Damn. I thought I only had to read the first one but the list says Dune CHRONICLES. I have to read ALL of them before I can cross them off. Almost everyone I talked to said the first book is the best and the rest aren't as good.
The fist book was.. uh.. OK, I guess. It wasn't great. There were a lot of opportunities to make things really epic that just weren't taken. Most of the battles could have been more exciting. Feyd-Rautha Harkonen fights a gladiator in one chapter and that combat sequence is done well but the other ones are lacking somehow. The big battles are also glossed over and slow. You can do so much more with those sand worms.. but again, you only get a glimpse. There are chances for so much epic awesomeness but maybe that's not what Herbert is good at.
For all of his talk about "feints within feints" and plots and secrecy, the characters sure seem to be rather black and white. Barron Vladimir Harkonen is clearly E V I L. He is also fat and Russian.. predictable for a cold war era author perhaps. Paul, on the other hand, is always good. He is brave and strong and smart. He leads the Fremen in the desert against their.. Russian.. oppressors.. Hello? Afghanistan?
There are some neat plot twists and turns, but the reader always knows about them. They are secret from the characters but not the audience. I suppose I'm more used to having to figure things out or discover the nuanced details of the characters as you progress thru the book.. but that doesn't really happen here.
I guess we'll see what the other two have to offer..
**Addendum: not much is the answer. I got 100+ pages thru Messiah and NOTHING has happened. Revenant Duncan Idaho is neat. The naked sword-fight against the practice drone was neat.. but that is all that there was in the first half of the book. I had accidentally started reading Children of Dune first and didn't even realize it. It was totally ho-hum too.
He does write pretty, though. These are three of many great passages.
Dune P31
Paul shrugged. " Then she said a good ruler has to learn his planet's language, that it's different for every world. And I thought she meant they didn't speak Galach or Arrakis, but she said that wasn't it at all. She said she meant the language of the rocks and the growing things, the language you don't just hear with your ears. And I said that's what Dr. Yueh calls the mastery of life.".
Dune p230
What do you despise? by this are you truly known.
Dune p277
And I am a desert creature, Kynes thought. You see me, Father? I am a desert creature.
He felt the bubble lift him, felt it break and the dust whirlpool engulf him, dragging him down into the cool darkness. For a moment, the sensation of coolness and moisture were blessed relief. Then, as his planet killed him, it occurred to Kynes that his father and all the other scientists were wrong, that the most persistent principles of the universe were accident and error.
Even the hawks could appreciate these facts.
Messiah p19
"We of the Tleilexu believe that in all the universe there is only one insatiable appetite of matter, that energy is the only true solid. And energy learns. Hear me well, princes: energy learns. This we call power"
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
#61 The Mote in God's Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle
Starts off a little slow, but by the end I thought this is one of the best SciFi books I have read so far. Humans expand thru the universe and have found life on other planets, but no intelligent life until now. Daring young captain Rod Blaine is sent on a mission to investigate a probe entering the Empire's space that must have been launched from an intelligent species somewhere. The star that the probe came from appears as a small speck of light alone in the "eye" of a constellation that is thought of as a face of a "god".
After investigating the probe, they are sent to investigate the mote. Once they meet the "Moties" they need to find out if they will be friend or foe.
This is the first book by Jerry that I have read. I did read Ringworld by Larry, and I think I see Jerry's influence here. My guess is that Larry wrote the science / space stuff and Jerry wrote the character development and the intriguing plot. I found the characters thin and the plot simple in Ringworld, but the science was super cool. They seem to compliment each other well.
One criticism that I have is that they chose not to write a future where humanity has progressed to men and women being more equal. Sally is a very important and influential character. She is a scientist and an aristocrat. She is very powerful and independent, but she is the only female on the ship. No women sail in the Galactic Navy. When the main conflict is over she is expected to take her place as Rod's wife and have no further ambition following that.
They can predict space travel, but not equality?? Come on, boys..
P 444
"You are so cold! Can you not rejoice with me? We are saved!"
"Study Renner."
"Yes... I know that look. He wears it playing poker, when his down card is an unexpected one. It does not help us. But her has no power, Charlie! A wanderer with no sense of responsibility!"
