Rick’s Comments (group member since Mar 04, 2013)

Rick’s comments from the EDCMOOC group.

Thanks for the link! Looks really interesting.

I want to also express my thanks for all of you for the fun and learning this book group gave following the EDC MOOC's.

I also appreciated reading different books and new authors, but for me the best part was interacting with the rest of you from around the globe. For me, this is what makes MOOC's and Open Learning so enriching.

All the best

Rick

A1- I'm glad you asked this question. I actually didn't like it. I started the book and got in about 1/4 and found I just couldn't keep going. I wasn't gripped by the plot, I thought the world was too strange, and I didn't feel connected to the main character.

I appreciate the opportunity to say something in the discussion, but I'm sorry it's not very helpful to the overall group.

Sorry I won't be able to join you. Got called in to teach a course at the last minute. Have a good chat.

I'm sorry but I'm not feeling well today. I won't be able to make it.

I think Asta is right on track. The story often gets lost in the philosophy. I found the entire 3rd book to be interesting and very confusing at the same time. I couldn't figure out what had just happened when I finished that section. Was this all a figment of George's mind, or did the group set things up so they'd get a "normal" George?

It seemed to me that the printers were kind of like the "beaming" that was a large part of Star Trek. I wondered as well if the person on the other side was really the same. Is a copy really "me"?

Sorry I won't be able to join today.

Rick

This work reminded me of "The Machine Stops" where human contact is limited and people live isolated lives connected via the web. Although in The City of Silence the web is limiting rather than open.

I kept thinking as well about the connections with modern China. Are there any? Was Ma Boyong hinting about something here?

I'll be pulling together any questions we have about the book. Please feel free to post your ideas and comments here.

Looking forward to tomorrow's conversation.

I will be happy to Moderate this chat unless someone else had already signed up to do it.
Rick

I finished the story last night. I don't want to spoil anything, so I'm posting just to encourage the rest of you to spend an evening reading this short story. It's well worth the time.

As we get closer to the chat date I'll post my questions/comments.
Rick

You are so welcome! I've got it in my iBooks and have looked at it a bit, looks very interesting.

Even if we don't use this for a future book- here's the download info if you want it for free.
http://books.noisetrade.com/jasonwerb...

This may be the same as what is above- I finally got around to actually downloading it and copied that page.

I'll add it to the shelf for future voting.

Hi,

I subscribe to NoiseTrade which provides free music. Recently they started giving away books as well. Here's the one that came last week. I thought it might be one to add to our list- plus it's free. :-)

http://books.noisetrade.com/jasonwerb...

What do you think?

Here's a link to Guttenberg project for next read: I know the epub version works. Downloaded and already in my iBooks.
http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2816

Thanks for the reminder. I need to read this story tonight!

I should be able to join tomorrow. We're shopping for new carpet in the AM but should be free mid-afternoon when the chat happens. I'll let you know on Twitter.

I'm looking forward to the chat today. Great questions you've both raised. I found the book somewhat creepy.

Thanks for the link to the book!

I'll be on a plane tomorrow flying back from holiday. I'll have to catch the discussion when I get home.
I read the story and thought it had a very clever twist.

My discussion question is: How does the difference between "God" as a machine vs the traditional view of God as a being affect you? Which one is more appealing? If either.

Have a fun time on Saturday!

Sorry I missed the discussion. Too much going on with kids/school, etc on a Saturday afternoon. Thanks for posting your thoughts and reflections. I agree, they are a good, if emotionally hard to read, series.

I'll be returning from holiday next month so will miss the June conversation as well.

"See' you all on Twitter. :-)

Thank you all for the great discussion. My family is tired of hearing me talk about all the aspects of this book. ;-)

Just to confirm since my comments previously were a bit tentative. I'm planning on Moderating on Saturday. Talk to you all then.