Solution Architect. Aeronautical Engineer. Fascinated by Astronomy & Space. Addicted to SciFi.
A re-read for me on Kindle. I have the original paperback up in my attic. I first read this brilliant book many years ago – probably around 1999 but in writing this note, when I searched WikiPedia, it was published way back in1988. The technical world and concepts Iain M. Banks came up with for the Culture (I previously read Consider Phlebas from the same series) still stand up really well today.
Another Kindle read of James S.A. Corey’s Expanse series. Book 3 follows on from Book 2: Caliban’s War. Still enjoying it. I definitely visualise the characters from the Expanse series from Amazon Prime when reading it. Will take a break and read the next one soon.
The second in the Expanse series from James S. A. Corey. (I previously read Leviathan Wakes in the same series). A good read. Shows again how good the Amazon Prime TV adaptation was.
An enjoyable narrative woven by Irish economist David McWilliams about the use of money, currency and finance throughout human history. I’m a regular listener to McWilliams’ podcast with his collaborator John Davis on Spotify. Reading this book, it was fun hearing the author’s unique perspective on historic and economic upheavals such as the South Sea Bubble, the American Civil War, and the hyperinflationary period during the Weimar Republic in post WW1 Germany. The book has an extensive citation list and index so would also be a good reference for anyone interested in or studying macroeconomic history.
A holiday read and my first time reading Sebastian Faulks. I was interested in the main premise of the book around genetic engineering and resurrecting extinct human species. I’m a regular science fiction reader and enjoy speculative explorations about “what if”. However, that needs to coincide with plausible characters who react in a reasonable way. I found some of the plot a bit far-fetched. This book didn’t do it for me.
My first time reading Len Deighton. He is probably most well known for the film adaptation of his book “The Ipcress File” starring Michael Caine. SS-GB is a murder mystery set in an alternative history where Britain lost the war against Nazi Germany and is under occupation. Readers of Robert Harris’ “Fatherland” or Philip K. Dick’s “The Man in the High Castle” will enjoy this book immensely. The atmosphere of tension, fear and claustrophobia Deighton conjures is palpable. It reminded me (in a good way) of John Le Carré’s work.
This is the first in a new spy thriller series from Neal Stephenson. This book covers an interesting period of history during the aftermath of the Russian revolution and the American Great Depression. Hot takes: I did not realise where polo horses were bred in America. I also did not realise that American companies and architects helped design some of the Soviet Union’s blast furnaces for steel manufacturing. Great book and will certainly read the follow-up instalments.
See also Seveneves and Fall or Dodge in Hell.
Michael Lewis’ fascinating story about behavioural science and some of the key Israeli psychologists who’ve contributed to current thinking on the discipline has been a very enjoyable read and may affect how I interview job candidates in future as well as make me question myself more in my assumptions both professionally and privately. This book should be recommended reading for anyone involved with decision making, especially when those decisions may have significant impact on others.
I recently re-read Isaac Asimov’s seminal sci-fi epic Foundation after a very long time. Foundation and Empire is the next book in the series. I’m probably spoilt from reading the likes of Iain M. Banks, Stephen Baxter, and Alastair Reynolds so I found the foundation books a bit dry, a bit to serious. I miss the fun and invention of some of the more modern authors.
Great to get a book gift I really enjoyed from my fabulous eldest daughter. There are some interesting and innovative biological ideas in Alien Clay from Adrian Tchaikovsky (writer of Children of Time, Children of Ruin and Shards of Earth that I’ve previously read). A combination of sci-fi with a touch of horror. Will continue to read his stuff.