DingusMaximus's recent activity
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
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Comment on What are you reading these days? in ~books
DingusMaximus LinkFuture Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich It's very derivative of The Handmaid's Tale. However, I still found it worth reading. Layered over the dystopian tale are themes of female agency,...Future Home of the Living God by Louise Erdrich
It's very derivative of The Handmaid's Tale. However, I still found it worth reading. Layered over the dystopian tale are themes of female agency, reproductive rights, and identity.The protagonist is an Ojibwe woman, raised by white adoptive parents, who reconnects with her indigenous family while on the run with her unborn baby as the world as we knew it is replaced all around her. As an apple Indian myself, this part of the story resonated deeply with me. That said, I think most anyone can relate to it, and you don't specifically need to be indigenous to relate to the struggle to find yourself.
Some common complaints I saw were people wanting to know more details about the world building — how the reverse evolution worked, more about the forming dystopian governments, etc. — but, while interesting, I don't think it would've added anything to the story being told, and would have bogged things down.
The protagonist has these thought patterns and moments that are often whimsical and almost surreal. At times I found it difficult to relate to her because of that, but at the same time, I enjoy reading about ways people think that is vastly different than the way I do.
Overall, the main plot isn't all that great. It's been done before, and it's been done better. But it's the smaller narratives and themes nestled within that make it worth the read.
Gone to See the River Man by Kristopher Triana
Warning: Though I wouldn't call this novel extreme horror or splatterpunk, the author does write other books in those genres, so this novel gets lumped into those categories. I'd personally just call it horror, and I don't think it's worse than anything, say, Chuck Palahniuk has written.
I went in expecting a creepy, folklore-y southern gothic horror. I got all that, and a lot more. It's been over a month, and I still find myself thinking about this story.Gone to See the River Man doesn't rely on shock to gain impact the way much of extreme horror does. Even though it covers some deeply unsettling topics, it doesn't feel gratuitous, graphic, or obscene. Instead, everything disturbing in the story serves a purpose that builds to a complete moral unraveling. It's psychological and deliberate. The shocking scenes get their weight from the restraint in what isn't shown, and revealing more about the characters than the acts themselves, instead of just trying to provoke a reaction from the reader.
The prose, the plot, the readers connection to the characters, and the physical journey the characters are on are all linked. The author skillfully weaved all of those elements to mirror each other. You begin relating to the protagonist, and by the end you're repulsed by her. The further they go down river, the more morals unravel, the more surreal the river becomes as well. I'll put it this way. I started the book with oh wow I relate to this character and ended with oh no I relate to this character.
The story pulls you into the protagonist's perspective, then shows all the cracks and flaws in how she sees the world, and turns uncomfortable and introspective. Underneath the back cover description of the story is a surreal, folkloric delve into desire, guilt, and self-deception. It's an exploration of how evil can arise from a series a small choices, and how far someone will go when they fully commit to a version of reality they want to be true. The book isn't going to spoon feed you, or give you many answers. I'm still not sure which elements were real, which were supernatural (if any), and which were distortions from the characters warped perspectives.
It's definitely horror. It's disturbing and unnerving. But it was also much more rich, nuanced, and complex than I bargained for. I didn't even really discuss what the plot is about on the surface, because it's what's below that's so interesting and unsettling.
If you don't like horror and disturbing content, just stop here.
