Author Topic: Science Fiction / Fantasy (Read 385030 times)

Babi · « **Reply #320 on:** August 24, 2009, 08:49:54 AM »

Science Fiction / Fantasy

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Welcome to the whole universe! This is where we gather to share our experiences in science fiction and fantasy. We like everything, from Gregory Benford to Stephanie Meyer—hard science to magic and fantasy.

Come in, sit down with us, and tell us what you are reading or have read, what you like or dislike.

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Fantastic Fiction, bibliographies of 15,000 authors

Discussion Leader: PatH

STEPH, you should get together with my son. He loves Monty Python, and
saw "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" so many times he had the entire
script memorized. He would enact his favorite scene, playing all the roles, to
the delight and hilarity of his friends.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #321 on:** August 24, 2009, 12:12:42 PM »

Monty Python, how many of their lines have we said. Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition. Bring out your dead. There was one routine which we, as cat lovers, giggled over. Something about Amuse a Cat with this suburban house and lawn and a bored cat. The cheese shop, I could go on for hours. One of the kids brought home the yearbook and I always loved to look at the kids hair and chothes, etc./ This year it was dedicated to Spiny Norman with a picture. That's how I discovered Monty Python. I was not an instant convert, it took a while to get on the right wave length, but then I was hopelessly addicted. And now for something completely different . . .

Steph · « **Reply #322 on:** August 25, 2009, 08:44:38 AM »

Ah, the joys of John Cleese in drag or better yet.. "The Canadian Mounty song"

mrssherlock · « **Reply #323 on:** August 25, 2009, 11:29:22 AM »

And the Lumberjack song.

Steph · « **Reply #324 on:** August 26, 2009, 07:53:26 AM »

Lumberjack.. Oh me,, all for a rousing chorus..

Babi · « **Reply #325 on:** August 26, 2009, 09:06:59 AM »

Serendipity! We were discussing Isaac Asimov, and on the bookshelves at
the local senior center I found an old copy of Vol. 1 of his collected works.
It contains two novels and a number of short stories. So now I'm reading some Asimov's short stories along with a book of four short story/novellas
by James Schmitz. Interesting contrast. Asimov's books are naturally dated
now, and one can see his strong interest in educating the average reader on
the history and basics of science. The modern Sci/Fi writers seem more
involved in the story, and let the reader sort of absorb the science through
osmosis.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #326 on:** August 26, 2009, 11:11:18 AM »

Babi: I think that the basic science information which is common in the US today, partly as a result of the great SF writers of the past, allows stories to take off (pardon the pun, I couldn't resist) into the plot w/o having to lay the foundation (Oh, I'm so bad). Asimov was writing for people who had never seen a space launch, or any of the thousands of hours of science TV shows we've watched. Just last night we were watching, on ScienceTV, an explanation of where future colonists on Mercury would have to establish their habitation - that shadow land called terminator between where the sun's light reaches (temps of 800+) and where there is no ligtht (temps of -300+). He wrote about all the sciences in his column every month in Analog. He would start off with some statement such as: Mt Everest is not the tallest mountain. Then he would discuss how heights of peaks are measured, comparing say, K2 to a peak in the Andes, developing his thesis logically. He also wrote about Shakespeare's plays; I've meant to buy that one but my attention span is so short these days.

Wow, guess I'd better get off my soap box for now. Sorry to natter on and on.

Babi · « **Reply #327 on:** August 27, 2009, 08:33:46 AM »

Oh, absolutely, JACKIE. I wasn't criticizing either Azimov's science lectures (good ones) or the current crop of story-oriented SciFi. Just comparing the
difference, and noticing how strongly dated Azimov's work is already. We've
come such a long way.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #328 on:** August 27, 2009, 11:30:37 AM »

Babi: Sorry to sound so defensive about Asimov. He is one of my idols; I didn't realize how deeply I felt about his place as a pioneer. His was a stratospheric intellect but he could make the most esoteric subject vital and compelling. He was the victim of HIV infected blood, caused his death. To revisit Asimov I read his Wiki entry. I thought I knew about his career and life but the reality is astounding. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isaac_asimov My li9brary has pages and pages of entries under Asimov. I'll never run out of books to read if I try to read all these!

