Legends in Time: Exiles, Vincent Hobbes et al, Hobbes End Publishing LLC, 2008
Part 2 of a series, this continued the story of Consul Veris, a senior member of the Nadorian Senate, who is engaged in a desperate journey to King Kedor of Aronia, far to the north. He was sent on this mission by Emperor Makheb, after being told that he, Veris, was about to be arrested by his Senate colleagues, and accused of trying to kill the same Emperor Makheb.
While Makheb travels to the desolate Endlands, to confront Ramunak, the cause of all this, several other members of the Senate, who can best be described as "power-hungry," consolidate their power. The word is spread throughout the empire that Veris is an outlaw; Wanted: Dead or Alive.
Meantime, Veris, who is really a famous warrior from the Barbarian Wars named Gromulus, stops in a small town on the edge of the Denok Forest to visit Fayorn, an old war buddy, and to return his sword (it's not as simple as it sounds). Even though Fayorn lives on Nadorian land, he thinks of himself as citizen of Aronia, a very self-sufficient and independent people. Fayorn has no love for Emperor Makheb, or Nador, so he does not join Gromulus on his journey.
After a long time in self-imposed exile, Tornach, another war hero, returns home to a town that is unrecognizable. He is Ungoran, and they were the cause of a lot of bloodshed during the Barbarian Wars; memories of those days are slow to fade. In town after town, he is treated as if he, personally, is the reason that a loved one never came home.
Here is another well-done piece of writing. The plot may be a little simple, intended for younger readers, but it is very much worth the reader's time.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Lachlei
Lachlei, M.H. Bonham, Dragon Moon Press, 2008
This story is set in a universe where there are nine separate worlds, connected to each other through the World Tree. This is the source of the Web of Wyrd, which runs through the Nine Worlds. A millennia ago, the three warring gods nearly destroyed mankind. Now one of them, Areyn Sehduk, the god of death, has returned to finish the job.
He kills Fialan, leader of the lochvaur, hoping to tip the balance of power in his favor. Sehduk does not take into account that he has created a powerful enemy in Lachlei, queen of the lochvaur. Vowing vengeance against the rival clan led by Sehduk, Lachlei leads her people into a fight against demons and the undead.
Rhyn'athel, another of the three gods, is the only being powerful enough to defeat Sehduk. He takes human form, and joins Lachlei's warriors, in order to stop Sehduk, once and for all. He doesn't reveal his identity to Lachlei, but his abilities are not those of the average mortal. Rhyn'athel also falls in love with Lachlei.
Meantime, Fialan is not exactly dead. He finds himself on Tarentor, another of the Nine Worlds, part of an army of the dead. It's controlled by Sehduk, so the warriors have no free will, and are forced to fight against their own people. Once on Elren, where this takes place, they must eat real food, and they have corporeal form. Every minute they are there, they become more of Elren, and less of Tarentor.
This is an excellent sword and sorcery novel that is pretty heavy on the sorcery part. It's got good characters, led by a very strong female warrior, it's got an exciting story, and it is very much recommended.
This story is set in a universe where there are nine separate worlds, connected to each other through the World Tree. This is the source of the Web of Wyrd, which runs through the Nine Worlds. A millennia ago, the three warring gods nearly destroyed mankind. Now one of them, Areyn Sehduk, the god of death, has returned to finish the job.
He kills Fialan, leader of the lochvaur, hoping to tip the balance of power in his favor. Sehduk does not take into account that he has created a powerful enemy in Lachlei, queen of the lochvaur. Vowing vengeance against the rival clan led by Sehduk, Lachlei leads her people into a fight against demons and the undead.
Rhyn'athel, another of the three gods, is the only being powerful enough to defeat Sehduk. He takes human form, and joins Lachlei's warriors, in order to stop Sehduk, once and for all. He doesn't reveal his identity to Lachlei, but his abilities are not those of the average mortal. Rhyn'athel also falls in love with Lachlei.
Meantime, Fialan is not exactly dead. He finds himself on Tarentor, another of the Nine Worlds, part of an army of the dead. It's controlled by Sehduk, so the warriors have no free will, and are forced to fight against their own people. Once on Elren, where this takes place, they must eat real food, and they have corporeal form. Every minute they are there, they become more of Elren, and less of Tarentor.
This is an excellent sword and sorcery novel that is pretty heavy on the sorcery part. It's got good characters, led by a very strong female warrior, it's got an exciting story, and it is very much recommended.
The Mixed Men
The Mixed Men, A.E. van Vogt, Gnome Press, 1952
Set 15,000 years from now, an Earth ship has spent the last ten years in the Greater Magellanic Cloud looking for a space empire that calls itself the Fifty Suns. They are a group of mutated humans who left Earth many years previously to get away from prejudice and discrimination.
Earth promises a benevolent leadership; the Fifty Suns will generally be able to rule themselves. But Earth makes it very clear: Join Us or Be Destroyed. Long ago, Earth decided to not allow any other star empires to exist. The Fifty Suns decide on silence, and let the Earth ship try to find them among the Cloud's millions of stars.
A minority among the population of the Fifty Suns is the Mixed Men. Possessing a sort of double brain (not two separate brains, but more like pairs of molecules where there is only supposed to be one molecule), they have been subject to prejudice also, and have had to resort to extreme secrecy to hide their cities. Maltby, hereditary leader of the Mixed Men, finds himself on board the Earthship, the Star Cruiser, ordered to pilot it to the capital of the Fifty Suns. His secret orders, from the leaders of the Fifty Suns, are to pilot the ship right into a space storm, powerful enough to destroy even a hundred-deck behemoth like the Star Cruiser.
It's obvious to the people that, even if the Star Cruiser is destroyed, which does not happen, it won't be long, in cosmic terms, before Earth sends thousands of ships looking for the Fifty Suns empire. Many psychological methods are used to get Maltby to talk, including conditioning him to fall in love with Gloria Cecily, Grand Captain of the Star Cruiser.
This is an excellent far-future space opera in the grand tradition. Few writers can do it quite like A.E. van Vogt. This one is very much worth reading.
Set 15,000 years from now, an Earth ship has spent the last ten years in the Greater Magellanic Cloud looking for a space empire that calls itself the Fifty Suns. They are a group of mutated humans who left Earth many years previously to get away from prejudice and discrimination.
Earth promises a benevolent leadership; the Fifty Suns will generally be able to rule themselves. But Earth makes it very clear: Join Us or Be Destroyed. Long ago, Earth decided to not allow any other star empires to exist. The Fifty Suns decide on silence, and let the Earth ship try to find them among the Cloud's millions of stars.
A minority among the population of the Fifty Suns is the Mixed Men. Possessing a sort of double brain (not two separate brains, but more like pairs of molecules where there is only supposed to be one molecule), they have been subject to prejudice also, and have had to resort to extreme secrecy to hide their cities. Maltby, hereditary leader of the Mixed Men, finds himself on board the Earthship, the Star Cruiser, ordered to pilot it to the capital of the Fifty Suns. His secret orders, from the leaders of the Fifty Suns, are to pilot the ship right into a space storm, powerful enough to destroy even a hundred-deck behemoth like the Star Cruiser.
It's obvious to the people that, even if the Star Cruiser is destroyed, which does not happen, it won't be long, in cosmic terms, before Earth sends thousands of ships looking for the Fifty Suns empire. Many psychological methods are used to get Maltby to talk, including conditioning him to fall in love with Gloria Cecily, Grand Captain of the Star Cruiser.
This is an excellent far-future space opera in the grand tradition. Few writers can do it quite like A.E. van Vogt. This one is very much worth reading.
Legends in Time: The Contrived Senator
Legends in Time: The Contrived Senator, Vincent Hobbes et al, Hobbes End Publishing LLC, 2008
Since time immemorial, the tribes of Men have lived in peace with each other. The usual quarrels have never turned into outright war, that is, until the Barbarian Wars united the five separate lands into the Empire of Nador. It is run by Emperor Makheb, who rarely is seen in public, and never without his face covered. That leads to the usual speculation that the Emperor is an alien from another land, or another planet.
One day, Makheb calls Veris, a senior member of the Senate, into his private chambers. He tells Veris, that he, Veris, has been relieved of his Senate duties, and must undertake a difficult journey to Aronia in the north, starting now. Veris is told that, in a few hours, his Senate colleagues are going to come looking for him, ready to execute him for killing Emperor Makheb. Veris is totally loyal to Makheb, so he is shocked, to put it mildly. An attempt on Makheb's life, in his chambers, convinces Veris. At the same time, Makheb is going, alone, to the desolate Endlands, in the west, to confront Ramunak, the cause of all this.
Veris stops at his home in the city of Cosh, to grab a few things, and to try to convince his Senate colleagues that this is all a misunderstanding. Veris barely escapes with his life; Ramunak has been very busy, controlling people's minds. His journey is extra difficult because he has to go through the Denok Forest. It used to be a nice place to visit, until it was taken over by some sort of evil. Now, it is a dark and sinister place, to be avoided at all costs.
First of a series, this is intended for younger readers, but the three authors do a very good job with it. It's very much worth reading.
Since time immemorial, the tribes of Men have lived in peace with each other. The usual quarrels have never turned into outright war, that is, until the Barbarian Wars united the five separate lands into the Empire of Nador. It is run by Emperor Makheb, who rarely is seen in public, and never without his face covered. That leads to the usual speculation that the Emperor is an alien from another land, or another planet.
One day, Makheb calls Veris, a senior member of the Senate, into his private chambers. He tells Veris, that he, Veris, has been relieved of his Senate duties, and must undertake a difficult journey to Aronia in the north, starting now. Veris is told that, in a few hours, his Senate colleagues are going to come looking for him, ready to execute him for killing Emperor Makheb. Veris is totally loyal to Makheb, so he is shocked, to put it mildly. An attempt on Makheb's life, in his chambers, convinces Veris. At the same time, Makheb is going, alone, to the desolate Endlands, in the west, to confront Ramunak, the cause of all this.
Veris stops at his home in the city of Cosh, to grab a few things, and to try to convince his Senate colleagues that this is all a misunderstanding. Veris barely escapes with his life; Ramunak has been very busy, controlling people's minds. His journey is extra difficult because he has to go through the Denok Forest. It used to be a nice place to visit, until it was taken over by some sort of evil. Now, it is a dark and sinister place, to be avoided at all costs.
First of a series, this is intended for younger readers, but the three authors do a very good job with it. It's very much worth reading.
The Listeners
The Listeners, James E. Gunn, Signet Books, 1972
Involvement in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) might be the ultimate job for the extremely dedicated. Most scientists might not be willing to spend their careers listening for signs of intelligence out there, dealing with bureaucratic nonsense, constantly fighting for funding, and knowing that the chances of actually hearing anything are remote.
The Project has spent the previous 50 years listening to the stars, using the "Little Ear" radiotelescope at Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The rest of the world does not share the interest of the scientists on duty, so The Project is on the bureaucratic chopping block. Everything changes the day that a message is received.
It isn't so much a message as it is early human radio broadcasts beamed back to Earth, with the message inside, as a series of something like dots and dashes. It is analyzed, and turned into a very stylized picture of the sender (specifically, from the star Capella). An interpretation of the message says that Capella's binary star system is becoming very unstable. Perhaps one of the stars is about to go supernova, and the message is an attempt, before their race perishes, to learn that they are not alone in the universe.
There is much discussion in The Project as to whether or not Earth should answer the Message. An answer is sent, consisting of a similar stylized picture of humans, knowing that it will take 90 years for the message to reach Capella, and for them to send a response. The Day of The Reply is a worldwide holiday on Earth. Billions of people are tuned in to see The Reply, but it's not what they were hoping for.
This is a really good and plausible novel. It shows how one moment of "Oh, my God!" (receipt of a message from space) can make up for many years of nothing. It's recommended.
Involvement in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) might be the ultimate job for the extremely dedicated. Most scientists might not be willing to spend their careers listening for signs of intelligence out there, dealing with bureaucratic nonsense, constantly fighting for funding, and knowing that the chances of actually hearing anything are remote.
The Project has spent the previous 50 years listening to the stars, using the "Little Ear" radiotelescope at Arecibo, Puerto Rico. The rest of the world does not share the interest of the scientists on duty, so The Project is on the bureaucratic chopping block. Everything changes the day that a message is received.
It isn't so much a message as it is early human radio broadcasts beamed back to Earth, with the message inside, as a series of something like dots and dashes. It is analyzed, and turned into a very stylized picture of the sender (specifically, from the star Capella). An interpretation of the message says that Capella's binary star system is becoming very unstable. Perhaps one of the stars is about to go supernova, and the message is an attempt, before their race perishes, to learn that they are not alone in the universe.
There is much discussion in The Project as to whether or not Earth should answer the Message. An answer is sent, consisting of a similar stylized picture of humans, knowing that it will take 90 years for the message to reach Capella, and for them to send a response. The Day of The Reply is a worldwide holiday on Earth. Billions of people are tuned in to see The Reply, but it's not what they were hoping for.
This is a really good and plausible novel. It shows how one moment of "Oh, my God!" (receipt of a message from space) can make up for many years of nothing. It's recommended.
Weeping May Tarry
Weeping May Tarry, Raymond F. Jones and Lester del Rey, Pinnacle Books, 1978
Several generations ago, the nova of a nearby star caused a lot of genetic damage to the planet Alcor. Things seem to have quieted down in that part of the sky, so a survey vessel is sent to investigate.
Alcor is a religiously rigid sort of world, where everyone worships The Keelong. It's a vague, unknowable thing in the universe that has kept Alcor together, and peaceful, for the past thousand years. An important part of the crew is the Ama (priest), an elderly, inflexible type named Toreg. He expects total obedience to the proper rituals; if he doesn't like what he sees, he has the authority to exile members of the crew to whatever planet they are on at that moment. He can even order the ship turned around and headed back to Alcor. Privately, Toreg knows that The Keelong's "days" are numbered; questioning The Keelong, or even outright unbelief, is growing among the people.
They approach a desolate planet that shows obvious signs of having been through a major planet-wide war, with ruins and blackened landscape everywhere. A few meters above the planet, explosions occur all over the ship. It lands safely, but it is not soon going anywhere, maybe permanently. As they prepare for a long-term stay on this planet, the crew finds a stone building that is not too badly damaged. It's a large room, with rows of benches facing a raised area at one end. Digging through the rubble, Toreg finds a large figure of a hideous being nailed to a cross and in great pain (the people of Alcor look like green-scaled lizards with tails who walk upright). This was obviously a war building, to spread information (and propaganda) among the people. The figure is kept as a constant reminder of The Enemy; any beings who can inflict that sort of pain on another being...
The linguists work to translate a book found in a nearby strongbox. Each night, the crew gathers to hear that day's translation of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Toreg urges the crew to return to The Keelong, and ignore this false deity, but it's not working. The crew is listening to Jesus. Meantime, winter has come to their mountain valley. In a desperate attempt to destroy the cross, Toreg drags it up the mountain to throw it into a large canyon. Holed up in a cave, and exhausted, Toreg starts to read the rest of the book (which he also intends to destroy), while the face on the cross seems to be watching him.
It's a pretty good book that does not overdo the religious aspect. This is worth reading for those who are religious, and not so religious.
Several generations ago, the nova of a nearby star caused a lot of genetic damage to the planet Alcor. Things seem to have quieted down in that part of the sky, so a survey vessel is sent to investigate.
Alcor is a religiously rigid sort of world, where everyone worships The Keelong. It's a vague, unknowable thing in the universe that has kept Alcor together, and peaceful, for the past thousand years. An important part of the crew is the Ama (priest), an elderly, inflexible type named Toreg. He expects total obedience to the proper rituals; if he doesn't like what he sees, he has the authority to exile members of the crew to whatever planet they are on at that moment. He can even order the ship turned around and headed back to Alcor. Privately, Toreg knows that The Keelong's "days" are numbered; questioning The Keelong, or even outright unbelief, is growing among the people.
They approach a desolate planet that shows obvious signs of having been through a major planet-wide war, with ruins and blackened landscape everywhere. A few meters above the planet, explosions occur all over the ship. It lands safely, but it is not soon going anywhere, maybe permanently. As they prepare for a long-term stay on this planet, the crew finds a stone building that is not too badly damaged. It's a large room, with rows of benches facing a raised area at one end. Digging through the rubble, Toreg finds a large figure of a hideous being nailed to a cross and in great pain (the people of Alcor look like green-scaled lizards with tails who walk upright). This was obviously a war building, to spread information (and propaganda) among the people. The figure is kept as a constant reminder of The Enemy; any beings who can inflict that sort of pain on another being...
The linguists work to translate a book found in a nearby strongbox. Each night, the crew gathers to hear that day's translation of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Toreg urges the crew to return to The Keelong, and ignore this false deity, but it's not working. The crew is listening to Jesus. Meantime, winter has come to their mountain valley. In a desperate attempt to destroy the cross, Toreg drags it up the mountain to throw it into a large canyon. Holed up in a cave, and exhausted, Toreg starts to read the rest of the book (which he also intends to destroy), while the face on the cross seems to be watching him.
It's a pretty good book that does not overdo the religious aspect. This is worth reading for those who are religious, and not so religious.
The Judges Chronicles: Rebirth of Shavron
The Judges Chronicles: Rebirth of Shavron, Ivan Sugarwood, Xulon Press, 2006
The land of Shavron is a nice place, seemingly favored by God. But, because of its location, it has found itself in the middle when its neighbors go to war. Many, many years ago, the Holy One appointed three Judges to rule over the people of Shavron. The current Judges are Gideon, the judge of battle; Deborah, the judge of instruction; and Samson, the judge of commerce.
This is a time of fear and uncertainty in Shavron. The neighboring lands are being menaced by the black leopards of Chetz. The only way to prevent a Chetzian attack on Shavron is to appoint a king, or other ruler, of Shavron; then, the Chetzians will leave them alone. Gideon, a rabbit, is totally against the idea, because it would mean abandoning the Holy One. He, and Deborah, a cheetah, try to convince Samson, a wolf, to join them before the Council to change their minds. Samson refuses, not convinced of the seriousness of the situation.
Gideon and Deborah return to Eldos, the capital, to find that a queen has already been chosen by the Council, a red fox named Jezerah. Along with Iya, the power behind the throne, she turns Shavron into a dictatorship. High taxes are imposed, repression is increased; the usual. The Holy One knows what's going on; He tells Gideon that He will never abandon Shavron, and that things will get worse before they get better.
Gideon spends the next couple of years in an impregnable mountain top prison; Samson and Deborah are similarly mistreated. Under such circumstances, it would be easy for anyone to lose their faith, but that does not happen to Gideon.
I was very prepared to not like this book (religion and talking animals usually do not bode well), but it's pretty good. It's not just a good religion story, it's also a good fantasy story.
