Groups | Search | Server Info | Login | Register


Groups > alt.usage.english > #1136337

Re: SF: Book recommendations

From Don <g@crcomp.net>
Newsgroups alt.usage.english, rec.arts.books, rec.arts.sf.written, rec.arts.sf.misc
Subject Re: SF: Book recommendations
Date 2026-02-01 16:48 +0000
Organization A noiseless patient Spider
Message-ID <20260201b@crcomp.net> (permalink)
References (7 earlier) <10leq0v$122uu$1@dont-email.me> <0ctqnk14p38blmjoh391b6kbggh5fciutk@4ax.com> <10lk4a9$2le82$3@dont-email.me> <MPG.43e7bd1e8c811bf5989a61@news.eternal-september.org> <rcpunktrklf3rcknciq32bkdemjn2uvai0@4ax.com>

Cross-posted to 4 groups.

Show all headers | View raw


Steve Hayes wrote:
> The True Melissa wrote:
>>Verily, in article <10lk4a9$2le82$3@dont-email.me>, did
>>noone@nowhere.com deliver unto us this message:
>>> > Niffenegger, Audrey. 2005. The time traveler's wife.
>>>
>>> Drek. A nonsensical attempt to outdo Nabokov's Lolita. Pathetic romance
>>> with handwavium time travel as a distraction.
>>
>>Huh, I enjoyed that one. It's not SF; it's a love story. Read as a love
>>story, it's nice IMO.
>
> It's more than a love story. It's based o  fictional science, without
> which it wouldn't work. I enjoyed it too,

Great observation! Here's a pertinent excerpt:

    As I enter Dr. Kendrick's office, he is making notes in a file.
    I sit down and he continues to write. He is younger than I
    thought he would be; late thirties. I always expect doctors to
    be old men. I can't help it, it's left over from my childhood 
    of endless medical men. Kendrick is red-haired, thin-faced,
    bearded, with thick wire-rimmed glasses. He looks a little bit
    like D. H. Lawrence. He's wearing a nice charcoal-gray suit and
    a narrow dark green tie with a rainbow trout tie clip. An
    ashtray overflows at his elbow; the room is suffused with
    cigarette smoke, although he isn't smoking right now. 
    Everything is very modern: tubular steel, beige twill, blond
    wood. He looks up at me and smiles.
        "Good morning, Mr. DeTamble. What can I do for you?"
    He is looking at his calendar. "I don't seem to have any
    information about you, here? What seems to be the problem?"
        "Dasein."
        Kendrick is taken aback. " Dasein? Being? How so?"
        "I have a condition which I'm told will become known as
    Chrono-Impairment. I have difficulty staying in the present."
        "I'm sorry?"
        "I time travel. Involuntarily."
        Kendrick is flustered, but subdues it. I like him. He is
    attempting to deal with me in a manner befitting a sane person,
    although I'm sure he is considering which of his psychiatrist 
    friends to refer me to.
        "But why do you need a geneticist? Or are you consulting 
    me as a philosopher?"
        "It's a genetic disease. Although it will be pleasant to 
    have someone to chat with about the larger implications of the
    problem."
        "Mr. DeTamble. You are obviously an intelligent man...I've 
    never heard of this disease. I can't do anything for you."
        "You don't believe me."
        "Right. I don't."
        Now I am smiling, ruefully. I feel horrible about this, 
    but it has to be done. "Well. I've been to quite a few doctors
    in my life, but this is the first time I've ever had anything
    to offer in the way of proof. Of course no one ever believes
    me. You and your wife are expecting a child next month?"
        He is wary. "Yes. How do you know?"
        "In a few years I look up your child's birth certificate. 
    I travel to my wife's past, I write down the information in 
    this envelope. She gives it to me when we meet in the present.
    I give it to you, now. Open it after your son is born."
        "We're having a daughter."
        "No, you're not, actually," I say gently. "But let's not
    quibble about it. Save that, open it after the child is born.
    Don't throw it out. After you read it, call me, if you want
    to." I get up to leave. "Good luck," I say, although I do 
    not believe in luck, these days. I am deeply sorry for him, 
    but there's no other way to do this.
        "Goodbye, Mr. DeTamble," Dr. Kendrick says coldly. I 
    leave. As I get into the elevator I think to myself that he
    must be opening the envelope right now. Inside is a sheet of
    typing paper. It says:
            Colin Joseph Kendrick
            April 6, 1996 1:18 a.m.
            6 lbs. 8 oz Caucasian male
            Down Syndrome

--
Don.......My cat's  )\._.,--....,'``.                     veritas    _|_
telltale tall tail /,   _.. \   _\  (`._ ,.               liberabit   |
tells tall tales.. `._.-(,_..'--(,_..'`-.;.'              vos         |

Back to alt.usage.english | Previous | NextPrevious in thread | Next in thread | Find similar