Steph · « **Reply #329 on:** August 27, 2009, 01:06:37 PM »

James Schmitz wrote a lot of books that are just plain fun.. Is this the Witches of Karres set of books. They are just wonderful.. There is also a series with a girl ( whose name , I think) is Kelzie.
Asimov.. I loved most of his stuff. Foundation and the books surrounding it are just fascinating. He was a scientist, but also a dreamer.

Babi · « **Reply #330 on:** August 28, 2009, 08:18:51 AM »

Astounding is the perfect word for Asimov. JACKIE. I didn't know he had died
from an HIV infection. That's a shame. Still, he did have long and amazingly
full life.

The Schmitz book I'm reading now is "A Pride of Monsters" STEPH. It's not
part of the "Witches of Karres" series, though I would like to read the rest of
those as well. I've only read the first. 'Pride' is a collection of some half-dozen
short stories/novellas, all dealing with monsters of one kind or another. It has
another character I like, with the improbable name of Gem Danestar.

Steph · « **Reply #331 on:** August 29, 2009, 09:44:42 AM »

The Witches are wonderful. I laughed my way through the series and wished he had done more.. I have some of them floating around somewhere in my bookcases.. Another oldie but goodie if you see them are the Gray Lensman series. Forgot the author, but they are old fashioned shoot em ups down in sci fi style. Neat series.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #332 on:** August 29, 2009, 10:47:20 AM »

I'm reading Alas Babylon again.

PatH · « **Reply #333 on:** August 29, 2009, 06:55:49 PM »

Jackie, thanks for the Asimov article--it started all sorts of reminiscences. I agree with him, that "The Last Question" is better than "Nightfall". I remember reading the science spoof about thiotimoline when it came out. It was quite clever. A normal carbon atom has 4 bonds, pointing in 4 directions like the corners of a tetrahedron. In thiotimoline, one bond points slightly into the future, and one bond points slightly into the past. This leads to some interesting effects. I also saw him once at a sci-fi convention, but had no close up contact with him.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #334 on:** August 29, 2009, 08:22:56 PM »

Don't start Alas Babylon unless you have nothing else to mdo for 24 or so hours. Reading it as if were alternate history, which eliminates the troubling anachronisms, it is impossible to put down. Tremendous impact and full of horrors yet it is optimistic as to the resiliance and future of the human race.

Pat: I'll have to research that thiotimoline article. I've started reading the books in my library that he authored. Starting with Jokes and Shakespeare, two of my favorite subjects, then I'll get into some of his other works. I won't live long enough to read them all. His output was astounding (there's that word again

).

mrssherlock · « **Reply #335 on:** August 29, 2009, 08:32:31 PM »

For those who are interested you will find thiotimoline here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thiotimoline

Babi · « **Reply #336 on:** August 30, 2009, 10:03:45 AM »

Ah, you people persist in educating me. I never took geometry (algebra was
hard enough), but now I know that pyramidal looking figure is a tetrahedron.
(Just in case it comes up on a quiz show....if only I could get on a quiz show!)

PatH · « **Reply #337 on:** August 30, 2009, 10:59:00 AM »

Thanks for the thiotimoline reference, Jackie. I hadn't read those two later articles. What a hoot!

Steph · « **Reply #338 on:** August 30, 2009, 11:19:24 AM »

Asimov was truly inspired to make everyone learn about math and science. He loved it and wanted all to see why.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #339 on:** August 30, 2009, 11:38:46 PM »

David Weber's Safehold series has spread out to become an epic about an island nation which has almost a monopoly on seafaring which arouses the ire of the Inquisition arm of the local worldwide religion. Spying, treachery, sabotage, secret societies, battles on sea and land. This is really a saga. Book two, By Schism Rent Asunder follows Off Armageddon Reef which introduces the players, set the scene, and begins the action. By Heresies Distressed follows and pending is A Mighty Fortress. The basic premise is that this is the last remnant of the human race which has been devastated by the Gbaba, a mysterious people who annihilate any sentient life they discover. They have been rampaging for approximately 8,000 years but they seem to have plateaued since their technology is stagnant. It is believed that they can locate their victims by the electronic signals which leak into space. This remnant is established with no memory of the past and no power other than muscle. The principles guiding this society are spelled out in a document which is the foundation for their religion. The Inquisition's mandate is to prevent innovation by any means. An invitation to disaster.

Steph · « **Reply #340 on:** August 31, 2009, 07:30:42 AM »

My female civilization is about to become a alone in the wilderness theme.. Not sure I will like it.

