Baldur's Gate : The Sword Coast Chronicles : NWN2 Persistent World

Galaahd wrote:Eh, A Dance with Dragons... I'm still at about page 200, haven't touched it since august

I didn't know you were into books.

nlyh wrote:

Galaahd wrote:Eh, A Dance with Dragons... I'm still at about page 200, haven't touched it since august

I didn't know you were into books.

Creation of the Universe (save yourself) - Arcady Petrov

http://www.amazon.com/Creation-Universe ... 469&sr=8-1

Last year, London

In honor of All Hallows Eve...I raise the dead...mua ha haaaaa....

Monkey. Wu Cheng-Ên. Translated by Arthur Waley in 1942. I was turned onto this book by our own resident simian...who seems to have been finally chased off by the civilized from our server. Ha! Anyway...the book is a fantastic tale based on the monk Tripitaka's journey to India to receive the teachings of the Buddha and bring them back to China. Based on real life events, this book melds the fantastic with the real in a big way. Sometimes, it can go thoroughly overboard, but...well...it's all about the metaphors, which, unless I imagine are Chinese or very versed in the culture, you may very well miss (I'm sure I missed out on at least half of the cultural references). The tale of Monkey, from this version, this book, is highly edited and missing many of the chapters that the full tale includes. There is a full translation in a 4 volume set...which I consider delving into...kinda.

The most interesting aspect of these fairy tales, for me as the reader, is the concept in the Chinese culture that Heaven is just as organized a bureaucracy as on Earth. Add in spirits, dragons, folly, immortal powers, Buddhism, Taoism, monkeys made of stone that find enlightenment, etc...and you have the book Monkey.

The Archaic Revival. Terence McKenna. Almost finished this collection of interview, lectures and essays by the psychedelic-philosopher Terence McKenna. In general, this collection is a good introduction into McKenna's philosophy of how a cosmic consciousness can be accessed through psilocybin and other mind-altering drugs. His research is pseudo-scientific, but also poetic and wondrous. One of his basic theories is that apes ate psychedelic mushrooms, which have the scientific properties to improve vision and sex drive, thus giving apes a population advantage in evolution, plus vision to literally see beyond their physical landscape (as in distance). Additionally, this "vision" is that which exists in the mind, the "cosmic connection" that ancient peoples sought in their religious use of psychedelics, known and unknown uses (very well documented in history, btw). This "vision" allowed for, if I may interpret, imagination.

And imagination allowed us to dream of realities that do not exist. Then, we realized them. Though I don't think apes dreamed of sitting behind a computer screen and pretending to be elves...it is at least were we've come to!

What I find most interesting and compelling from McKenna's philosophy—he is now dead, btw—is how an initial search for cosmic oneness or cosmic voice/god voice through psychedelic use, is now extrapolated to the merge between Man and technology, something McKenna actively contributed in his "research." If one looks deep enough, you can find how McKenna influenced many of the technologists, technophiles and big wig technology sector people from the 80s until present. The idea that an attempt to reach cosmic knowledge, once through chemicals but now through chemicals + technology, is possible AND what our life form is tasked to do, spiritually, is a very interesting premise. And luckily, McKenna was quite compelling as a writer and a speaker, so if you search his works/thoughts out, you'll at least be very entertained (as I have been).

The One-Straw Revolution. Masanobu Kukuoka. Pretty much a "holy bible" to the self-sustaining, ecologically minded, permaculture design society that is trying to re-build the connection between Man, farming and sustainability in the face of a world slowly decaying into overuse, overproduction, landrape and cultural demise. Yes, cultural demise. It is documented that many great civilizations died out because of overuse, stupid use, of their agricultural lands...and when you can't feed the people....

This book has some real philosophical gems of ideas in it, but also plenty of information particularly related to (do-me)'s farm and living style. Not for everyone. But after reading it, you realize he fought the good fight since the 70's, and...disciples from his "Way" are still working at it. I am a few pages from finished, and really appreciated filling my mind with the knowledge of his life, and his thoughts.

Finally, I'm looking forward to reading Lazarillo de Tormes and The Swindler, two spanish picaresque novels. It is stories like these that help me formulate my own characters, and feed me ideas and details to the character aspects. Besides...who doesn't like a good rogue!??

I used to read a bugton of books, before growing up happened. Slowly getting back into the habit, though.

Current read is A Man Called Intrepid. It's a fascinating look into the twisted and seedy world of intelligence circa WW2, and the political shenanigans going on behind the scenes that not many even know.

I've just began reading these two for my own personal development:






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I am also reading this on and off again. It looks like a novel but it's more of a history book with many different accounts telling an interesting story:

I doubt anyone reads this here but it's easy and relaxing. No need to think, just laugh
But why did they have to kill him off! Why, why, why, why!!!!

Just finished The Slow Regard of Silent Things.

Wonderful, thank you Patrick.

to



Re-reading Terry Prattchet's Discworld series (Watch series)



Commissar Ciaphas Cain, always a favourite that I read from time to time (re-reading)



Oh, Mercy Thompson novels series as well.



((I tend to jump between titles, so it is hard to keep track, overall))

I'm currently reading a book that Lyrewyn's forced me to read. Yes, forced. This one:
Normally Lyrewyn leads me wildly astray. She's like a will-o-wisp in this regard. But this time she really came through for me! It's a really good read, and I'd highly recommend it to others. Specifically those with an interest in political intrigue.

Currently reading book 4 of the Malazan Book of the Fallen series, finding it entertaining and quite different from other fantasy epics I've read such as the Wheel of Time and ASOIAF.
As others in the the thread, I can recommend the Patrick Rothfuss books too.

Karond wrote:I've just began reading these two for my own personal development:

Honestly, too much opinionated dreamy liberal nonesence in this one.
Too little factual substance, too many hasty and not often coherent "conclusions".

Have yet to read the second book but a friend of mine heartly recommended it despite the tittle.

Never got around to try myself on this one but i will soon.

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