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Athelstone replied to the topic A scheme to show books written without AI in the forum Coffee Shop 7 months ago
Incidentally, Sandra’s comment is still there but she replied to the update on the activity page rather than directly to the thread
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Athelstone replied to the topic A scheme to show books written without AI in the forum Coffee Shop 7 months ago
I think you’re right.
Of course, AI writing is effectively a sampling of other authors’ work, albeit with some sophisticated algorithms that hide the truth away. An author may say that they are using AI to produce something original, but AI simply won’t work with just small samples such as from one author. It needs a “large language model” as…[Read more]
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Libby replied to the topic A scheme to show books written without AI in the forum Coffee Shop 7 months ago
Hi Sandra, I saw your comment about self-pub authors but it has disappeared from the thread. As you say, it’s harder to see how authors could guarantee their own writing. I expect someone will think of something to address this, or try to address it.
I also think some readers will seek out AI novels because AI writing will be reliable. It will…[Read more]
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Daedalus replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
September Song 7 months agoI finally managed to read Ulysses earlier this year after numerous failed attempts over several decades (Middlemarch likewise). So I’m going to make the most of it!
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Good to know that other Denizens have issues reading classic works. I remember the professor of philosophy at university remarking that there were a few books that every educated person should read. One of them was “The Magic Mountain” by Thomas Mann. Took me 40 years and 2 translations to become educated 😁
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Congratulations on finishing Ulysses. I’ve never even tried.
The thought of reading The Magic Mountain crosses my consciousness from time to time. But Ath, did the philosophy professor explain why it should be read?-
Not directly – or any of the other books on his list. I only remember a few. I suppose it was on his list because it gives an insight into how people think about life and death and some other major philosophical issues. My difficulty stems from myself, I think. I sometimes find it hard to read something that I’ve been told I ought to read. On…[Read more]
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I’m ashamed to say I hadn’t heard of it, but a lot of non English language literature is not on my radar. As far as Ulysses is concerned, I can see why it is important, and I enjoyed parts of it very much, but it was a tough read because with the style constantly changing, I couldn’t settle into it the way I generally can sooner or later. Middl…[Read more]
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Haha, Rosamund Vincy really is the worst! Even worse than the executives indeeed. But so memorable! I found the political bits in Middlemarch hard to get through personally, but yes the introspection can be pretty lengthy too.
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I read Middlemarch very quickly when I was 19 and still had the habit of reading 2 or 3 books every week. MM took me a whole week. I have no recollection of how I felt about it afterwards, because, in my usual way I was onto the next book. Parts of it have sort of emerged into my mind, and, if I’m honest my writing over the years. The book that…[Read more]
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I enjoyed Middlemarch when I read it some years ago. I like politics in novels – didn’t mind those parts. As for Rosamund Vincy: poor Lydgate. The mistakes we make.
The classic that’s had most impact recently is Wuthering Heights. I had to reread it for a book group or else wouldn’t have bothered. Teenage memories of a depressing story of a grim…[Read more]
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Merle Oberon wasn’t the finest Catherine either. But Larry, dear Larry, was hopelessly miscast.
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She did look as though she’d never been on a moor in her life.
Here’s Larry, wondering if he’s done the right thing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wuthering_Heights_(1939_film)#/media/File:Laurence_Olivier_-_1939.jpg
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Libby started the topic A scheme to show books written without AI in the forum Coffee Shop 7 months ago
As boundaries continue to blur between human creativity and AI, here’s a new kite-mark scheme to help readers distinguish. It will be interesting to see what happens from this small beginning.
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I wondered whether it included self-published books … then that it would be easy enough to self-apply the validation. Will be interested to see how this develops.
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Sandra replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
September Song 7 months agoI pulled half a dozen titles from my shelves, in the hope they’d inspire me with characters and plot. In the end the one I chose hung around longest; re-reading it reminded me why it felt so memorable.
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Libby replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
September Song 7 months agoGood idea, Ath. I’m always curious to know what people, especially fellow writers, are reading.
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Athelstone posted an update 7 months, 1 week ago
OK, I just pushed through a batch of updates on the Den. I had already tested them on the Den’s testing site and they seemed to be fine. If anybody finds something not working please let me know. Thanks.
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RichardB replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
September Song 7 months, 1 week agoI dunno about are reading: I haven’t read Catch-22 for years. But it is a book that sticks in the mind.
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Athelstone replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
September Song 7 months, 1 week agoMy sneaky way of finding what people are reading. And yes, an extraordinary range.
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Libby replied to the topic Monthly competition October 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 months, 1 week ago
Some great stories have already come in. We’re half way through the month – plenty of time for more entries.
A reminder of the details:
It’s October and I’m going for the obvious: Halloween. Or All Saints’ Eve or Hallowmas Eve or whatever you prefer. It doesn’t have to be ghostly, though if you can give us all the shivers that would be fun.
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Libby replied to the topic Chit Chat in the forum
September Song 7 months, 1 week agoSuch a brilliant range of novels in the Choices!
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Janette replied to the topic Choices in the forum
September Song 7 months, 1 week agoI might live to regret this, but I am changing my choices (it was a flip of a coin in the first place).
My choices now are:
Sunshine.
The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessey
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Janette replied to the topic Monthly competition October 2025 in the forum Monthly Competition 7 months, 1 week ago
As the Veil Grows Thin
Hey, Vee, I’m still at your side my dear. My old bones are aching in this hospital chair but, aye, I’m still watching over you.
They say you might hear me but – I don’t know. See, I can’t get used to how still you are. Never would’ve been afore, hey? Specially when we first met, when we danced like demons and made lo…[Read more]
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Athelstone posted an update 7 months, 1 week ago
Welcome to a new member Silver. Some may remember her as Catasshe back in the Wordcloud days
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As in CAS Short Story Competition? Obviously I’m going to welcome you, Silver.
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That’s me Richard, nice to meet you! How’s the writing going?
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Hello my old SE buddy! Lovely to see you here.
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Hello Kate! How are you doing? The writing is flourishing I see!
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Having fun writing and publishing. The marketing… less so. But a necessity!
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Actually we have met virtually before. If you haven’t made the connection, my story came second in that competition, and we had a brief exchange of e-mails afterwards. Nice to see you here.
After two novels were greeted with deafening apathy by the trade, I decided that at my time of life I had better things to do than putting myself through the…[Read more]-
Hi Richard, oh yes, I wasn’t clear in my message but I did remember you from our email exchange – clicked it was you by reading the posts in the Podium section on here where you were posting about the competition. Still remember your story well – a fantastic one. I’m sorry to hear you’ve given up ‘serious’ writing. I empathize as I had a similar…[Read more]
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Welcome back, CAS. Great another Cloudie has found their way here.
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Thank you Janette! Yes, if only all the Cloudies would come! Great this is still going though.
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Hi CAS/Silver, good to hear from you again!
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Hi Libby! Nice to see you on here. I hope you’re well
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I’m fine, thanks. Trundling on 🙂
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RichardB replied to the topic Choices in the forum
September Song 7 months, 1 week agoRain
Catch-22
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