Fascinated by the trailer for the upcoming film of the same name due to be released in 2018, I bought a copy of this novel by Jeff VanderMeer (who I'vFascinated by the trailer for the upcoming film of the same name due to be released in 2018, I bought a copy of this novel by Jeff VanderMeer (who I've never read before) and devoured it. It works as horror, science fiction, and as a story of profound loss. As others have commented this first book in the Southern Reach trilogy evokes Lovecraftian horror, Cormac McCarthy's "The Road," and just maybe Stephen King's "The Mist." Most of all, some of it's best bits remind me of "Roadside Picnic" by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky (and to a lesser degree, "Stalker," the Soviet era Sci-Fi film directed by Andrei Tarkovsky, which was based upon it). I'm not sure how the filmmakers will translate the protagonist's internal narration to a visual medium, but if they can get half of VanderMeer's images on the screen it will be an awesome film....more
Van Dyke understood the desert. He took the time to really see it. Most of what he experienced is gone now. There are precious few dry places you can Van Dyke understood the desert. He took the time to really see it. Most of what he experienced is gone now. There are precious few dry places you can visit now only on horseback where your reach is limited by the water you can carry. John C. Van Dyke can still take you there....more
A lot of wisdom packed into a slim volume. One doesn't have to be Buddhist to appreciate it, but I bet it helps. The forward by the translator does a A lot of wisdom packed into a slim volume. One doesn't have to be Buddhist to appreciate it, but I bet it helps. The forward by the translator does a nice job of drawing out the perennialist perspective, finding parallels in other world religions....more
Well-written, nicely paced, examination of the discoveries of Australopithecus Sediba and Homo Naledi by teams led by Lee Berger. Of special interest Well-written, nicely paced, examination of the discoveries of Australopithecus Sediba and Homo Naledi by teams led by Lee Berger. Of special interest is the Berger's commitment to open source research and providing opportunities to young scientists. ...more
Justin Brierly, host of Premier Christian Radio's "Unbelievable?" in the UK, has just written a book titled "Unbelievable?: Why after ten years of talJustin Brierly, host of Premier Christian Radio's "Unbelievable?" in the UK, has just written a book titled "Unbelievable?: Why after ten years of talking with atheists, I'm still a Christian." It's quite good, though it contains little we haven't heard on the radio program (or the podcast). So of course me and some of the other non-believers who hang out at the "Unbelievable?" forum are having a crack at a "Justin Response Book" in a manner inverse to the Christian response to Bart Ehrmann's "How Jesus Became God: Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher From Galilee." First, I had to read the book. Now comes the writing......more
Christine Negroni offers a credible theory about the disappearance of Malaysia Air 370 by folding in the fascinating and sobering details of at least Christine Negroni offers a credible theory about the disappearance of Malaysia Air 370 by folding in the fascinating and sobering details of at least a dozen other air disasters and near disasters that have occurred since the dawn of the age of flight. I regret not be able to see her speak when she visited our campus but at least my copy of "The Crash Detectives" is autographed by her. A quick and compelling read, I've made a gift of it to several friends. ...more
Born at the end of the 1950s, I don't much remember the early Mercury spaceflights, but the Gemini program, the XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber, and Born at the end of the 1950s, I don't much remember the early Mercury spaceflights, but the Gemini program, the XB-70 Valkyrie supersonic bomber, and the X-15 rocket planes were front page news, featured on magazine covers, and discussed on television constantly throughout my childhood in the 1960s. By presenting the personal story of each of the X-15's pilots, from first to last, Michelle Evans communicates the complexities and realities of this groundbreaking research program in a respectful and loving, yet honest and unflinching, manner. If the history of manned spaceflight is your thing your bookcase is incomplete unless this book rests upon shelves....more
Those who know me understand that sussing out what humankind was up to in the pre-historic period is my thing. David Noble's book came highly recommenThose who know me understand that sussing out what humankind was up to in the pre-historic period is my thing. David Noble's book came highly recommended by another amateur enthusiast who works a V-Bar-V petroglyph heritage site. It does not disappoint, offering succinct directions, useful descriptions, and thoughtful analysis of "ruins and rock art" found in my neighborhood. ...more
Of the thousand some petroglyphs discerned on the rock panels at V Bar V Heritage Site located along Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley, many correlate Of the thousand some petroglyphs discerned on the rock panels at V Bar V Heritage Site located along Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley, many correlate to midday shadows cast by two rock gnomens during the equinoxes and solstices and at other calendrical events throughout the year. "Sinagua Sunwatchers", by Kenneth J. Zoll, lays out the details patiently in methodical detail....more
The late Mortimer J. Adler reminds his reader, "De gustibus non disputandum: about matters of taste, there is no disputing. De veritate disputandum esThe late Mortimer J. Adler reminds his reader, "De gustibus non disputandum: about matters of taste, there is no disputing. De veritate disputandum est: about matters of truth, we should engage in dispute..." And dispute he does. Adler's Truth in Religion: The Plurality of Religions and the Unity of Truth (1990) is chewy, spirited, and oddly argumentative (Adler had some strange beef with Joseph Campbell, who approached religion as misunderstood mythology). A thought-provoking, challenging, and ultimately useful read....more
As with many volumes I finally have made time to read I wish that I'd read this many years ago. It stands as a worthy companion to the works of Rumi, As with many volumes I finally have made time to read I wish that I'd read this many years ago. It stands as a worthy companion to the works of Rumi, Ecclesiastes, and the Tao Te Ching....more
My, what a fine "little book!" Comte-Sponville reminds us that the search for meaning has long been - and will forever continues to be - conducted by My, what a fine "little book!" Comte-Sponville reminds us that the search for meaning has long been - and will forever continues to be - conducted by the non-believer and the non-religious as well as the theist. He reminds the theist that atheism need not equal nihilism while reminding the atheist that non-belief need not entail fatalism. I plan to make gifts of this rich little volume to my favorite evangelical, my favorite Marxist, and many of the others I also love in between. I'll be reading "The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality" again....more
"Flintknapping: Making and Understanding Stone Tools," by John C. Whittaker, is a rich resource for those who want to make stone tools or just underst"Flintknapping: Making and Understanding Stone Tools," by John C. Whittaker, is a rich resource for those who want to make stone tools or just understand their place in pre-history. ...more
"Mr. Gatling's Terrible Marvel: The Gun That Changed Everything and the Misunderstood Genius Who Invented It" is a social history about the man and hi"Mr. Gatling's Terrible Marvel: The Gun That Changed Everything and the Misunderstood Genius Who Invented It" is a social history about the man and his times, the application of patent law, the rise of industrialization, the internecine machinations of weapons procurement by the American military establishment, and the role of military technology applied to the acquisition and defense of empire. Regrettably this book contains very little about the innovative gun itself, its evolutions, or its use in modernized form in the jet age. Not what I expected....more