At any given time, I am probably reading one book in paper form, another as an audio book, and another on an e-reader. I also keep an anthology or collection in my car, for those long waits. My average rating is between 3 and 4, because I try to seek out good books and authors. One goal is to read all the SF award winners and SF Masterworks. See my profile at Worlds Without End.
Finally, the "social media" info - I am a long-time reader, proud to have completed several summer reading programs as a kid. I recall reading more than 50 books one summer. When I'm not reading, you might find me gaming (board and role play) or working, either as a baseball umpire or with software.
Review of 'The improbable adventures of Sherlock Holmes' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Twenty eight stories written over a span of twenty two years, these tales feature Holmes and Watson and something outside the norm, from ghosts to Cthulhu to physics and time travel. A really excellent collection from some very big-name authors.
Hard to pick favorites from this collection, but the offerings of Neil Gaiman and Anthony Burgess are both excellent.
The audio book version of this collection contains only twenty seven stories, lacking Stephen King's "The Doctor's Case", which was also published in his Nightmares and Dreamscapes and, I understand, performed in audio by the inestimable Tim Curry.
This story is part murder mystery, part climate debate, part travelogue, and part hard sci-fi textbook. Told from the perspective of several characters, there is no "main" character, and the first two-thirds of the book are an extended flashback. Clearly the first of a series, it was good but not great.
There is really no mystery to the murder, and this event that leads off the story is more McGuffin than main thread. The extended flashback then covers the journey and early colonization of the red planet. What throws me here is the debate about terraforming - did these colonists have no plan or mandate beforehand? Most are scientists, but they seem to have few goals also. At times, this book feels like scattering 100 random people on a playground to watch what happens.
When the plot returns to the present day, we find out that trouble is brewing, and …
This story is part murder mystery, part climate debate, part travelogue, and part hard sci-fi textbook. Told from the perspective of several characters, there is no "main" character, and the first two-thirds of the book are an extended flashback. Clearly the first of a series, it was good but not great.
There is really no mystery to the murder, and this event that leads off the story is more McGuffin than main thread. The extended flashback then covers the journey and early colonization of the red planet. What throws me here is the debate about terraforming - did these colonists have no plan or mandate beforehand? Most are scientists, but they seem to have few goals also. At times, this book feels like scattering 100 random people on a playground to watch what happens.
When the plot returns to the present day, we find out that trouble is brewing, and shortly after, all hell breaks loose on Mars and also on Earth. This is fine, and drives the story forward nicely. My only complaint after that is the ending, which resolves little and leads to the next book.
So what was good? The several main characters are detailed and grow through the story. Robinson handles their very different motivations well. Okay, at times the drama went a little too far, but overall these are all different people, and not caricatures. Books that are similar to portions of this novel include The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, The Fountains of Paradise, and even The Martian by Andy Weir.
I read this for a 90s science fiction challenge, reading one book per year of that decade. This Nebula winner is very much a defining book for that decade, and the next year brings the sequel, Green Mars. To me, this means Robinson had both books pretty much ready to go. Readers on goodreads rated the third book the best, so I will probably read the whole series.
Review of 'Time is the simplest thing' on 'Goodreads'
2 stars
Space exploration with the mind, good aliens, bad aliens, and a societal backlash against paranormal humans (and subsequent commentary on civil rights) - this once serialized book has all of this and more. It also felt a bit preachy, a bit scattered and lacked a solid conclusion.
So how did I really feel? This book was originally serialized, and at times it felt like short stories in that world. Most had their own conclusion; the book as a whole didn't seem to, and the solution chosen by the main character wasn't great. Also, why choose Mexico and South Dakota as locations - then ignore most of what comes between the two geographically?
Simak does describe locations beautifully, and these include both the past and the future. I really liked the handling of Time, though the main character could have used these solutions more. Time doesn't factor into the conclusion either, …
Space exploration with the mind, good aliens, bad aliens, and a societal backlash against paranormal humans (and subsequent commentary on civil rights) - this once serialized book has all of this and more. It also felt a bit preachy, a bit scattered and lacked a solid conclusion.