The land of Shavron is a nice place, seemingly favored by God. But, because of its location, it has found itself in the middle when its neighbors go to war. Many, many years ago, the Holy One appointed three Judges to rule over the people of Shavron. The current Judges are Gideon, the judge of battle; Deborah, the judge of instruction; and Samson, the judge of commerce.
This is a time of fear and uncertainty in Shavron. The neighboring lands are being menaced by the black leopards of Chetz. The only way to prevent a Chetzian attack on Shavron is to appoint a king, or other ruler, of Shavron; then, the Chetzians will leave them alone. Gideon, a rabbit, is totally against the idea, because it would mean abandoning the Holy One. He, and Deborah, a cheetah, try to convince Samson, a wolf, to join them before the Council to change their minds. Samson refuses, not convinced of the seriousness of the situation.
Gideon and Deborah return to Eldos, the capital, to find that a queen has already been chosen by the Council, a red fox named Jezerah. Along with Iya, the power behind the throne, she turns Shavron into a dictatorship. High taxes are imposed, repression is increased; the usual. The Holy One knows what's going on; He tells Gideon that He will never abandon Shavron, and that things will get worse before they get better.
Gideon spends the next couple of years in an impregnable mountain top prison; Samson and Deborah are similarly mistreated. Under such circumstances, it would be easy for anyone to lose their faith, but that does not happen to Gideon.
I was very prepared to not like this book (religion and talking animals usually do not bode well), but it's pretty good. It's not just a good religion story, it's also a good fantasy story.
Time Machines Repaired While-U-Wait
Time Machines Repaired While-U-Wait, K.A. Bedford, Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, 2008
In a near future Western Australia where time machines for personal use can be bought out of a catalog, Aloysius "Spider" Webb is a time machine repairman. He was a member of the Western Australia police, until he was forced to leave under very unpleasant circumstances.
He spends most of his time dealing with idiot customers who don't bother to read the instruction manual, or are upset because they can't travel to some major event in history, and change things. The Department of Time and Space (DOTAS) has rules about such things, and the ability to enforce them. His boss is a thoroughly dislikable person who everyone calls Dickhead, right to his face.
Things get interesting when, one day, a time machine arrives with another time machine inside it. In that second time machine is a female murder victim. DOTAS comes and slaps a Top Secret sign on everything. Things get even more interesting when Spider finds a future version of himself, brutally murdered. Iris Street, the local police Inspector, is called in. She and Spider had a brief, but torrid, affair while he was a cop. It was part of the reason for his abrupt departure.
Spider meets several other future versions of himself, including a ninja type at the end of time. There is one spaceship of "good guys" holding out against the "bad guys," led by Spider's boss, Dickhead. There are also alien beings called vores, who are literally eating the universe from the outside. Back in the present, Spider, Iris and another future version of Spider deal with the aftermath of a woman who, six years previously, uploaded a video to the internet of her suicide by self-immolation. It was in retaliation for her husband having an affair with Clea Fassbinder (the dead woman in the time machine).
This will certainly give the reader a mental workout. The plot may get a little gory, and convoluted, but it is a really good story, and is very much worth reading.
In a near future Western Australia where time machines for personal use can be bought out of a catalog, Aloysius "Spider" Webb is a time machine repairman. He was a member of the Western Australia police, until he was forced to leave under very unpleasant circumstances.
He spends most of his time dealing with idiot customers who don't bother to read the instruction manual, or are upset because they can't travel to some major event in history, and change things. The Department of Time and Space (DOTAS) has rules about such things, and the ability to enforce them. His boss is a thoroughly dislikable person who everyone calls Dickhead, right to his face.
Things get interesting when, one day, a time machine arrives with another time machine inside it. In that second time machine is a female murder victim. DOTAS comes and slaps a Top Secret sign on everything. Things get even more interesting when Spider finds a future version of himself, brutally murdered. Iris Street, the local police Inspector, is called in. She and Spider had a brief, but torrid, affair while he was a cop. It was part of the reason for his abrupt departure.
Spider meets several other future versions of himself, including a ninja type at the end of time. There is one spaceship of "good guys" holding out against the "bad guys," led by Spider's boss, Dickhead. There are also alien beings called vores, who are literally eating the universe from the outside. Back in the present, Spider, Iris and another future version of Spider deal with the aftermath of a woman who, six years previously, uploaded a video to the internet of her suicide by self-immolation. It was in retaliation for her husband having an affair with Clea Fassbinder (the dead woman in the time machine).
This will certainly give the reader a mental workout. The plot may get a little gory, and convoluted, but it is a really good story, and is very much worth reading.
Gaslight Grimoire: Fantastic Tales of Sherlock Holmes
Gaslight Grimoire: Fantastic Tales of Sherlock Holmes, J.R. Campbell and Charles Prepolec (ed.), Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, 2008
Even though Arthur Conan Doyle was a well-known occult writer, he had to keep Sherlock Holmes, his most famous creation, grounded in reality. Doyle couldn't weaken his popularity by giving Holmes a number of occult and fantastic cases to solve. This book takes care of that.
Watson was severely injured, and should have died, while serving with the British Army in Afghanistan. He was saved by a blue djinn who exacts a price from Watson for his help. Years later, while solving a case of what looks like suicide by crossbow, Watson suddenly stabs Holmes with an arrow. In his death throes, "Holmes" turns into the blue djinn who saved Watson's life years before.
During World War II, Holmes is in a California nursing home. The damage to British morale would be too severe if he should be killed by the Nazis. Holmes helps a local detective discover how a man can be shot three times, twice in the chest and once in the head, and walk away. It has to do with the importation of fifty pine boxes from Romania, filled with vampires willing to work for the Allies.
In other stories, Holmes and Watson meet up with two famous literary occult detectives, Flaxman Low and Thomas Carnacki. Holmes is very much of a realist; no matter how weird and occult things may seem, there is usually a rational explanation. But he does not totally dismiss un-rational explanations.
I really enjoyed these stories. They are well done, and they are nice and weird without being too weird. Holmes fans will love this book, and so will occult fiction fans.
Even though Arthur Conan Doyle was a well-known occult writer, he had to keep Sherlock Holmes, his most famous creation, grounded in reality. Doyle couldn't weaken his popularity by giving Holmes a number of occult and fantastic cases to solve. This book takes care of that.
Watson was severely injured, and should have died, while serving with the British Army in Afghanistan. He was saved by a blue djinn who exacts a price from Watson for his help. Years later, while solving a case of what looks like suicide by crossbow, Watson suddenly stabs Holmes with an arrow. In his death throes, "Holmes" turns into the blue djinn who saved Watson's life years before.
During World War II, Holmes is in a California nursing home. The damage to British morale would be too severe if he should be killed by the Nazis. Holmes helps a local detective discover how a man can be shot three times, twice in the chest and once in the head, and walk away. It has to do with the importation of fifty pine boxes from Romania, filled with vampires willing to work for the Allies.
In other stories, Holmes and Watson meet up with two famous literary occult detectives, Flaxman Low and Thomas Carnacki. Holmes is very much of a realist; no matter how weird and occult things may seem, there is usually a rational explanation. But he does not totally dismiss un-rational explanations.
I really enjoyed these stories. They are well done, and they are nice and weird without being too weird. Holmes fans will love this book, and so will occult fiction fans.
The Lost Continent
The Lost Continent, C.J. Cutliffe Hyne, Ballantine, 1972
A reprint of a novel published around 1900, this is the story of Deucalion, the governor of Yucatan province. He is suddenly recalled home, back to Atlantis, by Phorenice, the new Empress. She turns his arrival into a grand ceremony, parading him through the city, and back to her palace, on top of a live mammoth.
Having been away from Atlantis for twenty years, Deucalion is disgusted by the conditions in its capital. Everywhere is filth, and poverty of record-setting levels. Unburied dead bodies litter the streets. Outside the city walls are thousands of destitute people clamoring to get in. Phorenice's attitude is: the rich (mainly Phorenice) get richer, and everyone else fends for themselves. Phorenice makes it known to all that she is the daughter of a god, and expects to be treated as such, even though she is actually the daughter of a swineherd. Anyone who says no to Phorenice, about anything, can expect to die very unpleasantly, so Deucalion and the people of Atlantis are forced to go along.
Deucalion saves a woman named Nais from being eaten by tigers. He is betrothed to Phorenice, and does not dare to say no, but he falls for Nais. The Empress gets very jealous toward Nais, and has her buried alive between two huge blocks of stone. Deucalion slips her a drug, known only to the Priests Clan, of which Deucalion is a senior member, that puts Nais into suspended animation.
Deucalion has seen enough, and gets a ride with a boatful of people planning to start over on a faraway island, away from Phorenice. He suddenly has second thoughts, and asks to be let off on the other side of Atlantis, a land of deep swamps, impassable forests and hideous beasts. It takes months, but Deucalion makes it back to the capital. Phorenice, who is now to be worshipped as a god, has learned that Nais is not really dead, and is not happy. Then comes the final battle between Phorenice and the Priests Clan, just before the "real" gods make it clear that their patience is gone.
This is a gem of a story. Atlantis is certainly a popular setting for fantasy stories; this is one of the better stories ever written. It has just a little bit of weird in it, and is very much worth reading.
A reprint of a novel published around 1900, this is the story of Deucalion, the governor of Yucatan province. He is suddenly recalled home, back to Atlantis, by Phorenice, the new Empress. She turns his arrival into a grand ceremony, parading him through the city, and back to her palace, on top of a live mammoth.
Having been away from Atlantis for twenty years, Deucalion is disgusted by the conditions in its capital. Everywhere is filth, and poverty of record-setting levels. Unburied dead bodies litter the streets. Outside the city walls are thousands of destitute people clamoring to get in. Phorenice's attitude is: the rich (mainly Phorenice) get richer, and everyone else fends for themselves. Phorenice makes it known to all that she is the daughter of a god, and expects to be treated as such, even though she is actually the daughter of a swineherd. Anyone who says no to Phorenice, about anything, can expect to die very unpleasantly, so Deucalion and the people of Atlantis are forced to go along.
Deucalion saves a woman named Nais from being eaten by tigers. He is betrothed to Phorenice, and does not dare to say no, but he falls for Nais. The Empress gets very jealous toward Nais, and has her buried alive between two huge blocks of stone. Deucalion slips her a drug, known only to the Priests Clan, of which Deucalion is a senior member, that puts Nais into suspended animation.
Deucalion has seen enough, and gets a ride with a boatful of people planning to start over on a faraway island, away from Phorenice. He suddenly has second thoughts, and asks to be let off on the other side of Atlantis, a land of deep swamps, impassable forests and hideous beasts. It takes months, but Deucalion makes it back to the capital. Phorenice, who is now to be worshipped as a god, has learned that Nais is not really dead, and is not happy. Then comes the final battle between Phorenice and the Priests Clan, just before the "real" gods make it clear that their patience is gone.
This is a gem of a story. Atlantis is certainly a popular setting for fantasy stories; this is one of the better stories ever written. It has just a little bit of weird in it, and is very much worth reading.
Ending an Ending
Ending an Ending, Danny Birt, Ancient Tomes Press, 2008
First of a series called the Laurian Pentology, this book takes place on a flat, polytheistic world where the gods take an active role in everyday life. People called Seren awake from Sleep, which could last weeks or centuries, knowing the name of "their" God. Their mission, and destination, is generally implanted in their brain. Sanct is the exception.
He has no idea who his God is (which is totally unheard of), and has come into possession of a staff of great power. No matter how much he tries to get rid of it, the staff always returns to him. In his present mission, Sanct has this vague feeling to travel in a certain direction, but agrees to go in the opposite direction to help Pander, who he met on a previous mission. They travel to the castle of Seighn, where Pander's mission is to prevent an assassination, but he doesn't know who or how or when. While there, the castle is destroyed by a magically-created earthquake, and the King and Queen are killed. Pander and Sanct get their daughter, and heiress to the throne, Eiry, out of the area, fast. Whoever caused the earthquake will be looking for Eiry.
Along with several others, a young man named Claren joins the group. He was subject of some high-level magic, which scrambled his neural circuits, causing him to talk in gibberish. After his brain is unscrambled, he and Eiry instantly fall for each other. Alaris, a mage of great power who seems to know everyone and everything, finds an isolated farming community where all of them, especially Eiry, can hide. The urgency is because the amount of time allotted to the world is quickly running out, so there is the great danger of everything just ceasing to exist.
This is a fine piece of storytelling, and of world-building. It may seem a little slow, and will take some work on the part of the reader, but it is very much worth the time.
First of a series called the Laurian Pentology, this book takes place on a flat, polytheistic world where the gods take an active role in everyday life. People called Seren awake from Sleep, which could last weeks or centuries, knowing the name of "their" God. Their mission, and destination, is generally implanted in their brain. Sanct is the exception.
He has no idea who his God is (which is totally unheard of), and has come into possession of a staff of great power. No matter how much he tries to get rid of it, the staff always returns to him. In his present mission, Sanct has this vague feeling to travel in a certain direction, but agrees to go in the opposite direction to help Pander, who he met on a previous mission. They travel to the castle of Seighn, where Pander's mission is to prevent an assassination, but he doesn't know who or how or when. While there, the castle is destroyed by a magically-created earthquake, and the King and Queen are killed. Pander and Sanct get their daughter, and heiress to the throne, Eiry, out of the area, fast. Whoever caused the earthquake will be looking for Eiry.
Along with several others, a young man named Claren joins the group. He was subject of some high-level magic, which scrambled his neural circuits, causing him to talk in gibberish. After his brain is unscrambled, he and Eiry instantly fall for each other. Alaris, a mage of great power who seems to know everyone and everything, finds an isolated farming community where all of them, especially Eiry, can hide. The urgency is because the amount of time allotted to the world is quickly running out, so there is the great danger of everything just ceasing to exist.
This is a fine piece of storytelling, and of world-building. It may seem a little slow, and will take some work on the part of the reader, but it is very much worth the time.
Sword Masters
Sword Masters, Selina Rosen, Dragon Moon Press, 2008
Tarius, of the land of Kartik, travels to the neighboring land of Jethrik to join their swordmaster academy. Both his parents were killed by the Amalites, and Jethrik is currently at war with the Amalites, so Tarius wants to kill Amalites. He quickly distinguishes himself as an expert with the sword, and is noticed by Darian, the headmaster, and by King Persius. Tarius also attracts the notice of Jena, Darian's daughter, who only has eyes for Tarius. He tries everything possible to push her away, to no avail. Tarius is hiding a huge secret, which will not stay secret forever; Tarius is a woman.
Jethrik is a land of rigidly defined gender roles; among them is the absolute prohibition on women wielding steel. Tarius leads several successful campaigns against the Amalites. Persius gets the Amalites to leave Jethrik land, and agree to a peace treaty (over Tarius' strong objections). Beings like the Amalites, with a philosophy of Convert or Die, will not be bound by a piece of paper; they will be back.
Eventually, Tarius' secret is revealed, and, as expected, Persius, Darian and Jena hit the roof. Tarius is to be immediately executed, by being dragged throughout the kingdom, tied to the back of a horse. She is helped by friends, nursed back to health, and heads home back to Kartik. Jena is forced to marry Tragon, a man she despises. After her repeated refusal to let him into her bed, Tragon unintentionally kills her unborn child, and Jena kills Tragon. For a wife to kill her husband is a major offense, so Jena is convinced that fleeing to Kartik, to see if Tarius will take her back, is a really good idea.
This is an excellent piece of writing. It's a sword and sorcery novel with an emphasis more on the "sword" than the "sorcery." The reader will not be disappointed.
Tarius, of the land of Kartik, travels to the neighboring land of Jethrik to join their swordmaster academy. Both his parents were killed by the Amalites, and Jethrik is currently at war with the Amalites, so Tarius wants to kill Amalites. He quickly distinguishes himself as an expert with the sword, and is noticed by Darian, the headmaster, and by King Persius. Tarius also attracts the notice of Jena, Darian's daughter, who only has eyes for Tarius. He tries everything possible to push her away, to no avail. Tarius is hiding a huge secret, which will not stay secret forever; Tarius is a woman.
Jethrik is a land of rigidly defined gender roles; among them is the absolute prohibition on women wielding steel. Tarius leads several successful campaigns against the Amalites. Persius gets the Amalites to leave Jethrik land, and agree to a peace treaty (over Tarius' strong objections). Beings like the Amalites, with a philosophy of Convert or Die, will not be bound by a piece of paper; they will be back.
Eventually, Tarius' secret is revealed, and, as expected, Persius, Darian and Jena hit the roof. Tarius is to be immediately executed, by being dragged throughout the kingdom, tied to the back of a horse. She is helped by friends, nursed back to health, and heads home back to Kartik. Jena is forced to marry Tragon, a man she despises. After her repeated refusal to let him into her bed, Tragon unintentionally kills her unborn child, and Jena kills Tragon. For a wife to kill her husband is a major offense, so Jena is convinced that fleeing to Kartik, to see if Tarius will take her back, is a really good idea.
This is an excellent piece of writing. It's a sword and sorcery novel with an emphasis more on the "sword" than the "sorcery." The reader will not be disappointed.
Tesseracts Twelve
Tesseracts Twelve, Claude Lalumiere (ed.), Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing, 2008
This newest collection of Canadian fantastic fiction looks at the novella (17,500 to 40,000 words), the hardest-to-sell length of fiction.
In a small town in Alberta, an intact baby woolly mammoth is found buried in the snow. When Samuel, the town's "smart person," touches the carcass, the mammoth's life force is transferred to him, and he begins to have weird visions about being chased by beings on two legs. During a town-wide party, with mammoth stew as the main course (over Samuel's strong objections), strange things start happening, and several of the townspeople turn into cavemen, and chase Samuel as if he is the baby mammoth.
A young warrior, in feudal Japan, is sent to a small town to find out why they haven't sent in their annual amount of rice. Taking along his concubine and his brother, the mayor of the town says that it is not their fault; the land is somehow cursed. Solving the mystery, the warrior is shocked to find that his concubine and his brother are not exactly what they seem. They are mythological beings in human form.
Superheroes in present-day Korea deal with maniacal villains, inter-Korean politics, corporate downsizing (and overbearing mothers). As the world faces environmental catastrophe, reality-TV adventurers battle giant squids in the very deep ocean. Another small town in Alberta conducts pagan rituals during the year as if it was totally normal (though not everyone agrees). A pair of average women with the power of life and death travel the streets of present-day Montreal.
Here is another strong bunch of stories from north of the border. They are very easy to read, and very weird. It's recommended.
This newest collection of Canadian fantastic fiction looks at the novella (17,500 to 40,000 words), the hardest-to-sell length of fiction.
In a small town in Alberta, an intact baby woolly mammoth is found buried in the snow. When Samuel, the town's "smart person," touches the carcass, the mammoth's life force is transferred to him, and he begins to have weird visions about being chased by beings on two legs. During a town-wide party, with mammoth stew as the main course (over Samuel's strong objections), strange things start happening, and several of the townspeople turn into cavemen, and chase Samuel as if he is the baby mammoth.
