Topic 14 of 47: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Tue, Dec 9, 1997 (07:56) |
Mike Griggs (mikeg)
45 responses total.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 1 of 45: nick a'hannay (pmnh) * Tue, Dec 9, 1997 (09:12) * 2 lines
"when worlds collide" and "after worlds collide" (1932, 1933, respectively), by philip wylie and edwin balmer... book 1 is story of the destruction of earth, from collision with another planet, and details the construction of ship to transport selected individuals to a second planet, which more or less takes earth's place in solar system afterwards... book 2 is story of life on the new world (book 1 was also made into a pretty decent film, by george pal, in '51)... i really love the feel of 30's sci-fi (a
imov's anthologies are wonderful)... also, bradbury's "martian chronicles", and "illustrated man", as well as "s is for space", "r is for rocket", etc... very literary, high quality sci-fi...
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 2 of 45: Mike Griggs (mikeg) * Tue, Dec 9, 1997 (15:29) * 4 lines
wow....i've never heard of either of those, and they sound pretty
interesting. I've just been subjected to Arthur C. Clarke's technology-prediction
so a bit of sci-fi that was "off-the-wall" might go down well :)
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 3 of 45: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Tue, Dec 9, 1997 (18:27) * 2 lines
Reminded me of an INXS song actually...
"two worlds collided and they could never tear us apart"
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 4 of 45: wer (KitchenManager) * Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (00:14) * 7 lines
Flatland? The Number of the Beast? The Word for World is Forest?
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Stranger in a Strange Land?
Brave New World? The Island of Dr. Moreau? Dune? The Foundation Trilogy?
Mona Lisa Overdrive? A Swiftly Tilting Planet? Time Enough for Love?
Methusalah's Children? Ender's Game? The Time Machine?
Man, this is a tough question. This is almost all that I read when I was
younger.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 5 of 45: nick a'hannay (pmnh) * Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (00:42) * 2 lines
that is a most beautiful thought (the inxs song)...
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 6 of 45: wer (KitchenManager) * Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (00:50) * 2 lines
Ya want to talk, Nick? You've
listened to me enough...
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 7 of 45: nick a'hannay (pmnh) * Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (01:03) * 2 lines
I'm alright... december's just a bad month for me...
how you doing?
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 8 of 45: wer (KitchenManager) * Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (01:08) * 7 lines
Better, but that is about as transient
as anything else with me. Thought I might
have understood a little from listening
in on you and Wolf in the poetry conference,
and was wanting to thank you for the time
you've given in responding to my babbling.
And reciprocate, if needed.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 9 of 45: nick a'hannay (pmnh) * Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (01:34) * 6 lines
It's not as bad as it seems...
When I remember, I am connected... and that is a very good thing, on balance...
What got me tonight was so trivial... was thinking about her hair... i really loved her hair... it was really long, nearly to her waist, and it was very dark brown, nearly black, but not quite... and it had these tight little rings, which always made me think of that yeats thing (looped in the loops of her hair)...she used to wear it out, let it flow, most of the time, but sometimes she wore it up... and when she did, these little ringlets would dangle next to her ear, and she never liked that... for some
reason, I couldn't get that out of my head... thinking about how she might've worn it now, and if those little ringlets would still be dangling there, and if she'd still bother with them... make that frustrated little face...
but that's good... when I feel moments like that, I feel close to her...
and I know that's good...
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 10 of 45: wer (KitchenManager) * Wed, Dec 10, 1997 (14:31) * 2 lines
With descriptions like that,
I miss her, too.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 11 of 45: Autumn Moore (autumn) * Thu, Dec 11, 1997 (13:16) * 1 lines
Hell, I want to BE her.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 12 of 45: Wolf (Wolf) * Thu, Dec 11, 1997 (21:17) * 1 lines
Me too!
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 13 of 45: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Wed, Dec 17, 1997 (19:47) * 2 lines
lost the thread.
Who's the icon?
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 14 of 45: nick a'hannay (pmnh) * Thu, Dec 18, 1997 (06:28) * 2 lines
weaver.
she is deceased.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 15 of 45: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Thu, Dec 18, 1997 (17:49) * 2 lines
Well I sure as hell don't want to be dead but... I wouldn't mind some admiration.
D'ya all remember Madeline L'Engle? A Wrinkle in Time was one of my favorite childhood books. In fact, I think I may read it again for I'm sure the magic is not lost.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 16 of 45: wer (KitchenManager) * Fri, Dec 19, 1997 (00:27) * 3 lines
And there was A Swiftly Tilting Planet,
what was the name of the third? Enjoyed
them myself.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 17 of 45: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Fri, Dec 19, 1997 (10:07) * 1 lines
Ring of Endless Light?
