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erik
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Post by erik » Thu Dec 30, 2010 6:38 am

I am drowning in a glut of Xmas books. Currently working on the uncut edition of The Stand by Stephen King. Reading a bunch of Cory Doctrow on the iPod and before that was a few of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories on the iPod.
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PoliteNewb
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Post by PoliteNewb » Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:00 am

> name_here wrote:I finally got Towers of Midnight. Mat=best character.

Agreed.
That line was awesome, but there were actually so many good Mat lines, it was hard to choose.

> Rand Almost everybody has finally become competent and decisive.

Fixed.
In other news, I just read Stephen King's latest, "Full Dark, No Stars". Very grim (but hey, it's King, what else is new), and quite good. I think King is becoming a feminist in his old age...2 of the 4 stories were about violence against women, and both had female protagonists who felt very real (most of his characters are well done, so that's no real surprise). All 4 stories were pretty psychological...if they had anything in common, it was the fact that all of us have a secret person inside ourselves, one who we don't always know that well until certain circumstances occur; these stories were about what happens when you meet that person.
Last edited by PoliteNewb on Thu Dec 30, 2010 7:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
I am judging the philosophies and decisions you have presented in this thread. The ones I have seen look bad, and also appear to be the fruit of a poisonous tree that has produced only madness and will continue to produce only madness.
--AngelFromAnotherPin
believe in one hand and shit in the other and see which ones fills up quicker. it will be the one you are full of, shit.
--Shadzar
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Meikle641
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Post by Meikle641 » Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:53 am

> erik wrote:Currently working on the uncut edition of The Stand by Stephen King.

Uncut you say? What's changed?
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PoliteNewb
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Post by PoliteNewb » Thu Dec 30, 2010 5:05 pm

> Meikle641 wrote:

> > erik wrote:Currently working on the uncut edition of The Stand by Stephen King.

> Uncut you say? What's changed?

A few deleted scenes are put back in, including one fairly lengthy one that I feel is a "classic" of the postholocaust fiction experience. A few things are edited for clarity, or slightly rewritten. A few completely unimportant things are added.
Nothing major...the overall thrust of the book is still the same, and there are no plot-changing elements. I considered the uncut version worth my time, but then, I re-read books pretty often anyway.
I am judging the philosophies and decisions you have presented in this thread. The ones I have seen look bad, and also appear to be the fruit of a poisonous tree that has produced only madness and will continue to produce only madness.
--AngelFromAnotherPin
believe in one hand and shit in the other and see which ones fills up quicker. it will be the one you are full of, shit.
--Shadzar
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Datawolf
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Post by Datawolf » Thu Dec 30, 2010 6:31 pm

> PoliteNewb wrote:In other news, I just read Stephen King's latest, "Full Dark, No Stars". Very grim (but hey, it's King, what else is new), and quite good. I think King is becoming a feminist in his old age...2 of the 4 stories were about violence against women, and both had female protagonists who felt very real (most of his characters are well done, so that's no real surprise). All 4 stories were pretty psychological...if they had anything in common, it was the fact that all of us have a secret person inside ourselves, one who we don't always know that well until certain circumstances occur; these stories were about what happens when you meet that person.

I've been thinking about picking this up myself. I've become quite a fan of King recently (I started with On Writing and 'Salem's Lot last year. Seriously).
Currently slogging through Annabel by Kathleen Winter for my book club. The weird thing is, it contains everything I like in novels: complex characters with interesting relationships, a careful attention to detail, descriptions that invoke all the senses, and yet it's boring the hell out of me.
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PoliteNewb
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Post by PoliteNewb » Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:45 pm

> Datawolf wrote: I've been thinking about picking this up myself. I've become quite a fan of King recently (I started with On Writing and 'Salem's Lot last year. Seriously).

