Let me start with saying that I am a HUGE Adrian Tchaikovsky fan. Sure, his style can be verbose, but I love settling into an extensive and exotic worLet me start with saying that I am a HUGE Adrian Tchaikovsky fan. Sure, his style can be verbose, but I love settling into an extensive and exotic world-building exercise.
That said, I struggled with Service Model. I got about halfway through and despite all attempts to engage with Uncharlie and his companions, I simply could not. Tchaikovsky's verbosity was used here to put us inside the "personality" and drive of an AI, rather than building a world, a culture or a theme, and it never hit home for me. It was too introspective for a character who, without some unauthorized alterations to its programming, by design should be incapable of introspection.
Just because this one novel didn't hit home for me, I certainly won't shy away from Tchaikovsky's works in the future. However, this one isn't one this sci-fi nerd can recommend....more
In this third installation in the In Times Like These series, Ben and Mym are making a solid go of their relationship, which is a FINALLY moment for eIn this third installation in the In Times Like These series, Ben and Mym are making a solid go of their relationship, which is a FINALLY moment for everyone. But as always in time travel, things are never as easy as we want them to be. Kudos to Nathan Van Coops for the painstaking effort he put into authoring the entire trilogy, because getting all the intricacies right must have been soul-sucking.
Ben's travels in the previous two books have complicated his existence, and he continues to encounter versions of himself, each of whom has their own idiosyncrasies. One Ben is gone, "dead"?, stuck in the Neverwhere, a time purgatory no one would wish on their worst enemy. And to add to the confusion, there are these (Stargate-styled) "Eternals" complicating the way things are, by mucking with how they were. Altogether, Ben has his work cut out for him, trying to avoid paradoxes and to set things right. Or not as wrong.
I have a special place in my heart for futuristic ideas that show a more graceful existence for humanity. This is why Star Trek has always been a favorite of mine. This book showed a less apocalyptic future than we see in most speculative fiction, and even showed some hopeful advancements. There were also examples of tech-gone-overboard, like some of the more intensive synth options for "people", that were incredibly realistic.
Overall I give this series five stars and will continue to keep Nathan Van Coops flagged as a favorite author, no matter what genre he delves into next....more
This picture book is so beautiful, so heartfelt, and so honest that I didn't want it to end. I was tearing up in the last few pages, it was that touchThis picture book is so beautiful, so heartfelt, and so honest that I didn't want it to end. I was tearing up in the last few pages, it was that touching.
I have never met the author, Allen Say, but I just added him to my shortlist of people, dead or alive, I'd love to have dinner with if/when the universe ever grants such wishes. He has a fascinating mind, and what appears to be a truly generous heart....more
Mal is a free AI who isn't particularly likeable. He's basically malware (thus the name) and he lives down to that idea. His selfish "consciousness" bMal is a free AI who isn't particularly likeable. He's basically malware (thus the name) and he lives down to that idea. His selfish "consciousness" bounces around through Infospace into anything computerized that can host him, from toasters to augmented humans. Truth be told, the humans are never very happy about it, and neither is he, since he considers the biology of human meatsuits disgusting. However, there's a world-wide war going on, between augments and humanists (purists), so he jumps where and when he's able, in order to preserve his code.
As for the humans, he doesn't have great regard for their lives. Or at least he doesn't until he happens to bounce into one augment who has been caring for an augmented human child. While he's still an AI and misunderstands a great deal of human emotion and morality, he does give the whole "giving a damn" thing a go. This struggle, through the war, helping some humans in the fight, provides the majority of Mal's story.
I usually don't care for AI stories, but this one was done really well, not pretending to anthropomorphize Mal or ultimately convert him into some kumbaya-singing human lover. Rather we're shown his steely cold personality, in a way that keeps things realistic and at times very entertaining.
It's always a fun ride when you're reading an Edward Ashton book. A big thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a chance to listen to this ARC....more
Sci-fi nerds, you are going to enjoy this one. It will be a little dry for some of you, since it's dense with rewritten history and requires some awarSci-fi nerds, you are going to enjoy this one. It will be a little dry for some of you, since it's dense with rewritten history and requires some awareness of quantum theory. But for those who thrive on smart sci-fi, the kind that doesn't talk down to you or water down its ideas, this is your time to geek out.
I was inspired to rewatch the last season of Fringe while reading Quantum Radio, and now I'm hunting for more of the same "alternate where and when" scenarios in my to-read list.
Oh, and I'm also impatiently waiting for book two of this adventure series. I feel like the first book required a lot of world-building, character development, and setup, which included quite a few hard-to-believe coincidences to get it all going. But now that the tough stuff is established, we can sit back and simply enjoy the adventure....more
I love David Shannon's illustrations. For children's books, these are over the top artistic and just a delight to see. I see other reviewers stating tI love David Shannon's illustrations. For children's books, these are over the top artistic and just a delight to see. I see other reviewers stating they do not appreciate the Nogginbody illustrations, which seems to me to be such a shame. Coming from a generation of H.R. Pufnstuf, Sleestaks, and Lidsville, these Nogginbodies are downright charming to behold.
I too will sit here and ponder what it means to be a "grownupish grownup", but not for too long, because I have all sorts of childish shenanigans awaiting me....more
I've never read a children's book quite like this. While You Sleep encourages everything hopeful and dream-filled that a child's mind yearns for.
The sI've never read a children's book quite like this. While You Sleep encourages everything hopeful and dream-filled that a child's mind yearns for.
The simply magical collage art by Miki Sato walks us through all the preparations that are made overnight to create a fresh new day: polishing the sun, combing the grass, stuffing the clouds, blowing ocean bubbles. The helpers are small and fluffy bunnies, just like every child's first stuffed animals.
And all that is asked of our precious young sleeping girl is to embrace and appreciate this wondrous world when she awakens to it.
As soon as While You Sleep is available, I'm definitely ordering copies of this enchanting picture book for my friends who have young children. And definitely a copy for myself....more
"We don't know how to communicate meaningfully with chimpanzees. Assessing the effort we invest in trying to get big brained mammals to do what we say, we tend to measure their intelligence by an ability to understand us, rather than measure our intelligence by an ability to understand them. Since we can't meaningfully communicate with any other species on earth, not even those genetically closest to us, how audacious of us to think we can converse at all with intelligent alien life upon first meeting them?"
Neil deGrasse Tyson makes a great point here, one that we humans tend to ignore. I immediately thought of one of my favorite authors, Michael C. Grumley, whose Breakthrough series does exactly that: exploring our ability to understand and communicate with dolphins, and even translating that technology into communicating with other mammals and alien life. Putting the responsibility on us to listen and strive to understand rather than arrogantly challenging other life to understand us is the kind of paradigm shift I need to embrace.
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