thought, although I will admit it did occur to me as well. Have you finished it?
More of an influence perhaps (although quite different in delivery) was Terry Pratchett's "Small Gods". One of my favs by him, and that's saying a lot.
Also, for those who enjoy a strangely compelling, surrealistic skewing of magic realism, I forgot to mention Haruki Murakami's "Wind-Up Bird Chronicle" and "Kafka On The Shore" which are really interesting reads. Be warned, they are not for everyone, but I really liked them.
On 2007-02-19 at 22:30:15, Sidechain pooped back and forth... forever
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If you could you would be someone else. |
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vasudeva
Bad Taste in your Mouth  SSHOLEPosts: 4469 Registered: 3/8/2002 Offline
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2/20/2007 at 12:27 |
Peeps keep mentioning Terry Pratchett. I thought he wrote for children, like Piers Anthony in a whimsical Dragonlance-style setting.
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freakmachine
Web Fucko Extraordinaire SSHOLEPosts: 590 Registered: 4/15/2004 Offline
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2/20/2007 at 14:18 |
vasudeva: Peeps keep mentioning Terry Pratchett. I thought he wrote for children, like Piers Anthony in a whimsical Dragonlance-style setting.
I find Terry Pratchett to be similar to Douglas Adams. His books are light entertainment that tends to be funny as hell in a very dry British way.
P.S. Granny Weatherwax rules. |
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Sidechain
Funk Lord of the Universe. SSHOLEPosts: 69 Registered: 8/18/2006 Offline
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2/20/2007 at 14:58 |
I find Terry Pratchett to be similar to Douglas Adams. His books are light entertainment that tends to be funny as hell in a very dry British way.
P.S. Granny Weatherwax rules.
Basically, yes. Although for being "light entertainment", he has a way of making you think as well. Nice little stories, very very funny, and when they're over, you slowly realize that you've been put through a philosophical wringer of sorts. Themes can include politics, the nature of Belief, even straight physics. Nothing is sacred or safe from his biting satire.
One of my favorite exchanges is in "Hogfather", when Death (yes, him... with the scyth) explains to Susan:
When you were very young, you practiced believing in the little lies - The Tooth Fairy, The Hogfather, The Bogeyman - so that when you became older, you would be much better prepared to believe the BIG lies - Truth. Beauty. Justice.
And yes, Granny rules, but Nanny Ogg is no slouch herself.
"Oh, a wizards staff has a knob on the end..."
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If you could you would be someone else. |
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Tagnut
SENATOR BABYHEAD  Posts: 219 Registered: 11/27/2004 Offline
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2/20/2007 at 18:21 |
in no particular order
EVIL SPIRITS: The Life of Oliver Reed - Clive Goodwin
KINGDOM COME - J.G.Ballard
HANNIBAL RISING-Thomas Harris
THE GOD DELUSION-Richard Dawkins
WILD SHEEP CHASE-Haruki Murakami
and one for my fellow geeks...
THUD!-Terry Pratchett
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Sidechain
Funk Lord of the Universe. SSHOLEPosts: 69 Registered: 8/18/2006 Offline
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2/20/2007 at 18:27 |
WILD SHEEP CHASE-Haruki Murakami
How is this one? I've been thinking of picking it up, but isn't it part of a loose trilogy or something?
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You can't hear me laughing to myself
If you could you would be someone else. |
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Tagnut
SENATOR BABYHEAD Posts: 219 Registered: 11/27/2004 Offline
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2/20/2007 at 18:41 |
not part of a trilogy as far as i know. but it does have a manic depresive in a sheep costume.what more could you want?
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