And they called them 'books from the ships'

[gridlore]

15 points to anyone I'm not married to who can place that quote. Anyway, onto a meme ganked from filkertom

What are your five favorite books, i.e., ones which you go back to over and over and over, the ones that really changed your life? And why?

1. Starship Troopers - Robert A Heinlein. Want to know how I ended up the way I am today? Read this book. Not only my dedication to the military, but many of my views on honor and duty were forged by the saga of one Juan Rico, Mobile Infantry.

2. A World Out of Time - Larry Niven. This was my introduction to SF that was epic yet intimate. For most of the book, the protagonist is pretty much alone! Reading this as a young'un changed my perceptions of space and time.

3. Steal This Book - Abbie Hoffman. One of the best manifestos ever written, and wildly funny and useful. Need to.. um.. find a new copy somewhere...

4. Dune - Frank Herbert. This book taught me that worlds can be important characters, and probably is responsible for my passion for world building today.

5. The Illuminatus! Trilogy - Robert Shea and Robert Anton Wilson. I'm still not sure I understand this. Praise Eris!

There are others that have affected me, but I don't go back and reread, such as The Bridge at San Luis Rey.

Comments

[chaotic-nipple.livejournal.com]

"1. Starship Troopers - Robert A Heinlein. Want to know how I ended up the way I am today? Read this book. Not only my dedication to the military, but many of my views on honor and duty were forged by the saga of one Juan Rico, Mobile Infantry."

Should be required reading for every Yellow Elephant! Not that they'll get it, alas.

[stone-princess.livejournal.com]

Have you read Scalzi's Old Man's War?

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

No, I haven't. Recommended?

[stone-princess.livejournal.com]

Definitely. I was reading along thinking, "This guy loves Starship troopers, this book is like a love note to it." And then of course I read the beack and all the reviews are like "an homage to StarShip Troppers and Heinlein." It was definitely enjoyable.

[pauldrye.livejournal.com]

The quote's a reference to the Library of Alexandria, and their habit of taking manuscripts from visiting ships and returning copies. Erm, if I had to guess the exact source of the quote I'd go for either Livy, who made it famous back in the day, or Sagan, who made it famous again in Cosmos.

[isomeme.livejournal.com]

Rats, you beat me to it. gridlore and I used to quote that endlessly to one another in bad imitation-Sagan enunciation.