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Sunday Morning Book Thread - 01-08-2023 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]
(ht - Sharon (willow's apprentice) -- click for larger image)
Welcome to the prestigious, internationally acclaimed, stately, and illustrious Sunday Morning Book Thread! The place where all readers are welcome, regardless of whatever guilty pleasure we feel like reading. Here is where we can discuss, argue, bicker, quibble, consider, debate, confabulate, converse, and jaw about our latest fancy in reading material, even if it's nothing more than your revised New Year's Resolutions. As always, pants are required, especially if you are wearing these pants...(now with extra corn squeezins!)
So relax, find yourself a warm kitty (or warm puppy--I won't judge) to curl up in your lap, enjoy a cup of cocoa, and crack open a new book. What are YOU reading this fine morning?PIC NOTE
Today's pic is of the Royal Portuguese Cabinet of Reading, located in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. According to Wikipedia, Time magazine says its the fourth most beautiful library in the world. Hard to argue with that. I'd recommend looking at the pics on the Wikipedia website. There are some great images of both the inside and outside of the library. It is just spectacular. Whenever I see these library pics, I do wonder who is responsible for maintaining the order of the books. How are they arranged? How were they arranged originally? ORGANIZING BOOKS... I am not the tidiest person in the world, though my house doesn't *quite* look like a disaster area. However, I can be quite obsessive-compulsive when it comes to organizing my books and keeping them in order. I feel like every book has its proper place on the shelf. This past New Year's Eve my cat Penny decided to take it upon herself to remove a fair portion of books from the shelves in my library. I suppose she was upset about me locking her in the library so I could get some sleep. (She had food, water, and a litter box so it's not like she was suffering in there.) This prompted me to take a look at how my books were currently organized and I decided that New Year's Day would be a perfect time to reshelve books. By the end of 2022, I had obtained a number of books, so many that some of my shelves were overflowing. Therefore, I decided to see if I could rearrange the shelves a bit to squeeze in all of those extra books. Fortunately, I was able to migrate some of my DVDs into a different organized storage location (plastic drawers), thus freeing up enough bookshelves to allow me to properly shelve my books with room left over for 2023 acquisitions. My rules for shelving books are pretty straightforward:- For fantasy and science fiction, I shelve by last name of first author or editor. For instance, Nightfall by Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg is under "A" for "Asimov."
- If the book is part of a series, then the series is sorted by the author's last name and the order of the books in publication order. For example, The Founders Trilogy by Robert Jackson Bennett has three books (duh) and is thus sorted from the first book in the series(Foundrycide) to the last book (Locklands).
- For authors who have multiple series that are NOT part of a continuous chronology, I sort them according to the first name of the series and then sort them in publication order. For instance, Tanith Lee's Tales of the Flat Earth comes before The Wars of Vis.
- Franchises are arranged on the shelf according to the name of the franchise, so Star Wars is arranged under "S" instead of by author's name.
- For books that are part of a franchise (e.g., Star Wars), the books are arranged in chronological order of the events in that franchise, as best as I am able to determine. For some series, like Star Wars, this is pretty easy because the publishers have helpfully provided a chart that shows the internal chronology of events. For some franchises, like the Forgotten Realms, this can be a bit more challenging as there are sometimes incongruities in chronology.
- Nonfiction books are arranged by the last name of the first author or editor.
- General fiction are also arranged by the last name of the author or editor.
(ht: CBD)
I'm a longtime lurker. Been around since 2008. Love reading the Sunday morning post. I'm not much of a writer, but have recently started putting some ideas down. I love science fiction, so I have put some thoughts down into a series on Kindle Vella. New chapter will be dropping weekly. I would love to get some feedback from you and the horde, especially the sharper ones (they know who they are) Thanks for all you do. Blessings...A. N. Dimitrios https://tinyurl.com/y94eznx5
Comment: I wouldn't normally consider a book about business and financial shenanigans to be all that interesting. However, as we've seen in the real world (e.g., Hunter Biden, Enron, SBF, etc.,) there's often a very sordid tale underneath the surface--or in Hunter Biden's case, right in your face. A compelling story that waits until the end to reveal a surprising twist is always a treat.
Good morning and Happy New Year! This week I read the 600 pages of 'Stone's Fall'. Very intriguing book about, of all things, business and finance couched in a mystery of sorts. A little hard to follow as it skips around in different time periods and changes protagonists along the way. I nearly gave up half way through but the storyline was too compelling. I re-opened my paperwhite and I'm glad I did. All three storylines converged and the ending was one that I did not see coming. Overall I give it 4 stars out of 5. Posted by: grammie winger at January 01, 2023 09:07 AM (45fpk)
Comment: Someday I'll do a post on audio books, as I know they've been pretty popular for a lot of folks for the past several years. Horatio Hornblower has been a huge influence on the adventure genre for a long, long time. It's a natural fit for the space opera explorer genre, as you can take the elements of Horatio Hornblower and tranfer them to a space setting fairly easily.
I've been working my way through The Lost Fleet series by Jack Campbell. Billed as a Hornblower type space series, it's keeping my interest. I've actually been reading the text on all these. Most of my reading volume has been listening to audio books for the past decade, but I'm trying to shift it back more towards 'reading'. Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at January 01, 2023 09:09 AM (2j1hH)
Comment: Looks like this could be a very fun read. One man stumbles into a conspiracy and then has to unravel a mystery that threatens to transform our understanding of how the world works, all while dodging assassins...Has an F. Paul Wilson vibe to it...
Below is a more recent read I recommend - The author Jack duBrul has bene around for decades - he co-wrote with Clive Cussler for many years and returned as a visible ghost since CCs passing. Reading that entry lead me back to JdBs own works which I tore through back in the late 90's mostly.
I don't know if he's always been a moron or was a secret one till now, but The Lightning Stones - in addition to being a fine adventure tale - drops in some fine anti-woke, anti-climate change bullshit speeches that would be right at home on the AOS. https://tinyurl.com/2p9x4j48 bensdad00
Comment: I know we have a lot of supporters of Friedman's economic theories among the Horde (myself included). Sadly, we live in an era of American history where our "freedom to choose" has deteriorated to the point where we have very few choices left to us and most of them lead to dire consequences.
One of the best books out there for the general public regarding economics and basic freedom, and governance is: Free to Choose by Milton Friedman. I would say that was the single book that was most influential in my political awakening. Long ago and far away, I had been seeing and hearing a lot of things which made no sense and didn't correspond logically to reality. Both Free to Choose the book and the series on PBS(!!!) convinced me and suddenly so much made sense. By the way, the series is excellent. If it's still on youtube or elsewhere, check it out. Friedman's calm, cool reasoning is entirely persuasive and nearly unassailable. The book is still available on Amazon, etc. Posted by: naturalfake at January 03, 2023 08:26 AM (KLPy
More Moron-recommended reading material can be found HERE! (571 Moron-recommended books so far!)
"Economic freedom is an essential requisite for poltical freedom. By enabling people to cooperate with one another without coercion or central direction, it reduces the area over which political power is exercised. In addition, by dispersing power, the free market provides an offest to whatever concentration of political power may arise. The combination of economic and political power in the same hands is a sure recipe for tyranny." --Milton Friedman
- Star Wars: Legacy of the Force 2 - Bloodlines by Karen "I ♥ Boba Fett" Traviss -- Continuing the saga of Jacen Solo's turn to the Dark Side...Luke's son Ben is also sliding down that hill...
- Star Wars: Legacy of the Force 3 - Tempest by Troy Denning
Comments
(Jump to bottom of comments)1
Tolle Lege
Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2023 09:00 AM (AqHD6)
2
no reading this week
Posted by: Real Scentismist at January 08, 2023 09:00 AM (BRHaw)
3
Back to a weekly thread. It was fun while it lasted.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:00 AM (Om/di)
4
Nice library. I wonder how many of those books actually get read?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023 09:01 AM (Angsy)
5
Dutifully called even standing in deli line
Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2023 09:03 AM (AqHD6)
6
"Poker & Pop Culture" chapter 13, "Poker in Folklore." Now I'm getting to the fun stuff, such as an anecdote in which Henry Clay, with only ace high, calls Daniel Webster, who wins with two deuces. (Clay's stupid play calls the story into question.) Then an account of two Texas (of course) tycoons who have great hands and raise each other for years until they die, at which point their heirs take up the hands. Supposedly this game is in the third generation. There's even a story of how a game of high card led to the slaying of Arnold Rothstein of Black Sox notoriety. He lost big and refused to pay. Somebody shot him in the guts. He never said who.
I also dipped into a comic from Marvel before the wokeness became blatant. Dr. Stephen Strange is my favorite Marvel character, so I thought "Doctor Strange and the Secret Defenders" might offer entertainment. Nope! Utter crap. Midway through the second story in the trade collection, I decided not to waste more of my time. Back to the library it went.
I'm also plowing through a reread of the New Teen Titans from the '80s, when I got into comic books. I've run into a five-issue gap, so I hope the library can help me.
I also dipped into a comic from Marvel before the wokeness became blatant. Dr. Stephen Strange is my favorite Marvel character, so I thought "Doctor Strange and the Secret Defenders" might offer entertainment. Nope! Utter crap. Midway through the second story in the trade collection, I decided not to waste more of my time. Back to the library it went.
I'm also plowing through a reread of the New Teen Titans from the '80s, when I got into comic books. I've run into a five-issue gap, so I hope the library can help me.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:05 AM (Om/di)
7
This comment is about books, but not the reading of books. Morelike the sharing and preservation of books.
I have a large number of military and maritime books that go beyond my ability to either store, nor ever read in my lifetime.
What are the overall thoughts concerning our developing a system where we who wish to, could list the books we wish to re-home to other Morons, and a secure way to exchange shipping information?
In my case, I am perfectly fine with dropping the coin to ship to anyone using the USPS pre-paid shipping boxes, unless it would be cheaper to mail using the 'bound material' rate.
Either way....any thoughts?
I have a large number of military and maritime books that go beyond my ability to either store, nor ever read in my lifetime.
What are the overall thoughts concerning our developing a system where we who wish to, could list the books we wish to re-home to other Morons, and a secure way to exchange shipping information?
In my case, I am perfectly fine with dropping the coin to ship to anyone using the USPS pre-paid shipping boxes, unless it would be cheaper to mail using the 'bound material' rate.
Either way....any thoughts?
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 08, 2023 09:06 AM (uLr+K)
8
The combination of economic and political power in the same hands is a sure recipe for tyranny."
--Milton Friedman
Burning corn in leased SUVs is only slightly as stupid as paying rich people to buy coal powered cars.
--Milton Friedman
Burning corn in leased SUVs is only slightly as stupid as paying rich people to buy coal powered cars.
Posted by: Real Scentismist at January 08, 2023 09:08 AM (BRHaw)
9
A.N. Demetrios, do you mind if some of us duller ones check it out? I ask others to read mine, so it's only fair I read others.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023 09:08 AM (Angsy)
10
Most of my books deal with history, so they are arranged by the country or region, and those dealing with various wars are grouped by war. The novels are arranged by author in book order. That being said, with well over a dozen bookshelves, there is no overall arrangement; I put books where they will fit.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 09:08 AM (HO8UZ)
11
Either way....any thoughts?
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 08, 2023 09:06 AM (uLr+K)
---
What we need is a secret wealthy Moron to commission an official AoSHQ library...
Something to consider if any of us win the lottery!
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 08, 2023 09:06 AM (uLr+K)
---
What we need is a secret wealthy Moron to commission an official AoSHQ library...
Something to consider if any of us win the lottery!
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2023 09:09 AM (BpYfr)
12
Well. The library has the NTT issues that I am missing, but only in ebook. Looks as if I'm going to have to learn how to get ebooks if I'm going to continue this run.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:09 AM (Om/di)
13
Usually, I separate my books by the subject matter. Also, I tend to organize paperbacks together as well as the hardcovers.
Posted by: dantesed at January 08, 2023 09:09 AM (88xKn)
14
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 08, 2023 09:06 AM (uLr+K)
VIA, I like your idea. I have a number of books I'd like to get rid of, but would rather see them have a happy Moron home.
Perhaps those of us who want to participate could each make up a list of the books we have with a short precis of what their subjects are and the Perfesser could embed the list in a link for anyone interested?
VIA, I like your idea. I have a number of books I'd like to get rid of, but would rather see them have a happy Moron home.
Perhaps those of us who want to participate could each make up a list of the books we have with a short precis of what their subjects are and the Perfesser could embed the list in a link for anyone interested?
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 08, 2023 09:09 AM (AW0uW)
15
13 Usually, I separate my books by the subject matter. Also, I tend to organize paperbacks together as well as the hardcovers.
Posted by: dantesed at January 08, 2023 09:09 AM (88xKn)
I also group mass-market paperbacks together, which unfortunately means the collected works of some authors in in two places....
Posted by: dantesed at January 08, 2023 09:09 AM (88xKn)
I also group mass-market paperbacks together, which unfortunately means the collected works of some authors in in two places....
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2023 09:11 AM (PiwSw)
16
I usually arrange by the look of the books and by subject. I like to keep hardbounds with hardbounds and paper with paper. Anything in a series of any type stays together. It's more of an idea to keep a nice looking shelf than worry about the order. I do keep the bibles and other books about biblical times on one shelf if they fit, but I don't organize the whole shelf by subject unless I have enough to fill one.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023 09:11 AM (Angsy)
17
Good morning morons and thanks perfesser
Friedman's real genius was putting economic ideas into simple, practical language that average people could understand.
Why childish ideas like minimum wage laws are actually harmful and not a net benefit.
Friedman's real genius was putting economic ideas into simple, practical language that average people could understand.
Why childish ideas like minimum wage laws are actually harmful and not a net benefit.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at January 08, 2023 09:12 AM (EZebt)
18
The Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian is a terrific book. And the audio version with the voice actor woman playing all the parts, men and women and the Russian sex slave girl with her accent ("police guys") is the best way to enjoy it.
Posted by: Mr Gaga at January 08, 2023 09:12 AM (KiBMU)
19
BOOKEN MORGEN HORDEN!
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 09:12 AM (+B8yt)
20
Good Sunday morning, horde!
My books are shelved haphazardly. There are some general themes whereby most are grouped, but really, they just get squeezed in wherever there is a space. And this past year, I've reached the point where some most be stacked lying flat, in front of those shelved upright.
I need more shelves.
My books are shelved haphazardly. There are some general themes whereby most are grouped, but really, they just get squeezed in wherever there is a space. And this past year, I've reached the point where some most be stacked lying flat, in front of those shelved upright.
I need more shelves.
Posted by: April--dash my lace wigs! at January 08, 2023 09:13 AM (OX9vb)
21
And, Perfesser, you organize your books a lot more conscientiously than I do. I used to work in a bookstore, so mine are shelved by subject - comics, American Revolution, Victorian history, cooking, &c. I've never yet tried shelving them by author.
I went to the Avenue Victor Huge bookshop yesterday. Bought Ann Wroe's Pontius Pilate, a novel / bio of the man which I have wanted to read for years. Also a book about life on the mediaeval English manor, a cookbook / essay called American Food and a trade paperback from the late '60s about 'the world's strangest crimes.'
The shop also had something new - a framed poem about the wonders of books. I took a picture and will be sending it in so you can share with the Horde on a future book thread.
I went to the Avenue Victor Huge bookshop yesterday. Bought Ann Wroe's Pontius Pilate, a novel / bio of the man which I have wanted to read for years. Also a book about life on the mediaeval English manor, a cookbook / essay called American Food and a trade paperback from the late '60s about 'the world's strangest crimes.'
The shop also had something new - a framed poem about the wonders of books. I took a picture and will be sending it in so you can share with the Horde on a future book thread.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 08, 2023 09:13 AM (AW0uW)
22
I read In The Blood by Jack Carr. This is the fifth and latest in the James Reece series. I thought that this was the best of the series so far; and the ending leaves the reader hanging and wishing for the next in the series to be published soon.
Posted by: Zoltan at January 08, 2023 09:14 AM (tTH8i)
23
#4 - Orange Ent, I'm an ex-librarian/computer geek/bookstore clerk -- can't remember where I ran across this, but from looking at circulation stats, I think it's probably true: it's said that in any library only 10 or 15 percent of the books will be used, but unfortunately there's no way to know before acquiring the books which 10 or 15 percent.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at January 08, 2023 09:15 AM (a/4+U)
24
I have a shelf devoted to biography and autobiography. I amuse myself imagining that the authors and subjects find themselves together at a dinner. My favorite side-by-side is the Eric Metaxas biography of Martin Luther beside Hitch-22, the Christopher Hitchens memoir. 
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2023 09:15 AM (PiwSw)
25
My collection is organized ... sort of. The paperback books are in the hallway shelves, alphabetically. The Folio editions are in the bookcase to the right of the fireplace, no particular order. The bookcase to the left of the fireplace is history, roughly by author. The cookbooks are in the dining room bookcase.
To the left of the den door - more history, the Twain and Kipling books on the eye-level shelves. To the right of the den door, hardback novels and more history. In the den itself - all the outsize books, mostly art. The Texiana is in the office corner, in the shelves above my computer. Yes, I have a lot of books - is that a problem?
To the left of the den door - more history, the Twain and Kipling books on the eye-level shelves. To the right of the den door, hardback novels and more history. In the den itself - all the outsize books, mostly art. The Texiana is in the office corner, in the shelves above my computer. Yes, I have a lot of books - is that a problem?
Posted by: Sgt. Mom at January 08, 2023 09:15 AM (xnmPy)
26
"Perhaps those of us who want to participate could each make up a list of the books we have with a short precis of what their subjects are and the Perfesser could embed the list in a link for anyone interested?"
This might be one possibility.
That is basically why I am trolling for level of interest, and ideas on how to do so.
When the original Village Idiot died, he held literally thousands of volumes. And many of them went homeless, despite my shipping so many of them to Salty that he had to build more book shelves.
I still have some of them, including for example, the entire Horatio Hornblower series in paperback just looking for a new owner.
We all love books, or we wouldn't be on this thread.
So I'm looking for ideas.
On the downside, I need to head out soon, but will return later to reach any suggestions.
Also, bluebell holds my e-mail address. If you wish, contact her to ask privately for my contact info.
This might be one possibility.
That is basically why I am trolling for level of interest, and ideas on how to do so.
When the original Village Idiot died, he held literally thousands of volumes. And many of them went homeless, despite my shipping so many of them to Salty that he had to build more book shelves.
I still have some of them, including for example, the entire Horatio Hornblower series in paperback just looking for a new owner.
We all love books, or we wouldn't be on this thread.
So I'm looking for ideas.
On the downside, I need to head out soon, but will return later to reach any suggestions.
Also, bluebell holds my e-mail address. If you wish, contact her to ask privately for my contact info.
Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at January 08, 2023 09:15 AM (uLr+K)
27
The shop also had something new - a framed poem about the wonders of books. I took a picture and will be sending it in so you can share with the Horde on a future book thread.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 08, 2023 09:13 AM (AW0uW)
---
Excellent! I look forward to seeing it!
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 08, 2023 09:13 AM (AW0uW)
---
Excellent! I look forward to seeing it!
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2023 09:15 AM (BpYfr)
28
MP4, that sounds awesome.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2023 09:15 AM (PiwSw)
29
I read an essay a couple of weeks ago, can't remember the author's name. His premise was that much of Tolkien's LOTR was framed in concepts that emerged from the 1918 influenza pandemic. Thus the Orcs were symbolic of those who ignored official pronouncements, while the Hobbits were fully compliant, regardless of lack of efficacy. The Elves were purebloods, who refused early primitive attempts at inoculation. I found it quite fascinating.And its resemblance to current times is uncanny.
Posted by: First time lurker at January 08, 2023 09:15 AM (ykeLU)
30
Because I read mostly series, I keep each one together in chronological order. Standalones are collected by author and genre, and in those instances, available space comes into play.
When we had our den addition built, we included custom bookshelves. For "my" section, I made sure to have two shelves put far enough apart to allow comics trade paperbacks to fit. Other shelves will allow only standard paperbacks.
Crime books sit higher than SF; I started this when the kids were small. Many books are shelved two-deep, and others lie sideways atop them.
And that's just "my" section. To my wife's annoyance, I have more books on other shelves in the den, also arranged by genre, author and space availability.
Then there are the Executioner and Destroyer series kept in boxes in the garage ...
And the individual comics, kept in longboxes in the garage and on one shelf in a hall closet.
My heirs are going to have such fun disposing of these -- unless they DO actually dispose of them by throwing them out. I'm glad I won't be around to see that.
When we had our den addition built, we included custom bookshelves. For "my" section, I made sure to have two shelves put far enough apart to allow comics trade paperbacks to fit. Other shelves will allow only standard paperbacks.
Crime books sit higher than SF; I started this when the kids were small. Many books are shelved two-deep, and others lie sideways atop them.
And that's just "my" section. To my wife's annoyance, I have more books on other shelves in the den, also arranged by genre, author and space availability.
Then there are the Executioner and Destroyer series kept in boxes in the garage ...
And the individual comics, kept in longboxes in the garage and on one shelf in a hall closet.
My heirs are going to have such fun disposing of these -- unless they DO actually dispose of them by throwing them out. I'm glad I won't be around to see that.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:16 AM (Om/di)
31
Burning corn in leased SUVs is only slightly as stupid as paying rich people to buy coal powered cars.
Posted by: Real Scentismist at January 08, 2023 09:08 AM (BRHaw)
At least my wood burning propelled truck uses a renewable resource.
Posted by: Real Scentismist at January 08, 2023 09:08 AM (BRHaw)
At least my wood burning propelled truck uses a renewable resource.
Posted by: Eustace Conway at January 08, 2023 09:17 AM (Angsy)
32
Perfessor/VIA Idea: MoMe Book Swap?
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2023 09:17 AM (PiwSw)
33
Hot Coffee!!!...finished Part 1 Stones Fall...will miss Elizabeth...
Posted by: Qmark at January 08, 2023 09:18 AM (ttO/Q)
34
I organize my books by throwing them into a big pile.
Those not eaten by the beavers or stolen by elves, I read.
I organize my books by throwing them into a big pile.
Those not eaten by the beavers or stolen by elves, I read.
Posted by: naturalfake at January 08, 2023 09:18 AM (KLPy8)
35
My organization is also guided by this quote:
"Disorder is the condition of the mind's fertility."
Paul Valéry
"Disorder is the condition of the mind's fertility."
Paul Valéry
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2023 09:20 AM (PiwSw)
36
I also read A Christmas Memory by Richard Paul Evans. Evans is the author of the excellent YA Michael Vey series, and has written several Christmas themed books.
This work is based on real incidents in Evans's life. The year 1967, when he was 8 years old, was a bad year for Evans. His brother was killed in Vietnam, his father lost his job and the family was forced to move from Pasadena to Utah, and his parents filed for divorce. This is a very meaningful and touching story. The room got a little dusty at times while reading this.
This work is based on real incidents in Evans's life. The year 1967, when he was 8 years old, was a bad year for Evans. His brother was killed in Vietnam, his father lost his job and the family was forced to move from Pasadena to Utah, and his parents filed for divorce. This is a very meaningful and touching story. The room got a little dusty at times while reading this.
Posted by: Zoltan at January 08, 2023 09:21 AM (tTH8i)
37
I really have a library thats solely 1. National socialism 2. Not national socialism and Star Trek
Posted by: San Franpsycho at January 08, 2023 09:22 AM (EZebt)
38
The midweek book posts reminded me to go back and reread The Man Eaters of Tsavo. This is the true story of Col John Patterson, hired to build a bridge over the Tsavo river in Kenya. His team of natives and Indians were beset by a pair of lions, who killed between 40 and 100 workers (the authorities didn't keep good records of non white workers in those days). The book details his ultimately successful killing of the beasts. Although written by an engineer over a century ago, the story is fascinating. Hollywood made a film about it with Val Kilmer, The Ghost and the Darkness, though they added a part for Michael Douglas that is completely fabricated. Ignoring all of Douglas' scenes, one can see the true story, which is amazing enough.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 09:22 AM (A8t5V)
39
I didn't get a lot of reading done this past week -- work, dealing with the aftermath of a totaled car, etc.
A friend gave me some Army manuals and I've been looking through them. They're quite interesting, even for a layman like myself.
People make fun of the armed forces' addiction to the Powerpoint style of writing, but it really is a good way to present information. The key "takeaways" about what to look for and what to do aren't buried in lovely prose.
A friend gave me some Army manuals and I've been looking through them. They're quite interesting, even for a layman like myself.
People make fun of the armed forces' addiction to the Powerpoint style of writing, but it really is a good way to present information. The key "takeaways" about what to look for and what to do aren't buried in lovely prose.
Posted by: Trimegistus at January 08, 2023 09:23 AM (QZxDR)
40
@21 --
Would that crime TPB be a Rick Geary work? He's done comics like that. His page on Chicago's "murder house" still gives me the quivers.
Would that crime TPB be a Rick Geary work? He's done comics like that. His page on Chicago's "murder house" still gives me the quivers.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:24 AM (Om/di)
41
My heirs are going to have such fun disposing of these -- unless they DO actually dispose of them by throwing them out. I'm glad I won't be around to see that.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:16 AM (Om/di)
I have no heirs, so all of my stuff will be thrown out. However, I have a large collection of books on Jack the Ripper, many first editions and many signed by the author, so one of these days I need to go through them and leave behind a pricing list so anyone who gets the books can sell them and make a profit.
I have a renovated attic at Stately Poppins Manor which is where I work and write. All of my Hollywood books, pictures and ephemera are up here and not downstairs with everything else.
I also have a separate true crime section, which is in the bedroom for a little light reading before bedtime.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:16 AM (Om/di)
I have no heirs, so all of my stuff will be thrown out. However, I have a large collection of books on Jack the Ripper, many first editions and many signed by the author, so one of these days I need to go through them and leave behind a pricing list so anyone who gets the books can sell them and make a profit.
I have a renovated attic at Stately Poppins Manor which is where I work and write. All of my Hollywood books, pictures and ephemera are up here and not downstairs with everything else.
I also have a separate true crime section, which is in the bedroom for a little light reading before bedtime.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 08, 2023 09:25 AM (AW0uW)
42
I am finally consuming Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl via audio book.
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at January 08, 2023 09:25 AM (DhOHl)
43
38 - the bit in Ghost in the Darkness at the end, noting that the lions are displayed in Chicago's Field Museum, is also true. They are -- and even before I knew any of the story behind them those suckers were scary to look at. After the movie came out, the display was updated to include more of the background story.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at January 08, 2023 09:26 AM (a/4+U)
44
Insider Paper @TheInsiderPaper · 1h
BREAKING: 7.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Pacific nation of #Vanuatu: USGS
Insider Paper @TheInsiderPaper · 55m
UPDATE: Tsunami warning has been issued for possible hazardous waves in nearby waters, after massive Vanuatu earthquake
BREAKING: 7.0-magnitude earthquake strikes Pacific nation of #Vanuatu: USGS
Insider Paper @TheInsiderPaper · 55m
UPDATE: Tsunami warning has been issued for possible hazardous waves in nearby waters, after massive Vanuatu earthquake
Posted by: andycanuck (Vwz3I) at January 08, 2023 09:26 AM (Vwz3I)
45
Orange Ent, I'm an ex-librarian/computer geek/bookstore clerk -- can't remember where I ran across this, but from looking at circulation stats, I think it's probably true: it's said that in any library only 10 or 15 percent of the books will be used, but unfortunately there's no way to know before acquiring the books which 10 or 15 percent.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at January 08, 2023 09:15 AM (a/4+U)
And it's the purple hair, gay, trans books that get taken the most! Right?
Posted by: Just Some Guy at January 08, 2023 09:15 AM (a/4+U)
And it's the purple hair, gay, trans books that get taken the most! Right?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023 09:26 AM (Angsy)
46
VIA, count me among those interested.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:27 AM (Om/di)
47
Would that crime TPB be a Rick Geary work? He's done comics like that. His page on Chicago's "murder house" still gives me the quivers.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:24 AM (Om/di)
No, this is a 196s mass market paperback. I do have a number of Geary's books, though - his ones on the Bloody Benders, the murder of Mary Rogers, the killing of Joe Elwell, the William Desmond Taylor murder, his looks at the Borden and Ripper cases, and so on.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:24 AM (Om/di)
No, this is a 196s mass market paperback. I do have a number of Geary's books, though - his ones on the Bloody Benders, the murder of Mary Rogers, the killing of Joe Elwell, the William Desmond Taylor murder, his looks at the Borden and Ripper cases, and so on.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 08, 2023 09:27 AM (AW0uW)
48
And it's the purple hair, gay, trans books that get taken the most! Right?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023 09:26 AM (Angsy)
---
Those DO seem to be the ones they shove up front at the library in which I work (but do not work for)...However, I don't see students perusing those books...
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023 09:26 AM (Angsy)
---
Those DO seem to be the ones they shove up front at the library in which I work (but do not work for)...However, I don't see students perusing those books...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2023 09:29 AM (BpYfr)
49
"Disorder is the condition of the mind's fertility."
Paul Valéry
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2023 09:20 AM (PiwSw)
===
Must be a Cancer.
Paul Valéry
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2023 09:20 AM (PiwSw)
===
Must be a Cancer.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at January 08, 2023 09:29 AM (EZebt)
50
* wanders into Thread *
* notes lack of pants on several readers *
* reflects on the observation that the relaxed standards allowed during the past week have led to an unintended, unfortunate, and general increase in moral turpitude. *
* concludes this is why we can't have nice things upon Ace's return *
* notes lack of pants on several readers *
* reflects on the observation that the relaxed standards allowed during the past week have led to an unintended, unfortunate, and general increase in moral turpitude. *
* concludes this is why we can't have nice things upon Ace's return *
Posted by: Duncanthrax at January 08, 2023 09:29 AM (a3Q+t)
51
My books are well organized in our home library--but I'll be damned if I can find my copy of Robert Conquest's The Harvest of Sorrow.
That just adds to the sorrow. . . .
That just adds to the sorrow. . . .
Posted by: FIIGMO at January 08, 2023 09:30 AM (5Xtai)
52
I am a serious Moron and I recommend the Bible and Mitch Rapp series starting with "Term Limits".
Posted by: Danimal28 at January 08, 2023 09:31 AM (ryUqI)
53
As to organizing . . . whew! That's a perennial problem in the Trimegistus Compound.
When I was young I just shelved all my books on one bookcase, alpha by author. Fiction, nonfiction, all together.
Dr. Mrs. T. found that confusing when she moved in, so we separated fiction from nonfiction.
When we got a house with space for several bookcases, we began to separate things. Science fiction lived upstairs while general fiction was downstairs (and yes, to my dying day I will suspect that Dr. Mrs. T. was a little ashamed of having lots of trashy paperbacks where company can see them). Nonfiction got separated into science stuff and history stuff.
Our current house has: three bookcases for general fiction downstairs, with a separate section for humor. In another room there's a bookcase for history and reference books, and in Dr. Mrs. T's office there's all the biological science books. Upstairs there's the bookcases for science fiction and biography (just because that's where it fit best) in our bedroom, and my office has history of science & technology, space science stuff, weirdness, How To Rite Gud books and criticism, and games.
When I was young I just shelved all my books on one bookcase, alpha by author. Fiction, nonfiction, all together.
Dr. Mrs. T. found that confusing when she moved in, so we separated fiction from nonfiction.
When we got a house with space for several bookcases, we began to separate things. Science fiction lived upstairs while general fiction was downstairs (and yes, to my dying day I will suspect that Dr. Mrs. T. was a little ashamed of having lots of trashy paperbacks where company can see them). Nonfiction got separated into science stuff and history stuff.
Our current house has: three bookcases for general fiction downstairs, with a separate section for humor. In another room there's a bookcase for history and reference books, and in Dr. Mrs. T's office there's all the biological science books. Upstairs there's the bookcases for science fiction and biography (just because that's where it fit best) in our bedroom, and my office has history of science & technology, space science stuff, weirdness, How To Rite Gud books and criticism, and games.
Posted by: Trimegistus at January 08, 2023 09:31 AM (QZxDR)
54
I finished the second of Jack Carr's "Terminal List" series. Sigh. It's a decent read, but, Gell-Mann Amnesia is strong in the book.
My wife is reading MPPP's "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" and enjoying the read. My wife mentioned she was able to eat at "The Brown Derby" in Hollywood before it closed for the last time.
Great job again, perfessor. Thank you.
My wife is reading MPPP's "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" and enjoying the read. My wife mentioned she was able to eat at "The Brown Derby" in Hollywood before it closed for the last time.
Great job again, perfessor. Thank you.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing(5pTK/) at January 08, 2023 09:32 AM (5pTK/)
55
Nonfiction books are arranged by the last name of the first author or editor.
What kind of monster are you? Nonfiction is arranged FIRST by subject matter and, if history books, then by chronological age within that subject area.
What kind of monster are you? Nonfiction is arranged FIRST by subject matter and, if history books, then by chronological age within that subject area.
Posted by: Archimedes at January 08, 2023 09:32 AM (eOEVl)
56
And it's the purple hair, gay, trans books that get taken the most! Right?
These days, it wouldn't surprise me. If I were looking for work now, I wouldn't be a public librarian for anything -- I have neither the interests or the temperament that seem to be necessary for the job. My left-leaning days are way too far behind me to make me a good fit for it now.
These days, it wouldn't surprise me. If I were looking for work now, I wouldn't be a public librarian for anything -- I have neither the interests or the temperament that seem to be necessary for the job. My left-leaning days are way too far behind me to make me a good fit for it now.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at January 08, 2023 09:33 AM (a/4+U)
57
Morning, all,
I don't really organize my shelves. Considering I have little space to start with, if I can organize by keeping all the works by the same author together, and keeping mystery in one section, SF/fantasy in another, and literary works on a separate shelf, I guess I'm doing great.
I don't really organize my shelves. Considering I have little space to start with, if I can organize by keeping all the works by the same author together, and keeping mystery in one section, SF/fantasy in another, and literary works on a separate shelf, I guess I'm doing great.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:33 AM (omVj0)
58
Chateau Lloyd uses the common method to organize books - subject matter for non-fiction, author for fiction.
There is also the "prestige" shelf in the Great Room where we have fancy books, like leather-bound LotR editions, Churchill's writings, and various books on art. That also houses the Greek/Roman translations.
Downstairs there are two built-in shelves, which have changed a bit over time as various needs arise. My non-fiction writing has created two huge blocks of books, one on Spain, the other on China. I've made room for these by finally buying a new (bedroom) bookshelf and regularly going through the stacks and seeing what's there that doesn't need to be.
Basically I get rid of two sorts of books. The first are the gifts that I've held onto but after a decade realize I'm just not that interested and need to find a new home. The other are books that I have since found to be deficient in some way. A few years back I purged a great many reference works on firearms and military equipment after I realized that they were simply wrong. A lot of these books came via the discount bin and had pretty pictures but were basically cribbed from someone else's flawed work.
There is also the "prestige" shelf in the Great Room where we have fancy books, like leather-bound LotR editions, Churchill's writings, and various books on art. That also houses the Greek/Roman translations.
Downstairs there are two built-in shelves, which have changed a bit over time as various needs arise. My non-fiction writing has created two huge blocks of books, one on Spain, the other on China. I've made room for these by finally buying a new (bedroom) bookshelf and regularly going through the stacks and seeing what's there that doesn't need to be.
Basically I get rid of two sorts of books. The first are the gifts that I've held onto but after a decade realize I'm just not that interested and need to find a new home. The other are books that I have since found to be deficient in some way. A few years back I purged a great many reference works on firearms and military equipment after I realized that they were simply wrong. A lot of these books came via the discount bin and had pretty pictures but were basically cribbed from someone else's flawed work.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 09:34 AM (llXky)
59
I pile my books in collums just shy of tall enough to kill anyone they might topple over onto.
Posted by: Reforger at January 08, 2023 09:35 AM (iuZqZ)
60
I'll be damned if I can find my copy of Robert Conquest's The Harvest of Sorrow.
That just adds to the sorrow. . . .
Posted by: FIIGMO
Mine is in the extensive Russia collection, but it is paperback- I will have to look for a hardback.
Russian history is fascinating. The Borgias had nothing on the Tsars and the Boyars.
That just adds to the sorrow. . . .
Posted by: FIIGMO
Mine is in the extensive Russia collection, but it is paperback- I will have to look for a hardback.
Russian history is fascinating. The Borgias had nothing on the Tsars and the Boyars.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 09:35 AM (1SMAv)
61
How to organize series is sometimes tricky. I shelve the Narnia books by C.S. Lewis in publication order, even though that's different from internal chronology. They just make more sense in publication order -- like watching the Star Wars movies in the order they were made rather than internal time. The big reveal in ESB isn't a big reveal at all if you've already watched the Prequel Trilogy.
Posted by: Trimegistus at January 08, 2023 09:35 AM (QZxDR)
62
On the Hobby Thread yesterday, I mentioned my current hobby of writing needs a jump start. I still attend the long-running writers' group meeting every 2 weeks, though it's down to 2 people including me. My colleague there is entertaining, but also exasperating. He has the principle of the point-of-view change down, but not the mechanics. I'm pretty I know how to work POV. Any of you have a basic rule-of-thumb?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (omVj0)
63
Library organization, Che Blake style: Is the space on the shelf the right size for the book which needs to be shelved?
Yes: Book goes into space.
No: Other shelves are rearranged until sufficient space is created for book which needs to be shelved.
Yes: Book goes into space.
No: Other shelves are rearranged until sufficient space is created for book which needs to be shelved.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing(5pTK/) at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (5pTK/)
64
My wife is reading MPPP's "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" and enjoying the read. My wife mentioned she was able to eat at "The Brown Derby" in Hollywood before it closed for the last time.
Blake, tell her 'thank you' from me. If she'd be kind enough to leave a review on Amazon, it would be appreciated.
I wish I'd been able to eat at the Derby.
Blake, tell her 'thank you' from me. If she'd be kind enough to leave a review on Amazon, it would be appreciated.
I wish I'd been able to eat at the Derby.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (AW0uW)
65
23 #4 - Orange Ent, I'm an ex-librarian/computer geek/bookstore clerk -- can't remember where I ran across this, but from looking at circulation stats, I think it's probably true: it's said that in any library only 10 or 15 percent of the books will be used, but unfortunately there's no way to know before acquiring the books which 10 or 15 percent.
Let's put this mathematically. The Chance a book will be purchased (P) is inversely proportional to the apparent woke quota (Q).
P = 1/Q
Let's put this mathematically. The Chance a book will be purchased (P) is inversely proportional to the apparent woke quota (Q).
P = 1/Q
Posted by: Archimedes at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (eOEVl)
66
The Borgias had nothing on the Tsars and the Boyars.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 09:35 AM (1SMAv)
Especially that bastard-
Chef Boyar D.
His malignant influence is still felt today.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 09:35 AM (1SMAv)
Especially that bastard-
Chef Boyar D.
His malignant influence is still felt today.
Posted by: naturalfake at January 08, 2023 09:37 AM (KLPy8)
67
I must correct my @65. I'm using P, when the correct unit must be the chance that it is actually read (R), as opposed to put on a coffee table to impress one's friends.
R = 1/Q
R = 1/Q
Posted by: Archimedes at January 08, 2023 09:38 AM (eOEVl)
68
Late to the thread but good morning fellow Book Threadists. I hope everyone had a great week of reading.
Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 09:38 AM (7EjX1)
69
NO MATH!
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2023 09:39 AM (PiwSw)
70
Chef Boyar D.
His malignant influence is still felt today.
Posted by: naturalfake at January 08, 2023 09:37 AM (KLPy
-------------
Yeah, I'm calling foul on this one. Chef Boyar D pizza was fun for our family when I was a young lurker.
His malignant influence is still felt today.
Posted by: naturalfake at January 08, 2023 09:37 AM (KLPy
-------------
Yeah, I'm calling foul on this one. Chef Boyar D pizza was fun for our family when I was a young lurker.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing(5pTK/) at January 08, 2023 09:39 AM (5pTK/)
71
It's been a while. I thought the first rule here was that we have to go to Ace himself for all bookshelf needs.
A quick recommendation. All One in Christ: A Catholic Critique of Racism and Critical Race Theory, by Edward Feser. Feser is a Thomist philosopher, and says he hated writing it, but he felt someone had to do it. It's an evisceration of CRT, on many grounds. Aside from its incompatibility with the Church's teaching, there is also the logical ineptitude and the social science case against.
A quick recommendation. All One in Christ: A Catholic Critique of Racism and Critical Race Theory, by Edward Feser. Feser is a Thomist philosopher, and says he hated writing it, but he felt someone had to do it. It's an evisceration of CRT, on many grounds. Aside from its incompatibility with the Church's teaching, there is also the logical ineptitude and the social science case against.
Posted by: Eeyore at January 08, 2023 09:39 AM (TgBWG)
72
I'd like to elaborate a bit on the second class, focusing on two topics in particular: firearms and tanks. There are tons of books on these topics and I used to collect them (and get them as gifts).
Age and experience have taught me that much these books are utterly worthless as references. They are merely compilations of older (flawed) works cranked out to make a quick buck for Barnes and Noble or whoever.
I retained a couple of them purely because they have nice photographs, but the supporting text is just wrong. I will note in passing that Ian V. Hogg seems to be a serial offender in this respect, and my assumption is that pre-internet (and Gunbroker), such myths and lies were hard to check. I have a couple of his books for sentimental reasons and the pretty pictures. The text is rubbish.
Age and experience have taught me that much these books are utterly worthless as references. They are merely compilations of older (flawed) works cranked out to make a quick buck for Barnes and Noble or whoever.
I retained a couple of them purely because they have nice photographs, but the supporting text is just wrong. I will note in passing that Ian V. Hogg seems to be a serial offender in this respect, and my assumption is that pre-internet (and Gunbroker), such myths and lies were hard to check. I have a couple of his books for sentimental reasons and the pretty pictures. The text is rubbish.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 09:40 AM (llXky)
73
I have one valuable book, a signed copy of A Wizard of Earthsea that I will sell before the burning times.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at January 08, 2023 09:41 AM (EZebt)
74
I wish I'd been able to eat at the Derby.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (AW0uW)
------------
I will do my best. I also extolled your virtues as an author in that you do your research.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (AW0uW)
------------
I will do my best. I also extolled your virtues as an author in that you do your research.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing(5pTK/) at January 08, 2023 09:41 AM (5pTK/)
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at January 08, 2023 09:41 AM (pi2uC)
76
Because of woke bookstores and publishers, almost all of my books come from used bookstores. They don't make them like they used to certainly applies to books.
One bright side: I have been able to buy many hardbacks in pristine condition for a fraction of the original price.
