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Post by tomhet on Apr 15, 2008 19:23:29 GMT
I thought we needed one thread like this. I'm currently reading The night of the Claw by Ramsey Campbell. Not really his best but fun all the same. His short stories on the other hand are legendary.
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Post by dinodude on Apr 15, 2008 20:03:08 GMT
i just read carnosaur.
i know the films are bad but the book is really good.
if you like jurassic park it is definatly a good book to read it is very similar.
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Post by Dinotoyforum on Apr 15, 2008 20:21:48 GMT
Good idea Tomhet! I recently finished Northern Lights by Philip Pullman, the basis for the film The Golden Compass. I haven't seen the movie; I thought the book was pretty mediocre, some nice aspects but the story seemed to hop along a little too simply for my tastes. Now I'm half was through The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. I'll report back soon...  |
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Post by sbell on Apr 16, 2008 1:48:56 GMT
Good idea Tomhet! I recently finished Northern Lights by Philip Pullman, the basis for the film The Golden Compass. I haven't seen the movie; I thought the book was pretty mediocre, some nice aspects but the story seemed to hop along a little too simply for my tastes. Now I'm half was through The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. I'll report back soon... I read the "His Dark Materials" series a few months ago--I found it to be a very good series, although I can see how an adapted movie would be awkward (and the next 2 books would even worse). I am currently reading "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. What can I say, I'm an iconoclast (and given where I'm living, that could be dangerous). |
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Post by piltdown on Apr 16, 2008 2:02:01 GMT
Browsing thru:
1. Your Inner Fish by Neil Shubin
2. Augustus-The Life of Rome's First Emperor by Anthony Everitt -- a biography of yours truly ;D
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Post by Dinotoyforum on Apr 16, 2008 10:02:12 GMT
Good idea Tomhet! I recently finished Northern Lights by Philip Pullman, the basis for the film The Golden Compass. I haven't seen the movie; I thought the book was pretty mediocre, some nice aspects but the story seemed to hop along a little too simply for my tastes. Now I'm half was through The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. I'll report back soon... I read the "His Dark Materials" series a few months ago--I found it to be a very good series, although I can see how an adapted movie would be awkward (and the next 2 books would even worse). I am currently reading "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. What can I say, I'm an iconoclast (and given where I'm living, that could be dangerous). I'm sorry to hear that questioning belief systems can be dangerous where you are - I don't think I could cope. I don't mind people believing whatever they wish, what get's me frustrated is when faith trumps evidence and reason. I read the God Delusion - You don't have to be an iconoclast, in fact I think this book is best written for fence sitters. My only quarrel is that, for the most part, the book didn't produce much that I hadn't come to already by my own philosophising. But hey, EVERYONE likes it when somene agrees with them I'm delving into God Is Not Great every now and again too - a much more literary account of the delusion and dangers inherent in belief without evidence. [No snarky comments on feathered dinosaurs please Piltdown ;D - the evidence is overwhelming  ] I never saw the Golden Compass movie, I will if it comes on TV. I might continue with the subsequent books in His Dark Materials over the summer holiday. |
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Post by sbell on Apr 16, 2008 12:55:35 GMT
I read the "His Dark Materials" series a few months ago--I found it to be a very good series, although I can see how an adapted movie would be awkward (and the next 2 books would even worse). I am currently reading "The God Delusion" by Richard Dawkins. What can I say, I'm an iconoclast (and given where I'm living, that could be dangerous). I'm sorry to hear that questioning belief systems can be dangerous where you are - I don't think I could cope. I don't mind people believing whatever they wish, what get's me frustrated is when faith trumps evidence and reason. I read the God Delusion - You don't have to be an iconoclast, in fact I think this book is best written for fence sitters. My only quarrel is that, for the most part, the book didn't produce much that I hadn't come to already by my own philosophising. But hey, EVERYONE likes it when somene agrees with them I'm delving into God Is Not Great every now and again too - a much more literary account of the delusion and dangers inherent in belief without evidence. [No snarky comments on feathered dinosaurs please Piltdown ;D - the evidence is overwhelming ] I never saw the Golden Compass movie, I will if it comes on TV. I might continue with the subsequent books in His Dark Materials over the summer holiday. Dangerous may have been an exaggeration, but only somewhat. I live in a town that has far more churches, etc than is reasonable for its size, and the second question everyone gets after moving here (the first is, "What school does your son go to?") is "What Church do you go to?". Any response to the negative usually results in a few steps back and a cockeyed look. I quite liked God Is Not Great as well. My main purpose in reading these books is giving myself some ammunition against the inevitable arguments that will arise. |
