13 October 2015
This book is better than any other zombie story because it gives you the bigger picture while still being able to enjoy highly personal stories. In other zombie stories, we follow one or a small group of people around a single area. There may be news or radio broadcasts mentioned or in the background, but never so many fascinating stories and takes on the problem. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys the zombie thing.
Friday, October 16, 2015
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Thomas Paine: Enlightenment, Revolution, and the Birth of Modern Nations - Craig Nelson
8 October 2015
As I have come to notice, many of the people who are now famous as artists, great thinkers and patriots, in their own lifetime, were treated like crap. I believe the case of Thomas Paine may be the best example of this. (I'm excluding Aaron Burr because his story is simply too crazy.) Thomas Paine is often single-handedly cited as the reason the American Revolution was able to gain the necessary momentum needed from the common people. He convinced the nation to sacrifice its short-term happiness for long-term gain. His pamphlets are required reading for high school students. Yet, during his own life, he struggled endlessly with debt.
The early part of his financial woes was his own fault. He was, as seems to be very common, a horrible businessman. But after his famous publications, he thought he deserved some compensation, and I must agree. Another fascinating thing was that during this time, there was no such thing as copyright laws in the US. It was something the English were big on, and consequently, the Americans abhorred the idea. Writers hoped for a good deal from publishers, but most money was kept by the publisher and once a manuscript was in the publisher's hands, they could do with it whatever they pleased while the author had no power. This seems extreme to me and I do approve of keeping artistic power in the hands of the creator. I believe artists should be compensated for their work. I do not believe that their venue, platform, or distributors should get most of the money (I'm specifically thinking of record labels needing to die).
On to more crazy things, Mr. Paine was in France during the insanity that was the French Revolution. Shortly after the French royal family tried to run away but was caught and returned to the palace in Paris, there was a mass gathering outside the building. Thomas Paine was watching the spectacle when a layman from the crowd noticed he didn't have his tricolour cockade, the symbol of the revolution. The French mob then tried to lynch Thomas Paine from a street lamp until someone who recognized him yelled out who he was, and that he was, by proxy, the father of the French Revolution. The French had lost their minds so much that they nearly killed the man famous for the best writings to support their cause.
As I have come to notice, many of the people who are now famous as artists, great thinkers and patriots, in their own lifetime, were treated like crap. I believe the case of Thomas Paine may be the best example of this. (I'm excluding Aaron Burr because his story is simply too crazy.) Thomas Paine is often single-handedly cited as the reason the American Revolution was able to gain the necessary momentum needed from the common people. He convinced the nation to sacrifice its short-term happiness for long-term gain. His pamphlets are required reading for high school students. Yet, during his own life, he struggled endlessly with debt.
The early part of his financial woes was his own fault. He was, as seems to be very common, a horrible businessman. But after his famous publications, he thought he deserved some compensation, and I must agree. Another fascinating thing was that during this time, there was no such thing as copyright laws in the US. It was something the English were big on, and consequently, the Americans abhorred the idea. Writers hoped for a good deal from publishers, but most money was kept by the publisher and once a manuscript was in the publisher's hands, they could do with it whatever they pleased while the author had no power. This seems extreme to me and I do approve of keeping artistic power in the hands of the creator. I believe artists should be compensated for their work. I do not believe that their venue, platform, or distributors should get most of the money (I'm specifically thinking of record labels needing to die).
On to more crazy things, Mr. Paine was in France during the insanity that was the French Revolution. Shortly after the French royal family tried to run away but was caught and returned to the palace in Paris, there was a mass gathering outside the building. Thomas Paine was watching the spectacle when a layman from the crowd noticed he didn't have his tricolour cockade, the symbol of the revolution. The French mob then tried to lynch Thomas Paine from a street lamp until someone who recognized him yelled out who he was, and that he was, by proxy, the father of the French Revolution. The French had lost their minds so much that they nearly killed the man famous for the best writings to support their cause.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Dead Beat - Jim Butcher (The Dresden Files, Bk 7)
30 September 2015
I started this blog with a Dresden novel and this is the first chance I've gotten to read another. Not because they are hard to come by or anything actually restricting my enjoyment of them, but rather because I am limiting myself on how fast I read them. Reading these books makes me happy in a way few other things can.
I don't have any super detailed critiques for this specific book. It is in line with the others of this series so, of course, I loved it. The only detailed thing I'd like to say is: Zombie T-Rex named Sue. You're welcome.
I started this blog with a Dresden novel and this is the first chance I've gotten to read another. Not because they are hard to come by or anything actually restricting my enjoyment of them, but rather because I am limiting myself on how fast I read them. Reading these books makes me happy in a way few other things can.
I don't have any super detailed critiques for this specific book. It is in line with the others of this series so, of course, I loved it. The only detailed thing I'd like to say is: Zombie T-Rex named Sue. You're welcome.
