reading (Asimov's March)

I stared this month's Asimov's on Friday evening and finished it sometimes around noon on Saturday. I can't help myself, I just devour short stories.

This issue had a lot of unfinishedness about it. It's not that the stories didn't have endings, but they were the kind of endings where one thing is resolved, a climax is reached, and the loose ends are left like a half finished plate of spaghetti. This is neither good nor bad, it's just how the stories work out. Funny to see so many of them in one issue.

Being how I am, I had no sympathy for the characters in Colin Davies' "Babel 3000", but I loved the ending. Deborah Coates' "Chainsaw on Hand" described the effect of mind on weather (and vice versa) very well.

Overall it was a solid issue, no dogs, and a fair variety.

11. Asimov's March 2007

reading (Caves of Steel)

I started Isaac's first robot novel yesterday and finished it in a marathon reading session today.

I have a real weakness for science fiction mysteries. I've never gotten into the mystery genre, mainly because I don't know who's good and who isn't, but I love it when I run across a mystery in my science fiction travels.

This is a true classic science fiction novel. Asimov sucks you in like a veteran angler bringing in a fish. You sit down for a casual read and the next thing you know you're in the net. The fiction part of the science remains amazingly undated and the psychological parts are spot on. The message about prejudice is a bit heavy handed in parts, but I cheer his courage in writing it when he did. Asimov's complete lack of off colour expletives reads a bit old fashion and there are some minor details that date the origin of the story, but they are minor and almost fun to look for.

I'm not good at beating the detective in mysteries. In this one I picked up on the important bits, but couldn't make them fit together. I had my suspect, almost from the start, and my motive, but I couldn't put together the opportunity.

I quite enjoyed the book, but you could probably guess that by the fact I read the novel in two sittings.

12. Isaac Asimov "The Caves of Steel"

wee! a world war in the making

I want to see changes in American society, but I don't want to see them at the cost of millions of lives. This can't be good.

What's the point in working for retirement, in another five years our taxes are going to be 50% of income or more to support a war on at least three fronts and the medical needs of thousands of veterans and millions of retiring baby boomers. This nation is so fucked there aren't words to express it.

"Eat drink, and be merry..."