Wreck Jumpers 2 by Jason Anspach and Nick Cole (2025)

The second novel extends the arcs of the original rescue team as they confront the same shadowed adversaries—formidable in political reach, skill, and intrigue. The Warsh aliens dominate this installment, endowed with powers beyond even the Galaxy's Edge mythos, reshaping the scale of combat. The narrative broadens with sharper personalities, including robots that now carry voice, wit, and purpose absent in the first volume. Battles accelerate, characters evolve, and the stakes rise without dilution. The story probes how authority, whether political or military, mutates when opposed by loyalty forged under pressure. It also suggests that technology gains meaning only through the values projected onto it by those who wield it. A concise and vigorous continuation. 5/5 stars

Co-Intelligence by Ethan Mollick (2024)

My work centers on researching and building AI applications, and I manage a broad software team. Some of my colleagues dive headlong into "vibe coding" with generative AI assistants and agentic workflows, while others resist or adopt slowly. Outside of work, I experiment with chatbots and occasionally use them for personal coding, writing, and evaluation tasks. One of my team members recommended Co-Intelligence, so I began with the audiobook on a long flight. I retained little from that attempt. Reading the ebook with notes proved more effective, and I extracted the key insights.

I approach most AI commentary with skepticism. The hype bubble, inflated by the trillion-dollar "magnificent seven," resembles many earlier cycles. Still, just as calculators, GPS, and spell-checkers raised the floor of productivity, generative AI is now advancing the Gartner "plateau of productivity."

Mollick's enthusiasm is obvious, but his "four principles" are sound: (1) treat AI as a partner, not a tool; (2) use it often to learn its strengths and limits; (3) be transparent about when and how you employ it; and (4) expect disruption as norms shift. His prompt-design examples are pragmatic, too. Roughly one-third of the book delivers practical value; the rest dissolves into speculation and fanboy exuberance. Even so, the book is worth reading. 4/5 stars.

Wreck Jumpers by Nick Cole and Jason Anspach (2025)

Cole and Anspach launch another military space opera within their Wayward Galaxy universe, trading narrative depth for kinetic entertainment. The familiar setting and search-and-rescue framing provide novelty, while the characters bristle with energy and rapid-fire banter, echoing the spirit of their earlier work. The result is exuberant, chaotic action punctuated by audacious rescues, though the prose lacks the refinement and immersion achieved in their more polished novels. It succeeds as light diversion—spirited rather than resonant. 4/5 stars.

The Girl who kicked the hornets' nest by Stieg Larsson (2007)

The trilogy concludes with undiminished tension, its narrative charged by reversals, near-deaths, and brutal confrontations that sustain relentless momentum. The plotting is mechanical at times, yet its inexorability creates suspense that feels earned rather than contrived. Larsson turns his critique toward institutions, exposing systemic corruption, entrenched secrecy, and the costs of bureaucratic complicity. The recurring emphasis on institutional misogyny underscores the novels' political charge, though its repetition risks flattening nuance in an otherwise finely-woven narrative. Central characters achieve limited but meaningful development, gaining maturity without betrayal of their sharply defined identities. The finale delivers both continuity and resolution, securing closure while preserving the series' force. 5/5 stars.

Singularity (Star Carrier book 3) by Ian Douglas (2012)

Book 3 expands its political dimensions while deepening the enigma of alien civilizations whose motives remain provocatively opaque, even as they prosecute genocidal war against humanity. Douglas sustains the sense of awe with ancient extraterrestrial mysteries embedded in efficient space opera structuring, while fleet combat sequences deliver momentum and spectacle without excess. The introduction of time travel feels like a dilution of narrative rigor, a compromise to coherence, yet the planetary-moving and galactic-scale engineering technologies reaffirm the saga's conceptual grandeur. Compared with the prior volumes, this installment broadens the cosmological scale while maintaining continuity of military perspective, signaling a shift from near-term survival drama toward longer-arc speculation about humanity's place in a universe shaped by incomprehensible powers. The storyline advances with discipline and energy, balancing large-scale speculation with tight military plotting. 4/5 stars.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman (1999)

I rarely enjoy high fantasy, and I often find Gaiman's work uneven. Nevertheless, his mastery of prose and narrative drive is undeniable. Stardust succeeds because it embraces the fairy tale form without apology. The novel employs an arbitrary but internally consistent magic system and populates it with sharply drawn, memorable characters. The horrors remain true to the tradition of fairy tales—brutal yet restrained in presentation. The result is a work that feels both timeless and deliberate, balancing whimsy with menace. A flawless execution of modern mythmaking. 5/5 stars.

Center of Gravity (star carrier book 2) by Ian Douglas (2011)

Douglas's Center of Gravity extends the Star Carrier saga with all the hallmarks of classic space opera: high-stakes political intrigue on Earth, massive fleet engagements, relativistic combat rendered with cinematic flair, enigmatic alien species, and technologies designed to evoke awe. The narrative momentum is strong, the characters remain engaging, and the escalating conflicts have a satisfying dramatic rhythm.

Still, the physics in the story often falters. Singularity encounters omit any serious consideration of tidal forces. The treatment of relativistic energies—whether in blue-shifted particle beams or exotic "relativistic sand" munitions—lacks rigor. The frequency of collisions among vessels in interstellar space pushes credibility as well. These flaws undermine some of the scientific verisimilitude, though they never entirely fracture the operatic sweep of the story.

