Books: April 2008

Friday, April 18, 2008

BR - Island of the Sequined Love Nun

Well all, this one is for my own damn ammusment, but if you choose to read, so be it.

I suppose along with my perfect year idea, and reading more books, I figured I should actually keep track of some of this junk that I read, good and bad - also to keep me from reading the same thing twice, especially if it ain't so hot...

The Island of the Sequened Love Nun - Christopher Moore

3.5 outta 5

I thought after reading Lamb this would be a better story, and towards the end it did get to be one, but a bit of a slow start. Player type of a guy gets himself plane wrecked (pilot) and then gets hired by some mystery folks on an island. Turns out they're harvesting organs and getting paid big bucks for it. Some randomness in the story to keep it interesting, but not so much to take it compltely off course. No notable quotes.

Was probably a bit long, didn't seem like it was all relevant to tell the story, but entertaining enough. Probably won't read it again, and may move Moore towards the bottom of the list of repeats.

On an unrelated note: This sure does make you wonder why the hell a book report in 10th grade needed to be five pages long. Either a book was good, or it wasn't. I didn't need to look into the deep cultural significance of why there was a transvestite with a talking bat, only that it added to the story and made it more enjoyable to read.

Damn those high school teachers for making reading work!

Book Report for Heinlein's - The Door Into Summer

Book Report for Heinlein's - The Door Into Summer

5 stars outta 5.

Ass backwards way of telling a time travel story, but done really well. Protagonist is double crossed by partner/fiance takes the "long sleep" into the future and then figures out how to get back at them.

Nothing too out of the ordinary as far as ideas go, but a real fast read, and pretty entertaining. No longer than it had to be, with some fun time travel foolery. Definitely not as politically charged as most of his other books, but some good banter the same.

Quotes:

"There wasn't any way to be safe; just being alive was deadly dangerous... fatal. In the end."

"Despite the crepehangers, romaticists, and anti-intellectuals, the world steadily grows better because the human mind, applying itself to the environment, makes it better."

B

Slapstick - Vonnegut

Slapstick - Vonnegut

3 outta 5

Still holding on to Vonnegut because of how over the top great Slaughterhouse Five, Breakfast of Champions, Timequake, and A Man Without A Country were. It was a pretty quick read and moderately interesting ideas, but nothing too terribly special.

Story about ugly twins who pretend to be dumb but are actually very smart when they put their heads together. Middle names unite the world for better and worse. World is going to hell in a handbasket and a bastard child reveals itself.

Probably wouldn't read it again, but it also doesn't turn me off Vonnegut. Even his worst is better than most.

BR - Short Stories

Cold Equations - Man, did this not end how I expected it to. Short quick read where I was legitimately concerned with what was going to happen. 4/5

Flowers for Algernon - Short story version. Nothing but the good stuff. Pretty depressing but a very interesting idea. Better to love and lost... 5/5

9 Billion Names of God - Ehhh. A little to philosophical without being philosophical enough. Oh well. 2/5

BR - Synthetic Men of Mars

4/5 Edgar Rich Burroughs,

Yet another swashbuckling tale on the high planes of Mars. John Carter's warrior friend and he head off to south mars to find the doctor to fix up Dejah. On the way they run into the synthetics who capture. Another brain transfer under way and falling in love for our hero. Of course, everything works out. Pretty good as always. A bit different - can't put my finger on it - EBR style, but pretty good none-the-less. A quick read. Would read again as part of the whole series.

BR - The Paradox of Choice - Barry Schwartz

3 outta 5.

This book was good for about the first 100 pages, but dragging it out to 330 was just too much. The short of it: We have so much choice that we end up f'ing ourselves up and being less happy for it, when we should really be happier. There's a few interesting studies, but it's more like he had to reach a certain amount of pages in order to qualify this as a real book. If it had been more consice it may have gotten 4 to 5 stars.

Takeaways - there are maximizers and satisficers. Maximizers over analyze everything and have tough times making decisions (sounds like someone I know). Satisficers set a minimum threshold for acceptance and as soon as those needs are met they buy/choose, whatever. Looks like I need to set criteria and then choose so I don't over analyze everything and then run into buyers remorse.

I don't know that I'd read again, but I may recommend to others, but not all.

