A Fair Desire

There is no way I have the time to write up something detailed about the books I have read lately. But here is a glimpse.

The Maharajah and Other Stories by T.H. White

I did not used to like short stories, but now I enjoy them. I've found that I can get through a couple before I fall asleep at night, and I don't have to remember what I read or even where in the book I stopped. I can start anywhere in the book I want..

This book is a collection of short stories by T.H. White. It is so rare to see a book by him other than The Once and Future King that I was compelled to buy it (and Mistress Masham's Repose, but I have not read that yet.) This collection does not seem to have any real theme, jumping from century to century, sometimes fantastical and sometimes very commonplace.

If you like White and short stories, then you might want to read these. On the other hand, I was not particularly blown away by them.

The October Country by Ray Bradbury

This book is a collection of short stories by Ray Bradbury (also, my edition claims to be "Wonderfully illustrated throughout," a statement with which I disagree.) There is a darkness to most of the stories, if not outright horror. But it is a kind of creeping, lurking darkness. You know that it is coming. But you continue hoping that it does not, until the final page of the story when it is all over and you wish that the shadows in the bedroom were not quite so darkly edged.

I don't know where that all came from. The author notes most of these stories were written before he was 26. Thought you should know.

Majipoor Chronicles by Robert Silverberg

Hey, guess what? This is a collection of short stories! By Robert Silverberg. I was a little wary of this one, because it was clearly meant to be part of some series of books, but it was in the clearance bin for $1, so...

The stories in this book are set in a pretty cool universe. The neat thing is that you just get glimpses of it, from all different time periods. In fact, the author uses a neat device where a guy sneaks into this machine with memories that you can relive. Each story is actually the reliving of the memories of different people (I use the term loosely...if you have multiple sentient races, are they all "people'"?) on this planet called Majipoor. The stories were engrossing, and now I want to read everything about this place. I'm keeping an eye out for any novels in the series.

The Fountains of Paradise by Arther C. Clark

This book won both a Hugo and a Nebula award, so it's probably pretty good. You probably don't even need to read this review, because, I mean, it won the Hugo and Nebula. But, if you are not completely convinced by such accolades, this book is basically about building a space elevator. Also, it is not a collection of short stories, it is a novel.

Did you know that Arthur C. Clark came up with the idea of geostationary satellites? Well, he did. And they are kind of important for space elevators, so  you can imagine the connection. In fact, the space elevator would be the connection. Between the earth and the geostationary satellite...yes...pun...made...

Anyhow, the book is not entirely about space elevators. In fact, it is also about another guy way back when who built an awesome castle with some sweet fountains. You will find that out pretty quickly, though. But there is another thing that just pops up out of nowhere in the middle of the book. It is a surprise. I was surprised by it. I said to myself, "Wow, I thought this book was about space elevators and castles and a monastery thing, but it looks like there is something else, too!" But I am not going to say what it is, because then it is no longer a surprise.

Hawksbill Station by Robert Silverberg

This is very short book. But I liked it. Here's the idea: You have time travel. But you can only go backwards in time. Now, let's say you have an authoritarian but humanitarian government, plus there are political revolutionaries that need to be put down. Well! It is only logical that you will send them a billion years into the past. I mean, they probably aren't dead, but they certainly won't be threatening your government anymore.

So, that is the basic idea of the book. It flips back and forth between following some of the revolutionaries in the future (well, 2015) and their fate a billion years (roughly) in the past. I found it particularly interesting that the "time machine" and its destination were in lockstep. The time machine and its destination were always a billion years apart. But, really, the people in 2015 had no idea if the people (and supplies) they sent back even survived. Anyway, the book is only 176 pages, so I probably should not tell you anything else about it.

Time and Again by Clifford D. Simak

Hey, it is a book by Clifford D. Simak. It has "Time" in the title. Hmmm...I wonder if he will put time travel in this one? Uh, yes, of course he does. Because he does that all the time. But this one is actually pretty good, even though I have started to spot some serious patterns in his novels (like starting out with some guy who is all mysterious or even amnesic and then eventually is on the run or fighting "the man" or something). This one is does the whole "Well, if you jump 10 years into the past, I'll just 10.1 years back and then I'll be there when you get there and I'll stop you from doing that thing you do, except if I know in the future you do that thing, then you have already done that thing, so how can I stop you argh time travel paradox ouch ow ow." But this novel manages to do it well enough to be entertaining and interesting. Maybe I will not give up on Mr. Simak just yet.

