ReaderPaul

I do see a slight difference with Chrome and Firefox. I have the latest updates on both, and Firefox is slightly faster than Chrome, and both are faster than Edge. But since I upgraded my internet service to 200 megabytes per second download speed there is little difference. I usually use Chrome because almost of my bookmarks are on Chrome. Until Firefox upgraded their security over the last six months, Chrome was better. I tried Safari and did not have good luck with it at all, so deleted it. I also use the Private Browsing/InPrivate modes when surfing, and I get less malware that way, even with my Internet security programming.

I have to agree with you, BHopper2. If Tolkien had not described some of his non-standard creatures, they would not be considered standard now. BUT, we do not always need an initial complete description. In a story I read some years back, three friends who were 12-year-old boys were three of the six main characters. One boy was described as thin, with fiery red hair, and nearly six feet tall, and having a father and uncles who were nearly seven feet tall.. That was an adequate description for the necessity of the story. Sometimes, "less is more."

“Silence is the only successful substitute for brains.” ~ Unknown

“A hard fact is that the truth isn't always nice and pretty. Sometimes it reveals something ugly or unflattering. It isn't as comfortable as a pretty lie, but the truth helps you to know who you are….” ~ David Fox-Schreiber

“Never underestimate the healing power of silliness and absurdity.” ~ Steve Maraboli

The way I heard it, the word "apart" was added after the word "growing."

I was very glad to see this new chapter. I read it right after it was posted, but it is almost impossible to use my phone in a speedy manner to comment. Had to wait to get to mu desktop computer. It looks like, to some extent, Aaru is realizing that his fate is tied to Tistan. Possibly Tistan sees more within Aaru than Aaru sees within himself at this point. Aaru still needs to continue learning, though, that diplomacy and politeness often accomplishes more than outright rebellion. Well done again, Gor Mu.

Looking forward to your next chapters in WHICHEVER series you post. They are all good. Since you said no crossovers, but are on a parallel/alternate Earth, I look forward to seeing a parallel/Alternate Rain Stevens showing up....

This is a wrinkle I did not expect. I look forward to seeing what happens next. Hopefully, Aaru will come to see more quickly that Tistan is not a bad sort.

Well, I didn't find "National Flower Potting Day," but "National Plant a Flower Day" is March 12. But seriously, how have the grandparents of the four boys reacted to them being gay and being two couples? And for Memorial Day, it could be titled: "It's Time to be Serious, Charlie Boone". But also seriously, thank you for the stories you are writing, Geron. I really appreciate them.

I respectfully disagree. If Betty or Colin are watching John walk away, either of them could try to assist John and George. After all, Devon probably got some of his talent from Betty.

Geron, I look forward to to seeing Charlie and Friends on Valentine's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Halloween, THANKSGIVING (hint, hint), and Christmas again this year and over the following years. And if you would throw in St. Patrick's Day, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Grandparent's Day (2nd Sunday in September), and National Boss' Day (October 16, a good day for Max and the guys, including Frit and Pip, to do something else good for Santa) that would be great! (And if you think I am trying to inspire you with ideas, you are right.) After all, we do not yet know how the grandparents of the guys, if any are living, have reacted to the sets of boyfriends.

Good chapter. I have been hoping for a new post in this story. I am guessing that life sometimes gets in the way of writing. I like the detail in your descriptions of the city, home, and culture thus far. The way you are proceeding reminds me of some other authors, good and bad. Good, because you have not allowed the descriptions to get in the way of the story. Bad--not you, but some other authors I have read over the years who have not put thought into their descriptions, and you come off very well in comparison to them. In addition, you are showing that normally like and trust take time, and development, not a "microwave" approach where, in one or two short chapters the characters almost magically like each other.

I like the writers who use strong female characters, or writers where equality is made obvious. The late Anne McCaffrey wrote many strong female characters. Alan E. Nourse had some back in the 1960s. Addym Kehris (not yet well known) is now writing some sophisticated science fiction where women are equal and so is the LGBT community. Alice Mary Norton legally changed her name to Andre Alice Norton to write as Andre Norton, a name most would assume was male, so editors would read and publish her work. Would like to say more, but out of time.

Well, I like "doing it" with a female more than looking at it!

“I was hurt so deep that I made up my mind never to hurt anybody else, no matter what. I never made jokes about anybody's big ears, their stut- terin', or about them bein' off their nut.” ~ Entertainer Jimmy Durante (February 10, 1893 – January 29, 1980) was referring to being teased at school as a child for his looks, as quoted in: Schnozzola: The Story of Jimmy Durante (1951), by Gene Fowler. Durante was known for piano talent, singing, comedy, and a very large nose.

You will have to talk to Neil about that one. He is the physicist.

“Santa knows Physics: Of all colors, Red Light penetrates fog best. That’s why Benny the Blue-Nosed reindeer never got the gig.” ~ Neil deGrasse Tyson

Well, I am bisexual and like both, but on sheer looks, I have to agree-- I really (personally) prefer the looks of male genitals over female ones. You mentioned some time back that you speak English, Italian, and Russian. Do you now speak Ukrainian and German, as well?

I look forward to seeing the next chapters in the story. With reference to the cadets, I think the majority would want to be posted with the URP somewhere. To be part of an already successful and more advanced science and space community would be an honor for most, I would think. One item I do not recall. How many male and how many female cadets were there at the end of the selection process that went to Mars?

I suspected Penny from when Yuri mentioned someone was using the house WiFi. It just seemed the most logical, so I thought I was wrong. At other times when I have thought I had things figured out, something else came up instead.

It is too bad this is in an alternate universe. I would love to see how Eric's grandmother would react to Aunt Pearl and Lola from your story "The Luckiest Man in the World." Or, by chance on this earth, are there versions of Aunt Pearl and Lola? If there are, might we find out, please?

This was possibly the best chapter thus far on the new Makarovia series. Why would you need to picture Olek and Helga together? Just let them close the door or doors behind them and come out two to 10 or 12 hours later. I had not heard the term "jack sack." But I immediately knew what it was. Reminds me of the phrase "put a sock over it." That I had heard. And you may or may not be familiar with the term "drain the lizard" for a man peeing. I loved the reaction of Boris to Yuri's comment. You must have a Russian alphabet keyboard as well as your English one. I can't read it, but I love it when you slip the foreign alphabets in the story. Well done, R. Eric.

Yes, they were fun. Very few of the modern ones were fun. The one where Frank was paired with Nancy, and Joe with Bess-- that one one was fun. But I quickly (except for that one) tired of the newer Hardy Boys versions. Conan Doyle and some others had much better development in their stories, I certainly agree.

As far as chapter length goes, This was not bad. But on another site, I read a story years ago where the SHORTEST chapter was 35,000 words, and the longest was almost 85,000 words. Most chapters were in the neighborhood of 70 to 75 thousand words. In a multi-part story, those chapters are too long. I read the original Hardy Boys books up through about #43, and then they started getting shorter, it seemed, and not so well written. The first oh, about 35 tended to be better written, and then the quality gradually declined. In the forties of the book numbers, they suddenly became over-simplified, it seemed. Further, I read some of the "updated and rewritten" one, and they were rarely more than a shadow of the original. Once in a while a better one would show up, such as when Frank Hardy married Nancy Drew and Joe Hardy married Nancy's friend Bess, and they went to Egypt for their honeymoons.... But it was a fake. They were investigating a jewel theft ring.