What are you reading?

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Streetwise

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes

 C.J. Cherryh

quote>

Have you ever read her Gate of Ivrel?

quote>

 I seen copys but not read it.  Only Down Below Station and The Faded Sun Series. Down Below Station being the better of those.

[BlondeTwiggy 43]

Just finished Childhood's End (Arthur C. Clarke) - it was pretty good for old science fiction.  I've finally given up on Fountainhead, however.

[ArchangelMichael 51]

@ BlondeTwiggy -- Try Atlas Shrugged.  It is the only novel that I know of that contains a truly complete philosophy of life -- from metaphysics, to epistemology, to morality, to politics, to aesthetics.  It's over a thousand pages, and starts a little slow, but you should at least read John Galt's speech.  Not everything Rand wrote is gospel (quantum physics is now proving some of what she considered "mysticism" to be reality), but most of her beliefs are spot-on.  Capitalism as a system is a good thing.  Problems arise from the fact that its proper functioning depends on all agents within the system acting honestly, which is not likely to happen.  If you'd like the whole philosophy of Objectivism spelled out one step at a time, Rand's heir Leonard Peikoff wrote Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand and I can recommend that as well.

Mike

[Duke87 1,070]

Originally posted by: BlondeTwiggy

Just finished Childhood's End (Arthur C. Clarke) quote>

Read that in 9th grade. Pretty good, actually.

Back to the preent day.... this past week I blew right through A Drifting Life by Yoshihiro Tatsumi in under 24 hours.

I'm supposed to be writing a paper on it at some point, but I'm here task avoiding instead.

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[your_adress_here 11]

I've started reading Slash's autobiography. Gives you quite an interesting insight on the counter-culture lifestyle in L.A. during the 70's.

[Zelgadis 638]

My former English prof in university sent me this.  Thought it'd be a nice way to shake up this thread a bit.  

1) What author do you own the most books by?

Hmmm...  Real literature:  J.R.R. Tolkien.  If you include graphic novels, Maki Murakami. 

2) What book do you own the most copies of?

The complete works of Shakespeare.  I have three versions. 

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

No. 

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

Wolfram von Bielefield, if we're including graphic novels.  Manwe of Silmarillion for "real" literature.

5) What book have you read the most times in your life?

Neverending Story by Michael Ende.

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

Yer kidding...  I can barely remember what I was doing an hour ago...  I do recall being fond of the Hardy Boys back then though.

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?

The Wind Singer.  Not terribly awful, but it just had a few bits that grated on the nerves.  Characters were kinda flat too.

What is the best book you've read in the past year?

The last Harry Potter book.  Strip away its popularity and really look at the series and I can't help but marvel...  J.K. Rowling is seriously talented.

9) If you could force everyone to read one book, what would it be?

Dubliner, by James Joyce

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?

I am so not qualified to answer that.

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?

Ulysses.  It would never work.

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.

Oh, I don't think anyone here wants me to do that.

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?

Oh good lord, where do I start?  I reckon that would be every graphic novel I own.  

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?

Finnegans Wake. I still don't understand it...

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?

Oh dear.  I don't think I've ever seen an obscure one.

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

French

18) Roth or Updike?

Not qualified to answer.

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?

Ditto

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?

Chaucer.  Maybe I'm biased because I'm related to the guy? 

21) Austen or Eliot?

ANYONE but Austen.  Barf!

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

Modern classics.  I really don't know hardly any.  (Wow, that was a weird sentence.  )

23) What is your favorite novel?

Lord of the Rings

24) Play?

The Dining Room.  Again, biased perhaps?  I was a performance of it, after all. 

25) Poem?

The Wasteland

26) Essay?

A Modest Proposal

27) Short story?

Mine. 

28) Work of non-fiction?

Nickel and Dimed, by Barbara Erenreich

29) Who is your favorite writer?

That's pretty fluid, like my taste in music.

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

Oo..  Tie between two people?  Noam Chompsky.  The crappiest writer who ever got famous for writing.  Ridiculously long-winded and pompous.  I can't stand to hardly even see his name.  Or...  Ayn Rand.  Swill masquarading as philosophy.

31) What is your desert island book?

The Complete Works of Shakespeare.  Gotta have something big!

32) And ... what are you reading right now?

The Silmarillion.  (again)

ISF

[Meg 368]

okay, let's see if I can do this . . .