"Perhaps. We juggle priceless eggs in variable gravity. I am afraid. I will taste fear until I die."
p 454
"No use." said Charlie. "Taste the irony. For millions of years we have been in a bottle. Its shape has shaped our species to our detriment. Now we have found the opening, and now the Navy pours thru to burn our worlds."
P 457
They stood for a long time on the balcony outside Rod's suite. Faint sounds of a city after dark floated up to them. The Hooded Man rose high in the sky, his baleful red eye watching them with indifference: two human lovers who would send squadrons of ships into the Eye itself and keep them there, until they too passed away...
It took most of the book, but i finally found some things worth quoting. The first two are from Moties.
After investigating the probe, they are sent to investigate the mote. Once they meet the "Moties" they need to find out if they will be friend or foe.
This is the first book by Jerry that I have read. I did read Ringworld by Larry, and I think I see Jerry's influence here. My guess is that Larry wrote the science / space stuff and Jerry wrote the character development and the intriguing plot. I found the characters thin and the plot simple in Ringworld, but the science was super cool. They seem to compliment each other well.
One criticism that I have is that they chose not to write a future where humanity has progressed to men and women being more equal. Sally is a very important and influential character. She is a scientist and an aristocrat. She is very powerful and independent, but she is the only female on the ship. No women sail in the Galactic Navy. When the main conflict is over she is expected to take her place as Rod's wife and have no further ambition following that.
They can predict space travel, but not equality?? Come on, boys..
P 444
"You are so cold! Can you not rejoice with me? We are saved!"
"Study Renner."
"Yes... I know that look. He wears it playing poker, when his down card is an unexpected one. It does not help us. But her has no power, Charlie! A wanderer with no sense of responsibility!"
"Perhaps. We juggle priceless eggs in variable gravity. I am afraid. I will taste fear until I die."
p 454
"No use." said Charlie. "Taste the irony. For millions of years we have been in a bottle. Its shape has shaped our species to our detriment. Now we have found the opening, and now the Navy pours thru to burn our worlds."
P 457
They stood for a long time on the balcony outside Rod's suite. Faint sounds of a city after dark floated up to them. The Hooded Man rose high in the sky, his baleful red eye watching them with indifference: two human lovers who would send squadrons of ships into the Eye itself and keep them there, until they too passed away...
It took most of the book, but i finally found some things worth quoting. The first two are from Moties.
Friday, August 14, 2015
#65 I Am Legeng by Richard Matheson
This is actually a rather short book that is followed by several short stories that have nothing to do with the title work. I did not read all of the following shorts, but they were quite good.
The copy of this book that I read had a big picture of Will Smith on the cover and said "Now a major motion picture!" The book and the movie are so totally different that you can't really compare the two.
Matheson gets really into the depressive psychological self mutilation of Robert Neville, the last man on earth. A plague has turned everyone into zombie / vampires and he is holed up in his house utterly alone. He battles the drive to survive with the anguish and guilt of being the only survivor. Matheson really likes to get into the mind of all of his characters. He sets it up really well so that you can feel what they are feeling. It is a little scary at times.
Neville, while on a good manic streak, heads to the local University's library and studies up on medicine to try to figure out what happened and how to combat / cure it. He gets deep enough into medical jargon and has everything based well enough in reality to make a really plausible seeming explanation of where zombies and vampires came from. Being a medical person myself, I found this aspect really COOL!
p32
But are his needs any more shocking than the needs of other animals or men? Are his deeds more outrageous than the deeds of a parent who drained the spirit of his child? the vampire may foster quickened heartbeats and levitated hair, but is he worse than the parent who gave society a neurotic child that became a politician? Is he worse than the manufacturer who set up belated foundations with money made from handing bombs and guns to suicidal nationalists? s he worse than the distiller who gave basterdized grain juice to stoltify the further the brains of those who, sober, were incapable of progressive thought? ... Is he worse than the publisher who filled the ubiquitous racks with lust and death wishes? Really, now, search your soul, lovie - Is the vampire so bad?
