Support
Contact
Ace:
aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com
CBD:
cbd at cutjibnewsletter.com
Buck:
buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com
joe mannix:
mannix2024 at proton.me
MisHum:
petmorons at gee mail.com
J.J. Sefton:
sefton at cutjibnewsletter.com
aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com
CBD:
cbd at cutjibnewsletter.com
Buck:
buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com
joe mannix:
mannix2024 at proton.me
MisHum:
petmorons at gee mail.com
J.J. Sefton:
sefton at cutjibnewsletter.com
Sunday Morning Book Thread - 08-20-2023 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]
(HT: Stacy0311)
KUDOS TO THE COBS
Before we go any further, I'd just like to give a massive shout-out to the COBs that keep this place going. They all did a stellar job filling in for Lamont the Big Dummy while he was away for a couple of days. I still believe he was hunting big game hoboes on the Serengeti. Anyway, the COBs do a fantastic job keeping the rest of us entertained and informed on a daily basis, so hats off to all of them! They are also very supportive of one another and are an endless supply of encouragement and enthusiasm behind the scenes. THANK YOU! Now back to our usual Sunday Morning Book Thread shenanigans... PIC NOTE A couple of weeks ago, I posted a random internet pic of a kitty cat reading a book. Well, Stacy0311 sent me in the pic above. This cat looks like my own Kaylee, who has always been a bit on the plump side. Now I know why... ON THE EVOLUTION OF LITERARY FICTION AS A GENRE I sometimes stop by John C. Wright's blog because he usually has interesting things to say. Wright is a science fiction author, a staunch conservative, and a devout Catholic. When he's not discussing the projects in which he and his wife (author L. Jagi Lamplighter) are involved, he's pontificating about the same cultural and social issues we talk about around these parts. He also has insights on writing and storytelling which are usually worth reading. Earlier this summer, he posted an essay (from 1997) by author Dave Wolverton, who achieved his start writing mainstream literary fiction, but moved over into the modern fantasist genre because Wolverton ultimately disagreed with much of what was being done in the literary mainstream.It's a fairly long essay, so I'll try to summarize the high points and provide my own commentary... Wolverton's essay begins with fundamentally disagreeing with another author, James Gunn, that the "distinguishing characteristic of mainstream fiction is that it has no distinguishing characteristic." This sparked Wolverton's analysis of the modern literary fiction movement at that time (1997). Wolverton traces the beginning of the movement to William Dean Howells (1837-1920), known as the "Father of Modern Realism." According to Howell's philosophy, literature should--nay, MUST--reject any fantastical elements, instead focusing solely on the plight of "the common man," just living an ordinary existence. Like Wolverton, I fundamentally reject this premise because it leaves out the stories of uncommon men achieving remarkable goals. Where does a story about a man struggling against nature in the bleakest winter in Alaskan history fit in? Or a story about an otherwise average man (or woman) succeeding against the odds to defeat a significant challenge? How can stories about "the common man" just living an ordinary existence inspire us to better ourselves? Unfortunately for literature, Howells was the editor of the most powerful magazine of the time (The Atlantic Monthly) and had a tight grip over the stories that were included in the magazine, as well as influence over the stories that were told in competitor magazines. Howell also maintained that "good literature" (in his eyes, at least) consisted of three things: 1) Settings are restricted to the real world, 2) Characters are likewise restricted to the real world, and 3) The scope of conflicts must also be restricted in some way. No epic fantasy or space opera for this guy, that's for sure.< The end result of stories that have been written under these constraints has led to a genre of stories that are just as well-defined by their lack of interesting content as science fiction is defined by epic space battles. "Literary fiction" is clearly its own genre by this point, even if its adherents claim otherwise. It is possible to categorize something by its lack of characteristics, after all. According to Wolverton, the "literary fiction" genre became "literary Novocain", stories that ultimately became about nothing at all. At the end, Wolverton describes what he values in stories, disregarding Howell's proscriptions on storytelling entirely:
On Writing as a Fantasist by Dave Wolverton
I'm tempted to go poking around the Interwebz to see if this Howell character is truly the paragon of a socialist, nihilistic, post-modernist literary movement as Wolverton describes. It would not surprise me to find out that he still has a strong influence, more than 100 years after his death. NOTE: If you enjoy literary fiction, as always, I say, GO FOR IT! I'd be very interested to hear your take on Wolverton's views of literary fiction. Does he have a point? Or are his own biases towards fantastical fiction coloring his judgement? I'm NOT here to judge anyone on their reading habits. Y'all know the kind of trash I enjoy reading!
A story that fascinates is better than one that bores. A story that is eloquent is better than the babboon howlings [sic] of the verbally damned. A story that is profound, that transmits valuable insight, is better than one that is pedestrian or that is opaque. A story that speaks to many is better than one that speaks to few. A story that is beautiful in form is better than one that is inelegant, rambling or clumsy. A story that transports me to another world or that transmits experience is better than a story that leaves me sitting alone and troubled in my reading chair. A story that artfully moves me emotionally or intellectually is better than one that leaves me emotionally or intellectually anesthetized.
Also, that Sci-Fi book I keep rambling on about is as finished as it's going to get, and I went ahead and uploaded the whole thing onto a rebooted website in pdf format, sized about A5 so it can be read on a tablet. Let Us Now Be Famous Men can be seen in its entirety by clicking the title link. Anyone having an interest can look it over if they want: http://leneal.com Posted by: LenNeal at August 13, 2023 11:06 AM (43xH1)
Fire and Fury: The Story of the 2023 Maui Fire and its Implications for Climate Change.UPDATE: Looks like that page has been taken down. Probably because the comments were brutal. It came out just a couple of days after the wildfires started. I took a look and this book is very fishy. "Dr. Miles Stones" doesn't have any real Amazon profile, even though he's listed as the author of a number of books, mostly biographies. Fire and Fury is already available as a paperback for the low, low price of $17.09 or on Kindle for $8.99. There is a "Look Inside" available, but all you get is the table of contents. Not even the introduction is available for preview. Somehow it's listed as a "best seller" in Environmental Science. It has a 100% 1-star rating from reviewers. I just can't imagine anyone being stupid enough or gullible enough to buy this book. However, it's also encouraging in its own way to aspiring authors: Amazon, at least, will publish ANYTHING. (HT: djladysmith courtesy of CBD for bringing this awful book to my attention.) A further investigation into "Dr. Miles Stones" on Amazon shows he's published around 10 books or so since May of this year. Most of them are biographies of some sort or another. it's worth noting that the same two people give any of the "5-star" ratings, while anyone else gives them "1-star" ratings. I suspect that they are, in fact, being written by AI in some form or another. How else to explain publishing ten books in just a few months? Granted, most of them are less than 100 pages, but still, that takes a lot of time and effort for a human. Even Brandon Sanderson can't publish that quickly. MORON RECOMMENDATIONS
Comment: I've read a few of Glenn Beck's books in the past. They really are pretty well researched. They almost have to be because of the criticism folks like Beck tend to get from all sides. Of course, the problem with reading books by Beck is that they are unlikely to change anyone's mind, no matter how factual they may be. People tend to look at a statement he makes and then discount it because he said it. You can say the same about a lot of pundits (e.g., Ann Coulter, Michelle Malkin, etc.). Sure they sell books, but they don't seem to move the political needle in the desired direction among undecided voters.
I read Glenn Beck's latest book, Dark Future. Beck discusses the Great Narrative which is behind the World Economic Forum's Great Reset. The purpose of the Great Narrative is to formulate a completely new way of thinking about virtually every part of life, all within the context of a new technology-rich industrial revolution. Topics such as the fifteen-minute city, artificial intelligence, and central bank digital currencies among others are discussed. As with all of his books, it is well-researched and heavily footnoted back to primary sources. Posted by: Zoltan at August 13, 2023 09:08 AM (2EGBR)
Comment: I've noticed the Preston and Child, when writing together, tend to draw upon a variety of horror traditions in their stories. Some of them resemble Scooby-Doo mysteries (seriously). Others are about alien invasions or body horror or things that go bump in the night. Without reading anything more than the blurb above, I get a very strong H.P. Lovecraft vibe, as Lovecraft lived in Providence, Rhode Island for many years. Many of his stories involved people locked up in a sanitarium for witnessing something beyond human understanding.
This week's book is The Forgotten Room by Lincoln Child. Professor Jeremy Logan is an enigmalogist, one who studies the unexplainable. He is asked to come to his old employer, a scientific think tank in Newport Rhode Island that occupies a huge old mansion. Several of the staff have had severe mental breaks, and there is a fear that one of the facility's experiments has gone awry. During his investigation, Logan stumbles upon a room without doors or windows that is not referenced in the original blueprints. Inside the room is a sound wave generator of unknown purpose. Perhaps the experimental results weren't an accident after all? Child's Jeremy Logan stories are explorations of psychological and mental phenomena and tackle interesting theories. Like his books cowritten with Douglas Preston, there is good character development and engaging stories that make for an enjoyable read. Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 13, 2023 09:24 AM (gr1T9)
Comment: The mid-twentieth-century space race was chock full of failures, of course. A number of people died in furtherance of the mission of achieving space flight, but they accepted that risk and continue to do so to this very day. Failure is ALWAYS an option, though how we deal with failure and learn from it is important in shaping our character.
Speaking of space and books, I'm about 1/2 way through Failure Is Not an Option by Gene Kranz. I have found it fascinating for the history, technology, and management aspects. Good bit of humor thrown in as well. Posted by: db at August 13, 2023 09:56 AM (wu87C)
Comment: I had this experience as well when I read John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men when I was a graduate student a few years ago. I had read the book in high school and vaguely remembered some parts. But when I read it *mumble* years later, I found it to be a very enjoyable experience. I understood so much more about the characters, the settings, and the plot, based in no small part to the amount of knowledge, wisdom, and experience I've gained since then. The ending was very sad...quite tragic. The story could have used more bullfighting, though. More Moron-recommended reading material can be found HERE! (925 Moron-recommended books so far!)
I finished rereading The Sun Also Rises and understood much more than I did in high school. It's much more anti-Jewish than I remembered. (I didn't know any Jews in high school although it later turned out several of the people I knew were Jews.). The villain, if there is one (they're all pretty bad) is a villain because he is a well off Jew who refuses to give up on a brief affair with an alcoholic nymphomaniac because he still believes in love and honor. The alcoholic nympho, on the other hand, is just fine because she's a nihilistic hedonist, like the other cool kids. There's also bullfighting, the sport of the sadist. Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 13, 2023 11:25 AM (FVME7)
WHAT I'VE BEEN READING THIS PAST WEEK:
- The Changing Land by Roger Zelazny -- A weird combination of Lord Dunsany, Michael Moorcock, Jack Vance, and L. Sprage de Camp. What happens when a mad god dreams?
- The Man Who Used the Universe by Alan Dean Foster -- Chronicling the rise of a psychopath who manages to dominate two races (human and alien) in a grand scheme that will save both races from extinction.
- Flinx's Folly by Alan Dean Foster -- Flinx finally starts to unravel the purpose behind Flinx's ever increasing empathic abilities. Let's just say cosmic powers have big plans for him, whether he likes it or not. SPOILER: He doesn't. Not one bit.
- Knights of the Black Earth by Margaret Weis and Don Perrin -- Xris Cyborg hunts his former friend who tried to kill him for unknown reasons...only to discover that his former friend went from a he to a she to avoid detection...
Comments
(Jump to bottom of comments)1
Did read an interesting story last week by a Writer's Group author. I think it was fiction, but who knows these days?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 09:00 AM (Angsy)
2
Tolle Lege
Posted by: Skip at August 20, 2023 09:00 AM (MOY79)
3
Top 10?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:02 AM (omVj0)
4
Finnished reading Russian Campaign of 1812 : the Memoirs of a Russian Artilleryman by Alexander Mikaberize and Peter Phillips
Originally written by ( then ) Lt. Ilya Timofeyevvich
It's nice read giving personal observations more than a big version of campaign. At end says end of volume 1 so hopefully a continued some day in future.
Originally written by ( then ) Lt. Ilya Timofeyevvich
It's nice read giving personal observations more than a big version of campaign. At end says end of volume 1 so hopefully a continued some day in future.
Posted by: Skip at August 20, 2023 09:03 AM (MOY79)
5
I can keep you updated, Perfessor.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 09:03 AM (Angsy)
6
Is nice.
Posted by: Dr. Varno at August 20, 2023 09:03 AM (X+Ku8)
7
BOOOKKKZZZZ
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 09:04 AM (hiHQ3)
8
One could argue we live in a fiction world, past actions are whatever you want them to be.
Posted by: Skip at August 20, 2023 09:05 AM (MOY79)
9
Morning, bookening persons! Of Mice and Men is one of those stories that I wish I'd written, and i consider it a model of writing, plotting, characterization, and dialogue. But I've come to like Steinbeck quite a bit in the last few decades. If you'd told me when I was in high school that someday I'd not only have read but re-read Steinbeck many times, I'd have said, "What are you smoking and can I have some?" (Not really, I was a drinking man, but you get the idea.) Things change as you grow up.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:05 AM (omVj0)
10
Those pants are fine. I would wear them while lounging on my fine Persian rug, and you would never see me.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at August 20, 2023 09:06 AM (OX9vb)
11
Read Len Neal's e-book. Not my usual fare, but it was pretty good. Interesting idea.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 09:06 AM (Angsy)
12
Somehow missed coping who name, and Russians love using everyone's full name it seems.
R Ilya Timofeyevvich Radozhitskii
R Ilya Timofeyevvich Radozhitskii
Posted by: Skip at August 20, 2023 09:07 AM (MOY79)
13
I'm looking forward to getting involved in the AoS writing group. My live-action (so to speak) group, in which I've been a strong participant since 2006, is crumbling away. We're down to four people including me, all of us well over 29, and unfortunately I'm finding it unpleasant now. The supposed expert and "published writer" that I've mentioned before likes some things about my work, but the items he dislikes he puts on the basis of "You can't do that" or "That doesn't work" rather than "I don't think that works." I end up arguing with him every meeting.
Two more chapters they have of mine to review, and once that's done I'm either not going to bring anything, or I'd going to ditch the group for a while. I'm tired of bashing my head against a stone wall.
Two more chapters they have of mine to review, and once that's done I'm either not going to bring anything, or I'd going to ditch the group for a while. I'm tired of bashing my head against a stone wall.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:10 AM (omVj0)
14
Morning, 'rons and 'ronettes.
Reading was light and puffy this week.
Meet Me In Atlantis by Mark Adams, a travel writer who, after watching a 'documentary' on Atlantis, decided to see if the city could possibly have been real. He visits the usual suspects like Crete and Santorini and interacts with a lot of 'researchers' but more or less comes to the conclusion that Plato was using Pythagorean theorem to describe the rise and fall of the ideal city (no, I can't really explain it; you'd have to read the book).
Man Walks Into A Pub: A Sociable History of Beer by Pete Brown. The subtitle really should be "A history of British beer," since that's really what Brown is writing about, including the evolution of the pub and the consolidation of small breweries into larger concerns. The book came out in 2003, so a lot of references and jokes are both very English and very obscure.
If anybody wants the first book, you can have it. I'm keeping the second.
Reading was light and puffy this week.
Meet Me In Atlantis by Mark Adams, a travel writer who, after watching a 'documentary' on Atlantis, decided to see if the city could possibly have been real. He visits the usual suspects like Crete and Santorini and interacts with a lot of 'researchers' but more or less comes to the conclusion that Plato was using Pythagorean theorem to describe the rise and fall of the ideal city (no, I can't really explain it; you'd have to read the book).
Man Walks Into A Pub: A Sociable History of Beer by Pete Brown. The subtitle really should be "A history of British beer," since that's really what Brown is writing about, including the evolution of the pub and the consolidation of small breweries into larger concerns. The book came out in 2003, so a lot of references and jokes are both very English and very obscure.
If anybody wants the first book, you can have it. I'm keeping the second.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:10 AM (AW0uW)
15
Somehow missed coping who name, and Russians love using everyone's full name it seems.
R Ilya Timofeyevvich Radozhitskii
Posted by: Skip at August 20, 2023 09:07 AM (MOY79)
I read that book! That guy was the zhitskii!
R Ilya Timofeyevvich Radozhitskii
Posted by: Skip at August 20, 2023 09:07 AM (MOY79)
I read that book! That guy was the zhitskii!
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 09:11 AM (Angsy)
16
Last week I finished Peter Gerard's "Best Laid Plans". This week I'm reading the second book in the series, "Par Excellence". The "Mary Sue" issue I talked about last week is still present. It's toned down a bit, but this works against making the characters interesting and engaging.
When the bad guys always lose, and the good guys always win, and there's no serious setback for them to come back from, things feel... unsatisfying. Worse, I'm finding I'm pretty apathetic towards most of the characters and their goals.
The bad guys are actually unlikable, even detestable, and their actions do make you want to hate the bastards, so at least there's that.
But overall, I'm thinking this offshoot of books in the original author's universe just isn't for me.
When the bad guys always lose, and the good guys always win, and there's no serious setback for them to come back from, things feel... unsatisfying. Worse, I'm finding I'm pretty apathetic towards most of the characters and their goals.
The bad guys are actually unlikable, even detestable, and their actions do make you want to hate the bastards, so at least there's that.
But overall, I'm thinking this offshoot of books in the original author's universe just isn't for me.
Posted by: Grumpy and Recalcitrant at August 20, 2023 09:11 AM (qPw5n)
17
Having never read a full biography of Grover Cleveland before, whose house is about a quarter mile away from my current coffee machine, I just started a biography called "A Man Of Iron: The Turbulent Life And Improbable Presidency Of Grover Cleveland".
He is, so far, the only President to serve two terms with an intermission, so he's a timely subject.
He is, so far, the only President to serve two terms with an intermission, so he's a timely subject.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023 09:12 AM (YaGf8)
18
I read The Noticier by Andy Andrews. This little book is a self-help/personal growth book. An old man named Jones, who notices things that others miss, and who gives advice to people to help them gain a new perspective on their lives in Orange Beach, Alabama. The little stories are entertaining and informative.
It was weird how I came to read this book. I put two books on hold for my wife at our local library. A few days later when I went to pick them up, there were three books with the addition of The Noticier. I know I did not order it. I had never heard of the author or the book. I figured a librarian or the man upstairs wanted me to read it, so I did. Happy I did. It's an uplifting read.
It was weird how I came to read this book. I put two books on hold for my wife at our local library. A few days later when I went to pick them up, there were three books with the addition of The Noticier. I know I did not order it. I had never heard of the author or the book. I figured a librarian or the man upstairs wanted me to read it, so I did. Happy I did. It's an uplifting read.
Posted by: Zoltan at August 20, 2023 09:13 AM (SBhXX)
19
This week I've been reading short stories by Philip K. Dick, including the short that inspired the movie Minority Report. He was very farsighted and knew even in the Fifties that the U.S. government was lying to us at every turn.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:13 AM (omVj0)
20
I would welcome feedback and brutal criticism on cover designs.
https://twitter.com/GenghisKhet/
status/1693249579636945380
https://twitter.com/GenghisKhet/
status/1693249579636945380
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 20, 2023 09:13 AM (9yUzE)
21
So, I read one of the Horror finalists for the Deagon awards - A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher.
Good book, good writer, but she's the typical leftist so I will abstain rather than vote for it
Good book, good writer, but she's the typical leftist so I will abstain rather than vote for it
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 09:13 AM (hiHQ3)
22
Also had a pleasant experience this week: there's a new book out, Theda Bara: Her Career, Life and Legend, which is a detailed look at all of Bara's movies and stage appearances, as well as film clip compilations she was in and books and podcasts.
I was happy to see that my book The Director's Cut and short story Thirteen Moons were name-checked!
I was happy to see that my book The Director's Cut and short story Thirteen Moons were name-checked!
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:14 AM (AW0uW)
23
Hmm. Concerning fiction, I just finished a Fantastic Four story from the '60s. That should tell you where I stand in this debate.
Posted by: Weak Geek at August 20, 2023 09:14 AM (p/isN)
24
This week I've been reading short stories by Philip K. Dick, including the short that inspired the movie Minority Report. He was very farsighted and knew even in the Fifties that the U.S. government was lying to us at every turn.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:13 AM (omVj0)
===============
I love his short stories
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:13 AM (omVj0)
===============
I love his short stories
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023 09:14 AM (YaGf8)
25
'Of Mice and Men' was required summer reading during my high school days. The only other ones I remember reading was 'To Kill a Mockingbird' and 'The Grapes of Wrath'.
Posted by: dantesed at August 20, 2023 09:14 AM (88xKn)
26
In the "Star Trek" (TOS) episode last night on MeTV, people escape into their world's past before the planet goes boom. I do this with my entertainment choices; almost everything I read or watch is from the last century. (My wife watches current shows; the dialogue I overhear is sheer drek. Current comics? Eeep.)
The 1960s book I just finished, the first "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." novel (subtitle: "The Thousand Coffins Affair"), plays with this two ways.
In the opening, a man dying of poison spends his final minutes putting on his clothes backward. If that reminds you of a particular 1930s mystery novel, collect a cookie. It's a key plot point, and I guessed it. Yay me.
Now I'm going further back in time with the Perry Mason mystery "The Case of the Caretaker's Cat" from 1935, which makes it older than my father. As with most PM books, it starts with a bang and doesn't stop.
The 1960s book I just finished, the first "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." novel (subtitle: "The Thousand Coffins Affair"), plays with this two ways.
In the opening, a man dying of poison spends his final minutes putting on his clothes backward. If that reminds you of a particular 1930s mystery novel, collect a cookie. It's a key plot point, and I guessed it. Yay me.
Now I'm going further back in time with the Perry Mason mystery "The Case of the Caretaker's Cat" from 1935, which makes it older than my father. As with most PM books, it starts with a bang and doesn't stop.
Posted by: Weak Geek at August 20, 2023 09:14 AM (p/isN)
27
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 20, 2023 09:13 AM (9yUzE)
Please use tinyurl or something similar.
Please use tinyurl or something similar.
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at August 20, 2023 09:16 AM (MQfmh)
28
Wolfus, I'm thinking about joining the AoS writers' group too, but I'm such a slow writer that I'd hardly ever be submitting anything. Of course, it might also be a spur to me to knuckle down and get things done. I don't know.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:16 AM (AW0uW)
29
I just now remember 'The Diary of Anne Frank' was on the list too.
Posted by: dantesed at August 20, 2023 09:17 AM (88xKn)
30
Good morning fellow Book Threadists. I hope everyone had a great week of reading.
Posted by: JTB at August 20, 2023 09:17 AM (7EjX1)
31
Steinbeck is one of my favorites too. Cannery Row may not be short stories in the usual sense, but more along the lines of vignettes, but it gives the reader a great feel for Monterey in those days.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023 09:18 AM (YaGf8)
32
"Those pants are fine. I would wear them while lounging on my fine Persian rug, and you would never see me."
Interestingly those pants have exactly the same pattern as the rug that's on the floor of my office.
Interestingly those pants have exactly the same pattern as the rug that's on the floor of my office.
Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at August 20, 2023 09:18 AM (fTtFy)
33
This cat looks like my own Kaylee, who has always been a bit on the plump side. Now I know why...
