Joseph Baneth Allen's Blog, page 91
December 3, 2021
The First War of Physics
Just finished "The First War of Physics - The Secret History of the Atom Bomb 1939-1949, " by Jim Baggott published by Pegasus Books, back in 2010.
Sometimes it does take me a while to get to reading a book that I bought - as evidenced here.
While Jim Baggott is a competent science historian, he really didn't present any new history behind the development of the first atomic bombs and how the Soviet Union depended on useful idiots to steal the technology behind the atomic bomb. Instead, Baggott has written a comprehensive history that casual readers of history will enjoy, and those who are seeking a general history of how one of the most destructive weapons in history was created and the reasons behind it. Not new history, but a competent one.
Recommended.
Three-and-a-half stars.
https://www.amazon.com/First-War-Phys...
Sometimes it does take me a while to get to reading a book that I bought - as evidenced here.
While Jim Baggott is a competent science historian, he really didn't present any new history behind the development of the first atomic bombs and how the Soviet Union depended on useful idiots to steal the technology behind the atomic bomb. Instead, Baggott has written a comprehensive history that casual readers of history will enjoy, and those who are seeking a general history of how one of the most destructive weapons in history was created and the reasons behind it. Not new history, but a competent one.
Recommended.
Three-and-a-half stars.
https://www.amazon.com/First-War-Phys...
The First War of Physics
Just finished "The First War of Physics - The Secret History of the Atom Bomb 1939-1949, " by Jim Baggott published by Pegasus Books, back in 2010.
Sometimes it does take me a while to get to reading a book that I bought - as evidenced here.
While Jim Baggott is a competent science historian, he really didn't present any new history behind the development of the first atomic bombs and how the Soviet Union depended on useful idiots to steal the technology behind the atomic bomb. Instead, Baggott has written a comprehensive history that casual readers of history will enjoy, and those who are seeking a general history of how one of the most destructive weapons in history was created and the reasons behind it. Not new history, but a competent one.
Recommended.
Three-and-a-half stars.
https://www.amazon.com/First-War-Phys...
Sometimes it does take me a while to get to reading a book that I bought - as evidenced here.
While Jim Baggott is a competent science historian, he really didn't present any new history behind the development of the first atomic bombs and how the Soviet Union depended on useful idiots to steal the technology behind the atomic bomb. Instead, Baggott has written a comprehensive history that casual readers of history will enjoy, and those who are seeking a general history of how one of the most destructive weapons in history was created and the reasons behind it. Not new history, but a competent one.
Recommended.
Three-and-a-half stars.
https://www.amazon.com/First-War-Phys...
The Wanderer
Just finished reading "The Wanderer" by Peter Van Den Ende, published by Levine Querido.
Many people have been reported to be disturbed by the illustrations in this book which chronicles the journey of a paper boat that is set adrift in the ocean. Yes, there is a compelling, yet chilling Gothic overture to the black and white illustrations which does have the ability to freak readers out. It does remind me of the indie black and white comics of the 1980s with heavy manga elements.
Worth reading, but you might get disturbed.
https://www.amazon.com/Wanderer-Peter...
Many people have been reported to be disturbed by the illustrations in this book which chronicles the journey of a paper boat that is set adrift in the ocean. Yes, there is a compelling, yet chilling Gothic overture to the black and white illustrations which does have the ability to freak readers out. It does remind me of the indie black and white comics of the 1980s with heavy manga elements.
Worth reading, but you might get disturbed.
https://www.amazon.com/Wanderer-Peter...
The Wanderer
Just finished reading "The Wanderer" by Peter Van Den Ende, published by Levine Querido.
Many people have been reported to be disturbed by the illustrations in this book which chronicles the journey of a paper boat that is set adrift in the ocean. Yes, there is a compelling, yet chilling Gothic overture to the black and white illustrations which does have the ability to freak readers out. It does remind me of the indie black and white comics of the 1980s with heavy manga elements.
Worth reading, but you might get disturbed.
https://www.amazon.com/Wanderer-Peter...
Many people have been reported to be disturbed by the illustrations in this book which chronicles the journey of a paper boat that is set adrift in the ocean. Yes, there is a compelling, yet chilling Gothic overture to the black and white illustrations which does have the ability to freak readers out. It does remind me of the indie black and white comics of the 1980s with heavy manga elements.
Worth reading, but you might get disturbed.
https://www.amazon.com/Wanderer-Peter...
The Barnabus Project
Just finished reading "The Barnabus Project" by The Fan Brothers released by Tundra Books.
