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Post by wildfire2099 on Dec 28, 2017 22:27:38 GMT -5
So Augustus is still around in the next book? That's good.. it seemed like he might not be. That makes me happier Really, what this book did more than anything is make me want to see how the Trek novel-verse is going.. but I'll probably get the next one in this series sooner or later.
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Post by Calamas on Dec 29, 2017 10:06:58 GMT -5
Will do. But with everything else I’m reading I’m only getting to three or four of them a year. (I think he [Spillane] had a spy series too, though not nearly as popular as the Hammers). Don’t take “spy series” too literally. The only difference between Tiger Mann and Mike Hammer was Mann was facing down Russian agent tough guys in and around New York City instead of organized crime tough guys. Otherwise, the same character. Still entertaining if you accept it for what it is and account for the time period in which it was created.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Dec 29, 2017 18:46:49 GMT -5
Armada by Ernest Cline
I think the best way to describe Armada is that this is the world that that weird guy in the trailer park with a junk car but a top of the line gamer computer wants it to be... every weird alien/government conspiracy theory is real.
The story itself is nothing good.. Cline twists things here and there to make it not totally predictable, but there are certainly a really high percentage of checkboxes from the sci fi standards catalog that get hit.
The 80s references from Ready Player One are still there, just a bit more subtle. Cline has character's swearing with just about every sci fi version of the f world that have been invented. We get another Rush album referenced (this time, Moving Pictures). Then, there's my very favorite sci fi quote of all time, the 'Fear is the mind-killer' mantra from Dune, which two of the main character recite to each other at a great time.
Much like Ready Player One, the book made me feel like Ernest Cline is a guy I would have a fantastic time running a D & D session with. The actual story? meh. It was definitely set up to be a series, but so maybe at some point we'll get a chance to see if he can rise about just mixing tropes and firing off cool references and write a good story
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Post by Deleted on Dec 30, 2017 20:14:03 GMT -5
I love Bosch. He’s probably one of my top 10 favorite literary characters. Devouring each new book in the series in a couple days is one of the best joys in my life. Wow.. high praise indeed... I'll have to give him another shot. Any particular favorite that would be a good one to sell me on the series? I started with the very first book and have been hooked ever since. But if I had to pick one, I’d say The Last Coyote.
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Post by Slam_Bradley on Dec 31, 2017 12:39:22 GMT -5
1453: The Holy War for Constantinople and the Clash of Islam and the West by Roger Crowley Crowley takes a fairly in-depth look at the siege and conquest of Constantinople by the Ottomans in 1453. This is the third of Crowley's popular histories that I've read and it's the one I liked the best, though I've enjoyed them all. Crowley takes a balanced look at both sides of the fight, neither downplaying the fierce actions of Mehmet nor ignoring the fact that the Ottoman Empire was one of the more humanistic societies of the time. The fall of Constantinople and the Byzantine 'Empire' was inevitable by 1453. Crowley does a good job at looking at the factors involved in why it happened at that time...and nearly happened later. And while he doesn't go in-depth into the psychological effect of the loss of the City of the World's Desire, he does touch on the effects at the time and the lingering effect that we are in some ways still feeling. Excellent book that I highly recommend.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 31, 2017 13:25:47 GMT -5
Finished the last novella in Strange Weather, Rain, which is perhaps my favorite of the four. A haunting tale of survival when the climate turns against you and destroys the people and places you love, followed by a journey of self-discovery and then discovering the cause of the apocalyptic change that cost you everything was a betrayal that cuts you to the core. It felt like the most complete story of the four tales told.
Of the four, I'd rate them in this order...
Rain Snapshot Aloft Loaded
All are worth reading (as is the collection) but Rain and Snapshot were more satisfying reads than the other two.
-M
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jan 1, 2018 18:20:07 GMT -5
Ahsoka by EK Johnston
I know not everyone does, but I've like Ahsoka from the beginning when the Clone Wars cartoon came out...I haven't gotten to Rebels yet (the start was far from encouraging, but people have said it gets worlds better).. and the fact that they do, in fact use Ahsoka makes me happy.