Despite the lapses in astrophysical modeling, the novel succeeds as exhilarating spectacle and remains deeply enjoyable. 4/5

How to Dodge a Cannonball by Dennard Dayle (2025)

Dennard Dayel's How to Dodge a Cannonball reads like a satirical fever dream of the American Civil War, written in a cadence that recalls Neil Gaiman's gothic whimsy but channeled through battlefield smoke and absurdist humor. The novel brims with clever aphorisms and meticulously crafted ironies, some of which prompted genuine laughter. Yet the eccentric characters, designed more as allegorical figures than as psychologically convincing agents, never acquire sufficient depth to sustain real attachment. Their stories, while inventive, feel ornamental rather than compelling. The brilliance lies in the tonal play—where tragedy keeps colliding with farce—yet the narrative lacks the gravitational pull of characters worth following. For all its wit and audacity, the book remains more a satirical spectacle than a work of lasting emotional force. 3/5

Earth Strike (star carrier 1) by Ian Douglas (2010)

Ian Douglas launches the Star Carrier saga with a narrative that fuses interstellar mystery, relentless fleet combat, and the precarious role of humanity in a universe populated by civilizations far older and more advanced. The novel's central tension emerges from first contact with an enigmatic species whose capabilities far exceed human understanding. That asymmetry drives the suspense: survival hinges on improvisation, cultural resilience, and the capacity for tactical surprise.

The physics that underpin the technology function as both strength and weakness. When Douglas stretches plausibility—gravity fields near singularities, or selective hand-waving around faster-than-light transitions—the cracks show. Yet these gaps are overshadowed by kinetic depictions of carrier operations and fleet engagements that pulse with authenticity, clearly informed by present-day doctrine. The heavy emphasis on crewed spacecraft, though questionable in an era where autonomous systems dominate speculation, reinforces the drama of command decisions under extreme uncertainty.

What keeps the novel engrossing is not just the scale of the threat but the tight focus on individuals who must navigate enormous strategic stakes. The convergence of personal loyalties, institutional rivalries, and the dizzying possibility of extinction yields a story that entertains as much as it provokes reflection. Earth Strike succeeds as a first movement in a longer symphony—high velocity, flawed at the margins, but gripping throughout. 4/5.

The Hidden Girl and other stories by Ken Liu (2020)

I first encountered Ken Liu's work through the television series Pantheon and sought out this collection because several episodes draw on stories from it. A handful of the science fiction pieces form a shared universe that underpins the series. The adaptations depart from their source material in substantial ways—at times the dramatizations convey more emotional force, while in other respects the original stories possess greater intellectual rigor and narrative control.

Outside the science fiction core, most of the remaining works fall into sword-and-sorcery fantasy. These rely heavily on mythic tropes that I found less compelling and, in some cases, distracting. Liu's strengths lie elsewhere: his speculative futures are constructed with unusual clarity and depth, and his prose in English is fluid, precise, and engaging. His world-building is particularly notable, sustained by an evident mastery of technical and cultural detail.

Liu is already recognized by a wide array of major awards, and his polymathic career—lawyer, technologist, and translator in addition to author—underscores the breadth of his intellectual reach. For readers seeking carefully imagined technology-driven futures, the strongest science fiction stories in this volume are absorbing and rewarding. The weaker fantasy entries, however, dilute the collection. 3/5 Stars.

Luna: New Moon by Ian Douglas (2015)

Ian Douglas's Luna: New Moon disappoints as a follow-up to the Abyss Galaxy Raiders series, trading the latter's taut space opera for a bloated narrative marred by gratuitous sex, superficial fashion descriptions, and tangential subplots. While the core plot—centered on a feudal lunar society—holds promise, the execution falters. The worldbuilding, particularly the reliance on 3D-printed weaponry and technology as a deus ex machina, feels contrived and underdeveloped. The pacing suffers from a glaring imbalance: the majority of the novel meanders through backstory and distractions, only to rush through critical plot twists and revelations in the final chapters.

The novel's redeeming features include its visceral, close-quarters combat sequences and a premise that, with tighter editing, could have delivered a compelling exploration of lunar colonization and societal collapse. As it stands, Luna: New Moon earns a cautious 3/5 stars—a flawed but not irredeemable entry in Douglas's oeuvre.

Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut (1963)

Now I remember why I had not read this book earlier.  Cat's Cradle exemplifies Vonnegut's signature satirical style, but it fails catastrophically in several critical respects. The novel's scientific premises defy belief, undermining the narrative's internal logic. The portrayal of characters lacks depth and consistency, resulting in figures that are not only unconvincing but completely unsympathetic. The humor, intended to be darkly ironic, fails to engage and often feels forced. Overall, the combination of weak characterization, flawed scientific underpinnings, and ineffective humor renders the novel a disappointing read. Given these deficiencies, the work struggles to justify the investment of time required to finish it. 1/5 Stars.

Parliament of Whores by P J O'Rourke (1991)

P. J. O'Rourke's Parliament of Whores: A Lone Humorist Attempts to Explain the Entire U.S. Government remains one of the sharpest satirical dissections of American politics ever written. O'Rourke, a seasoned journalist and foreign correspondent, brings both firsthand reporting and a libertarian sensibility to his critique. The result is a book that is both uproariously funny and uncomfortably accurate.

O'Rourke's style is dense with humor; many sentences deliver multiple laugh-out-loud lines. Yet the comedy serves as a scalpel rather than a distraction, laying bare the inefficiency, hypocrisy, and absurdity of government. He skewers politicians across the spectrum, exposing the ways in which taxing, spending, and regulation consistently fail to produce outcomes acceptable to the very citizens they are meant to serve.

Despite his relentless criticism, O'Rourke avoids despair. His libertarian perspective emphasizes not only the limits of government but also the resilience of individuals and institutions outside of politics. He notes, with characteristic irony, that American society functions far better than one would expect given the incompetence of its leaders. That recognition—our ability to thrive in spite of government—gives the book a surprising optimism beneath the satire.