Exquisite Corpse by Poppy Z. Brite
Warning
Extreme horror, extreme violence, necrophilia, if the title alone didn't give it away.Review
I wanted to dip my toes into the more extreme end of the horror genre, but with a book that was fairly well reviewed and rated. I went in expecting nothing more than cannibal torture porn. What I got a surprisingly deeper than that. The main character is serial killer with grandiose delusions, and he reads like Humbert Humbert if he fancied himself as Hannibal Lecter. He's a sick, pompous prick, but the prose fits his personality perfectly, and it's actually kind of (morbidly) humorous at times. The two main characters who aren't serial killers are written so much more skillfully than I would have expected from a book like this. The difficult, gay, messy relationship they're trying to navigate feels real, and is often heartbreaking and touching. I didn't expect to find a compelling love story here. Then there's the looming, ominous spectre of HIV, which is argueably more menacing than the cannibals. It's wasn't the full-on gore fest I was anticipating, but when it does decide to pull out all the stops, holy shit. Definitely not for everyone.Tampa by Alissa Nutting
Warning
Graphic depictions of CSAReview
Don't bother. I'm all for using graphic, shocking depictions of unspeakable things to get a point across. I'm all for the discussion that an attractive female teacher having sex with students is 100% still rape, full stop. I'm all for discussing the different standards society has for male and female victims and perpetrators of SA. Those are important discussions to be had. With all that said, this book is **not at all** how to go about that. I'm not even sure why I suffered through and finished it. -
Comment on Looking for surreal horror/mindbending in ~books
DingusMaximus LinkI don't have anything that comes to mind that I'd necessarily call Lynchian or Backrooms, but maybe check out Gone to See the River Man, The Only Good Indians (or The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by the...I don't have anything that comes to mind that I'd necessarily call Lynchian or Backrooms, but maybe check out Gone to See the River Man, The Only Good Indians (or The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by the same author, I can't decide), or The Unworthy. The first suggestion is the most surreal.
Blindsight is one of the best hard sci-fi novels ever written imo, and Peter Watts is one of my favorite authors, but surreal it is not a word I would use to describe it. Maybe check out his telling of The Thing told from the Thing's perspective instead, it's called The Things (there's also an audio version link on that page). If you want longer than a short story, I'd say Starfish is more horrorifying than Blindsight. The former often left me thinking Jesus, that's terrifying, while the latter leaves me thinking about how awesome and interesting the ideas presented are (though there are scary moments).
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Comment on In the world of tech, people constantly ask “Could chatbots ever be conscious?” but I feel like asking “Are you?” Take the test! in ~tech
DingusMaximus Link ParentI like the cut of your — jib.I like the cut of your — jib.
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Comment on ChatGPT made me delusional in ~tech
DingusMaximus Link ParentYou don't spend time in Bakersfield. You lose time in Bakersfield.You don't spend time in Bakersfield. You lose time in Bakersfield.
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Comment on What are some of your personal misheard lyrics? in ~music
DingusMaximus LinkToo much nutmeg, too much nutmeg! *Looks at back of CD case* 3. Too Much Nothing Yeah that makes more sense.Too much nutmeg, too much nutmeg!
*Looks at back of CD case*
3. Too Much NothingYeah that makes more sense.
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Comment on The 100 best movies of the 21st Century - voted by more than 500 influential directors, actors and other notable names in Hollywood and around the world in ~movies
DingusMaximus Link ParentIt's a list made by polling filmmakers. Also their methodology of combining everyone's top 10 into a list of 100 is whack. So it's not surprising to me at all to find it in the top 5-10. Listening...It's a list made by polling filmmakers. Also their methodology of combining everyone's top 10 into a list of 100 is whack. So it's not surprising to me at all to find it in the top 5-10.
Listening to
filmmakersartists in general talk about Mulholland Drive is what I imagine it was like for my friends listening to me after I took seven hits of acid the first time I ever even tried it, and tried explaining to them that I understood the entire universe and everything in it while I stared directly into a strobe light from a foot away for two hours.If this were a list made from average people's opinions, and not filmmakers, I wouldn't even expect the movie to be on the list at all.
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Comment on ‘A Minecraft Movie’ at $157m a record opening for videogame pic, toppling ‘Super Mario Bros’; Warner Bros brings the box office back alive in ~movies
DingusMaximus Link ParentIn fact sometimes that's not right to do.In fact sometimes that's not right to do.
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Comment on You get to choose your favorite director's next project. What is it, and why? in ~movies
DingusMaximus Link ParentDo we know what the status is on whatever Bradley Cooper is doing with it?Do we know what the status is on whatever Bradley Cooper is doing with it?
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Comment on You get to choose your favorite director's next project. What is it, and why? in ~movies
DingusMaximus Link ParentWhy would you wish something like that on someone you like!? I kid. But for real, I wouldn't have thought of Fincher as a choice for Blood Meridian, but I'd definitely be interested to see how...Why would you wish something like that on someone you like!?
