A lot of lip service has been given to the “new media” lately, and I am as guilty of this as anyone. We like to talk about our MP3's, our DivX's, DVDs, media centers, iPods, blah blah blah....

But what about what is arguably the best media to be found? I am of course talking about the printed word: Books. They have been around far longer than any other communication device. And even in this era of eBooks, podcasts, and pay-per-view, they are still the absolutely best form of storytelling there is.

A perfect example: Rent “Starship Troopers” (~1997) and watch it with all of its special effects, cheesy lines, and ridiculous plots. If you make it through that (or at least far enough to follow my point), then go pick up Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers (~1959) from a bookstore or your local library. There is no comparison. The original story is a masterpiece, especially considering that it was written in the 1950's. The movie is at best a mediocre mentally-void shoot-em-up special effects flick. I could list more examples (Lord of the Rings Trilogy) if I really wanted. Not in another hundred years will electronic story delivery be able to beat the tactile realness of a good printed book.

I had almost forgotten this, having been literally overwhelmed with all of the “new media technology” in the last few years. But today I happened to glance over at a bookshelf I had not payed attention to in four years. There, among the rows of books I had read, were six of them I had not. I had purchased and forgotten them. Such a waste (not of the money for the books - but of my time in the last four years). One book authored by Charles Sheffield, another by Robert L Forward, and the other four by my favorite author of all time, Greg Bear (I am so envious of Scoble).

I think it's also of no coincidence that for 4 years I have been having trouble keeping focused and motivated. Reading is a very healthy activity for the mind, and I have been neglecting this for too long now. I have recently taken the steps to rejuvenate my health (diet and exercises), but I have been forgetting to take care of my mind.

So as my first resolution for the New Year, I am going to read these six books. The 10 or so DVDs I was given for the holidays will just sit unused while I take this time to dust off the creative side of my brain.

I still cannot believe I ever allowed one of my favorite intellectual pastimes (hard sci-fi reading) fall away unnoticed like that...