This was a reread for me, and it contains some of my favorite quotes.

For example, nuclear war is described as "the normal course of human politics extended into atomic physics. Then there's this line from Solcom's argument with DivCom: "The impossible cannot be adequately demonstrated." And this one from Mordel, "there is no formula for a feeling. There is no conversion factor for an emotion.”

And then there’s this exchange, in a place which, from its description, is probably intended to be somewhere in Redwood National and State Park in California:

“Now direct my attention to an object or objects of beauty."

"As I understand it, it is all around you here," said Mordel.

The purring noise increased within Frost, followed by more clickings…

"What do you see, hear, taste, smell?" asked Mordel.

"Everything I did before," replied Frost, "but within a more limited range."

"You do not perceive any beauty?"

"Perhaps none remains after so long a time," said Frost.

For context, here’s a picture:
By Chmee2 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

But this scene is also maddening, because it describes grass growing among coast redwood trees. Grass requires too much sun to grow in the understory of a grove of coast redwoods, and ferns grow there instead. On the other hand, it is true that old-growth redwood stands (such as the one described here) are indeed places that “delight Man.”

And this one:

""Here comes a sunset," said Mordel. "Try that."

Frost shifted his bulk so that his eyes faced the setting sun...

After it was finished, Mordel asked, "What was it like?"

"Like a sunrise, in reverse.""

Sunsets are one of my favorite things to photograph, so I obviously have a much different opinion about them than Frost. Then again, I have been human my whole life :)

I liked it as much as I did the first time, so its rating is staying the same. ( )

This was a reread for me, and it contains some of my favorite quotes.

For example, nuclear war is described as "the normal course of human politics extended into atomic physics. Then there's this line from Solcom's argument with DivCom: "The impossible cannot be adequately demonstrated." And this one from Mordel, "there is no formula for a feeling. There is no conversion factor for an emotion.”

And then there’s this exchange, in a place which, from its description, is probably intended to be somewhere in Redwood National and State Park in California:

“Now direct my attention to an object or objects of beauty."

"As I understand it, it is all around you here," said Mordel.

The purring noise increased within Frost, followed by more clickings…

"What do you see, hear, taste, smell?" asked Mordel.

"Everything I did before," replied Frost, "but within a more limited range."

"You do not perceive any beauty?"

"Perhaps none remains after so long a time," said Frost.

For context, here’s a picture:
By Chmee2 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

But this scene is also maddening, because it describes grass growing among coast redwood trees. Grass requires too much sun to grow in the understory of a grove of coast redwoods, and ferns grow there instead. On the other hand, it is true that old-growth redwood stands (such as the one described here) are indeed places that “delight Man.”

And this one:

""Here comes a sunset," said Mordel. "Try that."

Frost shifted his bulk so that his eyes faced the setting sun...

After it was finished, Mordel asked, "What was it like?"

"Like a sunrise, in reverse.""

Sunsets are one of my favorite things to photograph, so I obviously have a much different opinion about them than Frost. Then again, I have been human my whole life :)

I liked it as much as I did the first time, so its rating is staying the same. ( )