F-ZeroOne
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Everything posted by F-ZeroOne
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For zombies, "World War Z" is pretty good, a book which took me a bit by surprise. More Neal Stephenson - "Cryptonomicon" is one of those books that sort of falls between genres, but I think at least one reviewer did call it "the Citizen Kane of SF", or words to that effect, so it probably sneaks in here. If SF is a question of feel, then I think it qualifies. I'm in a mixed mind about whether or not to mention Terry Pratchett - hes mostly known for his (wonderful) fantasy but he has written SF, probably the easiest one of which to start with would be "Only You Can Save Mankind". Though aimed at a slightly younger audience, I defy anyone not to read the passage about the "derelicts" and then look down at their hands and think "What have I done...?"...
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Gundam Show Thread - MSG thru GQuuuuuuX
F-ZeroOne replied to Black Valkyrie's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Killing them. It what he does, and hes the best at what he does and what he does is... -
Oh, Iain M. Banks definitely - you've got love a kilometres-long sentient starship that can destroy solar systems with a name like "What Are The Civilian Applications?"; "Player of Games" is essentially want would happen if "Magic: The Gathering" tournaments were how you decided who gets to run a planet and "Use of Weapons" has one of the best laugh-out loud jokes in SF, though it needs the context of the events to work...
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Peter F. Hamiliton, Alistair Reynolds and Neal Asher all have multi-book, hard SF series that are well worth a read (the last even including "Prador Moon", in which Giant Enemy Crabs actually do attack for Massive Damage). Charles Stross is another favourite, even if he will make your head hurt occasionally. Classic Arthur C. Clarke short stories. And though I haven't read much of his SF, Isaac Asimovs many, many, many non-fiction works are always worth a read, if only to marvel at the kind of wide-ranging intellect and popular communicator we just don't seem to see much of these days. Towards the more bonkers end of the scale, theres China Mieville, who doesn't exactly write SF but then its not exactly fantasy either. His book Perdido Street Station starts by introducing you to a man who is in love with a beetle-headed woman. And because that sentence often causes confusion, allow me to clarify - thats a beetle-headed woman, wings, legs, the lot. And it only gets stranger from there on. Also on the bonkers end, theres Philip Palmer, who somehow manages to turn ideas from 50s pulp SF magazine covers into whole books.
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Gundam Show Thread - MSG thru GQuuuuuuX
F-ZeroOne replied to Black Valkyrie's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Both at the same time? Wow, guess you chose the Red Pill and the Blue Pill...! -
Can't believe I didn't think of this one earlier, possibly the greatest quote (with context) in the history of third person shooters: "Theres blood in my mouth and it not mine!" - Gears of War 2.
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Ah, thats Bird and Fortune of Bremner, Bird and Fortune fame - they're well known political satirists in the UK.
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Not strictly speaking aircraft, but the UK and France have just signed a military co-operation deal. This could mean Rafales operating from HMS Queen Elizatbeth and F-35s from Charles de Gaulle...
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Also GTA, but Vice City this time: "I touch myself." - Fernando.
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Okay, good point about the brands cachet back then. There is another example, though - I was with a friend trying to find a Japanese language school where he had some contacts. My friend speaks Japanese to a fair level and we had the address of the building and we still couldn't find it, after probably a good half an hours search and another enquiry at a Police box. We eventually wound up using a public phone to ring the place and ask for directions. Turns out the phone was located just across the road from the building...
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I think I might need to clarify about the whole "Lost in Tokyo" thing I appear to have started... Its difficult to be completely lost in Tokyo, in the sense that you begin to wonder why you didn't pack the survival radio and if those vultures circling overhead are as tasty as they're beginning to look... its a comment based on experiences of trying to find specific locations in Tokyo. As an example, my brother is fond of the fashion brand "BAPE". Back when he first asked me to visit their shops whilst in Tokyo, there was a lot less information available on-line than there is now. There was one store in particular I had a hell of a lot of trouble finding. After walking around Harajuku about six times, and despite having a map showing its rough location, I still hadn't found it. I stopped for a breather by a railing and happened to look down. And there the blasted place was, just below eye level. I must have actually walked past it at least three times. I had a similar experience finding a hotel I stayed at near Ueno once; it was 5 minutes walk from the station but took the best part of half an hour to find, including stopping to ask two police officers where it was, and I had a photo of the place as well. Again, I must have walked past it at least twice... ...or maybe I'm just an idiot! But thats what I mean by "lost".
