Love to hate? Love to read? Love to use as doorstops?
We are the lucky (and sometimes not so lucky) inheritors of all the literature that the human race has accumulated over the years. With so many genres, including science fiction, spy/action/drama, romance, historical fiction, fiction, nonfiction, politics, fantasy, teen books, thrillers, travel guides/writing – the list goes on and on.
I am currently reading Resurrection, a book on the scientific study of the Shroud of Turin. The Shroud has always been of interest to me, and I like science, so the combination of the two holds my interest. I also like to read science fiction, and have some favorite authors. Isaac Asimov’s stories have always been good reads for me. I have an anthology of short stories from the forties and fifties, and there is a lot of reflection of the effects of the nuclear bomb.
As for short stories, I highly encourage everyone to read Jack Williamson’s “With Folded Hands”. If that doesn’t cure you of wanting a nanny state, I don’t know what will. It’s forty pages of sci fi, and the last two pages left my blood running cold.
I read a wide variety of books, but I’m in my DIY, frugal, sci fi, religious period now.
Books We Love
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108 responses to “Books We Love”
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If we’re doing an all time “favorite books” thing, then I’ll hjave to go with the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy—-which has five books in it.
Another favorite is Jitterbug Perfume.
OK, so they’re not History books, and that might surpriose some folk here, but there it is.
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If we’re doing an all time “favorite books” thing, then I’ll hjave to go with the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Trilogy—-which has five books in it.
Another favorite is Jitterbug Perfume.
OK, so they’re not History books, and that might surpriose some folk here, but there it is. -
Sarge, a man after my own heart, I’ve read the Triology 3 times in 25 years. I found a real nice leather bound book on E Bay a few years back. I think bob42 is also a fan, although he denies that 42 has anything to do with the trilogy. I think 42 has some meaning in Hexadecimal.
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Sarge, a man after my own heart, I’ve read the Triology 3 times in 25 years. I found a real nice leather bound book on E Bay a few years back. I think bob42 is also a fan, although he denies that 42 has anything to do with the trilogy. I think 42 has some meaning in Hexadecimal.
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One of the best Non-fiction books I’ve read in the last few years was Case Closed by Gerald Posner.It absolutely removes any doubt that Oswald acted alone.
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One of the best Non-fiction books I’ve read in the last few years was Case Closed by Gerald Posner.It absolutely removes any doubt that Oswald acted alone.
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HEY my
EditModify Button is back! 😀 -
HEY my
EditModify Button is back! 😀 -
#2 Super Dave, I must correct you there. When I first logged on to LST a few years ago, “bob” was not available as a user name. It was very natural for me to append ’42’ to it.
I recently finished reading the five part trilogy for the third time. As I finished each paperback, I gave it to my favorite barkeep at my favorite pub. She loves them, and I love sharing books with younger folks.
You are correct about the numerical relationship. Expressed in binary coded decimal, 42=’0100 0010′ and is a palindrome, as is ‘bob’.
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#2 Super Dave, I must correct you there. When I first logged on to LST a few years ago, “bob” was not available as a user name. It was very natural for me to append ’42’ to it.
I recently finished reading the five part trilogy for the third time. As I finished each paperback, I gave it to my favorite barkeep at my favorite pub. She loves them, and I love sharing books with younger folks.
You are correct about the numerical relationship. Expressed in binary coded decimal, 42=’0100 0010′ and is a palindrome, as is ‘bob’. -
I’ve always loved to read. In fourth grade I was tested at 600 wpm. The teacher couldn’t believe it, but she was the one running the machine! I doubt that I read that fast on a regular basis, but I have always found reading easy and pleasurable. I was reading my sibling’s kindergarten readers at age four. I was reading the Reader’s Digest magazine and regular adult books when I was in second grade. My mother had a collection of Reader’s Digest condensed books, in volumes that had four to five different stories in each volume. I could read one of those cover to cover in an afternoon. Gone with the Wind took me five days, during testing season at school.
My greatest frustration is that with my schedule now, I don’t get to read as much as I would like.
