I came to an appreciation of Harper Lee’s classic of American Literature late in life, despite the fact that I somehow managed to get an ‘A’ in a high school lit class on this section of the course without having ever read the book. Perhaps that had something to do with the fact that I was helping the teacher with the yearbook at the time and taking American Literature as an independent study course. If I recall I also passed the tests on The Great Gatsby without reading that book either. But I digress…
–published 2007
–278 pages, Ace Books
–Pre-nominations list for Nebula Award
–4.75/5 stars
Tripping around the internet I have seen a variety of reviews for Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Joe Haldeman’s latest offering, The Accidental Time Machine. They range from effusive praise to damning criticism and everything in between. What many of them do, without fail, is admit that Joe Haldeman is a singular author with stellar works of science fiction to his credit. I myself have limited experience with the works of Joe Haldeman, and unless this book wins an award this year, I have not read any of his award-winning fiction. What I can unequivocally say is that both of the Joe Haldeman books I have read, Old Twentieth and The Accidental Time Machine, have been a delight.
–published 2008
–303 pages, Eos Books
–4.5/5 stars
Hunter’s Run, a collaboration by multiple-award-winning authors George RR Martin and Gardner Dozois, and relative newcomer Daniel Abraham, is a novel whose journey to existence is every bit as ardous as the journey undertaken by the novel’s protagonist.
The story began life 30 years ago as an idea of Gardner Dozios that he and George RR Martin eventually worked into the novella Shadow Twin for Subterranean Press, knowing full well that there was a novel in there somewhere. The presence of writer Daniel Abraham provided a set of fresh eyes to the project and together they built what eventually became Hunter’s Run.
“It is of great use to the sailor to know the length of his line, though he cannot with it fathom all the depths of the ocean.”
~John Locke
(Update on ‘the procedure’ in comments section)
For twenty-seven odd years the men of the U.S.S. C. Vincent Anderson have maintained a proud tradition of always being ready and able to engage in infiltration, armed and ready for quick dispersal. Never mind that only one man in a long line of seamen ever landed safely on shore–he was sent on the only mission ever designed for true conquest, the rest of the men have only ever been on maneuvers.
In spite of all the retired submariners around him, this commander has maintained an armed vessel, proud of his ability to deploy when and if necessary. Sadly that time is coming to an end. Tomorrow morning, at oh-eight-thirty hours, the men of the U.S.S. C. Vincent Anderson will be decommissioned.
–published 1953
–282 pages, Del Rey Books
–Hugo Award Winner for Best Series, 1965
–4.5/5 stars
It is difficult to describe the sheer joy of finally being able to read a book whose cover has fascinated me for years. It is even more significant considering that it is part of an original trilogy of books that from my childhood I have viewed as inaccessible. It has been such a pleasure to discover just how unfounded my fears were.
Before we get to Second Foundation, however, allow me to review the second book in the trilogy, Foundation and Empire:
