reading (The 7 Deadly Sins of Science Fiction)

I finished "The 7 Deadly Sins of Science Fiction" last week, Tuesday I think. The only story from the collection that I remember reading before was Isaac Asimov's "Galley Slave". Even though I'd read it before I enjoyed encountering it again. This collection was ostensibly based on the deadly sins, but in some cases it seemed like a passing or minor theme. Most of the stories were interesting. Only Frederick Pohl's two stories on gluttony seemed to go on too long and hit the same points too hard. That said, I think the world proposed in the first one is an insightful twist. It's probably more spot on today than it was in 1954. Amazing considering it was a social and economic commentary published in 1954.

Were published from the mid 1950's to the early 1970's, so they all tend to have an old style feel. The pace is slow and the description sharp. There is a preponderance of male characters and most of the females minor characters. Judith Merril's "Peeping Tom" does turn that on its head a bit, enjoyably so and Pohl's "The Man Who Ate The World" quietly pokes fun at the ego of male shown in both main characters.

40. "The 7 Deadly Sins of Science Fiction" Edited by Asimov, Waugh, & Greenberg

reading (The Last Dragonslayer)

I finished "The Last Dragonslayer" on Sunday. Fforde took a while for worldbuilding and character introduction. Some common themes, like ConStuff, are familiar from other series. I did like the way Fforde resolved the book, although when he was tying up the threads the one centered on the Monday after seems to have slipped out of the bundle. How's that for not spoilering?

This is billed as a young adult novel and does read easier than Fforde's other novels. I must say I was surprised by the strong dystopian tendencies, but maybe the dark brush strokes will make a lasting impression.

41. Jasper Fforde "The Last Dragonslayer"

open letter to my senators

This is a letter I wrote to the Maine's contingent in the senate about the recent vote on the first part of the President's job creation plan. A little more background is here, if you're not familiar with it.

( text of letter )

reading (One of Our Thursdays is Missing)

I finished "One of Our Thursdays is Missing" yesterday evening. I really enjoyed this installment of the Thursday Next series. First off, I liked the concentration on BookWorld, it provided lots of opportunities for literary jokes. Not just the name dropping, though that's fun. I like the way Fforde inserts examples into his own text. The most obvious is the defective Mrs. Malaprop. My favorite example in this book is the Italiciser, but there are lot of others.

Fforde seems to have a lot of fun with this one and it's a fun ride. It had me laughing out loud regularly and I didn't want to put it down even after a long reading session.

42. Jasper Fforde "One of Our Thursdays is Missing"