If I understand this correctly, we're supposed to start a new thread for each person who introduces herself. Although I have already done so, in the old Introductions thread, I'll start.

You can call me Vicki, Victoria, Ms. Silverwolf, or (if you wish to be very formal) Dr. Silverwolf.

I was born on February 8, 1956, in Los Angeles. I lived in Southern California for one-third of a century, then moved to my better half's native ground near Chattanooga, Tennessee. We now live in a house on a hill looking down into the Sequatchie Valley, surrounded by acres of trees. We have been married since December 13, 1985 -- a Friday the Thirteenth. Neither one of us has ever wanted to raise children, biological or adoptive, but we live with twelve cats.

I hold a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Southern California. I work as a hospital pharmacist. For some years now I have worked the graveyard shift, which is slightly less stressful.

I like rain, the color blue, moderately cool weather, and the cuisine of Thailand, India, and the Mediterranean. I have been a devotee of science fiction and fantasy since childhood. I met my better half through the mail, via a science fiction correspondance club. We have both been lactovegetarians for many years now. I don't like coffee or mayonnaise.

In personality, I am extremely shy, quiet, and timid. I am an extreme introvert, and I tend to live inside my own head.

I was raised in a typical, laid-back American Roman Catholic home. I have never had any faith, and I am now a firm atheist. If I had to adopt some religion, I would become a Wiccan or some other type of Neo-Pagan. My philosophical heroes are Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan.

Politically, I find myself being driven harder and harder to the Left all the time. The tests that tell you about your political belief systems always make me out to be slightly left of center on economic issues, and extremely "libertarian" or "anti-authoritarian." The issues that are most important to me personally are gay rights, feminism, environmentalism, animal rights, and the total separation of church and state. I am most comfortable with the Green Party because of these issues. Despite the fact that I am the stereotypical Bleeding-Heart Tree-Hugging Humaniac Feminazi, I am a passionate moderate on the issue of abortion.

Hello...You can call me ConservPat, CP or if you want to be formal [and inaccurate] Dr. ConservPat...

I was born in Hackensack, New Jersey, not so long ago, but not so recently...I've lived in the Great State of New Jersey my whole life, hopping from Jersey City to West Windsor. I'm pretty much you're typical New Jerseyite/Northeasterner, I'm outspoken, sarcastic, politically incorrect, etc.

My favorite Season is the Spring, being that is is Lacrosse season and 70 degrees and sunny most of the time. I like the color red and being an Italian, am a huge fan of Italian food...real Italian food, not the Olive Garden "baloney parmesan" fools Italian food...the real stuff...

I'm a Roman Catholic, but I have some serious problems with my Church right now...More than twice a month, my priest [a rep. of God?] brings a political issue into Church, meaning more than twice a month, I walk out early.

Politically I'm a hybrid constitutionalist/libertarian. Some of my political heroes include Justice Scalia and Judge Andrew Napolitano. I tend to agree with liberals on non-government expanding social issues...and with conservatives on economic issues.

CP

I'm finding this happening to me, too.

It's nice to get to know you just a little bit better, VS!

Yeah, but you're our favorite Bleeding-Heart Tree-Hugging Humaniac Feminazi!

I'm a science fiction fan as well, but haven't kept up with the genre as much as I'd like to in recent years. Of course there are all of the greats, but who would you say is the most promising up-and-coming writer these days in the genre? (I'm looking for some new books )

Oh, gosh, I'm not the right person to ask, since almost all the SF I read is old -- prior to 1985 or so. (This requires a bit of explanation. I have nothing at all against modern SF, but my reading of it dropped WAY back soon after I got married, and life got more complicated. In addition to that, almost all of my reading of SF is from our collection of The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. We have every issue from the very first one -- 1949 -- up to the year 2000. I'm reading all of them, and I'm up to 1967 right now.)

Anyway, one slightly newer writer who can write stories that are so brilliant that they break your heart is Geoff Ryman. In particular, the novella "The Unconquered Country" -- a fantasy which is clearly based on the horrors of Cambodia in the Twentieth Century -- is a masterpiece.

What first piqued your interest in fantasy & scifi, Vicki?

Oh, that's a hard question. I have been reading the stuff since childhood. I can remember a series of books for young readers about the Mushroom Planet.

(The very first time I won any recognition for my writing was in elementary school. The first piece of fiction I ever attempted -- just a couple of paragraphs long -- was a haunted house story.)

I guess I have just always liked things that are weird. The classic answer for what readers of SF get out of it is "Sense of Wonder" -- the sort of "gosh-wow" experience you get when you mind is really blown by a writer's imagination.

I suppose I have a strong need for escape from the mundane world.

Vicky-- Do you happen to know of any sci fi movies or books with a time traveling theme? I just love when movies have this kind of theme and I am always looking for suggestions. I am looking forward to the movie The Jacket -- coming out in June about a guy who has the chance to see the future and change it or something like that.

Oh, gosh. This is a big, big theme in science fiction, so I can only list a few of what I think are the best ones.

Written works:

The Time Machine by H. G. Wells -- the granddaddy of all time travel yarns, and still a good read.

The Door Into Summer by Robert A. Heinlein -- one of his best novels, with a lot more in it than time travel. You might also want to check out his short stories "By His Bootstraps" and "'All You Zombies --'" for mind-blowing time travel paradoxes.

Time Patrol by Poul Anderson -- made up of shorter pieces about a team of time travellers who keep people from changing history. Anderson knows his history very well, and keeps the stories vivid and exciting.

The Man Who Folded Himself by David Gerrold -- possibly the ultimate tale of multiple paradoxes with time travel.

Millenium by John Varley -- People from our time are pulled into a dystopian future in this fast-paced thriller.

Movies:

The Time Machine -- the old version. Doesn't have the depth of the novel, but it's great fun and very imaginative.

Time After Time -- H. G. Wells tracks down Jack the Ripper in the late twentieth century. A silly premise, but nicely done.

Somewhere in Time -- more fantasy than SF, but a very romantic story.

The Terminator -- An intelligent action film for once. (You might also try to find the old black-and-white Outer Limits episodes "Soldier" and "Demon With a Glass Hand," both written by Harlan Ellison, which clearly inspired the movie to some extent.)

How to Build a Time Machine by Paul Davies.

Note: this is supposedly not sci-fi, but it is a scientific book that explains how to travel around in time, and mentions paradoxes. The book is really cool. I read it for a science homework thing.