karamazov80 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Reading a very cool, very accessible history/political science book called "Why Nations Go To War" by John Stoessinger. He takes a political psychological approach to explaining the onset of conflict, which runs against the conventional wisdom of international relations theory, but is right up my alley. Not dry or academic by any stretch, and worth checking out if you are into such things. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trekker 42 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I am reading Eoin Colfer's And Another Thing which is a continuation of Douglas Adams's The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. And as a Guide fan, I can confirm that Colfer got it. His humor is a bit less... cerebral than Adams's, but be that as it may, it's still an amazing book so far. It's part closure, part "We owe this to the fans" and part author having fun. And all good. So far at least. I'll tell you when I finish if I think it was worth it. But hey, it's better than Mostly Harmless. Which isn't saying much as I spent a good part of Mostly Harmless in a state of utter "What the fuck is going on here?!?!?!?!" so I was not the biggest fan of it... Anyway, And Another Thing. Good so far. WTF?!!! that sounds like a terrible idea, the best thing about Adams work was that it was uniquely Adams and nothing was even close! T. That's the usual outcry. Not surprised to see it. But hey, he's got the style right. That's what I was worried about the most. Half-empty, half-full, I don't care. I just wanted the series to end on a better note than Adams left it in and I wanted it to be written well. Colfer has, so far, done both. Oh, and he brought back Wowbanger the Infinately Prolonged. Who is officially awesome. The guy's on a quest to get killed and Zaphod is trying to introduce him to Thor. It's great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthRaider Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Huh, I didn't know And Another Thing was out already. Perhaps you'll enjoy this. Bizarre mega-crossover. That's all I'm saying about it for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBT! Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 That's the usual outcry. Not surprised to see it. But hey, he's got the style right. That's what I was worried about the most. Half-empty, half-full, I don't care. I just wanted the series to end on a better note than Adams left it in and I wanted it to be written well. Colfer has, so far, done both. Oh, and he brought back Wowbanger the Infinately Prolonged. Who is officially awesome. The guy's on a quest to get killed and Zaphod is trying to introduce him to Thor. It's great. I just read the first chapter on amazon... and to quote a certain android... I'm suddenly feeling very depressed! I think I'd prefer to pretend it doesn't exist and that the trilogy finishes with the 5th book... T. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthRaider Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I think I'd prefer to pretend it doesn't exist and that the trilogy finishes with the 5th book... T. ... or you can do what I did and pretend the trilogy ended just like the radio plays: everybody with a Babel fish was deus ex machina'd to safety to the Restaurant At The End Of The Universe, where Arthur gets reunited with a safe-and-sound Fenchurch Sorry, I'm a sucker for happy endings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minimadman Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I just finished the Harry Potter series all the way through for the first time since the seventh one came out. It was like falling in love all over again. I have also just started the book from David Cross There's a Reason I Drink. It's pretty funny if you like David Cross. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karamazov80 Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 Speaking of David Cross, who knew that Mr. Show was so ahead of its time?: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groundhog7s Posted October 13, 2009 Share Posted October 13, 2009 I started reading the book Geektastic and am totally hooked. The first story is a Romeo and Juliet take-off involving cosplay at a sci-fi con (she's a Klingon, he's a Jedi). I'm hoping the rest of the book is this good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gambitron Posted October 15, 2009 Share Posted October 15, 2009 (edited) So I read pretty much everything Star Wars that comes out and this week the book Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber came out and I think its pretty cool to mix SW and a zombie type story. Read on for a paragraph that is simply a new kind of thing in SW books! ". . . . .squeezed both triggers. The effect at close range was nothing short of spectacular. Warden Kloth's entire cranial vault sheared away in a dense cloud of scarlet, gristle and bone. His neck and shoulders flopped sideways, torqued on some invisible axis with the leftover momentum of the energy blast, and then landed with a wet splat, skidding backward in the spattered reservoir of blood." So far the book is pretty good, but that is coming from someone who simply enjoys everything SW that I read. Addition- I have now finished this book and man do I wish they would make this into a movie. I love SW and I love Zombie movies. . . .hence this would be a great movie! Edited October 17, 2009 by gambitron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trekker 42 Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 I am getting a lot farther into Dresden Files. And if this does not convince you to convert ot reading this series, there is nothing that will: Polka powered zombie tyrannosaurus rex skeleton killing an army of zombies raised by 3 necromancers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groundhog7s Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 (edited) So I read pretty much everything Star Wars that comes out and this week the book Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber came out and I think its pretty cool to mix SW and a zombie type story. I started this book last week and am almost done with it. I never read books, but would highly recommend this