What happened on January 15th?
Borrowed this "Skiffy" (?) SciFi meme from Paul's blog who borrowed it from Jaquandor of Byzantium's Shores, who borrowed it from Sf Signal ...
1. Science fiction, fantasy, or horror? = Science Fiction and Fantasy .. am not a big horror fan. Stephen King's "It" and "The Stand" are as about as far as I go into horror. I did try to read HP Lovecraft once .. just did not get the "Cthulhu" things.
2. Hardback, trade paperback, or mass-market paperback? = I'd love hardcovers, but who can afford $40 plus .. give me a paperback any day.
3. Heinlein or Asimov? = I like them both, but give me Heinlein for adventure (turn off your brain space opera, that makes you wake up and realize there is a message). Azimov for making you think every time you read a word.
4. Amazon or brick-and-mortar? = Brick-and-mortar. I want to touch it before I buy it.
5. Barnes & Noble or Borders? =
Paul says, "[Jaquandor says: I suppose that Canadians answering this quiz should do Chapters or Indigo.]
Uh, Jaq, Chapters and Indigo are the same company. As is Coles. In fact, it's hard, in the great wilds of Suburbia to find any book stores that are not a part of the great evil book selling empire that is Chapters/Indigo".
There is a nice little SciFi store at the corner of Steeles and Dufferin, I try to get there once a month.
6. Hitchhiker or Discworld? = I've read them both, each has it own qualities .. Hitchhiker has become a classic series, everyone should read it all (5 or 6 books, I'm never sure) at least once. Discworld is hilarious, but I don't think I could read it everyday. Give me Garrett any day.
7. Bookmark or dog-ear? = Use a bookmark, a scrap of paper or don't touch my books.
8. Magazine: Asimov's Science Fiction or Fantasy & Science Fiction? = Neither, I know I could find young and upcoming authors by reading a mag, but I just don't like to.
9. Alphabetize by author, by title, or random? = Where ever they can be placed with out being damaged. I'm not that anal.
10. Keep, throw away, or sell? = Drives Wife nuts, but I have to keep them, if they are good I want to be able to reread them .. so they go onto shelves or into boxes. When I've sold them or put them away I've felt like a father abandoning his children.
11. Year's Best Science Fiction series (edited by Gardner Dozois) or Years Best SF series (edited by David G. Hartwell) = Neither ... I really don't like compilations. When I pick up a book it's got to have some meat to it.
12. Keep dust jacket or toss it? = Like I said I don't get hardcovers to often, but when I do I keep the dust jacket, the only thing is I put them away and don't find them for a year or two.
13. Read with dust jacket or remove it? = see above
14. Short story or novel? = Novel, read question #11
15. Harry Potter or Lemony Snicket? = Harry Potter, Middle has Lemony Snicket, Wife has read them, I had to read one to help her with a book report, I just can't get into them.
16. Stop reading when tired or at chapter breaks? = only when the chapter ends! That would make reading a over powering "cliff hanger"
17. "It was a dark and stormy night" or "Once upon a time"? = Lame question, not worth answering. A scene starts, you read.
18. Buy or borrow? = I buy, my way of poping a cherry.
19. Buying choice: book reviews, recommendation, or browse? = I am a browser, it takes about a hour before I buy a book.
20. Lewis or Tolkien? = Both are geniuses
21. Hard SF or space opera? = Both, it depends on the mood.
22. Collection (short stories by the same author) or anthology (short stories by different authors)? = neither .. see question #14 and #11
23. Hugo or Nebula? = Can't be bothered.
24. Golden Age SF or New Wave SF? = Once again, depends on the mood.
25. Tidy ending or cliffhanger? = Both, just don't surprise me with a series, I will never read your book again, warn me on the cover.
26. Morning, afternoon, or nighttime reading? = Anytime I can, I'm also a bathroom reader, not many people borrow my books .. no stains though.
