Good afternoon Urth The Urth list — 26 messages, 12 voices, 12 Nov 2017 https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/urth/6764 Exported from an unofficial mirror of a public mailing list. Copyright in each message remains with the person who wrote it. Email addresses are obscured as `user at host`, the form the original archive published. This file was rebuilt from parsed fields rather than retained headers, so it is faithful in content but not byte-exact. ============================================================================== Ab de Vos — 12 Nov 2017, 10:26 Hi, The list is silent these days. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Paul Zinn-Justin — 12 Nov 2017, 10:55 in reply to Ab de Vos Lately, each time I receive a message from this mailing list, especially after a long period of silence, I can't help feeling "this is going to be sad news". Am I the only one? Slowly catching up on Wolfe short stories. Enjoying Marc's write ups. > On Sun, Nov 12, 2017 at 9:26 PM, Ab de Vos wrote: > Hi, > > The list is silent these days. > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ab de Vos — 12 Nov 2017, 11:35 in reply to Paul Zinn-Justin Everybody is holding his breath for Marc to finish. Op 12-11-2017 om 11:55 schreef Paul Zinn-Justin: > Lately, each time I receive a message from this mailing list, > especially after a long period of silence, I can't help feeling "this > is going to be sad news". Am I the only one? > Slowly catching up on Wolfe short stories. Enjoying Marc's write ups. > > > On Sun, Nov 12, 2017 at 9:26 PM, Ab de Vos > wrote: > > Hi, > > The list is silent these days. > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric Bourland — 12 Nov 2017, 14:07 in reply to Ab de Vos Speaking just for me. The list is quiet, and I'm usually a dedicated reader of it, so I've noticed it's been quiet. As a mail server admin I manage a bunch of mailing lists, and have noticed that most of them are like creatures, active then quiet then active again and so on. Among the stack of books I usually keep going, there's always a Wolfe. Right now I am re-reading A Borrowed Man. I remember gulping it down in an afternoon when it came out a couple of years ago. I've looked for news of the next one, which I think is titled Interlibrary Loan, but I don't see anything. I am liking A Borrowed Man more, the second time through, maybe because this time I'm more aware of Smithe's efforts, sometimes unconscious, to assert his own humanity. One thing I noticed this time through is that he does pushups on his shelf. A little thing that sets him up for various feats of strength later in the story. Good for him! The first time through the book I needed to overcome a visceral response to the way in which reclones are treated. Have we discussed reclones in Borrowed Man? I remember a couple of passing conversations that I scanned but did not really consider. I need to go back through the Urth archives. I'm sending Mr. Wolfe good vibes. Hope he's feeling better. I'm guessing he wants some privacy. When I'm not feeling well I want everyone to leave me alone. ;-) Eric -- Eric Bourland eb at hwaet.com https://www.hwaet.com On 11/12/2017 6:35 AM, Ab de Vos wrote: > Everybody is holding his breath for Marc to finish. > > > Op 12-11-2017 om 11:55 schreef Paul Zinn-Justin: > > Lately, each time I receive a message from this mailing list, > > especially after a long period of silence, I can't help feeling "this > > is going to be sad news". Am I the only one? > > Slowly catching up on Wolfe short stories. Enjoying Marc's write ups. > > > > > > On Sun, Nov 12, 2017 at 9:26 PM, Ab de Vos > > wrote: > > > > Hi, > > > > The list is silent these days. > > > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ab de Vos — 12 Nov 2017, 15:12 in reply to Eric Bourland We had a discussion about the meaning of reclones. It is maybe an edited reprint of a clone with a limited capability like a program that limits his freedom in order to make him/her conform to the (presumed?) original. As a choice of character in a novel rather arresting. Op 12-11-2017 om 15:07 schreef Eric Bourland: > Speaking just for me. The list is quiet, and I'm usually a dedicated > reader of it, so I've noticed it's been quiet. As a mail server admin > I manage a bunch of mailing lists, and have noticed that most of them > are like creatures, active then quiet then active again and so on. > > Among the stack of books I usually keep going, there's always a Wolfe. > Right now I am re-reading A Borrowed Man. I remember gulping it down > in an afternoon when it came out a couple of years ago. I've looked > for news of the next one, which I think is titled Interlibrary Loan, > but I don't see anything. > > I am liking A Borrowed Man more, the second time through, maybe > because this time I'm more aware of Smithe's efforts, sometimes > unconscious, to assert his own humanity. One thing I noticed this time > through is that he does pushups on his shelf. A little thing that sets > him up for various feats of strength later in the story. Good for him! > > The first time through the book I needed to overcome a visceral > response to the way in which reclones are treated. > > Have we discussed reclones in Borrowed Man? I remember a couple of > passing conversations that I scanned but did not really consider. I > need to go back through the Urth archives. > > I'm sending Mr. Wolfe good vibes. Hope he's feeling better. I'm > guessing he wants some privacy. When I'm not feeling well I want > everyone to leave me alone. ;-) > > Eric > > -- > Eric Bourland > eb at hwaet.com > https://www.hwaet.com > > On 11/12/2017 6:35 AM, Ab de Vos wrote: > > Everybody is holding his breath for Marc to finish. > > > > > > Op 12-11-2017 om 11:55 schreef Paul Zinn-Justin: > > > Lately, each time I receive a message from this mailing list, > > > especially after a long period of silence, I can't help feeling > > > "this is going to be sad news". Am I the only one? > > > Slowly catching up on Wolfe short