All he does is drink blood.
p78
He stood there for a moment looking around the silent room, shaking his head slowly. All these books, he thought, the residue of a planet's intellect, the scrapings of futile minds, the leftovers, the potpourri of artifacts that had no power to save men from perishing.
The copy of this book that I read had a big picture of Will Smith on the cover and said "Now a major motion picture!" The book and the movie are so totally different that you can't really compare the two.
Matheson gets really into the depressive psychological self mutilation of Robert Neville, the last man on earth. A plague has turned everyone into zombie / vampires and he is holed up in his house utterly alone. He battles the drive to survive with the anguish and guilt of being the only survivor. Matheson really likes to get into the mind of all of his characters. He sets it up really well so that you can feel what they are feeling. It is a little scary at times.
Neville, while on a good manic streak, heads to the local University's library and studies up on medicine to try to figure out what happened and how to combat / cure it. He gets deep enough into medical jargon and has everything based well enough in reality to make a really plausible seeming explanation of where zombies and vampires came from. Being a medical person myself, I found this aspect really COOL!
p32
But are his needs any more shocking than the needs of other animals or men? Are his deeds more outrageous than the deeds of a parent who drained the spirit of his child? the vampire may foster quickened heartbeats and levitated hair, but is he worse than the parent who gave society a neurotic child that became a politician? Is he worse than the manufacturer who set up belated foundations with money made from handing bombs and guns to suicidal nationalists? s he worse than the distiller who gave basterdized grain juice to stoltify the further the brains of those who, sober, were incapable of progressive thought? ... Is he worse than the publisher who filled the ubiquitous racks with lust and death wishes? Really, now, search your soul, lovie - Is the vampire so bad?
All he does is drink blood.
p78
He stood there for a moment looking around the silent room, shaking his head slowly. All these books, he thought, the residue of a planet's intellect, the scrapings of futile minds, the leftovers, the potpourri of artifacts that had no power to save men from perishing.
Thursday, August 6, 2015
#37 20,000 Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne
This is the first book I ever read not-on-paper. Usually when I return one book I pick up my next one. This visit was cut short by unexpected circumstances and I had to leave without anything to read that day. I purchased this book on my phone for 99c.
I had initially thought the book - being 150 years old - might be difficult to read but I found it not so. After a moment's thought I realized that it was first written in French (duah) and I am reading an abridged translation of Verne's words - not the original writing. Naturally they smoothed out some of the rough patches.
This is a great book of adventure, but I wouldn't really call it "science-fiction" per se. Maybe it was science fiction when Verne wrote it.. submarines were in their infancy at that time and the technology in the Nautilus was still quite a ways off.
The book has periods of truly gripping and suspenseful adventure interspersed with pages of M. Aronnax, Conseil and Ned Land talking about fish. Describing the fish they see. Discussing fishing. Classifying different fish and what orders and families they belong in. Talking about cooking fish. More calcifying the fish they see on their travels.. ugh. Meanwhile the exciting bits go by a bit too quickly. I still enjoyed it, but there is a big *meh* factor throughout.
p224
It was an indescribable spectacle! Ah, why could we not communicate our sensations? Why are we imprisoned under these masks of metal and glass? Why are words between us forbidden? Why did we at least not live the life of the fish that people the liquid element, or rather that of the amphibians, who, during long hours, can transverse as they like the double domain of land and water?
p378
Here may be seen the primordial rocks that have never known the light of heaven, the lower granites that form the powerful foundation of the globe, the profound grottoes dug out of the stony mass, the outlines of such incomparable clearness, the border-lines of which stand out black as if due to the brush of certain Flemish artist. Then, beyond, an horizon of mountains, an admirable undulating line composing the background of the landscape. I cannot describe the effects of these smooth black polished rocks, destitute of moss, without a stain, and with such strange forms solidly resting on a carpet of sand that sparkled in the electric light.
p507
It was vulgar misanthropy that enclosed Captain Nemo and his companions in the sides of the Nautilus, but a sublime hatred that time could not quench.
I had initially thought the book - being 150 years old - might be difficult to read but I found it not so. After a moment's thought I realized that it was first written in French (duah) and I am reading an abridged translation of Verne's words - not the original writing. Naturally they smoothed out some of the rough patches.
