Hello Presumed-Humans–
I was nominated for the Sunshine Blogger Award!
Oh boy, evidently I have received this nomination twice, from both G.E. Edward Smith of at A Writer’s Existence and Jennifer Mugrage at Out of Babel. Thanks to both of you!
Since I am trying to do NanoWrimo this month, among other work obligations, I am going to do this a little differently than the actual rules. So instead of answering everything in a single post, I’m just going to answer one question a day and link a couple of bloggers at the end which I think are worth checking out.
Ok, first question–Jennifer asks:
What kind of non-fiction are you most likely to read?
This is a tough one. I actually only really got myself into reading more fiction this year (I had forgotten how much fun fiction is!) since I tend to read a lot of non-fiction. Last year I was tied up studying for my licensing exam, and even now the non-fiction I read at work is predominately the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (esp.Titles 19 & 21), and various case rulings.
This year I have been reading a lot more science fiction, so my non-fiction reading has been a lot of physics and biology. With fiction I tend to read only one book at a time, but with non-fiction (especially in science or math) I do sometimes read more than one at a time. I’m currently working on Other Worlds: Space, Superspace, and the Quantum Universe by Paul Davies and Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb.
Bloggers You Should Check Out Today:
Sean C. Wright is at it again over on Seanarchy with a Flash Fiction piece titled Vengeance Pasta, which is as good as it sounds.
N S Ford’s horrifying short Nightmare in Terrortubby Land was the inspiration behind today’s picture. (Thank you for reminding me about that scary sky-baby! I think…)
Current NaNo Word Count: Too Soon to Tell, Try Again Later
Ok, I’ve got to get back to NaNo, for the rest of you (or if you are looking for a break) feel free to answer the question in the comments. Do you read non-fiction for fun or just for business or education? What kinds of non-fiction do you read?
The Rookery 
I read non-fiction (quite often) for fun – and it’s usually books on harmony or counterpoint or orchestration – something like that. I’m retired – so I peruse a lot of gardening books as well!
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Oh boy, music theory goes way over my head. I don’t currently have anywhere to garden, but l like reading botanical field guides.
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Congratulations on your nomination! Have you caught many mistakes or “creative liberties” in the science fiction while reading up on the science side?
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Not especially, but I also don’t really scrutinize science fiction for the science. I find the science may or may not be plausible but that isn’t the point as much as using it as a vehicle to explore something the author wants to say about society or human psychology, at least in the stuff I read. I usually don’t expect anything from it that I wouldn’t expect from magic in fantasy.
I once made the mistake in college of watching Babylon 5 with some physics majors who kept pausing the dvd (yes, I’m old) to explain why the manouvers the starships were making wouldn’t work without air resistance. It kinda killed the mood.
Plus I mostly read “pop science”, so I don’t know that I would be any better at picking out the inaccuracies than the author themselves. It just gives a better understanding of some of the broader concepts they’re using.
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Sounds like a good way to go. I try not to get too worried about the science in science fiction, but I do get excited when something is close to scientifically possible. But, like you said, science in science fiction is basically the same as magic in fantasy most of the time. And that’s part of the fun!
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Your sunshine picture is truly terrifying.
The last nonfiction I read was The Library Book by Susan Orleans and it was phenomenal! I tend to only read narrative non-fiction (if that makes sense? I don’t think that’s an actual category)
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It’s totally a category. I get what your saying.
I however am the kind of person willing to watch a three-hour documentary about Helvetica (the typeface). So I do sometimes get enjoyment out of the drier stuff too.
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Lol.
On the other hand, I nerded out for weeks when I read a book about the history of forks, so you never know when something seems like it will be dry but then ends up being totally fascinating. (My husband, the recipient of my nerding out, was, for some reason less enthralled by all the fun facts I shared with him…)
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Someone just showed me a book about the history of footnotes that I think I’m going to need to buy soon.
I went a little crazy on my birthday though and am kind of afraid to look at my credit card bill.
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I am so sorry … I just found these! For some reason I did not get notified when you linked back to me. They are delightful.
If you can read the federal regs with unflagging attention, you are a better man (or woman) than I am!
As for realism in sci-fi, one thing I’ve noticed is that no one really knows what conditions are like in space, let alone near light speed. They are now finding unexpected things just in our solar system alone, never mind beyond. So when it comes to space travel, I am fine with it as long as the system is internally consistent, like a magic system, as you all have been saying.
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No worries! I don’t always know what I am doing with WordPress. There’s a way to tag someone so they get notified but these are just links, which only show up in your stats if someone actually clicks on them. More coming soon, I just had to take a break from blogging for a bit. 🙂
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Yes, if it is nonfiction and of science/math, then it strangely turns out to be more than one book at a time !
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