Yeah, I read it. Loved it too. Actually I avoid discussing religion as much as possible because sooner or later someone ends up chipping a tooth or getting their eye shot out. Funny how that works out. There's more I'd like to say, but it's pointless. I have no intention of changing other people's opinions or defending my own. Heinlein said it better than I could ever hope to say it myself.

Have you ever read the events leading up to Joan Of Arc's execution? The trial manuscripts still exist, as does her confession and subsequent retraction. It's really remarkable stuff and the whole scene was thoroughly documented right up to her being set afire and dying. She went willingly, knowing that the fire would destroy her body but a confession would damn her soul. It's quite similar to what happened to Michael Valentine Smith and I wonder if Heinlein was influenced by that whole sad affair in writing STRANGER IN A STRANGE LAND. It's supposed to be based on the life of Jesus, but I see a lot of Joan in it too.

[This message has been edited by grasstains (edited 09-09-2006).]

grasstains,
Los Americanos son distantes de estupido en asuntos de la politica internacional. Por otro lado, las discusiones religiosas pueden ser molestas a algunos, pero mexicanos parecen lievar la ventaja cuando viene a su fe, desde que tanto son catolicos.

Todos nosotros Bradbury de amor el Juicio maravilloso del Helado.

[This message has been edited by Pablo Re'Formo (edited 09-09-2006).]

Wow, we got it all on this site from biblical to political, ethnic to pornica, cell phones to pills. Take your pick. Add to that the classy atmosphere of this old haunted spooky joint and it makes for some mighty innerestun conversation. "There went a tumbleweed with tassles stuck in it, alright who lost their tassles?" "Oh, it was you, not bad with or without em madame."

Grass, that doesn't sound complimentary above, don't know much spanish but I think estupido is not good. Your last post seemed a little a little edgy. Was it the religeous talk or lack of cigs? I never read much about Joan and did not make any connection with Stranger. It is possible though that Heinlein did.

p.s. Now I sound harsh(to me at least), funny how stuff can get misconstrued on boards. Seriously though, hope your hanging in there without the smoking.



[This message has been edited by Robot Lincoln (edited 09-09-2006).]

[This message has been edited by Robot Lincoln (edited 09-10-2006).]

grasstains, that first line reads,
Americans are far from stupid in matters of international politics. That last line says they like Bradbury's Wonderful Ice Cream suit.

Nope, I'm good, Robo. Thanks for inquiring, though. Well... something did kinda rub me the wrong way, you know. But nothing worth mentioning. I have to pick my words carefully even here, at this old Martian ghost town. It ain't you. So don't trip, potato chip. It's all good in the neighborhood.

At this very moment, right now, everything is perfect.

My friends call me taterchip...

I finished reading Way Station by Simak. I really liked his style and found it much similiar to Bradbury, although he doesn't use it as effectively as Mr. B. I dug Way Station a lot, I wish he could have been with his beloved Mary in the end, but it wasn't meant to be. Oh well. I really liked Ulysses too. Grass, I do find that Sturgeon, Simak, & Bradbury constitute my favorite old school writer's of sci-fi. Thanks! Newer age I'd have to give nods to W. Gibson and Richard Morgan. My hand decided I need a small break from sci-fi, so I started to read Dumas' The Count of Monte Cristo, a fatty book that will take a while no doubt. Next up on the bookstile may just be Farewell Summer!

[This message has been edited by Robot Lincoln (edited 09-12-2006).]

Yeah, the thing with Mary and... was it David?... really sucked. Very cool idea by Simak, and well thought out. The implications of such a setup could ONLY result in either madness for the conjurer or a severing of ties to prevent that madness. That's the simple conclusion, but Simak took it a step further by examining what the affects might do to conjured image's psyche/conscience/soul/ego, or whatever "it" is that makes us free-thinking individuals. There really could be no happy way of dealing with such a situation. I think he handled it great. His short story "Founding Father" has a similar setup.

Dude eats bugs in that Dumas book, right?

Enoch not David, your right about that being the only conclusion for both parties. Regarding Dumas, I just started the book, but I hope he doesn't eat bugs. I know that he gets imprisoned falsely over many years so eating bugs isn't too far fetched.

No, no, no. The other hologram, the soldier. I think it was Enoch's best friend, or the person Enoch always aspired to be. They were his two images of perfection, one male and one female. The girl he should have married and the noble soldier he should have been. Even that is contradictory in that there is no way for THOSE two to happily coexist. If I remember correctly the girl was a proud southern belle and the soldier wore the uniform of the Union.

Oh yes, your right. David with his sword and scabbard and pissy attitude. Your so right about the girl, modelled after the southern girl he saw standing at the pillars when he was marching home from the war. I didn't pick up on the fact that those were facets of his self. You are much better than me at descerning the underlying meanings with characters and such. Very perceptive, Grass.

Nah, sometimes I just get lucky.

Did you give up on DAVY? I know What you mean about overdosing on SF. If you read too much of the fantastic, the realistic can lose its appeal. Your expectations are hightened by constant exposure to the fantastic and everything else can seem completely mundane as a result, no matter the intrigue. That's what has happened to me. There should be a support group. I can no longer enjoy Twain and Hemmingway as I once did. Although, I recently revisited Steinbeck and was totally taken away by his storytelling and superior characters. So, there is some hope for suckers, like myself, just left of reality. Suckers like myself teetering somewhere between the here and now. Suckers like myself... stuck in the Twilight Zone.

Love Stainbeck. Steinbeck is the berries.

grasstains:

This sounds like someone created it with forks spoons and an aluminum cereal bowl. Oh well!
http://tzone.the-croc.com/sounds/twiltzon.mid