1) What author do you own the most books by?

Jean M. Auel -- author of the Earth's Children series.

2) What book do you own the most copies of?

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein.   My original copy fell apart.

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

No.

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

I got nothing.  Apparently it's a secret even from myself.

5) What book have you read the most times in your life?

The Stand by Stephen King

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

umm.  . . does the Nancy Drew series count?

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?

The Life of Pi by Yann Martel.   Way too much grisly detail.

What is the best book you've read in the past year?

Nothing comes to mind so they must not have been very good.

9) If you could force everyone to read one book, what would it be?

An Incomplete Education:  3,684 Things You Should Have Learned but Probably Didn't.

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?

no clue

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

Valley of the Horses by Jean M. Auel.  After the first movie bombed, they gave up on the series.  Well, duh!   No one in the first book had a spoken language.

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?

Gotta go with Life of Pi again.  Most of the book is either in the guy's head or overly grisly. or both.

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.

I can have weird dreams but not about those things.

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?

I refuse to read Danielle Steel if that is your question.

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?

Something in a college French literature class. I've repressed the name of it.

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?

I've seen a Shakespeare play?

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

Ranch

18) Roth or Updike?

I have a Roth.  Bought a condo with it.

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?

who?

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?

I'll go for Milton.  I read more of the other guys in school.  Time for a change.

21) Austen or Eliot?

No

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

I have not read all of the major "holy" books cover to cover.

23) What is your favorite novel?

It keeps changing.

24) Play?

Death of a Salesman.  but I'm partial since I saw Dustin Hoffman live.   He rocks.

25) Poem?

The Cat in the Hat.  That doesn't count?   The Raven by Edgar Allen Poe.

26) Essay?

I have a favorite essay?

27) Short story?

Any of Zenna Henderson's stories about the People.

28) Work of non-fiction?

Torey Hayden's books on working with troubled children

29) Who is your favorite writer?

It keeps changing.

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

Stephen King.  I'm one of those people who thinks he hit his peak 20 years ago. 

31) What is your desert island book?

The Worse-Case Scenario Survival Handbook.

32) And ... what are you reading right now?

T is for Trespass by Sue Grafton

[hym 358]

1) What author do you own the most books by?

1) Wouldn't know.  Don't remember the names of authors who write the books I read.

2) What book do you own the most copies of?

2) Presently?  A physics textbook.

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

3) No.

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

4) None.

5) What book have you read the most times in your life?

5) Some book I don't remember the name of.  Read it over 10 times.

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

6) Didn't have one.  Don't think I've ever had a favorite book.

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?

7) Haven't read any in the past year.

What is the best book you've read in the past year?

See earlier comment.

9) If you could force everyone to read one book, what would it be?

9) Some book about the fundamentals of engineering and its importance to society.

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?

10) Don't know, don't care.

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

11) The entire Halo book series.

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?

12) Don't have any such book.

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.

13) I don't have any such dreams.

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?

14) I haven't read any books as an adult.

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?

15) History of the Donner Party.  It's the only book I've ever had to read that made me wish I could choose massive blunt force trauma instead.  It was that bad.

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?

16) Never seen any Shakespeare plays.  Don't want to either.

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

17) Come again?

18) Roth or Updike?

18) Still don't get the question.

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?

19) Never heard of them.

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?

20) They're three old dead guys.  Why do I care?

21) Austen or Eliot?

21) I don't want to read anything written by either of them.

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

22) I don't know what my biggest gap is.  I don't care about most literature and I'm not embarrassed to admit it.

23) What is your favorite novel?

23) Lord of the Rings or the Halo series.

24) Play?

24) You're kidding me.  I hate plays.

25) Poem?

25) If I have one, I don't remember its name.

26) Essay?

26) The Prisoner's Dilemma.  The American Way of Death is another good one.

27) Short story?

27) I used to like the one that I wrote, but I've become more meh towards it.

28) Work of non-fiction?

28) Presently? My Calc II professor's math notes.

29) Who is your favorite writer?

29) Eric Nylund

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

30) Every popular writer there is.  People treat them like their special.  They pass gas like the rest of us.

31) What is your desert island book?

31) Army Surival Guide

32) And ... what are you reading right now?

32) Fundamentals of Physics, C++ for Engineers, and Java Foundations.  Unless you want literature, in which case I'm not reading anything.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Its way to early to answer 32 questions.