I highly recommend it, especially because of the format (4 stories, which I'd classify as 2 novellas and 2 short stories). In fact, if you really want to get a feel for King and whether or not you like him, I strongly suggest trying his short works first; he made money on his novels, but he wrote great short stories, and EXCELLED at the novella, which he thinks (and I agree) is an oft-neglected form of work.
Try "Four Past Midnight", or "The Bachman Books". Or pick up "Skeleton Crew", which contains some of his best short story work ("The Mist" and "The Reach", which open and close that anthology, are probably my favorite stories by him).
I am judging the philosophies and decisions you have presented in this thread. The ones I have seen look bad, and also appear to be the fruit of a poisonous tree that has produced only madness and will continue to produce only madness.
--AngelFromAnotherPin
believe in one hand and shit in the other and see which ones fills up quicker. it will be the one you are full of, shit.
--Shadzar
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Prak
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Post by Prak » Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:56 pm

I've started reading through my discworld books again, right at the same time I got a friend who reads more than I do to start them. I basically need a couple days head start on the next book in the storyline before I give her the previous one...
edit: I've been sigg'd, awesome.
Last edited by Prak on Thu Dec 30, 2010 9:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Cuz apparently I gotta break this down for you dense motherfuckers- I'm trans feminine nonbinary. My pronouns are they/them.

> Winnah wrote:No, No. 'Prak' is actually a Thri Kreen impersonating a human and roleplaying himself as a D&D character. All hail our hidden insect overlords.

> FrankTrollman wrote:In Soviet Russia, cosmic horror is the default state.
> You should gain sanity for finding out that the problems of a region are because there are fucking monsters there.

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Zinegata
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Post by Zinegata » Sat Jan 01, 2011 8:49 am

Just finished Keegan's The American Civil War. It's a return to form. Finally.
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Cynic
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Post by Cynic » Tue Jan 04, 2011 5:44 am

I just came back from Texas and read a few books there.
I've started reading a lot of new weird fiction.
I picked up China Mieville's "Perdido street station" and loved it. It suffers from having too many different references and homages stuffed in but it works well.
Jeff Vandermeer's "Finch" was a good example of new weird and it wasn't a hobbled up mess of "fit-it-all-into-one-box"-ism. The book jacket said fungal noir and that seems very apt. a lot of spore/mushroom based tech that was awesome.
I reread all of "Fables" except the last graphic novel. It's a little strange having the war being over. WIllingham should have finished the series right here.
Reread the first half of "Swords and deviltry" and I dont' think I can ever get tired of Fahrd and Grey mouser. Incidentally, they were referenced in the "dark ages" storyline of Fables. Freddy and mouse. snark.

> Ancient History wrote:We were working on Street Magic, and Frank asked me if a houngan had run over my dog.

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Blicero
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Post by Blicero » Tue Jan 04, 2011 10:48 pm

> Cynic wrote: I picked up China Mieville's "Perdido street station" and loved it. It suffers from having too many different references and homages stuffed in but it works well.
> Jeff Vandermeer's "Finch" was a good example of new weird and it wasn't a hobbled up mess of "fit-it-all-into-one-box"-ism. The book jacket said fungal noir and that seems very apt. a lot of spore/mushroom based tech that was awesome.

Perdido is a quite excellent novel. The Scar has a much better overall plot, but its writing isn't as unique, and its characters aren't as likable. The City and the City is a surprisingly tense thriller.
If you haven't read City of Saints and Madmen, you really should. VanderMeer really outdid himself for that one.
Out beyond the hull, mucoid strings of non-baryonic matter streamed past like Christ's blood in the firmament.
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fbmf
  The Great Fence Builder
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Post by fbmf » Tue Jan 04, 2011 11:34 pm

Band of Brothers by Stephen Ambrose.
Game On,
fbmf
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name_here
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Post by name_here » Wed Jan 05, 2011 1:36 am

I've been reading the Dresden Files. I got to the section responsible for this image.
The artist forgot the one-man Polka band, though.
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Zinegata
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Post by Zinegata » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:01 am

