Randomly, I was searching the library for interesting math-teaching books on Wednesday and ran across a book on how to use a slide-rule (including a mention that computers did exist which could do all kinds of calculations, but that it would be both bulky and very inefficient to use them, like using an axe to swat a fly), written by Isaac Asimov. It was a bit startling.

I still have my sliderule.

That's nothing to be small-font about!

Hrm. I am not sure that Akshewl Litrachoor should be classified as Geek Books; it should transcend, really.

If I'd been asked to list geek books, the first three I would list didn't even make that list: Godel Escher Bach, A Brief History of Time, and Flatland.

A Brief History of Time

Widely rumored to be the least-read bestseller of all time. (Me: Guilty as charged.)

So. I finally, much to MM's joy, Ender's Game and Ender's Shadow.

I loved them. I'm weary to read the others as, from what I understand, they are aout adults and not the kids. I like that they are kids.

I really enjoyed Speaker for the Dead when I read it, many years ago; not so much most of Card's other work. My appreciation, such as it is, is now too-tainted by his politics, sadly.

If you can avoid it, don't let politics spoil your enjoyment of a good book. Ezra Pound's poetry is not made less by the fact that he was a facist. Wagner's operas are not less because Wagner was an anti-semite, his wife was a Nazi, and his music was favored by Hitler. Charles Dodson's pedophilia does not discredit Alice in Wonderland (though I know Gaiman does not care for it). I'm using these examples, rather than some writers who are particularly beloved by certain Buffistas; but the principle is important; try not to let darkness in a writers personal life or even later writing spoil your enjoyment.

Gah!

Card does not belong in the same paragraph with Pound, Wagner, or Dodson ... for so many reasons.

He is just a Mormon. His other faults are aside from his ability to spin a tale.

Oh hell Gus, I wasn't comparing him to them. I just want to take more extreme cases. Yeah they are more repulsive morally and larger figures artistically. But in this case I think point to the extreme case makes a stronger point for the more usual one. If a fascist literary giant can be enjoyed, then so may a far right loony who tells a decent story.