Written and illustrated by all three Fan Brothers, "The Barnabus Project" is an uplifting story about being willing to take risks and not accepting to be content with circumstances as they currently are. It's also a voyage of discovery for the not-so "Perfect Pet" Barnabus, who is half mouse and half elephant who longs for the freedom he is being denied by being trapped in a glass bell jar. It's only when he gathers up his courage to break out to discover and seek out others like him does he find the way to reach his dreams.
HIGHY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Barnabus-Proje...
Written and illustrated by all three Fan Brothers, "The Barnabus Project" is an uplifting story about being willing to take risks and not accepting to be content with circumstances as they currently are. It's also a voyage of discovery for the not-so "Perfect Pet" Barnabus, who is half mouse and half elephant who longs for the freedom he is being denied by being trapped in a glass bell jar. It's only when he gathers up his courage to break out to discover and seek out others like him does he find the way to reach his dreams.
HIGHY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Barnabus-Proje...
The Barnabus Project
Just finished reading "The Barnabus Project" by The Fan Brothers released by Tundra Books.
Written and illustrated by all three Fan Brothers, "The Barnabus Project" is an uplifting story about being willing to take risks and not accepting to be content with circumstances as they currently are. It's also a voyage of discovery for the not-so "Perfect Pet" Barnabus, who is half mouse and half elephant who longs for the freedom he is being denied by being trapped in a glass bell jar. It's only when he gathers up his courage to break out to discover and seek out others like him does he find the way to reach his dreams.
HIGHY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Barnabus-Proje...
Written and illustrated by all three Fan Brothers, "The Barnabus Project" is an uplifting story about being willing to take risks and not accepting to be content with circumstances as they currently are. It's also a voyage of discovery for the not-so "Perfect Pet" Barnabus, who is half mouse and half elephant who longs for the freedom he is being denied by being trapped in a glass bell jar. It's only when he gathers up his courage to break out to discover and seek out others like him does he find the way to reach his dreams.
HIGHY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Barnabus-Proje...
The Antlered Ship
Just finished reading "The Antlered Ship" by Dashka Slater and illustrated by The Fan Brothers.
As anyone who has ever sought answers for the questions that they have long puzzled over, finding answers is never easy and you've got to take risks in order to discover how your questions may be answered.
Fox has a bunch of questions he would like answered only, no one on the island where he lives has any of the answers he seeks. So when an Antlered Ship moors into the harbor of his home, Fox takes a risk and joins a crew of fellow adventures who are also seeking answers, while seeking to unravel mysteries while having adventures. And Fox discovers...now that would be telling, you definitely take the time to discover that answer yourself.
Once again, the artwork by The Fan Brothers is breathtaking magical and recalls the lyrics of bygone eras.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Antlered-Ship-...
As anyone who has ever sought answers for the questions that they have long puzzled over, finding answers is never easy and you've got to take risks in order to discover how your questions may be answered.
Fox has a bunch of questions he would like answered only, no one on the island where he lives has any of the answers he seeks. So when an Antlered Ship moors into the harbor of his home, Fox takes a risk and joins a crew of fellow adventures who are also seeking answers, while seeking to unravel mysteries while having adventures. And Fox discovers...now that would be telling, you definitely take the time to discover that answer yourself.
Once again, the artwork by The Fan Brothers is breathtaking magical and recalls the lyrics of bygone eras.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Antlered-Ship-...
It Fell From The Sky
Just finished reading "It Fell From The Sky" by The Fan Brothers, released by Simon & Schuster.
Terry and Eric Fan create worlds of wonder and discovery with each of their books that engage readers with a vivid sense of wonder in words and art that draws you in.
When a brilliant marble falls to the ground, bugs from far and wide wonder what it is and try to solve it's mystery - is it a gumdrop, a small planet, a chrysalis awaiting the birth of it's occupant? Enter an enterprising Spider who claims it as his own and builds an amusement park for all to pay and see what he proclaims to be "the eighth wonder of the world."
"It Fell From The Sky" is a brilliant allegorical tale of what happens when the joy of discovery and the sense of wonder is over commercialized and how it can be reclaimed.
Strongly Recommended!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Fell-Sky-Terry...
Terry and Eric Fan create worlds of wonder and discovery with each of their books that engage readers with a vivid sense of wonder in words and art that draws you in.
When a brilliant marble falls to the ground, bugs from far and wide wonder what it is and try to solve it's mystery - is it a gumdrop, a small planet, a chrysalis awaiting the birth of it's occupant? Enter an enterprising Spider who claims it as his own and builds an amusement park for all to pay and see what he proclaims to be "the eighth wonder of the world."
"It Fell From The Sky" is a brilliant allegorical tale of what happens when the joy of discovery and the sense of wonder is over commercialized and how it can be reclaimed.