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Post by piltdown on Apr 16, 2008 19:42:44 GMT
*Sends Torquemada to pay a visit to Dinotoyforum*  I've taught him the ways of force lightning  He's especially determined to exterminate the feathered dinosaur infidels ;D [j/k] I haven't read either the Dawkins book or the Hitchens tome--I've always loathed Hitchens--so I can't comment, but I was browsing in a bookstore through "I Don't Believe in Atheists" by Chris Hedges, which was written specifically to counter Hitchens, Dawkins, Sam Harris , et al. I'll report when I browse through more of it--I'm too cheap to buy books that don't have dinosaur pics ;D |
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Post by sbell on Apr 16, 2008 20:01:45 GMT
*Sends Torquemada to pay a visit to Dinotoyforum* I've taught him the ways of force lightning He's especially determined to exterminate the feathered dinosaur infidels ;D [j/k] I haven't read either the Dawkins book or the Hitchens tome--I've always loathed Hitchens--so I can't comment, but I was browsing in a bookstore through "I Don't Believe in Atheists" by Chris Hedges, which was written specifically to counter Hitchens, Dawkins, Sam Harris , et al. I'll report when I browse through more of it--I'm too cheap to buy books that don't have dinosaur pics ;D That's what libraries are for! |
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Post by Dinotoyforum on Apr 17, 2008 15:41:42 GMT
Finished Jekyll and Hyde (much shorter than I anticipated- but very engaging), now starting Dracula by Bram Stoker!
MUAHAHAHAHAHA!
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Post by sbell on Apr 17, 2008 15:49:03 GMT
Finished Jekyll and Hyde (much shorter than I anticipated- but very engaging), now starting Dracula by Bram Stoker! MUAHAHAHAHAHA! I read Dracula twice. The first time I don't remember, the second time I was bored out of my skull. |
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Post by Dinotoyforum on Apr 17, 2008 20:51:55 GMT
Sounds like I will be riveted  I'm just going through a phase - I have developed an interest for reading the original sources of various icons of fiction. |
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Post by piltdown on Apr 17, 2008 20:55:32 GMT
I'm just going through a phase - I have developed an interest for reading the original sources of various icons of fiction. *Sends Dinotoyforum a copy of the original scientific description of Microraptor gui* ;D |
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Post by Dinotoyforum on Apr 17, 2008 21:04:29 GMT
LOL ;D no really - I spluttered on my screen. *gains composure* pffff.  ;D |
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Post by Dinotoyforum on Apr 17, 2008 21:09:09 GMT
Man, I completely handed that one to you on a plate! hehe
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Post by sbell on Apr 17, 2008 21:24:28 GMT
Sounds like I will be riveted I'm just going through a phase - I have developed an interest for reading the original sources of various icons of fiction. Riveted is the right word--if by riveted you mean bolted into place and unable to move by a combination of lethargy and apathy. |
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Post by tomhet on Apr 21, 2008 17:37:04 GMT
The Rise of Fishes by John Long.
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Post by sbell on Apr 21, 2008 19:09:16 GMT
The Rise of Fishes by John Long. Hope you like hearing about Australia! |
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Post by tomhet on Apr 22, 2008 5:14:45 GMT
^^^Hey, Australia's not that bad  True, the format and the illustrations could have been better, but hey, books on the subject are scarce. |
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Post by sbell on Apr 22, 2008 5:22:35 GMT
^^^Hey, Australia's not that bad True, the format and the illustrations could have been better, but hey, books on the subject are scarce. I never said it was bad, just that it seemed a little..australocentric? I suppose it just didn't seem to get into other continents to equal degree; partially because Australia has a lot of very good material. But then, I'm in Canada, home of Tiktaalik and Eusthenopteron, so maybe I'm just biased. Not as bad as the book "Wildlife of Gondwana" though, which I recall as being pretty much just Australia; I bought it hoping for more info on Africa, South America and even Antarctica as well. |
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I've taught him the ways of force lightning 
He's especially determined to exterminate the feathered dinosaur infidels ;D [j/k]
;D
True, the format and the illustrations could have been better, but hey, books on the subject are scarce.