A young warrior, in feudal Japan, is sent to a small town to find out why they haven't sent in their annual amount of rice. Taking along his concubine and his brother, the mayor of the town says that it is not their fault; the land is somehow cursed. Solving the mystery, the warrior is shocked to find that his concubine and his brother are not exactly what they seem. They are mythological beings in human form.
Superheroes in present-day Korea deal with maniacal villains, inter-Korean politics, corporate downsizing (and overbearing mothers). As the world faces environmental catastrophe, reality-TV adventurers battle giant squids in the very deep ocean. Another small town in Alberta conducts pagan rituals during the year as if it was totally normal (though not everyone agrees). A pair of average women with the power of life and death travel the streets of present-day Montreal.
Here is another strong bunch of stories from north of the border. They are very easy to read, and very weird. It's recommended.
Monday, October 29, 2012
Polaris
Polaris, Jack McDevitt, Ace Books, 2004
Set in the far future, the spaceship Polaris takes a group of rich passengers thousands of light years away to watch the destruction of a sun by another star. The ship never returns. The nearest rescue ship reaches it six days later to find the ship undamaged, but drifting...and deserted. The destruction of the sun wiped out any planets or moons that could have sheltered the ship's passengers.
Nearly sixty years later, the ship has become a legend. The fate of the crew has been the subject of books, TV documentaries and even a yearly convention, which brings forth all sorts of theories. Antiquities dealer Alex Benedict, and his assistant, Chase Kolpath, manage to acquire a few personal items that came from the ship, for their rich clients, just before the rest of the collection is destroyed in a mysterious explosion. The clients report visits from equally mysterious people who want to buy the items for astronomical sums of money. A couple of high-tech assassination attempts convince Alex and Chase that this is not just another rich collector at work. Someone is looking for something among the Polaris items, and that someone knows just what happened to its passengers.
As Alex and Chase get closer to the truth, it becomes clear that everything revolves around a scientific breakthrough made by one of the passengers. A method had been found to not just stop the aging process, but actually reverse it. At minimum, this would force radical changes on humanity, including, for instance, a near ban on any new births.
This is another well-done piece of writing from McDevitt. It is nice and thought-provoking, along with being a really good mystery.
Set in the far future, the spaceship Polaris takes a group of rich passengers thousands of light years away to watch the destruction of a sun by another star. The ship never returns. The nearest rescue ship reaches it six days later to find the ship undamaged, but drifting...and deserted. The destruction of the sun wiped out any planets or moons that could have sheltered the ship's passengers.
Nearly sixty years later, the ship has become a legend. The fate of the crew has been the subject of books, TV documentaries and even a yearly convention, which brings forth all sorts of theories. Antiquities dealer Alex Benedict, and his assistant, Chase Kolpath, manage to acquire a few personal items that came from the ship, for their rich clients, just before the rest of the collection is destroyed in a mysterious explosion. The clients report visits from equally mysterious people who want to buy the items for astronomical sums of money. A couple of high-tech assassination attempts convince Alex and Chase that this is not just another rich collector at work. Someone is looking for something among the Polaris items, and that someone knows just what happened to its passengers.
As Alex and Chase get closer to the truth, it becomes clear that everything revolves around a scientific breakthrough made by one of the passengers. A method had been found to not just stop the aging process, but actually reverse it. At minimum, this would force radical changes on humanity, including, for instance, a near ban on any new births.
This is another well-done piece of writing from McDevitt. It is nice and thought-provoking, along with being a really good mystery.
Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid
Palestine: Peace Not Apartheid, Jimmy Carter, Simon and Schuster, 2006
The author has been very interested, and very involved, in helping to bring about peace between Israel and the Palestinians for many years, dating back to before he became President. This book recounts his experiences, including several recent trips to the region, and includes his assessment of what needs to be done in the future on both sides.
An example of how things have gotten worse over the years is at the Allenby Bridge, the main crossing point from Israel to Jordan. In 1973, there was a flood of people going in both directions. Thousands of Arabs were freely visiting Israel. The checkpoint was more symbolic than actual. In 1983, the flood had slowed to a trickle. Israeli soldiers were everywhere. There were lines of people a hundred yards long, some of whom had been there for days. Any Palestinian produce intended to be sold in Jordan had a tiny chance of getting there before it rotted.
The book also talks about Israeli confiscation of Palestinian land, the holding of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails for long periods of time under "administrative detainment," and the destruction of Palestinian homes, with little or no notice, more often than not, for no reason at all. The separation barrier (or wall) is being built around the West Bank to make it harder for Palestinian militants to launch attacks on Israel. If it was built on the Green Line, the unofficial Israel-Palestinian border (because Israel has never officially delineated its border), there would be some grumbling. Parts of it are built miles inside Palestinian territory, taking more land. The cleared land, the access roads, the trenches, etc, that go along with the wall are always on the Palestinian side, not the Israeli side.
Palestinians do not escape criticism in this book. The killing of Israeli civilians by suicide bombers does nothing to advance the cause of peace; it only leads to more Israeli retaliation. The lack of a unified Palestinian "voice" is no help.
Among the actions needed to advance peace are: Arab recognition of Israel's pre-1967 sovereignty, openly and publicly. All Arab violence toward Israel must end. Israel must also delineate its final border. In recent opinion polls, large majorities of people on both sides are ready and willing to accept a two-state solution. The politicians have not gotten the message.
Another obstacle to a lasting peace is the lack of a real debate here in America, something more than just "Israelis good, Palestinians bad." If there is ever to be such a debate, books like this are much needed, and are very much worth reading.
The author has been very interested, and very involved, in helping to bring about peace between Israel and the Palestinians for many years, dating back to before he became President. This book recounts his experiences, including several recent trips to the region, and includes his assessment of what needs to be done in the future on both sides.
An example of how things have gotten worse over the years is at the Allenby Bridge, the main crossing point from Israel to Jordan. In 1973, there was a flood of people going in both directions. Thousands of Arabs were freely visiting Israel. The checkpoint was more symbolic than actual. In 1983, the flood had slowed to a trickle. Israeli soldiers were everywhere. There were lines of people a hundred yards long, some of whom had been there for days. Any Palestinian produce intended to be sold in Jordan had a tiny chance of getting there before it rotted.
The book also talks about Israeli confiscation of Palestinian land, the holding of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails for long periods of time under "administrative detainment," and the destruction of Palestinian homes, with little or no notice, more often than not, for no reason at all. The separation barrier (or wall) is being built around the West Bank to make it harder for Palestinian militants to launch attacks on Israel. If it was built on the Green Line, the unofficial Israel-Palestinian border (because Israel has never officially delineated its border), there would be some grumbling. Parts of it are built miles inside Palestinian territory, taking more land. The cleared land, the access roads, the trenches, etc, that go along with the wall are always on the Palestinian side, not the Israeli side.
Palestinians do not escape criticism in this book. The killing of Israeli civilians by suicide bombers does nothing to advance the cause of peace; it only leads to more Israeli retaliation. The lack of a unified Palestinian "voice" is no help.
Among the actions needed to advance peace are: Arab recognition of Israel's pre-1967 sovereignty, openly and publicly. All Arab violence toward Israel must end. Israel must also delineate its final border. In recent opinion polls, large majorities of people on both sides are ready and willing to accept a two-state solution. The politicians have not gotten the message.
Another obstacle to a lasting peace is the lack of a real debate here in America, something more than just "Israelis good, Palestinians bad." If there is ever to be such a debate, books like this are much needed, and are very much worth reading.
Who Will Feed China? Wake-Up Call for a Small Planet
Who Will Feed China? Wake-Up Call For a Small Planet, Lester R. Brown, W.W. Norton, 1995
This book uses China as an example of how the ability of countries to feed their people is going to become a major problem in the next few decades.
Why should the average person care about China's ability to feed itself? When China starts importing grain, in quantities of hundreds of millions of tons, prices around the world are going to rise very dramatically. The world will enter a period of food scarcity, where there simply isn't enough to go around. Political and economic instability will become an issue, not to mention simple survival for much of the Third World.
China has several 'strikes' against it in the area of food production. The vast majority of the land cannot grow anything because it is all mountains and desert. The cultivable land is in the east and south, the same place where the industrialization is happening. All those factories and highways are built on what was farmland. Over three-quarters of the farmland is irrigated, and water is becoming scarce, as the rapidly growing cities make their demands on the water supply. Food production per acre is stagnating or dropping, no matter how much water or fertilizer is used. As China industrializes, its residents are moving up the food chain. No longer content with a rice diet, they are more interested in consuming red meat, which, by itself, takes lots of grain. Underlying all of this is China's rapidly growing population.
This is a fascinating book. The author does not mean to 'pick on' China, but to show that with a growing population worldwide, especially in Asia, and food production stagnant or dropping, something needs to be done now. The alternative is the world's food production and distribution system completely falling apart, with disastrous consequences. This book is short, a very easy read, and it says a lot. It is highly recommended.
This book uses China as an example of how the ability of countries to feed their people is going to become a major problem in the next few decades.
Why should the average person care about China's ability to feed itself? When China starts importing grain, in quantities of hundreds of millions of tons, prices around the world are going to rise very dramatically. The world will enter a period of food scarcity, where there simply isn't enough to go around. Political and economic instability will become an issue, not to mention simple survival for much of the Third World.
China has several 'strikes' against it in the area of food production. The vast majority of the land cannot grow anything because it is all mountains and desert. The cultivable land is in the east and south, the same place where the industrialization is happening. All those factories and highways are built on what was farmland. Over three-quarters of the farmland is irrigated, and water is becoming scarce, as the rapidly growing cities make their demands on the water supply. Food production per acre is stagnating or dropping, no matter how much water or fertilizer is used. As China industrializes, its residents are moving up the food chain. No longer content with a rice diet, they are more interested in consuming red meat, which, by itself, takes lots of grain. Underlying all of this is China's rapidly growing population.
This is a fascinating book. The author does not mean to 'pick on' China, but to show that with a growing population worldwide, especially in Asia, and food production stagnant or dropping, something needs to be done now. The alternative is the world's food production and distribution system completely falling apart, with disastrous consequences. This book is short, a very easy read, and it says a lot. It is highly recommended.
High-Tech Careers for Low Tech People
High-Tech Careers for Low Tech People, William A. Schaffer, Ten Speed Press, 1999
You would like to get a job in the high-tech field, but there is a problem. You're convinced that you are unqualified because your college degree (if you even have a degree) is in something like Early French Literature, or you don't know the difference between a gigabyte and a trilobyte. Fear not, help has arrived.
The average high-tech company consists of more than just engineers and computer programmers. It also consists of contract negotiators, customer service people, finance people, project coordinators, technical writers, web page designers and human resources people, among many others. These are positions where abilities like analytical thinking and clear written and verbal communications are more important than having a degree in a certain subject.
The usual rules about resume writing, networking and how to do a job interview still apply. Go to the corporate headquarters, where the hiring occurs, not to a branch office. The most important thing is to get your foot in the door, so take any job that is available. From there, you can transfer to the preferred area. The high-tech employee who stands still risks getting run over by fast-changing technology. Always look for ways to expand your abilities and knowledge base (and increase your value to upper management). Read the company's web site. Read professional publications in the field. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Constant re-education is a must.
High-tech is very different sort of industry, so the author looks at what to expect. Can the applicant work long hours, in a demanding atmosphere with little or no supervision from above? If not, maybe another career is the answer.
If the opportunity comes along, consider working for a startup, even though the huge majority of them are destined to fail. If it does fail, don't worry about it. Putting a failed startup on a resume is a good thing, because it shows that you're a risk taker.
This book is excellent. It's easy to read for non-technical types (like yours truly), and it's written by an industry insider. It allows the reader to pinpoint areas of interest, and areas to which their backgrounds are best suited. It gets two strong thumbs up.
You would like to get a job in the high-tech field, but there is a problem. You're convinced that you are unqualified because your college degree (if you even have a degree) is in something like Early French Literature, or you don't know the difference between a gigabyte and a trilobyte. Fear not, help has arrived.
The average high-tech company consists of more than just engineers and computer programmers. It also consists of contract negotiators, customer service people, finance people, project coordinators, technical writers, web page designers and human resources people, among many others. These are positions where abilities like analytical thinking and clear written and verbal communications are more important than having a degree in a certain subject.
The usual rules about resume writing, networking and how to do a job interview still apply. Go to the corporate headquarters, where the hiring occurs, not to a branch office. The most important thing is to get your foot in the door, so take any job that is available. From there, you can transfer to the preferred area. The high-tech employee who stands still risks getting run over by fast-changing technology. Always look for ways to expand your abilities and knowledge base (and increase your value to upper management). Read the company's web site. Read professional publications in the field. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Constant re-education is a must.
High-tech is very different sort of industry, so the author looks at what to expect. Can the applicant work long hours, in a demanding atmosphere with little or no supervision from above? If not, maybe another career is the answer.
If the opportunity comes along, consider working for a startup, even though the huge majority of them are destined to fail. If it does fail, don't worry about it. Putting a failed startup on a resume is a good thing, because it shows that you're a risk taker.
This book is excellent. It's easy to read for non-technical types (like yours truly), and it's written by an industry insider. It allows the reader to pinpoint areas of interest, and areas to which their backgrounds are best suited. It gets two strong thumbs up.
Gen 13: Version 2.0
Gen 13: Version 2.0, Sholly Fisch, Ace Books, 2002
Based on a comic book series, this novel is about five young people, recruited by the US Government into a secret program. Going through very specialized training, including genetic engineering to bring out their talents, they became part of an organization called I.O. (International Operations) and travelled the world, working for America. That is, until the day they left I.O. with the help of a renegade agent and went out on their own.
Sarah, also known as Rainmaker, is able to manipulate the weather. Bobby, aka Burnout, is able to turn himself into a ball of flame. Roxy (Freefall) can manipulate gravity. Grunge's ability is to temporarily take on the physical characteristics of whatever he touches, be it metal, water or rubber. Fairchild, the "leader" of the group (first name Caitlin), is impervious to things like bullets fired at her.
Halfway to a Bachelor's degree in computers from Princeton when I.O. came calling, Fairchild finds herself at an emotional crossroads. Is this all there is to life? She yearns for a more normal life, like a regular job and a place in the suburbs. She is not the only one with personal stuff going on. Sort-of leaving the group, Fairchild goes on a bunch of job interviews. She is disgusted to find that people are more interested in her body than her brain.
Around this time, Gen 13 is attacked by someone who knows them inside and out. A devious plan is hatched to take over the world, with help from a stolen Trident nuclear missile. This individual has created a new group of seemingly indestructible genetically engineered people with strange abilities called Gen 14. With Fairchild temporarily absent, things are not looking good for Gen 13 in the battle with their "descendants."
Obviously, fans of the Gen 13 series and comic book fans in general need this novel. For everyone else, this is lighter summertime-type reading that is perfect for the beach or pool. It's very much worth it.
Based on a comic book series, this novel is about five young people, recruited by the US Government into a secret program. Going through very specialized training, including genetic engineering to bring out their talents, they became part of an organization called I.O. (International Operations) and travelled the world, working for America. That is, until the day they left I.O. with the help of a renegade agent and went out on their own.
Sarah, also known as Rainmaker, is able to manipulate the weather. Bobby, aka Burnout, is able to turn himself into a ball of flame. Roxy (Freefall) can manipulate gravity. Grunge's ability is to temporarily take on the physical characteristics of whatever he touches, be it metal, water or rubber. Fairchild, the "leader" of the group (first name Caitlin), is impervious to things like bullets fired at her.
Halfway to a Bachelor's degree in computers from Princeton when I.O. came calling, Fairchild finds herself at an emotional crossroads. Is this all there is to life? She yearns for a more normal life, like a regular job and a place in the suburbs. She is not the only one with personal stuff going on. Sort-of leaving the group, Fairchild goes on a bunch of job interviews. She is disgusted to find that people are more interested in her body than her brain.
Around this time, Gen 13 is attacked by someone who knows them inside and out. A devious plan is hatched to take over the world, with help from a stolen Trident nuclear missile. This individual has created a new group of seemingly indestructible genetically engineered people with strange abilities called Gen 14. With Fairchild temporarily absent, things are not looking good for Gen 13 in the battle with their "descendants."
Obviously, fans of the Gen 13 series and comic book fans in general need this novel. For everyone else, this is lighter summertime-type reading that is perfect for the beach or pool. It's very much worth it.
One Note Symphonies
One Note Symphonies, Sean Brijbasi, Writer's Club Press (iuniverse.com), 2001
This sort-of novel consists of a series of staccato-like bits of story that change location and tense totally without warning. These aren't very short stories, or even vignettes; it's more a case of a paragraph here, and a couple of paragraphs there.
In one part of the book, Martin, the main character, is asked to paint a portrait of a young woman at a moment when she is laughing. Unfortunately, Martin is of the opinion that the woman is rather ugly when her mouth is open like that. In Helsinki, a married man named Bernhard, entranced by the quivering nostrils of a woman named Marikka, takes her out to dinner, then they have sex. Napoleon Bonaparte thinks that he is a bicycle. Along the way, the reader will also meet a blue balloon, a red crayon, a talking monkey and a cocktail waitress named Darkbloom. There is also quite a lot of eroticism, both real and imagined, in this book, mostly invloving Martin.
This book doesn't follow the usual literature rules about plot and storyline. It is also an acquired taste sort of book. The reader will either really like, or really hate, the constant change of tense and location and narration. I really liked it, and, for those looking for something different, think this is well worth reading.
This sort-of novel consists of a series of staccato-like bits of story that change location and tense totally without warning. These aren't very short stories, or even vignettes; it's more a case of a paragraph here, and a couple of paragraphs there.
In one part of the book, Martin, the main character, is asked to paint a portrait of a young woman at a moment when she is laughing. Unfortunately, Martin is of the opinion that the woman is rather ugly when her mouth is open like that. In Helsinki, a married man named Bernhard, entranced by the quivering nostrils of a woman named Marikka, takes her out to dinner, then they have sex. Napoleon Bonaparte thinks that he is a bicycle. Along the way, the reader will also meet a blue balloon, a red crayon, a talking monkey and a cocktail waitress named Darkbloom. There is also quite a lot of eroticism, both real and imagined, in this book, mostly invloving Martin.
This book doesn't follow the usual literature rules about plot and storyline. It is also an acquired taste sort of book. The reader will either really like, or really hate, the constant change of tense and location and narration. I really liked it, and, for those looking for something different, think this is well worth reading.
Other Losses
Other Losses, James Bacque, Little, Brown and Co. Canada, 1999
At the end of World War II, German soldiers were surrendering to American forces by the thousands. They figured that they would get better treatment under Dwight Eisenhower than under Joseph Stalin. The Germans were herded into barbed wire enclosures and left there to starve to death. There were no tents available from the US troops, no sanitary facilities, no water and little or no food. There is no way to know just how many Germans died in these camps, but a reasonable estimate is about 1 million deaths.
