Tag: History

SS-GB

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.

Polostan

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.

Through Fiery Trials

This is the 10th book in David Weber’s “Safehold” series. I’ve been reading these for many years. Although notionally a science fiction series, a lot of the focus is on the historic scientific progression that was required to advance humanity’s weapons technology used on land, sea, and in the air. In that regard, the series starts from a technical base of approximately the late dark ages or early Middle Ages and brings us to a technology level close to the end of the 19th century. Weber shows an incredible amount of historical and scientific knowledge – many of the scenarios and examples in the series could have been lifted from the American Civil War, WW1 and others. There is also a huge religious aspect to the series with schisms and intrigues similar to what happened in Europe in the middle-ages. I’m still enjoying the series and hopefully David Weber will wrap it up soon.

The Celts

Simon Jenkins has created an enjoyable history book describing the story of the people of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. It runs from pre-Roman times up to the present day. I would have read some of this history when in school but was hazy on parts. The book is a good primer / revision of this history of this part of the world.

Continue reading The Celts

Doom – The Politics of Catastrophe

As I complete reading this book from Niall Ferguson, the topic of the Pandemic is front of mind as I’ve just been to my local pharmacy to get my latest Covid vaccine booster. This followed on from an SMS message from the HSE (our national health service in Ireland). I’m conscious how fortunate I am (and all of us) to be able to receive this inoculation and enable us to continue to live normal lives. I commented to the pharmacist that we shouldn’t take the vaccine for granted. We both agreed that while the pandemic (looking back from our autumn 2023 perspective) now seems like a dream, society shouldn’t forget the lessons learned nor the heavy price paid by those most vulnerable.

Continue reading Doom – The Politics of Catastrophe

The Radetsky March

The Radetsky March was very atmospheric and probably had the most vivid description of alcohol and gambling addiction I’ve read. Joseph Roth describes the stagnant and failing Austro-Hungarian empire vividly through deep characters. A great novel. Read in June 2023.

Travels with Charley

John Steinbeck’s description of the protests over school integration in New Orleans in 1960 were chilling – “The little girl did not look at the howling crowd but from the side the whites of her eyes showed like those of a frightened fawn.” Read in April 2023.

The Power of Geography

Just finished The Power of Geography from Tim Marshall. Great read – interesting insights on the Sahel and Horn of Africa. Recommend. Read in November 2022.

Surely you’re Joking Mr. Feynmann

Quantum physicist Richard Feynman was a unique character – definitely not monochrome. 23 years since I last read this collection of stories and he’d still near the top of my fantasy dinner party list. Re-read in June 2021.