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Thread: The Book Discussion Thread

  1. #301
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    That's quite the haul you got, D.

    I've read one by Silverberg...it was called "Son of Man".

    It's incredibly philosophical/existential. And it doesn't really have a plot - rather, each chapter examines different facets of man.

    It's really fascinating, and I definitely recommend it. It's also quite sex-filled :P
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

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  2. #302
    Too much responsibility Kurosawa Fan's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting iosos (view post)
    KF, you make good points that I agree with (although I don't think I'd use the word "idiots" to describe those that are too lazy to read all 600 pages of Don Quixote, great book by the way). But this wouldn't be starting a "new trend". Abridged versions have been around since books were written, I'm sure. Or, at least, since public education has been around.
    The "idiots" comment was obviously tongue-in-cheek, which is why I followed it up with "seriously though" and made a completely separate point. And I didn't call it a new trend, just a trend. Previous abridged version were mainly made for either children or for Reader's Digest subscribers. This is aimed specifically at adults who don't want to take the time to read the entire book. Like I said, there's cliff notes for that.

    I think most kids are better off reading Hatchet or Where the Red Fern Grows or something along those lines, but if they want to read abridged versions of classic literature, so be it. I don't really have a problem with it. My only problem is with this stuff being aimed at an adult audience. It just doesn't make sense.

  3. #303
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    Reading the synopsis for "The Demolished Man" made it seem a little too much like "Minority Report".
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

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  4. #304
    Crying Enthusiast Sven's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Melville (view post)
    Hm.. my copy is almost 900 pages. Are you opting for all abridged books, or just editions with really tiny font?
    My copy might have 900 as well. But it's in Utah at the moment, and I am in Brooklyn, so I couldn't double check. But it is a tiny mass market edition, so I don't know. I'm sure Amazon could tell me, but LA-ZY.

  5. #305
    Crying Enthusiast Sven's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Kurosawa Fan (view post)
    The "idiots" comment was obviously tongue-in-cheek, which is why I followed it up with "seriously though" and made a completely separate point. And I didn't call it a new trend, just a trend. Previous abridged version were mainly made for either children or for Reader's Digest subscribers. This is aimed specifically at adults who don't want to take the time to read the entire book. Like I said, there's cliff notes for that.

    I think most kids are better off reading Hatchet or Where the Red Fern Grows or something along those lines, but if they want to read abridged versions of classic literature, so be it. I don't really have a problem with it. My only problem is with this stuff being aimed at an adult audience. It just doesn't make sense.
    Yeah, you didn't say "new trend", but you said it was a bad trend to start.

    I agree with you. I guess all this is a long-winded way for me to demonstrate that it's not the kind of outrage I can get up in arms about. It's probably just a government plan set in place to distract us, the observant literati, from the truth about 9/11.

  6. #306
    What is best in life? D_Davis's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting megladon8 (view post)
    Reading the synopsis for "The Demolished Man" made it seem a little too much like "Minority Report".
    It came out 2 years before, and while they do share some thematic elements, a ton of sci-fi novels dealt with telepathy in the 1950s, they are drastically different in tone and execution. In all actuality, they couldn't be much more different. Dick's short story is a far more pulpy yarn, although in typical Dick fashion he elevates the pulp to an art form, while Bester's novel is an incredibly profound study of humanity with elements of Freudian psychology with a hardboiled detective spin. Both are wonderful examples of the best the genre has to offer, but that's where the comparisons end.

    Just read The Demolished Man, quit making excuses.

  7. #307
    dissolved into molecules lovejuice's Avatar
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    D, i just bought behold the man. 'll read it pretty soon.

    one thing i hate about sci-fi is most of them are only available in crappy pocketbook edition. i can't stand those things. i can't hold it well in my hands. the fonts're hurting my eyes. this is a reason why i can't finish the ender series.

