Huzzah.
I finally obtained a copy of The Atrocity Archives, by Charles Stross… I had contemplated ordering it directly from his publisher but since I’m moving around so much I have no idea where I’d order it to. Luckily there’s a kickass Borders shop in Singapore where I’ve found a ton of good science fiction books (as well as the previously mentioned Japanese study guides).
Strange shit always happens there though. The first time I went, I was standing at the sf hardcover section and a woman approached me and asked to talk to me. Stop me if I’ve told this one before.
Anyways, this lady lays on me this enormous story about some guy she’s sorta of dating and actually having sex with, and shows me every SMS that was sent between her and him. All this is happening while I’m trying to look at books - she doesn’t care though, she just keeps talking. The first thing that I thought was, “Scam.” So I see Chris (dude I work with) walk by the aisle and I mouth “help me”. He comes over and stands like right between me and this woman. She just looks at him and says, “Excuse us, we’re talking” and pulls me towards her.
Even if it was a scam and she was just distracting me for something, I wasn’t worried since I had no money. So after 15 minutes of boring agony she asks me if she should trust this creepy bastard that she’s with - she needs a male opinion (am I qualified for that?). I just tell her no, and walk away. That was the end of it.
So today I’m browsing, in the sf hardcover section again, exact same spot. And some Asian dude comes up to me. He’s totally, um, well, cockeyed, so I wasn’t sure that he was talking to me when he said, “Can I ask you something?” I was like, uhhhh, sure… Already flashing back to the previous incident.
He then asks me if I live in Singapore. I’m like no, just staying here for work. He asks if it’s a good city. I reply that, yeah, I think it’s OK. Then he says, “I’m thinking of moving here from America - are there a lot of Americans?” I tell him that I’m not sure, and said something like, “I don’t know, I’m Canadian.” He then proceeds to just turn around and walk away.
That was the extent of my awesome day. I also picked up novels by Greg Bear and Frank Herbert, for what it’s worth.
Tech Knight said,
June 12, 2004 @ 7:23 am
Which Herbert novels?
Luke said,
June 12, 2004 @ 7:55 am
The Eyes of Heisenberg. I’ve always had a thing for everything Herbert wrote except Dune (sorry James). Destination Void, now there’s a Herbert book you should grab.
Ron said,
June 12, 2004 @ 12:44 pm
Hey, I read Destination: Void. Neat read… I think you were the one who lent it to me. I especially liked the part about how all their computers on their high-tech spaceship print all their output on ticker tape.
Sometimes it can be pretty amusing how far off our predictions for the future can be. Like the original Star Trek had them using “data tapes,” and the newer series with datapads… for crying out loud, we have that right now. Except, in the future, everything works… until you’re under attack.
Your story about being accosted by strangers is a familiar one. Not because I’ve heard it before, but beacuse it happens to me all the time… or at least, it used to. I don’t get out much these days.
Luke said,
June 12, 2004 @ 10:48 pm
Yeah, shit changes fast. I remember an Asimov book (Naked Sun I think) where the main guy, Baley, takes an airplane and reads a scrolling newspaper attached to the back of the seat in front of him. And of course he’s going to a planet full of robots.
As long as the author though works in good concepts, the technology in the stories becoming horribly obsolete and dated is definitely forgivable.
Ron said,
June 13, 2004 @ 11:02 am
Yes, I agree. The obsolete nature of the technology can be part of the charm of the story as well. Takes you back to another time, in a way.
derek said,
June 13, 2004 @ 6:58 pm
Haha. Nostalgia associated with futuristic interpretation in older SF.
What Bear did you pick-up? I highly recommend Blood Music for what’s it worth.
Also, the Atrocity Archives is good read. Wish it was a bit longer (you’ll see what I mean at the end of the first book).
goods said,
June 14, 2004 @ 6:14 am
stop it now!
and no you are not qualified to give a male opinion.