The Disasters, M.K.England

The Disasters

by Megan M.K.England

(has to be #1 of several...)

subadult, science fiction

The cover made me expect humour. No, it's adventure.

copyright 2018

read in May 2024

rated 7/10: well worth reading

That rating is for *my* enjoyment.

The publisher is "Harper Teen", this is definitely a book for teens. There is teen angst. Directly related to the plot is, Yes we are saving millions of lives but does that entitle us to steal things? That is a surprising -- but valid -- question. Similar plots seldom directly question the ethics of law-breaking for the greater good. But these are nice, clever, honest kids, they have never before deliberately broken the law.

The plot itself is not great but entertaining. Remember when Star Wars was criticised for being "just" a Western set in space? Well this book could be a bunch of teens driving a hotted-up jalopy from town to town... except it's a hotted-up spaceship flying from planet to planet.

Hey! It works for me :-)

But the characters: At first I was thinking, I don't like these people. A bunch of losers, as predicted by the title -- but they, mostly the main hero, spend too much time thinking, Oh no I can't do this I'll crash and kill everyone. And they all tend to cry under pressure, good grief.

As I read further I thought, hang on, this is not your traditional gang of teens. This is a far more modern... gender-diverse, racially-diverse group, with a lot of, well, quite traditional teen hang-ups.

The gender-diverse threw me. Then I got to know the individuals, especially the hero. Yes, they lack self-confidence -- because they have made mistakes. Yes, they cry easily -- because that's how they are.

Eventually, the group tackles the well-crafted challenge and use their amazingly unbelievable computer skills -- plus some very unlikely sneaking round without being spotted -- and they set themselves up for further books.

Good fun with an extra good fun ending.

Oh. If the author happens to read this: As the hero develops their leadership skills -- they spend too much time telling us that that is what they are doing. Perhaps just show, with less tell.

I ended up enjoying this book. But there is a clear reason for rating it seven (rather than six, read to pass the time).

As I read, and learnt more about the characters, I realised, there is no character to whom I can particularly relate. Which made me realise: Okay... Now I understand why people say that they want a book (or movie) starring people who are more like themselves.

I am not gender-diverse. Nor racially-diverse. Nor even a teen. I kept looking for a character -- more like me.

And that is why it took me quite a while to enjoy the reading.

So -- lesson learned, in an enjoyable way. Thank you.

 

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

===

Bandaid solutions hurt when they are removed.

...Dying for you to Read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

the Nightmare Painter, Sanderson

Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, Brandon Sanderson

fantasy, subadult

copyright 2023

read in June 2024

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

The author took out his list of, Essential elements for a Young Adult potboiler --and ticked off the points one by one.

Young hero and heroine, of course.

Get them naked as soon as possible, make them embarrassed.

Make sure that they think about but never have sex.

Make the hero a well-meaning but misunderstood fringe member of the young group. With talents which will only prove their worth when the world is about to end.

Then provide good advice, or good examples, for the young readers... except that this book slaps you in the face with the advice. Yes, it's good advice but not when it's shouted in your face.

Then there's the science which drives the plot. Yes it's strange but this book is fantasy so that's okay.

What does not work is when the author drops the plot to say,  Oh dear there is no more plot so I'll have to tell you what was all about.

The final advice is central to the "science": Do not trust The Machine, where The Machine is AI.All very good, except that the lack of logic and lack of subtlety make it very hard to do anything other than nod and smile indulgently.

There is also a problem with the author being famous for setting all his books in one consistent universe. In this one standalone story -- it is annoying.

In particular, the third person omnipotent narrator seems to be a statue in a cafe. Really? So he appears in other books, so what? In this book it adds only confusion. Particularly since he sometimes says/writes , oh, I can't really explain what happened there.

For an author to write outside his usual rut -- he needs to move right out of that rut. Anything else is just confusing. Or an annoying cross-promotion.

Nick Lethbridge    /    Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting    /   Problems? Solved.
   ===


Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood
   

Stranger in a Strange Land / Robert A Heinlein

Stranger in a Strange Land, 

by Robert A Heinlein

science fiction

first published 1961

read (again) May 2024

rated 7/10: well worth reading

Yes, it's a classic, that's why it's rated seven. Otherwise it would be five: readable but...

