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What You're Reading Now: Revisited — Page 2

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AWK - that is a spectacular book. Gundark sent me a copy of it as a gift. I loved it.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
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Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
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Is it better than the film? I am one of the three people who haven't actually watched Blade Runner, and I am reading the book before I watch the movie. This should help me judge whether Blade Runner actually is the classic everyone says it is, compared to the book.

Anyway, of all the books I've read, the most incredible as far as story has to be Brave New World. It was a classic on so many levels, criticizing all major types of human behavior and economic systems. Wow. It seems that it, along with other works like Lucas' THX-1138 film, were ripped off in "The Island" earlier this year.
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I can't tell you if it's better as I haven't seen the film in about 15 years. It's been a long time.
"You fell victim to one of the classic blunders, the most famous of which is 'Never get involved in a land war in Asia'."
--Vizzini (Wallace Shawn), The Princess Bride
-------------------------
Kevin A
Webmaster/Primary Cynic
kapgar.typepad.com
kapgar.com
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I wouldn't say better so much as different. I like both, and can appreciate that Ridley Scott was doing what he could with the technology of the time. Blade Runner is a lot simpler than DADOES, but again that's because the book is so dense and richly textured that it would really need a longer running time to do it justice. I do think that Ridley Scott misunderstood the book somewhat when he reached the conclusion that Deckard was a replicant, but the book is open to interpretation. If anyone wanted to remake it, I think the route the SciFi channel took with Dune would be the way to go, although a mini of DADOES would probably be only 4 hours long.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

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Originally posted by: GundarkHunter
I wouldn't say better so much as different. I like both, and can appreciate that Ridley Scott was doing what he could with the technology of the time. Blade Runner is a lot simpler than DADOES, but again that's because the book is so dense and richly textured that it would really need a longer running time to do it justice. I do think that Ridley Scott misunderstood the book somewhat when he reached the conclusion that Deckard was a replicant, but the book is open to interpretation. If anyone wanted to remake it, I think the route the SciFi channel took with Dune would be the way to go, although a mini of DADOES would probably be only 4 hours long.


Well, I must be the only person who hated Blade Runner. I mean HATED it. I think the book is probably spoiled for me now...

Nemo me impune lacessit

http://ttrim.blogspot.com
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No, I wouldn't say that. Read the book, and you'll be surprised by the difference.

Princess Leia: I happen to like nice men.
Han Solo: I'm a nice man.

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*bump*
Nemo me impune lacessit

http://ttrim.blogspot.com
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I just finished The Story of Science, Book One: Aristotle Leads the Way. Pretty interesting look at how perspectives of our Earth and the universe have changed over time.

Tonight, I start Black Rednecks and White Liberals by Thomas Sowell. It will be the first of his books I read. I had not heard of him until I saw him for about 10 minutes doing an interview on TV. I found those few minutes very interesting and ended up getting the book for Christmas.

I also got my hands on The Unofficial MacGyver How-To Handbook, which is an amusing read.
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I've been reading War of the Worlds, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep ( not Sleep...Sheep), and The Count of Monte Cristo. All good reads.
"Who's scruffy-lookin'?" - Han Solo
"I wish my lawn was emo so it would cut itself." -sybeman
"You know, putting animals in the microwave is not a good idea. I had to learn that one the hard way." -seanwookie
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I'm about to start on The Long Goodbye, another Marlowe series Raymond Chandler novel.
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings."
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I've been reading "The Time Machine Did It" by John Swartzwelder.

John was the writer for over 50 Simpsons episodes, however is NOT a Simpson's novelization of any kind, but it has alot of the same type of humor that John has brought to the show.

If any of you have ever listened to the commentary tracks on the existing Simpsons DVDs, you'll notice that they point out John's jokes quite often...they also plugged this book, which is where i heard about it.

It's a quick read, witty, funny, highly amusing & i would definately recommend it to anybody

Next on the list: THUD! Terry Pratchett's latest Discworld novel
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"I've finally got around to begin reading "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sleep?" It's the novel Blade Runner is loosely based on."

"Loosely" is right - I was bored to tears. I guess I just wasn't ready for it at the time.

I'm currently reading "The Machine Crusade", the second book of the earliest Dune prequel trilogies. I find it a lot more interesting than some other prequels that are out there. I've already finished the first set of prequels, but I only got as far as book 4 (Children of Dune? It's been awhile) of the regular series. It was starting to get a little tedious. I can see why only the first was made into a film.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Originally posted by: MeBeJedi

I'm currently reading "The Machine Crusade", the second book of the earliest Dune prequel trilogies.


