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More of a collection of amusing stories than a coherent one nevertheless it is entertaining, though it would make a lot more sense if you knew something about the British boarding schools.
A romance novel set in a world where there is a mix of science and fantasy. The back story that leads to the encounter between the hero and heroine is well developed making for more than just a story about lovers meeting and falling in love. The plot is engaging and keeps you interested to the point were the requisite love scenes take you somewhat by surprise. The first of a series, that although it has a satisfying conclusion, does not close all of the threads within leading to next novel.
The full title is Seeing Further: Ideas, Endeavours, Discoveries and Disputes — The Story of Science Through 350 Years of the Royal Society, which would seem to indicate that the main thrust of the book would be about the Royal Society. Instead though it actually is more of a series of essays from various scientist and luminaries about different issues which are sometimes only loosely tied to that actual group. The topics and ideas presented are interesting and vary in style depending on the writer as would be expected. Overall a good collection of essays that highlight the diversity of science, its impact on society and on modern thought.
A series of amusing anecdotes with no coherent thread to join them other than the main character. Although the set up and execution of many of the situations that the titular character finds himself in are fun to read, there is not overarching plot to move things along. As such, although a fun read it is lacking the framework that make later works by P.G. Wodehouse such a pleasure to read.
Book two in the Exilon 5 series, it is picks up where book one left off and introduces new characters and situations. The pace of the story keeps things moving even though part of it is just people getting ready to do something. Secrets continue to be uncovered as well as added motivations for existing characters fleshing out threads that were started in the first book. It ends with some questions answered as well as some new problems though it really feels more like the table is set and everything is ready for a conclusion rather than there being mysteries behind mysteries that still need to be uncovered in the following book.
A simple plot with likable characters. The story flagged at times, but in the end came to a satisfying close.
The full title: Physics of the Future: How Science Will Shape Human Destiny and Our Daily Lives by the Year 2100 gives an idea of what the book is about. An exploration of what should be possible in the future due to existing advances in Physics. The author outlines several areas where research has already made what was seen as impossible possible and extrapolates how much further it can go. How valid his predictions are will be determined in time. On the whole it is interesting to see how much of the “future” is already with us rather than simply imagined. A good book for mining Science Fiction ideas which may end up being the predictions that actually come true (as they did for Jules Verne).
A reworking of The Gem Collector (also by Wodehouse) that is a fun read, though I prefer the earlier incarnation. Reading both offers a rare opportunity to see how a work evolves much like the two versions of The Man Who Knew Too Much by Alfred Hitchcock. As such, reading it not only provided me with a measure of entertainment, but also induced me about writing and how the same idea can be treated in different ways.
A fitting ending to the Exilon 5 trilogy, it has plenty of action as well as mysteries to be uncovered and brought to light. The whole series, like all good science fiction, makes you think about the role of humanity in our world and what we might become. It also shows that individual desires are not something that will vanish and people can be complex in how they react to change. Although the story comes to a nice conclusion, there is still plenty in that universe that can be explored. If another book in the series comes out, I will be quick to read it.
The story of how the author became interested in, and then participated in, a Memory contest. It explains some of the techniques used for people to remember prodigious amount of things as well as the history of remembering and how it has changed with time. The book does a good job of giving life to the people and contests of the memory circuit as well as the struggles of the author in trying to make it within it.
A thriller set in London right after world war 2, it shows the life of a man trying to make himself back into what he was before he left for the war. Who and what he was is not clear, but it involved deceit that got him into trouble and set him on his current path. Will his subterfuge be discovered? Will his past catch up to him? All questions that are posed throughout this engaging novel.
A rather short love story that has its share of tender and humorous moments though on the whole it is rather infuriating in the way the main characters react to the situation they are in. It does explore a little of the difficulties that sometimes have to be borne by children when there are problems in the family, but that is really only as side show to move the plot along. Everything is nicely tied up in the end leaving no loose ends and no desired upon the reader to revisit the characters or setting.
A humorous mystery novel that takes place within a church choir community with many references to important works of music as well as the problems of a small town. The story within a story within it was the only distraction of an otherwise entertaining novel that did feature an unexpected twist at the end.
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