28 February 2009: Liberation Square

[14:03] Jago Constantine: So, have you read anything this week?
[14:03] Lewis Luminos: finished Perdido Street Station / omg what an ending / poor Lin / and poor Yag too :(
[14:04] Jago Constantine: Yeah ... / Harsh stuff
[14:04] Lewis Luminos: definitely not a happy ending
[14:04] Jago Constantine: He's not a happy ending kind of writer
[14:04] Lewis Luminos: and then I read something esle that wasn;t science fiction at all
[14:04] Lewis Luminos: lol
[14:04] Jago Constantine: GET OUT!
[14:04] Jago Constantine: just kidding
[14:04] Lewis Luminos: lol
[14:05] Jago Constantine: What was it?
[14:05] Lewis Luminos: The Piano
[14:05] Jago Constantine: Was there a movie of that?
[14:05] Lewis Luminos: yes but I've not seen it / I intend to now
[14:05] Jago Constantine: I think I've seen parts of it anyway
[14:05] Lewis Luminos: not my usual sort of book, but I enjoyed it
[14:05] Jago Constantine: or maybe that was a spoof / lol
[14:06] Lewis Luminos is not into chick-flick stuff normally
[14:06] Jago Constantine: ok
[14:06] Jago Constantine: Well, I read Stephen Baxter's 'Space'
[14:06] Lewis Luminos: was it good?
[14:06] Jago Constantine: It was great
[14:07] Jago Constantine: It's really mindblowing cosmological science fiction
[14:07] Jago Constantine: Begins maybe 20 years in the future and goes for 10,000 years lol
[14:07] Lewis Luminos: wow thats some saga
[14:08] Jago Constantine: Yeah... it's told as vignettes from different points in history / As characters travel through hyperspace (kind of) and skip through time in the outside universe / It's written from an interesting angle about the fermi paradox and why we haven't seen any aliens
[14:09] Lewis Luminos: sounds like an interesting approach / oh? what does it say about that?
[14:10] Jago Constantine: yeah it is, it's the second book in a trilogy but it stands alone / that's kind of a spoiler :P
[14:11] Lewis Luminos: I read a few books in the battletech/Mechwarrior universe, and there are no aliens there either
[14:11] Lewis Luminos: but it doesnt detract from it at all.
[14:12] Jago Constantine: This has aliens, and the question is why did they show up now
[14:12] Lewis Luminos: aah
[14:12] Jago Constantine: just when we emerge into a high tech civilisation / because there should have been some around long before us / Anyway, I'd previously read the third novel in the series, and was disappointed / So I'm glad I read them out of order / lol
[14:13] Lewis Luminos: was that because you read them out of order?
[14:14] Jago Constantine: No, I think I would have been disappointed anyway / The third book had some interesting ideas
[14:14] Lewis Luminos: I try to read them in sequence wherever possible
[14:14] Jago Constantine: me too
[14:14] Lewis Luminos: my library annoys me, sometimes they only have one book out of a trilogy
[14:14] Lewis Luminos: usually not the first
[14:15] Jago Constantine: lol I hate that / And noone will borrow that book unless they read the first / so it's pointless
[14:15] Lewis Luminos: *nods*
[14:15] Jago Constantine: I see the same thing in DVD stores / When I look for anime series
[14:15] Lewis Luminos: yeah
[14:15] Jago Constantine: they sold the first disc and have discs 2-12 on the shelf lo
[14:15] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:16] Lewis Luminos: my daughter collects anime so I'm familiar with that complaint
[14:16] Jago Constantine: Do I want to order it in? No! I want it now or I get something else :P
[14:16] Lewis Luminos: lol
[14:16] Jago Constantine: I just joined netflix or the australian version
[14:16] Lewis Luminos: I never really got into anime much at all
[14:16] Jago Constantine: that's fantastic, the best way to do it
[14:16] Lewis Luminos: I dont have the patience to watch them
[14:17] Jago Constantine: heh they can vary wildly in their quality
[14:17] MT Mimulus: Hi Jago
[14:17] Lewis Luminos: rather read the manga / hi MT
[14:17] Jago Constantine: Hi, rant, hi, MT
[14:17] MT Mimulus: Hello Lewis
[14:17] Lewis Luminos: hi Rant
[14:17] Jago Constantine: Try clicking on the innner edge
[14:17] rant Ugajin: hi
[14:18] Jago Constantine: We're just discussing what we read this week
[14:18] rant Ugajin: sorry to be late
[14:18] Jago Constantine: Lewis finished Perdido Street Station by China Mieville / I read Space by Stephen Baxter
[14:18] rant Ugajin: i came to listen
[14:19] Jago Constantine: That's cool :) / Did we lose MT?
