61
Books / Re: Best Heinlien Book...*possible spoilers*
« on: May 18, 2009, 11:44:30 PM »
Stranger feels a bit dated to me. My favorite is The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, also dated I guess, but its still my favorite.
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"Magic is what makes fantasy fantastic," someone says, "you can't apply rules to them or else it loses wonder!" I respond, "Sure, but if you want to write them you will certainly want to know how they work." Writing is all about execution, and I find applying some basic laws of physics to magic systems make them more understandable and realistic. Here, I'm going to outline my basic method for developing a magic system.
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62
Books / Re: What are you reading, part 3
« on: May 11, 2009, 09:51:54 PM »
I didn't particularly like Making Money when I first read it, but when I read it again recently it was much funnier. It seemed more topical and relevant than two years ago.
63
Everything Else / Re: What did you have for dinner?
« on: May 09, 2009, 12:25:35 AM »
Jade I am sorry to see you had to endure that too. I thought I was the only family who had that particular nastiness. I don't even like tuna sandwiches now, much less anything else with it.
64
Rants and Stuff / Re: The Legendary Traveling Pun Circus! Half pun OR YOUR MONEY BACK!!!
« on: May 09, 2009, 12:22:52 AM »
That is a classic! My 9 & 10 yr old boys were just experimenting with this joke and its permutations.
65
Books / Re: Has anyone read The Eyre Affair?
« on: May 09, 2009, 12:19:14 AM »
Um, no, probably not. There is a bit of language, which I know sends my mother-in-law into a tizzy. Implied pre-marital sex and a few off-color jokes.
That being said I loved it and have now read all of Jasper Fforde's books. It also depends on the book club and what they can handle. I have heard of Saints and Ender's Game being read in church book clubs and both of those offending some people (see top sentence) but I think that Fforde is milder than Ender's Game.
If you don't use it, read it for yourself, if you are at all familiar with Jane Eyre you will enjoy it.
That being said I loved it and have now read all of Jasper Fforde's books. It also depends on the book club and what they can handle. I have heard of Saints and Ender's Game being read in church book clubs and both of those offending some people (see top sentence) but I think that Fforde is milder than Ender's Game.
If you don't use it, read it for yourself, if you are at all familiar with Jane Eyre you will enjoy it.
66
Brandon Sanderson / Re: Book Tours in the South West
« on: May 08, 2009, 01:45:24 AM »
I just put that in because it is a recurring peeve of mine when Ohio, or any other centralish state is referred to as western. Texas sort-of is, but not Oklahoma.
I would guess he will do a much bigger tour this fall since The Gathering Storm will be a much bigger book. How do you get him to come, pester your local bookstore?
I would guess he will do a much bigger tour this fall since The Gathering Storm will be a much bigger book. How do you get him to come, pester your local bookstore?
67
Books / Re: All my books are read, Looking for suggestions
« on: May 08, 2009, 01:41:35 AM »
I love Moon is a Harsh Mistress, its my favorite Heinlein. Looks like a great selection. How much self-control do you have when you get new books?
My husband knows not to expect much of me for a day or two after a "big" new book comes out.
My husband knows not to expect much of me for a day or two after a "big" new book comes out.
68
Rants and Stuff / Re: Grumpiness in New, Seasonal Flavours
« on: May 07, 2009, 06:54:39 PM »
The Math & Physics departments at BYU are (were? it's been 12 years) so connected I could get a math minor while majoring in physics without taking any other classes. I hated all the math classes there until 443, differential equations, but then I like the idea of mathematics.
Memorization is a good skill to have, though physicists tend to have a non-memorization ego thing, to judge by the comments of several physicists in books I have read.
Of course I then ended up with minors in both math and physics and an English major, but that had more to do with needing to finish school quickly than the school itself.
Memorization is a good skill to have, though physicists tend to have a non-memorization ego thing, to judge by the comments of several physicists in books I have read.
Of course I then ended up with minors in both math and physics and an English major, but that had more to do with needing to finish school quickly than the school itself.
69
Everything Else / Re: What did you have for dinner?
« on: May 07, 2009, 06:48:31 PM »
Hamburger Helper I can live with, but who eats TUNA helper? I shudder each time I see it on the shelves. Though I think that is flashback from when I was a child and my mother would make tuna in white sauce over toast.
70
Brandon Sanderson / Re: Book Tours in the South West
« on: May 07, 2009, 06:46:42 PM »
Show of hands, who thinks Texas is really the Southwest?
71
Everything Else / Re: Where in the world are you???
« on: May 07, 2009, 06:45:36 PM »
I live in Moab, UT, which is 4 hrs from Salt Lake or 1 1/2 from Grand Junction CO.
72
Brandon Sanderson / Re: Warbreaker
« on: May 02, 2009, 05:58:55 PM »
When I lived in a city with a large library system I bought paperback because I could get almost everything through the library first. My hardback collection is expanding since I moved to a small town.
I hate reading on my computer, I haven't even tried Warbreaker because I don't want to even start until I can read it in a comfy place.
And it comes out next month! It's nice to be able to say that now.
I hate reading on my computer, I haven't even tried Warbreaker because I don't want to even start until I can read it in a comfy place.
And it comes out next month! It's nice to be able to say that now.
73
Everything Else / Re: What did you have for dinner?
« on: May 01, 2009, 03:31:22 AM »
I do that with flakes, it makes the whatever nice and crunchy. But the kind I have now are "pearls" they look like gerbil food only white so I don't anymore.
My mother once bought a 20 lb bag from potato farmer relatives in ID. Those were the best instant I'd ever had. I could never get ones that good again.
My mother once bought a 20 lb bag from potato farmer relatives in ID. Those were the best instant I'd ever had. I could never get ones that good again.
74
Books / Re: Favorite author
« on: May 01, 2009, 01:34:21 AM »
For me it depends on my mood. If I am feeling lazy I know I can always read a Pratchett novel and they are all on my bookshelf so i don't need to go to the library.
I've loved Heinlein since I was a kid but I don't reread him so much anymore.
New authors, Sanderson (of course), I just read Old Man's War and I think I'm going to have to check out the rest of Scalzi (ducks
), and Dianna Wynne Jones.
I have found a lot of authors that I love one or two things enough to buy and re read but can't stand some of their other stuff, Connie Willis for example.
I've loved Heinlein since I was a kid but I don't reread him so much anymore.
New authors, Sanderson (of course), I just read Old Man's War and I think I'm going to have to check out the rest of Scalzi (ducks
), and Dianna Wynne Jones.I have found a lot of authors that I love one or two things enough to buy and re read but can't stand some of their other stuff, Connie Willis for example.
75
Everything Else / Re: What did you have for dinner?
« on: May 01, 2009, 01:27:28 AM »
Instant mashed potatoes are easier and cheaper for me because I bought a bunch for food storage (an LDS concept, basically keeping your pantry full so if you have an emergency you still have food). It is getting old and my husband refuses to eat it. So I do real mashed pot. when I am feeling generous to my husband. He has been working late a lot and being the loving person I am, I made a meal for him.
We had chicken alla cucine tonight. Chicken with artichokes and tomatoes. This makes up for boxed mac and cheese last night.
And I think ramen is way better as a cheap starch because you can eat it without even cooking it. My children love it that way.
We had chicken alla cucine tonight. Chicken with artichokes and tomatoes. This makes up for boxed mac and cheese last night.
And I think ramen is way better as a cheap starch because you can eat it without even cooking it. My children love it that way.