What are you reading now?
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@Kincaid I love the story of Benedict Arnold, his wife, the reasons for his betrayal, etc.
From what I gather, Miss Schippen (sp?) was quite the looker.
wrote on 5 Jul 2020, 03:00 last edited by George K 7 May 2020, 11:28@George-K said in What are you reading now?:
@Kincaid I love the story of Benedict Arnold, his wife, the reasons for his betrayal, etc.
From what I gather, Miss Schippen (sp?) was quite the looker.
I also find it interesting how the British treated him afterward.
Paul Revere's got a great story as well. He was kind of a whiney asshole.
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I know all you trumpets will hate me but I’m loving Bolton’s book. Halfway thru.
The reason is not that I’ve become a Bolton fan, he is quite fixated on his agenda.
But he writes so well. It’s such an easy book to read, I can hear him in my head narrating as we go along. He must have documented everything because he has details on almost every conversation and phone call.
anyway, he is not even being vindicative with the Donald. He just describes the disarray. The impulsiveness. The lack of ooordination.
So far the real tragic figure in the book is Kelly. He tried so hard to make some order. Bolton himself seems to have been resigned to getting the hatchet from the first day.
Anyway, strongly recommended to both right and left of the aisle here. It’s Illuminating and very readable. Not like the trashy book fire and fury. This one is much much better. And not trashy or gossipy at all. Very erudite.
Oh and p.s. absolutely no state secrets revealed. That was such an obvious ploy by trump to try to prevent publication. So don’t expect to hear who the mole in the kremlin is.
wrote on 5 Jul 2020, 22:26 last edited by@bachophile said in What are you reading now?:
I know all you trumpets will hate me but I’m loving Bolton’s book. Halfway thru.
The reason is not that I’ve become a Bolton fan, he is quite fixated on his agenda.
But he writes so well. It’s such an easy book to read, I can hear him in my head narrating as we go along. He must have documented everything because he has details on almost every conversation and phone call.
I started it this morning and only read one chapter. It's remarkably "conversational" in style: "And then I met with so-and-so, and he told me that.... However, what's-his-name said..."
You're right, it's a fun and easy read. In the first chapter he's only given hints about the chaos that he perceived in the White House during the transition, but he wasn't really involved in that, afaict.
Gonna be fun.
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wrote on 6 Jul 2020, 02:41 last edited by
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wrote on 10 Jul 2020, 10:25 last edited by
Aqua or Other SciFi Fans:
Found this long-ago bookmarked title: Fuzzy Nation: an extraordinary retelling of the SF classic Little Fuzzy. ZaraCorp holds the right to extract unlimited resources from the verdant planet Zarathustra—as long as the planet is certifiably free of native sentients. So when an outback prospector discovers a species of small, appealing bipeds who might well turn out to be intelligent, language-using beings, it's a race to stop the corporation from "eliminating the problem," which is to say, eliminating the Fuzzies—wide-eyed and ridiculously cute small, and furry—who are as much people as we are.
It's written by John Scalzi. George, am I correct that you're a fan of his?
Anyway, do y'all know this book? Is it a thing? Is it good?
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wrote on 10 Jul 2020, 11:29 last edited by
Yes, I'm a huge Scalzi fan. Several of his books are part of a series. @jolly recommended "Old Man's War." which was a real hard sci-fi story, focusing on military aspects of sci-fi. There are at least 4 more books in the series. One of them "Zoe's Tale" tells the same story as its predecessor, but from the viewpoint of a different character - an interesting approach.
He has just completed the final book of a trilogy ("The Collapsing Universe") that I've only read the first book of. I'm going to get the next two and do it in sequence.
"Lock-In" is a standalone novel about a detective who suffers a "lock-in" state because of a viral pandemic. Very creative. It has a sequel, but they're both pretty much standalone.
"Redshirts" is a take on "Star Trek:" What if Star Trek were real, and the characters knew they were part of an act?
"Fuzzy Nation" is, perhaps, the most light-hearted of his books. It has poignant scenes, funny stuff, and snappy, snappy dialog. I loved it.
Well, perhaps "Agent to the Stars" is the most light-hearted. Suppose that you're in an advertising agency, and your boss gives you a very, very unusual client. And you can't say anything about the client - yet. Loved it too.
So, for snappy, fast-paced, clever writing with witty dialog and creative and unusual stories, you can't do better than Scalzi. I owe Jolly for turning me on to him.
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I know all you trumpets will hate me but I’m loving Bolton’s book. Halfway thru.
The reason is not that I’ve become a Bolton fan, he is quite fixated on his agenda.
But he writes so well. It’s such an easy book to read, I can hear him in my head narrating as we go along. He must have documented everything because he has details on almost every conversation and phone call.
anyway, he is not even being vindicative with the Donald. He just describes the disarray. The impulsiveness. The lack of ooordination.
So far the real tragic figure in the book is Kelly. He tried so hard to make some order. Bolton himself seems to have been resigned to getting the hatchet from the first day.