[14:19] rant Ugajin: she went to eat / do you know Dan Simmons?
[14:19] Jago Constantine: heh
[14:19] Jago Constantine: Yes, the last book I read of his was The Terror
[14:19] Lewis Luminos doesn't
[14:19] Jago Constantine: I loved it
[14:19] rant Ugajin: what is his trilogy called? / based on greek myths
[14:20] Jago Constantine: Hmm not sure about a trilogy ... he wrote four books in the Hyperion Cantos
[14:20] rant Ugajin: those are them
[14:20] Jago Constantine: and I think it was two based on the greek myths
[14:20] Jago Constantine: Ilium and Olympos
[14:20] rant Ugajin: yes / must read them again
[14:20] Jago Constantine: I loved the first greek one, but the sequel a bit less
[14:20] Lewis Luminos: ohh. I say Olympos this week in the library
[14:20] rant Ugajin: what did you guys read last?
[14:21] Lewis Luminos: *saw
[14:21] rant Ugajin: is that in world?
[14:21] Lewis Luminos: I read Perdido Street Statiion
[14:21] rant Ugajin: have you talked about it Lewis?
[14:21] Jago Constantine: He can recap :)
[14:21] rant Ugajin: please
[14:22] Lewis Luminos: sure, well its a very gritty urban setting / fairly low-tech world, almost steam-punk-ish
[14:22] Jago Constantine: I would call it steampunk
[14:22] Lewis Luminos: with a classic science fiction theme - bug-hunting / in this case literally
[14:22] rant Ugajin: bug hunting?
[14:22] Jago Constantine: like in alien
[14:22] Lewis Luminos: the heroes are after some giant killer moths
[14:23] Jago Constantine: the plot revolves around hunting a monster / or The Thing
[14:23] Lewis Luminos: whilst dodging the militia and the local drug-gangs / *nods* same sort of theme as Alien, / xcept the setting is an urban city, not a spaceship
[14:23] rant Ugajin: i see
[14:24] Lewis Luminos: anyay. I really enjoyed it
[14:24] Jago Constantine: I recommend the sequel too, I liked it more - The Scar
[14:24] Lewis Luminos: yeah I will have to buy that one I think
[14:24] Lewis Luminos: definitely want to read more about the city
[14:24] Jago Constantine: It's set in a city too, but one made of thousands of ships lashed together
[14:25] Lewis Luminos: oh its not New Crozubon then?
[14:25] Jago Constantine: No, though it has characters from there
[14:25] Lewis Luminos: ooh. :)
[14:26] Jago Constantine: So I read Space by Stephen Baxter / it's a cosmological science fiction novel / looks at big questions about the universe
[14:27] rant Ugajin: wha are the big questions?
[14:27] Jago Constantine: the plot stretches over thousands of years as characters travel through hyperspace / The main one is the fermi paradox - where is everyone? / Why haven't we discovered any trace of aliens / They show up in the book, so the question becomes, why now? Why did they appear just when we did
[14:28] rant Ugajin: we are immortals?
[14:28] Jago Constantine: the characters?
[14:28] rant Ugajin: yes the charachters
[14:28] Jago Constantine: they live a long time because of the hyperspace ... they skip through normal time
[14:29] rant Ugajin: but they live and die
[14:29] Jago Constantine: basically they're being transmitted and reassembled at different places / yes
[14:29] Lewis Luminos: interesting philosophical questions there
[14:29] rant Ugajin: haha
[14:29] Lewis Luminos: about self identity
[14:29] rant Ugajin: ??
[14:30] Jago Constantine: Yeah ... there are lots of cool, big scale effects too / like terraforming the moon and so on / alien invasions / So next I'm going to read an old anthology I picked up ... Galactic Dreamers / edited by Robert Silverberg.
[14:32] rant Ugajin: what is that about Jago?
[14:32] Jago Constantine: Stories by Jack Vance, James Blish, Brian Aldiss, J G Ballard, Cordwainer Smith
[14:32] Jago Constantine: sounds good
[14:32] rant Ugajin: hi boris
[14:32] Jago Constantine: It says it's about / "Visionary" science fiction
[14:33] Lewis Luminos: isn't ALL science fiction "visionary"?
