The PPC Posting Board - Latest posts

I've been reading through Berserk, and... yeah, it deserves its reputation. Right from the start, blood, gore, horror, brooding antihero, check.

However, said brooding antihero starts showing some signs of having actual right from the get-go. Now, coming up on the start of the Golden Age arc, I'm really excited to see where it's all going. It just seems generally a little bit better than its peers in the angsty edgy angst angst angst dark fantasy genre.

Lessee... what else? Oooh, ooh! Mogworld! Well, actually I read this one ages ago, but I quite liked it. It's about a bunch of characters in an MMO who have become sentient and are trying to find a way to die because everyone's become immortal. It's by Ben "Yahtzee" Croshaw, otherwise known as "The Zero Punctuation Guy" which probably tells if you will or won't like it off the bat if you're familiar with his other work. I found it a very appreciable bit of dark comedy with an ending that is absolutely pitch-perfect. Then again, it's been a while. Maybe I'll hate it now. But I don't think so.

Sorry for not posting the list of existing rides, I had another honor band.

-Twistey

And I had no clue about your unfinished interlude. This came out of the following post: http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?id=199610;article=319321;search_term=theme+park

But hey, let's see if you can combine your idea with mine!

-Twistey

"...I understand. Some things are more important than ourselves. Should such a thing occur, I will do my best for you, brother."

"Fates willing, such an occurrence would never arise, but should it, should nobody else be available, I would do my best to raise your son as you would wish him to be."

((Tom, shut up about God of War. This is serious.))

I love Latinx inspired fantasy. I don't know if you've played the text-based romance game Affairs of the Court: Choice of Romance, but it's kind of similar, and there was a time when I was absolutely obsessed with it. And I think it's good for a book to have some heavy topics in it, as long as they're handled with respect.

I've heard a bunch of recommendations for Invisible Cities, and I like Calvino's style to begin with (we had to read works by him in a Comparative Lit course at university). I didn't know very much about the book itself, but this does sound gorgeous! Thanks for sharing.

With three lists to work with, plus a few opinions, I feel like throwing together a 'hS's Preferences' version. (Also I'll finally put the 12 in alphabetical order...)

Delta Juliette: Cleopatra, per Scapegrace. The cats swing it. ^^

Hieronymus: Pericles, per me(2). The grey beard is just a cap on the cultural theme of Greece.

Huinesoron: Pachacuti, per Scapegrace. Those magic mountain tunnels are perfect for Baron Other Side of the Mountain.

Iximaz: Tomyris, for the horses. I'm actually playing as Amanitore right now, and love throwing archers everywhere - but I think Ix deserves the horses.

Kaitlyn: Dido. She just looks spot-on, and the idea of moving her capital around is perfect.

Larfen: John Curtin, mate!

Neshomeh: Eleanor of France, per Scapegrace. Baron Nesh is still working to bring all of Wechi back under her control...

Phobos: Robert the Bruce. Mansa looks lovely, but requires desert, which isn't too common in Plort. Robert is possessive of his people and a firm ally - and also, I can totally imagine Barony Phobos filling up with golf courses.

PoorCynic: Poundmaker. The more I look at him, the more I like him. He has a unique improvement which has to go next to a bonus/luxury resource, which is just about perfect.

Scapegrace: Kristina, per Scapegrace. Though you'd better found a religion while you're at it, or there'll be no justification for you even being on the map.

Tomash: Cyrus. Hmm, I notice that this guy is good at performing sudden, unexpected coups. Hmm. HMM. ^~

Zingenmir: Jadwiga, per Scapegrace. I also think she looks a fair bit like her.

So that's the twelve, but there's two other authorities to consider...

The Mords of Diskord: Wilfrid of Canada. Being nice to the Chat for once, they get to be the consummate diplomats, usually getting their way, and (with their tundra farms) taking a little and making much of it.

The Marizu League: Gitarja of Indonesia. Not only does she have a flower in her hair (a sure sign of a Suvian), she heads a nation of fanatics who swarm across the seas to attack Konti-Nyuum. By virtue of her southerly position, she will also probably have multiple city states on hand to dominate or conquer.

Oh, and one for luck:

Fafka and Plopos (the Observer Civ): Lautaro of Mapuche. Has some spectacular posturing in his animations, but locked away on his tiny islands, will achieve precisely nothing.

hS

We like to have every PPC story that was ever written linked on the wiki. I actually thought about creating pages for your characters, but I still hoped that you would come back.