O'Rourke's combination of journalistic observation, libertarian critique, and comedic brilliance makes Parliament of Whores a rare achievement: a political book that is simultaneously serious, insightful, and wildly entertaining. I regret not having read more of his work earlier, and I recommend this one without reservation. 5/5 Stars.

The Dispossessed by Ursula K Le Guin (1974)

Ursula K. Le Guin's The Dispossessed occupies a seminal place in science fiction for its ambitious exploration of anarchism, utopia, and the nature of freedom. Despite the novel's critical acclaim—including multiple Hugo and Nebula awards—I found the execution lacking in depth. The narrative investigates the ideological tensions between the collectivist anarchist society on the moon Anarres and its more capitalist and hierarchical sister planet, Urras. Through the protagonist Shevek, a physicist seeking to unify disparate scientific and social worlds, Le Guin examines themes of individual autonomy versus social conformity, the contradictions within idealistic political structures, and the complexity of human freedom.

However, the characters often function more as vectors for these philosophical inquiries rather than as complex human beings. The dialogue frequently feels schematic, prioritizing political discourse over organic storytelling. The central conflicts sometimes appear contrived to serve ideological debate rather than arising naturally from the characters' lived experience. While the prose aligns with Le Guin's reputation for elegance, the novel's didactic tone diminished my engagement.

The Dispossessed deserves recognition for its conceptual rigor and the urgency of its questions about societal organization and personal liberty. Yet, the book's strengths are counterbalanced by flat characterization and a plot that serves the philosophy more than the storytelling. 2/5 stars.

Day of the Moron by Alan Dean Piper (1951)

I enjoyed this story most for its characters and dialogue, which immerse the reader in a genuine slice of 1951 America. The values and attitudes on display exemplify the rock-solid humanism of the Greatest Generation—men and women who had survived the Second World War, built immense wealth, and launched unprecedented advances in medicine, aeronautics, rocketry, nuclear science, weapons technology, birth control, and even the design of interstellar space probes. Their optimism was inseparable from their accomplishments, and Piper captures that atmosphere with remarkable clarity.

The story itself works because it builds steadily from everyday realism into a problem of enormous consequence, handled with restraint and credibility. The dialogue and pacing create a slow tightening of tension, so when the ending arrives, it feels both inevitable and startling. The resolution strikes with force precisely because it remains true to the world and characters Piper so carefully established.  Rating: 5/5 Stars

The Cookie Monster by Vernor Vinge (2003)

After Vinge's death, I turned to several of his works, including this novella. True Names imagines consciousnesses inhabiting a simulation and struggling against its constraints. It stands as one of the earliest treatments of virtual worlds, anticipating ideas later elaborated in Ken Liu's short stories (adapted in the TV series Pantheon).

The narrative feels pioneering but now somewhat dated, especially in comparison with more sophisticated explorations such as David Brin's Stones of Significance. Still, the novella captures the thrill of speculative extrapolation at a moment when the digital frontier was only beginning to be glimpsed.

Rating: 3/5

The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson (2009)

Larsson's second volume shifts the center of gravity from Mikael Blomkvist to Lisbeth Salander, expanding her fractured past into a narrative of systemic violence. The plot retains investigative intrigue but amplifies spectacle, introducing figures whose physical resilience borders on the implausible. Beneath the thriller mechanics lies Larsson's critique of entrenched misogyny, secret surveillance networks, and the collusion of state institutions in suppressing truth. Although less tightly constructed than Dragon Tattoo, the novel's urgency stems from Salander's defiance of structures intent on erasing her. A bold, unsettling exploration of power and resistance. Rating: 4/5

Six Not-So-Easy Pieces: Einstein's Relativity, Symmetry, and Space-Time by Richard Feynman (1997)

Review of Six Not-So-Easy Pieces: Einstein's Relativity, Symmetry, and Space-Time by Richard Feynman (1997)

As an undergraduate I could not penetrate the large, hardbound volumes of The Feynman Lectures on Physics my sister used in graduate school; my mathematics at the time was too limited. Even so, the space–time diagrams and the elegance of Feynman's prose left a lasting impression. Later I devoured his autobiographical works—beginning with Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!—and admired his wit as much as his physics.

This smaller collection, distilled from transcripts of selected undergraduate lectures, offers a more approachable entry into his treatment of relativity, symmetry, and space–time. Freed from the intimidating scale of the three-volume lectures, the material here is accessible without losing rigor. Feynman's charisma, precision, and contagious delight in physics animate every page.

The result is a compact yet deep experience: challenging enough to respect the subject, clear enough to sustain momentum. I read it quickly and with great enjoyment.

Rating: 4/5 stars.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman (2021)

I found the television series adaptation disappointing because of its brutality and incoherent universe. Gaiman's novel has superior storytelling, brimming with bizarre, unpredictable twists. Capricious, inconsistent magic—only lightly horrific—animates fun, colorful characters who are very well written. Interpreting the gods' war reveals metaphors for cultural erosion: immigrant mythologies fade amid ascendant American deities of technology and media, underscoring belief's fragility in forging national identity. 3/5 stars.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (2009)

Stieg Larsson's inaugural Millennium novel thrusts journalist Mikael Blomkvist into a labyrinthine investigation of corporate corruption and a decades-old disappearance within a wealthy Swedish family.  Aided by the enigmatic hacker Lisbeth Salander—a survivor of institutional abuse whose vigilante ethos challenges patriarchal norms Mikael has thrilling adventures unravelling the mystery. The narrative interweaves subplots of financial malfeasance, sexual violence, and latent fascism, critiquing Sweden's supposedly egalitarian society while exposing misogyny's systemic roots. The thriller functions as a feminist indictment, with Salander embodying resilient autonomy amid moral decay, rendering the tightly plotted mystery a vehicle for social commentary on power imbalances. The characterization and pacing are captivating. 5/5 Stars.