I Will Fear No Evil by Robert Heinlein

Here it comes. (What comes?) The first negative review. (Oh noes!) I have something to confess. I am ashamed to say this. It has not happened to me in years. But...I was not able to finish this book. I became that disinterested in it. There. I said it. Sorry, Mr. Heinlein. In his defense, though, I guess he was really sick while writing this book and he was not able to make the final edits. Still, I suggest avoiding this one.

Perhaps you would like some justification, though! PERHAPS. Well, then, no need to shout. Here's the idea: an old rich guy is dying. He thinks to himself, "I don't wanna die! My body is just worn out...well, what if I got a new body?" So he arranges his brain to be transplanted into a new body. THEN what happens? OH NOES it is a female body. A crotchety old man now has a hot, young, female body. I bet you can guess the kind of stuff that happens next? I BET NOT. I bet you didn't guess this hot, young, female body belonged to his secretary, and now that his brain is in her head, he can talk with remnants of her brain (or her ghost or spirit or something). This is what drove me nuts. Most of the book consists of long, rambling conversations in his head with her. Or her head with her. Or...whatever. Then it got all weird and he (she) decided to have a baby and I don't know I gave up on it.

But at least it has a pretty cool title.

"What Do You Care What Other People Think?"  by Richard P. Feynman

What is this? This is not science fiction! It's not even fiction! It's almost autobiographical! What kind of nonsense...

Yeah, well. If you have not read anything by Richard Feynman, then you should. The guy was a genius and also very entertaining. In fact, you know what? I am going to give you a free gift, from me to you. You can read the entirety of "Surely you are joking, Mr. Feynman!" online, right here. I'm doing this because Feynman has a magical way of making life (and science) seem interesting and fun, an adventure.

But this book (sort of a sequel) is much less light-hearted. The first half is about his first marriage. Now, try not to cry. He married a girl who was diagnosed with tuberculosis and only had seven years to live. She was in the hospital their entire marriage. She spent all her time thinking up funny letters or cute things to do for him...well, anyway. The middle part of the book is some random stuff and some letters. The last half of the book describes Feynman's part in the Challenger investigation. It is fascinating (and also points out the sad reality of bureaucracy). It goes through his thought processes and how he figured out different aspects of the situation. It is really amazing.

So, you should probably read it.

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Title: The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure
Author: William Goldman
Year: 1973

Normally, I avoid reading books if I have already seen the movie version, but this one has been catching my eye off and on for the last year or two. I was particularly intrigued by the subtitle - who is this S. Morgenstern person? And why is there only this "abridged" version? I don't like abridgments!

So, I finally gave in. And I was not disappointed. It helps that the author of the novel also wrote the screenplay for the movie. Much of the dialog is verbatim, and it was actually enjoyable to hear (in my head) the lines in voices of the actors.

The story itself is presented in a mind-bending way. The author attests that he is writing an abridgment of a much longer novel by a famous "Florinese" author. As such, there are cuts and commentary by the author (that is, William Goldman) on the other author's work (that is, S. Morgenstern). However, even the supposedly true autobiographical notes are actually fiction, although extremely amusing fiction. The little editorials and explanations of what Goldman had to cut out from the Morgenstern text, along with his concerns that the Florinese experts would be furious with him (Columbia University hosts the foremost experts on Morgenstern, apparently), are hilarious.

The same kind of verbal wit and humor found in the movie is present in the novel, just in more abundance. Overall, the book was a huge relief to read. I just wish I had read it sooner.

By the way, here's a scan of the map included in my edition.

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Title: Expanded Universe
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
Year: 1980

Expanded Universe is a collection of science fiction short stories and nonfiction essays by Robert Heinlein. There is a particular emphasis on post-apocalypse scenarios and predictions for the future. Fear of WWIII and nuclear war permeates much of the content of this book. At first I found this mindset antiquated, until I realized we still live under the threat of nuclear attacks, although I believe the general public has forgotten about this. The ease and scale with which a determined person or crazy country can cause death and destruction is truly frightening.

