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December 27, 2008
Oral histories
Scientists say female Everquest II players are five times more likely to be bisexual than non-Everquest players. See? It is not all doom and gloom at the Flea (via Stephen Kellat).
Pic supposedly related.
Top ten: I survived a faculty meeting by generating a top ten introductory speculative fiction list for a colleague. I reproduce it here for your edification and brickbats.
*****
I have been reading Gordon Dickson... fun with not terribly well thought out military sf but he does not make the cut. I am going to assume you have read Douglas Adams and Terry Pratchett. If not, Pratchett's The Colour of Magic goes to the top of the list! You are one of the few people who will appreciate his Lovecraft references.
1. Frank Herbert - Dune
The masterpiece.
2. Frank Herbert - The Dosadi Experiment
Featuring Jorj X. McKie, Saboteur Extraordinary and one of my favourite characters, like, ever.
3. Robert Heinlein - Citizen of the Galaxy
Free Traders kick ass. I believe this is the "before" of Firefly.
4. Anne Rice - Interview with the Vampire
On the remote off chance you have not read it. '70s Victoriana.
5. Robert Holdstock - Mythago Wood
Quite possibly the only original fantasy novel since Tolkien. Fun with archetypes.
6. Larry Niven - Protector
My favourite in Niven's "Known Space" continuity. Fun with evolution.
7. Tanya Huff - Summon the Keeper
I met Austin on several occasions. Fun with talking cats.
8. Scott Westerfield - The Risen Empire
The newest title on this list. Fun with immortality.
9. Robert Harris - Fatherland
A gateway drug to the Harris oeuvre (my favourite is Pompeii). Fun with counterfactual history.
10. William Gibson - Neuromancer
"The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel."
And a PS: Cannot believe I forgot this one.
Max Brooks - World War Z
I am not much for zombies but I am all for oral histories of the zombie war.
Posted by Ghost of a flea at December 27, 2008 07:57 AM
Comments
Based on the methodology of that survey I suspect that the "female Everquest II players (who) are five times more likely to be bisexual" are in actuality 35 year old, morbidly obese, gender-confused MEN playing MMOs in their parent's basement While they're off work from the Kwik-E mart.
In the immortal words of the Kinks,
"Girls will be boys and boys will be girls. Its a mixed up muddled up shook up world."
Sorry to burst the bubble.
Posted by: dpatten ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.ghostofaflea.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 27, 2008 10:58 AM
You have both crushed and reaffirmed my faith in humanity.
So you are saying the above image does not accurately reflect the reality of bisexual female Everquest II enthusiasts?
Posted by: Ghost of a flea at December 27, 2008 12:21 PM
As always with the Flea's choice of graphical accompaniment, I am reminded that "I like girlz." Also, I agree with dpatten.
Surprised I haven't heard of most of the books on your list. I have added a few to my wish list.
Posted by: Solomon at December 27, 2008 01:53 PM
Heroic post.
I've read 1, 4, 9 and 10. No Pratchett, however. In Vernor Vinge's "Rainbows End" (in which I'm nearing the end), Pratchett fans are a significant cultural force in the web-heavy near-future.
Posted by: The_Campblog at December 27, 2008 06:14 PM
If that image helps you work through the whole bisexual girls on Everquest thing and forget the likelihood that they probably look more like Andrew Sullivan, then by all means...
Posted by: dpatten at December 27, 2008 11:36 PM
Now wondering what to suggest is the best place to start. The list does have a slant toward the personality of the person I wrote it for, a long time teacher of English and a cultured person. Also very clearly a Harry Potter enthusiast but one who has published on Lovecraft. Pratchett was clearly the answer.
Of these the most important authors to me are Herbert and Holdstock. With Tolkien, they have structured everything I have ever chosen to study. Not everyone shares my obsessions, however, and for many Heinlein will be the guiding light. Gibson is a genius, to my mind. Well, they are all very good.
Was wondering to what extent my list reflects a boy's reading habits. Would have added Elric of Melnibone to the list, for example, had my colleague already hinted it was one she would not read. For fans who have not delved deeply into the Michael Moorcock reality, the books you need to read are The Cornelius Chronicles; they explain the rest.
But I digress. Many such lists would include Ursula LeGuin's Earthsea books, Bradley's The Mists of Avalon and possibly something Pern related.
Robert E. Howard is an oversight though as this was a list of novels perhaps with a good excuse. Plus I think of him as a Mythos writer and consequently someone to append to a top ten horror list.
Hmm.
Posted by: Ghost of a flea at December 28, 2008 09:53 AM
Also, it is possible to meet hot, bisexual gamer chicks through the internet. Trust me on this.
Posted by: Ghost of a flea at December 28, 2008 09:54 AM
How about:
Walter M. Miller, Jr. - A Canticle for Liebowitz
Particularly if the list is slanted to an English teacher, this would be a great choice.
Posted by: Terry at December 28, 2008 11:23 PM
English teachers and/or "Fallout" players. Loved "Canticle".
Posted by: The_Campblog at December 29, 2008 06:59 AM