Such a cheery title I know...
Well, while recovering from a little self-induced stomach issues (eating something I thought might cause some problems, typical), I was able to at least pick up the latest of my favorite author's books today: no, not JK Rowling for all you Lord of the Pre-Teen fans out there :) The author in question would be Harry Turtledove, and the book is the last of his Great War saga, called Settling Accounts: In at the Death. For those of you who do not know this author, Mr. Turtledove is one of the leading writers of counterfactual or alternate history. Most call it alternate history since counterfactuals tend to be non-fiction fiction, while alternate history is considered science fiction. The main difference is that he does not have to site his sources (though he could being a professor of Byzantine History at UCLA). Anyway, so far have been thrilled to read this final book in an 11 book saga spanning a world where the Confederates won the War of Northern Aggression in 1862 and went their own way causing a chain of events that leads to the CSA fighting the USA in the Great War, and in these last books a Second Great War (since the war is unnamed in the book, but for all practical purposes WWII).
While it is not my intent to actually review the book,(especially since I am not finished) I do recommend anything that Mr. Turtledove has written, especially his American History stuff. Indeed, one of his stand-alone books, Guns of the South is one of my favorite books of all time. All this being said, what actually got me to post about was the whole idea of alternate timelines, something I have written a little about and think of constantly. While it is nice to think that our hopes and dreams may not have been forlorn, that those we have lost might live on in another, parallel world, as many of those worlds might be a ruin of hell or the beauty of paradise itself. All it has taken is a misstep, a bullet gone awry or the wrong (or right) words said at the wrong time, and a world could have diverged with ease, creating?
Therein lies the question, this philosopher's search. I have wondered of their validity (and as a branch of history alternate histories are most valid) and of the possible dangers... of fragmenting worlds and souls. I suspect, due to the nature of quantum mechanics and my own philosophy I will have no answers in that accord. The best I can do is enjoy alternate worlds, perhaps write some counterfactuals myself in the hope of understanding the past through different futures.
C.
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
Showing posts with label books. Show all posts
31 July 2007
27 March 2007
Books That Changed This Life
First off, I would like to thank M for inadvertently inspiring this post for while commenting on her most recent post I thought a little bit about books that inspired me/changed me for the better (worse could be for another time, I suppose, but I really can't think of too many books that have done that... depressed, sucked, needed to be used for toilet paper, yes, but not made me a worse person). So, I thought I would talk about a few books that have helped inspire the person I am, sort of made me think about some of the deeper things, and allowed me to really see. Of course, much of this change comes from within, but certain writings can show us the door that needs to be opened. Whether we open it or not is up to us.
1) Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter by Thomas Cahill: I did not read this until fall of 2005 (I think it came out in 2004 anyway), but since then, this excellent book, especially the first two chapters, have stayed with me. Cahill proposes that the Greeks showed us how to Fight, Feel, Think, and Party, and that is why they matter... for some, the bit on partying alone might make them matter. However, the chapters 'How to Fight' and 'How to Feel' deal with the Iliad and The Odyssey respectively (and shows the order, unlike many American high schools, in which they should be read), and the idea of such emotions in Western literature. From a philosophical point of view, the books are the thread of Homer's life, first as a young man reaching into the world and doing what young men do. The words and images of The Iliad are that of a young man, and you get a sense of hopefulness that is borne of youth throughout the poem/book, even as you know that most of the participants are doomed but a few.
Some of those few are chronicled in The Odyssey and I need not explain the tale for it is one of those books that we all know (or should know). The interesting thing about The Odyssey is the fact it seems more primitive (hence it being taught first) or not even written/composed by Homer. What Cahill proposes, and what seems to be the real sense after reading the book/poem again, is that The Odyssey is the work of an older man, one who has seen much, and one who simply longs for his rest, one who longs for home. The wanderer that is Odysseus, after so much travail, earns his rest and the horrors of war, the rage of Achilles is finally stilled in the land and woman he loved so much. In many ways, this is the essence of life, the journey that we all undertake and so many times falter, but we are always seeking, longing, and that emotion, that hope, was borne amid the waters of a wine-dark sea.
2) Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke: Fiction can do as much to alter the perceptions of the soul as non-fiction (especially if one feels holy books fiction more than non-fiction, but that is something we all must decide individually), and Arthur C. Clarke has been one of those authors that has continually made me question the ideas of time and memory, and the beauty of Childhood's End was that it was written 20 years before I was born. Clarke proposes the idea of racial memory for the past and the future and that things in our past that we fear are not necessarily borne of the evils of the past, but the tide of the future. The book also preys upon the fears of nuclear holocaust and ufos in general at the time, but it remains a classic for the questions it forces the reader to ask of itself and humanity in general.
3) Robots and Empire and Foundation and Earth by Isaac Asimov: I must discuss these books together for they are linked in plot and theme, and one is the direct inheritor of the other, finally linking Asimov's Robot novels with the Foundation series. As literature, it is masterful, as philosophy and ethics, the novels are examples of what we can be if we truly put our minds to it (in some cases literally). While these books were written in the 80's, they are borne of the mindset of the 50's and the novels from that time. In that, both books are classic science fiction, though a little updated. Still, they keep the feel of those fantastic stories of a generation past.
Asimov was the first science fiction author I read, and I think I read the first Foundation books initially, then I was swept up in the later books as they came out when I was a teenager. Asimov opened a door that already existed thanks to movies and tv shows like Star Wars and Star Trek, but it helped me realize a love affair with science fiction writing that has hardly abated even in the face of my love for non-fiction and history.
4) Timeline by Michael Crichton: I must mention this book for I would never have read the book that comes after this had I not read this book first. Timeline was a brilliantly executed piece of fiction (even if the movie was a poor imitation of the novel) that pushed the bounds of the ideas of 'time travel' but those of the common notions of the Middle Ages. At the time, I enjoyed Medieval History, but nothing like the hold it has over me now. Something about the clarity of discussion in the novel about Medieval society and the Hundred Years War clicked, and when I turned to his bibliography, it was clear he had done his research. Many of the books he recommended I have since used in papers and found them to be amazing books in their own right, and Crichton led me to another author that I might not have read otherwise, the eminent Medieval historian, Norman F. Cantor.
