BF3s Book Club

2011-02-28 14:41:27

#676

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,848|6845|eXtreme to the maX

uzique wrote:
99% of sci fi is junk

my personal tutor writes it... cannot stand it.

Seems like an all-encompassing and somewhat personally biased comment?

English literature is 99% junk.
My german teacher used to write it and I hate it.

Everything is great

2011-02-28 15:01:00

#677

Uzique: dasein.; +2,865|7209

what are you even talking about?

_{libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual}. _{http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/}

2011-02-28 16:59:24

#678

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,848|6845|eXtreme to the maX

Everything is great

2011-02-28 17:01:55

#679

Uzique: dasein.; +2,865|7209

anything of everything is 99% junk, yes.

what we were clarifying is that that comment was levelled at sci-fi as a GENRE, i.e. a type of fiction that typically deals with similar formal, structural and thematic occupations. i wasn't denouncing all sci-fi writers based on stylistic or literary ability-- i was talking about it in terms of what critics call 'genre fiction'; that is, addressing the generic conventions and general common traits of the genre.

_{libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual}. _{http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/}

2011-02-28 17:05:54

#680

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,848|6845|eXtreme to the maX

All genres get stale, and get spammed by people trying to make money.

Everything is great

2011-02-28 17:07:43

#681

Jay: Bork! Bork! Bork!; +2,006|6097|London, England

Uzi, I think the only person in this thread that cares about what critics think is you. I think it is perhaps why you're having such a difficult time understanding...

"Ah, you miserable creatures! You who think that you are so great! You who judge humanity to be so small! You who wish to reform everything! Why don't you reform yourselves? That task would be sufficient enough."
-Frederick Bastiat

2011-02-28 17:09:38

#682

Uzique: dasein.; +2,865|7209

Dilbert_X wrote:
All genres get stale, and get spammed by people trying to make money.

exactly what i said just 3 posts back. 'creativity and culture comes in waves'. genres fluctuate in and out of popularity and go through phases of high artistic acclaim and complete commercial plundering. why is it that when i say the exact same thing you fireback with some retort about academics and 'literature being snobby bullshit'... but then why you think the exact same thought and elocute it, it's common sense? jesus christ, exasperating.

galt im sorry for caring what literary critics think in a book club. shoot me.

_{libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual}. _{http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/}

2011-02-28 17:19:30

#683

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,848|6845|eXtreme to the maX

So why single out sci-fi?
Us nerds are just going to flame you.

Everything is great

2011-02-28 17:21:35

#684

Uzique: dasein.; +2,865|7209

we were just on the topic of it... nothing particular... and sci-fi is (if only temporarily) in a bit of a lull right now

it was an incidental comment, not a determined war 'pon sci-fi and everything it has ever stood for.

_{libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual}. _{http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/}

2011-02-28 17:27:00

#685

DesertFox-: The very model of a modern major general; +796|7423|United States of America

Dilbert_X wrote:
So why single out sci-fi?
UsWe nerds are just going to flame you.

Speaking as a nerd, I don't really give a damn about sci-fi literature. Asimov was the last writer I read in that category who I actually enjoyed.

2011-02-28 17:29:38

#686

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,848|6845|eXtreme to the maX

Grammer Nartzee- wrote:
Dilbert_X wrote:
So why single out sci-fi?
UsWe nerds are just going to flame you.
Speaking as a nerd, I don't really give a damn about sci-fi literature. Asimov was the last writer I read in that category who I actually enjoyed.

Only read a couple, didn't think much of them.

Everything is great

2011-02-28 17:32:13

#687

Uzique: dasein.; +2,865|7209

DesertFox- wrote:
Dilbert_X wrote:
So why single out sci-fi?
UsWe nerds are just going to flame you.
Speaking as a nerd, I don't really give a damn about sci-fi literature. Asimov was the last writer I read in that category who I actually enjoyed.

as i've said before, ballard is the last you need to pay any attention to, historically

(imo)

_{libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual}. _{http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/}

2011-02-28 17:43:27

#688

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,104|7510|PNW

J.G. Ballard, really? That's your scope?

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2011-02-28 19:55:01)

2011-02-28 17:46:50

#689

Uzique: dasein.; +2,865|7209

"the last you need to pay attention to historically"

as in, the latest of any significance

as in, not my entire scope

as in, considering authors closest to the present

do i need to repeat and elucidate every point i make about literature about 4-5 times?

_{libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual}. _{http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/}

2011-02-28 17:56:58

#690

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,104|7510|PNW

Yes, yes you do.

Calling Ballard the only sci-fi author we need to pay attention to is about as subjective as anything else. Even with an imo disclaimer, it'll draw a few boggles.

