Monday, February 6, 2012

The Big Questions

Right now, actually, for the past several years, my absolute favorite author, no exceptions, has been Alastair Reynolds. He's a British (well, Welsh) science fiction author of notable popularity. In case all have forgotten, he signed a $1,000,000 deal a year or so ago (actually, I think that should be in British pounds, which is significantly more than USD right now) and generally writes great tales with very deep science fictional themes. The guy, in a word, is awesome.

He also was a speaker at TEDx, I don't know what the 'x' stands for, but whatever. Ted talks are one of the things that makes the internet awesome.The reason I find him so compelling is because all his fiction, or most of it anyway, deals with a lot of the same questions most of have asked when we're sitting around and pondering the universe in all of its vastness. Of course, he was a working scientist with the ESA for a number of years and was writing his first several novels while working on some pretty cool science at the same time.

If I were a master of my craft in my own mind, I would probably be churning out books quite similar to what he does. If you have 20 minutes or so to kill, please sit back, relax, and have your mind blown by my writing hero, discussing my philosophical hero, as he discusses my favorite conundrum of all: The Fermi Paradox.




Now, if that just got a bit 'too real' for you, then please enjoy a new feature I'm going to include from time to time, which I will call my comment of the week, or month, or year, whatever. Because let's all be honest. Most of us just blow into a blog, skim the post, make a short, sweet, comment and move on. I get it, I really do. I wish I could spend more time interacting with everyone, but there just isn't enough hours in the day. It usually makes me sad. But I do what I can, as we all do.

But every once in a while, something happens and that comment is beautiful in a way no one could have expected.

Unfortunately, my first comment of the week comes from an anonymous user. Too bad, as I'd like to meet this person and hear more of their thoughts. Check it out:

"Pretty section of content. I just stumbled upon your web site and in accession capital to assert that I acquire in fact enjoyed account your blog posts. Anyway I will be subscribing to your feeds and even I achievement you access consistently rapidly. <link deleted>"

Wow. That's all I've got, wow. Thank you good sir, I'll be clicking those links you provided right away, just after I forward them to all my friends.

13 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That comment is really deep for this early in the morning.
I've only had the chance to read one of Reynolds' books. Don't throw anything at me.

Neil Vogler said...

Ha ha! Wonderful comment. Insightful AND personal. Genius.

Brinda said...

I love Ted Talks. I've never seen the "x" after it. hmmm.... I'll check out the vid. Aren't you glad my comment is less complicated than your quoted visitor's?

PT Dilloway said...

I might have to check that dude out. Reynolds not the anonymous poster.

Briane said...

Hey, you won!

http://www.thinkingthelions.com/2012/02/now-to-really-actually-announce-winner.html

Briane said...

Also: Now I read this post, and I just have to say: Awesome blog. I check here from time to time and I find this information really helpful and also check out my site where you can get genuine Uggs for download for 4,99.

Question: Is reading a blog just for the comments the ideological opposite of watching the Super Bowl just for the ads?

Also: I'm going to have to listen to your video because I want to know what the Fermi Paradox is. Curse you!

*Shakes fist impotently, goes to look at link because maybe Sweetie would like some Uggs.*

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

No spam please. For the record...I would love to have a book deal that was that huge. Just in case you were wondering that I was too much of an artiste to accept a million dollars.

Jay Noel said...

TED is an awesome organization that hosts big time subject matter experts for all kinds of cool speaking engagements. You can get an app on your iPhone to find cool lectures.

TEDx are locally organized speaker series. I find the Fermi paradox absolutely fascinating.

I would say closer to home, we know that there is a strong possibility of water on Mars, and there having been water on the moon (maybe). So life in our immediate galaxy might not be the kind to build spaceships and fly to say "hello."

Golden Eagle said...

I've read a few short stories by Alastair Reynolds--they always stuck out to me as being some of the most interesting in the various anthologies I found them in. Thanks for sharing the video!

That is some comment.

paulandlou said...

wow i am a mental lightweight compared to "AL"

Andrew Leon said...

I think you only like that comment because it's so convoluted (for lack of a better term). I'll have to check Reynolds out at some point. Unfortunately, I'll probably have to create my own paradox in order to do it.

M Pax said...

lol Great comment.

I love those deep questions in science fiction, too. Not sure I've mastered getting them into my stories.

Being a scientist for ESA would be a damn cool job. I'll have to come back and listen later. I have a board meeting today. Oops, better go get ready.

Nancy said...

if you haven't already written it Alastir could be your A for the A to Z blogfest. I had to go back and reread the blog entryto get back to that less than exciting comment since I got to the bottom of reading the comments and realized I'd forgotten what I wanted to say.