Watcha reading?? - Page 3

Main_Brain · June 11, 2003, 14:18

NF: Predators&Profits
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...glance&s=books
But it aint great.

Imran Siddiqui · June 11, 2003, 14:20

I, Robot by Issac Asimov, along with The New Historical Baseball Abstract by Bill James.

I just finished Selected Stories of Philip K. ****.

Kassiopeia · June 11, 2003, 14:23

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here's two more books in the series, Endymion and (I think) Rise of Endymion. Excellent story.

So I've heard, but a friend told me that Endymion and Rise of Endymion are more on the ripoff scale of novels; that is, Fall of Hyperion wraps things up nicely and the rest are somewhat inferior to the first two books. But I'll probably check out Endymion and see if it's going anywhere. The Hyperion universe is very fascinating.

lord of the mark · June 11, 2003, 14:30

well i was reading Peter Ackroyd's "london: a biography" (non-fiction) im interested in the topic but found Ackroyds approach annoying - good thing its a library book.
I took a glance at Stirling's "Island in the Sea of Time"(fiction) - I'll either buy it or borrow it.
I'm starting a Gershom Sholem book on the Messianic idea in Judaism (non-fiction)- interesting, but not exactly a pageturner

Took a glance at Luttwak's "Strategy"(non-fiction) looks like something that would be excellent for all us civers.
And of course have reserved a copy of Harry Potter book 5 (fiction) from the local bookstore - for my daughter - but I'll read it after she's through with it.

lord of the mark · June 11, 2003, 14:33

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Originally posted by Eli

One of the least interesting books I ever read.

i read it years ago - recall liking it, but no particular urge to reread it.

lord of the mark · June 11, 2003, 14:36

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Originally posted by Ecthelion
is Svejk really that good? my parents and grand parents love it

wasnt that the source for the opera Wozzeck(sp?)?

self biased · June 11, 2003, 14:47

oh, yes, i finished barker's galilee, as well recently.

Lorizael · June 11, 2003, 18:30

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Originally posted by self biased
i just finished neil gaiman's american gods[i]. over all i think it's an intersting take on the concept, and a rather nice twist at the end.

I read that recently and liked it a lot. It had one major fault, imo; a lack of plot. A lot of the story was just learning about people, about the gods.

I also thought there wasn't enough lead up to Shadow's cellmate. You couldn't possibly guess his importance in the story.

Tuberski · June 11, 2003, 18:44

I'm reading:

Inherit the Earth by Brian Stableford.

Seems intersting so far, but I'm only about 70 pages into it.

If I get 70 pages into a book, I can usually finish it.

ACK!

Harovan · June 11, 2003, 18:49

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Originally posted by Jac de Molay
Sir Ralph, is Baudolino any good? Eco is my favorite writer, but I refuse to plunk down 27$ US for a new hardcover book. I 've heard mixed reviews on this particular title.

It's a true Eco, if you love his style, you can safely buy it. History of the crusades mixed with conspiracy theories and a lot of mystery. May be a bit too much Mysticism, but that depends on your gusto. I got an awful sunburn last year on Crete and had to stay in the shadow for a week. I read Baudolino in one part, from begin to end.

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Foucault's pendulum by Eco (my favorite book)

This one is awesome! That you like it, is even visible in your nickname.

St Leo · June 11, 2003, 19:00

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. JK Rowling gets better with every new book she writes.

uh Clem · June 11, 2003, 19:07

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[SIZE=1]uh Clem, something I wanted to ask you for ages... is that shrub?

Yep. From a photo last winter, with Kofi Annan.

Gangerolf · June 11, 2003, 19:07

I'm reading (browsing through is more like it) a biography of Charles XII I found in a bargain bin.

GePap · June 11, 2003, 20:06

Needing to earn my avatar, I am reading Thus spoke Zarathustra, which I had never read before.

Boris Godunov · June 11, 2003, 20:20

"The Complete Jack the Ripper" by Donald Rumbelow

"Tower of Babel" by Robert T. Pennock

"A Study of History" (abridged, sadly) by Alfred J. Toynbee

Inverse Icarus · June 11, 2003, 21:08

1984, though i must admit i never seem to find time to just sit and read a book these days. i spend too much time on the computer

Sava · June 11, 2003, 21:11

"Executive Orders" -- Tom Clancy...

pretty decent so far, Jack Ryan (of course) is made president after a plane crashes into the Capitol and kills Congress, the Joint Chiefs, the President, his cabinet, the Supreme Court, and a lot of the secret service. The book deals with how Jack is rebuilding the government.