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 18 of 45: Autumn Moore (autumn) * Fri, Dec 19, 1997 (21:12) * 1 lines
I too enjoyed Wrinkle in Time...But if you're interested in a "grown-up" historical time travel, try Diana Gabaldon's "Outlander." Some parts of it smack of a real bodice-ripper, but overall it's historically quite accurate and entertaining.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 19 of 45: Lorie Scafaro (LorieS) * Tue, Jan 13, 1998 (16:46) * 6 lines
Having read most of Madeleine L'Engle's body of work, but none of her sci fi (which is usually in the kids' section at bookstores here), you all are inspiring me to go check them out.
Off topic, but her adult fiction is good. And for those who like sequels and series, I understand that some of her recent books like "A Live Coal in the Sea" actually are picking up the life story of characters from older books.
A Yahoo search of her name brought up a good site, but I don't have the link, which explained some of those tie-ins. Evidently, once she has a character she doesn't let them go. And in later novels when she needs them, she pops them in. Kind of cool, I thought.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 20 of 45: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Mon, Jan 19, 1998 (17:23) * 1 lines
Speaking of L'Engle. There is a site "A Wrinkle in Time" where 51 photographers in different cities, states and countries all took panoramics of an area at the same time. The photos are interactive and you can spin around (and up and down) photos of Singapore, Austin, Australia, Boston, Hawaii, Colorado, New Orleans, London, Paris, Fort Worth, etc. Kept me amused for quite sometime and I thought it was fascinating to see what individuals thought represented their 'wrinkle in time.'
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 21 of 45: Autumn Moore (autumn) * Mon, Jan 19, 1998 (21:56) * 1 lines
Has anybody seen mike g. around? Haven't seen him post since before xmas.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 22 of 45: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Tue, Jan 20, 1998 (08:21) * 2 lines
I'll see if I can raise him from the dead.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 23 of 45: Autumn Moore (autumn) * Tue, Jan 20, 1998 (20:10) * 1 lines
Maybe they're still celebrating in the UK! :)
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 24 of 45: Adam C. Lipscomb (EmpZoltar) * Sun, Feb 22, 1998 (09:41) * 21 lines
I'm not sure if this thread is still going, but here goes...
I've got a huge list - let's see if I can skim some representative samples off the top...
Starship Troopers - RAH
Stranger in a Strange Land - RAH again
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress - RAH
The Foundation Trilogy - Asimov
Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card
A Princess of Mars - ERB
Anything by Harlan Ellison
The Postman - David Brin
David Brin's Uplift novels
A Canticle for Leibowitz - Walter Miller
Last Call, The Stress of Her Regard and Expiration Date - Tim Powers
Soldier of the Mist - Gene Wolfe
and many more...
I find myself more and more moving away from "hard SF" and into dark fantsy and speculative fiction in my reading. This is partly due to my wife's influence - when we got married, our libraries did also, and that did wonders to broaden my reading. Also, I think, as I have grown older, I am more interested in the style and form in a piece of writing than the actual plot. Moby Dick, a story about this crazy one-legged guy and a big white fish, interests me more than, say, Battletech, a series of stories
bout aliens in giant robots invading Earth. Why? Moby Dick is passionately written, possibly the first modern American novel, and certainly one of the greatest novels ever written. My forays into the classics and other genres have made me a tougher critic of the SF I read.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 25 of 45: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Feb 22, 1998 (09:49) * 2 lines
Have you read any of Bruce Sterling's stuff?
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 26 of 45: Adam C. Lipscomb (EmpZoltar) * Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (23:36) * 3 lines
Oh, yes! _Islands in the Net_, _Schismatrix_, _The Difference Engine_. I'm a few years behind in my Sterling - I just finished a huge David Brin binge, which was preceded by my repurchase of all the Heinlein paperbakcs I've read to pieces. I also like the articles he has done for Wired and other magazines - in fact, his piece on St. Petersburg was the only reason I picked up the last issue of Wired.
Have you read anything by Michael Bishop?
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 27 of 45: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Mon, Feb 23, 1998 (23:48) * 5 lines
Nope, I went to a huge party at Bruce's house the other night. You can
read his speech and some accounts of the party in the cfp conference.
What a blast it was!
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 28 of 45: Adam C. Lipscomb (EmpZoltar) * Wed, Feb 25, 1998 (23:10) * 1 lines
A friend of mine was at the conference, and he talked me into coming to the party with him. I wish I had been able to attend the conference, but I did have some fascinating conversations while at the party. I think events like that, especially with all of the relaxed networking and idea exchanging, are possibly the best way to get new ideas across to people that can do things with them. Hmmm... perhaps a kegger for the UN could go a long way toward solving some problems....
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 29 of 45: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Fri, Feb 27, 1998 (11:00) * 3 lines
You were *there*! Wow, did we talk?
How would I have recognized you?
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 30 of 45: Adam C. Lipscomb (EmpZoltar) * Sun, Mar 1, 1998 (11:35) * 1 lines
We spoke briefly towards the end of the party. You invited me to check out this community (which I obviously did, and I like it a lot!), and I gave you a stock tip. I'm about 6'0", light brown hair, glasses, goatee - I was wearing a denim jacket. That probably doesn't narrow it down much - 90% of the men in Austin look like that. I work for IXC Communications, if that helps.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 31 of 45: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Mar 1, 1998 (19:39) * 5 lines
It's all coming back now! I remember it well. What a night at Bruces.