stories. Enjoying Marc's write ups. > > > > > > > > > On Sun, Nov 12, 2017 at 9:26 PM, Ab de Vos > > > wrote: > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > The list is silent these days. > > > > > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marc Aramini — 12 Nov 2017, 17:44 in reply to Ab de Vos Thanks ... I looked at Land Across again yesterday. The problem is multifoliate - I am not entirely burnt out but I am waiting for the light of stability to hit and solidify all the small details. The problem involves when certain scenes in late wolfe should be taken metaphorically: border guards say the factories make fertilizer, official instructs grafton on how to get rid of the willows (which make him think of god and heaven) and the bees (which make him think of hell) by putting plenty of fertilizer down, planting fruit trees (symbols of a strong man who instills fear even after his death in this story) ... how much of a metaphorical prophecy is that? He avoids the sting of the bees by thinking of martya’s hips sexually... seems metaphorical. Later he speculates on the actual use of the factories making “fertilizer” I feel an immense responsibility in getting these last few works right as well, though the plan was to leave borrowed man a bit open ended (thousands of pages of authoritarian tyranny followed by, well, I guess you guys can read it how you want ... leave em smiling when you go. There’s nothing I can do after I am done which will ever equal the importance of this. ) > On Sunday, November 12, 2017, Ab de Vos wrote: > Everybody is holding his breath for Marc to finish. > > Op 12-11-2017 om 11:55 schreef Paul Zinn-Justin: > > Lately, each time I receive a message from this mailing list, especially > after a long period of silence, I can't help feeling "this is going to be > sad news". Am I the only one? > Slowly catching up on Wolfe short stories. Enjoying Marc's write ups. > > > On Sun, Nov 12, 2017 at 9:26 PM, Ab de Vos > wrote: > > Hi, > > > > The list is silent these days. > > > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric Bourland — 14 Nov 2017, 03:12 in reply to Marc Aramini http://locusmag.com/2017/11/wolfe-update/ FYI. What do you suppose a Care Facility is? If I were still in Illinois I would volunteer to go to Peoria and help out in some way -- wash dishes or cook or do laundry or walk the dog or something -- though I can imagine a thousand ways in which such assistance however well-meant would quickly become misguided and awkward. Marc, I'm looking forward to reading thoroughly your three-volume exegesis. I have returned repeatedly to the only volume I have seen so far, which is the first. Eric -- Eric Bourland eb at hwaet.com https://www.hwaet.com On 11/12/2017 12:44 PM, Marc Aramini wrote: > Thanks ... I looked at Land Across again yesterday. The problem is > multifoliate - I am not entirely burnt out but I am waiting for the > light of stability to hit and solidify all the small details. The > problem involves when certain scenes in late wolfe should be taken > metaphorically: border guards say the factories make fertilizer, > official instructs grafton on how to get rid of the willows (which > make him think of god and heaven) and the bees (which make him think > of hell) by putting plenty of fertilizer down, planting fruit trees > (symbols of a strong man who instills fear even after his death in > this story) ... how much of a metaphorical prophecy is that? He avoids > the sting of the bees by thinking of martya’s hips sexually... seems > metaphorical. Later he speculates on the actual use of the factories > making “fertilizer” > > I feel an immense responsibility in getting these last few works right > as well, though the plan was to leave borrowed man a bit open ended > (thousands of pages of authoritarian tyranny followed by, well, I > guess you guys can read it how you want ... leave em smiling when you > go. There’s nothing I can do after I am done which will ever equal the > importance of this. ) > > > > On Sunday, November 12, 2017, Ab de Vos > wrote: > > Everybody is holding his breath for Marc to finish. > > > Op 12-11-2017 om 11:55 schreef Paul Zinn-Justin: > > Lately, each time I receive a message from this mailing list, > > especially after a long period of silence, I can't help feeling > > "this is going to be sad news". Am I the only one? > > Slowly catching up on Wolfe short stories. Enjoying Marc's write ups. > > > > > > On Sun, Nov 12, 2017 at 9:26 PM, Ab de Vos > > wrote: > > > > Hi, > > > > The list is silent these days. > > > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Charles Gillingham — 14 Nov 2017, 05:25 in reply to Eric Bourland "Sure thing Gene, I'll make some dessert... if you tell me why Severian didn't have children..." > On Nov 13, 2017 7:12 PM, "Eric Bourland" wrote: > http://locusmag.com/2017/11/wolfe-update/ > > FYI. What do you suppose a Care Facility is? > > If I were still in Illinois I would volunteer to go to Peoria and help out > in some way -- wash dishes or cook or do laundry or walk the dog or > something -- though I can imagine a thousand ways in which such assistance > however well-meant would quickly become misguided and awkward. > > Marc, I'm looking forward to reading thoroughly your three-volume > exegesis. I have returned repeatedly to the only volume I have seen so far, > which is the first. > > Eric > > -- > Eric Bourlandeb at hwaet.comhttps://www.hwaet.com > > > On 11/12/2017 12:44 PM, Marc Aramini wrote: > > Thanks ... I looked at Land Across again yesterday. The problem is > multifoliate - I am not entirely burnt out but I am waiting for the light > of stability to hit and solidify all the small details. The problem > involves when certain scenes in late wolfe should be taken metaphorically: > border guards say the factories make fertilizer, official instructs grafton > on how to get rid of the willows (which make him think of god and heaven) > and the bees (which make him think of hell) by putting plenty of fertilizer > down, planting fruit trees (symbols of a strong man who instills fear even > after his death in this story) ... how much of a metaphorical prophecy is > that? He avoids the sting of the bees by thinking of martya’s hips > sexually... seems metaphorical. Later he speculates on the actual use of > the factories making “fertilizer” > > I feel an immense responsibility in getting these last few works right as > well, though the plan was to leave borrowed man a bit open ended (thousands > of pages of authoritarian tyranny followed by, well, I guess you guys can > read it how you want ... leave em smiling when you go. There’s nothing I > can do after I am done which will ever equal the importance of this. ) > > > > On Sunday, November 12, 2017, Ab de Vos wrote: > > Everybody is holding his breath for Marc to finish. > > > > Op 12-11-2017 om 11:55 schreef Paul Zinn-Justin: > > > > Lately, each time I receive a message from this mailing list, especially > > after a long period of silence, I can't help feeling "this is going to be > > sad news". Am I the only one? > > Slowly catching up on Wolfe short stories. Enjoying Marc's write ups. > > > > > > On Sun, Nov 12, 2017 at 9:26 PM, Ab de Vos wrote: > > > Hi, > > > > > > The list is silent these days. > > > > > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ David Stockhoff — 14 Nov 2017, 17:09 in reply to Eric Bourland Thanks for the update. > On 11/13/2017 10:12 PM, Eric Bourland wrote: > > http://locusmag.com/2017/11/wolfe-update/ > > FYI. What do you suppose a Care Facility is? > > If I were still in Illinois I would volunteer to go to Peoria and help > out in some way -- wash dishes or cook or do laundry or walk the dog > or something -- though I can imagine a thousand ways in which such > assistance however well-meant would quickly become misguided and awkward. > > Marc, I'm looking forward to reading thoroughly your three-volume > exegesis. I have returned repeatedly to the only volume I have seen so > far, which is the first. > > Eric > > -- > Eric Bourland > eb at hwaet.com > https://www.hwaet.com > > On 11/12/2017 12:44 PM, Marc Aramini wrote: > > Thanks ... I looked at Land Across again yesterday. The problem is > > multifoliate - I am not entirely burnt out but I am waiting for the > > light of stability to hit and solidify all the small details. The > > problem involves when certain scenes in late wolfe should be taken > > metaphorically: border guards say the factories make fertilizer, > > official instructs grafton on how to get rid of the willows (which > > make him think of god and heaven) and the bees (which make him think > > of hell) by putting plenty of fertilizer down, planting fruit trees > > (symbols of a strong man who instills fear even after his death in > > this story) ... how much of a metaphorical prophecy is that? He > > avoids the sting of the bees by thinking of martya’s hips sexually... > > seems metaphorical. Later he speculates on the actual use of the > > factories making “fertilizer” > > > > I feel an immense responsibility in getting these last few works > > right as well, though the plan was to leave borrowed man a bit open > > ended (thousands of pages of authoritarian tyranny followed by, well, > > I guess you guys can read it how you want ... leave em smiling when > > you go. There’s nothing I can do after I am done which will ever > > equal the importance of this. ) > > > > > > > > On Sunday, November 12, 2017, Ab de Vos > > wrote: > > > > Everybody is holding his breath for Marc to finish. > > > > > > Op 12-11-2017 om 11:55 schreef Paul Zinn-Justin: > > > Lately, each time I receive a message from this mailing list, > > > especially after a long period of silence, I can't help feeling > > > "this is going to be sad news". Am I the only one? > > > Slowly catching up on Wolfe short stories. Enjoying Marc's write > > > ups. > > > > > > > > > On Sun, Nov 12, 2017 at 9:26 PM, Ab de Vos > > > wrote: > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > The list is silent these days. > > > > > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Paul Rydeen — 15 Nov 2017, 13:42 in reply to Charles Gillingham I wasn’t sure if the list was just quiet or if the list server was missing me again. “Looks like it’s both. ?I received Charles” email about dessert but I didn’t receive any of the other emails quoted in this thread. Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 12:25 AM, Charles Gillingham wrote: "Sure thing Gene, I'll make some dessert... if you tell me why Severian didn't have children..." On Nov 13, 2017 7:12 PM, "Eric Bourland" wrote: http://locusmag.com/2017/11/ wolfe-update/ FYI. What do you suppose a Care Facility is? If I were still in Illinois I would volunteer to go to Peoria and help out in some way -- wash dishes or cook or do laundry or walk the dog or something -- though I can imagine a thousand ways in which such assistance however well-meant would quickly become misguided and awkward. Marc, I'm looking forward to reading thoroughly your three-volume exegesis. I have returned repeatedly to the only volume I have seen so far, which is the first. Eric -- Eric Bourland eb at hwaet.com https://www.hwaet.com On 11/12/2017 12:44 PM, Marc Aramini wrote: Thanks ... I looked at Land Across again yesterday. The problem is multifoliate - I am not entirely burnt out but I am waiting for the light of stability to hit and solidify all the small details. The problem involves when certain scenes in late wolfe should be taken metaphorically: border guards say the factories make fertilizer, official instructs grafton on how to get rid of the willows (which make him think of god and heaven) and the bees (which make him think of hell) by putting plenty of fertilizer down, planting fruit trees (symbols of a strong man who instills fear even after his death in this story) ... how much of a metaphorical prophecy is that? He avoids the sting of the bees by thinking of martya’s hips sexually... seems metaphorical. Later he speculates on the actual use of