First Post

This blog was created to write down what I read because I find myself getting enlightened while reading and then forgetting said transcendence the next day.

Finishing up "Stranger in a Strange Land", couple points:

• Good story, better character development.
• Warren Ellis definitely stole Jubal Harshaw to make create his character Spider Jerusalem in Transmetropolitan.
• Jubal Harshaw: one of the best characterizations (of the few) I've read
  
• The book centers mostly around religion and language. After first Mike's powers seem to originate from something inherit to Mars, but it becomes clear that it is the Martian language and way of thinking that allows such miracles. Thats why the religion he is founding focuses s much into language indoctrination. I wonder what Heinlein would have to say about the Bible's transition away from the original language (latin?).
• Heinlein has a reputation about writing about sex a lot. This is no different, but its done pretty well. The Fosterites are fixated on preaching "God loves me, god wants me to be happy" stuff, but Mike's religion and its orgies are practicing it (literally).
• Its pretty interesting that there is almost no emphasis on sin by the Fosterites. Also, their only way to express God's love is through constantly verbalizing it. Good parallel to the emphasis of language in Mike's cult, only the latter is far more successful.
  
• "Thou art God": there is no big guy in the sky to guide you or to absolve you of your sins. Its a message of utter personal responsibility. You are God, you have no one to blame (or exalt) but yourself.
• Good point: Mike had to charge money, because "marks" wouldn't believe it if it was free.
  

Just bought Guns, Germs and Steel (king expensive) to get back into nonfiction.

I'll eventually post thoughts on "This is Your Brain on Music", "The River of Doubt" and (maybe) "Age of American Unreason". The last one was really dry.