Hi everyone,

How about a nice redirect of attention? Something to take your minds off 
of possibilities which may or may not exist. A good read.... something 
about.... well, possibilities which may or may not exist :) Of course 
I'm talking about Science Fiction.

A quick Google search found a site from which one can view sci-fi 
stories for free. Here's the link:

http://www.freesfonline.de/

Have fun :)

search string: free online "science fiction"

Sam

Poll: What do you like more?
a) hard science fiction
b) fantastical sci-fi
c) space operas

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stbenge <stb### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> How about a nice redirect of attention? Something to take your minds off
> of possibilities which may or may not exist. A good read.... something
> about.... well, possibilities which may or may not exist :) Of course
> I'm talking about Science Fiction.

thanks!  It's certainly a nice change of pace.  Now let's bash ourselves to
death over who's the best SF author out there or if Frank Herbert really wanted
to start a religion with Dune... :P

> http://www.freesfonline.de/

nice link!  from there I already got to this little gem:
http://www.neilgaiman.com/exclusive/shortstories/partiesstory/

:)

> Poll: What do you like more?
> a) hard science fiction
> b) fantastical sci-fi
> c) space operas

a) for me with a bit of b) or else it doesn't really taste good.  c) only really
for Star Wars... :)

Post a reply to this message

nemesis wrote:
> thanks! 

Hey, I just want to see people happy! (I'm beginning to think some 
people don't believe in happiness [or they don't believe the present 
quality of reality warrants the elicitation of said emotion <sheepish 
grin>])

> It's certainly a nice change of pace.  Now let's bash ourselves to
> death over who's the best SF author out there or if Frank Herbert really wanted
> to start a religion with Dune... :P

Well, the first Dune was great. You know, the one with Sting. Only 
kidding :) While I did enjoy that 80s theatrical masterpiece, I feel it 
took too many liberties and expanded the idea of the Kwisatz Haderach 
beyond it's original intention. In the book, you find out his powers 
were more about near-perfect predictive abilities and genetic memory 
(one of those things which may or may not exist), and less about magical 
superpowers. Also, the movie said nothing about the Steersmen's 
abilities to predict a safe passage through space. Either that or I 
completely missed the reference. Oh well, there's only so much plot you 
can squeeze into an already long movie.

>> http://www.freesfonline.de/
> 
> nice link!  from there I already got to this little gem:
> http://www.neilgaiman.com/exclusive/shortstories/partiesstory/
> 
> :)

Gonna have to read that tomorrow `:)

>> Poll: What do you like more?
>> a) hard science fiction
>> b) fantastical sci-fi
>> c) space operas
> 
> a) for me with a bit of b) or else it doesn't really taste good.  c) only really
> for Star Wars... :)

I agree with you about a) because it's fun to entertain possibilites.

I not such a fan of b) because, well, I don't like plot holes and 
over-exaggerated properties of physics.

But, with c), b) is okay because those stories tend to also entertain 
ideas about politics and sociology. Star Trek is an example, I believe. 
(why do I feel I've had this conversation here before...)

Sam

Post a reply to this message

stbenge wrote:
>>> Poll: What do you like more?
>>> a) hard science fiction
>>> b) fantastical sci-fi
>>> c) space operas
>>
>> a) for me with a bit of b) or else it doesn't really taste good.  c) 
>> only really
>> for Star Wars... :)

I like a good c) created via a). Touches all major themes with epic feel 
but keeps the geekery going for those that like to spot it. :-)

Post a reply to this message

"stbenge" <stb### [at] hotmailcom> wrote in message
news:475e25e6@news.povray.org...

> A quick Google search found a site from which one can view sci-fi
> stories for free. Here's the link:
>
> http://www.freesfonline.de/

Oooh. Thanks. I've been craving good sci-fi for a while.

Any recommendations?

> Have fun :)
>
> search string: free online "science fiction"
>
> Sam
>
> Poll: What do you like more?
> a) hard science fiction
> b) fantastical sci-fi
> c) space operas

a with a bit of c. Too much c gets old, fast, but I am a sucker for star
wars.