-----
When they lick you with those raspy tongues, it's not affection. They're tenderizing you.
-----
When they lick you with those raspy tongues, it's not affection. They're tenderizing you.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at August 20, 2023 09:19 AM (HjWhl)
34
Somehow it's listed as a "best seller" in Environmental Science. It has a 100% 1-star rating from reviewers. I just can't imagine anyone being stupid enough or gullible enough to buy this book.
P.T. Barnum might disagree with you, Perf.
P.T. Barnum might disagree with you, Perf.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 09:19 AM (Angsy)
35
Good morning. Looks like I'm early for a change but it's a range day and I'm excited.
I read LenNeal's book and liked it a lot. The characters are well drawn and you get a feel for the dystopian environment almost immediately. The book isn't very long so it felt like watching a movie with a very satisfying ending.
I liked how I could page down the format rather than side to side but there is a page space before the epilogue so make sure you don't miss it because it is important .
I read LenNeal's book and liked it a lot. The characters are well drawn and you get a feel for the dystopian environment almost immediately. The book isn't very long so it felt like watching a movie with a very satisfying ending.
I liked how I could page down the format rather than side to side but there is a page space before the epilogue so make sure you don't miss it because it is important .
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at August 20, 2023 09:20 AM (t/2Uw)
36
Nothing like a cat's tongue to get your fingers clean.
Posted by: Weak Geek at August 20, 2023 09:21 AM (p/isN)
37
Hope that pants pic isn't real. If you zoom in and look at pants dude's left hand you'll see a nasty Satan tattoo. Not exactly a location where it can be easily hidden. Hate to imagine going through life with such a glaring permanent record of temporary insanity.
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 20, 2023 09:21 AM (NBVIP)
38
>>"But when I read it *mumble* years later, I found it to be a very enjoyable experience. I understood so much more about the characters, the settings, and the plot, based in no small part to the amount of knowledge, wisdom, and experience I've gained since then."
---
This was exactly the case for me, last month, when I read Dan Simmons' 4-book Hyperion Cantos last month, thirty or so years later. It was far deeper and the philosophy made more sense to me than when I was 20. Also it was nice that I had forgotten most of the story, so it seemed new again.
I plan on re-reading all the SF I read in my 20s -- those I can remember. Choosing whether to pick up Greg Bear, Dune, Niven, Pournelle, or Foundation is the challenge. I may even read Hubbard's Mission Earth decalogy again.
---
This was exactly the case for me, last month, when I read Dan Simmons' 4-book Hyperion Cantos last month, thirty or so years later. It was far deeper and the philosophy made more sense to me than when I was 20. Also it was nice that I had forgotten most of the story, so it seemed new again.
I plan on re-reading all the SF I read in my 20s -- those I can remember. Choosing whether to pick up Greg Bear, Dune, Niven, Pournelle, or Foundation is the challenge. I may even read Hubbard's Mission Earth decalogy again.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at August 20, 2023 09:22 AM (kjOVp)
39
Speaking of writing, my new book (tentative title Ten Thousand Midnights is coming along slowly. I'm sketching out a scene where my narrator is summoned to a meeting of all the Hollywood studio chiefs and told to stop Theda Bara from asking questions about the murder of director William Desmond Taylor. To encourage him, they are going to offer him something that he wants more than anything else.
That's going to be my project for tomorrow. Today is such a lovely day that I think I'm going to ride my bike for a while.
That's going to be my project for tomorrow. Today is such a lovely day that I think I'm going to ride my bike for a while.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:22 AM (AW0uW)
40
In Russian, your middle name is always a version of your father's first name, called a patronymic.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 20, 2023 09:22 AM (RIvkX)
41
Still working through Ford Madox Ford, and it's 1924 and he's pissing all of the right people. Hemingway wants to punch him, his proteges are turning on him, but he's busy working on his other masterpiece, the Parade's End trilogy. That may have four books. I'm looking forward to that story.
During this time, our hero also founded, edited and lost the "transatlantic review" (the name was not capitalized because that was the modern thing to do). It was designed to be a massive undertaking, featuring writers from Britain, France and the US, and the masthead was a who's who of the literary avant-garde and elite.
Naturally it failed in a few months, but it shows how well these people knew each other and often wrote specifically to throw shade at each other. A lot of Hemingway's work at this time uses other writers as the basis for characters. I'm going to have to reread The Sun Also Rises now.
During this time, our hero also founded, edited and lost the "transatlantic review" (the name was not capitalized because that was the modern thing to do). It was designed to be a massive undertaking, featuring writers from Britain, France and the US, and the masthead was a who's who of the literary avant-garde and elite.
Naturally it failed in a few months, but it shows how well these people knew each other and often wrote specifically to throw shade at each other. A lot of Hemingway's work at this time uses other writers as the basis for characters. I'm going to have to reread The Sun Also Rises now.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed AUthor A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 09:23 AM (llXky)
42
Also had a pleasant experience this week: there's a new book out, Theda Bara: Her Career, Life and Legend, which is a detailed look at all of Bara's movies and stage appearances, as well as film clip compilations she was in and books and podcasts.
I was happy to see that my book The Director's Cut and short story Thirteen Moons were name-checked!
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:14 AM (AW0uW)
A bump in sales coming, hopefully?
I was happy to see that my book The Director's Cut and short story Thirteen Moons were name-checked!
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:14 AM (AW0uW)
A bump in sales coming, hopefully?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 09:23 AM (Angsy)
43
Interesting tidbit, Radozhitskii tells of picking up refuse of the French on their retreat from Moscow, as no one else was even inclined to pick up books he claimed rightful booty of them. He says they were Medical and botanical books. Later in life it seems he became a botanist.
Posted by: Skip at August 20, 2023 09:23 AM (MOY79)
44
Hope that pants pic isn't real. If you zoom in and look at pants dude's left hand you'll see a nasty Satan tattoo. Not exactly a location where it can be easily hidden. Hate to imagine going through life with such a glaring permanent record of temporary insanity.
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 20, 2023 09:21 AM (NBVIP)
---
I'm reasonably certain that clothes are often photoshopped onto a model's body. So it probably isn't a "real" pic in the traditional sense...
Posted by: Quarter Twenty at August 20, 2023 09:21 AM (NBVIP)
---
I'm reasonably certain that clothes are often photoshopped onto a model's body. So it probably isn't a "real" pic in the traditional sense...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 20, 2023 09:23 AM (BpYfr)
45
Somehow it's listed as a "best seller" in Environmental Science. It has a 100% 1-star rating from reviewers. I just can't imagine anyone being stupid enough or gullible enough to buy this book.
P.T. Barnum might disagree with you, Perf.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 09:19 AM (Angsy)
---
Stephen Glass sends his compliments.
P.T. Barnum might disagree with you, Perf.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 09:19 AM (Angsy)
---
Stephen Glass sends his compliments.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed AUthor A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 09:24 AM (llXky)
46
I would welcome feedback and brutal criticism on cover designs.
I like the art on both of them. I prefer the "Hell yeah" title. Maybe the exclamation point should be a comma. It does presuppose that the reader knows the reference but I suspect that for your target audience, that's not a problem.
I like the art on both of them. I prefer the "Hell yeah" title. Maybe the exclamation point should be a comma. It does presuppose that the reader knows the reference but I suspect that for your target audience, that's not a problem.
Posted by: Oddbob at August 20, 2023 09:24 AM (KMsvT)
47
San Franpsycho for all the Russian history and movies I watch and read didn't know that
Posted by: Skip at August 20, 2023 09:24 AM (MOY79)
48
21 So, I read one of the Horror finalists for the Deagon awards - A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher.
Good book, good writer, but she's the typical leftist so I will abstain rather than vote for it
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 09:13 AM (hiHQ3)
-----
I like her stories a lot, but this last one hammered on the supposed racism of her grandmother a bit too much. A kitschy painting of a Reb soldier and his girl! -- oh horrors!
Good book, good writer, but she's the typical leftist so I will abstain rather than vote for it
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 09:13 AM (hiHQ3)
-----
I like her stories a lot, but this last one hammered on the supposed racism of her grandmother a bit too much. A kitschy painting of a Reb soldier and his girl! -- oh horrors!
Posted by: All Hail Eris at August 20, 2023 09:24 AM (HjWhl)
49
I plan on re-reading all the SF I read in my 20s -- those I can remember. Choosing whether to pick up Greg Bear, Dune, Niven, Pournelle, or Foundation is the challenge. I may even read Hubbard's Mission Earth decalogy again.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at August 20, 2023 09:22 AM (kjOVp)
----
Yeah, you may want to skip that last one...I read some of those when I was a teenager and they left a mark...Lots of gratuitous sexual torture scenes as I recall.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at August 20, 2023 09:22 AM (kjOVp)
----
Yeah, you may want to skip that last one...I read some of those when I was a teenager and they left a mark...Lots of gratuitous sexual torture scenes as I recall.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 20, 2023 09:25 AM (BpYfr)
50
I would welcome feedback and brutal criticism on cover designs.
https://twitter.com/GenghisKhet/
status/1693249579636945380
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 20, 2023 09:13 AM (9yUzE)
Person is ok, but the red looks like it could be a scorpion, prawn, or lobster.
https://twitter.com/GenghisKhet/
status/1693249579636945380
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 20, 2023 09:13 AM (9yUzE)
Person is ok, but the red looks like it could be a scorpion, prawn, or lobster.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 09:25 AM (Angsy)
51
the interesting part of that episode, was how it showed yet again, spock's original nature, his stoicism was something that had to be imposed, of course, the timeline was off, as the war that nearly destroyed vulcan, was far in the past,
Posted by: no 6 at August 20, 2023 09:25 AM (PXvVL)
52
Good morning horde and Perfessor. Good stuff here already. I'm still recovering from the ONT...
Posted by: TRex at August 20, 2023 09:26 AM (IQ6Gq)
53
Clearly they were referring to santorini's whose collapse, ended the bronze age,
Posted by: no 6 at August 20, 2023 09:26 AM (PXvVL)
54
I started reading Song of Sirin by Nicolas Kotar, first book in a fantasy series. The author is a Russian orthodox priest- heard him talk about Tolkien when he was a guest on the Amon Sul podcast.
Anyway, book one is free on kindle, if anyone is interested.
Anyway, book one is free on kindle, if anyone is interested.
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 09:26 AM (YhrtR)
55
Wolfus, I'm thinking about joining the AoS writers' group too, but I'm such a slow writer that I'd hardly ever be submitting anything. Of course, it might also be a spur to me to knuckle down and get things done. I don't know.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023
***
You really should join. We need your perspective as someone who has actually finished a long manuscript, and has published it. I don't suppose there will be any requirement that you have to submit something on an assembly-line basis -- though I did find with the real-life group that I wrote more regularly, and quicker.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023
***
You really should join. We need your perspective as someone who has actually finished a long manuscript, and has published it. I don't suppose there will be any requirement that you have to submit something on an assembly-line basis -- though I did find with the real-life group that I wrote more regularly, and quicker.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:27 AM (omVj0)
56
I'm wallowing in trash and feel no shame. This week's fun read is "Aliens: Bug Hunt" edited by Jonathan Maberry, with short stories by various authors imagining what our favorite Colonial Marines were referring to when they asked "Is this just another bug hunt?"
Turns out, sometimes you kill bugs dead, and sometimes the bugs kill you.
Here are the final thoughts of corporate douchebag extraordinaire Carter Burke as he awaits death after implantation, in "Dark Mother":
https://tinyurl.com/yeymvwkj
I enjoyed the story of Bishop's "birth" (activation) and meeting his fellow Artificial Persons: Rook, Castle, King, and Knight. Our Bishop is considerably more nuanced than his brothers (his off-script behavior almost got him recycled) and takes initiative during a mission that goes horribly south. But he survives relativity intact and is reawakened to find Apone and Hudson grinning down at him...
Turns out, sometimes you kill bugs dead, and sometimes the bugs kill you.
Here are the final thoughts of corporate douchebag extraordinaire Carter Burke as he awaits death after implantation, in "Dark Mother":
https://tinyurl.com/yeymvwkj
I enjoyed the story of Bishop's "birth" (activation) and meeting his fellow Artificial Persons: Rook, Castle, King, and Knight. Our Bishop is considerably more nuanced than his brothers (his off-script behavior almost got him recycled) and takes initiative during a mission that goes horribly south. But he survives relativity intact and is reawakened to find Apone and Hudson grinning down at him...
Posted by: All Hail Eris at August 20, 2023 09:27 AM (HjWhl)
57
In Russian, your middle name is always a version of your father's first name, called a patronymic.
Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 20, 2023
***
E.g., "Illya Nickovetch Kuryakin."
Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 20, 2023
***
E.g., "Illya Nickovetch Kuryakin."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:28 AM (omVj0)
58
I was happy to see that my book The Director's Cut and short story Thirteen Moons were name-checked!
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:14 AM (AW0uW)
Kewl!
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:14 AM (AW0uW)
Kewl!
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 09:28 AM (YhrtR)
59
Thanks Perf. Now for the content.
Posted by: 13times at August 20, 2023 09:29 AM (6f4Sc)
60
Yeah, you may want to skip that last one...I read some of those when I was a teenager and they left a mark...Lots of gratuitous sexual torture scenes as I recall.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 20, 2023 09:25 AM (BpYfr)
---
Elron had some serious psycho-sexual issues, that's for sure. He had a bunch of nymphettes in sailor suits wait upon him while he wandered around at sea, yet apparently couldn't get it up to do anything with them. Voyeurism became his thing.
A Piece of Blue Sky by Jon Atack is your go-to biography on the topic.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 20, 2023 09:25 AM (BpYfr)
---
Elron had some serious psycho-sexual issues, that's for sure. He had a bunch of nymphettes in sailor suits wait upon him while he wandered around at sea, yet apparently couldn't get it up to do anything with them. Voyeurism became his thing.
A Piece of Blue Sky by Jon Atack is your go-to biography on the topic.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed AUthor A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 09:29 AM (llXky)
61
I plan on re-reading all the SF I read in my 20s -- those I can remember. Choosing whether to pick up Greg Bear, Dune, Niven, Pournelle, or Foundation is the challenge. I may even read Hubbard's Mission Earth decalogy again.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at August 20, 2023 09:22 AM (kjOVp)
============
Maybe "Caves Of Steel" and the Robot series.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at August 20, 2023 09:22 AM (kjOVp)
============
Maybe "Caves Of Steel" and the Robot series.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023 09:29 AM (kBP6r)
62
G'morning, Horde. I have a question for those here who have published books. A little background first.
A few months ago the Perfessor featured my neighbor's first book, "Beyond This Valley" on the Book Thread. It was self-published and the house that did it seemed to do a good job. It's on most book sites. Sales haven't been huge but they have been steady. Ray takes the book to local markets and craft shows and it has been well-received there. Here's one of the stories the publisher placed:
https://tinyurl.com/ujtwmnja
(I wish I could find The Perfessor's page. Maybe it'll turn up. In the meantime, I'm typing Book Two for Ray.)
Anyway, I'll quit tiptoeing around the subject. Out of the clear blue sky three people have surfaced with offers to buy Ray's book. Evidently the indie publisher sent copies to the big houses. One of these people claims to represent a major publisher and is putting a proposal in writing. He's talking five figures.
Ray is at a loss to know if these are serious offers or not. He asked me but I have no clue how this works. But y'all do. So I guess what I'm asking is, "Is this mutherfucker real?"
Any advice would be appreciated.
A few months ago the Perfessor featured my neighbor's first book, "Beyond This Valley" on the Book Thread. It was self-published and the house that did it seemed to do a good job. It's on most book sites. Sales haven't been huge but they have been steady. Ray takes the book to local markets and craft shows and it has been well-received there. Here's one of the stories the publisher placed:
https://tinyurl.com/ujtwmnja
(I wish I could find The Perfessor's page. Maybe it'll turn up. In the meantime, I'm typing Book Two for Ray.)
Anyway, I'll quit tiptoeing around the subject. Out of the clear blue sky three people have surfaced with offers to buy Ray's book. Evidently the indie publisher sent copies to the big houses. One of these people claims to represent a major publisher and is putting a proposal in writing. He's talking five figures.
Ray is at a loss to know if these are serious offers or not. He asked me but I have no clue how this works. But y'all do. So I guess what I'm asking is, "Is this mutherfucker real?"
Any advice would be appreciated.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 09:30 AM (cTCuP)
63
these people ... often wrote specifically to throw shade at each other.
Robert Asprin said at a con I attended:
"You write your first Thieves' World (shared universe series) story for money and all the rest for revenge."
Robert Asprin said at a con I attended:
"You write your first Thieves' World (shared universe series) story for money and all the rest for revenge."
Posted by: Weak Geek at August 20, 2023 09:30 AM (p/isN)
64
Wolfus, I'm thinking about joining the AoS writers' group too, but I'm such a slow writer that I'd hardly ever be submitting anything. Of course, it might also be a spur to me to knuckle down and get things done. I don't know.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023
----
MP4, I think you should at least give it go. The Horde is always a source of support and inspiration. There are times when I am not always motivated to write the Sunday Morning Book Thread, but the fact that I know y'all are counting on it always helps me get my act in gear to get it done.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023
----
MP4, I think you should at least give it go. The Horde is always a source of support and inspiration. There are times when I am not always motivated to write the Sunday Morning Book Thread, but the fact that I know y'all are counting on it always helps me get my act in gear to get it done.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 20, 2023 09:30 AM (BpYfr)
65
48 right?
So eye rolly
I might read the Riley Sager book that is also nominated- never tried that writer
So eye rolly
I might read the Riley Sager book that is also nominated- never tried that writer
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 09:30 AM (YhrtR)
66
I've realized that doomed polar expeditions are totally my bag, and checked out "Labyrinth of Ice: the Triumphant and Tragic Greely Polar Expedition". I love reading about overwintering in the frozen north while sipping hot coffee in my reading chair.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at August 20, 2023 09:31 AM (HjWhl)
67
Steinbeck is one of my favorites too. Cannery Row may not be short stories in the usual sense, but more along the lines of vignettes, but it gives the reader a great feel for Monterey in those days.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023
***
It is, and less of a comedy than his later Sweet Thursday, which provided most of the plot and incident in the 1982 Cannery Row film. I love 'em both.
"During the millennia that men have hunted frogs, a pattern of hunt and parry has developed."
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023
***
It is, and less of a comedy than his later Sweet Thursday, which provided most of the plot and incident in the 1982 Cannery Row film. I love 'em both.
"During the millennia that men have hunted frogs, a pattern of hunt and parry has developed."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:31 AM (omVj0)
68
I liked how I could page down the format rather than side to side but there is a page space before the epilogue so make sure you don't miss it because it is important .
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at August 20, 2023 09:20 AM (t/2Uw)
The one minor criticism I had, too much white space. I don't think the extra blank pages were needed. I almost missed the epilogue too.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at August 20, 2023 09:20 AM (t/2Uw)
The one minor criticism I had, too much white space. I don't think the extra blank pages were needed. I almost missed the epilogue too.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 09:32 AM (Angsy)
69
Welp, I need to give up writing book reviews of half-read novels on this here book thread.
Last week, I talked about the new novel, "Whale Fall" concerning a guy swallowed by a sperm whale, that is supposed be "scientifically accurate" in its depiction of his dilemma and efforts to find a way out.
So, to cut to the chase, the novel completely, and i mean absolutely, positively jumps off the reality rail in an effort to come up with a big, explosive, spectacular Hollywood ending that will not only get the protagonist out of the whale but will allow him to solve all his Daddy issues in one fell swoop.
It's really a stupid mess as the last quarter(?) or so of the book enters Hollyworld, the fantasy world were reality, physics, and consequence are all wiped away in an effort to give you the reader a big ole Hollywood ending.
"Whale Fall" is a book that would've and could've easily had a relatively quiet ending that kept the "realisticish" setting and given the character change that the author wanted, buuuuuut, he wasn't writing a book. He was writing a Hollywood movie of the cheesiest sort.
Sad.
Last week, I talked about the new novel, "Whale Fall" concerning a guy swallowed by a sperm whale, that is supposed be "scientifically accurate" in its depiction of his dilemma and efforts to find a way out.
So, to cut to the chase, the novel completely, and i mean absolutely, positively jumps off the reality rail in an effort to come up with a big, explosive, spectacular Hollywood ending that will not only get the protagonist out of the whale but will allow him to solve all his Daddy issues in one fell swoop.
It's really a stupid mess as the last quarter(?) or so of the book enters Hollyworld, the fantasy world were reality, physics, and consequence are all wiped away in an effort to give you the reader a big ole Hollywood ending.
"Whale Fall" is a book that would've and could've easily had a relatively quiet ending that kept the "realisticish" setting and given the character change that the author wanted, buuuuuut, he wasn't writing a book. He was writing a Hollywood movie of the cheesiest sort.
Sad.
Posted by: naturalfake at August 20, 2023 09:32 AM (QzZeQ)
70
Out of the clear blue sky three people have surfaced with offers to buy Ray's book. Evidently the indie publisher sent copies to the big houses. One of these people claims to represent a major publisher and is putting a proposal in writing. He's talking five figures.
Ray is at a loss to know if these are serious offers or not. He asked me but I have no clue how this works. But y'all do. So I guess what I'm asking is, "Is this mutherfucker real?"
Any advice would be appreciated.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023
***
With offers, he can get himself an agent, and the agent can determine if this is legit.
Ray is at a loss to know if these are serious offers or not. He asked me but I have no clue how this works. But y'all do. So I guess what I'm asking is, "Is this mutherfucker real?"
Any advice would be appreciated.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023
***
With offers, he can get himself an agent, and the agent can determine if this is legit.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:33 AM (omVj0)
71
The big fantasy new release seems to be The Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros, a writer I have never heard of. I think she may be an established romance writer?
At any rate, her book is a bestseller.
Good news for the fantasy market, imo
At any rate, her book is a bestseller.
Good news for the fantasy market, imo
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 09:34 AM (YhrtR)
72
Yearly trip to American players theater in Wisconsin has concluded. This year's Shakespeare: merry wives of windsor and Romeo and Juliet.
The plays were well done, as always. The venue and the crowd continue to become more obnoxiously Commie and crazy.
I want to put a sticky note on their indigenous people statement, asking if the Ho Chunk/Winnebago may have stolen the same land from some inferior and now exterminated tribe, but I doubt these folks have that type of introspective skill. Smug? Yeah they have that in abundance.
The plays were well done, as always. The venue and the crowd continue to become more obnoxiously Commie and crazy.
I want to put a sticky note on their indigenous people statement, asking if the Ho Chunk/Winnebago may have stolen the same land from some inferior and now exterminated tribe, but I doubt these folks have that type of introspective skill. Smug? Yeah they have that in abundance.