Babi · « **Reply #341 on:** August 31, 2009, 09:19:44 AM »

"an island nation which has almost a monopoly on seafaring " Now what does
that remind you of? It doesn't seem plausible, does it, that an island people
would have that much power? Yet it has happened already in our world's history. I like the David Weber books I've read. I'll have to see if my libaray
has all the Safehold books to date.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #342 on:** August 31, 2009, 10:09:04 AM »

Babi: The religious schism didn't ring any bells?

Steph · « **Reply #343 on:** September 01, 2009, 09:29:28 AM »

The best sci fi cuts close to the bone..

mrssherlock · « **Reply #344 on:** September 01, 2009, 09:31:22 AM »

(Sob) I've finished book 3 of Weber's Safehold series.

Babi · « **Reply #345 on:** September 01, 2009, 02:13:17 PM »

Shucks, JACKIE. Religious schisms are as frequent, omnipresent and common
as dirt. Island nations that can outdo much bigger nations on the sea are, IMO,
more remarkable.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #346 on:** September 01, 2009, 05:49:53 PM »

Just exactly how remarkable Charis, the island nation, is will be revealed as you read. This is a vast canvas of a world with lots of players but most are distinct enough to tell them apart. Making notes would have helped me, however, for some of the lesser rank players.

Steph · « **Reply #347 on:** September 02, 2009, 07:43:20 AM »

Still strugling with the Calistros Daughters.. Cannot read more than 30 or so pages at a time. Just does not hold me and I love Laurie King

mrssherlock · « **Reply #348 on:** September 02, 2009, 12:10:37 PM »

Steph: Is that Califia's Daughters? The author's name is Leigh Richards; I never associated LRK with that name. Since its theme is sociological it is a must read for me. http://www.laurierking.com/?page_id=719

Steph · « **Reply #349 on:** September 03, 2009, 08:09:09 AM »

Yes, Califia.. It seems that that is Lauri King.. if you look at the copyright.. Also in the back of the book on the author page, it admits this is Lauri writing under another name. Actually it sort of implies this is her read name. No idea. It is hard going..Violence and women are hard for me to read.

flyergrad · « **Reply #350 on:** September 06, 2009, 07:51:25 PM »

Hi! This is my first foray onto the sci-fi discussion. I love Asimov's work also. I believe that he wrote every day, which explains his legacy. I picked up two of his non-fiction books recently (used volumes) - one on the history and archeology related to the Bible and one on how to use a slide rule. I don't even own a slide rule. I bought it because it was by Him!

I for TV sci-fi, I enjoy SyFy's Eurika and ABC's Defying Gravity. I cannot tolerate Bones, CSI:Miami, or House and I find CSI (Vegas) & NCIS to be passible, but my DH loves them. (I think my DH enjoys waiting for House to self-destruct.)

In order to participate intelligently, I have reviewed all the previous posts. I am surprised that no one has mentioned Frank Herbert. (Or was he discussed at SeniorNet?) I enjoyed the Dune series. His non-Dune works are enjoyable as well. Has anyone read The White Plague?

I also am a huge Harry Potter fan. The American version of the audiobooks are excellent. The "reader", Jim Dale, changes his voice for each character. He does a very good job of keeping everyone straight through all seven books, too! I am not at all fond of the movies. Too much of JKR's clever work is lost when translated to the big screen. JKR is one of the reasons that I signed up for Ginny's Latin classes. Her education was more in the Classics and mine was in health and environmental science. JKR helped me to see some of what I had missed!

PatH · « **Reply #351 on:** September 06, 2009, 09:27:40 PM »

Welcome, flyergrad!

It's great to have a new fellow-fan. As you guessed, just because you don't see an author discussed here doesn't mean we don't like him/her. A lot was lost when the old SeniorNet site imploded. I think we did talk about Herbert there. I haven't read him, but a daughter, an economist says I have to read him for the economic system.

A lot of us are Harry Potter fans. Those books stand up well to rereading. I read the first 4 aloud to my husband when he was too sick to read stuff for himself, and when I wanted to review my Spanish I read El Prisionero de Azkaban and half of El Caliz de Fuego. You're right, the movies don't capture the incredible richness of ingenious detail in the books, and they mess about with the plots in an unfortunate way.

