A book that talks frankly about the divide in America, what it is, where it came from, where it is going. The scenerios laid out are chilling but by nA book that talks frankly about the divide in America, what it is, where it came from, where it is going. The scenerios laid out are chilling but by no means inevitable. The author looks at what the beginning of a civil war in America would look like. He says it won't be like the last one, but more of an insurgency like Vietnam, or Afghanistan. The US military can crush the militias training in the woods, but they would probably lose the war for the hearts and minds. There is also an interesting look at what a partitioned American would look like, which is strangely comforting. California or Texas could each be one of the most powerful nations on earth by themselves. But something important would be lost, the idea of America. Finally, the author makes it clear that the current administration is a response to a populace that has lost faith in the mechanism of government. The ossified system built by idealistic slave holders in the 18th century must be allowed to change to survive. The electoral college hands power to minority positions, money in government has wrecked the ability for dispassionate law making and unfettered social media has poisoned the dialog. America may find its way out of this morass if it can find a way to understand the disaffection and provide more flexibility in allowing government to evolve to meet modern needs....more
No one can fault the author on his research. But there is a certain snark in his style that I find a bit off putting. It's as if a total stranger walkNo one can fault the author on his research. But there is a certain snark in his style that I find a bit off putting. It's as if a total stranger walked up to me on the street, slapped me on the back and said "Hey asshole! How are you?" He is too familiar with his humor. I like my humor to sneak up on me and surprise me. This author has a way of bludgeoning you over the head with the jokes and the naughty language. That being said, there are very interesting parts of the book where he brings to life historical characters like the artist Klimt, Freud, Jung and even, so help me, Adolph Hitler. I think this would have been a much better story if it had been stripped of the humor and put out as historical fiction....more
This is a horror story set on Mars. I found the motivations of the astronauts highly unbelievable. The story fell flat for me, not particularly good hThis is a horror story set on Mars. I found the motivations of the astronauts highly unbelievable. The story fell flat for me, not particularly good horror and not particularly good science fiction. The evil sentient robot idea has been pretty played out. ...more
Not his best work. A kind of Western reimagined on an austere planet covered with ruins and a few left over aliens who are the descendants of the builNot his best work. A kind of Western reimagined on an austere planet covered with ruins and a few left over aliens who are the descendants of the builders. The character building is extensive but fell flat for me....more
A decidedly formulaic merry band of space pirates, but with a heart, slipping away from the grasp of shadowy evil doers. This has a decidedly Korean sA decidedly formulaic merry band of space pirates, but with a heart, slipping away from the grasp of shadowy evil doers. This has a decidedly Korean space culture. North and South Korea have apparently reunified and now are the dominate power in the solar system. So, when you read this be prepared to learn some Korean words and customs. That, some Shakespeare quoting and a collection of moody well written characters save this work from mediocrity....more
The idea for this book is very cool. However, I found the style of writing off putting. What, I guess, was supposed to be hypnotic or psychedelic writThe idea for this book is very cool. However, I found the style of writing off putting. What, I guess, was supposed to be hypnotic or psychedelic writing, or something arty, left me confused. The characters came off as very flat and they should have been interesting. Vignettes seems to be welded onto the narrative without much connection to the story arc. There were moments of violence, shadowy characters, people on the run, storms and evil corporations - and yet it all seemed to turn to mush as I tried to keep up....more
Although there is Science Fiction in this book, it is really about a group of writers getting together to create the Science Fiction stories presentedAlthough there is Science Fiction in this book, it is really about a group of writers getting together to create the Science Fiction stories presented. It is all told from the point of view of one of the most clueless characters since A Confederacy of Dunces. It is a deep dive into what it must be like to be a 30 something artist in today's chaotic world. Mountains of student debt, parental encouragement to get a "real" job, humiliating soul-sucking low paying jobs, the reality of never getting benefits and the big one - having roommates.