Posted by: 2009Refugee at August 20, 2023 09:34 AM (oxBnA)
73
I plan on re-reading all the SF I read in my 20s -- those I can remember. Choosing whether to pick up Greg Bear, Dune, Niven, Pournelle, or Foundation is the challenge. I may even read Hubbard's Mission Earth decalogy again.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at August 20, 2023 09:22 AM (kjOVp)
============
Maybe "Caves Of Steel" and the Robot series.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023
***
Yes, I, Robot (short stories) by Asimov, and almost anything by Niven solo and with Pournelle.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at August 20, 2023 09:22 AM (kjOVp)
============
Maybe "Caves Of Steel" and the Robot series.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023
***
Yes, I, Robot (short stories) by Asimov, and almost anything by Niven solo and with Pournelle.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:34 AM (omVj0)
74
For something completely different, thus week's recommendation is Candide by Voltaire. This. 1758 comedy focuses on suffering. How is a book on suffering funny? In this story Voltaire takes on the Optimists, who were very popular in the day. Candide is a man of simple mind, who meets up with his mentor Dr Pangloss and sets out on an adventure. Dr Pangloss believes that "All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds" no matter what tragedy befalls him, and many do. Essentially, Voltaire is ridiculing the Optimists of the day who misinterpreted Liebnitz to the point that they believed every incident in life was part of a greater benefit, refusing to see that man's free will means that evil can coexist with good. Candide and Pangloss experience the Lisbon earthquake, a shipwreck, and an auto-da-re, among other incidents, all the while with Pangloss repeating his "all is for the best" mantra, no matter how ridiculous he sounds. This is biting satire at its earliest, and quite funny.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 20, 2023 09:35 AM (rDw6A)
75
I've started another series of space war books by Christopher Nuttall called Arc Royal. This is the second time a $.99 book I bought at the annual sale touted here has started me on this journey.
Humans have been in space a while starting colonies with inhabitants from their original countries. New Russia has been attacked by aliens and decimated in a battle lasting minutes. This is first contact and it is hostile and no attempt was made to communicate by the aliens so they are complete unknowns.
On,y known is that modern battle ships did not hold up at all under the alien attack. Arc Royal, an older model British battleship has an armored hull that may be able to withstand the alien tech but has been idled for years with a Captain with a less than stellar reputation.
Action almost immediately from page one. His battle descriptions are incredible. His space travel theories hold together in the context of the book.
Looking forward to the continuation of the story in his next book.
Humans have been in space a while starting colonies with inhabitants from their original countries. New Russia has been attacked by aliens and decimated in a battle lasting minutes. This is first contact and it is hostile and no attempt was made to communicate by the aliens so they are complete unknowns.
On,y known is that modern battle ships did not hold up at all under the alien attack. Arc Royal, an older model British battleship has an armored hull that may be able to withstand the alien tech but has been idled for years with a Captain with a less than stellar reputation.
Action almost immediately from page one. His battle descriptions are incredible. His space travel theories hold together in the context of the book.
Looking forward to the continuation of the story in his next book.
Posted by: Sharon(willow's apprentice) at August 20, 2023 09:35 AM (t/2Uw)
76
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 09:30 AM (cTCuP)
I wish I had that problem!
I have no idea whether the offers are real or not. I suppose one way would be to contact the actual publishing house that is supposedly repped by the guy mentioning 'five figures' and ask, "Does this schmoe really work for your house?"
Sorry I can't be of any more help.
I wish I had that problem!
I have no idea whether the offers are real or not. I suppose one way would be to contact the actual publishing house that is supposedly repped by the guy mentioning 'five figures' and ask, "Does this schmoe really work for your house?"
Sorry I can't be of any more help.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:38 AM (AW0uW)
77
"Even Brandon Sanderson can't publish that quickly."
That's just the publisher being slow not Sanderson, we all know Sanderson prolly cranked out 15 massive 1300 page tomes and had them edited in that time.
That's just the publisher being slow not Sanderson, we all know Sanderson prolly cranked out 15 massive 1300 page tomes and had them edited in that time.
Posted by: bob in houston at August 20, 2023 09:39 AM (o+A1m)
78
I wish I had that problem!
I have no idea whether the offers are real or not. I suppose one way would be to contact the actual publishing house that is supposedly repped by the guy mentioning 'five figures' and ask, "Does this schmoe really work for your house?"
Sorry I can't be of any more help.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:38 AM (AW0uW)
---
No kidding. I figured that retiring from the Guard would give me the chance to sort out my books, clean them up and maybe adequately promote them. Not so much, but maybe someday...
I have no idea whether the offers are real or not. I suppose one way would be to contact the actual publishing house that is supposedly repped by the guy mentioning 'five figures' and ask, "Does this schmoe really work for your house?"
Sorry I can't be of any more help.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:38 AM (AW0uW)
---
No kidding. I figured that retiring from the Guard would give me the chance to sort out my books, clean them up and maybe adequately promote them. Not so much, but maybe someday...
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 09:40 AM (llXky)
79
Still reading Stacy Schiff’s bio on Samuel Adams. Thanks to those at the NoVA MoMe for recommending it.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 20, 2023 09:40 AM (f0XAF)
80
I am reading "The Science of the Cross" by Saint Therese Benedicta (Edith Stein).
Very interesting. Not difficult to understand at all. It's a compilation of St. John of the Cross's life and work.
One of the hymns at Mass this morning was "Hosea." I realized it is God singing to us to come back to Him.
Very interesting. Not difficult to understand at all. It's a compilation of St. John of the Cross's life and work.
One of the hymns at Mass this morning was "Hosea." I realized it is God singing to us to come back to Him.
Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at August 20, 2023 09:41 AM (8fpTj)
81
A continuing pleasant surprise has been the Man From UNCLE books by David McDaniel. ( I wouldn't be surprised if he was influenced by Donald Hamilton's Matt Helm books.) Teens could enjoy them but I think they are aimed at an adult audience. His characters are experienced and competent but not infallible. The pace is fast enough to keep the reader turning the pages but he takes care to describe the settings of the action. I just got his one Sci-Fi book and plan to get all his other UNCLE novels.
I wish he had done the same with books based on the "Wild, Wild West", one of my favorite shows from the 60s.
I wish he had done the same with books based on the "Wild, Wild West", one of my favorite shows from the 60s.
Posted by: JTB at August 20, 2023 09:41 AM (7EjX1)
82
Currently doing a re-read of the Dragon Riders of Pern by Anne MacCaffrey.-
Posted by: vic at August 20, 2023 09:42 AM (A5THL)
83
Right now I'm reading a new one by Harlen Coben, "Win". Windsor Horne Lockwood III, Myron Bolitar's rich ur-WASP friend and crime solver, is trying to puzzle out the connection to two incidents: the murder of a notorious 70's radical, and the theft of Win's family treasure, a Vermeer found in the dead man's trash-filled Upper West Side penthouse.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at August 20, 2023 09:42 AM (HjWhl)
84
E.g., "Illya Nickovetch Kuryakin."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:28 AM (omVj0)
===
For women there is a feminine
Anna Nickovna Kuryakin
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:28 AM (omVj0)
===
For women there is a feminine
Anna Nickovna Kuryakin
Posted by: San Franpsycho at August 20, 2023 09:42 AM (RIvkX)
85
This week, I read Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel. This was my daughter's selection for Family Book Club.
It is presented in interview style. An unnamed character of the shadowy, ultra-deep state variety interviews the scientist and military personnel who find and recover pieces of an ancient alien robot.
Of course, it all goes terribly wrong.
For sci-fi, it was really light reading, which is probably why I enjoyed it. Sci-fi is usually not my thing, but that ancient alien theme appeals to me.
It is presented in interview style. An unnamed character of the shadowy, ultra-deep state variety interviews the scientist and military personnel who find and recover pieces of an ancient alien robot.
Of course, it all goes terribly wrong.
For sci-fi, it was really light reading, which is probably why I enjoyed it. Sci-fi is usually not my thing, but that ancient alien theme appeals to me.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at August 20, 2023 09:42 AM (OX9vb)
86
OK, folks, I think it's time to hop in the saddle and take a ride.
Hope you all have a lovely day.
Hope you all have a lovely day.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:43 AM (AW0uW)
lease use tinyurl or something similar.::
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 20, 2023 09:43 AM (9yUzE)
88
Creeper, if he's on fb I highly recommend joining the Writer Dojo group and asking there. Very helpful group with writers at differing levels of their careers.
I think the idea of a reputable agent, or possibly a lawyer who specializes in book deals etc,.
I think the idea of a reputable agent, or possibly a lawyer who specializes in book deals etc,.
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 09:43 AM (YhrtR)
89
Wolfus, I'm thinking about joining the AoS writers' group too, but I'm such a slow writer that I'd hardly ever be submitting anything. Of course, it might also be a spur to me to knuckle down and get things done. I don't know.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023
MP4, there's no submission requirements. Participate at the level you want to. You can help others or submit your work to the members, or both.
the e-mail is orangeentatcoxdotnet or maildrop62atprotondotme
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023
MP4, there's no submission requirements. Participate at the level you want to. You can help others or submit your work to the members, or both.
the e-mail is orangeentatcoxdotnet or maildrop62atprotondotme
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 09:43 AM (Angsy)
90
Good morning y'all....and thanks again Perfessor for the thread. Always manage to find yet another book title to add to the reading list....just ordered The Ruling Class, by the late Angelo Codevilla. Don't know why I haven't read it before, but better late than never
Posted by: Grateful at August 20, 2023 09:44 AM (IQ6Gq)
91
Maybe that would be an interesting topic.
Books that are actually written to be movies instead of books to be read.
There's nothing inherently wrong in trying to get the big bucks by having a movie-friendly story cuz that's where the big bucks are.
However, so many novels/stories are ruined by trying to give us a big crazy Hollywood ending instead of something more in character with their actual story.
Movies too, can be ruined in stretching for the HUGE eye-0melting climax. "The Pope's Exorcist", I'm looking at you.
Maybe that would be an interesting topic.
Books that are actually written to be movies instead of books to be read.
There's nothing inherently wrong in trying to get the big bucks by having a movie-friendly story cuz that's where the big bucks are.
However, so many novels/stories are ruined by trying to give us a big crazy Hollywood ending instead of something more in character with their actual story.
Movies too, can be ruined in stretching for the HUGE eye-0melting climax. "The Pope's Exorcist", I'm looking at you.
Posted by: naturalfake at August 20, 2023 09:44 AM (QzZeQ)
92
Another interesting website found is the photographs taken by the USAAF during WWII of England have been released.
Still looking around but did find my old stomping grounds.
https://historicengland.org.uk
https://tinyurl.com/4245k387
Photos are closer to time I was there than today's Google maps
Still looking around but did find my old stomping grounds.
https://historicengland.org.uk
https://tinyurl.com/4245k387
Photos are closer to time I was there than today's Google maps
Posted by: Skip at August 20, 2023 09:47 AM (MOY79)
93
Essentially, Voltaire is ridiculing the Optimists of the day who misinterpreted Liebnitz to the point that they believed every incident in life was part of a greater benefit, refusing to see that man's free will means that evil can coexist with good.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 20, 2023 09:35 AM (rDw6A)
---
Of course, that's not true - evil will always drive out good if even the chance. People who think they can manage sin, or "balance" the two are simply deceiving themselves.
Through a series of oddball coincidences, this week I found myself caught up in the scandal of Karl Barth's decades long adultery and whether it implicates his theology. For me, it's a moot point: he's a heretic, so I'm not surprised that he's also an adulterer.
But within the sphere that admired him, there's a lot of consternation because they liked his work, and want to keep it.
Barth openly admitted in his correspondence that his work would suffer if his relationship became known, yet at the same time refused to end it, so he tried to square the circle by hiding from the public and writing (I kid you not) that love can't be bad so God must be sanctioning his sin.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 20, 2023 09:35 AM (rDw6A)
---
Of course, that's not true - evil will always drive out good if even the chance. People who think they can manage sin, or "balance" the two are simply deceiving themselves.
Through a series of oddball coincidences, this week I found myself caught up in the scandal of Karl Barth's decades long adultery and whether it implicates his theology. For me, it's a moot point: he's a heretic, so I'm not surprised that he's also an adulterer.
But within the sphere that admired him, there's a lot of consternation because they liked his work, and want to keep it.
Barth openly admitted in his correspondence that his work would suffer if his relationship became known, yet at the same time refused to end it, so he tried to square the circle by hiding from the public and writing (I kid you not) that love can't be bad so God must be sanctioning his sin.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 09:47 AM (llXky)
94
Mornin' Horde. Time for a quick comment before heading to church. Recently finished the 3rd book in the Agent Pendergast series - they are such fun! Also picked up where I left off with the Sebastian St Cyr series.
I've also been reading Lost in the Middle: Midlife and the Grace of God by Paul Tripp. I have one of those birthdays ending in "0" coming up - yes, I'm turning 30, how did you know??! - and the losses, regrets, and consequences of my sins are adding up. I'm finding this book immensely helpful.
I've also been reading Lost in the Middle: Midlife and the Grace of God by Paul Tripp. I have one of those birthdays ending in "0" coming up - yes, I'm turning 30, how did you know??! - and the losses, regrets, and consequences of my sins are adding up. I'm finding this book immensely helpful.
Posted by: screaming in digital at August 20, 2023 09:49 AM (aBJcM)
95
Barth openly admitted in his correspondence that his work would suffer if his relationship became known, yet at the same time refused to end it, so he tried to square the circle by hiding from the public and writing (I kid you not) that love can't be bad so God must be sanctioning his sin.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 09:47 AM (llXky)
---
Hmmm. Where have I heard that line of thinking before?
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 09:47 AM (llXky)
---
Hmmm. Where have I heard that line of thinking before?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 20, 2023 09:49 AM (BpYfr)
96
William Dean Howell's insistence on "reality" fiction may have been a reaction to a lot of dreadful fiction, and surely put the breaks on some of the wilder tales.
I am sure that must be the genesis of the "genre" magazine, since there was a market for more fantastical tales that the classy publishers would not touch. I also wonder if that assumption of reality writing style is why H. P. Lovecraft wrote the way he did. A lot of the Lovecraftian theme is the starched-collar and tie primness being exposed to the madness beyond the little circle of firelight of the accepted human experience
I am sure that must be the genesis of the "genre" magazine, since there was a market for more fantastical tales that the classy publishers would not touch. I also wonder if that assumption of reality writing style is why H. P. Lovecraft wrote the way he did. A lot of the Lovecraftian theme is the starched-collar and tie primness being exposed to the madness beyond the little circle of firelight of the accepted human experience
Posted by: Kindltot at August 20, 2023 09:49 AM (xhaym)
97
Recently finished the 3rd book in the Agent Pendergast series - they are such fun!
Posted by: screaming in digital
You will really like #4 Still Life with Crows.
Posted by: screaming in digital
You will really like #4 Still Life with Crows.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 20, 2023 09:53 AM (rDw6A)
98
Listening to Todd Herman's show and the book "The Return of the Gods" by Jonathan Cahn came up. The topic sounded interesting:
Based on a Dispensational interpretation of Matthew 12:43-45
When Christ arose from the grave, the demons went into hiding, that is why the Greek and Roman gods aren't worshipped now as they were. Somewhere along the way the West in general and the FUSA in particular replaced Israel as God's Holy People (though it isn't phrased that way, its implied because U-S-A!!!)
So something happened and they are returning in the form of the manifestation of usual social pathologies: sodomy, adultery, lawlessness, greed, abortion, etc.
I had to speed read through this or my eyes would have stayed rolled up, also I would have hated myself if I spent more than an hour reading 230 pages of chronic conflation, false equivocation and non sequiters.
And it comes in a spiral bound version for "bible studies". (sigh)
Based on a Dispensational interpretation of Matthew 12:43-45
When Christ arose from the grave, the demons went into hiding, that is why the Greek and Roman gods aren't worshipped now as they were. Somewhere along the way the West in general and the FUSA in particular replaced Israel as God's Holy People (though it isn't phrased that way, its implied because U-S-A!!!)
So something happened and they are returning in the form of the manifestation of usual social pathologies: sodomy, adultery, lawlessness, greed, abortion, etc.
I had to speed read through this or my eyes would have stayed rolled up, also I would have hated myself if I spent more than an hour reading 230 pages of chronic conflation, false equivocation and non sequiters.
And it comes in a spiral bound version for "bible studies". (sigh)
Posted by: Reuben Hick at August 20, 2023 09:53 AM (p8A+W)
99
Phone seems not to be updating the thread
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 09:54 AM (YhrtR)
100
On proper names in Russian one book I’m currently reading:
Arseniev, Arsenyev, Vladimir K. Arsenyev, V.K Arsenyev, Vladimir Klavdievich, but never just Vladimir.
Diminutives confound me. Males end up as Kolya and females Katya. And spellcheck wants to change all of them.
Arseniev, Arsenyev, Vladimir K. Arsenyev, V.K Arsenyev, Vladimir Klavdievich, but never just Vladimir.
Diminutives confound me. Males end up as Kolya and females Katya. And spellcheck wants to change all of them.
Posted by: 13times at August 20, 2023 09:54 AM (e/+2e)
101
continuing pleasant surprise has been the Man From UNCLE books by David McDaniel. ( I wouldn't be surprised if he was influenced by Donald Hamilton's Matt Helm books.) Teens could enjoy them but I think they are aimed at an adult audience. His characters are experienced and competent but not infallible. The pace is fast enough to keep the reader turning the pages but he takes care to describe the settings of the action. I just got his one Sci-Fi book and plan to get all his other UNCLE novels.
I wish he had done the same with books based on the "Wild, Wild West", one of my favorite shows from the 60s.
Posted by: JTB at August 20, 2023
***
He did one in the Prisoner series from Ace Books. Not sure if it was an adaptation of a script, or an original. And yes, his Solo and Illya are the things you mention. On top of that McDaniel knew where to insert humor and the right type of it -- which was in the spirit of the TV show too.
I wish he had done the same with books based on the "Wild, Wild West", one of my favorite shows from the 60s.
Posted by: JTB at August 20, 2023
***
He did one in the Prisoner series from Ace Books. Not sure if it was an adaptation of a script, or an original. And yes, his Solo and Illya are the things you mention. On top of that McDaniel knew where to insert humor and the right type of it -- which was in the spirit of the TV show too.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:56 AM (omVj0)
102
I read "Paddle-To-The-Sea" written and illustrated by Holling C. Holling. An Indian boy knows he won't be able to travel from the north coast of Lake Superior to the ocean so he carves a small canoe and launches it on a journey. Each page covers a different area and condition as the little figure gradually travels to the Atlantic. Holling covers the geography, wildlife and human activities that move the canoe and illustrates the narrative with excellent pen and ink and watercolor paintings. This is aimed at early readers, not toddlers. In less than a hundred pages the young reader will have fun and get a damn fine education. I am seriously impressed. And I'm going to recommend them for our grand nephews.
Posted by: JTB at August 20, 2023 09:56 AM (7EjX1)
103
Still reading Stacy Schiff’s bio on Samuel Adams. Thanks to those at the NoVA MoMe for recommending it.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 20, 2023 09:40 AM (f0XAF)
==============
I liked that one so much I also then read her bio of Vera Nabokov. Another good biography (if you are a Nabokov and Schiff fan).
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 20, 2023 09:40 AM (f0XAF)
==============
I liked that one so much I also then read her bio of Vera Nabokov. Another good biography (if you are a Nabokov and Schiff fan).
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023 09:57 AM (KXmng)
104
Any advice would be appreciated.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023
Well, first read over the contract to see if you actually get paid up front or if this money is contingent on future sales, etc.
Two, see what rights are given up by you.
The safe thing is to either hire an agent or a lawyer with entertainment experience.
And in general, the bigger the contract and the more lawyerly the language, the bigger the chance is that it's a screw job.
On the other hand, this could be a legit opportunity, so find out if it is. Five figures for a first book from someone with no connections is pretty good.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023
Well, first read over the contract to see if you actually get paid up front or if this money is contingent on future sales, etc.
Two, see what rights are given up by you.
The safe thing is to either hire an agent or a lawyer with entertainment experience.
And in general, the bigger the contract and the more lawyerly the language, the bigger the chance is that it's a screw job.
On the other hand, this could be a legit opportunity, so find out if it is. Five figures for a first book from someone with no connections is pretty good.
Posted by: naturalfake at August 20, 2023 09:58 AM (QzZeQ)
105
Beware of what Richard Henry Dana did with "Two Years Before the Mast."
Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at August 20, 2023 10:00 AM (8fpTj)
106
Finished the Russians! Solzhenitzen's The First Circle is brilliant but ends on a depressing note for everyone involved (no surprise there, it's Stalin's Russia after all). Started and finished Planned Chaos by Von Mises that explains it all.
Posted by: who knew at August 20, 2023 10:00 AM (4I7VG)
107
I read "Paddle-To-The-Sea" written and illustrated by Holling C. Holling. An Indian boy knows he won't be able to travel from the north coast of Lake Superior to the ocean so he carves a small canoe and launches it on a journey. Each page covers a different area and condition as the little figure gradually travels to the Atlantic. Holling covers the geography, wildlife and human activities that move the canoe and illustrates the narrative with excellent pen and ink and watercolor paintings. This is aimed at early readers, not toddlers. In less than a hundred pages the young reader will have fun and get a damn fine education. I am seriously impressed. And I'm going to recommend them for our grand nephews.
Posted by: JTB
Someone mentioned this last week, and stirred my memories. I found the movie version I had seen as a youth and found it on youtube, and played it for the family.
Posted by: JTB
Someone mentioned this last week, and stirred my memories. I found the movie version I had seen as a youth and found it on youtube, and played it for the family.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 20, 2023 10:00 AM (rDw6A)
108
Never got around to Howells -- if memory serves there was something of his I was supposed to read in college but I no longer recall what story/novel it was or if I even read the thing. Some of his notions sound dismal beyond belief.
But I'm not sure they necessarily yield Wilde's teacup tragedies. The material of everyday life gives us a lot of the work of Don Robertson (I've said elsewhere that if I could write something anywhere near as good as Robertson's MYSTICAL UNION I would die a happy man), Irwin Shaw's VOICES OF A SUMMER DAY, John Williams' STONER, William Goldman's BOYS AND GIRLS TOGETHER, and others. Depends on the writer's handling, I guess.
But I'm not sure they necessarily yield Wilde's teacup tragedies. The material of everyday life gives us a lot of the work of Don Robertson (I've said elsewhere that if I could write something anywhere near as good as Robertson's MYSTICAL UNION I would die a happy man), Irwin Shaw's VOICES OF A SUMMER DAY, John Williams' STONER, William Goldman's BOYS AND GIRLS TOGETHER, and others. Depends on the writer's handling, I guess.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at August 20, 2023 10:01 AM (a/4+U)
109
With offers, he can get himself an agent, and the agent can determine if this is legit.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:33 AM (omVj0)
Thank you, Wolfie. We're a little shy on literary agents here in Oklahoma. Music agents abound. I found an attorney in Tulsa who does intellectual properties.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 09:33 AM (omVj0)
Thank you, Wolfie. We're a little shy on literary agents here in Oklahoma. Music agents abound. I found an attorney in Tulsa who does intellectual properties.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 10:01 AM (cTCuP)
110
consequently when Yahweh was driven out of the public square, the demons came back,
now sympathy for the devil, suggests this happened much earlier,
now sympathy for the devil, suggests this happened much earlier,
Posted by: no 6 at August 20, 2023 10:01 AM (PXvVL)
111
“Books that are actually written to be movies instead of books to be read”
The Expanse. I know people love the books and the show. I read the first two books and thought: the co-authors are fishing for a cable show.
