If you had to stay in bed for 3 weeks

[Paul]

Ok, I need the help of our brilliiant and diverse group here on JD.com...

On this up coming Monday (the 18th) I am going in to have Back Surgery. (somehow I have herniated my disc AGAIN) and I need some reading/watching material as I sit in bed for 3 weeks.

Any reading (comic/graphic or novel) that anybody would suggest?  At this point I've read most of the Star Wars Novels (I am considering reading the X Wing Series from book 1 to the end).  And I have the DVD's.

I've also read almost every Louis Lamour (he writes about the old west for you high brow folks).

I was thinking of one of the Comic Book collected works from the Justice League or the Avengers, but I don't which are good self contained stories with Characters that I know without too much preaching.  Anybody know any good ones?  Probably just Marvel or DC characters since I am more likely know at least recognize them.

I am trying to stay away from anything too politically or socially charged either way (whether comic or print), I'll be in a bad enough mood being stuck in bed while everybody (you know who you are) is out there "Collecting" without me.

[Angry Ewok]

First off, good luck with the surgery - hopefully everything goes well and nothing puts you back any.

 

Need some time to kill, eh?

Are you a gamer? You could buy a Playstation 2, which is roughly $100 or so, and then buy the best Star Wars game ever, Star Wars Battlefront, which is now only $20... this will keep you occupied for a while. Other good Star Wars games at $20 would be Bounty Hunter (about Jango Fett), Jedi Starfighter (about Adi Gallia around the time of the Battle of Geonosis), and one of my personal favorites - Racer Revenge (Podracing!).

If books are your thing, then definately read the X-Wing series, that should be required reading for Star Wars fans. After that you may want to read or re-read the Thrawn Trilogy. You could catch up on all of the Clone Wars books that've come out, including the 5 volumes of Clone Wars TPB's that Dark Horse have put out.

Why not get a laptop and spend all day at JediDefender?

[DoctorPadawan]

Paul, if I had to suggest any graphic novels/comics collections, I would go with any of the following:

-Frank Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns
-Uncanny X-Men: Dark Phoenix Saga
-Alan Moore's Watchmen

The last of those isn't politically or socially driven (so to speak), but it isn't your typical light superhero reading.  Come to think of it, all three of those aren't really typical for comics these days or back then, but all are well worth reading.  The former two are probably the best comic series or story arcs that have ever been done, IMHO, and the third is just incredible to read.

Movies...I have always found that the one film that cheers me up more than anything else is "Airplane!"  The best news is that you can find it at just about any Wal-Mart for about 8 dollars on DVD.  Very funny film, and it's one that I could watch over and over.  Also, "The Big Lebowski" is another 10 dollar or so DVD at Target these days and very very funny as well.

Books...Most of the fiction I read is probably not what you'd be looking for, but I am always willing to pimp Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" (absolutely brilliant and my favorite novel of all time), and Chuck Barris's "unauthorized autobiography" "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" and the follow-up "Bad Grass Never Dies."  There is a movie of the former which, while very good, is blown away by the book.  Plus, both books have a lot of laughs and a lot of mystery in them, so you might like the change of pace within a single book that they have.

Most importantly, I hope that the surgery goes well for you.  Do keep us updated as to how you're doing.   

[Morgbug]

You don't mention Steven King, though you may not be a fan.  The Dark Tower series is seven books long and I found it quite enjoyable, not typical King.  It would certainly keep you busy, but that's if you can manage to enjoy his novels. 

Good luck with the back.  Hope you're up and about quickly.

[DSJ™]

I'm not much of a reader so I can't help you there but watching DVD's should pass the time, catch up on one's you have not seen and others that you have.

Hope all goes well with the surgery. 

[Dressel Rebel]

Rumor has it Morgbug is going to donate his 5 new SA clone troopers to help you in your recovery.

Good luck with the surgery   

[Paul]

I totally forgot about the games!!! I'll move the xbox into the bedroom.  Its not like I'll be doing any other "gaming" in there for a while.  I also just got a guy to hook the house up with wireless, so YES I can spend all day here at JD.com on the laptop.....watch that post count rise (oops wrong site).

I already have Battlefront for the xbox and battlefield Vietnam for the Laptop...my mind must have been too clouded by the evil Pain Pills and Muscle Relaxers to think of it.

I'll use the annual Best Buy gift certificate my staff gives me for my birthday tomorrow to snag a good game or two or some DVD's...

