6 Comments on “Before I Forget —”

1. So, I finally picked up a copy last week, and read it in two days. That I even found the time in which to do that I think says enough for the book’s merits.

   Still, I thought there were a couple of rough spots. The line about intelligent design, in particular, made my eyes roll. Now, I hate “intelligent design” and the ignorance that tries to promote it as science as much as the next guy, but as an idea popularized in recent years with no lasting merit, and in particular with no relation to any of the characters in the story, it stood out as a blatant reminder that this story was written by an author from the present day with no possible way of knowing the future who is just making stuff up. Yes, it was very clever. No, that doesn’t mean it was appropriate.

   The other problem I noticed was a tendency to over-explain exactly what you’re thinking when you write something. I recall one example—which I cannot now find—where if you had just stopped the sentence in the middle, leaving the entire second half off, it would’ve come off much better.

   But these are minor nit-picks, in the scheme of things. Overall, a great book.

2. Derf:

   “Yes, it was very clever. No, that doesn’t mean it was appropriate.”

   We’ll have to agree to disagree. Im my opinion, it was quite appropriate in the context, because it was about something that was, in fact, designed by an intelligent agent, and was therefore being used in that context. Quite clearly the term has resonance in the current time, but how it was being used in the book was different. Which is way it was perfectly appropriate for the book and has something fun for readers in current time.

   Aside from that, glad you enjoyed the book!

3. I just finished TGB – Bravo! I, for one, particularly enjoyed the intelligent design angle. Other stories incorporating intelligent design aspects – “2001”, “The God Game”, etc. have also captured my interest and led me to wonder if God might not be a member of a vastly superior alien race.

   So here I sit, trying to keep an open mind and patiently awaiting the second coming of the FSM and more OMW/TGB-universe books (not necessarily in that order).

4. I just finished TGB – Bravo! I, for one, particularly enjoyed the intelligent design angle. Other stories incorporating intelligent design aspects – “2001”, “The God Game”, etc. have also captured my interest and led me to wonder if God might not be a member of a vastly superior alien race.

   So here I sit, trying to keep an open mind and patiently awaiting the second coming of the FSM and more OMW/TGB-universe books (not necessarily in that order).

5. P.S. Cool new pictures.

6. P.S. Cool new pictures.