Steve Krug. Fantastic book. Straightforward, entertaining, useful. Two thumbs up.
Blog
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Old Man’s War
John Scalzi. A very fast hard sci-fi read. Humans are colonizing the galaxy, in competition with hundreds of other species. The seemingly universally violent contact between species is carried out by soldiers who are largely retirees who have been given new bodies. Not bad in terms of characterization and interesting relationships, but a big thumbs down on the simplistic treatment of what to expect from aliens and the reliance on preemptive violence.
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Natural History
Justina Robson. An engaging read, with some surprising character sympathies.
What will happen as mechanical, electronic, and genetic enhancements to the human body and mind become more common? What kind of class and power struggles will arise? Natural History asks these questions on an earth of the future where “unenhanced” humans who have created the “forged,” sterile, genetically manipulated, and physically and mentally enhanced servants. Slavery and justice are commented upon in a couple of political speeches, but I was disturbed by the idea that humanity, after all we’ve been through, would intentionally create a permanent, semi-human underclass.
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The Jane Austen Book Club
Karen Joy Fowler. This is a light, fun read that rings true to my experience with book groups–right down to the fact that the real interest of the book is not the Austen books they’re meeting to discuss. There are many sly book-related comic moments. It did make me want to reread Austen (and read the novels I’ve not already read).
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The Angel in the Darkness
Kage Baker. I recently finished this nice little chapbook that’s part of the Company series. It fills in a few stories about Joseph’s family (which he has been keeping track of and protecting down through the centuries), including why he has felt attached to them.
It’s out of print, unfortunately.
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The Life of the World to Come
Kage Baker. At long last, another Company novel. This one answers many questions about Mendoza’s love(s), Dr. Zeus Inc., and the future, but then again, it also raises some new questions as well as leaving us still not knowing where Mendoza is.
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Relax, You’re Already Home: Everyday Taoist Habits for a Richer Life
Raymond Barnett. I found much of the book to be useful or inspiring, especially the earlier chapters “Living in the Seasons,” “Continuity with Your Ancestors,” and “Celebrating Your Guides.” But there are some places where he unrealistically romanticizes the Chinese “people.”
But in China’s Bronze Age, the patriarchal, mind-exalting aspect of society began to wax. In time, this faction hitched its fortunes to the Confucian philosphy, and has been in control of the ruling central authority in China for the past three thousand years, whether in a feudal, imperial, or Communist regime. Taosim, with its appreciation of the richness of reality, the balance of yin and yang, the proper place of humans, has been the view of the people for these three thousand years.
Oh yeah, that explains why there’s an excess of young men growing up in China and an excess of girl babies being adopted overseas.
Then there’s his admittedly old-fashioned perspective. In “The Clown Within” he suggests–gasp–dressing like a member of the opposite sex in a Halloween Challenge. But “this is stretching things a bit, and it may be too much for you.”
And I found the chapter “But What about the Tough Cases?” disappointingly shallow.
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Shifting to Powell’s
I’ve decided I really need to diversify the bookselling links on the blog, so I’m planning to start shifting book links to Powell’s. This means many existing book posts will show up in RSS feeds as new or edited, so if you read my RSS, just plan to bypass things for the next few days.
The links along the right-hand side of the blog will continue to be to Amazon.com, because that’s how TypePad automates it.
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Top Science Fiction Books and Films
Found this interesting site via Beatrice.com: Sci-Fi Lists — Top Science Fiction Books and Films.
