[****] ISBN: 9781563893421
This is a 5-star graphic novel, but only a 3-star book. I split the difference. The problem I have in being more enthusiastic about this book is that by now, twenty years after it was first published, this ground has been thoroughly covered and trampled to the point where it's hard to turn new dirt. It's obvious why it was considered groundbreaking at the time, but there are ways in which it doesn't wear well (Reagan and the communists are gone, you know). That makes it difficult for it to stand up as a true 'classic' piece of literature.
That being said, I do give it high marks for fresh story telling (especially for the time) and for overall endurance (it still is a decent read).
Monday, August 27, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Lost in Space: Voyage to the Bottom of the Soul (Bill Mumy, Michal Dutkiewicz)
[***] ISBN: 0976543605
This is Bill Mumy's long unfinished epic graphic novel of the Robinson family finally reaching Alpha Centauri. I'm very glad to finally read the whole thing, after having it interrupted when Innovation went out of business over 10 years ago. I liked the story, swiftly read the entire thing in a couple of sittings, and was pleased with the ending. But I have to report some disappointment in the execution.
The good: the story was interesting, true to the characters and held my attention; the preface material by the creators that outlined the history of the book and their history with the franchise was almost the best part
The bad: the storytelling was a bit stiff in spots; the art struck me as varying from lush and beautiful to mushy and awkward; several misspellings in the text
I would recommend this to fans of the series.
This is Bill Mumy's long unfinished epic graphic novel of the Robinson family finally reaching Alpha Centauri. I'm very glad to finally read the whole thing, after having it interrupted when Innovation went out of business over 10 years ago. I liked the story, swiftly read the entire thing in a couple of sittings, and was pleased with the ending. But I have to report some disappointment in the execution.
The good: the story was interesting, true to the characters and held my attention; the preface material by the creators that outlined the history of the book and their history with the franchise was almost the best part
The bad: the storytelling was a bit stiff in spots; the art struck me as varying from lush and beautiful to mushy and awkward; several misspellings in the text
I would recommend this to fans of the series.
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Fifty Things To Do When You Turn Fifty (Ronnie Sellers, ed.)
[**] ISBN: 9781569065907
Yes, this is the birthday I had this year. But this book didn't tell me much I didn't already know. It may be enlightening to someone who was caught completely unaware of their age. But I think most folks hitting this milestone will realize that they aren't kids anymore and will have started thinking these issues through.
That's not to say there isn't good stuff here and that I didn't learn anything. It's just that the essays are all rather short and most of them are very predictable (change your eating habits, exercise, rethink your portfolio, try a new hobby, give something back). I would recommend this as a book to skim through and use as a jumping off point to topics that might need more attention one's life.
Yes, this is the birthday I had this year. But this book didn't tell me much I didn't already know. It may be enlightening to someone who was caught completely unaware of their age. But I think most folks hitting this milestone will realize that they aren't kids anymore and will have started thinking these issues through.
That's not to say there isn't good stuff here and that I didn't learn anything. It's just that the essays are all rather short and most of them are very predictable (change your eating habits, exercise, rethink your portfolio, try a new hobby, give something back). I would recommend this as a book to skim through and use as a jumping off point to topics that might need more attention one's life.
Friday, August 17, 2007
The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down (Colin Woodard)
[***] ISBN: 9780156034623
I listened to the audio edition of this for a couple of weeks. In some ways, I wish that there had been an edited version, instead of having to listen to 383 pages worth of "the 300 ton sloop this" and "the 400 ton frigate captained by Bob Smith" over and over again. But then again, there is an awful lot of ground to cover when discussing pirates in the eighteenth century and the author does an admirable job of focusing on the key players and taking the reader through the events and politics of the time and region. This is a real eye-opener for anyone interested in the subject.
I listened to the audio edition of this for a couple of weeks. In some ways, I wish that there had been an edited version, instead of having to listen to 383 pages worth of "the 300 ton sloop this" and "the 400 ton frigate captained by Bob Smith" over and over again. But then again, there is an awful lot of ground to cover when discussing pirates in the eighteenth century and the author does an admirable job of focusing on the key players and taking the reader through the events and politics of the time and region. This is a real eye-opener for anyone interested in the subject.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Disclosure (Michael Crichton)
[**] ISBN: 9780345391056
I'm torn on this one. The story finally sort of paid off. But I actually set it aside for a couple of weeks to read The Golden Compass. It's not that it was bad, the writing was OK. I just didn't care for the characters that much, one of the scenes actually made me very uncomfortable (and not just in the way the author intended), and some of the action hit too close to home (high-tech company politics). That last point could be a little disingenuous on my part, since it's one of the things that attracted me to the book in the first place. I guess I found that I wasn't quite over my recent encounter with that sort of thing (not the sexual harassment stuff per se, just politics).
