Book Club: Vice Options

[Ancient History]

So, while not exactly a tradition there was this thing we used to do where everyone would read a Shadowrun book a chapter at a time, and then we could discuss it. The contents, how it was written, compliments and complaints, etc. I think it would be nice to do that again, and I'd like to do it with Vice, if anyone is interested.

So, are any of you interested?

[rumanchu]

I'm interested. If anything, it would give me a very solid reason to read Vice (since I haven't had the need to bring any serious criminal elements into the SR game that I am involved with).

[knasser]

I'm interested. How do we do this? I've read the book cover to cover. It inspired the Shadowrun Resources article on my site as I was trying to get a feel for what finances criminal groups actually might have at their disposal in Shadowrun.

K.

[Ancient History]

Usually, we give people time (normally about a week) to read a section, and then we discuss it. Of course, if everyone's already read it, we could just do a section every day or couple of days depending on the amount of conversation we have.

[Khyron]

Sounds like a neat idea.

[Fix-it]

Do it.

[Ascalaphus]

Hmm, I like it. I've been meaning to take a closer look at Vice anyway.

[Ancient History]

OKay, why don't we plan on starting the discussion of the first chapter, Crime Pays next Monday? Is that too late for y'all?

[bmcoomes]

I'm in, I'll start reading.
Great Idea by the way.

[nemafow]

I'd be interested in doing it.. Cept my book is stuck in the same order as SR4 LE...

[TeaTime]

Sounds like a fun idea to me- my SO has been wanting me to get into a book club, anyway!
What shall we start reading, and when is the book reports' due date?

[Coldan]

Sounds interesting. I'll try to get a closer look at the chapter.

[Grexul]

I'm in, I've been spot reading the book, so now I'll have a good reason to really 'knuckle down'.

Grexul

[OneTrikPony]

If I can still buy Vice I'm in.

[Udoshi]

Heck, if Vice is one of the books being pulled from the shelves, I think it'd be a great opportunity for those of us who don't have it to sit in on a book reading. How is this going to work? Just via the forum?

[Ancient History]

Yes, we generally do this just by posting in the forum (although I often head into the Dumpshock IRC channel, so we can always set up a bit of time for real-time discussion if posting seems too slow). The last couple of times, I posted my initial thoughts on the chapter and everybody else posted their thoughts and commentaries to others thoughts, etc.

[Ophis]

Yey! Bookclub is back. Just the push I need to read Vice.

Monday you say? That's Sunday's activities sorted.

[Prime Mover]

Hey I'm in. About halfway through the book been a busy couple a weeks, cheated and read most wanted section first though.

[Ancient History]

If anybody wants to get started early, we could talk about the JackPoint login page, available in this preview (on p. 3)

[Stahlseele]

Monday what time?
I more or less skimmed the entire book allready.
It's pretty heavy reading, if i remember correctly.

[Ancient History]

Monday whenever-we-get-to-posting-about-it.

[Stahlseele]

*shrugs*
i can live with that.
i have tomorrow and thursday free, then it's easter and there will be NOTHING to do for me at work.
This means Friday: 9 hours of getting paid for doing nothing. Saturday, i'm playing Battletech(yes, yes, i know, "traitor traitor!" ._.).
Sunday, 6 hours of doing nothing and getting paid for it.
Monday, 9 hours of doing nothing and getting paid for it.
Well, probably at least.

[Wesley Street]

If anybody wants to get started early, we could talk about the JackPoint login page, available in this preview (on p. 3)

I'll bite.

PDA: The Mercurial Tribute Concert at Underworld 93 starts in 8 hours, 12 minutes and 30 seconds.

I found this interesting. I assume by "tribute" the concert consists of other musicians performing cover pieces and original works in her honor. It doesn't say "memorial" so I have no reason to believe she's shuffled off her mortal coil but at the same time many tribute concerts, such as The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert in '92 and the upcoming Michael Jackson tribute concert in London, are organized as such.

The series of gruesome murders attributed to the serial killer known as the “Chupra Sangre” continued today with Pueblo authorities in Los Angeles announcing the discovery of an eighth body. Thomas Parker, the killer’s latest victim, was a 24-year-old college student attending Caltech. As with the Chupra Sangre’s previous victims, Parker was Awakened. Peace Force authorities have asked for any witnesses to come forward.

There has been a lot of play with high-profile serial killers in the background of the Sixth World in 4th ed. The Mayan Cutter in Seattle being the most obvious example. The last high profile killer I remember was the Jack the Ripper personachip from Dreamchipper, waaaaay back at the beginning of 1st ed. I'm curious if this is indicative of some sort of societal shift in the '70s or simply the media taking the old adage of "if it bleeds, it leads." Perhaps play up the local tragedies as international conflicts might make for dull reading due to their complexity. And the short attention spans of media consumers.

[Ancient History]

The Mayan Cutter can be laid at Jong Won Kim's feet, at least in SR4, as he wrote everything about him in Runner Havens.

More on the JackPoint page, the Sexton of Worlds is as stated from Dunkelzahn's Will. If you're wondering about the mention here, I don't want to ruin any potential surprises, but check out the bequest for one of the likely suspects.

You might notice in "Invited Guests" that Abracadavre is here - last seen in Street Magic and one of three voodoo-related posters used from time to time (the other two are Johnny Vendredi and Papa Dimanche). I'd intended to do a Hallowe'en piece with those three several years ago (back when there was webfiction), but it never got past an outline.

[Khyron]

I've talked about it in another thread, but Vice's Jackpoint does mention a space elevator project and towing an anchoring asteroid into orbit. I don't see how this could possibly go wrong. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)