Just finished Neil Hanson's "The Unknown Soldier". Pretty damn good.
I should really pick up Ciaphas Cain's latest book, "The Emperor's Finest" soon. If I can find a bloody paperback copy of it instead of the $20 hardback.
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Maxus
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Post by Maxus » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:12 am

Dresden rocks.
He jumps like a damned dragoon, and charges into battle fighting rather insane monsters with little more than his bare hands and rather nasty spell effects conjured up solely through knowledge and the local plantlife. He unerringly knows where his goal lies, he breathes underwater and is untroubled by space travel, seems to have no limits to his actual endurance and favors killing his enemies by driving both boots square into their skull. His agility is unmatched, and his strength legendary, able to fling about a turtle shell big enough to contain a man with enough force to barrel down a near endless path of unfortunates.
--The horror of Mario
Zak S, Zak Smith, Dndwithpornstars, Zak Sabbath. He is a terrible person and a hack at writing and art. His cultural contributions are less than Justin Bieber's, and he's a shitmuffin. Go go gadget Googlebomb!
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name_here
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Post by name_here » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:21 am

Oh, TvTropes also relays this quote from FanFiction.net:

> "Hello Ladies- look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me. Sadly, he isn't me, but if he stopped wearing body glitter and wore a black leather duster, he could be like he's me. Look down, back up, where are you? You're on a city street, surrounded by ZOMBIES! With the man your man could be like! Look down, back up, what's in your hand, I have it, it's a blasting rod- look again! The blasting rod is now A TORRENTIAL COLUMN OF FIRE! Anything is possible when your man is Harry Dresden and not Edward Cullen. I'm on a dinosaur."

> DSMatticus wrote:It's not just that everything you say is stupid, but that they are Gordian knots of stupid that leave me completely bewildered as to where to even begin. After hearing you speak Alexander the Great would stab you and triumphantly declare the puzzle solved.

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Prak
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Post by Prak » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:25 am

> name_here wrote:Oh, TvTropes also relays this quote from FanFiction.net:

> > "Hello Ladies- look at your man, now back to me, now back at your man, now back to me. Sadly, he isn't me, but if he stopped wearing body glitter and wore a black leather duster, he could be like he's me. Look down, back up, where are you? You're on a city street, surrounded by ZOMBIES! With the man your man could be like! Look down, back up, what's in your hand, I have it, it's a blasting rod- look again! The blasting rod is now A TORRENTIAL COLUMN OF FIRE! Anything is possible when your man is Harry Dresden and not Edward Cullen. I'm on a dinosaur."

What is that meme from, originally, anyway?
Cuz apparently I gotta break this down for you dense motherfuckers- I'm trans feminine nonbinary. My pronouns are they/them.

> Winnah wrote:No, No. 'Prak' is actually a Thri Kreen impersonating a human and roleplaying himself as a D&D character. All hail our hidden insect overlords.

> FrankTrollman wrote:In Soviet Russia, cosmic horror is the default state.
> You should gain sanity for finding out that the problems of a region are because there are fucking monsters there.

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name_here
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Post by name_here » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:30 am

Apparently it was an old spice commercial.

> DSMatticus wrote:It's not just that everything you say is stupid, but that they are Gordian knots of stupid that leave me completely bewildered as to where to even begin. After hearing you speak Alexander the Great would stab you and triumphantly declare the puzzle solved.

