K.A. Ashcomb's Blog, page 48

Book Review: The Ballad of Black Tom by Victor LaValle

I have mixed feelings about this novella. While I love the Lovecraftian setting and story, the characters, especially Charles Thomas Tester and his relationship with his father, the story feels thin, rushed, and the emotional turning points that triggered twist wasnt there for me. This was disappointing as the novella has so much to give. It handles racism, segregation, and growing in a poor neighborhood. Novella also takes into account the generational feelings about where to reach and what...

My Top 3 Books in April

This was a strong month, I read so many exciting books. Looking back, despite all that is going on, life can be good if you concentrate on the positive. Also, I finished the first draft of my third book. Now Im trying to piece together what is essential and what isnt, and polishing the character and setting sheets. What is new with me is that I have started outdoor bouldering as the indoor centers are closed. Scary as crit, but fun and exciting and addictive, says someone with a whole in...

Book Review: The Revolutionary Genius of Plants: A New Understanding of Plant Intelligence and Behavior by Stefano Mancuso

I start by saying that if you read one fact book this year, read this one. It is inspirational and it makes you see the world differently. Bold statements, I know, but there is something special about this book. It goes beyond the facts. It is the passion for plants and what we can learn by studying them that seeps through every page. Im in awe with this book. Okay, Im partial. Im a nature nut. But to be honest, so should you be too. It is the foundation we live on. Without plants and...

Short Story: The Question

How does something come to be out of nothingness? He stared at the question hidden into the exam. For one, he had gotten past the first barrier and found the actual question. Or was it there to sidetrack him? How could they expect him to answer it? He was a novice, not even that. He didnt even know how to tie his robe correctly yet. The saffron robe hung loosely open from the collar, revealing his black shirt underneath it. He leaned away from the screen, taking a deep breath in,...

Book Review: Exit Strategy by Martha Wells

And there is always a loop back. The hero has to go back to the beginning to understand the travel he has done. Exit Strategy is a fitting ending to the novellas. Im not sure what to expect from the upcoming full-length book, but ART was promised, so Im happy.

But that is beside the point, back to this review. Exit Strategy gives an emotional conclusion as it goes back to the characters who helped to free Murderbot. I liked that. Because then we get to see what Murderbot has learned, and what...

Book Review: The Brain: The Story of You by David Eagleman

A neuroscientists guide to your brain, asking questions about who you are, how you work, what is reality, is there a free will or not (automata or in control?), me and others, and so on. All the basics about psychology, neuroscience, and adding into the mix some social psychology. This is a book about fundamentals, and if you are already familiar with them, then you might want to skip this one. However, it is not a bad book, quite the opposite. Well written, engaging, amusing, and thorough...

Short Story: Light Blue Vespa

She had been helping her aunts friend all week, running errands, cleaning, and cooking. The old woman had taken ill and had been curled up in her bed several days now. Today was especially bad. The woman wheezed repeatedly. Every now and then, she poked her head into the bedroom to see the woman was still alive, but there was no mistaking her livity from the snoring she did. But you had to check, or so her instincts told her.

Now it was time to make soup. Ginger, chicken, and potato. A...

Book Review: Rogue Protocol by Martha Wells

The travels of our Murderbot continues on. Despite loving the previous two, this one didnt speak to me the way the others did. Rogue Protocol felt like a filler, not moving the plotline further. Yes, it gave more humanity to Murderbot, and there were amusing fighting scenes, but the usual engagement, the pondering, and intense dialogue we saw in novella two wasnt here. I missed ART. But I get it the two A.I.s cannot be combined despite how much I want it.

This novella should have given us a...

Book Review: The Origin of Birds in the Footprints of Writing by Raymond St. Elmo

Trying to explain this book might give too much away of the mystery you have to discover. But I can tell you that the book transports the obsession of the old masters, Poe, Kafka, to name a few, to a new, modern stage with programmers, NSA, hacking, and video games. There is a hint of that same feverish writing. You have to believe that Clarence (the main character) and the bird tracks will lead you to something meaningful. And they do. For me to speculate about why this book was written and...

Short Story: The Mechanical Path

When I close my eyes, I see it. The green painted against the moss landscape. But behind the scene, there is the bright white screen, stealing bits here and there of my perfect moment. The escape so real yet created.

I open my eyes to find still to be tied to the cold steel chair. The TV flashes in front of me, bombarding an endless stream of dramas. My ears are bleeding from the noise I cannot shut out. The words have turned into mush without meaning, but it is the electric hum that I cannot...