  8. #308
    Not a praying man Melville's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting iosos (view post)
    My copy might have 900 as well. But it's in Utah at the moment, and I am in Brooklyn, so I couldn't double check. But it is a tiny mass market edition, so I don't know. I'm sure Amazon could tell me, but LA-ZY.
    Maybe I got the expanded version.
    I am impatient of all misery in others that is not mad. Thou should'st go mad, blacksmith; say, why dost thou not go mad? How can'st thou endure without being mad? Do the heavens yet hate thee, that thou can'st not go mad?

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  9. #309
    What is best in life? D_Davis's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting lovejuice (view post)
    D, i just bought behold the man. 'll read it pretty soon.

    one thing i hate about sci-fi is most of them are only available in crappy pocketbook edition. i can't stand those things. i can't hold it well in my hands. the fonts're hurting my eyes. this is a reason why i can't finish the ender series.
    Cool. I have Behold the Man, but I have not read it. Truth be told, as much as I love Moorcock, I've only ever read the Elric saga.

    Did you see I bought Cosmicomics, on your recommendation I might add. I've been meaning to check out Calvino for some time, and this looks like a perfect place to start.

    Sometimes, I like the mass market size, but I usually prefer trade paperbacks. However, like you said, a lot of this old classic sci-fi is just not available any other way. However, at Half Priced books, the old mass markets are great, because they usually cost less than a dollar! Three of the books I bought tonight cost me 40 cents each!

  10. #310
    dissolved into molecules lovejuice's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Daniel Davis (view post)
    Did you see I bought Cosmicomics, on your recommendation I might add. I've been meaning to check out Calvino for some time, and this looks like a perfect place to start.
    lemme know what you think about cosmicomics.

  11. #311
    What is best in life? D_Davis's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting lovejuice (view post)
    lemme know what you think about cosmicomics.
    Of course I will.

  12. #312
    Quote Quoting lovejuice (view post)
    eagerly awaiting for your thought.

    among my favorite books, this one is least read. in fact murdoch is criminally under-rated. and that mediocre movie doesn't help either.

    Have you read The Time of the Angels?

  13. #313
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    Anyone read any Carlton Mellick III?

    What a weird guy...some of his titles include "The Haunted Vagina", "The Baby Jesus Butt Plug" and "Satan Burger".
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

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  14. #314
    Too much responsibility Kurosawa Fan's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting megladon8 (view post)
    Anyone read any Carlton Mellick III?

    What a weird guy...some of his titles include "The Haunted Vagina", "The Baby Jesus Butt Plug" and "Satan Burger".
    Nope. And now I have no desire to read his stuff.

  15. #315
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Kurosawa Fan (view post)
    Nope. And now I have no desire to read his stuff.
    Oh c'mon...don't you want to read about a new Earth made entirely of meat?
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

    "Rick...it's a flamethrower."

  16. #316
    Too much responsibility Kurosawa Fan's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting megladon8 (view post)
    Oh c'mon...don't you want to read about a new Earth made entirely of meat?
    Please tell me the guy is self-published.

  17. #317
    Quote Quoting megladon8 (view post)
    Any Christopher Moore fans on here?

    What would you say his best work is?
    One of my favorite authors and I've read everything by this guy. He's at his most zany when it comes to satire and it works surprisingly well. He's a witty humurist and his books are the funniest I have ever read.

    A good place to start would be Bloodsucking Fiend to get a clear idea of his writing style and it's a breezy read too. If you dig vampires, your bound to enjoy this crazy book. His first two novels before this one while good in their own right seem like starting points for Moore where he was just beginning to improve his craft.

    Lamb is my personal favorite by him and he has yet to top that one in my mind although several come close.

  18. #318
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Kurosawa Fan (view post)
    Please tell me the guy is self-published.

    No, it's some Punk Avante-Garde label.

    He actually has quite a following.
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

    "Rick...it's a flamethrower."