the factories making “fertilizer” I feel an immense responsibility in getting these last few works right as well, though the plan was to leave borrowed man a bit open ended (thousands of pages of authoritarian tyranny followed by, well, I guess you guys can read it how you want ... leave em smiling when you go. There’s nothing I can do after I am done which will ever equal the importance of this. ) On Sunday, November 12, 2017, Ab de Vos wrote: Everybody is holding his breath for Marc to finish. Op 12-11-2017 om 11:55 schreef Paul Zinn-Justin: Lately, each time I receive a message from this mailing list, especially after a long period of silence, I can't help feeling "this is going to be sad news". Am I the only one? Slowly catching up on Wolfe short stories. Enjoying Marc's write ups. On Sun, Nov 12, 2017 at 9:26 PM, Ab de Vos wrote: Hi, The list is silent these days. ______________________________ _________________ Urth Mailing List To post, write urth at urth.net Subscription/information: http://www.urth.net ______________________________ _________________ Urth Mailing List To post, write urth at urth.net Subscription/information: http://www.urth.net ______________________________ _________________ Urth Mailing List To post, write urth at urth.net Subscription/information: http://www.urth.net -- Eric Bourland eb at hwaet.com https://www.hwaet.com ______________________________ _________________ Urth Mailing List To post, write urth at urth.net Subscription/information: http://www.urth.net ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Charles Gillingham — 15 Nov 2017, 20:44 in reply to Paul Rydeen Some messages go to my spam. Beyond that, the list is quiet unless Marc is posting something. Any of us can change that. > On Nov 15, 2017 5:43 AM, "Paul Rydeen" wrote: > I wasn’t sure if the list was just quiet or if the list server was missing > me again. Looks like it’s both. I received Charles? email about dessert > but I didn’t receive any of the other emails quoted in this thread. > > > > > Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone > > > On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 12:25 AM, Charles Gillingham < > charlesgillingham at gmail.com> wrote: > > "Sure thing Gene, I'll make some dessert... if you tell me why Severian > didn't have children..." > > On Nov 13, 2017 7:12 PM, "Eric Bourland" wrote: > > http://locusmag.com/2017/11/ wolfe-update/ > > > FYI. What do you suppose a Care Facility is? > > If I were still in Illinois I would volunteer to go to Peoria and help out > in some way -- wash dishes or cook or do laundry or walk the dog or > something -- though I can imagine a thousand ways in which such assistance > however well-meant would quickly become misguided and awkward. > > Marc, I'm looking forward to reading thoroughly your three-volume > exegesis. I have returned repeatedly to the only volume I have seen so far, > which is the first. > > Eric > > -- > Eric Bourlandeb at hwaet.comhttps://www.hwaet.com > > > On 11/12/2017 12:44 PM, Marc Aramini wrote: > > Thanks ... I looked at Land Across again yesterday. The problem is > multifoliate - I am not entirely burnt out but I am waiting for the light > of stability to hit and solidify all the small details. The problem > involves when certain scenes in late wolfe should be taken metaphorically: > border guards say the factories make fertilizer, official instructs grafton > on how to get rid of the willows (which make him think of god and heaven) > and the bees (which make him think of hell) by putting plenty of fertilizer > down, planting fruit trees (symbols of a strong man who instills fear even > after his death in this story) ... how much of a metaphorical prophecy is > that? He avoids the sting of the bees by thinking of martya’s hips > sexually... seems metaphorical. Later he speculates on the actual use of > the factories making “fertilizer” > > I feel an immense responsibility in getting these last few works right as > well, though the plan was to leave borrowed man a bit open ended (thousands > of pages of authoritarian tyranny followed by, well, I guess you guys can > read it how you want ... leave em smiling when you go. There’s nothing I > can do after I am done which will ever equal the importance of this. ) > > > > On Sunday, November 12, 2017, Ab de Vos wrote: > > Everybody is holding his breath for Marc to finish. > > Op 12-11-2017 om 11:55 schreef Paul Zinn-Justin: > > Lately, each time I receive a message from this mailing list, especially > after a long period of silence, I can't help feeling "this is going to be > sad news". Am I the only one? > Slowly catching up on Wolfe short stories. Enjoying Marc's write ups. > > > On Sun, Nov 12, 2017 at 9:26 PM, Ab de Vos wrote: > > Hi, > > The list is silent these days. > > ______________________________ _________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric Bourland — 16 Nov 2017, 03:02 in reply to Charles Gillingham Which one of you borrowed my copy of Endangered Species? ;-) Except seriously I can't find it. It was a beat-to-hell copy of the mass-market softcover Tor edition from 1990 with the orange cover and the puffer-fish-lookin' critter on the cover. I have two shelves for Wolfe and usually it's right there. . . . ah, well. I will ask for it for Christmas. I was doing research on sundials, and was reminded of A Solar Labyrinth, which I re-read today. I can never decide if it's creepy or . . . . well, it's creepy. None of this is here or there. I have a lot more chatty appreciation of Wolfe than learned exegesis, so mostly I pipe down and read the list, enjoying it when there are active conversations. There's a Facebook group where all of this chatty nonsense finds a more appropriate home. Some questions, for those who wish to answer: 1) What are you reading? 