This is a marvelous story, full of interesting characters and histories. Sanderson has developed a unique world in which magic is ... well, I don't quThis is a marvelous story, full of interesting characters and histories. Sanderson has developed a unique world in which magic is ... well, I don't quite understand it. Even the characters in the story don't really understand the magic. So, that is probably by design.
I've got to say that the beginning of the book was rather slow. But the plot picked up after a while. The ending was perfect.
It's a very long book -- and I did not read it, instead I listened to the audiobook. All 45 hours. There are two narrators; Kate Reading reads the portions of the story that are primarily about female characters, while Michael Kramer reads all the rest. And he is a fantastic reader. I could tell which of the major characters was speaking, simply from their accents. My only complaint is that the two readers should have gotten together to agree on how to pronounce the name of Sadeus....more
This novel is a continuation of A Memory Called Empire. I liked it a bit more than the previous book. The reason is that there is even more emphasis oThis novel is a continuation of A Memory Called Empire. I liked it a bit more than the previous book. The reason is that there is even more emphasis on linguistics, and the challenges inherent in communicating with a truly alien people. Also, the 11-year-old heir to the throne, Eight Antidote, becomes a more central character, so well-developed! He becomes a hero in the story. But I didn't care as much about the politics, which seemed rather unbelievable to me.
Again, the author throws out technical terms without a true understanding of their meanings. And again, the narrator Amy Landon does a wonderful job narrating the book....more
Nothing much to talk about here. I listened to the audiobook. I was confused by the pronouns, especially with the Irish accent of the narrator. I keptNothing much to talk about here. I listened to the audiobook. I was confused by the pronouns, especially with the Irish accent of the narrator. I kept listening, because I thought that the story might improve as I progressed. I was wrong....more
A space ship is travelling to a distant world, with a cargo of 2,000 people in suspended animation. It will take a couple of centuries to reach its deA space ship is travelling to a distant world, with a cargo of 2,000 people in suspended animation. It will take a couple of centuries to reach its destination.
The crew consists of six clones. In this story, clones are resurrected and awakened only when the parent person dies. A clone has the same DNA and all of the memories, thoughts, abilities and skills of the parent.
The crew of six clones are all murdered. Then the clones of the clones are awakened, and try to piece together clues as to who was the saboteur. All of the clones were once criminals in the past, and had "volunteered" for the space mission in order to erase their criminal history. Each of them seems to have had a motivation to be the killer.
What follows is a very clever murder mystery, with the twist that exact cloning is possible. When cloning is a possibility, people are not very frightened of death. But here I have a major issue with the entire basis of the story. It's a philosophical question. If you die and an exact clone replica is brought to life, are you really extending your own life? Your consciousness has been resurrected, but is it really your consciousness, or that of another person?
I didn't read this book; I listened to the audiobook, narrated by the author, Mur Lafferty. She has a pleasant voice, but it is a bit odd. She has a casual tone of voice, almost flippant, even when the most egregious things are said or done. The tone of voice really threw me off sometimes, but it did keep this listener from becoming depressed by the action....more
Klara is an "AF". It is obvious from the beginning of the book, that she is in a store that sells robots with artificial intelligence. The book startsKlara is an "AF". It is obvious from the beginning of the book, that she is in a store that sells robots with artificial intelligence. The book starts out with a startling simplicity, while we see how naiive the robots are. We learn about the world through Klara's eyes. Klara has a remarkable quality; her powers of observation are superb. She sees things and interprets them in ways that other robots simply cannot fathom. She understands subtleties in human behavior and emotions that most humans fail to see.
The robots get their power from solar energy, but to Klara, the sun is much more that a power source. The sun is a higher power, perhaps analogous to a god. It is interesting that in a sense, Klara the robot is more spiritual -- bordering on religious -- than any of the humans. She takes more of an interest in nature that the humans, and reads emotions better than the humans.
I will avoid any spoilers here. As the story progresses, new revelations are occasionally slipped into the narration. While many aspects of this world are futuristic, some of the same problems and issues of our world have still continued -- crime, poverty, inequality. The characters speak in a formal, very polite style; I initially thought that was because the book was translated from Japanese. But it was written in English by a Nobel Prize-winning author.
I didn't read this book; I listened to the audiobook, as narrated beautifully by Sura Siu.
