What Are You Reading?

[grapes]

Finished The Parrot's Theorem, a kid's math mystery as if told by Umberto Eco. Was reading it concurrently with The Boys in the Boat (about 1936 Olympics rowing, set in Washington State)

[SciFiFisher]

It is worth noting that some of the early civilizations started down the road to a matriarchal society. Sadly, due to their lack of ability or willingness to wage war they fell to the more aggressive male dominated societies.

No... Sorry... there were some matri-focal, but no matriarchal... matri-focal are societies where women are treated on an almost equal footing as men - American Indian tribes of the Southwest (Pueblo) and the Iroquois are notable, here. The nomadic lifestyle of the hunter-gatherers lent itself to a matri-focal society. It was when humans settled into agricultural (civilized) settlements that patriarchy became a way of life and women's reproductive ability became commercialized (reified).

And this is what happens when you allow your wife to study history too deeply...

Hair Splitter!

[Cyborg Girl]

No... Sorry... there were some matri-focal, but no matriarchal... matri-focal are societies where women are treated on an almost equal footing as men - American Indian tribes of the Southwest (Pueblo) and the Iroquois are notable, here. The nomadic lifestyle of the hunter-gatherers lent itself to a matri-focal society. It was when humans settled into agricultural (civilized) settlements that patriarchy became a way of life and women's reproductive ability became commercialized (reified).

This is similar to most of the stuff I've heard about early agricultural societies.

e.g. Likewise that overall health was poorer in early agricultural societies, and there was prompt stratification into elites and peons. Nomadic societies would have won out on standard of living, except that they couldn't raise giant armies (and agricultural ones could, and proceeded to conquer everything).

In a way I'm not surprised, but it's still disgusting to read about. History makes me furious.

Edit: although the Iroquois and Pueblo societies both had some level of agriculture IIRC, so maybe it's not universally applicable?

[brite]

In the AmerInd societies, it wasn't until the Europeans came along and told them that men were supposed to be in charge that women became reified. The People, while having villages and agriculture often moved around following game. So in a sense they were hunter-gatherers. But beyond that, men weren't exclusively hunters or farmers. They worked side by side with women and women had an active part in the politics of the tribe, though the men actively "ruled", they couldn't do that without the women's consent.
An example of a matrilineal society (though it's hard to see it) is the Jewish society - You cannot be considered Jewish, unless your mother was a Jew. But after that, it becomes very patriarchal.

[Thumper]

"When we get to Surf City" by Bob Greene.
A very gracious friend sent me this book. It is by columnist and fellow Bexley High School Alum Bob Greene about his time spent with Jan and Dean. I'm enjoying it very much. I'm almost 20 whole pages into it.

[Parrothead]

Finished Murder As A Fine Art by David Morrell. A bit graphic with the violence at spots, but an entertaining read.

Waiting on a biography of Thomas de Quincey written by Robert Morrison, to come into the library. Reading some short stories in the meantime. After the biography, I'll read Morrell's follow-up to Murder As A Fine Art, Inspector of the Dead.

[gethen]

Anyone here read "The Gormenghast Novels" by Mervyn Peake? I tried to start them a few years ago and couldn't get interested. This weekend, stuck at our camp in Canada with nothing else to read, I tried again. Wow! Think about a cross between Dickens and Tolkien. The setting is a mythical sprawling castle called Gormenghast. It's weird and delightful.

[Thumper]

Since you asked, no, I haven't.

But "stuck at a camp?" Can't be possible.

[gethen]

Since you asked, no, I haven't.

But "stuck at a camp?" Can't be possible.

Cold and rainy. But what I meant is that with no internet access or anyplace to buy or borrow a book, I was a little lost in the evenings. "Stuck" was a bad choice of words.

[Thumper]

I get it, just teasing you.

[geonuc]

Anyone here read "The Gormenghast Novels" by Mervyn Peake? I tried to start them a few years ago and couldn't get interested. This weekend, stuck at our camp in Canada with nothing else to read, I tried again. Wow! Think about a cross between Dickens and Tolkien. The setting is a mythical sprawling castle called Gormenghast. It's weird and delightful.