BR - Old Man's War - John Scalzi

4.5 outta 5 - almost a perfect book. Premise, old folks are implanted into young souped up bodies for war. Great military sci-fi, fast read (3 sittings I think, maybe 4) and some fun ideas (skip drive from universe to universe). The problem is although they take old folks up, there's not really a need to, the premise of the book is glossed over, it's more of an excuse to right a book. That being said though it was quite good. Lots of aliens fighting eachother, good mix of seeing what different aliens might think of humans.

Would read again and recommend to those who like sci-fi/military sci-fi. Not quite as deep as Heinlein, but probably a bit more fun. I hear there's more in the series - I will definitely read.

BR - Duncan Delaney and the Cadillac of Doom

4 outta 5

AL Haskett. Pretty damn off the wall if you ask me. Premise - Painter breaks up with the gf and runs out to Cali (LA). Falls in love with a stripper with a super-dyke gf and ends up getting the crapola beat out of him many times. Meets some interesting characters along the way - best friend Benjamin getting him into lots of trouble. Ends up marrying the stripper and leads to a pretty depressing ending, but fitting for the book.

Would read again. Off the wall enough to make it interesting, but not so drawn out as something by Christopher Moore. No real valuable life lessons hear, but an interesting read.

"Benjamin theorized that Fiona had impounded Woody's testicles long ago and held them hostage in a jar of murky liquid in the back of the refrigerator at the circle d. Duncan claimed the jar held old olives. Benjamin did not buy it. He could not discern the other grounds for Woody's craven conduct. Sure, Fiona sporadically warmed the testicles in the microwave to allow Woody their use, but that was not the same as operating one's gonads one's self."

BR - The Lost Fleet: Dauntless - Jack Campbell

BR - 4/5

Military sci fi with the typical space jump, though using worm holes. makes it a bit more interesting as one way out one way in then becomes strategy in battle. internal dialoge of narrator got a bit annoying at first, but then actually adds some stuff to the story later on. general premise is guy comes back from the dead (though dead but just in deep sleep floating in space) and takes over fleet who thinks he is a legend, while a few think he's full of it. fleet being chased through space by the syndicate and are trying to get back home along with the "key" (helps space jumps). very battlestar galactica-like. All in all a pretty fun read though. supposed to be other books in the series - will read.

BR - The Clone Republic

The Clone Republic, Steven L. Kent. 4/5 Stars.

Clones rule the galaxy, bred to fight the wars that the humans don't want to. Rogue guy gets sent to backwoods planets where he learns about some super clones that were made long ago. Turns out, he's one of them. Not quite as spectacular as he seems, more like a normal guy that just seems relatively cool when in battle. No super strenght or power.

Turns out the republic sends him to another planet to scout, only to figure out that it's a training ground for the new cloned Navy Seals. He ends up surviving (of course), but everyone thinks he's dead. Buddy's up with a mercenary at the end.

Pretty decent story and action for the most part. I was a bit dissapointed that he didn't have any super special killing powers, but part way through you get used to the fact that he's just a confused dude. Looks like there's more in the series that I'll have to read. Would read this one again, although it wouldn't be the highest on my list of books to reread.

BR - Just a Couple of Days

Just a Couple of Days - Tony Vigorito - 3.5 outta 5

A la Christopher Moore. Crazy virus unleashed that causes a breakdown of communciation, ultimately everyone ends up happy and nutty. One pun after another (intelligently so) but gets old after a while. Almost works better as a collection of essys cynical on human behaviour. Don't think I'd read it again. 300 pages could have been done in 100-150 and it would have been a good book.

BR - Swan Song

Swan Song - Robert McCammon - 5 outta 5.

The end of the world is here, we hit Russian (cold war era) Russia hits us, and everything goes to hell. About 3 or 4 different plot lines. Bag Lady (Sister), Wrestler (Josh), the evil dude, Colonal Mackin and so on. All plot lines are pretty interesting, and even when one starts running long the others alternate in to keep things interesting. Classic battle of good and evil, but more like good running away from evil and finally standing up at the end. Swan of course is the key, meant to bring back the world - although it's not really as much about her as it may seem.

Pretty dang long book, but holds strong to the end. Ending is a little weak, but only because the book was good enough that it's difficult to end. Would read again and recommend.

BR - The Lost Fleet: Fearless - Jack Campbell

4.5 outta 5

Continuation of dauntless, equally good if not better. Not so much internal monologue feeling sorry for himself. Fleet continues their way across the universe trying to get back home, but also delivers some blows to the enemy along the way.