Anyway, after I picked it up again, the story finally seemed to click and I enjoyed the mystery angle of it all. And I think this type of story will help with the one I'm currently writing, so that's good. But I think there were just a few too many characters, there was a genuine deus ex machina character at the end (someone that had been given one previous scene and then conveniently brought back out of the blue to provide critical information at the critical moment), and I lost a little respect when the author didn't quite get his local facts straight. There is no "Queen Anne's hill" in Seattle. It's simply Queen Anne hill. Wish I could give this three stars, but it only gets two.
I'm torn on this one. The story finally sort of paid off. But I actually set it aside for a couple of weeks to read The Golden Compass. It's not that it was bad, the writing was OK. I just didn't care for the characters that much, one of the scenes actually made me very uncomfortable (and not just in the way the author intended), and some of the action hit too close to home (high-tech company politics). That last point could be a little disingenuous on my part, since it's one of the things that attracted me to the book in the first place. I guess I found that I wasn't quite over my recent encounter with that sort of thing (not the sexual harassment stuff per se, just politics).
Anyway, after I picked it up again, the story finally seemed to click and I enjoyed the mystery angle of it all. And I think this type of story will help with the one I'm currently writing, so that's good. But I think there were just a few too many characters, there was a genuine deus ex machina character at the end (someone that had been given one previous scene and then conveniently brought back out of the blue to provide critical information at the critical moment), and I lost a little respect when the author didn't quite get his local facts straight. There is no "Queen Anne's hill" in Seattle. It's simply Queen Anne hill. Wish I could give this three stars, but it only gets two.
Monday, August 13, 2007
The Further Adventures of Hank the Cowdog (John R. Erickson)
[**] ISBN: 9780877191209
I like children's books. Sometimes it's fun to put one in the mix and read something with a simpler point of view. This isn't a bad one, but I don't think it's a good one. There are some cute concepts, starting with the title character and his 'job'. And there are some interesting supporting characters here. But I think the book falls short on a couple of points.
First, a good children's book doesn't talk down to it's audience. In the most subtle of ways, I think that's what this one does. It's OK to have some rough language in a book about life on a ranch or a farm. But I think the writing here goes a bit too far in an attempt to let kids be in on the joke of a curmudgeonly dog that doesn't take any guff and has a problem with 'eye-crosserosis'.
Second, a good children's book simply shouldn't promote fighting as a way to solve problems. At least not one written in the last twenty years. This one does. OK, 1983 is a bit outside the time window. But I still wouldn't have read it to my kids, if I'd have encountered it back then. This may reflect how dogs act, especially those living on a ranch. That doesn't mean this behavior should be encouraged.
That all being noted, it's not a horrible book. Just disappointing. Perhaps most disappointing was that in a book about a 'cow dog', there were no cows (or other cattle). They're sort of implied by the setting, and maybe the first book in the series had some, but they are not visible in this story.
I like children's books. Sometimes it's fun to put one in the mix and read something with a simpler point of view. This isn't a bad one, but I don't think it's a good one. There are some cute concepts, starting with the title character and his 'job'. And there are some interesting supporting characters here. But I think the book falls short on a couple of points.
First, a good children's book doesn't talk down to it's audience. In the most subtle of ways, I think that's what this one does. It's OK to have some rough language in a book about life on a ranch or a farm. But I think the writing here goes a bit too far in an attempt to let kids be in on the joke of a curmudgeonly dog that doesn't take any guff and has a problem with 'eye-crosserosis'.
Second, a good children's book simply shouldn't promote fighting as a way to solve problems. At least not one written in the last twenty years. This one does. OK, 1983 is a bit outside the time window. But I still wouldn't have read it to my kids, if I'd have encountered it back then. This may reflect how dogs act, especially those living on a ranch. That doesn't mean this behavior should be encouraged.
That all being noted, it's not a horrible book. Just disappointing. Perhaps most disappointing was that in a book about a 'cow dog', there were no cows (or other cattle). They're sort of implied by the setting, and maybe the first book in the series had some, but they are not visible in this story.
Friday, August 10, 2007
The Golden Compass (Philip Pullman)
[****] ISBN: 0440238137
It was very refreshing to read a straight ahead story of fantasy and adventure like this. It's quite a feat for an author to make just about anyone identify with a young girl hero. But that seems to be what Pullman has done here. I keep reading and hearing good things about this series every where.
What worked for me was the powerful prose, the breakneck pace, the engrossing (if ultimately unsatisfying) story, amazing places and colorful characters. What didn't really work for me was where the story wound up. In a way it was inevitable, except I didn't quite accept the convergence of the two adults. But it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here.
It was very refreshing to read a straight ahead story of fantasy and adventure like this. It's quite a feat for an author to make just about anyone identify with a young girl hero. But that seems to be what Pullman has done here. I keep reading and hearing good things about this series every where.
What worked for me was the powerful prose, the breakneck pace, the engrossing (if ultimately unsatisfying) story, amazing places and colorful characters. What didn't really work for me was where the story wound up. In a way it was inevitable, except I didn't quite accept the convergence of the two adults. But it will be interesting to see where the story goes from here.
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