Lots of SF has politics in it, even if you're not hit over the head with the politics as in Heinlein's The Moon is a Harsh Mistress . I offer as an example of the more subtle approach Ender's Game , and read Creating the Innocent Killer by John Kessel and one will see. Another example, Terry Goodkin...

Wrote a few days ago

(I can accept Frankenstein. It's science fantasy written as a satire.)

Everyone here knows that many (refer: Brian Aldis Trillion Year Spree) to Shelley's Frankenstein as the first Science Fiction text.

This might be returning thread to original intent. However, I have two or so inputs on that topic. About two years ago, at a fan convention I went to, one of the discussion leaders said: ' Walter Mosley, writer of Easy Rawlins books and some SF, said all genres of pop fiction are conservative becaus...

Why is it better than Big Bang Theory, because BBT is just one more in long line of 'let's all ridicule, humilate, and otherwise get our laughs at the expense of these pathetic nerds'! BBT is not sympathetic to Geekdom at all.

Lafcadio Hearn (1850 - 1904) was the real deal, he migrated to Japan around 1890 or so, and found himself totally enamored with the place. Getting to Japan around 20 or so years after the end of bakufu[/u] meaning he arrived just as Westerners are learning anything about Japan. For your information...

I believe that I misread Morgan's review, often times because her criticism always to me seems so nitpicky it's often times hard to tell when she actually likes something. (In Morgan's case, that does not apply to John Harrison or Grimwood since she gushes about their awesomeness constantly).

Wrote a few days ago I refuse to discuss this, because Buffy is not on your list. WTH!! I know that Zahir (aka David) is a huge BtVS fan so that comment is sort of mean. And if you've got a contribution, let's hear it. What do I not want to see. BAD WRITING!! I'm not concerned if in some shmo's opin...

Just read interview with Michael Dirda, former Book World editor from Washington Post, in Locus, November 2009 issue, and Dirda calls Genji Monogatari along with Remembrance of Things Past the greatest pieces of prose ever.

If I got my facts straight when he's writing in the category conventionally known as 'techno-thriller' (think Crichton and Clancy) he uses the 'van Lustbader' name; that means, Bourne books are attributal to vL. I'm pretty sure he has written pretty standard fantasy yarns, perhaps for Baen press, an...

bump, bumpity, bump.

Genji Monogatari, which translation is the one you're talking about. I have and I'm reading the Seidensticker (1921 - 2007) one and I've found it pretty good. There's a new translation by Ryall Tyler (?) and it's supposed be excellent.

Natural History by Justina Robson. AIs and Ets, could be derivative to Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

Group, The following message concerns a list of 'manga you can't miss' as recommended by Patrick Galbraith In August/October Patrick Galbraith , Ph.D. student at University of Tokyo, wrote The Otaku Encyclopedia: An Insider's guide to the Subculture of Cool Japan . As an appendix to the text, Patric...

Consider, too, that Stalin had advanced intelligence that Germany would attack; however, Stalin did not believe it. The efforts of the Comitern agent, Richard Sorge, while living in Japan using his contacts in Germany's Foreign Service and in the Japanese government he got the advanced intelligence ...

Written earlier today ...) DW's health is failing, Robichaux is a botanist, and Sandoz is admittedly kind of an agnostic, at least before they arrive. WHAT?? If Sandoz is an agnostic, so is the Dalai Lama and Mohandas Gandhi? Looking back over some previous messages, I saw a few things. OK, so intro...

Group, This movie covers so many topics, right's and abuses of oppressed peoples, multinational corps, biotechnology abuses, and it is similar to Alien Nation . I'm not sure I'd consider it a great movie, but it's a very good movie. Prior to my seeing it I did not know it was done in a semi-document...

Saw this movie at local public library on Friday evening (Februrary 19, 2010) and I was one of about five folks watching. Liked this movie, even though I'm not a fan of the Cruise; for your information, I don't think he acts at all, he is a movie star and not an actor (remembering the difference bet...

I just finished all eighteen volumes of Monster by Naoki Urasawa, and the finish makes no sense.

A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn.

HILARIOUS! As compared to the BBT.

During the two years or so our bookgroup has been around we've read the following: The Dispossessed, Cyberabad Days, Ammonite, The Sparrow, Houston, Houston do you read?, Fifth head of Cereburs, Little, Big, and more these title are just a sampling.