50 shades?

[nachtjaeger]

Another book that would make a kick-@$$ movie would be H.P. Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness." It's really different than most of Lovecraft's work- more SciFi than Gothic Horror, but as dark as "Promethius" or "Alien."

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

It's set in Antarctica, and this scientific team finds these incredibly strange alien creatures that had apparently been trapped in a cave by a rock fall and either starved or frozen to death. They bring one back to camp and dissect it. They are amazed at how well preserved it is- the tissues are so fresh it's as if it had only died a few minutes ago, not thousands of years. Even the fluids are still liquid. Anyway, they go back to the cave- and the rest of the alien creatures are missing. But there are strange tracks leading back towards their camp. Yep, they get back, and the camp is a wreck. But not a brutal wreck- it has been thoroughly searched and looted. And a bunch of equipment is missing- flashlights, portable heaters, fuel, blankets, food, and one of the sleds. The dissected creature has been buried in the snow, and the guy they left at the camp- has been carefully dissected and studied. Turns out they weren't dead- just hibernating. So the two surviving scientists end up tracking these creatures. And they track them to a fabulous but spooky lost city. And once they get into the city, things get even more interesting.

[Tim Kelly]

One notable side effect here in Dear Old Blighty is that Marks & Spencer reported a sudden spike in the sales of their silver neckties (on the cover of the paperback edition)...

[Tim Kelly]

Actually it's a significant point that when Ayn Rand hit 60 she applied for both Social Security AND medicare; so much for self-reliance! Another point is that she imbibed her ideas from her father's knee as a kid in pre-revolutionary Russia; came the revolution, and her father's employees and tenants turned up on his doorstep wanting to discuss his ieas with him; "...and since you believe in self-reliance, we bought our own rope..."; Suddenly the Rands found the idea of relocation very attractive! Incidentally, is Ayn Rand actually reponsible for the think-tank that bears her name (the "Rand Corporation") or was it founded post-mortem, like the John Birch Society?

[Cuthbert]

Actually it's a significant point that when Ayn Rand hit 60 she applied for both Social Security AND medicare; so much for self-reliance! Another point is that she imbibed her ideas from her father's knee as a kid in pre-revolutionary Russia; came the revolution, and her father's employees and tenants turned up on his doorstep wanting to discuss his ieas with him; "...and since you believe in self-reliance, we bought our own rope..."; Suddenly the Rands found the idea of relocation very attractive! Incidentally, is Ayn Rand actually reponsible for the think-tank that bears her name (the "Rand Corporation") or was it founded post-mortem, like the John Birch Society?

You're quite right! The gander and a goose comes to mind.

[Mynock]

While I tend towards conservatism on a lot of issues I have no interest in Atlas Shrugged. Politics and fiction are two things that never mix well imho.

Another book that would make a kick-@$$ movie would be H.P. Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness." It's really different than most of Lovecraft's work- more SciFi than Gothic Horror, but as dark as "Promethius" or "Alien."

This sounds really cool. Going to pick this one up.

[Cuthbert]

Another book that would make a kick-@$$ movie would be H.P. Lovecraft's "At the Mountains of Madness." It's really different than most of Lovecraft's work- more SciFi than Gothic Horror, but as dark as "Promethius" or "Alien."

*** SPOILER ALERT ***

It's set in Antarctica, and this scientific team finds these incredibly strange alien creatures that had apparently been trapped in a cave by a rock fall and either starved or frozen to death. They bring one back to camp and dissect it. They are amazed at how well preserved it is- the tissues are so fresh it's as if it had only died a few minutes ago, not thousands of years. Even the fluids are still liquid. Anyway, they go back to the cave- and the rest of the alien creatures are missing. But there are strange tracks leading back towards their camp. Yep, they get back, and the camp is a wreck. But not a brutal wreck- it has been thoroughly searched and looted. And a bunch of equipment is missing- flashlights, portable heaters, fuel, blankets, food, and one of the sleds. The dissected creature has been buried in the snow, and the guy they left at the camp- has been carefully dissected and studied. Turns out they weren't dead- just hibernating. So the two surviving scientists end up tracking these creatures. And they track them to a fabulous but spooky lost city. And once they get into the city, things get even more interesting.

Indeed one of HPL's greatest tales. My personal fave is The case of Charles Dexter Ward. In my humble opinion one of the greatest American horror tales.

[QuicksandMania]

Incidentally, is Ayn Rand actually reponsible for the think-tank that bears her name (the "Rand Corporation") or was it founded post-mortem, like the John Birch Society?

Per its Web site, "Adopting its name from a contraction of the term research and development, the newly formed entity was dedicated to furthering and promoting scientific, educational, and charitable purposes for the public welfare and security of the United States," so this bears zero relation to Ayn Rand.

The Branch Banking and Trust (BB&T) adopted its values list directly from "This Is John Galt Speaking" in Atlas Shrugged and its former CEO, John Allison, retired and has served as CEO of the libertarian think tank known as the Cato Institute.

The Estate of Ayn Rand formed the Ayn Rand Institute a few years after her death as a think tank to advance her ideas in various ways such as a "Free Books to Teachers" program integrated with an annual essay contest.

[PM2K]

Nice to see the appreciation for HP Lovecraft remains alive and well.
He was always unfairly overlooked for decades as being one of America's top horror writers... although many modern dark fantasy types have borrowed a lot from his writings. There are few who can creep me out more than HP in his prime.

As for Ayn Rand, my fav reference in pop culture will remain the Ayn Rand School for Tots from The Simpsons. I'm a sucker for Great Escape references too...

[Nessie]

Ayn Rand School for Tots from The Simpsons.

YouTube:

"The Longest Daycare"

It's great.

Nessie

[Tim Kelly]

In England the main result of the "50 Shades" phenomenon is...Marks and Spencer (a clothing chain) sold out of their silver ties! (the one on the paperback cover)