This is a great book of adventure, but I wouldn't really call it "science-fiction" per se. Maybe it was science fiction when Verne wrote it.. submarines were in their infancy at that time and the technology in the Nautilus was still quite a ways off.
The book has periods of truly gripping and suspenseful adventure interspersed with pages of M. Aronnax, Conseil and Ned Land talking about fish. Describing the fish they see. Discussing fishing. Classifying different fish and what orders and families they belong in. Talking about cooking fish. More calcifying the fish they see on their travels.. ugh. Meanwhile the exciting bits go by a bit too quickly. I still enjoyed it, but there is a big *meh* factor throughout.
p224
It was an indescribable spectacle! Ah, why could we not communicate our sensations? Why are we imprisoned under these masks of metal and glass? Why are words between us forbidden? Why did we at least not live the life of the fish that people the liquid element, or rather that of the amphibians, who, during long hours, can transverse as they like the double domain of land and water?
p378
Here may be seen the primordial rocks that have never known the light of heaven, the lower granites that form the powerful foundation of the globe, the profound grottoes dug out of the stony mass, the outlines of such incomparable clearness, the border-lines of which stand out black as if due to the brush of certain Flemish artist. Then, beyond, an horizon of mountains, an admirable undulating line composing the background of the landscape. I cannot describe the effects of these smooth black polished rocks, destitute of moss, without a stain, and with such strange forms solidly resting on a carpet of sand that sparkled in the electric light.
p507
It was vulgar misanthropy that enclosed Captain Nemo and his companions in the sides of the Nautilus, but a sublime hatred that time could not quench.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
#30 A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
When I first dug in to this book I thought it might be a bit difficult to get thru. It is written in the first person narrative style - the main character speaking directly to the reader. Alex speaks to you using that futuristic cockney slang that Malcolm McDowell so brilliantly brought to horrorshow life in Stanley Kubrick's film. You do soon get used to all the listos and glazies and such, O My Brother, so it is not that bad after all.
There is an introduction before the edition that I read that gives the impression that Burgess isn't as fond of this work as everyone else is. If I remember right, Kubrick wasn't all that proud of the film version either. Perhaps bringing to life a character as horrible as young Alex puts you off a bit.
And Alex is thoroughly awful. Believe it or not, Kubrick changed some things to clean him up a little bit. Burgess' Alex is absolutely detestable.. and he attempts to ingratiate himself to the reader by referring to himself as "You Humble Narrator" and your "Friend". Ugh - barf.
Normally, in a philosophical work such as this, the deeper message is more nebulous.. something you are forced to ponder and piece together.. but not here. Burgess comes right out and tells you the precise meaning and explains the metaphor - right in the book - of the "clockwork orange". He spends pages explicitly detailing the meaning of what he is saying about human nature and crime and punishment. I guess I am used to some more obscurity for things of this nature.
The book is divided up into three sections, each begins with Alex being asked "What's it going to be then, eh?" This particular line gets to the heart of the major philosophical issue in the book: CHOICE. Alex chooses to be who he is (evil) and the justice system takes away his ability to choose. I suppose he should be locked up for life because he only chooses to hurt people for his own gain, but I suppose he should not have his humanity stripped from him even if he is a shitty human.
P44
They don't go into what is the cause of goodness, so why the other shop? If lewdies are good that's because they like it, and I wouldn't ever interfere with their pleasure, and so of the other shop. And I was patronizing the other shop. More, badness is of the self, the one, the you or me on our oddy knockies, and that self is made by the old Bog or God and is his great pride and radosty. But the not-self cannot have the bad, meaning they of the government and the judges and the schools cannot allow the bad because they cannot allow the self. And is not our modern history, my brothers, the story of brave malenky selves fighting with these big machines? I am serious with you, brothers, over this. But what I do I do because I like to do.
There is an introduction before the edition that I read that gives the impression that Burgess isn't as fond of this work as everyone else is. If I remember right, Kubrick wasn't all that proud of the film version either. Perhaps bringing to life a character as horrible as young Alex puts you off a bit.
And Alex is thoroughly awful. Believe it or not, Kubrick changed some things to clean him up a little bit. Burgess' Alex is absolutely detestable.. and he attempts to ingratiate himself to the reader by referring to himself as "You Humble Narrator" and your "Friend". Ugh - barf.