When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro (2001)

Kazuo Ishiguro's When We Were Orphans (2000) probes the unreliability of memory and perception through Christopher Banks, an acclaimed detective whose myopic adherence to personal convictions blinds him to broader realities.

Exquisite prose illuminates profound character depths, weaving a narrative that exposes the tragic rigidities of early twentieth-century cultural norms and colonial illusions.

This masterful exploration of self-deception and loss merits Ishiguro's eventual Nobel Prize in Literature. 5/5 stars; highly recommended.

Galaxy Raiders: Abyss by Ian Douglas (2025)

In Ian Douglas's Abyss (2025), amortal humans navigate interstellar perils amid enigmatic aliens and colossal galactic empires.

Reminiscent of David Weber's naval sagas, the novel unleashes exhilarating fleet battles on vast scales, fueled by inventive technologies and a gripping narrative.

Compelling characters, including the deeply layered Morrigan, anchor the propulsive story, rendering it prime space opera.

Yet relativistic time dilation falters: near-light-speed voyages shorten traveler durations to destinations, but the profound lag at origins is dismissed, permitting returns to aligned timelines rather than estranged futures—a lapse that dilutes scientific plausibility for plot convenience.

Because of this inconsistency, the book thrills yet only partly fulfills hard sci-fi expectations. 4/5 stars.

Die Welt von Gestern. Erinnerungen eines Europäers von Stefan Zweig (1942)

Stefan Zweigs autobiografische Erinnerungen zeichnen ein nuanciertes Porträt der vor dem Ersten Weltkrieg blühenden europäischen Kultur im Habsburgerreich, einer Ära scheinbarer Sicherheit mit Fortschritten in Technologie, Humanismus und Aufklärungsphilosophie. Der Autor reflektiert über seine Bildung, literarische Karriere und Reisen, unterbrochen durch Begegnungen mit Figuren wie Sigmund Freud, Theodor Herzl, Rainer Maria Rilke und Richard Strauss. Das Werk lamentiert den Verfall von Humanismus, Internationalismus und kultureller Harmonie Europas, ersetzt durch Nationalismus, Kriege und Faschismus – ein Prozess, der in Zweigs Exil und dem Suizid mit seiner Frau kulminiert. Interpretativ verkörpert der Text eine Elegie auf verlorene Ideale, deren Zerbrechlichkeit durch Zweigs persönliche Desillusionierung unterstrichen wird und zeitgenössische Warnungen vor ideologischer Polarisierung impliziert. Der humanistische Schreibstil beeindruckt besonders. 4/5 Sterne.

The Institute by Stephen King (2021)

Stephen King's The Institute (2019) exemplifies his mastery as a mechanical and literary craftsman, with prose that enchants through vivid characters, sharp dialogue, meticulous plot pacing, and rich linguistic texture. Despite such strengths, my aversion to horror—the genre dominating his oeuvre—limits my engagement to his forays into science fiction or historical fiction, which too often veer into horrific territory and disappoint.

Enthusiastic horror fans in my company's book club consume King's works voraciously. A provocative comparison positioning The Institute as "Stephen King reimagines Ender's Game—and surpasses the original"—prompted my purchase. The novel indeed features prodigious children harnessed for extraordinary purposes, yet it pivots to psychic phenomena amid pervasive horror tropes, which alienated me. I savored the core narrative and characterizations but achieved only superficial immersion because of inconsistent handling of the psychic magic system, initially shrouded in mystery and deployed subtly to propel events, these abilities morph unpredictably, culminating in an unsatisfying resolution that undermines interpretive depth—perhaps intending to evoke ethical quandaries in exploiting latent human potential but faltering in coherence. 3/5 stars.

Wie Das Wetter Geschichte Macht (

Ronald D. Gerstes Wie Das Wetter Geschichte Macht (2015) bietet eine fesselnde Sammlung historischer Vignetten, die den entscheidenden Einfluss des Wetters auf historische Ereignisse beleuchten. Das Buch verknüpft faktenreiche Schilderungen mit spekulativen „Was-wäre-wenn"-Szenarien, die alternative Geschichtsverläufe überzeugend und anregend darstellen. Gerstes Erzählstil ist lebendig und unterhaltsam, auch wenn seine Quellenangaben und Erklärungen nicht immer umfassend sind und gelegentlich Fehler enthalten.

Die dramatischen Kommentare tragen zur Anziehungskraft des Buches bei, doch die ausschweifenden Passagen über anthropogenen Klimawandel und leidenschaftliche Klagen über die moderne Gesellschaft wirken ermüdend und fehlen am Platz. Trotz dieser Schwächen bleibt das Werk durch seine originelle Perspektive und den Fokus auf das Wetter als historische Kraft ansprechend.

Bewertung: 4/5 Sterne.

To the Stars by L Ron Hubbard (2024)

L. Ron Hubbard's To The Stars, originally published in 1950 and reissued in 2024, captures the essence of pulp science fiction. The novel brims with futuristic technology, exotic societies, and melodramatic human dynamics—hallmarks of the genre's exuberant era. For readers, it evokes a personal "golden age of science fiction" (14–17), when such stories spark youthful wonder.

