Thursday, June 28, 2007

Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson

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Just started....
I've wanted to read some Neal Stephenson for years now. But I've never really known where to start. I finally ran across someone who has read his books, and she pointed me towards "Snow Crash".

I'm only about 50 pages in, but I think I like it already.
The first 5 pages are one of the best opening hooks I've read in a bit.
I'll write a bit more about it later, but I'll have to put up some heavy "spoiler" barricades first.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Foundation by Isaac Asimov



review for Foundation by Isaac Asmiov:

It has recently been brought to my attention that there is a significant gap in my sci-fi classics reading experience. Now, to be fair, there is also a significant gap in my reading or Victorian novels. And Colonial American Novels too. ...and now that I think about it, there are quite of a few of the great works from the romantic era that I haven't read. Neither have I delved deeply in to South American literature, nor the great works or warrior hamsters.

But, and here's the point I was straying from, I don't pretend to know much, if anything, about those topics. Not that I pretend to be a sci-fi historian either... but apparently I sort of give off the aura of one who would know his sci-fi greats.

And I don't want to be a poser. Laws-no. M-O-O-N, that spells "poser".

So I should read some of those works that the genre has been built on. Those works that have formed the foundation, you could say....

Sweet Seven in a red dress, sometimes I impress even myself. See how I did that? Rambled all over the place, and then brought it back to center with an allusion to the title of the book itself? ?? ? ? ?? ???
foundation?
get it?
Foundation?
Crap.... Maybe it wasn't that impressive.

Anyway, i finished Isaac Asimov's Foundation (it's a whole series, I just read that first book. Though oddly enough, there's also a book called Prelude to Foundation, but it's not the first book. Chronologically it would come first, but it wasn't the first one written. I think it's sorta like a prequel).

It was a good book, it was an easy read, and I can't really argue that there were many of the building blocks i.e. legos, of modern science fiction. It was very obviously part of a larger series, the ending is not a conclusion by any means.

I should give you a brief synopsis....
If you want the full run down go here

Briefly, there's a guy named Harry Seldon, a frickin' genius. Not a mad scientist, but a legitimate genius. He's what is called a psychohistorian. He weaves mathematics, history, and sociology together to predict the development of societies on a large scale. And he comes to the conclusion that the empire is
nearing it's final days (dum-dum-dum dum-da-dum dum-da-dum no, not that empire silly.)

He can't prevent it, he can't change it, he can't even make people believe him when he tries to warn them. All he can do is maneuver current events so that the period of barbarism and violence is shortened to a mere one-thousand years.

He dies before his plan really even kicks off. Not in a violent action packed scene. But rather off stage, of old age.
And then the story begins.

There are a few qualities to this novel that make it different that other sci-fi stories, or other novels in general even.

First, it is very dialog driven. I didn't even realize this until I was reading through some online reviews and came across a comment to the effect of "it was like reading a script". I went back to the book, and sure enough, it is almost purely dialog. But I've got to say, i think that's a strength. If you can tell a
story through dialog, you've done a beautiful thing. Good dialog is the core to a good novel. And when it's done well enough that you don't even realize that you've read almost an entire book of dialog, you've accomplished something amazing.

The converse, a narrative book with little to no dialog, is a very very hard thing to pull off. There are many more books that have too much narrative and not enough (or weak) dialog than there are dialog bloated books without a narrative. Good dialog becomes narration all on it's own (See Hills Like White Elephants).

And yet some of the crappiest books (sci-fi or otherwise) I've ever read where these "then Joe went there and shot some guys. He drank beer. He drank too much beer. He shot some more guys. But they were undercover federation guys. So Joe had to fly away in a cool ship with big guns. Zoom. Zoom. Zapitty-zap-zap. Kaboom!" type books (I went just a smidge over board there didn't I?).

In retrospect, even though i didn't realize at the time, the dialog was probably my favorite part of the novel.

Second. The story isn't about any one specific person (unless you were going to argue that it's about Harry Seldon. But it's really not, it might be about his theories and plans, but not so much about him directly). I can't remember the name of a single character beyond Harry Seldon - and he's dies pretty early in the book.

It's not that the characters aren't interesting. There were really only a couple character flaws that I noticed (making a note to come back to those). It's that they don't stick around very long. The book covers several generations, and you get a glimpse at a handful of significant characters from each generation.
Then they get old and die. You remember the the part they played, but you probably won't remember their names or anything about them specifically. But that's sort of the point. The story isn't about individuals. It's about an entire society.

Character flaws.