[14:33] rant Ugajin: what does visionary mean in this context?
[14:33] Jago Constantine: yeah, but some more than others
[14:33] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:33] Jago Constantine: wait I'll grab it and check the blurb
[14:33] rant Ugajin: lol
[14:34] rant Ugajin: where's betsy?
[14:34] Jago Constantine: 'for Silverberg ... the best science-fiction stories are visionary and mystical'
[14:34] rant Ugajin: k
[14:34] Lewis Luminos: I would agree with that
[14:34] Jago Constantine: 'offering that transcendental experience that only the best science fiction can provide / I think it's supposed to be mind-expanding :) / I'll let you know how it is next week at the meeting :) / What are you reading next, Lewis?
[14:36] Lewis Luminos: The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
[14:36] Lewis Luminos: set in the near future
[14:36] Jago Constantine: I've never read any of hers :P
[14:37] Lewis Luminos: about a guy who's a genius mathematician
[14:37] Lewis Luminos: well more than that
[14:37] Lewis Luminos: mind like a computer
[14:37] rant Ugajin: i sec brb
[14:37] Jago Constantine: ok
[14:38] Jago Constantine: heh and what does he do?
[14:38] Lewis Luminos: I'm not sure yet, not started reading it
[14:38] Jago Constantine: heh ok
[14:38] Lewis Luminos: seems to be somewhat cyberpunk-y, based on the blurb
[14:38] Jago Constantine: Ok
[14:39] Lewis Luminos: talks about a Corporation that he works for
[14:39] Jago Constantine: Anything with corporations sounds a little cyberpunk
[14:39] Jago Constantine: heh
[14:39] Lewis Luminos: *nods* part of the definition :-D
[14:40] Jago Constantine: Oh, if I made a group for Science Fiction Saturday, would you be interested?
[14:43] Jago Constantine: You there?
[14:43] Lewis Luminos: sorry yeah
[14:43] Lewis Luminos: and yes definitely
[14:44] Jago Constantine: Cool :)
[14:44] Lewis Luminos: thanks :)
[14:44] Jago Constantine: I was thinking maybe we could have meetings elsewhere sometimes
[14:44] Jago Constantine: Like at Insilico :)
[14:45] Jago Constantine: Of course, I like to get traffic up on my land lol
[14:45] Lewis Luminos: I have a meeting venue available too
[14:45] Jago Constantine: Oh how did your philosophy group go?
[14:45] Lewis Luminos: not started yet
[14:45] Lewis Luminos: First one next weekend
[14:45] Jago Constantine: ah ok
[14:46] Jago Constantine: What's your venue like?
[14:46] Lewis Luminos: its a garden, with seating,
[14:46] Lewis Luminos: dancefloor, in case anyone wants a party
[14:46] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:47] Jago Constantine: Well, I'm kind of talked out :P
[14:48] Jago Constantine: Less people this week lol
[14:48] Jago Constantine: Fewer
[14:48] Lewis Luminos: *nods*
[14:48] Jago Constantine: Got anything else sci fi you want to talk about?
[14:48] Lewis Luminos: these things take time to get into a pattern
[14:48] Jago Constantine: Yeag
[14:48] Jago Constantine: yeah
[14:48] Lewis Luminos: ah MT is back
[14:48] Jago Constantine: Oh I watched a sci fi anime called Gasaraki, which was pretty dull
[14:49] Lewis Luminos: maybe she has a book to talk about
[14:49] Jago Constantine: Hi, MT, are you a sci fi reader?
[14:49] Jago Constantine: rant is afk I think
[14:50] Jago Constantine: anyway I don't recommend Gasaraki unless you're into mecha
[14:50] MT Mimulus: Sorry I had to leave
[14:50] Jago Constantine: No worries :)
[14:50] Jago Constantine: Have you read any science fiction lately, MT?