A person could say that this was the fault of "rogue" officers, and that Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of Allied forces, knew nothing about it. Every indication is that the orders to starve the German prisoners came directly from Eisenhower. He was also the sort of leader who read the daily logs of transmitted and received cables, so it wouldn't have stayed secret from him for long.
Another possible reason for the lack of food given to German prisoners (which included thousands of women and children) is because, just having finished a major war, there was a big food shortage in Europe. Not only did American farmers create a huge food surplus, there were also approximately 13 million Red Cross Packages already in Europe, which would have been a big help to the prisoners. There was no post-war food shortage. Also, the German railroad system was relatively undamaged, so if the Allies wanted to get food to any part of the country, it would not have been a problem.
A food shortage would not explain the huge difference in the American and French camps, and those run by Britain and Canada. The latter countries provided tents and medical care for their prisoners, along with a reasonable amount of food. Conditions were not lavish by any means, but those prisoners survived their captivity in good condition. On the other hand, prisoners in the American and French camps could best be described as "the living dead."
Conditions in the American camps defy description. There was no shelter or sanitary facilities. The ground was quickly turned into mud in which many prisoners stood, all day and every day, because there was not enough room even to lay down. Other prisoners had to dig holes in the ground for shelter. When the sides collapsed during rainstorms, the prisoners often were too weak to escape. Diseases like diarrhea and dysentery were rampant. Anyone on the outside caught handing food through the fence was shot by US troops. The status of some prisoners was changed from Prisoner of War to Disarmed Enemy Forces, which allowed the US to ignore the Geneva Convention. The International Committee of the Red Cross was not allowed anywhere near the camps.
It would be easy to justify the events in this book by saying something Like "After Hitler and the death camps, the Germans deserved it," but that would be wrong. Inhumanity is still inhumanity. I like to think that I know my way around post-World War II history, but I was floored by this book. It is extremely highly recommended and a must read.
At the end of World War II, German soldiers were surrendering to American forces by the thousands. They figured that they would get better treatment under Dwight Eisenhower than under Joseph Stalin. The Germans were herded into barbed wire enclosures and left there to starve to death. There were no tents available from the US troops, no sanitary facilities, no water and little or no food. There is no way to know just how many Germans died in these camps, but a reasonable estimate is about 1 million deaths.
A person could say that this was the fault of "rogue" officers, and that Eisenhower, the Supreme Commander of Allied forces, knew nothing about it. Every indication is that the orders to starve the German prisoners came directly from Eisenhower. He was also the sort of leader who read the daily logs of transmitted and received cables, so it wouldn't have stayed secret from him for long.
Another possible reason for the lack of food given to German prisoners (which included thousands of women and children) is because, just having finished a major war, there was a big food shortage in Europe. Not only did American farmers create a huge food surplus, there were also approximately 13 million Red Cross Packages already in Europe, which would have been a big help to the prisoners. There was no post-war food shortage. Also, the German railroad system was relatively undamaged, so if the Allies wanted to get food to any part of the country, it would not have been a problem.
A food shortage would not explain the huge difference in the American and French camps, and those run by Britain and Canada. The latter countries provided tents and medical care for their prisoners, along with a reasonable amount of food. Conditions were not lavish by any means, but those prisoners survived their captivity in good condition. On the other hand, prisoners in the American and French camps could best be described as "the living dead."
Conditions in the American camps defy description. There was no shelter or sanitary facilities. The ground was quickly turned into mud in which many prisoners stood, all day and every day, because there was not enough room even to lay down. Other prisoners had to dig holes in the ground for shelter. When the sides collapsed during rainstorms, the prisoners often were too weak to escape. Diseases like diarrhea and dysentery were rampant. Anyone on the outside caught handing food through the fence was shot by US troops. The status of some prisoners was changed from Prisoner of War to Disarmed Enemy Forces, which allowed the US to ignore the Geneva Convention. The International Committee of the Red Cross was not allowed anywhere near the camps.
It would be easy to justify the events in this book by saying something Like "After Hitler and the death camps, the Germans deserved it," but that would be wrong. Inhumanity is still inhumanity. I like to think that I know my way around post-World War II history, but I was floored by this book. It is extremely highly recommended and a must read.
160 Degrees of Deviation: The Case For the Corporate Cynic
160 Degrees of Deviation: The Case for the Corporate Cynic, Jerome Alexander, Llumina Press, 2002
Even the best organizations have good intentions when instituting new plans or policies. Something always seems to go wrong, because of a type of manager called the 160 Degree Deviator. These are people with their own agendas who damage company morale and cause frustration to rise. The reason that they aren't called 180 Degree Deviators is that the author gives the company 20 degrees "credit" for having the right idea.
The author theorizes that some people are just born jerks, or become that way after exposure to other jerks. Such pompous, overbearing people should never be let anywhere near a management position. Deviators can be of either gender, and can be found anywhere between foreman and senior management. They are preoccupied with superficial things, like the look of a report instead of what's inside. They dominate all conversations with peers and subordinates, and monopolize meetings. They rarely apologize for a mistake or false accusation, especially when it involves someone lower than them on the company totem pole. They recruit spies to feed them the latest gossip about others. Deviators will only hire or promote those who hold them in high esteem. They use a lot of possessive pronouns, like "my people" or "my department," as if a piece of the company is their personal property. In short, 160 Degree Deviators have an exaggerated sense of their own self-importance. They consider themselves the center of the universe, and expect to be treated as such. Sound familiar?
What to do about such people? It's easy to say that so-and-so is a "kook" or is thinking outside the box; tell that to their subordinates or people in other departments. At all times, challenge Deviators to put up or shut up. Meetings should be called for specific purposes with specific attendees; don't let Anyone monopolize them. People who lie or sacrifice others to cover their mistakes should be immediately dismissed. If Manager X is considered "harmless" by senior management, transfer them someplace where they will be harmless, but get them out of that management job.
This book is excellent. A copy is needed in every company in America, Fortune 500 included. The CEO who says "it doesn't happen here" needs to take a closer look at their company. It is highly recommended.
Even the best organizations have good intentions when instituting new plans or policies. Something always seems to go wrong, because of a type of manager called the 160 Degree Deviator. These are people with their own agendas who damage company morale and cause frustration to rise. The reason that they aren't called 180 Degree Deviators is that the author gives the company 20 degrees "credit" for having the right idea.
The author theorizes that some people are just born jerks, or become that way after exposure to other jerks. Such pompous, overbearing people should never be let anywhere near a management position. Deviators can be of either gender, and can be found anywhere between foreman and senior management. They are preoccupied with superficial things, like the look of a report instead of what's inside. They dominate all conversations with peers and subordinates, and monopolize meetings. They rarely apologize for a mistake or false accusation, especially when it involves someone lower than them on the company totem pole. They recruit spies to feed them the latest gossip about others. Deviators will only hire or promote those who hold them in high esteem. They use a lot of possessive pronouns, like "my people" or "my department," as if a piece of the company is their personal property. In short, 160 Degree Deviators have an exaggerated sense of their own self-importance. They consider themselves the center of the universe, and expect to be treated as such. Sound familiar?
What to do about such people? It's easy to say that so-and-so is a "kook" or is thinking outside the box; tell that to their subordinates or people in other departments. At all times, challenge Deviators to put up or shut up. Meetings should be called for specific purposes with specific attendees; don't let Anyone monopolize them. People who lie or sacrifice others to cover their mistakes should be immediately dismissed. If Manager X is considered "harmless" by senior management, transfer them someplace where they will be harmless, but get them out of that management job.
This book is excellent. A copy is needed in every company in America, Fortune 500 included. The CEO who says "it doesn't happen here" needs to take a closer look at their company. It is highly recommended.
Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee
Celebrated Cases of Judge Dee, Robert Van Gulik (translator), Dover Publications, 1976
This is a reprint of a detective novel written in the 18th century that is set in 7th century China. Written by someone well versed in Chinese law, it puts three of Judge Dee's most famous cases together into one novel. Judge Dee was a district Magistrate, a combination prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner (if necessary). Magistrates had pretty wide authority to interrogate anyone, and use any method to get a confession, including beatings and torture. But, if a Magistrate executed someone who was later found to be innocent (for instance), the Magistrate was executed.
In the first case, a pair of silk merchants spend the night at a hostel in a certain town. The next morning, just outside of town, one of them is found dead. The local Warden (the town policeman) immediately accuses the hostel owner of killing, then robbing, the merchant, something the hostel owner vigorously denies. The second case involves a young bride who is poisoned on her wedding night. In the third case, a young widow and her mother live alone. The widow's husband died a year previously under less than clear circumstances. Not only does the young widow lock herself in her room for half a day every day, she also gets very angry and belligerent toward her mother whenever any men come around; not just potential suitors, but any men. As Judge Dee investigates, and interrogates both women, the circumstances of the husband's death get more and more mysterious.
Chinese detective novels are very different than their western counterparts. The culprit is introduced in the beginning of the story, and the interest is in seeing how the crime is solved. They tend to get very detailed, especially concerning the method of torture and execution, so a length of several hundred pages is common. This novel is one of the shorter ones that are available.
For mystery lovers who want to read a very different type of novel, this is worth checking out. Agatha Christie has little to fear from Chinese detective novels regarding competition, but it is still worth the reader's time.
This is a reprint of a detective novel written in the 18th century that is set in 7th century China. Written by someone well versed in Chinese law, it puts three of Judge Dee's most famous cases together into one novel. Judge Dee was a district Magistrate, a combination prosecutor, judge, jury and executioner (if necessary). Magistrates had pretty wide authority to interrogate anyone, and use any method to get a confession, including beatings and torture. But, if a Magistrate executed someone who was later found to be innocent (for instance), the Magistrate was executed.
In the first case, a pair of silk merchants spend the night at a hostel in a certain town. The next morning, just outside of town, one of them is found dead. The local Warden (the town policeman) immediately accuses the hostel owner of killing, then robbing, the merchant, something the hostel owner vigorously denies. The second case involves a young bride who is poisoned on her wedding night. In the third case, a young widow and her mother live alone. The widow's husband died a year previously under less than clear circumstances. Not only does the young widow lock herself in her room for half a day every day, she also gets very angry and belligerent toward her mother whenever any men come around; not just potential suitors, but any men. As Judge Dee investigates, and interrogates both women, the circumstances of the husband's death get more and more mysterious.
Chinese detective novels are very different than their western counterparts. The culprit is introduced in the beginning of the story, and the interest is in seeing how the crime is solved. They tend to get very detailed, especially concerning the method of torture and execution, so a length of several hundred pages is common. This novel is one of the shorter ones that are available.
For mystery lovers who want to read a very different type of novel, this is worth checking out. Agatha Christie has little to fear from Chinese detective novels regarding competition, but it is still worth the reader's time.
Abuse Your Illusions: The Disinformation Guide to Media Mirages and Establishment Lies
Abuse Your Illusions: The Disinformation Guide to Media Mirages and Establishment Lies, Russ Kick (ed.), The Disinformation Company Ltd, 2003
This is another in a series of books containing articles on subjects that will not be covered in the mainstream press. Spanning the political spectrum, the independent researchers, media critics and other experts behind these pieces (many written especially for this book) blow away the fog that keeps us confused.
Greg Palast catches the news media in several blatant lies; not just misinterpretation, but actual, black and white, lies. The most popular antidepressants can cause suicide. The Watergate break-in may have been all about a call girl ring after all. The producer of the CNN report about Operation Tailwind (asserting that America used sarin nerve gas in Vietnam) gives her side of the story. A former federal drug agent describes first-hand how the Drug War is designed to fail. The New York Times knows about, but refuses to publicize, America's illegal bioweapons program. Howard Zinn brings the US bombing of Afghanistan down to the individual level, looking at some of those who suffered and died. Operation Pipeline is a racial profiling program in California that pulls over minorities on the pretext of minor traffic violations. The editor digs up more neglected information on September 11, including: some of the highest US officials admitted that the attacks could have been prevented, a US Senator has said that at least one foreign country actively aided the terrorists, and one of the warnings received by the US was from the Taliban.
Also covered in this book are the diamond trade, child protective services, fluoridation, the Resurrection story, government sponsored anti-drug ads, the US military faces a huge rape crisis, the flexible definition of "terrorism," and corporations that have claimed the "right" to lie.
As with its two prequels, "Everything You Know Is Wrong" and "You Are Being Lied To", this is a must read of a book that has something to upset or offend everyone. I learned a lot from these eye-opening articles. This isn't a "liberal" or "conservative" book, but it is very highly recommended.
This is another in a series of books containing articles on subjects that will not be covered in the mainstream press. Spanning the political spectrum, the independent researchers, media critics and other experts behind these pieces (many written especially for this book) blow away the fog that keeps us confused.
Greg Palast catches the news media in several blatant lies; not just misinterpretation, but actual, black and white, lies. The most popular antidepressants can cause suicide. The Watergate break-in may have been all about a call girl ring after all. The producer of the CNN report about Operation Tailwind (asserting that America used sarin nerve gas in Vietnam) gives her side of the story. A former federal drug agent describes first-hand how the Drug War is designed to fail. The New York Times knows about, but refuses to publicize, America's illegal bioweapons program. Howard Zinn brings the US bombing of Afghanistan down to the individual level, looking at some of those who suffered and died. Operation Pipeline is a racial profiling program in California that pulls over minorities on the pretext of minor traffic violations. The editor digs up more neglected information on September 11, including: some of the highest US officials admitted that the attacks could have been prevented, a US Senator has said that at least one foreign country actively aided the terrorists, and one of the warnings received by the US was from the Taliban.
Also covered in this book are the diamond trade, child protective services, fluoridation, the Resurrection story, government sponsored anti-drug ads, the US military faces a huge rape crisis, the flexible definition of "terrorism," and corporations that have claimed the "right" to lie.
As with its two prequels, "Everything You Know Is Wrong" and "You Are Being Lied To", this is a must read of a book that has something to upset or offend everyone. I learned a lot from these eye-opening articles. This isn't a "liberal" or "conservative" book, but it is very highly recommended.
Censored 2003: The Top 25 Censored Stories
Censored 2003: The Top 25 Censored Stories, Peter Phillips and Project Censored, Seven Stories Press, 2002
Based at Sonoma State University in California, Project Censored is a program that yearly chooses the top 25 most underreported news stories in America. A national panel of judges whittles a list of more than 700 nominated stories down to those that are summarized here. Among the requirements are that the story must contain information that the American people have a need to know, it must be backed up with solid documentation and that it must have been previously published, either electronically or in print.
During Gulf War I, America deliberately destroyed Iraq's water system, causing the deaths of thousands of people, and did not allow importation of equipment to fix it. Convicted criminals, like Otto Reich, Elliot Abrams and John Poindexter now hold senior jobs in the Bush Administration. NAFTA has destroyed farming communities in America and abroad. New laws are restricting access to abortions here in America. The Bush energy plan threatens public health and the environment. American policies in Colombia support mass murder. The Bush Administration hampered an FBI investigation into the Bin Laden family before 9-11. Failing private prisons are bailed out by the federal government. Hear about these on the "all-news" channels?
The book also considers those stories which were covered in the media. Stories like that of Rosie O'Donnell's sexuality, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, Mariah Carey's nervous breakdown, the private lives of Prince Charles and his sons and the relationship between Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake very much deserve to be called Junk Food News. Also explored is a critical analysis of 9-11, before and after, how New York state exams censored literature, the big ten media giants, the rigors of self-censorship and a guide to independent media resources.
This is another excellent book from the people at Project Censored. It is required reading for everyone in the news business. I never fail to learn something from each volume. In an ideal world, the stories in this book are the ones that would be publicized from coast to coast.
Based at Sonoma State University in California, Project Censored is a program that yearly chooses the top 25 most underreported news stories in America. A national panel of judges whittles a list of more than 700 nominated stories down to those that are summarized here. Among the requirements are that the story must contain information that the American people have a need to know, it must be backed up with solid documentation and that it must have been previously published, either electronically or in print.
During Gulf War I, America deliberately destroyed Iraq's water system, causing the deaths of thousands of people, and did not allow importation of equipment to fix it. Convicted criminals, like Otto Reich, Elliot Abrams and John Poindexter now hold senior jobs in the Bush Administration. NAFTA has destroyed farming communities in America and abroad. New laws are restricting access to abortions here in America. The Bush energy plan threatens public health and the environment. American policies in Colombia support mass murder. The Bush Administration hampered an FBI investigation into the Bin Laden family before 9-11. Failing private prisons are bailed out by the federal government. Hear about these on the "all-news" channels?
The book also considers those stories which were covered in the media. Stories like that of Rosie O'Donnell's sexuality, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, Mariah Carey's nervous breakdown, the private lives of Prince Charles and his sons and the relationship between Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake very much deserve to be called Junk Food News. Also explored is a critical analysis of 9-11, before and after, how New York state exams censored literature, the big ten media giants, the rigors of self-censorship and a guide to independent media resources.
This is another excellent book from the people at Project Censored. It is required reading for everyone in the news business. I never fail to learn something from each volume. In an ideal world, the stories in this book are the ones that would be publicized from coast to coast.
Notes on Directing
Notes on Directing, Frank Hauser and Russell Reich, RCR Creative Press, 2003
This consists of a series of observations and lessons about the art of directing stage productions gained by Hauser over the years, which Reich expanded into book form. Hauser has served as director of the Oxford Playhouse for many years and is a veteran of the London and New York stage.
This book covers the entire directing process, starting from before the first rehearsal and extending to how to deal with critics. Read the play more than once. Understand that plays depict people in extraordinary circumstances. Keep the audience guessing. Rehearsals need discipline. Sincerely praise actors early and often. Listen for actors who drop the ends of lines. Some things are not and should not be repeatable. Don't keep actors hanging about needlessly. Include the crew. Be decisive. An audience's interest in the action is only as high as the actors' interest in it. Lighten up. Don't expect to have all the answers.
This is a very specialized book. For someone with zero experience in the theatre, like yours truly, these observations feel reasonable and logical; practically common sense. It's recommended for those on the outside as it will give a good idea as to what putting on a professional production is all about. For those on the inside, whether actor, director, writer or technical crew, this book is a must. It tells directors what they should know, and what the crew would like them to know.
This consists of a series of observations and lessons about the art of directing stage productions gained by Hauser over the years, which Reich expanded into book form. Hauser has served as director of the Oxford Playhouse for many years and is a veteran of the London and New York stage.
This book covers the entire directing process, starting from before the first rehearsal and extending to how to deal with critics. Read the play more than once. Understand that plays depict people in extraordinary circumstances. Keep the audience guessing. Rehearsals need discipline. Sincerely praise actors early and often. Listen for actors who drop the ends of lines. Some things are not and should not be repeatable. Don't keep actors hanging about needlessly. Include the crew. Be decisive. An audience's interest in the action is only as high as the actors' interest in it. Lighten up. Don't expect to have all the answers.
