I love Asimov’s easy-to-read-and-understand style. Other SF authors use convoluted and technical language that drops me out of the story. I need to be immersed in the world I’m reading about and if I have to stop every few pages to check the meaning of technical words that isn’t going to happen. I read for escape. I like to learn things along the way but I don’t want the learning to be too much like work. I get really annoyed if the research done for a book has been sloppy. I like technical accuracy, I like to know that if ‘this’ happened in the science world, then the circumstances of the book could be possible.

Every time I see one of Asimov’s books that I don’t already have I buy it. It’s a bit difficult to do that now without a conscious effort as most of the ones readily available I already have.

Nightfall is one of my favourite stories. I love things that play on the mind, things that can cause drastic changes in how people see themselves and their lives. One of these days I’m going to use some of the ideas I’ve gained from Nightfall and write my own story. I have some notes but have been making myself focus on finishing the ones I’m working on already.

SF and astronomy go together, I think. I can’t imagine looking at the stars at night and not thinking about which ones might have habitable worlds. I’d love to see the night sky in the northern hemisphere. People I know who’ve travelled say it’s very different but nowhere near as impressive as the southern sky.

The milky way here is an incredible sweep of light across the sky. It’s so dense when you’re in the country, you can see blades of grass by starlight alone. Even moonless nights aren’t totally dark. I haven’t seen it in its full glory for years. I’ve lived in the city for too long.

I am right with you in believing that one of the most magical things that can be done is to stand out and gaze up at the night sky. We live in town and yet live in a fairly dark neighborhood so I can see the stars well, but not as well as I could in the country at my parents house, the place where I grew up.

Last year my wife and I took a trip to this old farmhouse bed and breakfast in central Missouri and were told by friends that going outside at night was just amazing because you are out in the middle of nowhere and it is pitch dark. We looked forward to experiencing just that and unfortunately had a rainy weekend the whole time we were there. They were right though, it was pitch black out at night. We had alot of fun, but I missed having that part of the experience. Hopefully in May when we go back to the same area (not the same place) we can get out and view the stars.

I’ll have to check out the Google Earth thing. I’ve looked at it before but just briefly, but the sky option is something I would be much more interested in.

Good stuff, thanks!!!