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[aadarshinah]

It's probably not what the author intended, but it's what I end up seeing. Which is why I can't watch/read any children's movies/books.

[WarpGirl]

Plenty of children's stories do have such themes, its just not the one I equated with Charlott's Webb. So while we're the subject of animal stories... Does Whinnie The Pooh count?

[aadarshinah]

I think Pooh does count. I was always partial to Eyore myself....

Though, while we're on the topic of awful children's books (which, I think, we might need to take to another thread if we keep it up), I'd like to add my displeasure in Peter Pan and my deep belief that, without it, the world would be a better place.

[WarpGirl]

God NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You cannot be serious???????????????????? I cannot live in a world without Peter Pan... Such a world would almost be worthless. That said, Peter not growing up and marrying Wendy has been a tragedy in my life since I played Wendy in the school play! Great now I'm gonna have nightmares when I actually sleep. No Peter Pan! The world a better place????????? I must go cry.

[aadarshinah]

Have you seen how many post-college graduates (guys especially) have Peter Pan Syndrome? And the Twilight books are one big homage to the idea that life would be better if we never grew up. Sry, WG, but it's true.

[Alelou]

I love Peter Pan. I think I liked it even better for reading the real version (not the Disney version) at an older age than anyone probably should.

Charlotte's Web is one exception to my rule about animal stories. I think it's charming. But if it hadn't had the little boy and his parents in the story, I'm not sure I would have cared. And then I think E.B. White is brilliant.

I did read Frog and Toad stories to my kid, too, but I don't think those were around when I was a kid. If something is funny enough, I'll put aside my prejudice against animal stories.

I have to confess that I have absolutely no memory of Animal Farm. I'm sure I had to read it at some point, but either I skimmed through it or completely blocked it out. I remember trying it on my own at some point and still hating it. Loved 1984, though.

And no, I never could get into reading Winnie the Pooh. I didn't mind the TV version.

[Misplaced]

I never read Winnie the Pooh for myself, only to my kids. I think it's excellent for children but my little ones grow out of it by the time they reach school age.

I was reading Ray Bradbury by the time I was 10 years old, Stephen King just a couple years later (though he's not one of my favorites). If I read animal books... it was when I was a much younger munchkin (the Frog & Toad series was in first or second grade for me). Animal Farm was required reading for my freshman english class in high school, otherwise I wouldn't have read it. And while I recognize that it was well done and thought provoking, I have no interest in reading it again.



To each their own, I suppose.

[Silverbullet]

I read "The wind in the Willows" series when I was Eight. 1984 and Animal Farm when Freshman in High School (before they were banned in my state) Never was much for Children or animal stories. Read black Beuty, flika and thunderhead son of Flika and the black Stallion series though.

I cut my Scifi teeth on Heinlien (sp) Assimov, Pohl, ad the rest of the Golden Age of Sci Fi. That was at the end of the 40's and the beginning of the 50's when reading Sci Fi got one branded as a Kook.

[Misplaced]

Love Heinlein and Asimov. I actually think it's hard to find Sci-fi writers of that caliber these days as the genre seems to have changed a bit. I did find one author that does work up to that standard (at least in my opinion): John C. Wright. The first book in his Golden Age trilogy, especially, is some mind blowing stuff.

Bradbury will always be my favorite, though.

[aadarshinah]

The Illistrated Man is a great collection of stories....

I've not read much SyFy lately - well, outside of fanfics; I, for a reason I can no longer remember, purchased a copy of Death in Winter and Resistance, the two post-Nemesis TNG books, and, at 1/3 the way through the later, am so disgusted I can no longer continue - but I've watched a lot of SyFy. 2 TOS and 4 VOY... today, to be specific... Was glad I was home alone 'cause about halfway through "Message in a Bottle," I screamed, "yes, Romulans!" in a very embaressing and slightly fangirlish way....

[WarpGirl]

Have you seen how many post-college graduates (guys especially) have Peter Pan Syndrome? And the Twilight books are one big homage to the idea that life would be better if we never grew up. Sry, WG, but it's true.

Well I think Twilight and Harry Potter are evil! But I don't think we can blame J.M. Barrie for the "Peter Pan" syndrome. It's been around since humans have been around. Besides, the point of the Darling Children is that they grew up but Wendy never lost her innocence, her wonder about the world, life, and her imagination. And she keeps that alive for her brothers. Peter is the tragic figure.

[Silverbullet]

Kurt Vaunhuaght (sp) is not everyones cup of tea but he was thought provoking.

What I liked about NHeinlein and Assimov was that thier science was correct. they checked with other writers and even Scientists. They took pains because they knew that thier readers were not idiots who would accept anything (as opposed to some writers of TV today) Assimov calimed that his readers held his feet to the fire if they found a "Gotcha" in one of his stories. I belive I mentined that Heilien received a visit from the FBI because he accurately described an atomic explosion complete with Mushroom cloud some time before a real explosion was set off. He told them that he just extrapolated and came up with the description.

Later Scifi wasn't all tha tgood some stinkers sneaked in.

[Misplaced]

SB -- I agree that there seemed to be a lot more science in science-fiction than there are these days.

Bradbury doesn't have that same quality in his work, but I loved how his stories were commentaries on the human condition and how advanced technology might affect us. At times he was even slightly prophetic. I can think of one story (the name escapes me at the moment) where a man decides to turn off his wrist-radio because he wanted quiet. Every one had a wrist radio and were in constant contact with each other. They thought he had lost his mind because he didn't want to have that continuous connection with his wife and his friends. Is that so different from how we live today? We have cell phones, internet, computers... all this technology to be connected to something. I daresay that there are plenty of us, especially in the younger generation that grew up with all of this, who don't even know how to be alone with ourselves.

I could site plenty of his other work that used sci-fi to hold up a mirror to humanity. That's why he's my favorite. John C. Wright does much the same in his Golden Age trilogy.

Heinlein and Asimov are next in line on my list because they actually used real science in their work. I always felt like I got smarter reading their novels! (Especially "The End of Eternity" by Asimov -- his best work in my mind.)

[aadarshinah]

Cat's Cradle is one of my fav syfy books ever.

[Silverbullet]

Speaking of being in contact with one another. Texting is so prevelant these days that people do it in the damndest places. Driving especially. Read about kids who contstantly text during the day.

I don't own an Iphone or Ipad not even a Cell Phone.

Course I think that phones are the spawn of the Devil. Always ring at the wrong time and someone wants to chat and I am not in a mood to chat and cannot cut the person off.

I do like a Cell phone for my wife. If she has a breakdown somewhere she can call for Help. NOt like 60 years agao when it was thumb a ride or walk to the nearest town or Gas station if in town.

True, would be lost without one because it has saved my butt at times.

SB