Saturday, December 27, 2008
Star Strike - Ian Doglas
Tim Dorsey - Hammerhead Ranch Motel
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Basket Case - Carl Hiaasen
Mystery novel - reporter investigating a potential murder of a singer. Good for a one read. Entertaining protagonist, nothing groundbreaking, but a fun quick read. Probably as good as mystery novels get, just not as much my style.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Tim Dorsey - Atomic Lobster
Would definitely read again and will continue with more of Dorsey's books
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Star Marines - Ian Douglas
Another good one from Douglas. The Xul finally made it to Earth, but didn't quite get the job done, so we went their and kicked some butt.
Lots of good action, especially in the last 100 pages or so. Nothing horribly unbelievable. Lots and lots of military history per his other books.
Would read again, and will definitely continue on with the series.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Donated
Kurt Vonnegut - Slapstick (4/5)
Tony Vigorito - Just a Couple of Days (3.5/5)
Zoe's Tale - John Scalzi
Rehash of what happened in Scalzi's Last Colony told from the girl's perspective, Zoe. She's quick witted like her adoptive father. Daughter of the guy who brought the Obin aliens conscience so they revere her and protect her.
Planet gets bombed - the Conclave (aliens) are looking to kill the colony off. Humans are using planet as a pawn to rally support against the conclave. Zoe goes to conclave leader to tell about an assassination attempt. Then gets obin to bring the smart aliens around so she can get an uber weapon from them. They take it back to the planet and save themselves from the rogue segement of the conclave and are then promised they'll never be attacked again. John, Jane, and Zoe then have to leave... where to next?
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
First Meetins in the Enderverse - Orson Scott Card
A pretty neat book to learn a bit more about the Ender world. Would read again, but would only recommend to someone familiar with the stories.
Agent to the Stars - John Scalzi
Lots of good wit, fun story to read - very fast. Good intro to Scalzi. Would read again.
The Puppet Masters - Robert Heinlein (Audio)
Would recommend, but not near first - might read again if I was bored.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Battlespace - Ian Douglas
Continues to be a pretty slick author. Nothing groundbreaking, nothing too deep, but lots of fun. Human ship got gobbled up by who we now know as the Xul... the Hunters of the Dawn at a stargate 10 light years from earth. We go out to investigate and find another more noble race, N'gah, who wants to help us out - after blowing the hell out of us for a while. Final battle a Xul ship comes through and we kick the poo out of it. Then go to the other side of the stargate to blow it up to delay the Xul's trip to earth. Would definitely read again - would read the whole series again thus far. Not too much here on politics on Earth, mostly about what's happening in space.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Variable Star - Robert Heinlein
Written after he kicked it, still Heinlein-eske. Guy falls in love with a girl, turns out she's uber rich. He leaves on a shuttle to another planet. Earth and sun blow up, the girl catches up with him (FTL ship). Turns out he loves her little cousin (works out in a non creapy way).
Kind of a coming of age story. Nothing groundbreaking... told in the first person. Pretty entertaining and not too long. Lives up to Heinlein, but not beyond.
2001 A Space Oddysey - Arthur C. Clarke
Good book, seemed like kind of a must read for sci fi. General idea - monolith spurs apes to man... another one shows up on the moon, then saturn. Bowman becomes the star-child... what to do with his new planet?
The end of the book gets a little bizzarre, but still good, doesn't drag too long. Would read again (not highest on the list though) and recommend.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
In Defense of Food - Michael Pollan
Audiobook form. Lots of good info on why we eat what we eat. Folks making money off of processed foods - no surprise when you think about it.
Last third of book goes into what you should be eating... eat food, not too much, mostly vegetables. Definitely would read/listen too again. Lots of good info. Makes you think about where your food is coming from and how much of it you should be eating. Would recommend.
Friday, August 29, 2008
God Bless You Dr. Kivorkian - Kurt Vonnegut
Quick read about what would happen if Kurt Vonnegut interviewed people in the afterlife. Most had a punch line or ironic ending - typical Vonnegut style. Would recommend as a quick read. Nothing too special.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
The Lost Fleet - Vallian (Book 4 of 6) - Jack Campbell
Black Jack Geary is back at it, rushing head on back into the syndic fleet he just ran away from. He of course wins and kicks some booty in the process. He's pretty compasionate in this one, saving people on a dying planet and dropping them off on a syndic world. Aliens are becoming more widely known - suspect that they may have put the sydicate and the alliance against one another. Some talk with captured syndics indicates they may play along with the alliance to end the war... maybe even go after aliens later.
