SciFi/Fantasy Dominion

A member of




Phule's Company
by Robert Asprin



You have just entered room "BCC Chat."
QueenSidhe: Hi Zor.
QueenSidhe: Was there an open chat here earlier?
ZorPrime67: Hey Hey! Hello QueenSidhe!
ZorPrime67: well I was here at 8:30PM EST and no one was on
ZorPrime67: err here
ZorPrime67: So I started reading :)
QueenSidhe: =)
QueenSidhe: I guess there wasn't one this week.
ZorPrime67: :(
QueenSidhe: There will definately be one next week.
ZorPrime67: k, i'll be there!
ZorPrime67: I want to at least attend one heh
QueenSidhe: And I'll be hosting the one on the 7th.
ZorPrime67: cool!
QueenSidhe: Although, I might be a little out of it.
ZorPrime67: writing that in agenda :)
QueenSidhe: That one will be at 10pm EST.
ZorPrime67: k
QueenSidhe: We're going to try alternating times.
ZorPrime67: k
ZorPrime67: Earlier today i was searching amazon database for good books :).
ZorPrime67: I'm already preparing my nominations :)
ZorPrime67: call me a freak maybe....
QueenSidhe: That's good.
ZorPrime67: hehe
QueenSidhe: Hey, I've written up a list of books I thought would be good nominations.
ZorPrime67: Couples of good new books....
QueenSidhe: Like?
ZorPrime67: The Chosen from Ricardo Pinto
ZorPrime67: Kingless land from Greenwood
ZorPrime67: The fifth elephant from Pratchett
ZorPrime67: the big U from Snow Crash author is calling me! :)
QueenSidhe: big u?
ZorPrime67: a book from Neal something...
ZorPrime67: let me get the link to amazon
QueenSidhe: Diamond age?
ZorPrime67: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0380816032/107-7724083-9490936
ZorPrime67: No clue what diamond age is.
ZorPrime67: You ever read some Ben Bova books ?
QueenSidhe: It's another book by Stephenson.
QueenSidhe: No. But I've seen them.
ZorPrime67: I did read some short fiction from him and he is pretty interesting.
ZorPrime67: hehehe seems you dont like stephenson... I'm ready to give him another chance!
ZorPrime67: I'll try this one from Ben Bova: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0812579402/ref=ed_oe_p/107-7724083-9490936
ZorPrime67: In may tho.
ZorPrime67: Hope you dont mind me posting links :)
QueenSidhe: No problem.
ZorPrime67: Btw, Golden Compass is absolutely awesome!
ZorPrime67: Not finish yet
ZorPrime67: Damn work is keeping me away from my books!
ZorPrime67: I have all sword of truth books... omg they are HUGE!!!!!
QueenSidhe: I know.
QueenSidhe: I didn't feel like reading them last year.
ZorPrime67: It will prolly be one of my nominations.
QueenSidhe: Sorry I'm so quiet at the moment.
QueenSidhe: I'm trying to find my way to an interview I have on Friday.
KWM01 has entered the room.
QueenSidhe: Hi Kelvin.
QueenSidhe: Welcome to the chat.
KWM01: hi vickie
ZorPrime67: Hello KWM01
QueenSidhe: Do you happen to know if there's a MUNI bus from the Powell St. station to the CalTrain depot?
ZorPrime67: No problem QueenSidhe, I got Golden Compass to occupy me!
KWM01: sorry, i never take caltrain
QueenSidhe: I need to find my way to Mountain View for an interview on Friday.
QueenSidhe: Public transit is annoying.
KWM01: true but i've tried LA's buses and its much worse
QueenSidhe: Well, in LA, I'd be able to drive.
QueenSidhe: Or at least have someone drive me.
KWM01: true, true:-)
QueenSidhe: Okay. So how did everyone like Phule's Company?
ZorPrime67: I really like it!
KWM01: Liked it. one of the funnier books that i have read
ZorPrime67: I had my doubt before starting but I have to say it was pretty good.
ZorPrime67: yep very funny
QueenSidhe: But kind of subtle, IMO.
ZorPrime67: yeah. I prefer that
QueenSidhe: Me too.
ZorPrime67: No stupid jokes.
ZorPrime67: I really like the dialogue
QueenSidhe: I don't like the comedies that are currently showing on TV now a days. Not my style of humor.
ZorPrime67: same.
KWM01: true
QueenSidhe: Are you going to read the next one? Phule's Paradise?
QueenSidhe: I thought that was even better than Phule's Company.
KWM01: Yes, I think so too
ZorPrime67: Yep
ZorPrime67: I went today to buy them :)
ZorPrime67: Beside Phule, who was your favorite character in Phule's Company?