Consider this quote, "Our age is one in which imaginations are squashed. The previous generation sucked the country dry and left us a desiccated rind. A time of doom, depression, and pointless jabbering on social media."
And this one, "That [being an artist] is the most sacred and beautiful calling in the world. We may live in a broken, greedy society of sycophants who don't value real art. A society that wants us to work bullshit jobs and numb our brains with bland entertainments. A culture where only Ivy League nepo babies can sell a novel and movies are all adapted from children's toys. That only makes the calling higher."
Not really Science Fiction, more social commentary I think....more
The story was nuanced and based on excellent research. The character development was lush and the writing was inspired, at times poetic. I enjoyed thiThe story was nuanced and based on excellent research. The character development was lush and the writing was inspired, at times poetic. I enjoyed this very much and was educated about a time and place I knew little about. This story, based on true events, touched on so much of the American experience; racism, coming of age, native American heritage, water rights, the damage done to young men by combat and rapacious Capitalism....more
Solid Sci-Fi: Ancient missing aliens who left behind artifacts, check. Weird prison planet where the prisoners are used to excavate the alien ruins buSolid Sci-Fi: Ancient missing aliens who left behind artifacts, check. Weird prison planet where the prisoners are used to excavate the alien ruins but the flora and fauna keep trying to take over the bodies of the humans, check. Evil camp commandant, check. Crazy howling woman already taken over by the indigenous critters in a glass isolation chamber to be studied, check. Final triumph of the aliens over the humans, check. But is it a bad thing?...more
The author's talent is a mighty edifice that surprises and delights. His style is unique, his eye for detail unparalleled and his ability to plop himsThe author's talent is a mighty edifice that surprises and delights. His style is unique, his eye for detail unparalleled and his ability to plop himself down in key moments of technological historical pivot points is astonishing. Once there he goes native and gleefully trots out the strange devices, the emerging bits of new science knowledge and the idiosyncratic rogues that I only knew of as names from a history book. It was my personal opportunity to meet these characters intimately....more
There was a serious amount of heavy lifting to suspend disbelief with this story. And, I might add, some disturbing tech bro "Billionaires are the gooThere was a serious amount of heavy lifting to suspend disbelief with this story. And, I might add, some disturbing tech bro "Billionaires are the good guys" bullshit. For example, some people secretly stow away on an India cargo rocket to get to their secret 3d printed space station that apparently no one notices. ooooookkkkkaaaaay. Then crypto currency is going to save the planet from global warming, huh, what? That being said, the author spins a good yarn. His feel-good happy-ish ending didn't detract from a good story. But, I'm afraid that the author has binged on Libertarian Utopian cool-aid and it shows....more
A fun if formulaic story of girl who becomes a pilot on a world attacked by mysterious aliens. She single-handedly fixes a sentient star fighter she fA fun if formulaic story of girl who becomes a pilot on a world attacked by mysterious aliens. She single-handedly fixes a sentient star fighter she finds, clears her late-father's reputation proving he was really a hero and not a coward and out wits the military brass dead set against her success. For all that the author developed a very three dimensional set of characters and a complex flawed society which makes the book better than I expected. However, the author might as well as put "buy the next book" as the last sentence because the ending doesn't tie much up....more
This is Candide by way of the movie Brazil with a dash of Swift. A naive robot wanders the ruined human society looking to fulfill his programmed mandThis is Candide by way of the movie Brazil with a dash of Swift. A naive robot wanders the ruined human society looking to fulfill his programmed mandate to be a man servant. However, deteriorating machines continue to perpetuate a nightmarish bureaucratic wasteland to serve human society that no longer exists. The satire here is cutting and delicious! Rich humans had been so sequestered in their luxury that they only discover the collapse when it barges through the door. Humans outsourced warfare to robots who continue to pillage and destroy the tattered remains of the world. A robotic library erases all carefully hoarded human knowledge because of a code bug. In my opinion this work is brilliant social criticism delivered as satire....more
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