I'm currently a bit out of service (had some surgery to be done to my right arm and are typing with my less dexterous hand), so I can't be of much help.

Good to see you again.

HG

Forgive me, but I'm going to be using Gathering Storm civs and leaders in this one. If nothing else, it means there's going to be more women to choose from. =]

For a bonus challenge, I'm gonna try not to use the same picks as hS did last year for ANYONE involved. Here goes nothing...

---

Delta Juliette: Cleopatra, Egypt
Egypt is a pretty strong nation that benefits from trade, and its bonuses to Wonder production seems like a good fit. Also, putting giant statues of cats everywhere just seems like something she'd do.

Zingenmir: Jadwiga, Poland
Jadwiga is a ruler defined by her faith, just as Zingenmir is defined by hers. She also has military flexibility and favours an aggressive-defence strategy, which I think would work well given Barony Zingenmir's location on the map.

Hieronymus: Harald Hardrada, Norway
This is based in large part on Harald's unique unit, the Viking Longship. Hieronymus shows up in mission posts to prod people about spelling errors; the Longship is one of the best harassment units in the game, as it's able to pillage improvements on dry land as well as those in the sea.

Kaitlyn: Dido, Phoenicia
They look alike, which always helps, and Phoenicia's focus on Loyalty is incredibly strong as well as fitting. It also feels right for her to have a bit more of a naval focus, with her Barony's connection to the sea.

Phobos: Mansa Musa, Mali
Big, burly guy with a beard? Check. Focus on trade? Check. Making SO much money? Check. Okay, maybe not that last bit for Phobos himself, but Mali is a gold-focused Civ the likes of which we've never seen before.

Neshomeh: Eleanor of Aquitaine, France
The flowing hair makes this one for me, I have to admit, but it also works with the culture aspect. With England's UA having been reworked considerably for GS, the French focus on mid-game Wonders - which tend to have Great Work slots - and culture allows her to generate a boatload of it per turn, sprinting through the civics tree and also meaning she can spread Great Works around to manipulate loyalty.

PoorCynic: Pericles, Greece
City-States aren't going to be major players in this game, but you still get a bunch of bonuses from them and that synergizes well with Pericles' Leader Ability. Holding sway over smaller players for no readily apparent reason also seems to fit the guy who wrote the Newbie Guides. =]

Larfen: John Curtin, Australia
Going with your countryman here, Larf. Not much to say beyond that, except possibly "Crikey!" or "By oath!".

Iximaz: Amanitore, Nubia
Some of you might be wondering why this isn't Tomyris, who is a real-life horse girl and just as annoying to fight. Some of you might be wondering why this isn't Gitarja, who builds up and out into the seas themselves with the Kampung. I'll tell you why I picked Amanitore, and that's one thing: archer spam. The Pitati Archer (replacing the, er, Archer) is a brilliant unique unit and Nubia has a 50% production bonus to ranged units. Ix's agents also use bows a lot. It seems to work.

Tomash: Cyrus, Persia
This might be a slightly odd choice, but what I like about Cyrus for this pick is his ability to both wage war (on pill-selling spambots) and build advanced infrastructure (made of code). It also encourages trade, which will make Phobos happy. =]

Huinesoron: Pachacuti, Inca
Doing a lot with a little - especially in mountainous terrain - seems like a great fit for out friendly neighbourhood utterlygeriatricbie's Baronial incarnation. I think that powering enormously large cities with nothing more than expert farming fits his sensibilities.

Scapegrace: Kristina of Sweden
She has my hair, she's a big ol' nerd, and she gets an enormous library to build as part of her leader ability. Nuff said.

"My son. If you had to make that choice, I'd want you to save my son, not me."

(( Thoth still makes me d'awww. Let's see if Derik can make anyone cry. {= P ))

I liked this mission. The badfic was certainly "unique". I also noticed some errors in your spelling and grammar though. One notable case was a tense shift in mid-paragraph, reproduced here:

They arrive at a generic beach. Oddly all of the Autobots are using holograms. Just as in New York, Phil didn’t feel the need to change. Spensor on the other hand took the form of an ice cream vending cart.

Is this related to the tense shifts in the badfic at that point? If so, make sure to make things like that clearer in later missions. I hope to see more missions from you.

[Nume stalks into the room, where Derik is already seated.]

Nume: All right, what's so goddamn important that you had to drag me back from— *he looks around and realizes what's going on* Oh, sonnova... *tries to leave, but the door is locked* Dammit! *kicks the door* ... Ow.

