Russian/American scientist and author, Isaac Asimov, once wrote: Individual science fiction stories may seem as trivial as ever to the blinder critics and philosophers of today — but the core of science fiction, its essence, has become crucial to our salvation if we are to be saved at all.
sdanielson / tags / books
Tagged with “books” (24)
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Walter Edgar’s Journal - Pat Conroy and Family - The Death of Santini
Walter Edgar’s Journal
In his 2013 memoir, The Death of Santini (Nan A. Talese/Doubleday) author Pat Conroy admits that his father, Don, is the basis of abusive fighter pilot he created for the title role of his novel, The Great Santini, and that his mother, Peg, and his brothers and sisters have all served as models for characters in The Prince of Tides and his other novels. Now, for the first time, Pat gathers with four of his surviving siblings, Kathy, Tim, Mike, and Jim, to talk about the intersection of “real life” and Pat’s fiction, and what it was like to grow up with “the Great Santini” as a father.
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The Guardian books podcast: Science fiction now and tomorrow | Books | guardian.co.uk
Novelists Alastair Reynolds, Lauren Beukes, Michael Moorcock and Jeff Noon talk about the state of SF
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/audio/2012/jan/06/books-podcast-science-fiction-now-tomorrow
Tagged with books michael moorcock science fiction fiction books
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Reading Envy: Reading Envy Podcast 002: Return of the Euthanized Book
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NBN: In Heaven as it is on Earth by Samuel Morris Brown
New Books in History In Heaven as it is on Earth: Joseph Smith and the Early Mormon Conquest of Death by Samuel Morris Brown OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS, 2012
Every person must confront death; the only question is how that person will do it. In our culture (I speak as an American here), we don’t really do a very good job of it. We face death by fighting it by any and every means at our disposal. Why we do this is hard to figure, as the struggle against death is often terribly painful (not to mention costly) and always futile. In his new book In Heaven as it is on Earth: Joseph Smith and the Early Mormon Conquest of Death (Oxford University Press, 2012), Samuel Morris Brown tells us how Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of the Latter Day Saints, told his followers to prepare for and confront death. It didn’t come to him all at once. A certain amont of what would become Mormon dogma was revealed to him; a certain amount was borrowed from other creeds; and a certain amount was Smith’s own invention. The doctrine he evolved was profoundly humane. He rejected the idea that we would meet our maker alone. God gave us families and he would never, ever take them away. In heaven, God would re-unite us with our kin and we would enjoy, effectively, eternal life in the bosom of our loved ones. There was, therefore, nothing to fear in death, for it was but a continuation of life, albeit more perfect for being in the proximity of God. I don’t know if it is easier for Mormons to die than for the rest of us, but I can easily imagine that it is.
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NBN: Peter Millward
Peter Millward, “The Global Football League: Transnational Networks, Social Movements and Sport in the New Media Age”
Tagged with new books network new books in sports
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Fredric Krome, “Fighting Future Wars: An Anthology of Science Fiction War Stories, 1914-1945″
Fredric Krome, “Fighting Future Wars: An Anthology of Science Fiction War Stories, 1914-1945″ on New Books Network
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Stacy Schiff, “Cleopatra: A Life” on New Books Network
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Gregory Nagy on Homer’s Iliad
In this installment of Faculty Insight, produced in partnership with Harvard University Extension School, ThoughtCast speaks with the esteemed Harvard classicist Gregory Nagy about one of the earliest and greatest legends of all time: Homer’s epic story of the siege of Troy, called “The Iliad.” It’s a story of god-like heroes and blood-soaked battles; honor, pride, shame and defeat. In this interview, we dissect a key scene in “The Iliad,” where Hector and Achilles are about to meet in battle. Athena is also on hand, and she plays a crucial if underhanded role, with the grudging approval of her father, Zeus.
And Nagy is the perfect guide to this classic tale. He’s the director of Harvard’s Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington DC, as well as the Francis Jones Professor of Classical Greek Literature and Professor of Comparative Literature at Harvard. We spoke in his office at Widener Library.
Tagged with myth homer gregory nagy books
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Julie D on Real Live Radio
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