A lot of us also like Terry Pratchett. If you haven't tried him, you might have a look. The books vary a lot in quality, though.

I do still own several slide rules, though I haven't used them for half a lifetime. They are actually better than calculators for a few things, but I can just imagine the laughter if I pulled one out.

Just because you don't see something here doesn't mean we don't like it. Tell us your favorites, and you'll probably hit paydirt.

You're right about taking Latin. Everyone I know who has taken it is glad they did. Come talk to us whenever Ginny gives you a free moment.

flyergrad · « **Reply #352 on:** September 06, 2009, 10:33:52 PM »

I am such a Harry Potter geek that I even bought Harrius Potter et Philosophi Lapis and Harrius Potter et Camera Secretorum. i haven't spent much time in them yet; haven't learned enough Latin yet.

Babi · « **Reply #353 on:** September 07, 2009, 08:15:29 AM »

Quote

"I don't even own a slide rule. I bought it because it was by Him!"

FLYERGRAD, that is 'above and beyond'. Welcome to the SciFi/Fantasy discussion, I can see you are going to fit in beautifully here.
CSI Miami sets my teeth on edge, but I do enjoy Bones. As for House, I think he did sign into rehab. at the end of last season...and none too soon.
DUNE is one of my all-time favorites. I hadn't heard of 'The White Plague".
Thanks for mentioning it. I think we all have enjoyed Harry Potter. I
found the movies entertaining, too; one expects that something will be
lost whenever a book is made into a movie.

Steph · « **Reply #354 on:** September 07, 2009, 08:33:13 AM »

Frank Herbert.. Oh me, I read quite a few of the Dune books, until they got way past themselves. But he is interesting on ecology.
I adore Terry Pratchett.. have all of the Harry Potter, both books and audio tapes..
Just finished Califias Daughters by Leigh Richards ( who turns out to be Laurie King).. A scattered book.. Too many themes. It was published in 04, but I am willing to bet that it was her first attempt at writing.. I liked it, but would have preferred a more coherent theme.

mrssherlock · « **Reply #355 on:** September 07, 2009, 01:07:36 PM »

I first read about what became Dune in Analog. It was published in installments. It blew me away. Herbert can write really exciting stories. When the book came out I had to read it, more depth than the Analog versions. Still thrilling the concept of those sand worms and their riders.

Frybabe · « **Reply #356 on:** September 07, 2009, 01:36:31 PM »

I read Dune but none of the sequels. The review I read long ago said something like what follows is darker and depressing. I guess once you get to the top you really have to work to stay there and eventually the whole thing slides down into corruption and chaos. Ah, yes, the rise and fall of great empires.

I did see two versions of the movie. The older one, in black and white if I recall, seemed more mystical in nature than the newer (made for TV?) version. The newer one I believe incorporated all or most of the books rather than just the first. I missed several of the segments.

flyergrad · « **Reply #357 on:** September 07, 2009, 04:33:16 PM »

The Dune stories are an interesting mix of politics, ecology, feudalism, and religion. Each political faction was out for itself. Genetic manipulators could not control their creations. Terraforming was a religion with cult -like followers. The original series did get more grim and the last ones were really esoteric. I read them all many years back.

I saw the movies, too. The original one would have been hard to follow for anyone who had not read the books. The mini-series was more coherent and it did go into the first 3 books, if I remember correctly.

Herbert's son has been adding prequels to explain how the great houses arose, the reason they do not use computers or AI, how the guilds, IX, and the Bene G.'s began. I have read some of them and they fill in a lot of blanks, but they are dark and disturbing. I would like to know what happened, but with a synopsis format, instead of having to wade through all the evil deeds.

Steph · « **Reply #358 on:** September 09, 2009, 07:50:18 AM »

Dune is an interesting book and some of the later ones are not bad, but after a while, they got way too complicated. When I have to take notes to figure out who is who,, it is time to give it up.

Babi · « **Reply #359 on:** September 09, 2009, 08:56:10 AM »

I'm enjoying Elizabeth Moon's "Engaging the Enemy". It's full of strong,
highly capable and intelligent women. Unfortunately, it's the third book in a
series, but I can't always find the books I want to read in chronological order.
I prefer to read a series in order, but I can make the mental adjustment if
I must take them as I find them.

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Author Topic: Science Fiction / Fantasy (Read 385030 times)