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I’ve always loved to read. In fourth grade I was tested at 600 wpm. The teacher couldn’t believe it, but she was the one running the machine! I doubt that I read that fast on a regular basis, but I have always found reading easy and pleasurable. I was reading my sibling’s kindergarten readers at age four. I was reading the Reader’s Digest magazine and regular adult books when I was in second grade. My mother had a collection of Reader’s Digest condensed books, in volumes that had four to five different stories in each volume. I could read one of those cover to cover in an afternoon. Gone with the Wind took me five days, during testing season at school.
My greatest frustration is that with my schedule now, I don’t get to read as much as I would like. -
An excellent read that deals with philosophy and murder is The Name of The Rose. The movie with Sean Connery was also very good.
Empires of Trust by Thomas Madden is also excellent. It compares the rise of the United States with the Roman Empire.
This list could go on a long time.
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An excellent read that deals with philosophy and murder is The Name of The Rose. The movie with Sean Connery was also very good.
Empires of Trust by Thomas Madden is also excellent. It compares the rise of the United States with the Roman Empire.
This list could go on a long time. -
For lighter reading, Clarence Day’s Life with Father is one I turn to to lift my spirits. It’s an easy read, and funny as all get-out. I enjoy humor, but it takes a certain threshold to get me to laugh out loud. LwF did that for me.
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For lighter reading, Clarence Day’s Life with Father is one I turn to to lift my spirits. It’s an easy read, and funny as all get-out. I enjoy humor, but it takes a certain threshold to get me to laugh out loud. LwF did that for me.
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I’ve said it recently, but the best history I’ve read recently is Empire of the Summer Moon.
But if you want some other good history reading, the works of Martin Caidin are recommended, especially The Ragged Rugged Warriors and Black Thursday. Along with Cornelius Ryan and Ladislaw Farago, Caidin was responsible for turning a pimply faced teenager into a life long student of history.
But if I were to recommend just one work of popular history it would be Hebert Malloy Mason’s The Great Pursuit, a history of the Mexican Punitive Expedition of 1916. Its a little studied subject, so much so that most of the reference publications on it are actually collectible. Malloy takes all of the available scholarship on the subject (including several unpublished manuscripts), condenses or expands where needed, and presents an easily understandable, even exciting narrative.
The pre-WW2 works of Lowell Thomas are also a gold mine for the avid history buff; particularly Old Gimlet Eye a biography of Smedley Darlington Butler and This Side of Hell, a rip roaring story about WW1 hero, and Bosque County boy, Dan Edwards (who makes Alvin York look like Don Knotts), that is mostly true, and the parts that aren’t should have been anyway.
That dang book ought to be made into a movie—-or an HBO mini-series
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I’ve said it recently, but the best history I’ve read recently is Empire of the Summer Moon.
But if you want some other good history reading, the works of Martin Caidin are recommended, especially The Ragged Rugged Warriors and Black Thursday. Along with Cornelius Ryan and Ladislaw Farago, Caidin was responsible for turning a pimply faced teenager into a life long student of history.
But if I were to recommend just one work of popular history it would be Hebert Malloy Mason’s The Great Pursuit, a history of the Mexican Punitive Expedition of 1916. Its a little studied subject, so much so that most of the reference publications on it are actually collectible. Malloy takes all of the available scholarship on the subject (including several unpublished manuscripts), condenses or expands where needed, and presents an easily understandable, even exciting narrative.
The pre-WW2 works of Lowell Thomas are also a gold mine for the avid history buff; particularly Old Gimlet Eye a biography of Smedley Darlington Butler and This Side of Hell, a rip roaring story about WW1 hero, and Bosque County boy, Dan Edwards (who makes Alvin York look like Don Knotts), that is mostly true, and the parts that aren’t should have been anyway.
That dang book ought to be made into a movie—-or an HBO mini-series -
One book I recommend burning or using for bird cage liner is The Third Secret. I got this book, knowing that it referred to the third secret of Fatima, and wanting to see how it was worked into this fiction story. As I read the book, I kept thinking “Surely this will be corrected as part of a plot twist. Surely this will be corrected as part of a plot twist….” I was dumbfounded by the absolute ignorance of Catholic beliefs in the book, and could not believe that these falsehoods would be kept as part of the story. I turned page and after page, just waiting for the main characters to come to some sort of understanding, but it never happened. For example, the concept of papal infallibility was completely and thoroughly presented with a complete lack of understanding and knowledge of how it works and why it exists.