[14:50] MT Mimulus: I'm reading The Algebraist right now
[14:51] Jago Constantine: Cool, Iain Banks
[14:51] Jago Constantine: I liked that one
[14:51] MT Mimulus: Yes. Its very good - funny
[14:51] Jago Constantine: The aliens are whimsical
[14:51] Jago Constantine: the main aliens
[14:51] Lewis Luminos: hehe
[14:51] Lewis Luminos: sounds fun
[14:52] MT Mimulus: It is. A good read
[14:52] Jago Constantine: they have an economy based on kudos
[14:52] MT Mimulus: Sounds familiar, doesn't it
[14:52] Lewis Luminos: yeah but I can't place where from
[14:52] Lewis Luminos: great idea though
[14:53] Jago Constantine: it's like Cory Doctorow's book
[14:53] Jago Constantine: the magic kingdom one
[14:53] Lewis Luminos: like trading favours
[14:53] Jago Constantine: yeah
[14:53] Jago Constantine: In that people have power based on their reputation
[14:53] Lewis Luminos: *nods*
[14:53] MT Mimulus: But lacking any logic to the system
[14:53] Jago Constantine: hehe
[14:53] Lewis Luminos: ohh I remember where I've come across that idea before
[14:54] MT Mimulus: Whre is that Lewis?
[14:54] Lewis Luminos: Vampire the masquerade. The RPG
[14:54] Jago Constantine: lol really?
[14:54] Lewis Luminos: it all revolves round political intrigue
[14:54] Jago Constantine: how did that work
[14:54] Lewis Luminos: social status
[14:54] Lewis Luminos: depends on who owes you favours
[14:54] Jago Constantine: oh cool
[14:55] Lewis Luminos: the more important the people that owe you, the more important you become
[14:55] Lewis Luminos: thus you rise up the social ladder
[14:55] Lewis Luminos: whilst trying to avoid being staked, of course
[14:56] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:56] MT Mimulus: How often do you hold these discussions, Jago?
[14:57] Jago Constantine: this is the second one
[14:57] Jago Constantine: once a week is the plan
[14:57] MT Mimulus: Is there usually a theme proposed?
[14:57] MT Mimulus: Or I should say, will there be?
[14:57] Jago Constantine: The theme is just sci fi :)
[14:58] Jago Constantine: What we've done is talk about what we each read last, and what we want to read next
[14:58] MT Mimulus: I see
[14:58] Jago Constantine: With some free discussion of course
[14:59] Jago Constantine: I just made a group if you're interested
[14:59] MT Mimulus: Yes
[14:59] Jago Constantine: Although the notices will be in events too
[14:59] MT Mimulus: If I have room
[14:59] Lewis Luminos: and on SL Universe forums :)
[14:59] Jago Constantine: yes, and on SLU
[15:00] Jago Constantine: Thanks for joining :)
[15:00] MT Mimulus: Thanks Jago
[15:00] Jago Constantine: We might have meetings at different locations sometimes
[15:00] Jago Constantine: I was thinking Insilico, the cyberpunk sim
[15:01] MT Mimulus: I haven't been there - should be interesting
[15:01] Jago Constantine: or the museum of robots
[15:01] Lewis Luminos: that would be cool :)
[15:01] MT Mimulus: Yes it would be
[15:01] Jago Constantine: Feel free to post to group chat
[15:01] Lewis Luminos: maybe we should dress the part too
[15:01] Jago Constantine: During the week if you like
[15:01] MT Mimulus: OK
[15:01] Lewis Luminos: ok
[15:02] Jago Constantine: It is a group for discussion after all ;)
[15:02] Jago Constantine: If we meet at an rp place like insilico it would be good to dress the part :)
[15:02] Lewis Luminos: yeah thats what I was thinking
[15:02] Jago Constantine: I will check with the Insilico owner and see if she'd let us meet there
[15:03] MT Mimulus: ok
[15:03] Jago Constantine: they have an out of character bar
[15:03] Jago Constantine: Is rant there, MT? Would he like to join the group?
[15:04] MT Mimulus: I don't think so
[15:04] MT Mimulus: He seems to be away
[15:04] Jago Constantine: Would he be interested in the group?
[15:05] MT Mimulus: I think he is interested in Sci Fi but I don't know about joining a group
[15:05] MT Mimulus: Hello Boris
[15:05] Lewis Luminos: even the dog is trying to wake him up
[15:05] Jago Constantine: heh
[15:05] MT Mimulus: haha
[15:05] Jago Constantine: I just set the group so any of you can invite members
[15:05] Jago Constantine: It's also open enrolment anyway :)
[15:05] MT Mimulus: OK Jago
[15:05] Lewis Luminos: cool, thanks

21 February 2009: Liberation Square

[13:58] Jago Constantine: Hi, Lewis
[13:58] Lewis Luminos: hi Jago
[13:58] Jago Constantine: Thanks for coming :)
[13:58] Lewis Luminos: youre welcome
[13:58] Jago Constantine: I thought we'd have it in the park in the rotunda / Hi, Xeno :)
[13:59] Xeno Octavia: hi this the sci fi-ers
[13:59] Jago Constantine: Yes it is :) / Over here :) / try clicking closer to the inner edge, Xeno
[14:01] Lewis Luminos: if you stand inside the ring facing the seat it should work
[14:01] Xeno Octavia: lol we meet out in the street!!ty
[14:01] Jago Constantine: It's a little laggy, I've been building
[14:01] Lewis Luminos: is this place all new?