The narrative's spirited escapism delivers nostalgic charm, but its appeal fades under modern scrutiny. Simplistic characters and outdated social assumptions clash with contemporary values, exposing the novel's mid-20th-century roots. While entertaining for its historical vigor, its reliance on dated tropes and lack of depth limits its resonance for readers with refined tastes.

Hubbard's work endures as a vivid relic of science fiction's past, engaging yet constrained by its era's conventions.

Rating: 3/5 stars.

Class Clown by Dave Barry (2025)

Dave Barry's Class Clown (2025), an autobiography, distills the humorist's decades-long career into a rollicking narrative that echoes the wit of his beloved columns. Known for eliciting laughter across generations, Barry delivers a memoir brimming with his signature irreverence and keen observational humor. The book traces his journey with self-deprecating charm, offering anecdotes that balance absurdity with warmth.

While consistently funny, the autobiography occasionally lacks the depth needed to elevate it beyond entertainment, skimming over introspective moments that could enrich the narrative. Nonetheless, Barry's knack for finding humor in the mundane ensures a delightful read, faithful to the style that has long captivated readers.

Rating: 4/5 stars.

Kill Them With Kindness by Will Carver (2025)

Will Carver's Kill Them with Kindness (2025) reimagines the premise of a virus engineered to promote altruism, reminiscent of David Brin's 1987 short story The Giving Plague. Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the novel weaves a speculative conspiracy narrative involving global powers and scientific manipulation. The story explores the development of a virus designed to foster kindness and cooperation, while darker forces exploit the ensuing chaos for their own ends. The setting works well because the conspiracy theory provides answers to the unanswered questions of who benefits from the overblown fear and panic world-wide that persists now. None of the preventative care measures had any effect on the spread of covid-19 in humans, and the silly, theatrical, useless prophylaxis measures caused long-lasting, world-wide destruction to society, economics, politics, healthcare, education, etc.

The narrative draws strength from its initial focus on philosophical themes, particularly through characters who embody collectivist ideals, offering a compelling lens on human behavior under crisis. However, the antagonists lack depth, their motivations reduced to simplistic malevolence. The plot, initially engaging, veers into implausible territory with the introduction of exaggerated technological elements, undermining its early promise. The grim resolution feels heavy-handed, failing to fully reconcile the tension between free will and biological determinism.

Compared to Brin's nuanced exploration of symbiosis and agency, Carver's novel ambitiously tackles similar themes but stumbles due to its reliance on far-fetched plot devices and underdeveloped characters. The setting and philosophical undertones captivate, but the execution falls short.

Rating: 2/5 stars.

Energy and Civilization: A History by Vaclav Smil (2017)

Vaclav Smil's Energy and Civilization: A History (2017) offers a rigorous, quantitative lens on humanity's technological and societal evolution through energy use. Smil's paleontological approach—meticulously tracing energy's role across epochs—yields a dense, illuminating narrative. His calculations reveal trends that reframe historical progress, such as energy transitions driving industrial advancements, providing a novel perspective on societal development. For instance, Smil quantifies the energy costs of pre-industrial agriculture versus modern systems, underscoring efficiency leaps often overlooked in traditional histories.

The book's strength lies in its data-driven insights, which spark reflection on civilization's energy dependencies. Smil explores the feasibility of reconstructing modern society from scratch, addressing resource demands and industrial capacities—relevant to speculative scenarios like off-world colonization. Yet, the text falters in its diffuse focus, delving into esoteric details, such as obscure energy metrics, which Smil himself acknowledges as marginally relevant. This lack of editorial restraint burdens the reader with textbook-like density, demanding significant time to parse.

While the book partially satisfies curiosity about bootstrapping civilization, it lacks a cohesive framework for understanding the full scope of necessary expertise and infrastructure. Smil notes wasteful practices but stops short of synthesizing a clear blueprint, leaving readers to piece together implications. Compared to his more accessible works, this volume's complexity may deter non-specialists.

Rating: 3/5

The Lost Legion by Jason Anspach, Nick Cole, & Blaine Pardoe (2024)

The Lost Legion (2024), authored by Jason Anspach, Nick Cole, and Blaine Pardoe, delivers a military science fiction narrative heavily centered on mechanized warfare, which dominates the novel's tactical and technological framework. This focus on mech combat overshadows other elements, potentially alienating readers uninterested in such mechanics. The novel's strength lies in its nuanced portrayal of character psychology, deftly exploring complex pathologies that lend depth to the protagonists. These characters, crafted with care, navigate hero's journey archetypes with skill, rendering their arcs compelling despite a merely satisfactory plot.

However, the antagonists falter significantly. Their motivations, rooted in simplistic malevolence, lack depth and coherence, resulting in caricatured "evil" figures. The dialogue justifying their actions feels contrived, undermining narrative credibility. This flaw weakens the story's interpretive weight, as the conflict lacks a robust ideological or moral foundation.

The book's reliance on mech-driven action may overshadow its psychological insights for some, but the well-executed character development offers redeeming value. Rating: 2/5 stars.

Espedair Street by Ian M Banks (1990)

Iain M. Banks' Espedair Street (1990) delivers a piercing psychological portrait of Daniel "Weird" Weir, a self-effacing, stuttering, introverted songwriter whose prodigious talent catapults him to rock stardom. Unlike Banks' celebrated Culture novels, which explore post-scarcity utopias, this standalone work probes the dissonance between personal identity and public persona. The narrative's strength lies in its unflinching excavation of Weir's psyche—his awkwardness, guilt, and existential drift—rendered through introspective prose that balances raw vulnerability with wry humor.