By the end of the story, not only had the Pope committed suicide, he was encouraged to do so by Mary. Not only had Mary condoned and encouraged suicide, she had also condoned “love in all its forms” and had suggested that abortion was just the flip side of accepting birth. I waited until the last page, because I could not believe that the incredibly incorrectness of the book would never be corrected. I was so wrong. I literally carried the book at arm’s length by thumb and forefinger and took it outside to drop directly into our trash can, it disturbed me that much. Then I washed my hands.
Considering the author attended Catholic schools, the only logical conclusion that I can draw is that he either (1) paid absolutely no attention while in school, and (2) is ardently anti-Catholic.
If one is going to be anti-Catholic, fine. But at least be honest about the subject matter and do not blatantly misrepresent the faith. I mean, Mary condoning suicide and abortion?
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One book I recommend burning or using for bird cage liner is The Third Secret. I got this book, knowing that it referred to the third secret of Fatima, and wanting to see how it was worked into this fiction story. As I read the book, I kept thinking “Surely this will be corrected as part of a plot twist. Surely this will be corrected as part of a plot twist….” I was dumbfounded by the absolute ignorance of Catholic beliefs in the book, and could not believe that these falsehoods would be kept as part of the story. I turned page and after page, just waiting for the main characters to come to some sort of understanding, but it never happened. For example, the concept of papal infallibility was completely and thoroughly presented with a complete lack of understanding and knowledge of how it works and why it exists.
By the end of the story, not only had the Pope committed suicide, he was encouraged to do so by Mary. Not only had Mary condoned and encouraged suicide, she had also condoned “love in all its forms” and had suggested that abortion was just the flip side of accepting birth. I waited until the last page, because I could not believe that the incredibly incorrectness of the book would never be corrected. I was so wrong. I literally carried the book at arm’s length by thumb and forefinger and took it outside to drop directly into our trash can, it disturbed me that much. Then I washed my hands.
Considering the author attended Catholic schools, the only logical conclusion that I can draw is that he either (1) paid absolutely no attention while in school, and (2) is ardently anti-Catholic.
If one is going to be anti-Catholic, fine. But at least be honest about the subject matter and do not blatantly misrepresent the faith. I mean, Mary condoning suicide and abortion? -
Tedtam,
I have always liked your points of view, writing style, and stories.
Isaac Asimov’s stories have always been good reads for me.
This, however, puts you on a pedestal in my book… no pun intended.
I have recently read The Island of Dr. Moreau, Call of the Wild, Decision Points, and now I am reading The Primal Blueprint.
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Tedtam,
I have always liked your points of view, writing style, and stories.Isaac Asimov’s stories have always been good reads for me.
This, however, puts you on a pedestal in my book… no pun intended.
I have recently read The Island of Dr. Moreau, Call of the Wild, Decision Points, and now I am reading The Primal Blueprint. -
Well, thanks, TexMo. I shall try hard not to trip and fall.
Again. 😉
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Well, thanks, TexMo. I shall try hard not to trip and fall.
Again. 😉 -
12 Tedtam says:
March 5, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Well, thanks, TexMo. I shall try hard not to trip and fall.Make sure he’s not putting you up there just because you’re wearing a dress—–
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12 Tedtam says:
March 5, 2011 at 1:37 pm
Well, thanks, TexMo. I shall try hard not to trip and fall.Make sure he’s not putting you up there just because you’re wearing a dress—–
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I wish I could remember the name of the book, but I read it in high school and I am NOT telling you how long ago that was! All I remember was that the book was a red paperback, and the topic was WWII strategy. I never thought I’d be so involved in something like that, but I was riveted and found myself almost obsessive about finishing it.
Now the elusive title is going to bother me all afternoon. I guess I need to get busy and try to distract myself.
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I wish I could remember the name of the book, but I read it in high school and I am NOT telling you how long ago that was! All I remember was that the book was a red paperback, and the topic was WWII strategy. I never thought I’d be so involved in something like that, but I was riveted and found myself almost obsessive about finishing it.
Now the elusive title is going to bother me all afternoon. I guess I need to get busy and try to distract myself. -
#13 Sarge
Well, I wouldn’t want to scare the poor guy…
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#13 Sarge
Well, I wouldn’t want to scare the poor guy… -
And of course we can’t forget the Lord of the Rings. What a rich and fertile mind.
