HELP! 22 Hour flight, what to read?

[shah269]

Hay guys, per my rant about headding down to South Africa for work.
Well yeah it looks as if Uncle Sam is making us take KLM and we will be flying on a Mixed Passanger Freight Boeing 747.
Which means no head rest movie, just over head one which if I'm lucky will be in Hindi!
Here is the seat plan

My E ticket at the moment puts me in row 45.
Any how I don't want to drop the $125 for one of those portable DVD jobs. None of their re-chargable batteries lasts that long.
So I figure I'll read. Any suggestions? I mean besides Hustler and Swank?
I'm in so scifi so if you know of any good scifi books I would appreciate it.

[Bombauer]

I just recommended Footfall on another thread (larry niven and someone).

How about The Terror by Dan Simmons?  Let me know how it is, it's supposed to be good...

[bizarro]

Pick up a used copy of Gravity's Rainbow. You'll be asleep in no time.  

[Corbeau]

[bizarro]

That was my initial suggestion!

[desert_rider]

Not SciFi, but since you have the time, try Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" or "The Fountainhead".  22 hours should be enough to get throuh one.

[desert_rider]

ANY Rober Heinlein.  My favorite SciFi writer of all time.

[bubba zanetti]

This should keep you interested.

[Bombauer]

Nobody over 30 should be reading Ayn Rand!  If you read it before, fine, but if not, it's too late now!

[Bombauer]

ANY Rober Heinlein.  My favorite SciFi writer of all time.

If he's a sci fi fan, he's already read it all!

[desert_rider]

If he's a sci fi fan, he's already read it all!

Yeah, I figured that, but I just reread "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" and it popped into my brain.

[jschmidt]

The patient information that comes with a bottle of Lunesta.

[shah269]

YOU SOB!
Thanks guys! I'll hit borders before I fly.
This should be fun!.....if i don't die!

[keystonejenks]

If you have a laptop you have a DVD player just buy an extra battery! That should get you through at least 3 movies.

I'm currently reading In Cold Blood

[bubba zanetti]

Despite the bad form on an airline, this not a bad read.  OK OK ... I  ...  

[miles]

ANY Rober Heinlein.  My favorite SciFi writer of all time.

If he's a sci fi fan, he's already read it all by the time he got done with junior high!

Fixed that for you.

[Bombauer]

Hey Bubba, give a guy a break and give a little text with your pics - my empoyer blocks most images from ever getting to me!  I'm lucky I can even use ST.N!

[bubba zanetti]

Never knew that ... apologies and will fix.

[gradus]

Row 45.  You probably can't lean the seat back.

[bubba zanetti]

On a long flight I take a foam, neck pillow. It really does allow you to sleep. Even upright. Most major airports have them.  Earplugs, neck pillow and zero coffee.

[Rincewind]

I'm reading the 2nd book in the Area 51 series by Robert Doherty.  It's fairly good pulp sci-fi written by a former Special Forces guy.  Reads kind of like a Dan Brown book.  

[jude]

I'm just saying...   


Edit: Try anything by Dale Brown.

[baldheadeddork]

Eleven hours each way in 3-4-3 coach with no personal entertainment systems? That's brutal.  

[Walker]

I just finished reading Michael Marshall's "The Intruders", which was pretty good, but I can digest a book like that in a matter of hours, so what would you do with the rest of the 16 hours of your flight?  

Seems to me there was a thread on here not to long ago about favorite scifi authors...

[budah1]

Can't you get a hold of the Ambien?  I had it down to taking one going through Customs in Germany then waking up in the US.  Was a little stiff due to the sleeping but was good to work that day and no jet lag/

[traveler]

I just recommended Footfall on another thread (larry niven and someone).

How about The Terror by Dan Simmons?  Let me know how it is, it's supposed to be good...

I've never read his horror/sci-fi stuff, but his other fiction books were most enjoyable.

