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[Calidovi]

There have been a few threads revolving around books clubs, but they mostly feature coordination and discipline, a trait sadly lost in many forum pits. Due to that, I have taken the liberty of (hopefully) spurring forth a less-together book club with new book discussions dropping in and out depending on interest. Think of a Happy or Sad thread, but instead of events people mention what they thought of a piece of literature, igniting comments and debate.

And if it doesn't work, then I'll lock the thread. I suppose I'll start.


As per school request, the book "Ishmael: An Adventure of the Mind and Spirit" must be read. By reading the synopsis it seems rather surreal (to my taste), and captures a general enough scope to pose both interesting and mundane questions. For those who read the novel, how does it fare? And if nobody cares about this work then we can always talk about something else. Perhaps "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich".

[Sheb]

I just read "Towing Jeovah", a magnificiently WTFesque book. God died. His three-kilometer long body is floating off the coast of Gabon, and the Archangels organized a large tomb in an iceberg near Svalbard. A tanker captain consumed by guilt of the oil spill he caused is hired by the Vatican to tow it there. It include philosophy, theology and a band of radical atheist trying to sink the Corpus Dei with WWII-era aircrafts.

My favourite moment is quite possible

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

when the priest is struggling to find a ritual to turn the Body of God back into mundane food.

[Calidovi]

I just read "Towing Jeovah", a magnificiently WTFesque book. God died. His three-kilometer long body is floating off the coast of Gabon, and the Archangels organized a large tomb in an iceberg near Svalbard. A tanker captain consumed by guilt of the oil spill he caused is hired by the Vatican to tow it there. It include philosophy, theology and a band of radical atheist trying to sink the Corpus Dei with WWII-era aircrafts.

My favourite moment is quite possible

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

when the priest is struggling to find a ritual to turn the Body of God back into mundane food.

Please tell me this book takes place in the distant future and that the radical atheists are using WWII fighters because they feel like it.

[Sheb]

It takes place in the late 1990's I think. (They tried to buy weapons from governments, but they all demured once they figured they were private persons and not a corrupt third-world government. So they hire a bunch of WWII reenactors)

[Calidovi]

It takes place in the late 1990's I think. (They tried to buy weapons from governments, but they all demured once they figured they were private persons and not a corrupt third-world government. So they hire a bunch of WWII reenactors)

Sounds like a charming tale.

[miauw62]

It's been a while, but I'm still impressed by it: Red Mars.
This book was quite possibly one of the best science fiction books I've ever read. Robinson does an amazing job at getting into the character's heads, and all the points given, their dislikes of other characters, etc, seem perfectly reasonable.
I also just love the hopeful tone. Amazing book.