Thursday, April 24, 2025
Saturday, April 19, 2025
Sovietstan: Travels in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan by Erika Fatland (2019)
Erika Fatland's Sovietistan: Travels in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan offers a captivating journey through the lesser-known corners of Central Asia, countries born from the Soviet Union's collapse. Inspired to read this after encountering Fatland's later work, The Border (2020), which explores Russia's border nations, I was drawn to Sovietistan for its focus on these enigmatic "newest countries in the world."
Fatland's prose is engaging and vivid, skillfully blending historical context with her own colorful travel experiences. From the surreal landscapes of Turkmenistan to the rugged beauty of Kyrgyzstan, she paints a rich portrait of each nation's unique identity, weaving in the complex post-Soviet history that shaped them. For readers unfamiliar with the region—like myself—the book is an eye-opening revelation, illuminating the political upheavals, social shifts, and environmental challenges that followed the Soviet Union's dissolution.
However, Sovietistan carries a sobering weight. Fatland doesn't shy away from the region's struggles, including political oppression, economic hardship, and environmental devastation, which can make for a heavy read. While this depth adds substance, it also lends a melancholic tone that may leave readers reflective rather than uplifted.
In summary, Sovietistan is a compelling and informative travelogue, blending adventure with stark realities. Fatland's storytelling makes it a worthwhile read for those curious about Central Asia, though its darker themes temper its appeal. 3/5 Stars.
Labels:
travel
The Year's Best Science Fiction by Gardner Dozois (2005)
The Year's Best Science Fiction: 22nd Edition, edited by Gardner Dozois, offers a mixed but intriguing snapshot of early 2000s speculative fiction. This anthology, compiling standout stories from 2005, showcases a range of visions, though not all have aged gracefully. While some tales remain engaging and resonate with contemporary readers, others feel dated, their themes or execution falling flat in today's context.
A standout is Vernor Vinge's Synthetic Serendipity, a remarkably prescient story that feels eerily relevant amid the rise of large language model chatbots. Vinge's exploration of technology and human connection anchors the collection, highlighting Dozois' knack for curating forward-thinking narratives. Though the anthology's uneven quality keeps it from greatness, its stronger entries make it a worthwhile read for sci-fi enthusiasts curious about the genre's evolution.
In summary, The Year's Best Science Fiction: 22nd Edition is a solid but inconsistent collection, elevated by gems like Vinge's contribution. 3/5 Stars.
Labels:
scifi
United Fleet by Sean Fenian (2024)
United Fleet attempts to carve out a space opera universe reminiscent of David Weber's intricate world-building, but it falls short of the mark. While the setting echoes Weber's grand galactic scope, it lacks the rigor, geopolitical depth, and self-consistency that define his work. The author's vision feels underdeveloped, with military logistics and societal structures that fail to convince or cohere.
The magic system, a curious addition to the sci-fi framework, is another weak point. Its vague rules and inconsistent application make it challenging to suspend disbelief, leaving readers disconnected from the universe's stakes. Unfortunately, the narrative itself struggles to find footing. The story feels more like an extended prologue than a complete tale, with minimal plot progression and little to anchor the reader's investment. It reads as if it's setting the stage for a larger space opera that never fully materializes.
In summary, United Fleet has ambitious ideas but lacks the execution to bring them to life, resulting in a fragmented and unsatisfying read. 2/5 Stars.
Labels:
scifi
When the moon hits your eye by John Scalzi (2025)
John Scalzi's When the Moon Hits Your Eye delivers a delightfully entertaining romp, transforming an absurd premise—the moon turning into cheese—into a surprisingly heartfelt and engaging story. While the concept might raise eyebrows, Scalzi's skillful storytelling elevates it into a vibrant narrative that's hard to put down.