one. It's the 'Marvel Zombies' of the Star Wars universe and it's done very well. Not knowing much about it beforehand really helped too. I assumed it was just a zombie book told in the SWU and didn't expect any real established character interaction, but was pleasantly surprised. I've read a few SW novels over the years, but this is the best. Edited November 14, 2009 by groundhog7s Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthRaider Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 I am getting a lot farther into Dresden Files. And if this does not convince you to convert ot reading this series, there is nothing that will: Polka powered zombie tyrannosaurus rex skeleton killing an army of zombies raised by 3 necromancers. You had me at "Polka." Just bought myself two new books yesterday. Necronomicon shall officially be my first shot at H.P. Lovecraft. I have no idea why I've never read anything of his before when he's almost as renowned a cult writer as Poe, probably because our local bookstores don't stock many of his books anymore. (Ursula LeGuin also seems to get a bad of case of this, fortunately the situation is being remedied with Douglas Adams) I would've liked reading the Cthulhu Mythos before Necronomicon first, but I'd rather get a good print copy of it first than break my neck reading it downloaded from the Net. My second purchase was Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's infamous novella Venus In Furs. I basically bought this book for exactly two reasons: 1. Because I was sick of all the Twilight hype 2. Because of the Velvet Underground song Next I should probably invest in some Dune or Terry Pratchett. Or maybe Jasper Fforde? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinnesotaIceman Posted November 15, 2009 Share Posted November 15, 2009 Jurrasic Park was good. Jurrasic Park 2 was the first book I ever bought with my own money. In hardcover no less! Those are two of my favorites. I've read each of 'em at least 5 times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
super spider piggy Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Im currently reading "From Outer Space" by Howard Menger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trekker 42 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Next I should probably invest in some Dune or Terry Pratchett. Or maybe Jasper Fforde? Nein. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher. Come on, you know you want to. GIVE IN TO YOUR ANGER! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vbpanizzi Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 NR if you truly wish to enjoy Lovecraft you should read it in large chunks, while alone at night, preferably by candlelight. And do not look away from the page, you will not want to see anything but the words on the page. I personally prefer to read Lovecraft as I fall asleep. I feel the vague haze you have just before your eyes shut lends it self greatly to his imagination. I would also recommend looking up the dream cycle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
battlecat Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 NR if you truly wish to enjoy Lovecraft you should read it in large chunks, while alone at night, preferably by candlelight. And do not look away from the page, you will not want to see anything but the words on the page. I personally prefer to read Lovecraft as I fall asleep. I feel the vague haze you have just before your eyes shut lends it self greatly to his imagination. I would also recommend looking up the dream cycle. Falling asleep by candlelight sounds like a very BAD idea! Consult your local fire marshall! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groundhog7s Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 Today was the annual employee book giveaway at my work. There's a huge selection of books to choose from and you can have all that you can fit in a box. I scored a copy of Pride and Predjudice and Zomies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters among other things. And it was a great place to stock up for Christmas. That's one of the job perks I always enjoy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blockmerchant Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 (edited) I'm re-reading my collection of Steven Brust novels; he is a brilliant author and great story-teller in my humble opinion. Edited November 24, 2009 by blockmerchant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinnesotaIceman Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Currently reading Loosing the Bonds by Robert Kinloch Massie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trekker 42 Posted November 25, 2009 Share Posted November 25, 2009 Today was the annual employee book giveaway at my work. There's a huge selection of books to choose from and you can have all that you can fit in a box. I scored a copy of Pride and Predjudice and Zomies and Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters among other things. And it was a great place to stock up for Christmas. That's one of the job perks I always enjoy. Jeez... where the heck do you work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
groundhog7s Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 Jeez... where the heck do you work? I work for Hachette Book Group's distribution center. It's a horrible job working around millions of books, but I guess someone has to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthRaider Posted November 26, 2009 Share Posted November 26, 2009 The paper cuts must be loads of fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trekker 42 Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 When my local library finally gets the damn thing in, I'm going to read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Good choice? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MinnesotaIceman Posted December 2, 2009 Share Posted December 2, 2009 When my local library finally gets the damn thing in, I'm going to read Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. Good choice? It's hard to say, since I've never read it. From what I've heard, though, you will either absolutely love it or absolutely hate it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.