Well, I'll be gosh diddly damned. I haven't seen anyone mention much (Robert A.) Heinlein at all. Stranger in a Strange Land is considered his definitive work, and generally thought to be his best, but a question of appropriateness arises. Essentially, theres some weird sexual/religous stuff throughout the book, and that might be problem at a young age. On the other hand, I read the book at age 13, and I loved it. I'm re-reading it, and looking back, Michael's sexual and spiritual awakening are perhaps especially effective to someone undergoing the changes of puberty. Then again, an informal poll conducted in Asimov's magazine awhile back showed that a large majority of young readers found the book sickening and depraved. In the end, I guess you'll have to judge for your self. If you want some Heinlein without those potential roadblocks, Starship Troopers is, ironically enough considering the movie, one his only major adult novels without any sex, or even nudity. And it's also amongst his most thought provoking work, second only to Stranger in my opinion. There's also his "juveniles", a group of books he wrote to introduce younger readers to good science fiction. Most of them are a little silly, but I quite enjoyed Citizen of the Galaxy. It's not as cerebral as his other work, but it fills that gap with his other literary strength; it's a fantastically well written adventure. Worth a look.
Also, check out Larry Niven's "Ringworld". It is, IMHO, the absolute best novel to be used as introductory science fiction. It uses the story structure of more conventional literature, but implements such staples of science fiction as expansion on established scientific theories, psycholigcal examination, and technological/scientific prediction. It is a seminal work in it's own right, and leaves the reader prepared for other, more intricate, works which except a prior experience with the genre.
Well, I suppose it depends on where you think exploration ends and colonization begins, but they ARE planning a manned mission for the 2020s, possibly even earlier. And colonization by non-governmental interests isn't in the realm of the impossible, with cheaper technologies, such as reusable rocekts, and microwave propulsion, in which, essentially, they superheat (super-excite, to be anal-retentive) a gas, and then blast it out of the rocket. It's really quite cool, like leaving the chicken in the microwave so long that it vaporizes and explodes out the side, shooting your microwave out the window, and possibly out of state. Commercial colonization certainly has interesting implications. I mean, hasn't every Science Fiction story about mars been about how it's crushed undere the bootheel of some inergalactic mining corporation? I'd go there just to push someone into that 7 mile deep gorge. Burning up on impact indeed.
What about November 19th, 1997? Wouldn't that be 11-19-1997? Isn't that odd? Am I on crack, or isn't every other day of every other month of every other year an odd day? I must have missed something.
- Freehold, who was dropped on his head as a child
Those are what came out of the polling. I read a more in depth article that was published in the Globe and Mail (Canada's National Newspaper, tm), a few months ago, around when the Canadian one was unveiled. They listed most of the questions. People were polled on their favourite colour, style, whether they liked animals or this or that, if they liked animals which one they preferred. It was very in-depth polling. What you see on that page are the RESULTS of that polling, what people liked and didn't like. The Canadian one, not shown on that site, favoured blue and green equally, and encompassed some mountains, a lake, a forest, and some deer. And for the record, the Danes favoured some semi-abstract blocky guy. That was blue.
- Freehold, well read Canadian. Well, Canadian anyway.
I was watching this teen tournament thing the other day. Some kid was given "The Pollen producing component of the plant," to reply to. His answer : What is the hymen? You could see Trebeck fighting the urge to burst out laughing.
Hmmmm... Yeah, I'd have to agree with you. I guess my problem was with assuming Geek meant Computer Geek. I find that the term aplies to lots of different professions (hobbies too, I suppose).
You know, this is just plain sickening. This is like the male equivalent of that Weekly World News thing. So you're saying we should treat women like pathetic airheads who only want to be controlled and forced to do things they don't want to. Lets not ask them what they want, lets tell them what we want and they damn well better be listening. Thaks for the tip! And when I get maried, I'll remember to beat my wife.
"Be nice to geeky looking girls, just in case they grow up and look good.
Advice to LIVE BY."
Now, the other points I suppose are points of personal preference. Personally, I find large breasts rather unattractive. I mean, think of all the beter uses for that silicon. But that's personal preference. This comment though, implies some sort of superficial idiocy. I mean, think back to when you were a geek in high school. Didn't you just wish people would look past your geekiness. To have people saying that just because they're female, they're not worth anything until they're perfect and subservient makes me ashamed to be male. Besides, braces are damn sexy.
