Posted by: Fittisize - 1st August 2004, 3:20 PM - Forum: Ramble City
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Any Michael Crichton fans here? This is great news...he was due to come out with a new book pretty soon. I can't wait.
Quote:HARPERCOLLINS ANNOUNCES THE PUBLICATION OF
MICHAEL CRICHTON’S STATE OF FEAR
One-Day Laydown of December 7th
Around the World in the English Language
New York, NY (July 27, 2004) – HarperCollins Publishers today announced the publication of State of Fear, the new blockbuster novel by #1 bestselling author Michael Crichton. The one-day laydown is December 7, 2004. This is Crichton’s first novel since The New York Times #1 bestseller Prey, which was released in November 2002. State of Fear will be published in hardcover, audio, large print and e-book formats simultaneously around the world in the English language. The announced first printing is 2 million copies.
HarperCollins is one of the leading English-language publishers in the world and is a subsidiary of News Corporation (NYSE: NWS, NWS.A; ASX: NCP, NCPDP). Headquartered in New York, the company has publishing groups in the U.S., Canada, the U.K. and Australasia. Its publishing groups include the HarperCollins General Books Group, HarperCollins Children’s Books Group, Zondervan, HarperCollins UK, HarperCollins Canada, HarperCollins Australia/New Zealand and HarperCollins India.
Has anybody read Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card? Wow. I never read sci-fi (fantasy is NOT sci-fi) and have never been a big fan of all the alien stuff, but this book was incredible. I couldn't put it down, and if not for the wierd philisophical last chapter it would be one of my favorite books. Still, the rest of the book more than makes up for the end wierdness, and it's only a couple minor details.
The story is not extremely original. Aliens have attacked earth twice, and we've only won by luck. So to make sure we win the next war, the government begins searching for genius children, and trains the best to be unbeatable commanders by playing war games. Ender is one of these kids, and is the most talented they've ever found. So with time running out, he Earth's last hope for survival.
It's not just fun sci-fi, but takes a hard look at stuff like war and the value of one life over another and is very interesting. I really enjoyed that, but takes a plunge off the deep end in the end.
It is very well written and I feel like I can completely relate to Ender in so many ways which only made it more exciting. If you like to read anything, I highly recomend it. I am definently going to be reading more of Card's stuff, but I think I may not read the next book in the series right away. From what I've heard, it picks up where Ender's Game left off, with the wierd philisophical pseudo-religious stuff that I didn't like. There is a parallel novel to this, called Ender's Shadow, which follows the same story but from the point of view of one of Ender's friends, Bean. I've heard it is very good, so I think I'll pick that up next.
Quote:<b>Woman Who Stole Fuel Ordered to Wear Sign</b>
SALISBURY, Md. (July 30) - Sherelle Purnell's facial expression went from one of embarrassment to defiance as she puffed a cigarette and lugged a sandwich board sign that declared: "I was caught stealing gas."
The 18-year-old woman on Friday obeyed a court order that required her to stand for three hours in front of Gordy's Tiger Mart on Route 13, the store where surveillance tape recorded Purnell speeding away from a gas pump with $4.52 worth of fuel.
Purnell walked along the convenience shop's grassy storefront, as passing drivers honked car horns and made catcalls. She arrived 90 minutes late to her noon sentence, The (Salisbury) Daily Times reported.
By the time she showed up, the crowd of people that gathered to watch her had dispersed. "There were parents who came with their children, wanting to teach them a lesson," said Jan Phipps, Tiger Mart store manager.
But a new crowd soon assembled, including some supporters. Andrew Black, who stopped by the gas station on his lunch break, converted an old beer poster into a makeshift sign, protesting high gas prices.
"What is this, the Middle Ages?" said Black, who criticized Purnell's punishment.
Purnell declined to comment Friday on her unusual punishment.
On April 4, Purnell filled her car with 2.78 gallons of fuel, then went into the store and asked a cashier the cost of a pack of cigars, according to court records.
Purnell decided not to buy the cigars. She walked out of the store and drove away without paying for the gas.
Wicomico County District Court Judge D. William Simpson on July 16 ordered Purnell to carry the sign after Tiger Mart's store manager persuaded prosecutors to seek the unconventional punishment.
The funniest part is that she stole less than five dollars worth of gas :).