This is a very specialized book. For someone with zero experience in the theatre, like yours truly, these observations feel reasonable and logical; practically common sense. It's recommended for those on the outside as it will give a good idea as to what putting on a professional production is all about. For those on the inside, whether actor, director, writer or technical crew, this book is a must. It tells directors what they should know, and what the crew would like them to know.
Joe Sails: A Story in Progress
Joe Sails: A Story in Progress, Dick Olenych, Lone Tree Publishing Inc, 2002
Joe Sails is a salesman at the Acme Office products Company. He has been with the company for a number of years, and in the past was the top salesman. Not any more. Joe has become increasingly dissatisfied, but without being able to put his finger on the reason. He is getting less diligent in his duties. If a customer calls with a problem, he either sends the call to another department or leaves the fixing of the problem until the end of the day. At the office, Joe is supposed to log all his client visits and sales phone calls along with the status of the customer, another area in which he has been less than conscientious. His numbers have also started to drop; he has missed his monthly sales quota more often than he has reached it.
Bobbi, Joe's immediate boss, has laso noticed. Without making Joe resentful, she wonders how to bring him back to his core competency, treating the customer as most important. They go over Joe's activity log, every day. She pairs Joe with Bill, another salesman. It's not intended to treat Joe as a child (but that's how he initially interprets it), but to show what putting the customer first is all about. Between sales calls, Bill's ear is glued to his cell phone, checking his voice mail or calling potential clients. Depending on the customer, it may take a couple of visits before the subject of what product (in this case, office products like copiers) the client should buy is even mentioned. Selling any old box is easy, selling the right kind of box that will expand with the business is hard. Joe slowly begins to get the idea. His diligence returns, and his productivity starts to go up. He's not back to where he was, but he's getting there.
For most people, this book can be skipped. Those who are in business (especially sales) could really use this book. Improvement in business, however it is measured, is a never-ending quest. Putting it in novel form can be more helpful than in the form of some book full of business buzzwords. It's worth reading.
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Joe Sails is a salesman at the Acme Office products Company. He has been with the company for a number of years, and in the past was the top salesman. Not any more. Joe has become increasingly dissatisfied, but without being able to put his finger on the reason. He is getting less diligent in his duties. If a customer calls with a problem, he either sends the call to another department or leaves the fixing of the problem until the end of the day. At the office, Joe is supposed to log all his client visits and sales phone calls along with the status of the customer, another area in which he has been less than conscientious. His numbers have also started to drop; he has missed his monthly sales quota more often than he has reached it.
Bobbi, Joe's immediate boss, has laso noticed. Without making Joe resentful, she wonders how to bring him back to his core competency, treating the customer as most important. They go over Joe's activity log, every day. She pairs Joe with Bill, another salesman. It's not intended to treat Joe as a child (but that's how he initially interprets it), but to show what putting the customer first is all about. Between sales calls, Bill's ear is glued to his cell phone, checking his voice mail or calling potential clients. Depending on the customer, it may take a couple of visits before the subject of what product (in this case, office products like copiers) the client should buy is even mentioned. Selling any old box is easy, selling the right kind of box that will expand with the business is hard. Joe slowly begins to get the idea. His diligence returns, and his productivity starts to go up. He's not back to where he was, but he's getting there.
For most people, this book can be skipped. Those who are in business (especially sales) could really use this book. Improvement in business, however it is measured, is a never-ending quest. Putting it in novel form can be more helpful than in the form of some book full of business buzzwords. It's worth reading.
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Vegan and Vegetarian FAQ: Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions
Vegan and Vegetarian FAQ: Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions, Davida Gypsy Breier, Vegetarian Resource Group, 2001
This is a collection of questions sent to the Vegetarian Resource Group (www.vrg.org) on all aspects of vegetarianism. They are grouped into categories like Vegetarianism in Daily Life, Nutrition, Food Ingredients, Travel and Restaurants, Cooking and Baking, Soy and Veggie Kids.
Here are a few examples of the questions answered in this book. Where can I find vegan marshmallows? At the moment, there aren't any. Is it true that Krispy Kreme donuts are vegan? No. Does guacamole contain gelatin? Some processed kinds do, but fresh guacamole is often gelatin-free. I just found out gummy bears are made with gelatin. Is there a veggie bear available? Yes. My daughter is raising her infant son on a vegan diet. Should I be worried? Not if the child is getting adequate nutrition. Why do people become vegetarian? Among the many reasons are dislike of meat, belief in non-violence, compassion for animals, and health, ecological and religious concerns. Are there vegan flu vaccines? No, because vaccine materials are generally grown on egg-based media. Is photographic film really made of cow bones? Yes. Can I be a vegan and an athlete? Yes. Does bone china really have bones in it? Yes. Is tattoo ink vegan? Ask your tattooist.
The book also contains a number of vegetarian recipes, and has a large appendix including a quick guide to fast food, a senior's (and athlete's) guide to good nutrition, a feeding plan for infants and toddlers, and the protein content of selected fast foods.
This is an excellent one-stop resource for all things vegetarian. For anyone who wants to learn more about vegetarianism, or those who want to become vegetarians but don't how to go about it, start here. Even veggie veterans will learn a lot from this book. It is well worth reading.
This is a collection of questions sent to the Vegetarian Resource Group (www.vrg.org) on all aspects of vegetarianism. They are grouped into categories like Vegetarianism in Daily Life, Nutrition, Food Ingredients, Travel and Restaurants, Cooking and Baking, Soy and Veggie Kids.
Here are a few examples of the questions answered in this book. Where can I find vegan marshmallows? At the moment, there aren't any. Is it true that Krispy Kreme donuts are vegan? No. Does guacamole contain gelatin? Some processed kinds do, but fresh guacamole is often gelatin-free. I just found out gummy bears are made with gelatin. Is there a veggie bear available? Yes. My daughter is raising her infant son on a vegan diet. Should I be worried? Not if the child is getting adequate nutrition. Why do people become vegetarian? Among the many reasons are dislike of meat, belief in non-violence, compassion for animals, and health, ecological and religious concerns. Are there vegan flu vaccines? No, because vaccine materials are generally grown on egg-based media. Is photographic film really made of cow bones? Yes. Can I be a vegan and an athlete? Yes. Does bone china really have bones in it? Yes. Is tattoo ink vegan? Ask your tattooist.
The book also contains a number of vegetarian recipes, and has a large appendix including a quick guide to fast food, a senior's (and athlete's) guide to good nutrition, a feeding plan for infants and toddlers, and the protein content of selected fast foods.
This is an excellent one-stop resource for all things vegetarian. For anyone who wants to learn more about vegetarianism, or those who want to become vegetarians but don't how to go about it, start here. Even veggie veterans will learn a lot from this book. It is well worth reading.
The Best of Annals of Improbable Research
The Best of Annals of Improbable Research, Marc Abrahams, W.H. Freeman and Company, 2001
The Annals of Improbable Research (AIR) is an actual bi-monthly magazine that combines two areas of human endeavor that are not thought to go together: science and humor. This is a collection of articles from AIR, written like actual scientific papers, some of which were published in real scientific journals.
The book (and magazine) cover all areas of science, from astronomy, to biology, chemistry, math and medicine. The titles include: The Aerodynamics of Potato Chips, Apples and Oranges: A Comparison, The Politically Correct Periodic Table, How Dead Is a Doornail?, The Medical Effects of Kissing Boo-Boos, The Ability of Woodchucks to Chuck Cellulose Fibers, How To Write a Scientific Paper, and the classic piece of scientific experimentation, The Taxonomy of Barney.
The author also looks at the IgNobel Prize ceremony held every fall at Harvard University (the author is also the Master of Ceremonies). Prizes are presented by real Nobel Prize winners, in various categories. A few past honorees include: a dentist from Minnesota for his study Patient Preference for Waxed or Unwaxed Dental Floss, the authors of the painstakingly researched study Acute Management of the Zipper-Entrapped Penis, and a man from South Carolina for calculating the exact odds, over 8.6 trillion to 1, that Mikhail Gorbachev is the Antichrist. Of course, who can forget IgNobel honoree Dan Quayle, for demonstrating the need for science education?
This book is hilarious. Some are going to say that science and humor don't belong in the same sentence, let alone the same book. Nonsense. It shows that scientists can laugh at themselves, and if it gets even one young person interested in science, this book will have been a success. It is highly recommended.
The Annals of Improbable Research (AIR) is an actual bi-monthly magazine that combines two areas of human endeavor that are not thought to go together: science and humor. This is a collection of articles from AIR, written like actual scientific papers, some of which were published in real scientific journals.
The book (and magazine) cover all areas of science, from astronomy, to biology, chemistry, math and medicine. The titles include: The Aerodynamics of Potato Chips, Apples and Oranges: A Comparison, The Politically Correct Periodic Table, How Dead Is a Doornail?, The Medical Effects of Kissing Boo-Boos, The Ability of Woodchucks to Chuck Cellulose Fibers, How To Write a Scientific Paper, and the classic piece of scientific experimentation, The Taxonomy of Barney.
The author also looks at the IgNobel Prize ceremony held every fall at Harvard University (the author is also the Master of Ceremonies). Prizes are presented by real Nobel Prize winners, in various categories. A few past honorees include: a dentist from Minnesota for his study Patient Preference for Waxed or Unwaxed Dental Floss, the authors of the painstakingly researched study Acute Management of the Zipper-Entrapped Penis, and a man from South Carolina for calculating the exact odds, over 8.6 trillion to 1, that Mikhail Gorbachev is the Antichrist. Of course, who can forget IgNobel honoree Dan Quayle, for demonstrating the need for science education?
This book is hilarious. Some are going to say that science and humor don't belong in the same sentence, let alone the same book. Nonsense. It shows that scientists can laugh at themselves, and if it gets even one young person interested in science, this book will have been a success. It is highly recommended.
Beyond Stone and Steel: A Memorial to the September 11, 2001 Victims
Beyond Stone and Steel: A Memorial to the September 11, 2001 Victims, Brian M. Vaszily, Hard Shell Word Factory, 2001
This is a group of fictionalized stories and vignettes, attempting to put a name and life to those who started September 11 like any other day. He starts with his own personal reactions to what he was watching on TV, and the sudden realization that if major landmarks like the World Trade Center and Pentagon were first, other landmarks like the Sears Tower in Chicago, the author's hometown, could easily be next.
He puts a name and life to some of the passengers on the airplanes; perhaps they are flying out West to a business meeting, or a family is visting grandparents in California. The author stops at an office, where things are going on as usual as a strange rumbling gets louder and louder. A number of people tell what they would do if they had just one more day on Earth. The reader meets a young soldier at the Pentagon who has just died.
By far, the hardest part to read is the story of those in the buildings, the fire being below them or right behind them, who know deep inside that there is no escape. They say a last fervent prayer or wish that their family or spouse will find love and happiness at some point in the future...just before they jump out an open window.
The author also looks at conditions in one of the building's stairwells after impact. On the upper floors, the procession of people going downstairs is calm and reasonable. As they reach the lower floors, things get more tense and panicky, with people pushing and shoving. Then comes the rumbling from above that signifies that these people are too late.
Obviously, this is not easy or pleasant reading. For some, attempting to read this book is a permanent impossibility. For everyone else, this is a must read. If this book can help the grief process, if it can give those left behind even a glimpse of what was going through the minds of their loved ones just before the end, then Vaszily has done a Great Service. It is well worth reading.
This is a group of fictionalized stories and vignettes, attempting to put a name and life to those who started September 11 like any other day. He starts with his own personal reactions to what he was watching on TV, and the sudden realization that if major landmarks like the World Trade Center and Pentagon were first, other landmarks like the Sears Tower in Chicago, the author's hometown, could easily be next.
He puts a name and life to some of the passengers on the airplanes; perhaps they are flying out West to a business meeting, or a family is visting grandparents in California. The author stops at an office, where things are going on as usual as a strange rumbling gets louder and louder. A number of people tell what they would do if they had just one more day on Earth. The reader meets a young soldier at the Pentagon who has just died.
By far, the hardest part to read is the story of those in the buildings, the fire being below them or right behind them, who know deep inside that there is no escape. They say a last fervent prayer or wish that their family or spouse will find love and happiness at some point in the future...just before they jump out an open window.
The author also looks at conditions in one of the building's stairwells after impact. On the upper floors, the procession of people going downstairs is calm and reasonable. As they reach the lower floors, things get more tense and panicky, with people pushing and shoving. Then comes the rumbling from above that signifies that these people are too late.
Obviously, this is not easy or pleasant reading. For some, attempting to read this book is a permanent impossibility. For everyone else, this is a must read. If this book can help the grief process, if it can give those left behind even a glimpse of what was going through the minds of their loved ones just before the end, then Vaszily has done a Great Service. It is well worth reading.
Everything You Know is Wrong: The Disinformation Guide to Secrets and Lies
Everything You Know is Wrong: The Disinformation Guide to Secrets and Lies, Russ Kick (ed.), The Disinformation Company Ltd., 2002
This is a group of articles, some previously published, that give a very different interpretation of many contemporary issues. This isn't a "liberal" or "conservative" book, since the authors come from all over the political spectrum.
The Vatican Bank, with the Pope as sole shareholder, has been involved in financial scams, tax evasion and money laundering of Nazi gold. Some groups have an interest (usually financial) in taking the tiny number of Americans who belong to hate groups and making them into a tidal wave about to engulf the whole country. Conventional wisdom says that Henry Lee Lucas was one of the biggest serial killers in American history. On more than one occasion, he confessed to any murder put in front of him, even if he wasn't in the same state at the time (the police usually didn't care about that part), to increase his chances of going to the electric chair. Many witnesses say that there was a third, older, shooter that day at Columbine High School.
Mad cow disease is spreading virtually unchecked in America. There is a very graphic look at what a meat-based diet is all about, for animals and for humans. Another piece is titled, "Psychiatric Drugging of Children for Behavioral Control." It is a mistake to assume that all disabled people want to be "cured." Despite their high-sounding words in public, in private, all major religions subjugate women and treat them as inferior to men. Press coverage of the Branch Davidian siege at Waco, Texas, consisted of little more than FBI press conferences, and bore little relation to the truth. In many large cities and smaller towns, seeing the money to be made from crime, police have become the crooks. A piece by the editor detailing the large number of warnings received by the US government before the September 11 attacks, is, by itself, worth the price of the book.
I loved this book. Like its prequel "You Are Being Lied To", this book is full of information that will never be covered in the American news media. There is something here to upset or offend everyone. This book is extremely highly recommended.
This is a group of articles, some previously published, that give a very different interpretation of many contemporary issues. This isn't a "liberal" or "conservative" book, since the authors come from all over the political spectrum.
The Vatican Bank, with the Pope as sole shareholder, has been involved in financial scams, tax evasion and money laundering of Nazi gold. Some groups have an interest (usually financial) in taking the tiny number of Americans who belong to hate groups and making them into a tidal wave about to engulf the whole country. Conventional wisdom says that Henry Lee Lucas was one of the biggest serial killers in American history. On more than one occasion, he confessed to any murder put in front of him, even if he wasn't in the same state at the time (the police usually didn't care about that part), to increase his chances of going to the electric chair. Many witnesses say that there was a third, older, shooter that day at Columbine High School.
Mad cow disease is spreading virtually unchecked in America. There is a very graphic look at what a meat-based diet is all about, for animals and for humans. Another piece is titled, "Psychiatric Drugging of Children for Behavioral Control." It is a mistake to assume that all disabled people want to be "cured." Despite their high-sounding words in public, in private, all major religions subjugate women and treat them as inferior to men. Press coverage of the Branch Davidian siege at Waco, Texas, consisted of little more than FBI press conferences, and bore little relation to the truth. In many large cities and smaller towns, seeing the money to be made from crime, police have become the crooks. A piece by the editor detailing the large number of warnings received by the US government before the September 11 attacks, is, by itself, worth the price of the book.
I loved this book. Like its prequel "You Are Being Lied To", this book is full of information that will never be covered in the American news media. There is something here to upset or offend everyone. This book is extremely highly recommended.
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, Greg Palast, Pluto Press, 2002
Greg Palast is a nationally known investigative reporter. Unfortunately, the nation in which he is known is England, not America (Palast is an American). This book consists of mostly previously published pieces on a variety of subjects.
The state of Florida threw over 57,000 people off its voting rolls, the official reason being that they were convicted felons. For many, their only crime was being black and/or Democratic. The lists to be used by county election officials were found to be full of flaws, and just happened to come from a company with strong Republican ties. Some counties tried to send letters to the people on the list, to give them a chance to appeal the deletion; other counties didn't bother. There are a number of instances where Florida officials didn't make even the minimum effort to be sure of the names on the list.
When a country is in financial trouble, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank are supposed to be there to help. In many cases, they are part of the problem. Countries are given a list of over 100 economic conditions that must be met before any loan money starts flowing. They include things like removing trade barriers to let in cheaper (usually American) goods and disrupt the local economy, privatizing state assets, cutting social spending and crushing labor unions. It's a recipe for disaster, which is usually what happens. The current economic problems in Argentina and Brazil, for example, can be partially blamed on the IMF/WB. It is possible to thrive without them; the country of Botswana said No to their conditions, and they are economically quite healthy.
Conventional wisdom says that the Exxon Valdez oil spill was the fault of one drunk captain. There is plenty of evidence of lack of proper equipment, doctored safety records, and cheating of the local natives. That's only the beginning.
Wow. Investigative reporting like this hasn't been seen in America in many years. No major media outlet is willing to expend the time and effort needed, and that's a shame. This book is brilliant, it's incredible, it shows just how wimpy most of the American news media really is, and I can't recommend it highly enough.
Greg Palast is a nationally known investigative reporter. Unfortunately, the nation in which he is known is England, not America (Palast is an American). This book consists of mostly previously published pieces on a variety of subjects.
The state of Florida threw over 57,000 people off its voting rolls, the official reason being that they were convicted felons. For many, their only crime was being black and/or Democratic. The lists to be used by county election officials were found to be full of flaws, and just happened to come from a company with strong Republican ties. Some counties tried to send letters to the people on the list, to give them a chance to appeal the deletion; other counties didn't bother. There are a number of instances where Florida officials didn't make even the minimum effort to be sure of the names on the list.
When a country is in financial trouble, the International Monetary Fund and World Bank are supposed to be there to help. In many cases, they are part of the problem. Countries are given a list of over 100 economic conditions that must be met before any loan money starts flowing. They include things like removing trade barriers to let in cheaper (usually American) goods and disrupt the local economy, privatizing state assets, cutting social spending and crushing labor unions. It's a recipe for disaster, which is usually what happens. The current economic problems in Argentina and Brazil, for example, can be partially blamed on the IMF/WB. It is possible to thrive without them; the country of Botswana said No to their conditions, and they are economically quite healthy.