One bright side: I have been able to buy many hardbacks in pristine condition for a fraction of the original price.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 09:42 AM (0hS7w)
77
How to arrange varies from collection to collection. As a battleship buff, I have lots of outsize books, which need their own shelves. And a lot depends on what you have. Just to my right is a shelf of all Churchill, for instance.
Posted by: Eeyore at January 08, 2023 09:42 AM (TgBWG)
78
We've just got to get organized!
Posted by: Jonathan Winters, The Russians Are Coming! at January 08, 2023 09:43 AM (4I/2K)
79
I wandered into our local bookstore right before Christmas, but as I was entering, I noticed a hand-lettered sign taped to the front door that said the store was a 'safe space' and that there was no place inside for 'hate, bullying, racism, sexism,' and there might have been more, but I stopped reading at that point and went right to the military history section. Most of what they had on the shelves I have on my shelves at home, so I left without making a purchase and I probably will not return. Sad.
Posted by: FIIGMO at January 08, 2023 09:43 AM (5Xtai)
80
Separate the fiction from the non-fiction. Place fiction in order by author. Segregate non-fiction by topic, military history by date.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at January 08, 2023 09:44 AM (Er3sM)
81
It's an evisceration of CRT, on many grounds. Aside from its incompatibility with the Church's teaching, there is also the logical ineptitude and the social science case against.
Posted by: Eeyore at January 08, 2023 09:39 AM (TgBWG)
A similar book from the other side of the Tiber would be Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe, by Voddie T. Baucham, Jr.
Posted by: Eeyore at January 08, 2023 09:39 AM (TgBWG)
A similar book from the other side of the Tiber would be Fault Lines: The Social Justice Movement and Evangelicalism's Looming Catastrophe, by Voddie T. Baucham, Jr.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2023 09:44 AM (PiwSw)
82
I'm going to shuffle books soon -- I ordered "Mad for Decades," a hardback compilation of numerous Mad articles from the '50s through the '90s. More than 850 pages. My Thor hardback is more than 1,000 pages, so I know the approximate width. The other dimensions are not listed. I wish book sites would add that detail.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:44 AM (Om/di)
83
After the recent book thread on humor and last week's thread on comics (we always called them funnies) I was inspired to get out my Patrick McManus books. I forgot just how laugh out loud hilarious they are. And interspersed are a few that are poignant, almost heart breaking. McManus is a seriously underrated writer.
Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 09:45 AM (7EjX1)
84
On the Hobby Thread yesterday, I mentioned my current hobby of writing needs a jump start. I still attend the long-running writers' group meeting every 2 weeks, though it's down to 2 people including me. My colleague there is entertaining, but also exasperating. He has the principle of the point-of-view change down, but not the mechanics. I'm pretty I know how to work POV. Any of you have a basic rule-of-thumb?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (omVj0)
---
It all comes down to who is telling the story. You can have the third-person narrator do it, and then the question becomes how much the characters know and whether you want internal monologues and that kind of thing.
In my fiction, I've tried to emphasize "showing" rather than "telling," with the assumption being that the reader is actually watching what is going on. This keeps internal deliberations few and far between, though you can see when people are visibly perplexed or working through a problem. I let the dialog express thoughts, and the question of whether it is honest is up to the reader.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (omVj0)
---
It all comes down to who is telling the story. You can have the third-person narrator do it, and then the question becomes how much the characters know and whether you want internal monologues and that kind of thing.
In my fiction, I've tried to emphasize "showing" rather than "telling," with the assumption being that the reader is actually watching what is going on. This keeps internal deliberations few and far between, though you can see when people are visibly perplexed or working through a problem. I let the dialog express thoughts, and the question of whether it is honest is up to the reader.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 09:46 AM (llXky)
85
He has the principle of the point-of-view change down, but not the mechanics. I'm pretty I know how to work POV. Any of you have a basic rule-of-thumb?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (omVj0)
Wolfus, are you talking about a different character taking over narration, or getting into the thoughts of different characters as they interact with each other?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (omVj0)
Wolfus, are you talking about a different character taking over narration, or getting into the thoughts of different characters as they interact with each other?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023 09:46 AM (Angsy)
86
Because of woke bookstores and publishers, almost all of my books come from used bookstores. They don't make them like they used to certainly applies to books.
One bright side: I have been able to buy many hardbacks in pristine condition for a fraction of the original price.
I've said it here before, but it's worth repeating; we are in a golden age if you like books, and are willing to buy them used. There are so many on virtually any topic, or by any author, and you can have them mailed to you for a reasonable fee. Kids don't seem to want them, so I expect the glut to continue as their parents collections are broken up.
One bright side: I have been able to buy many hardbacks in pristine condition for a fraction of the original price.
I've said it here before, but it's worth repeating; we are in a golden age if you like books, and are willing to buy them used. There are so many on virtually any topic, or by any author, and you can have them mailed to you for a reasonable fee. Kids don't seem to want them, so I expect the glut to continue as their parents collections are broken up.
Posted by: Archimedes at January 08, 2023 09:47 AM (eOEVl)
87
parent's
Posted by: Archimedes at January 08, 2023 09:48 AM (eOEVl)
88
I am reading an old kid's book that somehow escaped getting weeded out by the woke librarian in the public library:
Mystery of the Roman ransom by Henry Winterfeld
originally pub 1971)
Seven rich boys in ancient Rome buy a slave as a surprise gift for their teacher's 50th birthday and next thing you know it's assassination plots and dangerous adventure!
Fun!!!!
Mystery of the Roman ransom by Henry Winterfeld
originally pub 1971)
Seven rich boys in ancient Rome buy a slave as a surprise gift for their teacher's 50th birthday and next thing you know it's assassination plots and dangerous adventure!
Fun!!!!
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 09:48 AM (Kd4bG)
89
McManus is a seriously underrated writer.
I have a few of his books and can agree he is a very funny writer. I found that his later collections aren't as consistently amusing as the earlier ones, but I suppose if you write a column every month for decades, eventually you do run out of steam.
I have a few of his books and can agree he is a very funny writer. I found that his later collections aren't as consistently amusing as the earlier ones, but I suppose if you write a column every month for decades, eventually you do run out of steam.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 08, 2023 09:49 AM (AW0uW)
90
As a battleship buff, I have lots of outsize books, which need their own shelves. And a lot depends on what you have. Just to my right is a shelf of all Churchill, for instance.
Posted by: Eeyore
I built 7 or 8 of my bookshelves myself, and therefore was able to customize them for maximum utility. On some of them, I made the bottom shelves adequate to handle my battleship books, Jane's books, and atlases. The space was made up for by making smaller shelves for paperbacks.
Posted by: Eeyore
I built 7 or 8 of my bookshelves myself, and therefore was able to customize them for maximum utility. On some of them, I made the bottom shelves adequate to handle my battleship books, Jane's books, and atlases. The space was made up for by making smaller shelves for paperbacks.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 09:49 AM (8o//9)
91
con't: Evelyn Waugh does this, using rapid-fire dialog to show you what people are doing, which creates a consistent POV for the reader.
Alternatively, Waugh also will have characters explain a plot point from their perspective, so the reader only gets to see it through their eyes. It's a very effective storytelling technique and Tolkien also uses it. Indeed, Tolkien's work is a masterclass in writing style, and in one of my (many) re-reads of LotR, I focused entirely on which character was witnessing the events, since Tolkien's conceit was that the book was written after the fact by Frodo, based on the accounts of the other Fellowship members.
Alternatively, Waugh also will have characters explain a plot point from their perspective, so the reader only gets to see it through their eyes. It's a very effective storytelling technique and Tolkien also uses it. Indeed, Tolkien's work is a masterclass in writing style, and in one of my (many) re-reads of LotR, I focused entirely on which character was witnessing the events, since Tolkien's conceit was that the book was written after the fact by Frodo, based on the accounts of the other Fellowship members.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 09:49 AM (llXky)
92
When they were talking about classification systems in library school (jeez, about 50 years ago now...) there was mention of a library (John Crerar Technical Library in Chicago? Maybe?) that was so tight on space that they classified books based on the size of the volumes to make maximum use of the shelf space available.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at January 08, 2023 09:49 AM (a/4+U)
93
Baen Books just released the E_arc (early, not fully edited) copy of Larry Correia's latest novel in the "Saga of the Forgotten Warrior" series "Tower of Silence" I'm going to go back and start at book one just to keep all the characters and plotlines straight in my head. Highly recommended.
Posted by: TANSTAAFL at January 08, 2023 09:50 AM (WVJo4)
94
Chef Boyar D.
His malignant influence is still felt today.
Posted by: naturalfake at January 08, 2023 09:37 AM (KLPy
Yeah, I'm calling foul on this one. Chef Boyar D pizza was fun for our family when I was a young lurker.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing(5pTK/) at January 08, 2023 09:39 AM (5pTK/)
Fiiiiine.
Especially that bastard -
Chef Boyar D.
His malignant influence is still felt today, except for his pizza, which was fun for blake's family when he was a young lurker, and which didn't cause them to die at all from ptomaine or Boyar D Related Pizza Bloat.*
*Disclaimer: We ate the Chef's products all the time as well as La Choy's stuff and enjoyed them as wee tads.
His malignant influence is still felt today.
Posted by: naturalfake at January 08, 2023 09:37 AM (KLPy
Yeah, I'm calling foul on this one. Chef Boyar D pizza was fun for our family when I was a young lurker.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing(5pTK/) at January 08, 2023 09:39 AM (5pTK/)
Fiiiiine.
Especially that bastard -
Chef Boyar D.
His malignant influence is still felt today, except for his pizza, which was fun for blake's family when he was a young lurker, and which didn't cause them to die at all from ptomaine or Boyar D Related Pizza Bloat.*
*Disclaimer: We ate the Chef's products all the time as well as La Choy's stuff and enjoyed them as wee tads.
Posted by: naturalfake at January 08, 2023 09:51 AM (KLPy8)
95
@83 --
JTB, big "Amen!" on McManus.
Dad always called the newspaper comic strips "the funnies." A regionalism, I wonder?
JTB, big "Amen!" on McManus.
Dad always called the newspaper comic strips "the funnies." A regionalism, I wonder?
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:51 AM (Om/di)
96
He has the principle of the point-of-view change down, but not the mechanics. I'm pretty I know how to work POV. Any of you have a basic rule-of-thumb?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (omVj0)
Wolfus, are you talking about a different character taking over narration, or getting into the thoughts of different characters as they interact with each other?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023
***
Those come into it, but in the current case I have a first-person narrator. I know he can't delve into the thoughts of anyone else, and I don't have him do that. My colleague seems to think that whenever the narrator *summarizes* what someone else is saying, that's a POV change. I'm trying to point out to him that my narrator is summarizing the information for the reader -- he knows he's writing a book and that you are reading it.
(cont.)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (omVj0)
Wolfus, are you talking about a different character taking over narration, or getting into the thoughts of different characters as they interact with each other?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023
***
Those come into it, but in the current case I have a first-person narrator. I know he can't delve into the thoughts of anyone else, and I don't have him do that. My colleague seems to think that whenever the narrator *summarizes* what someone else is saying, that's a POV change. I'm trying to point out to him that my narrator is summarizing the information for the reader -- he knows he's writing a book and that you are reading it.
(cont.)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:51 AM (omVj0)
97
One bright side: I have been able to buy many hardbacks in pristine condition for a fraction of the original price.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 09:42 AM (0hS7w)
Ditto here. There are two second hand stores on my way out from where I cash my paycheck. I hit them every Friday and have found some first editions with the spine still not cracked. I have bought two new books in the last 10 years. Both from authors I personally know. Everything else has ben a gift or a second hand purchase.
I might not always find what I want but I always find stuff I need. Except for bookshelves. I never find enough bookshelves.
One bright side: I have been able to buy many hardbacks in pristine condition for a fraction of the original price.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 09:42 AM (0hS7w)
Ditto here. There are two second hand stores on my way out from where I cash my paycheck. I hit them every Friday and have found some first editions with the spine still not cracked. I have bought two new books in the last 10 years. Both from authors I personally know. Everything else has ben a gift or a second hand purchase.
I might not always find what I want but I always find stuff I need. Except for bookshelves. I never find enough bookshelves.
Posted by: Reforger at January 08, 2023 09:52 AM (iuZqZ)
98
Obligatory and lame writing update: Having taken a break from Walls of Men, I'm now back on the job and anticipate finishing the maps and index this week. My goal is to order a proof copy by next weekend. I've got about half of the maps in there, and as I add them I check the surrounding text to make sure it has the information I mention. This has also helped me clean up additional passages and add a few details.
I originally hoped to have this thing published in September, but I'm determined to get it as "clean" as I can, and that's just going to take time.
I originally hoped to have this thing published in September, but I'm determined to get it as "clean" as I can, and that's just going to take time.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 09:53 AM (llXky)
99
I've picked up a technique from Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder stories. Start off with a few lines of dialog to introduce the character your 1st-person narrator is talking with. Summarize some of the facts the guy is telling the narrator. Come back to dialog if what the guy says, or how he says it, is important.
My writing-group colleague, unfamiliar with mysteries, thinks the whole thing should be in dialog. My instinct, honed by years of reading all kinds of writers, says, not necessarily.
My writing-group colleague, unfamiliar with mysteries, thinks the whole thing should be in dialog. My instinct, honed by years of reading all kinds of writers, says, not necessarily.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:54 AM (omVj0)
100
Speaking of bookshelves, we have 6 large bookcases in different areas of the house. Two contain children’s books for the grandsons, 7 and 3. Reading is encouraged in our house and when the boys are here my 7 year old reads to us. One bookcase upstairs contains only books I’ve read. The other 3 contain books we are yet to read. The only stipulation being that the bookcase in my office is strictly mine. LOL. I won’t get started on all the books that we have stored in plastic containers in the basement. I’m hoping that our love for reading is picked up by the grandsons because I could not imagine life without reading.
Posted by: RetSgtRN at January 08, 2023 09:55 AM (RqUF/)
101
Good morning fellow eclectic readers.
I received the first of the four books by Brandon Sanderson that I bought through his kickstarter campaign. I'm scheduled to receive one each quarter through 2023. They are a complete surprise as the titles wer not announced, only that he wrote them during the pandemic when he could not go to settings where he could interact with fans.
Just started Tress of the Emerald Sea. Not that far into it to give a full opinion but to say it feels a little like The Princess Bride. There is a narrator who refers to other parts of the Cosmere so it is related. The dialog is amusing and the setting a unique Sanderson production. It reads a bit like a YA novel but still held my interest.
Just finished the other book I was reading so will now get more into it to give a full report.
I received the first of the four books by Brandon Sanderson that I bought through his kickstarter campaign. I'm scheduled to receive one each quarter through 2023. They are a complete surprise as the titles wer not announced, only that he wrote them during the pandemic when he could not go to settings where he could interact with fans.
Just started Tress of the Emerald Sea. Not that far into it to give a full opinion but to say it feels a little like The Princess Bride. There is a narrator who refers to other parts of the Cosmere so it is related. The dialog is amusing and the setting a unique Sanderson production. It reads a bit like a YA novel but still held my interest.
Just finished the other book I was reading so will now get more into it to give a full report.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 08, 2023 09:56 AM (Y+l9t)
102
62 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:36 AM (omVj0)
Unless the character is abused, psychologically broken, or the plot explicitly requires it everyone is the hero of their own narrative.
You use POV and POV shifts to highlight the pertinent facts about a data set but everyone is always to a degree an unreliable narrator.
Take for example the NFL game where Hamlin got hurt. There were during every play about 50 points of view that were directly tied into the action.
Hamlin's narrative arc would be "I am going to stop this play all I have to do i....."
You then shift to the person observing him go down, also you cana use the competing POVs to contrast or coinfuse on what precisely is going on.
Turtledove and some other authors have a tendency to make dedicated POV characters a bit wooden or paint by numbers.
Unless the character is abused, psychologically broken, or the plot explicitly requires it everyone is the hero of their own narrative.
You use POV and POV shifts to highlight the pertinent facts about a data set but everyone is always to a degree an unreliable narrator.
Take for example the NFL game where Hamlin got hurt. There were during every play about 50 points of view that were directly tied into the action.
Hamlin's narrative arc would be "I am going to stop this play all I have to do i....."
You then shift to the person observing him go down, also you cana use the competing POVs to contrast or coinfuse on what precisely is going on.
Turtledove and some other authors have a tendency to make dedicated POV characters a bit wooden or paint by numbers.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 09:56 AM (Lzpvj)
103
Thanks Perf.
Reading The Myth of Artificial Intelligence by Erik J. Larson. (2021)
Twenty percent into the book. Quite good so far. Nothing too technical which makes it a fine YA book.
Reading The Myth of Artificial Intelligence by Erik J. Larson. (2021)
Twenty percent into the book. Quite good so far. Nothing too technical which makes it a fine YA book.
Posted by: 13times at January 08, 2023 09:56 AM (JIkWe)
104
Yeah, I'm calling foul on this one. Chef Boyar D pizza was fun for our family when I was a young lurker.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing(5pTK/) at January 08, 2023 09:39 AM (5pTK/)
So was Appian Way. Tried it about fifteen years ago. Not good.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing(5pTK/) at January 08, 2023 09:39 AM (5pTK/)
So was Appian Way. Tried it about fifteen years ago. Not good.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023 09:58 AM (Angsy)
105
I am reading the first ten of Pendleton's Mack Bolan series.
It is an interesting thing to remember that a lot of the background noise going on when he was penning them is similar to today.
The more things change.
It is an interesting thing to remember that a lot of the background noise going on when he was penning them is similar to today.
The more things change.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 09:58 AM (Lzpvj)
106
Just starting NT Wright's 4th volume in his Christian Origins and the Question of God series, which is actually a double volume (1500 total pages) called "Paul and the Faithfulness of God".
In volume 3 of the series that I just finished, "The Resurrection of the Son of God," Wright determined that the ONLY rational explanation of the earliest Christian writings and beliefs and the beginning and growth of Christianity, based on an inbiased analysis of the extant historical evidence, is that Jesus really DID rise from the dead on the 3rd day and really DID appear to the Apostles and others afterward.
Wright's thesis really cuts strongly against the dominant theories of academia and various projects like the so-called Jesus Seminar, that have been prevalent for the last 200 years. Which is nice, since all of academia and those projects start from the foundational premise of the "Enlightenment", which is that there is only the natural, and no supernatural. Of course his thesis also took 2100 pages and 3 volumes to arrive at a conclusion that any Christian who has felt the flooding of the Holy Spirit into him/her already knows by faith and experience is true.
In volume 3 of the series that I just finished, "The Resurrection of the Son of God," Wright determined that the ONLY rational explanation of the earliest Christian writings and beliefs and the beginning and growth of Christianity, based on an inbiased analysis of the extant historical evidence, is that Jesus really DID rise from the dead on the 3rd day and really DID appear to the Apostles and others afterward.
Wright's thesis really cuts strongly against the dominant theories of academia and various projects like the so-called Jesus Seminar, that have been prevalent for the last 200 years. Which is nice, since all of academia and those projects start from the foundational premise of the "Enlightenment", which is that there is only the natural, and no supernatural. Of course his thesis also took 2100 pages and 3 volumes to arrive at a conclusion that any Christian who has felt the flooding of the Holy Spirit into him/her already knows by faith and experience is true.
Posted by: Sharkman at January 08, 2023 09:58 AM (233bX)
107
wow three typos on second glance, I must really have had only 84% sleep efficiency last evening.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 09:59 AM (Lzpvj)
108
I just started to attempt to organize our books. I’m going to keep all fiction with fiction and non-fiction with same. Military and other historical books will be together. I look at as a start. I do try to keep paper with paper and hardcover with hardcover.
Posted by: RetSgtRN at January 08, 2023 10:00 AM (RqUF/)
109
I'm trying to point out to him that my narrator is summarizing the information for the reader -- he knows he's writing a book and that you are reading it.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:51 AM (omVj0)
---
That's a good way to do it, and just remember to keep things consistent. He can only know what he knows and can get things wrong. One issue is how long afterwards he is telling the story.
You can also do The Good Soldier thing and have him tell a scene one way and then as the plot moves forward say "oh, I left this out, but it's kind of relevant now" to change how that event is now perceived.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:51 AM (omVj0)
---
That's a good way to do it, and just remember to keep things consistent. He can only know what he knows and can get things wrong. One issue is how long afterwards he is telling the story.
You can also do The Good Soldier thing and have him tell a scene one way and then as the plot moves forward say "oh, I left this out, but it's kind of relevant now" to change how that event is now perceived.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 10:00 AM (llXky)
110
Chef Boyardee like Colonel Sanders gets blamed for a lot of things he is not really responsible for.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:00 AM (Lzpvj)
111
How about a once a month swap meet on the book thread? People could briefly what they have. And others could say what they are looking for.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 08, 2023 10:00 AM (uz3Px)
112
Turtledove and some other authors have a tendency to make dedicated POV characters a bit wooden or paint by numbers.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023
***
I've been trying, in 3rd person narration, to stick with one person in a given scene. That person, ideally, is the one that the events in that scene affect most.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023
***
I've been trying, in 3rd person narration, to stick with one person in a given scene. That person, ideally, is the one that the events in that scene affect most.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:01 AM (omVj0)
113
In my current and previous houses, I have had a study, which was used as a library, but neither was big enough to hold all of the books. My goal for my next house will be to have a large dedicated library with built in floor to ceiling shelves, so I can finally have all of the books in one room.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 10:02 AM (eWeGF)
114
Having moved a LOT during my time in the military, and even since my retirement, my books are largely organized in BOXES,...lots and LOTS of boxes...