[14:01] Jago Constantine: It was good to see some replies on the forum, I didn't know if anyone would come / Yes, well, built since february / Anyway, I've never even been in a book club before, so I'm just winging it here
[14:02] Lewis Luminos: me neither actually
[14:03] Jago Constantine: Maybe I'll start by saying what I'm reading / I've just finished a couple of Neal Asher novels / in his Polity series / He owes a lot to Iain Banks I think / Have either of you read him?
[14:03] Lewis Luminos: no
[14:04] Xeno Octavia: i havnt
[14:04] Lewis Luminos: keep meaning to
[14:04] Jago Constantine: Ok, well like Banks, they're in a human society run largely by AIs / Maybe a bit more actiony than banks
[14:04] Xeno Octavia: how are u on Mary Doria Russell
[14:05] Jago Constantine: I read The Sparrow and Children of God / Has she written any sci fi since?
[14:05] Xeno Octavia: kool i'm reading Dreamers of the Day
[14:05] Jago Constantine: Sci fi?
[14:05] Xeno Octavia: is it sci fi --maybe
[14:05] Jago Constantine: Heh what is it about so far?
[14:07] Xeno Octavia: ive read it --wont twell where may become sci fi --but is about pre WW1 america and the peace conf in mid east 1921 and then ---
[14:07] Lewis Luminos: ah I love books that cross genre boundaries
[14:08] Jago Constantine: Sounds interesting
[14:08] Xeno Octavia: actually a western divide of mid east conf
[14:08] Jago Constantine: So ... alternate history?
[14:08] Ingrid Northmead: oh wow / hey Lewis
[14:08] Jago Constantine: Hey Ingrid :)
[14:08] Lewis Luminos: hi Ingrid :)
[14:08] Jago Constantine: Thanks for coming
[14:08] Ingrid Northmead: fancy meeting you here
[14:08] Lewis Luminos: lol
[14:09] Xeno Octavia: no actual history but alternates after history and is about how our sucky worls came about
[14:09] Jago Constantine: ok
[14:09] Xeno Octavia: hi ingrid
[14:09] Ingrid Northmead: hey hey
[14:10] Xeno Octavia: am also reading James Hillman's A Terrible Love of War / which takes off where russell leAVES OFF
[14:10] Jago Constantine: Was it a deliberate choice to pick those two at once? / Or a coincidence? / Hey Toad :) / I should ask if this time and day is good for everyone?
[14:12] Xeno Octavia: YES HI TOAD
[14:12] Jago Constantine: lol Xeno
[14:13] Xeno Octavia: dont kno --i b erratic
[14:13] Lewis Luminos: its good for me / although once I start my own little group, I might be late sometimes
[14:14] Jago Constantine: Oh, your philosophy group?
[14:14] Lewis Luminos: *nod*
[14:14] Xeno Octavia: yes jago they go together they were possib choices for another book club --which chose dreamers
[14:14] Jago Constantine: Nice
[14:14] ToadOfToadHall Aquila: bye guys -- server slow.
[14:14] Jago Constantine: Ok Toad, sorry bout that / What are you reading atm, Lewis?
[14:15] Lewis Luminos: I'm about 4/5ths through Perdido Street Station
[14:15] Jago Constantine: Oh nice :)
[14:15] Lewis Luminos: by China Mieville / Really good book, classic sort of sci-fi plot, but fairly low tech / grungy setting
[14:15] Jago Constantine: I loved it / I liked The Scar better
[14:15] Lewis Luminos: Havent read any of his others yet / but I certainy will do after this
[14:16] Jago Constantine: It's good cos they're so thick, you get value for money lol
[14:16] Lewis Luminos: yeah :)
[14:16] Jago Constantine: Seriously, it's a great steampunk sort of setting
[14:16] Lewis Luminos: The characters are so well-thought-out too
[14:17] Jago Constantine: yes, they have depth
[14:17] Lewis Luminos: brb 2 min
[14:17] Jago Constantine: ok / Ingrid? Read any good books?