This novel is the tale of how she went from Padawan on the run to Rebel spymaster. At times, it feels like one of the bad Ahsoka episodes from Clone Wars, where they stretch the bounds of credibility and have her be in charge of a bunch of kids and escape the bad guys, but those were few.. for the most part, this is a good (and very Star Wars) story. There are a couple continuity issues that I didn't love, and R2 was a little too human, for instance, and some of the parts where they talk about what's going on with the beginings of the Rebellion I didn't love, but nothing horrible... definitely a good addition to the new canon, especially if you're a fan of either cartoon.
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jan 4, 2018 10:00:10 GMT -5
Mind Switch by Damon Knight Not a fan of a collage-style covers, and the aliens are described more like hedgehogs than monkeys, so that's a bummer. This is a pretty simple story, a reporter covering a new biped alien at the zoo(the species never even gets a name, just 'the biped) gets body swapped with him, leaving the mostly intelligent alien to figure out society, and the reporter to try to prove he's human. There's also some side bits about a time travel expiriment gone awry, that I think are meant to explain the swap, but mostly just are irrelevant. What really interesting here is looking at it in hindsight.. the scientists at the zoo are essentially keeping breeding slaves so they can write a paper.. something that we would like to think would never be tolerated, but here the desire for basic human rights is given a wink and a nod and largely ignored. While I'm not sure what the initial intention was, now it reads as a cautionary tale of what happens when we let people ignore those that get dismissed as 'bleeding hearts'. Out in society, the alien follows a pretty typical track of this sort of 'stranger in a strange land' story... he does weird stuff at first, falls into criminals, and eventually joins society more or less normally. Then there's another side light about the potenial of discovering intelligent life (even though the biped seem plenty intelligent themselves), completely covered up in a join effort with the 'Sovs' On the world building side, it's a bit of a flop. Knight gives a a 2002 that, other than casual space travel and video phones (that still need switchboard operators to connect), isn't any different from his 1963. USSR is stil intact, and Germany seems to have replaced the US as the 'good guys', but it's not clear. The end is definitely not what it would be if it was written today, or even a bit later, which I find really interesting.. while in alot of ways we have a long way to go to have the fair, just society some other novels show, this one gives a glimpse of just how far we've come.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2018 12:55:54 GMT -5
In the middle of reading Why Comics? From Underground to Everywhere by Hillary Chute... Chute is a professor of English and Art & Design at Northeastern University, a literary critic and frequent writer and speaker about comics. She also worked with art spiegleman on Metamaus. Her previous books on comics include Graphic Women, Disaster Drawn, and a book of interviews with current cartoonists called Outside the Box. This book also focuses on what she calls auteurial comics i.e. comics emerging from a single creator's vision, but does look at some early Golden Age stuff (like Sigel & Shuster's Superman where the pair is the auteur) and early Marvel (Lee/Kirby/Ditko) stuff as she examines her themes. For example, in the disaster chapter, she examines the impact of the murder of Sigel's father on elements of Superman. The book is divided into thematic chapters, each asking a Why question. Why Disaster? Why Superheroes? Why Sex? Why the Suburbs? Why Cities? Why Punk? Why Illness & Disability? Why Girls? Why War? Why Queer? Coda: Why Fans? I am only through the chapter on suburbs. Each chapter she focuses on one or two creators and their works that epitomize the theme, but each theme builds on the themes that have come before to an extent. Some of the creators she has focused on include spiegleman, Chris Ware, Robert Crumb, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, Allison Bechdel, Josh Neufeld, Joe Sacco, Keiji Nakazawa, Gary Panter, Dan Clowes, Charles Burns, and frequently references Scott McCloud's works. And that's just what I have gotten to so far. Eisner gets a look in the intro chapter (and I am assuming he might get more of a look in the cities chapter. It is a dense, informative read so far, focused on the inspirations and driving forces of the creators and how the works relate to her chosen themes. She breaks down not only the writing, but the art and composition of the works and how it relates to those themes. It's fascinating stuff, but a slow read as there's a lot in there to process and digest. There is a lot of art included from the works she examines, some of it quite graphic and NSFW (for example she looks at early Tijuana Bibles in the chapter Why Sex? and reproduces a few pages form one featuring Popeye, Olive Oyl and Bluto, and pages form Underground comix that are quite explicit). The focus is squarely on comics as a visual and literary artform rather than as a form of disposable entertainment for the masses. If this form of comics is of interest to you at all, this is definitely worth checking out, but if your interest in comics only leans towards capes & tights and slam, bang action in certain genres, you might want to give it a pass. -M
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Post by Deleted on Jan 4, 2018 23:55:59 GMT -5
Expanding on Why Comics...
So the cities chapter mostly focuses on Harvey Pekar and Los Bros Hernandez. Eisner gets a mention but no analysis. The punk chapter focuses a lot on Matt Groenig, Gary Panter and Raymond Pettibon, but brings Los Bros into the discussion as well. There is some focus on the Rozz-Tox manifesto (man I wish Dan B were still around so I could pepper him with all the questions about punk that came to me while I was reading this chapter). Chute also mentions another book about comics I need to track down-Below Critical Radar: Fanzines and Alternative Comics 1976-Now edited by Roger Sabin and Teal Triggs.
-M
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 5, 2018 0:35:08 GMT -5
Currently reading Le Carre's The Spy Who Came in From the Cold. I've seen the movie and read (and have seen film and mini-series versions) Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy; but, this is my first time reading it. I have a Smiley Omnibus that has it and his other pre-Tinker, Tailor appearances (and I have the Karla Trilogy omnibus). I'm really enjoying Le Carre's writing, especially the reality of his characters. I was weaned on Bond, then the Harry Palmer films and have since read Deighton's originals (which are vastly different, though with the key plot elements) and Le Carre is just such a different level, greatly aided by firsthand knowledge. Fleming is pure fantasy, from a man who was an administrator and wild planner, but never an intelligence officer. Fleming has a journalist's flair for locales and details; but, Le Carre crafts whole worlds, with real people in them and also gets to the morally ambivalent center of espionage work. I need to check out the latest, Legacy of Spies, which has Peter Guillam (Smiley's protege, played by Benedict Cumberbatch in the Tinker film) reflecting back on things.
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Roquefort Raider
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jan 5, 2018 17:26:35 GMT -5
That book I bought for 80 cents at the Rotary fundraiser... I'm not going to finish.
W.E.B. Griffin and his son William E. Butterworth IV' Victory and Honor is probably a good read for a targeted audience, but I'm so far out of the target's bullseye I'm probably behind the shooter's back. The writer's biographical blurbs read like a long list of membership to different veteran organizations, gun aficionados, and even the Flat Earth Society.
The book includes passages like this : "Two men were sitting in the Ford. Clete knew that they were armed with Remington model 11 twelve-guage riot shotguns, .45 ACP Thompson submachine guns, and Argentine versions of the U.S. 1911-A1 .45 ACP pistol." (That, gentle reader, is what is called an NRAgasm).
The hero is an impeccably honourable Marine lieutenant colonel and airplane pilot, a spy, a husband, a father, and he is naturally rich beyond measure. Not only did he inherit vast properties from his father, an Argentine colonel and war hero, but he also inherited his dad's private army made up of veterans of some elite corps or other. Nobody seems to think it inappropriate in the least that a gazillionaire would own a private army, since he's the good guy. Such a fine lad, in fact, that he can use the name of a fearsome American general to cover his illegal activities, only to have said general take it with gruff good humour and a pat on the back.
Will our model of virile virtue manage to defeat the evil forces of communism as he protects ex-Nazis in Argentina? (They're nice ex-Nazis; some of them took part in the plot to kill Hitler). Frankly, I don't care... for even if the writers's politics are clearly at 180 of mine, I could still enjoy their work; I love most of Dan Simmons's books and really liked most of David Weber's... but after 80 pages, this book is still boring. Life is too short for that!
