Random Rambles
I am feeling conversational and am in the mood to break the format of my blog in order to just ruminate for a bit. It is my blog, after all, and I can do with it what I wish.
Of course, now that I am here what should I write?
I have been painting my Leia. I had thought of writing a WIP report for the project but to do so would neither get her painted faster or ease my urge to communicate. This is something that I’ve realized with this new blog – my hobby has to come before it. Both in the literal “I need to hobby to create blog comment” and the figurative “If I want to hobby but only have time for hobby or blog I will hobby.”
This is an extension of the principle of spending free time in the most enjoyable way. If I want to hobby, hobby. If I want to blog, blog. If I want to take a week to read the first two books in John Scalzi’s Old Man’s War series than I will do so.
Speaking of books, I’ve started reading John Scalzi, specifically Old Man’s War and The Ghost Brigades. I think I will continue for bit. Before Mr. Scalzi I read a number of David Weber’s Honor Harrington books. By which I mean I read nine in a row and then ground out on the tenth. After the tenth I thought it might be wise to take a break before returning to the series.
John Scalzi, David Weber and George R.R. Martin all have something in common. They are all books that I was aware I should be reading, as a sci-fi and fantasy fan, but didn’t for the longest time. If you have authors or books in the same category I would recommend you get started on them sooner rather than later. In each case I am extremely happy to have jumped on the bandwagon of these excellent authors.
Mr. Scalzi in particular has inspired me to set my hands to writing again. I identify myself internally as a writer. From a young age I have been at heart a fiction writer and this has ranged from a distant hazy dream to an active pursuit and back again. I am thinking of following Mr. Scalzi’s example and posting work for free to a blog. It’s a vague plan, ill-defined and potentially vaporous. Regardless I plan to start tonight when I am finished here.
Well, this post has not moved exactly in the direction I planned. There are other things I wished to talk about but I think I’ll save them for later. I am undecided as to whether I should make this a regular feature. Regular features are anathema to amateur blogs so we’ll see.
How about you, have you been reading any good books lately? Have you read any of Misters Martin, Scalzi or Weber. How did you find them. Please leave a comment. Also check me out on Google+ where this thing should probably have been posted, or on Twitter where it would have been a more acceptable length. Don’t forget to subscribe for my next exciting ramble.
“Rediscovery of Man” by Cordwainer Smith is Science fiction that has… well if you have read it then your mind has probably already been blown. I got put onto him and lots of other left field sci if by a good friend, he introduced me to mr Smith and I reciprocated with Alfred Bester (try him, very interesting fellow).
Random rambling stream of consciousness is cathartic. It gives your mind some time to wander and come up with new connections. Meditation in other words! Keep doing it. It’s good for you.
Thank you for your post, and take care
“Have you read any of Misters Martin”
Yes.
“How did you find them.”
Hard work. 🙂
Not to say ASoIaF isn’t compelling, but it gets unrelentingly grim and graphic at times, for reasons that escape me half the time. I’d also agree with others, to some extent, that the series has kinda started to spin it’s wheels.
That’s an interesting example of differing tastes and experiences Warren. The books are unrelentingly grim and graphic but I like that. Not that I like grim and graphic but it makes it feel like some of the real history I’ve read where the good guy sometimes gets killed early on. The War of 1812 (from a Canadian perspective anyway) has a great hero in General Brock but he’s killed in the first year of the war.
Then again, someone who doesn’t read history may not make that connection, and even some who read history would rather leave that grimness for the history books and not entertainment.
Any recommendations on books though? I think I’m reading Rediscovery of Man next but good books only last me 1-2 days.
China Mieville’s “Perdido Street Station”, Iain M Banks “Player of Games” (fantastic for war gamers!), and Alfred Bester’s “the Stars my Destination”. If you have not already delved into these guys then I envy the joy they will hopefully bring you!
Like you I devour good books, but with Cordwainer Smith I found myself really savouring the language and the ideas stuck with me for a long time afterwards. Even his biographical aspects are astonishing! As a history buff I think you will enjoy it.
Sadly it appears that Kobo doesn’t carry anything from the Cordwainer Smith pseudonym other than a Russian translation. I’ll have to find a new ebook source.
My local library also doesn’t carry any ebooks of his. Strange.
His work is quite old, I found copies in second hand shops and at dedicated scifi and fantasy book shops. I never think of using kindle/kobo, so not sure if he has a digital presence. Critically acclaimed, I guess, doesn’t always translate to massive sales.