One part of what makes the characters so appealing is that they aren't. Murderbot is in some ways analogous to neurotypical humans. And Murderbot is aOne part of what makes the characters so appealing is that they aren't. Murderbot is in some ways analogous to neurotypical humans. And Murderbot is also very knowledgeable about a narrow field of onterest while remaining indiffert to almost everything else. Media are forever offering stories of robots or similarly non-human intelligences that want to be human. Wells gets that not being charming or even being a raging asshole doesn't preclude caring, although it can seem inhuman to anyone who considers seeming hamn more important than behaving humanely. Seriously, the only other example I can think of is Malkovich's character in Making Mr. Right.
I'm falling asleep writing this, but I also really want to see Making Mr. Right now.
There are a lot of great reviews for this, fewer negative reviews, but I assume most reflect sincere reactions. So, having read a slew of those GR revThere are a lot of great reviews for this, fewer negative reviews, but I assume most reflect sincere reactions. So, having read a slew of those GR reviews, I have zero interest inrehashing points others have addressed more eloquently.
But there are a couple of things I want to mention about other reviews. Others have pointed out how white the book is. There isn't much about the environmental costs borne by the people of the First Nations. But honestly I prefer the book to mostly stick to what Beaton knew at time. Bt's hardly surprising that in 2005 a recent grad from 2000 miles away wouldn't be well up on those issues.
You know what I didn't see in a lot of reviews? Capitalism. Beaton worked for several different entities, each of which is blithely careless about anything other than profit. Odd. Without naming the villain, Beaton points out that capitalism killed multiple industries in the Maritimes
Finally, I want to point out one thing that I especially appreciate, which again, I didn't see mentioned elsewhere. There is a whole mythology about company/mining/boom towns that praises the strong, silent man who endures the hardship. In the Western tradition, good girls are teachers, bad girls are prostitutes with hearts of gold. This is not me bashing sex workers, just observing the kind of stories that have been told. Since the 80s there have been more stories featuring a woman in a mostly masculine settings, but those tend to be written as tough guys indistinguishable from the other, male-identified, tough guys except maybe prettiness (Renee Russo in Lethal Weapon 3, Vasquez in Aliens, Linda Hamilton in Terminator 2). It's refreshing to read a story set in company towns that acknowledges a different point of view. Beaton explicitly rejects real or "humorous" solicitation for services. All she wants is to do her job without harassment,
#61 in my 365 Kids Books challenge. For a fuller explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their ow#61 in my 365 Kids Books challenge. For a fuller explanation see my review for 101 Amazing Facts about Australia You can see all the books on their own shelf.
I like that Pere Noel lives underground in Bohemia, but why do they need Santa to give gifts? Doesn't that seem weird? I am disturbed that Santa is the same size as Babar. That seems excessive. Did the elephant shrink or what?
"The opposite of fascism isn't anarchy, it's theater. When the world is fucled, you go to the theater, you go to the shine, and when the bad men come,"The opposite of fascism isn't anarchy, it's theater. When the world is fucled, you go to the theater, you go to the shine, and when the bad men come, all there is left to do is sing them down."
Well damn, that's right on the nose. Destruction of property makes him luck like a tough guy. Portland needs a wall of mimes. That'd make him look ridiculous, fighting clowns with his secret army. Balloon animals, cotton candy, jugglers. Hit him where he really hurts: make him look silly.
***
There are red pandas. I mention that in case you know someone who's favotrite Guardian is Rocket. Despite the obvious connection to Hitchiker's, Space Opera owes more to movies than novels. The Venn diagrams of fandom will have a lot of overlap with Thor: Ragnorak, Ziggy Stardust, cats. It's just the ticket if you're trying to distract yourself from the dumpster fire that is the US in 2020.
The best I can figure is someone went through a random collection of scenes never used for other books because they weren't very good, shuffled them iThe best I can figure is someone went through a random collection of scenes never used for other books because they weren't very good, shuffled them into a chronological order, and then typed it up with consistent names.
It's a mess, and none of the aspects rise above thoroughly mediocre: half-hearted Gothic, suspense, romance, travel, adventure, wish-fulfillment, etc. And a really surprising number of bastards or children who were legitimized by marriages between their mothers and people who were not their fathers.
Disappointingly, the Black Opal of the title is pure McGuffin, everyone ends up well off in a lovely home, the three possible love interests don't seem to interest the heroine much, and events are too random to even be coincidental. Of all the squares I considered using it for, it didn't really live up to any of them. I'm going with Gothic because it does have recognizable Gothic elements, even if they're not well-developed.