Anyway, strongly recommended to both right and left of the aisle here. It’s Illuminating and very readable. Not like the trashy book fire and fury. This one is much much better. And not trashy or gossipy at all. Very erudite.
Oh and p.s. absolutely no state secrets revealed. That was such an obvious ploy by trump to try to prevent publication. So don’t expect to hear who the mole in the kremlin is.
wrote on 10 Jul 2020, 11:45 last edited by Jolly 7 Oct 2020, 21:49@bachophile said in What are you reading now?:
I know all you trumpets will hate me but I’m loving Bolton’s book. Halfway thru.
The reason is not that I’ve become a Bolton fan, he is quite fixated on his agenda.
But he writes so well. It’s such an easy book to read, I can hear him in my head narrating as we go along. He must have documented everything because he has details on almost every conversation and phone call.
anyway, he is not even being vindicative with the Donald. He just describes the disarray. The impulsiveness. The lack of ooordination.
So far the real tragic figure in the book is Kelly. He tried so hard to make some order. Bolton himself seems to have been resigned to getting the hatchet from the first day.
Anyway, strongly recommended to both right and left of the aisle here. It’s Illuminating and very readable. Not like the trashy book fire and fury. This one is much much better. And not trashy or gossipy at all. Very erudite.
Oh and p.s. absolutely no state secrets revealed. That was such an obvious ploy by trump to try to prevent publication. So don’t expect to hear who the mole in the kremlin is.
Nobody ever said the Trump White House is not chaotic or frenzied. I think that is just how the man operates. Nobody ever said Bolton was stupid, but I think most of us can agree he is very hawkish.
No matter who writes them, I've never cared for kiss and tell books. You ride for the brand that hired you.
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Yes, I'm a huge Scalzi fan. Several of his books are part of a series. @jolly recommended "Old Man's War." which was a real hard sci-fi story, focusing on military aspects of sci-fi. There are at least 4 more books in the series. One of them "Zoe's Tale" tells the same story as its predecessor, but from the viewpoint of a different character - an interesting approach.
He has just completed the final book of a trilogy ("The Collapsing Universe") that I've only read the first book of. I'm going to get the next two and do it in sequence.
"Lock-In" is a standalone novel about a detective who suffers a "lock-in" state because of a viral pandemic. Very creative. It has a sequel, but they're both pretty much standalone.
"Redshirts" is a take on "Star Trek:" What if Star Trek were real, and the characters knew they were part of an act?
"Fuzzy Nation" is, perhaps, the most light-hearted of his books. It has poignant scenes, funny stuff, and snappy, snappy dialog. I loved it.
Well, perhaps "Agent to the Stars" is the most light-hearted. Suppose that you're in an advertising agency, and your boss gives you a very, very unusual client. And you can't say anything about the client - yet. Loved it too.
So, for snappy, fast-paced, clever writing with witty dialog and creative and unusual stories, you can't do better than Scalzi. I owe Jolly for turning me on to him.
wrote on 10 Jul 2020, 11:52 last edited by@George-K said in What are you reading now?:
Yes, I'm a huge Scalzi fan. Several of his books are part of a series. @jolly recommended "Old Man's War." which was a real hard sci-fi story, focusing on military aspects of sci-fi. There are at least 4 more books in the series. One of them "Zoe's Tale" tells the same story as its predecessor, but from the viewpoint of a different character - an interesting approach.
He has just completed the final book of a trilogy ("The Collapsing Universe") that I've only read the first book of. I'm going to get the next two and do it in sequence.
"Lock-In" is a standalone novel about a detective who suffers a "lock-in" state because of a viral pandemic. Very creative. It has a sequel, but they're both pretty much standalone.
"Redshirts" is a take on "Star Trek:" What if Star Trek were real, and the characters knew they were part of an act?
"Fuzzy Nation" is, perhaps, the most light-hearted of his books. It has poignant scenes, funny stuff, and snappy, snappy dialog. I loved it.
Well, perhaps "Agent to the Stars" is the most light-hearted. Suppose that you're in an advertising agency, and your boss gives you a very, very unusual client. And you can't say anything about the client - yet. Loved it too.
So, for snappy, fast-paced, clever writing with witty dialog and creative and unusual stories, you can't do better than Scalzi. I owe Jolly for turning me on to him.
If you like the light foreign diplomat to the stars fare, look at the Retief series by Keith Laumer. The early stuff written before his stroke, is the best, as his writing suffered in later years.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jame_Retief
Most people know Laumer for his Bolo series of self-aware super-tanks.
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wrote on 10 Jul 2020, 12:43 last edited by
Thanks, George. Thanks, Jolly.
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Aqua or Other SciFi Fans:
Found this long-ago bookmarked title: Fuzzy Nation: an extraordinary retelling of the SF classic Little Fuzzy. ZaraCorp holds the right to extract unlimited resources from the verdant planet Zarathustra—as long as the planet is certifiably free of native sentients. So when an outback prospector discovers a species of small, appealing bipeds who might well turn out to be intelligent, language-using beings, it's a race to stop the corporation from "eliminating the problem," which is to say, eliminating the Fuzzies—wide-eyed and ridiculously cute small, and furry—who are as much people as we are.