Normally, in a philosophical work such as this, the deeper message is more nebulous.. something you are forced to ponder and piece together.. but not here. Burgess comes right out and tells you the precise meaning and explains the metaphor - right in the book - of the "clockwork orange". He spends pages explicitly detailing the meaning of what he is saying about human nature and crime and punishment. I guess I am used to some more obscurity for things of this nature.
The book is divided up into three sections, each begins with Alex being asked "What's it going to be then, eh?" This particular line gets to the heart of the major philosophical issue in the book: CHOICE. Alex chooses to be who he is (evil) and the justice system takes away his ability to choose. I suppose he should be locked up for life because he only chooses to hurt people for his own gain, but I suppose he should not have his humanity stripped from him even if he is a shitty human.
P44
They don't go into what is the cause of goodness, so why the other shop? If lewdies are good that's because they like it, and I wouldn't ever interfere with their pleasure, and so of the other shop. And I was patronizing the other shop. More, badness is of the self, the one, the you or me on our oddy knockies, and that self is made by the old Bog or God and is his great pride and radosty. But the not-self cannot have the bad, meaning they of the government and the judges and the schools cannot allow the bad because they cannot allow the self. And is not our modern history, my brothers, the story of brave malenky selves fighting with these big machines? I am serious with you, brothers, over this. But what I do I do because I like to do.
Sunday, July 19, 2015
#42 the Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley
When I first picked it up, I was thinking I might be overdosing on King Arthur. My level of interest quickly heightened when I saw that it was the Arthurian legends from the FEMALE perspective. And naturally it was quite good.
All of the characters, no matter how strong their convictions or how powerful they are, show a lot of insecurities and have a very high capacity for self doubt. I found it interesting on how quickly all of the women flowed back and forth between jealousy - almost to the point of hostility - and supportive sisterhood. Viviane, Igraine and Morguase have a sisterly relationship that is based on equal parts love and resentment; magical power and subjected duty; guilt and sacrifice.. and pride.
Gwenhwyfar and Morgaine constantly stab and forgive each other. Each feels like the other one got what she should have had. They are horribly envious of each other, but somewhat comfortable in the knowledge that the other doesn't have it that good either. They accuse and forgive - several times - within the span of just a few breaths.
It is tragic, but beautiful. ..why the "but"?.. It is tragic AND beautiful.
Perhaps this is somewhat of a glimpse of what goes on in a woman's mind all of the time.. if so.. yikes.
p48
They had reached the door of their lodging; Gorlois his face turning dark with wrath, pushed her angrily within. "You will not speak to me in that voice, lady, or I shall beat you in earnest."
Igraine realized that she had actually bared her teeth like a hunting cat, and her voice hissed as she said "Touch me at your peril, Gorlois, or I shall teach you that a daughter of the holy isle is no man's slave or servant!"
p726
"Why should we all meet in one afterlife? Why should there not be many paths, the Saxons to follow their own, we follow ours, the followers of Christ to worship him if they choose, without restraining the worship of others?"
Kevin shook his head. " My dear, I do not know. There seems to be a deep change in the way men look at the world, as if one truth should drive out another - as if whatever is not in their truth, must be a falsehood."
"But life is not as simple as that," Morgaine said.
"I know that, you know that, and in the fullness of time, Morgaine, even the priests will find it out."
"But if they have driven all other truths from the world, it will be too late." Morgaine said.
p758
There is no sorrow like the memory of love and the knowledge that it is gone forever.
Gwenhwyfar and Morgaine constantly stab and forgive each other. Each feels like the other one got what she should have had. They are horribly envious of each other, but somewhat comfortable in the knowledge that the other doesn't have it that good either. They accuse and forgive - several times - within the span of just a few breaths.
It is tragic, but beautiful. ..why the "but"?.. It is tragic AND beautiful.
Perhaps this is somewhat of a glimpse of what goes on in a woman's mind all of the time.. if so.. yikes.
p48
They had reached the door of their lodging; Gorlois his face turning dark with wrath, pushed her angrily within. "You will not speak to me in that voice, lady, or I shall beat you in earnest."