I've decided to watch all the long movies and all the old movies I haven't seen in a while. I'm going to start with the extended Lord of the Rings Trilogy...that should take up the first day or two....Then on to every Danny Kaye movie on DVD...

Thanks for the well wishes guys...and thanks to Brent for Dontating the Clones now I can ALMOST keep up with Rob..

[JesseVader08]

Good luck on your surgery, Paul.   

I usually don't have the attention span to read anything longer than a newspaper article, but I really enjoyed The Talisman and Eyes of the Dragon (by King) and the Isaac Asimov's Foundation series.  If they can keep my attention, they must be good.   

[JediMAC]

Yeah, good luck with the surgery and recovery, Paul.  Bummer to hear this is already Round 2 for your back. 

I think starting with the LOTR EE marathon (a good 12 hours) would be an excellent way to kill about 5% of your total (waking) recovery time.  Or, better yet, read 'em all! 

Books?  Eh, not much of a reader myself either.  I do enjoy any of the Clive Cussler action/adventure novels though.  Those are usually fun and fast reads.

Definitely do some gaming too.  Just nothing too lively though where you're going to throw yourself out of whack even worse.

Rumor has it Morgbug is going to donate his 5 new SA clone troopers to help you in your recovery.

Boy, now that would be funny!  I think Rob has them in hand right now, so if Brent says the word, he could just have Rob meet up with Paul and pass them along to him instead.  How'd that be, Paul?! 

 

- M

[Ben]

Definetely a gaming system. I also recommend GTA: Vice City. I once spent five hours playing it without realizing how much time had passed.

Also, the Sin City graphic novels. I like them, anyway.

[Jim]

You can always surf porn on the web.  That could get a bit messy though.    Kidding aside, if your a sports nut, why not play out a full season of one the EA titles.  That would chew up a ton of time.  I agree with Morgbug about the Gunslinger series. A different type of King novel but totally awesome.  One of my favorite series.  If only in movie form.  Graphic novels by Miller are always good.  How about the original SW comics which are now in book format?

Good luck with the surgery.  I can relate.  My mother-n-outlaw has had 4 major back surgeries in the last 10 years.  That first week you'll be pretty doped with all the meds and sleep a ton of hours.  So you need only two more weeks to kill off. 

[Famine]

Dark Knight Returns
Batman Hush
Batman The Long Halloween
Venom Vs Carnage
Batman Year One


For video games, try Thirteen.

Kevin

[Shannon (Princess)]

I hope the surgery all goes well-  I'm sure it will 
Since I've been home pretty much for a month and a half- minus my daily appointments- I've signed up for the movie pass at Blockbuster.  Not sure if someone would be able to pick up movies for you- or you may want to do the Netflix or one of those if you can.  I've been trying to watch movies I always intended to, but never got around to, and such.
As far as books, I'm anxiously awaiting the new Harry Potter this week.  Not sure if that's up your alley though .
But I would bet for a little while you may be doped up on pain pills and doing a good amount of rest

[Nathan]

The "Homecoming" 5-book saga by Orson Scott Card. Probably my favorite SF/F books outside of SW, ST, and LOTR. I can't accurately sum up all its facets in a paragraph blurb, so go to Amazon or Google. Fantastic series.

Good luck with the surgery!

[Jesse James]

Wow Paul...  I didn't realize you needed surgery...  Dude, I hope you're doing ok.

Hmmm, as the king of lazy I'll try to give some suggestions:

-Currently I'm reading the Empire series in Trade Paperback form.  They're good, and the Volume 3 with the Amanin would appeal to you I think...  Good Military story ala Rourke's Drift.

That ought to take 30 minutes of your time up.   I got through Volume 1 in a breeze while waiting at the hospital today myself.

-On X-Box, if you haven't played Full Spectrum Warrior I suggest it.  I nabbed it for $20 at Wal-Mart earlier in the week.  I'd beaten it on a rental, but I like it...  It gets me in the military mood to customize and stuff.

-I agree with Brad on Bounty Hunter if you have a Gamecube.  It's a great game and would take you some time.  Fantastic story.

-X-Wing Novels are good...  Not all are great, but some are.  Not sure if you've read the Zahn Trilogy but it's worth a run through if you haven't.

And of course I hope to catch you here!

Take it easy bud, don't stress yourself...  And enjoy the downtime.  Get a bell to annoy your wife with.