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Maj
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Post by Maj » Wed Jan 05, 2011 3:36 am

Specifically, this Old Spice commercial {OK, youtube, awesome}.
My son makes me laugh. Maybe he'll make you laugh, too.
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Maj
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Post by Maj » Fri Jan 21, 2011 5:50 pm

I'm currently getting into Steve Ettlinger's Twinkie, Deconstructed: My Journey to Discover How the Ingredients Found in Processed Foods Are Grown, Mined (Yes, Mined), and Manipulated into What America Eats {OK, Amazon, Snack Cake}.
A couple chapters in, I am both impressed and thoroughly disgusted by what gets into our food supply. I am also more convinced now than ever (and I was pretty convinced before) that without petroleum, the modern world is completely screwed. Not only do petroleum derivatives end up in the most unlikely-seeming places, but petroleum allows us to make certain messy processes (like mining sulfur) a lot less messy.
This from a book on Twinkies.
My son makes me laugh. Maybe he'll make you laugh, too.
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Cynic
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Post by Cynic » Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:28 pm

> Blicero wrote:
> Perdido is a quite excellent novel. The Scar has a much better overall plot, but its writing isn't as unique, and its characters aren't as likable. The City and the City is a surprisingly tense thriller.
> If you haven't read City of Saints and Madmen, you really should. VanderMeer really outdid himself for that one.

Blicero: you and I, seem to have very similar reading tastes.
But, I just read "The scar" and "Iron council" is going to be started sometime today. I have both "City of Saints and Madmen" and "Shriek: an afterword" checked out of the library.
Have you read the "New weird" anthology? It's a fun read as well.

> Ancient History wrote:We were working on Street Magic, and Frank asked me if a houngan had run over my dog.

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Blicero
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Post by Blicero » Sat Jan 22, 2011 6:27 am

> Cynic wrote:

> > Blicero wrote:
> > Blicero: you and I, seem to have very similar reading tastes.
> > But, I just read "The scar" and "Iron council" is going to be started sometime today. I have both "City of Saints and Madmen" and "Shriek: an afterword" checked out of the library.
> > Have you read the "New weird" anthology? It's a fun read as well.

I haven't checked out that trilogy. If I can find it, I might give it a look.
And, considering VanderMeer, Veniss Underground is a really neat retelling of the Orpheus story that involves organs.
Last edited by Blicero on Sun Jan 23, 2011 7:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Out beyond the hull, mucoid strings of non-baryonic matter streamed past like Christ's blood in the firmament.
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Cynic
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Post by Cynic » Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:17 am

Veniss was the first Vandermeer book I read.
I guess I can list the books on my list to be read at least to add some relevancy to this post.
"Iron council" by China Mieville - continues in New crobuzon decades after "Perdido street station." As usual it's a different book than the two prior books in the Bas-lag world.
I wanted to read some old-school Weird fiction. I've decided to do a reread of Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast books - "titus groan", "Gormenghast", and "titus alone." These were the books that led me to Lovecraft.
edit: Blicero, you are missing a closing

Code: Select all

     &#91;/quote

in your post. I tried to use the old fix of just putting it down in the next post. but that seemed to screw it up even more. so editted that out.
Last edited by Cynic on Sat Jan 22, 2011 7:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

> Ancient History wrote:We were working on Street Magic, and Frank asked me if a houngan had run over my dog.

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Datawolf
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Post by Datawolf » Sat Jan 22, 2011 4:34 pm

About to start American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis (again, for book club). Currently reading The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon by Stephen King.
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Cynic
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Post by Cynic » Fri Jan 28, 2011 1:25 am

Almost done with Mieville's "Iron council." I love the man because he took a thing such as Transvestite rebel fighting group and made them something to be admired and cheered on rather than a laughing point.

> Ancient History wrote:We were working on Street Magic, and Frank asked me if a houngan had run over my dog.

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PoliteNewb
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Post by PoliteNewb » Fri Jan 28, 2011 4:15 am

After seeing the new "True Grit" and re-reading the novel by Portis, I've decided to read some classic westerns...I'm starting "The Virginian".
I am judging the philosophies and decisions you have presented in this thread. The ones I have seen look bad, and also appear to be the fruit of a poisonous tree that has produced only madness and will continue to produce only madness.
--AngelFromAnotherPin
believe in one hand and shit in the other and see which ones fills up quicker. it will be the one you are full of, shit.
--Shadzar
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