The novel shines through its well-crafted love stories, each brimming with warmth and authenticity. These romantic threads weave seamlessly into the plot, grounding the fantastical setting with emotional depth. Scalzi's characters are a highlight, each one vividly drawn with distinct personalities and quirks that make them leap off the page. From witty exchanges to poignant moments, the dialogue crackles with Scalzi's signature sharpness, keeping the pacing lively and the reader invested.
Though the premise leans into the ridiculous, the story itself is far from silly. Scalzi balances humor and heart, crafting a plot that's both cohesive and compelling. The result is a book that's pure fun, offering a refreshing escape without sacrificing substance.
In summary, When the Moon Hits Your Eye is a colorful, engaging read that transforms an outlandish idea into a surprisingly moving tale. It's a testament to Scalzi's ability to make even the most bizarre concepts work. 4/5 Stars.
The novel shines through its well-crafted love stories, each brimming with warmth and authenticity. These romantic threads weave seamlessly into the plot, grounding the fantastical setting with emotional depth. Scalzi's characters are a highlight, each one vividly drawn with distinct personalities and quirks that make them leap off the page. From witty exchanges to poignant moments, the dialogue crackles with Scalzi's signature sharpness, keeping the pacing lively and the reader invested.
Though the premise leans into the ridiculous, the story itself is far from silly. Scalzi balances humor and heart, crafting a plot that's both cohesive and compelling. The result is a book that's pure fun, offering a refreshing escape without sacrificing substance.
In summary, When the Moon Hits Your Eye is a colorful, engaging read that transforms an outlandish idea into a surprisingly moving tale. It's a testament to Scalzi's ability to make even the most bizarre concepts work. 4/5 Stars.
Labels:
genfiction
Monday, April 14, 2025
APPL and China
During our current interesting times in geopolitics, everyone is exposed to fascinating phenomena about which we never knew. This article appeared today, explaining:
For a quarter-century, the tech giant [Apple] has made massive investments in equipment and sent thousands of its top engineers to hundreds of factories across the country, training China's workers how to meet near-impossible engineering standards and then scale production to enormous volumes.
Apple's Chinese suppliers employ 3 million people.
Each iPhone is made from 1,000 components. For Apple to ship one million units a day requires hundreds of factories in China to build one billion parts per day.
Pegatron employed 100,000 laborers; at times the company was losing 25,000 workers a month, according to a former China-based Apple executive. This meant that "they needed to hire 25,000 just to stay in a steady state," he related. A contemporaneous "attrition memo" from Apple corroborated this, saying: "Worker exit rates at Pegatron Shanghai averaged 6 percent per week, and average tenure was only 68 days." (It's not hard to grasp why: These jobs are often 12 hours a day, 6 days a week of tremendously monotonous work.)
And, of course, the Huawei iPhone clones are exceeding the iPhone capabilities at a fraction of the price.
If you are intrigued, go read the whole thing. It's short.
Labels:
biz
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Beyond the Light Horizon (Lightspeed #3)
This series draws the reader in with its intriguing premise, great characters, and cosmic scope. It delivers a solid, if not spectacular, resolution to its central conflicts. The world-building and pacing keep the reader engaged, but the final reveal of the universe's mysterious force falls flat, leaving awe replaced by disappointment. Adding a book or two between the second and third installments could have deepened the narrative and elevated it to greatness.
It's a fun read for space opera fans, but don't expect a mind-blowing payoff. 3/5 Stars.
Labels:
scifi
Shadow of the Silk Road (2007)
In this captivating travelogue, a renowned writer and scholar embarks on a vivid exploration of the Silk Road's ancient routes, weaving together past and present. With a keen eye, he traverses diverse regions, offering concise, engaging summaries of their historical significance. He searches for echoes of this rich past in the customs, faces, and landscapes of today's inhabitants, creating a compelling narrative that bridges centuries.
This book is a must-read for anyone eager to discover how history's shadows shape the vibrant cultures of the modern Silk Road. Clear, insightful, and beautifully written, it invites a broad audience to journey through time. 4/5 Stars.
Labels:
travel
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