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JoeLavelle

Only the good stuff

I read a lot and love to read. I find great pleasure in good science fiction, and enjoy thinking about the great stories I've read and agonizing over what will come next. The information I provide here is for me. I long been a voracious reader, but never a review writer. But I've been tempted to try to document my thoughts on the why, what and how of the books I enjoyed. But do feel free to peruse, and please do suggest a great read you think I'd like.

Currently reading

Peopleware: Productive Projects and Teams
Timothy Lister, Tom DeMarco
The Prefect
Alastair Reynolds
Food Rules: An Eater's Manual
Michael Pollan

I Am Legend

I Am Legend - Richard Matheson What was so great about this story? It was merely okay. Actually, I thought the movies were better than the short story.

Humans (Volume Two of The Neanderthal Parallax)

Humans - Robert J. Sawyer I like Ponder...his character carries the story. But, the more I think on the Neanderthal world's economics, I don't think it could work that way. The only way humans have such incredible lifestyles and increasing quality of lives is the rapid growth in productive population and productivity per person. Otherwise, there isn't enough money to afford the technological advances that we and they enjoy.

Destination: Void

Destination: Void - Frank Herbert This may be the most ambitious scifi story I ever read. The technology was simply not credible enough to warrant my suspension of disbelief. Perhaps back in the 70's it was. Still, this is a credit to the genius who wrote Dune.

Axis

Axis - Robert Charles Wilson It was a nice continuation of the Spin story-line, but not much of a novel. I'm glad I read it because it is a well written story and had a few interesting ideas.

Marooned in Realtime (Peace War)

Marooned in Realtime - Vernor Vinge Outstanding! Marooned in Realtime is as good as anything I ever read. A small story, but interesting and well told.

Lincoln's Dreams

Lincoln's Dreams - Connie Willis A well told story with a compelling background. If you love learning about the US Civil War, this book will grab your attention.

All Clear

All Clear - Connie Willis I am a big fan of Connie Willis, and I have read much of her work. I prefer her concisely written stories, such as Lincoln's Dreams, but I can also enjoy her longest winded story which spans Blackout and All Clear. Still, I am torn in my efforts to judge it: is it too long? would it be better if shorter? I am tempted to say 'yes', but I don't know. I only know that I did enjoy it and the writing was so good that I always felt engaged throughout the long running story. I'm just glad I could find the time to finish.

If you don't have much time, then save this one for later.

A Fire Upon The Deep (Zones of Thought)

A Fire Upon the Deep - Vernor Vinge An excellent story. A massive scope yet room for several personal dramas. In addition, the author creates some new science ideas that still have me thinking. I recommend it.

Hominids

Hominids - Robert J. Sawyer A very interesting story providing food for thought. So, is the Neanderthal world better than our world? By what measure?

A Deepness in the Sky

A Deepness in the Sky - Vernor Vinge A well done bit of story making and telling. I was disappointed that it was over.

The Years of Rice and Salt

The Years of Rice and Salt - Kim Stanley Robinson blah

Doomsday Book

Doomsday Book - Connie Willis I found this story to be completely engaging. I lost important sleep I could not afford to lose. The only part I didn't like was how the story took so long to unfold. Perhaps I could have enjoyed the drama more, but the buildup was just not the interesting part of the story.

The City & The City

The City and the City - China MiƩville I am tired of China Mieville's stories. I'm putting this on hold indefinitely.

Business Model Generation: A Handbook For Visionaries, Game Changers, And Challengers (Portable Version)

Business Model Generation: A Handbook For Visionaries, Game Changers, And Challengers (Portable Version) - Alexander Osterwalder,  Yves Pigneur interesting...I may come back to it

The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures

The Back of the Napkin: Solving Problems and Selling Ideas with Pictures - Dan Roam Not as interesting as I hoped. I may come back to it.

The Scar

The Scar - China MiƩville interesting. well written. i doubt I'll read it again.