I am dying for tomorrow so I can pick up a book about cheese (1 Viewer)

[centen]

That title sounds like clickbait, but it's not. (No tricks this time, @Pirioca!!)

I've read most of Scalzi's work, period, and it's always so reliably good. I can't wait to find out what happens when the moon turns into cheese.

 

[athenaaa]

Sounds fascinating!

 

[Ahsoka]

I approve

 

[StirFriedPanda]

Interesting use of science. Should of replaced the ocean with gravy too and the rocket with French fries. We could rename earth, Poutine.

 

[centen]

Interesting use of science. Should of replaced the ocean with gravy too and the rocket with French fries. We could rename earth, Poutine.

Maybe that happens in the book! I will report back!

 

[Selfmate]

look at this procrastinator - putting off death until tomorrow

Spoiler

obligatory sarcasm - me and the OP are ummm...known to be quiet morbid - she's appointed me to be in charge of her funeral arrangements

 

[gone4good]

Happy reading <3

 

[centen]

look at this procrastinator - putting off death until tomorrow

Spoiler

obligatory sarcasm - me and the OP are ummm...known to be quiet morbid - she's appointed me to be in charge of her funeral arrangements

I adore you.

 

[Selfmate]

I adore you.

I NJZ you too??? lol

 

[LoveYooShaSha]

That title sounds like clickbait, but it's not. (No tricks this time, @Pirioca!!)

I've read most of Scalzi's work, period, and it's always so reliably good. I can't wait to find out what happens when the moon turns into cheese.

I only ever read his blog, Whatever. My taste in science fiction is more pre-2000s-Asimov, Heinlein, PK Dick, Fred Pohl n a few 2000s like Ken MacLeod, Peter F Hamilton, Stephen Baxter n a few others. Not much 2010s/2020s sf except William Gibson(Spook Country?, Zero sthg, Peripheral n Agency) n Neal Stephenson(Anathem, Seveneves, termination shock n especially the Baroque Cycle trilogy) also Ada Palmer n maybe others.

Wat can u share abt why u like Scalzi's fiction/work?(wat to make me read/try his stuff, not a debate just curious. As I hvnt found an entry point to start reading his books/ever since I knew of his writing almost 20 yrs ago; only his blog n web posts were compelling for me to continue reading but less after time passed.

 

[dark_tranquility]

put a smile on that dial

 

[Pirioca]

It seems to be a very cheesy book.

 

[centen]

I only ever read his blog, Whatever. My taste in science fiction is more pre-2000s-Asimov, Heinlein, PK Dick, Fred Pohl n a few 2000s like Ken MacLeod, Peter F Hamilton, Stephen Baxter n a few others. Not much 2010s/2020s sf except William Gibson(Spook Country?, Zero sthg, Peripheral n Agency) n Neal Stephenson(Anathem, Seveneves, termination shock n especially the Baroque Cycle trilogy) also Ada Palmer n maybe others.

Wat can u share abt why u like Scalzi's fiction/work?(wat to make me read/try his stuff, not a debate just curious. As I hvnt found an entry point to start reading his books/ever since I knew of his writing almost 20 yrs ago; only his blog n web posts were compelling for me to continue reading but less after time passed.

I'm glad for the chance to talk about it!

What I really like about Scalzi in particular is that he never leaves anything hanging. For example, around the same time I was getting into him, I was reading a book club book that had a whole B plot about World War 2 that the author clearly did not know how to wrap up, so she just dropped it. (I actually reread the end of it a few times because I was certain I missed it, but nope, she just didn't have the characters bring it up again.) Scalzi may have an absurd element -- there are werewolves! the dolphins want to unionize! -- that initially feels like it's played for laughs, but it'll matter and it'll come to some sort of resolution. In general, I really like books that you can think about after you're done, and they still hold up. You find yourself going "oh, that was clever!" And at the same time, it's all very fun and if that's all you want out of a read, you'll get that, but you can also think about it and think about what he's saying about class or community or religion.

Also, especially compared to a lot of old sci-fi writers, I like that Scalzi respects women as human beings. I looked up his bibliography, and other than a couple of books from 2005/2006 that I can't find, I've read every one of his sci-fi works, and he has never, not once, had even the threat of rape thrown in as a way to make the women feel the stakes. His dedication in The Last Emperox is "To the women who are done with other people's shit." Bad things happen to characters and there are scary situations, but he never goes, "let's have her get raped into character growth." (It's something I notice a LOT after I read a book with a ton of rape in it that made me go "nope, I'm done with reading this." It's kind of ridiculous just how casually writers will throw it in to get some quick trauma.)

I know humor tends to be very specific, you like it or you don't, but he does have some more serious pieces that have lighthearted elements but aren't exactly "whee!" type of books. Lock In/Head On is a duology that's basically a sci-fi police procedural that's also an interesting look at what it means to be disabled and how disabled culture can shape not just those with the disability, but the world and people they interact with. His Old Man's War series starts off kind of goofy (apparently, it's a bit of an homage to Starship Troopers) and there are snappy characters throughout it, but it's a really cool look at how humans would interact with the broader universe that's filled with aliens. (Old Man's War is his oldest published sci-fi, and it shows, but books 5 & 6 are so good, I binge read them in two days. Book 7 comes out later this year.)

If you want to try something fun, I always recommend Kaiju Preservation Society. It has a nonbinary main character, and there are Kaiju! and explosions! And average people rising to the occasion! It's a good time all around with an underlying commentary about respect for science research and the environment. If you need something more timely, then Starter Villain is also one of my biggest recommendations lately, as it has very strong "eat the rich" themes, and don't we all need that sometimes? Both of those are standalones. I expect When the Moon Hits Your Eye will be in a similar vein, but I will report back!

Anyway, thanks for the chance to ramble.

 

[centen]

Because I know everyone was waiting for an update: I'm a third of the way through the book and I am highly entertained.

 

[Selfmate]

Because I know everyone was waiting for an update: I'm a third of the way through the book and I am highly entertained.

you are also not deceased - so my cardboard box will have to sit idly by for another day

 

[centen]

you are also not deceased - so my cardboard box will have to sit idly by for another day

Sorry to disappoint~ I'm glad for your preparation though!!

 

[ani07]

eat it or the ocean will turn into milk

 

[centen]

eat it or the ocean will turn into milk

A moon-sized amount of cheese is quite a lot to eat by one's self.... Are you volunteering to come over for fondue night?

 

[Selfmate]

Sorry to disappoint~ I'm glad for your preparation though!!

it's a cardbox WITHOUT any pink ribbons - it's not the hardest thing in the world lol

 

[hayataden]

That sounds exciting! A whole book about cheese? I’d love to know what it covers—history, types, or maybe pairing tips?