spidey book club

Terran · Post by **Terran** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:34 pm

HJ_KG wrote:QUOTE (HJ_KG @ Jun 27 2011, 02:36 PM) http://www.theawl.com/2011/04/when-alan-me...-tanked-economy

Some interesting comments on that page. I find it rather fascinating how much everyone hates Rand's philosophy. Makes reading this book all the more exciting. Thanks guys

Post by **BackTrak** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 7:41 pm

HJ_KG · Post by **HJ_KG** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 8:16 pm

spideycw · Post by **spideycw** » Mon Jun 27, 2011 11:01 pm

Fever wrote:QUOTE (Fever @ Jun 27 2011, 08:30 AM) young denise richards!

not the same thing at all you criminal

minigun · Post by **minigun** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 4:49 am

didn't read it. wierd cover i guess.

turtlefist · Post by **turtlefist** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:09 am

Iain M Banks - The Algebraist .
Stephan Donaldson - Gap Series .

Adept · Post by **Adept** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 7:55 am

Spunkmeyer wrote:QUOTE (Spunkmeyer @ Jun 27 2011, 08:43 PM) A bit more on-topic: I've seen The Difference Engine recommended, and I'll add this: it's more Sterling than Gibson..I think. And therefore isn't that brilliant . I love the setting and I love the idea of a steampunk meritrocracy that's only slightly corrupt but the story just doesn't flow much, and the more action-oriented chapters are painful to read as if they've been ripped out of a children's adventure story.

This is spot on. It was worth a read, but could have been so much more.

Adept · Post by **Adept** » Tue Jun 28, 2011 8:22 am

Terran wrote:QUOTE (Terran @ Jun 27 2011, 10:34 PM) Some interesting comments on that page. I find it rather fascinating how much everyone hates Rand's philosophy. Makes reading this book all the more exciting. Thanks guys

Calling that book "philosophy" is riotously funny. This summary on the page was just about perfect

QUOTE "She has a great attraction for simple people who are puzzled by organized society, who object to paying taxes, who dislike the welfare state, who feel guilt at the thought of the suffering of others but who would like to harden their hearts."[/quote]
Ayn Rand is her own parody, and is even more lost than the run of the mill social darvinists. Our species has gotten where is by our ability to cooperate and be inclusive. I guess objectivism is like some twisted cult used to justify the basests desires of it's deciples, and to silence any nagging remains of decency or concience.

Btw, you're right about the comments Terran
QUOTE "There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old's life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs." --John Rogers[/quote]

Darkling · Post by **Darkling** » Wed Jun 29, 2011 1:34 am

I started reading Atlas Shrugged a few weeks ago and so far bleh... I don't know what I was expecting but I can safely say I was expecting "more" -- for a book that is so controversial and revered/despised I was expecting something more than... Meh.

I'm sorry, the woman cannot write. The characters are beyond one dimensional. I feel that she had the same understanding of emotional depth as the rock in my garden.

Maybe the story gets better (unless it was written by Brian Herbert it really couldn't get any worse) but I really don't see the appeal. Everyone is either totally lazy and incompetent or successful and driven and totally lacking in human empathy. Oddly, that sentence could also sum up much of the Allegiance community.