1846
Suggestions Box / Re: october events
« on: October 14, 2004, 05:30:21 PM »
Well, it's crunch time whether EUOL is going to be busy or not. When and Where? Someone make a decision! 
News:
A lot of people describe Scalzi’s Old Man's War novels as military science fiction, but I would classify its sequel Zoë’s Tale as a space opera. It’s a story about, well, Zoë, a teenage girl whose parents are invited to take leadership roles in building a colony on a new planet. Zoë is an enthusiastic member of the group sent to colonize Roanoke, despite the risks—and the risks are considerable even before the political machinations of greater powers boil to the surface. Continue reading Zoë’s Tale
Review by Silk
Discuss it in our forums.
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1847
Books / Re: review: Buddha's Child
« on: October 14, 2004, 12:50:20 PM »
Yeah, thanks, that makes sense.
Keep'em coming.
Keep'em coming.
1848
Books / Re: review: Buddha's Child
« on: October 14, 2004, 11:54:22 AM »
What is the writing like?
Its length, 372 pages. How graphic is it? Not very. It's a biography about a prime minister/pilot. How graphic can it be? I'll send a new version of the review with the length and with a statement about the level of graphic violence to replace what's up now if SE will post it.
While we're at it, what other suggestions does anyone have? Never written a book review before, how can it be better?
Quote
The style the book is written in is very readable. Ky freely indulges in anecdotes and interesting personal details of the men he worked with as well as himself. He drops these personal details in among a pragmatic recollection of the events.
Its length, 372 pages. How graphic is it? Not very. It's a biography about a prime minister/pilot. How graphic can it be? I'll send a new version of the review with the length and with a statement about the level of graphic violence to replace what's up now if SE will post it.
While we're at it, what other suggestions does anyone have? Never written a book review before, how can it be better?
1849
Suggestions Box / Re: october events
« on: October 13, 2004, 07:08:42 PM »
Fridays good for me.
1851
Books / Re: History or historical fiction?
« on: October 13, 2004, 03:35:11 PM »Quote
One last time, why not fictionalize? In time I was able to articulate an answer. A fiction-like form gives this story its entertainment value. But it is the truth that gives it power.
Perhaps what SE is getting at is that fiction has power. At least as much as history. For that matter truth is often expressed far more clearly in fiction than in history.
I see the author saying it's bad to "fictionalize" not that it's bad to write fiction.
1852
Books / Re: History or historical fiction?
« on: October 13, 2004, 02:08:04 PM »Quote
There's nothing wrong with historical fiction as long as it is billed as such.
I agree with you in the sense I quoted. However, I think there needs to be a dichotomy of a sort (not the sort you're talking about apparently) when it comes to History and Historical fiction. The two must remain clearly separated. I think that is the essence of the argument. When the line between the two is blurry, as it often is today, that is a bad thing.
1854
Books / Re: History or historical fiction?
« on: October 13, 2004, 01:52:14 PM »
This is why so many people find it dodgy to sprinkle historical fact with fiction. From the views expressed by this author in this essay
"Hence my surprise at finding that in the Lunenburg case, white men in several instances ran enormous risks to uphold the rule of law."
"Does it seem plausible that an illiterate, twenty-three-year-old washer and ironer could stand up in a packed courtroom and conduct herself like a seasoned trial attorney? Nope, but it happened in Lunenburg, as did many other transcendent events. What a waste, should they be dismissed as fiction."
It's pretty obvious that had she not decided to be rigorous with the facts we would have had yet another "Whitey keepin' the poh ignernt black man down, shouldn't we all be ashamed of our skin color now" book. Instead she seems to have produced a piece of work that might actually give insight to the time period.
There's nothing wrong with historical fiction as long as it is billed as such. Often it is not. Even in straight history books it is seen as acceptable to include made up details for flavor. Well, as we well know, the devil is in the details. If the goal of history is to present information about the past for analysis and knowledge then maintaining a solid distance from fiction, even in the details, should be the overriding goal. Of course, as someone would be quick to point out, all history is biased. The effect of that bias should be lessened as much as possible and avoiding fiction at all costs is one good technique.
"Hence my surprise at finding that in the Lunenburg case, white men in several instances ran enormous risks to uphold the rule of law."
"Does it seem plausible that an illiterate, twenty-three-year-old washer and ironer could stand up in a packed courtroom and conduct herself like a seasoned trial attorney? Nope, but it happened in Lunenburg, as did many other transcendent events. What a waste, should they be dismissed as fiction."
It's pretty obvious that had she not decided to be rigorous with the facts we would have had yet another "Whitey keepin' the poh ignernt black man down, shouldn't we all be ashamed of our skin color now" book. Instead she seems to have produced a piece of work that might actually give insight to the time period.
There's nothing wrong with historical fiction as long as it is billed as such. Often it is not. Even in straight history books it is seen as acceptable to include made up details for flavor. Well, as we well know, the devil is in the details. If the goal of history is to present information about the past for analysis and knowledge then maintaining a solid distance from fiction, even in the details, should be the overriding goal. Of course, as someone would be quick to point out, all history is biased. The effect of that bias should be lessened as much as possible and avoiding fiction at all costs is one good technique.
1855
Movies and TV / Re: Superman dies
« on: October 13, 2004, 01:23:37 PM »Quote
Please elaborate? Just for my personal curiosity...I'm not sure average spirits can necessarily fly, mostly because I'm not sure telestial or terrestrial bodies can fly, and it would seem odd to give spirits a taste of something they would not be able to do after the resurrection, as it's not necessarily known what kind of body they'll eventually end up with.
Simple. God is just. There would be no justice in a universe where superman cannot fly. Therefore, he can fly.
Any other dumb questions?
1856
Suggestions Box / Re: october events
« on: October 12, 2004, 05:29:42 PM »
Oof. I thought writing group was on Fridays.
1858
Webcomics & Free Stuff / Re: The thread for favorite comic strip posts
« on: October 12, 2004, 11:35:47 AM »
Dude. I've never read penny-arcade before but that strip you put up makes me think I've found my one-true-comic. Hilarious.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahah hic hahahahahahahahah hic
Hahahahahahahahahahahahah hic hahahahahahahahah hic