The Expanse. I know people love the books and the show. I read the first two books and thought: the co-authors are fishing for a cable show.
Posted by: 13times at August 20, 2023 10:02 AM (ilh0z)
112
A continuing pleasant surprise has been the Man From UNCLE books by David McDaniel. ( I wouldn't be surprised if he was influenced by Donald Hamilton's Matt Helm books.) . . .
Posted by: JTB at August 20, 2023
***
The Helms began to appear in about 1960, when McDaniel, I think, was a teenager or college student. Their tone and flavor is quite different from the U.N.C.L.E. series -- but in both cases a fast-moving story gets told in a relatively short space, that of the paperback original of those times. Those books tended to run about 150 pages, maybe 50K words (?), so you had to tell the story quickly.
If anybody wants to see what that genre was like at its best, check out John D. MacDonald and his Fawcett Gold Medal novels, including the Travis McGees.
Posted by: JTB at August 20, 2023
***
The Helms began to appear in about 1960, when McDaniel, I think, was a teenager or college student. Their tone and flavor is quite different from the U.N.C.L.E. series -- but in both cases a fast-moving story gets told in a relatively short space, that of the paperback original of those times. Those books tended to run about 150 pages, maybe 50K words (?), so you had to tell the story quickly.
If anybody wants to see what that genre was like at its best, check out John D. MacDonald and his Fawcett Gold Medal novels, including the Travis McGees.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:02 AM (omVj0)
113
I liked that Jonathan Cahn book. Very hair on fire style, but interesting observations.
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 10:03 AM (YhrtR)
114
88 Creeper, if he's on fb I highly recommend joining the Writer Dojo group and asking there. Very helpful group with writers at differing levels of their careers.
I think the idea of a reputable agent, or possibly a lawyer who specializes in book deals etc,.
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 09:43 AM (YhrtR)
I'll mention that to him, vmom. Ray is computer illiterate. But that sounds like a good start.
I think the idea of a reputable agent, or possibly a lawyer who specializes in book deals etc,.
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 09:43 AM (YhrtR)
I'll mention that to him, vmom. Ray is computer illiterate. But that sounds like a good start.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 10:05 AM (cTCuP)
115
Oddly enough, I've picked this one up and put it down hundreds of times without finishing:
Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.
-- Romans 12:12
Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.
-- Romans 12:12
Posted by: Tonypete at August 20, 2023 10:05 AM (YmKky)
116
If anybody wants to see what that genre was like at its best, check out John D. MacDonald and his Fawcett Gold Medal novels, including the Travis McGees.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:02 AM (omVj0)
===================
I reread McGee last spring! Great fun, and I love McGee. When I lived in Miami I actually drove up to Lauderdale one Saturday and visited slip F18 at Bahia Mar. My wife thought we were just looking at the boats, but then she caught on and properly ridiculed me. Did. Not. Care.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:02 AM (omVj0)
===================
I reread McGee last spring! Great fun, and I love McGee. When I lived in Miami I actually drove up to Lauderdale one Saturday and visited slip F18 at Bahia Mar. My wife thought we were just looking at the boats, but then she caught on and properly ridiculed me. Did. Not. Care.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023 10:06 AM (KXmng)
117
David McDaniel was born in 1939, so he'd have been finishing college when the first Matt Helm novel appeared.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:06 AM (omVj0)
118
12 Somehow missed coping who name, and Russians love using everyone's full name it seems.
The Russian names convention was my biggest problem with ‘In the First Circle’ by Solzhenitsyn
There’s the full name (first, patrinomic, surname)
Use of only one of those, dependent upon who is addressing them.
The various nicknames a person may have - also dependent upon who is addressing them
There will be at least once when you will stop and think “who in the hell is this person?”
The Russian names convention was my biggest problem with ‘In the First Circle’ by Solzhenitsyn
There’s the full name (first, patrinomic, surname)
Use of only one of those, dependent upon who is addressing them.
The various nicknames a person may have - also dependent upon who is addressing them
There will be at least once when you will stop and think “who in the hell is this person?”
Posted by: PMRich at August 20, 2023 10:06 AM (eh5ud)
119
I plan on re-reading all the SF I read in my 20s -- those I can remember. Choosing whether to pick up Greg Bear, Dune, Niven, Pournelle, or Foundation is the challenge. I may even read Hubbard's Mission Earth decalogy again.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus
I need to go back and read all of Keith Laumer's Relief and Bolo stories, most of Niven's work, and Pournelle's John Christian Falkenberg novels. It's been decades and I'm looking forward to getting reacquainted. Some of my favorite tales of my misspent yute.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus
I need to go back and read all of Keith Laumer's Relief and Bolo stories, most of Niven's work, and Pournelle's John Christian Falkenberg novels. It's been decades and I'm looking forward to getting reacquainted. Some of my favorite tales of my misspent yute.
Posted by: Sharkman at August 20, 2023 10:06 AM (yzp7T)
120
I wish I had that problem!
I have no idea whether the offers are real or not. I suppose one way would be to contact the actual publishing house that is supposedly repped by the guy mentioning 'five figures' and ask, "Does this schmoe really work for your house?"
Sorry I can't be of any more help.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:38 AM (AW0uW)
A phone call! Of course. Thank you, MP4. That may be all the help we need.
I have no idea whether the offers are real or not. I suppose one way would be to contact the actual publishing house that is supposedly repped by the guy mentioning 'five figures' and ask, "Does this schmoe really work for your house?"
Sorry I can't be of any more help.
Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing at August 20, 2023 09:38 AM (AW0uW)
A phone call! Of course. Thank you, MP4. That may be all the help we need.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 10:07 AM (cTCuP)
121
Victor Tango Kilo: I'd go with "Are We The Bad Guys". It looks more original to me, the "Hell Yeah" cover looks like thousands of others I've seen.
Posted by: who knew at August 20, 2023 10:07 AM (4I7VG)
122
The Expanse. I know people love the books and the show. I read the first two books and thought: the co-authors are fishing for a cable show.
Posted by: 13times at August 20, 2023 10:02 AM (ilh0z)
I was told it was originally conceived as a table top / RPG
Posted by: 13times at August 20, 2023 10:02 AM (ilh0z)
I was told it was originally conceived as a table top / RPG
Posted by: Kindltot at August 20, 2023 10:07 AM (xhaym)
123
actually I find cahn is very matter of fact, he just relates what is the fantastical to the real world conditions
Posted by: no 6 at August 20, 2023 10:08 AM (PXvVL)
124
The first Matt Helm book, "Death of a Citizen," is copyrighted 1960.
Posted by: Weak Geek at August 20, 2023 10:08 AM (p/isN)
125
The Expanse. I know people love the books and the show. I read the first two books and thought: the co-authors are fishing for a cable show.
Posted by: 13times at August 20, 2023 10:02 AM (ilh0z)
I was told it was originally conceived as a table top / RPG
Posted by: Kindltot at August 20, 2023 10:07 AM (xhaym)
---
I could see that. With the factions (Mars, Earth, Belters), and how the ensemble cast tends to act like a party of adventurers, it seems pretty easy to convert to an RPG.
Posted by: 13times at August 20, 2023 10:02 AM (ilh0z)
I was told it was originally conceived as a table top / RPG
Posted by: Kindltot at August 20, 2023 10:07 AM (xhaym)
---
I could see that. With the factions (Mars, Earth, Belters), and how the ensemble cast tends to act like a party of adventurers, it seems pretty easy to convert to an RPG.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 20, 2023 10:08 AM (BpYfr)
126
Hmmm. Where have I heard that line of thinking before?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 20, 2023 09:49 AM (BpYfr)
---
Exactly. He's argument was the precursor of "love is love" and since God brought his secretary into his life, and she was super-helpful in writing his magnum opus, getting a little on the side with her was part of the divine will.
To me, this completely destroys his theology, because this line of thinking erases *all* instances of sin by saying "Well, God must have meant it to happen, look at how it all unfolded."
The notion that he should have fired his secretary, repented of his sin and trusted the God would provide him with a wholesome assistant never seems to have been considered because, you see, he loved the chick so much that he imposed her on his wife and five children, who were taught to consider her an aunt.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at August 20, 2023 09:49 AM (BpYfr)
---
Exactly. He's argument was the precursor of "love is love" and since God brought his secretary into his life, and she was super-helpful in writing his magnum opus, getting a little on the side with her was part of the divine will.
To me, this completely destroys his theology, because this line of thinking erases *all* instances of sin by saying "Well, God must have meant it to happen, look at how it all unfolded."
The notion that he should have fired his secretary, repented of his sin and trusted the God would provide him with a wholesome assistant never seems to have been considered because, you see, he loved the chick so much that he imposed her on his wife and five children, who were taught to consider her an aunt.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 10:09 AM (llXky)
127
well its written by two of george rr martin's co writers daniel abrahams and another that escapes me,
Posted by: no 6 at August 20, 2023 10:09 AM (PXvVL)
128
Cahn has a new book out, I think?
Posted by: vmom stabby stabby stabby stabby stabamillion at August 20, 2023 10:09 AM (YhrtR)
129
I read "Paddle-To-The-Sea" written and illustrated by Holling C. Holling.. . . . I am seriously impressed. And I'm going to recommend them for our grand nephews.
Posted by: JTB
I've given each of my children 7-8 kid books and Paddle To The Sea was always part of the package. A great one for lots of reasons.
Posted by: JTB
I've given each of my children 7-8 kid books and Paddle To The Sea was always part of the package. A great one for lots of reasons.
Posted by: Tonypete at August 20, 2023 10:09 AM (YmKky)
130
I reread McGee last spring! Great fun, and I love McGee. When I lived in Miami I actually drove up to Lauderdale one Saturday and visited slip F18 at Bahia Mar. My wife thought we were just looking at the boats, but then she caught on and properly ridiculed me. Did. Not. Care.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023
***
I discovered the McGee series when I was in high school. Apparently MacDonald had never done a series character, and he wanted one he "could live with." He wrote the first, Gold Medal accepted it, and then he knocked out the next three in the series before the first came out. By then he knew McGee would work for him.
McGee was originally to be called "Dallas" McGee. A friend of MacDonald's said, "Air Force bases have cool names," and MacDonald renamed him "Travis."
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023
***
I discovered the McGee series when I was in high school. Apparently MacDonald had never done a series character, and he wanted one he "could live with." He wrote the first, Gold Medal accepted it, and then he knocked out the next three in the series before the first came out. By then he knew McGee would work for him.
McGee was originally to be called "Dallas" McGee. A friend of MacDonald's said, "Air Force bases have cool names," and MacDonald renamed him "Travis."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:10 AM (omVj0)
131
Yeah, you may want to skip that last one...I read some of those when I was a teenager and they left a mark...Lots of gratuitous sexual torture scenes as I recall.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel
I will take your word for it, and do so.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel
I will take your word for it, and do so.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at August 20, 2023 10:10 AM (kjOVp)
132
“Books that are actually written to be movies instead of books to be read”
The Expanse. I know people love the books and the show. I read the first two books and thought: the co-authors are fishing for a cable show.
Posted by: 13times at August 20, 2023 10:02 AM (ilh0z)
---
Most of my books use a "cinematic" style where action and thoughts are shown rather than narrated. Little if any internal monologues or narrative expository text.
Evelyn Waugh used that method, and I really like it as it roots the story in a realistic perspective (someone actually watching it happen) rather than using an all-knowing narrator.
Of course, the Man of Destiny series is actually based on the movies, and I wrote it on the off chance that it could make it to the screen and show people what the Star Wars prequels could - and should - have been.
The Expanse. I know people love the books and the show. I read the first two books and thought: the co-authors are fishing for a cable show.
Posted by: 13times at August 20, 2023 10:02 AM (ilh0z)
---
Most of my books use a "cinematic" style where action and thoughts are shown rather than narrated. Little if any internal monologues or narrative expository text.
Evelyn Waugh used that method, and I really like it as it roots the story in a realistic perspective (someone actually watching it happen) rather than using an all-knowing narrator.
Of course, the Man of Destiny series is actually based on the movies, and I wrote it on the off chance that it could make it to the screen and show people what the Star Wars prequels could - and should - have been.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 10:12 AM (llXky)
133
The first Matt Helm book, "Death of a Citizen," is copyrighted 1960.
Posted by: Weak Geek at August 20, 2023
***
And a very startling story it must have been for those times. Helm is not the upright, clean, brave, and reverent hero common back then. He has some traits in common with James Bond, of course, but also with Mike Hammer.
Posted by: Weak Geek at August 20, 2023
***
And a very startling story it must have been for those times. Helm is not the upright, clean, brave, and reverent hero common back then. He has some traits in common with James Bond, of course, but also with Mike Hammer.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:12 AM (omVj0)
134
Listening to Todd Herman's show and the book "The Return of the Gods" by Jonathan Cahn came up. The topic sounded interesting:
Based on a Dispensational interpretation of Matthew 12:43-45
The fact that the US supreme court legalized homosexuality, overturned the defense of marriage act, and "legalized" gay marriage on the same date (in different years) and this date, June 26, corresponds to the historical date of the celebration of the pagan god ishtar to me seems to be quite the "coincidence".
Based on a Dispensational interpretation of Matthew 12:43-45
The fact that the US supreme court legalized homosexuality, overturned the defense of marriage act, and "legalized" gay marriage on the same date (in different years) and this date, June 26, corresponds to the historical date of the celebration of the pagan god ishtar to me seems to be quite the "coincidence".
Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 20, 2023 10:13 AM (rDw6A)
135
I am excited to say I just bought several books in the old Landmark Series to give to my daughters, both of whom have young children now. It may be years before their kids want to read about Paul Revere or thee Wright Brothers but, when they want to, the books will be there in their rooms waiting for them!
I bought the books at Thrift Books, and got excellent service, if anyone is looking for any of the Landmark books.
https://t.ly/eyCrd
I bought the books at Thrift Books, and got excellent service, if anyone is looking for any of the Landmark books.
https://t.ly/eyCrd
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023 10:13 AM (tWNoq)
136
"Victor Tango Kilo: I'd go with "Are We The Bad Guys". It looks more original to me, the "Hell Yeah" cover looks like thousands of others I've seen."
It's actually two books telling the same story from two perspectives, but your point is taken. Shame though, I rather thought Hell Yeah was the better of the two.
It's actually two books telling the same story from two perspectives, but your point is taken. Shame though, I rather thought Hell Yeah was the better of the two.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 20, 2023 10:13 AM (9yUzE)
137
hiya
Posted by: JT at August 20, 2023 10:14 AM (T4tVD)
138
Shame about The Expanse show.
Would have been great if the show had worked it's way through to the same ending as the book series.
Went from space opera to soap opera.
Would have been great if the show had worked it's way through to the same ending as the book series.
Went from space opera to soap opera.
Posted by: pawn at August 20, 2023 10:15 AM (wsHtO)
139
When the moon in sky looks like a big Pizza Pie, that's amore'.
Dean Martin playing the role of Matt Helm.
Dean Martin playing the role of Matt Helm.
Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at August 20, 2023 10:15 AM (8fpTj)
140
Slip F18 did not exist when MacDonald wrote McGee. Bahia Mar created it after the books were a smash.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 10:15 AM (cTCuP)
141
I think the Pants guy fell asleep in the Tat Parlor.
Posted by: JT at August 20, 2023 10:15 AM (T4tVD)
142
Every false god is a demon.
Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at August 20, 2023 10:15 AM (8fpTj)
143
As always, pants are required, unless you are wearing these pants...
Okay, lessee ... so I have to wear pants, unless they're *those* pants, in which case, I can take them off, in which case I'm required to don pants.
I'm beginning to appreciate Eris' cavalier, if not defiant, attitude toward this illogical and bureaucratic overreach.
Okay, lessee ... so I have to wear pants, unless they're *those* pants, in which case, I can take them off, in which case I'm required to don pants.
I'm beginning to appreciate Eris' cavalier, if not defiant, attitude toward this illogical and bureaucratic overreach.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 20, 2023 10:15 AM (a3Q+t)
144
Talking about literary laudunum, my senior year in HS the teacher made us read Edith Wharton. "Ethan Frome"
Why would they do that to us? I'm convinced to this day the courses were designed to discourage reading for a generation.
Why would they do that to us? I'm convinced to this day the courses were designed to discourage reading for a generation.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at August 20, 2023 10:16 AM (kjOVp)
145
I recently read _Cage a Man_ by F.M. Busby and was a bit disappointed. I first heard about it because of an entry in Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials, but I never saw a copy of the novel until just a few weeks ago.
It's in two parts. The first half is about our hero, Barton, who is captured by mysterious aliens called Demu. They try to break his mind and his spirit, with the ultimate goal of transforming him into a being like themselves (they think they're helping). He resists, fights back, and ultimately escapes!
The second half is after he gets back to Earth and is a massive anticlimax. Barton is, understandably, a bit messed up by his experiences, but both he and the psychologists studying him are all handed the Idiot Ball, so we spend half the book stuck in a lot of Sixties pop psychology bullshit before he finally overcomes his trauma and is allowed to go off with the fleet to blow the crap out of the Demu.
I'm not normally one to call books "problematic" but this has some issues with female characters that are just nasty. Not the good kind of nasty, the nasty kind of nasty.
Anyway, read Part I, then tear out the second half and use it for kindling.
It's in two parts. The first half is about our hero, Barton, who is captured by mysterious aliens called Demu. They try to break his mind and his spirit, with the ultimate goal of transforming him into a being like themselves (they think they're helping). He resists, fights back, and ultimately escapes!
The second half is after he gets back to Earth and is a massive anticlimax. Barton is, understandably, a bit messed up by his experiences, but both he and the psychologists studying him are all handed the Idiot Ball, so we spend half the book stuck in a lot of Sixties pop psychology bullshit before he finally overcomes his trauma and is allowed to go off with the fleet to blow the crap out of the Demu.
I'm not normally one to call books "problematic" but this has some issues with female characters that are just nasty. Not the good kind of nasty, the nasty kind of nasty.
Anyway, read Part I, then tear out the second half and use it for kindling.
Posted by: Trimegistus at August 20, 2023 10:16 AM (QZxDR)
146
I despise the 'realism' promulgated by William Dean Howells. It's one thing to write about the so-called 'common man' but to eliminate and condemn any sense of the extraordinary and enchantment in life is almost nihilistic. I have to believe it is an unimaginative reaction to the Romantic era poetry and literature where imagination is seen as a means to better understand and appreciate God's creation. Howell's approach is to reduce humanity to chemicals with no room for glory or the Divine.
This is why the term 'disenchantment' was coined. The enchantment and fanciful aspects of life were taken away by drudges with influence to venerate the mediocre.
This is why the term 'disenchantment' was coined. The enchantment and fanciful aspects of life were taken away by drudges with influence to venerate the mediocre.
Posted by: JTB at August 20, 2023 10:16 AM (7EjX1)
147
McGee was originally to be called "Dallas" McGee. A friend of MacDonald's said, "Air Force bases have cool names," and MacDonald renamed him "Travis."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:10 AM (omVj0)
================
Trav had a great boat, and a very cool car. A wonder if you know how he decided to name it Miss Agnes...
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:10 AM (omVj0)
================
Trav had a great boat, and a very cool car. A wonder if you know how he decided to name it Miss Agnes...
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023 10:16 AM (tWNoq)
148
When the moon in sky looks like a big Pizza Pie, that's amore'.
Dean Martin playing the role of Matt Helm.
Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at August 20, 2023
***
The little portrait of Helm in trench coat that Gold Medal placed on the covers always reminded me of Randolph Scott.
Donald Hamilton, I think, knew a lot about guns. He'd written crime and spy fiction before the Helm series, and Westerns too. The Gregory Peck movie The Big Country is based on one of his novels.
Dean Martin playing the role of Matt Helm.
Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at August 20, 2023
***
The little portrait of Helm in trench coat that Gold Medal placed on the covers always reminded me of Randolph Scott.
Donald Hamilton, I think, knew a lot about guns. He'd written crime and spy fiction before the Helm series, and Westerns too. The Gregory Peck movie The Big Country is based on one of his novels.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:17 AM (omVj0)
149
Speaking of space and books, I'm about 1/2 way through Failure Is Not an Option by Gene Kranz.
I have found it fascinating for the history, technology, and management aspects. Good bit of humor thrown in as well.
Posted by: db at August 13, 2023 09:56 AM (wu87C)
=============================
My wife and daughter's had a chance several years ago to hear Kranz and the 2 surviving astronauts from Apollo 13 speak. Point of Order: I could have sworn Kranz reported he never actually said: "Failure is not an option." If he titled his book that way, maybe I'm misremembering.
I have found it fascinating for the history, technology, and management aspects. Good bit of humor thrown in as well.
Posted by: db at August 13, 2023 09:56 AM (wu87C)
=============================
My wife and daughter's had a chance several years ago to hear Kranz and the 2 surviving astronauts from Apollo 13 speak. Point of Order: I could have sworn Kranz reported he never actually said: "Failure is not an option." If he titled his book that way, maybe I'm misremembering.
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at August 20, 2023 10:17 AM (7Fj9P)
Posted by: Weak Geek at August 20, 2023 10:18 AM (p/isN)
151
The Tale Untwisted by Gene Thorp and Alexander Rossino
This book purports to be a defense of General George McClellan specifically his (in)action upon finding Lee's Special Orders No. 191 during the Maryland campaign. Specifically, this defense addresses the accusation that McClellan acted too slowly to prevent the fall of Harper's Ferry to the Confederates (and does not address McClellan snatching defeat from the jaws of victory during the earlier peninsular campaign nor his achieving a draw a few days later later in what should have been crushing, war-winning victory at Antietam). Lee, always audacious, had divided then redivided his army despite being grossly outnumbered (reminiscent of his stunning victory at Chancellorville the following May), and communicated his plans by means of Special Orders No. 191. Some unknown Confederate officer had the misfortune to use these written orders to wrap his cigars and the further misfortune to lose cigars and orders at Frederick MD where they were found by a Union soldier. 1/3
This book purports to be a defense of General George McClellan specifically his (in)action upon finding Lee's Special Orders No. 191 during the Maryland campaign. Specifically, this defense addresses the accusation that McClellan acted too slowly to prevent the fall of Harper's Ferry to the Confederates (and does not address McClellan snatching defeat from the jaws of victory during the earlier peninsular campaign nor his achieving a draw a few days later later in what should have been crushing, war-winning victory at Antietam). Lee, always audacious, had divided then redivided his army despite being grossly outnumbered (reminiscent of his stunning victory at Chancellorville the following May), and communicated his plans by means of Special Orders No. 191. Some unknown Confederate officer had the misfortune to use these written orders to wrap his cigars and the further misfortune to lose cigars and orders at Frederick MD where they were found by a Union soldier. 1/3
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 10:18 AM (FVME7)
152
Sir Robin: As I understand, Kranz did not say "Failure is not an option" himself. It was a line from the film. But Kranz liked it so much and thought it summed up his attitude perfectly, so he used it as the title of his memoir.
