Getting back into the swing of things here; off to Job No. 2 at the rural hospital tomorrow (Saturday). Daytime high temperatures here in the low 80's, which is rather balmy, and just a bit warmer than average for this time of year.
I have been reading, in spare moments, The Dispossessed by Ursula LeGuin, preceded by The Day Before the Revolution, to be followed by The Word For World is Forest and then, after about forty years, a re-reading of The Left Hand of Darkness. Quite enjoyable, and not altogether untimely...
Wonderful choice, Alan. Le Guin is my favorite SF author, bumped out of Favorite Author only by Tolkien and perhaps Douglas Adams. Must say I struggled with The Dispossessed and eventually abandoned it, but will return as soon as I finish this month's Analog. The Left Hand of Darkness is phenomenal. I enjoyed The Word for World Is Forest, though it is a transparent allegory, none the worse for that. Another one of hers I enjoyed was The Lathe of Heaven.
I think I said before that when I read The Left Hand of Darkness many years ago (I remember it as one of the best science fiction stories I have ever read, and I think only a woman could have written it) I thought it seemed that there must be other related stories to be told, and sure enough there are. That adds to the interest, although it isn't a series like the Earthsea stories. As my memory serves me, Marion Zimmer Bradley also thought Left Hand was great stuff. I have heard of The Lathe of Heaven but haven't read it; thanks for the recommendation.
Work has had a way of getting in the way of recreational reading; but so far The Dispossessed seems to be an exploration (in addition to the human condition) of the sort of classical Anarchism propounded by Prince Kropotkin, seasoned by rather more tha a half century of social experience. Whether the story progresses to a solution of the political and social difficulties of Anarchism or to some different end is obscure at this point. A tidy solution is, after all, not required.
My reaction to Le Guin varies considerably between books. I agree that The Left Hand of Darkness is tremendous and I very much liked The Word for World is Forest (which is technically a novella, not a novel). I think one reason I am less enthusiastic about The Dispossessed than many is that the ideas many Americans would find novel were obvious to me. But in many of her books, especially the earlier ones, I don't really find the story compelling.
I also have variable reactions, Bill. Quite a bit of LeGuuin's work I would classify as young adult fiction (as is most of Andre Norton's), but there are also explorations of very adult themes. Her best is very good, certainly. Good science fiction, it seems to me, requires some suspension of disbelief in order to set the stage for the story, which is then about an exploration of what it means to be human. (Hardly an original point of view, I readily admit.)
Dad is very worried about Angel Kitty. He says he is afraid she's near death. If Mum said that I would discount it. She has been saying Angel would only live a few weeks ever since we first got her, ten and more years ago. But for Dad to say so is terribly worrisome. He says she is wearing away like Esme did. Although, she did eat a good supper tonight (that is to say Friday). But we are all very worried. Prayers and light sent her way would be greatly appreciated.
Ag report: Just a bit of fog rising from some fields on the way to work this morning. Sunrise was at 0715. The vineyards are all harvested, just being cleaned up. I didn't see any trucks carrying tree fruit, and only one truckload of processor tomatoes. Corn and sorghum have been almost completely harvested and plowed down. I saw one big planting of lettuce growing--it had sprouted the last time I came through, a month ago. Pistachios seem to have been harvested. Cotton harvest is well under way.
Some leaf fall in Oak Park without much noticeable color change. That sometimes happens when there is a late frost.
I finished The Long Earth by Pratchett and Baxter last night for the book discussion today. Only to discover that it is not a novel but the first 50-some chapters of a 5-volume novel. Nothing remotely resembling an interim conclusion. And not good enough to inspire me to finish it unless reviews ultimately say the final volume wraps things up superbly.
Angel is still quite poorly, but she has been doing better this afternoon. She ate a good supper, and a little while later had the energy to come upstairs tot he third floor.
Well! This movie doesn't sound like my cuppa, but it reinforces my impression that the Governator is not a bad sort of fellow (albeit with human failings). Cut and paste:
The two cats are on the floor, behind Daughter's chair, just kind of chillin' together. This is neat for two reasons. First, it has been ages since we had a pair of cats that actually liked each other. Second, they have actually figured out that Perkins is not going to eat them.
Howard Dean primus inter pares est!
ReplyDeleteGetting back into the swing of things here; off to Job No. 2 at the rural hospital tomorrow (Saturday). Daytime high temperatures here in the low 80's, which is rather balmy, and just a bit warmer than average for this time of year.
