(ebook) The first 2 techno-thrillers I tried this year left me either unsatisfied or with a bad taste in my mouth, so I tried a third one, and this one probed to be fairly entertaining, a detective story set in the future, where humans can download their mind on new (natural or artificial) bodies.
Plenty of chases, shootings, fights, some sex (basically a pulp), but some interesting sci fi ideas, some of the not part of the actual plot, but off the cuff, such as the mention that whale language had been decrypted, and the communication had provided information about pre-history.
I'm halfway through.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
The Hardcore History - Dan Carlin
(podcast) I was very conflicted about adding this to my book blog. there are many radio shows / podcasts that I enjoy, but this one is in a category by itself because it is so thoroughly researched, because it provided me with so much historical data that was brand new, or added details to known stories that give you a whole new perspective.
I can clearly state that I know much more about world history now that I did one year ago when I first started listening this. there are 50 episodes to date, typically 1 or 2 hours, some as long as 5 hours. I'd say that I've been listening to at least 100 hours of lectures on topics from Genghis Khan, the Roman empire, to WWII's east front, and the Cuban independence. Fascinating, informative, and surprisingly unbiased for an american.
I recommend it to anyone and everyone, in an ideal world I would have time to create a similar one in spanish.
I can clearly state that I know much more about world history now that I did one year ago when I first started listening this. there are 50 episodes to date, typically 1 or 2 hours, some as long as 5 hours. I'd say that I've been listening to at least 100 hours of lectures on topics from Genghis Khan, the Roman empire, to WWII's east front, and the Cuban independence. Fascinating, informative, and surprisingly unbiased for an american.
I recommend it to anyone and everyone, in an ideal world I would have time to create a similar one in spanish.
State of Fear (2004). Michael Crichton.
(audiobook) I had to stop in the middle, it is such a cartoonish propaganda denying climate change that it hurts. It is rabid and overblown, anything that enviromentalist do is out of pure evil or utter stupidity, and the climate change deniers are demi-gods with lucid minds and irrefutable data. No wonder is a big hit among Tea Party and such crowd. Sad state of affairs.
Red Mars (1993). Kim Stanley Robinson.
(ebook) It's becoming a tradition to start the year with a Sci Fi recommendation from Marchebout. I asked for a techno-thriller, but didn't like Red Mars.
The main plot of the story is the colonization of the planet, the logistics, technical challenges and politics. In many points it read more as a project plan, a blue print, rather than a novel, too much to my taste. He switches the narrative from one character to another, which is not bad on itself, except that few of the characters are compelling (the psychologist, the japanese biologist / cult leader).
The less believable aspect of the book is not the far fetched technology to colonize mars, or to revert aging, not even the idea that billions of dollars would be invested for that purpose. The most unlikely premise is the idea that most people spend their energies building, constructing, making progress, instead of looking for self-benefit.
The main plot of the story is the colonization of the planet, the logistics, technical challenges and politics. In many points it read more as a project plan, a blue print, rather than a novel, too much to my taste. He switches the narrative from one character to another, which is not bad on itself, except that few of the characters are compelling (the psychologist, the japanese biologist / cult leader).
The less believable aspect of the book is not the far fetched technology to colonize mars, or to revert aging, not even the idea that billions of dollars would be invested for that purpose. The most unlikely premise is the idea that most people spend their energies building, constructing, making progress, instead of looking for self-benefit.
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