SF & F Mega-thread: I had to google 'spock pirate depilatory'

The Something Awful Forums > The Finer Arts > The Book Barn > SF & F Mega-thread: I had to google 'spock pirate depilatory'

Ani: Jun 15, 2001; illum non populi fasces, non purpura regum / flexit et infidos agitans discordia fratres

General Battuta posted:

e: new page shameful snipe and look, it's another central principle of psych that doesn't seem to replicate

Does the Fundamental Attribution Error not replicate?

Someone should write an SF book set in a universe where all of the psych studies of the last 50 years are legit and all of the effects they claim are huge and meaningful.

# ¿ Sep 30, 2020 14:52

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# ¿ Apr 28, 2024 11:07

Ani: Jun 15, 2001; illum non populi fasces, non purpura regum / flexit et infidos agitans discordia fratres

Drone Jett posted:

I mentioned Dave Duncan and his A Man of His Word series a few days ago and thought to refresh my memory on these since it's been a long time since I read these as a teenager. I recall finding the worldbuilding interesting but the characterization and plot less so.

It had an interesting for the time magic system based around words of power. Knowing one strengthened your greatest natural talent - as a thief, singer, orator, etc. Learning a second made you an adept, talented at everything you tried. A third made you a mage, who could perform magic of all kinds, but only temporarily while you concentrated. And knowing a fourth made you a sorcerer, capable of creating permanent magic. Some words were more powerful than others, and you could share your word with others, but it diluted that word's power, creating a nasty incentive for power hungry psychos to try to trick or force you to share it, increasing your power, then kill you to avoid dilution.

Our protagonist knows a word, although he does not at first know that he does, and through a series of adventures learns how this system works, about the public and secret faces of magical regulation (for avoiding magical interference in politics/war - good, for protecting individuals, especially those who know words - not so good), and even the source of the words and what happens if you learn more than four words.

Has anyone else read this series?

I read these as a kid and really liked them. There was a follow-up series too that took place about 15 years after the initial one and wasn't nearly as good. No idea how I would find them now.

# ¿ Dec 8, 2020 05:08

Ani: Jun 15, 2001; illum non populi fasces, non purpura regum / flexit et infidos agitans discordia fratres

Major Ryan posted:

Is there anything to know about reading Foundation? Should I approach the books in written order, or the chronological order starting with the books that were written later?

I vaguely remember having read some part of the series as a teenager, but can't remember a whole lot about it. It's a big miss on my list of big Sci Fi series that I've not read though, so I think I should at least give it a chance even though I'm aware that it's probably not going to live up to expectations.

I would start with publication order and you can definitely skip anything but the original trilogy if you aren�t feeling it. The original books were written in the 50s and the later ones and prequels were written 30 years later and feel pretty different.

# ¿ Dec 30, 2020 13:35

Ani: Jun 15, 2001; illum non populi fasces, non purpura regum / flexit et infidos agitans discordia fratres

Selachian posted:

I think the first book in the original trilogy is the dullest because it's just one problem after another popping up and being solved just as the Seldon Plan predicts. It gets more interesting in the second book onward after the Mule shows up.

I agree with this, though I still think someone who wants to read Foundation should start with the first book. The first book is just a collection of short stories that are Seldon Plan puzzles, which I can see being dull but it's fun if you like that style of old school big idea sci fi.

# ¿ Dec 30, 2020 18:03

Ani: Jun 15, 2001; illum non populi fasces, non purpura regum / flexit et infidos agitans discordia fratres

Kestral posted:

On a related note, at what point can you read the short story collections? I've heard a lot of praise for Vacuum Diagrams in particular.

You can read it any time and it�s by far the best one. If you like the cool ideas, Vacuum Diagrams gives that to you without having to read a whole novel set in each cool idea universe.

# ¿ May 13, 2021 23:05

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