Irreversible Damage by Abigail Shrier (2020)

This book is much better than I expected. The author is a journalist who does a very good job of presenting the science through the words and interviews with the thought leading scientists themselves.  I did not appreciate or enjoy some of the social commentary and politics, but she does present highly relevant and astute observations. 5/5 Stars.

The Singularity is Nearer by Ray Kurzweil (2023)

I loved this sequel to the 2005 obook.  Kurzweil has fun, zany ideas that are very entertaining and sometimes compelling. 5/5 Stars.

Home Coming by Joel Shepherd (2024)

This new installment in the series is fantastic!  The story and character arcs are much more aligned to the overall saga than the last volume.  The action and combat are cool and exciting. The new magic system components are great.  I can't wait for the next one. 5/5 Stars.

Forgotten Ally by Rana Mitter (2013)

Great history book that fills in many gaps of what most of us outside of China were never taught about the Japanese invasion and 8-year war in China during the second world war.  The tragedies, suffering, devastation, and depravity of all of the leaders during that era in that theater of the war are eye-opening. There were no "good guys" in that conflict.  5/5 Stars.

There's a story about that

David has finally put his money where his mouth is. Well, actually, he put his time and effort where his writer's pen is.  The TASAT (there's a story about that) organization is now up and running and is associated with the Arthur C Clark Center for Human Imagination at UC San Diego.  I joined, of course.  It sounds like fun!

Wayward Galaxy 7: Wayward Earth by Jason Anspach & J.N. Chaney (2024)

Fun prequel with Brody's origin story and fresh, new characters who are the ancestors of the folks in the original series. Non-stop close combat, 5/5 Stars.

Schweigeminute von Siegfried Lenz (2016)

Das Lesen dieser Geschichte ist ein intensives und intimes Erlebnis. Die Sprache ist wunderschön. Das Coming-of-Age-Setting ist eindrucksvoll. 5/5 Sterne.

Hurrah wir leben noch von Johannes Mario Simmel (1978)

Ich mag Simmel-Bücher und habe mich gefreut, in der größten Buchhandlung der Welt in Portland, Oregon, ein Buch von Simmel zu entdecken, das ich noch nicht gelesen hatte. Simmels Geschichten sind sinnliche Dramen über Liebe, Sex, Neid, Essen und Ficken, Rastlosigkeit und Verrat, politische Korruption und den Zynismus der Mächtigen. Die Geschichten enthalten "James Bond"-Elemente, die geschmackvoll präsentiert und immer unterhaltsam sind. 4/5 Sterne.

The Mercy of g-ds by James S. A. Corey aka Daniel Abraham & Ty Franck (2024)

With many of the same story elements as the last two books in their "Expanse" series, the authors create a new space opera and build a new world for this new series.  The Hero, Dafyd Alkhor, is our plucky, "awe shucks," reluctant everyman, much like "Jim Holden" from the Expanse.  Good story line with fun themes, 5/5 Stars.

Kelwitts Stern von Andreas Eschbach (1999)

Ein junger Außerirdischer im Teenageralter besucht im Rahmen seiner Orakelfahrt das ihm zugewiesene Sonnensystem. Eine gekünstelte Erzählung führt dazu, dass er im Haus einer schwäbischen Familie landet, wo eine Komödie entsteht. Trotz des schwachen Schreibstils, der schrecklichen Erfindungen und der willkürlichen Magie hat die Geschichte ein „großes Herz". Und sie ist lustig. 2/5 Sterne.