kallend 2,121 #51 November 18, 2003 QuoteI have been told that Clancey has to have a ghost writer helping him, who knows. It's been so long since I read one of his books, I don't remember, but I seem to recall someone DEA getting his tit in the wringer over providing Clancey with some restricted stuff. I've read every Clancey novel so far, and find them getting less and less interesting because the plots are too predictable. In the recent ones the US guys never do anything wrong, the technology always works perfectly, there's no suspense. I now prefer Ken Follett. Kind of similar in style to Clancey but the plots are more complex and unpredictable.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #52 November 18, 2003 Quotethe recent ones the US guys never do anything wrong, the technology always works perfectly, there's no suspense. I think the next couple books, building on this one (a new Jack Jr. series?) will be pretty good. Honestly, I enjoyed the new book, even though it didn't even come close to measuring up to his previous works.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,090 #53 November 18, 2003 >Bill...take it easy on them. Well, you do have to treat them differently during the FJC. Take two 30ish professional women in the FJC. All you have to say to them on the topic, of say pulling, is "no matter what, get a good canopy over your head before 2000 feet. Everything else is secondary." They'll get it. Now take two 20 year old surfer dudes raised on PS2. You have to be a little more explicit. "Get a canopy over your head by 2000 feet. Below that you may not have time to get set up and land; you may even not get an open canopy before impact. And if you don't, that's all she wrote. You won't survive the landing." Some of them get suprised by that - "you mean I could die?" Now take two new navy dudes. They've been told they're going to die a dozen times already. They're still alive, so obviously people who say that are full of shit. You have to switch tactics. "If you don't get a canopy over your head by 2000 feet, you risk blah blah. Not only will you die, but you'll look like an idiot lying there dead with two good parachutes sitting unused in your rig." The threat of imminent death - they can deal with that, but they don't want to look like an idiot at all costs. Seems to work. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
freeflir29 0 #54 November 18, 2003 QuoteThe threat of imminent death - they can deal with that, but they don't want to look like an idiot at all costs. Seems to work. DAMMITT BILL!!!!!!!! #1 I laughed my freakin ass off. #2 You are most certainly correct in your analysis! Looking cool is the #1 Deelio. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kallend 2,121 #55 November 18, 2003 QuoteQuotethe recent ones the US guys never do anything wrong, the technology always works perfectly, there's no suspense. I think the next couple books, building on this one (a new Jack Jr. series?) will be pretty good. Honestly, I enjoyed the new book, even though it didn't even come close to measuring up to his previous works. Hmmm. I was disappointed with "Teeth of the Tiger". The story was totally predictable.... The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keith 0 #56 November 18, 2003 Read Autopsy by Thomas Naguchi. He's the former coroner for Los Angeles. Very fascinating reading. He got me hooked on non-fiction crime.Keith Don't Fuck with me Keith - J. Mandeville Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vallerina 2 #57 November 18, 2003 QuoteQuoteHmmm....I guess I should be more specific....I'm not so much wanting to read someone else's story or anything like that. I would be interested in reading about things like the Catholic Crusades, Newton, super novas, etc. Ya know what I mean? Well, I already recommended it. Fits your requirement exactly: www.dropzone.com/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=762567#762567 Yes, your suggestion was marvelous, but I thought I'd be a little more specific so that I could get better input from the good folks of dz.com! Thanks for the suggestions everyone! Now, it's time for me to go spend some cash at amazon.com. (Yes, I'm lazy.)There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jumper03 0 #58 November 18, 2003 Didn't check the entire thread so apologies if this is a repeat - I love history and have been reading "The Fatal Shore" It's about the first load of convicts sent to Oz by england and how the managed to eek by and gradually make Australia. Bit of a hard read at first but it gradually sucks you in. Gave me a much greater appreciation for what we as humans are capable of when faced with real adversity - even percieved adversity. Still don't change the fact all you Australians are criminals... JumpScars remind us that the past is real Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
marcandalysse 0 #59 November 18, 2003 Guns Germs and Steel by Jared Diamond....I thought it would be boring but I breezed through it... It starts with questions like 'why didn't the Incas invade Spain, rather than the other way around?', 'How do the european cultures have more technologies than the Maori?' 'Why are some cultures still stone age when others go to the moon?'....it does NOT look at it racially....rather it looks at how some areas were geographically better for civilization to grow....The culture in Australia was once more advanced than European ones for the time, and actually Devolved and used less technologies than they first had....etc pretty interesting perspective on how we got to where we are today... marc Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PeteH 0 #60 November 18, 2003 Simon Singh: Fermat's Last Theorem - Great book if you are interrested in math. Covers lots of mathematical history. David Bodanis: E = mc^2: A Biography of the World's Most Famous Equation - Same as above, but about physics. Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, Vince Neil and Nikki Sixx with Neil Strauss: Mötley Crüe | The Dirt - Confessions Of The World's Most Notorious Rock Band - This could be the best book ever. Even people who've never listened the Crüe love this book. Read and leard how to behave like a rock star Garri Kasparov: World Of Change - Garri Kasparov is good example why kids shouldn't concentrate on one thing. Garri is genius in chess table, but probably very difficult person in real world. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Islandcool 0 #61 November 18, 2003 I liked a book called "My Father, My Son." It was about Admril Zumwalt who had ordered agent orange sprayed in Vietnam. He insisted that it was harmless. His son later developed cancer from it. It's was written in the 80's so I'm not sure it is still in print. A heart wrencher but a good read. Ed Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest #62 November 18, 2003 Anything by Camille Paglia. Likewise, anything by P.J. O'Rourke. He's a funny writer. mh"The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
riggerrob 643 #63 November 18, 2003 Anything by John Keegan. The man writes brilliant military history. My favorite is "Six Armies in Normandy ..." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
dropdeded 0 #64 November 18, 2003 I just started "YEAGER", its an old autobiography by General Chuck Yeager and Leo Janos. I think its from 1985. Pretty interesting history. dropdeded------------------------------------------ The Dude Abides. - Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
