Seven Habits of Highly Effective Spaceship Captains

[baldguy]

via Boing Boing:

http://io9.com/353543/seven-habits-of-highly-effective-spaceship-captains

[Fire Walk With Me]

1. Pleasant- And how cool to meet others who recognize the best Culture book!

[petronius]

2. Pretty awesome to see any mention of the Culture at all

Although I'm not totally sure Excession is the best - I could make a case for all of them...

[Kutjara]

3. I love the Culture books. It's such a well-realized universe.

Even better, the starship names are simply bonkers:

GCU Nervous Energy
GCU Prosthetic Conscience
GSV The Ends Of Invention
GSV Eschatologist (temporary name)
GSV Irregular Apocalyse
GSV No More Mr Nice Guy
GSV Determinist
GSV Bora Horza Gobuchul
LSV Profit Margin
ROU Trade Surplus
ROU Revisionist
GCU Flexible Demeanour
GCU Just Read The Instructions
GCU Of Course I Still Love You
GOU Limiting Factor
GSV Cargo Cult
GSV Little Rascal
GSV So Much For Subtlety
GSV Unfortunate Conflict Of Evidence
GSV Youthful Indiscretion
LOU Gunboat Diplomat
dROU Zealot
Superlifter Kiss My Ass
Superlifter Prime Mover
GSV Bad for Business
GCU Arbitrary
GCU Cantankerous
GCU Only Slightly Bent
GCU I Thought He Was With You
GCU Space Monster
GCU A Series Of Unlikely Explanations
GCU Big Sexy Beast
GCU Never Talk To Strangers
GCU Funny, It Worked Last Time...
GCU Boo!
GCU Ultimate Ship The Second
GCU It'll Be Over By Christmas

And many others.

[petronius]

5. You left my sig line off that list...

:)

[Kutjara]

7. I even forgot my favorite:

The Attitude Adjuster (Psychopath Class).

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. I've used 2 Ship names as forum names elsewhere

they're a never-ending source. Even the class names for Offensive Units are good - 'Torturer', 'Psychopath', 'Gangster', 'Thug' - they're for when the gloves are off.

Without any plot spoilers whatsoever, please, anyone know anything about the new Culture novel - 'Matter'? Heh - looking, it's been published a month earlier in the UK than the US. Cool.

[Fire Walk With Me]

11. Ooh, a new one? I'm out of the loop. Thanks for the heads-up.

[Fire Walk With Me]

12. They are all excellent, aren't they? Each one adds something new and interesting.

I myself enjoy the perplexing abstract, and others seeking to understand it. Excession fills that bill :)

Look To Windward is another that is right up there for me. Which ones grab you?

[mainegreen]

9. I was suprised at that one.

I just got reading Excession. In fact it's right next to the keyboard as I type.

Great book.

[pokerfan]

4. Rule 2!

I would add:

If it's stupid but it works, it isn't stupid.

If you find yourself in a fair fight, you didn't plan your mission properly.

[laconicsax]

6. That shirt is everything I aspire for and more.

Not really, but it is wicked cool.

[Frank Cannon]

8. Han didn't shoot first.

Han shot only.