Conventional wisdom says that the Exxon Valdez oil spill was the fault of one drunk captain. There is plenty of evidence of lack of proper equipment, doctored safety records, and cheating of the local natives. That's only the beginning.
Wow. Investigative reporting like this hasn't been seen in America in many years. No major media outlet is willing to expend the time and effort needed, and that's a shame. This book is brilliant, it's incredible, it shows just how wimpy most of the American news media really is, and I can't recommend it highly enough.
The Valley of Fear
The Valley of Fear, Arthur Conan Doyle, A.L. Burt Company, 1914
Sherlock Holmes receives an anonymous coded message that something awful is about to happen to a man named Douglas at the manor house in Birlstone. The next morning, he and Dr. Watson, his assistant, are told by the CID that Mr. Douglas was horribly murdered the night before.
At Birlstone, they find the body of a man who was shot in the face, point blank, with a sawed-off shotgun. The initial thought was that Douglas surprised a burglar. That becomes increasingly unlikely considering that the house has a real moat with a drawbridge, that was up at the time of the murder, and that his wife and butler reported that maybe a minute elapsed between the gunshot and the discovery of the body. Suicide is even more unlikely. In the past, Douglas did let slip the fear that someone, or some group, was after him. In his sleep, he might have mentioned The Valley of Fear.
Just before Holmes wraps up the mystery, the story shifts to 1870s Colorado. A man named McMurdo, on the run from the Chicago police, is on his way to a coal mining town called Vermissa. The place is run with an iron hand by Boss McGinty, haed of the local Lodge of the Eminent Order of Freemen. It's a national organization, of which McMurdo is also a member. But, in Colorado, the organization stays in control by means of intimidation and murder of anyone who gets in their way. The law is powerless to stop them.
McMurdo rises quickly in the "organization." One day, he gets word that a Pinkerton detective from back East, a man named Birdy Edwards, has come to town. McMurdo hatches a plan to lure Edwards to a house outside of town, with promises of all sorts of inside information on the Lodge. There, several Lodge members, including Boss McGinty, will be waiting. They plan to torture him to find out what he knows about them, then kill him. Everything goes according to plan, until McMurdo announces to the others that he is Birdy Edwards.
Many, but not all, of the Lodge members face long prison terms, or the gallows, because of the testimony of McMurdo/Edwards. He knows that the surviving Lodge members will not sit still, so he heads to England, changes his name to Douglas, and meets his end (or does he?) at a place called Birlstone.
You can't go wrong with a Sherlock Holmes story. It's an intelligent mystery with a number of twists and turns, it's very well written and the reader just waits for Holmes to put it all together and solve the supposedly unsolvable. It's well worth the reader's time.
Sherlock Holmes receives an anonymous coded message that something awful is about to happen to a man named Douglas at the manor house in Birlstone. The next morning, he and Dr. Watson, his assistant, are told by the CID that Mr. Douglas was horribly murdered the night before.
At Birlstone, they find the body of a man who was shot in the face, point blank, with a sawed-off shotgun. The initial thought was that Douglas surprised a burglar. That becomes increasingly unlikely considering that the house has a real moat with a drawbridge, that was up at the time of the murder, and that his wife and butler reported that maybe a minute elapsed between the gunshot and the discovery of the body. Suicide is even more unlikely. In the past, Douglas did let slip the fear that someone, or some group, was after him. In his sleep, he might have mentioned The Valley of Fear.
Just before Holmes wraps up the mystery, the story shifts to 1870s Colorado. A man named McMurdo, on the run from the Chicago police, is on his way to a coal mining town called Vermissa. The place is run with an iron hand by Boss McGinty, haed of the local Lodge of the Eminent Order of Freemen. It's a national organization, of which McMurdo is also a member. But, in Colorado, the organization stays in control by means of intimidation and murder of anyone who gets in their way. The law is powerless to stop them.
McMurdo rises quickly in the "organization." One day, he gets word that a Pinkerton detective from back East, a man named Birdy Edwards, has come to town. McMurdo hatches a plan to lure Edwards to a house outside of town, with promises of all sorts of inside information on the Lodge. There, several Lodge members, including Boss McGinty, will be waiting. They plan to torture him to find out what he knows about them, then kill him. Everything goes according to plan, until McMurdo announces to the others that he is Birdy Edwards.
Many, but not all, of the Lodge members face long prison terms, or the gallows, because of the testimony of McMurdo/Edwards. He knows that the surviving Lodge members will not sit still, so he heads to England, changes his name to Douglas, and meets his end (or does he?) at a place called Birlstone.
You can't go wrong with a Sherlock Holmes story. It's an intelligent mystery with a number of twists and turns, it's very well written and the reader just waits for Holmes to put it all together and solve the supposedly unsolvable. It's well worth the reader's time.
Al-Jazeera
Al-Jazeera, Mohammed El-Nawawy and Adel Iskandar, Westview Press, 2002
Al-Jazeera is the all-Arabic TV news channel which burst on to the international scene in the wake of September 11 and the war in Afghanistan. Its unfettered access to that country during the war and its showing of the bin Laden tapes made it an automatic force on the world stage.
Based in the Gulf state of Qatar, it came from the remnants of the BBC Arabic TV service. With the help of startup money from the Emir of Qatar, Al-Jazeera was to have complete editorial independence.
In a part of the world where the press is usually government controlled, Al-Jazeera is not afraid to get specific and name names. At one time or another, it has been criticized or condemned by seemingly every government in the Arab world, for broadcasting things that the local government would prefer not be broadcast. Every local editorial of condemnation and every denial of press credentials to Al-Jazeera reporters just increases its audience all over the world by satellite.
One of the things that Al-Jazeera is most known for is its talk shows, especially a nightly, two-hour show called The Opposite Direction. Two guests appear on the show, with totally opposite opinions on a certain issue, and with help from live phone calls, the sparks fly. Even by American TV standards, things get pretty loud and lively. Arab governments have noticed, and have begun imitating the format on their tame and boring government TV channels.
Even though Al-Jazeera is an Arab TV channel, it has tried very hard to be impartial, hosting members of the Bush Administration, after September 11, and government officials from Israel.
For those who want to decide for themselves if Al-Jazeera is a legitimate news broadcaster or a terrorist mouthpiece, this book is highly recommended. It's comprehensive, clearly written and is quite enlightening.
Al-Jazeera is the all-Arabic TV news channel which burst on to the international scene in the wake of September 11 and the war in Afghanistan. Its unfettered access to that country during the war and its showing of the bin Laden tapes made it an automatic force on the world stage.
Based in the Gulf state of Qatar, it came from the remnants of the BBC Arabic TV service. With the help of startup money from the Emir of Qatar, Al-Jazeera was to have complete editorial independence.
In a part of the world where the press is usually government controlled, Al-Jazeera is not afraid to get specific and name names. At one time or another, it has been criticized or condemned by seemingly every government in the Arab world, for broadcasting things that the local government would prefer not be broadcast. Every local editorial of condemnation and every denial of press credentials to Al-Jazeera reporters just increases its audience all over the world by satellite.
One of the things that Al-Jazeera is most known for is its talk shows, especially a nightly, two-hour show called The Opposite Direction. Two guests appear on the show, with totally opposite opinions on a certain issue, and with help from live phone calls, the sparks fly. Even by American TV standards, things get pretty loud and lively. Arab governments have noticed, and have begun imitating the format on their tame and boring government TV channels.
Even though Al-Jazeera is an Arab TV channel, it has tried very hard to be impartial, hosting members of the Bush Administration, after September 11, and government officials from Israel.
For those who want to decide for themselves if Al-Jazeera is a legitimate news broadcaster or a terrorist mouthpiece, this book is highly recommended. It's comprehensive, clearly written and is quite enlightening.
The Great Tejon Club Debate
The Great Tejon Club Jubilee, Gerald W. Haslam, Devil Mountain Books, 1996
This is a group of short stories about some transplanted Southerners living and working in central California. They are quite a motley bunch. There's Wylie Hillis and Shoat Willhite; Big Dunc, who is most known for showing way too much of his rear end when he sits at the bar, and Earl, the proprietor of the Tejon Club, their home away from home. Bob Don Bundy is the "intellectual" of the group, having graduated from the local junior college, and J.B. is the narrator.
The stories start with the guys sitting around the Tejon Club, consuming large amounts of beer. One or another starts in with some tall tale, and, before you know it, they're off doing something ill-considered. One story is about going after giant African frogs supposedly in the area. In another story, their quest is to rid the area of killer bees that are allegedly coming from Central America. One day, Bob Don comes in with his new wife (women aren't really forbidden from the Tejon Club, but their presence is discouraged). She is the sort who bears a strong resemblance to a Before picture; not that Bob Don looks any better. So the guys give them a wild, alcohol-fueled party. They also try their luck at white-water rafting, but spend most of their time in the water or arguing with each other.
The best story of the group is about the gang (and their spouses and/or children) helping out a group of Hmong refugees from Southeast Asia living in the nearby woods. They celebrate an old-fashioned American Christmas in the Tejon Club complete with lots of homemade food, warm coats and gloves for all the Hmong, men, women and children, with Christmas decorations and everything.
These stories will not be compared to Great Literature. They are short, easy to read, raunchy and very politically incorrect. They are also quite entertaining and worth reading.
This is a group of short stories about some transplanted Southerners living and working in central California. They are quite a motley bunch. There's Wylie Hillis and Shoat Willhite; Big Dunc, who is most known for showing way too much of his rear end when he sits at the bar, and Earl, the proprietor of the Tejon Club, their home away from home. Bob Don Bundy is the "intellectual" of the group, having graduated from the local junior college, and J.B. is the narrator.
The stories start with the guys sitting around the Tejon Club, consuming large amounts of beer. One or another starts in with some tall tale, and, before you know it, they're off doing something ill-considered. One story is about going after giant African frogs supposedly in the area. In another story, their quest is to rid the area of killer bees that are allegedly coming from Central America. One day, Bob Don comes in with his new wife (women aren't really forbidden from the Tejon Club, but their presence is discouraged). She is the sort who bears a strong resemblance to a Before picture; not that Bob Don looks any better. So the guys give them a wild, alcohol-fueled party. They also try their luck at white-water rafting, but spend most of their time in the water or arguing with each other.
The best story of the group is about the gang (and their spouses and/or children) helping out a group of Hmong refugees from Southeast Asia living in the nearby woods. They celebrate an old-fashioned American Christmas in the Tejon Club complete with lots of homemade food, warm coats and gloves for all the Hmong, men, women and children, with Christmas decorations and everything.
These stories will not be compared to Great Literature. They are short, easy to read, raunchy and very politically incorrect. They are also quite entertaining and worth reading.
Sunday, October 28, 2012
Medicine Show
Medicine Show, Heidi Lampietti (ed.), RedJack Books, 2006
This is a collaborative novel (each chapter written by a different person) about a medicine show traveling around Europe in the immediate aftermath of World War I.
Professor Bernhard Freedomhowler's Internationally Acclaimed Traveling Exhibition of Medicinal Wonderment consists of a very disparate group of individuals. Calliope is a boy with smooth skin, a snout-like nose and a tail, who can whistle from his mouth, his nose and even his ears. Norris is part-human and part-dog, who is brought on stage as a snarling, ravenous beast ready to tear out someone's throat. After he is given a dose of Freedomhowler's Pan-Herbal Restorative Elixir, he immediately turns into a calm, erudite person quoting Shakespeare.
Lady Bodicaea (real name: Heather McInnerney) is Scottish, and the show's strongwoman. Grenadine is an English nurse who is the show's medium/fortune teller. The leader of the group is Bernhard Freedomhowler (his real name is Tarbottom), an American from Kentucky. He learned the business as part of Wild Bill Hickok's Perambulatory of Astonishing Wonders. Wild Bill has become a figment of Freedomhowler's imagination, and constantly talks to him.
The group spends much of its time just trying to make enough money to eat and to make it to the next town or village. There is the always-present need to make a quick exit should the local townspeople decide that the group has worn out its welcome. Freedomhowler also tries to stay away from Drake, part of the American forces, who orders him to give up the medicine show and return to America (Freedomhowler is an ex-spy).
With any collaborative novel like this, some chapters will be better than others. It's a good story, and for those interested in the history of World War I, this book is worth checking out.</p>
This is a collaborative novel (each chapter written by a different person) about a medicine show traveling around Europe in the immediate aftermath of World War I.
Professor Bernhard Freedomhowler's Internationally Acclaimed Traveling Exhibition of Medicinal Wonderment consists of a very disparate group of individuals. Calliope is a boy with smooth skin, a snout-like nose and a tail, who can whistle from his mouth, his nose and even his ears. Norris is part-human and part-dog, who is brought on stage as a snarling, ravenous beast ready to tear out someone's throat. After he is given a dose of Freedomhowler's Pan-Herbal Restorative Elixir, he immediately turns into a calm, erudite person quoting Shakespeare.
Lady Bodicaea (real name: Heather McInnerney) is Scottish, and the show's strongwoman. Grenadine is an English nurse who is the show's medium/fortune teller. The leader of the group is Bernhard Freedomhowler (his real name is Tarbottom), an American from Kentucky. He learned the business as part of Wild Bill Hickok's Perambulatory of Astonishing Wonders. Wild Bill has become a figment of Freedomhowler's imagination, and constantly talks to him.
The group spends much of its time just trying to make enough money to eat and to make it to the next town or village. There is the always-present need to make a quick exit should the local townspeople decide that the group has worn out its welcome. Freedomhowler also tries to stay away from Drake, part of the American forces, who orders him to give up the medicine show and return to America (Freedomhowler is an ex-spy).
With any collaborative novel like this, some chapters will be better than others. It's a good story, and for those interested in the history of World War I, this book is worth checking out.</p>
Traces: Birth of Alexander the Great
Traces: Birth of Alexander the Great, Faye Turner, Ki-eea-key Press, 2006
Set in the world of Ancient Greece, this book gives an alternative view of the rise of Alexander the Great.
Told through the eyes of a fictional physician named Wallis, this looks at the political and social climate of the time. Traveling all around the Aegean and Adriatic Seas, he brings food that is desperately needed by an Athens suffering from a major drought. He organizes the Merchant's and Artisan's Guild of Athens into something like a labor union; together they can get better prices for their wares than separately. Trained as a physician by Hippocrates himself, Wallis (also known as Daneion Pelos) heals the sick as best he can.
Wallis spends much of his time worrying about Olympias, a Princess of Epirus. She is living in the court of Philip II, and she is pregnant with Alexander the Great (the gods have said so). It's no secret to anyone that it would not be good for Olympias to produce a female baby. Wallis gets word of a very high-level plot brewing in Philip's court. If Olympias produces a male heir, it will be switched at birth with another newborn. At some point, Philip will publicly decree that this is his rightful heir. Suddenly, the real heir will be produced, Philip will be publicly humiliated, and will be forced to give up the throne. During all this, Olympias will mysteriously "die during childbirth." Wallis is Olympias' only friend in the area, so it is up to him to keep anything peculiar from happening while Olympias is busy with giving birth.
This is a good piece of historical fiction. My only problem with this book has nothing to do with the actual book. When reading a series, I am one of those who has to do it in order; I don't like starting in the middle (this is Part 2). For those who are interested in ancient history, this has plenty of good writing, and is worth reading.
Set in the world of Ancient Greece, this book gives an alternative view of the rise of Alexander the Great.
Told through the eyes of a fictional physician named Wallis, this looks at the political and social climate of the time. Traveling all around the Aegean and Adriatic Seas, he brings food that is desperately needed by an Athens suffering from a major drought. He organizes the Merchant's and Artisan's Guild of Athens into something like a labor union; together they can get better prices for their wares than separately. Trained as a physician by Hippocrates himself, Wallis (also known as Daneion Pelos) heals the sick as best he can.
Wallis spends much of his time worrying about Olympias, a Princess of Epirus. She is living in the court of Philip II, and she is pregnant with Alexander the Great (the gods have said so). It's no secret to anyone that it would not be good for Olympias to produce a female baby. Wallis gets word of a very high-level plot brewing in Philip's court. If Olympias produces a male heir, it will be switched at birth with another newborn. At some point, Philip will publicly decree that this is his rightful heir. Suddenly, the real heir will be produced, Philip will be publicly humiliated, and will be forced to give up the throne. During all this, Olympias will mysteriously "die during childbirth." Wallis is Olympias' only friend in the area, so it is up to him to keep anything peculiar from happening while Olympias is busy with giving birth.
This is a good piece of historical fiction. My only problem with this book has nothing to do with the actual book. When reading a series, I am one of those who has to do it in order; I don't like starting in the middle (this is Part 2). For those who are interested in ancient history, this has plenty of good writing, and is worth reading.
Censored 2009
Censored 2009: The Top 25 Censored Stories of 2007-2008, Peter Phillips et al (ed.), Seven Stories Press, 2008
Here is another compendium of news stories that were under-reported (or un-reported) by the mainstream news media.
Did you know that over 20,000 private companies are working with the FBI to collect and provide information on other Americans? According to a prestigious British polling group, the civilian death toll in Iraq since the 2003 invasion has topped the 1 million mark. The US Treasury Department now has the authority to seize the assets of anyone who is perceived to, directly or indirectly, threaten US operations in the Middle East (which could mean almost anyone). The American Psychological Association has been complicit in CIA torture. The No Child Left Behind Act has become a huge bonanza in the world of corporate profiteering.
At least nine billion dollars in cash have been unaccounted for since the early days of the Iraq occupation. Today, there are 27 million slaves in the world, more than at any other time in world history. They are not just in the Third World, but also in the developed world. Elliot Spitzer was not removed from office because of "personal indiscretions." He was target of a Wall Street and White House operation to silence an increasingly vocal critic of their handling of what became the present financial crisis.
It seems that there just was not enough air time or newspaper space for these stories, but there was abundant space for Lindsay Lohan, Brad and Angelina, Jessica Simpson, Alec Baldwin and David Hasselhoff. This book also explores the media coverage of the Military Commissions Act, healthcare and the 2008 campaign, American media bias against the lawfully elected Hamas Government in Gaza, the marketing of Gardasil as a "cure" for cancer, when it really isn't, Winter Soldier and the Pentagon's targeting of young people (including children).
This is an excellent book that shows just how "dumbed down" American news media has become. It is eye-opening reading and is highly recommended.
Here is another compendium of news stories that were under-reported (or un-reported) by the mainstream news media.
Did you know that over 20,000 private companies are working with the FBI to collect and provide information on other Americans? According to a prestigious British polling group, the civilian death toll in Iraq since the 2003 invasion has topped the 1 million mark. The US Treasury Department now has the authority to seize the assets of anyone who is perceived to, directly or indirectly, threaten US operations in the Middle East (which could mean almost anyone). The American Psychological Association has been complicit in CIA torture. The No Child Left Behind Act has become a huge bonanza in the world of corporate profiteering.