KWM01: The cook
ZorPrime67: hehe
ZorPrime67: oops sorry for the bold :)
QueenSidhe: I liked Mother, Gnat, and her partner.
ZorPrime67: I really like Super Gnat and Tusk
KWM01: Me too
QueenSidhe: Any favorite scenes?
ZorPrime67: Hmmm
ZorPrime67: For me the Fencing match
QueenSidhe: I liked the confidence course parts.
QueenSidhe: Fencing was good too.
KWM01: The scene where Phule buys the hotel after he gets snubed
ZorPrime67: hehe
ZorPrime67: that was funny
QueenSidhe: Did he actually buy it?
QueenSidhe: I thought he was just starting to try.
ZorPrime67: when phule says Bombast to annoy the dood... hilarious
QueenSidhe: =)
KWM01: yeah i think he did buy it but i'm not sure
ZorPrime67: I have no idea
ZorPrime67: All i know is that he is so rich!
QueenSidhe: Made himself a megamillionaire all by himself.
ZorPrime67: Also I really like that this book was easy to read and follow. Not like the last one - Snow Crash
ZorPrime67: yeah
QueenSidhe: Me too.
QueenSidhe: I still haven't finished Snow Crash.
QueenSidhe: And I had to return it today.
ZorPrime67: hehe
ZorPrime67: no big loss :)
KWM01: I don't know, Snow Crash has it's good points
QueenSidhe: I'm was not at all in the mood to pick that book back up over the past week.
QueenSidhe: Yeah, but it got really dull in the middle.
ZorPrime67: i have to say that it is better at the end... but i dont like the final chapter.
QueenSidhe: I've also been in a kind of reading slump this past week.
QueenSidhe: Nothing much is interesting me.
ZorPrime67: heh
ZorPrime67: damn... well you have read a lot... yer signature kept changing!!!
QueenSidhe: I've just been re-reading some books on my bookshelf.
ZorPrime67: ::slow reader here::
QueenSidhe: Those 3-5 were all from the weekend before.
ZorPrime67: Anyone thought the butler was annoying?
QueenSidhe: Not really.
KWM01: no i liked hime
QueenSidhe: How was he annoying to you?
ZorPrime67: The way he talked....
KWM01: seemed very british though
ZorPrime67: He didnt sound sympathic to me.
ZorPrime67: He wasnt extremely annoying... I just prefer other characters
QueenSidhe: I thought he sounded like a slightly (not overbearingly so) haughty Bristish butler.
ZorPrime67: hehe
ZorPrime67: The journal entry number was representing a day or just an entry in the journal?
ZorPrime67: I dont remember...
QueenSidhe: I thought it was just a journal entry.
KWM01: hmm didn't notice
QueenSidhe: He seemed to not write everyday.
QueenSidhe: His omitting certain entries doesn't help you tell, though.
ZorPrime67: yup
QueenSidhe: I liked the footnote where he said certain entries would be omitted so
they couldn't be used in court.
ZorPrime67: hehehe
ZorPrime67: Anything you would have like the author to develop more?
QueenSidhe: I would have liked a better ending.
ZorPrime67: heh
ZorPrime67: That book looks just like a setup for other books.
QueenSidhe: The aliens just seemed to come out of no where for no real reason.
ZorPrime67: well they had a mechanical problem :)
ZorPrime67: and seemed to like swamp
QueenSidhe: Yeah but it didn't have any connection to any other part of the book.
QueenSidhe: They just popped out of no where.
KWM01: if you get to the fourth book it gets explained
ZorPrime67: I would have like Mr. Asprin develop more the CH story for selling and getting equipment.
KWM01: happens in the other books
ZorPrime67: How many books there is in the series? he still writes in that series?
QueenSidhe: So far, 4
ZorPrime67: Phule and his money, Phule Paradis and ?
QueenSidhe: Phule Me Twice.
ZorPrime67: Oh yeah
ZorPrime67: ::kick head::
QueenSidhe: I thought A Phule and His Money was only okay.
QueenSidhe: And skimming through Phule Me Twice didn't interest me as much as the first two.
QueenSidhe: The humor style changed.
QueenSidhe: You don't get that cool dialogue.
ZorPrime67: Ah
ZorPrime67: Thats when the other auther start contributing?
QueenSidhe: Starting from the third one.
QueenSidhe: Do you know of any other books in a similar style?
ZorPrime67: Sadly, I dont. I would like to know because thats a good change from those serious ones.
QueenSidhe: Phule's military style kind of reminded me of Miles Vorkosigan.
QueenSidhe: Yeah.
KWM01: maybe give me a sec
ZorPrime67: Like I said in my post on the board, I wouldnt have pick that book.... I'm glad it got selected!
QueenSidhe: Have you looked at any of the Bujold books, ZOr?
QueenSidhe: Yeah.