Post a reply to this message

"stbenge" <stb### [at] hotmailcom> wrote in message 
news:475e3af6@news.povray.org...
> nemesis wrote:
>> thanks!
>
> Hey, I just want to see people happy! (I'm beginning to think some people 
> don't believe in happiness [or they don't believe the present quality of 
> reality warrants the elicitation of said emotion <sheepish grin>])
>
>> It's certainly a nice change of pace.  Now let's bash ourselves to
>> death over who's the best SF author out there or if Frank Herbert really 
>> wanted
>> to start a religion with Dune... :P
>
> Well, the first Dune was great. You know, the one with Sting. Only kidding 
> :) While I did enjoy that 80s theatrical masterpiece, I feel it took too 
> many liberties and expanded the idea of the Kwisatz Haderach beyond it's 
> original intention. In the book, you find out his powers were more about 
> near-perfect predictive abilities and genetic memory (one of those things 
> which may or may not exist), and less about magical superpowers. Also, the 
> movie said nothing about the Steersmen's abilities to predict a safe 
> passage through space. Either that or I completely missed the reference. 
> Oh well, there's only so much plot you can squeeze into an already long 
> movie.

I think Herbert exposed organized religion for what it partly is. A 
manipulation of superstition for someone else's benefit.

I happened to see the various theatrical incarnations of Dune before reading 
it. Thankfully, I think, I don't recall the details of them, except perhaps 
the Weirding Way was transformed into a wrist-wearable device in the 80's 
version? I remember a scene with a boulder...

If I ever have a daughter, I might have to name her Alia.

Post a reply to this message

Ross wrote:
> I think Herbert exposed organized religion for what it partly is. A 
> manipulation of superstition for someone else's benefit.

No doubt. I'm not the biggest fan of religion myself. I see a 
distinction between organized religion and *spirituality*. One tends to 
lead toward inquisitions and holy wars; the other tends to lead towards 
self-betterment.

> I happened to see the various theatrical incarnations of Dune before reading 
> it. Thankfully, I think, I don't recall the details of them, except perhaps 
> the Weirding Way was transformed into a wrist-wearable device in the 80's 
> version? I remember a scene with a boulder...

Yeah, that scene was rather memorable.

> If I ever have a daughter, I might have to name her Alia. 

It is a beautiful name, but you better keep her away from the kitchen 
knifes ;) (not to mention the spice cabinet)

Sam

Post a reply to this message

Gail Shaw wrote:
> "stbenge" <stb### [at] hotmailcom> wrote in message
> news:475e25e6@news.povray.org...
> 
>> A quick Google search found a site from which one can view sci-fi
>> stories for free. Here's the link:
>>
>> http://www.freesfonline.de/
> 
> Oooh. Thanks. I've been craving good sci-fi for a while.

No prob :)

> Any recommendations?

Not yet. It was already late when I found the link, and I just woke up 
two hours ago..... and no, I'm not an alcoholic /:|

I wish ePaper would flood the markets soon so I can read downloaded 
texts without consuming great amounts of electricity.

>> Poll: What do you like more?
>> a) hard science fiction
>> b) fantastical sci-fi
>> c) space operas
> 
> a with a bit of c. Too much c gets old, fast, but I am a sucker for star
> wars.

Me too. I remember watching them when I was a mere three years of age. I 
even remember what we were eating for dinner....

Sam

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Bill Pragnell wrote:
> stbenge wrote:
>>>> Poll: What do you like more?
>>>> a) hard science fiction
>>>> b) fantastical sci-fi
>>>> c) space operas
>>>
>>> a) for me with a bit of b) or else it doesn't really taste good.  c) 
>>> only really
>>> for Star Wars... :)
> 
> I like a good c) created via a). Touches all major themes with epic feel 
> but keeps the geekery going for those that like to spot it. :-)

Such as traveling between star systems in minutes, not hundreds of 
years. That's a major point of contention for a) fans.

Sam

Post a reply to this message

stbenge wrote:
> Poll: What do you like more?
> a) hard science fiction
> b) fantastical sci-fi
> c) space operas

	Good stories.

-- 
If a mute swears, does his mother wash his hands with soap?


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