At least nine billion dollars in cash have been unaccounted for since the early days of the Iraq occupation. Today, there are 27 million slaves in the world, more than at any other time in world history. They are not just in the Third World, but also in the developed world. Elliot Spitzer was not removed from office because of "personal indiscretions." He was target of a Wall Street and White House operation to silence an increasingly vocal critic of their handling of what became the present financial crisis.
It seems that there just was not enough air time or newspaper space for these stories, but there was abundant space for Lindsay Lohan, Brad and Angelina, Jessica Simpson, Alec Baldwin and David Hasselhoff. This book also explores the media coverage of the Military Commissions Act, healthcare and the 2008 campaign, American media bias against the lawfully elected Hamas Government in Gaza, the marketing of Gardasil as a "cure" for cancer, when it really isn't, Winter Soldier and the Pentagon's targeting of young people (including children).
This is an excellent book that shows just how "dumbed down" American news media has become. It is eye-opening reading and is highly recommended.
Sex, Sushi and Salvation
Sex, Sushi and Salvation, Christian George, Moody Publishers, 2008
Many people want something more out of life than just the right sneakers or an ipod. For them, feelings of intimacy, community and eternity are much more important. Here is one person's attempt to find such things in daily life.
The author was part of a mission trip to Russia to set up a summer camp for local orphans. While he was there, he was propositioned by a Russian prostitute. He declined her offer, and she ran away in tears. She later told him that he was the first person to ever say no to her. In high school, he, along with several others in his class, was inconsiderate to a female classmate who was unprepared for a test. Two hours later, she was dead in an auto accident.
A young man from a rich family went on a pilgrimage to Rome. Tired of a life of partying, he took a lifelong vow of poverty. The family was not pleased, but he stuck with it, despite many attempts to bring him back to "reality". The young man became St. Francis of Assisi. God's creation is always better than man's creation; one day, the author was flying a radio controlled airplane. It was attacked by a hawk, and eventually crashed.
Everyone bows down to, or worships, something, whether it's God, music, fashion or the human intellect. Cathedrals, whether plain or gaudy, all point to the past. They encourage visitors to see God in all His glory.
This book is recommended for anyone, religious or not-so-religious, who is looking for a relationship with God. It does a good job of showing how faith can be found in the mundane things of everyday life.
Many people want something more out of life than just the right sneakers or an ipod. For them, feelings of intimacy, community and eternity are much more important. Here is one person's attempt to find such things in daily life.
The author was part of a mission trip to Russia to set up a summer camp for local orphans. While he was there, he was propositioned by a Russian prostitute. He declined her offer, and she ran away in tears. She later told him that he was the first person to ever say no to her. In high school, he, along with several others in his class, was inconsiderate to a female classmate who was unprepared for a test. Two hours later, she was dead in an auto accident.
A young man from a rich family went on a pilgrimage to Rome. Tired of a life of partying, he took a lifelong vow of poverty. The family was not pleased, but he stuck with it, despite many attempts to bring him back to "reality". The young man became St. Francis of Assisi. God's creation is always better than man's creation; one day, the author was flying a radio controlled airplane. It was attacked by a hawk, and eventually crashed.
Everyone bows down to, or worships, something, whether it's God, music, fashion or the human intellect. Cathedrals, whether plain or gaudy, all point to the past. They encourage visitors to see God in all His glory.
This book is recommended for anyone, religious or not-so-religious, who is looking for a relationship with God. It does a good job of showing how faith can be found in the mundane things of everyday life.
DC Universe: Last Sons
DC Universe: Last Sons, Alan Grant, Grand Central Publishing, 2006
Lobo is the meanest and most ornery bounty hunter in the galaxy. He is the sort of being who has no problem killing anyone who gets in his way. His next quarry, supposedly with a million-credit bounty on his head, is J'onn J'onnzz, Martian Manhunter of the Justice League.
Despite Lobo's lack of morality, he does have a code of honor, being scrupulously honest. He also has a crush on Darlene, a waitress at a burger joint on an asteroid.
Meantime, somewhere in the interstellar middle of nowhere, an artificial intelligence called The Alpha hatches a plan to wipe out all life in the universe. When Lobo delivers J'onnzz, with Superman not far behind, all three are thrown in prison. But, this is not your average prison. The walls in Superman's cell are impregnated with kryptonite; Lobo and J'onnzz are similarly trapped. The only thing that all three have in common is that they are the last of their race (in Lobo's case, it was intentional).
The Alpha plans to dissect them and use that emotional energy to create an invincible fighting force. Their release, and stopping The Alpha before it wipes out any more civilizations, depends on a crime boss named Xemtex. Lobo cut Xemtex's brain out of his head, and it now controls Lobo's space bike.
Coming from a comic book "mentality" (for lack of a better word), it's a very fast and entertaining read with plenty of action. It's recommended, especially for those who don't consider themselves comic book readers.
Lobo is the meanest and most ornery bounty hunter in the galaxy. He is the sort of being who has no problem killing anyone who gets in his way. His next quarry, supposedly with a million-credit bounty on his head, is J'onn J'onnzz, Martian Manhunter of the Justice League.
Despite Lobo's lack of morality, he does have a code of honor, being scrupulously honest. He also has a crush on Darlene, a waitress at a burger joint on an asteroid.
Meantime, somewhere in the interstellar middle of nowhere, an artificial intelligence called The Alpha hatches a plan to wipe out all life in the universe. When Lobo delivers J'onnzz, with Superman not far behind, all three are thrown in prison. But, this is not your average prison. The walls in Superman's cell are impregnated with kryptonite; Lobo and J'onnzz are similarly trapped. The only thing that all three have in common is that they are the last of their race (in Lobo's case, it was intentional).
The Alpha plans to dissect them and use that emotional energy to create an invincible fighting force. Their release, and stopping The Alpha before it wipes out any more civilizations, depends on a crime boss named Xemtex. Lobo cut Xemtex's brain out of his head, and it now controls Lobo's space bike.
Coming from a comic book "mentality" (for lack of a better word), it's a very fast and entertaining read with plenty of action. It's recommended, especially for those who don't consider themselves comic book readers.
Gertrude's Cupboard
Gertrude's Cupboard, E.J. Cockey, self-published, 2004
In this true story, the author spends her time as art therapist for dementia patients. Traveling to hospitals and other facilities in the Baltimore/Washington DC area, she firmly believes that, by getting them to focus on the project at hand, grief and despair about their situation can be momentarily relieved.
The author's son, Ben, is married and living in Florida. One day, she gets a phone call saying that Ben has attempted suicide. He will be in the hospital for a day or two, then he will be put out on the street. Ben's wife and her family are no help at all, due to accusations that Ben tried to hurt their newborn baby. It's around this time that the author meets a new patient, an 88-year-old woman named Gertrude.
Gertrude lives in one room in her daughter's house, with all her belongings stuffed into a dresser. Most times, Gertrude acts like the average patient with dementia, ornery and not very cooperative. When the author tells Gertrude about Ben, and about her upcoming emergency trip to Florida, out of the blue, Gertrude says "I'll pray for you."
The author experiences a genuine miracle or two flying to Florida, allowing her to get Ben, bring him back and nurse him back to health. She begins to think that maybe there is such a thing as a Higher Power, and maybe Gertrude has somehow tapped into it.
Here is a short and heart-warming story about good people showing up in unlikely places. When life gets difficult, this will give a much-needed dose of hope and optimism.
In this true story, the author spends her time as art therapist for dementia patients. Traveling to hospitals and other facilities in the Baltimore/Washington DC area, she firmly believes that, by getting them to focus on the project at hand, grief and despair about their situation can be momentarily relieved.
The author's son, Ben, is married and living in Florida. One day, she gets a phone call saying that Ben has attempted suicide. He will be in the hospital for a day or two, then he will be put out on the street. Ben's wife and her family are no help at all, due to accusations that Ben tried to hurt their newborn baby. It's around this time that the author meets a new patient, an 88-year-old woman named Gertrude.
Gertrude lives in one room in her daughter's house, with all her belongings stuffed into a dresser. Most times, Gertrude acts like the average patient with dementia, ornery and not very cooperative. When the author tells Gertrude about Ben, and about her upcoming emergency trip to Florida, out of the blue, Gertrude says "I'll pray for you."
The author experiences a genuine miracle or two flying to Florida, allowing her to get Ben, bring him back and nurse him back to health. She begins to think that maybe there is such a thing as a Higher Power, and maybe Gertrude has somehow tapped into it.
Here is a short and heart-warming story about good people showing up in unlikely places. When life gets difficult, this will give a much-needed dose of hope and optimism.
Infoquake
Infoquake, David Louis Edelman, Solaris Books, 2008
This book takes place many years after the collapse of civilization. A group of sentient computers called the Autonomous Minds rebelled against mankind in the Autonomous Revolt. Now, Earth is dominated by bio/logics, the science of programming the human body.
The programs have names like Eyemorph 1.0, DeMirage 24.5, Poker Face 83.4b and AntiSleepStim 124.7. The average person has thousands of such programs in their bodies, courtesy of microscopic robots placed at or before birth. Natch is a master of bio/logic programming, who has risen to the top with little more than brains and sheer determination.
For many years, Margaret Surina, ancestor of Sheldon Surina, the inventor of bio/logics, has hinted about this new technology called MultiReal. She enters into a partnership with Natch and his fiefcorp to bring it to market immediately. It can take months to understand and develop a new technology, get it approved by Dr. Plugenpatch (a set of databases that constitute the quality control system), keep it away from the competitors, and then bring it to market. Natch and his colleagues have to do it in three days. The reason for the very short time frame is to also keep MultiReal away from the Defense and Wellness Council. It's a secret and unaccountable government organization that handles all military and intelligence affairs.
This is an excellent piece of writing. Cyberpunk fans will love it. Is there such a thing as "business cyberpunk?" This is also a really good book about the mixing of business and technology. The "cyber-" part is not too technical, and this is very highly recommended.
This book takes place many years after the collapse of civilization. A group of sentient computers called the Autonomous Minds rebelled against mankind in the Autonomous Revolt. Now, Earth is dominated by bio/logics, the science of programming the human body.
The programs have names like Eyemorph 1.0, DeMirage 24.5, Poker Face 83.4b and AntiSleepStim 124.7. The average person has thousands of such programs in their bodies, courtesy of microscopic robots placed at or before birth. Natch is a master of bio/logic programming, who has risen to the top with little more than brains and sheer determination.
For many years, Margaret Surina, ancestor of Sheldon Surina, the inventor of bio/logics, has hinted about this new technology called MultiReal. She enters into a partnership with Natch and his fiefcorp to bring it to market immediately. It can take months to understand and develop a new technology, get it approved by Dr. Plugenpatch (a set of databases that constitute the quality control system), keep it away from the competitors, and then bring it to market. Natch and his colleagues have to do it in three days. The reason for the very short time frame is to also keep MultiReal away from the Defense and Wellness Council. It's a secret and unaccountable government organization that handles all military and intelligence affairs.
This is an excellent piece of writing. Cyberpunk fans will love it. Is there such a thing as "business cyberpunk?" This is also a really good book about the mixing of business and technology. The "cyber-" part is not too technical, and this is very highly recommended.
Lost Star of Myth and Time
Lost Star of Myth and Time, Walter Cruttenden, St. Lynn's Press, 2006
This book gives a very unique interpretation of human history. It says that many ancient civilizations, even before the Egyptians, believed that the heavens ran on cycles, some lasting tens of thousands of years.
The ancient Hindus called their ages "yugas." Their cycle starts with a Golden Age, then a Silver, Bronze and Iron Age, where civilizations became less and less sophisticated. Consider mankind's journey from, say, Ancient Egypt to the Dark Ages. Then the cycle reverses itself, and humanity becomes more and more sophisticated, culturally and technologically (good news; humanity is now on the upslope).
The author asserts that Earth is part of a binary star system, and that the two stars have a cycle of 24,000 years. Precession of the equinox is due to this solar companion, not due to a wobble in the Earth's orbit. When the two stars are closer together, human civilization becomes more sophisticated. When they are farther apart, mankind declines, and loses much ancient wisdom.
Many stars make "noise" of some sort, whether it's by emitting radio waves, other electromagnetic energy or visible light. If a star is really that close to Earth, it should not be hard to find. Just because it has not yet been found, does not mean that it does not exist.
Another possible cause for mankind's historical cycles is that, in its travels through the galaxy, Earth enters, and leaves, fields of electromagnetic energy. It's been scientifically proven that electromagnetic energy can have noticeable effects on the human brain.
There are plenty of things in this book to rattle one's worldview. It's interesting, it's not too technical, and I enjoyed reading it.
This book gives a very unique interpretation of human history. It says that many ancient civilizations, even before the Egyptians, believed that the heavens ran on cycles, some lasting tens of thousands of years.
The ancient Hindus called their ages "yugas." Their cycle starts with a Golden Age, then a Silver, Bronze and Iron Age, where civilizations became less and less sophisticated. Consider mankind's journey from, say, Ancient Egypt to the Dark Ages. Then the cycle reverses itself, and humanity becomes more and more sophisticated, culturally and technologically (good news; humanity is now on the upslope).
The author asserts that Earth is part of a binary star system, and that the two stars have a cycle of 24,000 years. Precession of the equinox is due to this solar companion, not due to a wobble in the Earth's orbit. When the two stars are closer together, human civilization becomes more sophisticated. When they are farther apart, mankind declines, and loses much ancient wisdom.
Many stars make "noise" of some sort, whether it's by emitting radio waves, other electromagnetic energy or visible light. If a star is really that close to Earth, it should not be hard to find. Just because it has not yet been found, does not mean that it does not exist.
Another possible cause for mankind's historical cycles is that, in its travels through the galaxy, Earth enters, and leaves, fields of electromagnetic energy. It's been scientifically proven that electromagnetic energy can have noticeable effects on the human brain.
There are plenty of things in this book to rattle one's worldview. It's interesting, it's not too technical, and I enjoyed reading it.
The Rosetta Key
The Rosetta Key, William Dietrich, Harper Books, 2008
Set in the eastern Mediterranean of 1799, this is the story of gambler and adventurer Ethan Gage. At the end of the previous book, he found himself on a British ship heading for the Holy Land. He agrees to help the British slow down, or stop, Napoleon Bonaparte's coming invasion (the British don't give him a choice). In the meantime, he continues to look for the Book of Thoth, an ancient scroll of great power that Moses supposedly stole from Egypt, and brought to Jerusalem.
Gage is an American and protege of Benjamin Franklin, so he knows something about electricity. He puts his knowledge to use more than once, including during a major French siege of the city of Acre (present-day Lebanon). Gage switches sides between the French and British, more than once, and not by choice. He cheats death more than once, mostly because there are enough people who hear that Gage is looking for an ancient scroll and automatically think "gold and treasure."
Throughout much of the book, Gage has a big hole in his heart. At the end of the previous book, he watched Astiza, his Egyptian lover, fall from a hot-air balloon into the Nile River, in the clutches of Count Alessandro Silano. They are presumed dead, but Gage has to know for sure. In this story are also Jewish mysticism, the Knights Templar, the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, and enough action and narrow escapes to satisfy anyone.
Here is an excellent piece of writing. For those who like their thrillers to be historically accurate and swashbuckling, look no further. This will keep the reader very entertained.
Set in the eastern Mediterranean of 1799, this is the story of gambler and adventurer Ethan Gage. At the end of the previous book, he found himself on a British ship heading for the Holy Land. He agrees to help the British slow down, or stop, Napoleon Bonaparte's coming invasion (the British don't give him a choice). In the meantime, he continues to look for the Book of Thoth, an ancient scroll of great power that Moses supposedly stole from Egypt, and brought to Jerusalem.
Gage is an American and protege of Benjamin Franklin, so he knows something about electricity. He puts his knowledge to use more than once, including during a major French siege of the city of Acre (present-day Lebanon). Gage switches sides between the French and British, more than once, and not by choice. He cheats death more than once, mostly because there are enough people who hear that Gage is looking for an ancient scroll and automatically think "gold and treasure."
Throughout much of the book, Gage has a big hole in his heart. At the end of the previous book, he watched Astiza, his Egyptian lover, fall from a hot-air balloon into the Nile River, in the clutches of Count Alessandro Silano. They are presumed dead, but Gage has to know for sure. In this story are also Jewish mysticism, the Knights Templar, the discovery of the Rosetta Stone, and enough action and narrow escapes to satisfy anyone.
Here is an excellent piece of writing. For those who like their thrillers to be historically accurate and swashbuckling, look no further. This will keep the reader very entertained.
Edgar Allan Poe's Annotated Short Stories
Edgar Allan Poe's Annotated Short Stories, Andrew Barger (ed.), BottleTree Books LLC, 2008
Edgar Allan Poe is one of America's most famous, and most misunderstood, men of letters. As this book shows, he was much more than just a horror writer.
He made his living, such as it was, with his pen, so he did all sorts of writing. He wrote satire, comedy, poetry, adventure and gothic stories. He was also one of the originators of the mystery genre, along with being an inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle. Poe was also known as a literary critic; others may have disagreed with him, but they could not discount his arguments. He did not write easy-to-read, "tabloid" fiction; his stories required some effort on the part of the reader.
The stories that one would expect in any Poe collection are here, like "The Purloined Letter," "The Cask of Amontillado," and "The Masque of the Red Death." Included is one of his many satires, looking exactly like a newspaper article describing a successful trans-Atlantic trip by balloon. In the 1840s, the public was abuzz with talk of balloon trips across the Atlantic greatly shortening the travel time. Poe simply took that national obsession and ran with it.
With illustrations by Harry Clarke, this book is very much worth reading. It's good for scholars and researchers looking for lesser-known Poe works. It's good for those who enjoy 19th Century writing. It's also good for those who like a variety of really good writing. It gets two thumbs-up.
Edgar Allan Poe is one of America's most famous, and most misunderstood, men of letters. As this book shows, he was much more than just a horror writer.
He made his living, such as it was, with his pen, so he did all sorts of writing. He wrote satire, comedy, poetry, adventure and gothic stories. He was also one of the originators of the mystery genre, along with being an inspiration for Arthur Conan Doyle. Poe was also known as a literary critic; others may have disagreed with him, but they could not discount his arguments. He did not write easy-to-read, "tabloid" fiction; his stories required some effort on the part of the reader.
The stories that one would expect in any Poe collection are here, like "The Purloined Letter," "The Cask of Amontillado," and "The Masque of the Red Death." Included is one of his many satires, looking exactly like a newspaper article describing a successful trans-Atlantic trip by balloon. In the 1840s, the public was abuzz with talk of balloon trips across the Atlantic greatly shortening the travel time. Poe simply took that national obsession and ran with it.