So how did I really feel? This book was originally serialized, and at times it felt like short stories in that world. Most had their own conclusion; the book as a whole didn't seem to, and the solution chosen by the main character wasn't great. Also, why choose Mexico and South Dakota as locations - then ignore most of what comes between the two geographically?
Simak does describe locations beautifully, and these include both the past and the future. I really liked the handling of Time, though the main character could have used these solutions more. Time doesn't factor into the conclusion either, so the title piece is almost a red herring.
This novel was nominated for a 1962 Hugo and is on Harris' list of "Defining Science Fiction of the 1960s". Other than that it is mostly unrecognized.
Large format (coffee table) book that still contains a lot of history (words). The maps and bird's eye views are quite nice. Liked the information about the Black River and salt water wedge, would have liked more lake-changing biology information.
I was drawn to this after reading Too High and Too Steep: Reshaping Seattle's Topography. This book stays more on topic with more illustrations, and was overall a better information source - though it focused only on the lakes and ship canal. The historical photos and maps were a definite plus. Recommended!
Bone Dance is a 1991 novel by American writer Emma Bull, described variously as fantasy, …
Review of 'Bone Dance' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
Hoodoo and tarot in a post crash setting, this is more fantasy than science fiction - though many reviews at the time mentioned cyberpunk. Electronics feature prominently, but no computers. The setting and characters (and villains) are strong - this would make a good movie.
This is likely set in Minnesota, though no locations I recognize were mentioned. The world is hinted at without being explicitly shown or discussed, which is perfect for this tale. Along with electronics, our main character Sparrow deals in videotapes of old movies, preferably original releases, and other ephemera - which was fun to follow.
Published in 1991, the measuring stick of the day was cyberpunk, and arguably this has aspects of that. That said, the main focus is the characters, the balance of magic, and the tarot. My only complaint is that I kept putting the book down for other things - it never …
Hoodoo and tarot in a post crash setting, this is more fantasy than science fiction - though many reviews at the time mentioned cyberpunk. Electronics feature prominently, but no computers. The setting and characters (and villains) are strong - this would make a good movie.
This is likely set in Minnesota, though no locations I recognize were mentioned. The world is hinted at without being explicitly shown or discussed, which is perfect for this tale. Along with electronics, our main character Sparrow deals in videotapes of old movies, preferably original releases, and other ephemera - which was fun to follow.
Published in 1991, the measuring stick of the day was cyberpunk, and arguably this has aspects of that. That said, the main focus is the characters, the balance of magic, and the tarot. My only complaint is that I kept putting the book down for other things - it never grabbed me until the end. It would make a decent movie or miniseries, but even without that it's a good story - 4 stars and recommended.
A story told between current day and flashbacks, this felt like Highlander on more than one occasion. Unfortunately, Highlander had a better main character (with considerably less angst) and plot. Also, the mafia-like main villain was more irritating than interesting.
I can't help but think this would be a better story told from the perspective of one of the female characters. The dialog of Camille, the "love interest", could be used as a review in itself.
"It’s strange... How much time you spend worrying about the future." - the main character spends more time worrying about everything than living. It would have been fine to just say that, but we the reader have to live it, which gets irritating. I can't imagine Benedict Cumberbatch whining this much.
"Name dropper." - Yes, our long-lived main character meets cool people in history. A lot of them. The scene with F. Scott Fitzgerald …
A story told between current day and flashbacks, this felt like Highlander on more than one occasion. Unfortunately, Highlander had a better main character (with considerably less angst) and plot. Also, the mafia-like main villain was more irritating than interesting.
I can't help but think this would be a better story told from the perspective of one of the female characters. The dialog of Camille, the "love interest", could be used as a review in itself.
"It’s strange... How much time you spend worrying about the future." - the main character spends more time worrying about everything than living. It would have been fine to just say that, but we the reader have to live it, which gets irritating. I can't imagine Benedict Cumberbatch whining this much.