The novel's tightly woven plot chronicles Weir's rise and retreat from fame, juxtaposing his creative genius against his social alienation. Banks masterfully employs Scottish vernacular, infusing dialogue and setting with cultural authenticity that grounds the story in Glasgow's gritty vibrancy. This linguistic precision not only enriches character interactions but also mirrors the protagonist's struggle to reconcile his roots with his success. Themes of authenticity, ambition, and the corrosive effects of fame resonate, inviting reflection on the cost of artistic transcendence.

While the pacing occasionally falters under dense introspection, the novel's vivid characters and sharp social commentary sustain engagement. Espedair Street offers a compelling meditation on identity and creativity, distinct from Banks' speculative oeuvre yet equally profound. 4/5 stars.

Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2025)

Shroud (2025) by Adrian Tchaikovsky crafts a first-contact narrative grounded in meticulous world-building, vividly depicting a high-gravity moon's alien ecosystem and humanity's interstellar ambitions. The setting evokes awe through its intricate environmental and technological details, anchoring the novel's speculative scope. However, the narrative, dominated by protracted interpersonal conflicts, falters. The characters, ostensibly intrepid explorers, exhibit excessive emotional volatility—marked by neuroses and trivial rivalries—undermining their credibility. The plot, while initially gripping, grows oppressively bleak, and the resolution, echoing Tchaikovsky's earlier first-contact works, feels formulaic and uninspired. Production quality is adequate, but the novel's predictable trajectory and overwrought drama diminish its impact. 2/5 Stars.

Love, Death & Robots Vol. 1 by various authors (2021)

Love, Death + Robots: Volume 1 (2021), curated by the Netflix series' creators, anthologizes science fiction stories exploring technology's collision with human experience. Standout contributions from Alastair Reynolds, Peter F. Hamilton, and Marko Kloos—many previously published—deliver sophisticated narratives marked by robust world-building and existential depth. These stories interrogate humanity's relationship with artificial intelligence and dystopian futures, offering incisive commentary through tightly crafted plots and vivid characters.

Conversely, newer stories disappoint, suffering from deficient world-building, incoherent plots, disjointed narrative flow, and shallow character development. This disparity fragments the anthology's coherence, diluting its intellectual impact. Exacerbating these flaws, the physical book's production is subpar: off-center typesetting, low-quality paper, and pervasive spelling errors reflect careless editing, undermining the reading experience for discerning readers.

Despite these deficiencies, the anthology's ambitious scope and provocative inquiries into mortality and innovation sustain its value. The stronger stories elevate it as a noteworthy, if uneven, contribution to speculative fiction. I enjoyed the book. 4/5 Stars.

Tales from the Starship Atlantis, various authors (2025)

This anthology of speculative fiction by various authors, probes near-future possibilities through a series of short stories. Despite the book's ambitious premise, its execution falters, delivering narratives that only sporadically engage the intellectually curious reader.

Several stories tantalize with imaginative extrapolations of technological and societal trends, offering glimpses into plausible futures. These moments, grounded in speculative rigor, shine as the collection's strength. However, the anthology's promise is undermined by pervasive flaws: magic systems lack coherence, character motivations appear arbitrary, and relentlessly bleak resolutions sap narrative satisfaction. The inconsistent plotting and underdeveloped storylines further diminish the book's impact, leaving readers yearning for deeper interpretive resonance.

While the anthology's conceptual ambition merits consideration, its uneven craftsmanship limits its appeal. Scholars and professionals seeking provocative ideas may find fleeting inspiration, but the collection's narrative weaknesses hinder sustained engagement. 2/5 stars

Titans of History by Simon Sebag Montefiore (2018)

Titans of History offers a collection of biographical sketches that examine individuals who profoundly shaped their eras' cultural, political, and intellectual landscapes. Montefiore's work implicitly endorses the "great man" theory, attributing historical shifts to the agency of singular figures—rulers, monarchs, artists, and influencers—whose ambitions and flaws reverberate through time. The book balances admiration for their humanist contributions with candid exposure of their darker traits, including megalomania and moral failings.

Notably, Montefiore explores the intense personal drives of these figures, particularly their sexual proclivities, which range from voracious appetites to unconventional expressions. This focus, while intriguing, occasionally overshadows broader ideological currents like humanism or Enlightenment thought, which receive only cursory attention. The book's strength lies in its vivid, concise portraits, though some sketches lack depth, rendering them less compelling.

As a biographical anthology, not a historical treatise, the book prioritizes personality over systemic analysis, limiting its interpretive scope. While engaging, the uneven quality of the sketches yields a mixed experience. 3/5 Stars.

visitors by Orson Scott Card (2015)

Visitors, the final volume of Orson Scott Card's Pathfinder trilogy, delivers a fast-paced, action-driven narrative that engages yet ultimately falls short of the first two volumes. Centered on Rigg and Umbo's time-shifting abilities, the novel prominently features the expendables—AI caretakers whose agency shapes ethical and temporal dilemmas in the colony world of Garden. These sentient machines raise compelling questions about autonomy and responsibility. However, an overcrowded cast, convoluted plot twists, and a magic system stretched to resolve conflicts too conveniently undermine the narrative.

The exploration of free will versus determinism, debated through the protagonists' manipulation of history, invites intellectual reflection. Yet, the didactic tone, marked by excessive ethical banter, weakens philosophical depth. Param's relegation to a secondary role diminishes the ensemble dynamic established in prior volumes. The resolution, though emotionally resonant, feels overly tidy, lacking the ambiguity suited to complex time-travel narratives.

"Visitors" offers thematic ambition but falters in coherence and nuance. Its strengths—action, ethical questions, and the expendables' pivotal role, make the book engaging. The resolution of the mysterious future disaster the characters are all trying to avoid is unsatisfying. And the treacly sweet falling action at the end is bad. 3/5 Stars.