The beginning of this book reminded me of Jurassic Park. A large resort and nature reserve named "Erebus" in Colorado serve as the scenario. Woolly maThe beginning of this book reminded me of Jurassic Park. A large resort and nature reserve named "Erebus" in Colorado serve as the scenario. Woolly mammoths and other extinct animals have been resurrected, as a tourist attraction.
A young couple on their honeymoon are kidnapped or killed. Law enforcement people come in to investigate. The main character is named Cash, from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. She and Colcord, the local sheriff get involved in the investigation. Cash has intuitive feelings that the resort is withholding information. She is mystified, because it is obvious that the resort should want the kidnapping resolved as quickly as possible.
The pacing is quick, and the plot comes to a gripping climax at the end. The book held my attention throughout. It's not a profound book, but it is certainly entertaining!
I did not read this book; I listened to the audiobook, narrated by David Aaron Baker. He is a fantastic narrator. Baker speaks with a different accent for each main character, bringing the book to life!...more
Putting a city on Mars won't be easy. There are so many technology issues and problems; this book takes the reader on a grand tour of the enormous difPutting a city on Mars won't be easy. There are so many technology issues and problems; this book takes the reader on a grand tour of the enormous difficulties. But not only does the book cover the physical problems -- it also discusses the political, legal and social issues at great length. For me, this was the highlight of the book, as I had never thought about all these other factors. If we cannot solve these problems on Earth, why do we expect to have solutions on Mars?
This is a fun book, perhaps a bit flippant at times. Definitely entertaining....more
I listened to this book as an audiobook -- twice in a row. The author, Rick Rubin, is a record executive and producer. He has worked closely with manyI listened to this book as an audiobook -- twice in a row. The author, Rick Rubin, is a record executive and producer. He has worked closely with many top musicians and artists throughout his illustrious career.
Rick Rubin reads his own book, and he has a wonderful voice. Moreover, he has a very philosophical attitude towards creativity. While Rubin's field is music, his advice is not specific to music -- his advice applies to all areas where creativity is involved -- all of the arts, and more.
Rubin's prose is poetry. Very philosophical in approach. Consider this quote: "I set out to write a book about what to do to make a great work of art. Instead, it revealed itself to be a book on how to be." --Rick Rubin
This book is actually worth reading -- multiple times....more
During the American Rvolutionary War, hundreds of ships were awarded marques, that is, licenses to hunt and attack enemy ships. I had not realized howDuring the American Rvolutionary War, hundreds of ships were awarded marques, that is, licenses to hunt and attack enemy ships. I had not realized how significant privateering was during the war. At the time, the American navy had few ships, and the army had very little ammunition, so capturing ammunition ships was very important. It also enriched the ship owners and crew when the ships and their cargoes were sold at auctions.
The business of privateering did have its down-sides. Most notably, when captured, privateer crew members were jailed, either in England or in New York. British ships were anchored in New York harbor, and used as jails. The conditions in these floating jails were horrific, as very few prisoners survived for long.
I did not read this book; I listened to the audiobook, narrated very nicely by Eric Jason Martin....more
I initially had some misgivings about this book, since I had read at least one other book by Stephen Hawking. I wasn't looking for a dry book about phI initially had some misgivings about this book, since I had read at least one other book by Stephen Hawking. I wasn't looking for a dry book about physics and cosmology. But as soon as I started listening to the audiobook (which is excellent, by the way!), my opinion did a 180. This is a marvelous book. I had not realized, either, that Stephen Hawking had a wonderful sense of humor!
I had not realized how many discoveries about cosmology were made by Hawking. He mentions these discoveries in a humble manner, almost in passing. But he does show the importance of some of these discoveries in shaping our understanding of the cosmos, and the origins of our universe.
Hawking also dipped into politics a bit, and the existential crises facing humanity. He strongly recommends that people start thinking seriously about space travel, at least for the purpose of diversification. He throws in all sorts of humor. If Columbus had not had the exploring spirit, today we might not have McDonalds and KFC. Our nearest star is 4 light years away. So, if there are inhabitants on planets orbiting that star, they are still blissfully ignorant of Donald Trump.
People often ask the question, "if the universe started with a Big Bang, then what was there before the big bang?" Hawking shows why this is not a valid question, as time did not exist before the Big Bang. It is sort of like asking, how do you go south from the south pole?
I highly recommend this book. It is totally approachable, it isn't flooded with any sort of jargon, and it's a lot of fun, too!...more
Life is so unfair. I am so unhappy. How can I find self-fulfillment? Where can I find love? Why can't I get over my past loves? How can I get a pre-paLife is so unfair. I am so unhappy. How can I find self-fulfillment? Where can I find love? Why can't I get over my past loves? How can I get a pre-paid trip to India to find my spiritual self?