Lorizael · June 11, 2003, 21:15

How could a plane do all that?

Boris Godunov · June 11, 2003, 21:15

If the one bullet could do that to Kennedy and Connolly...

Imran Siddiqui · June 11, 2003, 21:18

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pretty decent so far, Jack Ryan (of course) is made president after a plane crashes into the Capitol and kills Congress, the Joint Chiefs, the President, his cabinet, the Supreme Court, and a lot of the secret service. The book deals with how Jack is rebuilding the government.

You are going to hate it by the end Sava

. Just a clue, but you know Tom Clancy is very right wing, right?

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How could a plane do all that?

During the State of the Union.

Lorizael · June 11, 2003, 21:25

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Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
During the State of the Union.

Nope, someone's always not there for that very reason. Which means that Jack Ryan could be that someone. What position did he hold then?

Sava · June 11, 2003, 21:32

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Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
You are going to hate it by the end Sava

. Just a clue, but you know Tom Clancy is very right wing, right?

Yeah, he's a Reagan ass-licker... it bothers me, but I'm not about to boycott somebody because of their politics *COUGHDIXIECHICKS*

Imran Siddiqui · June 11, 2003, 21:43

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Nope, someone's always not there for that very reason. Which means that Jack Ryan could be that someone. What position did he hold then?

He was a cabinet member.

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it bothers me, but I'm not about to boycott somebody because of their politics *COUGHDIXIECHICKS*

I own all three of their CDs?

And I'm pretty sure you boycott Rush Limbaugh because of his politics

.

Sava · June 11, 2003, 21:48

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Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
He was a cabinet member.

no, the vice-president resigned because of a sex scandal and Ryan agreed to become Vice President until the end of the term

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I own all three of their CDs?

I wasn't referring to you... I was referring to the "boycott the dixie chicks" movement

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And I'm pretty sure you boycott Rush Limbaugh because of his politics

.

Rush doesn't have any products that interest me... If Rush wrote sci-fi novels, or anything else that interested me, I probably would buy his stuff if I enjoyed it.

Imran Siddiqui · June 11, 2003, 21:52

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no, the vice-president resigned because of a sex scandal and Ryan agreed to become Vice President until the end of the term

That COULDN'T be it! Veep is President of the Senate, so it obligated to be there at the State of the Union. He was just made a Cabinet Minister, IIRC, and was GOING to be the Veep.

Sava · June 11, 2003, 22:01

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Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui

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no, the vice-president resigned because of a sex scandal and Ryan agreed to become Vice President until the end of the term

That COULDN'T be it! Veep is President of the Senate, so it obligated to be there at the State of the Union. He was just made a Cabinet Minister, IIRC, and was GOING to be the Veep.

Dude, I'm reading the book now... it's very clear. Ryan was the National Security Advisor, but accepted the role as VP, and within a few hours, the plane hit.

Odin · June 11, 2003, 22:01

Blue Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson, the last in his trilogy.

In the Clancy books it is kind of funny that Jack Ryan gets all the way from a office guy in the Dept. of State to President because of terrorism (THE BOMB IS IN PLAY!!!

)

Imran Siddiqui · June 11, 2003, 22:03

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Dude, I'm reading the book now... it's very clear. Ryan was the National Security Advisor, but accepted the role as VP, and within a few hours, the plane hit.

Yeah, it is clear... he was a CABINET MINISTER. Accepting the role doesn't mean a damned thing unless you are confirmed by the Senate (for a vacancy). IIRC, the State of the Union was about this... though I may be off a bit.

Sava · June 11, 2003, 22:04

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Originally posted by Odin
In the Clancy books it is kind of funny that Jack Ryan gets all the way from a office guy in the Dept. of State to President because of terrorism (THE BOMB IS IN PLAY!!!

)

IIRC, Ryan is just the character than Clancy likes to use. But it's weird, he doesn't necessarily follow a linear path.... i.e. the Ryan in Sum of All Fears wasn't the same Ryan in any of the other movies/books. It's the same character put in different situations.

Tuberski · June 11, 2003, 22:08

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Originally posted by Sava
IIRC, Ryan is just the character than Clancy likes to use. But it's weird, he doesn't necessarily follow a linear path.... i.e. the Ryan in Sum of All Fears wasn't the same Ryan in any of the other movies/books. It's the same character put in different situations.

Yes it was the same character.

Not in the movies but in the book he is the same.

ACK!