I wish we could reel a few more of the partyers in who were at CFP and
the party, it would be fun to extend the conversations we had at CFP98
further.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 32 of 45: Autumn Moore (autumn) * Sun, Mar 1, 1998 (20:23) * 1 lines
Welllllll, let's not be close-mouthed about this stock tip, shall we, gentlemen? Feel free to share it with those of us who couldn't make it to Bruce's!
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 33 of 45: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Mar 1, 1998 (20:52) * 2 lines
Promise not to tell?
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 34 of 45: Autumn Moore (autumn) * Sun, Mar 1, 1998 (20:59) * 1 lines
Cross my heart! :-)
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 35 of 45: Paul Terry Walhus (terry) * Sun, Mar 1, 1998 (21:20) * 2 lines
It was ICX. Now, don't tell.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 36 of 45: Autumn Moore (autumn) * Sun, Mar 1, 1998 (21:46) * 1 lines
My lips are sealed!
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 37 of 45: Adam C. Lipscomb (EmpZoltar) * Mon, Mar 2, 1998 (08:04) * 1 lines
The price at the time of the party was about $47 a share. Since then, it's gone up to about $58. The company is scheduled to finish a coast-to-coast fiber optic network in the next few weeks, and the price should go up even more then. Don't worry, this is public info, so the SEC can't raid you guys, but after that clarification, my lips are also sealed.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 38 of 45: Doug Larue (doug) * Sun, Apr 5, 1998 (22:17) * 12 lines
Sorry, I ment to type "The Stainless Steel Rat" trilogy
by Harry Harrison
Slippery Jim Degriz to the rescue!
Because he has a reality about him that coincides with the plot and concept of the trilogy and the reader is gradually
exposed to this universal point of view as the reader gets deeper into it.
Jim isn't a good guy or a bad guy, he's just a very talented thief! He tries to only steal from planetary government
systems that are obviously corrupt. He usually ends up saving or helping a few truly interesting people on the way.
better?
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 39 of 45: Stacey Vura (stacey) * Mon, Apr 6, 1998 (17:07) * 1 lines
much!
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 40 of 45: patricia S. (Amelia) * Tue, Apr 14, 1998 (19:59) * 1 lines
Are we still discussing favorite sci-fi books? I love anything by Ray Bradbury-especially those fabulous "Martian Chronicles". Never heard of the "Stainless Steel Rat" but the title sounds interesting.
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 41 of 45: wer (KitchenManager) * Tue, Apr 14, 1998 (21:39) * 2 lines
Bradbury is good, and I'll bet you'd like the "Rat" also...
think I'm gonna reread Flatland...
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 42 of 45: Alexander Schuth (aschuth) * Sun, Jul 25, 1999 (16:48) * 5 lines
Wer, yo ma man!
Our libraries should match to some extend...
What was that Stacey said about us two stooges? A few months back...
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 43 of 45: wer (KitchenManager) * Sun, Jul 25, 1999 (22:38) * 1 lines
now that is a loaded question!
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 44 of 45: Samm Blob (AlFor) * Fri, Feb 8, 2002 (20:28) * 7 lines
Let's see: I've read the Foundation Trilogy, and the rather inferior sequel "Foundation Alone" and prequel "Prelude To Foundation". The only other Asimov novel I've read is "The Caves Of Steel". It would make an interesting movie; I keep wondering what the ideal cast would be like. Mel Gibson as Baley, definiely, and Kevin Spacey as R. Daneel Olivaw, but who would play Julius if Spacey were to play Olivaw?.
I read some short stories by Philip K. Dick, and I tried to read "Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep" but it was a bit thick for me (and I don't mean long; just tedious).
My favourite sci-fi author is Jules Verne. He is the sci-fi writer that caused people to take sci-fi seriously. From The Earth To The Moon and Round The Moon are amazing. 20 000 Leagues Under The Sea is great reading too, even if the propulsion system is wildly impractical (as opposed to the slightly less impractical cannon used in From The Earth To The Moon)
And then of course there is 1984, George Orwell's last novel. It was more of an political allegory that a real attempt at sci-fi (although the parallel between the "telescreen" and the Internet is eerie...) The biggest flaw in George Orwell's vision of a three-power world is that Orwell clearly had no clue about the American psyche. Americans would never allow themselves to be caught up in a system like that and they would CERTAINLY never allow their capital to be London (or Airport One) again...
Topic 14 of 47 [books]: Your favourite Science Fiction book, and why!
Response 45 of 45: Samm Blob (AlFor) * Fri, Feb 8, 2002 (20:29) * 1 lines
I have never read anything by Douglas Adams. I hope to change that one day...
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