2) What are you writing, if anything? Eric -- Eric Bourland eb at hwaet.com https://www.hwaet.com On 11/15/2017 3:44 PM, Charles Gillingham wrote: > Some messages go to my spam. Beyond that, the list is quiet unless > Marc is posting something. Any of us can change that. > > On Nov 15, 2017 5:43 AM, "Paul Rydeen" > wrote: > > I wasn’t sure if the list was just quiet or if the list server was > missing me again. Looks like it’s both. I received Charles? > email about dessert but I didn’t receive any of the other emails > quoted in this thread. > > > > > Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone > > > On Tuesday, November 14, 2017, 12:25 AM, Charles Gillingham > > > wrote: > > "Sure thing Gene, I'll make some dessert... if you tell me why > Severian didn't have children..." > > On Nov 13, 2017 7:12 PM, "Eric Bourland" > wrote: > > http://locusmag.com/2017/11/ wolfe-update/ > > > FYI. What do you suppose a Care Facility is? > > If I were still in Illinois I would volunteer to go to > Peoria and help out in some way -- wash dishes or cook or > do laundry or walk the dog or something -- though I can > imagine a thousand ways in which such assistance however > well-meant would quickly become misguided and awkward. > > Marc, I'm looking forward to reading thoroughly your > three-volume exegesis. I have returned repeatedly to the > only volume I have seen so far, which is the first. > > Eric > > -- > Eric Bourland > eb at hwaet.com > https://www.hwaet.com > > > On 11/12/2017 12:44 PM, Marc Aramini wrote: > > Thanks ... I looked at Land Across again yesterday. The > > problem is multifoliate - I am not entirely burnt out but > > I am waiting for the light of stability to hit and > > solidify all the small details. The problem involves when > > certain scenes in late wolfe should be taken > > metaphorically: border guards say the factories make > > fertilizer, official instructs grafton on how to get rid > > of the willows (which make him think of god and heaven) > > and the bees (which make him think of hell) by putting > > plenty of fertilizer down, planting fruit trees (symbols > > of a strong man who instills fear even after his death in > > this story) ... how much of a metaphorical prophecy is > > that? He avoids the sting of the bees by thinking of > > martya’s hips sexually... seems metaphorical. Later he > > speculates on the actual use of the factories making > > “fertilizer” > > > > I feel an immense responsibility in getting these last > > few works right as well, though the plan was to leave > > borrowed man a bit open ended (thousands of pages of > > authoritarian tyranny followed by, well, I guess you guys > > can read it how you want ... leave em smiling when you > > go. There’s nothing I can do after I am done which will > > ever equal the importance of this. ) > > > > > > > > On Sunday, November 12, 2017, Ab de Vos > > wrote: > > > > Everybody is holding his breath for Marc to finish. > > > > > > Op 12-11-2017 om 11:55 schreef Paul Zinn-Justin: > > > Lately, each time I receive a message from this > > > mailing list, especially after a long period of > > > silence, I can't help feeling "this is going to be > > > sad news". Am I the only one? > > > Slowly catching up on Wolfe short stories. Enjoying > > > Marc's write ups. > > > > > > > > > On Sun, Nov 12, 2017 at 9:26 PM, Ab de Vos > > > wrote: > > > > > > Hi, > > > > > > The list is silent these days. > > > > > > ______________________________ _________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dan'l Danehy-Oakes — 16 Nov 2017, 03:55 in reply to Eric Bourland Dan'l Danehy-Oakes The spatula is the natural enemy of the hypothalamus. On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 7:02 PM, Eric Bourland wrote: Some questions, for those who wish to answer: > 1) What are you reading? Just started Patrick Rothfuss's _The Name of the Wind_. (I've been putting this one off for a _long_ time.) > 2) What are you writing, if anything? At any given times, several things, most of which come to naught. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Charles Gillingham — 16 Nov 2017, 04:22 in reply to Dan'l Danehy-Oakes What is the Facebook group? I've been reading Clark Ashton Smith. Which is excellent. It's obvious to me how much he influenced Wolfe. I've been so impressed I've read a few of the stories to my girlfriend. He seemed to have lived a quiet, sad life. For whatever reason. It's such a shame when such a talented artist doesn't express their craft to it's fullest extent. With how complex his writing was it's understandable how he couldn't produce it forever. I haven't been able to write anything for a long time. Living in the woods with only a phone to type on doesn't help. I have feathers enough for quills, and bark for paper. To Green with excuses! On Nov 15, 2017 7:55 PM, "Dan'l Danehy-Oakes" wrote: Dan'l Danehy-Oakes The spatula is the natural enemy of the hypothalamus. On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 7:02 PM, Eric Bourland wrote: Some questions, for those who wish to answer: > 1) What are you reading? Just started Patrick Rothfuss's _The Name of the Wind_. (I've been putting this one off for a _long_ time.) > 2) What are you writing, if anything? At any given times, several things, most of which come to naught. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marc Aramini — 16 Nov 2017, 04:57 in reply to Charles Gillingham Everyone knows what I am writing, amidst other academic work. I’m teaching again and this semester I had the chance to teach world lit for science majors ... the course description says from antiquity to the present so I figured I would push a narrative of violence and competition as the motivator for progress. Started with Hesiod and Gilgamesh, went through the Iliad and the Aeneid, through the renaissance and Enlightenment. Just got to the 20th century this week and taught Brighter Than a Thousand Suns about the Manhattan Project - had Oppenheimer’s granddaughter come in and talk to them today. The next few weeks we are going through some of the modernists before I totally screw them by making them explain Fifth Head of Cerberus to me on the second to last day ... I have lectured the whole semester save for a few poetry exercises for them ... let’s see how it goes. Otherwise not reading much for pleasure only for work. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric Bourland — 16 Nov 2017, 05:34 in reply to Marc Aramini Marc, your class sounds like a lot of fun. I hope your students are appreciative. I do not know that I could defensibly explain Fifth Head and I have read it too many times to comfortably count. > On 11/15/2017 11:57 PM, Marc Aramini wrote: > Everyone knows what I am writing, amidst other academic work. > > ?I’m teaching again and this semester I had the chance to teach world > lit for science majors ... the course description says from antiquity > to the present so I figured I would push a narrative of violence and > competition as the motivator for progress. Started with Hesiod and > Gilgamesh, went through the Iliad and the Aeneid, through the > renaissance and Enlightenment. Just got to the 20th century this week > and taught Brighter Than a Thousand Suns about the Manhattan Project?- > had Oppenheimer’s granddaughter come in and talk to them today. The > next few weeks we are going through some of the modernists before I > totally screw them by making them explain Fifth Head of Cerberus to me > on the second to last day ... I have lectured the whole semester save > for a few poetry exercises for them ... let’s see how it goes. > > Otherwise not reading much for pleasure only for work. > > > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Eric Bourland — 16 Nov 2017, 05:58 in reply to Charles Gillingham Charles, https://www.facebook.com/groups/2230578996/ I read Clark Ashton a long time ago. I'll look into him again. Eric > On 11/15/2017 11:22 PM, Charles Gillingham wrote: > What is the Facebook group? > > I've been reading Clark Ashton Smith. Which is excellent. It's obvious > to me how much he influenced Wolfe. I've been so impressed I've read a > few of the stories to my girlfriend. > > He seemed to have lived a quiet, sad life. For whatever reason. It's > such a shame when such a talented artist doesn't express their craft > to it's fullest extent. With how complex his writing was it's > understandable how he couldn't produce it forever. > > I haven't been able to write anything for a long time. Living in the > woods with only a phone to type on doesn't help. I have feathers > enough for quills, and bark for paper. To Green with excuses! > > On Nov 15, 2017 7:55 PM, "Dan'l Danehy-Oakes" > wrote: > > > > Dan'l Danehy-Oakes > > The spatula is the natural enemy of the hypothalamus. > > On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 7:02 PM, Eric Bourland > wrote: > > Some questions, for those who wish to answer: > > 1) What are you reading? > > Just started Patrick Rothfuss's _The Name of the Wind_. (I've been > putting this one off for a _long_ time.) > > 2) What are you writing, if anything? > > At any given times, several things, most of which come to naught. > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ab de Vos — 16 Nov 2017, 09:23 in reply to Eric Bourland At the time I'm reading Porius? by John Cowper Powys and stories by Borges and Pierre Michon. Porius is a bit hard to get through. I find I'm more appreciative of short stories and essays as I get older. I'm reading Azimov's magazine and Interzone and some other magazines on and off. I'm memorizing psalms for a number of years. Usually I read too many books at the same time. I only write when I have to do a paper for an Open University course. Never felt much artistic stirring or academic ambition. Always thought the best is already written like the Bible or Homer. Op 16-11-2017 om 06:58 schreef Eric Bourland: > Charles, > > https://www.facebook.com/groups/2230578996/ > > I read Clark Ashton a long time ago. I'll look into him again. > > Eric > > > On 11/15/2017 11:22 PM, Charles Gillingham wrote: > > What is the Facebook group? > > > > I've been reading Clark Ashton Smith. Which is excellent. It's > > obvious to me how much he influenced Wolfe. I've been so impressed > > I've read a few of the stories to my girlfriend. > > > > He seemed to have lived a quiet, sad life. For whatever reason. It's > > such a shame when such a talented artist doesn't express their craft > > to it's fullest extent. With how complex his writing was it's > > understandable how he couldn't produce it forever. > > > > I haven't been able to write anything for a long time. Living in the > > woods with only a phone to type on doesn't help. I have feathers > > enough for quills, and bark for paper. To Green with excuses! > > > > On Nov 15, 2017 7:55 PM, "Dan'l Danehy-Oakes" > > wrote: > > > > > > > > Dan'l Danehy-Oakes > > > > The spatula is the natural enemy of the hypothalamus. > > > > On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 7:02 PM, Eric Bourland > > wrote: > > > > Some questions, for those who wish to answer: > > > > 1) What are you reading? > > > > Just started Patrick Rothfuss's _The Name of the Wind_. (I've > > been putting this one off for a _long_ time.) > > > > 2) What are you writing, if anything? > > > > At any given times, several things, most of which come to naught. > > > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ David Stockhoff — 16 Nov 2017, 14:03 in reply to Charles Gillingham I'm reading Durrell's Alexandria Quartet. Not SF, but definitely experimental and a little reminiscent of Robert Aickman in its detachment combined with nearly-alienating attention to detail. Writing, ha! More dribbles of naught. > On 11/15/2017 11:22 PM, Charles Gillingham wrote: > What is the Facebook group? > > I've been reading Clark Ashton Smith. Which is excellent. It's obvious > to me how much he influenced Wolfe. I've been so impressed I've read a > few of the stories to my girlfriend. > > He seemed to have lived a quiet, sad life. For whatever reason. It's > such a shame when such a talented artist doesn't express their craft > to it's fullest extent. With how complex his writing was it's > understandable how he couldn't