have you read the sword of truth series?

7/26/2010 1:42:49 PM

I would like a good epic dystopian space novel. Suggestions?

7/26/2010 1:43:18 PM

JohnnyTHM asked:

Quote :

"have you read the sword of truth series?"

I haven't, but I think my friend Brett is working through it. Any good? I'm not usually one for fantasy novels, believe it or not.

God asked:

Quote :

"I would like a good epic dystopian space novel. Suggestions?"

It's not all space, but A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller, Jr. should fit the bill. According to the NSCU Libraries site, it's available at D. H. Hill.

7/26/2010 1:52:58 PM

Quote :

"I'm not usually one for fantasy novels"

Then I honestly wouldn't bother...

7/26/2010 2:29:49 PM

Who was your favorite English professor?

9/13/2010 2:51:24 AM

Tony Harrison, no doubt. Shouts to Gerald Barrax and John Kessel for sure, though.

Harrison was an excellent instructor. He had such enthusiasm for earlier English poets (particularly the Romantics) that it changed how I thought of English literature before the 20th century. I never really had that much of an emotional connection to the work of Wordsworth, for instance, because high school had basically deadened me. So big ups to Harrison!

Barrax was a curmudgeon, and I responded to that. He had a way of just leveling pretension and seeing through students' lies. He motivated me to keep my work honest. You couldn't say, "This piece of mine doesn't have a theme, because I want the reader to supply it." I probably wouldn't talk the way I do if it weren't for him, 'cause he made me want to keep poetry alive in speech. I mean that as a compliment, but take it as you will.

Kessel was a solid dude. He talked craft well and always had great answers to questions about his personal process of writing. He was quick to stress that what works for him wouldn't work for everyone. I only had him for one class, and it wasn't even required for my degree. Oh! That reminds me. When he became head of the English department, he basically talked me into switching over to the first graduating class for the Creative Writing curriculum and excused me from taking a redundant Shakespeare requirement. Hella appreciative of that one.

9/13/2010 7:09:09 AM

Quote :

"And don't feel too bad--I knew you couldn't answer the question. That's why I posted it. "

I'M SO MUCH BETTER THAN YOU, I KNOW WHAT THE WAR REQUIEM IS

anyone who takes ARS 351 with Dr. Kramer would also know that

also who asks for an essay alluding to the roles of God in the arts in a thread like this?

9/13/2010 7:48:01 AM

Some kind of asshole.

9/13/2010 8:16:53 AM

^^^He's the head of the MFA program now, I know he does advising but I've never managed to get in on that.

He's offered to write a letter of reference for my MFA candidacy, which is pretty awesome of him.

9/13/2010 11:56:41 AM

Doesn't fall in to these categories, but are you a speed reader? How can I improve my reading speed? Thx.

9/13/2010 1:25:47 PM

Why you hate me?

9/13/2010 4:51:55 PM

YOU GOT THAT NIGGA IN TROUBLE

xoxo,

9/13/2010 5:17:12 PM

I'd like to take a moment to tell Frosh he is a noob since Shaggy, not Dies Irae is the definition of bombastic (very fantastic).

9/13/2010 6:31:21 PM

jaZon said:

Quote :

"Doesn't fall in to these categories, but are you a speed reader? How can I improve my reading speed? Thx."

Sonia says I'm a fast reader, but I wouldn't call it speed reading since I don't have any formal method for it. When I first learned to read, I seem to have memorized the shapes of words, which obviously helps—if you can recognize a word before you finish scanning it, you can skip it.

I like to read aloud, and I think that's helped me correlate the sound of a sentence with its written construction. When I combine that with my word shape recognition, I guess I wind up being able to glide through sentences very quickly. I think it cuts down on the time I waste on subvocalization.

Snewf said:

Quote :

"Why you hate me?"

I don't hate you, but I admit I treat you coolly. I'll elaborate in private if you care, but there's no sense in doing it in front of God and everybody. Too dramatic. You've never done me wrong or said a cross word as far as I know.

9/13/2010 10:22:38 PM

THE PEOPLE DEMAND DRAMA

9/13/2010 10:22:57 PM

Drink your cocaine, 'cause drugs is legal
Androids rule the streets of New York, screamin', "Fuck the people!"

