reading (Asimov's Jan)

I finished the January Asimov's a couple of weeks ago. This month's issue had the overall theme of the vastness of the universe and the smallness of the humans in it. I think my favorite was Eric Del Carlo's "Friendlessness", because of the extrapolation he did from social media and increasing social alienation. The only story this month that didn't really resonate with me was Paul McAuley's "Bruce Springsteen". I understood what he was doing though and I think he did a pretty good job of it. Just not how I roll (or rock).

45. Asimov's January 2012

reading (The Martian Chronicles)

I finished "The Martian Chronicles" last weekend. I thought I'd read this book before, but I didn't remember most of the stories. I think I probably read a compilation that had the last story/chapter.

I like the method of stringing together sequential shorts to make a novel length book. Bradbury is stirring in some pretty heavy cautionary metaphor in with his straightforward action. His overall themes are still timely. Some of the pieces are a bit clunky, but it stands up pretty well after 65 years. The dates make for a chuckle at this point, the first stories take place in 1999.

46. Ray Bradbury "The Martian Chronicles"

reading (The Stupidest Angel)

I finished Christopher Moor's "The Stupidest Angel" yesterday. If you've read any Christopher Moore, you should be expecting zany and this certainly is.

The characters are just kind of thrown together. It's kind of the deal, like a 70's Christmas special with people from different TV shows. So where there is usually a zany driving plot, in this book the plot wanders along not really knowing where to go. The story timeline is short, but I never felt swept away by events as I usually do in Moore's books.

This is a fun read and there were lots of good lines. The plot feels a bit clunky compared to Moore's other works, but even so, it's a good time.

47. Christopher Moore "The Stupidest Angel"