I have been reading, in spare moments, The Dispossessed by Ursula LeGuin, preceded by The Day Before the Revolution, to be followed by The Word For World is Forest and then, after about forty years, a re-reading of The Left Hand of Darkness. Quite enjoyable, and not altogether untimely...
TTFN
Alan
Wonderful choice, Alan. Le Guin is my favorite SF author, bumped out of Favorite Author only by Tolkien and perhaps Douglas Adams. Must say I struggled with The Dispossessed and eventually abandoned it, but will return as soon as I finish this month's Analog. The Left Hand of Darkness is phenomenal. I enjoyed The Word for World Is Forest, though it is a transparent allegory, none the worse for that. Another one of hers I enjoyed was The Lathe of Heaven.
DeleteI think I said before that when I read The Left Hand of Darkness many years ago (I remember it as one of the best science fiction stories I have ever read, and I think only a woman could have written it) I thought it seemed that there must be other related stories to be told, and sure enough there are. That adds to the interest, although it isn't a series like the Earthsea stories. As my memory serves me, Marion Zimmer Bradley also thought Left Hand was great stuff. I have heard of The Lathe of Heaven but haven't read it; thanks for the recommendation.
Delete--Alan
Work has had a way of getting in the way of recreational reading; but so far The Dispossessed seems to be an exploration (in addition to the human condition) of the sort of classical Anarchism propounded by Prince Kropotkin, seasoned by rather more tha a half century of social experience. Whether the story progresses to a solution of the political and social difficulties of Anarchism or to some different end is obscure at this point. A tidy solution is, after all, not required.
Delete--Alan
My reaction to Le Guin varies considerably between books. I agree that The Left Hand of Darkness is tremendous and I very much liked The Word for World is Forest (which is technically a novella, not a novel). I think one reason I am less enthusiastic about The Dispossessed than many is that the ideas many Americans would find novel were obvious to me. But in many of her books, especially the earlier ones, I don't really find the story compelling.
DeleteI also have variable reactions, Bill. Quite a bit of LeGuuin's work I would classify as young adult fiction (as is most of Andre Norton's), but there are also explorations of very adult themes. Her best is very good, certainly. Good science fiction, it seems to me, requires some suspension of disbelief in order to set the stage for the story, which is then about an exploration of what it means to be human. (Hardly an original point of view, I readily admit.)
Delete--Alan
Dad is very worried about Angel Kitty. He says he is afraid she's near death. If Mum said that I would discount it. She has been saying Angel would only live a few weeks ever since we first got her, ten and more years ago. But for Dad to say so is terribly worrisome. He says she is wearing away like Esme did. Although, she did eat a good supper tonight (that is to say Friday). But we are all very worried. Prayers and light sent her way would be greatly appreciated.
ReplyDeleteOn the way.
Delete--Alan
Done
DeleteAdd my hopes and wishes too.
DeleteMe too.
DeleteAg report: Just a bit of fog rising from some fields on the way to work this morning. Sunrise was at 0715. The vineyards are all harvested, just being cleaned up. I didn't see any trucks carrying tree fruit, and only one truckload of processor tomatoes. Corn and sorghum have been almost completely harvested and plowed down. I saw one big planting of lettuce growing--it had sprouted the last time I came through, a month ago. Pistachios seem to have been harvested. Cotton harvest is well under way.
ReplyDelete--Alan
Some leaf fall in Oak Park without much noticeable color change. That sometimes happens when there is a late frost.
ReplyDeleteI finished The Long Earth by Pratchett and Baxter last night for the book discussion today. Only to discover that it is not a novel but the first 50-some chapters of a 5-volume novel. Nothing remotely resembling an interim conclusion. And not good enough to inspire me to finish it unless reviews ultimately say the final volume wraps things up superbly.
I keep hearing how wonderful Prachet is... Somehow he doesn't appeal to me, which is probably just as well. There are *so* very many books to read!
DeleteAngel is still quite poorly, but she has been doing better this afternoon. She ate a good supper, and a little while later had the energy to come upstairs tot he third floor.
ReplyDeleteWell! This movie doesn't sound like my cuppa, but it reinforces my impression that the Governator is not a bad sort of fellow (albeit with human failings). Cut and paste:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.motherjones.com/mixed-media/2013/10/escape-plan-sylvester-stallone-arnold-schwarzenegger-liberal
--Alan
The two cats are on the floor, behind Daughter's chair, just kind of chillin' together. This is neat for two reasons. First, it has been ages since we had a pair of cats that actually liked each other. Second, they have actually figured out that Perkins is not going to eat them.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a very positive step in interspecies relations, Renee!
Delete--Alan