Again, i can't remember the names, but there's one character (A male... now that I think of it most of the main characters are men... is that significant? I don't know.) who is a radical in his government. He wants to shake things up, he's pursuing change, he's even ready to violently overthrow the existing government he believes so strongly in his vision.

He reappears later in the novel as an elderly statesmen still working within the government. But now he's the symbol of conservative government unwilling to change.

Maybe it's an intentional comment on what happens to fiery youth as they grow old and comfortable.

But I had a hard time believing that he wouldn't have that moment of "ah-ha, I was that fiery youth once maybe i should at least listen with an open mind." But he never does, he's stubborn and ignorant in the final scene he plays.

Character flaw number two. And here's the one that bugged me more.

The villains (though calling them villains might be simplifying it. They are heads of opposing states, and very well drawn with believable motivations and goals) have a tenancy to be easily talked out of things.
There's a scene that occurs a few times, and it goes vaguely like this.

"Grrrr... Arg... I'm a bad guy... I'm angry and I would like to imprison, hurt, maim, and/or kill you, the good guy"

"But wait - irascible bad guy. I've got a monologue that I'd like to deliver first. Here, listen to my well thought out chain of logic. blah blah blah. yaddity yaddity. A equals B, and the square root of Q is the roman numeral VIII. So you see, you should not maim, injure or otherwise inflict damage upon my person"

"You know, i've never looked at it in that light. Now that you lay it all out like that, you're absolutely correct. I surrender."

That little scene plays out in a lot of novels though doesn't it? Movies/TV
too now that I think about it.

I'm to the point in my book reading life, where i find myself silently chanting "just shoot him to shut him up, and deal with the consequences later"

Next point.
The technology.

It's easy to pick apart the technological "predictions" in this book and say "ha, how could the author think that's what would happen?"

But keep things in perspective. This book was published in 1951.

On October 4, 1957 Sputnik I launched by the USSR.
On January 31, 1958 Explorer I was launched by the United States.
On August 7, 1959 The first photo of earth from space was taken by Explorer 6.
On September 14, 1959 the USSR sent the first Probe to Moon - Luna 2.
On April 12, 1961 the USSR put the first human in orbit - Vostok 1
And on July 20, 1969 the USA put the first human on the Moon - Apollo 11.

So Isaac Asimov was writing before any sort of space travel science had been developed.

And, I found an interesting bit of trivia that I missed while reading. There's a point where one of the characters whips out a scientific calculator and punches out some quick numbers. I didn't think anything of it. Why wouldn't a scientist whip out a scientific calculator? After I finished the book I found out that the first pocket calculator was developed over 20 years later. So "hi-5" Mr. Asimov.

It was a good book. If you don't really read sci-fi, I'll be honest, you're probably not going to get much out of this one. But if you read science fiction at all, or you're thinking about buffing up on your sci-fi classics. Get this one.

I'm glad I got it, and I'll pick up the other foundation books next time I'm at half-priced books.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

...catching up a bit

I'm getting behind in writing up little book reviews again. It's the same pattern as it ever was. I feel like I've got to dedicate enough time to really write something complete out. And while waiting for that time to materialize I get further and further behind. So here are abbreviated reviews to catch myself back up.

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Egyptian Legends and Stories by M. V. Seton-Williams

Good starting point for Egyptian legends. It doesn't go in to the connotation or implication of some of these legends. but if fills you in on the names and some of the stories for the gods. If you've read any other books on Egyptian Mythology, this
book will be a step backwards for you. If you're looking for a good starting spot, this book is accessible, short, and will give you the hand holds you need to start looking for something with a little more substance.

Two quick things that would make a good discussion - you notice it when you're reading the book, but the author never points them out, or discusses them.

1) There are a lot of parallels with Old Testament stories. It's entirely possible that when you dig deep enough you find that all these myths and legends are nearly the same at the bone. Maybe that's what draws me to mythology in the first place.

There are a few in here that bear discussion though. The one that sticks in my memory right now is the story of a baby prince who is saved by floating him down a river to hide him from his enemies. In this case, and the other parallels, the Egyptian stories are thousands of years older than the Old Testament stories.

2) The book goes through the legends in more or less a chronological order. It balances legends that take place first in the over all mythos, with legends that are just plain "old". Meaning the tablets or stones they were written in have been dated.