-SLV
-SLV
Posted by: Shy Lurking Vote at January 08, 2023 10:02 AM (yXpN8)
115
OK, folks, going to make another cup of tea,find a warm couch and settle down to read for the day.
Chef Boyardee like Colonel Sanders gets blamed for a lot of things he is not really responsible for.
If you're interested in KFC - or fast-food chains in general - Josh Ozersky's Colonel Sanders and the American Dream is a good book to read.
Hope you all have a lovely day.
Chef Boyardee like Colonel Sanders gets blamed for a lot of things he is not really responsible for.
If you're interested in KFC - or fast-food chains in general - Josh Ozersky's Colonel Sanders and the American Dream is a good book to read.
Hope you all have a lovely day.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at January 08, 2023 10:04 AM (AW0uW)
116
I'm trying to point out to him that my narrator is summarizing the information for the reader -- he knows he's writing a book and that you are reading it.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023
---
That's a good way to do it, and just remember to keep things consistent. He can only know what he knows and can get things wrong. One issue is how long afterwards he is telling the story. . . .
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023
***
Good point about getting things wrong. My colleague also does not understand how a narrator/detective can reach an incorrect conclusion about the crime, and have to backtrack on his own logic.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023
---
That's a good way to do it, and just remember to keep things consistent. He can only know what he knows and can get things wrong. One issue is how long afterwards he is telling the story. . . .
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023
***
Good point about getting things wrong. My colleague also does not understand how a narrator/detective can reach an incorrect conclusion about the crime, and have to backtrack on his own logic.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:04 AM (omVj0)
117
29 ... "I read an essay a couple of weeks ago, can't remember the author's name. His premise was that much of Tolkien's LOTR was framed in concepts that emerged from the 1918 influenza pandemic. "
This is revisionist bullshit. There are pages and books, based on Tolkien's own notes, about how the legendarium developed. It's one thing to speculate that an event in an author's life entered their writing to some degree. It's another to build a thesis out of whole cloth when there is nothing but possible coincidence to back it up.
I put this in the same category as the idiots who find homosexual overtones and or pedophilia or racism in classic literature based on their ultrasensitive, 'oh so refined' values. That these imbeciles aren't laughed out of town or bitch slapped into submission shows how bad our culture has become. (This includes taking down statues and renaming schools because of a War Between the States connection.)
Mini-rant off.
This is revisionist bullshit. There are pages and books, based on Tolkien's own notes, about how the legendarium developed. It's one thing to speculate that an event in an author's life entered their writing to some degree. It's another to build a thesis out of whole cloth when there is nothing but possible coincidence to back it up.
I put this in the same category as the idiots who find homosexual overtones and or pedophilia or racism in classic literature based on their ultrasensitive, 'oh so refined' values. That these imbeciles aren't laughed out of town or bitch slapped into submission shows how bad our culture has become. (This includes taking down statues and renaming schools because of a War Between the States connection.)
Mini-rant off.
Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 10:05 AM (7EjX1)
118
I'm still doing the "two books at once" thing, which I don't normally do. I blame the bedside bookcase I added a few months ago. I populated it with some of my old favorites and damn if they don't practically leap off the shelves when I climb into bed.
Right now I'm reading Reach for the Sky, Paul Brickhill's book about Douglas Bader, the legless ace. I read this as a kid, and going through it again I'm picking out a lot more details, both in what is said and what is not.
Am I the only one who feels the warm glow of nostalgia not just in reading a familiar book, but reading THE book you read once upon a time? The page feel, the fonts used, etc. are all comforting to me.
When I'm more alert, I'm still going through Peter Kemp's No Colours or Crest, which is fixated on his adventures with the Albanian resistance. It's well-written and sort of meshes with Bader as it's about the same war.
Right now I'm reading Reach for the Sky, Paul Brickhill's book about Douglas Bader, the legless ace. I read this as a kid, and going through it again I'm picking out a lot more details, both in what is said and what is not.
Am I the only one who feels the warm glow of nostalgia not just in reading a familiar book, but reading THE book you read once upon a time? The page feel, the fonts used, etc. are all comforting to me.
When I'm more alert, I'm still going through Peter Kemp's No Colours or Crest, which is fixated on his adventures with the Albanian resistance. It's well-written and sort of meshes with Bader as it's about the same war.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 10:05 AM (llXky)
119
I have a fourth bookcase to put together. These aren't big so I can manage them myself. I suspect I will need one more. Once I have all the books out, I will think about sorting them. And if I can get the dead fridge removed, that area will have shelving and a place for cookbooks.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 08, 2023 10:05 AM (uz3Px)
120
Good point about getting things wrong. My colleague also does not understand how a narrator/detective can reach an incorrect conclusion about the crime, and have to backtrack on his own logic.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:04 AM (omVj0)
He needs to watch the greatest John Candy movie, "Who's Harry Crumb?"
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:04 AM (omVj0)
He needs to watch the greatest John Candy movie, "Who's Harry Crumb?"
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2023 10:05 AM (PiwSw)
121
Organizing shelves here at Casa Some Guy? Books by an author are kept together. Fiction, non-fiction, doesn't matter -- so Maugham's essays are lumped in with his fiction. The authors aren't shelved alphabetically; why bother? There aren't so many physical books remaining here that I can't remember where each author's books are. Once upon a time, I tried to keep things by subject or genre or author's IQ, but that way lies madness. Besides, I worried enough about that kind of thing at work for a long time. By the time I cash in I hope to have found homes for or sold off everything that my daughter doesn't want to inherit.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at January 08, 2023 10:07 AM (a/4+U)
122
My first overtly political books I read were the North American Confederacy series by L. Neil Smith (The Probability Broach and so on) that were set up as science fiction alternate universe but were actually structured around the philosophy of Murray Rothbard (For a New Liberty) WITHOUT EVER ONCE USING HIS NAME
Posted by: Kindltot at January 08, 2023 10:07 AM (xhaym)
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 10:07 AM (Om/di)
124
112 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:01 AM (omVj0)
That is the most logical use of them, the main thing that I have seen some issue with with aspiring authors is they wind up giving a character that from a storytelling standpoint exists only as a mechanical device to provide contrast and shadow some filibuster point the author wants to make from the real world that often has noting to do with: the setting, the story, the matter at hand for the protagonist.
My own writing such as it is is the simulation of multiple news cycles and points of view on issues in a simulated military environment. Luckily given my knowledge of military history, global events, and crisis psychology I do a pretty good job. My work will never get a wide public release, and is disposable.
That is the most logical use of them, the main thing that I have seen some issue with with aspiring authors is they wind up giving a character that from a storytelling standpoint exists only as a mechanical device to provide contrast and shadow some filibuster point the author wants to make from the real world that often has noting to do with: the setting, the story, the matter at hand for the protagonist.
My own writing such as it is is the simulation of multiple news cycles and points of view on issues in a simulated military environment. Luckily given my knowledge of military history, global events, and crisis psychology I do a pretty good job. My work will never get a wide public release, and is disposable.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:07 AM (Lzpvj)
125
Thinking about the book collection, I am reminded of the look on the movers' faces when they arrived at my previous house and saw them. "You have HOW many books?"
I'm fortunate my employer paid for the last move.
I'm fortunate my employer paid for the last move.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 10:08 AM (ZMj0Q)
126
Serious thanks to Perfessor for the midweek book threads while Ace took some time off. Same to the other COBs. The level of writing and topics available to the Horde is great and appreciated.
Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 10:09 AM (7EjX1)
127
Tense change is another point. IN my recent chapter, I have my narrator summarize what one of the police detectives is telling him about what he, the cop, has found. This is all past tense, like the rest of the book. Then I have the cop reconstruct the crime, in dialog, in present tense: "The perp swings out of the shadow on the porch, stabs her . . ." etc. Seems to me that when he is reconstructing what might have happened, he can just as easily use present tense as past. My colleague thinks it *must* all be in past tense.
My point to him is not that he "must* do what I'm doing. It's that this is a valid way to do it.
My point to him is not that he "must* do what I'm doing. It's that this is a valid way to do it.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:09 AM (omVj0)
128
Re: The Sharing of the Books, I always bring the Little Free MoMe Library to the Yakima Momes And people have been quite generous in bringing extra books to add to its bounty. Everyone has fun perusing the contents. I also collect for my (actual) Little Free Library from my friends too. I think the MoMe version is a good idea and easy to implement. Well, for people in driving range of the MoMe. I use a plastic tote for the books.
And people have been quite generous in bringing extra books to add to its bounty. Everyone has fun perusing the contents. I also collect for my (actual) Little Free Library from my friends too. I think the MoMe version is a good idea and easy to implement. Well, for people in driving range of the MoMe. I use a plastic tote for the books.Posted by: Sabrina Chase at January 08, 2023 10:10 AM (cjvQp)
129
I very much enjoyed Iain Pears' "Stone's Fall".
He has written a bunch of art-related mystery novels that are quite good, including "The Dream of Scipio," "The Raphael Affair" and "The Portrait" as well as a wonderful mystery novel about science and university in Olde Timey England called "An Instance of the Fingerpost".
Great author. I note in looking at his wiki page that he's written some new works since the last time I thought of him, so off to Amazon Kindle I go!!
He has written a bunch of art-related mystery novels that are quite good, including "The Dream of Scipio," "The Raphael Affair" and "The Portrait" as well as a wonderful mystery novel about science and university in Olde Timey England called "An Instance of the Fingerpost".
Great author. I note in looking at his wiki page that he's written some new works since the last time I thought of him, so off to Amazon Kindle I go!!
Posted by: Sharkman at January 08, 2023 10:10 AM (233bX)
130
L. Neil Smith has detractors, but he lionizes Jefferson and Lysander Spooner and that led me to reading Spooner, and looking up analysis of his writing and philosophy, and that pointed to Rothbard and similar writers.
Posted by: Kindltot at January 08, 2023 10:10 AM (xhaym)
131
I've read the second of the Magpie Murders series, the Moonflower Murders. They are similar in that each is two mysteries in one. The plots concern a book editor who solves real murders by referencing her biggest author's Agatha Christie-esque mysteries. Each of the fiction mystery books is presented in full as she investigates and solves the real murders. In each case, I liked the fictional murders better than the real ones, in part because they are set in the '50s before the world went crazy. The author is Anthony Horowitz.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023 at January 08, 2023 10:10 AM (FVME7)
132
117 Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 10:05 AM (7EjX1)
Tolkien penned his magnum opus to cope with the psychological aftermath of the war, the rising tide of evil on the continent, and the observed destruction of the British social order.
The flu was definitely background noise, but saying that was Tolkien's motivation in the face of the author's own margin notes is akin to saying that Don Pendleton write the Mack Bolan series because of the beer concession in Saigon not going to Heidelburg simply not true.
Simply
Tolkien penned his magnum opus to cope with the psychological aftermath of the war, the rising tide of evil on the continent, and the observed destruction of the British social order.
The flu was definitely background noise, but saying that was Tolkien's motivation in the face of the author's own margin notes is akin to saying that Don Pendleton write the Mack Bolan series because of the beer concession in Saigon not going to Heidelburg simply not true.
Simply
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:10 AM (Lzpvj)
133
Currently reading "Slaying the Dragon: a secret history of Dungeons and Dragons" by Ben Riggs. I'm about half way through it. Pretty interesting if you ever played D&D. It's more or less about the rise and fall of TSR, the company founded with the creation of D&D. Some really bad management decisions all the way through back to Gygax.
Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 10:11 AM (bPkSk)
134
@116 --
Have him read Ellery Queen's "The Greek Coffin Mystery." Ellery has to backtrack twice.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023
***
I'd love to have him read a couple of early, or even later, Ellery stories. GCM might be too ferociously logical and detailed for him as someone new to the written mystery.
Have him read Ellery Queen's "The Greek Coffin Mystery." Ellery has to backtrack twice.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023
***
I'd love to have him read a couple of early, or even later, Ellery stories. GCM might be too ferociously logical and detailed for him as someone new to the written mystery.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:11 AM (omVj0)
135
I put this in the same category as the idiots who find homosexual overtones and or pedophilia or racism in classic literature based on their ultrasensitive, 'oh so refined' values. That these imbeciles aren't laughed out of town or bitch slapped into submission shows how bad our culture has become.
Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 10:05 AM (7EjX1)
---
Most humanities scholars are idiots these days, and having gotten their undergrad degrees in the shadow of "Hey, ho, Western Civ has got to go!" have no actual knowledge of the thing they claim to be their area of expertise.
Since research is hard, it's much easier to cram everything into their familiar template regardless of how absurd it is. I think it was Naomi Wolf got caught on live radio talking about her book whose entire thesis was about homosexuals being given the death penalty in Old England and it collapsed when the presenter told her that "sentence executed" only meant that it was duly recorded, not that anyone died.
I guess Wolf is now red-pilled, but that was a singularly stupid (and all to common) mistake.
Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 10:05 AM (7EjX1)
---
Most humanities scholars are idiots these days, and having gotten their undergrad degrees in the shadow of "Hey, ho, Western Civ has got to go!" have no actual knowledge of the thing they claim to be their area of expertise.
Since research is hard, it's much easier to cram everything into their familiar template regardless of how absurd it is. I think it was Naomi Wolf got caught on live radio talking about her book whose entire thesis was about homosexuals being given the death penalty in Old England and it collapsed when the presenter told her that "sentence executed" only meant that it was duly recorded, not that anyone died.
I guess Wolf is now red-pilled, but that was a singularly stupid (and all to common) mistake.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 10:12 AM (llXky)
136
127 Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:09 AM (omVj0)
I simply disagree with your friend, a detective cognating a likely chain of events is always thinking in the present tense metnally while knowing the events unfolding were in the past.
The characters are always living in their present.
I simply disagree with your friend, a detective cognating a likely chain of events is always thinking in the present tense metnally while knowing the events unfolding were in the past.
The characters are always living in their present.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:12 AM (Lzpvj)
137
Anybody got any good ideas for storing maps? I have an extensive collection and it's a bit out of hand. A lot of these are National Geographic. I have all (I think) from about 1966 up to 2002. A Catholic school was getting rid of them so I bought the whole thing. And a projector (dead, very expensive bulb) with a bunch of old substitute teacher movies and...
Nevermind. I sort of went nuts at that sale. At least that's what the wife told me when I had her help me unload the truck.
I hope that someday I can get my shit together enough to organize my crap so the kid doesn't just take the tractor into the shop and unload it by the bucket full into a dumpster after I pass.
I might actually need some help. Looking at this mess is overwelming.
Nevermind. I sort of went nuts at that sale. At least that's what the wife told me when I had her help me unload the truck.
I hope that someday I can get my shit together enough to organize my crap so the kid doesn't just take the tractor into the shop and unload it by the bucket full into a dumpster after I pass.
I might actually need some help. Looking at this mess is overwelming.
Posted by: Reforger at January 08, 2023 10:12 AM (I07eC)
138
Finished one of my Christmas books-
"Bad Teeth" by Simon Rich
It's a short humor book filled with short comedic essays and stories.
Some big laughs but mostly you'll be amused rather than laughing out loud.
A good break from our current doldrums. Though as a warning I should say that Rich uses some wokish memes as jumping off points for his humor.
I see that as a guy willing to use whatever as grit for his mill, which I see as a good thing.
An example would be a woman who was raised by wolves and hates her family because of the "slights" she endured and wants to complain and have it out with her wolf parents when they come over for Thanksgiving dinner.
That may sound grim, but is really very funny.
Give it a whirl.
"Bad Teeth" by Simon Rich
It's a short humor book filled with short comedic essays and stories.
Some big laughs but mostly you'll be amused rather than laughing out loud.
A good break from our current doldrums. Though as a warning I should say that Rich uses some wokish memes as jumping off points for his humor.
I see that as a guy willing to use whatever as grit for his mill, which I see as a good thing.
An example would be a woman who was raised by wolves and hates her family because of the "slights" she endured and wants to complain and have it out with her wolf parents when they come over for Thanksgiving dinner.
That may sound grim, but is really very funny.
Give it a whirl.
Posted by: naturalfake at January 08, 2023 10:12 AM (KLPy8)
139
Horatio Hornblower has been a huge influence on the adventure genre for a long, long time.
-
They are making /have made a prequel Master and Commander movie to be release this year.
-
They are making /have made a prequel Master and Commander movie to be release this year.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023 at January 08, 2023 10:12 AM (FVME7)
140
I'm also plowing through a reread of the New Teen Titans from the '80s, when I got into comic books. I've run into a five-issue gap, so I hope the library can help me.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:05 AM
---
Loved those comics. George Perez's art was stellar.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 09:05 AM
---
Loved those comics. George Perez's art was stellar.
Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 10:13 AM (bPkSk)
141
Over the years I have given serious thought to how our books should be organized. I always get lost in the maze of possibilities. It may end up that the best bet is just to have the spines visible then search the shelves until I find the book I'm looking for. (That's assuming I ever get that organized.)
Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 10:14 AM (7EjX1)
142
Church is over and now I can join the Book Thread. This week I've been sticking to my plan of reading through the Bible, cover to cover. I say 'reading' but actually I'm listening to audio readings. I'm in Genesis 16 as read by Max McLean, and Matthew 6 as read by David Suchet of Hercule Poirot fame.
Posted by: grammie winger at January 08, 2023 10:14 AM (45fpk)
143
My point to him is not that he "must* do what I'm doing. It's that this is a valid way to do it.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:09 AM (omVj0)
---
Use what feels most natural. How would the cop tell him the things and how would your narrator relate it.
The nice thing about first-person is that you can add some flourishes to it, like adding your narrator's take on whether he believes the guy.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:09 AM (omVj0)
---
Use what feels most natural. How would the cop tell him the things and how would your narrator relate it.
The nice thing about first-person is that you can add some flourishes to it, like adding your narrator's take on whether he believes the guy.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 10:16 AM (llXky)
144
139 ... "They are making /have made a prequel Master and Commander movie to be release this year."
More information, please. Master and Commander is one of my favorite movies.
More information, please. Master and Commander is one of my favorite movies.
Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 10:16 AM (7EjX1)
145
I'm crying: I just received two hardcover comic collections I pre-ordered, and the binding is infuriating. One collection, a near 500-page book, very clearly has glued binding, instead of sewn. It seems to open pretty well for glued binding, but a book that size absolutely should have been sewn. And from a publisher that should have known better....The second book looks like it has sewn binding, but it opens so stiffly that it feels like glued.
Sigh. I should have been so happy to finally receive the books. But instead, I'm filled with frustration...
Sigh. I should have been so happy to finally receive the books. But instead, I'm filled with frustration...
Posted by: Castle Guy at January 08, 2023 10:16 AM (Lhaco)
146
When we moved to current digs from Chicago, we shipped about 110 cartons of books -- publisher's shipping cartons scrounged from the stockrooms of the late lamented Kroch's & Brentano's bookstore, cartons made to hold 25-50 hardcovers, or 50-100 mass market paperbacks.
Most of that has been passed to libraries or sold to used book dealers. Never again. This is why God made ebooks. That said, there are some physical books that I regard as "from my cold dead fingers" volumes even if I've got it on the kindle.
Most of that has been passed to libraries or sold to used book dealers. Never again. This is why God made ebooks. That said, there are some physical books that I regard as "from my cold dead fingers" volumes even if I've got it on the kindle.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at January 08, 2023 10:16 AM (a/4+U)
147
Then I have the cop reconstruct the crime, in dialog, in present tense: "The perp swings out of the shadow on the porch, stabs her . . ." etc.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere
I hate reading a whole book in present tense, and will generally not do so. But this usage of it wouldn't bother me at all, and is exactly how I expect an investigator would analyze a crime.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere
I hate reading a whole book in present tense, and will generally not do so. But this usage of it wouldn't bother me at all, and is exactly how I expect an investigator would analyze a crime.
Posted by: April - Dash my lace wigs! at January 08, 2023 10:16 AM (OX9vb)
Posted by: JT at January 08, 2023 10:17 AM (T4tVD)
149
How about a once a month swap meet on the book thread? People could briefly what they have. And others could say what they are looking for.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 08, 2023 10:00 AM (uz3Px)
Would that be completed through the Perfessor, or would you want to put out emails in the post? I'll give my email if someone asks, but it's not connected in my nic to hopefully avoid harvesting by bots. If you do it that way, you'd overwhelm the Perfessor if he had to middleman all the transactions.
Posted by: Notsothoreau at January 08, 2023 10:00 AM (uz3Px)
Would that be completed through the Perfessor, or would you want to put out emails in the post? I'll give my email if someone asks, but it's not connected in my nic to hopefully avoid harvesting by bots. If you do it that way, you'd overwhelm the Perfessor if he had to middleman all the transactions.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023 10:17 AM (Angsy)
150
@134 --
Start with "The French Powder Mystery," the second book.
The key point in the first, "The Roman Hat Mystery," is way outdated. Not to mention the motive that leads to murder.
Start with "The French Powder Mystery," the second book.
The key point in the first, "The Roman Hat Mystery," is way outdated. Not to mention the motive that leads to murder.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 10:17 AM (Om/di)
151
Horatio Hornblower has been a huge influence on the adventure genre for a long, long time.
-
They are making /have made a prequel Master and Commander movie to be release this year.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023
***
C.S. Forester is very good. I was talking with Algis Budrys at a convention once about writing. He pointed out that one of Forester's non-HH novels, The Gun I think, has a protagonist who is dogged and courageous, but not very bright. It's quite a trick to pull such a character off and have the reader sympathize with him.