5) In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made by Norman F. Cantor: Dr. Cantor has been writing about the Middle Ages longer than I have been alive and has written several books I highly recommend for the casual historian and for those who study intellectual history (meaning the history of a history). His book Inventing the Middle Ages is a seminal work on Medieval intellectual history, though I recommend it only if you are serious about history. It is a tough read. As for as In the Wake of the Plague, this was a book that really cemented my love for the time period, not so much because it is a plague history, but because it treats the plague as the many things it was: a history altering event as much as it was a pandemic as it was a cultural shift. The plague caused many events that seemed little at the time but would shape the world as we knew it. One example is the migration of the European Jewry to Poland and Eastern Europe, which would have enormous ramifications to say the least in the 19th and 20th centuries. It altered the economy from one of predominantly agriculture to a wage and town economy thanks to the population shifts, and it created a reactionary thinking toward the Church, leading to works such as The Decamaron and the insight necessary for the Renaissance. Alas, it did not alter war as it only created a small hiccup in the Hundred Years War, but the plague had a subtle hand in creating the modern world, for good or ill. For me, this has always been important, this shift in understanding, for without such death and suffering the world we know might never have been.
Well, this has run longer than I thought, and five books should do, though I could list a couple of others, but it is not necessary. As I mentioned before, the books have helped illuminate the passageways. How I proceeded has always been up to me.
C.
1) Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter by Thomas Cahill: I did not read this until fall of 2005 (I think it came out in 2004 anyway), but since then, this excellent book, especially the first two chapters, have stayed with me. Cahill proposes that the Greeks showed us how to Fight, Feel, Think, and Party, and that is why they matter... for some, the bit on partying alone might make them matter. However, the chapters 'How to Fight' and 'How to Feel' deal with the Iliad and The Odyssey respectively (and shows the order, unlike many American high schools, in which they should be read), and the idea of such emotions in Western literature. From a philosophical point of view, the books are the thread of Homer's life, first as a young man reaching into the world and doing what young men do. The words and images of The Iliad are that of a young man, and you get a sense of hopefulness that is borne of youth throughout the poem/book, even as you know that most of the participants are doomed but a few.
Some of those few are chronicled in The Odyssey and I need not explain the tale for it is one of those books that we all know (or should know). The interesting thing about The Odyssey is the fact it seems more primitive (hence it being taught first) or not even written/composed by Homer. What Cahill proposes, and what seems to be the real sense after reading the book/poem again, is that The Odyssey is the work of an older man, one who has seen much, and one who simply longs for his rest, one who longs for home. The wanderer that is Odysseus, after so much travail, earns his rest and the horrors of war, the rage of Achilles is finally stilled in the land and woman he loved so much. In many ways, this is the essence of life, the journey that we all undertake and so many times falter, but we are always seeking, longing, and that emotion, that hope, was borne amid the waters of a wine-dark sea.
2) Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke: Fiction can do as much to alter the perceptions of the soul as non-fiction (especially if one feels holy books fiction more than non-fiction, but that is something we all must decide individually), and Arthur C. Clarke has been one of those authors that has continually made me question the ideas of time and memory, and the beauty of Childhood's End was that it was written 20 years before I was born. Clarke proposes the idea of racial memory for the past and the future and that things in our past that we fear are not necessarily borne of the evils of the past, but the tide of the future. The book also preys upon the fears of nuclear holocaust and ufos in general at the time, but it remains a classic for the questions it forces the reader to ask of itself and humanity in general.
3) Robots and Empire and Foundation and Earth by Isaac Asimov: I must discuss these books together for they are linked in plot and theme, and one is the direct inheritor of the other, finally linking Asimov's Robot novels with the Foundation series. As literature, it is masterful, as philosophy and ethics, the novels are examples of what we can be if we truly put our minds to it (in some cases literally). While these books were written in the 80's, they are borne of the mindset of the 50's and the novels from that time. In that, both books are classic science fiction, though a little updated. Still, they keep the feel of those fantastic stories of a generation past.
Asimov was the first science fiction author I read, and I think I read the first Foundation books initially, then I was swept up in the later books as they came out when I was a teenager. Asimov opened a door that already existed thanks to movies and tv shows like Star Wars and Star Trek, but it helped me realize a love affair with science fiction writing that has hardly abated even in the face of my love for non-fiction and history.
4) Timeline by Michael Crichton: I must mention this book for I would never have read the book that comes after this had I not read this book first. Timeline was a brilliantly executed piece of fiction (even if the movie was a poor imitation of the novel) that pushed the bounds of the ideas of 'time travel' but those of the common notions of the Middle Ages. At the time, I enjoyed Medieval History, but nothing like the hold it has over me now. Something about the clarity of discussion in the novel about Medieval society and the Hundred Years War clicked, and when I turned to his bibliography, it was clear he had done his research. Many of the books he recommended I have since used in papers and found them to be amazing books in their own right, and Crichton led me to another author that I might not have read otherwise, the eminent Medieval historian, Norman F. Cantor.
5) In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made by Norman F. Cantor: Dr. Cantor has been writing about the Middle Ages longer than I have been alive and has written several books I highly recommend for the casual historian and for those who study intellectual history (meaning the history of a history). His book Inventing the Middle Ages is a seminal work on Medieval intellectual history, though I recommend it only if you are serious about history. It is a tough read. As for as In the Wake of the Plague, this was a book that really cemented my love for the time period, not so much because it is a plague history, but because it treats the plague as the many things it was: a history altering event as much as it was a pandemic as it was a cultural shift. The plague caused many events that seemed little at the time but would shape the world as we knew it. One example is the migration of the European Jewry to Poland and Eastern Europe, which would have enormous ramifications to say the least in the 19th and 20th centuries. It altered the economy from one of predominantly agriculture to a wage and town economy thanks to the population shifts, and it created a reactionary thinking toward the Church, leading to works such as The Decamaron and the insight necessary for the Renaissance. Alas, it did not alter war as it only created a small hiccup in the Hundred Years War, but the plague had a subtle hand in creating the modern world, for good or ill. For me, this has always been important, this shift in understanding, for without such death and suffering the world we know might never have been.
Well, this has run longer than I thought, and five books should do, though I could list a couple of others, but it is not necessary. As I mentioned before, the books have helped illuminate the passageways. How I proceeded has always been up to me.
C.
08 January 2007
Book Reviews:
Since I read so many books, and some that are obscure to the average reader (and some that are obscure to the average history or poli sci student for that matter), I thought I would review a couple tonight, a pair that are wildly different in scope and presentation, but splendid in their own right.
