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January 31
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Richard
gave
 
to:
Neverwhere: A Novel
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author!)
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read in January, 2008
Richard said:
"Found this lying about and, as I referred in my review of "Good Omens," decided to take a look at some Neil Gaiman (without Terry Pratchett). Interesting, bizarre, spooky. There's an entire other society living beneath and in the interstice...more
Found this lying about and, as I referred in my review of "Good Omens," decided to take a look at some Neil Gaiman (without Terry Pratchett). Interesting, bizarre, spooky. There's an entire other society living beneath and in the interstices of modern London. Richard Mayhew, through a series of accidents, has become ensnared in forces beyond his comprehension in this shadowy underworld, where rats are revered, wise members of society and people can walk through walls. Only about 1/4 way through so far. To be continued....less
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January 30
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Richard
gave
to:
Strata (Mass Market Paperback)
by Terry Pratchett
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read in January, 2003
Richard said:
"The first of Pratchett's diskworld books, sort of. This is more "hard" SF than most of his other work (except the "Bromeliad" trilogy "Truckers," "Diggers" and "Wings"). Far future: a company that mak...more
The first of Pratchett's diskworld books, sort of. This is more "hard" SF than most of his other work (except the "Bromeliad" trilogy "Truckers," "Diggers" and "Wings"). Far future: a company that makes planets suited for human colonization, including layering in the eponymous strata containing fossils and the occasional joke anachronism (frowned upon by management).
While on an exploratory mission, the protagonist discovers a disk-shaped world, complete with a transparent dome to keep in the air, a sun and moon on tracks and massive pumps to retrieve and return the water that spills over the edge.
Who built it? Why's it here? Questions that are answered with an unforeseen conclusion (no spoilers)....less
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Richard
gave
to:
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
by Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman
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read in January, 2006
Richard said:
"I've got to look at some more of Neil Gaiman's stuff.
This is a bit more surreal than Pratchett's Diskworld work -- possibly due to Gaiman's influence, though I couldn't say for sure. The apocalypse almost happens, but is canceled due to some confu...more
I've got to look at some more of Neil Gaiman's stuff.
This is a bit more surreal than Pratchett's Diskworld work -- possibly due to Gaiman's influence, though I couldn't say for sure. The apocalypse almost happens, but is canceled due to some confusion on the part of the Antichrist's dog. Pity, too, as it was going so well up to that point....less
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Richard
gave
to:
Night Watch: A Discworld Novel (Paperback)
by Terry Pratchett
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read in January, 2008
Richard said:
"Second or third read for "Night Watch." One of the very best of Pratchett's Diskworld novels. Sam Vimes, awaiting the birth of his child with Dame Sybil, is transported via a magical time wormhole, thirty years past where he takes on the ro...more
Second or third read for "Night Watch." One of the very best of Pratchett's Diskworld novels. Sam Vimes, awaiting the birth of his child with Dame Sybil, is transported via a magical time wormhole, thirty years past where he takes on the role provided, in his own past, by John Keel, who taught him what it was like to be a "copper" on the night watch in Ankh-Morpork. As with all of the "watch" novels involving Sam Vimes, there's a lot of philosophy, of a strong life-view in the book. The Diskworld novels are very funny, in a surreal way, but also have much to make one think in them....less
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Richard
gave
to:
Final Impact (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 3)
by John Birmingham
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read in January, 2007
Richard said:
"The finish to the "Axis of Time" trilogy.
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Richard
gave
to:
Designated Targets (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 2)
by John Birmingham
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read in January, 2006
Richard said:
"Second in the "Axis of Time" trilogy. What would history be like if the Germany, Russia and Japan of 1942 got hold of modern weapons AND a complete set of history of the last half of the twentieth century, including their defeat and how it ...more
Second in the "Axis of Time" trilogy. What would history be like if the Germany, Russia and Japan of 1942 got hold of modern weapons AND a complete set of history of the last half of the twentieth century, including their defeat and how it came about? How would an enclave of people and technology from the 21st century, set up in the LA of 1942, affect American values of the day?
Excellent look at an alternative history....less
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Richard
gave
to:
Weapons of Choice (The Axis of Time Trilogy, Book 1)
by John Birmingham
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read in January, 2005
Richard said:
"Start of the "Axis of Time" trilogy. It's 2021 and an international battle group, led by the super carrier the USS Hillary Clinton, is moving toward Indonesia to assist the government there against a fundamentalist Moslem insurgency. Part o...more
Start of the "Axis of Time" trilogy. It's 2021 and an international battle group, led by the super carrier the USS Hillary Clinton, is moving toward Indonesia to assist the government there against a fundamentalist Moslem insurgency. Part of the battle group is a research vessel working on developing a micro wormhole. Unfortunately, due to a mistake in data input, the wormhole is half-a-kilometer in radius and drops most of the battle group into the middle of Spruance's Midway defense taskforce in 1942. Confusion ensues.
Excellent action story, lots of techno verisimilitude. Also, an enlightening look at the casual racism and sexism of the time; very disconcerting to one with modern views, even when one does not realize that one HAS modern views until those of the not too distant past are presented.
The author's other works are rather wishy-washy compared to this opus. Highly recommended if you're a fan of war/weapon/science fiction....less
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Richard
gave
to:
A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century (Paperback)
by Barbara W. Tuchman
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read in January, 2008
Richard said:
"Got turned on to the book by my son, who's been listening to a recorded version. Excellent look at life and times of European 14th century. Though it focuses on the later century (from after the plague years of 1348-50) through the life of Enguerrand...more
Got turned on to the book by my son, who's been listening to a recorded version. Excellent look at life and times of European 14th century. Though it focuses on the later century (from after the plague years of 1348-50) through the life of Enguerrand de Coucy (1340-1397), the last of a family going back several centuries, there's lots of background and secondary information covered.
The "mirror" of the title is intended to reference how the author feels that the 14th century somehow has cognates in the 20th century (book written in '79), though I find that rather tenuous. Much of her exposition is about how the 14th C dose NOT look much like the equivalent sociological trends today. Only about half-way through, so perhaps it will become clear later.
Good read, anyway....less
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