Ryan’s Comments (group member since Jan 07, 2011)

Ryan’s comments from the Reddit group.

"I just can't see this picking up, I feel I've garnered what the style is like and am not that excited by it."

@ Andy - Well, that's your call but you're really missing out. Give it a couple chapters before you make up your mind, though.

@ denae "a desire for perfection can easily lead to the desire to control everything in one's surroundings"

Oooo, this is good.

Does anyone else see this as a repeating theme? The need for control and how it shapes a person? Any other examples come to mind?

"Most of his works are grim, hilarious, and never annoying IMO. That guy just really likes incorporating time travel. It's a knack he's got as a writer."

"It's hard to mix fatalism and atheism and still tell a story. "

@ Zygo and Vlad

What are your feelings of substituting one higher power for another?

Isn't that cheating, a bit?

Was it a problem? Actually funny? Annoying?

You said you were dying to talk about it yesterday - what else are you thinking?

Would you be a bit bitchy in her position?

Welcome to the February book discussion!

As you all are by now hopefully aware, we are reading The Sirens of Titan. We will be reading and discussing throughout the month. If you would like to add a new discussion questions, send it to me and I'll start a new topic.

Of course, you can talk about whatever you want, but the questions make a good place to start.

Since this is the first week, I think we'll just do something general...

QUESTION #1

What do you think so far? General impressions? Overall sense of where the story is going?

Please use the spoiler tag if needed!

Tomorrow!

"What I enjoy most about reading is the that I can't multitask while I'm reading (unless I'm in the bathroom)."

I listen to audio books in the car and sometimes at the gym. I find that I actually need the same amount of concentration to listen and really absorb the story as I do with normal reading. Driving being rather automatic, and all. If I had a nice, comfy chair and a quiet room I could easily see myself getting absorbed in an audio book at home.

So, that, for what it's worth.

New discussion here.

Check it out.

So here's a a little something to get us into the frame of mind for The Sirens of Titan.

A question I would like to tackle at some point is to what degree SoT really IS science fiction, but I think that the book DEFINITELY takes one of these approaches in its regard to "science."

For everyone: any thoughts on the article and how it pertains to sci-fi literature?

From what you already know of Vonnegut and his other work, how do you think SoT will fit into this spectrum?

Where on this continuum do you most resonate?


If you've read the SoT: which message do you see in SoT? USE THE SPOILER TAG

I'll answer these questions myself, but I'd like to hear from you fine folks people first.

TL;DR Read this and tell us what you think

Bah, I got my degree in "literature that isn't sci fi" and look where that got me!

She's a cold mistress.

Though, I guess I do need the occasional non sci fi/fantasy palate cleanse.

Thanks :-)

I'll have a looky-loo when I get home tonight.

I prefer mobi but I'll take what I can get.

Any of you guys know where I can get some digital versions of anything by Roger Zelazny?

I can't find a lick of it, either legit or otherwise.

Also, it's frustrating when I actually want to BUY something, but can't.

Le sigh.

You know, I'd like some Steampunk tips as well.

I tried reading Leviathan but it was so, so sooooo boring.

My wife read Boneshaker but didn't love it. I know there are other Steampunk "classics" but I don't know WHAT they are.

Oh, hey I just noticed this topic ...

good idea, Ala.

I prefer sci-fi and fantasy. I've found over the last year that I have a MUCH higher tolerance for "hard" sci-fi than "high" fantasy (am I saying that right)?

I much prefer dytopian stories to anything, I think, and could easily live in that sphere most of the time.

I do enjoy non sci-fi, but I'm really lazy about taking the time to "get into" a non-genre book.

You know, not only that book five isn't done: it's not even close to being done so far as I can tell.

It seems as if Martin's written himself into such a nasty corner ... it sort of bothers me on a conceptual level.

That's why I never (and still won't, because it's just too long) picked up the Wheel of Time stuff. I think there's a fundamental problem if you can't wrap up your series in a timely manner.

(says the guy who's never finished writing a book and is really good at sniping at things he's never read)

Now I'm on The Name of the Wind and I think I might be lost to the world for a few days... It's sucking me in. I saw it recommended on Reddit; I'm really glad I picked it up.

It's pretty good. I'm actually really curious to see where this series goes because I have a suspicion that one of the major criticisms that people have for the book (view spoiler)[that Kvothe is just too perfect (hide spoiler)] will be turned on its head later.

Just a guess.

@Ala I totally understand not wanting to dig into uncompleted series.

It's why I decided against finishing up A Game of Thrones, even though I was five discs into the first book and somewhat enjoying it.

I'm almost done with This Immortal on audio book. It's fantastic.

Maybe my favorite I've read since Watership Down last year. I can't wait to read more Zelazny.

I ditched The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America for now, I just couldn't get into it.

So I started Oryx and Crake for which I'm very glad. Though, I didn't know that it was the first part of a yet-to-be finished trilogy, which is sort of bothersome. Any thoughts on the second book?

Anyhow, this is my first Atwood book as well. I think she reminds me of a cross between Kurt Vonnegut and Thomas Pynchon, with a twist of something a bit more misanthropic thrown in for good measure. I'm excited to read something else by her, but I'm torn between The Handmaid's Tale and The Blind Assassin.

Any thoughts on which is better?

After This Immortal on audio I'll move on to Jack Vance and The Dying Earth

@ heather

What kind of dogs are they? Roland is a pretty great name, regardless, but Harper for something like a bulldog would be classy.

Also, I could short to Jormie, which has a... nice (?) ring to it.

@ Ala it would be a Shiba Inu.

Actually, my dream is to have two Burmese mountain dogs that I take on hikes with me.

I could stand at the summit and yell, "Fenris, Jorumundgund, COME TO ME!"

And then my wife would point and laugh, but still, the dramatic possibilities are LIMITLESS.

My bio is a bit sparse so I thought I'd say a bit about myself here.

I live in Seattle with my wife. We've been in the area for almost five years now and love it. We moved from Ohio and hope to live overseas (maybe Korea, who knows) after I finish graduate school in 2012(ish). I'm getting my MA in TESOL.

I enjoy reading, language and the impossibly amazing and continually surprising variety of Washington's landscape.

Favorite writers include :

Kurt Vonnegut
G.K. Chesterton
Ursuala Le Guin
Edith Wharton
Tolstoy L.
Rilke, Rainer Maria

Among others.

I love hot sauce.

I hate cilantro.

If I had a dog, I would name him Jormundgund, Fenris or Walter.

Anyhow, that's a bit about me.

Good call.

Alan Sepinwall does that with his reviews for The Wire: a Veteran review for those who have watched the whole season and a Rookie review for those who are watching for the first time.

I'll just put up a separate for each, then.