Snow Crash, Stories, and A Third Thing I Haven't Thought Of Yet..

Hello, readers.

How are you?

Well, I hope.

Here's a bit of bookish rambling.

If you haven't read anything by Neal Stephenson, that bearded and balded plotter of speculative/historical/mathematical stories of which, very often, there are secrets and cults and, as mentioned, math, then you are very much like me, as I was, about a week ago, before I finished Snow Crash, a book about religion, virtual worlds, ancient mythology, and the greatest sword-fighter who ever lived. It was a deeply intellectual, at times lecture-ish sort of book, that occasionally featured chases, sword fights, and harpooning. Somehow, it ended up being about the history of human language and civilization. There was also a dog.

I very much liked the dog.

I won't tell you what happens with the dog. It's very cool.

Right now I'm reading Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans, mostly because, last night, I ran across this trailer for the movie adaptation of Never Let Me Go.

I've never read Never Let Me Go, nor have I seen the trailer. I don't want to spoil it. I've heard good things about both, though.

Speaking of things I've never seen, or read, but am excited about regardless, Neil Gaiman and Al Sarrantonio have recently put out a collection of stories called, erm, Stories. It includes work by the editors themselves, as well as many other wonderful authors of which there are so many I feel compelled to call them a slew.

And so I shall. Just then. In my mind. It was great.

And now where's that third thing. I promised a third thing. There should always be a third thing.

Here it is.

If you ever find yourself in Seoul, during the World Cup, and you decide to go to City Hall to watch their game against Argentina, you will most likely have a great deal of fun, be impressed by the cheering and singing, and, in the end, be both saddened by the results but also happy that, for one shining moment, South Korea scored a goal and you got to jump up and down and hug and be hugged by complete strangers for no more better reason than you were there, and they were there, and there was a cause worth celebrating.

Here are pictures.

Enjoy.














ttfn, readers.