Posted by: Trimegistus at August 20, 2023 10:20 AM (QZxDR)
153
A number of the non-McGee MacDonalds deal with "the common man" living an ordinary life. But the circumstances of that life lead sometimes to situations in which people do (sorry, Howells) murder or debauch someone. I'm thinking THE DECEIVERS, CANCEL ALL OUR VOWS, CLEMMIE, and some others. A lot of Simenons deal with characters leading ordinary lives -- but one thing happens and... His last non-Maigret novel, THE INNOCENTS, is a good example. Then there's Robert Anderson's I NEVER SANG FOR MY FATHER -- nobody murders or debauches anyone and the situation is all too ordinary, and Anderson spins the great American tragedy from it.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at August 20, 2023 10:20 AM (a/4+U)
154
Trav had a great boat, and a very cool car. A wonder if you know how he decided to name it Miss Agnes...
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023
***
The owner who converted the Rolls into a pickup truck, Travis said, had painted it a shade of electric blue. Travis named the car "Miss Agnes" after a grade-school teacher of his who had hair just that shade of blue.
Another little point, the portraits of girls on the covers were painted (at least in the Sixties) by Robert McGinnis -- whose work you know from posters for Thunderball and How to Steal a Million.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023
***
The owner who converted the Rolls into a pickup truck, Travis said, had painted it a shade of electric blue. Travis named the car "Miss Agnes" after a grade-school teacher of his who had hair just that shade of blue.
Another little point, the portraits of girls on the covers were painted (at least in the Sixties) by Robert McGinnis -- whose work you know from posters for Thunderball and How to Steal a Million.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:20 AM (omVj0)
155
mark fergus and daniel abrahams, I don't see much about rpgs, the authors suggested at one point it might be set in the future of weir's the martian,
Posted by: no 6 at August 20, 2023 10:20 AM (PXvVL)
156
Miss Agnes was named after a favorite blue-haired school teacher.
Read all of these when young- at an inappropriate age-
Daddy had them laying around the house.
Read all of these when young- at an inappropriate age-
Daddy had them laying around the house.
Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at August 20, 2023 10:21 AM (hAfUZ)
157
I just finished reading "Gone Away World" by Nick Harkaway. I really liked it. Took a pretty unique idea and built a whole world around it with a massive plot twist in the middle that changed everything.
Recommended for sci-fi fans but others too.
I read "Angelmaker" before this and it is equally as good.
Recommended for sci-fi fans but others too.
I read "Angelmaker" before this and it is equally as good.
Posted by: pawn at August 20, 2023 10:21 AM (wsHtO)
158
re:A story that fascinates is better than one that bores.
********
This came up yesterday on KT's excellent thread on fascissm, regarding the etymology of 'fascinating' vs. 'fascism' and I thought I would share the chuckle here:
I noticed the spelling similarity between 'fascinating' and 'fascist', so went to etymonline.com. Fascinating derives from French, from the Latin fascinatum and has to do with putting a spell on, a la witchcraft. Fascist derives from Italian, from the Latin fasces, which as we know means a bundle, as of sticks. So no apparent common etymology.
Interestingly, apparently Etymonline.com has a sense oof ironic humor as evidenced by this excerpt (my emphasis):
fascism (n.)
1922, originally used in English in 1920 in its Italian form fascismo (see fascist). Applied to similar groups in Germany from 1923; applied to everyone since the internet.
********
This came up yesterday on KT's excellent thread on fascissm, regarding the etymology of 'fascinating' vs. 'fascism' and I thought I would share the chuckle here:
I noticed the spelling similarity between 'fascinating' and 'fascist', so went to etymonline.com. Fascinating derives from French, from the Latin fascinatum and has to do with putting a spell on, a la witchcraft. Fascist derives from Italian, from the Latin fasces, which as we know means a bundle, as of sticks. So no apparent common etymology.
Interestingly, apparently Etymonline.com has a sense oof ironic humor as evidenced by this excerpt (my emphasis):
fascism (n.)
1922, originally used in English in 1920 in its Italian form fascismo (see fascist). Applied to similar groups in Germany from 1923; applied to everyone since the internet.
Posted by: Muldoon at August 20, 2023 10:22 AM (991eG)
159
Talking about literary laudunum, my senior year in HS the teacher made us read Edith Wharton. "Ethan Frome"
Why would they do that to us? I'm convinced to this day the courses were designed to discourage reading for a generation.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus
"Beowulf" for me. Same feeling.
Why would they do that to us? I'm convinced to this day the courses were designed to discourage reading for a generation.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus
"Beowulf" for me. Same feeling.
Posted by: Tonypete at August 20, 2023 10:22 AM (YmKky)
160
Miraculously armed with this information, McClellan should have been able to defeat Lee's army in detail, that is, to bring his full army onto each part of Lee's army separately. Miraculously armed with this information, McClellan should have been able to defeat Lee's army in detail, that is, to bring his full army onto each part of Lee's army separately. But that did not happen. Instead he moved too slowly to save Harper's Ferry and barely eked out a draw at Antietam during the bloodiest day in.American history.
This book concerns itself with the fall of Harper's Ferry and argues that McClellan acted as quickly as practical based upon the misinterpretation of the timestamp on McClellan's telegraph to Lincoln bragging about having Lee's orders. The timestamp was "M" long believed to mean "meridian" or noon but, contend the authors, the true meaning was "midnight" and, therefore, McClellan did not have time to move earlier than he did. In asserting this misinterpretation, they libel all dissent. Not only do they assert that Harper's Ferry commander Miles should have been court martialed and shot for surrendering too soon, they also defame respected historians
2/3
This book concerns itself with the fall of Harper's Ferry and argues that McClellan acted as quickly as practical based upon the misinterpretation of the timestamp on McClellan's telegraph to Lincoln bragging about having Lee's orders. The timestamp was "M" long believed to mean "meridian" or noon but, contend the authors, the true meaning was "midnight" and, therefore, McClellan did not have time to move earlier than he did. In asserting this misinterpretation, they libel all dissent. Not only do they assert that Harper's Ferry commander Miles should have been court martialed and shot for surrendering too soon, they also defame respected historians
2/3
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 10:22 AM (FVME7)
161
William Dean Howells' List O'Donts remains a bit of the Danish Film movement "Dogma 95" from the 90's(?).
Anywho, socialist/communist types always want to define what is good fiction with metrics other than "is it a good, entertaining story".
Woke literary criticism is just the new version of the hatchet-heads fear of losing all-control.
Anywho, socialist/communist types always want to define what is good fiction with metrics other than "is it a good, entertaining story".
Woke literary criticism is just the new version of the hatchet-heads fear of losing all-control.
Posted by: naturalfake at August 20, 2023 10:22 AM (QzZeQ)
162
VTK, I, too, like the left cover. Very striking and original.
Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at August 20, 2023 10:22 AM (hAfUZ)
163
they also defame respected historians Stephen Sears (Landscape Turned Red) and James McPherson (Battlecry of Freedom). Sears, they contend, "whistled up" a story about Frederick civilians being present with McClellan about noon when he was presented with the orders. If he "whistled up" this episode, he whistled well given that Lee himself recounted the story long before Sears was born.
I'm shocked that this book has 4 1/2 stars. Just goes to show that there remains a seditious pro McClellan conspiracy within the country.
3/3
I'm shocked that this book has 4 1/2 stars. Just goes to show that there remains a seditious pro McClellan conspiracy within the country.
3/3
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 10:23 AM (FVME7)
164
"Beowulf" for me. Same feeling.
Posted by: Tonypete
Luckily for me I was devouring libraries' entire SF/F sections well before my senior year in high school.
Posted by: Tonypete
Luckily for me I was devouring libraries' entire SF/F sections well before my senior year in high school.
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at August 20, 2023 10:24 AM (kjOVp)
165
>>>Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:20 AM (omVj0)
============
I knew there had to be a story there. Thanks!
>>>Slip F18 did not exist when MacDonald wrote McGee. Bahia Mar created it after the books were a smash.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 10:15 AM (cTCuP)
============
Not surprising, I guess. Bahia Mar wouldn't miss a marketing opportunity!
============
I knew there had to be a story there. Thanks!
>>>Slip F18 did not exist when MacDonald wrote McGee. Bahia Mar created it after the books were a smash.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 10:15 AM (cTCuP)
============
Not surprising, I guess. Bahia Mar wouldn't miss a marketing opportunity!
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023 10:25 AM (tWNoq)
166
Upon reading the description of Literary Fiction - the first thing that came to mind from another form of media was "Seinfeld".
They themselves described the show as "about nothing" in a meta scene about making a show-in-the-show about their own show life.
Just a bunch of people living life, and dealing with conflicts of mostly-normal life. Mostly of their own making.
They themselves described the show as "about nothing" in a meta scene about making a show-in-the-show about their own show life.
Just a bunch of people living life, and dealing with conflicts of mostly-normal life. Mostly of their own making.
Posted by: Another Anon at August 20, 2023 10:26 AM (hwP7U)
167
Ray is at a loss to know if these are serious offers or not. He asked me but I have no clue how this works. But y'all do. So I guess what I'm asking is, "Is this mutherfucker real?"
Any advice would be appreciated.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 09:30 AM (cTCuP)
My first guess is that it is a scammer. If your friend pursues the "deal", at some point some front money will be demanded.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 09:30 AM (cTCuP)
My first guess is that it is a scammer. If your friend pursues the "deal", at some point some front money will be demanded.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 20, 2023 10:27 AM (bbk+f)
168
Read Len Neal's e-book. Not my usual fare, but it was pretty good. Interesting idea.
Posted by: OrangeEnt'
Thank you for reading it! I very much appreciate it!
Posted by: OrangeEnt'
Thank you for reading it! I very much appreciate it!
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 10:27 AM (43xH1)
169
I'm reading "Betrayal", by Robert D. Morrow* about the Kennedy Assassination. I'm a neophyte when it comes to this particular rat-hole. Is this the book Oliver Stone used to template "JFK"?
*The man who bought the rifle that killed JKK!
*The man who bought the rifle that killed JKK!
Posted by: Brave Sir Robin at August 20, 2023 10:27 AM (7Fj9P)
170
148 ... "Donald Hamilton, I think, knew a lot about guns. He'd written crime and spy fiction before the Helm series, and Westerns too. The Gregory Peck movie The Big Country is based on one of his novels."
Hamilton really knew firearms and incorporated that into all his stories: Helm, spy thrillers and westerns. (He did the same thing when he put sailing into the Helm books. He was an accomplished sailor.) BTW, Hamilton's westerns are excellent. They can be hard to find compared to the Helm series but are worth it.
Hamilton really knew firearms and incorporated that into all his stories: Helm, spy thrillers and westerns. (He did the same thing when he put sailing into the Helm books. He was an accomplished sailor.) BTW, Hamilton's westerns are excellent. They can be hard to find compared to the Helm series but are worth it.
Posted by: JTB at August 20, 2023 10:28 AM (7EjX1)
171
My real-life writing people keep insisting they need to know how my lead character *feels* all the time. I have those reactions in there, but I'm more likely to refer to them obliquely, e.g., "Funny, my eyes were a little misty too. Maybe it was the fog, or maybe I was coming down with a cold."
That of course is in a light-touch mystery story. If I were writing about a tragedy, such as a man coming home to find his family dead and his farm burned, that would require a much stronger emotional response and a different way to show it.
How a character reacts to his circumstances can be just as useful. There is no internal monologue in The Maltese Falcon, for instance, not even Sam Spade's. But we know how people are reacting to things because we see them doing so.
That of course is in a light-touch mystery story. If I were writing about a tragedy, such as a man coming home to find his family dead and his farm burned, that would require a much stronger emotional response and a different way to show it.
How a character reacts to his circumstances can be just as useful. There is no internal monologue in The Maltese Falcon, for instance, not even Sam Spade's. But we know how people are reacting to things because we see them doing so.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:28 AM (omVj0)
172
This week I received and read "Fiendish: Chapter 2" a self-published graphic novel from Irene Strychalski. I quite enjoyed it. The writer/artist has been bitten by the Tolkien bug, and is intent on creating her very own fantasy epic, with a custom-made map of the world, unique magical races, made-up alphabets and languages, the works. The first chapter was pretty straightforward: introduce the main character, introduce some magical monsters, and establish why the main character has a personal reason to hate the monsters. Chapter 2 slows the pace and focuses on the world-building and infills the backstory of the supporting cast. All while the heroes prepare for the first leg of their epic journey, and (naturally) get into a small fight along the way.
Chapter 2 is also interesting on the publishing/economics front. Chapter 1 was short: just 48 pages, and only was colorized because of higher-than-expected pre-sales. However, in Chapter 2, the author had the confidence to nearly double the page-count, and always intended to publish in full color. It's nice to see a success story every now and then....
Chapter 2 is also interesting on the publishing/economics front. Chapter 1 was short: just 48 pages, and only was colorized because of higher-than-expected pre-sales. However, in Chapter 2, the author had the confidence to nearly double the page-count, and always intended to publish in full color. It's nice to see a success story every now and then....
Posted by: Castle Guy at August 20, 2023 10:29 AM (Lhaco)
173
Perf, you profiled the author and “lurker,” James Cambias. He’s a RPG guy (GURPS?)
I read two of his sci-fi books and thought they were fun. DarkLing Sea and Gödel Operation. Both were also overpriced. $12 ebooks.
The third book - Scarab something pitched on a Sunday thread was .. really bad.
I read two of his sci-fi books and thought they were fun. DarkLing Sea and Gödel Operation. Both were also overpriced. $12 ebooks.
The third book - Scarab something pitched on a Sunday thread was .. really bad.
Posted by: 13times at August 20, 2023 10:29 AM (nLeCA)
Posted by: pawn at August 20, 2023 10:31 AM (wsHtO)
175
"Beowulf" for me. Same feeling.
Posted by: Tonypete at August 20, 2023
***
The heck of it is, Beowulf has a story that *would* appeal to boys: a monster who attacks the hero's home, and he has to go out and kill it -- and deal with its mother too.
Posted by: Tonypete at August 20, 2023
***
The heck of it is, Beowulf has a story that *would* appeal to boys: a monster who attacks the hero's home, and he has to go out and kill it -- and deal with its mother too.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:31 AM (omVj0)
176
The pdf I posted is set up for a print version, that's why the blank spaces/pages. It's a 'proof' and the white pages are there so a new title doesn't appear on the even numbered (back) pages. I should have pointed that out.
The second book I just uploaded is the same way, it's for a print book. It's the translation of two stories by Curzio Malaparte, and deal with events in WWII. The first is the bombing of Belgrade in 1941, the second is a 'story' sort-of that revolves around the Fascist social scene in Italy during the war. It's at the bottom of the website, no picture yet, just 'Two Stories by Malaparte'.
leneal.com
The second book I just uploaded is the same way, it's for a print book. It's the translation of two stories by Curzio Malaparte, and deal with events in WWII. The first is the bombing of Belgrade in 1941, the second is a 'story' sort-of that revolves around the Fascist social scene in Italy during the war. It's at the bottom of the website, no picture yet, just 'Two Stories by Malaparte'.
leneal.com
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 10:31 AM (43xH1)
177
I am reading 'Revelations of Divine Love" by Julian of Norwich, in the Penguin edition. She was a 14th century anchoress in England. She was a contemporary of Chaucer, so it's really a translation.
These are a description of "Showings", or visions, that she experienced at age 30. That's the short version. Twenty years later, she produced the long version, in which she unpacks the short version after years of meditation.
Her style is very straightforward and engaging. In fact, she reminds me a bit of the Gospel of Mark: This happened and then this happened, etc.
These are a description of "Showings", or visions, that she experienced at age 30. That's the short version. Twenty years later, she produced the long version, in which she unpacks the short version after years of meditation.
Her style is very straightforward and engaging. In fact, she reminds me a bit of the Gospel of Mark: This happened and then this happened, etc.
Posted by: sal: tolle adversarium et afflige inimicum at August 20, 2023 10:33 AM (hAfUZ)
178
The fact that the US supreme court legalized homosexuality, overturned the defense of marriage act, and "legalized" gay marriage on the same date (in different years) and this date, June 26, corresponds to the historical date of the celebration of the pagan god ishtar to me seems to be quite the "coincidence".
Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 20, 2023 10:13 AM (rDw6A)
---
The court term ends in June, and given work-week schedules, there is a fairly narrow frame of dates on which opinions are going to be issued. Basically, it wasn't a 1 in 365 chance.
Still, it is interesting.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at August 20, 2023 10:13 AM (rDw6A)
---
The court term ends in June, and given work-week schedules, there is a fairly narrow frame of dates on which opinions are going to be issued. Basically, it wasn't a 1 in 365 chance.
Still, it is interesting.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 10:33 AM (llXky)
179
A huge Thank You to all who read 'Let Us Now Be Famous Men'! It started as a pastiche/parody of Phillip K. Dick short stories, and when I posted bits on a forum, people liked the first sequence and asked if there was more, so I went ahead and expanded it into a short-ish sci-fi novel.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 10:33 AM (43xH1)
Posted by: Taq, Rickrolled by Jesus at August 20, 2023 10:34 AM (kjOVp)
181
Ray needs an agent. Find some recent books that are kind of like his, or by authors kind of like him, and find out who their agents are. Often they're thanked in the acknowledgements, and if not you can look at the author's web page or google to see who represents them. Then approach those agents by mail or email. The first sentence of your query should be "I have an offer from [big publisher] for my novel . . . "
If it is a scam the agent will know. If not, they can probably get your friend better terms than those being offered.
If it is a scam the agent will know. If not, they can probably get your friend better terms than those being offered.
Posted by: Trimegistus at August 20, 2023 10:34 AM (QZxDR)
182
I would welcome feedback and brutal criticism on cover designs.
https://twitter.com/GenghisKhet/
status/1693249579636945380
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo'
(Rubs hands together gleefully)
https://twitter.com/GenghisKhet/
status/1693249579636945380
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo'
(Rubs hands together gleefully)
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 10:34 AM (43xH1)
183
Did I read the original comment re: Ray's offer correctly? An indie publisher sent Ray's book to one of the bigger houses? If that was done without Ray's knowledge or approval, the whole thing smells bad right from the start. But maybe that's just me being overly suspicious.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at August 20, 2023 10:37 AM (a/4+U)
184
171...I'm more likely to refer to them obliquely, e.g., "Funny, my eyes were a little misty too. Maybe it was the fog, or maybe I was coming down with a cold."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:28 AM (omVj0)
I like the reaction style. It's more visual to me. Isn't that the guy who wants you to show, not tell? A reaction shows me.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:28 AM (omVj0)
I like the reaction style. It's more visual to me. Isn't that the guy who wants you to show, not tell? A reaction shows me.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at August 20, 2023 10:37 AM (OX9vb)
185
"VTK, I, too, like the left cover. Very striking and original."
Thank you, it went through like 17 iterations to get there.
This makes me wonder if the other cover should take it's cue from the one that's working. Or if it should just be a BF Space Gun and a glass of space bourbon. I lack the ability to draw three point perspective so that ain't gonna happen.
Thank you, it went through like 17 iterations to get there.
This makes me wonder if the other cover should take it's cue from the one that's working. Or if it should just be a BF Space Gun and a glass of space bourbon. I lack the ability to draw three point perspective so that ain't gonna happen.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 20, 2023 10:37 AM (9yUzE)
186
138 Shame about The Expanse show. […] Went from space opera to soap opera.
Posted by: pawn at August 20, 2023 10:15 AM (wsHtO)
The first two books felt like Falcons Crest in Space.
Posted by: pawn at August 20, 2023 10:15 AM (wsHtO)
The first two books felt like Falcons Crest in Space.
Posted by: 13times at August 20, 2023 10:38 AM (xtXMS)
187
Rat Pack Hobbies - a limerick
Said Dean Martin on a late night soiree
A light-of-the-moon fishing foray
When a fish hits your reel
Like a 40-pound eel
You can honestly say, "That's a moray!"
Said Dean Martin on a late night soiree
A light-of-the-moon fishing foray
When a fish hits your reel
Like a 40-pound eel
You can honestly say, "That's a moray!"
Posted by: Muldoon at August 20, 2023 10:39 AM (991eG)
188
'm more likely to refer to them obliquely, e.g., "Funny, my eyes were a little misty too. Maybe it was the fog, or maybe I was coming down with a cold."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023
*
I like the reaction style. It's more visual to me. Isn't that the guy who wants you to show, not tell? A reaction shows me.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at August 20, 2023
***
Exactly. And I keep hearing the "show, don't tell" mantra all the time -- it's as if wannabe writers are superstitiously terrified of telling the reader something. I point to Michael Crichton, who always lectured us a bit in his novels, and we loved it.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023
*
I like the reaction style. It's more visual to me. Isn't that the guy who wants you to show, not tell? A reaction shows me.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at August 20, 2023
***
Exactly. And I keep hearing the "show, don't tell" mantra all the time -- it's as if wannabe writers are superstitiously terrified of telling the reader something. I point to Michael Crichton, who always lectured us a bit in his novels, and we loved it.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:39 AM (omVj0)
189
And re: the agent for Ray. The suggestion to find out from other writers who their agents are is good -- but just in case there's a scam going on, pass on any agent recommended by the publishers involved here. Just in case?
Posted by: Just Some Guy at August 20, 2023 10:40 AM (a/4+U)
190
"Beowulf" for me. Same feeling.
Posted by: Tonypete at August 20, 2023 10:22 AM (YmKky)
---
I liked Beowulf so much that it became my first novel. I felt all the modern treatments were crap, either arguing that Grendel had a rough childhood or that Beowulf made it own enemy.
So I wrote Battle Officer Wolf to make it more relatable (by putting it on a space station) and keep the integrity of the original work.
Plus, writing Wolf was a hoot. Guy can't stop telling you how awesome he is.
Posted by: Tonypete at August 20, 2023 10:22 AM (YmKky)
---
I liked Beowulf so much that it became my first novel. I felt all the modern treatments were crap, either arguing that Grendel had a rough childhood or that Beowulf made it own enemy.
So I wrote Battle Officer Wolf to make it more relatable (by putting it on a space station) and keep the integrity of the original work.
Plus, writing Wolf was a hoot. Guy can't stop telling you how awesome he is.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 10:41 AM (llXky)
191
And re: the agent for Ray. The suggestion to find out from other writers who their agents are is good -- but just in case there's a scam going on, pass on any agent recommended by the publishers involved here. Just in case?
Posted by: Just Some Guy at August 20, 2023 10:40 AM (a/4+U)
---
So where does one find one of these agents? I mean a reputable one, not some rando on the internet?
Posted by: Just Some Guy at August 20, 2023 10:40 AM (a/4+U)
---
So where does one find one of these agents? I mean a reputable one, not some rando on the internet?
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 10:41 AM (llXky)
192
Re: The Matt Helm movies. There should be a special award in Hollywood for turning great source material into utter crap. On the other hand, envision a "Pitch Meeting" video:
"What do you have for me?"
"I have a movie about a remorseless Government assassin."
"OMG! It's 1966! We can't put that on the screen! Society isn't ready for it!"
"Well, we paid a lot of money for the rights."
"Can you turn it into a comedy, with lots of sex?"
"Sure! That will be super-easy! Barely an inconvenience!"
"What do you have for me?"
"I have a movie about a remorseless Government assassin."
"OMG! It's 1966! We can't put that on the screen! Society isn't ready for it!"
