Does anyone else here read Neil Gaiman or Jim Butcher?
I've read nearly every book by both authors. Changes was amazing and I can't wait for Ghost Stories.
I love the Sandman series by Gaiman along with American Gods. However after reading American Gods I started to notice that most of his novels follow the same pattern of "hero is caught up in craziness and can't do anything until the very end."
Orange County, in sunny southern California. Mission Viejo and Lake Forest, specifically.
I've read nearly every book by both authors. Changes was amazing and I can't wait for Ghost Stories.
I love the Sandman series by Gaiman along with American Gods. However after reading American Gods I started to notice that most of his novels follow the same pattern of "hero is caught up in craziness and can't do anything until the very end."
Yeah, Changes was insane. I'm very interested to see what he does next.
I see what you mean about Gaiman, a lot of his novels are similar to that. I don't even mind that though, the stories tend to be so good anyway. Besides Sandman is a masterpiece.
I've read nearly every book by both authors. Changes was amazing and I can't wait for Ghost Stories.
I love the Sandman series by Gaiman along with American Gods. However after reading American Gods I started to notice that most of his novels follow the same pattern of "hero is caught up in craziness and can't do anything until the very end."
Yeah, Changes was insane. I'm very interested to see what he does next.
I see what you mean about Gaiman, a lot of his novels are similar to that. I don't even mind that though, the stories tend to be so good anyway. Besides Sandman is a masterpiece.
Agreed on that. As for his novels, I find myself preferring his shorter children's books to the stuff you'll find in the adult section. The Graveyard Book is as charming as can be, even accounting for the fact that it's a story about
Butcher's fun as well. I was worried he was starting to get kind of predictable and repetitive, but Changes pretty much disabused me of that notion.
Ever read Joe Hill? He's really good as well. A writer friend of mine reccomended him to me by saying 'You know how I used to want to be Neil Gaiman when I grew up? Now I want to be Joe Hill.' I don't know that I'd go quite there, but I'd definitely put him on the Gaiman track.
I am from Houston, Texas. 4th largest city and 6th largest metropolitan area in the United States. Largest city in the nation without zoning regulations, which causes quite a few problems. Still, though, I love my hometown.
ya H-town now i have some one to root for!!!! i havent been home in so long. what part are you from i lived in cy-fair
Hey Levi, have you ever been to House on the Rock? It's a bit south of you. I've wanted to check that place out ever since reading about it in Neil Gaiman's American Gods. Sounds pretty crazy.I guess they had a huge event with Gaiman there on Halloween - a costume contest, dinner, author panel, opened up the carousel, and everything. I wanted to go, but I couldn't afford it. It looked really sweet.
I'm in Minneapolis. How's the gaming in Black River Falls? Did you have to drive far to find a game?
I'm sure Milwaukee is easier to find games now.
Well, I've been to House on the Rock. I'm not exactly sure what I think of it. It's pretty much a nifty little tourist trap. Spring Green also has a Shakespeare theatre troupe though, so if you ever head down that way make sure to stop in there and enjoy one of their outdoor shows!
And as for gaming in Black River ... Haha! Who am I kidding? When I started playing Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 four years ago (my freshmen year of high school) it was such a novelty that the school paper ran a story on it! So it's just me and my friends, but we're all in college now. Before I left town I passed the torch to one of my friends so there is another "little kid" group in town! I never left town to find a game, but I would make frequent trips to Eau Claire and Winona to stop into my favorite game stores there.
There's a lot more in Milwaukee, but most of the stores are still focuses on holding 4E events. Monte Cook lives down there not to far from the UWM campus to my understanding, so there are so old-school gamers around to be sure. So far I haven't been able to find a game. I tried to get one going on campus, but there just wasn't the commitment level there to make it worth my time to run it. Right now I'm starting to fire up a Eberron PbP here.
