Sci-Fi Geeks Vs. Lit. Geeks - Page 2

Trilby · 03-23-2009, 10:07 PM

I was just amusing myself.

You all take everything soooo seriously.

it's a sign of...a sf (SF) geek.

:p

Trilby · 03-23-2009, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cicero

I didn't know we we dividing sci-fi from classics. Now we have the task of defining both of them to prove that they are mutually exclusive. Wow. Good luck on this tedious, futile task.

I didn't make you take up the assignment, baby. You coulda just brought a doctor's note.

lumberjim · 03-23-2009, 11:47 PM

I agree with what beestie wrote.

proof: Ender's Game imagines the 'nets' 20 years before they become the politics forum on the cellar.

I expect Demosthenes and Locke to register any time.....

xoxoxoBruce · 03-24-2009, 02:10 AM

I don't think the book Lessing won for is Science Fiction.

glatt · 03-24-2009, 08:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumberjim

I expect Demosthenes and Locke to register any time.....

I'm reading this with my 9 year old girl right now, and she loves the idea of Demosthenes and Locke. She giggled with delight when the Wiggins father was quoting Demosthenes at the dinner table to his children.

SteveDallas · 03-24-2009, 09:21 AM

OK, this is weird.. I've written two replies to this thread and neither one appeared. I was pretty sure I got distracted and left without clicking "post" on the first one. The second one?? Maybe I'm going crazy. (I'm also trying out Google Chrome FWIW.)

Anyway. Bri--why don't you make a recommendation from some people of "literature" I should read. Something relatively new I'm not likely to have heard of--not classics.

Trilby · 03-24-2009, 10:10 AM

Ah, i've been made to feel like a snob when all I was trying to do was have a bit of fun.

I like stupid mainstream stuff anyway - nothing relevatory. bit of a bore, I guess.

Shawnee123 · 03-24-2009, 10:11 AM

I don't know what you have and haven't read or heard of, but how about

The Kite Runner

and then A Thousand Splendid Suns
by Khaled Hosseini

Shawnee123 · 03-24-2009, 10:11 AM

Life of Pi?

Yann Martel

Flint · 03-24-2009, 10:13 AM

Prague's Franz Kafka International Named World's Most Alienating Airport

Quote:

The security guard asked me for, like, 80 minutes,
"Are you who you say you are? Are you who you say you are?"
Finally, he writes "LIAR" on the back of my hand and lets me pass.

Shawnee123 · 03-24-2009, 10:15 AM

Middlesex

Jeffrey Eugenides

Cloud · 03-24-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZenGum

But ... but ... I like both.

And I know that if you want to look like a real geek you should call it SF not SciFi. Dunno why though. Geeks can be pretty snobby sometimes.

You betcha! I wanted to point that out, but . . . I didn't need any more nerd points.

Flint · 03-24-2009, 10:19 AM

We should change the name of The Cellar to A Confederacy of Dunces.

glatt · 03-24-2009, 10:44 AM

I took a SF literature course back in college. The prof had a difficult time coming up with a reading list because he figured anyone taking the class would have already read a lot of SF. So he was looking for obscure but good books. Most were really good reads, so I figured I'd list them here for anyone who might be interested. Off the top of my head, I can recall:

Canticle for Leibowitz by Miller. I liked it a lot.

Where Softly Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Wilhelm. I liked it a lot.

Childhood's End by Clarke. Good read.

The Forever War by Haldeman. Excellent.

The short story The Star Thrower by Eisley. Not a fun read, but the kind of thing you would expect to be given to read in college. Weighty.

There was another Clarke book in there. It think it was Rendezvous with Rama. Not one of his better novels, but worth reading.

I think the prof might have given us Neuromancer too, which was not obscure at that time. Neuromancer is an important book, because it predicts a lot, but I never liked it that much. It's had a lot of influence in pop culture though.

There were about 5-6 more, but I can't remember which ones they are. I've read so many on my own.

DanaC · 03-24-2009, 10:45 AM

The Time Traveller's Wife (can't recall the author).

03-23-2009, 10:07 PM	#16
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	I was just amusing myself. You all take everything soooo seriously. it's a sign of...a sf (SF) geek. :p __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

03-23-2009, 11:47 PM	#18
lumberjim I can hear my ears Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 25,571	I agree with what beestie wrote. proof: Ender's Game imagines the 'nets' 20 years before they become the politics forum on the cellar. I expect Demosthenes and Locke to register any time..... __________________ This body holding me reminds me of my own mortality Embrace this moment, remember We are eternal, all this pain is an illusion ~MJKeenan

03-24-2009, 02:10 AM	#19
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	I don't think the book Lessing won for is Science Fiction. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-24-2009, 10:10 AM	#22
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Ah, i've been made to feel like a snob when all I was trying to do was have a bit of fun. I like stupid mainstream stuff anyway - nothing relevatory. bit of a bore, I guess. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

03-24-2009, 10:11 AM	#23
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I don't know what you have and haven't read or heard of, but how about The Kite Runner and then A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

03-24-2009, 09:21 AM	#21
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	OK, this is weird.. I've written two replies to this thread and neither one appeared. I was pretty sure I got distracted and left without clicking "post" on the first one. The second one?? Maybe I'm going crazy. (I'm also trying out Google Chrome FWIW.) Anyway. Bri--why don't you make a recommendation from some people of "literature" I should read. Something relatively new I'm not likely to have heard of--not classics.

03-24-2009, 10:11 AM	#24
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Life of Pi? Yann Martel __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

03-24-2009, 10:15 AM	#26
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	Middlesex Jeffrey Eugenides __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

03-24-2009, 10:19 AM	#28
Flint Snowflake Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Dystopia Posts: 13,136	We should change the name of The Cellar to A Confederacy of Dunces. __________________ **************** There's a level of facility that everyone needs to accomplish, and from there it's a matter of deciding for yourself how important ultra-facility is to your expression. ... I found, like Joseph Campbell said, if you just follow whatever gives you a little joy or excitement or awe, then you're on the right track. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Terry Bozzio**

03-24-2009, 10:44 AM	#29
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I took a SF literature course back in college. The prof had a difficult time coming up with a reading list because he figured anyone taking the class would have already read a lot of SF. So he was looking for obscure but good books. Most were really good reads, so I figured I'd list them here for anyone who might be interested. Off the top of my head, I can recall: Canticle for Leibowitz by Miller. I liked it a lot. Where Softly Late the Sweet Birds Sang by Wilhelm. I liked it a lot. Childhood's End by Clarke. Good read. The Forever War by Haldeman. Excellent. The short story The Star Thrower by Eisley. Not a fun read, but the kind of thing you would expect to be given to read in college. Weighty. There was another Clarke book in there. It think it was Rendezvous with Rama. Not one of his better novels, but worth reading. I think the prof might have given us Neuromancer too, which was not obscure at that time. Neuromancer is an important book, because it predicts a lot, but I never liked it that much. It's had a lot of influence in pop culture though. There were about 5-6 more, but I can't remember which ones they are. I've read so many on my own.

03-24-2009, 10:45 AM	#30
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	The Time Traveller's Wife (can't recall the author).

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