It's been a busyish Wednesday. Went out to my local barber and got a haircut and beard trim. Did a bit of shopping. Now I'm relaxing with Jo and the dog so thought it might be nice to write another reading / book update. Are you ready for it?
Recently Completed
(I've completed 3 books since my last update. All entertaining.)
"(Ed. Note. I apologize in advance for any spelling mistakes in this review, especially when it comes to names and other alien technologies, etc.)
The Dispossessed is the 5th book in Ursula K. Le Guin Hainish Cycle. Having said that, there are things mentioned, like the ansible (an instantaneous communication device) that is already in use in various other Hainish books. I'm not sure it matters the order in which you read the books. I chose to read them in the order they were written. 'Nuff said on that.
We visit the planets Anarres and Urras in this book, they are sister planets. Two hundred years before a group of revolutionaries, the Odonians (named after their philosophical leader) left Urras and settled on barren Anarres. They live a very anarchic life, no government to speak of, no individual property, very few possessions. They go where they are needed, depending on their skills. As I said, it's a very barren, dry planet. No animals except fish, difficult to grow any crops and when drought occurs (as it does during this story), everybody eats less, drinks less, works harder.
Shevek is a physicist and has developed a theory of Simultaneity. His theory may revolutionize interstellar civilization by making communication between planets instantaneous. The other scientists on Anarres don't want this. They don't want strangers coming to their planet. They have basic radio communication with Urras and some forms of trade, but no Urraseans?? are permitted out of their space center.
The story starts with Shevek being invited to Urras to work on and present his new theory to their scientists. And his time in Urras, what he discovers, what he ultimately decides to do, make up the basis of the story. As well, interspersed with this story, we have the story of Shevek's life on Anarres, his work, his love and marriage to Takver, their children, and the events leading up to his decision to go to Urras.
It's a slow-paced story, thoughtful and becomes more and more interesting as you get into the story. Shevek is a complex character trying to balance his life and values gained on Anarres with those of the people he meets and deals with on Urras. The descriptions of the planets and the lives of the people on both are described fully and richly. The people, especially Shevek's friends and family, are all well-crafted and interesting.
The book was written in 1974 and for all that it presents the future and alien worlds, there are parts that ring true even today. For example there is this conversation between Shevek and the Terran ambassador to Urras, Keng. I'll just highlight portions of Keng's conversation -
"My world, my Earth, is a ruin. A planet spoiled by human species. we multiplied and gobbled and fought until there was nothing left, and then we died. We controlled neither appetite nor violence; we did not adapt. We destroyed ourselves. But we destroyed the world first. There are no forests left on my Earth.... You Odonians chose a desert; we Terrans made a desert..."
The philosophies discussed in the book are relatable to philosophies expounded here. I took awhile to get into the book but the more I focused on it, like all great books, the more I found to enjoy and think about. Le Guin always makes you think. (4.0 stars)"
"A few years back, I read World War Z by Max Brooks and it kind of blew me away. A movie was made based on the book, but it was quite different, still good, but not the same. I saw Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre recently and the synopsis sounded interesting. The book is excellent.
The story is told in journal format, the journal of Kate Holland, newly moved to a small community, with her husband Dan, secluded in the foothills of Mount Rainier in Washington State. The novel is also interspersed with interviews by the author with Park Ranger, Josephine Shell, who is working on rescue efforts after Mount Rainier explodes. There are also excerpts from Kate's brother Frank McCray, whose cabin the Hollands have moved into.
The community is supposed to be a Utopia, just six families, hiding out in the wonderful wilderness, but getting supplies provided by drone, still linked to the outside world, but also not part of it. Idyllic! Kate keeps the journal at the behest of her psychologist, to record her thoughts, her pains, her ideas.
Shortly after they arrive, Mount Rainier erupts, basically cutting the community off from civilization. No more deliveries, as Seattle is now a war zone as people riot, break into stores, etc. (this is all a side note, as the story revolves around Greenloop. Gradually, Kate and the others begin to realize they are not alone. They here things rustling in the woods, feel themselves being watched. One night the alarms go off, the outside lights come on and Kate sees something big rooting in their compost bin. (A point here, there is now little food available for wild life, and it has moved on to different areas)
Kate believes it might be a bear or something else. (Oh, not to mention the mountain lion that is chased away and then they hear a battle in the woods and later find its bones). As time goes on, the group, realizes that they are being stalked by a tribe of Bigfoots. One little lady, Mostar, who has experienced war / violence like the others haven't, tries to lead them in a defence of the community.
It's a fascinating story and I won't provide more details because you really should read to get the full impact. The format is much like World War Z, but mainly focused on the one area. The reactions of the various families / units to what is going on, is very skillfully described and the ever increasing terror is ramped up slowly and steadily. How the individuals react and adjust to the situation is so well described and how the people gain the courage to fight back is so expertly developed.
It's a fascinating story, ends with a thrill ride and leaves you wondering what might happen next. Great story, tense, nail biting and just down right good. (4.0 stars)"
"My first exposure to American Sci Fi novelist, Clifford D. Simak was back in my university days when I took a Sci Fi novel course and one of the books we read was City by Simak. Over the years I've read it three or four times. It's such an excellent book if you're just exploring the Sci Fi genre. Since then I've read another 4 and I have to say they've been hit or miss. The Werewolf Principle was surprisingly good, whereas I've mixed feelings about the others; Time is the Simplest Thing, The Goblin Reservation and Cemetery World were just ok. Each had something to offer, but for those last three, they sort of missed the mark.
Now to look at Simak's first novel, Cosmic Engineers. The novel was originally published as a short novel in 1939 and then rereleased in a larger version (this one I read) in 1950, Simak's first novel.
So, onto the story. Two reporters, Gary and Herb, are traveling through our solar system, sending articles on our planets back to Earth. They are on their way to Pluto when they discover a space ship basically floating in space. It's not like any that they've seen before (of course I mean those manufactured by Earth). Deciding to explore, they discover a young woman in suspended animation. When they revive her, they discover she is one Caroline Martin and has been suspended for 1,000s of years. (a long time anyway). Many centuries ago, there was a war between the people on Jupiter and the rest of the Solar System and Caroline had come up with a weapon that would help Earth defeat Jupiter. She refused to give her plans up (they were in her mind) and so was punished by being put in suspended animation and floated into space.
It turns out only her body was asleep. She had thousands of years to think and also began to communicate with another race at the edge of the universe, the titled Cosmic Engineers. (Got it so far?0
The trio head to Pluto, where Herb and Gary had been about to report on another guy, Ted (love the names, eh?) who has devised a new propulsion system that he wants to use to go to Alpha Centauri. Anyway, to try and make this a bit shorter than the actual novel, it turns out that the Cosmic Engineers need our help to prevent a catastrophe that will maybe destroy the whole universe. With Caroline's help, Ted's ship is updated and the group, along with Plutonian scientist , Kingsley, travel through some sort of space / time warp to get to the Engineers planet.
The gist is that another universe is about to collide with our universe which will have disastrous consequences to both.. DISASTROUS!! So there you go. The group must try to help the Engineers, mainly represented by 1824 (that's his name) and it will involve Caroline and Gary traveling to a 'possible' future to get the mathematics to achieve their aim. Caroline and Gary will be kidnapped by a psychotic 'mind'. The planet of the engineers will be attacked by their arch enemies the Hellhounds. So, lots going on.
Let's say it's a fun space adventure with lots of math and science involved. At the same time, it's pretty normal. Gary gives Caroline a scrap of paper from an envelope and a stub of a pencil to write down all the calculations that future mathematician gives them. Not some sort of computer. There were things that made me think of later TV shows.
The powerful mind that captures Caroline and Gary makes the battle two hellhounds to see which side he will release. There are a couple of episodes of the original Star Trek that relate; do you remember the bored spoiled alien that keeps them prisoners in his castle until his parents come along?
Also an episode of the Big Bang Theory where the boys are trying to analyze Back to the Future came to mind when I read this discussion. Make sense of it. It relates to the trip to the future
"I followed its world line, said the Engineer, ' and yet not its actual world line, but the world line that as to come. I traced it into the realm of probability. I followed it ahead in time, saw it as it is not yet, as it may never be. I saw the Shadow of its probability." LOL
One final quote. No matter when a story is written, there are issues that I can relate to the current time. This relates to the fact that when universe #2 is destroyed, aliens from that universe will cross over to ours. Can you see where this is going?
"What bothers me,' declared Kingsley, 'are those people from the other universe. It's just like letting undesirable elements come in under our immigration schedule on Earth. You can't tell what sort of people they are. They might be life forms that are inimical to us."
Mind you, the ever positive, intelligent Caroline has the perfect response.
"Or,' suggested Caroline, "they might be possessors of great scientific accomplishments and a higher culture. They might add much to this universe." (There you go)
So, somewhat hit and miss but still an entertaining space adventure. Check out Simak. (3.0 stars)"
Currently Reading
"Wizardry, transforming its master into a cloud of fine mist...cloning, duplicating the ideal man ten times over...Utopia, in a city where almost everyone is perfectly happy...
Ursula Le Guin, author of The Earthsea Trilogy, has a special way of blending stirring adventure with fantasy that has made comparison with such masters as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien inevitable.Now, in The Wind's Twelve Quarters, seventeen of her favorite stories reaffirm Ursula Le Guin as one of America's outstanding writers.
CONTENTS:
Foreword
Semley's Necklace
April in Paris
The Masters
Darkness Box
The Word of Unbinding
The Rule of Names
Winter's King
The Good Trip
Nine Lives
Things
A Trip to the Head
Vaster than Empires and More Slow
The Stars Below
The Field of Vision
Direction of the Road
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
The Day Before the Revolution"
Even the most jaded science-fiction reader will thrill to Commander Craig's dangerous exploits as he risks his life in strange worlds never before invaded by men from earth!
The black Enigma could be anything from a mere vibration to the gaping maw of a hideous space beast. Whatever it was, special agent John Craig of the Alert Command had to destroy it before it devoured the universe!
Suave, handsome John Craig did not relish the assignment to conquer The Black Enigma. He would have preferred to continue romancing the beautiful Elva Marlowe—Or any other of his many Women.
But when Alert Command informed him that two space fleets had been consumed by the Enigma and that the menacing blob was swelling steadily, Craig Couldn't resist the challenge.
Armed with three incredible protective inventions, Craig set forth eagerly. But he soon found out that getting BEYOND THE BLACK ENIGMA was not going to be just another heroic stunt. If he failed in his mission, it could end his life and Planet Earth!"
With winter looming, a small northern Anishinaabe community goes dark. Cut off, people become passive and confused. Panic builds as the food supply dwindles. While the band council and a pocket of community members struggle to maintain order, an unexpected visitor arrives, escaping the crumbling society to the south. Soon after, others follow.
The community leadership loses its grip on power as the visitors manipulate the tired and hungry to take control of the reserve. Tensions rise and, as the months pass, so does the death toll due to sickness and despair. Frustrated by the building chaos, a group of young friends and their families turn to the land and Anishinaabe tradition in hopes of helping their community thrive again. Guided through the chaos by an unlikely leader named Evan Whitesky, they endeavor to restore order while grappling with a grave decision."
People look to the stars to read the future, but sometimes the stars conceal stories from the past."
Who Wants War? sees Year Two of the Apocalypse kick into high gear.
Collecting: East of West 16-19, The World."
He was the terror of the underworld. When men spoke of "The Chill" they spoke in whispers. Yet there were men willing to defy him—willing to do anything— to obtain the secret he guarded, the secret of limitless wealth and power held by only one man in the world."
It's not how she imagined it, though. Aiza must navigate new friendships, rivalries, and rigorous training under the unyielding General Hende, all while hiding her Ornu background. As the pressure mounts, Aiza realizes that the "greater good" that Bayt-Sajji's military promises might not include her, and that the recruits might be in greater danger than she ever imagined.
Aiza will have to choose, once and for all: loyalty to her heart and heritage, or loyalty to the Empire."