[14:18] Ingrid Northmead: Oh, actually I've been meaning to check out Michael Moorcock.. have heard very good things about him and read some of his essays but I'm a bit overwhelmed at where to start
[14:18] Jago Constantine: I love his Dancers at the End of Time series best / They're a lot of fun
[14:18] julo Dixon: hello everybody
[14:19] Jago Constantine: Welcome, Julo :)
[14:19] julo Dixon: ty jago
[14:19] Lewis Luminos: back
[14:19] Jago Constantine: We're going round the circle saying what we're reading / Is this how AA works? / lol
[14:19] Xeno Octavia: hi julo
[14:19] julo Dixon: hi xeno
[14:20] Ingrid Northmead: yes and after the meeting we all read trashy fantasy novels and then feel ashamed
[14:20] Xeno Octavia: no we skipping the porno
[14:20] Jago Constantine: lol / You can visit my sex furniture museum after if you want porno
[14:20] julo Dixon: lol
[14:20] Lewis Luminos: I never feel ashamed of trashy fantasy :)
[14:20] Jago Constantine: Heh, well China Mieville is arguably fantasy / not trashy tho
[14:21] Lewis Luminos: yeah but the storyline is pure sci-fi, / Alien-hunting
[14:21] Jago Constantine: the lines blur, and similar with Moorcock
[14:21] Lewis Luminos: *nods* / like I said, I enjoy books where the lines are blurred
[14:22] Jago Constantine: So Ingrid, I'd recomment Moorcock's Dancers series, or actually Gloriana / That's a stand alone novel set in an alternate history England
[14:22] Ingrid Northmead: well I'll check those out then... always sort of the matter of cracking open a certain universe, if that makes sense
[14:22] Jago Constantine: it doesn't quite :P / the matter?
[14:23] Ingrid Northmead: haha well never mind then :p
[14:24] Jago Constantine: So Julo ... what book is on your night stand at the moment?
[14:24] julo Dixon: oooo i m reading nothing
[14:24] Xeno Octavia: i remember that was quite good
[14:24] julo Dixon: just want to listen you
[14:24] Jago Constantine: aw shucks :)
[14:25] Xeno Octavia: dont remember who wrote it tho
[14:25] Jago Constantine: heh
[14:25] Lewis Luminos: it was that guy, Anon. / Very prolific writer
[14:25] Ingrid Northmead: He's so prolific.
[14:25] Jago Constantine: I should mention that Neal Asher needs a better editor
[14:25] Ingrid Northmead: oh jinx.
[14:25] Lewis Luminos: :)
[14:25] Jago Constantine: I've never read a major writer with such inelegant prose / and simple mistakes too, like new for knew
[14:26] Lewis Luminos: heh try Roger Zelazny
[14:26] Jago Constantine: really? I read a few of his / Lord of Light
[14:26] Lewis Luminos: Nine Princes is full of errors
[14:27] Jago Constantine: I couldn't get into the Amber series / at all
[14:27] Ingrid Northmead: worst I've ever read was Mary Gentle
[14:27] Lewis Luminos: I've been warned off hers.
[14:27] Jago Constantine: Really? I recently read Golden Witchbreed / It seemed ok
[14:27] Xeno Octavia: have u read Wilson's 'Spin' and/or 'Axis'
[14:27] Ingrid Northmead: oh I haven't read that one, but I didn't finish any of her books that I started, which is really unusual for me
[14:28] Jago Constantine: I LOVED her book Ash / Loved it / one of my favourites / I read Spin, it was ok
[14:28] Xeno Octavia: gess ok not very good
[14:28] Jago Constantine: heh
[14:29] Ingrid Northmead: Ooh, SL drama emergency is calling my name. Sorry guys, gotta run :)
[14:29] Jago Constantine: It won awards obviously, so some people like it
[14:29] Lewis Luminos: lol ok
[14:29] Ingrid Northmead: see ya~
[14:29] Jago Constantine: Cya later Ingrid, mayne next week
[14:29] Lewis Luminos: bye Ingrid / Out of curiosity, who here has read Snow Crash?