Most of the stories are either preceded or followed by some explanation from the author as to its origins, which provides some interesting insight into the motivations and ideas behind the stories. Heinlein points out that many of his stories were intended to show people how much danger we are living in. He covers similar topics in the nonfiction articles, including some educational material on how to survive in a post-nuclear world.

I found his essays and stories concerning serious predictions about the future to be particularly interesting. One essay, Where To?, contains 19 predictions made in 1950 for the year 2000, with commentary and updates from 1965 and 1980. Some seem sadly pessimistic ("Fish and yeast will become our principal sources of protein. Beef will be a luxury; lamb and mutton will disappear") while others too optimistic ("Interplanetary travel is waiting at your front door - C.O.D. It's yours when you pay for it.") On the other hand, some are right on ("Your personal telephone will be small enough to carry in your handbag") and some were right until quite recently ("It is utterly impossible that the United States will start a 'preventive war.'").

His opinion of the future of the United State's space program:

Our national loss of nerve, our escalating anti-intellectualism, our almost total disinterest in anything that does not directly and immediately profit us, the shambles of public education throughout most of our nation (especially in New York and California) cause me to predict that our space program will continue to dwindle. It would not surprise me (but it would distress me mightily!) to see the Space Shuttle canceled.

While we scale back our space work, other countries and private companies will pick up the slack. This is, of course, what has happened.

In The Happy Days Ahead, takes swipes at several negative trends he sees, from a failing education system to inflation to the quality of our military. I found one section, "Age of Unreason," of interest. In it, he further discusses the rise of anti-science and anti-intellectualism. Some signs he points out:

• "...respectability of natal horological astrology..."
• "'Experts' on nuclear power and nuclear weapons who know nothing whatever of mathematical physics and are smug in admitting it."
• "People who watch television several hours a day and derive all their opinions therefrom - and expound them"
• "People who watch television several hours a day"
• "The return of creationism - 'Equal time for Yaweh'"
• "The rise of witchcraft" (in which he includes Scientology and other cults)

Sound familiar at all?

The book does include some science fiction, although I should really note that most of it is pretty depressing, although enlightening. As I mentioned before, this book is really a downer, but I imagine the stories and articles reflect the feelings of their time. If I were sitting with the threat of nuclear weapons hanging over my head, I think I would feel pretty paranoid, too, and I doubt my outlook for the future would be too sunny. Strangely, the threat today is probably not much less than it was in the Cold War. All that has changed is the political climate. But the technology and materials for great destruction remain.

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Title: Shakespeare's Planet
Author: Clifford D. Simak
Publication date: 1976

This will be my first negative book review.

This book was really bad. Completely forgettable. It has very little to do with Shakespeare.

It starts off with an interesting premise: a spaceship is sent out from Earth to find a new planet on which to settle. Four people (two men, two women) are held in a cryogenic sleep while the computer's brains (actually three human brains, somehow merged into one) scouts out the universe. Since the universe is a big place, it is a thousand years before the spaceship decides to set down on a suitable planet. Unfortunately, only one of the frozen humans has survived. However, it hardly matters, because I was not attached to any of them, or the survivor.

The survivor finds out there is (at least) one other sentient being on the planet. He also finds out that, in the time since his ship left Earth, someone has built "tunnels" connecting a whole bunch of planets. Too bad the one on this planet has been locked.

The beginning of the book sets up several mysteries, which were enough to get me interested. After that, though, it just sort of peters out. I found the philosophical portions (discussions between the ship's brains) to be boring.

I guess my main issue with this book is my lack of involvement with the characters. If I had cared more about them, then maybe the ending of the book would have been more potent. But, I didn't and it wasn't.

So, in conclusion, avoid this book. Unless you must read everything by Clifford D. Simak, for some reason.

However, I would recommend City and Way Station, both great books by him.

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Title: Odyssey
Author: Jack McDevitt
Publication date: 2006

Odyssey is a part of Jack McDevitt's Academy Series, which deal with deep space exploration and follows the career of a pilot named Priscilla "Hutch" Hutchins. First off, I just have to say that Jack McDevitt is an amazing author. Every single book I've read of his has been engrossing and extremely difficult to put down after the first few pages. I particularly like the Academy Series, which is set in a time where faster-than-light travel (on "superluminaries") is available, but not entirely reliable. There is an element of danger involved with space flight, even as it becomes possible to explore farther and farther away from Earth. I am always left with a sense of awe when reading about journeying to distant stars and planets, which seems lacking in stories where one can zip from place to place instantaneously. In the Academy Series, even with faster-than-light travel, it may take weeks or months to reach a given destination.

