Author Topic: Book Thread (Read 59919 times)

tomterp · « **Reply #150:** October 17, 2011, 08:56:53 AM »

Quote from: Nathan on October 14, 2011, 04:48:58 AM

Ok, so browsing reddit, I come across this AskReddit post that said "Could I destroy the entire Roman Empire during the reign of Augustus if I traveled back in time with a modern U.S. Marine infantry battalion or MEU?"

A redditor started posting a little short story about it, in day by day chunks here:

http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/k067x/could_i_destroy_the_entire_roman_empire_during/c2giwm4

That's pretty interesting, but he needs to finish the damn thing.

Nathan · « **Reply #151:** October 17, 2011, 09:07:48 AM »

I know

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #152:** October 17, 2011, 09:36:46 AM »

wouldn't they run out of fuel/bullets?

blue911 · « **Reply #153:** October 17, 2011, 09:47:20 AM »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on October 17, 2011, 09:36:46 AM

wouldn't they run out of fuel/bullets?

Toilet paper, they'd all suffer from the Bloody Flux (Dysentery).

tomterp · « **Reply #154:** October 17, 2011, 11:13:41 AM »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on October 17, 2011, 09:36:46 AM

wouldn't they run out of fuel/bullets?

They need to read Cortez's book.

Kevrock · « **Reply #155:** November 03, 2011, 09:01:27 AM »

On a sci-fi kick lately (not calling Vonnegut Sci-Fi)

I think Galapagos is my favorite Vonnegut novel yet.

PANatsFan · « **Reply #156:** November 06, 2011, 07:53:38 PM »

Quote from: Kevrock on November 03, 2011, 09:01:27 AM

On a sci-fi kick lately (not calling Vonnegut Sci-Fi)

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I think Galapagos is my favorite Vonnegut novel yet.

I love Galapagos so much. The ghost stuff is great.

Anyone tried the kindle lending library yet? It seems almost too good to be true.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #157:** November 06, 2011, 07:58:51 PM »

It's great- I got a relativly recent book (liars poker). The one per monto is the catch, but it's not a big one

Nathan · « **Reply #158:** November 06, 2011, 08:03:36 PM »

How does that work? I know that I can borrow books from my library on the kindle, is that what you mean?

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #159:** November 06, 2011, 08:08:11 PM »

No, it's new- they have about 5000 titles, if you have prime and a kindle, you can download one per month to borrow at a time

Ali the Baseball Cat · « **Reply #160:** November 06, 2011, 10:40:33 PM »

Just started this a couple of days ago, excellent.

Quote from: tomterp on October 05, 2011, 08:53:32 AM

Have you read Jim Webb's "Fields of Fire"? That's worked its way to the top of my to-do list.

Terpfan76 · « **Reply #161:** November 07, 2011, 12:07:29 AM »

Just read Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer. It was an entertaining book.

MarquisDeSade · « **Reply #162:** November 07, 2011, 06:57:09 AM »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on November 06, 2011, 07:58:51 PM

It's great- I got a relativly recent book (liars poker).

Recent? "Liars Poker" came out in 1991!

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #163:** November 07, 2011, 07:07:04 AM »

Quote from: MarquisDeSade on November 07, 2011, 06:57:09 AM

Recent? "Liars Poker" came out in 1991!

that's why I said relatively, i.e. it's not just public domain books

Nathan · « **Reply #164:** November 08, 2011, 03:33:47 AM »

Quote from: Terpfan76 on November 07, 2011, 12:07:29 AM

Just read Inner Circle by Brad Meltzer. It was an entertaining book.

How are his books? I've enjoyed his series on history, "Decoded."

Terpfan76 · « **Reply #165:** November 08, 2011, 08:27:50 AM »

Quote from: Nathan on November 08, 2011, 03:33:47 AM

How are his books? I've enjoyed his series on history, "Decoded."

I really enjoyed the book, but it's the only one I've read so far. This book seemed to follow ideas his show has. Think The DaVinci Code with political overtones as opposed to religious. Hell, I'd say National Treasure like but more grown up? I don't know, but I enjoyed it and could see how it could be made into a pretty decent movie. Hopefully he'll make a sequel to it.

saltydad · « **Reply #166:** November 10, 2011, 02:17:04 AM »

Just got a Kindle for my birthday (the $99 one with ads and a keyboard). Took a while to get past the WiFi problems of not accepting my password, but all seems fine now. Have downloaded a ton of free books, classics I never got around to reading (Red Badge of Courage), interesting titles by no name (yet) authors, and one on how to get more free books. So far I really love it. In an ideal world would have asked for an ipad2, but pensions being what they are...nah.

Nathan · « **Reply #167:** November 10, 2011, 02:22:18 AM »

Kindles (or other e-ink devices) are better for reading anyway. I'm not sure about for you, but at least for Frederick County Public Libraries, you can even borrow e-books online, straight to your kindle (2 week borrow).

I'm thinking about getting a new one or a new nook and giving the old one to dad (who has been borrowing it for months anyway).

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #168:** November 30, 2011, 03:09:07 PM »

Just finished reading Bryson's a Walk in the Woods and Cod. I'm onto Ghosts of Cannae and am looking for something lighter to pair with it (i tend to like reading something serious and light at the same time), any suggestions on starting to read fantasy (I'm looking for an author to get into the genre)?

Kevrock · « **Reply #169:** November 30, 2011, 03:12:55 PM »

Quote from: HalfSmokes on November 30, 2011, 03:09:07 PM

Just finished reading Bryson's a Walk in the Woods and Cod. I'm onto Ghosts of Cannae and am looking for something lighter to pair with it (i tend to like reading something serious and light at the same time), any suggestions on starting to read fantasy (I'm looking for an author to get into the genre)?

George RR Martin or Tolkien.

Nathan · « **Reply #170:** November 30, 2011, 07:00:23 PM »

Tolkien blows. I'm sorry, he just does. Why does it take so freaking long to describe the most irrelevant things? I mean, I like the story in LoTR, it was just so long winded and wasn't and enjoyable read for me. I need to try out the Song of Fire and Ice (is that it?) series.

HalfSmokes · « **Reply #171:** November 30, 2011, 07:08:00 PM »

Quote from: Nathan on November 30, 2011, 07:00:23 PM

Tolkien blows. I'm sorry, he just does. Why does it take so freaking long to describe the most irrelevant things? I mean, I like the story in LoTR, it was just so long winded and wasn't and enjoyable read for me. I need to try out the Song of Fire and Ice (is that it?) series.

I'm a big fan of Tolkien, the thing about him is he was very consciously trying to create an enduring mythology

saltydad · « **Reply #172:** December 01, 2011, 03:01:37 PM »

Quote from: Nathan on November 30, 2011, 07:00:23 PM

Tolkien blows. I'm sorry, he just does. Why does it take so freaking long to describe the most irrelevant things? I mean, I like the story in LoTR, it was just so long winded and wasn't and enjoyable read for me. I need to try out the Song of Fire and Ice (is that it?) series.

Harry Potter

Kevrock · « **Reply #173:** December 01, 2011, 03:06:31 PM »

Tolkien was a master, but hate on. Try GRRM. You won't find the same beef with his books, I assure you.

Terpfan76 · « **Reply #174:** December 02, 2011, 06:12:27 PM »

A lot depends on what you're looking for. GRRM has a lot of political conflict and what not. I loved the books, but at times, they just seemed to drag a bit, like Tolkien. If you're more interested in sword & sorcery D&D type books, R. A. Salvatore is my personal favorite. I think I've read just about all of his books. He also wrote a couple Star Wars novels if I'm not mistaken.