The Mechanical by Ian TregillisMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Enjoyed it. The French vs the damned Dutch. Who to root for? Neither, I'm for the Clankers.
Liked it enough to pick up the sequel.
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24.1.16
Review: The Mechanical
The Mechanical by Ian TregillisMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Enjoyed it. The French vs the damned Dutch. Who to root for? Neither, I'm for the Clankers.
Liked it enough to pick up the sequel.
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12.1.16
Review: The Traitor Baru Cormorant
The Traitor Baru Cormorant by Seth DickinsonMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I really enjoyed it up until the ending, then I wanted to throw it across the room.
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Review: Aurora
Aurora by Kim Stanley RobinsonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
The ending was unsatisfying. And I felt it left too many threads I was actually interested in hanging.
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Review: Seveneves
Seveneves by Neal StephensonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Enjoyed the read, but the third section was a bit of a slog compared to what came before it. An interesting exploration of development, but at times it just wore me down. And the reveal of origins was kind of lazy IMO. Two distinct branches that just so happen to have been intimates of two of the Eves? Not any of those that went up and died? Not of anyone completely unknown to them. I would like to have heard at least some projected mythology as to why the seven lines bothered to bring back the Y chromosome.
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The Secret You
Part of the BBC Horizons program, watched this, and had some thoughts I wanted to put to the pen. I do this as reaction to each part/experiment.
The first adult novel I read I stole from my mother. It was about two identical twin boys. By the conclusion, Twin A loathed Twin B, but Twin B sacrifices himself to save Twin A. I don't remember much about it, but the concept stuck with me.
Fast forward to now-ish, the movies Blade Runner and Moon being favorites of mine. The concept of identity persistence, that we as conscious beings seem to be defined less by our consistent characteristics and more by the manner and degree to which we disrupt the environment around us.
How is that evolved self-perception changed by scientific advances? If technology were developed that could, in a convincing manner, replicate your post activity on Facebook, capture your memories and make them available to others, extend your sensory self over vast distances and across an extended timeline...
Concepts like clones (mnemonic clones, not just genetic), digital download, future tech projections ...
Yeah, rambling build up for no good reason.
Back to the documentary...
Experiment 1: Mirror Self-Recognition Test
Having two sons, I can attest to the indescribable magic of seeing a developing child pass that threshold. How do our projections into virtual realities and alternate identities alter this self-recognition? Our awareness of our own mortality may be the single greatest evolutionary motivator we possess.
Experiment 2: Sublimation of Identity
The seat of the soul. I don't know that I have much to say on this segment.
Experiment 3: Displaced Perspective (Out of Body)
Jodorowsky's DUNE
Jodorowsky's Dune
So many feels. I really don't believe he didn't read the book. His ending may have not been faithful to the book, but I just can't see someone coming up with that imagery without familiarity with the novel.
Review: Lock In
Lock In by John ScalziMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
like the concept, and true to form, Scalzi is using it to explore interesting social issue
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Review: The Peripheral
The Peripheral by William GibsonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Classic Gibson. As in, I'm 8% in and I've not a single f'n clue what is going on. Detailed descriptions that convey no actual meaning. 80% completely synthetic.
I enjoyed it more than the Blue Ant series...a return to form of sorts.
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