Current Reading
Unopened
In Progress
Just finished
Charles Stross: Glasshouse (2007-06-08)
This could be viewed as a post-
Accelerando novel (the term
"Acceleration" ist used for what it usually called "the Singularity"
by other authors), but there is no strong link otherwise. Stross
explores the problem of identity and character in a society where
bodies can be changed and duplicated at will, where dozens of copies
of the same soldier form a regiment, where unwanted memory are
regularly purged, and where unvoluntary memory redaction is a primary
way of warfare.
The whole story is a mix of prison story, milgram experiment, and
stepford wives. It reads quite fast (it took me less than 24 hours to
read the 380 pages), even if parts are somewhat depressing -- the
viewpoint character has to cope with memories of war crimes, both
observed and comitted.
What I most dislike about the book is the end; it comes too abruptly
and does not satisfy. The motiviation of the characters is
unconvincing, but the technology ("T-gates" and "A-gates") is fun.
Michael Chabon: The amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay (2007-06-07)
It took me some time to finish this book. It really immersed me into
the time period (most of the book is in the 1939-1942 period, with a
few flashbacks of the early 30s and the final chapters playing 1954),
and it gave good insight into the frentic activity of the "golden age"
comic book phenomenon, it's authors, artists, and producers -- people
who were creating a new form of expression, without really knowing it.
What to say? Go buy and read it.
Michael Chabon: The Final Solution
A small book, but a tough read. Stilistically over-pretentuous, it is quite
a lot more "work" to read than "Kavalier and Clay", and much less fun.
Vernor Vinge: Rainbows End
So this is the new Vinge. Playing in the very near future, it tries
to extrapolate recent trends, using the viewpoint character of an
old man cured from Alzheimer, whose last complete memories are from
2006, and who now lears how to live in 2026.
John Scalzi: The Ghost Brigades
The reviewers are right, it is not as good as "Old Man's
War". But still, it is a good enough read.
John Ringo: Into the Looking Glass
This was actually quite fun. The author doesn't take the himself
or the story too seriously, and manages to create a quite absurd
military - horror - "end of days" adventure story.
Jack Campbell: Dauntless (Lost Fleet 1)
Jack Campbell: Fearless (Lost Fleet 2)
Oh my. One wants to know how he manages to lead his fleet home, but
still, the story is nothing to write home about. Still, if you like
the Harrington books, you will find these good enough.
Lois McMaster Bujold: Beguilement (Sharing Knife 1)
The lead characters are interesting persons, but the story doesn't advance
very far in this first volume of a new series. Let's wait how the second
part (Legacy) turns out.