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And of course we can’t forget the Lord of the Rings. What a rich and fertile mind.
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Mom42 started reading The Hobbit and the Trilogy to my brother and I when we were in elementary school. I did the same for my daughters. More recently, I read it aloud to mom when she was in the hospital. (The nurses loved it.)
Be it nature or nurture, love of reading is hereditary.
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Mom42 started reading The Hobbit and the Trilogy to my brother and I when we were in elementary school. I did the same for my daughters. More recently, I read it aloud to mom when she was in the hospital. (The nurses loved it.)
Be it nature or nurture, love of reading is hereditary. -
Whelp looks like Bob42 needs to go back pull out a basic programing book and readup on his BCD. I see it as 66 or HEX 24. Should have tried 01010100 or 0010 0100. But then I’m old school and with the new age 21st century stuff it just could be correct. I just haven’t read them books yet.
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Whelp looks like Bob42 needs to go back pull out a basic programing book and readup on his BCD. I see it as 66 or HEX 24. Should have tried 01010100 or 0010 0100. But then I’m old school and with the new age 21st century stuff it just could be correct. I just haven’t read them books yet.
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#18 010000110110001001010010 (in ASCII), Binary coded decimal is not the same as hexadecimal.
In computing and electronic systems, binary-coded decimal (BCD) (sometimes called natural binary-coded decimal, NBCD) or, in its most common modern implementation, packed decimal, is an encoding for decimal numbers in which each digit is represented by its own binary sequence.
In BCD, the number 4 is represented as ‘0100’ and the number 2 is represented as ‘0010’. Do you disagree?
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#18 010000110110001001010010 (in ASCII), Binary coded decimal is not the same as hexadecimal.
In computing and electronic systems, binary-coded decimal (BCD) (sometimes called natural binary-coded decimal, NBCD) or, in its most common modern implementation, packed decimal, is an encoding for decimal numbers in which each digit is represented by its own binary sequence.
In BCD, the number 4 is represented as ‘0100’ and the number 2 is represented as ‘0010’. Do you disagree?
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Then shouldn’t it be bob0x42?
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Then shouldn’t it be bob0x42?
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I read it as binary or hex. He is correct but Bob should have used the the proper annotation as 4210 so us ole timmers can better pick up the read on the fly. So he becomes Bob4210 and 0100 0010 is proper for BCD. We ain’t even going to muddy the waters any further with the ASCII representation.
And that folks is my reading lesson for today. Thanks Bob!
Oh yeah Hammie, the subscript button is brokey.
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I read it as binary or hex. He is correct but Bob should have used the the proper annotation as 4210 so us ole timmers can better pick up the read on the fly. So he becomes Bob4210 and 0100 0010 is proper for BCD. We ain’t even going to muddy the waters any further with the ASCII representation.
And that folks is my reading lesson for today. Thanks Bob!
Oh yeah Hammie, the subscript button is brokey. -
#0x14, wagonburner. No. The 0x prefix is used to indicate hexadecimal.
Then shouldn’t it be bob0x42?
It would be bob0x2A. Hexadecimal and binary are just two different ways to express numbers.
#0x15 CbR, you’re welcome. In ASCII ‘BOB’ is represented as 0x424F42, and in EBCDIC, 0xC2D6C2.
This is too much like work. Wasn’t this thread supposed to be about books?
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#0x14, wagonburner. No. The 0x prefix is used to indicate hexadecimal.
Then shouldn’t it be bob0x42?
It would be bob0x2A. Hexadecimal and binary are just two different ways to express numbers.
#0x15 CbR, you’re welcome. In ASCII ‘BOB’ is represented as 0x424F42, and in EBCDIC, 0xC2D6C2.
This is too much like work. Wasn’t this thread supposed to be about books? -
It just doesn’t get any better than Lonesome Dove. Everything event you can visualize, and one notable piece of dialogue followed by another. Where else (except possibly Dr. Zhivago) can you read about a snowy winter in the heat of summer and start shivering; or start having dreams of Blue Duck feeding your entrails to the coyotes while you are still alive and watching?