"Name dropper." - Yes, our long-lived main character meets cool people in history. A lot of them. The scene with F. Scott Fitzgerald may be a nod to [b:The Curious Case of Benjamin Button|747746|The Curious Case of Benjamin Button|F. Scott Fitzgerald|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1331235364s/747746.jpg|1650517], but it is too much following William Shakespeare, Captain Cook, Josephine Baker and Charlie Chaplin (to name a few).
"Je vais m’expliquer." - translates to "I will explain myself." I wish Matt Haig had - I don't speak French, and had to figure out the language from context. Unfortunately less than half the time.
I was pretty excited to read this, and love time travel stories. 2 stars is the best I can do.
"A contemporary of science fiction masters Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Arthur C. Clarke, Nathan …
Review of 'Arkwright' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
A book in four parts (and three interludes), the first is pretty much a love letter to the golden age of science fiction. The rest is part hard SF and part space opera, with kudos for strong female characters throughout. The solutions to story hurdles were too easy most of the time, weakening the result.
I went into this novel with no preconceptions, and enjoyed the first few names dropped. After ducking out of the ensuing rain, I found the point - what if the sci fi were a bit closer to real, and the success of that fiction drove a later private effort to save the human race? The resulting book ended up a pleasant surprise.
As mentioned earlier, the solutions were a bit too pat. Some themes ran through the background, including the future results of climate change and private sector solutions that work where government solutions fail. …
A book in four parts (and three interludes), the first is pretty much a love letter to the golden age of science fiction. The rest is part hard SF and part space opera, with kudos for strong female characters throughout. The solutions to story hurdles were too easy most of the time, weakening the result.
I went into this novel with no preconceptions, and enjoyed the first few names dropped. After ducking out of the ensuing rain, I found the point - what if the sci fi were a bit closer to real, and the success of that fiction drove a later private effort to save the human race? The resulting book ended up a pleasant surprise.
As mentioned earlier, the solutions were a bit too pat. Some themes ran through the background, including the future results of climate change and private sector solutions that work where government solutions fail. A major theme in all the parts is the obstruction of fundamentalist religion, even among the colonists.
Other reviews cluster around 5 stars and 2 stars. I enjoyed the love letter and many aspects of the story, while glossing over the character weaknesses. 3½ stars, which rounds to 4 here on goodreads.
Extremely conversational, with petty politics, occasional interesting anecdotes, and a very cool scientific result from a potential fool's errand. This mixed bag reads like an extended article, and I had to resist abandoning it multiple times. 1½ stars.
"Based on a wildly popular Atlantic article: an astonishing investigation into the world of microbes, …
Review of 'This Is Your Brain on Parasites' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
The human body contains about 100 trillion cells, but roughly 90% of those are from bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. This book surveys how parasites, pathogens and viruses affect their hosts and those that move between species - like rats who love cats and zombie ants.
The first third of the book focuses on those species hopping parasites, including those like Toxoplasma gondii which can end up in humans. The text then moves into other pathogens, viruses, and our gut biome. Each problem has a way to avoid it, an immune response - many generated by the body itself. Perhaps the most interesting part is the last, which focuses on the Behavioral Immune System, a concept created by Mark Schaller to describe how individuals within society avoid infection.
That last conscious (and unconscious) method is also the most controversial. Studies are described connecting this avoidance to fear of immigrants, people …
The human body contains about 100 trillion cells, but roughly 90% of those are from bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. This book surveys how parasites, pathogens and viruses affect their hosts and those that move between species - like rats who love cats and zombie ants.
The first third of the book focuses on those species hopping parasites, including those like Toxoplasma gondii which can end up in humans. The text then moves into other pathogens, viruses, and our gut biome. Each problem has a way to avoid it, an immune response - many generated by the body itself. Perhaps the most interesting part is the last, which focuses on the Behavioral Immune System, a concept created by Mark Schaller to describe how individuals within society avoid infection.
That last conscious (and unconscious) method is also the most controversial. Studies are described connecting this avoidance to fear of immigrants, people who are unclean and even those with dark skin. Other connections made include collectivist vs individualism and even conservative vs liberal. A few studies do not make a truth, and correlation does not imply causation, but these sections do lead one to think.