I kid. But for real, I wouldn't have thought of Fincher as a choice for Blood Meridian, but I'd definitely be interested to see how he'd go about it.
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Comment on What are some books for which the critical/public opinion has flipped over time? in ~books
DingusMaximus Link ParentDon't get me wrong, I don't like why it happened, and I'd much rather none of it ever did, but... I just never liked Gainman's stuff (though I understand why others do). Many of my friends loved...Don't get me wrong, I don't like why it happened, and I'd much rather none of it ever did, but...
I just never liked Gainman's stuff (though I understand why others do). Many of my friends loved him. And they were always trying to get me to read more, like some dudebro douchebag trying to win over a lesbian, oh, you just haven't tried the right one. I'm so glad no one brings him up anymore.
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Comment on All main Disney animated canon films are going to be destroyed and you can save five, which five do you pick? in ~movies
DingusMaximus (edited )LinkAlice in Wonderland Fantasia Aladdin Lion King and, I know it's cheating, but... Cool Runnings Also, I feel like you can dial in on exactly how old a person is by what movies they pick. I refuse...Alice in Wonderland
Fantasia
Aladdin
Lion Kingand, I know it's cheating, but...
Cool RunningsAlso, I feel like you can dial in on exactly how old a person is by what movies they pick.
I refuse to elaborate, as there is no discussion in this matter. The above list is the definitive list.
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Comment on pISSStream — A macOS menu bar app that shows how full the International Space Station's urine tank is in real time in ~space
DingusMaximus (edited )LinkThat's a pretty hilarious name for an app, and I know it's not at all the intent, but I feel like two worlds are colliding. I don't like admitting to knowing anything at all about lolcows or even...That's a pretty hilarious name for an app, and I know it's not at all the intent, but I feel like two worlds are colliding. I don't like admitting to knowing anything at all about lolcows or even what that word means. And even though they're not actually intersecting, I really don't like even being reminded of a taboo interest (lolcows) at the same time as a "serious" interest (astronomy).
Please, don't click this link if you have even a modicum of self-respect
MisterPissAir
https://youtu.be/aOiqnDYz7lYLabel this as noise.
idc
I deserve it. -
Comment on What long book series is worth its page count? in ~books
DingusMaximus Link ParentI loved this series when I was 18-20. I hated it so much when I was 35 I couldn't finish a full re-read. I read them in the order they were released (starting with Wizard's First Rule), and I...I loved this series when I was 18-20. I hated it so much when I was 35 I couldn't finish a full re-read.
I read them in the order they were released (starting with Wizard's First Rule), and I think I'd actually suggest that as well. It sort of gets you into the story before going back to the prequel stuff. But chronological should be fine as well.
I wouldn't suggest the last four books at all. And I'm usually hesitant to suggest the series in general, but it goes into the category I've discussed elsewhere in this post of: just stop reading after Wizard's First Rule and leave it at that if you aren't absolutely dying for more.
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Comment on What long book series is worth its page count? in ~books
DingusMaximus Link ParentYes! I pretty much say the same every time I recommend Hyperion. I love the series. But I very much understand why others wouldn't. Read the first. If you aren't absolutely jonesing for more, just...Yes! I pretty much say the same every time I recommend Hyperion. I love the series. But I very much understand why others wouldn't. Read the first. If you aren't absolutely jonesing for more, just leave it at that.
I feel the exact same way about King's Dark Tower series as well.
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Comment on Is the Cybertruck really that bad? in ~transport
DingusMaximus Link ParentThe Escalade walked so the Cybertruck could shit all over the entire concept of luxury sports truck.The Escalade walked so the Cybertruck could
runshit all over the entire concept of luxury sports truck. -
Comment on I've added ~society for topics related to politics, law, policies, and similar societal-level subjects in ~tildes.official
DingusMaximus Link ParentYeah, it's pretty rad. I wish more sites had something like it. Should've added fwiw I'm pretty much the same way, so I totally get where you're coming from.Yeah, it's pretty rad. I wish more sites had something like it. Should've added fwiw I'm pretty much the same way, so I totally get where you're coming from.