First off we have The Rising Tide by Jeff Shaara. Many of you might be familiar with the name and may have even read his other books as well. His father, Michael, wrote the classic The Killer Angels that later became the movie Gettysburg, and after his father's death, Jeff Shaara finished the trilogy of Civil War novels, writing Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure. Later, Shaara continued the historical novel of our country's wars by writing Gone for Soldiers (about the Mexican War), two novels of the American Revolution and To the Last Man, a novel of the Great War. Now, a word about my usage of novel (and indeed Mr. Shaara's usage as well). The historical events he describes are for the most part accurate and many of his sources come from letters and other primary sources of the participants; however, because he utilizes dialogue that may or may not (more likely not) have been accurate, the books are considered fiction taking place in the context of the events he describes. For his part, most historians find his representations fairly accurate, and I would contend he captures the spirit of the characters he portrays.
The Rising Tide is the first in a series of novels about the United States' involvement in World War II. It begins with the United States forming a coalition with the British, and to a lesser extent the French (who had not been liberated at the time and were mostly exiled or collaborating), moving through Operation: Torch in North Africa and the invasion of Sicily and Italy. It is presumed the next book will begin with D-Day. Shaara utilizes two main protagonists, General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General (later Field Marshal) Erwin Rommel, though Generals George S. Patton and Mark Clark are featured supporting protagonists. He also captures well the perspective of the enlisted man with chapters devoted to an American tanker as he progresses through the first fight in North Africa, the disastrous battle of Kasserine Pass.
The action in the novel is played out well, with dueling perspectives of the commanders and the enlisted men, and gives the book a gritty, realistic feel. And his characterization of Erwin Rommel is one of the best I have ever read. Further, Shaara captures the intense pressure Eisenhower was under in building a coalition of two (later three) major allies and trying to stop the German war machine. From the German side, we see how hamstrung Rommel and his contemporaries were because of Hitler's increasing insanity and the delusions of Fascist Italy. On the side of the Allies, we also see Eisenhower's frustration with his two best field commanders, Patton and Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery. In the end, it is amazing, with all the conflicting and outrageous personalities, that the Allies were ever able to coordinate their forces.
If I had one misgiving, it was that I had the feeling I had seen this before, especially in Shaara's realistic portrayal of Patton. Indeed, at times, I thought I was having flashbacks to the movie 'Patton' because much of how Patton is characterized is dead on with the movie. It may be that Shaara paid homage, or that both the movie and the book were fairly accurate in that regard. In any event, I still recommend the book, especially for the casual student of World War II history, as it does not overwhelm the reader with details of battle but instead focuses on those who fought the war and how the war affected them.
Switching gears, we have What Kind of Nation by James F. Simon, a study of the constitutional struggles between Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall. At first, I thought it would be more of an analysis of their confrontations as President and Chief Justice respectively (though the book goes into that in great detail), but it is more a narrative of their lives in relation to the early growing pains of the young Republic. The book begins with Jefferson joining Washington's Cabinet and his early conflicts with Alexander Hamilton, a man diametrically opposed to Jefferson. Indeed, the heart of the book is less the conflict of Jefferson and Marshall to me, but the struggle of the early political ideologies of the nation.
Simon also makes some interesting insights into the character of Jefferson, especially his desire for secession during the presidency of his former friend John Adams, and shows how John Marshall emerges from relative obscurity to basically determine how the Supreme Court would be seen in later generations. Indeed, for good or ill, John Marshall is the reason the Supreme Court exists in the manner it does today. Further, it can (and is) argued that his legacy is perhaps more important to modern America than Jefferson's, if only because Jefferson was a product of the Enlightenment and could never escape the idea that the United States should remain an 'are' and not an 'is' (with apologies to Shelby Foote). Marshall's America heralds the 20th century, while Jefferson's longs for simpler times. The problem is that Marshall understood that the Federal system might have been better for America in the long run, while Jefferson continued to scream States Rights until his death.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, mostly because I am intrigued by the philosophy of political ideology and how it has evolved to the present day. And this book delivers in that regard. If you are interested in the early political struggles of the United States, I recommend this book.
Well, I hope these reviews are ok, as I have not done a real review in a couple of years. Do enjoy whatever books you choose to read, and again, I do recommend these two fine books.
C.
First off we have The Rising Tide by Jeff Shaara. Many of you might be familiar with the name and may have even read his other books as well. His father, Michael, wrote the classic The Killer Angels that later became the movie Gettysburg, and after his father's death, Jeff Shaara finished the trilogy of Civil War novels, writing Gods and Generals and The Last Full Measure. Later, Shaara continued the historical novel of our country's wars by writing Gone for Soldiers (about the Mexican War), two novels of the American Revolution and To the Last Man, a novel of the Great War. Now, a word about my usage of novel (and indeed Mr. Shaara's usage as well). The historical events he describes are for the most part accurate and many of his sources come from letters and other primary sources of the participants; however, because he utilizes dialogue that may or may not (more likely not) have been accurate, the books are considered fiction taking place in the context of the events he describes. For his part, most historians find his representations fairly accurate, and I would contend he captures the spirit of the characters he portrays.
The Rising Tide is the first in a series of novels about the United States' involvement in World War II. It begins with the United States forming a coalition with the British, and to a lesser extent the French (who had not been liberated at the time and were mostly exiled or collaborating), moving through Operation: Torch in North Africa and the invasion of Sicily and Italy. It is presumed the next book will begin with D-Day. Shaara utilizes two main protagonists, General Dwight D. Eisenhower and General (later Field Marshal) Erwin Rommel, though Generals George S. Patton and Mark Clark are featured supporting protagonists. He also captures well the perspective of the enlisted man with chapters devoted to an American tanker as he progresses through the first fight in North Africa, the disastrous battle of Kasserine Pass.
The action in the novel is played out well, with dueling perspectives of the commanders and the enlisted men, and gives the book a gritty, realistic feel. And his characterization of Erwin Rommel is one of the best I have ever read. Further, Shaara captures the intense pressure Eisenhower was under in building a coalition of two (later three) major allies and trying to stop the German war machine. From the German side, we see how hamstrung Rommel and his contemporaries were because of Hitler's increasing insanity and the delusions of Fascist Italy. On the side of the Allies, we also see Eisenhower's frustration with his two best field commanders, Patton and Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery. In the end, it is amazing, with all the conflicting and outrageous personalities, that the Allies were ever able to coordinate their forces.
