I'll do this in reverse order, and start answering the most recent reader mails first (annoying, yes, but more topical). From Howard:

Oh and it sounds like your cat has an infection or has some foreign object stuck in the eye. Might want to take it to the vet for a thorough washing + antibiotics.

Thanks for the tip, although I don't think it's a foreign object. This isn't the first time the cat's eyes swell up. The last time it happened, a year ago, she could barely see. Both of her eyes were swollen shut for several days, and her skin was red around the mouth and nose. She received some kind of injection at the doctor's office - no idea what that was - and the problem went *poof*, away.

This time, her left eye was swollen for a day or so, but it looked okay again last night and this morning. It might be allergies. She's inside all the time, and she might be reacting to the dust. I really have no clue. Anyone?

This next one isn't a question, but I wanted to comment on it anyways. Morten says (originally in Norwegian, translated for your convenience):

"Prophet without honour" is without doubt the most entertaining book I've ever read!

Thanks a bunch! Now go read more books!

:)

It's not my job to argue about what's good and what's not. After all, this is a matter of personal opinion and taste. But if you liked Prophet Without Honour, you might want to check out a few of the following three recent series of novels - all of 'em sci-fi, and all of 'em much, much better than PWH. IMHO. Of course.

The Night's Dawn Trilogy, by Peter F. Hamilton. One of the most impressive and epic sci-fi works I've ever had the pleasure of reading. I've mentioned it before, and I'll mention it again. Mindblowing. A definite inspiration. All of Hamilton's work - both pre and post Night's Dawn - is worth reading.

The Otherland series, by Tad Williams. I'm repeating myself, but that's all right, 'cause I do love it so. All MMOG-playing readers - game-playing readers in general, actually - must read these four novels, even if it takes you years to do so. Set inside multiple virtual worlds, and featuring an eclectic group of protagonists and antagonists, with a plot that keeps twisting and turning until the very end...you know, I should really be writing blurbs for a living. Read it. It does a body good.

Orson Scott Card's Ender saga has had its ups and downs, but you should definitely check out the first two books: Ender's Game, and Speaker for the Dead. The first one is great, the second one much better. I was actually reading Speaker for the Dead when I was working on The Longest Journey, and there some parts of the latter were inspired by the former. A monumental work. I haven't read Card's latest addition to the series yet, Ender's Shadow, although they are using parts of this novel as basis for the movie adaptation of Ender's Game.

So, there you go. Enough reading material to carry y'all through to next year!

That's it for now. I'm sorry if your mail has gone unanswered, but there will be more answers to reader mail later this week, so keep this site bookmarked!  ¶ 18:37