What I've Been Reading

The Godel Operation -- James Cambias -- 2021
An engaging, exciting and humorous space opera. Thousands of years after an AI/Human war almost wipes out humankind, a Droid who is more that he appears (but you'll figure it out) makes friends with a young man, and is sucked into a web of intrigue and adventure, beset by foes both red-blooded and robotic. Soon joined by two young women with competing motives, they criss-cross the solar system in search of a McGuffin rumored to be a doomsday weapon. Told from the Droid's viewpoint, which finds plenty of (well-founded!) humor in the strange, often irrational, behavior of his human companions.

A superb SF novel -- highly recommended. To maximize enjoyment, do what I did -- read the Mass-Market paperback, which features an appropriately garish cover.

Galaxy's Edge -- No. 57 -- July 2022
POD magazine, published out of Rockville MD. A mix of reprints by noted authors (even the columns!) and amateur efforts of little note. I didn't read the Nancy Kress serial because I'll never buy another issue. Not recommended.

Emerald Sea -- John Ringo -- 2004
Fantasy / SF mashup novel set in a future world where fantastic chimeras created by lost ultra-high-tech generic engineering populate a chaotic medieval-like world. A global conflict between pre-collapse elites who have seized all technological resources of Earth pits an evil cabal of Euro-Asians against our heroes in the freedom loving west. Bulk of the novel concerns the maiden voyage of a wooden sailing ship built as an "aircraft" carrier for genetically engineered dragons.

It's the usual well-written, galloping Ringo adventure tale, with a bonus semi-pornographic novella addendum. Maybe the latter is a set-up character for next novel? I inadvertently read this second book in the series first; a little confusing at points, but I muddled through. The first two novels in the series available as free downloads at Baen.com:

           There Will Be Dragons                 Emerald Sea

Guardians of the Galaxy, The Complete Collection, Vol. 2 -- Abnett & Lanning -- 2014
Compendium of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, Issues 13-25 (2008). I'm not a comics guy, but I greatly enjoyed the movies, so I picked up the collections. I enjoyed Vol. 2 and thought it somewhat better than Vol. 1. The comic is not a verbatim source for the movies. The films' characters are here, but there are a bunch more Guardians than appear in the films. Story lines are somewhat vague; friends, foes, and allies tend switch sides back and forth. Of course, the stories are just a backdrop for all the Boom! Uuuff! and Aieee! (did I mention I'm not a comics guy?) But the artwork is good, and sometimes downright wonderful. There's plenty of the snarky humor featured in the films, although perhaps not as good natured.

Bloodhype -- Alan Dean Foster -- 1973
Second in the "Pip and Flinx" series, although they're only bit players in this one. An ancient alien machine threatens to eat the Universe. Plucky, hot secret agent girl and rough, burly space freighter captain team up to defeat the menace. An OK, but minor space opera series. From the number of copies in the used bookstores I assume this was a popular series back in the 1970's. I was unaware of it, which probably means my local library didn't stock it. Might buy Vol. 3 if I need another book to fill a "2-for-1" deal at Wonder Books.

Probability Moon -- Nancy Kress -- 2000
A good, character-driven SF novel, first of a series. A team of human scientists and anthropologists studying an alien culture on its home world are unknowingly being used as a cover for a covert military mission. Up in orbit, they're investigating a potential weapon for use against a different alien race besieging humankind. Planetside, the pleasant, pastoral aliens are undecided -- are the humans morally compatible with the natives, or are they a mortal peril deserving immediate execution?

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress -- Robert Heinlein -- 1966
Re-read; last read as one of the options on a High School summer reading list. 50 years later I still remembered some elements, which is unusual for me.

This view from 1966 considered a thriving moon settlement by 2000 and a conflict-free, united world bureaucracy (but with balkanized hemispheric/continental powers) a possible future reality. But the novel holds up well otherwise, it's standard SF, without pursuing some of the weirder tangents Heinlein's novels took in the 60's/70's. First third sets up world and plot and introduces the characters. Middle third mostly a discussion of political philosophy, reflecting Heinleins's own beliefs in individualism and anarchic libertarianism. The action-packed final third plays out the revolt of Luna vs Earth. Heinlein lifts parallel events from the American Revolution, some obvious and explicit, others obscure. Not a spell-binding novel, but, unlike most 50's/60's SF, still a worthwhile read.

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