If one of my options during my last hours of life was to finish a book I was in the middle of, I probably wouldn't finish it. I feel an unpleasant twinge of finality whenever I finish a good book because it's over and done with: no more possibilities with that story. I don't need to feel that sort of feeling with my own story coming to an end.

Another developer at cf.Objective() was telling a small group of us about "A Game of Thrones" as part of a general discussion about sci-fi and fantasy books. With such similar tastes in the community, maybe we should start a CF developer book club? :)

seeing how when you die and if you go to heaven, you won't have eyes, it might be hard to read. So getting, theological and doctinal, from a historically christian perspective, I think you would have to wait to the last judgment and resurrection of the dead where you will be reunited with your body before you could continue reading.

so yeah, you could finish your book but you might have to wait 100,000 years...

by the way, this a absolutely fantastic question, being a big reader myself. Actually I was a literature/theology major in college. funny

@barry.b - Trust me, I'm not obsessing about it. ;) In case it didn't come through, this post -was- written in a light tone. I do think that if I'm on my death bed I probably will be more concerned with other things.... but it is kind of fun/interesting to think about, eh? ;)

@Hakki - If Heaven is "you can do the things you enjoy most", then it does make it a moot question. You would just get the book. I've also thought to myself - if I have all knowledge in Heaven, I'd have to ensure I _didn't_ know how a book ended. ;)

@Brian - if you are going to cfunited08, there will be a "SciFi" BOF. It will cover all media and obviously fantasy as well as SciFi.

Is the deathclock broken?

I would definitely check out the ending on wikipedia if I knew I was going to "check out" before finishing. I do that now with books. I'll check out the last few pages or chapter before starting the book.

What if the author passes before finishing?

Robert Jordan died last year. He was finishing his Wheel of Time series. The 12th and final book will be finished by another author. I wonder how readers of that series feel about that?

@Ray - I'm glad you are enjoying it, I hope you won't be too disappointed to learn that he hasn't finished the series yet. As Joshua mentions, the fifth book is still in progress, and it is "projected" that there will be seven books in all.

@Brian S. - Yeah, that was me -- I'm a huge fan of Martin's series, and I recommend his books pretty much any time SF/Fantasy is being discussed.

Ray,
After reading your post I took a moment to think about what you said and quite honestly yes I would pick up a 5 part novel series or anything else I could get my hands on to pass the time. Otherwise I'd be counting the seconds until the moment I passed away. I'd like to think once you do pass away you know what the secret to life and everything else is because you become one with everything. Sort of like the Force ;).

For all I know we could all be just reborn and have to do this whole thing all over again.

I think I'd read something like James Joyce's Ulysses. That way, death would be welcome!

"I think I'd read something like James Joyce's Ulysses. That way, death would be welcome!"

hahahahahaha - that's hilarious. Gravity's rainbow, anyone?

I really like Martin's writing style and his expansive story lines, but I hate reading his books. They're so utterly depressing and disappointing. What's the point of even introducing characters that catch your attention only to kill them off?

I made it through 3 of t he books and decided that I wouldn't bother reading any others. It makes me sad because I think Martin has skill rivaling that of Tolkien or some of the other Fantasy greats.

Ray . . . not all romances are trash. Trust me on this. ;-) Some romance novels have really good plot developments with engaging characters. I've read enough romance books that I know within first few page whether it's going to be junk or a keeper. It might interest you to know that 22% of of people who read romance novels are men. What also helps is that there's a monthly magazine - Romantic Times Magazine. Upcoming books are reviewed. Also, there are reviews of mystery and sci-fi books. Don't be embarrassed about picking it up at the bookstore - it's well worth the $ if you hate buying a book only to find it's sheer, utter crap.

I would recommend Robin D. Owens for the Heart Mate novels. This is of the sci-fi/fantasy romance genre. The premise is that a bunch of people with extrasensory talents left Earth because people feared their talents and settled on a planet that enhances their flairs. But life is hard because there's something about the planet that inhibits some people's ability to reproduce or something like that. Large families are valued. She explores literary devices such as alienation, duty, etc. She has excerpts at http://robindowens.com/home.htm

Give it a try and see how you like it.

