I can grok this wholeheartedly.Sashi wrote:The only universally positive thing Heinlein did was invent the word "grok". And the only thing Heinlein 100% believed in was that old crusty dudes should get lots of hot young poontang.
What books are you reading now?
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Ancient History wrote:We were working on Street Magic, and Frank asked me if a houngan had run over my dog.
- PoliteNewb
- Duke
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It's been a while, but I seem to recall Stranger in a Strange Land being about crazy free love cults with literal cannibalism as a sacrament. I'm not remembering the fascism. Never read Glory Road.Cynic wrote:Zine: Heinlein is a neocon fascist. It's not just Starship troopers but other books such as Glory Road, Stranger in a strange land, and the rest of the cheap teen scifi books he used to write.
I did read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, which was about revolution and where one of the main characters was a rational anarchist. Also Friday, which for all it's flaws was pretty much anti-government in all it's forms.
I will grant that I would never want to live in the world of Starship Troopers. But pigeonholing Heinlein as a neocon fascist is a bit shortsighted.
Trufax. In fact, it gets a little creepalicious with the Lazarus Long stuff. And by "a little" I mean "like whoa".And the only thing Heinlein 100% believed in was that old crusty dudes should get lots of hot young poontang.
Heinlein is a bit unusual in that he changed with the times. I'm told his early work was extremely sexist, but it's definitely way toned down as of Friday.
DSMatticus wrote:It's not just that everything you say is stupid, but that they are Gordian knots of stupid that leave me completely bewildered as to where to even begin. After hearing you speak Alexander the Great would stab you and triumphantly declare the puzzle solved.
So, because Wheel of Time has been coming up lately, I offer this link. I may have found it on the Den somewheres.
http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums/sh ... p?t=386600
http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums/sh ... p?t=386600
He jumps like a damned dragoon, and charges into battle fighting rather insane monsters with little more than his bare hands and rather nasty spell effects conjured up solely through knowledge and the local plantlife. He unerringly knows where his goal lies, he breathes underwater and is untroubled by space travel, seems to have no limits to his actual endurance and favors killing his enemies by driving both boots square into their skull. His agility is unmatched, and his strength legendary, able to fling about a turtle shell big enough to contain a man with enough force to barrel down a near endless path of unfortunates.
--The horror of Mario
Zak S, Zak Smith, Dndwithpornstars, Zak Sabbath. He is a terrible person and a hack at writing and art. His cultural contributions are less than Justin Bieber's, and he's a shitmuffin. Go go gadget Googlebomb!
--The horror of Mario
Zak S, Zak Smith, Dndwithpornstars, Zak Sabbath. He is a terrible person and a hack at writing and art. His cultural contributions are less than Justin Bieber's, and he's a shitmuffin. Go go gadget Googlebomb!
- JigokuBosatsu
- Prince
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Oh yeah! Gene Wolfe is amazing. I believe there was a New Sun GURPS supplement. It sounded wacky.
Omegonthesane wrote:a glass armonica which causes a target city to have horrific nightmares that prevent sleep
JigokuBosatsu wrote:so a regular glass armonica?
- JigokuBosatsu
- Prince
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Well... it does, kind of. Most of the 'wandering monsters' Severian fights are people, but he also stumbles upon a lot static monsters... cave apes, alzabo, an 'ettin'. ![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/wink2.gif)
I see what you mean, though. To have full use of that setting and waste it on "You encounter 2d8 Ascian soldiers and a gazebo" would be frustrating.
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/wink2.gif)
I see what you mean, though. To have full use of that setting and waste it on "You encounter 2d8 Ascian soldiers and a gazebo" would be frustrating.
Omegonthesane wrote:a glass armonica which causes a target city to have horrific nightmares that prevent sleep
JigokuBosatsu wrote:so a regular glass armonica?
Finally got around to finishing the 5th book of Lord of The Isles. It has an ending that is bizzarely nonsensical
See, it turns out the main villain is alt-Ilna, possessed by The Tree of Evil. That in itself is actually pretty cool, but then things become stupid. Ilna is apparently immune to alt-Ilna's power because she told The Tree to fuck off back in the first book. There are many problems with this:
1. Alt-Ilna has a whole lot more power than Ilna-prime has, and several different types. She can rip holes in dimensions and trigger a permanent ice age on the alternate world, which she does by sucking all the heat into herself as raw power. Ilna-prime, meanwhile, can weave mind-effecting patterns, foretell the future, and arbitrarily find things out by connecting them to patterns, all of which Alt-Ilna can also do. If Alt-Ilna learned everything from The Tree, why can't Ilna-prime do them? If she got some of them from other sources, how is Ilna-prime immune to them.
2. So Alt-Ilna can't directly effect Ilna-prime because of... something. However, Ilna-prime is standing on ice Alt-Ilna has demonstrated the ability to reshape on the spot. Why doesn't Alt-Ilna just drop Ilna-prime into the water?
3. Since apparently all evil is controlled by The Tree, why is Ilna-prime ever effected by any hostile magic?
4. Sharina has a badass talking axe with the demonstrated ability to tell Alt-Ilna's powers to fuck right off, specifically a magical item that worked fine of Ilna-prime. Why does she get immobilized by the magical net thingy?
1. Alt-Ilna has a whole lot more power than Ilna-prime has, and several different types. She can rip holes in dimensions and trigger a permanent ice age on the alternate world, which she does by sucking all the heat into herself as raw power. Ilna-prime, meanwhile, can weave mind-effecting patterns, foretell the future, and arbitrarily find things out by connecting them to patterns, all of which Alt-Ilna can also do. If Alt-Ilna learned everything from The Tree, why can't Ilna-prime do them? If she got some of them from other sources, how is Ilna-prime immune to them.
2. So Alt-Ilna can't directly effect Ilna-prime because of... something. However, Ilna-prime is standing on ice Alt-Ilna has demonstrated the ability to reshape on the spot. Why doesn't Alt-Ilna just drop Ilna-prime into the water?
3. Since apparently all evil is controlled by The Tree, why is Ilna-prime ever effected by any hostile magic?
4. Sharina has a badass talking axe with the demonstrated ability to tell Alt-Ilna's powers to fuck right off, specifically a magical item that worked fine of Ilna-prime. Why does she get immobilized by the magical net thingy?
Gene Wolfe is the bomb, with a ridiculously large vocabulary. He insists that he never makes up words, but he must a whole wing of his house devoted to obscure dictionaries.
Kaelik, to Tzor wrote: And you aren't shot in the face?
Frank Trollman wrote:A government is also immortal ...On the plus side, once the United Kingdom is no longer united, the United States of America will be the oldest country in the world. USA!
Read Brandon Sanderson's "Warbreaker." The magic system was very interesting but the character dialog was absolute shit.
Also Dan simmons apparently loves chewing stalks of grass. In "Hyperion" he has pretty much all the important characters pluck stalks of grass and chew on them when he wants them to contemplate something, anything.
Having 6-7 different characters do this a couple different times through a 600 page book was interesting and felt like Dan Simmons really, really likes wheatgrass shakes.
Also Dan simmons apparently loves chewing stalks of grass. In "Hyperion" he has pretty much all the important characters pluck stalks of grass and chew on them when he wants them to contemplate something, anything.
Having 6-7 different characters do this a couple different times through a 600 page book was interesting and felt like Dan Simmons really, really likes wheatgrass shakes.
Ancient History wrote:We were working on Street Magic, and Frank asked me if a houngan had run over my dog.
Any girlgenius fans here?
http://www.webscription.net/showproduct ... rship-city
http://www.webscription.net/showproduct ... rship-city
::raises hand::
Thanks for reminding me. I need to check today's update
Thanks for reminding me. I need to check today's update
He jumps like a damned dragoon, and charges into battle fighting rather insane monsters with little more than his bare hands and rather nasty spell effects conjured up solely through knowledge and the local plantlife. He unerringly knows where his goal lies, he breathes underwater and is untroubled by space travel, seems to have no limits to his actual endurance and favors killing his enemies by driving both boots square into their skull. His agility is unmatched, and his strength legendary, able to fling about a turtle shell big enough to contain a man with enough force to barrel down a near endless path of unfortunates.
--The horror of Mario
Zak S, Zak Smith, Dndwithpornstars, Zak Sabbath. He is a terrible person and a hack at writing and art. His cultural contributions are less than Justin Bieber's, and he's a shitmuffin. Go go gadget Googlebomb!
--The horror of Mario
Zak S, Zak Smith, Dndwithpornstars, Zak Sabbath. He is a terrible person and a hack at writing and art. His cultural contributions are less than Justin Bieber's, and he's a shitmuffin. Go go gadget Googlebomb!
- JonSetanta
- King
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I've put Foglio's comic aside when it got stale, but maybe the story has picked up again...
The Adventurer's Almanac wrote: ↑Fri Oct 01, 2021 10:25 pmNobody gives a flying fuck about Tordek and Regdar.
- Avoraciopoctules
- Overlord
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Every time I begin to regret my fondness for sketchy D&D novels, I remind myself that it is cheaper than drinking. Another Ebberon novel picked up while browsing a store in the course of looking for an audiobook version of Elizabeth Moon's first book in the Deed of Paksenarrion trilogy. Sheepfarmer's Daughter is pretty good, and the audiobook made an ideal holiday gift when I expect long drives in someone's future.
- Psychic Robot
- Prince
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The Elfstones of Shannara is a huge step above The Sword of Shannara. Sword basically reads like polished fan fiction (or very mediocre fantasy), but Elfstones shows a lot of development. The Wishsong of Shannara, which I am currently reading, is also better than Elfstones.
Count Arioch wrote:I'm not sure how discussions on whether PR is a terrible person or not is on-topic.
Ant wrote:You do not seem to do anything.Chamomile wrote:Ant, what do we do about Psychic Robot?
I just finished Shatterpoint, a Clone Wars novel by Matthew Stover. It focuses on Mace Windu doing something tangentially related to the Clone Wars. I'm not really a Star Wars person (my experience consists of the six films, a handful of (mostly YA) novels and comics, and KotORII), but I really enjoyed Shatterpoint.
It's basically a retelling of Heart of Darkness in a Star Wars setting, with a heavy emphasis on The True Nature of War, what being in a lawless amoral setting does to you, etc. It also has a number of kickass action scenes, unsurprisingly.
Stover does take almost ridiculous care to have everything be Star Wars-y. There are lame aphorisms aplenty, weird races that I've never heard of, and, most of all, brandnames. Pretty much every weapon, vehicle, and other piece of equipment has its maker mentioned, its exact size, and so on. Not having a lot of experience with the EU, I can't say how this compares to other novels.
But Shatterpoint works mostly as a warstory that isn't really about Star Wars per se. And, in that respect, it totally works with a couple of minor flaws.
It's basically a retelling of Heart of Darkness in a Star Wars setting, with a heavy emphasis on The True Nature of War, what being in a lawless amoral setting does to you, etc. It also has a number of kickass action scenes, unsurprisingly.
Stover does take almost ridiculous care to have everything be Star Wars-y. There are lame aphorisms aplenty, weird races that I've never heard of, and, most of all, brandnames. Pretty much every weapon, vehicle, and other piece of equipment has its maker mentioned, its exact size, and so on. Not having a lot of experience with the EU, I can't say how this compares to other novels.
But Shatterpoint works mostly as a warstory that isn't really about Star Wars per se. And, in that respect, it totally works with a couple of minor flaws.
Out beyond the hull, mucoid strings of non-baryonic matter streamed past like Christ's blood in the firmament.
I finally got Towers of Midnight. Mat=best character. I'd have to say the best line was:
"Just because a man marries someone doesn't mean he suddenly becomes bloody nobility"
"Mat, That's actually exactly how it works. It's pretty much one of the only ways to become nobility"
I'm pretty sure Verin only did things the way she did as part of her elaborate oath-dodging setup. She didn't know about the cannon R&D Mat was setting up, so she figured he wouldn't want to hang around Caemlyn for very long and would open the letter to get away.
Rand has finally become competent and decisive.
"Just because a man marries someone doesn't mean he suddenly becomes bloody nobility"
"Mat, That's actually exactly how it works. It's pretty much one of the only ways to become nobility"
I'm pretty sure Verin only did things the way she did as part of her elaborate oath-dodging setup. She didn't know about the cannon R&D Mat was setting up, so she figured he wouldn't want to hang around Caemlyn for very long and would open the letter to get away.
Rand has finally become competent and decisive.
DSMatticus wrote:It's not just that everything you say is stupid, but that they are Gordian knots of stupid that leave me completely bewildered as to where to even begin. After hearing you speak Alexander the Great would stab you and triumphantly declare the puzzle solved.
- CatharzGodfoot
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Cory Doctorow's Makers is a decent read, but the whole thing where
really hurts suspension of disbelief.
And then, for some reason
. At least not for over a decade.
they invent self-replicating 3D printers in the space of a week with prior art being 3D epoxy printers, with no real motivation or explanation
Does he expect us to believe that they're making self-replicating printers out of nothing but epoxy?
nobody ends up using those matter printers to make anything bigger, recursively self-improving, or incredibly dangerous
The law in its majestic equality forbids the rich as well as the poor from stealing bread, begging and sleeping under bridges.
-Anatole France
Mount Flamethrower on rear
Drive in reverse
Win Game.
-Josh Kablack
-Anatole France
Mount Flamethrower on rear
Drive in reverse
Win Game.
-Josh Kablack
I got V for Vendetta while my Internet was out.
I'd seen bits and pieces of the movie, but I see they lifted a few scenes directly from the comics (which is what you'd expect).
I prefer comic V, though. The amped-up crazy really works for him. Especially for the stuff like...Having a conversation with a statue of Madam Justice and carrying on both sides of the conversation himself.
It really is an exercise for the reader whether V is insane or does this shit to amuse himself while he's doing his business of crashing the government. He admits to being intentionally theatrical, so...your mileage may vary.
The side-by-side of anarchy and fascism is also interesting.
But, still, I liked Watchmen more. I cared about more of the characters (I don't particularly like Evey, don't really -like- V despite him being fun to see in action) and the plot, too, for some reason.
I'd seen bits and pieces of the movie, but I see they lifted a few scenes directly from the comics (which is what you'd expect).
I prefer comic V, though. The amped-up crazy really works for him. Especially for the stuff like...Having a conversation with a statue of Madam Justice and carrying on both sides of the conversation himself.
It really is an exercise for the reader whether V is insane or does this shit to amuse himself while he's doing his business of crashing the government. He admits to being intentionally theatrical, so...your mileage may vary.
The side-by-side of anarchy and fascism is also interesting.
But, still, I liked Watchmen more. I cared about more of the characters (I don't particularly like Evey, don't really -like- V despite him being fun to see in action) and the plot, too, for some reason.
He jumps like a damned dragoon, and charges into battle fighting rather insane monsters with little more than his bare hands and rather nasty spell effects conjured up solely through knowledge and the local plantlife. He unerringly knows where his goal lies, he breathes underwater and is untroubled by space travel, seems to have no limits to his actual endurance and favors killing his enemies by driving both boots square into their skull. His agility is unmatched, and his strength legendary, able to fling about a turtle shell big enough to contain a man with enough force to barrel down a near endless path of unfortunates.
--The horror of Mario
Zak S, Zak Smith, Dndwithpornstars, Zak Sabbath. He is a terrible person and a hack at writing and art. His cultural contributions are less than Justin Bieber's, and he's a shitmuffin. Go go gadget Googlebomb!
--The horror of Mario
Zak S, Zak Smith, Dndwithpornstars, Zak Sabbath. He is a terrible person and a hack at writing and art. His cultural contributions are less than Justin Bieber's, and he's a shitmuffin. Go go gadget Googlebomb!
My mom bought me (among other books) 100 Things You're No Supposed to Know. Some of it I know, but there's a lot of interesting stuff in there. It's also in perfect bite-sized chunks so it makes great portable reading.
My son makes me laugh. Maybe he'll make you laugh, too.