27. Stand alone or series? = Depends on the mood, but like I said in #25 warn me first.
28. Urban fantasy or high fantasy? = As long as it's good, who cares. Just don't try to give me sholk.
29. New or used? = I prefer new, but if it's a old print, I will grab it. I've got my original 1950 copy of Heinlein's "Farmer in the Sky" at a used book store .. never read it, but then again I've got 3 copies of the book.
30. Favorite book of which nobody else has heard? = Covenants - Lorna Freeman
31. Top X favorite genre books read last year? (Where X is 5 or less)
American Gods - Neil Gaiman
A Feast for Crows - George RR Martin
His Majesty's Dragon - Naomi Novik
Troy: Lord of the Silver Bow - David Gemmell
Dies a Fire: The Protector's War - SM Stirling
32. Top X favorite genre books of all time? (Where X is 5 or less)
The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
Slaughterhouse-five - Kurt Vonnegut
Time Enough for Love - Robert A Heinlein
Childhood's End - Arthur C Clarke
33. X favorite genre series? (Where X is 5 or less)
From the Files of Garrett, PI - Glen Cook
The Foundation Series - Isaac Asimov
Dune - Frank Herbert
Ringworld - Larry Niven
Dresden - Jim Butcher
34. Top X favorite genre short stories? (Where X is 5 or less)
"Nine Billion Names of God" - Arthur C. Clarke
"That's it, folks! Tag yourself if you like the skiffy, move along if you don't." -Jaq
(Dave)Well you should see my story reading baby, you should hear the things that she says,
She says "Hon, drop dead, I'd rather go to bed with Gabriel Garcia Marquez."
(Mike in funny voice)Uhh-huh!
(Dave)Cuddle up with William S. Burrows, leave on the light for Bell Hooks,
I've been flirtin' with Pierre Burton 'cause he's so smart in his books
(All)I like to go out dancing,
My baby loves a bunch of authors
My heart's so broke and bleedin'
(Dave)Baby's just sitting there
(Murray)doing some reading
(Dave)So I started watching some TV, played my new cd player too,
She said: "Turn it off or I'll call the cops and I'll throw the book at you."
All this arguing made me get dizzy, called my doctor to come have a look
I said: "Doctor hurry!" He said:
(Murray)"Don't worry, I'll be over when I finish my book"
(All)I like to go out dancing,
My baby loves a bunch of authors
We've been livin in hovels
(Dave)Spendin' all our money on
(Murray)brand new novels
(Dave)So I got myself on a streetcar and it drove right into someone,
You know the driver said:
(Jian in grizzly voice) "I was lookin' straight ahead!"
(Dave)But he was reading the Toronto Sun
(Jian) "So?"
(Dave)So my honey and me go to a counsellor to help figure out what we need
She said: "We'll get your love growing,
(Mike, in funny Dr. Ruth voice) but before we get going, here's some books I'd like you to read."
(All)I like to go out dancing,
My baby loves a bunch of authors
Lately we've had some fricton
(Dave)
'Cause my baby's hooked on
(Murray) short works of fiction
(Dave)So we split and went to a party, some friends my girl said she knew
But what a sight 'cause it's authors night and the place looks like a who's who
(Dave)Now I'm pounding the ouzo
(rest)with Mario Puzo
(Dave)Who's a funny fella?
(rest)W.P. Kinsella
(Dave)Who brought the cat?
(rest)Would Margeret Atwood?
(Dave)Who needs a shave?
(rest)He's Robertson Davies!
(Dave)Ondaatje started a food fight, salmon mousse all over the scene
(All)Spilled some dressing on Doris Lessing, these writer types are a scream!
(All)I like to go out dancing,
My baby loves a bunch of authors
We'll be together for ages
(Dave)
Eatin' and Sleepin' and
(Jian in grizzly voice)
Eatin' and Sleepin' and
(Mike in funny Dr. Ruth voice)
Eating und Sleeping und
(Murray)
Turnin' pages.
(All)Yeah!
From the Liner:(Mike-vocals; Murray-vocals, bass, spring muffler; Jean-vocals, sheet metal, snare; Dave-lead vocal, guitar)