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Comment on I've added ~society for topics related to politics, law, policies, and similar societal-level subjects in ~tildes.official
DingusMaximus Link ParentWhen you have filters in place, at the very top of your feed, before any posts, there's a link that says view unfiltered list. It's great. I filter all kinds of stuff that I'm just not interested...- Exemplary
When you have filters in place, at the very top of your feed, before any posts, there's a link that says view unfiltered list. It's great. I filter all kinds of stuff that I'm just not interested in. Ignorance is bliss. But sometimes I want to poke my head out and see what everyone else is up to. It's one click. (It's also just one click of the view filtered list link to apply filters again.)
Being so easy to switch between filtered and not, I don't see really see much reason to not curate one's feed.
I mean if you still don't want to, great. Use the site how you like. I just think maybe some people don't realize that it's super easy to switch back and fourth.
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Comment on Can/should Tildes pull out of search engine results? in ~tildes
DingusMaximus Link ParentWell now I'm just going to assume anyone wearing pants (or not) is you.Well now I'm just going to assume anyone wearing pants (or not) is you.
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Comment on Californian police can’t stop sideshows. Solution: Make the streets more annoying. in ~transport
DingusMaximus Link ParentIt can't be too regional. I grew up in Oregon. I picked it up when I was a kid in the 90s from parents, uncles, etc., so it clearly wasn't a new term at that point either. That said, it seems...It can't be too regional. I grew up in Oregon. I picked it up when I was a kid in the 90s from parents, uncles, etc., so it clearly wasn't a new term at that point either.
That said, it seems 50/50 whether someone in OR will say whipped a shitty or flipped a shitty. The latter I think came from cross-pollination with flipped a bitch, which is a u-turn (typically where a u-turn isn't allowed, and in an abrupt manner, but those qualifiers aren't strictly required).
Also when I was in training in the Air Force I shared a dorm room with three guys from PA, MN, and VA and they all knew what shitties and bitches were.
Maybe it's less of a regional thing and more of an age/generational thing? Maybe it's fallen out of favor with the
people I think of askidsbut are actually grown adults now.
Story of Your Life is one of my favorite pieces of art, period. I also think about Tower of Babylon and Hell Is the Absence of God fairly regularly.
There Is No Antimemetics Division is fantastic. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I started following on the wiki around 2018. It's so cool to see the success qntm has garnered from it, and seeing it breach containment as a real novel out in the wider world.
If you don't already know Jeffiot narrated There Is No Antimemetics Division on his second channel, which is dedicated to SCP.
And there's a four-part adaptation on YouTube that's really well done. Obviously in just four short parts, it can't cover the entirety of the story, but it's cool to have some visuals to put to it. Don't watch until you've finished reading though.
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
I know you didn't ask, but here are a few suggestions that might be worth checking out.
If you like Stephen King, I'd suggest the short story The Things. It's a short story, written by Peter Watts, that tells the story from the Thing's perspective. Peter Watts is the author the incredible hard sci-fi novels Blindsight, Echopraxia, and Starfish. It's free on the website I linked, and there's a great audio version linked right at the top there as well, read by Kate Baker.
The same Kate Baker audio version on YouTube also, but there's background music added, which I don't find distracting at all fwiw. Both parts total about an hour. (There's another audio version on YouTube with more views, which I haven't linked, read by a man, but I don't think it's nearly as good.)
The Things, Part One
The Things, Part Two
You might also check out the collection of short stories Beacon 23 by Hugh Howey. He's probably best known as the author of Wool, which lead to the TV show Silo. Anyhow, I think there are five stories to the collection now. They take about an hour each to read. Beacon 23 became it's own TV show starring Lena Headey as well, but I haven't seen it, so I can't comment on it. There's a beacon (basically a lighthouse) at the edge of the known universe. It's an isolated post with two year rotations for its keepers. It begins with the main character, a veteran of an intergalactic war, lamenting the isolation of the post. Then strange events, passing ships, and other mysteries begin to intrude on that solitude. Each of the short stories in the collection kind of adds a new layer to the overall story, with themes of isolation, trauma, trust, perception. I'd say it's psychological, introspective, and atmospheric, more about the inner worlds of the characters, and less concerned with what's happening outside the beacon out in space.