Desjani and Geary are in love, Rione is ousted, still around and frustrating - but hopefully relegated to the back seat. Internal dissention, people trying to sabatoge the fleet - or kill Geary. Defintely recommend the series. Very fast read, fun book. Would read again.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Pandora's Star - Peter Hamilton
Loooooong. 750 pages hardback, 900+ paperback. General idea is that a star system under investigation blinks out, it's been covered up by some people trying to contain it or it's people. Send out exploratory mission and encounter a race trying to escape (forcefield blinks out after humans get there). Then all hell brakes loose as they try to take over the earth systems.
General plot outline is excellent. Implementation is awful. 15 pages on the evolution of the alien species does not do anything to move story forward. After 450 pages I skimmed the rest and didn't feel that I missed any major points. Would not read again or recommend, unless you like really drawn out books. This is also the first of a two-book set. Will not read the second one, but will try to find out what happens just to see how it's all resolved.
Star Corps - Ian Douglas
Continuation of the heritage trilogy, book one of the legacy trilogy, set even further in the future. They've gone to another system where humans have been enslaved from earth originally, but they don't necesarilly want to be set free. There's a starship killer on the new planet - a mix of very old and very new weapons.
More military might kickin' butt across the galaxy. Lots of cool techno stuff. Traditional story line - recruit to hardened warrior revolving around some familiar characters.
In all a very fast read. Very fun, as usual. Would read entire series again.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
White - Ted Dekker
In all I'd give the series about 3.5/5. Interesting enough - a fast read (or listen in this case). Doesn't drag too much so it makes it all right to listen to. Gets pretty cheasy with the Great Romance and all between Justin (God) and his people - basically a retelling of the bible. Intersting enough though, and entertaining. Don't think I'd read again, but it was good for a one time through.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Be Prepared - Gary Greenberg
Sunday, July 13, 2008
BR - Red
Two main plot lines still going on. Thomas Hunter is in the here and now fighting against the Raison Strain which has been released, but he's been killed in his other world where the hord is chaising them.
Getting very very biblical now. They crucify Justin who turns out to be Elyon. All the good guys get the plague and then need to rinse in Elyon's water to cleanse, now they never have to do it again since they killed Justin.
Will continue with White to finish up the series, but it looses originality when it's retelling another story.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
BR - Europa Strike
Douglas keeps everything going here with the politics on Earth setting up a battle in space on Europa where a "singer" has been found. The singer ends up unleashing a distress call across the universe. We can only assume that in the sequel to the trilogy that the singer's message ends up with some bad aliens.
This was a fast read for being a long book, lots of good action, good characters, etc. Would definitely read the trilogy again, but for now need to read the following two trilogies.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Black - Ted Dekker
Will read the next in the trilogy, but not highest on the list.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Heinlein - Citizen of the Galaxy
Loses a bit in the ending, was expecting something a bit more resolved. In all interesting ideas of family and acceptance. No crazy battles or anything, just a pretty decent read.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Mission of Gravity - Hal Clement
About life on another planet with 700X the gravity of earth at it's highest point. A trader is recruited by the humans to recover a rocket that crash landed, the trader wants to know science in exchange. Kind of an entertaining story about some other civilizations and problems dealing with higher gravity. Would recommend to a nerdy person like myself.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
I Am Legend - Richard Matheson
Differed from the movie quite a bit. Lots of vampires (dead and alive) running amock - Robert trying to figure out what makes them tick. Comes up with some pretty reasonable explanations for vampire stuff (hemorrhaging when getting stuck with a stake, allergic to garlic, psychological reason for crosses).
Gets infiltrated by the vampires and they end up catching him. Tough ending, what it needed to be.
Good read, would recommend and read again. Fast.
Friday, April 18, 2008
BR - Island of the Sequined Love Nun
BR -
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
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
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
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
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
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
BR - Duncan Delaney and the Cadillac of Doom
4 outta 5
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 - 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
BR - The
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
BR - Just a Couple of Days
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
BR - Swan Song
The end of the world is here, we hit Russian (cold war era)
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
BR - The Lost Fleet: Fearless - Jack Campbell
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
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
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
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
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
Aliens potentially on the horizon f'ing with the
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
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.