[14:29] Jago Constantine: Me :)
[14:29] Lewis Luminos: :)
[14:29] Jago Constantine: It's kind of de rigeur for SL isn't it :P
[14:30] Lewis Luminos: yeah thats why I asked / I read it a couple of months ago / thought it was pretty good
[14:30] Jago Constantine: It's another of my favourites / And Diamond Age
[14:30] Lewis Luminos: havent read any of his others
[14:31] Jago Constantine: The last one I read was Anathem, which was ... monumental :P
[14:32] Lewis Luminos: I dont think my local library has any of his. :(
[14:32] Jago Constantine: It wasn't his best, but the world building was great
[14:32] Lewis Luminos: I loved the Snow Crash world
[14:33] Jago Constantine: Yeah Snow Crash's burbclaves are a lot of fun
[14:33] Sharon Raynier: Hi
[14:33] Jago Constantine: Hi, Sharon, welcome :)
[14:33] Lewis Luminos: hi Sharon
[14:33] Sharon Raynier: I don't know too much about science fiction - I'm challenged enough dealing with reality lol
[14:33] Xeno Octavia: snow crASH WAS MUCHLY kooler than Neuromancer
[14:34] Jago Constantine: Yeah, I've never been into William Gibson that much / Especially his later things
[14:34] Lewis Luminos: I tried Neuromancer and gave it up / brb again
[14:34] Jago Constantine: What was the last science fiction you read, Sharon? / Sharon?
[14:36] Sharon Raynier: Sorry
[14:36] Jago Constantine: No worries :)
[14:36] Sharon Raynier: : - ) / Did you ask something?
[14:37] Jago Constantine: What was the last sci fi you read?
[14:37] Sharon Raynier: I am hear to listen more than contribute / The last sci fi....
[14:37] Jago Constantine: That's ok :)
[14:37] julo Dixon: lol like me
[14:37] Sharon Raynier: Well in all this talk about Abraham Lincoln these weeks / I am reminded of a Twilight Zone story I read years ago
[14:37] Lewis Luminos: back
[14:38] Jago Constantine: Oh?
[14:38] Sharon Raynier: especially a tragic one / What if someone were transported in time to right before a historic event occurred, / and the person had knowledge, what would / be the impact of the person being at that place and time
[14:38] julo Dixon: ok i m going bye
[14:39] Xeno Octavia: intressin meet but i must leave - TY jago
[14:39] Jago Constantine: Thanks for coming, Julo!
[14:39] Lewis Luminos: bye julo
[14:39] Jago Constantine: Maybe next week?
[14:39] Sharon Raynier: take care
[14:39] Lewis Luminos: Your story Sharon, reminds me of another I read / Changewar, by Fritz Leiber / all about timetravelling
[14:40] Sharon Raynier: What happened in that story?
[14:40] Lewis Luminos: and two rival factions at war with each other, keep going back and changing things
[14:40] Jago Constantine: Sounds familiar
[14:40] Lewis Luminos: and the other faction goes back further and changes their change...
[14:41] Sharon Raynier: Oh Australia, eh?
[14:41] Lewis Luminos: its fascinating
[14:41] Jago Constantine: Yes :) / I think there are a few series about time wars
[14:41] Sharon Raynier: I'm in Florida USA / There's a movie on HBO tonight about the Iraq War I think / about an officer who is escorting the body of a private, an ordinary soldier, home after being killed in action
[14:42] Jago Constantine: ok? / Is it science fiction?
[14:42] Sharon Raynier: I am really looking forward to seeing it but I imagine it will be sad / There's a lot of people who would like to be able to go back in time and change things about that war
[14:43] Jago Constantine: True / It would be interesting to see or read something like that about Iraq / If you went back in time and said there are no WMDs / would you be believed? / Oh, Lewis (and Sharon) / If you can't get books in your local library, you might try Bookmooch
[14:44] Sharon Raynier: Or that Saddam is not the threat that Bush is making him out to be
[14:44] Lewis Luminos: whats that?
[14:44] Jago Constantine: It's a book sharing website
[14:45] Sharon Raynier: Bookmooch - that's a funny name
[14:45] Jago Constantine: You offer to share books / and you get points for the ones you send out / and spend points to get books posted from other people
[14:45] Lewis Luminos: hmm does it depend pn having a reliable postal service? A lot of things go missing here, I dont trust 'em
[14:46] Jago Constantine: heh well, I just got a book from the UK, and sent one to singapore and they both arrived / it depends if you trust your postal service
[14:46] Lewis Luminos: I think its a local issue here Jago / a dodgy postman or something
[14:46] Sharon Raynier: I'll have to look into that / I have a ton of books I don't really look at
[14:46] Jago Constantine: Yes well packages could be tempting
[14:46] Sharon Raynier: Where are you Lewis?