Nonetheless, it was an interesting read. It wasn't like the Victoria Holt books I read in the 70s, nor is it at all like contemporary romance or suspense. Although it lacked a real commitment to formula, it was very definitely written by someone who knew what would make an enjoyable read. Consider it a lesser work by a real pro. It certainly didn't put me off Holt: I have a couple more I'm considering.
Reading this as an adult is weird. Now the allegory is clear and overwhelming. The creation of Narnia, the lands and the animals and the plants, feelsReading this as an adult is weird. Now the allegory is clear and overwhelming. The creation of Narnia, the lands and the animals and the plants, feels just as improbable and poorly-thought out as the creation in Genesis. No bugs at all, which is nice from a picnic perspective, but really wreaks havoc on decomposition. Where does Aslan come from? Does he have a ring in his pocket? Hours in to the creation of this new world, the talking animals have the idea to plant Uncle Andrew. But nothing has ever been planted before. How does Aslan decide what kinds of trees and animals he wants? While the elephant is necessary from a plot perspective, it seems an unlikely creature for a temperate forested climate much like England's.
I was really enjoying it up until Narnia. I still love the idea of the attic spaces and cisterns. And I'm okay with a witch queen who has the power to destroy all forms of life on her planet, because who doesn't want that kind of power sometimes? Weirdly, I'm even okay with the idea that there are all these different universes which exist only as pretty backdrops to a single planet in each. But if Lewis was going to take only large mammals from earth, why didn't he just go ahead and fill up an ark at the London Zoo? It would have been more plausible as a way to get one male and one female each of those particular species. And where are all those monsters that appear in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe going to come from? Is Aslan going to start singing death metal?
***
Finished last night. It's not a great book, I don't think. How came these dwarves to arise from a song, fully informed with their mining and goldsmithing skills? did Aslan sing up the anvil, too? All the religious stuff just bugs me now, because it seems to raise more questions than it answers. But, wow, does Lewis tell his story well. He had us laughing at all the right points. He's a charming snake oil salesman, so charming that you don't notice all the trickery, until the next morning when your pocket is empty. ...more
The mad scientist is Sanity: that should give you a good feel. There's a lot to appreciate: the leads are a diverse group, and so are the extras, the The mad scientist is Sanity: that should give you a good feel. There's a lot to appreciate: the leads are a diverse group, and so are the extras, the best friends are there for each other, there's mad science, but it's not too bizarre. I really like that an adult relies on a child based on specifics, and that other adults listen and understand and accept that a child is an authority and behave accordingly. Real life is sadly full of people who expect to be given authority and respect based on age rather than actually knowing anything. And there's a great set-up: a space station on the periphery, political or military unrest somewhere else, the suggestion that much is going on which implies a depth of world-building that isn't necessary for this story. Definitely one I will continue to follow. And I am not saying that just because Brooks wrote an utterly unrelated valentine to hockey that I can strongly relate to.
Quality mix of STEM and pop culture, good balance of stakes and humor, a future worth looking forward to. It has the potential for broad readership and I hope it finds it.
Reading old school science fiction is always fun: seeing what the author predicts and what they can't imagine. This was published in 1964. Booze, smokReading old school science fiction is always fun: seeing what the author predicts and what they can't imagine. This was published in 1964. Booze, smoking, and coffee have spread to all the worlds in 500 years. There are flying cars and video calling and enormous computers; but also paper for all the business, cocktail parties, and those wacky fifties gender norms that some mistakenly call "traditional". (It wouldn't pass the Bechdel test, but there are actually quite a few women working)
Piper new what he was doing. The humans are nearly interchangeable, but none of that matters because he gave all the personality to the Fuzzies. Who are adorable! Everybody wants one! I want one!
There is a crime investigation to provide plot, but the crime is no worse than that found in your average Nancy Drew. It really feels like Piper sat down to write a fun-for-the-whole-family book about how the Fuzzies can possibly survive the human invasion, especially with an incredibly rare and valuable natural resource on their world. He nailed it.
Rundell is rapidly becoming one of my favorite writers. I'm kind of surprised I haven't heard more about her books, because Adventure tends to be a suRundell is rapidly becoming one of my favorite writers. I'm kind of surprised I haven't heard more about her books, because Adventure tends to be a subject that kids love.
Will has grown up on a Zimbabwean farm where she was pretty much left to do whatever she wanted which mostly involved casual gymnastics and camping out in the bush, and just messing about with the other kids on the farm. She enjoys reading, too, but it's clear that her life is devoid of most of what a Western child would expect: no regular schooling, no after school lessons or play dates arranged for her. She is almost feral and happy with it.
And then she ends up being sent to a London boarding school and it is ghastly. She doesn't know any of what her peers take for granted: the way schools operate with bells, the subjects covered in class: she is the hick to end all hicks and the mean girls are brutal.
It's refreshing to read about a character who does not fit in, and who is shunned by her peers, and the author makes it clear that most readers would shun her too: Will is too out of her depth to be ingratiating or subservient. She is no Little Princess.
Colonialism and racism are never broached because Will doesn't see them. It isn't a good authorial stance, but it is an appropriate one: Will is totally self-absorbed. There are a lot of tomboys in literature, but few of them get to be truly awful. It's still a delightful change. All the women in this book are fierce, all in different ways, but they're intimidating as hell.
One Trick Pony - Nathan Hale I enjoyed this enormously: I liked the juxtaposition of multiple different cultures and societies. The premise was intriOne Trick Pony - Nathan Hale I enjoyed this enormously: I liked the juxtaposition of multiple different cultures and societies. The premise was intriguing, the kids are resourceful, the parents believable, the robots were funny. Good set up and good payoff. I would thing this would be insanely popular since it's like to appeal to fans of fantasy and science fiction, to horse people and Western people, everyone really, except aliens.
My only problem with the book is a technical detail: I had tremendous trouble reading the speech sometimes. Yes, I'm old and the eyes go and dim lighting isn't sufficient anymore et cetera, et cetera, but none of that troubles me when reading anything else. I'm not confident I know what the difficulty was: whether the book pages were too small (for me), or the font size too small (for me), or the contrast not sharp enough (for me). I can't say with any certainty. But it made for an uncomfortable experience. I'm a motivated reader, so I stuck with it, but I can imagine that not everyone would. YMMV
Dead languages, academics, history, technology, witches, Elizabethan drama, serious weapons, take out Chinese food, and grossly conReader, I loved it.
Dead languages, academics, history, technology, witches, Elizabethan drama, serious weapons, take out Chinese food, and grossly contorted names for things just to get a good acronym. I would marry this book if it was old enough. Definitely going to have to check out Galland's other books.
Take the Cannoli: Stories From the New World - Sarah Vowell I can already tell I'm going to want to read this again. Essays, I love them. Plus, in mTake the Cannoli: Stories From the New World - Sarah Vowell I can already tell I'm going to want to read this again. Essays, I love them. Plus, in my mind, I can hear Vowell as she must have sounded on This American Life, which is where most of these began. There's a few bits of growing-up interspersed throughout, a lot of history, the blackest of humor. Great stuff, perhaps especially on the Trail of Tears and how many different emotions that trip spawned. So much humor, though. On the one hand, I think Vowell would be an awesome friend to hang with, laughing at Choo-Choo and working it into every comment because of the way it sounds ("spleen" is a personal fave) on the other, she would someday drag me along on the least appealing road trip ever. Hotspots of the Teapot Dome scandal? Tippecanoe? Some other phrase I only dimly recall from American history, but can't actually place in time or space? She's already done The Hall of Presidents, so I'd be clear of that one. Yet no matter how little the idea would appeal to me, she'd make it fascinating: full of humor and humanity. Maybe we can just get her and Kate Beaton and Bill Bryson to filter all of history for us? Library copy...more
The History and Uncertain Future of Handwriting - Anne Trubek After a slow couple of months my reading has picked up again: I'm finishing more, and The History and Uncertain Future of Handwriting - Anne Trubek After a slow couple of months my reading has picked up again: I'm finishing more, and I'm enjoying what I'm reading. The sad aspect of this is that I keep finishing books that I want everyone else to pick up, and mostly no one does. This is an exception. It belongs on the odd shelf I don't have specifically, but can't resist reading from, called "History of a Thing". While it isn't funny exactly, there is a lightness of tone that makes this a pleasant break from heavier reading, like say, about Nixon and Mao, to pick a topic out of thin air and not off the cover of another book lying around the house. It's fascinating to learn at some depth about a very narrow topic. Not surprisingly, this book is a distillation of a topic Trubek has been teaching in college for years. Specialization is awesome: I've never thought about all the different kinds of writing together until now. I love this post-book feeling of erudition. Two days after I finished the book I can't recall anything specific that I learned, which isn't really the point. I've grasped the gestalt. I've placed my own flirtation with calligraphy (highly recommended as a means to achieving a legible handwriting) into the appropriate context. There are a number of people worried about the fact that schools aren't teaching cursive. I'm not bothered. I've done my share of handwriting and it hurts and it's slow, and I'm one of only two people I know who can write a cursive others can read. Admittedly, the time spent learning keyboarding will no doubt also become wasted time at some point in the Offspring's lives, in favor of something newer and easier for more people. That's fine. Favorite bit: seeing all the different types of clerks/scribes/copyists there were a fairly short time ago. Poor Bartleby and Bob Cratchit! Library copy...more
An amusing riff on the man-on-the-street column. A little gross. The last section is my favorite.