If these are the sorts of questions that interest you, then by all means, read this book. Elizabeth Gilbert is a gifted writer, and her articulate ramblings are enjoyable.
I might actually have given this book a higher rating, but unfortunately, I listened to the audiobook. The author reads her own book--which is OK, as she has a pleasant voice. However, the recording engineer did not do his job--I don't think he did anything at all, in fact. The sound level is very low, almost inaudible in any environment that is not perfectly noise-free. I took a quick look at the audio waveform; it looks OK, but the author's soft voice just doesn't come through. This could have been fixed, but it wasn't. DO NOT LISTEN TO THE AUDIOBOOK. Unless you listen in a very quiet environment....more
My favorite books about science topics are always the ones that are written by scientists. This book, by Professor Sarah Johnson, is exceptionally welMy favorite books about science topics are always the ones that are written by scientists. This book, by Professor Sarah Johnson, is exceptionally well written. I didn't read this book--I listened to the audiobook. By listening to it, I heard a lyricism that is not often encountered in books about science. Well done!
This book is about the history of Mars exploration, with an emphasis on the search for life. The successes and failures of astronomers and modern space probes are described in a personal way. I really felt like I was reliving some of the stories about the modern space probes. The history is interleaved with memoirs of the author's life. Her early years were spent learning about geology and her later years participating in spacecraft studies of Mars. She also talks a bit about balancing science work and personal family life.
The book brings to life the excitement felt by the teams of scientists who built and ran the Mars probes. She describes the scenes so eloquently and sometimes gave me a shivering sensation. Highly recommended!...more
This is a fun book about Pollan's investigations into the world of psychoactive plant-derived substances. He talks with people who grows or harvests dThis is a fun book about Pollan's investigations into the world of psychoactive plant-derived substances. He talks with people who grows or harvests different types of plants--opium, caffeine, and mescaline. Under what conditions are they legal to grow, legal to harvest, and legal to ingest? It is complicated. It seems to depend on where you live, and your purpose, and even your religion.
Pollan reaches back into fome of his old writings, that at the time may have gotten himself or others into legal trouble. He figures that in today's legal climate, his writings should not be troublesome.
This book is not very scientific. It is just a collections of stories about the legal tribulations of various people, to grow, harvest, and ingest these psychoactive substances....more
This is a fun book about a plan to combat global warming in the near future. All sorts of climate catastrophes are happening, so a small group of peopThis is a fun book about a plan to combat global warming in the near future. All sorts of climate catastrophes are happening, so a small group of people (vigilantes?) have decided to take it upon themselves to fix the problem. Their approach? Climate engineering.
This is a rambling, happy-go-lucky sort of story. Like many of Neal Stephenson's fiction, the best part is not necessarily the overall plot, or even the characters. The best part is the arrangement of a few scenes. In these remarkable scenes, crazy things happen that border on the absurd, practically surreal. It's almost like a long, drawn-out joke that is calculated to have an amazing punch line. Stephenson takes his time to build up the background behind these scenes, and then unleashes them into a spectacular trajectory. I love it!
And, what is "Termination Shock"? That is a potential downside of climate engineering. What happens if people perform climate engineering for a while, successfully counteract the greenhouse effect -- and then pull the plug? That is called "Termination Shock"....more
What a beautiful story! I didn't know what to expect, but I was flabbergasted! Linus Baker is a strict rules-following bureaucrat who works at a very What a beautiful story! I didn't know what to expect, but I was flabbergasted! Linus Baker is a strict rules-following bureaucrat who works at a very strict government agency has the job of investigating orphanages for magically-endowed children. The agency is the very picture of hell on earth. Linus is given a special assignment, to investigate a very special orphanage, isolated on an island.
Linus knows that his job is to be objective, and not to get emotionally connected with the children or the "master" of the orphanage. Nevertheless, he gets caught up in the emotional issues, histories, and incredible diversity of the personalities there. Some of the children are not even human! Linus learns about bigotry. He learns that he has the inner strength to fight against his own inclinations, to change his own character. And he learns he has the strength to fight back against stupid prejudices.
I urge you NOT to read this book. Instead, please LISTEN to the audiobook! It is superbly acted by Daniel Henning. He makes all of the characters come to life. The audiobook was such a joy to listen to. ...more
Loading...
