[bksvol-discuss] Re: Questions that have surely been answered
- From: "Kim Friedman" <kimfri11@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2011 10:59:28 -0800
Hi, Misha, I'd say if magic is involved, I'd lean the book over toward
fantasy. Mind you, I did read a fun story in Analog about a new branch
of learning called "sorcistry" as opposed to sorcery. The analogy goes
like this: chemistry is to alchemy what sorcistry is to sorcery. The
idea being that since chemistry is more scientifically rigorous than
alchemy, it follows sorcistry should have more qualitative data with the
possibility of making repetitious experimental demonstrations to prove
some theory or other. We both know sorcistry doesn't exist, but it was a
fun story, nonetheless. People will believe (especially those who have
studied science and physics), that astronomy is more preferable than
astrology. Astronomy doesn't claim to explain the astral effects on
people's behavior or decision making capabilities. I suppose they might
be willing to acknowledge that the moon affects tides on earth, but
that's about as far as they're willing to go. I never could understand
why people should think the stars have any influence on our behavior.
How can one's month or day of birth differentiate us from anybody else?
Enough said on that head, I think. I think their are writers who are
quite willing to come up with principles or rules for the use of magic
in their fantasy works. I've noticed some writers are more systematic
than others in explaining how magic works and why. There tends to be a
cause-and-effect system, i.e., if you do a. then b. will result. I know
Poul Anderson has written some fantasy, as has Harry Turtledove, David
Drake, and David Weber. I've read some stories by Charles Stross which
were published in Asimov's Science Fiction which became part of his
Accelerando Sequence. I'm afraid I couldn't be engaged with these
stories because I couldn't identify with the characters. I think he has
another series involving trade amongst different universes that might
engage my attention. I have no idea if Stross employs the use of magic
in that series. Regards, Kim Friedman.
-----Original Message-----
From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Mike
Sent: Monday, January 31, 2011 8:19 AM
To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Questions that have surely been answered
In general I'd like the separation of science fiction and fantasy,
though it is sometimes difficult to tell which a book is. I'm currently
reading a book by Charles Stross, the Atrocity Archives. In it
mathematical proofs can call up demons and open portals to the places
where they come from. Is that SF or fantasy. I suppose I could just
mark both for that kind of book.
Misha
On 1/28/2011 8:20 AM, Kim Friedman wrote:
> Hi, Roger, I agree that science fiction should have its own category
> as well as fantasy. Horror has its own category and I would, like you,
> like to see science fiction and fantasy in two categories rather than
> one. I know there are authors who have written both but I'd like to be
> able to weed out the fantasy from the Star Wars novels. I know that
> mystery and thrillers are lumped together. Do you think they should be
> separated? Say suspense and thrillers and mystery and detective
> fiction? Come to that, one can really go into details once one starts
> categorizing. I know there is a category called "Cooking, Food, and
> wine". I don't object to that, however I think there should be another
> category called "Diet and Nutrition" to separate it from the
> cookbooks. Also I'd like fiction that has recipes to be taken from the
> Cooking, Food, and Wine category and call it Food Fiction, i.e., books
> where the protagonist has something to do with food and if there are
> recipes, that can come under that area because the primary focus is
> the story and food may be part of it but not the whole of it. Regards,
> Kim Friedman (having a go as nitpicker).
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Roger Loran
> Bailey
> Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 7:48 AM
> To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Questions that have surely been answered
>
>
> I think you are suggesting more categories and that would be good. As
> long as you are making those suggestions, though, let me rant about
> the most irritating thing about the categories for me. Science fiction
> and fantasy
> should be split. If you are going to lump genres together then at
least
> you
> could lump something that have more to do with each other than science
> fiction and fantasy.
>
>
> _ _ _
>
> "Everything must justify its existence before the judgment seat of
> Reason, or give up existence." - Friedrich Engels
>
> Follow me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/rogerbailey81
>
>
> The Militant:
> http://www.themilitant.com
> Pathfinder Press:
> http://www.pathfinderpress.com
> Granma International:
> http://www.granma.cu/ingles/index.html
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gary Petraccaro"<garyp130@xxxxxxxxxxx>
> To:<bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, January 28, 2011 9:14 AM
> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Questions that have surely been answered
>
>
> Maybe they could also come up with checkboxes for politics, sociology,
> and economics.
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Jamie Yates, CPhT
> To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 7:44 PM
> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Questions that have surely been
answered
>
>
> Maybe when engineering gets around to adding the checkbox for
> pictures are described they could add a checkbox for "this book is
> held for" a person and
> then that would trigger it to be on a separate checkout list?
>
> Then all of the held for books including the ones used to train new
> volunteers would not show up on the ready for checkout list?
>
> --
> Jamie in Michigan
>
> Currently Reading: If I Should Die Before I Wake by Han Nolan
> Earn cash for answering trivia questions every 3 hours:
> http://instantcashsweepstakes.com/invitations/ref_link/49497
>
> See everything I've read this year at:
> www.michiganrxtech.com/books.html
>
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