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The New Coffee Room

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  3. What are you reading now?

What are you reading now?

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  • George KG George K

    @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

    Old Man's War

    That was the first Scalzi I read (on @Jolly 's recommendation). There are, I think 5 books in the series and all of them are good. They are hard HARD, military SF. Not as engaging, or light as the others, but very enjoyable. The last two books are the same story from two different characters' perspectives. Made for an interesting read.

    "The President's Brain is Missing" is another fun read.

    X Offline
    X Offline
    xenon
    wrote on last edited by xenon
    #368

    @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

    @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

    Old Man's War

    That was the first Scalzi I read (on @Jolly 's recommendation). There are, I think 5 books in the series and all of them are good. They are hard HARD, military SF. Not as engaging, or light as the others, but very enjoyable. The last two books are the same story from two different characters' perspectives. Made for an interesting read.

    "The President's Brain is Missing" is another fun read.

    Alright - I'll pick a new one this weekend. Ever read the Bobiverse series? That's another one that seems to pop-up in the same vein...

    (Edit: I also just realized that "in the same vein" is a mining analogy. Never actually thought about that before.)

    George KG 1 Reply Last reply
    • X xenon

      @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

      @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

      Old Man's War

      That was the first Scalzi I read (on @Jolly 's recommendation). There are, I think 5 books in the series and all of them are good. They are hard HARD, military SF. Not as engaging, or light as the others, but very enjoyable. The last two books are the same story from two different characters' perspectives. Made for an interesting read.

      "The President's Brain is Missing" is another fun read.

      Alright - I'll pick a new one this weekend. Ever read the Bobiverse series? That's another one that seems to pop-up in the same vein...

      (Edit: I also just realized that "in the same vein" is a mining analogy. Never actually thought about that before.)

      George KG Offline
      George KG Offline
      George K
      wrote on last edited by
      #369

      @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

      Ever read the Bobiverse series? That's another one that seems to pop-up in the same vein...

      I've all but the new one. Though a clever concept, they don't seem to have the wit or charm of Scalzi.

      "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

      The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

      1 Reply Last reply
      • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes

        @bachophile said in What are you reading now?:

        After binging Lilyhammer I went to this. Just published last week.

        The title and photo makes it looks like something that ladies of a certain age would read

        bachophileB Offline
        bachophileB Offline
        bachophile
        wrote on last edited by bachophile
        #370

        @doctor-phibes a more recent photo. Today actually. Recognize the bird next to him?!

        BBB416FB-0306-4EFF-8525-C433DAA85AD8.jpeg

        Doctor PhibesD 1 Reply Last reply
        • bachophileB bachophile

          @doctor-phibes a more recent photo. Today actually. Recognize the bird next to him?!

          BBB416FB-0306-4EFF-8525-C433DAA85AD8.jpeg

          Doctor PhibesD Offline
          Doctor PhibesD Offline
          Doctor Phibes
          wrote on last edited by
          #371

          @bachophile said in What are you reading now?:

          Recognize the bird next to him?!

          She looks like a lady of a certain age. Then again, so does he.

          I was only joking

          George KG 1 Reply Last reply
          • kluursK Offline
            kluursK Offline
            kluurs
            wrote on last edited by
            #372

            Just started
            97eb9050-8edc-4673-8a9e-5f9f38108e57-image.png

            George KG 1 Reply Last reply
            • kluursK kluurs

              Just started
              97eb9050-8edc-4673-8a9e-5f9f38108e57-image.png

              George KG Offline
              George KG Offline
              George K
              wrote on last edited by
              #373

              @kluurs "Our ORIENTAL Heritage?"

              alt text

              "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

              The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

              1 Reply Last reply
              • X xenon

                @george-k Ha! I started looking for some similar books. Old Man's War seems to be a frequently recommended one as well.

                JollyJ Offline
                JollyJ Offline
                Jolly
                wrote on last edited by
                #374

                @xenon said in What are you reading now?:

                @george-k Ha! I started looking for some similar books. Old Man's War seems to be a frequently recommended one as well.

                Check out the Honor Harrington series. Think of it as Hornblower in space. Besides, the first six or seven books are available online for free. Just do a search for Baen CD.

                I thought Jim Baen was a very smart man for giving away author's blacklists.

                “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                1 Reply Last reply
                • bachophileB bachophile

                  alt text

                  just started this, its the story of an american british convoy to deliver matériel, to archangel in arctic russia, summer 1942. along the way, the c0mplex relationship between FDR, Churchill and Stalin.

                  when it comes to history, im a sucker for all things maritime (yes i loved greyhound with tom hanks even though some panned it) and every time i think there cant be another angle about world war two that hasn't been covered, i discover this. Just started but I know from the first few pages it will be my kind of book.