If anyone sees this and is in Milwaukee, hit me up! I'd love to play in a decent campaign!
ya H-town now i have some one to root for!!!! i havent been home in so long. what part are you from i lived in cy-fair
I grew up in the Medical Center, barely exposed to the outskirts. For me, anything outside 610 was far. Eventually, by the time I left Houston to go to college at Texas A&M, that limit was expanded to outside the Beltway. I currently live (and work) in west Houston, almost in Katy. I expect that I will continue to follow that westward tendency, as will Houston itself.
My wife grew up in Cypress, so I've gotten to know that part of town better than when I was growing up. While we've known each other since high school, we both went to Catholic schools inside the city. I think I went up to the Cypress area maybe once or twice prior to coming back and getting married.
From what I've seen of it, it is quite nice. My wife would be all right with moving back there, but I'm not ready to commit to a long commute. I already have to drag myself all the way across the city to Clear Lake for classes twice a week.
And Coraline is pretty much made of awesome. (The movie is pretty excellent too.) His short story collections usually impress me more than the novels too; maybe he's just one of those writers that excels more in the short form.
Butcher's fun as well. I was worried he was starting to get kind of predictable and repetitive, but Changes pretty much disabused me of that notion.
Ever read Joe Hill? He's really good as well. A writer friend of mine reccomended him to me by saying 'You know how I used to want to be Neil Gaiman when I grew up? Now I want to be Joe Hill.' I don't know that I'd go quite there, but I'd definitely put him on the Gaiman track.
I loved Coraline (both the movie and the book). That was one of the few books that ever unsettled me. *shiver*
I'm starting to get Butcher withdrawals. A buddy of mine has Side Jobs but he's holding out on me. I might have to kill him…
Or maybe I'll just pick up a Joe Hill book. Murder is messy and I doubt they'd let me finish RPG Superstar from prison. Any suggestions for where to start with Mr. Hill?
I loved Coraline (both the movie and the book). That was one of the few books that ever unsettled me. *shiver*
I'm starting to get Butcher withdrawals. A buddy of mine has Side Jobs but he's holding out on me. I might have to kill him…
Or maybe I'll just pick up a Joe Hill book. Murder is messy and I doubt they'd let me finish RPG Superstar from prison. Any suggestions for where to start with Mr. Hill?
At this point he's only got two novels and a short story collection out. (Plus he writes the comic series Locke and Key, which has a few collected editions out. Actually quite good.) I liked both novels; haven't read the short stories. Heart Shaped Box was his first one; it's pretty well creepy. I's about an aging ex-rock star with a taste for creepy collectors items; so when he sees an ad on ebay for a 'haunted suit of clothes, with ghost', he of course has to buy it. Except the ghost is not even slightly fake, and it's nasty...
Horns is his other novel, and I actually like it even more, but it's not out in paperback yet. But it's a neat story; guy wakes up one morning to discover he's grown a set of, well, horns out of his head. And all of a sudden anyone he speaks to starts telling him their darkest impulses and asking him if it's alright by him if they go murder their spouse or whatever. And there's a lot more to it than that; it actually has a nicely complex but very elegant backstory told through flashbacks. Definitely worth a read, if you happen to recall this review in a few moths when it comes out in paperback.
Wow Sean, those books sound pretty interesting I'll have to check them out. That actually reminds me of some of Roald Dahl's short stories. That guy was waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy creepier than his children books would have you believe.
Also have you read John Dies At The End? It's written by the Senior Editor of Cracked.com, David Wong and it is both hilarious and terrifying. Difficult to compare it to much else but it's definitely horror.
I guess if we keep taking about books though we should probably start a different forum or something. *shrug*
Originally from Southern California, moved to Maryland a couple of decades back, and now I'm looking for a new place to call home. Anyone got any recommendations?
Texas! Can't go wrong with the Lone Star State.
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Originally from Southern California, moved to Maryland a couple of decades back, and now I'm looking for a new place to call home. Anyone got any recommendations?