Derik: *has watched this performance in some bemusement* ... Might as well get it over with as quickly as possible?

Nume: *siiigh* *actually looks at Derik* Oh. It's you. Great.

Derik: I'm sorry, have we met?

Nume: *eyebrow* A few times, here and there. You happened to be recruited during one of my missions. Guess it makes sense you wouldn't remember me. On the other hand, you are a lunatic I wouldn't forget even if I forgot things. This is going to be special. *finally sits down*

Derik: ... Quite. :/


1. Ahh yes! Welcome to the interview! Please introduce yourself: name, species, continuum of origin?

Derik: Derik. Human. Dragonriders of Pern.

Nume: Can I just say my answer to all questions is "go sit on a tack" and leave? *glances at the door; nothing happens* ... *siiigh* Supernumerary, human, World One and a bit? We're not really sure, but apparently what I've got doesn't really happen in World One proper.


2. So, what department are you in, and who is your partner?

Derik: Mary Sues. Gall Knutson.

Nume: DIC, Ilraen-Aroline-Fothergill when he's not babysitting some hopeless wet-behind-the-ears recruits.


3. Let’s start with the basic questions. How old are you?

Nume: Is it 2019? If it's 2019, I turned 41 back in November of 2018.

Derik: ... You know, I've been telling people I'm 37 for a while—"I'm 37, I'm not old," you see—but if you're one of the people that recruited me, I'm fairly certain I'm older than you. Maybe I should upgrade to 42.

Nume: *snort* The answer to life, the universe, and everything?

Derik: *flat grin* Exactly.


4. Height and weight?

Derik: 1.88 meters, bit over 90 kilos.

Nume: Oh god, he speaks metric. I'll translate: 6'2", about 200 pounds. As for me: 6'1", 175.


5. Sexual orientation?

Nume: [Bleep]ing [bleep], when are you people going to realize I am never answering this question? Go [bleep] yourselves.

Derik: *wince* ... I'll never understand why Terran culture places so much importance on this. I'm typically attracted to women, but that never stopped me from fooling around with another boy a time or two when I was younger, even before I was a dragonrider. After that, well, there still weren't that many female greenriders at the time. I never minded. Plenty of attractive women at Landing if I wanted female company. *shrug*

Nume: *staring* Do you realize your life is my worst nightmare?

Derik: *frown* I don't need your approval. Look, the expectation for most of Pern is simply that you do your duty by the next generation so the population doesn't die out during the next Pass, and the expectation for a rider is that you do your duty by your dragon. Duty is duty, who you choose to sleep with on your own time is up to you, and there's no shame in any of it. It's not strange if you're born to it.

Nume: Sure, but... No, forget it, I'm not debating this right now. Or ever. *sits with arms and legs crossed*


6. IQ?

Nume: *smirk* Qualified for Mensa when I was 18. Granted, that was 1969, so I don't know what that means now. I might have lost some brain cells in this job, too.

Derik: I'm told I occasionally show "remarkable intellectual aptitude for a mortal"? On the other hand, I'm also told I'm a bloody idiot with some regularity. *grimace*


7. Bra size? / Boxers or briefs?

Nume: Remember the tack? Go sit and spin.

Derik: *rolls his eyes* Boxer-briefs. Excellent innovation. I hope the Weaver Crafthall discovered how to make them in AIVAS' databanks.

Nume: Dammit, I don't want to think about this...


8. Let’s cut the boring questions. Firstly, how many weapons are currently on your person?

Both: *blink and glance at each other warily*

Nume: Pff, please. I am notorious for being so awful with weapons that I'm more likely to hurt myself than anyone else.

Derik: A belt knife, but it's more a tool than a weapon. I don't carry my hammer around with me.


9. Are you wanted for any crimes?

Both: No.

Nume: ... Unless the authorities found out I smoked pot in college and I just vanished before they got me. *smirk*


10. And the age-old ‘Are you a virgin?’

Nume: *stiffly* I refer you back to the thumbtack.

Derik: *tilts his head at Nume, starts to say something, shakes his head instead* No. Clearly. *runs a hand over his face*


11. Do you ever fantasize about same-sex relations?

Nume: God dammit, you prying, nosy [bleep]s. No! I do not fantasize about anything besides having my private life be goddamn private!

