19-09-2003 19:27									#31
	Oh well Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Diamond Age is hopelessly behind.

I really like the user post on Years of Rice and Salt:

The Years of Rice and Salt is a sleeping pill in book format.

	19-09-2003 21:43									#32
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

It's America's loss.

	19-09-2003 21:53									#33
	Re: Oh well Increase the size of your Attachments

quote: Originally posted by pchang Diamond Age is hopelessly behind. I really like the user post on Years of Rice and Salt: The Years of Rice and Salt is a sleeping pill in book format.

Well, yes. For me the first third was pretty boring. But all things considered, it was a pretty good read.

	19-09-2003 22:29									#34
	Increase the size of your Attachments

How could Left Hand be losing to Years of Rice and Salt?

Literary masterpiece vs. boring piece of crap. Let me think...

	19-09-2003 22:37									#35
	bias Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

There is clearly a right handed bias on Apolyton

	19-09-2003 22:51									#36
	Got spare money?

quote: Originally posted by Mordoch Sigh, obviously not everyone read all of this thread before voting, because we have just had ANOTHER vote for Tits-Out Teenage Terror Totty.

Well really, who reads the thread then votes? The whole point of having the poll at the top of the page, surely is to encourage impulsive, spontaneous voting without being swayed by the biased content of the thread.

I voted for Tits-Out Teenage Terror Totty as well.

	19-09-2003 22:56									#37
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

Exactly, pchang. Bigots.

	19-09-2003 23:16									#38
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An even more important question is, how many polytoners have even read ONE stainless steel rat book?

	19-09-2003 23:35									#39
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nope.



I've read three.

	20-09-2003 00:18									#40
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quote: Originally posted by monolith94 An even more important question is, how many polytoners have even read ONE stainless steel rat book?

I've read five.

	20-09-2003 01:54									#41
	escapist fun Inflate your Upload Space

I've read every one I could get hold of. However, they are merely derivative shadows of the Retief short stories and books.

	20-09-2003 03:02									#42
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Ugh! Derivative shadows??? Hardly!


At least not the one I mentioned. Definitely my favorite of the series.

	20-09-2003 06:03									#43
	Inflate your Upload Space

quote: Originally posted by Ramo How could Left Hand be losing to Years of Rice and Salt? Literary masterpiece vs. boring piece of crap. Let me think...

I haven't read LHoD, but Wizard of Earthsea is utter crud.

Years is a fun read.

	20-09-2003 06:23									#44
	Get a bigger avatar today!

I hated all the Mars books

probably won't read Years

Jon Miller

	20-09-2003 06:26									#45
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I read it and enjoyed it once I'd got used to how it was written and figured out what was going on. Bit long though.

	20-09-2003 06:30									#46
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long is nothing for me

I read The Book of the Long Sun in a day (all 4 parts)

Jon Miller

	20-09-2003 06:56									#47
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quote: Originally posted by St Leo I haven't read LHoD, but Wizard of Earthsea is utter crud. Years is a fun read.

I disagree- at least with Le Guin you don't get those really insanely irritating noble wizards, doughty dwarves and wise elves that infest modern fantasy like off the shelf plagues of cliches. What I like about Le Guin's Earthsea sequence is that it deals with balance, order, maturation and the consequences of our actions without bashing you over the head with a morality tale.

If you haven't read 'Left Hand of Darkness/ then really you should- it was the first time I'd ever read something that explored what does it mean to be a sexual being- a male or a female? How is the construction of sexual identity achieved and what does it mean in terms of a society's growth if the roles customary on Earth are missing?

'Years of Rice and Salt' has many things going for it, but the Buddhist after life sequences are a jarring interpolation. I do like Robinson's development of the alternate history on his imagined world though. Much better than Turtledove's recent efforts. I had to put down his one about a Spanish ruled England as it was just so unlikely I was grinding my teeth in exasperation. I think he's been downhill since 'Agent of Byzantium'.

	20-09-2003 07:06									#48
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Originally posted by molly bloom I disagree- at least with Le Guin you don't get those really insanely irritating noble wizards, doughty dwarves and wise elves that infest modern fantasy like off the shelf plagues of cliches. What I like about Le Guin's Earthsea sequence is that it deals with balance, order, maturation and the consequences of our actions without bashing you over the head with a morality tale.

Compared to Niven's The Magic Goes Away that I read before it and Zelazny's Amber series that I read afterwards, it sucks.

	20-09-2003 07:13									#49
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Also keep in mind that Wizard of Earthsea is written for a slightly younger age group than her sci-fi (not that Wizard of Earthsea isn't a great book for adults to read, plenty of good philosophy).

	25-09-2003 10:03									#50
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations

Bump.

Went to the local used book store to look up "Schilde's", "Rice and Salt", "Armor", and the Friedman book, and not a single one was there.

	25-09-2003 10:05									#51
	Remove this text

You pansies! How can Rama only have 3 votes .

	25-09-2003 10:12									#52
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was desent but not greta

Jon Miller

	25-09-2003 10:13									#53
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HEATHEN .

Rama was awesome!

	30-09-2003 00:56									#54
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

Bumping it one last time. As of now, Years of Rice and Salt leads with 11 votes, Rama has 4 in case anybody cares.

Remember, if you voted for Tits Out Terror Totty you can change your vote to another title on the list. You might as well.

	30-09-2003 00:56									#55
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Oh, and thanks to whoever voted for Firestar. I owe you one!

	30-09-2003 01:00									#56
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

quote: Rama has 4 in case anybody cares.

I do

	30-09-2003 01:02									#57
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

Don't count out The Guide just yet.

	30-09-2003 01:29									#58
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

quote: Originally posted by JohnT Remember, if you voted for Tits Out Terror Totty you can change your vote to another title on the list. You might as well.

Ooh, yeah. I change my vote to the Guide.

	30-09-2003 01:40									#59
	Put an end to popups!

Mote, and Diamond Age (Even though Stephenson's other books are beyond crap, DA is not bad.)

	30-09-2003 08:00									#60
	Full PM-box? Change here!

I read Years awhile back. I hated it.


Starship Troopers all the way!




Yeah, I know it's from Starcraft. I always thought the M.I. Power Armor looked like the Terren Marines.