[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

I've read Neverness three times, The Broken God twice, The Wild once...but I've yet to get around to reading The War in Heaven. The reason for this is because then I'd have to read Neverness a fourth time, The Broken God a third time and The Wild a second time...and it's hard to dedicate that time when there are so many other books to read.

I read Neverness and liked it a lot, but I managed to miss the rest. Must remedy that lack at some point.

I think this was the series that finally tipped Asimov's Foundation series from the top position in "My favourite SF series" list...though the reservation that I haven't completed the whole series yet sits as a conditional placement. So, I don't know why I haven't started the re-reading process yet.

I liked the Foundation series (and knew and liked Asimov), but while it's undoubtedly "classic", I'm not sure it's a "favorite". I'd have to think a bit about what is, aside from LoTR.

The Wheel of Time series is the one that had me put my foot down: No reading series books unless the series has been completed by the author. I will never finish that series. I will never re-read the ones I've already read, as I wasn't overly enamoured of them anyway.

<chuckle>

I mentioned elsewhere recommending Dan Simmons' _Hyperion Cantos_ to a friend. Bantam published the first HC edition as two PBs, but didn't indicate on the first book it was part one of two. My friend ran into the cliffhanger at the end of the first PB, and was so incensed her refused to read anything else Simmons wrote. I told him it wasn't Simmons' fault that the publisher was an idiot, but to no avail.

<...>

Yet, I reread, because I have a compulsion to "not miss a thing". I'm like this with watching movies. At home, when the lights go out for the entertainment, you better shut up, and the dogs better be in their place, and nobody better ring, from the moment the first opening credit comes on-screen (including the production company's guff) until the last closing credit rolls off. Likewise, with books, I need to reread to ensure that all detail has been properly assimilated, and no detail forgotten that might be important (especially when, in the time intervening while waiting for the next book in a series to come out, I've read other books). I have an appalling short-term memory, which everything must pass through to get to long-term, and so I have a "concentration" and "reinforcement" requirement. As the Loved One tells me, "You've only got a single stream processor" (or sometimes "You can't walk and chew gum at the same time" ).

I can multitask, but there are limitations. For instance, I can't ignore the TV. "Voices" compel me to pay attention. I can have music as a background activity. The SO watches far more TV than I, and w ears headphones to spare me.

My SO can get totally lost in a book, and suddenly come back to Earth with a startled grunt. "Omigosh! I'm sorry!" "You were reading. I'm used to it. Not a problem..."

I generally try to avoid re-reading though (thus the rule about series). I've read Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance three times (in an attempt at complete comprehension), and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas twice (because it's just so bloody good), but it's not something I do often.

I've read "Zen", though not re-read. Likewise "Fear and Loathing". Hunter was a strange dude.

I recall a letter of comment to Rolling Stone back when on the order of "Dear Hunter Thompson: We think you are a great writer. But if you ever came to our town, we'd lock you in the closet and run like crazy f*****s!"

I think I understand just how they felt.

Marc

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Dennis