Found at Jenna Thomas-McKie's blog.
This is a list of the 50 most significant science fiction/fantasy novels, 1953-2002, according to the Science Fiction Book Club.
Bold the ones you've read, strike-out the ones you hated, italicize those you started but never finished and put an asterisk beside the ones you loved.
I won't tag anyone, but if you play this meme, drop me a note or leave a comment (trackbacks are not currently working).
So, in addition to posting at least three times this month, I have also managed to exercise quite a bit more, alternating a 45-minute weight workout every other day with at least a 30 minute aerobic outing (jog-brisk walk).
I've also done more reading this month than I typically did last year.
Here's what I've read:
On deck: I'm planning to tackle some Nietzsche (in German and English), re-read some Heinlein, delve into some more historical fiction, and maybe peruse Dawkins' The God Delusion, but I'm open to suggestions. As you can tell, my tastes are quite flexible.
Update: I forgot to mention that I also finished re-reading Fallen Angels in January, too. Interesting with the climate "science" meeting going on right now. Maybe Niven, Pournelle, and Flynn's weather prediction won't come true, but it's clear that they have some deep insight into human nature, especially the politics of state-funded science.
Well, my last post jokingly referred to a Top Chef Tragedy. This is a real tragedy. Hitting Marcel/Wolverine with a bottle? Right out.
Surfing around on the term "Top Chef," I found this great guest blog entry by chef Anthony Bourdain (whose No Reservations is another item of must-see TV for me). Bourdain served a stint as guest judge for Top Chef earlier in the season and his assessments of the various contestants (other than Ilan) squares with my own.
The finale airs tomorrow at 9:00CST on Bravo.
Well not really a tragedy, but I can't believe the Top Chef judges are letting that little crapweasel Wolverine wannabe go to the grand finale next week.
Ilan's fine with me, but my two favorite Chefs, Sam and Elia, got eliminated last night.
My wife thinks the voting was rigged, since Ilan and Marcel have had so much bad blood this season. Say it ain't so! This isn't simply reality TV designed to draw ratings, is it???
He saw a lawyer killing a viper
On a dunghill hard by his own stable;
And the Devil smiled, for it put him in mind
Of Cain and his brother Abel.
Samuel Taylor Coleridge, The Devil's Thoughts (1835 version)
I don't know how long they'll be on the main page (there's no video archive page yet) but Blue Origin has posted videos of their VTOL rocket's (the Goddard's) first test flight. The vehicle is clearly inspired by the Delta Clipper design on which I have previously blogged here, here, and here. Please also see Jerry Pournelle's excellent overview of the Gary Hudson Phoenix design, which influenced the development of the Delta Clipper/DC-X and also played a major role in his, Niven's and Flynn's Fallen Angels.
Only three entries last month. Gotta fix that.
I hereby resolve to post more than three entries per month in the coming year. After all, I used to post almost three a day.
Other resolutions:
Exercise more, with greater intensity. Eat better. Read more.
"Age does not bring wisdom, Ben, but it does give perspective... and the saddest sight of all is to see, far behind you, temptations you've resisted."
- Jubal Harshaw in Stranger in a Strange Land.