Added to my 'Want To Read' list on Goodreads.

[Cyborg Girl]

Recently finished The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms (NK Jemisin)

It's a hell of a ride all the way until the end, where it suddenly drops from "dark fantasy" right into "Mary Sue fantasy" with barely any warning. Fun read, and I bought the sequel with hopes that Jemisin will do better in it. Even so, the ending was quite painful, and sufficient to knock my rating from 5 stars down to 4 in one go.

I would still recommend it though, as one of the better examples of pulp fantasy that I've read. Somewhat reminiscent of Jack Vance, I guess, in that it uses pulpy Hollywood action as a backdrop for Big Ideas.

[Parrothead]

Finally finished "The English Opium-Eater: A Biography of Thomas De Quincey" by Robert Morrison. Interesting read.

[Parrothead]

Finished Inspector of the Dead by David Morrell. Will be starting Legends by Robert Littell this weekend. It's a long weekend, I should be able to find some time to kick back outside with the book, some drinks and some tunes. Cheers!

[SciFiFisher]

Reading Einstein: Out of My Later Years: The Scientist, Philosopher, and Man Portrayed Through His Own Words.

One of his more paraphrased quotes is from this book.

I cannot conceive of a genuine scientist without that profound faith. The situation may be expressed by an image: Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.

He was also an avowed socialist in the strictest sense of the word and an advocate for a world government with the authority and the means to enforce the pax on all the nations of the world.

[Swift]

He was also an avowed socialist in the strictest sense of the word and an advocate for a world government with the authority and the means to enforce the pax on all the nations of the world.

That seemed to be a "popular" idea for a time - popular in the sense that there seems to be a fair amount written about the idea. When I was younger I read several science fiction pieces that were based on this idea; some sort of global "united nations" (note the non-caps) enforcing a global peace. I think the earliest stuff I read along these lines were after WWI, and there seem to be a recurrence after WWII and during the early Cold War.

One science fiction writer who wrote along these lines was Robert Heinlein. Several of his books, including The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, have a global government which enforced a peace through military power, including at least the threat of nuclear weapon use.

I think that idea was particularly around after the use of atomic weapons, and their development by multiple nations. I think the thought was we weren't going to get rid of them, but turn them over to a global authority.

[geonuc]

Getting rid of nations and establishing a world government is not an entirely bad idea.

[SciFiFisher]

Getting rid of nations and establishing a world government is not an entirely bad idea.

I wouldn't mind that. It's getting everyone to agree on the governmental model. And getting them to give up nationalism or their favorite brand of ism that seems to be the two top sticking points. For example convincing the more radical groups such as ISIS that giving up their ISM is a good idea.

And I am pretty sure I want something resembling democracy in some form.

[Parrothead]

Finished Legends by Robert Littel. Quite different from the tv series starring Sean Bean, about a former CIA agent, not being sure which "legend" (identity) is the real him.

I'm currently reading Stephen King's short story Dolan's Cadillac from his Nightmares & Dreamscapes collection. The plot of the story came into mind some time ago, decided to give it a re-read, after figuring out which story it was. Once I finish this, later tonight or tomorrow, I'll start on re-reading Salem's Lot.

[SciFi Chick]

I didn't realize Legends was based on a book. I really like the television series though. I mean, for once Sean Bean's character doesn't die.

[Parrothead]

I liked the series too, which led me to buy the book. I did prefer the first season over the second.

[SciFiFisher]

I am reading/re-reading the Posleen Series AKA Legacy of the Aldenata. The primary author is John Ringo. He has partnered with a number of other authors to write some of the books in the series. I finally am reading the last book in the series which is The Tuloriad. The reason for re-reading as I had not yet read the last book in the series.