-
They are making /have made a prequel Master and Commander movie to be release this year.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023
***
C.S. Forester is very good. I was talking with Algis Budrys at a convention once about writing. He pointed out that one of Forester's non-HH novels, The Gun I think, has a protagonist who is dogged and courageous, but not very bright. It's quite a trick to pull such a character off and have the reader sympathize with him.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:17 AM (omVj0)
Posted by: grammie winger at January 08, 2023 10:17 AM (45fpk)
153
Currently reading "Slaying the Dragon: a secret history of Dungeons and Dragons" by Ben Riggs. I'm about half way through it. Pretty interesting if you ever played D&D. It's more or less about the rise and fall of TSR, the company founded with the creation of D&D. Some really bad management decisions all the way through back to Gygax.
Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 10:11 AM (bPkSk)
---
A huge number of start-up game companies crashed and burned because their skill set was game design, not business management.
Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 10:11 AM (bPkSk)
---
A huge number of start-up game companies crashed and burned because their skill set was game design, not business management.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 10:18 AM (llXky)
154
/sock
Posted by: muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:19 AM (ykeLU)
155
I've picked up a technique from Lawrence Block's Matt Scudder stories. Start off with a few lines of dialog to introduce the character your 1st-person narrator is talking with. Summarize some of the facts the guy is telling the narrator. Come back to dialog if what the guy says, or how he says it, is important.
My writing-group colleague, unfamiliar with mysteries, thinks the whole thing should be in dialog. My instinct, honed by years of reading all kinds of writers, says, not necessarily.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:54 AM (omVj0)
I'm not a fan of the "info dump", nor am I a fan of -
"Hey, Joe. I see your hair's still red.
"Sure is, Bill, red as a robin's breast on Sunday morning."
Etc.
Sometimes info dumps etc are necessary in small amounts, but most of the time unless it's really important I think the reader can be caught up as the action/plot proceeds in a naturalistic way.
My writing-group colleague, unfamiliar with mysteries, thinks the whole thing should be in dialog. My instinct, honed by years of reading all kinds of writers, says, not necessarily.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 09:54 AM (omVj0)
I'm not a fan of the "info dump", nor am I a fan of -
"Hey, Joe. I see your hair's still red.
"Sure is, Bill, red as a robin's breast on Sunday morning."
Etc.
Sometimes info dumps etc are necessary in small amounts, but most of the time unless it's really important I think the reader can be caught up as the action/plot proceeds in a naturalistic way.
Posted by: naturalfake at January 08, 2023 10:19 AM (KLPy8)
156
The Brown Derby. I never ate there but went by a few times as a kid with my parents. Not far from there was where I saw my first hippie chasing imaginary butterflies.
Posted by: fd at January 08, 2023 10:19 AM (iayUP)
157
Start with "The French Powder Mystery," the second book.
The key point in the first, "The Roman Hat Mystery," is way outdated. Not to mention the motive that leads to murder.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023
***
I'm inclined to think Egyptian Cross and Siamese Twin might be good starters. FPM is wonderfully detailed, and the trick of leaving the murderer's name to the last 2 words of the entire book has rarely been equaled, but it is a little slow.
The key point in the first, "The Roman Hat Mystery," is way outdated. Not to mention the motive that leads to murder.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023
***
I'm inclined to think Egyptian Cross and Siamese Twin might be good starters. FPM is wonderfully detailed, and the trick of leaving the murderer's name to the last 2 words of the entire book has rarely been equaled, but it is a little slow.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:20 AM (omVj0)
158
#1 continued
Reading a ebook of Alexander Mikaberidze's Napoleons Hollow Victory Berezina. Think a Osprey Campaign history with maps, OOB ( organization of battle) and extensive text.
Reading a ebook of Alexander Mikaberidze's Napoleons Hollow Victory Berezina. Think a Osprey Campaign history with maps, OOB ( organization of battle) and extensive text.
Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2023 10:20 AM (xhxe8)
159
woman who was raised by wolves and hates her family because of the "slights" she endured
-
As I was slowly wakening this morning, my mind drifted to Poe's A Cask of Amontillado and specifically to the fact that we are never told specifically what the thousand insults of Luchesi actually were.
-
As I was slowly wakening this morning, my mind drifted to Poe's A Cask of Amontillado and specifically to the fact that we are never told specifically what the thousand insults of Luchesi actually were.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023 at January 08, 2023 10:20 AM (FVME7)
160
I've dreamt of organizing my books. There are bookcases scattered around the house. I'm hoping I can at least group them in rough categories, like work-related books in my office and fun books in the living room.
Posted by: Emmie at January 08, 2023 10:21 AM (Emce2)
161
Anybody got any good ideas for storing maps? I have an extensive collection and it's a bit out of hand.
Posted by: Reforger
Look up 'map cabinets'. These have short but wide drawers to store maps and loose dicuments and keep them out of the sunlight. I ran across a beautiful one at a flea market a few years ago. I should have grabbed it. I think Amazon carries some.
Posted by: Reforger
Look up 'map cabinets'. These have short but wide drawers to store maps and loose dicuments and keep them out of the sunlight. I ran across a beautiful one at a flea market a few years ago. I should have grabbed it. I think Amazon carries some.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 10:21 AM (8K5CD)
162
153 Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 10:18 AM (llXky)
Gygax's problem was a focus on things not really tied to the core business, coupled with the charm of a porcupine towards his partners.
Lorraine Williams had a lot to do with the crash, but Gygax took his eye off the ball a lot.
Gygax's problem was a focus on things not really tied to the core business, coupled with the charm of a porcupine towards his partners.
Lorraine Williams had a lot to do with the crash, but Gygax took his eye off the ball a lot.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:21 AM (Lzpvj)
163
Nictzin Dyalhis
A writer for Weird Tales. But only wrote 8 stories. The science fiction ones I think are mediocre. All the rest I've really enjoyed a lot. If you like Clark Ashton Smith and Lovecraft and R Howard give them a shot. Not nearly as pessimistic as Lovecraft and not as poetic as Smith.
The Eternal Conflict, Dark Lore, and The Sea Witch are masterful.
The Sapphire Goddess is merely very good.
A writer for Weird Tales. But only wrote 8 stories. The science fiction ones I think are mediocre. All the rest I've really enjoyed a lot. If you like Clark Ashton Smith and Lovecraft and R Howard give them a shot. Not nearly as pessimistic as Lovecraft and not as poetic as Smith.
The Eternal Conflict, Dark Lore, and The Sea Witch are masterful.
The Sapphire Goddess is merely very good.
Posted by: Thesokorus at January 08, 2023 10:21 AM (1ais2)
164
I'm not a fan of the "info dump", nor am I a fan of -
"Hey, Joe. I see your hair's still red.
"Sure is, Bill, red as a robin's breast on Sunday morning."
Etc.
Sometimes info dumps etc are necessary in small amounts, but most of the time unless it's really important I think the reader can be caught up as the action/plot proceeds in a naturalistic way.
Posted by: naturalfake at January 08, 2023
***
Right; I keep such things short. And if the dialog would not be natural -- a cop making a long uninterrupted speech, or going into a Q-and-A like you mention -- my instinct, and the authors I use as models, say to stay natural.
"Hey, Joe. I see your hair's still red.
"Sure is, Bill, red as a robin's breast on Sunday morning."
Etc.
Sometimes info dumps etc are necessary in small amounts, but most of the time unless it's really important I think the reader can be caught up as the action/plot proceeds in a naturalistic way.
Posted by: naturalfake at January 08, 2023
***
Right; I keep such things short. And if the dialog would not be natural -- a cop making a long uninterrupted speech, or going into a Q-and-A like you mention -- my instinct, and the authors I use as models, say to stay natural.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:22 AM (omVj0)
165
As I was slowly wakening this morning, my mind drifted to Poe's A Cask of Amontillado and specifically to the fact that we are never told specifically what the thousand insults of Luchesi actually were.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023 at January 08, 2023 10:20 AM (FVME7)
---
That right there is efficient storytelling. You immediately think of what they could have been and then how much of a psycho the narrator is.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023 at January 08, 2023 10:20 AM (FVME7)
---
That right there is efficient storytelling. You immediately think of what they could have been and then how much of a psycho the narrator is.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 10:22 AM (llXky)
166
I try to keep at least piles of books, subject organization if I did would be 75.35 % war history and rest war novels.
Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2023 10:22 AM (xhxe8)
167
"Bad Teeth" by Simon Rich
Give it a whirl.
Posted by: naturalfake
Looks like a good one for bedtime reading. Library search says "New Teeth"--is that it?
Give it a whirl.
Posted by: naturalfake
Looks like a good one for bedtime reading. Library search says "New Teeth"--is that it?
Posted by: April - Dash my lace wigs! at January 08, 2023 10:23 AM (OX9vb)
168
Almost all my books are now electronic and live in my Kindle, so they are organized by Jeff Bezos in the way most convenient to him, I suppose.
Posted by: Sharkman at January 08, 2023 10:23 AM (233bX)
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023 at January 08, 2023 10:23 AM (FVME7)
170
I could imagine a nice map case, 3 foot wide by 4 in draw pull outs, flat glass top for display of maps
Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2023 10:24 AM (xhxe8)
171
The key point in the first, "The Roman Hat Mystery," is way outdated. Not to mention the motive that leads to murder.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023
***
In that case, you just have to look at the novel as a historical story, a view of a time some 90 years in the past. (My gosh -- EQ goes back to 1929, 94 years ago!)
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023
***
In that case, you just have to look at the novel as a historical story, a view of a time some 90 years in the past. (My gosh -- EQ goes back to 1929, 94 years ago!)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:25 AM (omVj0)
Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:25 AM (ykeLU)
173
169 Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023 at January 08, 2023 10:23 AM (FVME7)
Which ironically is sort of how he lost control of the kingdom, he spent a lot of time in Hollywood chasing movies that never happened.
Which ironically is sort of how he lost control of the kingdom, he spent a lot of time in Hollywood chasing movies that never happened.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:25 AM (Lzpvj)
174
Algernon Blackwood's The Willows. Weird fiction!
Posted by: 13times at January 08, 2023 10:25 AM (JIkWe)
175
@157 --
For that matter, skip "American Gun" and "Chinese Orange," which I think are the worst of the originals.
The "Chinese Orange" killer had a lot of time on his hands.
For that matter, skip "American Gun" and "Chinese Orange," which I think are the worst of the originals.
The "Chinese Orange" killer had a lot of time on his hands.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 10:27 AM (Om/di)
176
My point to him is not that he "must* do what I'm doing. It's that this is a valid way to do it.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:09 AM (omVj0)
It seems dialog should be present tense-ish because it's being "said" at the time, which for the character is the "present." Is that wrong?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:09 AM (omVj0)
It seems dialog should be present tense-ish because it's being "said" at the time, which for the character is the "present." Is that wrong?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023 10:27 AM (Angsy)
177
>>I could imagine a nice map case, 3 foot wide by 4 in draw pull outs, flat glass top for display of maps
Pretty accurate description of a nautical chart cabinet.
Pretty accurate description of a nautical chart cabinet.
Posted by: JackStraw at January 08, 2023 10:27 AM (ZLI7S)
178
Gygax's problem was a focus on things not really tied to the core business, coupled with the charm of a porcupine towards his partners.
Lorraine Williams had a lot to do with the crash, but Gygax took his eye off the ball a lot.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:21 AM (Lzpvj)
---
Per the book, Gygax didn't have much business sense and Williams was better for the company by that measure. She just didn't want to pay the creative talent what they were worth and they ended up leaving the company and going onto bigger and better things.
Lorraine Williams had a lot to do with the crash, but Gygax took his eye off the ball a lot.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:21 AM (Lzpvj)
---
Per the book, Gygax didn't have much business sense and Williams was better for the company by that measure. She just didn't want to pay the creative talent what they were worth and they ended up leaving the company and going onto bigger and better things.
Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 10:27 AM (bPkSk)
179
172 Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:25 AM (ykeLU)
https://www.dungeonsanddragons.movie/
Get the MacGuffin....
Frankly I am worried that they do not have any information on the setting, it really is sad in a way that there never has been an interlocking saga of the Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk either of which could support a franchise.
https://www.dungeonsanddragons.movie/
Get the MacGuffin....
Frankly I am worried that they do not have any information on the setting, it really is sad in a way that there never has been an interlocking saga of the Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk either of which could support a franchise.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:28 AM (Lzpvj)
180
I'm also reading "Believing the Lie" by Elizabeth George. She's an author who I'll read everything she writes. (or is it whom? dunno) Anyway, I know I must have read this one too but I can't remember a word of it so it's all new to me.
Posted by: grammie winger at January 08, 2023 10:28 AM (45fpk)
181
167 "Bad Teeth" by Simon Rich
Give it a whirl.
Posted by: naturalfake
Looks like a good one for bedtime reading. Library search says "New Teeth"--is that it?
Posted by: April - Dash my lace wigs! at January 08, 2023 10:23 AM (OX9vb)
Eek!
Yes, "New Teeth".
Stupid brain...
Give it a whirl.
Posted by: naturalfake
Looks like a good one for bedtime reading. Library search says "New Teeth"--is that it?
Posted by: April - Dash my lace wigs! at January 08, 2023 10:23 AM (OX9vb)
Eek!
Yes, "New Teeth".
Stupid brain...
Posted by: naturalfake at January 08, 2023 10:28 AM (KLPy8)
182
This week's read was "Destiny of the Republic" by Candice Millard, which covers the shooting of President Garfield, and the subsequent botched medical care.
Like "River of Doubt," she likes to plug in long pieces from primary sources, but it works well.
It has a bit of an Erik Larson feel, as she ties in some side topics on the current state of various inventions, and how they either did or didn't help the doctors.
Like "River of Doubt," she likes to plug in long pieces from primary sources, but it works well.
It has a bit of an Erik Larson feel, as she ties in some side topics on the current state of various inventions, and how they either did or didn't help the doctors.
Posted by: 2009Refugee at January 08, 2023 10:29 AM (8AONa)
Posted by: JT at January 08, 2023 10:29 AM (T4tVD)
184
Frankly I am worried that they do not have any information on the setting, it really is sad in a way that there never has been an interlocking saga of the Forgotten Realms or Greyhawk either of which could support a franchise.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:28 AM (Lzpvj)
---
A D&D Cinematic Universe is possible, but you'd need someone with vision to manage it and you'd need quality writing to create it. Both of which are sorely lacking in today's modern Hollywood.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:28 AM (Lzpvj)
---
A D&D Cinematic Universe is possible, but you'd need someone with vision to manage it and you'd need quality writing to create it. Both of which are sorely lacking in today's modern Hollywood.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2023 10:30 AM (BpYfr)
185
I wish book sites would add that detail.
Posted by: Weak Geek
I hope that compilation includes the contents of the 5 paperbacks I owned in the 70s that contained all of Mad's best TV show and comic strip parodies ("Batboy and Rubin", "Prince Violent", etc.).
I think the paperbacks were called The Mad Reader, The Brothers Mad, Utterly Mad, Inside Mad, and Mad Strikes Back. Very funny stuff.
Posted by: Weak Geek
I hope that compilation includes the contents of the 5 paperbacks I owned in the 70s that contained all of Mad's best TV show and comic strip parodies ("Batboy and Rubin", "Prince Violent", etc.).
I think the paperbacks were called The Mad Reader, The Brothers Mad, Utterly Mad, Inside Mad, and Mad Strikes Back. Very funny stuff.
Posted by: Sharkman at January 08, 2023 10:31 AM (233bX)
186
For that matter, skip "American Gun" and "Chinese Orange," which I think are the worst of the originals.
The "Chinese Orange" killer had a lot of time on his hands.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023
***
I have a solid fondness for American Gun. It was the first old-style EQ I ever read, and at age 13 my Roy Rogers-Gene Autry-Westerns in general phase was not far behind me. I love the flavor of the setting.
Chinese Orange is to be commended for its surreal murder scene and the visual elements of Ellery's explanation. Oddly, of the early ones, it might make the best movie because of that. Though Siamese Twin has that built-in ticking clock that all good thrillers need.
The "Chinese Orange" killer had a lot of time on his hands.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023
***
I have a solid fondness for American Gun. It was the first old-style EQ I ever read, and at age 13 my Roy Rogers-Gene Autry-Westerns in general phase was not far behind me. I love the flavor of the setting.
Chinese Orange is to be commended for its surreal murder scene and the visual elements of Ellery's explanation. Oddly, of the early ones, it might make the best movie because of that. Though Siamese Twin has that built-in ticking clock that all good thrillers need.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:31 AM (omVj0)
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 10:31 AM (Kd4bG)
188
178 Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 10:27 AM (bPkSk)
I'd say looking at her decisions she was cunning not sensible. She decided that what TSR was missing was some Buck Rogers so she destroyed Star Frontiers, cancelled Gangbusters, and hamstrung their most successful non D&D title from a financial standpoint "Marvel Superheroes." Given events of the last decade by several of the creators I have less pertebuity towards Williams than I once did she had a crew of unstable minds but it is what it is.
TSR was a reflection of the times it existed in and the crazy intellectual environment of 70s and 80s academia which was still more sane than this one.
I'd say looking at her decisions she was cunning not sensible. She decided that what TSR was missing was some Buck Rogers so she destroyed Star Frontiers, cancelled Gangbusters, and hamstrung their most successful non D&D title from a financial standpoint "Marvel Superheroes." Given events of the last decade by several of the creators I have less pertebuity towards Williams than I once did she had a crew of unstable minds but it is what it is.
TSR was a reflection of the times it existed in and the crazy intellectual environment of 70s and 80s academia which was still more sane than this one.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:31 AM (Lzpvj)
189
Also, I tend to organize paperbacks together as well as the hardcovers.
Posted by: dantesed at January 08, 2023 09:09 AM (88xKn)
I do that because of shelf heights
Posted by: dantesed at January 08, 2023 09:09 AM (88xKn)
I do that because of shelf heights
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 10:32 AM (Kd4bG)
190
Bonjour book readers. Now, to read the comments!
Posted by: Huck Follywood at January 08, 2023 10:32 AM (i+IM5)
191
Anything done by Wokeywood will destroy what it touches including D&D movie with trannie characters, mixed races over mixed genders.
Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2023 10:32 AM (xhxe8)
192
More information, please. Master and Commander is one of my favorite movies.
Posted by: JTB
All I know is what I saw on a YouTube 2023 movies video.
https://bit.ly/3ZcRpwG
Posted by: JTB
All I know is what I saw on a YouTube 2023 movies video.
https://bit.ly/3ZcRpwG
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023 at January 08, 2023 10:32 AM (FVME7)
193
Get the MacGuffin....
Posted by: sven
********
Dungeons amoerssand Dragons
While dragons are flamin' and puffin'
In the Dungeon they seek the MacGuffin
At the end of the day
I guess you could say
The movie's a film about nuffin'
Posted by: sven
********
Dungeons amoerssand Dragons
While dragons are flamin' and puffin'
In the Dungeon they seek the MacGuffin
At the end of the day
I guess you could say
The movie's a film about nuffin'
Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:32 AM (ykeLU)
194
>>>Anybody got any good ideas for storing maps? I have an extensive collection and it's a bit out of hand.
>Pretend you're a draftsman. Now go out and find yourself a flat file cabinet.
>Pretend you're a draftsman. Now go out and find yourself a flat file cabinet.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at January 08, 2023 10:32 AM (Er3sM)
195
To some, very limited, extent, a few of my books are organized. All the Tolkien and related books are on certain shelves. Same with CS Lewis and Chesterton. I try, not always successfully, to keep hobby related books together: fishing, wood carving, guns, drawing, etc.
Otherwise our backs are organized if 'mish-mash' is organized.
Otherwise our backs are organized if 'mish-mash' is organized.
Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 10:33 AM (7EjX1)
196
You have mail !
Posted by: JT
LOL
I like the people opener btw
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion
Lol ! I thought ya would !
Posted by: JT
LOL
I like the people opener btw
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion
Lol ! I thought ya would !
Posted by: JT at January 08, 2023 10:34 AM (T4tVD)
197
Books must be the one thing I don't keep very organized. It mostly ends up being a shelf of this and that series or author or subject. Then the ones I'm most likely to read are in the easiest to access shelves (not the top ones). And then there's the in work/planned read pile which is not organized at all.
At this point it sounds too daunting to organize and reshelf everything, so I guess it will all stay haphazard.
At this point it sounds too daunting to organize and reshelf everything, so I guess it will all stay haphazard.
Posted by: She Hobbit at January 08, 2023 10:34 AM (ftFVW)
198
It seems dialog should be present tense-ish because it's being "said" at the time, which for the character is the "present." Is that wrong?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023
***
You're right, as was said above. For each character the present is the present. If he's narrating events that happened in the past, say yesterday, he could go either way. "I walk into Lindy's to get some cheesecake, and I see Sky Masterson over by the window . . ." vs. "Yesterday I walked into Lindy's for some of their cheesecake, and saw Sky Masterson over by the window . . ."
I think whether he'd use present or past depends on what sort of character he is.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023
***
You're right, as was said above. For each character the present is the present. If he's narrating events that happened in the past, say yesterday, he could go either way. "I walk into Lindy's to get some cheesecake, and I see Sky Masterson over by the window . . ." vs. "Yesterday I walked into Lindy's for some of their cheesecake, and saw Sky Masterson over by the window . . ."
I think whether he'd use present or past depends on what sort of character he is.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:35 AM (omVj0)
199
Shelving: traditional novels make up a small proportion of my collection, being dwarfed by my coffee-table books, illustrated-information books, graphic novels, etc. So my shelves get organized by theme. One shelf for traditional prose novels. One shelf for the dinosaur/animal books. One shelf for the castles & military books. One shelf for the self-published graphic novels. One shelf for the Conan the Barbarian comics. One shelf for the Savage Sword of Conan comics. (Nearly 3' of shelf between the two of them!)