Add one point because it's a classic. And essential reading to see how science fiction has changed.

Add another point because the book is packed full of ideas. Unfortunately some of those ideas are strange. Or at least out of step with current attitudes.

I read this book several decades ago, quite close to its publication date. Even then I noticed the author's attitude to women: for example, when important matters are to be discussed -- the women are sent to the kitchen to make sandwiches.

Many political points are still valid, such as the "flapper" -- a subordinate whose job is to prevent people from talking to the important person. (Still valid and attributed to the even older Gulliver's Travels.) And yes, there probably are still leaders who depend, directly or not, on astrologers.

Use of force for political ends is, I hope, less common. In some countries.

There are still religions where "good" really means "good for us".

Political decisions forced by unelected individuals with money and influence is... well, still common.

Okay, come to think of it -- the ideas are still relevant.

So what about the solutions? Probably a bit extreme. Dependent on goodwill and wishful thinking -- maybe worth considering... If only the solutions could be supported by a Man from Mars with super-powers of control. And extreme goodwill.

One good point: the author spends only a few pages preaching to the reader... for Heinlein, that's good.

Final admission:

I started reading because I remember confusion over the discovery of the super-powers. This time it's clear. But I have memories of the Martian Messiah becoming ridiculous. I intended to read only half the book. Which I've done. If I read more -- I'll come back and add to this review.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

===

Bandaid solutions hurt when they are removed.

...Dying for you to Read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

The Future / Naomi Alderton

The Future

by Naomi Alderton

science fiction

copyright 2023

read in May 2024

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

I've just deleted my first review of this book.

Not because I disagree with it but because I finally... finally, read past the wishful thinking and found an enjoyable novel.

If you can read to the end -- the book is easy to read but contains a lot of nonsense -- you will find a good science fiction novel.

The cast of characters is compact but the story includes a wide range of groups.

There are the preppers. Stockpiling weapons and supplies in preparation for the end of the world.

There is the influencer who reviews the weapons and supplies, with no practical understanding of their use or value.

There is the religious cult. Already living in post-apocalyptic survival mode.

And the internet discussion group. And clever coders who can crack security codes oved pizza and illegal substances.

And the filthy rich tech sellers who have built their own survival bunkers.

All of these people play important roles. Yet there is the strong feeling that the author has absolutely zero "lived experience". All of her ideas are from the public, or internet, perception of how these people will think and act.

One example: An escapee from the cult is able to impress her urban companions with her ability to dress a rabbit. Her method results in a mess of blood and gore. It's meant to demonstrate her knife skills. Circumstantial evidence would indicate that she had used a chainsaw.

The overall theme is, one, humans are destroying the environment. Two, Nice people could take simple actions to save the world. Of course these actions would be expensive, so they must be done by other, really rich, people.

There is a thread of fundamentalist religion, with the Old Testament interpreted to support the author's message.

We are told that all  the world's ills are due to (1) brother hating brother and (2) city dwellers ignoring (or destroying) the Noble Savage. Cain and Abel are given as the original fighting brothers. Which is interesting. As I read the OT, It was God who *told* one brother to grow crops and the other to raise animals. (Not hunt and gather as this book says). Then it was God who praised one brother and dissed the other.

Not brother hating brother rather, the boss deliberately causing jealousy and hatred. (Feel free to correct my memory of the OT).

Finally... the book is very modern and exclusively "gender inclusive"

The lesbian lovers are "good". The male queer is almost as good. Straight couples are the evil manipulators and destroyers. The Enbee person is both good and clever.

It was when I read the enbee's list of actions which would save the world that I almost gave up in disgust. A list of nonsense items which -- if only someone else would spend a lot of money -- would save the world.

For example: insulation for everyone. Yes, that will save energy for the people who live in first-world structures. For the people of, say, Gaza and very poor countries -- who live in shelters made of plastic sheets and rubble -- it will need more than pink batts to raise their standard of living.

So at 40% read, I was embarrassed.

Still, easy to read, so I read on.

Somewhere past half way and the story began to make sense.

The author shifted from a woke diatribe to an engaging plot. With enough original ideas, futuristic science and human character to make for an interesting novel. Still a bit embarrassing but worth reading.