It's written by John Scalzi. George, am I correct that you're a fan of his?
Anyway, do y'all know this book? Is it a thing? Is it good?
wrote on 10 Jul 2020, 15:34 last edited by@Catseye3 said in What are you reading now?:
Aqua or Other SciFi Fans:
Found this long-ago bookmarked title: Fuzzy Nation: an extraordinary retelling of the SF classic Little Fuzzy. ZaraCorp holds the right to extract unlimited resources from the verdant planet Zarathustra—as long as the planet is certifiably free of native sentients. So when an outback prospector discovers a species of small, appealing bipeds who might well turn out to be intelligent, language-using beings, it's a race to stop the corporation from "eliminating the problem," which is to say, eliminating the Fuzzies—wide-eyed and ridiculously cute small, and furry—who are as much people as we are.
It's written by John Scalzi. George, am I correct that you're a fan of his?
Anyway, do y'all know this book? Is it a thing? Is it good?
It's a good modernization of a classic, yeah.
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wrote on 12 Jul 2020, 15:13 last edited by
Another Q for the SciFi folk. Do y'all know of the writer Greig Beck? His book Primordia? Any good?
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Another Q for the SciFi folk. Do y'all know of the writer Greig Beck? His book Primordia? Any good?
wrote on 12 Jul 2020, 15:21 last edited by@Catseye3 said in What are you reading now?:
Another Q for the SciFi folk. Do y'all know of the writer Greig Beck? His book Primordia? Any good?
No idea. Never heard of him.
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Another Q for the SciFi folk. Do y'all know of the writer Greig Beck? His book Primordia? Any good?
wrote on 12 Jul 2020, 15:22 last edited by@Catseye3 said in What are you reading now?:
Another Q for the SciFi folk. Do y'all know of the writer Greig Beck? His book Primordia? Any good?
hahah get the hell out of here! He visited my school during my Master's! Nice guy and an absolute nerd. Ironically I haven't read any of his stuff, though.
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wrote on 12 Jul 2020, 15:37 last edited by
Fat lot of good y'all are.
Here's the Amazon blurb: "Ben Cartwright, former soldier, home to mourn the loss of his father stumbles upon cryptic letters from the past between the author, Arthur Conan Doyle and his great, great grandfather who vanished while exploring the Amazon jungle in 1908.
Amazingly, these letters lead Ben to believe that his ancestor’s expedition was the basis for Doyle’s fantastical tale of a lost world inhabited by long extinct creatures. As Ben digs some more he finds clues to the whereabouts of a lost notebook that might contain a map to a place that is home to creatures that would rewrite everything known about history, biology and evolution.
But other parties now know about the notebook, and will do anything to obtain it. For Ben and his friends, it becomes a race against time and against ruthless rivals.
In the remotest corners of Venezuela, along winding river trails known only to lost tribes, and through near impenetrable jungle, Ben and his novice team find a forbidden place more terrifying and dangerous than anything they could ever have imagined."
Is naming the protagonist after the Ponderosa Daddy a nerdy thing to do?
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wrote on 12 Jul 2020, 15:42 last edited by Catseye3 7 Dec 2020, 15:43
Here's a sentence right after the beginning from the "Look Inside": "The thing that followed him pushed trees from its path, and its carnivore breath was like a steam train huffing and hissing as it bore down on him."
Eh.
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wrote on 23 Jul 2020, 15:08 last edited by
I caved...
This is the audio version with multiple actors portraying the characters. I've only gotten to the "Arrival at Arrakis" part, but so far it's a very good adaptation.
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wrote on 23 Jul 2020, 16:26 last edited by
Is that the one with the background atmospheric sound? It's pretty good but they ran out of money in the production and eventually all the characters are voiced by the main narrator.
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Is that the one with the background atmospheric sound? It's pretty good but they ran out of money in the production and eventually all the characters are voiced by the main narrator.
wrote on 23 Jul 2020, 17:50 last edited by@Horace said in What are you reading now?:
Is that the one with the background atmospheric sound? It's pretty good but they ran out of money in the production and eventually all the characters are voiced by the main narrator.
Yep that's it. Shame about that, however. Nevertheless I'll enjoy.
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wrote on 23 Jul 2020, 18:03 last edited by
The Baron's voice is awesome, I missed it when it stopped.
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Is that the one with the background atmospheric sound? It's pretty good but they ran out of money in the production and eventually all the characters are voiced by the main narrator.
wrote on 23 Jul 2020, 19:30 last edited by@Horace said in What are you reading now?:
Is that the one with the background atmospheric sound? It's pretty good but they ran out of money in the production and eventually all the characters are voiced by the main narrator.
Really? Or is that some inside joke I’m missing?
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wrote on 23 Jul 2020, 19:54 last edited by
yarly, it goes from a theatrically produced ensemble narration to a standard single voice narration. I imagine that was not the plan starting out, but who knows.
