<i>The Years of Rice and Salt</i> by Kim Stanley Robinson

I was about 2/3rds of the way through this book when I thought to myself: 'Man, this really reminds me of the scene in the Mars trilogy where they were working on the constitution.' Then I thought about it again. And, of course it does. It is the same author!

One thing that Robinson does well, very well, is show the scope and sweep of time. In the Mars trilogy, he did it (spoiler?) by making people live functionally forever. Here he was a little more clever, by working through reincarnations. This also gave him the opportunity to work with a larger cast of characters, who, though they had to fit in a broad category, could have very different personalities, backgrounds, etc. from one reincarnation to the next, with only the first letter of their name staying the same.

The journeys that Robinson makes through the bardo---the land where you go between incarnations---reminded me a bit of the 'behind the scenes' piece from American Gods (possibly one of the few parts of that book I really liked), though the bardo is a necessary stop between lives and often includes much pain and Gaiman's 'behind the scenes' is more a short-cut from one place and time to another. Sort of a worm-hole of alternate dimensions.

Another interesting aspect of the bardo---and the real world, for that matter---was the concept of a group of souls that are connected in some respect and end up together in the bardo and often have interececting and intertwined stories in the real world as well. I was reminded of the concept of a karass from Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, which is a group of people brought together to do God's will. In both cases, no one in the group knows they were meant to be together in real life, but are somehow all striving for the same thing.

Though there are many interesting aspects of the story, the point of seeing the large sweep of history is to extend what would have happened if all the white people died due to the Black Death and, as a result, Christiantiy did not have a large stake in the world. And the answer that Robinson proposes is fascinating, with New World natives actually surviving and creating a modern society in the middle of our North America.

Overall, a fantastic read. Thick, but so very worth it.

9/10

<i>Ubik</i> by Philip K. Dick

I am having a very hard time writing about his book. It has been quite some time since I finished it and I am still not quite sue what to say about it other than I really liked it. Also, it is difficult to say too much about the story without giving things away, but there were two concepts that where particularly interesting.

The first is the ideas of psychic powers being in demand by companies to the point that those with opposing powers are employed by competing companies. The application of one person to look ahead (precog) against another who can change the future as a fundamental instrument in a capitalist battle between corporations is so naturally American.

The second is the concept of half-life, where if you can get some one on ice quick enough you can talk to them for a total of a couple days worth of time, with many people spreading that time out over years. It reminded me of a Max Headroom plot where people were supposedly placed into a similar state, but it turned out not to be true. AS Dick covers in the story, such a half-life state would add a whole level of complication to death and administering wills. In addition one might constantly have moral panics about whether it is worth waking some one up for an issue, thus using up the time left.

One last idea I really enjoyed was the coin-op everything (doorknob, toaster, coffee maker, fridge, etc.) in the low rent apartments. There is something frightening about the fact that you couldn't leave your apartment unless you had a nickel---left to die if you have no pocket change.

Overall, a great read that was hard to write about, and that I like better than Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?

7/10

<i>Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?</i> by Philip K. Dick

I've seen Blade Runner once and had absolutely no idea what was going on. Now, I think I could watch it and be able to follow the plot. Though the androids were interesting, I thought the most compelling element was the electric animals and the level of regard that was given by humans to real animals due to the world's almost complete lack of them. It is an interesting thought experiment: Could humans become so compassionate toward animals on the whole that killing a spider would be a psychologically painful experience?Could we really feel complete and total empathy for all living things?

I'm not quite sure what to make of Mercer. In the end it sounds like a meme that keeps the human race going. One that always tells them to keep fighting, as one man's pain is something that all men feel.

This was also my first Dick book. I enjoyed it, though it is a bit pulpy and heavy handed in places. I'll be returning to him for sure for the next book I read and maybe for more in the future.

<i>Cryptonomican</i> by Neal Stephenson

My second Stephenson novel in six months. I am convinced that I like him. Though I really like this book, I had a hard time getting going with this write-up.

The first thing that may be tripping me up some is that this is the first fiction book set in a very defined time period (at least partially) that I've read in over a year (The Unbearable Lightness of Being being the last) and I may be a bit out of practice in thinking about such books. Additionally, what I have read of Stephenson so far (Diamond Age and Snow Crash), is clearly set in the future.