The book jacket states it was extended from a successful article, and at times it feels like it. Descriptions fall a bit closer to pop science than clinical precision. Speculation is frequent, and the author focuses a little too much on disgust as a motivation. At various times, the author speculates on who exactly is in control, the parasite or "you".
Started off great (glaciers and volcanic lahars) and then slowed down; this travelogue can be preachy at times. A good history of some land change around Seattle - hill removal, wetland fill, and a ship channel between two lakes with a 10' difference in water height.
Some good photos and maps, nothing in color. Good suggestions for where to visit some features, and a more complete story of the Black River than I've found anywhere. I'm not sure why the Seattle libraries don't have more copies of this book, or more books from this author.
A police (FBI) procedural set in the near future, this is a fun mystery involving a sport where competitors tear the heads off their opponents and use that head to score points. Figuring out the who was easy, but the how (and why) eluded me until the end.
I really enjoyed the first book of this series for the strong characters and complete world description. This book is also solid, and I had time to focus on the strong characters - the vast majority of whom are women. Well done, John Scalzi. The gender of the main character is not revealed, continuing a theme from the first book - there are even two audio versions, recorded by male and female talent.
This story is slightly lower rated than the first for me. The attack on Shane's residence comes out of nowhere, and the explanation at the end is a little …
A police (FBI) procedural set in the near future, this is a fun mystery involving a sport where competitors tear the heads off their opponents and use that head to score points. Figuring out the who was easy, but the how (and why) eluded me until the end.
I really enjoyed the first book of this series for the strong characters and complete world description. This book is also solid, and I had time to focus on the strong characters - the vast majority of whom are women. Well done, John Scalzi. The gender of the main character is not revealed, continuing a theme from the first book - there are even two audio versions, recorded by male and female talent.
This story is slightly lower rated than the first for me. The attack on Shane's residence comes out of nowhere, and the explanation at the end is a little weak. Reporter calls to personal cell phones (the numbers were leaked) are also not explained, and though they could fit the first explanation, they really don't. Finally, this story focuses exclusively on the FBI aspects of Chris Shane, with little to no downtime.
Definitely recommended. It isn't necessary to start with the first book, but I would still recommend doing that - both stories are great.
Review of 'Suddenly, a Knock on the Door' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This has been on my to-read list since I finished [b:The Bus Driver Who Wanted to be God & Other Stories|836957|The Bus Driver Who Wanted to be God & Other Stories|Etgar Keret|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347467526s/836957.jpg|191662] a while back. Great stories, some shorter than short, but most deep with meaning. Many are also set in and around Israel, the author's home.
I read the audio book version of this, voiced by a star-studded cast (listed below). Mostly I paused between stories for thought - this is not a collection to be read in one sitting. My two favorites were probably "Joseph" and "Lieland". Recommended!
"Suddenly, a Knock on the Door", read by Ira Glass "Lieland", read by Adam Thirlwell "Cheesus Christ", read by Dave Eggers "Simyon", read by Nicole Krauss "Shut", read by George Saunders "Healthy Start"; read by Ben Foster "Teamwork", read by Mathieu Amalric "Pudding", read by Aimee Bender "Unzipping", read by …
This has been on my to-read list since I finished [b:The Bus Driver Who Wanted to be God & Other Stories|836957|The Bus Driver Who Wanted to be God & Other Stories|Etgar Keret|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1347467526s/836957.jpg|191662] a while back. Great stories, some shorter than short, but most deep with meaning. Many are also set in and around Israel, the author's home.
I read the audio book version of this, voiced by a star-studded cast (listed below). Mostly I paused between stories for thought - this is not a collection to be read in one sitting. My two favorites were probably "Joseph" and "Lieland". Recommended!