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It just doesn’t get any better than Lonesome Dove. Everything event you can visualize, and one notable piece of dialogue followed by another. Where else (except possibly Dr. Zhivago) can you read about a snowy winter in the heat of summer and start shivering; or start having dreams of Blue Duck feeding your entrails to the coyotes while you are still alive and watching?
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I didn’t hear of Piers Anthony until older daughter started reading the Xanth series when she was in her early teens.
Many of his books have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. He has claimed that one of his greatest achievements has been to publish a book for every letter of the alphabet, from Anthonology to Zombie Lover.
It was another connection point for us. I’d sneak into her room after she fell asleep and grab the book she was reading at the time so I could keep up with her, and talk with her about the stories (and the puns.)
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I didn’t hear of Piers Anthony until older daughter started reading the Xanth series when she was in her early teens.
Many of his books have appeared on the New York Times Best Seller list. He has claimed that one of his greatest achievements has been to publish a book for every letter of the alphabet, from Anthonology to Zombie Lover.
It was another connection point for us. I’d sneak into her room after she fell asleep and grab the book she was reading at the time so I could keep up with her, and talk with her about the stories (and the puns.)
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Well, I haven’t read the book, but I’m watching the movie “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. I’m sure the book is much better.
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Well, I haven’t read the book, but I’m watching the movie “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. I’m sure the book is much better.
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#25 I finally watched the movie last weekend. It isn’t too bad, but (as always) the books are better, and I recommend them. Strongly.
If you have Netflix, you can see a six part BBC video series based on Adams’ radio works. I prefer them to the more recent movie.
But what ever you do, Don’t Panic! And always remember to bring a towel.
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#25 I finally watched the movie last weekend. It isn’t too bad, but (as always) the books are better, and I recommend them. Strongly.
If you have Netflix, you can see a six part BBC video series based on Adams’ radio works. I prefer them to the more recent movie.
But what ever you do, Don’t Panic! And always remember to bring a towel. -
Some favorites,
Let the Sea Make A Noise.
Wilbarger. I have found people can not put this down. Wilbarger realized he was living in an era passing. He recorded first hand accounts of people who lived through that time.
By far, the most interesting book I have read to date. The research and presentation of information is incredible.
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Some favorites,
Let the Sea Make A Noise.
http://www.amazon.com/Let-Sea-Make-Noise-MacArthur/dp/B000H2MDYW/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299381397&sr=1-1
Wilbarger. I have found people can not put this down. Wilbarger realized he was living in an era passing. He recorded first hand accounts of people who lived through that time.
http://www.amazon.com/Indian-Depredations-Texas-J-Wilbarger/dp/0938349759/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299381797&sr=1-2
By far, the most interesting book I have read to date. The research and presentation of information is incredible.
http://www.amazon.com/Custers-Last-Campaign-Bighorn-Reconstructed/dp/0803270402/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1299381975&sr=1-2 -
For an encyclopedia of Texas primary history sources try this
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For an encyclopedia of Texas primary history sources try this
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At the risk of giving offense to my Catholic Brothers and Sisters, “Bondage of The Will” by Martin Luther is amazing, and I just finished wading through “Institutes of The Christian Religion” by John Calvin.
“The Confessions of St. Augustine” was (and is) life changing.
For Science fiction, NOBODY is better than Robert Heinlein, but Spider Robinson comes close. “Variable Star” is a good read that combines them both.
And finally, the finest work of fiction ever published – “The Lord of The Rings”
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At the risk of giving offense to my Catholic Brothers and Sisters, “Bondage of The Will” by Martin Luther is amazing, and I just finished wading through “Institutes of The Christian Religion” by John Calvin.
“The Confessions of St. Augustine” was (and is) life changing.
For Science fiction, NOBODY is better than Robert Heinlein, but Spider Robinson comes close. “Variable Star” is a good read that combines them both.
And finally, the finest work of fiction ever published – “The Lord of The Rings” -
#25 tedtam
Well, I haven’t read the book, but I’m watching the movie “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. I’m sure the book is much better.
The movie was HORRIBLE, it only hit the high spots and was terribly mis-cast.
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#25 tedtam
Well, I haven’t read the book, but I’m watching the movie “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. I’m sure the book is much better.
The movie was HORRIBLE, it only hit the high spots and was terribly mis-cast.