  19. #319
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    Finished "A Confederacy of Dunces" and it definitely was one of the funniest books I have ever read - that being said, I think the humor could totally fly over some peoples' heads. I also think there are many people who would probably loathe Ignatius, rather than find any of his actions funny.

    It actually took me some time to come to the conclusion that I liked the ending. At first I felt it was a little bit deus ex machina-like. But upon further review I think it fit pretty well. I am glad that there wasn't some ridiculous, life-changing event that caused Ignatius to "learn the error of his ways" and turn a new leaf. But at the same time I felt that Myrna had the potential to be a catalyst in his life, causing great change.

    It was all great, and I really enjoyed it.
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

    "Rick...it's a flamethrower."

  20. #320
    Today, I got a collection of short stories called Salmonella Men on Planet Porno by Japanese author, Yasutaka Tsutsui, the guy who wrote the stories that Paprika and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time were based on. I read the first story--a wild tale about a Dabba Dabba Tree that causes people to have erotic dreams that conflate with reality--and found it fantastic. I'm looking forward to reading the rest. I think I actually prefer short fiction to novels.

    Speaking of novels, I'm nearing halfway through The Golden Compass and rather like it.

  21. #321
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Sycophant (view post)
    Today, I got a collection of short stories called Salmonella Men on Planet Porno by Japanese author, Yasutaka Tsutsui, the guy who wrote the stories that Paprika and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time were based on. I read the first story--a wild tale about a Dabba Dabba Tree that causes people to have erotic dreams that conflate with reality--and found it fantastic. I'm looking forward to reading the rest. I think I actually prefer short fiction to novels.

    Speaking of novels, I'm nearing halfway through The Golden Compass and rather like it.
    That first book you mention officially wins the "greatest title of anything ever" award.
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

    "Rick...it's a flamethrower."

  22. #322
    What is best in life? D_Davis's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Sycophant (view post)
    Today, I got a collection of short stories called Salmonella Men on Planet Porno by Japanese author, Yasutaka Tsutsui, the guy who wrote the stories that Paprika and The Girl Who Leapt Through Time were based on. I read the first story--a wild tale about a Dabba Dabba Tree that causes people to have erotic dreams that conflate with reality--and found it fantastic. I'm looking forward to reading the rest. I think I actually prefer short fiction to novels.
    Sounds cool. I've got a great collection of Japanese short fiction called Monkey Brain Sushi, it has some really creative stuff in it.

  23. #323
    Too much responsibility Kurosawa Fan's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting megladon8 (view post)
    Finished "A Confederacy of Dunces" and it definitely was one of the funniest books I have ever read - that being said, I think the humor could totally fly over some peoples' heads. I also think there are many people who would probably loathe Ignatius, rather than find any of his actions funny.

    It actually took me some time to come to the conclusion that I liked the ending. At first I felt it was a little bit deus ex machina-like. But upon further review I think it fit pretty well. I am glad that there wasn't some ridiculous, life-changing event that caused Ignatius to "learn the error of his ways" and turn a new leaf. But at the same time I felt that Myrna had the potential to be a catalyst in his life, causing great change.

    It was all great, and I really enjoyed it.
    Awesome. Now, trust my great judgment (Le Samourai must be used as a reminder here) and read Catcher in the Rye. You won't regret it.

  24. #324
    What is best in life? D_Davis's Avatar
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    More Than Human (1953) - Theodore Sturgeon

    Child abuse, broken psyches, freaks, cripples, social outcasts, and rejects, these are the things with which Theodore Sturgeon populates his twisted book, More Than Human. It's the Island of Misfit Toys for discerning adults. More Than Human is not a light read; it is not something to flippantly turn to at the end of the day in hopes of clearing one's mind of work. This book does not put the mind at ease, but instead it invigorates the imagination and stirs the emotional cortex of the reader; while reading it, I was angry, sad, happy, and fearful. This is no sippin' book, this is a book to be devoured, to poor over, a book to study. It is a book full of intricacies, tightly plotted with bold characterizations. It is subtle when it needs to be, full of bombast when the occasion calls. And above all, it is damn good.