[traveler]

I just finished reading Michael Marshall's "The Intruders", which was pretty good, but I can digest a book like that in a matter of hours, so what would you do with the rest of the 16 hours of your flight?  

Seems to me there was a thread on here not to long ago about favorite scifi authors...

Read that one, too. His others are entertaining,as well.

[Orson]

the proper position for someone on a 22 hour flight is to have a dazed look, staring holes into the seat in front of you, head slightly tilted with a slow dribble of drool coming out of your mouth.

[scott-sts]

I still can't get over the fact that you think you "Deserve" a 1st class ticket!

[5OUTTA6]

Look where this guy "chose" to sit...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/02/20/MN163501.DTL&hw=landing+gear&sn=017&sc=529

[chornbe]

So I figure I'll read. Any suggestions? I mean besides Hustler and Swank?
I'm in so scifi so if you know of any good scifi books I would appreciate it.

I have a few suggestions:


Ok, ok... seriously... sorry, couldn't resist. I'm a huge fan of up-n-coming author Scott Sigler.

Check these two out:

Ancestor, by Scott Sigler



and


Earth Core, by Scott Sigler

[Cpl Punishment]

anything by Niall Griffiths.

[shah269]

I still can't get over the fact that you think you "Deserve" a 1st class ticket!

In my last job we use to get business class tickets on anything longer than 4 hours.
So is asking for business class seats on a business trip too much? I mean it's called business class....

Thanks for the help guys, I'll hit Borders Books this week end after I change the battery in my wife's car.
I'm also going to bring a Saduko book and I'll steal my wife's Nintendo DS.

Yeah it won't be fun but I'll make it. I mean you have to right?

[Norwegian Blue]

If you haven't read them already, get all of the Harry Potter books and read them in order.

[baldheadeddork]

In my last job we use to get business class tickets on anything longer than 4 hours.
So is asking for business class seats on a business trip too much? I mean it's called business class....

Mrs. Dork used to be in the jewelry business and had to fly to SE Asia a couple of times a year. Her one demand when starting any job was that any flight over four hours had to be business class. Salary and bennies were negotiable, and she'd book coach for domestic trips without any complaint, but if she was getting on an airplane for up to fourteen hours (Newark-Bangkok on Thai airways, longest non-stop in the world at the time) it had to be in business class.

[shah269]

Mrs. Dork used to be in the jewelry business and had to fly to SE Asia a couple of times a year. Her one demand when starting any job was that any flight over four hours had to be business class. Salary and bennies were negotiable, and she'd book coach for domestic trips without any complaint, but if she was getting on an airplane for up to fourteen hours (Newark-Bangkok on Thai airways, longest non-stop in the world at the time) it had to be in business class.

Well for us any trip grater than 13 hours, can be business. But there is a catch! Oh when working for uncle Sam there is allways a catch!
A two star has to sign off on it!
So if you are higher management then sure you an take business but if you are a Division chief or lower then odds are you are flying cargo!
Woo freaking hoo! But at least I'll have something to read!
Thanks guys!
So.....how is Bangkok! I mean I can't say it with out giggling!

[spinalator]

I did a lot of flying over the last year, and on planes I like boring books that put me to sleep, and Sudoku. Currently I am reading a book on Gnostic philosophy and I can make it 2 pages before I start seeing patterns in the wallpaper.

[ctfz1]

Go to Baen website, 200 book free library to sample and sample chapters on many books.
Lois MCmaster Bujord   "Vorkosigan" novels
John Ringo "GHOST" SPEC OPS,  lost prince serries and
Eric Flint
David Weber
Elizabeth Moon
Mike SHEPARD  Kris Longknife
S. M. Sterling
W.E.B. Griffin war series
David Drake

[Corbeau]

Screw the reading!

Do you know how many times you can get your "Mile-high Club" membership card punched on a 22-hour flight?

[shah269]

Screw the reading!

Do you know how many times you can get your "Mile-high Club" membership card punched on a 22-hour flight?

