arafel's New Writeups

Look to Windward (thing)

2000-09-04T12:13:19Z

The latest (2000) book from Iain M. Banks, before he takes a years holiday from writing.

It deals with the results of Culture interference that went horribly wrong, and also contains some threads from Consider Phlebas, as the light from two suns that were detonated by the Idirans in the Twin Novae battle reaches the Orbital where much of the book takes place.

In typical Banks style, the book also covers a number of other themes, such as reaction to the loss of a loved one (human or otherwise), caste systems, and more.

PSI (idea)

2000-09-03T22:26:55Z

What I *thought* was a fairly common word for psychic powers and the like; however, it would appear not. So, one fairly bare description.

Oh - also the 23rd letter of the Greek alphabet. (From the Greek "psei".)

Mindstar (thing)

2000-09-03T22:07:45Z

Both the name given to a trilogy of books written by Peter F Hamilton, and the name of a special Army corps. within the books.

Short version: after a blanket testing for psi powers within the army, those who exhibited some were given an implant which could generate a neurohormone on demand to amplify this power. The corps was later disbanded (since the results weren't predictable), leaving the ex-squaddies to make their way as best they could.

Greg Mandel became a private detective - with an amplified empathic/telepathic ability.

The first book is definitely worth anyone's time to read (as well as being fairly unusual for being largely set in/around Peterborough); the later ones aren't quite so hot, but still very good.

The books are (in order) Mindstar Rising, A Quantum Murder, and The Nano-flower.

Infinity Plus (thing)

2000-09-03T21:56:40Z

Free, online science-fiction .. "magazine". The term really doesn't do it justice, but it's about all I can think of.

Contains reviews, short stories (some of which I haven't seen published elsewhere, such as Sanctification by John Meaney, or Softlight Sins by Peter F Hamilton), author interviews, author resources (bibliography links etc), special offers (for example, there's a reduced subscription to Interzone at present).

To be found at http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/iplus/ - well worth a look.

SAW (person)

2000-07-27T12:19:23Z

Also the initials of Stock, Aitken, and Waterman, who (while working for PWL) were behind many artists and songs, mostly in the eighties. Examples include Kylie Minogue, Samantha Fox, Cliff Richard...

Aitken left PWL in 1991; Stock and Waterman carried on for a while (with artists such as Sybil, Suzette Charles ... yeah, I've never heard of them either), before Mike Stock also left PWL.

Stock's been having more success recently, with the pop band Steps. Whether it's deserved or not is up to the individual. ;-)

Christopher Lambert (person)

2000-07-22T14:18:11Z

Interesting thing (well, I found it interesting) - Lambert had to do all the sword-fights more-or-less blind, since he normally wears glasses/contact-lenses, but couldn't for those scenes. Probably adds something to your reaction, not being able to see where the sword is. :)