I must disagree with Kevin Drum's view on Jacob Weisberg's hit piece in Slate regarding Senator Clinton's IPod: Everyone knows that what you listen to on your IPod (or red-haired Mpeg-playin' stepchild) defines the very substance of your being. Indeed, it is vital that we all share ten songs recently played on our IPods with the world. Drum's attempts to misdirect notwithstanding, this is the most important subject in the world. Mine are below the fold.
Why the long silence from this loyal ObWingian? Why might some assert that this post is "pretty frivolous" and "totally lacking in substance"? Let's put it this way: after being blasted by the conservative wing of the Republican party for failing to offer sufficient support for President Bush, I am now informed by the conservative wing of the Republican party that President Bush is, in fact, a liberal Republican. Whiplash is a serious injury with long-term consequences. The recovery is painful. It takes time.
At present, it's:
Neighborhood #2 (Laika) -- The Arcade Fire.
Cindy's on Methadone -- Screeching Weasel.
When the Tigers Broke Free -- Pink Floyd.
Pancho and Lefty -- Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson.
Conrad -- Jets to Brazil.
Blue Monday -- (Flunk's version).
Bad Mouth -- Fugazi.
The Man Comes Around -- Johnny Cash.
Rock the Casbah -- The Clash.
New Jack Hustler -- Ice-T.
I'm not sure what to conclude from this -- save, perhaps, that I need to update my rotation. (I've kept it to one song per artist; otherwise, numbers 2-10 on this list would all be from the same artist and album [Screeching Weasel, "My Brain Hurts"].
I have read Greg Bear's _Darwin's Radio_ and while he may be a lovely man I have no desire to encounter any more of his prose.
Posted by: rilkefan | June 04, 2006 at 07:39 PM
Thanks for the suggestions.
I'm big on good plots and sympathetic, interesting characters--self-consciously literary fiction, with beautiful descriptions or dark themes or whatever, often does not do it for me.
An example of the sort of book I love: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Klay. And I get thoroughly hooked on things like Harry Potter.
I've been reading a lot more non fiction than fiction lately, but I think I need to lighten up a bit.
Posted by: Katherine | June 04, 2006 at 07:46 PM
"I have read Greg Bear's _Darwin's Radio_ and while he may be a lovely man I have no desire to encounter any more of his prose."
It tends to be straight-forward, and not soaring or brilliant, I grant.
Posted by: Gary Farber | June 04, 2006 at 10:22 PM
I have (or rather recall) no particular argument with his prose per se - I just found the uses to which he put it (in characterization and plot in particular) to be - well, as it turns out I've suppressed my reaction and put a "do not repeat experience" marker on the matter - hence the metonymy.
A recommendation of a non-genre novel by a noted SF author, Ian Banks - _The Crow Road_.
One who likes sf stories might do worse than Connie Willis's _Fire Watch_ (being sure to skip "All My Darling Daughters" if desirous of avoiding deep darkness).
Posted by: rilkefan | June 04, 2006 at 10:40 PM
You know, I get that, but for want of a better term...
And no, spec-fic doesn't quite do it. If you've got something more descriptive yet un-clunky, suggest away.
Posted by: Slartibartfast | June 04, 2006 at 10:51 PM
If you're looking for something a bit different, Elizabeth Hand's Glimmering was quite good.
Posted by: Slartibartfast | June 04, 2006 at 11:01 PM
"If you've got something more descriptive yet un-clunky, suggest away."
We've never had a problem calling sf "sf."
Science fiction = "sf."
Worked for about eighty years now.
Posted by: Gary Farber | June 05, 2006 at 12:18 AM
Well, if "sf"="science fiction", I don't see where the problem lies.
Really, I get your distaste, but as far as I know that distaste is isolated to current and former fandom.
Posted by: Slartibartfast | June 05, 2006 at 09:26 AM