With illustrations by Harry Clarke, this book is very much worth reading. It's good for scholars and researchers looking for lesser-known Poe works. It's good for those who enjoy 19th Century writing. It's also good for those who like a variety of really good writing. It gets two thumbs-up.
Beyond the Secret
Beyond The Secret, Alexandra Bruce, The Disinformation Company Ltd., 2007
Who here has not read the book or seen the movie "The Secret?" (Raise your hands.) This book attempts to bring some perspective to "The Secret," so as to better understand what seems to be its message of materialism gone wild.
The philosophy behind "The Secret" is nothing new. The New Thought movement was popular in America from the 1850s to the 1950s. It was an offshoot of the Age of Enlightenment, which swept through Europe in the 1700s, and led to advances in law and science. New Thought asserts a monistic theory of the universe; One is All, and All is One. It is still as heretical to established religion as it was 300 years ago. The book that started it all and is a New Thought classic is called "The Science of Getting Rich" by Wallace Wattles (a complete copy is included in this book). The ideas in "The Secret" are generally those of the Unity Church, which today has about 2 million members.
There are short profiles of many of the teachers featured in "The Secret." Some of them are more oriented toward science and technology, others are more corporate-oriented, and one embraces the occult.
A big controversy involved the appearance in the film of Esther Hicks, channeler for a group consciousness named Abraham. She was to appear in the film, but ended up on the cutting room floor, due to a dispute with Rhonda Byrne, the brains behind "The Secret." A person might wonder what the reaction would be if a major inspiration for "The Secret" came from a disembodied consciousness.
This book is well worth reading for skeptics and true believers. It doesn't attempt to prove or disprove The Law of Attraction, but it will give the reader a lot to think about.
Who here has not read the book or seen the movie "The Secret?" (Raise your hands.) This book attempts to bring some perspective to "The Secret," so as to better understand what seems to be its message of materialism gone wild.
The philosophy behind "The Secret" is nothing new. The New Thought movement was popular in America from the 1850s to the 1950s. It was an offshoot of the Age of Enlightenment, which swept through Europe in the 1700s, and led to advances in law and science. New Thought asserts a monistic theory of the universe; One is All, and All is One. It is still as heretical to established religion as it was 300 years ago. The book that started it all and is a New Thought classic is called "The Science of Getting Rich" by Wallace Wattles (a complete copy is included in this book). The ideas in "The Secret" are generally those of the Unity Church, which today has about 2 million members.
There are short profiles of many of the teachers featured in "The Secret." Some of them are more oriented toward science and technology, others are more corporate-oriented, and one embraces the occult.
A big controversy involved the appearance in the film of Esther Hicks, channeler for a group consciousness named Abraham. She was to appear in the film, but ended up on the cutting room floor, due to a dispute with Rhonda Byrne, the brains behind "The Secret." A person might wonder what the reaction would be if a major inspiration for "The Secret" came from a disembodied consciousness.
This book is well worth reading for skeptics and true believers. It doesn't attempt to prove or disprove The Law of Attraction, but it will give the reader a lot to think about.
The End of Days
The End of Days, Zecharia Sitchin, William Morrow, 2007
Last in a seven-book series, this gives a very different, and very challenging, view of mankind.
Eons ago, alien beings called the Anunnaki came to Earth to plant man's genetic seed. They came from a planet called Nibiru, which is part of our solar system, but takes 3,000 years to complete one trip around the sun. As a spacefaring race, they built a spaceport and a mission control, in the Tigris/Euphrates river valley, in present-day Iraq. It was destroyed in The Deluge (from the Bible).
The spaceport was rebuilt in the Sinai Desert, with Mission Control in Jerusalem, and the pyramids at Giza used as landing beacons. Remember the Tower of Babel? It was the first major structure built after The Deluge, back in the Tigris/Euphrates valley, and was intended as an alternate launch platform.
There were many disputes and power struggles among the Anunnaki, leading to an attack on the "sinning states" of the West by the East. In approximately 2020 BC, five cities built just south of the Dead Sea, including Sodom and Gomorrah, along with the Sinai spaceport, were destroyed by nuclear weapons. There are a number of ancient Sumerian texts that talk of an "evil wind" that sickened everyone, and that no door or wall could keep out (sounds a lot like nuclear fallout). In historical terms, the Sumerian civilization disappeared overnight; invaders are the usual reason. Here is another explanation.
It would be easy to snicker to at this book if it were just some New Age speculation, and not based on years of archaeological study and actually reading the ancient texts. As a history buff (and a science fiction reader) I loved this book. It is my first exposure to Mr. Sitchin, but it won't be my last.
Last in a seven-book series, this gives a very different, and very challenging, view of mankind.
Eons ago, alien beings called the Anunnaki came to Earth to plant man's genetic seed. They came from a planet called Nibiru, which is part of our solar system, but takes 3,000 years to complete one trip around the sun. As a spacefaring race, they built a spaceport and a mission control, in the Tigris/Euphrates river valley, in present-day Iraq. It was destroyed in The Deluge (from the Bible).
The spaceport was rebuilt in the Sinai Desert, with Mission Control in Jerusalem, and the pyramids at Giza used as landing beacons. Remember the Tower of Babel? It was the first major structure built after The Deluge, back in the Tigris/Euphrates valley, and was intended as an alternate launch platform.
There were many disputes and power struggles among the Anunnaki, leading to an attack on the "sinning states" of the West by the East. In approximately 2020 BC, five cities built just south of the Dead Sea, including Sodom and Gomorrah, along with the Sinai spaceport, were destroyed by nuclear weapons. There are a number of ancient Sumerian texts that talk of an "evil wind" that sickened everyone, and that no door or wall could keep out (sounds a lot like nuclear fallout). In historical terms, the Sumerian civilization disappeared overnight; invaders are the usual reason. Here is another explanation.
It would be easy to snicker to at this book if it were just some New Age speculation, and not based on years of archaeological study and actually reading the ancient texts. As a history buff (and a science fiction reader) I loved this book. It is my first exposure to Mr. Sitchin, but it won't be my last.
The Truth War
The Truth War, John MacArthur, Thomas Nelson Books, 2007
A person either accepts the revealed truth of Scripture through Jesus Christ, or they don't; there's no middle ground. An increasing number of "good" Christians are unknowingly choosing the latter option.
False teachers in the Church are nothing new; they have shown up all throughout history. Jesus even predicted their appearance in the Bible. Unfortunately, such people are not easy to spot, then or now. They don't wear signs around their necks saying "I am an evil person. Don't listen to me." The modern-day Emerging Church movement asserts that God is actually some sort of unknowable force in the universe, which is about as far from Church teaching as one can get.
Among the lesser-known, and shorter, Books in the Bible is the Book of Jude (not Judas). Originally, it was going to be all sweetness and light, but Jude turned it into an alarm against false teachers and heretics in the early Church. The author spends considerable time talking about the Evangelical movement. He has no problem with churches occasionally bringing outside trends into the Church. But, a church that jumps from pop culture trend to pop culture trend, forgetting what "church" is supposed to be all about, should be viewed with great alarm.
Christians should learn to pick their battles; don't engage in a life-or-death struggle over every little religious disagreement. But, when the stakes are big enough, don't be afraid to fight back, hard. Which is worse, ruffling some feathers and damaging some egos, or losing the Word of God?
For anyone in the evangelical church, pastor and churchgoer, this book is very much recommended. Those in mainline churches should also read it, and keep an eye out for false religious teachers.
A person either accepts the revealed truth of Scripture through Jesus Christ, or they don't; there's no middle ground. An increasing number of "good" Christians are unknowingly choosing the latter option.
False teachers in the Church are nothing new; they have shown up all throughout history. Jesus even predicted their appearance in the Bible. Unfortunately, such people are not easy to spot, then or now. They don't wear signs around their necks saying "I am an evil person. Don't listen to me." The modern-day Emerging Church movement asserts that God is actually some sort of unknowable force in the universe, which is about as far from Church teaching as one can get.
Among the lesser-known, and shorter, Books in the Bible is the Book of Jude (not Judas). Originally, it was going to be all sweetness and light, but Jude turned it into an alarm against false teachers and heretics in the early Church. The author spends considerable time talking about the Evangelical movement. He has no problem with churches occasionally bringing outside trends into the Church. But, a church that jumps from pop culture trend to pop culture trend, forgetting what "church" is supposed to be all about, should be viewed with great alarm.
Christians should learn to pick their battles; don't engage in a life-or-death struggle over every little religious disagreement. But, when the stakes are big enough, don't be afraid to fight back, hard. Which is worse, ruffling some feathers and damaging some egos, or losing the Word of God?
For anyone in the evangelical church, pastor and churchgoer, this book is very much recommended. Those in mainline churches should also read it, and keep an eye out for false religious teachers.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
The Origin of Culture
The Origin of Culture, Thomas Dietrich, Turnkey Press, 2005
Ancient history gets a very different treatment in this book, by looking at the scientific basis behind ancient
mythology and astrology.
The country of Ireland deserves a much more important place in ancient history than it has received. According to a compendium of Irish history printed in 1625, the most ancient inhabitants of Ireland were a race of skilled navigators, astronomers and builders of forts and castles called Sea Kings, from Morocco. The Killamerry Cross contains Egyptian, Greek and Roman geometric principles and whose iconography has nothing to do with Christianity (presumably pre-dating Christianity). If one superimposes Da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" (the one with four arms), which came several hundred years later, over the Cross, the proportions are exact. The Cross is near a very old observatory at Knockroe. An ancient road was built right through it, so it was abandoned a very long time ago.
There is a cycle of world culture which generally moves from west to east, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, where culture is thought to have started. At the same time, there is a cycle of civilization which moves from east to west. Even though they conflict with each other, humanity needs both of them. It's not good to have one without the other. The ancients were quite sophisticated when it came to astronomy and the universe, knowledge which is only recently being rediscovered. They had no problem thinking in terms of thousands, or tens of thousands, of years. If there is such a thing as the center of world culture, it is a former colony of Atlantis, which is now called Morocco. From there, it moved to Libya, which was once covered with forests, and then to Egypt.
I don't claim to have understood everything in this book, but I very much enjoyed it. Those who are interested in ancient history will love this book. This very interesting book is well worth the time.</p>
Ancient history gets a very different treatment in this book, by looking at the scientific basis behind ancient
mythology and astrology.
The country of Ireland deserves a much more important place in ancient history than it has received. According to a compendium of Irish history printed in 1625, the most ancient inhabitants of Ireland were a race of skilled navigators, astronomers and builders of forts and castles called Sea Kings, from Morocco. The Killamerry Cross contains Egyptian, Greek and Roman geometric principles and whose iconography has nothing to do with Christianity (presumably pre-dating Christianity). If one superimposes Da Vinci's "Vitruvian Man" (the one with four arms), which came several hundred years later, over the Cross, the proportions are exact. The Cross is near a very old observatory at Knockroe. An ancient road was built right through it, so it was abandoned a very long time ago.
There is a cycle of world culture which generally moves from west to east, from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean, where culture is thought to have started. At the same time, there is a cycle of civilization which moves from east to west. Even though they conflict with each other, humanity needs both of them. It's not good to have one without the other. The ancients were quite sophisticated when it came to astronomy and the universe, knowledge which is only recently being rediscovered. They had no problem thinking in terms of thousands, or tens of thousands, of years. If there is such a thing as the center of world culture, it is a former colony of Atlantis, which is now called Morocco. From there, it moved to Libya, which was once covered with forests, and then to Egypt.
I don't claim to have understood everything in this book, but I very much enjoyed it. Those who are interested in ancient history will love this book. This very interesting book is well worth the time.</p>
The Man in the Moon is Talking
The Man in the Moon is Talking, Clay Orb, Warwick Press, 1946
Narrated by The Man in the Moon (and you thought he was a myth), this tells the real story of how the Earth was formed, and asserts that mankind did not evolve from apes, but from Little People, humans that were only 18 inches high. There is fossil evidence of early horses that were only 18 inches high, so maybe the same thing happened to humans.
Speaking the Language of Light, which is spoken by planets all over the galaxy, and which is received by the
Whimsical Lens, the Man in the Moon tells the story of the Little People, who lived in the Tropics. Fish and game were plentiful, and so were carnivores; their numbers had been shrinking for a long time. Granny, the matriarch, is about 90 years old; everyone else is in their teens, or younger. Raa, the oldest male, and soon to be leader, realizes that intelligence is their key to survival. Tee, the second oldest female, and Raa's mate, won't let him forget about things like beauty. As time goes on, the group discovers the making of clay pottery. They start capturing and domesticating animals. They build a cage for their small animals, and hoist it in the air each night, to keep the animals away from carnivores. They also dig a deep trench around the tree from which the animals are suspended, which captures several animals.
The narrator also looks at the history of the Earth. The first cell was lonesome, until it found another cell,
and they thought it might be a good idea to stick together. They ran into a few more cells, and, eventually, they became a worm. Mr. and Mrs. Worm lived happily, until Mr. Worm decided that he wanted a brain, so he went and got one. Mrs. Worm didn't have one, so Mr. Worm enjoyed lording his new status over Mrs. Worm, until their first batch of babies were born. Each of the children had a small brain, which, collectively, was larger than Mr. Worm's brain. The Winds have a don't-care attitude. They range from the four main winds, to Hurricane, a gruff, old giant who comes out only a few months per year, but causes a lot of trouble. The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans have been having a feud since time immemorial. Atlantic was under the impression that it was going to be the largest ocean, and has been unwilling to accept its new second class status.
As you may have guessed, this is a children's/young adult book, and it is excellent. It's whimsical, it's weird, and it will even get adults thinking.
Narrated by The Man in the Moon (and you thought he was a myth), this tells the real story of how the Earth was formed, and asserts that mankind did not evolve from apes, but from Little People, humans that were only 18 inches high. There is fossil evidence of early horses that were only 18 inches high, so maybe the same thing happened to humans.
Speaking the Language of Light, which is spoken by planets all over the galaxy, and which is received by the
Whimsical Lens, the Man in the Moon tells the story of the Little People, who lived in the Tropics. Fish and game were plentiful, and so were carnivores; their numbers had been shrinking for a long time. Granny, the matriarch, is about 90 years old; everyone else is in their teens, or younger. Raa, the oldest male, and soon to be leader, realizes that intelligence is their key to survival. Tee, the second oldest female, and Raa's mate, won't let him forget about things like beauty. As time goes on, the group discovers the making of clay pottery. They start capturing and domesticating animals. They build a cage for their small animals, and hoist it in the air each night, to keep the animals away from carnivores. They also dig a deep trench around the tree from which the animals are suspended, which captures several animals.
The narrator also looks at the history of the Earth. The first cell was lonesome, until it found another cell,
and they thought it might be a good idea to stick together. They ran into a few more cells, and, eventually, they became a worm. Mr. and Mrs. Worm lived happily, until Mr. Worm decided that he wanted a brain, so he went and got one. Mrs. Worm didn't have one, so Mr. Worm enjoyed lording his new status over Mrs. Worm, until their first batch of babies were born. Each of the children had a small brain, which, collectively, was larger than Mr. Worm's brain. The Winds have a don't-care attitude. They range from the four main winds, to Hurricane, a gruff, old giant who comes out only a few months per year, but causes a lot of trouble. The Atlantic and Pacific Oceans have been having a feud since time immemorial. Atlantic was under the impression that it was going to be the largest ocean, and has been unwilling to accept its new second class status.
As you may have guessed, this is a children's/young adult book, and it is excellent. It's whimsical, it's weird, and it will even get adults thinking.
Wandering Star
Wandering Star, J.M.G. LeClezio, Curbstone Press, 2004
Written by the winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize for Literature, this is the story of two young women who meet by chance in the turmoil of the Middle East.
During World War II, Esther is a Jewish girl living in a small town somewhere in southeastern France. The
residents have an uneasy relationship with the Italian troops occupying the town, but they get along. When the Italians surrender and leave the town, the Jews know that the Germans will send them on a one-way trip to a concentration camp. So Esther, and her mother, Elizabeth, and the other Jews in town undertake a harrowing journey on foot through the mountains, to reach the coast, and passage to Jerusalem. Esther constantly worries that her father, who joined the resistance, will never be able to find them again.
After many days journey, carrying whatever they can, they reach the coast, and board a boat heading for Israel. The ship is halted by the authorities, and sent back to France, where the Jews are held for a time, before actually reaching Jerusalem. There, Esther meets a young Palestinian girl named Nejma, a refugee because of the fighting.
In the early days of their time in the camp, the Palestinians treat it like some sort of temporary setback;
after a few days, weeks at the most, they'll be able to return home. The women gather at the local well and gossip like they are already back home. As reality sets in, and they begin to realize that they aren't leaving anytime soon (if ever), hope turns into despair and the feeling that they have been abandoned by the rest of the world. The only thing the Palestinians have to look forward to is the occasional arrival of the UN aid truck. Life becomes a daily struggle for survival. At the end, Nejma leaves the camp with Saadi, a black man who loves her, and wants to take her back to his homeland. As one person's wanderings end, those of another person are just getting underway.
Told in first person by both young women, this is a quiet novel, but it's also a beautifully written novel.
So this is what Nobel-caliber fiction is like. I will make sure to look for more of it.
Written by the winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize for Literature, this is the story of two young women who meet by chance in the turmoil of the Middle East.
During World War II, Esther is a Jewish girl living in a small town somewhere in southeastern France. The
residents have an uneasy relationship with the Italian troops occupying the town, but they get along. When the Italians surrender and leave the town, the Jews know that the Germans will send them on a one-way trip to a concentration camp. So Esther, and her mother, Elizabeth, and the other Jews in town undertake a harrowing journey on foot through the mountains, to reach the coast, and passage to Jerusalem. Esther constantly worries that her father, who joined the resistance, will never be able to find them again.
After many days journey, carrying whatever they can, they reach the coast, and board a boat heading for Israel. The ship is halted by the authorities, and sent back to France, where the Jews are held for a time, before actually reaching Jerusalem. There, Esther meets a young Palestinian girl named Nejma, a refugee because of the fighting.
In the early days of their time in the camp, the Palestinians treat it like some sort of temporary setback;
after a few days, weeks at the most, they'll be able to return home. The women gather at the local well and gossip like they are already back home. As reality sets in, and they begin to realize that they aren't leaving anytime soon (if ever), hope turns into despair and the feeling that they have been abandoned by the rest of the world. The only thing the Palestinians have to look forward to is the occasional arrival of the UN aid truck. Life becomes a daily struggle for survival. At the end, Nejma leaves the camp with Saadi, a black man who loves her, and wants to take her back to his homeland. As one person's wanderings end, those of another person are just getting underway.
Told in first person by both young women, this is a quiet novel, but it's also a beautifully written novel.
So this is what Nobel-caliber fiction is like. I will make sure to look for more of it.
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