But currently reading a collection of Short Storys by A.Van Vogt

[BlondeTwiggy 43]

ArchangelMichael:  Thanks for the suggestions.  I agree with some but not all of her philosophy.  However, I still wanted to read some of her work, just to say I did. 

Duke: It is pretty good, I really enjoyed it.  

Hym: You are so irreverent towards literature, that made me laugh.  

1) What author do you own the most books by?

Um, I don't really have any more than 2 books by any one author. 

2) What book do you own the most copies of?

The Bible...hah.  In about 3 different English translations. 

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

Oops, I didn't notice.  I am ashamed.  

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

Ouuu, let me think...Ok, I got nothing.  Probably Mr. Rochester from Jane Eyre.  I saw one version (movie) of it, and the guy playing Mr. Rochester was so good-looking!  I thought he was supposed to be ugly!  

5) What book have you read the most times in your life?

Scriptural books, probably the book of John.  In secular books, probably The Chosen by Chaim Potok.  (It is my favorite book.  )

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

Oh, those stupid books by Bill Myers, the Wally McDoogle books. 

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?

Huh...probably a book from the church library.  No offense, but Christian authors need to be a lot better.  Flat, boring characters, emotion for emotion's sake, etc.  Like all girls enjoy reading that trash?  I think not.  

What is the best book you've read in the past year?

That's a hard one! 

9) If you could force everyone to read one book, what would it be?

Probably the book of Romans (the Bible).  Not that I'm trying to force people to believe it; you can believe what you like; but that Paul is very educated and logical in his arguments.  As for literature, I don't know. 

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?

I ditto Zel when I say I am unqualified...Lol

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

Childhood's End, which I just read.  I could see it in my head, exactly like a movie.  It might already be, I don't know, but if it's not, it so needs to be.  Also, they NEED to re-do Dune by Frank Herbert!  That is a fabulous book but the movie was horrendous.  Yes, even with Patrick Stewart.  He was like the only good thing about that movie. 

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?

Haha...can't think of one. 

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.

I dreamed about Mussorgsky once...oh...he's a composer.  But I'm surprised I've never dreamed about Emily Dickinson or some such inspiration.  

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?

Hah.. no. 

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?

The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand.  It's like wading through a swamp.  You know there's something under there, but you can't figure out what. 

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?

Um, none?  But I only understand them because I read the plays first. 

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

Er...

18) Roth or Updike?

Updike, I guess. 

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?

What? 

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?

Shakespeare, hands-down. 

21) Austen or Eliot?

Austen!  Hello, Pride and Prejudice, Emma?  The only Eliot book I know is Silas Marner.  Not exactly a page-turner. 

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

Um, well, before I took English literature this year, I barely even knew who Pope or Shelley were.  That was pretty embarrassing.  

23) What is your favorite novel?

The Chosen, by Chaim Potok.   Absolutely beautiful story.  

24) Play?

Macbeth.  Haha, only because at the performance of it, the guy playing Macbeth was gorgeous.  Plus it has tons of really cool lines: "Fair is foul, and foul is fair."  "Bubble, bubble, toil and trouble!"  And of course, "Look like the flower, but be the serpent under it." 

25) Poem?

"Because I Could Not Stop for Death" by Emily Dickinson.  

26) Essay?

Haha, no.  I don't read essays unless forced to.

27) Short story?

Uh, I have too many to count.  Pretty much anything by Poe. 

28) Work of non-fiction?

Not sure. 

29) Who is your favorite writer?

I could never decide on just one. 

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

Ouch, Zel was harsh.  Ayn Rand's style wasn't really fabulous.  I mean, I thought she was a good writer, an excellent writer, but not very unique.  

31) What is your desert island book?

Oh man...That's hard.  Probably Shakespeare, with footnotes, preferably, or the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe. 

32) And ... what are you reading right now?

The Left Behind series. 

[Meg 368]

Originally posted by: BlondeTwiggy

Scriptural books, probably the book of John.  In secular books, probably The Chosen by Chaim Potok.  (

quote>

Chaim Potok's books are not scriptural but they certainly are not secular.

Looking at www.dictionary.com:

1.	of or pertaining to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred; temporal: secular interests.

2.	not pertaining to or connected with religion (opposed to sacred ): secular music.

3.	(of education, a school, etc.) concerned with nonreligious subjects.

quote>

It's been a few decades since I have read his books but, as I recall, there was a lot of detail about his characters' faith and how they practice it.

 

[JakeMD 107]

Right now I am reading Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer. Yes, it's the third book in the Twilight series

[BlondeTwiggy 43]

Ski: Oh yes, that is true.  My bad.  However, I meant that it isn't a religious writing (in the sense that it is purely about religion and nothing else).  There is a storyline, the background being Jewish custom and culture in the 1940s.  That's part of why I enjoyed it so much; it helped me understand aspects of the religion, its beliefs, etc. as well as European Jewish history. 

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: BlondeTwiggy

Ski: Oh yes, that is true.  My bad.  However, I meant that it isn't a religious writing (in the sense that it is purely about religion and nothing else).  There is a storyline, the background being Jewish custom and culture in the 1940s.  That's part of why I enjoyed it so much; it helped me understand aspects of the religion, its beliefs, etc. as well as European Jewish history.  quote>

If your looking for a decent version of Dune go buy the Mini Series Sci Fi ( Scyfy now ) channel did a few years ago.

Much better then the Kyle Mclaughlin movie, Longer too.  Also get Childern of Dune as well.

Ok here goes

1) What author do you own the most books by?

Most likely Piers Anthony

2) What book do you own the most copies of?

I dont think i have many duplicates. although i havea large number of Starwars books.

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

No. 

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

Princess Leia

5) What book have you read the most times in your life?

A Spell for Chameleon by Piers Anthony

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

Star Wars.

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?

To be honest Psychoshop  by Alfred Bester, Im not saying it was bad just the worst this year

What is the best book you've read in the past year?

The stars my destination by Alfred Bester

9) If you could force everyone to read one book, what would it be?

A Case of Consious by James Blish

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?

Jose Consenco Looks like hes the only one who hasnt been lying

about steriods in baseball

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

The Dragon Lance Chronicles by M Wies and T Hickman.

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?

Any Of The Xanth Books

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.

I realy dont think you want me to  describe my dreams about Princess Leia.

Lets just say she wasnt my sister

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?

Depends on what you consider lowbrow, some would consider every thing i read to be lowbrow.

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?

The Bible, all those begats just put me to sleep.

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?

Hamlet  i guess.

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

Greek

18) Roth or Updike?

 Diamond David Lee Roth  sure puts on a good show.

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?

Dave Eddings

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?

Milton Berle

21) Austen or Eliot?

Austen Powers baby

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

The more Current books, but i dont feel its a gap.

23) What is your favorite novel?

Dune

24) Play?

not been  to one in years

25) Poem?

The Raven

26) Essay?

Not read any lately

27) Short story?

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

28) Work of non-fiction?

Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig by Jonathan Eig

29) Who is your favorite writer?

A tie between several, Heinlen, Herbert, Bester, McCaffery,Anthony.

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

Ann Rand is dead right?

31) What is your desert island book?

How to Build and Sail Small Boats - Canoes - Punts and Rafts.

32) And ... what are you reading right now?

Cyteen: by CJ Cherryh

[Explodingsims 3]

I started reading Atlas Shrugged the other day.

It's hard to read. Not because of the wording or ideal, but because someone decided to print it in nano-font.

[Lyhoko Leaci 770]

1) What author do you own the most books by?

J.K. Rowling

2) What book do you own the most copies of?

Probably the bible, even though I don't consider myself to be Christian...

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

No. 

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

Probably Ginny Weasly... wait, that's not a secret any more... trick question.

5) What book have you read the most times in your life?

One of the Harry Potter books... most likely Chamber of Secrets or Sorcerers Stone...

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

I... don't know.

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?

I think it was called Nonviolence, and it was required for school

What is the best book you've read in the past year?

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

9) If you could force everyone to read one book, what would it be?

I'm really not good at questions like this...

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?

I don't know.

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

Uhh... I don't know, as there are/will be movies for the Harry Potter books...

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?

I'm still not good at questions like this...

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.

Well, I had a dream where I was Harry Potter and I was going to school at my old middle school, and a girl in my class gave me a gift of a bunch of pencils...

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?

Define "lowbrow."

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?

I'm not sure, but it most likely was some required book for school.

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?

The only Shakespeare plays I've seen/read are Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

What?

18) Roth or Updike?

 Who?

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?

Who, I say?

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?

Who's Milton?

21) Austen or Eliot?

Huh?

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

I have a tendency not to read someting until I am sure I would like it (or am forced to read it), which leaves quite a massive gap...

23) What is your favorite novel?

Harry Potter, if you haven't already noticed.

24) Play?

I have no idea.

25) Poem?

Can't think of one...

26) Essay?

Why would I want to read an essay? I have enough problems writing them...

27) Short story?

I don't have a specific one, so various Harry Potter, Ranma, and Stargate fanfictions... though some of those can get into novel length...

28) Work of non-fiction?

I don't read nonfiction..

29) Who is your favorite writer?

J.K. Rowling

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

I don't know...

31) What is your desert island book?

All of thr Harry Potter books.

32) And ... what are you reading right now?

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

[Barbarossa 51]

.

  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[Easy Bakes 253]

Another trip to 1/2 Price books 7 more Hugo winners  13.95.

Opened up

"Call me Conrad" by Roger Zelazny.

[Easy Bakes 253]

To your scattered bodies go...
Philip Jose Farmer

An unusual title, so far  a decent read though.

 

[BlondeTwiggy 43]

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer    Yay for overrated vampire romance.

[Boggy1 45]

1) What author do you own the most books by? I have nine books by Iain M. Banks. Around 15 books by Arthur C. Clarke. Similar number for Issac Asimov. About 20 or more for P. G. Wodehouse. 2) What book do you own the most copies of? The Bible. My great great great grandfather was a priest. He passed down all 12 or so of his huge massive padlocked Bibles to us. And we have literally tens of other Family Bibles from relations; most about a century old. 3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions? Slightly. 4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with? Hmm..none. 5) What book have you read the most times in your life? Probably Arthur C. Clarkes The City and the Stars. It is very worn by now from cumulative reading. 6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old? The City and the Stars. Was the first Clarke book I ever read, and one of the first SF books I ever read. Instantly fell in love. 7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year? Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte.  What is the best book you've read in the past year? Too many to name. Good contenders are Pandoras Star by Peter F. Hamilton, Matter by Iain M. Banks, or The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.  9) If you could force everyone to read one book, what would it be? For a fictional book..The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. It made me cry. For a factual book.. any number of history books I own. Or possibly Pale Blue Dot by Carl Sagan. 10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature? Not entirely sure. 11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie? Rendezvous With Rama by Arther C. Clarke. 12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie? Many. 13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character. Not entirely sure. 14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult? None. 15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read? Star Maker, by Olaf Stapledon. Have tried numerous times to read it, but only get so far as the first chapters. The prose becomes extreamly complicated and hard to follow. 16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen? Much Ado About Nothing 17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians? French. 18) Roth or Updike? Neither? 19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers? Not heard of them. 20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer? Milton is quite good. 21) Austen or Eliot? Austen. 22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading? I have nothing by Robert Heinlein.   23) What is your favorite novel? Too many to count. Rendezvous With Rama by Arther C. Clarke. Nightfall by Issac Asimov. The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro.  24) Play? The Merchent of Venice, by Shakespear. 25) Poem? Ozymandias by Percy Shelley. 26) Essay? Silent Spring by Rachel Carson. 27) Short story? Any numer of ones by Arthur C. Clarke. 28) Work of non-fiction? Journey into China, by the National Geographic Society. 29) Who is your favorite writer? Iain M. Banks. Arthur C. Clark. Issac Asimov. Garisson Keller.  P. G. Wodehouse. There are far too many. 30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today? Any of those crappy fantasy authors. Good contenders are Stephenie Meyer or Christopher Paolini. 31) What is your desert island book? Pocket Book's: SAS Survival Guide. 32) And ... what are you reading right now? I just put ended Pandoras Star by Peter F. Hamilton. So nothing at this moment.

 

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: BlondeTwiggy

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer    Yay for overrated vampire romance.

quote>

Ah the Dreaded Twilight Effect.

that thing has spawned 1/2 dozen bad vampire shows.

[Zelgadis 638]

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

Any of those crappy fantasy authors. Good contenders are Stephenie Meyer or Christopher Paolini.quote>

Just as a point of clarification, who are "those" fantasy writers? After all, science fiction is an offshoot of fantasy, and considering your list, I think a bit of clarification is in order.

ISF

[Boggy1 45]

Okay, well, generally I dislike fantasy authors that are "popular". Or are written aimed at the below-average consumer, and therefore have zero character development or complex literary techniques.

And I would contest that Science Fiction is an off-shoot of Fantasy! Fantasy literature likely goes right back to the dawn of our written civilisation, in myths and legends and oral tradition and the like. Fantasy is based upon the imagined creates and lands (etcetera) of our world, and is heavily influenced by religion and beliefs.

Science Fiction on the other hand only came about at the start of the industrial revolution, and instead of looking back into the past, which fantasy did, for inspiration, science fiction looks forward and speculates on how we can use technology and science.

Take The Lord of the Rings. Obviously it is based upon numerous ancient legends and mythology, including such things as elfen-foke and trolls, and even draws upon some historical documents such as the Red Book of Hergest, and real life places, especially around the borders of Wales and England; such as Buckland.

Whereas a novel like The Fountains of Paradise uses extensions of current physics and material sciences to speculate on the construction of a space elevator. It draws on pre-existing knowledge of science, and extends it into the realms of fiction; though often a fiction which is at least believable. That doesn't make fantasy any less realistic; it's just usually based upon myths and history, not scientific development.

There can of course be a synergy of both science and fantasy.

[Barbarossa 51]

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  Edited September 8, 2012 by Barbarossa  

[hamsterTK 93]

Sci-Fi runs an entire spectrum. It can be epic and purely fantastical or romantic. Or it can also be speculative and contain somewhat plausible theories, too. The latter just isn't as popular I think.

My favorite will always be Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy for mixing up the two with the intent of being funny.

[Easy Bakes 253]

Cool I have a copy of Fountains of Paradise i have yet to read.

[Doofenshmirtz 0]

1) What author do you own the most books by?

Enid Blyton, books given to me by my mother when i was younger, all Famous Five or Secret Seven books

2) What book do you own the most copies of?

I only own one copy of each book in my collection

3) Did it bother you that both those questions ended with prepositions?

No

4) What fictional character are you secretly in love with?

Ingrid Third but thats a cartoon character

5) What book have you read the most times in your life?

I guess Chronicle of the Twentieth-Century, which i've read many times

6) What was your favorite book when you were ten years old?

probably one of the famous five or secret seven ones

7) What is the worst book you've read in the past year?

A petrgography of Australian Igneous Rocks

What is the best book you've read in the past year?

The Hound of the Baskervilles

9) If you could force everyone to read one book, what would it be?

I don't know... i'd pick more than one. If i had to limit it to one i'd say... The Hound of the Baskervilles

10) Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for literature?

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

11) What book would you most like to see made into a movie?

Most i like are already televised or made into movies

12) What book would you least like to see made into a movie?

A Petrography of Australian Igneous Rocks lol

13) Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book, or literary character.

Can't remember

14) What is the most lowbrow book you've read as an adult?

None

15) What is the most difficult book you've ever read?

Probably Bleak House or one of Dicken's longer works... My memory was never that good

16) What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've seen?

i forget the name...

17) Do you prefer the French or the Russians?

French.

18) Roth or Updike?

Neither?

19) David Sedaris or Dave Eggers?

Not heard of them.

20) Shakespeare, Milton, or Chaucer?

Chaucer

21) Austen or Eliot?

never read them

22) What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading?

I haven't read the final HP book.

23) What is your favorite novel?

The Hound of the Baskervilles

24) Play?

The Mouse Trap by Agatha Christie

25) Poem?

Don't like much poetry... can't remember any i really liked

26) Essay?

Can't remember the titles

27) Short story?

Does Sherlock Holmes' adventures count as short stories?

28) Work of non-fiction?

Chronicle of the Twentieth Century

29) Who is your favorite writer?

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

30) Who is the most overrated writer alive today?

Stephenie Meyer ... although mind you i haven't actually read her books, just the numerous threads on forums on them

31) What is your desert island book?

Robinson Crusoe lol

32) And ... what are you reading right now?

I just finished James Herriot's Vet in Harness

[Easy Bakes 253]

Originally posted by: Easy Bakes

To your scattered bodies go...

Philip Jose Farmer

An unusual title, so far  a decent read though. quote>

He recently died ( Feb 2009). He will be missed, but hopefully they may put some of his harder to find books back in Print.