"Well, we paid a lot of money for the rights."
"Can you turn it into a comedy, with lots of sex?"
"Sure! That will be super-easy! Barely an inconvenience!"
Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at August 20, 2023 10:42 AM (SBN29)
193
After last week's thread, I finished off "Wall of Men" by our own AH Lloyd. Pretty enjoyable. I wish some of the earlier dynasties had the detail/narrative focus as the modern-age chapters, but I understand the lack of detail/sources associated with older times.
The forceful de-populating of the coastlines by some of the dynasties would be fertile ground for some historical or historically-inspired fiction...
I think the most amusing vignette was about the trading policies of the Ching Dynasty. Foreign powers barged into ports and demanded the right to trade at gunpoint. But those same powers meekly accepted tariffs and taxes on trade, I guess because that's just part of civilized life. And eventually those powers put their own people in charge of collecting the tariffs (on behalf of the Ching) because their own people were just more efficient and honest about the job. Again, it's just amusing to think about how that situation may have evolved...
The forceful de-populating of the coastlines by some of the dynasties would be fertile ground for some historical or historically-inspired fiction...
I think the most amusing vignette was about the trading policies of the Ching Dynasty. Foreign powers barged into ports and demanded the right to trade at gunpoint. But those same powers meekly accepted tariffs and taxes on trade, I guess because that's just part of civilized life. And eventually those powers put their own people in charge of collecting the tariffs (on behalf of the Ching) because their own people were just more efficient and honest about the job. Again, it's just amusing to think about how that situation may have evolved...
Posted by: Castle Guy at August 20, 2023 10:42 AM (Lhaco)
194
I won't defend Karl Barth's adultery, but such a situation would be an opportunity to better understand sin, temptation, guilt, and shame. If a sin is easily turned away from, it's not much of a challenge. One would hope the cycle of temptation, sin, guilt, and repentance is something he came to understand better. I'm not so sure, based on my limited reading, that he got to the repentance part.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 20, 2023 10:44 AM (9yUzE)
195
Story of the week: in a piece I just finished, a while ago I asked a colleague for some input, and he sent me an email that I inserted, verbatim, into it as exposition by a character. I sent the piece to him and his instant comment was about that!
He said, "I don't like this part, it's not very good. It doesn't sound like you, it's clunky, not very involving, and..." blah blah blah.
I literally copy-pasted his own words in, as dialogue, as an in-joke!
I told him, "It doesn't sound like me because it isn't me, it's YOU, dumbass! You wrote it!"
He said, "I don't like this part, it's not very good. It doesn't sound like you, it's clunky, not very involving, and..." blah blah blah.
I literally copy-pasted his own words in, as dialogue, as an in-joke!
I told him, "It doesn't sound like me because it isn't me, it's YOU, dumbass! You wrote it!"
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 10:44 AM (43xH1)
196
Exactly. And I keep hearing the "show, don't tell" mantra all the time -- it's as if wannabe writers are superstitiously terrified of telling the reader something. I point to Michael Crichton, who always lectured us a bit in his novels, and we loved it.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:39 AM (omVj0)
---
One of my writing profs advocated using "telling details," which could be found in description or in dialog. That is to say, sometimes showing is telling.
Look, I like all sorts of writing, but I found that in my case, I could easily bog down into internal discussions, excessive background discussions, etc.
By keeping things lean, I keep them moving.
I also found that nonfiction lets me use a different style where deep background and such fits perfectly.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:39 AM (omVj0)
---
One of my writing profs advocated using "telling details," which could be found in description or in dialog. That is to say, sometimes showing is telling.
Look, I like all sorts of writing, but I found that in my case, I could easily bog down into internal discussions, excessive background discussions, etc.
By keeping things lean, I keep them moving.
I also found that nonfiction lets me use a different style where deep background and such fits perfectly.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 10:44 AM (llXky)
197
King Harv has a coffee give-away going, it looks like, if you have a freezer and can afford the the first three pounds necessary to get the free coffee.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023 10:45 AM (rm6WP)
198
I've been reading short stories by Philip K. Dick
-
Dick is illustrative of the Squirrel's essay. One way in which Dick was revolutionary was that his protagonists were not Princes of Mars or Emperors of the Galactic Empire. They were usually ordinary people caught up in extraordinary situations.
-
Dick is illustrative of the Squirrel's essay. One way in which Dick was revolutionary was that his protagonists were not Princes of Mars or Emperors of the Galactic Empire. They were usually ordinary people caught up in extraordinary situations.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 10:46 AM (FVME7)
199
So I guess what I'm asking is, "Is this mutherfucker real?"
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 09:30 AM
* consults random lady standing in aisle of plane *
No.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 09:30 AM
* consults random lady standing in aisle of plane *
No.
Posted by: Duncanthrax at August 20, 2023 10:47 AM (a3Q+t)
200
I won't defend Karl Barth's adultery, but such a situation would be an opportunity to better understand sin, temptation, guilt, and shame. If a sin is easily turned away from, it's not much of a challenge. One would hope the cycle of temptation, sin, guilt, and repentance is something he came to understand better. I'm not so sure, based on my limited reading, that he got to the repentance part.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 20, 2023 10:44 AM (9yUzE)
---
We're all sinners, and we all fail at some point. Temptation is out there, and the Enemy rejoices when someone of great potential falls to it. That is why it is essential that we take care to watch for its approach and to quickly run from it.
Barth's letters show he did not repent; he wanted it all - respect as a pastor, obedience from his wife, a reputation as the preeminent theologian of his age, and a girl not only on the side, but kept like a concubine in his family home.
It mean it is a great lesson of what not to do and how people who should know better can be corrupted.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 20, 2023 10:44 AM (9yUzE)
---
We're all sinners, and we all fail at some point. Temptation is out there, and the Enemy rejoices when someone of great potential falls to it. That is why it is essential that we take care to watch for its approach and to quickly run from it.
Barth's letters show he did not repent; he wanted it all - respect as a pastor, obedience from his wife, a reputation as the preeminent theologian of his age, and a girl not only on the side, but kept like a concubine in his family home.
It mean it is a great lesson of what not to do and how people who should know better can be corrupted.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 10:48 AM (llXky)
201
191 -- Been quite some time (eons) since I poked around on that, but I believe Literary Market Place (should be available through the library) had lists of agents. Trouble is, I'm not sure if there's anything that keeps just any Joe Doakes from printing up some business cards and taking out ads and saying, "I'm an agent." Some writers' web pages or contact links may refer to their agents' offices rather than direct email, so looking for his favorite writers' agents may be a good way to approach the problem. I think there was a site called Writer Beware that gave notices about possible problems with publishers and agents as well.
Posted by: Just Some Guy at August 20, 2023 10:49 AM (a/4+U)
202
Exactly. And I keep hearing the "show, don't tell" mantra all the time -- it's as if wannabe writers are superstitiously terrified of telling the reader something. I point to Michael Crichton, who always lectured us a bit in his novels, and we loved it.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:39 AM (omVj0)
====================
Nabokov hated the urge to tell stories entirely through dialogue too, which he memorably called "Dialogical diarrhea". I had to look that up when I read it; and the phrase refers to writing excess dialogue.
Narrative is just fine.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:39 AM (omVj0)
====================
Nabokov hated the urge to tell stories entirely through dialogue too, which he memorably called "Dialogical diarrhea". I had to look that up when I read it; and the phrase refers to writing excess dialogue.
Narrative is just fine.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023 10:49 AM (rm6WP)
203
The GenghisKhet link is kaput.
Posted by: 13times at August 20, 2023 10:49 AM (xtXMS)
204
Dick is illustrative of the Squirrel's essay. One way in which Dick was revolutionary was that his protagonists were not Princes of Mars or Emperors of the Galactic Empire. They were usually ordinary people caught up in extraordinary situations.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023
***
My fantasy tends to be like that: I write about prostitutes, soldiers, doctors, etc. Magic works, but you still have to make a living.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023
***
My fantasy tends to be like that: I write about prostitutes, soldiers, doctors, etc. Magic works, but you still have to make a living.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 10:50 AM (omVj0)
205
I'm making $90 an hour working from home. I never imagined that it was honest to goodness yet my closest companion is earning 16,000 US dollars a month by working on the connection, that was truly astounding for me, she prescribed for me to attempt it simply. Everybody must try this job now by just using this website... www.Payathome7.com
Posted by: www.Payathome7.com at August 20, 2023 10:51 AM (hJ8gY)
206
I'm slogging my way thru "The Fourth Turning is Here" by Neil Howe. Either it's kind of dense, or I am...
Posted by: gourmand du jour at August 20, 2023 10:52 AM (MeG8a)
207
The Malaparte 'book' posted this morning is explained in the introductions, but the second story does contain a stunning allegation concerning the WWII North Africa campaign I have never seen anywhere else.
If you have an interest in WWII I recommend reading both stories, because they're otherwise either not translated into English at all (the first one) or very poorly translated (the second one). The first has never been translated before, the second not since, I think, the late 1940s. Again, I stress, they are not my original work: they are English translations of Malaparte's work. He's best known for 'Kaputt'.
I recommend them, they're really interesting.
leneal.com
Scroll all the way down.
If you have an interest in WWII I recommend reading both stories, because they're otherwise either not translated into English at all (the first one) or very poorly translated (the second one). The first has never been translated before, the second not since, I think, the late 1940s. Again, I stress, they are not my original work: they are English translations of Malaparte's work. He's best known for 'Kaputt'.
I recommend them, they're really interesting.
leneal.com
Scroll all the way down.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 10:52 AM (43xH1)
208
f you zoom in and look at pants dude's left hand you'll see a nasty Satan tattoo.
-
Possible book title: Satan's Pants Are Damned!
-
Possible book title: Satan's Pants Are Damned!
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 10:52 AM (FVME7)
209
After last week's thread, I finished off "Wall of Men" by our own AH Lloyd. Pretty enjoyable. I wish some of the earlier dynasties had the detail/narrative focus as the modern-age chapters, but I understand the lack of detail/sources associated with older times.
Posted by: Castle Guy at August 20, 2023 10:42 AM (Lhaco)
---
Glad you liked it! Not only were the sources thin, I found in test readings that people were overwhelmed, and some of the reviews indicate that the dynastic cycle is a bit overwhelming.
Also, there's the question of whether there is any innovation or something distinct. The later chapters get more detailed because technology and tactics are changing more rapidly. It's not just another battle of crossbows and chariots vs raiders.
Posted by: Castle Guy at August 20, 2023 10:42 AM (Lhaco)
---
Glad you liked it! Not only were the sources thin, I found in test readings that people were overwhelmed, and some of the reviews indicate that the dynastic cycle is a bit overwhelming.
Also, there's the question of whether there is any innovation or something distinct. The later chapters get more detailed because technology and tactics are changing more rapidly. It's not just another battle of crossbows and chariots vs raiders.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 10:53 AM (llXky)
210
Rat Pack Hobbies - a limerick
Said Dean Martin on a late night soiree
A light-of-the-moon fishing foray
When a fish hits your reel
Like a 40-pound eel
You can honestly say, "That's a moray!"
Posted by: Muldoon at August 20, 2023 10:39 AM (991eG)
==============
thanks Muldoon!
BTW, can a simile be more emblematic of our times than "A moon in the sky like a big pizza pie"? That's Biden-esque.
Said Dean Martin on a late night soiree
A light-of-the-moon fishing foray
When a fish hits your reel
Like a 40-pound eel
You can honestly say, "That's a moray!"
Posted by: Muldoon at August 20, 2023 10:39 AM (991eG)
==============
thanks Muldoon!
BTW, can a simile be more emblematic of our times than "A moon in the sky like a big pizza pie"? That's Biden-esque.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023 10:56 AM (33k5K)
211
John Steakley did kind of the the opposite.
In Armor he made the reluctant hero an unknown but by all accounts a common man when in reality he was a Royal .
In Armor he made the reluctant hero an unknown but by all accounts a common man when in reality he was a Royal .
Posted by: polynikes at August 20, 2023 10:56 AM (MNhXM)
212
In Russian, your middle name is always a version of your father's first name, called a patronymic.
Posted by: San Franpsycho
In the ghetto, nobody would have middle names. Either that or all the middle names would be JohnDoevitch.
Posted by: San Franpsycho
In the ghetto, nobody would have middle names. Either that or all the middle names would be JohnDoevitch.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 10:57 AM (FVME7)
213
If it is a scam the agent will know. If not, they can probably get your friend better terms than those being offered.
Posted by: Trimegistus at August 20, 2023 10:34 AM (QZxDR)
Thank you, sir. I'll pass that along.
Posted by: Trimegistus at August 20, 2023 10:34 AM (QZxDR)
Thank you, sir. I'll pass that along.
Posted by: creeper at August 20, 2023 10:59 AM (cTCuP)
214
Oh: reading 'The Crisis in Marxism' by Jack Lindsay. What a strange guy. The book is excellent. It is a distillation of Marxist thought and directions, with more-or-less succinct summaries of the theoreticians, like the contributors of The Frankfurt School. The only problem with it is, the ideas presented are usually obfuscated and loaded in coded jargon; Lindsay dispenses with that and explains what they are, in more-or-less easily understood language; and he himself was a Communist of some sort, I'm not sure exactly what.
The problem, as above, is that when clearly summarized, the ideas of these... creatures... are revealed as, if anything, even more monstrous and Evil than even I previously thought. These are bad, vicious, just monstrous, Evil men. It's almost incomprehensible how stunningly Evil they really were/are. Lindsay describes all of it as if he's telling a banal story at a dinner table, no interjections, nothing. It's jarring.
The problem, as above, is that when clearly summarized, the ideas of these... creatures... are revealed as, if anything, even more monstrous and Evil than even I previously thought. These are bad, vicious, just monstrous, Evil men. It's almost incomprehensible how stunningly Evil they really were/are. Lindsay describes all of it as if he's telling a banal story at a dinner table, no interjections, nothing. It's jarring.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:00 AM (43xH1)
215
Nabokov hated the urge to tell stories entirely through dialogue too, which he memorably called "Dialogical diarrhea". I had to look that up when I read it; and the phrase refers to writing excess dialogue.
Narrative is just fine.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023
***
I like and am good at dialogue, but it has to be interesting. People sitting around talking about what they are going to make for lunch (as in some of the "cozy" mysteries I've read) is dull. That's conversation, not dialogue.
Having dialogue on the page also makes it visually interesting for the reader. A solid wall of prose is discouraging, especially on the first page. It's possible to make that fascinating -- but it's tougher.
Narrative is just fine.
Posted by: Huck Follywood at August 20, 2023
***
I like and am good at dialogue, but it has to be interesting. People sitting around talking about what they are going to make for lunch (as in some of the "cozy" mysteries I've read) is dull. That's conversation, not dialogue.
Having dialogue on the page also makes it visually interesting for the reader. A solid wall of prose is discouraging, especially on the first page. It's possible to make that fascinating -- but it's tougher.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 11:01 AM (omVj0)
216
In Russian, your middle name is always a version of your father's first name, called a patronymic.
**********
Just call me Seamus Milkmanyovich Muldoon!
**********
Just call me Seamus Milkmanyovich Muldoon!
Posted by: Muldoon at August 20, 2023 11:01 AM (991eG)
217
Speaking of scammers...205.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at August 20, 2023 11:01 AM (fUa1N)
218
And how Herbert Marcuse ended up at the Univ. of Calif. instead of up one of Hitler's chimneys I will never understand.
Posted by: Chatterbox Mouse at August 20, 2023 11:02 AM (8fpTj)
219
Glad you liked it! Not only were the sources thin, I found in test readings that people were overwhelmed, and some of the reviews indicate that the dynastic cycle is a bit overwhelming.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd'
My review on Amazon is the one mentioning kids' books that I read a lot of. I also unfairly gave it 4 stars instead of 5. i feel bad about that but did it anyway.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd'
My review on Amazon is the one mentioning kids' books that I read a lot of. I also unfairly gave it 4 stars instead of 5. i feel bad about that but did it anyway.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:02 AM (43xH1)
220
And how Herbert Marcuse ended up at the Univ. of Calif.'
I have some similar thoughts reading Lindsay's book. None of those POSs should EVER have been allowed into the USA under any circumstances, for any reason. Terrible thing to say, but these were not some innocent refugees fleeing Nazi Terror; they were the moral equivalents and all deserved to die.
I have some similar thoughts reading Lindsay's book. None of those POSs should EVER have been allowed into the USA under any circumstances, for any reason. Terrible thing to say, but these were not some innocent refugees fleeing Nazi Terror; they were the moral equivalents and all deserved to die.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:05 AM (43xH1)
221
Im pretty sure Ace took a long weekend as part of his tri-monthly outreach program where he helps teach strippers to read.
Posted by: Rbastid at August 20, 2023 11:07 AM (ulunB)
222
Of course, the problem with reading books by Beck is that they are unlikely to change anyone's mind, no matter how factual they may be. People tend to look at a statement he makes and then discount it because he said it.
___
Glenn could use a pen name that will get the hyper-ignorant AWFLs to read it. Maybe something like "Orpah Winfried".
___
Glenn could use a pen name that will get the hyper-ignorant AWFLs to read it. Maybe something like "Orpah Winfried".
Posted by: Chuck Martel at August 20, 2023 11:08 AM (fs1hN)
223
Thank you, Perfessor. We appreciate your wonderful book thread, and how much you contribute in comments.
Posted by: Buck Throckmorton at August 20, 2023 11:09 AM (d9Cw3)
224
A huge Thank You to all who read 'Let Us Now Be Famous Men'! It started as a pastiche/parody of Phillip K. Dick short stories, and when I posted bits on a forum, people liked the first sequence and asked if there was more, so I went ahead and expanded it into a short-ish sci-fi novel.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 10:33 AM (43xH1)
I noticed it wasn't a tome. I don't care much for reading tomes anyway. How many words is it? Do you have a count? I've written a 55k scifi story, I wondered if it's long enough.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 10:33 AM (43xH1)
I noticed it wasn't a tome. I don't care much for reading tomes anyway. How many words is it? Do you have a count? I've written a 55k scifi story, I wondered if it's long enough.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 11:09 AM (Angsy)
225
Humor at the supermarket: stocking air fresheners. They have names like April Showers, Fresh Linen, Morning Glory, and the ones we were stocking have a tagline, 'Authentic Scent!'
Co-worker picks up 'Hawaiian Breeze', sniffs it, then says, "I don't know, it doesn't smell like smoke and burned bodies."
Co-worker picks up 'Hawaiian Breeze', sniffs it, then says, "I don't know, it doesn't smell like smoke and burned bodies."
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:11 AM (43xH1)
226
Can I ask, does the cox dot net email for OrangeEnt have one E or two? Just want to make sure I get it right. Thanks. I would love to join the writers' group.
Posted by: DrAlice at August 20, 2023 11:12 AM (dNxze)
227
Back from my sedition meeting. It has been surprising and truly grand to see more black families attending.
Back from my sedition meeting. It has been surprising and truly grand to see more black families attending.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 20, 2023 11:12 AM (MoZTd)
228
This is literary.
Mythinformed
@MythinformedMKE
K-12 sex ed teachers are pushing to add “porn literacy” into the curriculum.
This effort is a part of their “advancing progressive sex ed across the US” according to their mission statement.
-
Sample test question. Which is the better metaphor, pounding like a jackhammer or slammng like a barn door in a tornado?
Mythinformed
@MythinformedMKE
K-12 sex ed teachers are pushing to add “porn literacy” into the curriculum.
This effort is a part of their “advancing progressive sex ed across the US” according to their mission statement.
-
Sample test question. Which is the better metaphor, pounding like a jackhammer or slammng like a barn door in a tornado?
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 11:13 AM (FVME7)
229
Co-worker picks up 'Hawaiian Breeze', sniffs it, then says, "I don't know, it doesn't smell like smoke and burned bodies."
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:11 AM (43xH1)
*snort
I hated stocking the air freshener aisle most of all. That stuff makes me sneeze and makes my whole respiratory system raw.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:11 AM (43xH1)
*snort
I hated stocking the air freshener aisle most of all. That stuff makes me sneeze and makes my whole respiratory system raw.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at August 20, 2023 11:13 AM (OX9vb)
230
unless you are wearing these pants...
Look more like pajama bottoms. Wife had a pair of pajamas that were a hoot. Said "No, No, No" all over them, but turn out the light and they glowed, "Yes, Yes ,Yes".
Look more like pajama bottoms. Wife had a pair of pajamas that were a hoot. Said "No, No, No" all over them, but turn out the light and they glowed, "Yes, Yes ,Yes".
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at August 20, 2023 11:15 AM (ynpvh)
231
I noticed it wasn't a tome. I don't care much for reading tomes anyway. How many words is it? Do you have a count? I've written a 55k scifi story, I wondered if it's long enough.
Posted by: OrangeEnt'
Most sci-fi paperbacks in the 1950s-1960s weren't long, that was part of the schtick of that book, 'written as a vintage paperback', so it didn't have to be very long and it's better if it wasn't. I forget the word count, actually, and don't have a word processor version with me at the moment! (I wrote it on Libre Office and I'm on a Chromebook). I personally wouldn't worry about it. If you say what you mean to say, it doesn't much matter what the length of it is.
Posted by: OrangeEnt'
Most sci-fi paperbacks in the 1950s-1960s weren't long, that was part of the schtick of that book, 'written as a vintage paperback', so it didn't have to be very long and it's better if it wasn't. I forget the word count, actually, and don't have a word processor version with me at the moment! (I wrote it on Libre Office and I'm on a Chromebook). I personally wouldn't worry about it. If you say what you mean to say, it doesn't much matter what the length of it is.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:15 AM (43xH1)
232
229 Co-worker picks up 'Hawaiian Breeze', sniffs it, then says, "I don't know, it doesn't smell like smoke and burned bodies."
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:11 AM (43xH1)
*snort
I hated stocking the air freshener aisle most of all. That stuff makes me sneeze and makes my whole respiratory system raw.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at August 20, 2023 11:13 AM (OX9vb)
Isn't that what real fresh air does too? AT least if you have allergies.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:11 AM (43xH1)
*snort
I hated stocking the air freshener aisle most of all. That stuff makes me sneeze and makes my whole respiratory system raw.
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at August 20, 2023 11:13 AM (OX9vb)
Isn't that what real fresh air does too? AT least if you have allergies.
Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at August 20, 2023 11:16 AM (ynpvh)
233
Im pretty sure Ace took a long weekend as part of his tri-monthly outreach program where he helps teach strippers to read.
Posted by: Rbastid
And readers to strip ?
Posted by: Rbastid
And readers to strip ?
Posted by: JT at August 20, 2023 11:16 AM (T4tVD)
234
Just saw comment 89: looks like it's two "E"s.
Posted by: DrAlice at August 20, 2023 11:17 AM (dNxze)
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 20, 2023 11:18 AM (MoZTd)
236
"Knights of the Black Earth by Margaret Weis and Don Perrin -- Xris Cyborg hunts his former friend who tried to kill him for unknown reasons...only to discover that his former friend went from a he to a she to avoid detection..."
-----
Seems like a clever way to slip gender confusion in as a plot point, especially if the protagonist's role is to convince the reader that he truly has become a woman by the end.