QueenSidhe: I wonder if Ender has read them.
KWM01: license invoked is co-authered by asprin and is writed in about the same style
QueenSidhe: He also voted for this book.
QueenSidhe: Hmm.
QueenSidhe: I'll have to take a look at the sample chapters.
QueenSidhe: From just reading the back cover info, I wasn't interested in it.
ZorPrime67: QueenSidhe I have bought the warriors apprentice. Looks interesting.
ZorPrime67: The back cover info for phule's company is not great.
QueenSidhe: It actually got me interested in the book.
ZorPrime67: they say: They do more damage before 9:00AM than most people do all day
QueenSidhe: Saw it at my library and picked it up.
ZorPrime67: you seen them do some dmg in that book?
ZorPrime67: heh
ZorPrime67: I like the art cover tho
ZorPrime67: btw i found a copy of The world of Null A
QueenSidhe: Cool.
ZorPrime67: The Few. The Proud. The Stupid. The Inept.
QueenSidhe: I picked up my copy today.
ZorPrime67: I like that!
QueenSidhe: Yep.
QueenSidhe: Was that also on the back?
ZorPrime67: yep
QueenSidhe: I think that might have been what got me to keep the book.
QueenSidhe: But I didn't understand the coverart until I was maybe halfway through.
QueenSidhe: The back and the cover flap.
ZorPrime67: I decided to build myself a good and BIG collection of sci/fi and fantasy books.
QueenSidhe: Where it described some of the characters. Like Tusk.
QueenSidhe: Sounds like it.
KWM01: You guys should try Bicycling Through Space and Time by Mike Sirota it had me in stiches
QueenSidhe: I actually have to cut back. Maybe even get rid of some of my library.
ZorPrime67: Damn...
ZorPrime67: that sux
KWM01: NOOooo
ZorPrime67: Kevin - I'm taking note!
QueenSidhe: I told you this before at dinner.
QueenSidhe: Got to throw away as much junk as possible too.
KWM01: yes but its still a such a shock
ZorPrime67: hehe
QueenSidhe: Amazon doesn't have it listed.
KWM01: not surprised. It hard to find
QueenSidhe: IS it another book I can borrow from you?
QueenSidhe: =)
QueenSidhe: =D
KWM01: Yes but you can't read the amount you will want to borrow before you move. :-)
QueenSidhe: =)
ZorPrime67: hehe
QueenSidhe: Well, if I can get a job in the Silicon Valley, it won't be a problem.
QueenSidhe: Sacramento would be better.
QueenSidhe: Much cheaper housing,
KWM01: too cold for my taste
QueenSidhe: Sacramento cold?
ZorPrime67: hehe...
QueenSidhe: SF is cold!
ZorPrime67: minus 20 here right now
KWM01: it SNOWS there
ZorPrime67: lol
QueenSidhe: Really?
QueenSidhe: I guess I've only been there during the summer.
QueenSidhe: But it's still cheaper.
KWM01: true can't deny that
QueenSidhe: I house would be more affordable there. Better deal than renting an apartment.
QueenSidhe: So, when's the next time we can get together so I can borrow more books?
KWM01: pick a night.
QueenSidhe: Oh, and remember all, the next book has been changed from Reluctant Voyagers to
Men at Arms by Pratchett.
QueenSidhe: Last weekend would have been good.
KWM01: sure i'll get my time machine
QueenSidhe: lol
QueenSidhe: Probably sometime around March 10.
QueenSidhe: Or! this Friday.
QueenSidhe: I'll be in Mountain View until 5:30 or so.
QueenSidhe: We could maybe get together afterwards.
QueenSidhe: And Michael might be free too.
KWM01: sure give me a e-mail when its set up
QueenSidhe: I was hoping I'd be able to get back to Berkeley before 7:30, but looking at all the public transit info, it doesn't look likely.
KWM01: Wellll, I guess i could drive. grummble
KWM01: :-)
QueenSidhe: The only reason I want to get back before 7:30 is that IEEE is holding n event that night.
QueenSidhe: Raffle is at around 7:20.
QueenSidhe: Lots of cool prizes.
QueenSidhe: Games, video cards, AMD 850 (600 something anyway) MHZ chip, other stuff.
QueenSidhe: err, that was supposed to be 800 something.
ZorPrime67: hehe
KWM01: stop..stop i'm drooling
QueenSidhe: =)
QueenSidhe: And I can't go!!
QueenSidhe: Oh! They're giving away an IBM Notepad - palm pilot type device.
QueenSidhe: I want that!!
ZorPrime67: wow
ZorPrime67: well thats a bit late for me... i'll go sleep.
KWM01: nite
ZorPrime67: see you all laters! and happy reading!
QueenSidhe: Good night Zor.
ZorPrime67 has left the room.

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