9/13/2010 10:26:14 PM

what is the worst movie you've ever seen?

9/13/2010 10:31:02 PM

Quote :

"The worst film I've seen recently is The Limits of Control. More like the limits of my patience."

But the most entertainingly bad film I've ever seen is In the Name of the King: A Dungeon Siege Tale. You really should check that out with some friends. We made a drinking game of it: Every time a character delivers a line ripe for "that's what she said," take a drink. It's marvelous.

9/13/2010 10:33:49 PM

What are your top five favorite novels?

What are your top five favorite films based on a book?

What is your favorite Warhammer 40k faction? *edit shit whatever it's like literature amirite?*

Who was your favorite *edit damnit, literature or film* professor at NCSU?

[Edited on October 31, 2010 at 9:54 PM. Reason : v]

10/31/2010 9:52:47 PM

Quote :

"What are your top five favorite novels?"

1. Dylan
2. Dylan
3. Dylan
4. Dylan
5. Dylan

Nah, but for real:

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon is a wonderful story of two friends coming up in the WWII-era comic book industry. There is something for everyone in that book.

I mentioned Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov on the first page as a "quintessentially American [story]" that features "beautifully versatile use of English."

I'd include any of the Lord of the Rings trilogy in my top five. Poetic language, just a lot of fun to read aloud.

Hard to pick beyond that! If I'm allowed to include "graphic novels" (hate that term), then The New Frontier by Darwyn Cooke definitely goes on there. It's a re-imagining of the Silver Age of the DC Universe set in the late '40s to '60s.

I'm gonna run with the graphic novel thing and say the entirety of the series Preacher by Garth Ennis. Talk about a weird, fantastic trip through Heaven and Hell. It's expensive to buy all the collected volumes, but you should totally check out the first volume if you haven't already and decide for yourself whether the story is worth the investment. I love re-reading these twice a year or so with my wife.

Quote :

"What are your top five favorite films based on a book?"

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Shawshank Redemption, Fight Club, and The Prestige (if I don't have to have read the book) or The Fellowship of the Ring (if I do).

Quote :

"What is your favorite Warhammer 40k faction? *edit shit whatever it's like literature amirite?*"

I don't play or follow the fiction, but from what I gather, I'd likely favor the Imperium of Man or the Orks.

Quote :

"Who was your favorite *edit damnit, literature or film* professor at NCSU?"

I already answered this on this page, I thought.

11/5/2010 2:40:29 PM

N/M. It's dumb.

Did you have anything interesting in mind for that mad wizard Hashemka story, or were you just shooting from the hip as we went?

[Edited on November 5, 2010 at 3:21 PM. Reason : .]

11/5/2010 3:09:39 PM

Shooting from the hip. I run and play in tabletop roleplaying games, and that was a fun diversion. Shame I let it fall apart. Could kick it back up, though.

11/5/2010 4:05:25 PM

Have you read the Berserk manga or seen the anime? If so, thoughts?

11/5/2010 4:24:58 PM

Nah, but I played a little of the video game on the Dreamcast. Is it good? Should I read it?

11/5/2010 4:53:34 PM

Have you ever met vinylbandit? Are you as knowledgeable as him? Did you see "The Social Network"? If yes, what did you think?

11/5/2010 4:58:16 PM

I ain't never met him, though I'd like to. Having not met him, I'm not qualified to speak on his knowledge. All I know is I don't know as much of what he's known for knowing as he knows.

I saw The Social Network and liked it, especially the scene that lays out how Zuckerberg created FaceMash. A non-technical friend of mine said she found that part very interesting, which was encouraging to me. Realistic depictions of the application of technical knowledge are awesome.

11/10/2010 11:04:42 AM

Here's a question:

What grade did you make in Dr. Gross' Chaucer class?

Also, what was your favorite tale in The Canterbury Tales?

[Edited on November 10, 2010 at 11:22 AM. Reason : mk]

11/10/2010 11:21:56 AM

i have no idea what i made but i'll tell you

it was higher than i should have

'cause she basically let me cop out of the final paper

i'm not even sure why i didn't do it

i'm not sure why she let me get away with it

anyway, favorite tale is the miller's 'cause it's so dirty and mean and stupid

11/23/2010 8:25:01 AM