"Suddenly, a Knock on the Door", read by Ira Glass "Lieland", read by Adam Thirlwell "Cheesus Christ", read by Dave Eggers "Simyon", read by Nicole Krauss "Shut", read by George Saunders "Healthy Start"; read by Ben Foster "Teamwork", read by Mathieu Amalric "Pudding", read by Aimee Bender "Unzipping", read by Miranda July "The Polite Little Boy", read by Ben Marcus "Mystique", read by Willem Dafoe "Creative Writing", read by Stanley Tucci "Snot", read by John Sayles "Grab the Cuckoo by the Tail", read by Gary Shteyngart "Pick a Color", read by Robert Wisdom "Black and Blue", read by Stella Schnabel "What Do We Have in Our Pockets?" read by Michael Chabon "Bad Karma", read by Lorin Stein "Ari", read by Rick Moody "Bitch", read by Nathan Englander "The Story, Victorious", read by Scott Shepherd "A Good One", read by David Rakoff "What, of This Goldfish, Would You Wish?" read by Gary Shteyngart "Not Completely Alone", read by Michael Chernus "One Step Beyond", read by Shea Wigham "Big Blue Bus", read by Josh Charles "Hemorrhoid", read by Michael Buscemi "September All Year Long", read by Neal Stephenson "Joseph", read by Mark Duplass "Mourners Meal", read by Shalom Auslander "Parallel Universes", read by Todd Hasak-Lowy "Upgrade", read by Josh Radnor "Guava", read by Ira Glass "Surprise Party", read by Scott Shepherd "What Animal Are You?" read by Jonathan Safran Foer "Asthma Attack", read by Etgar Keret
Lone man on the run thriller, I read the majority of this book in one day. Daniel Suarez sets the story 25 years in the future with gene editing the major focus. An interesting world, though the author sometimes hits the social commentary too hard.
The tale starts in Singapore and then our man on the run takes a road trip, visiting much of southeast Asia. It ends in Myanmar for the explosive conclusion, and my only suggestion would be to include a map of the region for the reader.
The plot is centered on the fact that a whole body DNA change is possible, and like FTL travel or vampires, this basic point may require a serious suspension of disbelief. Beyond that, the narrative works out pretty well. Elements of this story will show up in conversations and the news over the next several years, which is similar to …
Lone man on the run thriller, I read the majority of this book in one day. Daniel Suarez sets the story 25 years in the future with gene editing the major focus. An interesting world, though the author sometimes hits the social commentary too hard.
The tale starts in Singapore and then our man on the run takes a road trip, visiting much of southeast Asia. It ends in Myanmar for the explosive conclusion, and my only suggestion would be to include a map of the region for the reader.
The plot is centered on the fact that a whole body DNA change is possible, and like FTL travel or vampires, this basic point may require a serious suspension of disbelief. Beyond that, the narrative works out pretty well. Elements of this story will show up in conversations and the news over the next several years, which is similar to the movie "The Minority Report" for me.
I liked it, and despite it being more implausible than Daemon, this thriller had a better story. The possibility for a sequel is here, but not as overt as Daemon. I'd like to read Influx (anti-gravity) or Kill Decision (drones) soon.
"The Spanish flu of 1918-1920 was one of the greatest human disasters of all time. …
Review of 'Pale rider' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
The flu epidemic of 1918 was kind of a big deal, killing more people than the recent world war. This narrative tells the whole story, embellished with perhaps too much supposition and anecdote. I learned a bit about viruses, universal healthcare and ancient Chinese medicine.
The first half of the book is a great history of the era and the impact of the disease. Treatment methods differed, but overall access to healthcare impacted both virulence and mortality. It is scary how this disease impacted healthy adults, making the age curve "W" shaped instead of "U" shaped. A truly global view of the epidemic is given.
In the latter half, the author speculates on origins (interesting) and what-ifs (less so). I appreciated the connections to modern day flu, but would have preferred a bit more science.
A middle-aged man returns to his childhood home to attend a funeral. Although the house …
Review of 'The Ocean at the End of the Lane: A Novel' on 'Goodreads'
5 stars
A man drives aimlessly away from a funeral, lost in his own thoughts, and rediscovers one amazing fortnight from his childhood. Neil Gaiman builds a wonderful world of myth and legend and all for one story, quickly read but probably never forgotten.
Though the protagonist is 7 and the strongest female character 11, this book is squarely aimed at adults, especially those who may feel they've lost their way. I would recommend this book to just about everyone I know. As a special treat, the audio book version is read by the author. I look forward to tackling American Gods soon.