                  JollyJ Offline
                  JollyJ Offline
                  Jolly
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #375

                  @bachophile said in What are you reading now?:

                  alt text

                  just started this, its the story of an american british convoy to deliver matériel, to archangel in arctic russia, summer 1942. along the way, the c0mplex relationship between FDR, Churchill and Stalin.

                  when it comes to history, im a sucker for all things maritime (yes i loved greyhound with tom hanks even though some panned it) and every time i think there cant be another angle about world war two that hasn't been covered, i discover this. Just started but I know from the first few pages it will be my kind of book.

                  Read Forrester's The Good Shepard which is the book on which Greyhound is based. Available for free at The Faded Page.

                  “Cry havoc and let slip the DOGE of war!”

                  Those who cheered as J-6 American prisoners were locked in solitary for 18 months without trial, now suddenly fight tooth and nail for foreign terrorists’ "due process". — Buck Sexton

                  bachophileB 1 Reply Last reply
                  • JollyJ Jolly

                    @bachophile said in What are you reading now?:

                    alt text

                    just started this, its the story of an american british convoy to deliver matériel, to archangel in arctic russia, summer 1942. along the way, the c0mplex relationship between FDR, Churchill and Stalin.

                    when it comes to history, im a sucker for all things maritime (yes i loved greyhound with tom hanks even though some panned it) and every time i think there cant be another angle about world war two that hasn't been covered, i discover this. Just started but I know from the first few pages it will be my kind of book.

                    Read Forrester's The Good Shepard which is the book on which Greyhound is based. Available for free at The Faded Page.

                    bachophileB Offline
                    bachophileB Offline
                    bachophile
                    wrote on last edited by bachophile
                    #376

                    @jolly yea I put that on a to read list a ways back.

                    I enjoyed the archangel convoy book a lot.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    • Doctor PhibesD Doctor Phibes

                      @bachophile said in What are you reading now?:

                      Recognize the bird next to him?!

                      She looks like a lady of a certain age. Then again, so does he.

                      George KG Offline
                      George KG Offline
                      George K
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #377

                      @doctor-phibes said in What are you reading now?:

                      Recognize the bird next to him?!

                      Well, who is it???

                      "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                      The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                      F Catseye3C 2 Replies Last reply
                      • George KG Offline
                        George KG Offline
                        George K
                        wrote on last edited by George K
                        #378

                        Enjoyed Project Hail Mary. Not as good as The Martian, but MUCH better than Artemis. Weir tends to let techno-talk get in the way of storytelling a bit too much, however.

                        Up next:

                        Screen Shot 2021-10-09 at 12.05.39 PM copy.jpg

                        "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                        The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

                        Aqua LetiferA 1 Reply Last reply
                        • George KG George K

                          Enjoyed Project Hail Mary. Not as good as The Martian, but MUCH better than Artemis. Weir tends to let techno-talk get in the way of storytelling a bit too much, however.

                          Up next:

                          Screen Shot 2021-10-09 at 12.05.39 PM copy.jpg

                          Aqua LetiferA Offline
                          Aqua LetiferA Offline
                          Aqua Letifer
                          wrote on last edited by
                          #379

                          @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

                          Enjoyed Project Hail Mary. Not as good as The Martian, but MUCH better than Artemis. Weir tends to let techno-talk get in the way of storytelling a bit too much, however.

                          Up next:

                          Screen Shot 2021-10-09 at 12.05.39 PM copy.jpg

                          👍👍👍

                          Books are fun.

                          Please love yourself.

                          1 Reply Last reply
                          • George KG George K

                            @doctor-phibes said in What are you reading now?:

                            Recognize the bird next to him?!

                            Well, who is it???

                            F Offline
                            F Offline
                            Friday
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #380

                            @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

                            @doctor-phibes said in What are you reading now?:

                            Recognize the bird next to him?!

                            Well, who is it???

                            I think that is Sarah Duchess of York.

                            bachophileB 1 Reply Last reply
                            • George KG George K

                              @doctor-phibes said in What are you reading now?:

                              Recognize the bird next to him?!

                              Well, who is it???

                              Catseye3C Offline
                              Catseye3C Offline
                              Catseye3
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #381

                              @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

                              Well, who is it???

                              Hint: Her first name starts with F.

                              I think.

