reading (Asimov's March)

The March issue of Asimov's has been sitting on my desk waiting for me to write something about it for quite a while now.

"The Speed of Dreams" was amazingly creepy. A short story with the classic punch at the end. "Ticket Inspector Gliden..." was understated in the extreme, an interesting approach to the telling. None of the three novelettes really did a lot for me. "Blind Cat" dance seemed like a really neat idea, but I think it could have been played out better. "The Tower" had some interesting ideas about time travel, but how the pieces were put together didn't really seem to fit quite right. "Taking the Old Man Down" was a interesting twist of the superhero in modern life, but again the execution wasn't quite there for me. Perhaps I'm just too picky, but I think all three were based around a good idea that just didn't come off or would have been better served by a different format.

3. Asimov's March 2010

reading (Forest Gardening)

I finished this book a couple of weeks ago, but I'm just getting around to reviewing it. That is in part due to the fact that I've been going back and looking up certain bits again and going through the appendices.

I originally bought this book thinking it was a "how to" guide. It is not, though it does some specific examples, it is much more a general book than a step by step guide. The book focuses on the philosophy of Forest Gardening, or multilayer low maintenance food producing planting. This fits well into my desire to make a very productive garden in the small space I have at the back of the yard.

( cut for length )

I strongly advise anyone with an interest in small or large scale environment practice and growing things to pick up a copy of this book. Parts may be unrealistic, but much of it is food for thought.

4. Robert Hart "Forest Gardening"