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Well-written sci-fi? (pg. 3)
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by SYSTEM-J
Postmodern literature is generally very easy to read, in my experience, and often very funny and playful. |
I agree, which was the reason for my clarification.
See, I've read Nietzsche and Heidegger (who is also a big slog) and still haven't find Foucault or Derrida very worthwhile. Maybe you can direct me to something of theirs that you find insightful? |
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| NeoPhono |
| quote: | Originally posted by lücid
Orson Scott Card
not that i have anything to compare his writing to. i just like Ender's Game. :p |
Too bad he's an ultra-religious douche.
I think Ray Bradbury has excellent style, although I tend to prefer more "hard" sci-fi. I think Arthur C. Clarke is a good middle ground (for me). |
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| SYSTEM-J |
I can't say I enjoy reading Derrida. In fact, if I hadn't had lecturers explain what he meant, I probably still wouldn't have a ing clue how deconstruction works.
Foucault, however, I found pretty insightful. "Discipline and Punishment: The Birth of the Prison" is a very interesting and accurate explanation of how law, control and surveillence work in society. It makes 1984 seem like the paper-thin pop theory it actually is. |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
I have a "clue" how deconstruction works in the sense that I have read summaries of deconstructive ideas and figures by people who know a lot more about them than I probably ever will. But if you gave me an actual example of a "deconstruction" of a work, I doubt I could get much out of it, and never did when I tried to read Derrida's takes on Levi-Strauss, Marx, or whomever.
I've seen that Foucault book recommended before and will have a look at it. |
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| enydo |
| Man, I need to get more into literature. |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by enydo
Man, I need to get more into literature. |
Why do you say that? |
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| enydo |
| Because I have no idea about 80% of what you guys are discussing, and reading is cool! |
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| bas |
| quote: | Originally posted by enydo
Man, I need to get more into literature. |
Nerd! *punch* |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by MrJiveBoJingles
I agree, which was the reason for my clarification.
See, I've read Nietzsche and Heidegger (who is also a big slog) and still haven't find Foucault or Derrida very worthwhile. Maybe you can direct me to something of theirs that you find insightful? |
God, I bloody hate Nietzsche's style. As for Martin, I once read a book in which Heidegger talked about language with a Japanese scholar, and it was so appalling I flung my photocopies across the room - I like his ideas when they're not even wrong, but it was so egregious I couldn't go any further.
As for Foucault, I started reading a book of his but the reading was so sluggish I eventually put it down (I'm building up the courage to read it again). And, as for Derrida, he's fun as hell! And by fun, I mean random and nonsensical: If old age had not failed to kill De Saussure, I'm sure Derrida would eventually do that :p
Edit: I've got some Merleau-Ponty in my reading list. Ever read anything written by him, Brian? |
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| Lews |
Try Ursula le Guin.
The Lathe of Heaven was amazing. Definitely recommend it. |
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| Lira |
| quote: | Originally posted by enydo
Man, I need to get more into literature. |
Most of the time I read literature, I regret it. Dostoevsky is one of the very few authors that don't make me feel like I'm wasting my time. Kafka is sort of amusing too. I think I only read Siddharta (by Hesse) and 1984 (by Orwells) because I wanted to understand why it is that Hesse got a bloody nobel prize and Orwells is so famous.
But, to no avail. I think I now know what it feels like to be a crack whore trying to get pumped up with coffee... or something :p |
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| SYSTEM-J |
| quote: | Originally posted by Lira
But, to no avail. I think I now know what it feels like to be a crack whore trying to get pumped up with coffee... or something :p |
You're Doing It Wrong. |
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