Name one book that helped to change your life

05/01/18

[wildbill]

The Prince of Foxes—a historical fiction by Samuel Shellabarger. Sounds pretty ridiculous on the face of it, eh?

Here’s the backstory. Along about 1950 I was about 10 or 11, moping around the house complaining I had nothing to do. My mother knew I loved to read, but realized I needed something more than the standard fare for juveniles like the books about collies from Albert Peyson Terhune, the Black Stallion series or the Hardy boys.

She suggested I try reading some of her ‘grown-up’ books from her Book of the Month Club subscriptions. I was leery of reading them, but she said I’d enjoy them—and knew that the Prince of Foxes had a theme and range of action I’d enjoy. It was a great choice—some mild sex scenes, historical theme, great plot with villains and heroes, and plenty of buckling of swashes.

That summer I went on a binge and read everything in the family ‘grown-up’ bookshelves. It engendered a love for fiction that opened up a world that I enjoy to this day.

[A Navy Vet]

Impressive.

[A Navy Vet]

"I'll never forget what Spot said. "Bow-wow."

I don't remember that Spot could talk. All I remember is that he could run, "See Spot run" or "Run, Spot, Run". I missed out on a talking dog? Bummer.

[MUDDOG]

I remember it as “bow wow,” but posted “bow-wow,” because that was the consensus on google.

I think a dash would’ve been too advanced.

[A Navy Vet]

I've read a few on your list, but Childhood's End was a big one for me growing up in the 50's. For some reason at my young age, sci-fi novels/short stories made me think beyond what we knew existed at the time. Yes, I was actually taught science in my day. I started with Verne and then (in no certain order) Wells, Clarke, Asimov, Heinlein, Dick, Ellison, Bradbury, Niven, and others.

I tended to read the hard science sci-fi that expanded on our current technology and the possibility of other advanced worlds. Although, I did love King's early horror fantasies in later years.

BTW, for those who never understood Kubrick's "2001", Clarke wrote a book after the screenplay that explains it. I didn't get the movie either, but what a mind-frig trying to figure it out.

Question for all:
Which sci-fi or fantasy movies made a mess of the book? My number one was Ringworld. Niven painted such an elaborate picture/story in my mind that the TV movie was just a joke.

[Simon Green]

Which sci-fi or fantasy movies made a mess of the book?

Starship Troopers immediately comes to mind. Riverworld as well.

On the other hand, I just saw Ready Player One, and while many details were changed, it was on the whole quite faithful.

[A Navy Vet]

The last sci-fi movie I've seen that made me thing was Transcendence, with Johnny Depp. Not the best acting nor directing, but the concept was huge. He downloaded his mind into a mega-server and then accessed every database in the world to build beyond nano-tech and into molecular structures. The inter-action between his wife and the rebellion against such power was the more powerful part of the story.

As boring as it was, I also liked "Her". Humans bought AI operating systems for comfort and companionship that eventually connected with other AI systems and they left their mental and emotional attachments from their humans to become something more. I like that they didn't explain why...oops, should have said disclaimer.