JamesPadraicR

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• Commented on Spoiler Thread
  What's COBWEB MAZE, btw? Possibly from a short story or novella that Charlie hasn't written yet. He has mentioned that he plans to write some, and they usually fit in between the novels....
• Commented on Who Owns SF?
  You left out the important part, that the fabric was soaked in human urine, adding to the pleasantness of hard labor. I'm used to seeing it called Waulking; see also Waulking Song. Perhaps singing requires mouth breathing, making it less...
• Commented on Who Owns SF?
  I agree that it's certainly better to meet in real life, when possible. Though 'meeting' Charlie here first put me more at ease when encountering him at the local con. It was cosy enough that when he did a reading...
• Commented on Loncon 3: Charlie's worldcon schedule
  Swearing in science fiction and fantasy is occasionally a minefield of anachronism,,/em>... This should be interesting. One comment a beta-reader friend made about my first novel attempt was that there wasn't enough swearing. Not sure why he thought that, I...
• Commented on Who Owns SF?
  I'm not much of a con goer (mainly from lack of travel funds, now), but when Charlie was at the little local one a couple years ago I definitely went. I hadn't realized the different type of cons. The only...
• Commented on Who Owns SF?
  Fuuuuu. Safari just crashed and I lost my comment. See if I can remember it. Also, in SF, I suspect that the "community" is much closer than in many other genres, And probably more so since the interwebs. This is...
• Commented on Who Owns SF?
  And it's a fantastic book. Blew my mind so much that I went out and got a copy for a friend....
• Commented on Who Owns SF?
  While if you're identified as QUILTBAG or PoC or Other, whatever you do will be noticed and interpreted as a statement even when you're not making any statements. That goes back to what I said about "Immigrant Fiction". I read...
• Commented on Who Owns SF?
  I guess you weren't calling it your "Big, gay, near future, crime novel" loudly enough? Unfortunately that might have lost it readers. And because of that phrase I think of Rucker's "Turing and Burroughs" as his "Big, gay, 1950s Sci-Fi...
• Commented on Who Owns SF?
  I was wondering if you had. Admittedly, my memory of reading it is a little hazy (it was a stressful month, a couple years ago, when I did), but I think it's safe to say that Atwood's views have evolved...
• Commented on Who Owns SF?
  Margaret Atwood (in)famously defined speculative fiction as being about what could happen. If we focus only on that and ignore her other idiotic pronouncements Have you read Atwood's "In Other Worlds", her collection of essays on SF? Well worth a...
• Commented on Who Owns SF?
  > Who is Us and who is Other A question that doesn't arise in other genres. I take it you don't read much "Immigrant" Fiction? Books by immigrants or their children, or really anyone who is not in the majority...
• Commented on Who Owns SF?
  think there are ways of approaching something like historical fiction that make it more, or less genre-like in its tone and argument. I'm of the opinion that all fiction is alternate reality, even (or possibly especially) historical fiction. No matter...
• Commented on Spoiler Thread
  Well, it wasn't exactly early there (and less so now). I was just looking to see if anyone had mentioned the Hunter S. Thompson reference. Or was it too obvious?...
• Commented on Spoiler Thread
  Umm, Spam Alert, smithsophia477 @311, 312, 313. At least it's entertaining. I guess it only makes sense that a witch doctor would use spam....
• Commented on Gods and genre
  Joanna Russ (Who doesn't seem to be writing now) Unfortunately, that's because she died in 2011, though she apparently hadn't been writing much in the years before. Otherwise I think your point stands. I've never gotten around to 'Doc' Smith,...
• Commented on Spoiler Thread
  Ida @270 & gmuir77 @167 That would be a certain Neil Gaiman short story in either Smoke And Mirrors or Fragile Things. I forgot the name as well. I think that's "Tastings" in Smoke and Mirrors--happened to read that book...
• Commented on Competition Redux!
  Congrats to all the winners!...
• Commented on Spoiler Thread
  Not a spoiler, but started reading last night and got to page 10. Looks like I inadvertently proved the inevitability of the fateful word - "this", in the competition thread. Oops. I'm gonna save the rest of the comments here...
• Commented on Spoiler Thread
  I think you have the wrong end of the stick. The problem is that when you google the title, this silly movie comes up first....
• Commented on Spoiler Thread
  Thanks. I asked because having a single scene seems more like paying lip service to the idea behind the test rather than taking it to heart. Also because I've tried to make sure my own writing fits reasonably well, while...
• Commented on Spoiler Thread
  I'm ignoring the comments here--I'll be starting the book tonight. I'm pretty sure the next book has a Bechdel Test pass within the first two chapters. (Title: was "The Armageddon Score", now probably going to appear as "The Annihilation Score",...
• Commented on Some rambling thoughts on region restrictions
  Charlie @13, El @12, and ChrisJ @14: Yeah, I had some of those thoughts after I hit Submit. Apply my usual excuse - It was early here. Also I can imagine there are some writers who might actually support DRM,...
• Commented on Some rambling thoughts on region restrictions
  I don't suppose a Hachette Author petition to the CEO saying "Ditch DRM", with a short explanation why, would do much good?...
• Commented on Competition Time!
  I can surmise that ORANGUTAN GANGRENE HEARTY is likely in the possession of BRIDE'S DAUGHTER SCIURIDAE....
• Commented on Competition Time!
  Well, he/she/it is certainly not mine....
• Commented on Competition Time!
  ORANGUTAN GANGRENE HEARTY is Not Your Bitch....
• Commented on Rhesus Chart: blood dripping fresh ...
  Not sure I'll be able to make it to the store before Thursday. Well, nevermind. Between not being able to do what I'd planned today, and being weak, I got myself a copy. I was a bit early to B&N...
• Commented on Rhesus Chart: blood dripping fresh ...
  Not sure I'll be able to make it to the store before Thursday. Besides I have to finish the book I'm reading now first. Anyhow, just saw this on Tor.com: Three Tales From The Laundry Files by Charles Stross For...
• Commented on The Rhesus Chart: Chapter One
  Thoroughly off-topic, but: A Vulcan! In the air! With a Spitfire! Britain’s Most Glorious Cold War Bomber Jet Takes Flight Again Oooh, that's purty....