Derik: *rubs a spot above his temple* No... nor any other sort, really. Not much room for it between actually being with the woman and being bloody terrified for the sake of what that's wrought.


12. Lovely. So, what is your favorite curse word?

Nume: Oh, here's one question I'm happy to answer. *takes a deep breath*

[A rendition of the swearing scene in The King's Speech (NSFW, duh) was omitted for time and to save our eardrums from the bleeps. It was highly accurate save for the substitutions of "arse" with "ass," "willy" with "welnitz," and "tits" with "frell."]

Derik: ... *slow clap*

Nume: *smug smile* Okay, your turn.

Derik: Oh, no, I couldn't possibly follow a performance like that. It would be anticlimactic.


13. When was the last time you threw up?

Nume: That's... actually a bit fuzzy. Must've been pretty bad. So it was probably sometime during "Subjugation." *shudder* If it wasn't that, it was that godawful blue-red time fold in "Fullmetal and the Hogwarts Mishap."

Derik: *grimace* I've had one of those. The only reason I didn't throw up was that I was disguised as a Space Marine. When did I, though? *thinks* ... Huh. I haven't been that drunk in almost two years. What do you know? So, the most recent would be sometime in the last couple of months, when Gall took a turn and I wasn't quick enough to shield myself. >.<


14. Have any mental illnesses?

Nume: *laughs* If what I've got isn't classified as a mental illness, there's something wrong with the world.

Derik: ... I'd argue there's a difference between "ill" and "broken," but broadly, I suppose so.

Nume: Trust me, we both have more than one problem.


15. What is your biggest phobia?

Nume: My fears are all completely rational.

Derik: *snort*

Nume: What?

Derik: Well, come now. We've been in this room together for ten minutes, and it's obvious that you're terrified people might learn certain details about you, which is absolutely irrational. I don't know if there's a name for that, but you've got it, clear as a bell.

Nume: ... You're full of [bleep], fekface.

Derik: *rolls his eyes* As for me... I am afraid that I will hurt the people I care about.

Nume: You're a deranged lunatic; that's not irrational.

Derik: *stares coldly at him for a few seconds* *takes a breath, lets it out* All right, then. Bugs. Little ones with lots of legs, crawling under my clothes.

Nume: Entomophobia.

Derik: *sneer* I shall note it down in my diary.


16. Do you crossdress often?

Nume: Never, and [bleep] you for asking.

Derik: *shrug* I'd do it for a costume, but no, not often.


17. Have any addictions?

Nume: No; Bleepstuff doesn't count.

Derik: ...

Nume: Go on. Admitting you're an alcoholic is the first step to recovery.

Derik: I quit getting drunk, though.

Nume: If you still want to drink 'til you puke and you don't want to admit it, you're an addict.

Derik: *sigh* Fine. I'm an addict. But it's under control now, so—

Nume: Spoken like a true addict. Don't skip your meetings, bub.

Derik: *mutter* I don't do that anymore, either.


18. What is the closest you have ever been to dying? Or have you ever died?

Both: ...

Nume: Can we not?

Derik: Let's not.

Both: Next!


19. Have the FicPsych nurses ever taken you away?

Nume: *grin* That's how you got here.

Derik: *growl* Yes, that would be the second—no, the third time I almost died and the worst day of my life, thank you.

Nume: ... Well, they didn't have to take me away, I went in by myself, eventually. I was a prick about it, but I did it.


20. Are the FicPsych nurses after you?

Nume: Only the crazy woman who insists on being my friend for some damn reason. Bet she doesn't leave you alone, either.

Derik: Actually, we don't talk much. It's... awkward. For both of us.

Nume: *open-mouth stare* Frell me dead. I figured, what with you being...

Derik: *icy stare* What?

Nume: *survival instincts kicking in* Never mind. Lucky you, that's all.


21. Do you snore?

Both: No.

Derik: And whatever Gall says, she's lying.


22. Are you drooling right now?

Both: *look at each other*

Nume: *shrug* Only in the metaphorical sense of being stark slathering bonkers for being here. And I include myself in that.


23. Let’s say that HQ was about to explode, and you could save one other person in here. Who would you choose?

Derik: Gall. At least until... *fret* Maybe even... *fret, fret* No, I couldn't... but... *fret fret fret* Well, at least I don't have to worry about Thoth. Maybe he'd...? *fretting intensifies*

Nume: Jesus Christ, stop. You're making me anxious, and I do not care.

Derik: Well, what about you?