Since we're discussing death and all, I suggest Unicorn Mountain by Michael Bishop. Of all the books I've read, I tend to pick this one up the most. It's one of my favorites.

Here's a pretty decent description.
http://www.rambles.net/bishop_unimt89.html

Oops... It's HBO, not Showtime, that has optioned the series.

I secretly hope that "On A Pale Horse" by Piers Anthony is accurate. I'd have no quams about being the deliverer of death.

Going back to your original request for recommendations, since part of the discussion is about heaven itself and what it may or may not be like, I'd recommend a book called, simply enough, "Heaven", by Randy Alcorn. It's available both as a book and in audio, as well as a study guide (for groups), and finally an abbreviated form that could be read in just an hour.

Great especially for one who knows the end is imminent, as you asked, but also for those who have the conception you described, Ray. :-) It's NOT going to be about babies with harps floating in the clouds, nor even a monotonously deadly eternity of "worship", at least not according to the bible, on which he bases all of his observations.

Now, those who don't care what the bible has to say will of course have their own conception of heaven, and I'm not picking any fight with them here. But they may still get great value out of the book, and it's my sincere hope that they would.

As Ezra mentioned, the 5th book isn't out yet, and there are at least 2 more proposed. It's been close to 3 years since the last book. My wife is going crazy. Hopefully this won't be an instance of the author dying before the series is done.

On the opposite side, my mother passed away 2 years ago and one thing that continues to haunt me is that she never got to read the last Harry Potter book.

First of all the last book I would read would probably end up being some part of the latest and greatest CFWACK because I'd probably be trying to figure out how to do something and then I'd just croak all of a sudden at my desk, you know then I'd probably have some sort of post mortem drool on the laptop until it sparks and incinerates me like Darth Vader. Then I'd look like that poor guy that the people inside of "The Cube" found who had been unfortunate enough to trip one of those "say hello to Hoffa for me" booby traps that engulfs people in flames.

Second of all, and on a much more positive note, after the health gains you made from the CF Biggest Loser contest you should not worry about dying anytime soon. What are you like 30 something?

Ray, you are right about one thing, we don't know how long we have on this earth and we should make the best of it. I didn't read all the comments and i'm not sure if anyone else recommended this, but IMO, I think you should pick up the Quran and read it, that goes for anyone else reading this blog as well. Rather than reading ordinary peoples words and stories, read the word of God, but that's just my opinion!

Great post btw, reading is fundamental!

Hatem:

Thanks.. Thanks for reminding that not reading, not learning, not accumulating wealth, but spending it for the benefit of others, doing good things to create a heaven on earth are the most important things to do. All others are mere vessels for the ultimate good.

Thanks..

You guys should definitely check out my new CF_GoStraightToHeaven custom tag! It has a faithtype attribute that supports Protestant, Muslim, Catholic, Jewish and even .NET parameters (.NET is for those who have little faith). With this tag when you're apps crash they dont' pass go or collect 200 dollars - they immediately go to that big JVM garbage collector in the sky. The next release will have support for the Amish with a Menenite modifier (since the Amish can't use computers themselves it would be very difficult for them to invoke the tag without help from the Menenites).

There are some comments regarding the Koran and Islam that I would like to address (Leviticus 5:1, 2 Cor 10:5). Here are some facts, supported by the Koran and the Bible.

If the Koran were Word of God as is claimed, it would not contradict itself (for example, Allah created everything "in the twinkling of an eye" (54:49,50), "in two Days" (41:9,12), "in four Days" (41:10), "in six Days" (7:54, 10:4;32:4), "a Day," equaling "a thousand years" (32:5) and also "fifty thousand years" (70:4); Jesus is not the Son of God (4:171), yet He is (19:17-21), etc.), nor would there be any errors in it. (Arabian legends are recounted as actual happenings. The Koran contains much superstition and occultism, especially its references to genies.), nor would Allah need to change his mind (Allah says, "Such of our revelations as we abrogate or cause to be forgotten, we bring (in place) one better or the like" (Surah 2:106) and “We put one revelation in place of another...” (16:101))

If Islam were a religion of peace, then the Koran wouldn't refer to the Jews as "apes" (Surah 2:65) and "pigs." The Koran says in Surah 5:33 (see also 47:4) that all those who oppose Allah (i.e., non-Muslims) are to be "killed or crucified, or have their hands and feet on alternate sides cut off...." Surah 9:5 says to "slay the [non-Muslims] wherever ye find them, and take them (captive), and besiege them, and prepare for them each ambush...." Islam's earnest goal, set forth in the Koran and hadith (Islamic written tradition), remains the same: to bring all mankind into submission (that's what "Islam" means) and to kill or enslave all "infidels" (i.e., unbelievers in Allah and Muhammad his prophet—Surah 2:190-92;4:76;5:33;9:5,29,41;47:4, etc.). We all know Islam is the driving force behind terrorism today. Muhammad declared, "The last hour will not come before the Muslims fight the Jews and the Muslims kill them."


Allah also tells Muslims, "Take not the Jews and Christians for friends...slay the idolaters [infidels] wherever ye find them. ...Fight against those who...believe not in Allah nor the Last Day" (5:51;9:5,29,41). In fact, Muhammad, whose word cannot be changed, imposed upon every Muslim in every age the duty of exterminating all Jews. Only then can the "Last Day" (the climax of Islam) arrive.


In contrast, the God of the Bible is a God of love who wants men to know Him (Jer 9:24), a knowledge essential to salvation (Jn 17:3). Jews are His "chosen people" (Ex 6:7; Lv 20:26; 1 Chr 16:13; Ps 105:6, etc.) and Christians are His dearly loved children (Rom 8:16,21; Gal 3:26; Eph 1:5;5). The Bible comes to us from about 40 men over the course of 1,600 years, most of whom never met. Their commonality was the claim of being inspired by Yahweh, the one true God of “Abraham...of Isaac...and of Jacob” (Ex 3:15, etc.). Their writings are harmoniously integrated with intricate themes developed from one to another in a manner that proves divine inspiration. One theme running throughout from Genesis to Revelation is the crimson thread of God's plan of salvation. This is carefully unfolded in deepening revelation from writer to writer—and supported by hundreds of prophecies that have been fulfilled without change or failure.

God has left no doubt that He himself has come to earth through the virgin birth to pay the infinite penalty His own justice demands for sin, providing a just and eternal salvation. Salvation for sinful man was part of God's plan from all eternity.

If there is any book one should read prior to death, it is the Bible. "I am the Lord, I change not....For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven" (Mal 3:6; Ps 119:89).

I agree - nothing good ever comes when the worlds of technology and religion or politics and religion collide. Before you guys go on a private e-mail crusade though you really should check out my CF_GoStraightToHeaven custom tag!

I'm also going to pitch in here and criticize Helzown - the "quotes" from the Quran are substantially mistranslated. As Hatem says, if you don't read and understand Arabic, you can't really make sense of the Quran - there are some very misguided translations with serious anti-Islam agendas behind them.

Furthermore, the Christian Bible is full of contradictions (and some very violent and revenge-driven guidelines). Of course, the Bible is mostly a careful construction from a number of sources and what we are familiar with today is a very selective translation taken from a much larger body of works in a variety of languages.

The trouble with "book religions" is that you are reliant on someone else's translation...

@Will: Jerk. I'm still about 80% through Game of Thrones. ;) It's gotten so darn good though. I've got books 2 and 3 at home already.

So, how you getting on Ray? I'm midway through the third book now (which they split into 2 over here in the UK), and I'm completely immersed in the world that he has created.

Are you getting the chance to read much at the moment?

How did I miss this one? I always worry about the author croaking. I remember when Stephen King had his accident I was so PO because I thought he would never finish the Dark Tower series.

I'm trying to build a list on my wiki of stuff I want to read ...