What are you looking for in a new home? Any requirements?
ya H-town now i have some one to root for!!!! i havent been home in so long. what part are you from i lived in cy-fairI grew up in the Medical Center, barely exposed to the outskirts. For me, anything outside 610 was far. Eventually, by the time I left Houston to go to college at Texas A&M, that limit was expanded to outside the Beltway. I currently live (and work) in west Houston, almost in Katy. I expect that I will continue to follow that westward tendency, as will Houston itself.
My wife grew up in Cypress, so I've gotten to know that part of town better than when I was growing up. While we've known each other since high school, we both went to Catholic schools inside the city. I think I went up to the Cypress area maybe once or twice prior to coming back and getting married.
From what I've seen of it, it is quite nice. My wife would be all right with moving back there, but I'm not ready to commit to a long commute. I already have to drag myself all the way across the city to Clear Lake for classes twice a week.
god haven't been home in ever army keeps me abroad all my family has ether move around lake Conro or Jonhson city (out side of austin)
Well, I've been to House on the Rock. I'm not exactly sure what I think of it. It's pretty much a nifty little tourist trap.
I grew up in Madison, and I've been to the House on the Rock as well. I thought it was amazing, though. WI is full of weird, awesome sites like that. House on the Rock is the biggest and probably the coolest, but the Forevertron, a machine for the transmigration of souls surrounded by a junkyard full of monsters sculpted from scrap metal, is a close second.
BTW, if you're looking for a game, have you tried nearbygamers.com? There seem to be at least a few people in the Milwaukee area.
What are you looking for in a new home? Any requirements?
Requirements:
- Must have seasons, but not extremes.
- No big cities. Suburbs are best. Rural is fine if a city/town is within driving.
- Low humidity preferred.
- Green is better than brown.
- Reasonable cost of living.
- High-speed connectivity.
- Low crime.
- A place with character/history would also be nice.
Thanks for asking!
If you like nice and quiet, Indiana isn't too bad. Plus it's close to Gen Con.
Nice and quiet is my preference in fact.
My first trip to GenCon last year was my first exposure to Indy and it did seem very nice. I couldn't see too much of the place though since I was walking everywhere.
[qoute=Seth White]I guess they had a huge event with Gaiman there on Halloween - a costume contest, dinner, author panel, opened up the carousel, and everything. I wanted to go, but I couldn't afford it. It looked really sweet.[/qoute]
Oh man, I heard about that! I was really wanted to go but it was in the middle of my semester and would have cost me an arm and a leg to get out there.
Does anyone else here read Neil Gaiman or Jim Butcher?
Jim Butcher is in my "To Read Pile". I've got three of his books in my pile of 20 beside my bed. Just finishing Neil Gaiman's Fragile Things.
Hmmmm...my where I'm from may have to change. I may be from much further from I currently am.
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Hmmm. North Carolina is nice. Warm summers, cold winters. Depending on where you choose, it's either beach or mountains. Nice people, nice areas. If you're liberal, Chapel Hill or Asheville are great places. Indiana is not bad, but I'm more partial to Bloomington than Indianapolis. Indy's nice, but Bloomington has the University and all the college charm.
Also, I dig Minneapolis. Yes, it's cold in the winter, but they know how to deal with it and it's got everything you'd want. And you can learn how to drive in snow: go slow, take your time, leave plenty of time and distance to stop.
What are you looking for in a new home? Any requirements?Requirements:
- Must have seasons, but not extremes.
- No big cities. Suburbs are best. Rural is fine if a city/town is within driving.
- Low humidity preferred.
- Green is better than brown.
- Reasonable cost of living.
- High-speed connectivity.
- Low crime.
- A place with character/history would also be nice.
Thanks for asking!
You pretty much described NH! Our weather is a little wonky. It can be 80 degrees on day in April and then a chance of snow the next. More schizo than extreme.
Raleigh, NC. Wasn't there a guy from Raleigh in it last year?
Also:
Low humidity preferred.
Stay out of NC, unless you like drinking your air. It is horribles.
Requirements:
- Must have seasons, but not extremes.
- No big cities. Suburbs are best. Rural is fine if a city/town is within driving.
- Low humidity preferred.
- Green is better than brown.