With all that said, there were some ideas, characters and directions in this book I really liked. I found it very easy to connect to the WWII stories---particularly those of Lawrence Waterhouse and Bobby Shaftoe. I had a much harder time connecting myself with Randy Waterhouse's part of the story, despite (or maybe because of) its present day setting. While I really *liked* the ideas Randy encountered---like the EMP to kill the computers, or the complicated methodology for distributing his Grandmother's possessions among the family---it possibly felt too much like dot-com stories we've heard over and over for the last ten or so years. In comparison the WWII portions felt fresh---maybe since so little time is generally spent on WWII crypto, U-boats and anything that happened in the Pacific other than the Batan Death March and the nukes hitting Japan in school.

I particularly liked, or found compelling, Bobby Shatoe's character and looked forward to getting back to his storyline. His rather human traits---morphine addiction, etc---somewhat balanced out his super-human abilities as a Marine. His most prized quality, in himself and found in others, as he told his son, was adaptability. He showed it himself through his varied positions throughout the war and at times when he wasn't directly involved in the fighting, such as in Sweden and when looking for his son. When plans went awry, he came up with a new plan and quickly enacted it. There was also a particularly great quote regarding the role of enlisted vs. officers, which echoed this:

The extreme formality with which he addresses these officers carries an important subtext: your problem, sir, is deciding what you want me to do, and my problem, sir is doing it. My gung-ho posture says that once you give the order I'm not going to bother you with any of the details---and your half of the bargain is you had better stay on your side of the line, sir and not bother me with any of the chickenshit politics you have to deal with for a living.

insomuch as his goal is to achieve his objective in any way possible.

Two other characters I enjoyed from Shaftoe's time and place were Enoch Root, who just continually seemed out of place (purposely so) and Lawrence Pritchard Waterhouse. Waterhouse was a lynch-pin of the story, but I found part to be most compelling up to when he was at Blechtley Park, then setting up Qwghlm. After that, his story fades too much to stay interesting.

A final plot point I want to mention is Goto's mine. The idea of it having different designs and goals known to different levels involved in the project was quite interesting. I may have to go back and read some of those sections again to get a full understanding of the structure. The diagrams Stephenson includes help, but a reread is definitely in order.

Overall, an excellent read, though some weak points existed in the modern portion of the story.

7/10

<i>The Innocents Abroad</i> by Mark Twain

That is the strangest curiosity yet---a really polite hotel waiter who isn't an idiot

I haven't read any Twain in quite some time. I actually have no Twain in my paper reading journal, which covers the last nine years of books. I had forgotten, or maybe never realized the level of cutting commentary and sardonic humor Twain integrates into his prose.

This book is a travelogue. Twain travels abroad in a time when Americans were rarely seen in Europe. At a time when an arriving boat full of Americans was an event where the Czar would take notice. They traveled on a chartered steamship throughout Europe and the Holy Land. I enjoyed reading Twains characterizations of the places I have visited, particularly Italy, where his assessments were similar to my own, despite the 150 years of separation of our visits. To me much of Italy just seemed worn out. Twain echoes that in his characterization of Venice:

In the glare of day there is little poetry about Venice, but under the charitable moon her stained palaces are white again, their battered sculptures are hidden in shadows and the old city seems crowned once more with the grandeur that was hers five hundred years ago.

Another thing that hasn't changed is the characterization of Americans traveling. Twain's group might not be the first to barge in unaware of local customs, but I hazard to guess that the idea of the crass American tourist may have been popularized by Twain. One example of such behavior was referring to all guides as Ferguson, no matter where they were. Very amusing, but rather insensitive to other cultures.

A theme here that is also present in other Twain stories is the critique of romantic literature. In Huck Finn, it is commentary on romantic fiction writers. Here it was on the similarly romantic travel writers who detailed their fantastic excursions and wonderful experiences in such a manner that any real experience would pale in comparison. And, as Twain wrote it, most did. And those passengers who wrote home and in their journals kept to the romantic standard set by the guide book, turning their lack-luster experiences into perfection. Twain clearly felt the original source material and the writings of his fellow passengers to be equally pour reproductions of reality.

Overall, an enjoyable read. Twain brings you along for all the enjoyment and frustration of overseas travel. As you read, you realize that few things have changed in the people and the world---other than the population of Jerusalem and the view from the Duomo.

<i>Logicomix</i> by Apostolos Doxiadis and Christos H. Papadimitriou

I like these graphic novels with a historical basis. It gives me a quick read covering a historical topic in a manner that sticks with me a bit more as it is visual.

This graphic novel, much like Persepolis, covers a topic knew little about going into: Bertrand Russell and his work. While I have heard of Russell,I had no knowledge of his area of expertise, other than him being an intellectual.

This book tells the story of his intellectual development from his youth up through his older age, including his encounters with other logicians and mathematicians. I particularly liked the coverage o his youth, how he spent his time wondering around his grandparents's place. One other scene that was great and took advantage of the graphic novel format was a fist-fight between a group of mathematicians. it went from a discussion in one block to a BIFF! BAM! comic book fight. Amusing and effective in conveying the passion they had in their beliefs.

Although I enjoyed the book overall, I was a bit distracted by how the authors and artists were inserted into the story. I, personally, don't like that device, as I tend to immerse myself in the book, so stepping out breaks my concentration on the story more than, I think, the authors intend. I know they are trying to provide a certain perspective when using such a device, but I find it rarely works for me.

Here, I also felt the device wasn't as effective as intended. Including more context through more tales of Russell would have gone further and kept me engaged in the story. Also, since the story of Russell was told in a flashback, there were already to layers tot eh story. Coming out to the level of the authors added a third, further distancing me from the real point of telling this story: to teach people about logical modes of thought and Russell's work.

7/10

<i>Snow Crash</i> by Neal Stephenson

This is a first for me: a cyber-punk novel that I didn't lose my place in or otherwise lose the plot at some point. I was able to keep track of teh characters and understand what was going on for the entire book. Though I loved The Diamond Age, I lost the plot for a bit in the last 100 pages or so.

.There were a few interesting ideas that stuck with me. The first being the franchises. These took the corporate participation in American politics to a rather frightening conclusion. Unlike the traditional country with boarders, America is more a huge collection of individual corporations with individuals holding citizenship with them. There is no overall set of laws---each franchise controls its own land with its own force and internal rules.

Another was the visualization of cyberspace with a main street and houses, businesses, etc. Instead of logging on, you goggle-in, using a type of VR to interact with the cyber-world. a type of Second-Life, but with more people and more meaningful actions occurring.

I really liked the details Stephenson gave to some of the technology, like Y.T.'s skateboard, with all of its add-ons and exciting features. The wheels, in particular, which adjust to any surface to give a smooth ride---an adaptive surface. Very cool.

The mystery itself about the fundamental basis of language in the brain was interesting. I liked how Stephenson tied it tot he Tower of Babel story and how the story built on the myths regarding language and society's development. I think Stargate may have looked here a bit...

Great sci-fi. 8/10

<a href="http://www.happiness-project.com/"><i>The Happiness Project</i></a> by Gretchen Rubin

This book chronicles Gretchen's year-long attempt to try out happiness ideas, to see if they do, in fact, make her happier. Each month of her project has a theme (for example: Boost Energy, Remember Love, Be Serious About Play...), and she selects three to five resolutions related to that theme to add to her chart where she daily keeps track of how well she has stuck to each resolution.

It sounds like it could be really dull, but I actually enjoyed reading this book, and have tried to take on a few of Gretchen's resolutions. One thing she suggests is making your bed each morning, so that first thing you will have accomplished something (also, it's nice to go to bed in a made bed). Another is to tackle nagging tasks - I cleaned out my email inboxes yesterday and feel lighter. She also resolved to exercise more, which I am also attempting to do, but that's not really a direct result of having read this book.

Overall, this is a book I feel comfortable recommending to almost anyone - it's a quick, informative read, that I think I will probably read again with a notepad next to me. I liked a lot of the ideas she has, as well as am interested in looking up some of her sources.

7/10