Technology, Books and Other Neat Stuff

After an afternoon of meetings and briefings in the city, it was a relief to walk through some green space on the way home. St James' Park is one of my favourite London spaces, and this evening it was especially lovely. The sun had just set, and the sky was a deep blue, edged with apricot, reflecting in the park's lake.

All was calm, and all was quiet. An oasis of peace in the hustle and bustle of the city rush hour.

St James' Park, London
October 2007

Recently read books, with one line capsule reviews.

Neil Gaiman/Charles Vess: Stardust
Deluxe reprint of the original illustrated novella, with additional sketches.
Will Hubell: Sea Of Time
Time paradox novel that gets too caught up in its own twists.
Larry Niven : The Draco Tavern
FThirst contact short short stories
Jennifer Cruise/Bob Mayer: Agnes and the Hitman
Chick lit meets action thriller in a rom com deep south mafia crossover.
Scott Lynch: The Lies of Locke Lamora
Fun fantasy romp that's a lot more derivative of Thieves World than it cares to admit.
Eric Flint/K. D. Wentworth: The Course of Empire
Hefty SF novel in which a defeated humanity needs to cooperate with its conquerors to survive.
John Birmingham: Final Impact
The final part of his alternate Second World War series.
S. M. Stirling: A Meeting at Corvallis
SCA vs Wicca in the latest of the ongoing post-civilisation Change series. This isn't your mother's Renaissance Faire...
Karl Schroeder: Sun of Suns
Far future gas bubble zero-G coming of age story (with added pirates).
Terry Pratchett: Going Postal
The story of the Diskworld postal service as allegory for many things.
David Weber: At All Costs
The body count gets enormous in the latest Honor Harrington space epic.
A. Lee Martinez: Gil's All Fright Diner
A vampire and werewolf walk into a diner. Weird Lovecraftian shit ensues.
Charles Stross: The Clan Corporate
Miriam gets caught up in family plots and machinations, while walking the worlds.
Kage Baker: The Machine's Child
Mendoza is back with her true love(s) and Doctor Zeus is in big trouble.
Jo Walton: Farthing
All to close to home "if this goes on" story of an alternate 1940s, in the guise of a country house detective story.
Elizabeth Moon: Command Decision
Vatta's war starts getting official in the latest instalment of the space opera series.
Jennifer Crusie: The Unfortunate Miss Fortunes
The paranormal romance gets the Crusie snark treatment. It's just a pity about the other two writers in this shared world...
Charles Stross: The Merchants' War
Stross' story of the world walkers shifts register amid a rising body count.
Fred Gallagher: Megatokyo: Volume 5
Manga-inspired romance webcomic collection.
Donna Andrews: No Nest for the Wicket
More bird-themed humorous mysteries for the blacksmith detective. This time her wacky family discover extreme croquet.
Diane Duane: Storm at Eldala
Role-playing tie in novel that trundles along on rails.
George R. R. Martin: A Feast for Crows
It's all getting Dark Ages in Martin's massive fantasy. Swords are drawn, and much blood is shed.
Richard Morgan: Woken Furies
Competent space opera with a noir tinge, and a touch of cyberpunk. Morgan's world-building is finally improving...
Various: Glorifying Terrorism
A collection of (illegal) fictions protesting a bad law. A mixed, if worthy, bag.
Brian Herbert/Kevin J. Anderson: Hunting Harkonnens
Promotional Dune novella.
Gary Gibson: Angel Stations
Intriguing space opera, with humanity living in the ruins of a vanished civilisation, using its tools without understanding them...

Another 26 books to add to this year's list...