Solo or with one of the 60yo stews?

[bomber]

Spine -- I just finihsed a couple of books on Gnosticism -- cool stuff (and helped with the daily train commute).

I flew to India on bisness for the first time a couple of years ago -- I'm 6'2", and coach was murder -- promised myself I'd brace my boss about business class next time

while waiting for my return flight at the airport, my boss's boss walks up (we were both in the B'lore office a tthe same time) -- we passed the time of day, and his flight was called -- I watch as he happily marched right up to, wait for it, COACH

damn

course, he's about 4'13, but still

;-}

[stefrrr]

The first couple or few books from CJ Cherryh's Foreigner series, depending on how fast you read.

[shah269]

damn

course, he's about 4'13, but still

Man 5'1"! Just pick him up scream "Dwarf toss" and throw his ass across the airport!

[bomber]

I was tempted, Shah -- all those bagage handlers with fully automatic weaps helped calm me down abit, though!

[shah269]

I was tempted, Shah -- all those bagage handlers with fully automatic weaps helped calm me down abit, though!

Man you haven't lived till you have seen dwarf wrestling!

[bomber]

always willing to expand my horizons --

how tall are you?

[05SprintST]

 Jupiter's Travels by Ted Simon

http://www.amazon.com/Jupiters-Travels-Years-Around-Triumph/dp/0965478521

[shah269]

Now how am i going to read!  
Thank god no one died!

[Walker]

Well for us any trip grater than 13 hours, can be business. But there is a catch! Oh when working for uncle Sam there is allways a catch!
A two star has to sign off on it!
So if you are higher management then sure you an take business but if you are a Division chief or lower then odds are you are flying cargo!
Woo freaking hoo! But at least I'll have something to read!
Thanks guys!
So.....how is Bangkok! I mean I can't say it with out giggling!

When I was in the Army, I either got to fly MAC flights (Maybe Airplane Come), where RHIP rules (Rank Has Its Privilages), or my flight was tasked for my mission specifically, or on a couple of hops I was able to hitchhike... there's nothing quite like being stranded on an airfield in Diego Garcia, getting told that the next flight back stateside is in four days... I hitched a ride on a C-5 going the wrong way around to Ramstein, then hitched another ride back to Pope, then had my wife pick me up and drive me back to Ft. Benning.... I was a walking zombie after that.

Nowadays, with my company, we have very similar rules.  We are a joint operating agency of Washington State, so all travel is coach... They won't even let me spend my own money to upgrade.  Then our finance office acts like the company was doing you a favor by sending you on a trip.  You have to buy your own tickets, accomodations, rental car, etc, then get reimbursed for them when you get back, providing oringials to all receipts of course... I've basically told my boss that I'm not traveling anymore, and if they don't like that then they can get someone to replace me for all I care.  Its kind of nice when you get past all the hate and discontent and move into general apathy... its a much happier place.

[Cpl Punishment]

Coaches are excellent means of travelling cross the 'tlantic.

[chornbe]

Coaches are excellent means of travelling cross the 'tlantic.

I don't mind a nice cool, damp, dirt-filled coffin in the deep, dark hold of a cargo ship. Always a good time.  

[Cpl Punishment]

I don't mind a nice cool, damp, dirt-filled coffin in the deep, dark hold of a cargo ship. Always a good time.  

I was at Whitby Museum two years ago. It has loads of oil paintings, fossils and boats. And models of boats. Whgen an American student asked a curator if the museum had Dracula's ship, we all managed to keep a straight face. Just.

[Baz]

It does not matter what you read.

As a seasoned traveller I can tell you that after oh 6 hours in economy, you will kill yourself in the washroom.
 

Try "The Prize"

[Cpl Punishment]

It does not matter what you read.

As a seasoned traveller I can tell you that after oh 6 hours in economy, you will kill yourself in the washroom.
 

Try "The Prize"

Yup, don't bother to take a book. Smuggle a sharp thru.