A good author can provide a readable novel with the spice of ideas which linger on in the reader's mind. This author slathers her ideas on like marmalade, which is fine -- if you already enjoy marmalade.

If you can read the first half, resist the urge to laugh out loud -- this book is worth reading. To pass the time. Or to reinforce your existing views.

a bit later: Oh, I almost forgot. One point where the author is absolutely correct... AI is absolutely *not* intelligence.

Dr Nick Lethbridge / Consulting Dexitroboper

===

Bandaid solutions hurt when they are removed.

...Dying for you to Read my blog: notdotdeaddotyet.blogspot.com

killing floor, Lee Child

killing floor

(Jack Reacher #1)

by Lee Child

copyright 1998

read in May 2024

thriller

rated 8/10: really quite good

I've only read three Reacher books. So far, they seem to all have the same plot.

But what a very enjoyable plot.

From memory, the violence in this first book is just as brutal but nastier.

Every villain gets his (yes, his) comeuppance. Good people may be threatened, maybe hurt but they will survive.

Great fun and very satisfying. Though not suitable for children or the sensitive.
Characters are sympathetic. Even the weeds have their strong points.

The plot becomes more and more complex... unbelievably complex and somewhat ridiculous, really. But great fun.

I can see why this book was followed by many more.

I started with a rating of seven. Just upped it to eight: if you like any Reacher books then this first book is really quite good.

a bit later: The violence is brutal, nasty. I don't generally enjoy violence. Why do I accept it in this book?

The violence is awful but: it occurs off-screen. There are people who clean up after, and are sick in a corner, but there is no description of the actual occurrence. (I think. Let me know if I'm wrong.)

Second: all the worst violence happens to people who "deserve it". At least, to people who would have happily done it to others. So, karmic violence.

Nasty, brutal violence against people for whom we have little sympathy (mostly). The effects are described -- but second-hand. Well after the violence has occurred. This all makes it much more, for those with not too delicate sensibilities, more acceptable.

Nick Lethbridge    /    Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting    /   Problems? Solved.
   ===


Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood
   

Star's End, Cassandra Rose Clarke

Star's End

by Cassandra Rose Clarke

dystopia, science fiction

copyright 2023

part read May 2024

rated 7/10: well worth reading

... though that may change.

The idea of worlds ruled by a sales oriented corporation is not new. Though the word corpocracy is new, to me.

This book is science fiction. It is also dystopia -- on several levels.

The corpocracy has complete control of its citizen/employees. The control is not benevolent.

Worse, the corporation is owned and controlled by one man. A man who is -- in the words of his own family -- an arsehole.

This brings the second level of dystopia, the family.

The father is a psychotic control freak. There are constant, unexplained, references to the terrible things he has done to his family and to his worlds. I think, in general terms, I can guess.

The story jumps in and out of three or four time periods. Presumably the book will end in the "now" and all will be explained.

I'd like to get the explanation but... I can't be bothered.

Over the years my reading speed has slowed. At my current speed this book is sooo very tedious.. And repetitive.

After 220 pages -- of 400 -- I stop reading.

I've rated it seven. Since it has proven to be unreadable, I may change that rating to a much lower score. I'll think about it.

Nick Lethbridge    /    Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting    /   Problems? Solved.
   ===


Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood
   

Exogenesis / Peco Gaskovski

Exogenesis 

by Peco Gaskovski

dystopia,

copyright 2023

read in May 2024

rated 6/10: read to pass the time

traditional science fiction explores, what-if? What if this advance becomes common, how will it affect society. Exemplified by a small group of affected protagonists.

This book uses that approach.With a double what if leading to a schism: a society based on religion and a society based on science (of the body and of the mind).

the author compares the two. He seems to balance his views. The science society, in particular, is intelligently presented.

I find that both societies are terrible. 

Both societies aim for absolute control of their citizens.

Anyway. the main characters do their thing, with mixed success. The key characters are likeable enough that I hope they survive, if not necessarily succeed.

At the end, all is nicely wrapped up. At the society level the end is satisfying. The end for the individuals, however, is rushed, disjointed and unclear.

what if exogenesis well presented, with good analysis of its effects.

Two, in my view, dystopian societies, with less misery than most.

Nick Lethbridge    /    Consulting Dexitroboper
Agamedes Consulting    /   Problems? Solved.
   ===


Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood