Made by Mikal – Page 54

The Chronicles of Pern: First Fall

Post author:mikal
Post published:July 10, 2010
Post category:Book

This is an anthology of Pern stories. It doesn't really stand on its own though, you're much better off having read the other Pern books first. The stories are: The Survey: P.E.R.N.: this story feels quite lazy. There are new characters, but they aren't well introduced. They find the planet later called Pern, and explore it, but the story is entirely descriptive with no real plot to speak of. A story that's only interesting if you're obsessed with all things Pern. Its especially important that you've read Dragonsdawn before this story. The Dolphin's Bell: this story recycles characters introduced in Dragonsdawn to tell another side of the evacuation from Landing story. Its an ok story, but its not ground breaking. The Fort of Red Hanrahan: covers the settlement of the second Hold on Pern. This story feels more like a real story, even if it is a bit shallow. Better than the previous two stories. The Second Weyr: this is more of a traditional dragon rider story, and quite good. It doesn't feel as much like an afterthought as the other stories, and was a good read. The title is a bit of a fib, as this story explains the…

Marsbound

Post author:mikal
Post published:July 7, 2010
Post category:Book

This book really worked for me. I've seen other people criticize it for being juvenile, but I don't feel its any more juvenile than The Forever War, which is considered a classic. The style is quite conversational, as if the main protagonist is talking to you and explaining the story, but I liked that. This is a great book.

Thermostat (or, its happening again)

Post author:mikal
Post published:July 7, 2010
Post category:Arduino

This is just a quick post at the moment because the project isn't done and I am distracted by other things... The thermostat for the central heater in my house became unreliable a week or two ago. My wife rang around and a new one from the manufacturer of the heater was going to be $450 AUD. So, it seemed obvious to make my own. I've just installed the 1.0 of it, with the board layout and manufacture being done by Doug once again. Other people seem to lack a PCB manufacturing back neighbour. I highly recommend you acquire one if possible.

Gate of Ivrel

Post author:mikal
Post published:July 6, 2010
Post category:Book

I read this book on the recommendation of my father. Its Cherryh's first book, and I think you can see that from the awkward phrasing in places. Its an ok read, but not the best of her books that I've read. I found the grammar hard enough to parse that the book was harder work than it should have been. [isbn: 0886773210]

Cyteen: The Vindication

Post author:mikal
Post published:July 3, 2010
Post category:Book

This is the final book in the Cyteen trilogy (proceeded by Cyteen: The Betrayal and Cyteen: The Rebirth). This book is good in that it avoids much of the politics that mired the first book. Additionally, its nice to see Ari2 and Justin resolve some of their differences, even if its from a position of mutual distrust. The series doesn't really resolve the problem of Ari's research, but I assume that theme is covered more in later books. [isbn: 0445204303] [award: winner hugo 1989]

Books read in June 2010

Post author:mikal
Post published:July 3, 2010
Post category:Book

All the Weyrs of Pern Quicksilver Cyteen: The Rebirth King of the Vagabonds

King of the Vagabonds

Post author:mikal
Post published:June 27, 2010
Post category:Book

I thought I was reading this book slowly, until I remembered that I am reading the large page three books all in one volume version. If I had bought this book as a single paperback in a standard paper size it would have been 400 pages. This book is better than Quicksilver, with a more engaging story line and less time spent on verbose descriptions of life 300 years ago. I'm sure those descriptions will be vital later in the series, but when you're reading them they are still a chore. This book is a page turner, even if the plot is a little hard to believe in places. I enjoyed it a lot. [isbn: 0060593083;0060833173]

The Exterminator’s Want Ad

Post author:mikal
Post published:June 24, 2010
Post category:Book

What happens when our wasteful ways finally leads to the collapse of our consumption oriented society? Well, Bruce Sterling has some suggestions in this online short story...

Cyteen: The Rebirth

Post author:mikal
Post published:June 23, 2010
Post category:Book

This book is a follow up to Cyteen: The Betrayal, and was originally published in the same volume as it. The book would make little sense without having read Cyteen: The Betrayal first. Apart from that its a good book, and much more readable than the first. I think that's mostly because all the important scene setting is done and we can finally get on with things. That was my impression with the first book too -- the second half was better than the first. [award: nominee hugo 1989] [isbn: 0445204540]

Quicksilver

Post author:mikal
Post published:June 21, 2010
Post category:Book

This book is well written, and a delight to read. I love meeting the forefathers of characters from Cryptonomicon, and this book is an excellent piece of historical fiction. It does however drag on a little in the middle when Daniel is tied up in London intrigue. I think this section would have worked a bit better with some action, but that is obviously just my personal preference. Overall, a good book. [isbn: 0060593083;0060833165]