Given that my shelving is so cut up and spread around my room/house, this actually works out pretty well.
Given that my shelving is so cut up and spread around my room/house, this actually works out pretty well.
Posted by: Castle Guy at January 08, 2023 10:35 AM (Lhaco)
200
>Pretend you're a draftsman. Now go out and find yourself a flat file cabinet.
Posted by: Dr. Bone
=====
After reading that sentence, my mind detects a strong whiff of ammonia as a blueprint is fed out of the machine.
Posted by: Dr. Bone
=====
After reading that sentence, my mind detects a strong whiff of ammonia as a blueprint is fed out of the machine.
Posted by: 2009Refugee at January 08, 2023 10:35 AM (8AONa)
201
Shelf organization is less of a problem for me than shelf dusting, TBH.
Posted by: April - Dash my lace wigs! at January 08, 2023 10:35 AM (OX9vb)
202
Yes, "New Teeth".
Stupid brain...
Posted by: naturalfake
*******
"Bad Teeth" was the British language translation.
Stupid brain...
Posted by: naturalfake
*******
"Bad Teeth" was the British language translation.
Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:35 AM (ykeLU)
203
BTW, I highly recommend The War on the West by Douglas Murray, if you want to understand the nihilistic tendencies of the woke left, and the negative impact it is having on science, art, history studies, music, and books. Their goal is merely the destruction of all culture that is not explicitly Marxist. They create nothing, and seek only to destroy.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 10:36 AM (74LzX)
204
I don't own a lot of books except on my Kindle. Rev has a ton of Bible commentaries and other theological writings, and they are all in one place. I probably have less than 2 dozen physical books. I either borrow them from the library or download them.
Posted by: grammie winger at January 08, 2023 10:37 AM (45fpk)
205
193 Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:32 AM (ykeLU)
Yup, this film may do well just because the Lord of the Rings fans who were pissed off by "We Wuz Rangz" on Amazon may swarm it.
Hell I hope it is good, what it likely will not be is an interlocking story about the backgrounds of several characters showing the actual growth and binding of the party. The adventurers in D ampersand D are essentially their world's equivalent of a SpecOp team. The whole thing is a challenge to write, and filming a self-contained two hour story for a genre that relies on the personal interaction of a five man band is daunting from a scripting standpoint I'd wager.
Yup, this film may do well just because the Lord of the Rings fans who were pissed off by "We Wuz Rangz" on Amazon may swarm it.
Hell I hope it is good, what it likely will not be is an interlocking story about the backgrounds of several characters showing the actual growth and binding of the party. The adventurers in D ampersand D are essentially their world's equivalent of a SpecOp team. The whole thing is a challenge to write, and filming a self-contained two hour story for a genre that relies on the personal interaction of a five man band is daunting from a scripting standpoint I'd wager.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:37 AM (Lzpvj)
206
I have 4 bookcases and 5 piles of To Be Read books.
Posted by: JT at January 08, 2023 10:37 AM (T4tVD)
207
OT I recently stumbled upon a photo of my wife and I taken at a wedding in Scotland some 20 years ago, when the rest of you were only 9. I was shocked to see I was actually kind of good looking in a Prince Charles formal jacket.
Carry on.
Carry on.
Posted by: That NLurker it comes in pints? at January 08, 2023 10:37 AM (eGTCV)
208
That right there is efficient storytelling. You immediately think of what they could have been and then how much of a psycho the narrator is.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd
And then you also realize that the thousand insults were probably just insignificant things that nobody sane would take as an insult, and that the narrator had spent 20 years running into deadly insults in his head. And that he therefore walled up the victim for reasons the victim couldn't possibly understand.
Which strikes me as true for most murderers and their victims throughout history. "Hey, Jim! Howzit goin'?!" "DIE, YOU DEMON!!" "Say. What?" *thud*
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd
And then you also realize that the thousand insults were probably just insignificant things that nobody sane would take as an insult, and that the narrator had spent 20 years running into deadly insults in his head. And that he therefore walled up the victim for reasons the victim couldn't possibly understand.
Which strikes me as true for most murderers and their victims throughout history. "Hey, Jim! Howzit goin'?!" "DIE, YOU DEMON!!" "Say. What?" *thud*
Posted by: Sharkman at January 08, 2023 10:39 AM (233bX)
209
Not a lot from Pliny this week. This plant did remind me of Princess Harry:
"The sillybum resembles the white chamæleon, and is a plant quite as prickly. In Cilicia, Syria, and Phœnicia, the countries where it grows, it is not thought worth while to boil it, the cooking of it being so extremely troublesome, it is said. It is of no use whatever in medicine."
"The sillybum resembles the white chamæleon, and is a plant quite as prickly. In Cilicia, Syria, and Phœnicia, the countries where it grows, it is not thought worth while to boil it, the cooking of it being so extremely troublesome, it is said. It is of no use whatever in medicine."
Posted by: fd at January 08, 2023 10:39 AM (iayUP)
210
I recently read Big trouble and Tricky Business by Dave Barry.
I have read both books several times each. great mix of characters , great plotlines.
I have read both books several times each. great mix of characters , great plotlines.
Posted by: JT at January 08, 2023 10:39 AM (T4tVD)
211
What are some of YOUR peculiar rules for arranging books? Or do you just toss them on a shelf?
--
I am actually in the process of weeding and rearranging my books. I don't have a lot - I try to keep only books I intend to re-read. My favorite genre is fantasy, so that with sf gets a bookcase, arranged alpha by author. Only 3 out of the 5 shelves on it fit hardbound, so the other 2 shelves get paperbacks, doubled up. It's tight. This is in my messy workroom.
Workroom also has craft &reference books, and one shelf will he to-read books.
Hubby is using up a lot of shelf space in the workroom with old computer books, which he's starting to cull one by one. Goodbye, 1998 era pc manuals!
Nonfiction and classics goes in the living room. Have to weed that so one bookcase can be classic juvenile lit and photo albums. Nonfiction is arranged by subject.
Once that's all done, gonna libib everything.
--
I am actually in the process of weeding and rearranging my books. I don't have a lot - I try to keep only books I intend to re-read. My favorite genre is fantasy, so that with sf gets a bookcase, arranged alpha by author. Only 3 out of the 5 shelves on it fit hardbound, so the other 2 shelves get paperbacks, doubled up. It's tight. This is in my messy workroom.
Workroom also has craft &reference books, and one shelf will he to-read books.
Hubby is using up a lot of shelf space in the workroom with old computer books, which he's starting to cull one by one. Goodbye, 1998 era pc manuals!
Nonfiction and classics goes in the living room. Have to weed that so one bookcase can be classic juvenile lit and photo albums. Nonfiction is arranged by subject.
Once that's all done, gonna libib everything.
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 10:39 AM (Kd4bG)
212
There will also be a D&D movie released this year.
*******
What will it be about?
Posted by: Muldoon
I was hoping for a movie about chicks with double D bra size but apparently that's not right.
*******
What will it be about?
Posted by: Muldoon
I was hoping for a movie about chicks with double D bra size but apparently that's not right.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023 at January 08, 2023 10:40 AM (FVME7)
213
What will it be about?
Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:25 AM (ykeLU)
Just roll the dice and take your chances.
Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:25 AM (ykeLU)
Just roll the dice and take your chances.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023 10:40 AM (Angsy)
214
@171 --
And if you stick with the original conceit that these were cases related by a retired, married Ellery. ...
Church beckons. Back this afternoon.
And if you stick with the original conceit that these were cases related by a retired, married Ellery. ...
Church beckons. Back this afternoon.
Posted by: Weak Geek at January 08, 2023 10:40 AM (Om/di)
215
Rifleman Dodd is my favorite non-Hornblower Forester book.
He becomes separated from his unit in Spain during napoleonic war & leads resistance against France. Classic Forester book filled with leadership lessons.
Spoiler (maybe why I remember it so fondly):
at the end he rejoins his unit, back to the ranks, never reports to anyone about what he'd been doing.
He becomes separated from his unit in Spain during napoleonic war & leads resistance against France. Classic Forester book filled with leadership lessons.
Spoiler (maybe why I remember it so fondly):
at the end he rejoins his unit, back to the ranks, never reports to anyone about what he'd been doing.
Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at January 08, 2023 10:40 AM (2j1hH)
216
192 ... AW,
Thanks for the link about a Master and Commander prequel. As you said, not much information yet. Here's hoping it happens and is up to the quality of the first movie.
If it is full of woke crap, the fans will tear it to shreds. And they should.
Thanks for the link about a Master and Commander prequel. As you said, not much information yet. Here's hoping it happens and is up to the quality of the first movie.
If it is full of woke crap, the fans will tear it to shreds. And they should.
Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 10:41 AM (7EjX1)
217
My birdbath is STILL frozen, btw.
Posted by: JT at January 08, 2023 10:41 AM (T4tVD)
218
There's a Humble Bundle scifi fantasy collection available with titles from Sanderson and and a bunch other authors. $25 for 20 ebooks. Some portion goes to a charity called gameheads that trains "youth of color" for tech jobs. Whatever that means. Some interesting books though.
Posted by: long yellow thing Dream at January 08, 2023 10:42 AM (2oHWb)
219
Shelf organization? Here you go through my collection, from left to right:
1. Seforim (Torah and adjacent materials), loosely grouped by subject matter (Bible & commentaries, halacha, festivals, Kabbalah, philosophy, etc.); multi-volume sets together in order.
2. Other nonfiction in loose Dewey Decimal order.
3. Fiction in alphabetical order by author surname; anthologies at the end, loosely grouped by content (sci-fi, mystery, etc.).
1. Seforim (Torah and adjacent materials), loosely grouped by subject matter (Bible & commentaries, halacha, festivals, Kabbalah, philosophy, etc.); multi-volume sets together in order.
2. Other nonfiction in loose Dewey Decimal order.
3. Fiction in alphabetical order by author surname; anthologies at the end, loosely grouped by content (sci-fi, mystery, etc.).
Posted by: werewife, princess of Delray Beach at January 08, 2023 10:42 AM (SPNTN)
220
Thanks to whoever recommended the thriller "The First Horseman" by John Case. Yes, for a novel written in 1998, it is very timely. Millennarian eco-nuts want to rid Gaia of superfluous humanity and devise a biological expedient by tampering with a sample of the 1918 Flu.
Posted by: All Hail Eris, Sans-Culottes (except for the Book Thread) at January 08, 2023 10:42 AM (Dc2NZ)
221
Look up 'map cabinets'. These have short but wide drawers to store maps and loose dicuments and keep them out of the sunlight. I ran across a beautiful one at a flea market a few years ago. I should have grabbed it. I think Amazon carries some.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 10:21 AM (8K5CD)
A filing cabinet... Thank you. Shit. Why didn't I think of that?
If they are doing a D&D movie how are they going to cast the Drow?
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 10:21 AM (8K5CD)
A filing cabinet... Thank you. Shit. Why didn't I think of that?
If they are doing a D&D movie how are they going to cast the Drow?
Posted by: Reforger at January 08, 2023 10:43 AM (wN6Kr)
222
Rifleman Dodd is my favorite non-Hornblower Forester book.
He becomes separated from his unit in Spain during napoleonic war & leads resistance against France. Classic Forester book filled with leadership lessons.
Spoiler (maybe why I remember it so fondly):
at the end he rejoins his unit, back to the ranks, never reports to anyone about what he'd been doing.
Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at January 08, 2023
***
Maybe that's the one I am thinking of rather than a title called The Gun. Budrys said that to me at Deep South Con in 1983, after all.
He becomes separated from his unit in Spain during napoleonic war & leads resistance against France. Classic Forester book filled with leadership lessons.
Spoiler (maybe why I remember it so fondly):
at the end he rejoins his unit, back to the ranks, never reports to anyone about what he'd been doing.
Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at January 08, 2023
***
Maybe that's the one I am thinking of rather than a title called The Gun. Budrys said that to me at Deep South Con in 1983, after all.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:43 AM (omVj0)
223
I could see a D&D movie having like six or ten alternate endings, like Clue, The Movie (or was it Murder by Death?)
Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:43 AM (ykeLU)
224
>>> I was hoping for a movie about chicks with double D bra size but apparently that's not right.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023 at January 08, 2023 10:40 AM (FVME7)
I'm sure there are "movies" of that variety released once a day at least. High demand and all.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023 at January 08, 2023 10:40 AM (FVME7)
I'm sure there are "movies" of that variety released once a day at least. High demand and all.
Posted by: long yellow thing Dream at January 08, 2023 10:44 AM (2oHWb)
225
The whole thing is a challenge to write, and filming a self-contained two hour story for a genre that relies on the personal interaction of a five man band is daunting from a scripting standpoint I'd wager.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:37 AM (Lzpvj)
---
As you point out, it's difficult to write such a tale, though it can be done. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 pulls it off reasonably well.
I just have no confidence that the writers of modern fantasy movies are at all interested in the genre in which they are writing. The writers on The Witcher were downright hostile towards the source material, I think, which is one reason Henry Cavill left.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:37 AM (Lzpvj)
---
As you point out, it's difficult to write such a tale, though it can be done. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 1 pulls it off reasonably well.
I just have no confidence that the writers of modern fantasy movies are at all interested in the genre in which they are writing. The writers on The Witcher were downright hostile towards the source material, I think, which is one reason Henry Cavill left.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2023 10:45 AM (BpYfr)
226
My birdbath is STILL frozen, btw.
Posted by: JT
*******
Don't throw the baby birds out with the birdbath watr.
/stuff my grandma used to say
Posted by: JT
*******
Don't throw the baby birds out with the birdbath watr.
/stuff my grandma used to say
Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:45 AM (ykeLU)
227
I'm amazed "chamæleon" and "Phœnicia" got thru. Minx 0.8 beta rocks!
Posted by: fd at January 08, 2023 10:46 AM (iayUP)
228
I organize books according to the room. The family room on the lower floor has books to tempt my grandkids. All the Master and Commander books, Louis l'amour, etc. Plus my sewing/knitting books, since that's where I'll be working. My office: mysteries, whatever I buy in the course of research, plus anything on writing. My husband's office: engineering, geography, science fiction. Cookbooks: our architect built shelves around the corner of a cabinet. Almost big enough!
Posted by: Wenda at January 08, 2023 10:46 AM (uFqRH)
229
Good point about getting things wrong. My colleague also does not understand how a narrator/detective can reach an incorrect conclusion about the crime, and have to backtrack on his own logic.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:04 AM (omVj0)
A good short example is The Tenth Clew by Dashiell Hammett. At some point the theory doesn't jibe with what is known and you can either keep chasing it or just dump it and start over.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:04 AM (omVj0)
A good short example is The Tenth Clew by Dashiell Hammett. At some point the theory doesn't jibe with what is known and you can either keep chasing it or just dump it and start over.
Posted by: Kindltot at January 08, 2023 10:47 AM (xhaym)
230
I get most are not like me, I don't have piles of unpainted miniatures waiting to get painted hopefully before I die and do not have 1 book I haven't read at least once.
Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2023 10:47 AM (xhxe8)
231
217 My birdbath is STILL frozen, btw.
Posted by: JT
Your birdbath and Tank's kiddie pool have had the same status these past days.
We keep it filled all winter. Even if it's only in the upper 40s, he likes to flop in that after his walk. Weirdo.
Posted by: JT
Your birdbath and Tank's kiddie pool have had the same status these past days.
We keep it filled all winter. Even if it's only in the upper 40s, he likes to flop in that after his walk. Weirdo.
Posted by: April - Dash my lace wigs! at January 08, 2023 10:47 AM (OX9vb)
232
I've mentioned, as have others, several of Alastair Reynolds' excellent science fiction works, such as House of Suns and Eversion.
If you really like hard science fiction, I highly recommend reading his entire corpus in his "Revelation Space" universe. There are a bunch of short stories, a few novellas and about 10 novels that should be read in the internal timeline order found at this Wikipedia page:
https://tinyurl.com/AR-Revelation-Space
Reynolds' world/universe-building is outstanding, his characters pretty well-developed, and his themes and plots quite interesting. I just spent about 6 months plowing through the entire list, and very much enjoyed the journey.
If you really like hard science fiction, I highly recommend reading his entire corpus in his "Revelation Space" universe. There are a bunch of short stories, a few novellas and about 10 novels that should be read in the internal timeline order found at this Wikipedia page:
https://tinyurl.com/AR-Revelation-Space
Reynolds' world/universe-building is outstanding, his characters pretty well-developed, and his themes and plots quite interesting. I just spent about 6 months plowing through the entire list, and very much enjoyed the journey.
Posted by: Sharkman at January 08, 2023 10:47 AM (233bX)
233
JT, it could be me if I'd ever been to Rio De Janeiro.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 08, 2023 10:47 AM (Y+l9t)
234
I just have no confidence that the writers of modern fantasy movies are at all interested in the genre in which they are writing. The writers on The Witcher were downright hostile towards the source material, I think, which is one reason Henry Cavill left.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2023 10:45 AM (BpYfr)
----------
Insty had a link which talked about this very subject. From what I remember, Cavill is a self-described geek and demanded fidelity to source material, otherwise, he was gone.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2023 10:45 AM (BpYfr)
----------
Insty had a link which talked about this very subject. From what I remember, Cavill is a self-described geek and demanded fidelity to source material, otherwise, he was gone.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing(5pTK/) at January 08, 2023 10:48 AM (5pTK/)
235
BTW, I highly recommend The War on the West by Douglas Murray, if you want to understand the nihilistic tendencies of the woke left, and the negative impact it is having on science, art, history studies, music, and books. Their goal is merely the destruction of all culture that is not explicitly Marxist. They create nothing, and seek only to destroy.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 10:36 AM (74LzX)
---
And then they an argue about "true Marxism."
It really is a demonic cult, dressed up in economics.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at January 08, 2023 10:36 AM (74LzX)
---
And then they an argue about "true Marxism."
It really is a demonic cult, dressed up in economics.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 10:48 AM (llXky)
236
I wouldn't normally consider a book about business and financial shenanigans to be all that interesting.
When Atlas Shrugged was new, establishment critics of course hated it -- Alger Hiss famously characterized it as "To a gas chamber, go" which put Buckley on both sides of the big issues -- but some literators predicted it was the first wave of a new genre, Business Fiction, and cited hit titles like "The Man in The Grey Flannel Suit" and "Generation of Vipers" to illustrate their case. "Executive Suite" was about furniture, kind of, in 1954.
There has been no shortage of newer Big Novels and major-motion-pictures about highly dramatic business and finance issues, though I think you could say they are more often about the particular industry being managed or financed, or the villains villaining.
When Atlas Shrugged was new, establishment critics of course hated it -- Alger Hiss famously characterized it as "To a gas chamber, go" which put Buckley on both sides of the big issues -- but some literators predicted it was the first wave of a new genre, Business Fiction, and cited hit titles like "The Man in The Grey Flannel Suit" and "Generation of Vipers" to illustrate their case. "Executive Suite" was about furniture, kind of, in 1954.
There has been no shortage of newer Big Novels and major-motion-pictures about highly dramatic business and finance issues, though I think you could say they are more often about the particular industry being managed or financed, or the villains villaining.
Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at January 08, 2023 10:48 AM (jYCXf)
237
Speaking of weeding books - anyone want a box of hardbound GRRM GOT books? Free but you'd have to pay for the postage.
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 10:49 AM (Kd4bG)
238
I was watching my younger grandson this morning while mom took the older one to a lesson. We were reading from the book Lassie, Come Home. When I was a child reading that book, I was aware of the plight of the coal miners and the reason why Joe's dad was hacking and why the grandfathers had to sleep sitting up. It was more than just a dog story about a dog overcoming dreadful events to get home.
Posted by: CN at January 08, 2023 10:49 AM (Zzbjj)
239
JT, it could be me if I'd ever been to Rio De Janeiro.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice)
oh.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice)
oh.
Posted by: JT at January 08, 2023 10:50 AM (T4tVD)
240
A D&D Cinematic Universe is possible, but you'd need someone with vision to manage it and you'd need quality writing to create it. Both of which are sorely lacking in today's modern Hollywood.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2023 10:30 AM (BpYfr)
Just the Drizzt Do'Urden books would generate 3 or more movies.
Another fantasy series that I would love to see as a movie series would be Anne McCaffrey's Pern.
-SLV
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2023 10:30 AM (BpYfr)
Just the Drizzt Do'Urden books would generate 3 or more movies.
Another fantasy series that I would love to see as a movie series would be Anne McCaffrey's Pern.
-SLV
Posted by: Shy Lurking Vote at January 08, 2023 10:50 AM (yXpN8)
241
>>>After reading that sentence, my mind detects a strong whiff of ammonia as a blueprint is fed out of the machine.
>I few years back, we had an ammonia machine located in a utility room. It was fine if you didn't have to make more than 1/2 dozen prints, if you needed more it would make you sick. One time I had dozens of prints I needed to make and after cranking them out, I had a headache the rest of the day. I bitched at management to replace the ammonia machine with a diazo machine. "no money in the budget" "cost too much." So the next time I needed to make prints, I accidentally left the ammonia machine on all night. I got diazo machine the following week.
