Timewaster's Guide Archive

Kaz: you are right... oops.... would you consider Zelazny a key author? I thought the Amber series was rather pedantic.

Surprised noone has mentioned Asimov, Chalker or Herbert when talking sci-fi. Really, does sci-fi get any better than Dune, or I, Robot, or Well of souls? Or how about Pohl? space Merchants was great fun.

I am in line with most others on the fantasy side, but would not put Erikson as a "key" author, nor Sanderson. they have really yet to make their mark the way Jordan, Feist, Eddings, tolkien, Donladson, and yes, McCafferty have all done. (I cannot stand McCafferty, but she is influential, and would be considered a "key" author). Throw in CS Lewis and Ursula LeGuin and I think we come close to a complete set.

some people would argue that Terry Brooks should be in there too, but I dont believe so, his books are not considered "must read" books.

just found this thread...   I powered through this series in about 6 weeks. Just sent Toll the Hounds back to the library this weekend.

And I am still confused. And not a good confused either. I like the books, I like the author, love alot of teh charachters, but there are no less than 5 magic systems and none of them really make any sense.

biggest complaint is the overabundance of words. Really, he does not need to descibe the chair, the jacket on the chair, and the length of time the jacket has been on the chair, for two paragraphs, and then have the chair mean absolutely nothing to the story, or even the scene.

it is people like him that make athiests look bad. Most athiests are not hostile jerks towards anyone with a religious belief.

Renoard: just to make a historical point here. Books have already been added and deleted at least once in the history of the Christian faith. The Emperor Constantine's Council of Nicaea in the 4th Century removed dozens of books they thought were not of value, or did not deal with Christian philosophy. Plus a host of other "decisions" were made as to who Jesus was and what his relationship with God was. In effect, the bible was actually re-written.

Eerongal: Did you know that "cousin marriages" are only illegal in a few states? Most of them are down south as well. in most northern  states, you can marry your first cousin. but not your ex-stepsister.

disbelief is basically not accepting something which has been nproven to be a fact, as a fact:
1. the inability or refusal to believe or to accept something as true.
2. amazement; astonishment: We stared at the Taj Mahal in disbelief. 
Whereas non-belief does not have a dictionary reference. but basically. It means, to me, "I do not believe that" period. It is skepticism, but not denial. I am not a "fact denier", I am just a non-believer.

As far as proof required. Well, It would have to be something where, if I could fact check it, I could come  to the same conclusions. It couldnt hurt if I could see it myself. I am just as skepitcal of "science" as I am religion. Since much of the fringe sciences, like astrophysics, is leaps of faith and sometimes just making stuff up.