Thread

Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-01-27 13:32 +0100
  Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-01-27 23:34 +0100
    Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-01-27 17:56 -0800
      Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-01-28 13:44 +0100
        Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> - 2026-01-28 14:27 +0000
          Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia Hibou <vpaereru-unmonitored@yahoo.com.invalid> - 2026-01-28 16:42 +0000
            Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-01-29 08:33 +1100
              SF: Book recommendations Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-01-29 04:51 +0200
                Re: SF: Book recommendations kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-01-28 22:16 -0500
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-01-29 15:11 +1100
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-01-29 15:50 +1100
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-01-29 16:08 +1100
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-01-31 05:32 +0200
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> - 2026-01-31 18:36 +1300
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> - 2026-01-31 18:37 +1300
                Re: SF: Book recommendations occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-01-31 09:42 +0100
                Re: SF: Book recommendations occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-01-31 09:42 +0100
                Re: SF: Book recommendations occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-01-31 09:42 +0100
                Re: SF: Book recommendations nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-01-31 10:51 +0100
                Re: SF: Book recommendations The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> - 2026-01-31 07:18 -0500
                Re: SF: Book recommendations doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) - 2026-01-31 15:30 +0000
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Don <g@crcomp.net> - 2026-01-31 16:31 +0000
                Re: SF: Book recommendations scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) - 2026-01-31 18:37 +0000
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Ignatios Souvatzis <u502sou@bnhb484.de> - 2026-01-31 18:28 +0000
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Ignatios Souvatzis <u502sou@bnhb484.de> - 2026-01-31 19:01 +0000
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> - 2026-02-01 17:04 +1300
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-02-01 15:17 +1100
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> - 2026-02-02 17:03 +1300
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-02-02 07:13 +0200
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Ignatios Souvatzis <u502sou@bnhb484.de> - 2026-02-02 08:27 +0000
                Re: SF: Book recommendations kludge@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) - 2026-02-02 19:27 -0500
                Re: SF: Book recommendations The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> - 2026-02-01 06:15 -0500
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Don <g@crcomp.net> - 2026-02-01 14:14 +0000
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Titus G <noone@nowhere.com> - 2026-02-01 17:03 +1300
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-02-01 16:41 +0200
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Don <g@crcomp.net> - 2026-02-01 16:48 +0000
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Snidely <snidely.too@gmail.com> - 2026-02-03 18:11 -0800
                Re: SF: Book recommendations William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> - 2026-01-31 15:26 -0500
                Re: SF: Book recommendations John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-02-02 08:04 -0800
                Re: SF: Book recommendations The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> - 2026-02-02 12:25 -0500
                Re: SF: Book recommendations John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-02-02 10:59 -0800
                The Martian Chronicles (was Re: SF: Book recommendations) The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> - 2026-02-02 15:05 -0500
                Re: The Martian Chronicles (was Re: SF: Book recommendations) Bobbie Sellers <bliss-sf4ever@dslextreme.com> - 2026-02-02 13:03 -0800
                Re: The Martian Chronicles (was Re: SF: Book recommendations) The True Melissa <thetruemelissa@gmail.com> - 2026-02-02 17:19 -0500
                Re: The Martian Chronicles (was Re: SF: Book recommendations) John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-02-02 14:54 -0800
                Re: The Martian Chronicles (was Re: SF: Book recommendations) John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-02-02 15:01 -0800
                Re: The Martian Chronicles (was Re: SF: Book recommendations) Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-02-03 10:57 +1100
                Re: The Martian Chronicles (was Re: SF: Book recommendations) Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-02-03 08:09 +0200
                Re: The Martian Chronicles (was Re: SF: Book recommendations) doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca (The Doctor) - 2026-02-03 16:33 +0000
                Re: The Martian Chronicles (was Re: SF: Book recommendations) Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-02-04 12:11 -0500
                Re: The Martian Chronicles (was Re: SF: Book recommendations) John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-02-04 10:12 -0800
                Re: The Martian Chronicles (was Re: SF: Book recommendations) John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-02-02 13:05 -0800
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-02-03 07:05 +0200
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> - 2026-02-04 12:07 -0500
                Re: SF: Book recommendations John Ames <commodorejohn@gmail.com> - 2026-02-04 09:24 -0800
                Re: SF: Book recommendations William Hyde <wthyde1953@gmail.com> - 2026-02-04 15:57 -0500
                Re: SF: Book recommendations lar3ryca <larry@invalid.ca> - 2026-01-29 23:30 -0600
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Steve Hayes <hayesstw@telkomsa.net> - 2026-01-31 05:20 +0200
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Pluted Pup <plutedpup@outlook.com> - 2026-01-30 14:46 -0800
                Re: SF: Book recommendations Peter Moylan <peter@pmoylan.org> - 2026-01-31 11:19 +1100
          Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-01-28 21:25 +0100
            Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia Sam Plusnet <not@home.com> - 2026-01-29 01:19 +0000
              Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-01-29 10:27 +0100
    Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-01-28 11:54 +0100
      Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-01-28 13:44 +0100
        Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia occam <occam@nowhere.nix> - 2026-01-28 15:38 +0100
          Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-01-28 21:25 +0100
      Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia Adam Funk <a24061@ducksburg.com> - 2026-01-28 14:59 +0000
        Re: Deadly mushrooms in Australia nospam@de-ster.demon.nl (J. J. Lodder) - 2026-01-28 21:25 +0100

csiph-web