Back when I first discovered comics, I read only superhero stories, and soon, I grew frustrated with the never ending storylines and having to chase another comic to maintain the story in the one I was reading. It quickly became apparent that I wanted more than a superhero story. There's nothing wrong with those types … Continue reading Review: Mage: The Hero Discovered (Vol. 1)
Review
Review: Noumenon
Sometimes, a book or song or movie will come along at just the right time and strike a resounding chord. Noumenon hit that sweet spot for me. On my blog, I’ve been thinking about generation ships. Suddenly, the stars aligned, and Harper Voyager gave me the opportunity to review Noumenon. It was SF love at … Continue reading Review: Noumenon
Review: The Darkness That Comes Before
Years ago, I saw rave reviews for this debut novel, The Darkness That Comes Before by R. Scott Bakker. Each review highlighted the book's departure from the standard western European setting for an epic fantasy. Based on my reading at the time, that was enough to sell me. I read it back when I lived … Continue reading Review: The Darkness That Comes Before
Review: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
The difference between a good artist and a great one is never a question of competency. No, the great artist reveals the beauty of the subject in a way that creates awe in us whereas the good simply represents. The great reawakens that childish sense of amazement. If this is true, then Neil deGrasse Tyson … Continue reading Review: Astrophysics for People in a Hurry
Appreciating Lit, a Memoir
Memoir is a genre that I rarely read. I enjoy browsing through that section in the bookstore, but most of the titles seem like either humble-bragging or exploitative messes. Or, even worse, they're preachy, "I've been saved" tales of turning a life around. If reading allows us to experience other lives, memoir and autobiography allow … Continue reading Appreciating Lit, a Memoir
Review: MJ-12: Inception
The fall of Berlin ended one war but began another. America in its modern form has consistently moved from one conflict into another. However, this new Cold War wouldn’t be fought in the same manner of the recent World War. Instead of marching battalions and deployed tanks, it was fought by information gathering and asset … Continue reading Review: MJ-12: Inception
Five Quick Reviews 04/2017
Spiderlight by Adrian Tchaikovsky An adventuring party enlists the aid of a creature of darkness in their quest to destroy the Dark Lord. As they pursue said quest, members of the group come to see the creature not as a spawn of pure evil but as something else – not human but not monster. Tchaikovsky … Continue reading Five Quick Reviews 04/2017
The Character of Extreme Ownership
At the beginning of my career as an engineer, I was under the delusion that I wanted to end up in management. As part of planning that career path, I turned to books for advice and lessons on leadership. Most of those books drove home the need to be a strong leader while at the … Continue reading The Character of Extreme Ownership