Children of the Sky by Vernor Vinge (2011)

I did not enjoy this third and final novel as much as the first two; the story and characters are too dark, conniving, and evil.  3/5 Stars.

Source Code by Bill Gates (2025)

In Source Code, Bill Gates offers the first volume of his autobiography as he approaches his seventieth year. Readers familiar with Gates' previous writings—including his influential memos at Microsoft—will recognize his lucid, accessible prose and his penchant for self-reflection. Gates selectively recounts his ascent from precocious youth to global technology leader, providing a carefully curated narrative that highlights his achievements while omitting many of the more controversial episodes from his past.

Notably, Gates addresses his neurodivergent experiences and early personal struggles with a candor that is both surprising and illuminating, given the general reticence of public figures to disclose such details. However, the memoir largely avoids the legal disputes and missteps that complicated his early career. These omissions, while perhaps expected from a figure so attuned to his public image, result in a narrative that feels sanitized and at times one-sided.

Despite these limitations, Source Code offers valuable insights into Gates' perspective on the formative years of the software industry during the 1970s. The memoir is best approached as a personal account rather than a comprehensive history. Readers seeking a critical or exhaustive treatment of Gates' life and career will find the book lacking in depth and balance. Nevertheless, for those interested in Gates' self-portrayal and reflections on technological innovation, Source Code is a worthwhile read.    4/5 stars

Auf Sand Gebaut von Stefan Heym (1998)

Stefan Heyms Auf Sand gebaut umfasst sieben Vignetten, die die gelebten Realitäten der Ostdeutschen in unmittelbarer Nähe des sowjetischen Zusammenbruchs und der nationalen Wiedervereinigung erfassen. Jede Erzählung fungiert als Mikrokosmos des breiteren gesellschaftlichen Umbruchs und beleuchtet die Unklarheiten, Widersprüche und Enttäuschungen, die diesen historischen Moment charakterisierten. Heyms Geschichten Vordergrund: Die Belastbarkeit und Anpassungsfähigkeit von Individuen, die durch die Erosion vertrauter Strukturen und die Entstehung neuer, oft desorientierter Paradigmen navigieren.

Die Prosa von Heym ist ungewollt und präzise und meidet Nostalgie zugunsten kritischer Beobachtung. Die Stärke der Sammlung liegt in ihrer Weigerung, einfache Vorsätze zu bieten. Stattdessen stellt Heym die anhaltenden Unsicherheiten und moralischen Unklarheiten vor, die das Leben auf instabilem Boden definieren. Der dauerhafte Wert des Buches für akademische und professionelle Leser liegt in seiner differenzierten Darstellung der systemischen Transformation-ein Bericht als relevant für Historiker und Soziologen in Bezug auf diejenigen, die sich für die Psychologie der Anpassung und die Soziologie postsozialistischer Gesellschaften interessieren.4/5 Sterne

Ruins by Orson Scott Card (2013)

In Ruins, the second installment of Orson Scott Card's Pathfinder trilogy, Rigg's odyssey propels him through the multifaceted "Folds" of the planet Garden, culminating in encounters with the shipboard AIs that seeded human life. This narrative, dense with speculative world-building, probes temporal and spatial manipulation, resonating with engineers and scientists intrigued by systems theory and artificial intelligence. Card's integration of Lit-RPG elements—character progression via experience and magical artifacts—infuses a gamified structure that, despite my skepticism toward fantasy, captivates through its rigorous internal logic, appealing to analytical readers.

The character arcs, particularly Rigg's, evolve with psychological depth, navigating trust and agency within a deterministic universe, a theme historians and biologists in my audience may find compelling for its parallels to evolutionary and societal dynamics. The novel's brisk pacing and intricate plotting sustain momentum, setting an anticipatory stage for the trilogy's conclusion. Card's continued productivity enriches contemporary speculative fiction, delivering a work that merits top marks for its intellectual rigor and narrative drive. 5/5 Stars.

Der fremde Passagier 2 von Dominik A Meier (2023)

Das zweite Buch dieser zweiteiligen Reihe setzt das Abenteuer von William Kyle fort, dem unerschrockenen Schmuggler der Weltraumpiraten im Jahr 2197. Es ist noch schlimmer als das erste Buch.

Die Handlung setzt in eine dystopische Zukunft, in der die Erde die Herrschaft über das Sonnensystem an sich reißt. Die freien Kolonien fallen einer nach der anderen, und die Menschheit versinkt im Chaos, während eine mysteriöse Krankheit Millionen von Menschen dahinrafft.

Die Geschichte geht in den gleichen abgedroschenen, erfundenen Actionsequenzen wie im ersten Buch weiter, in denen William und seine Freunde jeder unmöglichen Situation nur knapp entkommen. Die letzten Chater winden sich zu einer bizarren, zufälligen, hirntoten Abfolge völlig unplausibler Ereignisse mit einem sehr deprimierenden, schrecklichen, aber sehr willkommenen Ende. Ich weiß nicht, warum ich weitergelesen habe. Absolut nicht zu empfehlen. 0/5 Sterne.

Drone Factories Behind Enemy Lines

Ukraine created and remotely operated a weaponized drone factory inside Russia. Ukraine also contracted honest Russian freight companies to load and move trucks and later train cars containing autonomous self-deploying fleets of drones near Russian military targets.  A good analysis of the 20th century history of this type of asymmetric “behind enemy lines” tactic is here. And a great military economics and strategy analysis of the success of the operations is here.

More recently, Israel created and remotely operated a weaponized drone assembly area as well as a missile assembly area inside Iran at a much longer distance (1,500 km).

