The conclusion of the trilogy makes so many twists, and reveals so many secrets in such a fast-paced succession, that the book becomes a frustrating deus est machina story.  The high fantasy elements and clash of transcendental abstractions (preservation vs ruin) as well as Sanderson's great writing make the story engaging.  3/5 stars.

the coolest toys are on eBay

The reason I love this "Flitt" 720p video quadcopter ($20 on eBay) is that it folds up with rotors attached.

It's also easy to fly & stays aloft for 10 minutes per charge.

Here is a video of me learning to fly in the office.

The Flitt is $25 on Amazon.

Exile by Glynn Stewart

Fun space opera with melodramatic, juvenile, iconic characters, terrible physics and fun military engagements, Fun story, very entertaining, 3/5 stars.

Baudolino von Uberto Eco

Ich mag die Bücher von Eco. Ich wünschte, ich könnte Italienisch verstehen, um die Originale zu lesen. Diese sehr lange historische Roman hat einen fantastischen Anfang und ein gutes Ende. Der zweite Teil, nämlich Baudolinos Suche nach Priester Johan und seinem Königreich, ist langweilig und schlecht. Mir ist klar, dass die Italiener aus dem 12. Jahrhundert an diese Fantasiewesen glaubten. Und die gnostischen religiösen Diskussionen mit Hypatia haben Spaß gemacht. Aber der Rest ist zu blöd.

Discovery, Der Erstkontakt Hörspiel von hoerspielprojekt.de

Es war gut gespielt und interessant. Die schauspieler und das Schreiben waren ausgezeichnet.   Leider ist die Geschichte tödlich dumm, 2/5 Sterne.

The Chroma Venture by Joel Shepherd

Fun, action-packed space opera!  5/5 stars.  Can't wait for the next book in this series.

Revenger by Alastair Reynolds

Better than the first one, but I really don't like the universe or characters.  Everything in this universe is dark.  All the characters are deceptive and evil.  3/5 stars.

Skin in the game by Nassim Taleb

Too short, dense, and compressed.  Fantastic set of rants and aphorisms. 5/5 stars.

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mfw@wyle.org | 1.425.249.3936

Nachtzug nach Lissabon von Pascal Mercier

Beautifully-written and deeply engrossing story immerses us simultaneously in the main character's adventurous emergence from his suffocating existence as well as a detailed history of Portugal's unreported and violent political uprising, of which I was completely ignorant.  I must chase down more of Mercier's novels.5/5 stars, recommended!

Ich soll vielleicht Buchbesprechungen deutscher Bücher auf Deutsch schreiben.  Falls jemand das liest und irgendeine Meinung hat, bitte lass es mich wissen.

Sun of Suns by Karl Schroeder

Good story-telling and odd tech; decent awe-and-wonder of mysterious trans-humanism.  It is somewhat like Larry Niven's "smoke ring" (Integral trees) world.  Among the world building issues that pushed me out of the story is the existence of petrochemicals and manufacturing processes that rely on strong gravity.  I may not read the rest of the series or his later books, 3/5 stars.

The lost fleet beyond the frontier Steadfast by Jack Campbell

Poor treatment of the AI menace, good mystery and politics, 3/5 stars.

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mfw@wyle.org | 1.425.249.3936

Off Armageddon Reef by David Webber

Fun sci-fi with Napoleonic sea battles. Fun characters; 4/5 stars.

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mfw@wyle.org | 1.425.249.3936