The author of those books, Kevin J. Anderson, is the same guy who wrote the Jedi Academy trilogy. His books were some of the better star wars books.
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I just finished reading "The 13 1/2 Lives of Captain Bluebear", so it's on to the Illuminatus trilogy. I'm also reading "The Name of the Rose", but it's real slow going.
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"The author of those books, Kevin J. Anderson, is the same guy who wrote the Jedi Academy trilogy. His books were some of the better star wars books. "

I'm aware of that, since I've read a lot of EU, and I consider his to be the worst. His Dune and X-File books are very good, though.

"I'm also reading "The Name of the Rose", but it's real slow going. "

Is that the book that the movie of the same name is based on? I love that film.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Right now I'm trying to balance Terry Pratchett's Discworld: Equal Rites with Larry Niven's first Ringworld in addition to Ursula K. Le Guin's A Wizard of Earthsea book and a collection of Robert E. Howard's Conan the Cimmerian stories.
I'd like a qui-gon jinn please with an Obi-Wan to go.

Red heads ROCK. Blondes do not rock. Nuff said.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/greencapt/hansolovsindy.jpg
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Originally posted by: MeBeJedi

Is that the book that the movie of the same name is based on? I love that film.


Correct. The novel by Umberto Eco. I've never actually seen the film.

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My selection du jour is Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods'. Been an awesome read so far, but then again I'm partial to Gaiman's works.
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Originally posted by: greencapt
My selection du jour is Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods'. Been an awesome read so far, but then again I'm partial to Gaiman's works.


Got any suggestions/recommendations from the Gaiman category?
I'd like a qui-gon jinn please with an Obi-Wan to go.

Red heads ROCK. Blondes do not rock. Nuff said.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/greencapt/hansolovsindy.jpg
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*CLEAR*

OK...this thread's got a pulse again.

About 100 pages in to Dune right now. Awesome book, but slow going. Also picked up The Dead Zone by Stephen King. I've always liked his adapted (ie:TV) stories, so now I'm actually going to read his books.

Anyone else got any good reads right now?
Nemo me impune lacessit

http://ttrim.blogspot.com
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I'm in the middle of The Illuminatus Trilogy by Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson
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Originally posted by: greencapt
My selection du jour is Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods'. Been an awesome read so far, but then again I'm partial to Gaiman's works.


Hey, GC, meant to ask if you've finished this and what you thought? I loved it. Gave it to my dad to read and he enjoyed it as well. I've got most of his other stuff waiting to be read, too.

Nemo me impune lacessit

http://ttrim.blogspot.com
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i'm reading Genetics: Analysis and Principles.
sounds fun right? oh you bet, fun as in i can actually fall asleep and night these days!

~* you know you love me... xoxo *~

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"About 100 pages in to Dune right now. Awesome book, but slow going."

They get slower on down the series. I stopped the originals at Children of Dune (I think.) I've read the prequels (House Harkonnen/Atreides/Corrino) and liked them. Now I'm in the middle of the pre-prequels, and they are very cool.

"Also picked up The Dead Zone by Stephen King. I've always liked his adapted (ie:TV) stories, so now I'm actually going to read his books."

Start with the early ones. His elephantitist of the tongue gets worse and worse. It took forever to get through Tommyknockers. I think IT was my favorite overall. Misery would make me physically ill at times, so I'd have to lay it down for awhile.

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: Sadly, I believe the prequels are beyond repair.
<span class=“Bold”>JediRandy: They’re certainly beyond any repair you’re capable of making.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>MeBeJedi: You aren’t one of us.
<span class=“Bold”>Go-Mer-Tonic: I can’t say I find that very disappointing.</span></span>

<span class=“Italics”>JediRandy: I won’t suck as much as a fan edit.</span>

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Originally posted by: MeBeJedi
"About 100 pages in to Dune right now. Awesome book, but slow going."

They get slower on down the series. I stopped the originals at Children of Dune (I think.) I've read the prequels (House Harkonnen/Atreides/Corrino) and liked them. Now I'm in the middle of the pre-prequels, and they are very cool.

"Also picked up The Dead Zone by Stephen King. I've always liked his adapted (ie:TV) stories, so now I'm actually going to read his books."

Start with the early ones. His elephantitist of the tongue gets worse and worse. It took forever to get through Tommyknockers. I think IT was my favorite overall. Misery would make me physically ill at times, so I'd have to lay it down for awhile.


Wow. I'm surprised to hear you like the prequels. Seems like they were none too popular w/Dune fans, but I eventually will give them a try.

King: Yes, pretty much everyone says the same thing about sticking with his earlier stuff. My dad is a huge King fan and can barely tolerate any of his current/newer stuff. He's always enjoyed the Bachman Books more than almost any of King's work. Although, I can't imagine anyone being worse than Anne Rice at running at the mouth...3 pages to describe a blade of grass, please oh please...
Nemo me impune lacessit

http://ttrim.blogspot.com