                              Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              • F Friday

                                @george-k said in What are you reading now?:

                                @doctor-phibes said in What are you reading now?:

                                Recognize the bird next to him?!

                                Well, who is it???

                                I think that is Sarah Duchess of York.

                                bachophileB Offline
                                bachophileB Offline
                                bachophile
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #382

                                @friday yup. Fergie.

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                • taiwan_girlT Online
                                  taiwan_girlT Online
                                  taiwan_girl
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #383

                                  PHOTO-2021-10-19-19-48-46.jpg

                                  Actually, for me, it is kind of a boring book. 😬

                                  About how the earth would be if humans suddenly disappeared. Each chapter is kind of standalone and examines the impact (or lack of impact) on different areas of earth.

                                  I was read that it was based on a magazine article that the author wrote and then expanded into a book.

                                  Maybe I will just read the article. 5555

                                  Catseye3C 1 Reply Last reply
                                  • taiwan_girlT taiwan_girl

                                    PHOTO-2021-10-19-19-48-46.jpg

                                    Actually, for me, it is kind of a boring book. 😬

                                    About how the earth would be if humans suddenly disappeared. Each chapter is kind of standalone and examines the impact (or lack of impact) on different areas of earth.

                                    I was read that it was based on a magazine article that the author wrote and then expanded into a book.

                                    Maybe I will just read the article. 5555

                                    Catseye3C Offline
                                    Catseye3C Offline
                                    Catseye3
                                    wrote on last edited by
                                    #384

                                    @taiwan_girl There was a TV show several years ago that was pretty fascinating (especially for TV), that examined what the world would be like if people disappeared. That is, not that they were never here, but that they had been here but vanished.

                                    I remember one episode in particular that was set in Las Vegas. As years passed, you saw the tall signs and marquises on the Strip gradually buried in sand, and then at the end, a smooth surface of desert . . . and you knew a whole city was . . . down there . . .

                                    Br-r-r-r!

                                    Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace. – Mike Ditka

                                    taiwan_girlT 1 Reply Last reply
                                    • Catseye3C Catseye3

                                      @taiwan_girl There was a TV show several years ago that was pretty fascinating (especially for TV), that examined what the world would be like if people disappeared. That is, not that they were never here, but that they had been here but vanished.

                                      I remember one episode in particular that was set in Las Vegas. As years passed, you saw the tall signs and marquises on the Strip gradually buried in sand, and then at the end, a smooth surface of desert . . . and you knew a whole city was . . . down there . . .

                                      Br-r-r-r!

                                      taiwan_girlT Online
                                      taiwan_girlT Online
                                      taiwan_girl
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #385

                                      @catseye3 The book is the same. It assumes that people were here, but then disappeared. Mostly, I like books more than movies, but in this case, I can see where a subject like this might be better visually than just words on paper.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      • kluursK Offline
                                        kluursK Offline
                                        kluurs
                                        wrote on last edited by kluurs
                                        #386

                                        Finished
                                        3af63f47-77ff-4137-89dc-c1444686437a-image.png

                                        It is a quick read discussing the rise of authoritarianism around the world beginning with Poland, Hungary, etc. She notes that the desire is linked to both left and right ideologies coming from an insufficient understanding of (respect for?) the nature of democracy.

                                        a913a8c1-9d56-4056-bd6b-5d7539ebae51-image.png

                                        Provides a compelling case questioning her religion, the subjugation of women, and numerous other issues antithetical to human rights. She is, an interesting person and has had an amazing life. She notes that Islam is extremely focused on the notion that this life means nothing - and the next life is the major focus. Islam has not had a reformation. She also explains why poverty and ignorance are not the causes of violent actions by its adherents.

                                        b8ad115c-7b42-400d-b1e4-24bfde2eb62f-image.png .

                                        I'm still slogging through Ariel and Will Durant's History of Civilization volume 1. It is dated but still fascinating. I realize some significant deficits in my education - particularly, the history and culture of India. India had an amazing culture before AD 1000 - including some quite sophisticated medical expertise.

                                        Reading now.
                                        b86ee2c4-a17e-4538-8686-a0771a8a831b-image.png

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        • George KG Offline
                                          George KG Offline
                                          George K
                                          wrote on last edited by
                                          #387

                                          A second recommendation for Ali's "Heretic." It an easy read, and she gets a bit preachy about "what must be done." But the early parts, about her growing up in a fundamentalist Islamic culture, and her later years, in the Netherlands, are just fascinating.

                                          "Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08

                                          The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.

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