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Well, I'll be gosh diddly damned. I haven't seen anyone mention much (Robert A.) Heinlein at all. Stranger in a Strange Land is considered his definitive work, and generally thought to be his best, but a question of appropriateness arises. Essentially, theres some weird sexual/religous stuff throughout the book, and that might be problem at a young age. On the other hand, I read the book at age 13, and I loved it. I'm re-reading it, and looking back, Michael's sexual and spiritual awakening are perhaps especially effective to someone undergoing the changes of puberty. Then again, an informal poll conducted in Asimov's magazine awhile back showed that a large majority of young readers found the book sickening and depraved. In the end, I guess you'll have to judge for your self. If you want some Heinlein without those potential roadblocks, Starship Troopers is, ironically enough considering the movie, one his only major adult novels without any sex, or even nudity. And it's also amongst his most thought provoking work, second only to Stranger in my opinion. There's also his "juveniles", a group of books he wrote to introduce younger readers to good science fiction. Most of them are a little silly, but I quite enjoyed Citizen of the Galaxy. It's not as cerebral as his other work, but it fills that gap with his other literary strength; it's a fantastically well written adventure. Worth a look.
Also, check out Larry Niven's "Ringworld". It is, IMHO, the absolute best novel to be used as introductory science fiction. It uses the story structure of more conventional literature, but implements such staples of science fiction as expansion on established scientific theories, psycholigcal examination, and technological/scientific prediction. It is a seminal work in it's own right, and leaves the reader prepared for other, more intricate, works which except a prior experience with the genre.
"Hmm...I think I just had a great idea for a Springboard module."
I want to incorporate a motion sensor, a swivel stand, and a tazer. And maybe a speaker. I can leave it to protect my desk from interlopers.
ADD isn't perfect. I can't say I ALWAYS enjoy the random uncontrolable twitching. Makes for a good conversation starter, though.
Well, I suppose it depends on where you think exploration ends and colonization begins, but they ARE planning a manned mission for the 2020s, possibly even earlier. And colonization by non-governmental interests isn't in the realm of the impossible, with cheaper technologies, such as reusable rocekts, and microwave propulsion, in which, essentially, they superheat (super-excite, to be anal-retentive) a gas, and then blast it out of the rocket. It's really quite cool, like leaving the chicken in the microwave so long that it vaporizes and explodes out the side, shooting your microwave out the window, and possibly out of state. Commercial colonization certainly has interesting implications. I mean, hasn't every Science Fiction story about mars been about how it's crushed undere the bootheel of some inergalactic mining corporation? I'd go there just to push someone into that 7 mile deep gorge. Burning up on impact indeed.
What about November 19th, 1997? Wouldn't that be 11-19-1997? Isn't that odd? Am I on crack, or isn't every other day of every other month of every other year an odd day? I must have missed something.
- Freehold, who was dropped on his head as a child
Those are what came out of the polling. I read a more in depth article that was published in the Globe and Mail (Canada's National Newspaper, tm), a few months ago, around when the Canadian one was unveiled. They listed most of the questions. People were polled on their favourite colour, style, whether they liked animals or this or that, if they liked animals which one they preferred. It was very in-depth polling. What you see on that page are the RESULTS of that polling, what people liked and didn't like. The Canadian one, not shown on that site, favoured blue and green equally, and encompassed some mountains, a lake, a forest, and some deer. And for the record, the Danes favoured some semi-abstract blocky guy. That was blue.
- Freehold, well read Canadian. Well, Canadian anyway.
I was watching this teen tournament thing the other day. Some kid was given "The Pollen producing component of the plant," to reply to. His answer : What is the hymen? You could see Trebeck fighting the urge to burst out laughing.
- Freehold, or maybe a rock.
Hmmmm... Yeah, I'd have to agree with you. I guess my problem was with assuming Geek meant Computer Geek. I find that the term aplies to lots of different professions (hobbies too, I suppose).
I think perhaps it depends on your definition of geek. Personally, I define it as "Someone who values intelligence above all physical qualities."
So, basically, smart people. Am I being too broad?
You know, this is just plain sickening. This is like the male equivalent of that Weekly World News thing. So you're saying we should treat women like pathetic airheads who only want to be controlled and forced to do things they don't want to. Lets not ask them what they want, lets tell them what we want and they damn well better be listening. Thaks for the tip! And when I get maried, I'll remember to beat my wife.
"Be nice to geeky looking girls, just in case they grow up and look good.
Advice to LIVE BY."
Now, the other points I suppose are points of personal preference. Personally, I find large breasts rather unattractive. I mean, think of all the beter uses for that silicon. But that's personal preference. This comment though, implies some sort of superficial idiocy. I mean, think back to when you were a geek in high school. Didn't you just wish people would look past your geekiness. To have people saying that just because they're female, they're not worth anything until they're perfect and subservient makes me ashamed to be male. Besides, braces are damn sexy.