- Reasonable cost of living.
- High-speed connectivity.
- Low crime.
- A place with character/history would also be nice.
Let me just add that Florida should not be on your list.
- We have four seasons: Not Hot, Summer, Not Summer, and Christmas
- Cities are odd around Florida. They are kind of a collection of small towns that form up into being a giant conglomerate municipality.
- Ha
- You would think we would be green down here. Don't move to Florida unless you want to see the magic of grass looking entirely dead but growing like a weed 11 months out of the year.
- Its not California or New York, but my friends from Louisiana complain about it being more expensive to live here.
- Internet, yes. Transportation, probably never.
- Some history in parts, but not really near the major cities.
That probably would take Florida off your list unfortunately. Just 49 more states to analyze, and you should be able to find one that fits you.
Raleigh, NC. Wasn't there a guy from Raleigh in it last year?
Alexander MacLeod is from Raleigh, NC. He's a two-time competitor from 2008 and 2010. Last year, he made Top 4 and he was one of the guest judges for Round One on the wondrous items for this year's competition. You should look him up.
Also, I'm not from Raleigh, but I do live near Charlotte, NC (you know, the other capital of NC). ;-)
Also, I'm not from Raleigh, but I do live near Charlotte, NC (you know, the other capital of NC). ;-)
Charlotte is too close to SC for my liking :P
Stay out of NC, unless you like drinking your air. It is horribles.
Hey, the mountains aren't bad! But yeah, I grew up in Granville County NC, just north of Raleigh in the middle of the state. You pretty much just stay inside or go out in the evenings for all of August. 95 degrees and 98% humidity during the middle of the day means you pretty much are just walking in to a sauna.
If you are feeling more adventurous, I would recommend moving to the outskirts of Dublin, Ireland if it was in any way feasible these days. Moved here 6 years ago and love it. Unfortunately, the job market here has completely crashed so getting a work visa now would be difficult. Or at least more or less pointless, since you'll have to end up working midnight shift in a gas station...
Charlotte is too close to SC for my liking :P
I'm monitoring the border as we speak. Someone has to... <_<
Charlotte is too close to SC for my liking :PI'm monitoring the border as we speak. Someone has to... <_<
Hey! Watch it!
I lived in Columbia for many years, and still have family there. Though SC politics is a little screwy and the education system needs some major work, the Palmetto State has several very nice cities. Asheville and Charleston in particular are quite beautiful.
(By the way, Neil, my brother lives in Charlotte!)
[I lived in Columbia for many years, and still have family there. Though SC politics is a little screwy and the education system needs some major work, the Palmetto State has several very nice cities. Asheville and Charleston in particular are quite beautiful.
Asheville?! That's in North Carolina, Tom. :-D
But I'll give you Charleston (I've been there) and Columbia (nice zoo). I've also been through Spartanburg, Greenville, and Anderson several times. All nice enough places.
Interesting Mr. Spicer you're a whopping hour drive from where I live.... you know unlesss you completely violate speed limits then it's a lot shorter drive. Columbia, SC. And as a current resident I agree that we're not quite sure how politics work and I don't think we have an education SYSTEM more like a gauntlet where the information you're supposed to learn runs past and you try to snag it before it gets by....
Asheville?! That's in North Carolina, Tom. :-D
Whoops! I meant Greenville. :-)
Raleigh, NC. Wasn't there a guy from Raleigh in it last year?
Alexander was from Raleigh I believe. So am I. *raises a fist*
It's a fun state, just hope you enjoy sudden erratic shifts in temperature. Like it was nice and 70ish the other week and two days later it hit 20 overnight. Not much snow, but when we do get it the state shuts down for a few days and everyone flips out the day before and raids the grocery stores for bread, water, and milk because the state doesn't really invest in winter storm cleanup and prep stuff.
Still, I adore the state and its patchwork quilt of rednecks, insane hippies, yankee transplants, and normal people within like 5 miles of each other. For the record I count as a yankee transplant via a technicality since I moved here from NJ when I was 4. Yay for having no accent though. :)
I was born and raised in Vancouver, BC Canada. Love the west coast!