Israel also coordinated suppression of enemy aerial defense (SEAD) with these vulnerable autonomous close-range weapon operations.

In addition, Israel targeted senior Iranian military leaders who were competent and successful at prosecuting their decades-long campaign to destroy Israel and murder all Israeli citizens. Iran has colonized much of Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Gaza, and Yemen. Iran created powerful proxy armies in each of these areas. The Houthis in Yemen fought the US Navy to a stand-still (draw) and continue to keep Israelis in bomb shelters every day with their missile attacks. Hezbollah ruled Lebanon and had some success murdering Israelis with missiles; Hamas ruled Gaza, firing tens of thousands of rockets into Israel and murdering many Israelis. Hamas’ successful military invasion and massacre in October 2023 is another testament to the competence of these leaders in Iran.

I am curious about one particular aspect of these operations, namely the game theory, cognitive psychology, and longer-term strategy of the information each side in these conflicts releases as well as the timing of the information release.  Israel published the fact that some information released was intended to gather targeted leaders at the same location.

“We knew this would lead them to meet, but more importantly, we knew how to keep them there.”

So my question is, why would Israel publish this deception tactic?   Does Disclosing Manipulation Make Responses More Predictable or Manipulable?

Game Theory Perspective

In game theory, strategic interactions are modeled as games where players choose actions based on a payoff matrix that reflects the costs and benefits of their decisions. By publicly revealing their ability to manipulate and strike senior Iranian leaders, Israel effectively alters this matrix for Iran. The disclosure signals that Israel possesses superior intelligence and operational capacity, which Israel hopes will constrain Iran’s strategic options. For example, Iranian leaders might now prioritize protecting their remaining leadership, leading to defensive moves—such as dispersing key figures or fortifying command structures—that Israel could anticipate. If Iran perceives Israel’s capabilities as credible, their responses might become more predictable, as they react within a narrower set of choices designed to mitigate the revealed threat. However, if Iran suspects a bluff or seeks to challenge Israel’s resolve, they might opt for unpredictable counter-moves, complicating the outcome. Thus, game theory suggests predictability increases only if Iran’s leadership accepts the new strategic reality and adjusts rationally. Which AI models the psychology of the Iranian ruling counsel?

Military Strategy Perspective

Military strategy often employs deception, surprise, and psychological pressure to disrupt an adversary’s decision-making. Historically, targeting an enemy’s command structure—like Israel’s strike on senior leaders—aims to sow chaos and impair coordination. By disclosing this tactic, Israel may be engaging in psychological warfare, intending to demoralize Iran’s military and force its leaders into a reactive stance. If successful, this could lead to more cautious or standardized responses, such as adhering to established protocols, which are easier to predict. For instance, military doctrines often emphasize redundancy and pre-set contingency plans when leadership is threatened, potentially making Iran’s next steps more formulaic. However, this strategy risks backfiring if Iran interprets the disclosure as provocation and responds with unconventional or tactics intended to reduce predictability.

Psychological Perspective

My intuition—that paranoid, angry individuals are less predictable than calm, rational ones—is supported by some psychological research, that links heightened emotional states to impulsive or erratic behavior. However, the Israeli military’s disclosure might rest on a newer psychological hypothesis: under extreme stress or fear, people can revert to instinctual, habitual, or risk-averse patterns, making their actions more foreseeable. For example, surviving Iranian leaders, now aware of Israel’s lethal manipulation, might experience heightened paranoia or a sense of vulnerability. Their reactions would lead them to centralize decision-making, executing predictable operations, or over-rely on familiar, existing strategies—all of which could simplify Israel’s ability to anticipate their moves. Additionally, the stress of knowing they were outmaneuvered might induce “analysis paralysis,” where overthinking limits Iran’s flexibility, inadvertently making their responses even more manipulable. While evidence isn’t definitive, studies on stress responses (e.g., in crisis decision-making) suggest that extreme pressure can sometimes narrow behavioral options, supporting the idea that disclosure could enhance predictability under specific conditions.

Other Advantages of Disclosing This Information

Beyond influencing predictability, Israel’s public statement offers a few strategic benefits:

Deterrence: By showcasing their ability to orchestrate events and eliminate key figures, Israel signals to Iran that further aggression could invite similarly devastating strikes. This raises the perceived cost of escalation, potentially deterring offensive actions.

Psychological Warfare: The disclosure could erode morale among Iran’s military leadership, fostering distrust or fear of internal leaks (e.g., how Israel knew where and when to strike). This psychological pressure might weaken Iran’s cohesion, giving Israel an edge.

Signaling Resolve: The statement demonstrates Israel’s willingness and capability to act decisively, which could bolster domestic support, reassure allies, or justify their operations to the international community.

Risks and Caveats

While these advantages are compelling, the disclosure carries risks. It might provoke Iran into retaliating aggressively, especially if leaders view their setback as a public humiliation. Alternatively, Iran could adapt by enhancing security measures for their leaders—such as avoiding predictable gatherings—making future strikes harder. The effectiveness of this strategy hinges on how Iran’s leadership interprets and reacts to the revelation.

Conclusion

There is no conclusive proof that disclosing intentional manipulation makes an enemy’s responses more predictable or manipulable, but principles from game theory, military strategy, and psychology suggest it’s plausible under certain conditions. Game theory indicates that revealing capabilities could limit Iran’s strategic options, military strategy highlights the potential for disruption and reactive behavior, and psychology posits that stress might constrain decision-making patterns. Alongside these effects, the disclosure serves broader goals like deterrence and psychological warfare, though it risks escalation or adaptation by Iran. Ultimately, the success of this approach depends on how Iran’s leaders process the new reality Israel has imposed.