I avoided this particular novel at first, because I had read some unfavorable reviews. Having read it now, I wish I had not been so hesitant about it. Is it the best in the series? No, probably not. It may even be the worst one of the series. But that hardly makes it a bad book. I still liked and enjoyed it. I seem to recall the reviews complaining about it being too concerned with politics and bureaucracy, and somehow I had thought the book did not involve space travel. This was an erroneous assumption on my part. Odyssey includes plenty of time in space. It also includes some interesting discussion about a "hypercollider" being built a long, long distance from Earth. Considering some of the talk around CERN's Large Hadron Collider, it is almost topical.

Anyhow, to be brief: if you are a fan of the Academy Series, you should read this book. If you are not a fan (yet), you should start at the beginning of the series (The Engines of God) and read this book when you come to it.

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Title: The Cat Who Walks Through Walls
Author: Robert A. Heinlein
First Published: 1985

This is my first book review, and I have just realized how difficult it is. Unlike a book report, in which you can discuss the entirety of the work, a review must somehow convey the feeling and worth of the book while revealing as little as possible about what actually occurs in it. A movie review, at least, can talk about the cinematography, how well the actors did, the quality of the dialog...well, I shall have to do my best.

My understanding is that this book is very "Heinlein" - whatever that may mean. It may be interpreted as "a book for Heinlein fans." If you are a big fan of Robert Heinlein, then you will likely enjoy this book and should read it if you have not already. If you are not that familiar with Heinlien, then I recommend getting familiar with him prior to reading this book. I am pretty sure it will increase your enjoyment of it.

This science fiction book is set in a somewhat distant future (it begins in 2188), in which the moon is inhabited and there are large "space habitats" which are even more populated. If you do not like the year 2188 for some reason, do not worry. This book also features time travel and multiple, diverging universes. (Interestingly, one of the factors used to discriminate between timelines is who the first person to walk on the moon is.)  Unfortunately, the writing is quite brief when it comes to actually describing the physical surroundings in the world of the future. The story telling focuses primarily on dialog and internal monologues. Which is fine, if you do not mind.

The future will apparently have baffling marriage customs, with there being some fine line between having multiple wives and having marriages of multiple people. Throw in time travel and it becomes even more confusing. Fortunately, untangling these relationships is not critical to following or enjoying the story, to my relief.

The story, by the way, centers on two people: an ex-military man and a woman he meets and seemingly marries on a whim (marriage in 2188 only requires a formal announcement, nothing else). It quickly becomes apparent that multiple people are out to kill him, and that is where the story takes off, across time and space. The questions to be answered: Why is someone trying to kill this man? Who is this woman he married, actually? And when do I get to see a cat who can walk through walls and what does it have to do with anything?

I only feel comfortable in answering the last two questions: the cat shows up quite late in the story, and has nothing to do with anything. There. I hope I did not spoil anything for you.

Anyhow, let me consider the larger message of this book. It is certainly an examination of what "reality" is and what happens when we can go into the past and change it. There is also the strong set of morals the main character lives by - it is, for example, quite alright to kill a person for being impolite. Whether or not those are morals to emulate...well, I would not recommend it.

The main character also has a strong sense of individualism: he repeatedly refuses to do things without full knowledge of what he is being asked to do and why. Plus, the request needs to be made politely and without any attempt to force him to do it. Appeals to the importance of the act or why he was "preordained" to do it have absolutely no sway at all. It must be his decision or he will not do it under any circumstances. Because of this, I sometimes found it difficult to like the main character. However, that is just me. Perhaps I am simply more obliging.

Overall, I am on the fence about this book. It kept me engaged, but I found it difficult to actually "get into" the world. As I mentioned above, a considerable amount of the book is simply dialog, which at times I felt was trying too hard to be clever. The back-and-forth lost me a few times when I had to deduce which characters were speaking. Also...I must admit I wish the cat had more to do with the story. I mean, it is in the title of the book. Setting the cat aside, though, the story is interesting and moves fast enough. As long as you do not need Dickensian descriptions (of setting or characters) or MORE CAT, you should enjoy this book.

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