I was born and raised in Vancouver, BC Canada. Love the west coast!
Cool. :) May be in that area very soon. Finding out next week. May be moving across the country. Oi!
Hey, the mountains aren't bad! But yeah, I grew up in Granville County NC, just north of Raleigh in the middle of the state. You pretty much just stay inside or go out in the evenings for all of August. 95 degrees and 98% humidity during the middle of the day means you pretty much are just walking in to a sauna.
Yeah, exactly. I tend to work in the elements, so I get to feel like a wrung out sponge every summer.
Yankee transplant, too, moved here when I was 8, but the lack of accent gives me away every time. Might as well wear Union blues everywhere.
I was born and raised in Vancouver, BC Canada. Love the west coast!Cool. :) May be in that area very soon. Finding out next week. May be moving across the country. Oi!
Hey, that's great, Ryan. Welcome to the west coast (that is, if you do move out here). If you need a tour guide let me know and I'd be happy to help you out.
Hey, that's great, Ryan. Welcome to the west coast (that is, if you do move out here). If you need a tour guide let me know and I'd be happy to help you out.I was born and raised in Vancouver, BC Canada. Love the west coast!Cool. :) May be in that area very soon. Finding out next week. May be moving across the country. Oi!
Well one way or the other I'll be out there this year. I just may be leaving in like a month instead of y'know five. A job in my company opened up there and well I'm gunning for the transfer early. Means I'll be getting there like 6 months before I can bring out the rest of my family, but transfer out in the actual city now. Or chance whether or not their will be a similar job open at end of May.
Or maybe I'll just pick up a Joe Hill book. Murder is messy and I doubt they'd let me finish RPG Superstar from prison. Any suggestions for where to start with Mr. Hill?At this point he's only got two novels and a short story collection out.
Ooooh! Ooooh! I get to recommend an awesome Hill book!
Joe Hill wrote an excellent novella called Gunpowder. I was lucky enough to get a PDF to write a review. Best thing I'd read all year, maybe longer. You can read the review, but the nutshell summary is that a bunch of kids with psionic abilities are assigned to terraform an entire planet from scratch. Powerful plot, concepts, and characterization. Highly, highly recommended. (Also, alas, highly, highly limited edition :-/ )
This is true. But I don't think King will give them his copy.
You know, Joe Hill is Stephen King's son.
I usually avoid mentioning that fact when trying to sell someone on Hill. Mainly because, fair or unfair, there tends to be a stigma of sorts against the offspring of celebrities attempting to have careers of their own. (Which, if I'm not mistaken, is why he writes under Hill than 'Joe King'.)
But since he's been thus outed here, let me just reiterate: IMO, he's the really gifted one in the family. :-) And this is coming from someone who has read most of King's books and enjoyed a reasonable percentage of them.
Seems like there's several Canadians that made it this year (eh!). Sadly no one from my own province. It must be that whole french thing again :).
Well looks like I'm remaining an Ontarian at least for now. Though that means I've got less worries about finding net service if I advance any further in the rounds.
(Which, if I'm not mistaken, is why he writes under Hill than 'Joe King'.)
Joe King is also a terrible pun of a name. I'm not kidding.
(Which, if I'm not mistaken, is why he writes under Hill than 'Joe King'.)Joe King is also a terrible pun of a name. I'm not kidding.
Man Cody! We used to slug people for making bad puns like that. :)
Joe King is also a terrible pun of a name. I'm not kidding.Man Cody! We used to slug people for making bad puns like that. :)
Are you saying we should slug Stephen King?
I was raised in Melbourne, Florida which is south of Cape Canaveral. Currently, I reside in Orlando, Florida.
Looks like there are no Aussies in the competition this year :-(
Best thing we can do is make Artus an honorary Aussie as Melbourne Florida is Named after Melbourne Australia.
Its that or claim the South African as they are almost as good as we are at Rugby and Cricket :-b