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Barbara Tuchman. Her book about Vinegar Joe is very interesting as she was living in China at the time.
I remember a history professor who thought women wrote the best military histories. He cited Cecil Woodham Smith as an example.
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Barbara Tuchman. Her book about Vinegar Joe is very interesting as she was living in China at the time.
I remember a history professor who thought women wrote the best military histories. He cited Cecil Woodham Smith as an example. -
32 Super Dave says:
March 6, 2011 at 7:40 am
#25 tedtamWell, I haven’t read the book, but I’m watching the movie “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. I’m sure the book is much better.
The movie was HORRIBLE, it only hit the high spots and was terribly mis-cast.
The only way they could have made it worse would have been to cast Glenn Campbell as Arthur Dent.
A much better visual rendition was done by the BBC eons ago, even the schlocky special effects fit right in with the tone and spirit of the book.
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32 Super Dave says:
March 6, 2011 at 7:40 am
#25 tedtamWell, I haven’t read the book, but I’m watching the movie “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”. I’m sure the book is much better.
The movie was HORRIBLE, it only hit the high spots and was terribly mis-cast.
The only way they could have made it worse would have been to cast Glenn Campbell as Arthur Dent.
A much better visual rendition was done by the BBC eons ago, even the schlocky special effects fit right in with the tone and spirit of the book. -
Barbara Tuchman. Her book about Vinegar Joe is very interesting as she was living in China at the time
Tuchman got me started on WW1 with Guns of August. She got me started on Mexico and the US with The Zimmerman Telegram.
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Barbara Tuchman. Her book about Vinegar Joe is very interesting as she was living in China at the time
Tuchman got me started on WW1 with Guns of August. She got me started on Mexico and the US with The Zimmerman Telegram.
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The Hitchhiker movie really was bad. Find the BBC TV series instead.
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The Hitchhiker movie really was bad. Find the BBC TV series instead.
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John Keegan made a comment about lecturing at American universities in one of his books. History here is considered a soft degree and many football players are enrolled in it. He finds it amusing to see these giant athletes routinely accompanied with petite girls, like they are herding prize bulls at a fair. The Face of Battle launched his career as a writer. The book is about why soldiers stay and fight rather than a history of an event.
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John Keegan made a comment about lecturing at American universities in one of his books. History here is considered a soft degree and many football players are enrolled in it. He finds it amusing to see these giant athletes routinely accompanied with petite girls, like they are herding prize bulls at a fair. The Face of Battle launched his career as a writer. The book is about why soldiers stay and fight rather than a history of an event.
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#34 Sarge
A much better visual rendition was done by the BBC eons ago, even the schlocky special effects fit right in with the tone and spirit of the book.
I used to watch those episodes on Ch 8 back in the 80’s, about the same time I first read the Trilogy. You may or may not know that the book was written AFTER Douglas Adams wrote that series for the BBC. He used several of the shows as a basis for the book.
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#34 Sarge
A much better visual rendition was done by the BBC eons ago, even the schlocky special effects fit right in with the tone and spirit of the book.
I used to watch those episodes on Ch 8 back in the 80’s, about the same time I first read the Trilogy. You may or may not know that the book was written AFTER Douglas Adams wrote that series for the BBC. He used several of the shows as a basis for the book.
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gto
Did you notice there is one “new hardcover” edition of Wilbarger’s Indian Depredations published in 1991 offered for $976.98 ?
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gto
Did you notice there is one “new hardcover” edition of Wilbarger’s Indian Depredations published in 1991 offered for $976.98 ? -
There’s a free searchable index here.
And for the real Texas history freaks:
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There’s a free searchable index here.
And for the real Texas history freaks:
The enitre Frontier Times Catalog -
#29 FA
For Science fiction, NOBODY is better than Robert Heinlein
I’m pretty sure I’ve read all of his sci-fi at this point. Even his later stuff was a good read, although it was a bit weird.
The very worst sci-fi movie I’ve ever seen was Starship Troopers. The screenwriters butchered his book.
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#29 FA
For Science fiction, NOBODY is better than Robert Heinlein
I’m pretty sure I’ve read all of his sci-fi at this point. Even his later stuff was a good read, although it was a bit weird.
The very worst sci-fi movie I’ve ever seen was Starship Troopers. The screenwriters butchered his book. -
I agree with Al #29
For Science fiction, NOBODY is better than Robert Heinlein
but it’s been over 30 years since I last read a sci-fi book. I’m afraid computing as a career/avocation turned out to be a book-killer for me. Beginning with net news talk.bizarre in the 1980s, I’ve let reading online replace page-turning in my life. Talk radio was another influence that eroded my reading time, since I’d rather drift off to a conservative talker after lights-out, than to read till I fall asleep.
But in my earlier life as an avid reader, I took joy from Ayn Rand’s fiction and nonfiction. For pure entertainment, I liked:
– Nero Wolfe mysteries by Rex Stout
– Matt Helm series by Donald Hamilton.
– Travis McGee novels by John D. MacDonald
– Spenser novels by Robert B. Parker
– police procedural Martin Beck series by Sjowall & Wahloo
– Grijpstra and de Gier stories by Janwillem van de WeteringI think most of these would hold up and still be enjoyable today if I decided to reread them — and I may do that when I finally retire. But that was not true of many series that I liked at first reading but they became dated very quickly, e.g. Mike Hammer books by Mickey Spillane.
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I agree with Al #29
For Science fiction, NOBODY is better than Robert Heinlein
but it’s been over 30 years since I last read a sci-fi book. I’m afraid computing as a career/avocation turned out to be a book-killer for me. Beginning with net news talk.bizarre in the 1980s, I’ve let reading online replace page-turning in my life. Talk radio was another influence that eroded my reading time, since I’d rather drift off to a conservative talker after lights-out, than to read till I fall asleep.
But in my earlier life as an avid reader, I took joy from Ayn Rand’s fiction and nonfiction. For pure entertainment, I liked:
– Nero Wolfe mysteries by Rex Stout
– Matt Helm series by Donald Hamilton.
– Travis McGee novels by John D. MacDonald
– Spenser novels by Robert B. Parker
– police procedural Martin Beck series by Sjowall & Wahloo
– Grijpstra and de Gier stories by Janwillem van de Wetering
I think most of these would hold up and still be enjoyable today if I decided to reread them — and I may do that when I finally retire. But that was not true of many series that I liked at first reading but they became dated very quickly, e.g. Mike Hammer books by Mickey Spillane. -
Well, I’m glad ya’ll mentioned how bad the movie was. That was two hours I’ll never get back. I had to drag myself through it. Maybe I’ll find the BBC version, or check out the book from the library.
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Well, I’m glad ya’ll mentioned how bad the movie was. That was two hours I’ll never get back. I had to drag myself through it. Maybe I’ll find the BBC version, or check out the book from the library.
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TT, find the old H2G2 series, it is terrific. Now I’m wanting to watch it again myself. I think my husband probably has it on DVD.
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TT, find the old H2G2 series, it is terrific. Now I’m wanting to watch it again myself. I think my husband probably has it on DVD.
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Regarding the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy movie, I had very low expectations for it. Squeezing five books into one movie is a tall order. One would have had to read the books to make full sense of it. The three hour BBC series covers it better, but is still not as good as the books.
(Don’t get me started on the LOTR movies!)
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Regarding the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy movie, I had very low expectations for it. Squeezing five books into one movie is a tall order. One would have had to read the books to make full sense of it. The three hour BBC series covers it better, but is still not as good as the books.
(Don’t get me started on the LOTR movies!) -
I started reading Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes last week, but am having a little trouble getting engaged with the story. It’s one of his best, but I’ve been short on leisure time lately.
#42+1 Tedtam, You can get Netflix online free for a month. They have all six BBC Hitchhiker episodes on instant play, and at higher quality than can be found elsewhere on the web.
#42 M42, I work in IT too, but I find sci-fi and fiction in general to be a welcome escape from the dry technical reading and writing I often do. If you’re looking for something that will put you to sleep in a hurry, I can recommend this book and a few others.
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I started reading Ray Bradbury’s Something Wicked This Way Comes last week, but am having a little trouble getting engaged with the story. It’s one of his best, but I’ve been short on leisure time lately.
#42+1 Tedtam, You can get Netflix online free for a month. They have all six BBC Hitchhiker episodes on instant play, and at higher quality than can be found elsewhere on the web.
