BookWyrm

skolima rated Victory of Eagles: 3 stars

No cover — Naomi Novik: Victory of Eagles (2008)

Victory of Eagles by Naomi Novik

Victory of Eagles is the fifth novel in the Temeraire alternate history/fantasy series by American author Naomi Novik. The series …

skolima reviewed Ministry for the future by Kim Stanley Robinson

Kim Stanley Robinson, Kim Stanley Robinson: Ministry for the future (2020, Orbit books)

The Ministry for the Future is a masterpiece of the imagination, using fictional eyewitness accounts …

Review of 'Ministry for the future' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

I'm going to start with saying I've enjoyed the Mars Trilogy greatly. I've re-read it recently - it does show it age a bit, both by the underlying world moving on and by the narrative structure of a grand epic that feels a bit quaint in 2024.

The Ministry for the Future, though... it's not a book? I mean it's one in the physical sense, but it's not a proper novel. It's a bunch of happy magical thinking stories where everything works out. There's a lot of unconnected snapshot viewpoints, and then Central Banks deploy bitcoin and AI and everything is redeemed, and Russian aircraft carriers save the Antarctic. That's a rather disappointing investor spiel, not a proper sci-fi novel.

I should have known better, seeing as it carries "favourite book of Obama" on the cover. I'm struggling to believe he's read it, as near the middle it calls out …

I'm going to start with saying I've enjoyed the Mars Trilogy greatly. I've re-read it recently - it does show it age a bit, both by the underlying world moving on and by the narrative structure of a grand epic that feels a bit quaint in 2024.

The Ministry for the Future, though... it's not a book? I mean it's one in the physical sense, but it's not a proper novel. It's a bunch of happy magical thinking stories where everything works out. There's a lot of unconnected snapshot viewpoints, and then Central Banks deploy bitcoin and AI and everything is redeemed, and Russian aircraft carriers save the Antarctic. That's a rather disappointing investor spiel, not a proper sci-fi novel.

I should have known better, seeing as it carries "favourite book of Obama" on the cover. I'm struggling to believe he's read it, as near the middle it calls out the assassinations by drone that his presidency made such wide use of - and blames them on him by name.

Then again, it's nice to fantasize about oil execs getting tagged like that.

skolima rated Empire of Ivory: 3 stars

Empire of Ivory by Naomi Novik

Empire of Ivory is the fourth novel in the Temeraire alternate history/fantasy series by American author Naomi Novik. Set in …

skolima reviewed Material World by Ed Conway

Ed Conway: Material World (2023, Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group)

Sand, salt, iron, copper, oil and lithium. They built our world, and they will transform …

Review of 'Material World' on 'Goodreads'

5 stars

I highly recommend. I found the history of the material sciences progress mixed with most modern applications and problems very engaging. Felt a bit more rushed towards the end chapters.

Data ends on 2022, so perhaps an update on lithium would be valuable: after the spike in prices the author mentions, in 2023 lithium prices fell 80% despite the EV car and battery production growing at a high pace. New sites are being brought online.

skolima reviewed Mirrorshades by Bruce Sterling

Bruce Sterling: Mirrorshades (1988, Ace Books)

"The definitive cyberpunk short fiction collection."

Review of 'Mirrorshades' on 'Goodreads'

No rating

As an anthology, it's impossible to grade, really. Some of the stories are incredibly good, some, eh, not that much. It's a very good view back, to the beginnings of Cyberpunk.

skolima rated New Essential Guide to Electronics in Shenzhen: 5 stars

New Essential Guide to Electronics in Shenzhen by Naomi Wu, Andrew Huang

skolima rated A City On Mars: 5 stars

Kelly Weinersmith, Zach Weinersmith: A City On Mars (EBook, 2023, Penguin Press)

A City On Mars by Kelly Weinersmith, Zach Weinersmith

Earth is not well. The promise of starting life anew somewhere far, far away—no climate change, no war, no Twitter—beckons, …

skolima rated Dziki ogród: 5 stars

Łukasz Łuczaj: Dziki ogród (Hardcover, Polish language, 2022, Nasza Księgarnia)

Dziki ogród by Łukasz Łuczaj

skolima rated Iron Sunrise: 3 stars

Iron Sunrise by Charles Stross

Iron Sunrise is a 2004 hard science fiction novel by British writer Charles Stross, which follows the events in Singularity …

skolima rated Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family: 4 stars

Thomas Mann: Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family (1994)

Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family by Thomas Mann

This epic, sub-titled ‘The Decline of a Family’, was Mann’s first novel, published in 1901. It traces the gradual downfall …

skolima rated Singularity Sky: 4 stars

Charles Stross: Singularity Sky (2008, Little, Brown Book Group Limited)

Singularity Sky by Charles Stross

Singularity Sky is a science fiction novel by author Charles Stross, published in 2003. It was nominated for the Hugo …

skolima rated Długa utopia: 3 stars

Stephen Baxter, Terry Pratchett: Długa utopia (2016, Prószyński Media)

Długa utopia by Stephen Baxter, Terry Pratchett

Sequel to The Long Mars.

skolima rated Długi Mars: 3 stars

Michael Fenton Stevens, Stephen Baxter, Terry Pratchett: Długi Mars (2015, Prószyński Media)

Długi Mars by Michael Fenton Stevens, Stephen Baxter, Terry Pratchett

"2040-2045: In the years after the cataclysmic Yellowstone eruption there is massive economic dislocation as populations flee Datum Earth to …

skolima rated Długa wojna: 3 stars

Michael Fenton Stevens, Stephen Baxter, Terry Pratchett: Długa wojna (2014, Prószyński Media)

Długa wojna by Michael Fenton Stevens, Stephen Baxter, Terry Pratchett

skolima reviewed Długa Ziemia by Stephen Baxter

Michael Fenton Stevens, Stephen Baxter, Terry Pratchett, Gabriel Dols Gallardo;: Długa Ziemia (2014, Prószyński Media)

Terry Pratchett, other than lending his name to this book, wasn't a part of it. …

Review of 'Długa Ziemia' on 'Goodreads'

2 stars

There's very little Pratchett in this book, unfortunately. It's based on his 30-year old short story, but it feels like Terry had practically no input in growing it into a book. It's really underdeveloped.

If you're looking for an interesting read on parallel worlds, go check out [b:The Family Trade|17861|The Family Trade (The Merchant Princes, #1)|Charles Stross|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1408262924l/17861.SY75.jpg|930587] by [a:Charles Stross|8794|Charles Stross|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1355510574p2/8794.jpg] (and frankly, Long Earth reads like a fanfic rewrite of parts of this one).