The Sword and Laser discussion

Just wanting to see what everyone is rounding out their year with. I'm reading The WInd Up Bird Chronicle, the other masterpiece by the author of 1Q84, since I can't find a copy of 1Q84. I like his work, since I read his three shorter novels earlier this week.

Just finished The Night Circus,(still trying to decide if it was good) and while I've got some heavy Master's level reading to do for a class in December, I just don't have fun reading lined up yet.

I like Sanderson, but not interested in Elantris or 1Q84. I'm honestly not sure what to read for fun, anyone got a suggestion? Nothing to dense, due to work and class, anyone got a fun little read to throw out there?

Still working on The Children of the Sky but work is impeding the reading time. Also compiling my Christmas list to send out to for books to be gifted.

I just read Changes by Mercedes Lackey. And I'm feeling a bit guilty, she's someone I once devoured and now she is at the level of occasionally okay. Next up is Ghost Story from Butcher.

Just under half done with Elantris, and about the same way thru Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman, and also just started The Artists Way by Julia Cameron.

Read yet another Haurki Murakami, this time Kafka on the Shore.

I just read Ready Player One in two days because the podcast made me curious. Man, what a nice fast read. :)

I also got done with Stephen King's The Waste Lands yesterday, so now I'm going back to The Golden Fool by Robin Hobb. I love that universe and always enjoy going back.

I'm listening to both 1Q84 and Elantris. I just finished reading This Perfect Day by Ira Levin and have started The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen.

Sandi wrote: "I'm listening to both 1Q84 and Elantris. I just finished reading This Perfect Day by Ira Levin and have started The Revisionists by Thoma..."

How is 1Q84, Sandi? I just read some of his other work this week, and it was wonderful. Hope you go back and pick up some of his other works up in the near future.

I read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle a couple of years ago and really liked it. 1Q84 may be even stranger and it's very, very long. It's repetitive too. But, it's good so far. I really like the narrators. I'm about 1/2 way through the 2nd of the 6 parts of the Audible download.

I'm still not ready to go back to Elantris, so I've been reading All the Windwracked Stars, which is maybe my favourite book title ever but a little hard going, partly because my knowledge of Norse mythology is woeful.

Safe-to-Mate Procedure for work.

I tried all week to read this darn document (300 pages of point-to-point connectivity that needs to be verified prior to applying power), only to be stymied by meetings out the wazoo. So now it's here on my couch with me. On page 83 of 306.

Finishing up the The Dark Tower on Audible and reading Being Geek and The Ambassador's Mission.

I'm in the middle of Dr. Who and the Daleks by David Whitaker, which I should finish up by the end of the week. After that I'll probably read Alan Moore's novel Voice of the Fire.

terpkristin wrote: "Safe-to-Mate Procedure for work.

I tried all week to read this darn document (300 pages of point-to-point connectivity that needs to be verified prior to applying power), only to be stymied by mee..."

Too bad it's not actually a "safety-first how-to" romance book, huh? I'm up to my eyeballs in product functional specs and design reviews too, so I feel your pain somewhat. :)

A friend just gave me the second and third books in the Hunger Games Trilogy so I am finishing those off. Then it will be back to finishing Ben Bova's Mars Trilogy. That should take me up to the end of the year, but if not I will probably press on with book 6 of The Sword of Truth series. I have Needful Things actually read by Stephen King on audio too.

Started listening to the audio version of Agatha H and the Airship City. It's a narrative retelling of the Girl Genius comic. Sometimes I even follow along in the comic while listening to the audio book.

Finally finished reading the parts of Learning XNA 4.0 that I needed to. I'm going to read Elantris before too long, but I'm going to take a week or so and finally get around to reading Ender's Game. I've heard a lot of controversial things about Orson Scott Card so I feel a bit iffy about reading his works, but the series seems so well liked that I think I should at least read the first in the series.

Started paging through The Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clarke before going to bed too. At the rate I'm going though, I reckon it'll take me at least a year or so to finish it.

Been wrote: "Finally finished reading the parts of Learning XNA 4.0 that I needed to. I'm going to read Elantris before too long, but I'm going to take a week or so and finally get around to rea..."