Nume: Hrm. ... I guess I'd have to save my idiot partner. He'd probably be trying to do something heroic and stupid, and I'd have to be the one to save his furry blue butt, again.


24. When was the last time you used the toilet?

Nume: What?

Derik: That's going a bit far for decency.

Nume: Oh, thank Christ, boundaries. Skip?

Derik: Skip.


25. Have you ever kissed a girl? / a boy? / another species??

Derik: Yes, yes, and... yes, if Mary Sues count. *scowl*

Nume: No. No, no, [bleep]ing no.

Derik: *blink* Why would you lie about that?

Nume: Excuse me?!

Derik: *wince* I'm sorry, I'm trying not to hear, but you lie loudly.

Nume: *apoplectic* Stay the [bleep] out of my head!

Derik: I'm not in your head; I've just gotten more sensitive to this sort of thing with my defense training.

Nume: Well, stop it!

Derik: I'm trying! Calm down and it'll help!

Nume: I will not calm down, you—!

[The feed cuts out for several minutes.]


26. Did you like it?

[Derik and Nume are now glaring at each other with their chairs as far apart as they'll go.]

Nume: I swear to god, if you say one word...

Derik: *to the camera* I. Liked. Every. Second.

Nume: *scoff*


27. The little voices in your head. Do you talk to them?

Derik: *abruptly gets up and walks around the room, muttering to himself*

Nume: ... Huh. Well, no voices here...


28. Were you made fun of in school? Why?

Nume: *snort* Geek, freak, weirdo, mutant, queer, spaz, nerd, psycho—need I go on? I can go on.

Derik: *quietly, from the wrong side of the camera* No one made fun of anyone in my hearing. Not after I pounded Sebrin the second time, anyway.

Nume: *raises an eyebrow* So you were, what, the biggest, baddest bully?

Derik: *silence* *walks back around and sits down again* ... *sigh* Maybe.

Nume: ... Eh. As long as you never stole anyone's glasses or put their head in a toilet, you get a pass from me.


29. I can’t think of a question to ask you. Have any comments?

Nume: [Bleep] you, [bleep] your mother, [bleep] you very much.

Derik: Seconded.


30. This interview has ended? Are you gleeful? Or would you like to complete our 100 question survey over thumbtacks?

Nume: You already know what you can do with your thumbtacks.

Derik: *snort* Heard and witnessed!

[They exit in not quite the worst of spirits.]

I am in fact from the great land down under, the lucky country, the home of the hoop snake and the drop bear. The Lord's land.

I actually looked up the leaders for that game a bit earlier and it was all these ancient figures, Pericles, Gilgamesh, and then suddenly John Curtin just pops up out of nowhere. Spooked me good. Aussie legend.

I know nothing at all about any of the game mechanics so I will just inherently trust you are making good options here!

I reread it fairly recently, and it remains one of the most gorgeous reads I've ever had.

If you have not heard of it, it's sort of hard to describe. It's framed as a series of conversations between Marco Polo and an ageing Kublai Khan, who converses with various explorers in order to keep up to date with the cities in his constantly expanding empire, and who feels a strange, particular kinship with Marco.
In action, it's like a series of prose poems describing various fictitious cities, which tend to feel more like parables or so on or so forth, broken up by segments of Kublai and Marco talking.

It's absolutely fantastic, one of those books I feel a weird kinda warmth from reading. Also, a very short read!

((which came one day later))

____

1. Ahh yes! Welcome to the interview! Please introduce yourself: name, species, continuum of origin?

Lemon Tart. I’m a rat from the Sonic the Hedgehog continuum.

2. So, what department are you in, and who is your partner?

Department of Mary Sues. My partner is Chelsea Pulchella.

3. Let’s start with the basic questions. How old are you?

Sixteen.

4. Height and weight?

3’3” ft. As for how much I weigh, I generally do not make a habit of checking the scale.

5. Sexual orientation?

I don’t know.

6. IQ?

Not as high as certain geniuses in my world.

7. Bra size? / Boxers or briefs?

None of your business.

8. Let’s cut the boring questions. Firstly, how many weapons are currently on your person?

None, unless you consider claws and teeth to be weapons.

9. Are you wanted for any crimes?

I hope not.

10. And the age-old ‘Are you a virgin?’

Yes. Why are you asking this question?

11. Do you ever fantasize about same-sex relations?

No. Nor do I fantasize about any other relations. What is your deal?

12. Lovely. So, what is your favorite curse word?

My favorite curse word?

