Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Summer 2017 reading
The summer is winding down and this is what I've read the summer.
Daemon
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.
Hilbert Courant (dual bios)
The Last Bookaneer
Daemon
The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O.
Hilbert Courant (dual bios)
The Last Bookaneer
Saturday, February 25, 2017
After a long break ...Feb. 2017
Haven't posted this one for a while. Thought it might start again. Recent books I've read:
Sputnik by Paul Dickson, and "Body of Lies" by David Ignatius. Both enjoyable.
Recently started to Richard Russo's "Bridge of Sighs" and also am reading "Gettysburg 1913" about the 50th anniversary reunion at Gettysburg.
Sputnik by Paul Dickson, and "Body of Lies" by David Ignatius. Both enjoyable.
Recently started to Richard Russo's "Bridge of Sighs" and also am reading "Gettysburg 1913" about the 50th anniversary reunion at Gettysburg.
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Fall reading
Continuing the Martin Beck series, I've read Murder at the Savoy and The Abominable Man, with a detour through a book about the Bayeux Tapestry.
Friday, September 11, 2015
Summer 2015 reading
I started the Martin Beck series in the spring. After three books, a friend of mine sent me a prepublication copy of Neal Stephenson's Seveneves. That took me into the summer, when I resumed Martin Beck. Also read Pietr the Latvian, the first Maigret novel. Right now, I'm in the middle of Expo 58.
Friday, January 07, 2011
Current ready: Wolf Hall By Hilary Mantel
Recently finished The Magician's Accomplice by Michael Genelin
Recently finished The Magician's Accomplice by Michael Genelin
Friday, July 25, 2008
Flashman
I heard a lot about the late George MacDonald Fraser's Flashman series in the past year and got the first book in the series. After 75 pages, I'm not impressed. If it doesn't improve soon I'm going to chalk it up as a loss.
Neal Stephenson's Anathem - follow-up
Now that's I've finished it, I stand by my earlier statement that this new book is up to Stephenson's standards. I won't comment on the Earth=?=Arbre issue for now. There is some real science fiction aspects to the book too. I particularly liked the novel use of an electrodynamic tether in the Advent chapter.
Labels: Electrodynamic_tether Anathem Stephenson
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Neal Stephenson's Anathem - Phil-Fict?
I've read most of Stephenson's books and I'd say that Anathem is definitely on a par with his recent work from Cryptonomicon forward. There has been some speculation about how to categorize it and I'd have to say it's Philosophy Fiction or Phil-Fict.
Other speculation i've heard is whether it is set on Earth (AKA Arbre) or whether Arbre is another planet in another solar system. At this point in my reading (~page 480), I'm leaning toward the latter. However, if you imagine what our Earth will be like 1000 years from now, Stephenson's tale of a trip over the pole by Raz seems plausible.
If you start reading and find the first 50 pages slow going because of the Orth and Fluccish language words that are sprinkled throughout the book, don't worry - it get much easier after 100 or so pages. The Glossary is definitely appreciated.
Other speculation i've heard is whether it is set on Earth (AKA Arbre) or whether Arbre is another planet in another solar system. At this point in my reading (~page 480), I'm leaning toward the latter. However, if you imagine what our Earth will be like 1000 years from now, Stephenson's tale of a trip over the pole by Raz seems plausible.
If you start reading and find the first 50 pages slow going because of the Orth and Fluccish language words that are sprinkled throughout the book, don't worry - it get much easier after 100 or so pages. The Glossary is definitely appreciated.
Labels: books Stephenson