[14:46] Jago Constantine: I'm rather strict with my books
[14:47] Lewis Luminos: UK
[14:47] Jago Constantine: I look at them and say will I ever read this again? / Then I take them to the book exchange
[14:47] Lewis Luminos: I have plenty at home I've not read yet so I'm good for a while
[14:47] Sharon Raynier: book exchagne?
[14:47] Jago Constantine: Hi, Charr
[14:48] Sharon Raynier: Hi Charr!
[14:48] Jago Constantine: A store that buys and sells used books?
[14:48] charr Philter: Hello Jago / Hi Sharon
[14:48] Arii Arida: Hello all :))
[14:48] Jago Constantine: Hi, Arii, sorry I didn't notice you over there
[14:48] Sharon Raynier: The major place in my home which I need to declutter is my books / Hi Arii / I tend to hang on to them
[14:49] Jago Constantine: Yeah, books take up so much space so quickly / We've been talking about what we're reading at the moment / Arii, got anything good going?
[14:50] Lewis Luminos: hi Arii
[14:50] Jago Constantine: Nice sit pose, by the way
[14:50] Arii Arida: lol....oops
[14:50] Jago Constantine: No, I wasn't making fun, it looks cool
[14:50] Arii Arida: well...I just finished Greg Iles Footprints of God
[14:51] Jago Constantine: I haven't read anything by him / Is it good?
[14:51] Arii Arida: I liked it...was a fairly easy read.....scary waqht can happen with computers and mans ambition to rule the world
[14:52] Jago Constantine: Is it part of a series?
[14:52] Arii Arida: Dan Brown recomends this book / no
[14:52] Jago Constantine: I like Dan Brown a little / he's kind of sci fi too
[14:52] Arii Arida: right now I'm reading Deception Point / so far...it's pretty good
[14:53] Jago Constantine: Is that the meteorite one?
[14:53] Arii Arida: again...about science ect / yup
[14:53] Jago Constantine: I get it confused with Digital Fortress
[14:53] Arii Arida: dont tell me anthing
[14:53] Lewis Luminos: I like dan brown too :)
[14:53] Arii Arida: about the meterite,lol
[14:53] Jago Constantine: Technothrillers like that are really science fiction in the present :P / Hey, Charr, how about you? Reading anything good?
[14:54] Arii Arida: yes...I am a huge sci fi fan.....so I like that kind of read
[14:54] charr Philter: so are we camping?
[14:54] Jago Constantine: lol
[14:55] Sharon Raynier: Do two things at once / That would make sense - to have a club meeting at someone's camping bench lol
[14:55] Arii Arida: lol....I agree
[14:55] Jago Constantine: heh I think the good company is enough value without camping chairs :)
[14:55] Sharon Raynier: Absolutely
[14:56] Arii Arida: oh...you had to take the high road.lol
[14:56] Lewis Luminos: anyway in an hour you'd only make L$1, at the going rate
[14:56] charr Philter: so are we having a book club sit in?
[14:56] Sharon Raynier: My son found a Transformers avatar of the character "Bumblebee" here in 2nd life / He loves it / His hero is Tony Stark
[14:56] Jago Constantine: wow
[14:56] Sharon Raynier: of Ironman / Do you know the story?
[14:56] Lewis Luminos: heh Tony Stark is my hero too :)
[14:57] Jago Constantine: I actually have to run, folks / Thanks so much for coming
[14:57] Arii Arida: ok
[14:57] Lewis Luminos: aw ok
[14:57] Sharon Raynier: OK Jago - very nice to meet you
[14:57] Jago Constantine: I have a wedding to attend
[14:57] Lewis Luminos: It was fun
[14:57] Arii Arida: I'm sorry I was late
[14:57] Jago Constantine: Same time next week
[14:57] Lewis Luminos: have a good day Jago
[14:57] Jago Constantine: Search for science fiction in events
[14:57] Sharon Raynier: Congratulations to the Bride and Groom / Thanks Jago
[14:57] Arii Arida: I was at a Dr who event last night
[14:57] Sharon Raynier: Cool