…

I prefer not to say.

13. When was the last time you threw up?

I refuse to answer that.

14. Have any mental illnesses?

None.

15. What is your biggest phobia?

My biggest phobia?

…

Well, I’m afraid that I will watch the world end knowing I could have prevented it in some way.

16. Do you crossdress often?

No. I’m considering it, though.

17. Have any addictions?
I refuse to answer that.

18. What is the closest you have ever been to dying? Or have you ever died?

The closest I had been to dying… That would be when I was in the city when a flood happened. My family and I survived, thankfully. Apparently, the flood was caused by a watery monster which I found out later was called “Chaos”.

19. Have the FicPsych nurses ever taken you away?

Never.

20. Are the FicPsych nurses after you?

Not to my knowledge, no.

21. Do you snore?

No one ever seemed to comment on it, so I would guess “no.”

22. Are you drooling right now?

[With a puzzled expression on her face, Lemon looks at the interviewer.]
What do you think.

23. Let’s say that HQ was about to explode, and you could save one other person in here. Who would you choose?

I don’t know. If I didn’t know there was a Nursery, I’d choose Chelsea. Now I’m not so sure.

24. When was the last time you used the toilet?

Recently.

25. Have you ever kissed a girl? / a boy? / another species??

No.

26. Did you like it?

Yes.

27. The little voices in your head. Do you talk to them?

I don’t have voices in my head. I’m rather concerned you are asking this question.

28. Were you made fun of in school? Why?

I was made fun of in school for once trying to save a student from what turned out to be a pie to the face.

29. I can’t think of a question to ask you. Have any comments?

So, it’s almost over? The interview? Good, because I was starting to regret it.

30. This interview has ended? Are you gleeful? Or would you like to complete our 100 question survey over thumbtacks?

Goodbye. [Lemon walks out of the room.]

Canada's Industrial theme sounds like the soundtrack to some forgotten classic Christmas film and I love it.

Heh. I only got around to saying something about it in October, when she was already slated to be four months along, and now it's four months later. Time flies!

And it hasn't happened "officially" in the spin-off yet because actually writing anything takes ages, especially when I keep distracting myself with other stuff like this. I DO have the story of her and Derik finally getting together written, but I hesitate to post it because a) there's other stuff that happens first that's not done yet, and b) it's R-rated and I feel weird about it. I have a cool CSS solution for protecting people's innocence while still getting the point across, but still. >.>

~Neshomeh

—that the baby was about to be born right then, just that Gall's pregnancy is coming along. It seems like just last month it got announced, so I was all 'whoa!'

Last week, I finished Nocturna, by Maya Motayne. It's the start of a new series, and the book will officially be released in both paper and hardback copies in early May. I believe you can pre-order it, if you're interested on Amazon. Anyways, about the actual book.

The book is set in a very Latinx inspired universe, following the Crown Prince Alfie, and a talented shapeshifter Finn. There's magic, some elements which could be called similar to JJBA's Stands, and much more. It was an interesting read, and the characters are extremely compelling, and feel real. There's some heavy subject matter which is discussed in book, fair warning, but a good book nonetheless.

I actively tried not to give that impression, but I failed. Oops! But, no. She just has to pee. Not much room in there for a full bladder at the moment. {= )

She says you're welcome, and I will watch for that ship with dreadful anticipation. ^_^

~Neshomeh

Which is a shame bc Kristina of Sweden has my hair and is a big ol' nerd.

Oh, BTW, England's garbage ability is changed in GS. They're now a mid-game production powerhouse and they get more base Iron and Coal from their mines than other Civs do (yeah GS shakes up a lot about the gameplay), which means they get a lot more to sell to other parties. =]

The only book I've ever read which sounds similar is Solaris, but only in that it's philosophical sci-fi and the main characters have a sad backstory. From what I've seen on Goodreads, the plots of the two books aren't really alike.

I was actually amused when you suggested I have something to do with horses because I don't think you knew that I used to take riding lessons... I dunno, did you?

Sorry I don't know anything about Civilization aside from Nuclear Gandhi, or I'd do more than watch with interest.

And now I have the amusing mental image of HG going full-blown Nuclear Gandhi. Thanks. :P

Just finished binging the second of the three books out (Seven Surrenders, first is Too Like the Lightning) in less than 36 hours. (Not continuously, but close!)

It's emotionally/philosophically-heavy sci-fi, but I also want to hug almost every major character.