#42 M42, I work in IT too, but I find sci-fi and fiction in general to be a welcome escape from the dry technical reading and writing I often do. If you’re looking for something that will put you to sleep in a hurry, I can recommend this book and a few others. -
The person wanting 970+ dollars for Wilbarger is being a bit optimistic. Several sellers think it is worth 250$ though. Interesting to see the whole thing is online. I think a bunch of Texas history books are online at TSHA.
Back when I had time to read science fiction, Jack Chalker’s Well of Souls series was a favorite. Anne McCaffrey wrote several books I liked as well.
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The person wanting 970+ dollars for Wilbarger is being a bit optimistic. Several sellers think it is worth 250$ though. Interesting to see the whole thing is online. I think a bunch of Texas history books are online at TSHA.
Back when I had time to read science fiction, Jack Chalker’s Well of Souls series was a favorite. Anne McCaffrey wrote several books I liked as well. -
The Aggies are forever optimistic they will graduate readers. They even have their own press just in case. If you want a catalog of what they have in print check here.
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The Aggies are forever optimistic they will graduate readers. They even have their own press just in case. If you want a catalog of what they have in print check here.
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#41 Bob:
Anybody that actually read Starship Troopers would have known that it would make a terrible movie. The choice of Paul Verhoeven as director just made a bad idea even worse.
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#41 Bob:
Anybody that actually read Starship Troopers would have known that it would make a terrible movie. The choice of Paul Verhoeven as director just made a bad idea even worse. -
Dang it.
Did anybody see the link to the BBC series in my #34?
Starts you right off with Episode 1.
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Dang it.
Did anybody see the link to the BBC series in my #34?
Starts you right off with Episode 1. -
I don’t get to read nearly as much as I’d like to these days, but I did read The Forgotten Man by Amity Shlaes recently and would recommend that. Also, a Texpat recommendation from the LST era was Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely. I found that one fascinating.
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I don’t get to read nearly as much as I’d like to these days, but I did read The Forgotten Man by Amity Shlaes recently and would recommend that. Also, a Texpat recommendation from the LST era was Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely. I found that one fascinating.
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#49 FA, I had very low expectations for the movie version of Starship Troopers. It completely failed to come close to meeting them, even with the gratuitous nudity. Yes, it was that bad.
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#49 FA, I had very low expectations for the movie version of Starship Troopers. It completely failed to come close to meeting them, even with the gratuitous nudity. Yes, it was that bad.
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On current events, Barry Ritholtz’s ‘Bailout Nation’ is a good read.
My opinion, Matt Taibbi’s ‘Griftopia’ coverage of the meltdown is in simpler terms. Though with more colorful sentence enhancers. His follow up ‘Why Isn’t Wall Street In Jail’ in the March issue of Rolling Stone is a good follow up. Taibbi admits he fell for hope and change, and Obama lied. He also writes the tea partiers are not entirely wrong. That is more than progressives usually grant the t.p.
After reading the Amazon review of ‘Predictably Irrational’,the progressives are having their tea party moment. The politicians they supported have failed to deliver as promised. Reading American Progressive, Mother Jones, numerous blogs, and Thomas Friedman has been an eye opener.
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On current events, Barry Ritholtz’s ‘Bailout Nation’ is a good read.
My opinion, Matt Taibbi’s ‘Griftopia’ coverage of the meltdown is in simpler terms. Though with more colorful sentence enhancers. His follow up ‘Why Isn’t Wall Street In Jail’ in the March issue of Rolling Stone is a good follow up. Taibbi admits he fell for hope and change, and Obama lied. He also writes the tea partiers are not entirely wrong. That is more than progressives usually grant the t.p.
After reading the Amazon review of ‘Predictably Irrational’,the progressives are having their tea party moment. The politicians they supported have failed to deliver as promised. Reading American Progressive, Mother Jones, numerous blogs, and Thomas Friedman has been an eye opener. -
Good point about eyes being opened, GTO. Seems to be some of that going on with both ends of the spectrum and probably even in between for that matter. I know my opinion of the right has certainly undergone some evolution through the last several years.
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Good point about eyes being opened, GTO. Seems to be some of that going on with both ends of the spectrum and probably even in between for that matter. I know my opinion of the right has certainly undergone some evolution through the last several years.
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