The "No Soapbox" Hard SF Discussion

[melindadansky]

Some of you might know that my friend, David J Williams, author of The Burning Skies, recently got into a steel cage with Jerry Pournelle (his wording, not mine).

Though the post has sparked some discussion elsewhere, with varied numbers of epithets (my favorite part was when people started calling each other "nutjob" and "communist". That, my

Comments

[melindadansky]

It's not entirely true that scientists don't but there are more barriers (if they're really busy, what they're working on is proprietary, etc).

[andelku]

Does pre-ordering and ordering on Amazon contribute to your numbers in anyway? Or is it okay to buy this from an independent box retailer like The Book Cellar? Because if you will benefit from an Amazon sale I'll buy on Amazon, but otherwise I'd opt to support my local bookshop.

[melindadansky]

It's cool either way. My main criterion is to make my publisher $$$$$. For that, it doesn't matter where you shop.

One caution: The books are a bit pricey because they're library quality. If you don't have the cash, consider suggesting them for the children's section at your library, or ask someone who has a little extra cash to make a gift of them to a school or local library.

[andelku]

Hah! I can do both. And I know a couple of folk who work for CPL, on the YA side. This is probably for slightly younger kids, but I'm sure they know people.

[realthog]

From my totally biased perspective, Pournelle asked DJW some pretty detailed questions about his science, then used the answers or lack thereof to conclude that DJW's science reasoning was bad. Therefore, his political conclusions were wrong. Therefore, his book is bad, and therefore he's a bad Hard SF writer.

Someday, I hope to get in a steel cage with Dr. Pournelle and debate the decline of science in public dialog. I would like to discuss with him the effects of twisting scientific conclusions to serve political objectives. I would like to have a discussion about what happens when someone uses a scientist's honest "We're not sure, but according to the available evidence this is the best answer," to call an entire field into question. I would like him to define the term "non-sequitur" for me and then give me a proof as to why the above is not one.I would very willingly hold your jacket while you had this conversation, and if necessary weigh in with a punch or three of my own. As far as I'm concerned, Pournelle's science is of the

[melindadansky]

I would very willingly hold your jacket while you had this conversation, and if necessary weigh in with a punch or three of my own.

I would probably need the assistance. I am a statistician. I can crunch the numbers, but I can only guess at what they mean. :-)

and thanks!

[kuroshii]

one of us needs to buy you this T-shirt. srsly.

[kaiweilau]

That rocks! I'm pre-ordering it now! Who knows, maybe I'll learn enough math from you that I can tutor it one day :)

[melindadansky]

Awwww! You're awesome! Don't forget to request that your school library buy a set--or seven. :-)

[lunablack]

Awesome! (the book series, not the flame war. Flame wars are easier.)

[melindadansky]

Thank you!