Igraine realized that she had actually bared her teeth like a hunting cat, and her voice hissed as she said "Touch me at your peril, Gorlois, or I shall teach you that a daughter of the holy isle is no man's slave or servant!"
p726
"Why should we all meet in one afterlife? Why should there not be many paths, the Saxons to follow their own, we follow ours, the followers of Christ to worship him if they choose, without restraining the worship of others?"
Kevin shook his head. " My dear, I do not know. There seems to be a deep change in the way men look at the world, as if one truth should drive out another - as if whatever is not in their truth, must be a falsehood."
"But life is not as simple as that," Morgaine said.
"I know that, you know that, and in the fullness of time, Morgaine, even the priests will find it out."
"But if they have driven all other truths from the world, it will be too late." Morgaine said.
p758
There is no sorrow like the memory of love and the knowledge that it is gone forever.
Friday, May 22, 2015
#47 The Once and Future King by T H White
This is the the first real book that I have read about King Arthur. I have seen several movies, but no books. The first 1/3 of this book is Disney's The Sword in the Stone. Almost exactly. Young Arthur, called Wart, is tutored by Merlin and squires for Kay until he pulls the sword from the stone. Classic tale of the orphan kid who is secretly the heir to the throne.. kinda ruined by having seen it before. I found it a bit hard to get into.
The middle part of the book mainly follows Lancelot and his adventures and his relationship with Guinevere. There are a few throw away chapters about a really colorful and lovable character called King Pellinore. He is a great character - very Don Quixote like - but his story was a little out of place in this book I thought.
The final part covers the tragic end of the Arthur, Lance, Gwen love triangle. I felt that was very well done. It really pushes how great of a king Arthur was ( and will be?). He did the best he could in his time, but the world was just not quite ready for that much justice.
I think White was going for a collection of stories of the rest of Arthur's life. He references other authors works directly and says to look there for a recount of the main big conquests of King Arthur and the KORT. Perhaps some of the things that I found odd here (Pellinore) will make more sense once I do read the rest of the stories..
I am reading Mists of Avalon by Bradley next, so we shall see.
p312
It is the tragedy.. of sin coming home to roost... He did not know he was [sinning].. but it seems, in tragedy, that innocence is not enough.
p432
The king sat looking at his fingers, and they waited while the old thoughts ran sideways across his hands like crabs.
p517
An enormous eagle owl... opened his eyes when the bells rang. Before he had opened them he might have been a stuffed owl, a dowdy bundle of feathers. The moment they had dawned, he was a creature form Edgar Alan Poe. You hardly liked to look at him. They were red eyes, homicidal and terrific. Seeming to actually give out light. They were like rubies filled with flame. He was called the Grand Duke.
The middle part of the book mainly follows Lancelot and his adventures and his relationship with Guinevere. There are a few throw away chapters about a really colorful and lovable character called King Pellinore. He is a great character - very Don Quixote like - but his story was a little out of place in this book I thought.
The final part covers the tragic end of the Arthur, Lance, Gwen love triangle. I felt that was very well done. It really pushes how great of a king Arthur was ( and will be?). He did the best he could in his time, but the world was just not quite ready for that much justice.
I think White was going for a collection of stories of the rest of Arthur's life. He references other authors works directly and says to look there for a recount of the main big conquests of King Arthur and the KORT. Perhaps some of the things that I found odd here (Pellinore) will make more sense once I do read the rest of the stories..
I am reading Mists of Avalon by Bradley next, so we shall see.
p312
It is the tragedy.. of sin coming home to roost... He did not know he was [sinning].. but it seems, in tragedy, that innocence is not enough.
p432
The king sat looking at his fingers, and they waited while the old thoughts ran sideways across his hands like crabs.
p517
An enormous eagle owl... opened his eyes when the bells rang. Before he had opened them he might have been a stuffed owl, a dowdy bundle of feathers. The moment they had dawned, he was a creature form Edgar Alan Poe. You hardly liked to look at him. They were red eyes, homicidal and terrific. Seeming to actually give out light. They were like rubies filled with flame. He was called the Grand Duke.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)