I got to correct you on that, Been, only Ender's Game has been well liked. A lot of people I know hates the sequel because it was not for them. The way they are written is totally different, with certain times nothing, but talking. But I love them just as much as Ender's Game.

Has anyone read ? I just stumbled on it the other day, and it seems interesting. But since I'm only using my 1 Audible credit, I want to make sure it brings home something good.

Any opinions?

The Book Thief is amazing, Brett. I read it on my Nook, so I don't know how the audio version is.

Wow. So I'm a little late to the game on this, but I'm about halfway through Ender's Game and there's one brief scene that made my stop and just me go "Gosh!" that doesn't seem worthwhile to make a whole topic about. Page 72, an exchange between Ender and Alai. Just... Wow.

I reread the LOTR every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve. I have done so for the last 25 years or so. For me as well it has lots of memories attached. I am also working on finishing the Hunger games as well. Happy Holidays everyone!

I finished Ender's Game this morning and absolutely loved it. I'm going to try reading the other books in the series later, and I should really start Elantris, but I want a book I'm likely to finish before the end of the year. So I've decided to give The House of Silk: A Sherlock Holmes Novel a go, see what the "new" Sherlock Holmes story that everyone was raving about is like. It bothers me a little that nobody recognised the excellent Mary Russell stories written by Laurie R. King, but this one was authorised by the Arthur Conan Doyle estate so it does make it the first authorised published work in a long while.

Just finishing up The Riddlemaster of Hed. On tap: reread The Wise Man's Fear. On hold at the library (please come before the holiday!): the Forever War, Among Others, the Eyre Affair, the Quantum Thief, and Ms. Peregrin's Home for Peculiar Children. To put on hold: all the rest of the Riddlemaster series. It's good, I recommend.

I actually just read the Book Thief, it was excellent. Missed my metro stop excellent.

Brett wrote: "Just finished The Night Circus,(still trying to decide if it was good) and while I've got some heavy Master's level reading to do for a class in December, I just don't have fun reading lined up yet..."

What would you consider a fun read? If you enjoy a book that's entertaining without being too dense, you may like the following:

Since I've returned Elantris back to the library unread, I've decided to give another sword and laser pick I couldn't be fecked reading at the time a go. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not bad at all.

I'm about 30% done with 1Q84, and simultaneously reading Fear and Loathing at Rolling Stone.
Normally I like to read something set in contemporary times, and something else either fantasy or future sci-fi, but 1q84 seems to have enough of the fantastical to keep me going ~ and I'm finding it rather addictive, hoping it keeps it up.
F&L - I read just about anything concerning HST sooo there's that.

I started off the month by reading The Magicians and despite reading a lot of negative reviews I really enjoyed it. Then I read The Alloy of Law and I was a little disappointed that Sanderson changed the magic system for Mistborn, but it was still an enjoyable read. I liked the Magicians enough that I decided to pick up The Magician King, so that's what I'm currently reading and so far I'm really liking it.

Once I finish The Magician King, I have a book called Half-Blood Blues lined up next, it's not actually sword or laser but it won this years Scotiabank Giller Prize so I thought I'd give it a try.

Orson Scott Card has put me off reading Ender's Game.

Nevan wrote: "Orson Scott Card has put me off reading Ender's Game."

ditto

Nevan wrote: "Orson Scott Card has put me off reading Ender's Game."

I wonder why that was? That is the one book that I see no matter what, everyone I know who has read it loves it. Its just one of those books that I would recommand everyone, anyone to read the book no matter who they are.

Well he's kind of a jerk.

Kate wrote: "Well he's kind of a jerk."

What you basing the book all because of the problems with the author? I find that is like judging a book by its cover. Well, did you find anything wrong with the book itself?

Kevin wrote: "
What you basing the book all because of the problems with the author? I find that is like judging a book by its cover. Well, did you find anything wrong with the book itself? "

I haven't read it, so I dunno. But the world is full of books. In my life I am unlikely to have the time to read all of the books I want to or the money to support all of the authors who deserve it. So I'm okay with skipping the works of a gross homophobe, even if some people say his book is good.

Also I'm not really into military scifi.

I'm also okay with judging a book by its cover. At the very least it will give me an indication of how awesome it's going to look on my shelf.

hear, hear, Kate. :P

I read both Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead recently and I thoroughly enjoyed both. I didn't find out about Orson Scott Card until after I read them and if I knew about him before hand I probably wouldn't have read them, but they are not in anyway homophobic in-fact I almost thought the opposite when I read them.

So after I read Orson Scott Card's homophobic essays I developed a theory that he is himself a closet homosexual, but his religious beliefs force him to stay in the closet and to be sure nobody questions his sexuality he's become openly homophobic. Of course this is just a theory.

Boots wrote: "I read both Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead recently and I thoroughly enjoyed both. I didn't find out about Orson Scott Card until after I read them and if I knew about him before hand I prob..."

I'm glad at least you set aside his political beliefs from his writings.

Kate wrote: "Kevin wrote: "
What you basing the book all because of the problems with the author? I find that is like judging a book by its cover. Well, did you find anything wrong with the book itself? "

I ha..."

Its not just that. I mean I know a lot of people who does not even read who said that this is one of the books that they love.

Katie and Boots, I just read the article both of you are talking about. So if I am on the same line with Orson Scott Card on Homosexuality, does that make me a bad person because I think that way?

Believe what you want.

When that belief hinders the rights of others, that's when the problems arise.

So it may not make you a bad person, Kevin, but it does say a lot about you.

I was at a professional development session today to try and help youth in our schools who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, bicurious, transgender or transexual. The message seemed to be that you don't have to like gay people, but you do have to respect them and stand up to say that its not okay to mock and/or do harm.

In the same way, I don't have the right to be negative towards Orson Scott Card, but I can stand up for what I think is right. If I had the chance to talk to him, I would tell him why I think his voicing his beliefs publicly does harm. It is not respecting other people's right to make choices for themselves. We let people choose their religion, why not their gender or sexual orientation?

Ala wrote: "Believe what you want.

When that belief hinders the rights of others, that's when the problems arise.

So it may not make you a bad person, Kevin, but it does say a lot about you."

No, if you know your history, you would know that homosexuality maybe one of the reason that the Roman Empire fell.

I have nothing against homosexuals in general since I've had three homosexuals as roommates, but what I don't like is the homosexual movement. If we are make homosexuality normal, then what else next. I wish that was the only problem with the movement.

Kevin wrote: "No, if you know your history, you would know that homosexuality maybe one of the reason that the Roman Empire fell."


welp.

Fuck it.

So, Kev, tell me...

How blissful are you?

Kevin, I think that you're looking to get into an argument with me. I'm not going to entertain that. But, I'm also not going to let you make a comment like that without clearly expressing my opinion.

I don't care if you like homosexuality, the movement, or anything else associated with it. What I do care about, and I think that you are sensible enough to do, is to respect a person's right to be whomever they choose to be. I truly believe that making comments like this on a public forum is dismissive towards our members. Please have the good grace to keep such negative comments to yourself. I don't want anyone to feel like they are not welcome here. I'm not a moderator, but I am an active member, and I believe that everyone has a right to feel safe within our group.

Ala wrote: "Kevin wrote: "No, if you know your history, you would know that homosexuality maybe one of the reason that the Roman Empire fell."


welp.

Fuck it.

So, Kev, tell me...

How blissful are you?"

You really don't understand do you. You rather be ignorant than learn something from history. As the British Statesman and Philosopher, Edmund Burke once said, "Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it." Sadly that is happening a lot with the people today.

No Kev, I don't understand.

Bigotry, Hatred, Ignorance... and of such a stunning level it makes my head spin?

These things?

Yeah, I don't understand them.

And I have no plans on trying to.

Ala wrote: "No Kev, I don't understand.

Bigotry, Hatred, Ignorance... and of such a stunning level it makes my head spin?

These things?

Yeah, I don't understand them.

And I have no plans on trying to."

You choose to ignore history. Well, its people like you that is destroying America.

Yes Kev.

I'm going out right now to destroy America by, y'know, expressing my freedom and shit. Forerfathers forbid we should ever want for folks to be able to be who they are without someone telling them they're wrong and breaking the law and also, by the way, going to burn in hell for eternity.

Homosexuals...destroying 'AMMMURRRICA' one same-sex partner at a time.