Strongly Recommended!
TEN STARS!
https://www.amazon.com/Fell-Sky-Terry...
November 27, 2021
Calling Dr. Patchwork
Just finished listening to "Calling Dr. Patchwork" by Ron Goulart, released by Brilliance Audio.
Ron Goulart's "Odd Jobs, Inc" series kicks off it's first outing of Jake and Hildy Pace, who have made a business out of solving the who, why, and how of impossibly-seeming crimes with a show-stopper - long dead murders appear to have come back to life and resumed their killing sprees with the mysterious deaths of popular entertainers who were killed by assassins sent to the deaths long ago - or were they? Jake and Hildy will need all their wits about them in order to outwit the Amateur Mafia and a mysterious doctor who just might hold the key to the mystery.
Just a word of caution, "Calling Dr. Patchwork," was written and first published back in 1978, so the humor in this novel will not meet today's Woke standards, but who really cares?
Narrator Ray Chase does an excellent job in bringing this story to life.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Calling-Dr-Pat...
Ron Goulart's "Odd Jobs, Inc" series kicks off it's first outing of Jake and Hildy Pace, who have made a business out of solving the who, why, and how of impossibly-seeming crimes with a show-stopper - long dead murders appear to have come back to life and resumed their killing sprees with the mysterious deaths of popular entertainers who were killed by assassins sent to the deaths long ago - or were they? Jake and Hildy will need all their wits about them in order to outwit the Amateur Mafia and a mysterious doctor who just might hold the key to the mystery.
Just a word of caution, "Calling Dr. Patchwork," was written and first published back in 1978, so the humor in this novel will not meet today's Woke standards, but who really cares?
Narrator Ray Chase does an excellent job in bringing this story to life.
Strongly Recommended!
Five Stars!
https://www.amazon.com/Calling-Dr-Pat...
Stranger Suns
Just finished reading "Stranger Suns" by George Zebrowski, published by Bantam Books as part of it's Spectra Science Fiction Line back in 1991 to much fan-fare and critical acclaim.
Yes, "Stranger Suns" is a book that I re-read as part of my "Great Re-Reading of Favorite Books Project, and it's a rather curious choice because this book was originally published back in 1975 under the Laser Line imprint of Harlequin Books as "The Star Web," which I had previously reviewed here on Facebook, Goodreads, and elsewhee.
I had originally bough "Stranger Suns" when it was first released decades ago at Michelle's Bookstore in the Bryn Marr Shopping Center back in Jacksonville, North Carolina. I obtained my reading copy at Chamblin's Book Mine - the best bookstore in the Eastern United States.
Now Zebroski or Bantam, tried to sweep the earlier version of this novel, "The Star Web" out of the existence of memory. Once Harlequin Books discontinued it's Laser science fiction book line, it gave the back the rights to previously published and still unpublished books back to the writers. Many writers had their books republished by other publishers and they acknowledged that it had been previously published by Laser. Not so with "Stranger Suns."
Zebrowki rewrote much of his original story, and expanded what was an exciting concept in his original novel, to the bland musings of a man who loathes himself and humanity.
Very off putting.
So, this one is definitely going to be traded back to Chamblin's.
Not a great book. "The Star Web" is far better.
Not Recommended.
One star for cover art.
https://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Suns-...
Yes, "Stranger Suns" is a book that I re-read as part of my "Great Re-Reading of Favorite Books Project, and it's a rather curious choice because this book was originally published back in 1975 under the Laser Line imprint of Harlequin Books as "The Star Web," which I had previously reviewed here on Facebook, Goodreads, and elsewhee.
I had originally bough "Stranger Suns" when it was first released decades ago at Michelle's Bookstore in the Bryn Marr Shopping Center back in Jacksonville, North Carolina. I obtained my reading copy at Chamblin's Book Mine - the best bookstore in the Eastern United States.
Now Zebroski or Bantam, tried to sweep the earlier version of this novel, "The Star Web" out of the existence of memory. Once Harlequin Books discontinued it's Laser science fiction book line, it gave the back the rights to previously published and still unpublished books back to the writers. Many writers had their books republished by other publishers and they acknowledged that it had been previously published by Laser. Not so with "Stranger Suns."
Zebrowki rewrote much of his original story, and expanded what was an exciting concept in his original novel, to the bland musings of a man who loathes himself and humanity.
Very off putting.
So, this one is definitely going to be traded back to Chamblin's.
Not a great book. "The Star Web" is far better.
Not Recommended.
One star for cover art.
https://www.amazon.com/Stranger-Suns-...