-----
Seems like a clever way to slip gender confusion in as a plot point, especially if the protagonist's role is to convince the reader that he truly has become a woman by the end.
Posted by: Chairman LMAO at August 20, 2023 11:20 AM (F5SKq)
237
234 Just saw comment 89: looks like it's two "E"s.
Posted by: DrAlice at August 20, 2023 11:17 AM (dNxze)
I"m right here, ya know
Posted by: DrAlice at August 20, 2023 11:17 AM (dNxze)
I"m right here, ya know
Posted by: Patricia Neal at August 20, 2023 11:21 AM (us2H3)
238
Glenn could use a pen name that will get the hyper-ignorant AWFLs to read it. Maybe something like "Orpah Winfried".
Posted by: Chuck Martel at August 20
Bob L. Peter's?
Posted by: Chuck Martel at August 20
Bob L. Peter's?
Posted by: That Northernlurker what lurkd at August 20, 2023 11:22 AM (opqVD)
239
he emigrated in 1934, he saw the writing on the wall,
Posted by: no 6 at August 20, 2023 11:22 AM (PXvVL)
240
Thanks for the Book Thread Perfesser !
Posted by: JT at August 20, 2023 11:22 AM (T4tVD)
241
Can I ask, does the cox dot net email for OrangeEnt have one E or two? Just want to make sure I get it right. Thanks. I would love to join the writers' group.
Posted by: DrAlice at August 20, 2023 11:12 AM (dNxze)
two e. like the nic.
proton is the one I'm trying to use more.
Posted by: DrAlice at August 20, 2023 11:12 AM (dNxze)
two e. like the nic.
proton is the one I'm trying to use more.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 11:23 AM (Angsy)
242
What I'll probably do with the website is after posting the whole books, take them down and post excerpts; I have to build the whole site again, it's been a while since I did one and having to remember how to do everything again...
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:24 AM (43xH1)
243
I have a long list of things to do today. Don't want to do any of it. But I do need to get outside, whatever I do or don't.
Have a great day, all!
Have a great day, all!
Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at August 20, 2023 11:24 AM (OX9vb)
Posted by: naturalfake at August 20, 2023 11:24 AM (QzZeQ)
245
Hurricane Cankles has become a black hole
Posted by: whethertranny at August 20, 2023 11:25 AM (us2H3)
246
Said Dean Martin on a late night soiree
A light-of-the-moon fishing foray
When a fish hits your reel
Like a 40-pound eel
You can honestly say, "That's a moray!"
Posted by: Muldoon at August 20, 2023 10:39 AM (991eG)'
HAHAHA! That one's a classic.
A light-of-the-moon fishing foray
When a fish hits your reel
Like a 40-pound eel
You can honestly say, "That's a moray!"
Posted by: Muldoon at August 20, 2023 10:39 AM (991eG)'
HAHAHA! That one's a classic.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:27 AM (43xH1)
247
Co-worker picks up 'Hawaiian Breeze', sniffs it, then says, "I don't know, it doesn't smell like smoke and burned bodies."
It doesn't smell like Failure. It doesn't smell like Dresden. No teapots in the ruins.
This is what it is like to live in the real world with real people.
It doesn't smell like Failure. It doesn't smell like Dresden. No teapots in the ruins.
This is what it is like to live in the real world with real people.
Posted by: pawn at August 20, 2023 11:27 AM (wsHtO)
248
Indulged myself and bought The Last King of America by Andrew Roberts, a biography of George III. George is often seen as alternately a buffoon and a madman, but Roberts tries to portray him as a humane king committed to ruling constitutionally but beset by illness, incompetent ministers and generals, competing brilliant politicians and plain bad luck.
Indulged myself and bought The Last King of America by Andrew Roberts, a biography of George III. George is often seen as alternately a buffoon and a madman, but Roberts tries to portray him as a humane king committed to ruling constitutionally but beset by illness, incompetent ministers and generals, competing brilliant politicians and plain bad luck.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 20, 2023 11:27 AM (MoZTd)
249
I'm trying to find authors who are successful at writing the type of fiction that I am, in order to try to market to people who like that sort of thing.
I look at my stuff as sort-of Poul Anderson-ish, where characters visit different worlds and try to work with the aliens in ways other than just killing them. (Though there is invariably some sort of battle, it's not the focus of the story.)
So I'm digging through Amazon and found "Space Assassins" which...well, it has magic in it, which...I mean...IDK, I guess that's a thing now.
Anyway, if anyone knows of current (preferably indie) writers who are writing similarly, LMK.
I look at my stuff as sort-of Poul Anderson-ish, where characters visit different worlds and try to work with the aliens in ways other than just killing them. (Though there is invariably some sort of battle, it's not the focus of the story.)
So I'm digging through Amazon and found "Space Assassins" which...well, it has magic in it, which...I mean...IDK, I guess that's a thing now.
Anyway, if anyone knows of current (preferably indie) writers who are writing similarly, LMK.
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 11:28 AM (lpWi1)
250
Finished Breakout by Marint Russ. Now reading Chosin by Eric Hammel. Hammel is cutting Almond a lot of slack. I'm rearranging my books after moving back from Fort Bragg and Korean War is on the ready rack book shelve. Next month it might be all science fiction. It's reading roulette!!
Posted by: Stacy0311 at August 20, 2023 11:31 AM (P13u7)
251
Some days I wake up and feel like a pile of whale shit, until I have my coffee.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at August 20, 2023 11:32 AM (KVGVf)
Posted by: Just Some Guy at August 20, 2023 11:32 AM (a/4+U)
253
Nothing announces the end of the year holiday season like passing a barrel of spice-scented pinecones as you walk into a store. Too much.
Posted by: mrp at August 20, 2023 11:34 AM (rj6Yv)
254
251 Some days I wake up and feel like a pile of whale shit, until I have my coffee.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at August 20, 2023
***
I can see what you mean . . . but doesn't that stuff float?
Posted by: Dr. Bone at August 20, 2023
***
I can see what you mean . . . but doesn't that stuff float?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 11:35 AM (omVj0)
255
Most sci-fi paperbacks in the 1950s-1960s weren't long, that was part of the schtick of that book, 'written as a vintage paperback', so it didn't have to be very long and it's better if it wasn't. I forget the word count, actually, and don't have a word processor version with me at the moment! (I wrote it on Libre Office and I'm on a Chromebook). I personally wouldn't worry about it. If you say what you mean to say, it doesn't much matter what the length of it is.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:15 AM (43xH1)
Thanks, Len. At a standard of about 350 wpp, mine comes out at 158 pages. Seems too short, but who knows. I'm only past the second look at it, but I did revise as I wrote it.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:15 AM (43xH1)
Thanks, Len. At a standard of about 350 wpp, mine comes out at 158 pages. Seems too short, but who knows. I'm only past the second look at it, but I did revise as I wrote it.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 11:35 AM (Angsy)
256
Sample test question. Which is the better metaphor, pounding like a jackhammer or slammng like a barn door in a tornado?
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 11:13 AM (FVME7)
---
And this again demonstrates the demonic influence at work. It always comes down to shattering all sexual mores.
One of the left's go-to weapons to try to discredit orthodox Christians is "why are you so hung up on sex?" or they will say that sex should get a special exemption from all the other rules, as if it's a trivial matter.
But it is the centerpiece of any animal's existence. Without it, we die off. So acting like it's a tertiary issue (say which form of the Mass one uses or the weight to be accorded to Maccabees) is usually dishonest.
Karl Barth basically did that - he wrote a massive tome on God's will and then said that the adultery part was negotiable.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 11:13 AM (FVME7)
---
And this again demonstrates the demonic influence at work. It always comes down to shattering all sexual mores.
One of the left's go-to weapons to try to discredit orthodox Christians is "why are you so hung up on sex?" or they will say that sex should get a special exemption from all the other rules, as if it's a trivial matter.
But it is the centerpiece of any animal's existence. Without it, we die off. So acting like it's a tertiary issue (say which form of the Mass one uses or the weight to be accorded to Maccabees) is usually dishonest.
Karl Barth basically did that - he wrote a massive tome on God's will and then said that the adultery part was negotiable.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:36 AM (llXky)
257
Hammel is cutting Almond a lot of slack.
____________
"When it paid to be aggressive, Ned was aggressive. When it paid to be cautious, Ned was aggressive."
Hammel is cutting Almond a lot of slack.
____________
"When it paid to be aggressive, Ned was aggressive. When it paid to be cautious, Ned was aggressive."
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 20, 2023 11:37 AM (MoZTd)
258
Thanks, Len. At a standard of about 350 wpp, mine comes out at 158 pages. Seems too short, but who knows. I'm only past the second look at it, but I did revise as I wrote it.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 11:35 AM (Angsy)
---
My books run around 50,000 words, which is often a good length for what I have to say.
The older books got to the point. Modern ones are heavily padded IMO.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 11:35 AM (Angsy)
---
My books run around 50,000 words, which is often a good length for what I have to say.
The older books got to the point. Modern ones are heavily padded IMO.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:37 AM (llXky)
259
Karl Barth basically did that - he wrote a massive tome on God's will and then said that the adultery part was negotiable.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:36 AM (llXky)
Genesis has a lot to say about the wages of sin.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:36 AM (llXky)
Genesis has a lot to say about the wages of sin.
Posted by: mrp at August 20, 2023 11:39 AM (rj6Yv)
Posted by: Outside of Life at August 20, 2023 11:41 AM (89Sog)
261
One of the left's go-to weapons to try to discredit orthodox Christians is "why are you so hung up on sex?" or they will say that sex should get a special exemption from all the other rules, as if it's a trivial matter.
___________
Nobody wakes up and says, "I'm going to murder someone today." But when you start going wrong with sex, it's easy to go bumpity-bump down a road to real consequences.
One of the left's go-to weapons to try to discredit orthodox Christians is "why are you so hung up on sex?" or they will say that sex should get a special exemption from all the other rules, as if it's a trivial matter.
___________
Nobody wakes up and says, "I'm going to murder someone today." But when you start going wrong with sex, it's easy to go bumpity-bump down a road to real consequences.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 20, 2023 11:41 AM (MoZTd)
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at August 20, 2023 11:42 AM (63Dwl)
263
Nobody wakes up and says, "I'm going to murder someone today."
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh'
I'm not sure that's a true statement...
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh'
I'm not sure that's a true statement...
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:42 AM (43xH1)
264
Day 2164 of the Hillary Death Watch
Clinton coughed again yesterday, why isn't that being covered by MSM !!!????
Clinton coughed again yesterday, why isn't that being covered by MSM !!!????
Posted by: Paul at August 20, 2023 11:42 AM (ROoJl)
265
|| My books run around 50,000 words, which is often a good length for what I have to say.
First book in my series is 80K, which I guess is somewhat short for the genre, and the second is 92K. The second one, though, is almost breakneck in pace. It's jam-packed.
|| The older books got to the point. Modern ones are heavily padded IMO.
They are padded. But I think they're padded because that's what people want.
Go try to find bestsellers in the mode of those Ace Doubles (where there are two novels in one paperback). I admire those greatly.
Or look at Zelazny's Amber. Five novels that put together are shorter than some folks' single book.
I will say, though, the publishing realities were at work there, too. While quite of those stories fit nicely into the shorter form, some fleshing out would have made others more effective.
First book in my series is 80K, which I guess is somewhat short for the genre, and the second is 92K. The second one, though, is almost breakneck in pace. It's jam-packed.
|| The older books got to the point. Modern ones are heavily padded IMO.
They are padded. But I think they're padded because that's what people want.
Go try to find bestsellers in the mode of those Ace Doubles (where there are two novels in one paperback). I admire those greatly.
Or look at Zelazny's Amber. Five novels that put together are shorter than some folks' single book.
I will say, though, the publishing realities were at work there, too. While quite of those stories fit nicely into the shorter form, some fleshing out would have made others more effective.
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 11:44 AM (lpWi1)
266
>>>Sample test question. Which is the better metaphor, pounding like a jackhammer or slammng like a barn door in a tornado?
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 11:13 AM (FVME7)
>I'd say slapping hard leather at the rodeo is sexier. Especially when the cowgirl asks you for a dip.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 11:13 AM (FVME7)
>I'd say slapping hard leather at the rodeo is sexier. Especially when the cowgirl asks you for a dip.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at August 20, 2023 11:44 AM (KVGVf)
267
Nobody wakes up and says, "I'm going to murder someone today." But when you start going wrong with sex, it's easy to go bumpity-bump down a road to real consequences.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 20, 2023 11:41 AM (MoZTd)
---
I think a lot of the push to sexualize children comes from people who've exhausted "standard" porn and want something stronger. One of my college professors who I thought was a pretty cool dude got busted for child porn.
How did they know? Well, he was a university provost and had porn open on his browser at work and students complained. His career and topped out, and maybe it was intended as a protest, but obviously he went a lot farther in private. Boy Scout leader, too. He went to jail, got out and (so far as I can tell) killed himself.
That was ten years ago, though. Now he's claim it was as disability or a lifestyle choice.
What I find really fascinating is that we went from having campus sex inquisitions to determine consent down to the nanosecond and now act like children are capable of forming it.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 20, 2023 11:41 AM (MoZTd)
---
I think a lot of the push to sexualize children comes from people who've exhausted "standard" porn and want something stronger. One of my college professors who I thought was a pretty cool dude got busted for child porn.
How did they know? Well, he was a university provost and had porn open on his browser at work and students complained. His career and topped out, and maybe it was intended as a protest, but obviously he went a lot farther in private. Boy Scout leader, too. He went to jail, got out and (so far as I can tell) killed himself.
That was ten years ago, though. Now he's claim it was as disability or a lifestyle choice.
What I find really fascinating is that we went from having campus sex inquisitions to determine consent down to the nanosecond and now act like children are capable of forming it.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:45 AM (llXky)
268
Nobody wakes up and says, "I'm going to murder someone today." But when you start going wrong with sex, it's easy to go bumpity-bump down a road to real consequences.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 20, 2023
***
Tell me about it.
Nobody wakes up and says, "I'm going to murder someone today." But when you start going wrong with sex, it's easy to go bumpity-bump down a road to real consequences.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 20, 2023
***
Tell me about it.
Posted by: Walter Neff at August 20, 2023 11:45 AM (omVj0)
269
I'm not sure that's a true statement...
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:42 AM (43xH1)
_________
Lots of people wake up and say, "I'd like to murder so-and-so today." That's temptation. When you start making plans, that's sin.
I'm not sure that's a true statement...
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:42 AM (43xH1)
_________
Lots of people wake up and say, "I'd like to murder so-and-so today." That's temptation. When you start making plans, that's sin.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at August 20, 2023 11:45 AM (MoZTd)
270
Sample test question. Which is the better metaphor, pounding like a jackhammer or slammng like a barn door in a tornado?
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 11:13 AM (FVME7)
>I'd say slapping hard leather at the rodeo is sexier. Especially when the cowgirl asks you for a dip.
Posted by: Dr. Bone
A flat cow pissing on a rock.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? at August 20, 2023 11:13 AM (FVME7)
>I'd say slapping hard leather at the rodeo is sexier. Especially when the cowgirl asks you for a dip.
Posted by: Dr. Bone
A flat cow pissing on a rock.
Posted by: JT at August 20, 2023 11:47 AM (T4tVD)
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:47 AM (43xH1)
272
"Nobody wakes up and says, "I'm going to murder someone today."
Yeah, well my soon to be ex-wife woke up one day thinking that.
Yeah, well my soon to be ex-wife woke up one day thinking that.
Posted by: pawn at August 20, 2023 11:47 AM (wsHtO)
273
|| Nobody wakes up and says, "I'm going to murder someone today." But when you start going wrong with sex, it's easy to go bumpity-bump down a road to real consequences.
Yup. I think it was Louis Malle who used to bitch that "If I stab a breast, it's PG, but if I stroke one, it's R."
First, not even remotely true. Either depended on the level of detail.
But second, the prohibition against sex hinges heavily on the fact that sex is tempting in a way violence is not. (And in the movies, even simulated sex is still close enough to sex that you'd be considered cheating on your partner in other contexts.)
Yup. I think it was Louis Malle who used to bitch that "If I stab a breast, it's PG, but if I stroke one, it's R."
First, not even remotely true. Either depended on the level of detail.
But second, the prohibition against sex hinges heavily on the fact that sex is tempting in a way violence is not. (And in the movies, even simulated sex is still close enough to sex that you'd be considered cheating on your partner in other contexts.)
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 11:47 AM (lpWi1)
274
I haven't seen Christopher R. Taylor commenting lately. Have I just missed him?
Posted by: That Northernlurker what lurkd at August 20, 2023 11:47 AM (HfNu5)
275
206 I'm slogging my way thru "The Fourth Turning is Here" by Neil Howe. Either it's kind of dense, or I am...
Posted by: gourmand du jour at August 20, 2023 10:52 AM (MeG8a)
---/
I am too! Maybe a bit of both?
I took a break after I got a whiff of his anti-populist/NeverTrumper leanings. I'll rejoin the book later, after some non-spinach fun reading.
Posted by: gourmand du jour at August 20, 2023 10:52 AM (MeG8a)
---/
I am too! Maybe a bit of both?
I took a break after I got a whiff of his anti-populist/NeverTrumper leanings. I'll rejoin the book later, after some non-spinach fun reading.
Posted by: All Hail Eris at August 20, 2023 11:48 AM (HjWhl)
276
My books run around 50,000 words, which is often a good length for what I have to say.
The older books got to the point. Modern ones are heavily padded IMO.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:37 AM (llXky)
Thanks, A.H. I've read old scifi and other works, and I know they weren't as long as today's stuff. It seems that publishers don't want shorter books, the cost is better for something longer, but not too long. I don't know the market. You're right about not needing every detail in a place or person's outfit. It just gets boring reading that. But the market today....
The older books got to the point. Modern ones are heavily padded IMO.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:37 AM (llXky)
Thanks, A.H. I've read old scifi and other works, and I know they weren't as long as today's stuff. It seems that publishers don't want shorter books, the cost is better for something longer, but not too long. I don't know the market. You're right about not needing every detail in a place or person's outfit. It just gets boring reading that. But the market today....
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 11:49 AM (Angsy)
277
Every other thing I read on LinkedIn these days is about AI. Beck’s not wrong about that part.
Posted by: Montec at August 20, 2023 11:50 AM (THY62)
278
>>>I haven't seen Christopher R. Taylor commenting lately. Have I just missed him?
Posted by: That Northernlurker what lurkd
>Isn't he the guy who did 500 posts per day?
Posted by: That Northernlurker what lurkd
>Isn't he the guy who did 500 posts per day?
Posted by: Dr. Bone at August 20, 2023 11:51 AM (KVGVf)
279
Nobody wakes up and says, "I'm going to murder someone today."
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh'
I'm not sure that's a true statement...
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:42 AM (43xH1)
We do! - Planned Murderhood
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh'
I'm not sure that's a true statement...
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:42 AM (43xH1)
We do! - Planned Murderhood
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 11:51 AM (Angsy)
280
But second, the prohibition against sex hinges heavily on the fact that sex is tempting in a way violence is not. (And in the movies, even simulated sex is still close enough to sex that you'd be considered cheating on your partner in other contexts.)
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 11:47 AM (lpWi1)
---
Simulated violence can be comical, and it can have a lot of different contexts, such as a hero killing a villain.
It can also be done remotely, either with a bomb or shooting someone.
Sex is always intimate, and pushes acting closer to prostitution than merely slapping someone with a wooden sword.
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 11:47 AM (lpWi1)
---
Simulated violence can be comical, and it can have a lot of different contexts, such as a hero killing a villain.
It can also be done remotely, either with a bomb or shooting someone.
Sex is always intimate, and pushes acting closer to prostitution than merely slapping someone with a wooden sword.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:51 AM (llXky)
281
Thanks, A.H. I've read old scifi and other works, and I know they weren't as long as today's stuff. It seems that publishers don't want shorter books, the cost is better for something longer, but not too long. I don't know the market. You're right about not needing every detail in a place or person's outfit. It just gets boring reading that. But the market today....
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023
***
Fantasy, I understand, accepts longer works. One glance at the F & SF racks at Barnes & Noble confirms that.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023
***
Fantasy, I understand, accepts longer works. One glance at the F & SF racks at Barnes & Noble confirms that.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 11:52 AM (omVj0)
282
Thanks, A.H. I've read old scifi and other works, and I know they weren't as long as today's stuff. It seems that publishers don't want shorter books, the cost is better for something longer, but not too long. I don't know the market. You're right about not needing every detail in a place or person's outfit. It just gets boring reading that. But the market today....
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 11:49 AM (Angsy)
---
My long-term plan has been simply to write as much as possible and then see about publishing it later. I mean, I am getting some sales, and if I can figure out how to find an agent, I can at least point to a bunch of content.
If I'd waited for "the market," I might never have written anything. I enjoy writing, and people who read it liked it, so it's just the money/fame thing, and I can happily go to my grave without both.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 11:49 AM (Angsy)
---
My long-term plan has been simply to write as much as possible and then see about publishing it later. I mean, I am getting some sales, and if I can figure out how to find an agent, I can at least point to a bunch of content.
If I'd waited for "the market," I might never have written anything. I enjoy writing, and people who read it liked it, so it's just the money/fame thing, and I can happily go to my grave without both.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:54 AM (llXky)
Posted by: Wiley Coyote at August 20, 2023 11:54 AM (I/Qkd)
284
I'm coming in on the tail end of Squirrel's thread. That's my only comment.
Posted by: fd at August 20, 2023 11:54 AM (vFG9F)
285
The "cozy" mystery (spit) seems to run about 50-60K words. Just a guess, as I've only read two of them. But they are all very similar, written to a formula that their readers love. So the "small" paperback original is not quite dead. But something like a Gold Medal John D. MacDonald, no, today it would have to be 75K words or more and have all sorts of "personal story" details or subplots.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 11:55 AM (omVj0)
286
Got here late, read the content, and now we have like 9 minutes before this thread is replaced.
On the subject of books that will not be persuading, I think I mentioned at some other point, I sometimes buy books by authors with whom I am familiar from their presence on the internet. I assume the book is going to be a fleshed out form of the things I've heard them say already.
I buy their books to support them, even if I never end up reading them. I have several like that. The most recent book I bought is by Whitney Webb, and if you don't know who she is, she comes off as somewhat autistic online, seems to have done shedloads of research on her subjects, and knows things about the powers that be. Don't go looking for her, unless you can handle Big Conspiracy topics.
On the subject of books that will not be persuading, I think I mentioned at some other point, I sometimes buy books by authors with whom I am familiar from their presence on the internet. I assume the book is going to be a fleshed out form of the things I've heard them say already.
I buy their books to support them, even if I never end up reading them. I have several like that. The most recent book I bought is by Whitney Webb, and if you don't know who she is, she comes off as somewhat autistic online, seems to have done shedloads of research on her subjects, and knows things about the powers that be. Don't go looking for her, unless you can handle Big Conspiracy topics.
Posted by: BurtTC at August 20, 2023 11:55 AM (On1N3)
287
263 Nobody wakes up and says, "I'm going to murder someone today."
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh'
I'm not sure that's a true statement...