>I few years back, we had an ammonia machine located in a utility room. It was fine if you didn't have to make more than 1/2 dozen prints, if you needed more it would make you sick. One time I had dozens of prints I needed to make and after cranking them out, I had a headache the rest of the day. I bitched at management to replace the ammonia machine with a diazo machine. "no money in the budget" "cost too much." So the next time I needed to make prints, I accidentally left the ammonia machine on all night. I got diazo machine the following week.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at January 08, 2023 10:50 AM (Er3sM)
242
You're right, as was said above.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:35 AM (omVj0)
Yeah, I saw those other comments. My way of perusing the thread makes me miss others all the time. When I see something I want to respond to, I do it right away and can't see other comments yet. I like to read slowly so I don't rush through the thread and have to sit around saying, "Come on people. Post!" So, I can be late responding and just duplicate what others have said.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:35 AM (omVj0)
Yeah, I saw those other comments. My way of perusing the thread makes me miss others all the time. When I see something I want to respond to, I do it right away and can't see other comments yet. I like to read slowly so I don't rush through the thread and have to sit around saying, "Come on people. Post!" So, I can be late responding and just duplicate what others have said.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at January 08, 2023 10:51 AM (Angsy)
243
I have had people try to give me horizontal cabinets big enough to hold 36X48" sheets. I don't have anywhere to put one though.
One place to watch might be county/city auctions. A lot of engineering departments are scanning old stuff and tossing their plan cabinets.
One place to watch might be county/city auctions. A lot of engineering departments are scanning old stuff and tossing their plan cabinets.
Posted by: fd at January 08, 2023 10:51 AM (iayUP)
244
I just have no confidence that the writers of modern fantasy movies are at all interested in the genre in which they are writing. The writers on The Witcher were downright hostile towards the source material, I think, which is one reason Henry Cavill left.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel
Recently saw previews for the Mayfair Witches series and lost all hope for ever seeing a good adaptation of that series. Anne Rice gave them rich and interesting source material, but within the minute and a half of video I saw it was clear the writers didn't understand or care about the story. And while many around these parts love the Daddario, she is really just not right for the role of Rowan Mayfair.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel
Recently saw previews for the Mayfair Witches series and lost all hope for ever seeing a good adaptation of that series. Anne Rice gave them rich and interesting source material, but within the minute and a half of video I saw it was clear the writers didn't understand or care about the story. And while many around these parts love the Daddario, she is really just not right for the role of Rowan Mayfair.
Posted by: She Hobbit at January 08, 2023 10:51 AM (ftFVW)
245
Is D&D the one where the hero gets eaten by a Grue?
Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:51 AM (ykeLU)
246
As for reading, yesterday I finished Niven & Barnes's 2015 The Seascape Tattoo. It features magic in what seems to be a very ancient or alternate American Southwest; possibly an offshoot of Niven's own Magic Goes Away stories. As usual with Niven at his best, everything is clear and the writing is spare and sharp.
I picked up something odd, a volume of 2 SF/fantasy novellas by . . . Walter Moseley. Yes, the detective author of the Easy Rawlins stories. The blurbs sounded good, so I took it along. Also I took out an anthology celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Western Writers of America, and 2 Ruth Rendell-as-Barbara Vine novels I don't think I've read
I picked up something odd, a volume of 2 SF/fantasy novellas by . . . Walter Moseley. Yes, the detective author of the Easy Rawlins stories. The blurbs sounded good, so I took it along. Also I took out an anthology celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Western Writers of America, and 2 Ruth Rendell-as-Barbara Vine novels I don't think I've read
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:52 AM (omVj0)
247
The Gun was made into a movie (Sinatra !), called The Pride & The Passion. Also in Spain during peninsular war.
I'd rewatch, have not read the book.
I'd rewatch, have not read the book.
Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at January 08, 2023 10:53 AM (2j1hH)
248
More recommendations. Anything by Mark Helprin, including his classic "A Soldier of the Great War", "Winter's Tale", and "Memoir from Antproof Case". He also has several short story collections such as "Refiner's Fire". Can't recommend him more highly. He's a tremendous writer.
Posted by: Sharkman at January 08, 2023 10:53 AM (233bX)
249
222 ... From a distant memory, I think there were two Forester books about the Peninsula War: "Rifleman Dodd" and "The Gun". So maybe you both are correct.
Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 10:54 AM (7EjX1)
250
244 Posted by: She Hobbit at January 08, 2023 10:51 AM (ftFVW)
The modern cinematic writer is not telling stories so much as delivering "the message" or more properly "THE message."
There is nothing to them but the internal monologue screaming in their head that demands feeding.
You could hold them at gunpoint and force them to understand that their work is full of people with their own goals and points of view and they must be to some degree self-respecting and they would refuse to grasp it.
The modern cinematic writer is not telling stories so much as delivering "the message" or more properly "THE message."
There is nothing to them but the internal monologue screaming in their head that demands feeding.
You could hold them at gunpoint and force them to understand that their work is full of people with their own goals and points of view and they must be to some degree self-respecting and they would refuse to grasp it.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:54 AM (Lzpvj)
251
Recently saw previews for the Mayfair Witches series and lost all hope for ever seeing a good adaptation of that series. Anne Rice gave them rich and interesting source material, but within the minute and a half of video I saw it was clear the writers didn't understand or care about the story. And while many around these parts love the Daddario, she is really just not right for the role of Rowan Mayfair.
Posted by: She Hobbit at January 08, 2023
***
I read The Witching Hour years ago,, and was not happy with the ending. It was as if Rice said, "Yeah, there'll be a sequel and I know you're going to buy it, so I'll just end this here. Bye."
It was quite good up to that point.
Posted by: She Hobbit at January 08, 2023
***
I read The Witching Hour years ago,, and was not happy with the ending. It was as if Rice said, "Yeah, there'll be a sequel and I know you're going to buy it, so I'll just end this here. Bye."
It was quite good up to that point.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:54 AM (omVj0)
252
I'd say looking at her decisions she was cunning not sensible. She decided that what TSR was missing was some Buck Rogers so she destroyed Star Frontiers, cancelled Gangbusters, and hamstrung their most successful non D&D title from a financial standpoint "Marvel Superheroes."
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:31 AM (Lzpvj)
---
TSR went into the Buck Rogers business because Williams and her brother owned the rights to Buck Rogers. Star Frontiers was pretty fun, it just got no support.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:31 AM (Lzpvj)
---
TSR went into the Buck Rogers business because Williams and her brother owned the rights to Buck Rogers. Star Frontiers was pretty fun, it just got no support.
Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 10:54 AM (bPkSk)
253
I watched The Pale Blue Eye on Netflix this week. It is a murder mystery set at West Point in the 1800's. One of the main characters is Edger Allen Poe who actually attended West Point. I can't discuss it without spoilers ao just going to comment that it made me vey curious about Poe. Even though this is fiction, it made me wonder which aspects of the character were based on truth.....
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 08, 2023 10:54 AM (Y+l9t)
254
Is D&D the one where the hero gets eaten by a Grue?
Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:51 AM (ykeLU)
---
You're thinking of Zork, which also has a pretty rich backstory...
Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:51 AM (ykeLU)
---
You're thinking of Zork, which also has a pretty rich backstory...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2023 10:55 AM (BpYfr)
255
248 More recommendations. Anything by Mark Helprin, including his classic "A Soldier of the Great War", "Winter's Tale", and "Memoir from Antproof Case". He also has several short story collections such as "Refiner's Fire". Can't recommend him more highly. He's a tremendous writer.
Posted by: Sharkman at January 08, 2023 10:53 AM (233bX)
I think I may have to christen one of my shelves "Sharkman recommended."
Posted by: Sharkman at January 08, 2023 10:53 AM (233bX)
I think I may have to christen one of my shelves "Sharkman recommended."
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2023 10:55 AM (PiwSw)
256
Watched ep one of Mayfair Witches. Have not read the books.
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 10:55 AM (Kd4bG)
257
TSR went into the Buck Rogers business because Williams and her brother owned the rights to Buck Rogers. Star Frontiers was pretty fun, it just got no support.
Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 10:54 AM (bPkSk)
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Star Frontiers was the very first role playing game I ever played. I was a dralasite! (basically a walking, talking amoeba)
Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 10:54 AM (bPkSk)
---
Star Frontiers was the very first role playing game I ever played. I was a dralasite! (basically a walking, talking amoeba)
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2023 10:56 AM (BpYfr)
258
@101 Just started Tress of the Emerald Sea. Not that far into it to give a full opinion but to say it feels a little like The Princess Bride. There is a narrator who refers to other parts of the Cosmere so it is related.
----
It was, in fact, inspired by the question, "What if Buttercup had not accepted Wesley's death, but had decided to go look for him, instead?" Sanderson mentions this in the Afterword.
I read it in full yesterday. It was a fun book. I won't spoil anything. But Sanderson does have a lot of fun with one of the characters, and uses him to poke fun at bad fashion choices such as black slacks with white athletic socks, wearing socks with sandals, and other fashion horrors.
The next e-book - which is not Cosmere-related - is due out in April.
----
It was, in fact, inspired by the question, "What if Buttercup had not accepted Wesley's death, but had decided to go look for him, instead?" Sanderson mentions this in the Afterword.
I read it in full yesterday. It was a fun book. I won't spoil anything. But Sanderson does have a lot of fun with one of the characters, and uses him to poke fun at bad fashion choices such as black slacks with white athletic socks, wearing socks with sandals, and other fashion horrors.
The next e-book - which is not Cosmere-related - is due out in April.
Posted by: junior at January 08, 2023 10:56 AM (PTw5h)
259
252 Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 10:54 AM (bPkSk)
Quite I was doing my best not to go on a tear about how the Dille trust managed to alienate Buck Rogers' fanbase with their "darker and edgier" TSR updates and wreck existing IPs that could fill the thread.
A lot of people worked really hard to fail as hard as it did.
Quite I was doing my best not to go on a tear about how the Dille trust managed to alienate Buck Rogers' fanbase with their "darker and edgier" TSR updates and wreck existing IPs that could fill the thread.
A lot of people worked really hard to fail as hard as it did.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:57 AM (Lzpvj)
260
Looked up the Master and Commander prequel and it appears to be in very early stages of development. It will be based on the first novel in the series
Posted by: Smell the Glove at January 08, 2023 10:57 AM (dHzaG)
261
Just finished the Texian Iliad by Hardin. It's the military background to our revolution. As I live in and around all these places and have tramped most of the ground, fascinating read and great set of illustrations. Heartily recommend to any fellow Texans or those that wish they were!
Posted by: Indignacio Vindacatorem at January 08, 2023 10:57 AM (oWBc3)
262
And then they an argue about "true Marxism."
It really is a demonic cult, dressed up in economics.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 10:48 AM (llXky)
--------------
Never will the nihilists of the West understand capitalism is what gave them the time to indulge in their belief system and, if they succeed in their stated goals, they'll be lucky if they're able to put food on the table.
It really is a demonic cult, dressed up in economics.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at January 08, 2023 10:48 AM (llXky)
--------------
Never will the nihilists of the West understand capitalism is what gave them the time to indulge in their belief system and, if they succeed in their stated goals, they'll be lucky if they're able to put food on the table.
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing(5pTK/) at January 08, 2023 10:58 AM (5pTK/)
Posted by: Muldoon at January 08, 2023 10:58 AM (ykeLU)
264
Even though this is fiction, it made me wonder which aspects of the character were based on truth.....
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice)
It was on the telly while I was cooking but I am gonna guess HIGHLY fictionalized.
But I think they were respectful of the real Poe, and the actor really steals the show from Bale. Gonna rewatch when I can pay attention.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice)
It was on the telly while I was cooking but I am gonna guess HIGHLY fictionalized.
But I think they were respectful of the real Poe, and the actor really steals the show from Bale. Gonna rewatch when I can pay attention.
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 10:58 AM (Kd4bG)
265
It was quite good up to that point.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere
Personally didn't read them until all three books were out, so that didn't really bother me. I can definitely see how that would be a frustrating end to a pretty long book if you didn't have the next installment right at hand.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere
Personally didn't read them until all three books were out, so that didn't really bother me. I can definitely see how that would be a frustrating end to a pretty long book if you didn't have the next installment right at hand.
Posted by: She Hobbit at January 08, 2023 11:00 AM (ftFVW)
266
@257 Star Frontiers was the very first role playing game I ever played. I was a dralasite! (basically a walking, talking amoeba)
----
Why is a dralasite big, grey, and wrinkly? Because if it were small, white, and smooth, it might be mistaken for an aspirin!
/Rimshot
----
Why is a dralasite big, grey, and wrinkly? Because if it were small, white, and smooth, it might be mistaken for an aspirin!
/Rimshot
Posted by: junior at January 08, 2023 11:00 AM (PTw5h)
267
I was able to read a few books over the holiday months. First up was Secrets of the Secret Service by Gary J. Byrne. This is not my usual fare, but a friend thought I might find it interesting. Holy cow! As it happens, I read it just after the Twitter disclosures began to drop, and in particular, the reveal of additional information on the CIA's potential involvement in the JFK assassination.
The book reveals the dysfunction of the Secret Service as a government agency, the weak leadership which allows the permissive politicization of presidential activities versus what needs to be done (or not) in order to guarantee the safety of protectees, the moral decay present in the ranks, and the multiple presidential assassination attempts in the past. My estimation of the Secret Service has been reduced quite a few notches after having been permitted a peek behind the curtain. If even half of the recent incidents reported in the book are true, our nation has been blessed to have the low number of incidents and attempts made thus far.
The book reveals the dysfunction of the Secret Service as a government agency, the weak leadership which allows the permissive politicization of presidential activities versus what needs to be done (or not) in order to guarantee the safety of protectees, the moral decay present in the ranks, and the multiple presidential assassination attempts in the past. My estimation of the Secret Service has been reduced quite a few notches after having been permitted a peek behind the curtain. If even half of the recent incidents reported in the book are true, our nation has been blessed to have the low number of incidents and attempts made thus far.
Posted by: Legally Sufficient & Ungovernable at January 08, 2023 11:00 AM (hPMYc)
268
Btw Baen just released the e-ARC of Correia's latest son of the black sword series, in case anyone can't wait until April for the published copy.
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 11:01 AM (Kd4bG)
269
Thanks Junior! Fun to find out I was right! I am 29, well I've been 29 for awhile, and discovered Sanderson fairly recently but he is absolutely unique. I am having fun with this book and glad you didn't give any spoilers.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 08, 2023 11:01 AM (Y+l9t)
270
ACe vs. The Shelvies: You either purchase and assemble pre-designed freestanding shelf sets, or apply some version of "Swedish" adjustable brackets to your walls (with luck, wall studs). Either way, this will happen: you sort by subject and author, look at the collection, and choose your shelf (or spacing) accordingly. Then you go to one library sale, and have to start laying the big ones on their side.
Many, many planks and concrete blocks were sold this way.
Many, many planks and concrete blocks were sold this way.
Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at January 08, 2023 11:01 AM (jYCXf)
271
Read that link on M&C
Certainly would go see it, and a prequel would be better as they need to find new actors to play Aubrey and Maturin
Certainly would go see it, and a prequel would be better as they need to find new actors to play Aubrey and Maturin
Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2023 11:02 AM (xhxe8)
272
Shelf organization is less of a problem for me than shelf dusting, TBH.
Posted by: April - Dash my lace wigs! at January 08, 2023 10:35 AM (OX9vb)
Oh, do it the moron way: Exhaust fans and a leaf blower.
Posted by: April - Dash my lace wigs! at January 08, 2023 10:35 AM (OX9vb)
Oh, do it the moron way: Exhaust fans and a leaf blower.
Posted by: Kindltot at January 08, 2023 11:03 AM (xhaym)
273
271 Have read all up but not to The Yellow Admiral
Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2023 11:03 AM (xhxe8)
274
Loved those comics. George Perez's art was stellar.
Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 10:13 AM (bPkSk)
Aaaaand that's why I just ordered a collection Mr. Perez's work on the 1998 Avengers series.
Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 10:13 AM (bPkSk)
Aaaaand that's why I just ordered a collection Mr. Perez's work on the 1998 Avengers series.
Posted by: Castle Guy at January 08, 2023 11:04 AM (Lhaco)
275
I wish someone would sell a modern version of stackable , lightweight but strong barrister shelves
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 11:05 AM (Kd4bG)
276
Perfesser, many thanks for your "bonus" postings this past week. They were much enjoyed and appreciated!
Posted by: Legally Sufficient & Ungovernable at January 08, 2023 11:05 AM (hPMYc)
277
@234 Insty had a link which talked about this very subject. From what I remember, Cavill is a self-described geek and demanded fidelity to source material, otherwise, he was gone.
----
Correct. Which is why he acquired the rights to a Warhammer 40,000 series. He collects and paints the figures, and plays the game. He's also apparently the one who suggested The Witcher to Netflix on the first place.
----
Correct. Which is why he acquired the rights to a Warhammer 40,000 series. He collects and paints the figures, and plays the game. He's also apparently the one who suggested The Witcher to Netflix on the first place.
Posted by: junior at January 08, 2023 11:05 AM (PTw5h)
278
Good morning!
Let's smile & be happy & strike fear in the hearts of killjoy leftists everywhere.
Let's smile & be happy & strike fear in the hearts of killjoy leftists everywhere.
Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 08, 2023 11:05 AM (u82oZ)
279
A lot of people worked really hard to fail as hard as it did.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:57 AM (Lzpvj)
---
From what I am reading, yes they did.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 10:57 AM (Lzpvj)
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From what I am reading, yes they did.
Posted by: Darth Randall at January 08, 2023 11:06 AM (bPkSk)
280
Perfesser, many thanks for your "bonus" postings this past week. They were much enjoyed and appreciated!
Posted by: Legally Sufficient & Ungovernable at January 08, 2023 11:05 AM (hPMYc)
---
Good! I'm glad you enjoyed them!
Though I'm also glad I don't have to do this blogging thing every day...It's exhausting!
Posted by: Legally Sufficient & Ungovernable at January 08, 2023 11:05 AM (hPMYc)
---
Good! I'm glad you enjoyed them!
Though I'm also glad I don't have to do this blogging thing every day...It's exhausting!
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2023 11:06 AM (BpYfr)
281
I always arranged books by topics. Thinking about it, I don't have much sci-fi stuff, even though I'm a huge sci-fi fan. I guess I always used books for learning, and for me sci-fi was a visual thing, so I rather see my sci-fi on the screen as entertainment. I guess my books are real heavy in archaeology, history, astronomy, and guitar building/wood topics. I do have others, but its a small amount compared to the others I also liked to get sets, or series of books. They looked nice on the shelves on my dear departed epic book cases. I have a small section of books I had when I was a kid, with Go Dog Go as my crown jewel. lol
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at January 08, 2023 11:07 AM (VwHCD)
282
Had to get another computer. My mid-2011 iMac is slow. Because of all the FeeBeeEye taps on it, most probably.
Posted by: NaCly Dog (u820Z) at January 08, 2023 11:07 AM (u82oZ)
283
276 Perfesser, many thanks for your "bonus" postings this past week. They were much enjoyed and appreciated!
Posted by: Legally Sufficient & Ungovernable
Hear, hear!
Posted by: Legally Sufficient & Ungovernable
Hear, hear!
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 11:08 AM (Kd4bG)
284
I have a small section of books I had when I was a kid, with Go Dog Go as my crown jewel. lol
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division
I love Go Dog Go!
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division
I love Go Dog Go!
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 11:09 AM (Kd4bG)
285
215 Rifleman Dodd ....
He becomes separated from his unit in Spain during napoleonic war & leads resistance against France. Classic Forester book filled with leadership lessons.
Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at January 08, 2023 10:40 AM (2j1hH)
I don't remember 'Dodd' as being any of the characters in the Sharpe's Rifles movies! (Kidding) That said, the ebook of Rifleman Dodd seems to be $1.99 at Amazon. Consider it bought!
He becomes separated from his unit in Spain during napoleonic war & leads resistance against France. Classic Forester book filled with leadership lessons.
Posted by: InspiredHistoryMike at January 08, 2023 10:40 AM (2j1hH)
I don't remember 'Dodd' as being any of the characters in the Sharpe's Rifles movies! (Kidding) That said, the ebook of Rifleman Dodd seems to be $1.99 at Amazon. Consider it bought!
Posted by: Castle Guy at January 08, 2023 11:09 AM (Lhaco)
286
Thanks again for the thread, Perfesser.
Came late to those mid-week threads, but they were fun.
And bests to all.
Came late to those mid-week threads, but they were fun.
And bests to all.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at January 08, 2023 11:10 AM (a/4+U)
287
I think I may have to christen one of my shelves "Sharkman recommended."
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper
That bookshelf will collapse within a month from the sheer weight of the books. I read pretty much every moment I'm not working or sleeping and my brain never forgets something that I liked reading.
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper
That bookshelf will collapse within a month from the sheer weight of the books. I read pretty much every moment I'm not working or sleeping and my brain never forgets something that I liked reading.
Posted by: Sharkman at January 08, 2023 11:10 AM (233bX)
288
Maybe that's the one I am thinking of rather than a title called The Gun. Budrys said that to me at Deep South Con in 1983, after all.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:43 AM (omVj0)
The Gun is a story about how members of the Spanish resistance get access to a bronze Portuguese siege gun that had been hidden under a pile of rocks to keep it from the French, and then convoyed half way across Spain to reduce a critical French fort while dodging French army patrols, working mules to death from the weight, carriage breakdowns from the rough trails, infighting of the various factions both within and from the countryside the convoy had to pass, and disputes with the guerrilla bands they come across, all of whom see the gun as a prize, a status symbol, or the nucleus of their own little army.