produce it forever. > > I haven't been able to write anything for a long time. Living in the > woods with only a phone to type on doesn't help. I have feathers > enough for quills, and bark for paper. To Green with excuses! > > On Nov 15, 2017 7:55 PM, "Dan'l Danehy-Oakes" > wrote: > > > > Dan'l Danehy-Oakes > > The spatula is the natural enemy of the hypothalamus. > > On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 7:02 PM, Eric Bourland > wrote: > > Some questions, for those who wish to answer: > > 1) What are you reading? > > Just started Patrick Rothfuss's _The Name of the Wind_. (I've been > putting this one off for a _long_ time.) > > 2) What are you writing, if anything? > > At any given times, several things, most of which come to naught. > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gerry Leb — 16 Nov 2017, 14:10 in reply to David Stockhoff Re-reading Pirate Freedom. Virus-free. www.avast.com <#DAB4FAD8-2DD7-40BB-A1B8-4E2AA1F9FDF2> > On Thu, Nov 16, 2017 at 9:03 AM, David Stockhoff > wrote: > I'm reading Durrell's Alexandria Quartet. Not SF, but definitely > experimental and a little reminiscent of Robert Aickman in its detachment > combined with nearly-alienating attention to detail. > > Writing, ha! More dribbles of naught. > > > On 11/15/2017 11:22 PM, Charles Gillingham wrote: > > What is the Facebook group? > > > > I've been reading Clark Ashton Smith. Which is excellent. It's obvious to > > me how much he influenced Wolfe. I've been so impressed I've read a few of > > the stories to my girlfriend. > > > > He seemed to have lived a quiet, sad life. For whatever reason. It's such > > a shame when such a talented artist doesn't express their craft to it's > > fullest extent. With how complex his writing was it's understandable how he > > couldn't produce it forever. > > > > I haven't been able to write anything for a long time. Living in the > > woods with only a phone to type on doesn't help. I have feathers enough for > > quills, and bark for paper. To Green with excuses! > > > > On Nov 15, 2017 7:55 PM, "Dan'l Danehy-Oakes" > danldo at gmail.com>> wrote: > > > > > > > > Dan'l Danehy-Oakes > > > > The spatula is the natural enemy of the hypothalamus. > > > > On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 7:02 PM, Eric Bourland > > wrote: > > > > Some questions, for those who wish to answer: > > > > 1) What are you reading? > > > > Just started Patrick Rothfuss's _The Name of the Wind_. (I've been > > putting this one off for a _long_ time.) > > > > 2) What are you writing, if anything? > > > > At any given times, several things, most of which come to naught. > > > > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Allan Anderson — 16 Nov 2017, 15:08 in reply to David Stockhoff > On Thu, Nov 16, 2017 at 4:04 AM David Stockhoff > wrote: > I'm reading Durrell's Alexandria Quartet. Not SF, but definitely > experimental and a little reminiscent of Robert Aickman in its > detachment combined with nearly-alienating attention to detail. I really enjoyed the Alexandria Quartet. He gives each of the four books such a different voice and appetite. Which one are you on? I hadn't made an Aickman connection, but I can see that. I've just finished up his *Dark Entries* wth my old college chums Facebook reading group. In SF, I've been trying out David Brin's *Kiln People*, which, egregious title pun aside, seems to have a bit in common with *A Borrowed Man. *Brin's book's schtick is that just about everyone has access to the technology to make shortlived artificial copies of themselves, to various degrees of fidelity and autonomy. Murder mystery, copies of people, memory games--very different setting and, I expect, conclusions, but still, fun. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Paul Rydeen — 16 Nov 2017, 16:10 in reply to Gerry Leb Reading *The Devil’s Alphabet* by Daryl Gregory. ? Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPhone On Thursday, November 16, 2017, 9:09 AM, Gerry Leb wrote: Re-reading Pirate Freedom. | | Virus-free. www.avast.com | On Thu, Nov 16, 2017 at 9:03 AM, David Stockhoff wrote: I'm reading Durrell's Alexandria Quartet. Not SF, but definitely experimental and a little reminiscent of Robert Aickman in its detachment combined with nearly-alienating attention to detail. Writing, ha! More dribbles of naught. On 11/15/2017 11:22 PM, Charles Gillingham wrote: What is the Facebook group? I've been reading Clark Ashton Smith. Which is excellent. It's obvious to me how much he influenced Wolfe. I've been so impressed I've read a few of the stories to my girlfriend. He seemed to have lived a quiet, sad life. For whatever reason. It's such a shame when such a talented artist doesn't express their craft to it's fullest extent. With how complex his writing was it's understandable how he couldn't produce it forever. I haven't been able to write anything for a long time. Living in the woods with only a phone to type on doesn't help. I have feathers enough for quills, and bark for paper. To Green with excuses! On Nov 15, 2017 7:55 PM, "Dan'l Danehy-Oakes" > wrote: ? ? Dan'l Danehy-Oakes ? ? The spatula is the natural enemy of the hypothalamus. ? ? On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 7:02 PM, Eric Bourland > wrote: ? ? ? ? Some questions, for those who wish to answer: ? ? ? ? 1) What are you reading? ? ? Just started Patrick Rothfuss's _The Name of the Wind_. (I've been ? ? putting this one off for a _long_ time.) ? ? ? ? 2) What are you writing, if anything? ? ? At any given times, several things, most of which come to naught. ? ? ______________________________ _________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Gwern Branwen — 16 Nov 2017, 16:22 in reply to Marc Aramini > On Wed, Nov 15, 2017 at 11:57 PM, Marc Aramini wrote: > I figured I would push a narrative of violence and competition as the motivator for progress.... > Just got to the 20th century this week and taught Brighter Than a Thousand Suns > about the Manhattan Project - had Oppenheimer’s granddaughter come in and > talk to them today. How fun. Not that you need the suggestion, but one of my favorite books is all about this theme of warfare and competitive pressures of various kinds pushing (and corrupting) science/technology and is about the post-Manhattan Project nuclear laboratories: Carter Scholz's 2002 novel _Radiance_. (I hesitate to label it 'science fiction', even though Scholz is usually considered one and his last novel was unambiguously SF, because it's so based on real events and SDI.) I have an annotated transcription & scans at https://www.gwern.net/docs/radiance/2002-scholz-radiance along with supporting materials, some of which are quite interesting in their own right, for example, Greg Benford's memoirs "Old Legends" ( https://www.gwern.net/docs/radiance/1995-benford-oldlegends.pdf ) or Berger's "The _Astounding_ Investigation: The Manhattan Project's Confrontation with Science Fiction" ( https://www.gwern.net/docs/radiance/1984-berger.djvu ) or MacKenzie & Spinardi 1995's "Tacit Knowledge, Weapons Design, and the Uninvention of Nuclear Weapons" ( https://www.gwern.net/docs/radiance/1995-mackenzie.pdf ). Physicists or people interested in future weapons development might also find it interesting to revisit _Fourth Generation Nuclear Weapons_ ( http://web.elastic.org/~fche/mirrors/www.cryptome.org/2014/06/wmd-4th-gen-quest.pdf ), and consider the array of possible nuclear weapons - turns out there are a lot of possible nuclear weapons going beyond classic fission and fusion designs (apropos of which, 'quark fusion': https://arxiv.org/abs/1708.02547 https://phys.org/news/2017-11-theoretical-quark-fusion-powerful-hydrogen.html ). -- gwern ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ António Pedro Marques — 16 Nov 2017, 21:02 in reply to Eric Bourland During the last year I've mostly been reading Andrea Camilleri - some years ago I'd read two books I've found at a fair in english, then last year on a trip to Italy I found a couple in the original and thought I'd give them a go - they're mostly written in sicilianised Italian and romance linguistics is one of my hobbies - and I couldn't stop before I'd read about twenty. Camilleri is quite successful and respected in Italy, he's in his nineties and keeps writing, and is the kind of communist I like (my political views are mostly coincident with Gene Wolfe's). Being successful and opinionated, he's also disliked by some, of course. I've also read a bit of Aickman. I've had him in my list for a decade or so, but haven't yet gotten around to picking him up successfully. These days I'm averse to reading short stories, I don't know why. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ David Stockhoff — 19 Nov 2017, 04:30 in reply to Allan Anderson Allan, I have only just started the first book. Justine, I believe. I'm glad to see people reading Aickman. > On November 16, 2017 10:08:08 AM EST, Allan Anderson wrote: > On Thu, Nov 16, 2017 at 4:04 AM David Stockhoff > > wrote: > > I'm reading Durrell's Alexandria Quartet. Not SF, but definitely > > experimental and a little reminiscent of Robert Aickman in its > > detachment combined with nearly-alienating attention to detail. > I really enjoyed the Alexandria Quartet. He gives each of the four > books > such a different voice and appetite. Which one are you on? I hadn't > made an > Aickman connection, but I can see that. I've just finished up his *Dark > Entries* wth my old college chums Facebook reading group. > > In SF, I've been trying out David Brin's *Kiln People*, which, > egregious > title pun aside, seems to have a bit in common with *A Borrowed Man. > *Brin's > book's schtick is that just about everyone has access to the technology > to > make shortlived artificial copies of themselves, to various degrees of > fidelity and autonomy. Murder mystery, copies of people, memory > games--very > different setting and, I expect, conclusions, but still, fun. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Marc Aramini — 19 Nov 2017, 14:32 in reply to Gwern Branwen Thanks for all of this, Gwern. I look forward to looking to looking it over soon! > On Thu, Nov 16, 2017 at 9:21 AM, Gwern Branwen wrote: > > > How fun. > > Not that you need the suggestion, but one of my favorite books is all > about this theme of warfare and competitive pressures of various kinds > pushing (and corrupting) science/technology and is about the > post-Manhattan Project nuclear laboratories: Carter Scholz's 2002 > novel _Radiance_. (I hesitate to label it 'science fiction', even > though Scholz is usually considered one and his last novel was > unambiguously SF, because it's so based on real events and SDI.) > > I have an annotated transcription & scans at > https://www.gwern.net/docs/radiance/2002-scholz-radiance along with > supporting materials, some of which are quite interesting in their own > right, for example, Greg Benford's memoirs "Old Legends" ( > https://www.gwern.net/docs/radiance/1995-benford-oldlegends.pdf ) or > Berger's "The _Astounding_ Investigation: The Manhattan Project's > Confrontation with Science Fiction" ( > https://www.gwern.net/docs/radiance/1984-berger.djvu ) or MacKenzie & > Spinardi 1995's "Tacit Knowledge, Weapons Design, and the Uninvention > of Nuclear Weapons" ( > https://www.gwern.net/docs/radiance/1995-mackenzie.pdf ). Physicists > or people interested in future weapons development might also find it > interesting to revisit _Fourth Generation Nuclear Weapons_ ( > http://web.elastic.org/~fche/mirrors/www.cryptome.org/2014/ > 06/wmd-4th-gen-quest.pdf > ), and consider the array of possible nuclear weapons - turns out > there are a lot of possible nuclear weapons going beyond classic > fission and fusion designs (apropos of which, 'quark fusion': > https://arxiv.org/abs/1708.02547 > https://phys.org/news/2017-11-theoretical-quark-fusion- > powerful-hydrogen.html > ). > > -- > gwern > _______________________________________________ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------