Because I care

[james_davis_nicoll]

As mentioned in comments, Dan Simmons has a dystopic novel coming out.

Canada, used to dividing itself into smaller parts to appease ethnic groups, languages, and claims to prior ownership, [...]

Is that a snipe at Nunavut?

Comments

[kithrup.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I didn't read it. Well, not past the first several paragraphs. Subsequent comments supported my decision to not do so.

So it wasn't clear that he was quoting, vs just commenting. I actually read the comment in question three or four times before realizing it was probably a quote.

[nelc.livejournal.com]

Me, either. But I searched the page for 'Nippon' and found the relevent paragraph after two or three tries.

[dbdatvic.livejournal.com]

And now I'm picturing you with your eyes moving towards the search box, then uncontrollably flinching away because they've caught sight of part of the webpage's text, after which you steel yourself and try again, until finally succeeding.

--Dave, not all bravery involves combat

[nelc.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I've been giving Simmons the benefit of the doubt since that story, so I started reading the page with a somewhat open mind. But the awfulness of the setting wore me down and I skipped sections of it, including the Nippon paragraph.

I'm not so keen on giving him the benefit of the doubt any more.

[scott-sanford.livejournal.com]

It made me wonder "what the hell?" - but asking for explanations would only make things worse.