Mèdici’s Garden

**End of Time** · 04-10-2009, 01:07 PM

Originally Posted by Pro

$150000,-

That's... let me see... around 246,76 euros?

**starkoryan81** · 04-10-2009, 01:22 PM

Didn't know Card was a homophobe. Doesn't change my entusiasm for the next Ender book, however. Since I couldn't find Speaker (and learned that it takes place much later) I decided to go chronologically. I read a small novel last night that takes place in the battle school called A War of Gifts. I enjoyed it, but I'm not so sure about the inclusion of religion into these stories. Feels a bit more like an intrusion of religion. Anyway, next up is Ender's Shadow, the first Bean book. I also found Ender in Exile, which takes place directly after the events of Ender's Game, though written just recently. I really don't expect any of these novels to be as good as the first, but I like the world and want to know more about these characters. The Dune series got worse with each book imho, then took an upturn with the fifth and sixth. I expect I'll find some things to like and dislike about each novel.

**howyadoin** · 04-10-2009, 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by starkoryan81

Didn't know Card was a homophobe.

http://librarianinblack.typepad.com/...on_orson_.html

Originally Posted by starkoryan81

The Dune series got worse with each book imho, then took an upturn with the fifth and sixth.

I felt that way about them for a long time, too. I used to think God Emperor was bloated and boring, for instance. But last year I gave the whole series another, much deeper, rereading, and even Messiah and Children revealed some depth I hadn't picked up on before.

**mattbib** · 04-10-2009, 02:52 PM

Alright. Almost six o'clock on the Swatch watch means it's time to leave work and meet the peeps for happy hour.

**Manon** · 04-10-2009, 03:30 PM

Originally Posted by starkoryan81

Didn't know Card was a homophobe. Doesn't change my entusiasm for the next Ender book, however. Since I couldn't find Speaker (and learned that it takes place much later) I decided to go chronologically. I read a small novel last night that takes place in the battle school called A War of Gifts. I enjoyed it, but I'm not so sure about the inclusion of religion into these stories. Feels a bit more like an intrusion of religion. Anyway, next up is Ender's Shadow, the first Bean book. I also found Ender in Exile, which takes place directly after the events of Ender's Game, though written just recently. I really don't expect any of these novels to be as good as the first, but I like the world and want to know more about these characters. The Dune series got worse with each book imho, then took an upturn with the fifth and sixth. I expect I'll find some things to like and dislike about each novel.

Ender's Shadow is by far the best book out of the series, and the ones that follow Bean afterwords are all really good. However, they quickly go from science fiction to political fiction, but I still really enjoyed them.

**Gene M.** · 04-10-2009, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by mattbib

Alright. Almost six o'clock on the Swatch watch means it's time to leave work and meet the peeps for happy hour.

I feel like I took a nap and woke up in a rerun of Parker Lewis Can't Lose.

**crazyredlady** · 04-10-2009, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by LewMoxinsghost

Huh? I must've missed something. I sincerely do not understand what you are talking about. Care to explain?

the hockey team, I told you about two of our local teams, the bucs and the chops and you picked the chops to root for. Just letting you know they did well this year. I can understand if you don't remember, it's been a while and other things to tend to crop up

**End of Time** · 04-10-2009, 11:05 PM

Originally Posted by starkoryan81

The Dune series got worse with each book imho, then took an upturn with the fifth and sixth. I expect I'll find some things to like and dislike about each novel.

Dou don't deserve to live!

Dune is perfection!

... except for the abominations written by his son and Kevin J. Anderson, those suck harder than a two dollar tranny whore.

**mattbib** · 04-11-2009, 12:28 AM

Originally Posted by Gene M.

I feel like I took a nap and woke up in a rerun of Parker Lewis Can't Lose.

LOL...man, I loved that show. Is it even on DVD?

Anyway, happy hour turned into an eight hour affair. And we nearly ended up in a fight. As we do.

**howyadoin** · 04-11-2009, 02:08 AM

Originally Posted by End of Time

Dune is perfection!

... except for the abominations written by his son and Kevin J. Anderson, those suck harder than a two dollar tranny whore.

Oh yeah, you and I are gonna get along just fine.

**atoningunifex** · 04-11-2009, 06:13 AM

I remember having a conversation with someone who was complaining about Geraldine brooks winning the Pulitzer prize for March. He was horrified that someone could win an award for a book that took another author's characters and reworked them. He felt that it was disrespectful to the original author and an affront to the author's family. He was quite strident about it.

I decided I had a grudging respect for his position when he suddenly continued speaking and reality shifted underneath me. I shall paraphrase in quotations...

"The only time that's okay is if it is the family authorizing it. A good example is Brian Herbert authorizing Kevin Anderson to write new Dune books. That's someone who cares about the material and who has a right to the material extending their relative's vision."

I asked him if he really lived in a world where assraping your father's vision using some hack's cock was something to aspire to. He really didn't have an answer to that. I think he was rather affronted. But, c'mon, you can't say shit like that to me when I've been reading issue after issue of Transmetropolitan and not expect some kind of foul response....

**Gene M.** · 04-11-2009, 07:53 AM

Originally Posted by mattbib

LOL...man, I loved that show. Is it even on DVD?

Anyway, happy hour turned into an eight hour affair. And we nearly ended up in a fight. As we do.

Personally, I'm waiting for a Herman's Head box set.

**starkoryan81** · 04-11-2009, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by atoningunifex

I asked him if he really lived in a world where assraping your father's vision using some hack's cock was something to aspire to. He really didn't have an answer to that. I think he was rather affronted. But, c'mon, you can't say shit like that to me when I've been reading issue after issue of Transmetropolitan and not expect some kind of foul response....

Hilarious! While I like the original Dune books, I think they can be a bit impenetrable to the casual fan. As for his son and Anderson, I haven't gotten that far down my scifi reading list (and probably never will) but my bro is a huge Dune fan and he would agree that they suck hard. Some things are probably best left unmolested.

I also have it on good authority that the Mistborn trilogy by Brandon Sanderson are worth a read. I'm going to get through as much Ender stuff as holds my attention and then give these a try. Anyone heard of this?

**LewMoxinsghost** · 04-11-2009, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by crazyredlady

the hockey team, I told you about two of our local teams, the bucs and the chops and you picked the chops to root for. Just letting you know they did well this year. I can understand if you don't remember, it's been a while and other things to tend to crop up

Yes, of course. I remember now.

This always happens when I drink and type. (which is happening with alarming frequency, now that I think about it)