Writer's Block: Desert island
Sep. 22nd, 2011 04:39 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gridlore[Error: unknown template qotd]
1. The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thorton Wilder. Through this book I came to look at history not as a series of events, but the people and actions that led to those events. World War II started when Adolf Hitler couldn't get into art school in Vienna. I often look around at crowds in a mall or at traffic at a stop light and think "and what paths brought all of you to be here, now?"
2. Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. Half ripping yarn and half treatise on the ethics and philosophy of the military. Reading World War II histories made me want to be a soldier. Reading Starship Troopers made me understand why I should be one.
3. Traveller, Book 1: Characters and Combat, Book 2: Starships, Book 3: Worlds and Adventures by Marc Miller, et al. To say these books influenced and changed my life would be a gross understatement. :)
1. The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thorton Wilder. Through this book I came to look at history not as a series of events, but the people and actions that led to those events. World War II started when Adolf Hitler couldn't get into art school in Vienna. I often look around at crowds in a mall or at traffic at a stop light and think "and what paths brought all of you to be here, now?"
2. Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein. Half ripping yarn and half treatise on the ethics and philosophy of the military. Reading World War II histories made me want to be a soldier. Reading Starship Troopers made me understand why I should be one.
3. Traveller, Book 1: Characters and Combat, Book 2: Starships, Book 3: Worlds and Adventures by Marc Miller, et al. To say these books influenced and changed my life would be a gross understatement. :)
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 23 Sep 2011 13:00 (UTC)Starship Troopers - totally. I think the philosophy made a huge impact on me.
G D W
Date: 23 Sep 2011 15:09 (UTC)See, I knew I friended you for a reason.
no subject
Date: 23 Sep 2011 16:28 (UTC)O ho, never mind art school (http://www.firstworldwar.com/features/tandey.htm).
“As the ferocious battle wound down and enemy troops surrendered or retreated a wounded German soldier limped out of the maelstrom and into Private Tandey's line of fire. The battle-weary man never raised his rifle and just stared at Tandey resigned to the inevitable. 'I took aim but couldn't shoot a wounded man,' said Tandey, 'so I let him go.'
“The German soldier saw him lower his rifle and nodded his thanks before wandering off. The soldier was later identified as Lance Corporal Adolf Hitler of the 16th Bavarian Infantry Regiment. Hitler later saw a newspaper report about Tandey being awarded the VC (in October 1918, whilst serving with the 5th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment), recognized him, and kept the clipping…”