    Theodore Sturgeon is some kind of mad genius, and he also possessed the power to draw his readers into his dark and twisted psychosis. I don't mean to say the man was emotionally disturbed, but after reading this, and The Dreaming Jewels, it is clear that he liked to push buttons and stretch the boundaries of genre fiction as far as they could be stretched for the time. I didn't simply read More Than Human: I experienced it, I felt it, and I lived within its milieu. It enraptured me. It drew me into its twisted world like few other books have. I approached each reading session with trepidation, because I knew that I would be challenged with each passing page. This is a dense and stirring experience, and I sometimes felt mentally exhausted after spending time with it. And this is a good thing, because compared to what the characters go through, my feelings of anxiousness and tension meant nothing.

    At it's core, More Than Human explores what may be the next step in human evolution. It examines what Sturgeon calls a gestalt human, homo gestalt, or a being comprised of many. The book is broken up into three novella-sized chapters, each focusing on a different point of view character. While each novella could be read on its own, this would limit the impact of experiencing the true breadth of Sturgeon's accomplishment. The first part focuses on Lone, a social outcast, a reject, who has the power to make people do things, He recalls moments when he was cold, and people gave him clothing, moments when he was hungry and people gave him food. However, due to his limited mental capacity, he doesn't quite understand the extent his powers but at the same time he doesn't exploit his powers to take advantage of people. His naivety and simplistic ways kept him humble and good natured.

    Soon, Lone discovers his calling and is spiritual drawn to a place of learning and peace. Through Lone's experiences we are introduced to most of the central characters. There's Bonnie and Beannie, two toddler twins who have the power of teleportation. They lack the ability to speak, one can only say “hee-hee,” while the other can only say “hoe-hoe,” and they are also the victims of child abuse. Because of the their unique powers, they often lose their clothes and spend a lot of their time running around naked. Next is Janie, her gift is telekinesis, and she, too, is a victim of abuse. Janie becomes the mother-figure for the group and plays a crucial role in the third part of the book. After Janie comes Baby, Lone's mongoloid step-brother. Baby is grotesquely deformed, worse than a vegetable, although his infant mind is capable of profound reasoning and deduction. And finally there is Gerry and Hip, two beings involved in the central conflict of morality and ethics as the homo gestalt comes to terms with its place in a society in which they are together and simultaneously alone.

    While the above description of the characters may lead you to believe that this is some kind of New Mutants, or some X-Men-like narrative full of remarkable, unique individuals who rise above total social rejection to become great heroes, it is, in fact, nothing like this. This is a hard nut to crack, and to explain it only complicates matters. More Than Human is an unrelenting novel; it is dense, and full of far reaching, lofty ambition. It never slows down for the reader to catch up, and it never holds the reader's hand through its twisted and beautifully poetic passages. The book is a labyrinth of emotional detail and subtlety, punctuated with moments of extreme violence, callousness, sadness, and triumph. What we are experiencing within this narrative is the genesis of a new kind of thought, a new kind of being, and all of the pains of growing up are accounted for. Sturgeon traces the formation of the homo gestalt from its conception through its first steps into actuality, into learning to live as a whole. More Than Human took me to places I've never dreamed of, and through Sturgeon's incredible prose I was introduced to characters and a world teeming with life and nuance.

  25. #325
    The Pan megladon8's Avatar
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    Quote Quoting Kurosawa Fan (view post)
    Awesome. Now, trust my great judgment (Le Samourai must be used as a reminder here) and read Catcher in the Rye. You won't regret it.

    I dunno, man...you never got around to reading the entire series of "Babysitter's Club" books, like I asked of you.

    You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours my friend.

    :P
    "All right, that's too hot. Anything we can do about that heat?"

    "Rick...it's a flamethrower."

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