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"Are those... body fluids?" - Earth Defence Force 2017. "Lets do this, Garuda One!" - Ace Combat 6. "I remember when all this was fields... " - The Agency Controller, Crackdown "I know what the ladies like... " - Sgt. Johnson, Halo 2. "Fleshy meat-bags!" and the many variations thereof, HK-47, Knights of the Old Republic. "Snake? Snake?! SNAAAAAKKKE!" - Metal Gear Solid "..." - every Final Fantasy game ever, but especially VII.
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Well, not technically an aircraft, but yes with a quite incredible sense of comic timing HMS Astute has managed to get stuck in an apparently notoriously shallow bit of water off the Scottish coast. Perhaps the Royal Navy was trying to see if it was possible to land aircraft on her instead...
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There was a variant of the F-16A, the F-16A ADF (Air Defence Fighter) which was a variant with some upgrades for "home" defence of the USA, something along those lines perhaps?
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You might want to check out Metro for iPhone/Pod, its a great app I've used several times. I can't absolutely vouch for its accuracy but I had no problems with it: http://metro.nanika.net/
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Well, at least we'll have one empty hull to convert to submersible transforming fighter attack carrier status when the need arises...
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Gundam Show Thread - MSG thru GQuuuuuuX
F-ZeroOne replied to Black Valkyrie's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
I'm probably the first person who would actually defend ZZ (It gets better! Really!)but watching Bright "Get those damn kids off my bridge!" Noa reduced to comedy prat-fall straight man nearly reduced me to tears... -
If you're into sports you could try going to a soccer game or possibly a baseball game (though I think it might be the "off" season for baseball just now). Providing its not a big game (e.g. for baseball Giants vs Tigers) you should be able to just walk up and get tickets on the day. I'm not into sports but my brother is and we attended a soccer match on one of my trips.
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Gundam Show Thread - MSG thru GQuuuuuuX
F-ZeroOne replied to Black Valkyrie's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
This is the website site address I used for Beez in the UK, though their site doesn't quite seem to know which country its serving! http://www.beez-shop.co.uk/index.php I have a region free Blu-Ray player, so the regions aren't a problem for me personally. They are out there, but expect to pay a premium for a player that has the capability. -
Gundam Show Thread - MSG thru GQuuuuuuX
F-ZeroOne replied to Black Valkyrie's topic in Anime or Science Fiction
Thanks for the tip, though I've been using United Publications for years! They were the first place I tried at the time of posting, but didn't have Unicorn listed then. I eventually managed to order through Beez, Bandais European subsidiary, and it was an experience which proved the First Rule of Anime Fandom: Bandai hates you and wants your cash. -
Just a thought, inspired by something I read a long time ago in an anime magazine: according to that source, "mecha" to the Japanese can mean any kind of mechanical object. There were apparently some anime produced that listed mecha designers despite having no transforming washing machines, biological armoured attack fish, or giant ice cream waitresses with hearts of clockwork and aprons of anti-tank guns; the "mecha" referred to items like clocks, telephones, etc... IIRC, Shoji Kawamori got a "guest mecha design" credit for Patlabor 2 - his contribution being a type of Police patrol car with extendible "legs" that allowed it to ride (on wheels) over congested traffic...
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Awkward.
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And theres something wrong with being a crotchety old mecha nerd, hmm?
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Whoops. Don't know how I missed that, I saw Getter but for some reason Mazinger just didn't register...! Lets swap out Mazinger, then, for... 3) Big Dai-X. Just because I can.
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And here are some un-respected who don't get to make the list: 1) Ingram, Patlabor. Designed to have an intimidating effect on the local chav, the Ingram is the Rozzer robot of choice. 2) Scopedog, Armoured Trooper VOTOMS: the ultimate disposable powered armour, animes hardest man Chirico Cuvie goes through about a dozen of these every episode. Before the ad break. 3) Mazinger Z, Mazinger Z: ROCKET PUNCH! That is all. 4) GM series, Mobile SUIT Gundam: the ultimate cannon fodder mecha, except for that one time in 8th MS Team. And finally: 5) Ideon, Space Runaway Ideon. Its the combining mecha fire truck that can slice planets in two. And piloted by animes biggest ginger afro.