false 5 524 373 true 5702533 read 2 true 2647666 currently-reading 149 true 2647665 to-read 428 false 4818083 science-fiction 43 false 4818107 fantasy 33 false 4818139 fiction 19 false 7323571 comedy 17 false 4818117 classics 7 false 4818191 contemporary 7 false 7323699 childrens 6 false 7325305 non-fiction 6 false 7323833 reference 5 false 4818389 science 4 false 4818112 horror 2 false 4818265 philosophy 1 false 4818306 history 0 false 5066564 library-book <![CDATA[Richard voted on a poll]]> http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/26324-february-science-fiction-this-run-off-poll-decides-which-novel-will-be Richard voted on the poll: February SCIENCE FICTION: This run-off poll decides which novel will be our February Science Fiction Book of the Month! ]]> <![CDATA[Richard joined a group.]]> http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/16548.Beyond_Reality Richard joined the Beyond Reality group. ]]> <![CDATA[Richard voted on a poll]]> http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/26257-december-theme-select-your-book-for-our-unique-systems-of-magic-theme Richard voted on the poll: December Theme: select your book for our Unique Systems of Magic theme! ]]> <![CDATA[new comment from Richard]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/24831-master-science-fiction-book-list Richard made a comment in the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club group:

Stewart wrote: "Ted wrote: "The Forever War by Joe Haldeman should be added to this list."

I agree, Ted...Great book!!

"

It is a great book, and rightfully on the list. To be found between "Foreigner" and "Foundation". ]]> <![CDATA[new comment from Richard]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/243877-good-and-evil-spoilers Richard made a comment in the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club group:

As quite a few comments in the First Impressions thread concerned the idea of "Good and Evil" I thought I'd try to kick off a discussion about this. So get ready for a really cliched question:

What is Good and Evil?

Specifically, what makes you think some things, people, practices, institutions or nations etc, in this story are Good or Evil.

Is it possible to say that the two are just matters of perspective, a societies zeitgeist, or are they fundamentally and intrinsically different.
Can a thing be truly evil in one historical moment and then almost universally accepted as OK in another.

Very interested in what you guys think. ]]> <![CDATA[new comment from Richard]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/243865-all-of-earthsea Richard made a comment in the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club group:

I certainly intend to read the next 2 very soon, as I'm reading The Earthsea Quartet omnibus, and have enjoyed the first 2. That said I'm also working my way through next month's The Algebraist, and being a slow careful reader taking too long about it. I would like to join in any further discussion but would rather it not be this month.
Having said that, if people do want to carry straight on I can always revisit the discussion in retrospect as I did for A Wizard of Earthsea. ]]> <![CDATA[new comment from Richard]]> http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/234605-first-impressions-no-spoilers Richard made a comment in the SciFi and Fantasy Book Club group:

Cindy wrote: "Aaaah ..."

Is that a scream as in "Arrrrr you blockhead" or just "Oh yes, but just think".

I can appreciate both as I rate Le Guin as one of the finest authors in the genre, and still consider The Left Hand of Darkness as one of my favourite books. I freely admit that the failing here is with me, and not the book. I just didn't emotionally connect, and after all the title of this thread is First Impressions. I wasn't being flippant when I said what you quoted, the book deserves thought and maybe one day I can return Le Guin's trust.
I would like to hear your take on the book as the issues are, as you say, complex.

PS. Cindy, I loved the War of the Worlds map you did for all of us, I live in England and found it really useful and interesting. Thanks. Sorry for going off topic. ]]> <![CDATA[Richard added 'Grass']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/50625073 to: Grass (Paperback) by Sheri S. Tepper
bookshelves: science-fiction
A wonderful book, with beautifully realised characters and a totally involving setting. It put me in mind of the SF classic 'Dune', but reduced to a more personal, less epic scale with a cogent human future and accessible characters. The planet of Grass and its societies are finely crafted and its alien inhabitants are some of most intriguing I've come across. The storyline is interesting from the very beginning and continually develops and accelerates. I very rarely give a book a 5 stars (it was amazing) rating, but this was the best book I have read for a good many years. I would heartily recommend it to anyone, especially those who enjoyed the essence of 'Dune'. ]]> <![CDATA[Richard added 'The Algebraist']]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/31640969 The Algebraist (Hardcover) by Iain M. Banks
bookshelves: currently-reading, science-fiction
]]> <![CDATA[Richard is on page 257 of The Earthsea Quartet ]]> http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/75858489 Richard is on page 257 of 691 of The Earthsea Quartet ]]>