2011-02-28 17:59:38

#691

Uzique: dasein.; +2,865|7209

oh
my
fucking
god

as in

THE LAST AUTHOR

as in

THE LAST, TIME-WISE

as in

HISTORICALLY

as in

MOST RECENT 'CLASSIC' SCI-FI WRITER

as in

I DON'T THINK THERE'S MUCH AFTER 1990 WORTH READING... NOT YET ANYWAY

_{libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual}. _{http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/}

2011-02-28 18:56:59

#692

Dilbert_X: The X stands for; +1,848|6845|eXtreme to the maX

Uzique wrote:
do i need to repeat and elucidate every point i make about literature about 4-5 times?

I for one find it helpful.

Everything is great

2011-02-28 19:58:03

#693

unnamednewbie13: Moderator; +2,104|7510|PNW

Uzique wrote:
<frustration>

Now you know how I feel in the piracy thread.

2011-02-28 20:04:37

#694

AussieReaper: ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°); +5,761|6891|what

unnamednewbie13 wrote:
Uzique wrote:
<frustration>
Now you know how I feel in the piracy thread.

And in the bedroom.

amirite folks?

2011-03-01 04:24:15

#695

FEOS: Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate; +1,182|7150|'Murka

Uzique wrote:
rofl you're being more than a little conveniently reductionist.

you spoke positively about the 'message', hence the book is implicitly engaging. you spoke positively about the descriptive language, hence the implicitly complimentary style comments. this really isn't complicated. i can criticise someone's prose style after the first 10 pages. where are you getting confused, exactly?

I--once fucking again-- wrote:
Now, before the flames start...

I read it on a lark. I've been struggling to finish up a course and needed a break. I wanted to see what Beck could do with fiction. He's a surprisingly good writer. His use of language, particularly descriptive language is exceptional. The structure of the book leaves something to be desired. It's relatively simplistic and it's clearly used as a platform for his messaging. But his ability to take facts and weave them into a fictional tale, using the central theme of the Overton Window as a teaching point overall was interesting. Sourcing the facts at the end of the book was a nice touch, as well.

Award winning fiction? Not by any stretch. But not a bad freshman effort...assuming one doesn't consider his previous work to be fiction, of course.

Now. Again, the descriptive language I was talking about was later in the book...hence "the structure of the book leaves something to be desired." I've spoken of the lack of character and plot development, as they weren't the point of the book, IMO. Please point to where I spoke either positively or negatively about "the message," btw. I did neither. I said what he did was "interesting." That is a neutral, objective statement.

Reading comprehension ftmfw.

The bottomline is that you read the first ten pages and decided that, because you are getting a degree in literature--and you don't like the author's politics--you can make a call on a book. You can't--to do so is absurd and the height of conceit. You may very well make the same call after reading it through. That is a matter of personal taste, but you will likely miss the point of the book because you will be focused on something different because you are a literature student and you dislike the author.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular

2011-03-01 12:51:30

#696

Uzique: dasein.; +2,865|7209

so you're saying i can't read a book without studying it as if it was a degree-level text

or i can't make a reading of a book detached from my own politics?

rofl

it sure is a pain reading every single book in the literary canon through the perspective of a marxist russian formalist... because those are my inescapable biases and critical/political standpoints. lord of the rings was absolute hell, i can tell you. and the great gatsby was such junk! capitalist agitprop!!!!

_{libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual}. _{http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/}

2011-03-01 17:40:48

#697

FEOS: Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate; +1,182|7150|'Murka

Pretty sure I didn't say either of those things. You do seem to have a problem with inferring far too much from too little, though...

But I do agree with you on one thing. Gatsby was utter shit.

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular

2011-03-01 17:47:06

#698

Uzique: dasein.; +2,865|7209

i still want you to all read ulysses

now that would be a discussion

_{libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual}. _{http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/}

2011-03-01 17:59:15

#699

FEOS: Bellicose Yankee Air Pirate; +1,182|7150|'Murka

Uzique wrote:
i still want you to all read ulysses

now that would be a discussion

Tennyson or Joyce?

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”
― Albert Einstein
Doing the popular thing is not always right. Doing the right thing is not always popular

2011-03-01 18:03:44

#700

Uzique: dasein.; +2,865|7209

joyce ofc.

heaven forbid recommending poetry to bf2s

(tennyson's ulysses isn't really worth talking about, anyway)

Last edited by Uzique (2011-03-01 18:04:20)

_{libertarian benefit collector - anti-academic super-intellectual}. _{http://mixlr.com/the-little-phrase/}

BF2S Forums BF3s Book Club

uzique wrote:

Dilbert_X wrote:

Dilbert_X wrote:

Grammer Nartzee- wrote:

Dilbert_X wrote:

DesertFox- wrote:

Dilbert_X wrote:

Uzique wrote:

Uzique wrote:

unnamednewbie13 wrote:

Uzique wrote:

Uzique wrote:

I--once fucking again-- wrote:

Uzique wrote:

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