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Post by Calamas on Jul 28, 2016 8:47:51 GMT -5
You guys just cut it out.. I have enough old sci-fi to read without trying to read old noir too I feel your pain. I will die with a pile of unread books beside the bed.
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Post by brutalis on Jul 28, 2016 12:15:32 GMT -5
Last night i finished A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz. First book in a trilogy called Chronicles of Light and Shado. Was an entertaining if light read of Steampunk Science Fantasy. Not a deep book in any way but creative ideas within the concept. Characters were not too deeply involving or interesting but as a 1st novel it wasn't as bad as other books i have read. Have books 2 and 3 to read through the next month and hopeful that the series becomes a little deeper.
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Post by Batflunkie on Jul 31, 2016 19:00:49 GMT -5
There's kind of been an interesting over the last couple of years with a lot "Japanese Light Novels" being translated and sold to English speaking audeiences. Mainly been looking forward to "Legend Of Galactic Heroes", a lengthy military centric space opera that would make even Frank Herbert envious. Also reading the first Vampire Hunter D novel too, both came out around the early 1980's and that's kind of the era where I prefer my sci-fi and fantasy books from
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Jul 31, 2016 20:49:35 GMT -5
Conquerors: How Portugal Forged the First Global Empire by Roger Crowley Nice popular history about the establishment of the Portuguese Empire. It starts with the conquest of Ceuta and the crusades in Morocco. Covers the Portuguese exploration of the West African coast, the voyage around the horn and the establishment of the Portuguese trade empire in India and the East Indies. It really doesn't talk much about Brazil, though it touches on its "discovery." Interesting read about an area that I had looked at peripherally, but never in any depth.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 10:25:02 GMT -5
Finished Steve Olsen's Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens last week, courtesy of the local library system. I didn't realize how little I knew about the mountain's May 1980 explosion & the impact on the surrounding area till I began delving into this one. Though in retrospect, my ignorance makes all sort of sense, as it occurred the morning after I got married for the first time. (Also the same weekend that Ian Curtis hung himself. Something was up with reality just then, I swear.)
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Post by Ish Kabbible on Aug 2, 2016 10:43:38 GMT -5
Finished Steve Olsen's Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens last week, courtesy of the local library system. I didn't realize how little I knew about the mountain's May 1980 explosion & the impact on the surrounding area till I began delving into this one. Though in retrospect, my ignorance makes all sort of sense, as it occurred the morning after I got married for the first time. (Also the same weekend that Ian Curtis hung himself. Something was up with reality just then, I swear.) Funny you mentioned this since I borrowed and downloaded the Audiobook version for later listening. And I'm making a double header out of this topic by also getting Simon Winchester's Krakatoawww.amazon.com/Krakatoa-World-Exploded-August-1883/dp/0060838590
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Post by Deleted on Aug 2, 2016 10:52:11 GMT -5
Funny, indeed, as I checked Krakatoa out just a couple of days back. I started it a few years ago but it didn't hold my interest, for some reason. I'm hoping that's changed.
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Post by Rob Allen on Aug 2, 2016 12:39:34 GMT -5
Finished Steve Olsen's Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens last week, courtesy of the local library system. I didn't realize how little I knew about the mountain's May 1980 explosion & the impact on the surrounding area till I began delving into this one. Though in retrospect, my ignorance makes all sort of sense, as it occurred the morning after I got married for the first time. (Also the same weekend that Ian Curtis hung himself. Something was up with reality just then, I swear.) I didn't move to Portland until 14 years after the eruption, but I've learned a lot about it since then. One interesting tidbit: the night the eruption began, the Grateful Dead played a concert in Portland. One of the songs they played was Fire on the Mountain.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Aug 2, 2016 12:57:06 GMT -5
Finished Steve Olsen's Eruption: The Untold Story of Mount St. Helens last week, courtesy of the local library system. I didn't realize how little I knew about the mountain's May 1980 explosion & the impact on the surrounding area till I began delving into this one. Though in retrospect, my ignorance makes all sort of sense, as it occurred the morning after I got married for the first time. (Also the same weekend that Ian Curtis hung himself. Something was up with reality just then, I swear.) I was 12 and living in Southern Idaho when Mount St. Helens blew. I don't think we got any ash at my house, because of the weather patterns, but my brother was in North Idaho at the time and brought me a mason jar full of ash shortly thereafter. As I recall they got about 2 inches of ash thereabouts. Definitely was an experience that was close to home. And given that I live in the middle of The Great Rift and perilously close to the Yellowstone, Henry's Fork and Island Park caldera's a nagging area of concern.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Aug 4, 2016 13:47:06 GMT -5
There's kind of been an interesting over the last couple of years with a lot "Japanese Light Novels" being translated and sold to English speaking audeiences. Mainly been looking forward to "Legend Of Galactic Heroes", a lengthy military centric space opera that would make even Frank Herbert envious. Also reading the first Vampire Hunter D novel too, both came out around the early 1980's and that's kind of the era where I prefer my sci-fi and fantasy books from My 16 year old daughter has been eagerly awaiting a few of those.. they're pretty much the equilvalent of what they call 'Young Adult' here... mostly related to Manga.. they do alot of side stories/origins, etc it seems like.
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Post by Batflunkie on Aug 4, 2016 19:59:59 GMT -5
Back when manga and anime really exploded in the early 00's, there were maybe a handful of light novels that were translated and brought out stateside. But these days, a good portion of modern anime is based on light novels and it's always good to see the written word get more exposure
One of my favorites was "Spice & Wolf" about a medevil merchant and his cohort, a fox goddess of harvest. Mostly deals with economics which may sound boring, but it was rather fascinating to me when watching the anime
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Aug 4, 2016 22:01:11 GMT -5
Think Fast Mr. Peters by Stuart Kaminsky Someone appears to be killing Peter Lorre imitators and Toby Peters is on the case looking for the killer and trying to protect the real Peter Lorre. Another fun quick read with Hollywood's favorite detective.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Aug 4, 2016 22:32:32 GMT -5
Country: The Twisted Roots of Rock 'n' Roll by Nick Tosches. This is a strange book. It doesn't really seem to know what it wants to be. It's kind of a look at how country/old-timey music gave rise to rock. But it's more kind of how blues and R&B gave rise to rock. But it's kind of about how songs used to be a lot dirtier then they were when the book. And it's kind of a discography and kind of a look at the plethora of small record companies that proliferated in the U.S. in the first half of the 20th century. And that's part of the appeal...and part of the problem. It absolutely lacks focus. And I think it probably suffers from being read now as opposed to when it was originally written in 1977. There is so much information available now, both in print and particularly on the internet that the book probably doesn't have the impact that it would have had at the time. That said it's an interesting if terribly unfocused book.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Aug 5, 2016 11:32:10 GMT -5
Back when manga and anime really exploded in the early 00's, there were maybe a handful of light novels that were translated and brought out stateside. But these days, a good portion of modern anime is based on light novels and it's always good to see the written word get more exposure One of my favorites was "Spice & Wolf" about a medevil merchant and his cohort, a fox goddess of harvest. Mostly deals with economics which may sound boring, but it was rather fascinating to me when watching the anime I've looked at that one... seemed like a good concept, but it looked fan service-y.. is it?
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Post by Batflunkie on Aug 5, 2016 12:02:42 GMT -5
I've looked at that one... seemed like a good concept, but it looked fan service-y.. is it? Ehhh, kind of? I mean it's not like others where it's off-putting and distasteful, it actually kind of fits. Holo, the goddess of harvest, is visuaully speaking around maybe 15-16 years old(?) and often flirts with Kraft Lawrence, the merchant. Later on, things do get more intimate between them, but it doesn't go beyond kissing or growing fond of one another Like I said, it fits because of the time period. Any if this was in other book, I would probably be very uncomfortable with it
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