If I had one misgiving, it was that I had the feeling I had seen this before, especially in Shaara's realistic portrayal of Patton. Indeed, at times, I thought I was having flashbacks to the movie 'Patton' because much of how Patton is characterized is dead on with the movie. It may be that Shaara paid homage, or that both the movie and the book were fairly accurate in that regard. In any event, I still recommend the book, especially for the casual student of World War II history, as it does not overwhelm the reader with details of battle but instead focuses on those who fought the war and how the war affected them.
Switching gears, we have What Kind of Nation by James F. Simon, a study of the constitutional struggles between Thomas Jefferson and John Marshall. At first, I thought it would be more of an analysis of their confrontations as President and Chief Justice respectively (though the book goes into that in great detail), but it is more a narrative of their lives in relation to the early growing pains of the young Republic. The book begins with Jefferson joining Washington's Cabinet and his early conflicts with Alexander Hamilton, a man diametrically opposed to Jefferson. Indeed, the heart of the book is less the conflict of Jefferson and Marshall to me, but the struggle of the early political ideologies of the nation.
Simon also makes some interesting insights into the character of Jefferson, especially his desire for secession during the presidency of his former friend John Adams, and shows how John Marshall emerges from relative obscurity to basically determine how the Supreme Court would be seen in later generations. Indeed, for good or ill, John Marshall is the reason the Supreme Court exists in the manner it does today. Further, it can (and is) argued that his legacy is perhaps more important to modern America than Jefferson's, if only because Jefferson was a product of the Enlightenment and could never escape the idea that the United States should remain an 'are' and not an 'is' (with apologies to Shelby Foote). Marshall's America heralds the 20th century, while Jefferson's longs for simpler times. The problem is that Marshall understood that the Federal system might have been better for America in the long run, while Jefferson continued to scream States Rights until his death.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, mostly because I am intrigued by the philosophy of political ideology and how it has evolved to the present day. And this book delivers in that regard. If you are interested in the early political struggles of the United States, I recommend this book.
Well, I hope these reviews are ok, as I have not done a real review in a couple of years. Do enjoy whatever books you choose to read, and again, I do recommend these two fine books.
C.
27 December 2006
25 Books
In a previous post, '25 Songs' (link in the sidebar), I detailed many of the songs I quite enjoy. So, with my attention diverted to some other gaming issues, I have decided to throw out a list of some of my favorite books, not necessarily in order, but those that have affected me deeply and have helped mold some of my thinking. Some are older favorites, others are new gems. Either way, I could make this about 50 to 100, but I did not really want to make anyone numb from boredom (not that it might happen anyway :)
1) The Stand by Stephen King: I am not really a fan of King, but I love the unabridged version of The Stand (and the miniseries is not bad either).
2) Chronicles by Froissart: One of the few primary sources for the early part of the Hundred Years War. The only problem is that Froissart was more biased to toward the English and likely exaggerates some of the casualty figures, as was common in the Middle Ages.
3) In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made by Norman F. Cantor: A fantastic book that postulates some intriguing theories about the Bubonic Plague and the other outbreaks during the time of the Black Death and how the Black Death helped create the modern era.
4) Sailing the Wine Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter by Thomas Cahill: This more recent book affected some of my thinking on ancient history and the philosophy of why it all matters using the context of The Iliad and The Odyssey. (It also inspired two poems, so never bad in that regard).
5) The Iliad and The Odyssey: Perhaps not surprisingly... reading the above book has
helped me understand better two of the greatest books in Western Literature.
6) The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove: Robert E. Lee gets the Ak-47 during the Wilderness campaign... time-traveling Alternate History at its best.
7) Holy War by Karen Armstrong: Though I disagree with some of her assertions, Armstrong creates an interesting portrait of the struggle for the Holy Land.
8) Timeline by Michael Crichton: I did not care for the movie, but the book was fantastic and had one of the more extensive bibliographies you will ever see for a work of fiction.
9) Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke: An older book, but a true classic of science fiction and certainly the most philosophical book of early science fiction.
10) Robots of Dawn/Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov: While I loved Foundation, I read these books first and found I was able to relate to them more. They also helped tie in the later Foundation books.
11) Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle: A classic, though technologically dated, disaster book of a rogue comet striking the Earth before Meteor, Armageddon and Deep Impact.
12) We Were Soldiers Once... And Young by Lt. Gen Harold Moore and Joe Galloway: A fantastic book and movie (regardless of your Mel Gibson feelings) that tells the story of the first major battle of the Vietnam War from the perspective of the soldiers on both sides.
13) Inventing the Middle Ages by Norman F. Cantor: Perhaps the seminal work on the history of Medieval History. (ie, intellectual history)
14) 12th Planet by Zechariah Sitchin- Written in the late 70's, this book proposes the ancient Sumerians knew far more about our past, and our future than we let on. Intriguing read, and he still has a strong following today, thanks to his many books.
15) Battle Cry of Freedom by James S. Mc Pherson- The finest single volume work on the War Between the States (Shelby Foote's versions are two or three volumes, I forget) and one that treats the conflict in a very fair manner. Very easy to read.
16) The Light of Other Days by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter: Simple story in some ways about the discovery of a time viewer, but complex in the area of philosophy. What one might expect from Clarke and Baxter.
17) Green Cathedrals by Philip J. Lowry: I read this before the local shrine (the Ballpark in Arlington) was built, so it is dated. Still, this book is a must for anyone interested in the history of baseball and its temples. Also has a great entry on a place in an Iowa cornfield.
18) The Albigensian Crusades by Joseph Strayer: One of the least known crusades, but one nonetheless and just as brutal as the others.
19) The Disappearance of God: A Divine Mystery by Richard Elliot Friedman: An intriguing look at how Yahweh's involvement in human affairs fades from Genesis to the end of the Old Testament.
20) Tales of the Dying Earth by Jack Vance: My dad would put this at number one, he being possibly the biggest Vance fan on the planet, but I find the collection of stories and novels of the Earth near the end of time to be simply great science fiction/fantasy.
21) The Desire of the Everlasting Hills: The World Before and After Jesus by Thomas Cahill: A book that started my own quest for the historical Jesus.
22) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: One of my favorite books in high school, and I still have a soft spot for it. Also a book that greatly influenced the way I write.
23) Wilson's Ghost by Robert S. McNamarra: Not the book on which The Fog of War is loosely based, but this one is more relative than the Vietnam experience (not to diminish that in any way). This book looks at trying to stop the trend of violence borne from the end of the Great War.
24) Let the Sea Make a Noise: A History of the North Pacific by Walter A. MacDougall: This book was one of those that told me I should really study history. After reading it, I knew that I wanted to work with history. The book is written uniquely in a story narrative told by the voices of those involved in the history of the North Pacific, then switches perspectives via date and voice. Very, very well done.
25) The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara: Technically a novel because it uses dialogue, this history of the Battle of Gettysburg (and later became the movie Gettysburg) is one of the finest, with some incredible romantic and realistic imagery of the War Between the States.
1) The Stand by Stephen King: I am not really a fan of King, but I love the unabridged version of The Stand (and the miniseries is not bad either).
2) Chronicles by Froissart: One of the few primary sources for the early part of the Hundred Years War. The only problem is that Froissart was more biased to toward the English and likely exaggerates some of the casualty figures, as was common in the Middle Ages.
3) In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made by Norman F. Cantor: A fantastic book that postulates some intriguing theories about the Bubonic Plague and the other outbreaks during the time of the Black Death and how the Black Death helped create the modern era.
4) Sailing the Wine Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter by Thomas Cahill: This more recent book affected some of my thinking on ancient history and the philosophy of why it all matters using the context of The Iliad and The Odyssey. (It also inspired two poems, so never bad in that regard).
5) The Iliad and The Odyssey: Perhaps not surprisingly... reading the above book has
helped me understand better two of the greatest books in Western Literature.
6) The Guns of the South by Harry Turtledove: Robert E. Lee gets the Ak-47 during the Wilderness campaign... time-traveling Alternate History at its best.
7) Holy War by Karen Armstrong: Though I disagree with some of her assertions, Armstrong creates an interesting portrait of the struggle for the Holy Land.
8) Timeline by Michael Crichton: I did not care for the movie, but the book was fantastic and had one of the more extensive bibliographies you will ever see for a work of fiction.
9) Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clarke: An older book, but a true classic of science fiction and certainly the most philosophical book of early science fiction.
10) Robots of Dawn/Robots and Empire by Isaac Asimov: While I loved Foundation, I read these books first and found I was able to relate to them more. They also helped tie in the later Foundation books.
11) Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle: A classic, though technologically dated, disaster book of a rogue comet striking the Earth before Meteor, Armageddon and Deep Impact.
12) We Were Soldiers Once... And Young by Lt. Gen Harold Moore and Joe Galloway: A fantastic book and movie (regardless of your Mel Gibson feelings) that tells the story of the first major battle of the Vietnam War from the perspective of the soldiers on both sides.
13) Inventing the Middle Ages by Norman F. Cantor: Perhaps the seminal work on the history of Medieval History. (ie, intellectual history)
14) 12th Planet by Zechariah Sitchin- Written in the late 70's, this book proposes the ancient Sumerians knew far more about our past, and our future than we let on. Intriguing read, and he still has a strong following today, thanks to his many books.
15) Battle Cry of Freedom by James S. Mc Pherson- The finest single volume work on the War Between the States (Shelby Foote's versions are two or three volumes, I forget) and one that treats the conflict in a very fair manner. Very easy to read.
16) The Light of Other Days by Arthur C. Clarke and Stephen Baxter: Simple story in some ways about the discovery of a time viewer, but complex in the area of philosophy. What one might expect from Clarke and Baxter.
17) Green Cathedrals by Philip J. Lowry: I read this before the local shrine (the Ballpark in Arlington) was built, so it is dated. Still, this book is a must for anyone interested in the history of baseball and its temples. Also has a great entry on a place in an Iowa cornfield.
18) The Albigensian Crusades by Joseph Strayer: One of the least known crusades, but one nonetheless and just as brutal as the others.
19) The Disappearance of God: A Divine Mystery by Richard Elliot Friedman: An intriguing look at how Yahweh's involvement in human affairs fades from Genesis to the end of the Old Testament.
20) Tales of the Dying Earth by Jack Vance: My dad would put this at number one, he being possibly the biggest Vance fan on the planet, but I find the collection of stories and novels of the Earth near the end of time to be simply great science fiction/fantasy.
21) The Desire of the Everlasting Hills: The World Before and After Jesus by Thomas Cahill: A book that started my own quest for the historical Jesus.
22) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: One of my favorite books in high school, and I still have a soft spot for it. Also a book that greatly influenced the way I write.
23) Wilson's Ghost by Robert S. McNamarra: Not the book on which The Fog of War is loosely based, but this one is more relative than the Vietnam experience (not to diminish that in any way). This book looks at trying to stop the trend of violence borne from the end of the Great War.
24) Let the Sea Make a Noise: A History of the North Pacific by Walter A. MacDougall: This book was one of those that told me I should really study history. After reading it, I knew that I wanted to work with history. The book is written uniquely in a story narrative told by the voices of those involved in the history of the North Pacific, then switches perspectives via date and voice. Very, very well done.
25) The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara: Technically a novel because it uses dialogue, this history of the Battle of Gettysburg (and later became the movie Gettysburg) is one of the finest, with some incredible romantic and realistic imagery of the War Between the States.
07 December 2006
The Last Knight
I have just finished reading another excellent book, The Last Knight, by one of my favorite authors, Norman F. Cantor, professor emeritus at NYU and formerly of Princeton. He has also written one of the definitive intellectual histories of the Middle Ages, a book called Inventing the Middle Ages, and a fabulous book on plague history: In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World It Made. Needless to say, when I saw this newer book by Dr. Cantor I had to read it, and once I got started I was rarely able to put it down. Thankfully, Cantor's books are all easy reads, as he approaches most of his books with a layman's perspective, never sounding off-putting. Of all the authors I have read on the Middle Ages, he is certainly the most approachable. His latest effort is quite approachable but does ask the reader to have a little background in Medieval History and the Hundred Years War. Still, it is not so much as he does explain the background details rather well.
The book itself concerns John of Gaunt(Ghent), founder of the Lancastrian dynasty (his son was Henry IV), and uncle to the last Plantagenet king, Richard II (deposed by Gaunt's son, Henry IV). Gaunt was one of the last great magnates of the Middle Ages, as after his death, the power begins to rest in nations and the middle classes, though only slightly so until the 1500's and really nations do not become 'nations' until the Treaty of Westphalia which ends the Thirty Years War in 1648. Still, as Gaunt passes, the seeds of the modern world, for good or ill, have been sown. One other interesting note about Gaunt, his grandson through his daughter Phillipa would help usher in the age of discovery in Portugal. Henrique never made it to the throne of Portugal, but would garner much more fame through his more well-known sobriquet as Prince Henry the Navigator who started Portugal, and the rest of Western Europe down the path of Discovery (that the Chinese had already laid out for them).
C.
The book itself concerns John of Gaunt(Ghent), founder of the Lancastrian dynasty (his son was Henry IV), and uncle to the last Plantagenet king, Richard II (deposed by Gaunt's son, Henry IV). Gaunt was one of the last great magnates of the Middle Ages, as after his death, the power begins to rest in nations and the middle classes, though only slightly so until the 1500's and really nations do not become 'nations' until the Treaty of Westphalia which ends the Thirty Years War in 1648. Still, as Gaunt passes, the seeds of the modern world, for good or ill, have been sown. One other interesting note about Gaunt, his grandson through his daughter Phillipa would help usher in the age of discovery in Portugal. Henrique never made it to the throne of Portugal, but would garner much more fame through his more well-known sobriquet as Prince Henry the Navigator who started Portugal, and the rest of Western Europe down the path of Discovery (that the Chinese had already laid out for them).
C.
18 October 2006
The 100
Sorry, no room for another 4300 :) (little joke for those who have seen The 4400)
As seems commonplace on blogs and other mediums, (I did something similar in my old journal) I have decided to give my many fans (crickets chirping in the distance) a number of things about me that are completely unremarkable but possibly interesting for those that find such things interesting. I have to admit I am a fan of such lists, so I give you such a list. Since 100 or so seems to be the appropriate number, (I suppose I could have waited to my 100th post, but I decided to get this out of the way) here are 100 things you should or should not know about me.
1. I'm left-handed (for the most part)
2. I have horrible handwriting, even when printing. You don't want to see my cursive (I haven't written in cursive in I don't know how long)
3. The first football game I remember is Super Bowl X (Dallas-Pittsburgh, 1976)
4. Reportedly, my third and fourth words were 'Go Cowboys!'.
5. The first movie I remember seeing was 'Star Wars', though I think my parents took me to see both 'The Muppet Movie' and 'Rocky' before that.
6. The first movie that gave me nightmares was 'Alien' (I was 6).
7. My favorite movie of all time is 'The Empire Strikes Back.'
8. My favorite book of all time is 'The Stand' by Stephen King, followed closely by 'The Guns of the South' by Harry Turtledove.
9. My favorite non-fiction book is 'In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World it Made' by Norman F. Cantor
10. Though I love medieval history, I am really unfocused, studying plague history, religious history (both of which do crossover into medieval, true), and military history.
11. I have a minor in Space Science and were I not math-illiterate, I would have gone into the sciences.
12. I love maps (which translated into a Geography minor).
13. I enjoy politics, but never had the stomach to get into it, aside from a term in the Student Senate in college.
14. I have been behind the Iron Curtain, but just barely, mere months before it all collapsed.
15. The best museum I have ever been to is the Hermitage in what was then Leningrad (I've never been to Paris, so I can't say the Louvre, regardless of reputation).
16. I have never been to Western Europe (unless you count 2 days in Finland to wind up my trip to Eastern Europe).
17. I have traveled to and/or through every state in the contiguous USA except Kentucky and Maine.
18. Though there was a great deal of anti-American sentiment the second time I was there, a part of my heart will always belong in Australia.
19. My ideal retirement spot is a stretch of coastline in South-West Australia.
20. I have spent almost three consecutive days on a train. (the India-Pacific between Sydney and Perth)
21. I have had my car searched for drugs at a Canadian border crossing (they thought I was smuggling pot from Mexico because of my Texas plates).
22. I have difficulty with the smell of tobacco (maybe a mild allergy perhaps).
23. I've lived in my car.
24. I waited tables for almost 2 years.
25. I have a fondness for theater, having acted, directed, produced and pretty much did everything at one point except costume design.
26. Before I sold anime stuff, I helped my family sell sports cards.
27. I was married for about 5 years once.
28. I've now been divorced for about 5 years.
29. I prefer the term 'certified pre-owned'. Sounds more official.
30. I taught myself to read at age 3 (thank you Sesame Street)
31. I didn't write my first short story or poem until I was 17.
32. I won an award (the National Association of Children's Bookwriters or something like that) for my first short story... which looking back, wasn't all that good.
33. I am my worst critic, as most writers are.
34. I don't like to use the word 'believe' or 'belief'. To me it is the first step to fanaticism. I would rather use the word 'think' or 'thought'.
35. I grew up Independent Baptist (hence my views on 'belief').
36. My favorite television show is still 'Babylon 5'.
37. Growing up, my favorite show was 'Star Trek', old and TNG.
38. I love roleplaying games and used to game constantly.
39. My favorite song of all time is 'Piano Man' by Billy Joel.
40. My second favorite song is 'Blue Eyes' by Elton John.
41. I have seen them both in concert separately and together.
42. I wish I could have seen Johnny Cash in concert.
43. My favorite concert is easily Billy Joel/Elton John (at Texas Stadium, April 1995).
44. My favorite musical/play is 'Phantom of the Opera'.
45. I love quotations.
46. I grew up a giant comic fan, and still read them now and then.
47. My favorite comic story is 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns' by Frank Miller.
48. I still prefer Superman over Batman, but only slightly.
49. My favorite roleplaying game is 'Star Wars' (shocking, I know)
50. I have been roleplaying (though mostly game mastering) for almost 20 years now. 2007 will mark my 20th year.
51. My favorite non-Star Wars/Lord of the Rings movie is 'Almost Famous' (I prefer the Director's cut called 'Untitled'.
52. My favorite album (what not a favorite MP3 playlist?... what is this word, album?) is 'American IV: The Man Comes Around' by Johnny Cash.
53. I am both a cat and dog person.
54. I have owned more cats and dogs than I can count.
55. Cats, even strays, like to hang around me.
56. I am considered depressed, but not bi-polar.
57. I have a large number of siblings, and the oldest.
58. I lead a very parenthetical life (really, it's true).
59. I used to fence, preferring foil and sabre over epee.
60. If I had a philosophy, I think it would be deistic multi-dimensional reincarnationist. It worked from the Minbari (from 'Babylon 5'), though deism is more 18th century Enlightenment than late 20th century science fiction.
61. I understand the difference between the Jesus of history and the Jesus of faith.
62. While I feel we soften words too much and argue about semantics, I am still far too diplomatic for my own good.
63. That being said, I have found it hard to be diplomatic when it counted most.
64. If I could drop everything and go 'Out There' (out there being space and beyond), I would.
65. While I prefer the Jedi Code, the Sith dress better (and I prefer darker colors myself).
66. I wear sandals whenever I can, meaning I've worn socks twice in the past 2 calendar years (which you can do in Texas, even in winter).
67. The last time I wore tennis shoes regularly was on my last trip to Australia. Unless you are on a beach, it is really, really hard to hike in sandals.
68. I hate wearing blue jeans... shorts and slacks (usually khakis) for me.
69. Even though I love Australia and grew up in the D/FW area, I despise the heat.
70. I much prefer the cold, even if it means I might have to put on socks.
71. My eyes sometimes change color, but they are mostly blue (usually a light blue, but sometimes dark, sometimes a dark green, occasionally gray).
72. I lettered in varsity basketball in high school.
73. I have had three excruciating surgeries, two of them neurosurgeries.
74. The first neurosurgery saved my life. The second replaced the right half of my forehead with plastic (this happened over 20 years ago, when I was 10).
75. Because of said surgeries, I have failed three military physicals, the only thing that ever kept me from serving my country (though it was a near thing the last time).
76. It also kept me from playing football.
77. 'The Imperial March' is one of the great instrumental themes of all time.
78. I have had season tickets twice to the Cowboys and three times to the Rangers, all in years they stunk.
79. And I gave up my seats the day Nolan Ryan pitched his last no-hitter so my brother could go to the game.
80. No matter how many times I hear it, the words, 'No Luke, I am your father', still sends chills up my spine.
81. I prefer the Bob Seger version of 'Turn the Page' over Metallica's version.
82. I agree with Dilbert in that when something like the Holodeck is available, civilization as we know it will end (if it doesn't before then).
83. Perhaps the best poem I've ever written is my least favorite to read... a piece I wrote on the 5th anniversary of my eldest brother's death.
84. I still have trouble talking to my Mom and my sisters about it, mostly for their sake.
85. I always wanted to be on 'Jeopardy'.
86. Though I love writing, I am not a very disciplined writer. Perhaps that is why I write so much poetry.
87. I have serious trouble rhyming.
88. While I love music, I cannot sing, except as part of a choral group.
89. My favorite comic strip was the always funny 'Bloom County'.
90. It's the one with Opus the Penguin.
91. While I enjoy the history of languages, I cannot, for the life of me, learn them. I am better at reading them, and even that is marginal.
92. I prefer a nice cabernet over white, perhaps a bottle of rose instead, but only at Italian restaurants :)
93. I love westerns and war movies, and most any historical movie. I tend to see them regardless of reviews.
94. My favorite westerns are 'Dances With Wolves' and 'The Outlaw Josey Wales'.
95. My favorite war films are 'Glory' and 'We Were Soldiers', though the first half of 'Full Metal Jacket' is phenomenal.
96. Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov were two of my big influences growing up, though my dad tried to steer me to Jack Vance.
97. Most days, I would rather have a nice conversation.
98. My mom always told me I could always 'catch more flies with honey than vinegar'.
99. Even if it annoys them, I always hold the door open for women (assuming I get to it in time). Simply the way I was raised.
100. I can't be anything more than I am at this moment, even if I do look to the future too much.
Well, this should cover it. Anything else I will probably get to eventually, or just ask. I might even give an answer that makes sense. :)
C.
As seems commonplace on blogs and other mediums, (I did something similar in my old journal) I have decided to give my many fans (crickets chirping in the distance) a number of things about me that are completely unremarkable but possibly interesting for those that find such things interesting. I have to admit I am a fan of such lists, so I give you such a list. Since 100 or so seems to be the appropriate number, (I suppose I could have waited to my 100th post, but I decided to get this out of the way) here are 100 things you should or should not know about me.
1. I'm left-handed (for the most part)
2. I have horrible handwriting, even when printing. You don't want to see my cursive (I haven't written in cursive in I don't know how long)
3. The first football game I remember is Super Bowl X (Dallas-Pittsburgh, 1976)
4. Reportedly, my third and fourth words were 'Go Cowboys!'.
5. The first movie I remember seeing was 'Star Wars', though I think my parents took me to see both 'The Muppet Movie' and 'Rocky' before that.
6. The first movie that gave me nightmares was 'Alien' (I was 6).
7. My favorite movie of all time is 'The Empire Strikes Back.'
8. My favorite book of all time is 'The Stand' by Stephen King, followed closely by 'The Guns of the South' by Harry Turtledove.
9. My favorite non-fiction book is 'In the Wake of the Plague: The Black Death and the World it Made' by Norman F. Cantor
10. Though I love medieval history, I am really unfocused, studying plague history, religious history (both of which do crossover into medieval, true), and military history.
11. I have a minor in Space Science and were I not math-illiterate, I would have gone into the sciences.
12. I love maps (which translated into a Geography minor).
13. I enjoy politics, but never had the stomach to get into it, aside from a term in the Student Senate in college.
14. I have been behind the Iron Curtain, but just barely, mere months before it all collapsed.
15. The best museum I have ever been to is the Hermitage in what was then Leningrad (I've never been to Paris, so I can't say the Louvre, regardless of reputation).
16. I have never been to Western Europe (unless you count 2 days in Finland to wind up my trip to Eastern Europe).
17. I have traveled to and/or through every state in the contiguous USA except Kentucky and Maine.
18. Though there was a great deal of anti-American sentiment the second time I was there, a part of my heart will always belong in Australia.
19. My ideal retirement spot is a stretch of coastline in South-West Australia.
20. I have spent almost three consecutive days on a train. (the India-Pacific between Sydney and Perth)
21. I have had my car searched for drugs at a Canadian border crossing (they thought I was smuggling pot from Mexico because of my Texas plates).