Thursday, September 24, 2015
Ruins - Orson Scott Card (The Pathfinder Series, Bk 2)
20 September 2015
I LOVE Orson Scott Card. Everything he's ever written has been fan-freaking-tastic! He's not afraid to really push the limits of logic in his works, particularly this one. Time travel has always been a fave for all sci-fi writers and readers since the very beginning. But what he does that few others do, is make it logical. The characters use it fully as a tool, not just a fun romp around or endless paradoxes, but in a way that intelligent people would utilize the capabilities to solve serious problems. He also makes very realistic characters (other than perhaps Rigg who is far too self-sacrificial, but you could argue that same flaw in Ender)
I always recommend Orson Scott Card to people. He is a master of seamlessly twining together fantasy with enough logic to make it believable. If you've never read one of his books, pick up Pathfinder (book one in this series).
I LOVE Orson Scott Card. Everything he's ever written has been fan-freaking-tastic! He's not afraid to really push the limits of logic in his works, particularly this one. Time travel has always been a fave for all sci-fi writers and readers since the very beginning. But what he does that few others do, is make it logical. The characters use it fully as a tool, not just a fun romp around or endless paradoxes, but in a way that intelligent people would utilize the capabilities to solve serious problems. He also makes very realistic characters (other than perhaps Rigg who is far too self-sacrificial, but you could argue that same flaw in Ender)
I always recommend Orson Scott Card to people. He is a master of seamlessly twining together fantasy with enough logic to make it believable. If you've never read one of his books, pick up Pathfinder (book one in this series).
Saturday, August 22, 2015
The Warded Man - Peter V. Brett (Demon Cycle Series, Bk 1)
19 August 2015
Great, great, great book! This one came off an online list, but was also concurrently recommended to me from a fellow grad student.
Good fight scenes. Good angst. Good character design. Good visuals. This would also make a superb movie, just so long as they stick to the book.
All the components of a good, solid, entertaining book, but the one aspect of it that really got to me was even when human lives directly depended on it, people were exceptionally poor at retaining the hard-won knowledge over the ages. There are holes all over the colosseum in Rome because people lost the knowledge of how to create the metals that they still used and needed but couldn't even make themselves anymore. I honestly do fear that this will happen again in history. Some of our current politicians make me particularly nervous with their blind clinging to ideas and ideologies that simply don't work in real life.
But enough of that: Read this book!
Great, great, great book! This one came off an online list, but was also concurrently recommended to me from a fellow grad student.
Good fight scenes. Good angst. Good character design. Good visuals. This would also make a superb movie, just so long as they stick to the book.
All the components of a good, solid, entertaining book, but the one aspect of it that really got to me was even when human lives directly depended on it, people were exceptionally poor at retaining the hard-won knowledge over the ages. There are holes all over the colosseum in Rome because people lost the knowledge of how to create the metals that they still used and needed but couldn't even make themselves anymore. I honestly do fear that this will happen again in history. Some of our current politicians make me particularly nervous with their blind clinging to ideas and ideologies that simply don't work in real life.
But enough of that: Read this book!
Thursday, August 13, 2015
Fire - Kristin Cashore (Seven Kingdoms Trilogy, Bk. 2)
11 August 2015
I do really like this author. In both books I have read of hers, she strikes a good balance between sweet and lively.
This book takes place in a different kingdom than the previous with people of a different type of talent. The title character, Fire, is the last of her kind, a sort of super-predator variant of humans. Everywhere she goes, the mere sight of her drives people mad, either with lust or envy or horror. Consequently, she often hides herself and her most outlandish characteristic, her vibrantly, flame-colored hair. Not to sound pompous, but I can kinda relate given the attention I draw down here in south Texas.
Regardless, again, simply a good and interesting book. Certainly one I would recommend to people.
I do really like this author. In both books I have read of hers, she strikes a good balance between sweet and lively.
This book takes place in a different kingdom than the previous with people of a different type of talent. The title character, Fire, is the last of her kind, a sort of super-predator variant of humans. Everywhere she goes, the mere sight of her drives people mad, either with lust or envy or horror. Consequently, she often hides herself and her most outlandish characteristic, her vibrantly, flame-colored hair. Not to sound pompous, but I can kinda relate given the attention I draw down here in south Texas.
Regardless, again, simply a good and interesting book. Certainly one I would recommend to people.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Inca Gold - Clive Cussler (Dirk Pitt Series, Bk. 12)
22 July 2015
I have read many Clive Cussler books. Dirk Pitt is the original character of his books. This particular one is interesting, as always, but not his best or most creative. That being said, you will always win if you pick up a Clive Cussler book.
I have read many Clive Cussler books. Dirk Pitt is the original character of his books. This particular one is interesting, as always, but not his best or most creative. That being said, you will always win if you pick up a Clive Cussler book.
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