What are you reading right now?

Akai · 11-08-2021, 10:22 AM

Mucha na Dziko · 11-09-2021, 06:57 AM

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Lisnaholic · 11-09-2021, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akai

That looks interesting, Akai! I like the quote on the cover. For anyone who wants to know more about the book:

Spoiler for ayoade on a chat show:

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerspaceboy

Just finished a reading project I'd been chipping away at for years. When I was 15 years old I happened upon a short story collection by Isaac Asimov and "The Last Question" inspired a life-long love of science fiction. The story involves a recurring thematic element called Multivac which Asimov used in 16 of his stories. Back in February I shared a photo of the exceedingly rare 1956 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly I tracked down which marked the first-ever printing of "The Last Question" for my library.

I constructed a spreadsheet of every one of the stories and then researched and documented the complete publication history of each story so I could secure copies of every one. It was quite a challenge as the first tale, "Question," was only published in a 1955 issue of Computers and Automation magazine and was subsequently withdrawn for being too similar to one by another author at the time. Thanks to The Internet Archive I was able to download a hi-res scan of the original magazine to complete my reading project.

Tonight I finished the 16th story, published in a pulp zine in 1983 which I found in a used bookshop. It was a wonderfully satisfying project.

Thank you, Dr. Asimov.

That's impressive, Innerspace! Congratulations on completing such a longterm project.
I can't compete with anything like that, especially as the story behind this book is "Someone gave it to me. I read it."

My verdict: It is structured a bit like The Hours , with chapters flipping between two stories; one modern, one old, with, presumably, thematic connections between the two. Quite a good scheme for a book, although the "historic" story never really came to life for me.
The modern story, a drama played out in the US and the Dominican Republic is pretty good.

Trollheart · 11-15-2021, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Akai

Is that quote in your sig from Yes Minister?

Mucha na Dziko · 11-15-2021, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerspaceboy

Just finished a reading project I'd been chipping away at for years. When I was 15 years old I happened upon a short story collection by Isaac Asimov and "The Last Question" inspired a life-long love of science fiction. The story involves a recurring thematic element called Multivac which Asimov used in 16 of his stories. Back in February I shared a photo of the exceedingly rare 1956 issue of Science Fiction Quarterly I tracked down which marked the first-ever printing of "The Last Question" for my library.

I constructed a spreadsheet of every one of the stories and then researched and documented the complete publication history of each story so I could secure copies of every one. It was quite a challenge as the first tale, "Question," was only published in a 1955 issue of Computers and Automation magazine and was subsequently withdrawn for being too similar to one by another author at the time. Thanks to The Internet Archive I was able to download a hi-res scan of the original magazine to complete my reading project.

Tonight I finished the 16th story, published in a pulp zine in 1983 which I found in a used bookshop. It was a wonderfully satisfying project.

Thank you, Dr. Asimov.

This is actually amazing.
Inspiring story

Never read anything from Asimov so far, but I was getting myself to start the Foundation series. I just need to go to my grandparents countryside house and find them somewhere in the basement

Mucha na Dziko · 11-15-2021, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

That's the story but I'm pretty sure it actually happened the other way around.

Oh, that's what you meant

I think it actually never happened at all, so there's that

But if one reads through the Bible, two daughters raping their father isn't the kinkiest or least believable thing he'll find there

innerspaceboy · 11-15-2021, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mucha na Dziko

This is actually amazing.
Inspiring story

Never read anything from Asimov so far, but I was getting myself to start the Foundation series. I just need to go to my grandparents countryside house and find them somewhere in the basement

Thanks! Definitely let us all know what you thought once you've read Foundation!

Mucha na Dziko · 11-15-2021, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerspaceboy

Thanks! Definitely let us all know what you thought once you've read Foundation!

You've read it?

innerspaceboy · 11-15-2021, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mucha na Dziko

You've read it?

While I've had a life-long admiration of Dr. Asimov, and built a library of nearly 200 of his books, I've thus far focused my time on digesting complete omnibus editions of his short stories and the Robot novels.

I've collected some handsome Asimov rarities, including a gilded leather bound collection of his best-loved novels, the omnibus hardcover multi-volumes of his complete collected short stories, favorite issues of Asimov Science Fiction Magazine, and the aforementioned rare 1956 Vol 4 No 5 issue of the pulp zine, Science Fiction Quarterly.

I'm certainly curious what you think of Foundation, particularly as you've stated you're an INTJ like myself, so we would likely be drawn to similar properties of Asimov's writing.

If you do end up tracking them down and enjoy reading them, tag me when you share your thoughts!

Mucha na Dziko · 11-15-2021, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerspaceboy

If you do end up tracking them down and enjoy reading them, tag me when you share your thoughts!

Sure thing!

Thought I'm not sure as to how to tag someone on MB

I only get notifications when I've commented on a thread

11-08-2021, 10:22 AM	#7361 (permalink)
Akai Godless Ape Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Britannia Posts: 1,255	__________________ ''To be honest, in my opinion, of course without offending anyone who thinks differently from my point of view, but also by looking into this matter from a different perspective and by considering each and every one's valid opinion, I do believe that I forgot what I was going to say.'' S p o t i f y