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Post by wildfire2099 on Jan 5, 2018 17:52:27 GMT -5
I never tried WEB Griffin.. I always pictured his books as pale imitations of Tom Clancy... sounds like I'm not missing much
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Post by Roquefort Raider on Jan 5, 2018 18:33:47 GMT -5
I never tried WEB Griffin.. I always pictured his books as pale imitations of Tom Clancy... sounds like I'm not missing much Yes, it has the same vibe as a Tom Clancy book... but without the page-turner qualities.
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Post by codystarbuck on Jan 6, 2018 10:29:35 GMT -5
Griffin's stuff is pretty one note and barely a step up from the endless Mack Bolan pulps (the post-Don Pendleton ones, anyway).
I'm gonna commit sacrilege; but, Clancy had one good book: The Hunt For Red October. It's a nice tight thriller, even if it is an orgy of techno-fantasy. It was practically required reading when I was a midshipman (he only had three books at that point). With each subsequent book it became clear to me that a), he knew nothing about the real military and b), his politics were pretty conservative and could get downright offensive. Red Storm Rising revolved around the idea that the Soviet military were complete morons; so, they were easy to beat back. Ask the Germans about that, sometime. Patriot Games has the ludicrous idea that the Prince and Princess of Wales have mediocre security that a few IRA guys could get past, while at some American's house. In the first place, a Secret Service detail would probably be assigned to liase with the royal bodyguards; and, in the second, the bodyguards include the SAS. Cardinal of the Kremlin is filled with so many geek and gay stereotypes that it is beyond offensive. I tapped out with Clear and Present Danger, where it became obvious that Clancy knew nothing about Special Operations and his past "expertise," lay solely in reading Jane's Defense.
As a veteran, it always honked me off that he festooned himself with military regalia in his author photo (flight jacket with 1st Cavalry unit patch, USS Iowa ball cap, etc...). The man never served in the military. He needed an actual former military co-author for those "non-fiction" military reference books. He was an armchair wannabe, unlike someone like Stephen Coonts, who was an actual Naval Aviator. I juts couldn't stomach his writing after those first few books and his politics less and less over the years. As a bookseller, I constantly had to explain to people that the Op Center and Power Play books weren't written by him. He just got all of the royalties. I did notice that his sales dropped off significantly by the tail end of the 90s, though, with the series titles, he probably made up for it in volume. When he was trotted out as an "expert," after the 9/11 attacks, I wanted to puke. Sure, he had used a plot where terrorists crash a plane into a joint session of Congress, leaving Jack Ryan as the next in succession (which was ludicrous; but, that's Clancy); but, it wasn't like the kamikaze idea hadn't existed before Clancy.
His biggest literary sin, though, was his 20 pages of plot and 300 pages of padding. Clear and Present Danger was where I really noticed it; but the previous books had it to different extents. Red October was the only one that felt like it was the right length and moved along well, for me.
I know, he was popular and sold tons of books; but, I would rather read even the lower grade Frederick Forsyth or Stephen Coonts (well, his early stuff, anyway).
As a naval officer, I used to laugh at his descriptions of naval technology. Everything worked like the manufacturer claimed and was beyond anything outside of Star Trek. He didn't spend his days and nights trying to get repair parts to make that over-priced junk work; or, spend 10 years or more working the bugs out of the system. That's the reality of most military technology (they've been trying to get the V-22 Osprey right since I was a midshipman and that was the 1980s)
ps Tom Clancy pretty much confirmed the vibe I was getting of him from his books and photo when he did a celebrity jeopardy and was a total jerk. Everything I heard through the bookseller grapevine said the same thing.
Best scuttlebutt about an author: Mary Higgins Clark. The woman sells truckloads of books and is the sweetest nicest person in the world, with no celebrity pretensions. She'll walk into a bookstore for a signing without a handler or entourage (the publisher rep is usually left to park the car while Clark goes in and says hi). Her books aren't my cup of tea; but, she is pure class.
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