They pick up an old commander who convinces some ships to run off with him.

Author does a great job of stressing you out over unreasonable people. Third book will be a must read.

BR - The Heritage Trilogy - Semper Mars

Ian Douglas - 4/5

Good paced book, fun to read, hoo-ra marines. Find evidence of life (if not extinct) on Mars, what did you think the Mars face was? UN vs US, UN wants to take over the discovery (they also find some human-like bodies). US Marines have to fight their way back into the installation.

Meanwhile on Earth UN is fighting US/Russia/Japan, world is going to hell in a handbasket. Don't find out what happens, got to read the rest. Main girl on earth is daughter of leader of marines on Mars. Decides to enlist and running to the moon to set up a permanent base there, taking over the skies.

Would read again, good political mix and action, need to read the next two.

BR - Android’s Dream

John Scalzi - 4.5/5

About as good as it gets. Fast read, and very entertaining, good mix of humor (Scalzi is pretty good at the geek humor).

Android's Dream is a sheep manufactured for the alien clans. Now all the AD's have been wiped out, but the aliens need one in order to do their coronation ceremony. Turns out a woman's mom was crossbred with an AD so the woman will suffice. Lots of chasing entails.

Creek, the hero, is way to cleaver. Also creates a computer program that eventually ends up taking over the alien system.

Nice religious slant too. Church of the Evolved Lamb - first religion who actually makes prophesies come true... and it works.

Would read again and recommend.

BR - The Last Colony - John Scalzi

4.5/5 - Colonial Union sets up a colony after the bad guys say no more are allowed. After they're there for a while the CU decides to reveal the position to take out the Conclave. They do, but the conclave revolts, starts going after all planets in the CU. Geary (our hero) strikes up a deal with the leader and things settle back down. Also goes back to earth to get them in the loop of what has happened.

Geary is an entertaining hero, pretty funny in a smart ass way. Only 4.5 because I wish the author had gone back to more of where he started, but a very fast read and really entertaining. Sad to see the series end. Would definitely re-read.

Courageous (Book 3 The Lost Fleet) - Jack Campbell

BR - Courageous (Book 3 The Lost Fleet) - Jack Campbell

4/5 - Damn! I thought this was going to be a trilogy... turns out there are 6 books. With about 50 pages left I was wondering how the heck he was going to wrap up all the loose ends... I guess he wasn't.

Aliens potentially on the horizon f'ing with the Alliance fleet. Lots of rumors flying around about inappropriate relationships between Black-Jack and his captain. As per usual the bad nuts in the fleet trying to take over. Lots of good space fighting, not as much internal dialog thank goodness. Fleet running low on supplies, losing ships - giving the syndics a butt kicking in the process though. Cliffhanger in the book - let's head back and see what happens.

I'll have to read the rest, but now it's like LOST, you've just got to keep waiting.

Zero - Biography of a Dangerous Idea

BR - Zero: Biography of a Dangeroud Idea

4/5 - By Charles Seife

Pretty entertaining, at least as much as a math book can be. Well written and lots of interesting concepts on where the idea of zero came from and why we should care. Interesting proof of how Winston Churchill is actually a carrot.

Would read again (in time) and recommend for my nerdier friends.

BR - Luna Marine by Ian Dogulas

5/5 Nearly a perfect book. Excellent combination of military, sci-fi, and politics to justify it all.

Book 2 of the Heritage Trilogy - now they've found stuff on the moon. Things going crazy on earth, UN trying to drop a rock on the US, marines on the moon have to take over the site and battle the UN antimatter ship.

Fast read, exciting, will definitely have to re-read the trilogy (finish it first) at some point.

BR - Into The Wild

BR - Into the Wild

4/5 - By Jon Krakauer

What a freakin’ loon. The author does a great job of presenting mostly facts without too much spin and leaving you to judge whether Supertramp was a genius or a loon. I prefer to think prick is more like it. The idea of dropping off the face of the Earth is pretty cool, and he seemed to know what he was doing more or less. But as vindictive and a-holish as he was I have a hard time feeling sorry for him. Don’t know if he deserved to die, but he wasn’t trying to avoid it either.

Overall a pretty good book. Would definitely recommend.

Friday, April 18, 2008

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