Category: Books

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Farthing by Jo Walton

This is a great alternate history mystery, with two engaging and well drawn main characters.

Lucy is a great window into the aristocracy, with enough bristling at the system to make her sympathetic, but enough background so she makes sense. Inspector Carmichael, from Scotland Yard, is no fool, but there is quite a tangle to work through on the murder.

Along the way, the variations in belief and sympathy from the different characters keeps the book feeling real– each character comes from its own place and has its own prejudices. The main characters, fortunately, are quite progressive in their mindset, which does ease a modern viewer into their viewpoints.

I liked this one enough that I’m looking going to check out the rest of the trilogy (Ha’penny and Half a Crown). Though I wonder where they’ll launch from– these characters reached a strong break in their story. I wonder if we’ll follow new people in the next books.

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Books

The Chains That You Refuse by Elizabeth Bear

A great collection of very interesting and quirky short stories. I look forward to reading just about anything she cares to publish.

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Books

The Plot by Will Eisner

The Plot is an explanation of the The Protocols of the Elders of Zion. It traces their historical development, from an unrelated book published in 1848 [The Dialogue in Hell Between Machiavelli and Montesquieu], copied with slight renaming into the first “Protocols” by just changing the dialogue to a “report”, and mutant descendants from there.

It’s a thorough and largely scholarly look, told as a comic book. It works, particularly given Eisner’s strengths… but for me, it would have worked as well as a long prose pamphlet.

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The Great Depression: A Diary by Benjamin Rath

An interesting, personal look at economics and the long depression of the 1930s, written by a contemporary who has no idea that it’s all going to work out. His perspective is interesting; like many of us, he believes himself more independent than he proves to be, but he carefully explains his thoughts and thinking.

Interestingly, very little of the social comes through– you hear about his business continuing to be slow, but not how that affects what’s served at dinner. He sounds like a great public speaker, and proved a good student. The “tips” about investing are solid and conventional– but the growing awareness that you can’t predict the market or time things well is lived and very convincing.

In the end, it’s a very local look at national events… and a fascinating look at Youngstown, during the 1930s.

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Books

Alfred Bester Redemolished

An interesting book; it’s much less an autobiography than most, but it’s not a normal collection of short stories either. It’s more “you already know most of his sci-fi, here’s his rare stuff”.

He sounds annoying to deal with, particularly during his lashing out as sci-fi phase– but I enjoy his stories and articles. His lucrative time writing for holiday resulted in some interesting interview with sci-fi authors– which might help explain how they sci-fi authors penetrated the mainstream.

If you already love him, this is interesting further reading. If you’re not familiar with him already, start with his novels The Demolished man or The Stars My Destination.

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Books

You’re Not Fooling Anyone When You Take Your Laptop to the Coffee Shop

This book is a collection of John Scalzi’s essays on writing and the writing life. It concentrates on the practical level behind writing: how you make the finances work, how you structure your life to get work done. There are essays about authors being catty, and a discussion of science fiction (and sci-fi publishing) in the current era.

I like the whole thing, though little of it is directly applicable to me. I had already read several of the essays on Whatever, his site, but appreciated seeing some from the era before I found it.

One particularly good point is his story about leaving the bee and catapulting to the new world: big changes can be scary, but get you out of comfortable ruts. Good to keep in mind now…

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Books

Vilcabamba by Harry Turtledove

Vilcabamba by Harry Turtledove: A short story of resistance and overwhelming foes. I liked it; dark and depressing, with glints of heroism along the way.

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Books

Your Next Move by Michael D. Watkins

While the book was interesting, it isn’t written for me (or a typical worker) at all. I thought it might give me a good perspective on getting my mind settled and ready for a new company. Instead, it concentrated on what people being promoted to run large divisions/companies should concentrate on.

The conditions covered are stressful, and the advice looks sound, but this was pure voyeurism for me– the advice is not directed at me at all. [Well, other than to note that even under his system, even though bringing people on board is the core of his consulting, he still doesn’t expect HR to do much for bringing people in and acclimating them to local culture at lower than the manager of supervisors level.]

After this I reread Cube Farm. I enjoyed it again, but doubt it will develop into a frequent reread. [Though some parts, like his indictment of people who put their heads in the sand and ignore looming layoffs stung a bit more this time.]

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Books Fresno

Indie Store Finder

The Indie Store Finder site is dedicated to promoting and connecting you to independent book stores. I like that– and found a new store, Petunia’s Place near me. I guess I’ve got a new store to check out…

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Books

Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld

This is a great book; the two main characters are very sympathetic, with many similarities and differences. Having each character get two chapters then switching to the other keeps things moving. The chapters are short and filled with interesting illustrations, lots of action… it’s good fun.

The two heroes are teens, and the book proves very teen friendly throughout. Young romance doesn’t enter the picture until near the very end, and is only alluded to. I suspect romance may blossom in the sequel, but for now it’s pure adventure.

Deryn Sharp is an adventurous, highly skilled girl, who conceals her gender to get into the royal air service. There is a lot of complexity to the character; she is tomboyish, fascinated by flight, and quite competitive. She comes from a relatively well off family, but it’s clear that the family fortunes are in decline.

Aleksander is the grandson of the Austria-Hungarian Emperor. His story begins in tragedy, and is filled with interesting twists. While he comes across as a bit coddled in the beginning, and his upbringing proves influential throughout the book, he is more than his title.

The other characters are well developed too. The crew of the Leviathan is sketched pretty well, with occasional deeper glimpses, and the compact crew of Aleksander’s walker are all detailed (though the Count and fencing teacher are much more on stage). Dr. Nora Barlow is the most impressive and insightful character in the book.

The technology is very cool; both sides are impressively advanced, but still have foibles. It’s a fast, fun read– one that I strongly recommend to book lovers of any age.