Radioactive Communist Zombies: High Speed Rail to Nowhere

Recently Read Books

Poul Anderson: Flandry's Legacy: The Technic Civilization Saga
Still Reading . . . (and it's gonna take a while)
Laura Hillenbrand: Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption
I found out on page 370 why my mother was so insistent I read this book that she gave it to me twice. But ignoring that, this is a good book but it's hard to read. The descriptions of what these men went through as prisoners of war held by the Japanese are brutal. It's an interesting story and well told and in the end it has (mostly) a happy ending. (****)
Kathryn Stockett: The Help (Movie Tie-In)
This book was recommended to me as a good example of good description. And there was some good description but, boy, you gotta plow through a lot of chicklit to get to it. It was interesting since I've never lived in the South and I assume race relations were as bad if not worse than depicted. But the book's breezy style almost seems to make light of them. It is well-written. It just seems to take a dark subject and give it the once-over treatment. (***)
Poul Anderson: Sir Dominic Flandry: The Last Knight of Terra (Technic Civilization)
Not sure if this is the last of the Flandry stories/novels. If so, Anderson chose to leave Flandry as ultimately a tragic figure who loses everything in the service to the Empire. Still a lot of fun . . . until the sad end. (*****)
P. J. O'Rourke: Don't Vote It Just Encourages the Bastards
I was just about ready to give up on O'Rourke's books. The last few I've read haven't been funny nor informative. But with this book, P.J. is back. It's funny, insightful, informative, erudite, and references everything from Plato's Republic to Nancy Pelosi. A great read. Occasionally O'Rourke goes for the cheap joke at the expense of his own side. But other than that, this book is a gem. (*****)
Poul Anderson: Call Me Joe (The Collected Short Works of Poul Anderson)
Took me forever to read this book. That's no fault of the book, other than being 509 full-sized hardback pages long, I just wasn't reading for a while. As for the content, the book it a collection of Poul Anderson short stories and the majority of them I hadn't read before. Anderson's craft at putting together a story, either in novel or short form, has always been terrific. And I wondered if the first story, "Call Me Joe," gave James Cameron the idea for "Avatar." This book will allow you to savor the short-story skills of one of the best science fiction writers of the last century. (*****)
Steven Milloy: Green Hell: How Environmentalists Plan to Control Your Life and What You Can Do to Stop Them
Took me forever to read this book. Not that there's anything wrong with it, other than being depressing. The writing is rather pedestrian but the message is urgent. (****)
Poul Anderson: Captain Flandry: Defender of the Terran Empire (The Technic Civilization Saga)
Again, I'd read about half this book before. But still great fun, great adventure (if an lurid book cover). And some of the stories make more sense now that I know the history behind them. (*****)
Christopher C. Horner: Red Hot Lies: How Global Warming Alarmists Use Threats, Fraud, and Deception to Keep You Misinformed
Good summation of how the global warming industry and its allies in the press manipulate data and facts to push their agenda. (****)
Poul Anderson: Young Flandry: The Technic Civilization Saga
I love Flandry stories/novels. Even though I'd read every bit of this book before at some time, I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting it. (*****)
Thomas Sowell: The Housing Boom and Bust
This slim tome documents the politics and policies that led to both the housing boom and bust, and identifies the politicians that helped both inflate and pop the bubble. And points out the mistakes that are being made to try and "stimulate" the economy. Very educational. (*****)
Orson Scott Card: Speaker for the Dead (Ender, Book 2)
Deeply layered and complex novel about trying to understand an alien species and their interactions with humans (some of which prove fatal). Only wish I could write this well. (****)
Sarah Palin: Going Rogue: An American Life
Interesting autobiography of the former VP candidate. From growing up in Alaska to the 2008 election and its aftermath. Get to know the real Sarah Palin. (****)
Larry Niven Et. Al.: Man-Kzin Wars IX
Half-way through I realized I'd already read this book. Good book; the weakest story was by Niven himself. (****)
P. J. O'Rourke: Driving Like Crazy: Thirty Years of Vehicular Hell-bending, Celebrating America the Way It's Supposed To Be -- With an Oil Well in Every Backyard, a Cadillac ... of the Federal Reserve Mowing Our Lawn
Long title, short book. Entertaining read and occasionally laugh out loud funny. Best parts are the more modern stuff talking about how liberals are going to ruin cars (and they will if they get the chance). (***)

March 04, 2010