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Grex > Books > #79: The Mysterious Quote - Winter 1999 Edition | |
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| Author |
Message |
| 25 new of 195 responses total. |
flem
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response 91 of 195:
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Feb 4 22:41 UTC 1999 |
L. Sprague de Camp was at least alive in 1992, which is the latest book
of his available to me at the moment. It would surprise me if he were
dead.
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aruba
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response 92 of 195:
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Feb 4 23:23 UTC 1999 |
I suppose it could be Jack Chalker, so I'll guess him.
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mcnally
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response 93 of 195:
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Feb 5 06:32 UTC 1999 |
+ None of the answers so far are correct.
+ This particular author has probably published more works of science
fiction than of fantasy but his fantasy works may possibly be better
known. Perhaps I should quote from one or two of the science fiction
works as well..
+ "A___" is not short for Arthur, though that would be a great guess
if the story were, in fact, set in Wales.
+ Although Cwyd is undeniably Welsh-sounding, the story I've been
quoting does not take place in Wales, but in a fictional setting
that is a hodge-podge of elements taken from various European
traditions (in other words, don't strain yourself trying to
reconcile "Cwyd" with "florins".)
A few words about the setting, which should give it away if anyone's
read and remembers the work from which I'm quoting..
"South of Cornwall, north of Iberia, across the Cantabrian Gulf
from Aquitaine were the Elder Isles, ranging in size from Gwyg's
Fang, a jag of black rock most often awash under Atlantic breakers,
to Hybras, the 'Hy-Brasill' of early Irish chroniclers: an island
as large as Ireland itself."
If that doesn't tip someone off I'll enter another quote in a day or
so from another one of this author's works.
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sekari
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response 94 of 195:
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Feb 5 08:42 UTC 1999 |
FYI terry pratchet writes the Discworld books, Larry niven writes Ringworld.
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remmers
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response 95 of 195:
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Feb 5 12:22 UTC 1999 |
Haven't read this kind of stuff for years and years, but I'll add
another and probably wrong random guess to the pile anyway: Jack
Vance.
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void
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response 96 of 195:
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Feb 5 13:28 UTC 1999 |
hmmm. shot in the semi-dark: c.s. lewis?
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sjones
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response 97 of 195:
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Feb 5 13:42 UTC 1999 |
tend to agree with resp:89
and have run out of ideas...:(
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remmers
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response 98 of 195:
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Feb 5 17:37 UTC 1999 |
(Jack Vance came to mind from McNally's "more works of science fiction
than of fantasy" hint.)
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janc
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response 99 of 195:
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Feb 5 18:40 UTC 1999 |
Fritz Leiber? Or is he dead?
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mcnally
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response 100 of 195:
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Feb 5 19:12 UTC 1999 |
Remmers is correct, our mystery author is Jack Vance..
I was pretty sure that one of those clues might give it away though I'm
surprised nobody identified it from his writing style (which I find very
distinctive..)
The quotes were taken from his "Lyonesse" trilogy -- an entertaining
treatment of traditional fantasy that's less well known than his primary
fantasy works (the "Dying Earth" stories..) or his many science fiction
novels. The first book of the series, "Suldrun's Garden" is a little slow,
burdened with establishing the many parallel story lines, but once things
get going the story picks up and the other two books of the series,
"The Green Pearl" and "Madouc", are excellent if you like that sort of thing.
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sjones
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response 101 of 195:
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Feb 5 22:13 UTC 1999 |
remmers, you master of all trades, you...:)
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remmers
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response 102 of 195:
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Feb 6 10:54 UTC 1999 |
Omigosh, I didn't really think I'd be right. Okay, I'll try to come
up with a new quote later today.
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janc
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response 103 of 195:
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Feb 6 15:11 UTC 1999 |
Hmmm...I've read most of that trilogy, but don't remember anything about
it.
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mcnally
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response 104 of 195:
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Feb 6 21:16 UTC 1999 |
Well, the plot is pretty conventional for the genre, deliberately so
(I think..) What I liked about them was the somewhat droll manner in
which Vance treated a conventional fantasy tale..
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flem
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response 105 of 195:
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Feb 7 03:28 UTC 1999 |
Ha! I knew I'd read it. As soon as I read "Jack Vance" in remmers'
response, I smacked myself. :)
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remmers
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response 106 of 195:
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Feb 8 14:48 UTC 1999 |
(I haven't forgotten that I'm up; just been busy with other things.
Hope to have a quote later today, or tomorrow.)
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mcnally
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response 107 of 195:
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Feb 8 18:28 UTC 1999 |
Based on previous experience I'd say I'm in the minority with this position
but I'd rather have a carefully selected and interesting, amusing, or
enlightening quote than just have something posted quickly because you
were in a hurry.. In other words, I vote that you take your time..
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sjones
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response 108 of 195:
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Feb 9 13:39 UTC 1999 |
<slightly shamefacedly> yes, i pretty much agree with that in principle,
i think... although i can imagine, hypothetically speaking obviously,
enthusiastic people getting a little carried away while they look
forward, er, enthusiastically to the next quote...:)
but not being a hypothetical person, i also vote that remmers takes his
time <sits on own hands>...
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remmers
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response 109 of 195:
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Feb 9 16:26 UTC 1999 |
Oh, I can find interesting, amusing, and enlightening quotes
pretty quickly. Hold on a sec...
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remmers
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response 110 of 195:
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Feb 9 16:38 UTC 1999 |
Okay, here we go. This is actually a short quote, but it looks long
because of the formatting.
William Saroyan said, "I ruined my
life by marrying the same woman
twice."
there will always be something
to ruin our lives,
William,
it all depends upon
what or which
finds us
first,
we are always
ripe and ready
to be taken.
ruined lives are
normal
both for the wise
and
others.
it is only when
that life
ruined
becomes ours
we realize
then
that the suicides, the
drunkards, the mad, the
jailed, the dopers
and etc. etc.
are just as common
a part of existence
as the gladiola, the
rainbow
the
hurricane
and nothing
left
on the kitchen
shelf.
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mcnally
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response 111 of 195:
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Feb 9 17:01 UTC 1999 |
(unlikely, but..) Richard Brautigan?
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remmers
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response 112 of 195:
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Feb 9 17:34 UTC 1999 |
Not Brautigan.
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davel
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response 113 of 195:
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Feb 10 02:19 UTC 1999 |
Wild guess: John Berryman?
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sjones
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response 114 of 195:
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Feb 10 10:41 UTC 1999 |
william carlos williams?
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remmers
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response 115 of 195:
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Feb 10 18:22 UTC 1999 |
Neither Berryman nor Williams.
The author is a deceased American male.
I plan on posting another quote sometime today or tomorrow if nobody
has guessed it by then.
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