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:42 AM (43xH1)
- - - - - - -
It's Sunday. The phone goes off, waking you from a deep slumber. It's your boss's # showing as the caller. You look at the clock. It's 4 AM.
It's always at 4 AM.
Non-zero chance of the above phrase being said.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh'
I'm not sure that's a true statement...
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:42 AM (43xH1)
- - - - - - -
It's Sunday. The phone goes off, waking you from a deep slumber. It's your boss's # showing as the caller. You look at the clock. It's 4 AM.
It's always at 4 AM.
Non-zero chance of the above phrase being said.
Posted by: Another Anon at August 20, 2023 11:55 AM (hwP7U)
288
The real best-sellers in print book form are still what they always have been: cheap, pocket-sized genre fiction pushed out in the bazillions in series.
Mack Bolan, 'The Executioner', has had 631 novels (Yes, six hundred and thirty-one), with sales of @ 200 million copies.
200,000,000.
And that's just one example of a cheap 'series' book. There are tons of others. Those are the real best-sellers.
Mack Bolan, 'The Executioner', has had 631 novels (Yes, six hundred and thirty-one), with sales of @ 200 million copies.
200,000,000.
And that's just one example of a cheap 'series' book. There are tons of others. Those are the real best-sellers.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 11:55 AM (43xH1)
289
I've got major Papa pride going on right now.
Back a couple of years ago when I was teaching Grand #1 his letters and numbers he asked why he needed to know this stuff. I told him "once you can read and do math there is nothing you cannot figure out."
He repeated it back to me yesterday while reading the local news rag at the rental car place. He's 6.
I grew 10 feet tall for about 30 minutes.
Anyway. Morning Hoarders. As in books. I have been failing in my reading lately. Just can't seem to find time. Get 10 minutes into a book at bedtime and I'm out cold. Trying to get through The Forgotten 500 by Gregory Freeman. Story about the pilot rescue missions into Serbia during WW2.
Not far enough into it yet for any sort of comment.
Back a couple of years ago when I was teaching Grand #1 his letters and numbers he asked why he needed to know this stuff. I told him "once you can read and do math there is nothing you cannot figure out."
He repeated it back to me yesterday while reading the local news rag at the rental car place. He's 6.
I grew 10 feet tall for about 30 minutes.
Anyway. Morning Hoarders. As in books. I have been failing in my reading lately. Just can't seem to find time. Get 10 minutes into a book at bedtime and I'm out cold. Trying to get through The Forgotten 500 by Gregory Freeman. Story about the pilot rescue missions into Serbia during WW2.
Not far enough into it yet for any sort of comment.
Posted by: Reforger at August 20, 2023 11:55 AM (B705c)
290
I think the reason for longer books is being paid by the word in old science fiction and extended 'trilogies' now.
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 20, 2023 11:56 AM (uE4Pp)
Posted by: Archimedes at August 20, 2023 11:56 AM (I/Qkd)
292
Simulated violence can be comical
*
I suppose it depends on your viewpoint.
Posted by: Wiley Coyote at August 20, 2023
***
The coyote has a point. But it always worked for us.
*
I suppose it depends on your viewpoint.
Posted by: Wiley Coyote at August 20, 2023
***
The coyote has a point. But it always worked for us.
Posted by: Moe, Larry, and Curly at August 20, 2023 11:56 AM (omVj0)
293
|| Simulated violence can be comical, and it can have a lot of different contexts, such as a hero killing a villain.
Yes.
|| It can also be done remotely, either with a bomb or shooting someone.
Two of the largest murder counts in movie history would be in "Star Wars" and "Infinity War", and the latter gets undone.
Nobody "undoes" sex.
|| Sex is always intimate, and pushes acting closer to prostitution than merely slapping someone with a wooden sword.
Yep.
There's a reason we have murder mysteries and not rape mysteries. Murder is suitable for light entertainment.
Yes.
|| It can also be done remotely, either with a bomb or shooting someone.
Two of the largest murder counts in movie history would be in "Star Wars" and "Infinity War", and the latter gets undone.
Nobody "undoes" sex.
|| Sex is always intimate, and pushes acting closer to prostitution than merely slapping someone with a wooden sword.
Yep.
There's a reason we have murder mysteries and not rape mysteries. Murder is suitable for light entertainment.
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 11:56 AM (lpWi1)
294
I'm coming in on the tail end of Squirrel's thread. That's my only comment.
Posted by: fd at August 20, 2023 11:54 AM (vFG9F)
Same here. My only other comment is that apparently it takes me 4 minutes to compose a long comment at the end of a thread.
Posted by: fd at August 20, 2023 11:54 AM (vFG9F)
Same here. My only other comment is that apparently it takes me 4 minutes to compose a long comment at the end of a thread.
Posted by: BurtTC at August 20, 2023 11:57 AM (On1N3)
295
Not far enough into it yet for any sort of comment.
Posted by: Reforger at August 20, 2023 11:55 AM (B705c)
---
That's what *she* said!
Posted by: Reforger at August 20, 2023 11:55 AM (B705c)
---
That's what *she* said!
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:58 AM (llXky)
296
My long-term plan has been simply to write as much as possible and then see about publishing it later. I mean, I am getting some sales, and if I can figure out how to find an agent, I can at least point to a bunch of content.
If I'd waited for "the market," I might never have written anything. I enjoy writing, and people who read it liked it, so it's just the money/fame thing, and I can happily go to my grave without both.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:54 AM (llXky)
That's basically where I'm at. Just trying out writing. I've completed a western novella, the scifi short novel, and I'm working on another western I'm trying to make longer. I also have 14 short stories written. I've only submitted three pieces to different online/magazine publishers. 0 for 3. Just get skilled and maybe money will come before I kick off.
If I'd waited for "the market," I might never have written anything. I enjoy writing, and people who read it liked it, so it's just the money/fame thing, and I can happily go to my grave without both.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:54 AM (llXky)
That's basically where I'm at. Just trying out writing. I've completed a western novella, the scifi short novel, and I'm working on another western I'm trying to make longer. I also have 14 short stories written. I've only submitted three pieces to different online/magazine publishers. 0 for 3. Just get skilled and maybe money will come before I kick off.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 11:59 AM (Angsy)
297
I think the reason for longer books is being paid by the word in old science fiction and extended 'trilogies' now.
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 20, 2023 11:56 AM (uE4Pp)
---
The public perception is that big, thick books offer superior detail and are more engrossing. Sometimes they are.
Sometimes they're just bloated, but enough people like them to make them "a thing."
Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at August 20, 2023 11:56 AM (uE4Pp)
---
The public perception is that big, thick books offer superior detail and are more engrossing. Sometimes they are.
Sometimes they're just bloated, but enough people like them to make them "a thing."
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 12:00 PM (llXky)
298
My plan is to try publishing some novel on Amazon and see what happens.
Posted by: Moe, Larry, and Curly at August 20, 2023 12:00 PM (omVj0)
299
Thanks again, Perfesser!
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 12:00 PM (llXky)
300
BUCK HAZ A NOOD
Posted by: Skip at August 20, 2023 12:00 PM (MOY79)
301
Noodus throckmortonii (re: Target)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at August 20, 2023 12:01 PM (omVj0)
302
That's what *she* said!
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:58 AM (llXky)
*sad face*
It's a disability.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:58 AM (llXky)
*sad face*
It's a disability.
Posted by: Reforger at August 20, 2023 12:01 PM (B705c)
303
Haha! Next week I'll post up my slim volume, 'How To Make A Successful Movie'!
It's actually pretty interesting. It's not really about making movies at all, it's about an observation made decades ago regarding the history of stories-told-in-pictures and an unexpected conclusion that consumed years of my life.
It's actually pretty interesting. It's not really about making movies at all, it's about an observation made decades ago regarding the history of stories-told-in-pictures and an unexpected conclusion that consumed years of my life.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 12:01 PM (43xH1)
304
>>>It's Sunday. The phone goes off, waking you from a deep slumber. It's your boss's # showing as the caller. You look at the clock. It's 4 AM.
It's always at 4 AM.
Non-zero chance of the above phrase being said.
Posted by: Another Anon
>>I hit the snooze button. Anything this joker has to say is above my pay grade. I'll make my recommendation when Monday rolls around.
It's always at 4 AM.
Non-zero chance of the above phrase being said.
Posted by: Another Anon
>>I hit the snooze button. Anything this joker has to say is above my pay grade. I'll make my recommendation when Monday rolls around.
Posted by: Dr. Bone at August 20, 2023 12:05 PM (KVGVf)
305
Haha! Next week I'll post up my slim volume, 'How To Make A Successful Movie'!
It's actually pretty interesting. It's not really about making movies at all, it's about an observation made decades ago regarding the history of stories-told-in-pictures and an unexpected conclusion that consumed years of my life.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 12:01 PM (43xH1)
Be interested in reading that.
It's actually pretty interesting. It's not really about making movies at all, it's about an observation made decades ago regarding the history of stories-told-in-pictures and an unexpected conclusion that consumed years of my life.
Posted by: LenNeal at August 20, 2023 12:01 PM (43xH1)
Be interested in reading that.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 12:05 PM (Angsy)
306
Oh, the irony! William Dean Howells may have talked a good game about eschewing fantasy, but his only lasting contribution to literature was a short, fantastical story, "Christmas Every Day". It was made into a Disney cartoon short ("Donald Duck Stuck on Christmas"), and into a movie you may have heard of .. "Groundhog Day."
Life's a hoot.
Life's a hoot.
Posted by: witty ranter at August 20, 2023 12:05 PM (iNnoV)
307
||The "cozy" mystery (spit) seems to run about 50-60K words...But they are all very similar, written to a formula that their readers love.||
From what I can tell, they're trying to create a Hallmark Movie experience in book form. But I wouldn't spit at it: The genesis of the genre seems to me to be Agatha Christie who was brilliant at it. (The other genesis seems to be romance novels, however, and I think that causes some weaknesses.)
|| So the "small" paperback original is not quite dead. But something like a Gold Medal John D. MacDonald, no, today it would have to be 75K words or more and have all sorts of "personal story" details or subplots.
I have this kind of mentality when I write. For example, in Book 1, I originally started, page 1, with the inciting incident. You didn't know the hero, his motivations, why he was there, why he was being menaced by a giant spider-queen.
It worked, but then what happened is that I had to backfill a lot of that story as I went forward. And this is, honestly, because I had conceived the character as he was in middle-age and the series was going to be about how he got there.
So I added some backstory and it made things more meaningful.
From what I can tell, they're trying to create a Hallmark Movie experience in book form. But I wouldn't spit at it: The genesis of the genre seems to me to be Agatha Christie who was brilliant at it. (The other genesis seems to be romance novels, however, and I think that causes some weaknesses.)
|| So the "small" paperback original is not quite dead. But something like a Gold Medal John D. MacDonald, no, today it would have to be 75K words or more and have all sorts of "personal story" details or subplots.
I have this kind of mentality when I write. For example, in Book 1, I originally started, page 1, with the inciting incident. You didn't know the hero, his motivations, why he was there, why he was being menaced by a giant spider-queen.
It worked, but then what happened is that I had to backfill a lot of that story as I went forward. And this is, honestly, because I had conceived the character as he was in middle-age and the series was going to be about how he got there.
So I added some backstory and it made things more meaningful.
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 12:05 PM (lpWi1)
308
The saddest part of Sunday morning has arrived. The end of the Book Thread.
Thanks for the writer's group plug, Perfessor. A few more have asked to join this morning.
It'll take me a while to catch up.
Thanks for the writer's group plug, Perfessor. A few more have asked to join this morning.
It'll take me a while to catch up.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 12:06 PM (Angsy)
309
Thanks for another tasty book thread, Perf!
Posted by: All Hail Eris at August 20, 2023 12:08 PM (HjWhl)
310
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 12:05 PM (lpWi1)
Can you email me at nic at cox dot net, MG?
Can you email me at nic at cox dot net, MG?
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 12:09 PM (Angsy)
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 12:11 PM (lpWi1)
312
>>> 267
==
What I find really fascinating is that we went from having campus sex inquisitions to determine consent down to the nanosecond and now act like children are capable of forming it.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:45 AM (llXky)
Sure, a 18+ Stronk Independent Whammen who Don't Need No Man can't decide until after the fact if she was ok with that dude getting handsy when they were both drunk off their asses, but a toddler who can't yet talk can decide to have irrevocable surgery.
==
What I find really fascinating is that we went from having campus sex inquisitions to determine consent down to the nanosecond and now act like children are capable of forming it.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at August 20, 2023 11:45 AM (llXky)
Sure, a 18+ Stronk Independent Whammen who Don't Need No Man can't decide until after the fact if she was ok with that dude getting handsy when they were both drunk off their asses, but a toddler who can't yet talk can decide to have irrevocable surgery.
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at August 20, 2023 12:13 PM (llON8)
313
Just did, OE, but got the email wrong.
Firing off another one now...
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 12:11 PM (lpWi1)
Got it at proton.
Firing off another one now...
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 12:11 PM (lpWi1)
Got it at proton.
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 12:19 PM (Angsy)
314
Bounced back again. It may have my domain marked as a spammer or something. Let me try from another email.
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 12:20 PM (lpWi1)
315
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 12:20 PM (lpWi1)
It did at cox because Perf mis-spelled it. there's two ees.
I received it at proton.me
It did at cox because Perf mis-spelled it. there's two ees.
I received it at proton.me
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 12:26 PM (Angsy)
316
23 I love the ‘60s Fantastic Four. Their best era. I’d like to comment here more often but church tends to interfere.
Posted by: Norrin Radd at August 20, 2023 12:30 PM (W6VND)
317
Posted by: moviegique at August 20, 2023 12:20 PM (lpWi1)
It did at cox because Perf mis-spelled it. there's two ees.
I received it at proton.me
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 12:26 PM (Angsy)
maybe it was someone else. the timestamp isn't quite right.
anyway, if you're still here, it's orangeent at cox dot net
It did at cox because Perf mis-spelled it. there's two ees.
I received it at proton.me
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 12:26 PM (Angsy)
maybe it was someone else. the timestamp isn't quite right.
anyway, if you're still here, it's orangeent at cox dot net
Posted by: OrangeEnt at August 20, 2023 12:33 PM (Angsy)
318
I think a lot of the push to sexualize children comes from people who've exhausted "standard" porn and want something stronger. One of my college professors who I thought was a pretty cool dude got busted for child porn.
A guy I knew fairly well in college is doing 13 years in the cold stony for something he did with one or more kids under 13. I assume it had to be pretty bad, because the only other people I know who went to prison for doing stuff with kids only got 3-5. He never struck me as a predator back in the day, more of a goofy hippie. But he did like to hang out in arcades and not play games so, that might have been a pointer.
A guy I knew fairly well in college is doing 13 years in the cold stony for something he did with one or more kids under 13. I assume it had to be pretty bad, because the only other people I know who went to prison for doing stuff with kids only got 3-5. He never struck me as a predator back in the day, more of a goofy hippie. But he did like to hang out in arcades and not play games so, that might have been a pointer.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 20, 2023 12:50 PM (9yUzE)
319
Seldom poster here. I am currently reading Daniel Silva's latest, The Collector. I'm about half way through and it's hard to put down. I really don't like his political views but he does write a great tale involving art theft, beautiful women, his squad back at King Saul Blvd, Russian corruption (et al) extending up to Putin and very recent/ongoing world events.
Next up is the just released Nina George novel The Little Village of Book Lovers. Her previous books were The Book of Dreams, The Little French Bistro and The Little Paris Bookshop. I can't recommend her highly enough. Charming all.
Next up is the just released Nina George novel The Little Village of Book Lovers. Her previous books were The Book of Dreams, The Little French Bistro and The Little Paris Bookshop. I can't recommend her highly enough. Charming all.
Posted by: Zekesmom at August 20, 2023 12:52 PM (Ri1F1)
320
Currently re-reading Jules Verne's "Around the World in 80 Days," and forgot how much I enjoyed it the first time.
So many books from the late 19th, early 20th Centuries were rich and fun to read. Robert Louis Stevenson, Verne, H.G. Wells, Sir Author Conan Doyle and many more. Truly a magnificent era of storytelling!
So many books from the late 19th, early 20th Centuries were rich and fun to read. Robert Louis Stevenson, Verne, H.G. Wells, Sir Author Conan Doyle and many more. Truly a magnificent era of storytelling!
Posted by: Tracy at August 20, 2023 01:10 PM (Oxmhv)
321
Reading Tom Baker's "Fall of the FBI." Baker, a retired FBI senior agent, writes about a lifetime with the Bureau he once loved, and that has now become a political weapon in the hands of the Left. The book is divided into "The Good," "The Bad" and "The Ugly." Baker had a ringside seat for everything from the Markle kidnapping in the 1960s to TWA 800, the death of Diana Princess of Wales (he was the Paris LEGATT at the time) and the 1981 attempted assassination of President Reagan. You get a good sense of the scope of the Bureau's work, for better or worse.
Posted by: Paula Weiss at August 20, 2023 01:28 PM (BYPtp)
322
Reading Tom Baker's "Fall of the FBI." Baker ...
So that's where he ended up after his turn at the Fourth Doctor.
So that's where he ended up after his turn at the Fourth Doctor.
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at August 20, 2023 02:11 PM (9yUzE)
323
Books!
Kind of a long shot but...do any Morons know of any books about Gen. A. J. Smith? I'm buying a book about his campaign vs N.B. Forrrest but I'm not finding any good biographies about him.
If you do know, please send me any details, thank you!
Kind of a long shot but...do any Morons know of any books about Gen. A. J. Smith? I'm buying a book about his campaign vs N.B. Forrrest but I'm not finding any good biographies about him.
If you do know, please send me any details, thank you!
Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo, food, water at August 20, 2023 02:30 PM (xcxpd)
324
Began Hilary Mantel's 'Wolf Hall' which, while interesting, is annoying in that she bounces around in time, has dialogue in both spoken and unspoken form, and no real rhyme or reason for either. Were I her writing teacher, I'd have worn out a red pen by now writing "WTF?" and circling whole paragraphs. If I didn't already know a reasonable bit about that period, I'd be fumbling around in the dark. Yet, I shall persevere...
A.H. Lloyd's 'Wall of Men' is next up on the runway.
A.H. Lloyd's 'Wall of Men' is next up on the runway.
Posted by: Brewingfrog at August 20, 2023 03:09 PM (Y90Az)
325
144: isn’t that the point of all English classes?
That is the only explanation for why we read Great Expectations my freshman year.
That is the only explanation for why we read Great Expectations my freshman year.
Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at August 20, 2023 04:04 PM (f0XAF)
326
I'm making $90 an hour working from home. I never imagined that it was honest to goodness yet my closest companion is earning 16,000 US dollars a month by working on the connection, that was truly astounding for me, she prescribed for me to attempt it simply. Everybody must try this job now by just using this website... www.Payathome7.com
Posted by: www.Payathome7.com at August 20, 2023 09:39 PM (ZFJBv)
Processing 0.05, elapsed 0.0679 seconds.
14 queries taking 0.0207 seconds, 334 records returned.
Page size 232 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.
MuNuvians
MeeNuvians
Frequently Asked Questions
The (Almost) Complete Paul Anka Integrity Kick
Primary Document: The Audio
Paul Anka Haiku Contest Announcement
Integrity SAT's: Entrance Exam for Paul Anka's Band
AllahPundit's Paul Anka 45's Collection
AnkaPundit: Paul Anka Takes Over the Site for a Weekend (Continues through to Monday's postings)
George Bush Slices Don Rumsfeld Like an F*ckin' Hammer
Paul Anka Haiku Contest Announcement
Integrity SAT's: Entrance Exam for Paul Anka's Band
AllahPundit's Paul Anka 45's Collection
AnkaPundit: Paul Anka Takes Over the Site for a Weekend (Continues through to Monday's postings)
George Bush Slices Don Rumsfeld Like an F*ckin' Hammer
Top Top Tens
Democratic Forays into Erotica
New Shows On Gore's DNC/MTV Network
Nicknames for Potatoes, By People Who Really Hate Potatoes
Star Wars Euphemisms for Self-Abuse
Signs You're at an Iraqi "Wedding Party"
Signs Your Clown Has Gone Bad
Signs That You, Geroge Michael, Should Probably Just Give It Up
Signs of Hip-Hop Influence on John Kerry
NYT Headlines Spinning Bush's Jobs Boom
Things People Are More Likely to Say Than "Did You Hear What Al Franken Said Yesterday?"
Signs that Paul Krugman Has Lost His Frickin' Mind
All-Time Best NBA Players, According to Senator Robert Byrd
Other Bad Things About the Jews, According to the Koran
Signs That David Letterman Just Doesn't Care Anymore
Examples of Bob Kerrey's Insufferable Racial Jackassery
Signs Andy Rooney Is Going Senile
Other Judgments Dick Clarke Made About Condi Rice Based on Her Appearance
Collective Names for Groups of People
John Kerry's Other Vietnam Super-Pets
Cool Things About the XM8 Assault Rifle
Media-Approved Facts About the Democrat Spy
Changes to Make Christianity More "Inclusive"
Secret John Kerry Senatorial Accomplishments
John Edwards Campaign Excuses
John Kerry Pick-Up Lines
Changes Liberal Senator George Michell Will Make at Disney
Torments in Dog-Hell
Greatest Hitjobs
The Ace of Spades HQ Sex-for-Money Skankathon
A D&D Guide to the Democratic Candidates
Margaret Cho: Just Not Funny
More Margaret Cho Abuse
Margaret Cho: Still Not Funny
Iraqi Prisoner Claims He Was Raped... By Woman
Wonkette Announces "Morning Zoo" Format
John Kerry's "Plan" Causes Surrender of Moqtada al-Sadr's Militia
World Muslim Leaders Apologize for Nick Berg's Beheading
Michael Moore Goes on Lunchtime Manhattan Death-Spree
Milestone: Oliver Willis Posts 400th "Fake News Article" Referencing Britney Spears
Liberal Economists Rue a "New Decade of Greed"
Artificial Insouciance: Maureen Dowd's Word Processor Revolts Against Her Numbing Imbecility
Intelligence Officials Eye Blogs for Tips
They Done Found Us Out, Cletus: Intrepid Internet Detective Figures Out Our Master Plan
Shock: Josh Marshall Almost Mentions Sarin Discovery in Iraq
Leather-Clad Biker Freaks Terrorize Australian Town
When Clinton Was President, Torture Was Cool
What Wonkette Means When She Explains What Tina Brown Means
Wonkette's Stand-Up Act
Wankette HQ Gay-Rumors Du Jour
Here's What's Bugging Me: Goose and Slider
My Own Micah Wright Style Confession of Dishonesty
Outraged "Conservatives" React to the FMA
An On-Line Impression of Dennis Miller Having Sex with a Kodiak Bear
The Story the Rightwing Media Refuses to Report!
Our Lunch with David "Glengarry Glen Ross" Mamet
The House of Love: Paul Krugman
A Michael Moore Mystery (TM)
The Dowd-O-Matic!
Liberal Consistency and Other Myths
Kepler's Laws of Liberal Media Bias
John Kerry-- The Splunge! Candidate
"Divisive" Politics & "Attacks on Patriotism" (very long)
The Donkey ("The Raven" parody)
News/Chat