22. I have difficulty with the smell of tobacco (maybe a mild allergy perhaps).
23. I've lived in my car.
24. I waited tables for almost 2 years.
25. I have a fondness for theater, having acted, directed, produced and pretty much did everything at one point except costume design.
26. Before I sold anime stuff, I helped my family sell sports cards.
27. I was married for about 5 years once.
28. I've now been divorced for about 5 years.
29. I prefer the term 'certified pre-owned'. Sounds more official.
30. I taught myself to read at age 3 (thank you Sesame Street)
31. I didn't write my first short story or poem until I was 17.
32. I won an award (the National Association of Children's Bookwriters or something like that) for my first short story... which looking back, wasn't all that good.
33. I am my worst critic, as most writers are.
34. I don't like to use the word 'believe' or 'belief'. To me it is the first step to fanaticism. I would rather use the word 'think' or 'thought'.
35. I grew up Independent Baptist (hence my views on 'belief').
36. My favorite television show is still 'Babylon 5'.
37. Growing up, my favorite show was 'Star Trek', old and TNG.
38. I love roleplaying games and used to game constantly.
39. My favorite song of all time is 'Piano Man' by Billy Joel.
40. My second favorite song is 'Blue Eyes' by Elton John.
41. I have seen them both in concert separately and together.
42. I wish I could have seen Johnny Cash in concert.
43. My favorite concert is easily Billy Joel/Elton John (at Texas Stadium, April 1995).
44. My favorite musical/play is 'Phantom of the Opera'.
45. I love quotations.
46. I grew up a giant comic fan, and still read them now and then.
47. My favorite comic story is 'Batman: The Dark Knight Returns' by Frank Miller.
48. I still prefer Superman over Batman, but only slightly.
49. My favorite roleplaying game is 'Star Wars' (shocking, I know)
50. I have been roleplaying (though mostly game mastering) for almost 20 years now. 2007 will mark my 20th year.
51. My favorite non-Star Wars/Lord of the Rings movie is 'Almost Famous' (I prefer the Director's cut called 'Untitled'.
52. My favorite album (what not a favorite MP3 playlist?... what is this word, album?) is 'American IV: The Man Comes Around' by Johnny Cash.
53. I am both a cat and dog person.
54. I have owned more cats and dogs than I can count.
55. Cats, even strays, like to hang around me.
56. I am considered depressed, but not bi-polar.
57. I have a large number of siblings, and the oldest.
58. I lead a very parenthetical life (really, it's true).
59. I used to fence, preferring foil and sabre over epee.
60. If I had a philosophy, I think it would be deistic multi-dimensional reincarnationist. It worked from the Minbari (from 'Babylon 5'), though deism is more 18th century Enlightenment than late 20th century science fiction.
61. I understand the difference between the Jesus of history and the Jesus of faith.
62. While I feel we soften words too much and argue about semantics, I am still far too diplomatic for my own good.
63. That being said, I have found it hard to be diplomatic when it counted most.
64. If I could drop everything and go 'Out There' (out there being space and beyond), I would.
65. While I prefer the Jedi Code, the Sith dress better (and I prefer darker colors myself).
66. I wear sandals whenever I can, meaning I've worn socks twice in the past 2 calendar years (which you can do in Texas, even in winter).
67. The last time I wore tennis shoes regularly was on my last trip to Australia. Unless you are on a beach, it is really, really hard to hike in sandals.
68. I hate wearing blue jeans... shorts and slacks (usually khakis) for me.
69. Even though I love Australia and grew up in the D/FW area, I despise the heat.
70. I much prefer the cold, even if it means I might have to put on socks.
71. My eyes sometimes change color, but they are mostly blue (usually a light blue, but sometimes dark, sometimes a dark green, occasionally gray).
72. I lettered in varsity basketball in high school.
73. I have had three excruciating surgeries, two of them neurosurgeries.
74. The first neurosurgery saved my life. The second replaced the right half of my forehead with plastic (this happened over 20 years ago, when I was 10).
75. Because of said surgeries, I have failed three military physicals, the only thing that ever kept me from serving my country (though it was a near thing the last time).
76. It also kept me from playing football.
77. 'The Imperial March' is one of the great instrumental themes of all time.
78. I have had season tickets twice to the Cowboys and three times to the Rangers, all in years they stunk.
79. And I gave up my seats the day Nolan Ryan pitched his last no-hitter so my brother could go to the game.
80. No matter how many times I hear it, the words, 'No Luke, I am your father', still sends chills up my spine.
81. I prefer the Bob Seger version of 'Turn the Page' over Metallica's version.
82. I agree with Dilbert in that when something like the Holodeck is available, civilization as we know it will end (if it doesn't before then).
83. Perhaps the best poem I've ever written is my least favorite to read... a piece I wrote on the 5th anniversary of my eldest brother's death.
84. I still have trouble talking to my Mom and my sisters about it, mostly for their sake.
85. I always wanted to be on 'Jeopardy'.
86. Though I love writing, I am not a very disciplined writer. Perhaps that is why I write so much poetry.
87. I have serious trouble rhyming.
88. While I love music, I cannot sing, except as part of a choral group.
89. My favorite comic strip was the always funny 'Bloom County'.
90. It's the one with Opus the Penguin.
91. While I enjoy the history of languages, I cannot, for the life of me, learn them. I am better at reading them, and even that is marginal.
92. I prefer a nice cabernet over white, perhaps a bottle of rose instead, but only at Italian restaurants :)
93. I love westerns and war movies, and most any historical movie. I tend to see them regardless of reviews.
94. My favorite westerns are 'Dances With Wolves' and 'The Outlaw Josey Wales'.
95. My favorite war films are 'Glory' and 'We Were Soldiers', though the first half of 'Full Metal Jacket' is phenomenal.
96. Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov were two of my big influences growing up, though my dad tried to steer me to Jack Vance.
97. Most days, I would rather have a nice conversation.
98. My mom always told me I could always 'catch more flies with honey than vinegar'.
99. Even if it annoys them, I always hold the door open for women (assuming I get to it in time). Simply the way I was raised.
100. I can't be anything more than I am at this moment, even if I do look to the future too much.
Well, this should cover it. Anything else I will probably get to eventually, or just ask. I might even give an answer that makes sense. :)
C.
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