Merged review:
Miniatures: The Very Short Fiction of John Scalzi I'm hoping that this id the gateway book for the rest of the family. So far I haven't talked two of them into anything, and the one who's enjoyed the hell out of Your Hatemail Will Be Graded, hasn't bestirred herself to sample the fiction. Of course she could find the time to read Handmaid's Tale a third time in preparation for for her exam, but does Agent to the Stars get even a cursory glance? I really thought the daughters would go for Zoe's Tale or Fuzzy Nation, but not a nibble. Big sigh. library copy...more
The Ask and the Answer - Patrick Ness January 3, 2017 July 17, 2014 As I was nearing the end I had to run out to the library for the next book, to have The Ask and the Answer - Patrick Ness January 3, 2017 July 17, 2014 As I was nearing the end I had to run out to the library for the next book, to have it on hand when I finished. Ness does an amazing job of showing how people are brought to make certain choices, and how they can be manipulated into certain choices. So yes, it's covering a lot of the same moral ground as The Hunger Games and it has that same adventure feel, and also the extremes of society between the haves and the have nots. There is also an overt division between men and women, tensions with the indigenous population and so much more.
Short form: this book is awesome and every home and classroom should have a copy.
Long form: This was a whim. I just picked it up because it had a fu Short form: this book is awesome and every home and classroom should have a copy.
Long form: This was a whim. I just picked it up because it had a fun cover and title, but once I started reading it I couldn’t bear to put it down. The introduction is amusing, the art is spot on, and the stories are delightful. Well, many of them have violence and heinous cruelty, or just plain gore, but Porath forewarns the reader with some very specific codes. And when he’s writing about the evil that is lynching he doesn’t shrink from sharing the horror. But also, whenever there is a specific named villain in the piece, he comes up with some amusing expletives. Somehow he manages to hit a sweet spot between maintaining a light tone and historical accuracy, and he manages to do it in both the text and the art. Even when he gives these women enormous Disney eyes he makes sure to get the period details right: you know he isn’t mocking these women, he’s taking them seriously but not striving for an imagined objectivity. And then there are art notes on many of the illustrations, which explain details one might miss and their significance. Dude has found his calling and I hope he sells beaucoup books and can continue to devote his time and energy to the project. I love this like I haven’t loved any history since Lies My Teacher Told Me.
It only just hit me that the reason I loved this book so much was that I really needed to read about kick-ass women who got shit done and had fun and/or really improved their world.
Everfair - Nisi Shawl It's an alternate history in which a genocide doesn't happen. It's about a utopian society that isn't so cleverly set up as to avEverfair - Nisi Shawl It's an alternate history in which a genocide doesn't happen. It's about a utopian society that isn't so cleverly set up as to avoid all problems, but in which people work to find different, practical, solutions. It's steampunk that feels utterly plausible. It's a book that acknowledges the tremendous breadth and depth of people and cultures throughout Africa, although it focuses on one nation. It is a marvelous accomplishment in every sense of the word, and I'm sure it's going to be one of my top reads for the year, and probably every other reader's list, because it is a book that makes you go "ohhh" and "ahhh", that constantly delights and surprises, even though it is addressing many of the darkest aspects of colonialism. It's a book that reminded me of how new and appealing are the many voices in scifi these days, and actually makes me feel optimistic about humanity. Sweet, fancy Moses, it's just a great, sweeping Victorian "ills of society" novel, such as those of Charles Dickens, but with a light touch. It's just perfect.
Now goo, read it right away, unless you're devoting October to horror, in which case, okay, but then you have to start it on November first.
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