Anyone ever read anything by David Brock? The woman next to me on the bus asked me about my book this morning, which happened to be research materials for my WIP, which then led to a discussion of writing and how she likes historical fiction with alternative history and/or time travel twists. Apparently David Brock was one of her high school teachers, and she recommended his debut novel, If I Never Get Back. It's a time travel baseball story, and I've already got it on hold at the library.

At a guess she'd support the Iraq war, support torture, and think the worst racist problem was prejudice against white people. Her positions on gay rights would probably be sufficiently reactionary and insensitive to offend most Buffistas. Her feminism per se would probably be within buffistas norms. And I know there may well be Buffistas who hold those views. But you will note they don't express them on the board. I'm pretty sure this board is not a comfortable place to express those particular views. (The reason I use anti-gay views, is that I suspect homophobia holds approximately the same sway in the U.S. today as anti-semitism did in the UK of her time. )

Is it common knowledge that Larry Niven is nuts?

Yes. And any guy who can make Jerry Pournelle sound like the voice of reason is really nuts.

Well, maybe we wouldn't be sworn bunkies, but she'd get the joke after a little TV when I say "Lupus? It's never lupus." Although I don't really think she's "someone I could have a beer with," after all. But I'd owe her lunch, I suppose.

Pity Niven and Pournelle are nuts, I love the books they write together.

Yes. And any guy who can make Jerry Pournelle sound like the voice of reason is really nuts.

I was going to say: recently when Jerry Pournelle said something staggeringly racist and stupid, a la "kill them all and let god sort 'em out", I asked, vaguely, Wasn't that the perfect opportunity for Larry Niven to stand up and swear eternal enmity? And the answer, from people who know better, was that actually Niven's views were probably the more extreme of the two.

Yeah, I read that statement from Niven awhile back and was stunned by the incredible meanness of it (if he was serious) and/or stupidity (if it was meant as a some kind of sick joke).

Reason and talent are not usually related. I love Harlan Ellison stories.

Reason and talent are not usually related. I love Harlan Ellison stories.

Actually, after reading An Edge in My Voice, his collection of columns from the L.A. Weekly, I find Ellison to be extremely reasoned.

Not reasonable, mind, he's a colossal asshole. But you can't say he's as wackaloon as Niven.

you can't say he's as wackaloon as Niven.

Ok yes.