Made by Mikal – Page 64

The Book of General Ignorance

Post author:mikal
Post published:June 16, 2009
Post category:Book

I seem to be on a bit of a trivia book kick, which is at least partially motivated by getting through all my Christmas presents so I can pack them into a box and move to a different country. This book was written as part of the production of the very excellent BBC quiz show Quite Interesting and is quite a contrast from the extremely average Why Do Men Have Nipples that I just finished reading. This book feels well researched, and is on par with Why Don't Penguin's Feet Freeze, although the style is quite different (the New Scientist book offers multiple answers for each question, and is written by real scientists in the fields discussed, this book flows as one manuscript). I suspect it helps here to have seen the quiz show, because many of the other reviews I have seen online complain about the style of the book, which reads in much the same manner as Stephen Fry's commentary during the program. If you're familiar with the format, then the book flows quite nicely (whereas if you haven't, you might end up why the book jumps around so much). I really liked this book. [isbn: 0307394913]

Why do men have nipples?

Post author:mikal
Post published:June 14, 2009
Post category:Book

This book is pretty light weight. The font is big, and there is lots of "chrome" on the pages, which conspire to make a book which would probably be only 100 pages in a normal font more like 200 pages. The book also suffers from trying a little too hard to be funny, with numerous interruptions for the authors to tell you how terribly clever they are. Its annoying quite quickly. The answers also aren't as detailed and believable as those found to similar questions in "Why don't penguin's feet freeze? (and 114 other questions)", the New Scientist book I just finished reading. I'd say go with the New Scientist book if you're buying something, but read this if you're given it.

Isaac Asimov’s Robot City: Robots and Aliens: Alliance

Post author:mikal
Post published:June 12, 2009
Post category:Book

Given how disappointed I have been in other books in this series, I was pleasantly surprised by this one. The style is very readable, and the content is interesting. The plot seems more nuanced than some of the others in the series, and the characters aren't as one dimensional either. This isn't the best book I have ever read, but it was surprisingly solid, especially given some of the poor ground work it had to deal with.

Why don’t penguin’s feet freeze? (and 114 other questions)

Post author:mikal
Post published:June 7, 2009
Post category:Book

This book was really fun. Its a collection of 115 questions sent into New Scientist magazine, and the answers provided by other readers. Sometimes the answers and sarcastic or funny, and sometimes they are incredibly detailed. I found this book really interesting to read, and I certainly picked up some trivial to annoy my wife along the way. Excellent.

Bolos 2: The Unconquerable

Post author:mikal
Post published:June 6, 2009
Post category:Book

This is another collection of short stories involving Laumer's Bolo artificially intelligent super tanks. None of these stories are written by Laumer, but they are written by some very good SF authors. I enjoyed the collection, although I do think Honor of the Regiment was marginally better.

Books read in May 2009

Post author:mikal
Post published:June 1, 2009
Post category:Book

Friday Logan's Run Deathworld One Deathworld Two Dragonflight Dragonquest Deathworld Three Galactic Dreams A Time of Omens Bolos 1: Honor of the Regiment

Bolos 1: Honor of the Regiment

Post author:mikal
Post published:June 1, 2009
Post category:Book

I'm quite partial to the idea of artificially intelligent super tanks. I think they'd simplify my social life quite a lot, for example. I'm also partial to short story collections, and this book is both of those. The short stories are written by some excellent authors as well, which certainly helps. This book continues on from The Compleat Bolo, although Laumer didn't write any of the stories in this book. The stories follow two main patterns -- long retired tanks which the locals don't trust until they save the day; and stories about active combat. I guess that means you have to like war stories for these to work for you -- the stories are quite similar to David Drake's in that regard. Excellent, quick read.

A Time of Omens

Post author:mikal
Post published:May 31, 2009
Post category:Book

This is the sixth book in the not-very-finished Deverry celtic fantasy series. This one is pretty good, especially because it has several subplots, which makes it feel more like a few shorter books in one volume. That means you don't lose your place in a 400 page story line as you go along. I'm a fan of the intermingled plot lines style (Tom Clancy does it quite well too), and it works well in this book. This book follows a subset of the usual characters, although some of the older ones have moved on, so to speak. [isbn: 0553290118;0586211969]

Galactic Dreams

Post author:mikal
Post published:May 23, 2009
Post category:Book

This is a relatively short collection of Harry Harrison short stories. They are: I always do what Teddy says: what happens when we abdicate teaching our youngsters moral values to machine, and then don't test that the machine is working correctly? A short story about unit testing? Space rats of the CCC: this story is just silly. Its a little bit like Bill the Galactic Hero in style, but also a little bit annoying. It didn't really work for me. Down to earth: I'm sure I've read this basic plot line about a billion times, for example Hawk Among the Sparrows being just one example. This one didn't even have a good twist at the end. A criminal act: Harrison feels strongly about population grow (see also Make Room, Make Room!). Its pretty obvious in this story, although its not as preachy as Make Room, Make Room. Famous first words: I actually really liked this one. The Pad - a story of the day after the day after tomorrow: seducing women is hard work for billionaires, apparently. If: a pretty standard "don't alter the time lines" tale, with a small if predictable twist. Mute Milton: what important discoveries have been…

Deathworld Three

Post author:mikal
Post published:May 21, 2009
Post category:Book

I thought this one didn't sound as good as the others, but I was wrong. Its quite different from the other two in its setting, but its still the same romping Harrison style that I like. A little bit unlikely, quite sweeping in scope, and interesting. I liked it. [isbn: 0722144180;B000OFKKP6]