Disclaimer: This is pure Space Opera Military Science Fiction with a strange twist of metaphysical wandering along the way. For example, a couple of characters from the series are AI fused from alien Artificial Sentient Computers and the Gestalt of two WWII Battle Ships. The author(s) then decide to embue these AI's in physical female form so they can consummate their love with their respective WWII era rejuvenated ship's captain and a ship's chaplain.

The series is technically 6 books with 6 books that tell the story from other perspectives in this universe.

John Ringo draws heavily on past and present political, social, and cultural issues to tell a good yarn. Your mileage may vary. Don't expect nice talk or solutions that involve everyone evolving into a higher life form and singing We Are The Universe.

More like a ravening horde of Centaur like Crocodile headed barely sentient carnivores who like to eat their food still twitching. They might burst into a rousing chorus of "We Ate The Universe".

Of course, in this day and age, it wouldn't be a good story if the author didn't have characters who have to deal with moral dilemmas and ethical challenges that must be resolved. The bad guys are distinctly slimey enough to be bankers, lawyers, or a Donald Trump.

[Cyborg Girl]

Oh hey, isn't this the series where Europe has to rejuvenate some Waffen-SS troopers, because current generation of pansy girly-men aren't good enough to fight the Posleen?

That would be Watch on the Rhine

Funny you mention Trump actually. Based on Ringo's politics, I wouldn't be surprised if he's a Trump supporter.

Edit: Ringo's old blog seems to have vanished, but the coauthor Tom Kratman is with Castalia House, i.e. Vox Day. That should tell you all you need to know.

[SciFiFisher]

Oh hey, isn't this the series where Europe has to rejuvenate some Waffen-SS troopers, because current generation of pansy girly-men aren't good enough to fight the Posleen?

That would be Watch on the Rhine

Yes, Watch On The Rhine is one of the parallel stories in the series. It's not so much that the current generation of pansy girly-men aren't good enough it's more that they are too brain washed to fight war.

The author(s) postulate a willing and/or coerced arrangement with leftist leaning politicians who do everything in their power to hamstring the war effort in Europe. Including passing laws that make using things like cluster bombs and land mines illegal to use against hordes of millions of carnivores hell bent on eating every European in sight. It's pretty obvious that Tom Kratman and John Ringo are probably personally conservative. Although I have met some pretty decent progressive types who believe war is a legitimate tool of diplomacy.

Meanwhile the leftist groups are encouraged to do things like blockade recruiting stations and teach their children that the Posleen are just misunderstood and that if we will put a flower in their railgun barrels they will all convert to vegetarianism.

Along with this the world leadership has realized that they are being invaded by an enemy who will show up anywhere from 50,000,000 to 200,000,000 at a time. After doing some basic mathematics everyone realizes that they will need every single able bodied person; male, female, LGBT, etc who is still alive to tote a rifle, assemble claymores, etc, etc. The galactic empire gives the humans technology that will allow them to rejuvenate every one who is still alive from WWII, Vietnam, Korea, etc. A massive recall is started on everyone over 60 that has prior combat experience.

Except the prior Nazi soldiers. At first Germany refuses to rejuvenate more than a handful of them as military advisors. After realizing that they are going to lose the war in Europe the German chancellor gives the green light to rejuvenating every ex-Nazi they can find. The Waffen SS is reborn!!

Essentially, the meme is that "men who know war are willing to do what war requires to win or make the enemy victory so costly they might as well call it defeat".

They do a rather masterful job of presenting the former Waffen SS troops as a variety of human and not so nice humans. One principal character is every bit the screwed up sociopathic homophobic woman hating jew hater you expect. Some are just soldiers who were trapped by their own sense of national duty and honor. We even have one hero who spends a life time and more trying to atone for his crimes against humanity.

[Cyborg Girl]

Jesus, Fisher, that sounds preachy to the point of monomania. And I thought Iain M. Banks got too sanctimoniuous with his later novels.

How on Earth do you read that stuff?!

Edit: and mind you, I grew up reading David Gerrold and playing Wing Commander.