I don't think a single character survived the entire trek.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 10:43 AM (omVj0)
The Gun is a story about how members of the Spanish resistance get access to a bronze Portuguese siege gun that had been hidden under a pile of rocks to keep it from the French, and then convoyed half way across Spain to reduce a critical French fort while dodging French army patrols, working mules to death from the weight, carriage breakdowns from the rough trails, infighting of the various factions both within and from the countryside the convoy had to pass, and disputes with the guerrilla bands they come across, all of whom see the gun as a prize, a status symbol, or the nucleus of their own little army.
I don't think a single character survived the entire trek.
Posted by: Kindltot at January 08, 2023 11:12 AM (xhaym)
289
Based on a recommendation here from last week, I read T8 by Michael Wegner. It was a fun read, quick and I gotta say, the style was familiar. Like reading a good AoS thread.
Highly recommended!!!
Highly recommended!!!
Posted by: Diogenes at January 08, 2023 11:13 AM (anj39)
290
The principal character in The Gun, IIRC "Ramon" was pretty much an uneducated peasant, but he had the drive to take up when everyone else died to drive the gun and the convoy forward.
Posted by: Kindltot at January 08, 2023 11:14 AM (xhaym)
291
@109 You can also do The Good Soldier thing and have him tell a scene one way and then as the plot moves forward say "oh, I left this out, but it's kind of relevant now" to change how that event is now perceived.
----
Jim Butcher and another author I've read recently (but I can't remember the details on the latter) both did this to great effect in recent novels. Run through a scene, leave in a bit of dialogue that suggests a particular immediate action, and then move on without actually talking about that action. The idea at that point is to either misdirect the reader into either forgetting about the suggestion, or having something else that sort of (but not perfectly) fits the suggested action.
And then chapters later, the narrator reveals that the suggested action actually was taken just as described, and reveals the results of it. Butcher employs it to great effect in one of his Dresden novels (won't reveal which to avoid spoilers).
----
Jim Butcher and another author I've read recently (but I can't remember the details on the latter) both did this to great effect in recent novels. Run through a scene, leave in a bit of dialogue that suggests a particular immediate action, and then move on without actually talking about that action. The idea at that point is to either misdirect the reader into either forgetting about the suggestion, or having something else that sort of (but not perfectly) fits the suggested action.
And then chapters later, the narrator reveals that the suggested action actually was taken just as described, and reveals the results of it. Butcher employs it to great effect in one of his Dresden novels (won't reveal which to avoid spoilers).
Posted by: junior at January 08, 2023 11:15 AM (PTw5h)
292
A blurb for the Sanderson book included in the bundle:
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, The Emperor's Soul showcases a fascinating magic system as the clock ticks down for a condemned criminal.
When Shai is caught replacing the Moon Scepter with her nearly flawless forgery, she must bargain for her life. An assassin has left the Emperor Ashravan without consciousness, a circumstance concealed only by the death of his wife. If the emperor does not emerge after his hundred-day mourning period, the rule of the Heritage Faction will be forfeit and the empire will fall into chaos.
Shai is given an impossible task: to create "to Forge" a new soul for the emperor in less than one hundred days. But her soul-Forgery is considered an abomination by her captors. She is confined to a tiny, dirty chamber, guarded by a man who hates her, spied upon by politicians, and trapped behind a door sealed in her own blood. Shai's only possible ally is the emperor's most loyal councilor, Gaotona, who struggles to understand her true talent.
Time is running out for Shai. Forging, while deducing the motivations of her captors, she needs a perfect plan to escape
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, The Emperor's Soul showcases a fascinating magic system as the clock ticks down for a condemned criminal.
When Shai is caught replacing the Moon Scepter with her nearly flawless forgery, she must bargain for her life. An assassin has left the Emperor Ashravan without consciousness, a circumstance concealed only by the death of his wife. If the emperor does not emerge after his hundred-day mourning period, the rule of the Heritage Faction will be forfeit and the empire will fall into chaos.
Shai is given an impossible task: to create "to Forge" a new soul for the emperor in less than one hundred days. But her soul-Forgery is considered an abomination by her captors. She is confined to a tiny, dirty chamber, guarded by a man who hates her, spied upon by politicians, and trapped behind a door sealed in her own blood. Shai's only possible ally is the emperor's most loyal councilor, Gaotona, who struggles to understand her true talent.
Time is running out for Shai. Forging, while deducing the motivations of her captors, she needs a perfect plan to escape
Posted by: banana Dream at January 08, 2023 11:16 AM (0fVbu)
293
My books are semi-organized at best. I've got one bookcase dedicated to books about Wisconsin or by Wisconsin authors. I've got another old lawyer's case full of books that strike me as special (as examples, my dad's first US edition of Churchill's WWII memoirs, a first edition of Elmer Gantry, A full set of Carl Sandburg's Life of Lincoln). The rest are organized loosely but generally I try to keep all the books by one writer in one place. I keep all of my Library of America editions on the same shelf. The one rule is a book doesn't go on the shelf until I've read it so my To Be Reaad stacks are literal stacks on the floor.
Posted by: who knew at January 08, 2023 11:19 AM (4I7VG)
Posted by: JT at January 08, 2023 11:19 AM (T4tVD)
295
@292 A blurb for the Sanderson book included in the bundle:
*snip*
A short story that he wrote a while back. It's a cosmere story (Hoid appears to be the Fool who betrayed the protagonist before the story started). It's set on the same world as Elantris, though there's otherwise nothing in common between the two stories.
*snip*
A short story that he wrote a while back. It's a cosmere story (Hoid appears to be the Fool who betrayed the protagonist before the story started). It's set on the same world as Elantris, though there's otherwise nothing in common between the two stories.
Posted by: junior at January 08, 2023 11:20 AM (PTw5h)
296
Had to get another computer. My mid-2011 iMac is slow. Because of all the FeeBeeEye taps on it, most probably.
Posted by: NaCly Dog (u820Z) at January 08, 2023 11:07 AM
We can neither confirm or deny due to an ongoing investigation.
Had to get another computer. My mid-2011 iMac is slow. Because of all the FeeBeeEye taps on it, most probably.
Posted by: NaCly Dog (u820Z) at January 08, 2023 11:07 AM
We can neither confirm or deny due to an ongoing investigation.
Posted by: Bob from NSA at January 08, 2023 11:21 AM (enJYY)
297
I don't remember 'Dodd' as being any of the characters in the Sharpe's Rifles movies! (Kidding) That said, the ebook of Rifleman Dodd seems to be $1.99 at Amazon. Consider it bought!
Posted by: Castle Guy at January 08, 2023 11:09 AM (Lhaco)
Actually in the books there was a Rifleman Dodd, but it was just a passing thing with him answering in roll call, and a mild amazement that he showed up again
Posted by: Castle Guy at January 08, 2023 11:09 AM (Lhaco)
Actually in the books there was a Rifleman Dodd, but it was just a passing thing with him answering in roll call, and a mild amazement that he showed up again
Posted by: Kindltot at January 08, 2023 11:22 AM (xhaym)
298
296 Posted by: Bob from NSA at January 08, 2023 11:21 AM (enJYY)
Bob the text message from yesterday was sent in a Kroger's explaining to the wife I had secured the Zero sugar unsweet tea with lemon.
"Mission accomplished, target secured" is not unusual shorthand for us I swear.
Bob the text message from yesterday was sent in a Kroger's explaining to the wife I had secured the Zero sugar unsweet tea with lemon.
"Mission accomplished, target secured" is not unusual shorthand for us I swear.
Posted by: sven at January 08, 2023 11:22 AM (Lzpvj)
299
It was quite good up to that point.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere
Personally didn't read them until all three books were out, so that didn't really bother me. I can definitely see how that would be a frustrating end to a pretty long book if you didn't have the next installment right at hand.
Posted by: She Hobbit at January 08, 2023
***
No, what bothered me was that she didn't even take a half-hitch, so to speak, in any of the threads of the story. Nothing seemed to be tied up. You can leave some elements of your story unresolved, but it looks sloppy if you don't wind up at least some of them.
Anne, baby, if you wanted still to be read 100 years later, that was not the way to do it.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere
Personally didn't read them until all three books were out, so that didn't really bother me. I can definitely see how that would be a frustrating end to a pretty long book if you didn't have the next installment right at hand.
Posted by: She Hobbit at January 08, 2023
***
No, what bothered me was that she didn't even take a half-hitch, so to speak, in any of the threads of the story. Nothing seemed to be tied up. You can leave some elements of your story unresolved, but it looks sloppy if you don't wind up at least some of them.
Anne, baby, if you wanted still to be read 100 years later, that was not the way to do it.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 11:23 AM (omVj0)
300
I love Go Dog Go!
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 11:09 AM (Kd4bG)
Right? It has dogs, and cars, and parties. All the food groups.
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at January 08, 2023 11:09 AM (Kd4bG)
Right? It has dogs, and cars, and parties. All the food groups.
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at January 08, 2023 11:24 AM (VwHCD)
301
And then chapters later, the narrator reveals that the suggested action actually was taken just as described, and reveals the results of it. Butcher employs it to great effect in one of his Dresden novels (won't reveal which to avoid spoilers).
Posted by: junior at January 08, 2023
***
One good technique of the classic mystery story involves this. You can have the detective conclude who the murderer is, and show him setting his plans (not described fully to the reader) to capture the guy, without revealing the murderer's name until the climax.
We used to see something like this in the old Mission: Impossible TV series. We'd be shown Briggs or Phelps and his team taking certain action, but we wouldn't know exactly why until they sprung the trap on their target.
Posted by: junior at January 08, 2023
***
One good technique of the classic mystery story involves this. You can have the detective conclude who the murderer is, and show him setting his plans (not described fully to the reader) to capture the guy, without revealing the murderer's name until the climax.
We used to see something like this in the old Mission: Impossible TV series. We'd be shown Briggs or Phelps and his team taking certain action, but we wouldn't know exactly why until they sprung the trap on their target.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 11:27 AM (omVj0)
302
Well, time to wander. Great thread, as per usual, perfessor!
Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing(5pTK/) at January 08, 2023 11:27 AM (5pTK/)
303
>>> A short story that he wrote a while back. It's a cosmere story (Hoid appears to be the Fool who betrayed the protagonist before the story started). It's set on the same world as Elantris, though there's otherwise nothing in common between the two stories.
Posted by: junior at January 08, 2023 11:20 AM (PTw5h)
It is only 192 pages which is small for a novel but still would be a nice read. That's why I like a lot of Wodehouse and keep going back to his anthologies for simple comforting entertainment. I know I can open it up to a random story I haven't read before and be content.
Posted by: junior at January 08, 2023 11:20 AM (PTw5h)
It is only 192 pages which is small for a novel but still would be a nice read. That's why I like a lot of Wodehouse and keep going back to his anthologies for simple comforting entertainment. I know I can open it up to a random story I haven't read before and be content.
Posted by: banana Dream at January 08, 2023 11:27 AM (0fVbu)
304
Long ago, I started reading the Tom Clancy series of books, followed by the Brad Thor series (up to a point), and then Vince Flynn (and Kyle Mills). The local library had Black List by Brad Thor on sale for a dollar, and since it didn't sound like a book I had already read, I bought it.
Black List begins with an excerpt from Frank Church's appearance on Meet the Press from August 17, 1975, when he discussed his committee's investigation into national intelligence capabilities. The book is an exploration of what Church warned of all those years ago: a national intelligence operation turned against American citizens, with no oversight and full participation by our elected representatives and agency bureaucrats. The book ends too soon but kept me on edge the entire time. Recommended reading for this type of book, and especially if you are familiar with Thor's usual team of characters. Thor does a good job of filling in gaps so you can pick up any book in the series and not feel you are missing half the story by not reading the books in order.
Black List begins with an excerpt from Frank Church's appearance on Meet the Press from August 17, 1975, when he discussed his committee's investigation into national intelligence capabilities. The book is an exploration of what Church warned of all those years ago: a national intelligence operation turned against American citizens, with no oversight and full participation by our elected representatives and agency bureaucrats. The book ends too soon but kept me on edge the entire time. Recommended reading for this type of book, and especially if you are familiar with Thor's usual team of characters. Thor does a good job of filling in gaps so you can pick up any book in the series and not feel you are missing half the story by not reading the books in order.
Posted by: Legally Sufficient & Ungovernable at January 08, 2023 11:31 AM (hPMYc)
305
I have a small section of books I had when I was a kid, with Go Dog Go as my crown jewel. lol
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division
***
In my case it's the Whitman Books for Young Readers, the TV-Western stories featuring Roy Rogers and others like Paladin, Maverick, Dale Evans (yes! She had her own standalone adventure!), Gene Autry, etc. Reading them now, I see why I loved them then. They were not written down to you, and the plots were fast-moving.
My favorite is the one that started me on mysteries, The Ghost of Mystery Rancho, from the early Fifties. Roy, a Txsas Ranger, is tasked with stopping a murderous bandit called the Ghost who wears a skeleton mask and costume. Not even his men know who he is. There are plot holes big enough to ride tRigger through, but the narrative drive and the final thunderbolt revelation are amazing. (more)
Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division
***
In my case it's the Whitman Books for Young Readers, the TV-Western stories featuring Roy Rogers and others like Paladin, Maverick, Dale Evans (yes! She had her own standalone adventure!), Gene Autry, etc. Reading them now, I see why I loved them then. They were not written down to you, and the plots were fast-moving.
My favorite is the one that started me on mysteries, The Ghost of Mystery Rancho, from the early Fifties. Roy, a Txsas Ranger, is tasked with stopping a murderous bandit called the Ghost who wears a skeleton mask and costume. Not even his men know who he is. There are plot holes big enough to ride tRigger through, but the narrative drive and the final thunderbolt revelation are amazing. (more)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 11:32 AM (omVj0)
306
If you're looking for a good bookshelf it's hard to beat Ikea's Billy model for $80. It's quite solid for the price
Posted by: Ignoramus at January 08, 2023 11:34 AM (SJsWC)
307
n the Whitman Roy Rogers series, one called The Enchanted Canyon bored me as a boy. I bought a copy about 10 years ago . . . and was blown away. The value in the novel is the atmosphere, though there is a good mystery/crime plot to it as well. Atmosphere was not something my 9-year-old self would have appreciated.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 11:34 AM (omVj0)
308
293 ... " got another old lawyer's case full of books that strike me as special"
I have a three level lawyers case with the glass front doors. It belonged to my grandfather who bought it used. Each section and the top and base are separate and fit together well. Like our solid mahogany dinning room table with five inserts, I ended up with it because I was the only family member able who could lift them. I keep special books in it: my first hardcover LOTR and Hobbit, the Shelby Foote Civil War trilogy, The Riverside Shakespeare from college, and others that are important to me. I can't believe that the glass has survived so many moves since the late Victorian era.
I have a three level lawyers case with the glass front doors. It belonged to my grandfather who bought it used. Each section and the top and base are separate and fit together well. Like our solid mahogany dinning room table with five inserts, I ended up with it because I was the only family member able who could lift them. I keep special books in it: my first hardcover LOTR and Hobbit, the Shelby Foote Civil War trilogy, The Riverside Shakespeare from college, and others that are important to me. I can't believe that the glass has survived so many moves since the late Victorian era.
Posted by: JTB at January 08, 2023 11:39 AM (7EjX1)
309
Had some of those Whitmans. Don't recall being much into their westerns, but dimly remember a series (The Walton Boys?) that was fun.
The Tom Swift Jrs from Grosset were more my speed once I found 'em.
The Tom Swift Jrs from Grosset were more my speed once I found 'em.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at January 08, 2023 11:41 AM (a/4+U)
310
Time I nipped off to shave and do some chores. To all who contributed, thanks for the input on the point-of-view technique questions!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2023 11:42 AM (omVj0)
311
Really late to thread I know. I was wondering (apologies if this is well known by all): Is Captain Hate okay, I hope? Haven’t seen him comment in months
Posted by: LinusVanPelt at January 08, 2023 11:44 AM (0TqDq)
312
Thanks for the thread, perfesser!
I am a big consumer of audio books, this is due to tired eyes plus I get them fed directly into my hearing aids. It also allows me to multi task, listen while tidying up, etc.
I am a big listener to the Great Courses series of lectures.
I am a big consumer of audio books, this is due to tired eyes plus I get them fed directly into my hearing aids. It also allows me to multi task, listen while tidying up, etc.
I am a big listener to the Great Courses series of lectures.
Posted by: gourmand du jour at January 08, 2023 12:05 PM (jTmQV)
313
There is a collection of Sanderson novellas in Arcanum Unbounded.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at January 08, 2023 12:26 PM (Y+l9t)
314
JTB (30: Both my father and my grandfather had one of the lawyer's cases that are built the same as the one you describe (but I think they dated from the 1920s and don't seem to be built quite as heavy duty). For the life of me I can't remember whether I have dad's or granddad's.
: Both my father and my grandfather had one of the lawyer's cases that are built the same as the one you describe (but I think they dated from the 1920s and don't seem to be built quite as heavy duty). For the life of me I can't remember whether I have dad's or granddad's.Posted by: who knew at January 08, 2023 12:27 PM (4I7VG)
315
I was disappointed in Go Dog Go. I thought it was a how to house break a puppy book.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Abandon All Hope Ye Who Enter 2023 at January 08, 2023 12:27 PM (FVME7)
316
I got frustrated with not being able to locate books, losing them as loan outs which never came back home, and having multiple copies due to both the above, that I went full Dewey Decimal. Fiction alphabetized, biography the same by subject, and the rest organized and shelved according to Mr. Dewey's formula. They are entered into an excel spreadsheet, labeled and then housed. I had to wait until we became empty nesters and retired to get the time and space. Many new books have the Dewey classification on the copyright page, and worldcat and other websites usually can guide you to the proper classification. It turned out quite rewarding and allowed me to donate some 8 boxes of unwanted shelf space stealing books to the local library.
Posted by: Todd Galle at January 08, 2023 12:51 PM (H8gtS)
317
306 If you're looking for a good bookshelf it's hard to beat Ikea's Billy model for $80. It's quite solid for the price
Posted by: Ignoramus at January 08, 2023 11:34 AM (SJsWC)
We have 10, but we bought them a while ago.
Mr. S. is a retired librarian, so we are shelved Fiction by alpha author's name.
Non-fiction is loosely by Dewey- we are getting lax in our over 29 years.
His Texana/American history collection is some complicated scheme that only he understands.
Posted by: Ignoramus at January 08, 2023 11:34 AM (SJsWC)
We have 10, but we bought them a while ago.
Mr. S. is a retired librarian, so we are shelved Fiction by alpha author's name.
Non-fiction is loosely by Dewey- we are getting lax in our over 29 years.
His Texana/American history collection is some complicated scheme that only he understands.
Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at January 08, 2023 01:14 PM (wE246)
318
Second the recommendation from InspiredHistoryMike on the Lost Fleet series. Basic premise, Fleet Captain is lost in a escape pod for 100 years after losing the opening surpise battle of a war that is still ongoing. Becomes legend during that time, has to bring the fleet home deep in enemy terrority from a near disaterous battle after getting unfrozen. Neat MilScifi series.
Best part is the central point of his battle prowess is knowing how to command a fleet while dealing with time dilation from fighting with light-speed limitations.
Later part of the series deals with Aliens. don't want to spoil to much, but there are MURDER-COWS!
Best part is the central point of his battle prowess is knowing how to command a fleet while dealing with time dilation from fighting with light-speed limitations.
Later part of the series deals with Aliens. don't want to spoil to much, but there are MURDER-COWS!
Posted by: AFlyingSQRL at January 08, 2023 02:04 PM (5qQor)
319
Does no one else organize their books by whether they fit in the shelf? No?
(Got several Procrustean bookcases with fixed shelf heights.)
(Got several Procrustean bookcases with fixed shelf heights.)
Posted by: Best Thief in Lankhmar at January 08, 2023 04:29 PM (64rer)
320
I am making $90 an hour working from home. I never imagined that it was honest to goodness yet my closest companion is earning $16,000 a month by working on a laptop, that was truly astounding for me, she prescribed for me to attempt it simply.
Here's what I've been doing.. www.Payathome7.com
Here's what I've been doing.. www.Payathome7.com
Posted by: www.Payathome7.com at January 08, 2023 04:51 PM (GVUnq)
321
For map storage, search "map cabinet" on eBay and you'll see exactly what they are. They have lots, some metal, some wood, all fairly expensive to buy and really expensive to ship if you can't go pick them up. Local antique malls do sometimes have them at lower prices but of course with far less selection.
Posted by: Dr. Weevil at January 08, 2023 05:22 PM (CNn2p)
322
I just remembered. There are companies that deal in used office furniture. I went to one in northern Virginia 30+ years ago to get old-fashioned 4-drawer letter-sized solid-metal file cabinets you can even stand on. Newer-made ones are all aluminum or some crap that doesn't last.
Warning: do not fill up the top drawer with heavy paper file folders until you've at least partially-filled the lower drawers! I almost got crushed doing that and barely had the strength to get the drawer pushed in, since it took me by surprise.
Warning: do not fill up the top drawer with heavy paper file folders until you've at least partially-filled the lower drawers! I almost got crushed doing that and barely had the strength to get the drawer pushed in, since it took me by surprise.
Posted by: Dr. Weevil at January 08, 2023 05:35 PM (CNn2p)
323
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Making money online is more than $15k just by doing simple work from home. I received $18376 last month. It's an easy and simple job to do and its earnings are much better than regular office jobs and even a little child can do this and earn money. Everybody must try this job by just use the info on this page..... www.Paynet2.com
Posted by: Nancy Barajas at January 09, 2023 12:58 PM (IUqxn)
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