Near the end of the book the legends were more recent both in when they were written, and when the stories they told took place. And they took a decidedly christian turn. There is even one about the true resting place of Noah's ark at the Well of the Bats. I don't know what that means either, but you start with a system of gods and myths about as alien to christianity (judaism and muslim) as you can get, and you end with stories that could have been lost


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Rainy Season by James P Blaylock
Short summary...
There's a guy named Phil who lives alone, his wife died suddenly. He takes pictures, and he has an old well in his backyard that people seem to "lurk" around frequently. Phil's sister dies, and leaves her daughter, Betsy, with him. There's an obsessed older neighbor lady that complicates that part of the story. Betsy moves in, creepy things happen around the well, and shady characters enter the story. The story centers aroudn the well, and the supernatural things that happen there. Children are
sacrificed, artifacts are found, and the real monsters in the story are other people - which seems to be a trait in Blayocks books.

There are some interesting plot twists, and it's a smart book that fits together nicely. But it isn't an exciting book. I know, that's immature of me... and maybe I still need pictures in my book... But even though the story rolled along, there just wasn't much... action. not that I need gunfights and car chases ever other page. But I do need something to make me eager to flip the page. And I need some sense of risk, or I have to at least feel something is at stake. And it's inferred that maybe the daughter is in danger as the story progresses, but not directly, and not in any imminent danger. A decent book with an interesting concept (I loved the idea of the well, and what it ended up being) but I can't recommend as a good read over all.

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White Knight by Jim Butcher
I could probably write a lot more about this book, and maybe I will and post it separately, but it's not so much about the book itself as it is about the authors ability to sustain a long series. Some authors have managed to do it. Most haven't. Most put a dark spot on their beloved creation by trying to stretch it out too far. It becomes "a good series until the something-th book". They lose their passion for their characters
and their story in exchange for a 5 book deal, movie rights and shorter deadlines. They "crank 'em out" And worse, in my mind at least, they leave the readers that have been with them the longest feeling betrayed.

This is the 9th book in the Dresden files series. (The Sci-fi TV show of the same name is going to fail, if it hasn't already, because it's based upon Jim Butchers writing instead of actually being Jim Butchers writing). It's not the best book in the series, but it's still good. Very good. it doesn't take itself too seriously, doesn't try to be something it isn't. It's just a fun quick book.

Is it still jumping the shark when it's books instead of TV? If so, Jim Butcher has not, I repeat NOT jumped the shark. I've got thoughts on why, and what dangers loom ahead that would signal the collapse of the series. But i've rambled on enough all
ready. If you like wizards, detectives, (or detective-wizards) dark humor, mysteries, fun reads, a quick pace, and a mouthy hero, then go get the first book in the series - Storm Front

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Life of Pi by Yann Martel
I read this book in one day.
I don't think it was intended to be read in one day.
And I'm not a fast reader.
I'm a decidedly slow reader.
I read it at Six Flags in Illinois. Which might seem like an odd thing, but in truth, it made an interesting parallel to the book

itself. I didn't want to go to Six Flags. I was under no illusions that I would enjoy Six Flags. I only wanted to survive. ...just like Pi. Mostly I moved from shady spot to shady spot within site of whatever ride my daughter and her friend were currently on. I read on the bus on the way back, and in the evening I finished the final chapters.
I was disappointed.
My wife told me to read the book.
A friend from work who generally steers me true, told me to read the book.
Other friends have told me to read the book.
Every critical review I came across told me to read the book.
By the end of the prologue I was told that "this is a story that will make you believe in God".
SO I think I may have set my expectations high.
As much publicity as the book got, I imagine everyone knows what the book is about. A little boy adrift on the ocean in a life boat with a tiger. And it's not a Disney tiger. It's a hungry, gotta eat or starve to death, tiger.
But what they didn't' tell you was that the first third of the book was about Pi (that's his nickname, and yes it's significant.

It's pronounced like 3.14159) and his life before he even got on the boat that you know is going to sink at some point. That's the part I wasn't expecting, and that I got a little impatient with.
I admittedly have a "get on the damn sinking boat and start working on the hungry tiger problem already" attitude. I'm not proud... and i'm trying to recover.
Anyway, I'm not going to drag this out. The further I get from the book, the more I like it. I didn't like it as a narrative story that I read while hot sweaty scantily clad people streamed by me and half my mind wondered where my daughter
was, and if she was safe. I would have liked it as a book about religion, and faith, and the malleable nature of reality, and if I'd read it over the span of about a month. In little chunks as easily digestible as the festering leg of a dead french sailor.

About Me

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I'm just a guy... pretty boring over all. Nothing all that special. Frustrated and growing older (I've hit 30, but i think i'm in denial). I work a job, middle management I guess. We are always broke though. Got a wife, and a daughter, love them both more than i've ever found the words to express. I go to church, sometimes. I bike to work, if i get up on time. I like the rain, always. But I have this nagging feeling that there should be more to life than this...