Tuesday, March 21, 2023

Tales of Majipoor

 I have previously enjoyed Robert Silverberg's Majipoor novels with the story of Lord Valentine. I just came across a short story collection: Tales of Majipoor on Audible. The stories take place in different times in the history of the planet. It's very entertaining, thoughtful, and enjoyable. Listening to it makes the time go by and makes me think at the same time. More when I am finished.


Tuesday, June 07, 2022

The Stars Are Also Fire

 I just finished the Poul Anderson novel, The Stars Are Also Fire, by Poul Anderson. (https://www.librarything.com/work/49353/covers/218131789 ). I started the book and actually put it down for a few years after reading the first chapter. I finally decided to go back to it. 

It takes place far into the future, when the moon and asteroids are colonized. There are actually two stories, one from the settlement of the moon and the other further in the future when the moon people, lunarians, are looking for a way to leave and go further out.

Somethings I don't like. The author is opposed to government and wants freedom. The main company, Fireball, is bigger and in many ways more powerful than the world government. Why did they let a corporation get so powerful?

One of the issues is that humans can't bear healthy children on the moon. So they create a genetically altered race of humans, called lunarians. They look a little like the elves in Lord of the Rings. However, they are generally not very nice or heroic, people. Who can stand having them around, anyway?

In the future story, there is a big distinction between robots, which are not self-aware, and sophotects, which are. However, all the computers and networks have merged together into one self-aware intelligence called the terramind. The terramind doesn't really need people, but keeps them around almost like pets, or maybe for nostalgic reasons. Why did people let the terramind develop? It would have made more sense to limit the machines. That would have made an interesting story. 

Finally, as the two heroes of the future story travel around earth they find different races of humans that were developed to deal with certain environments or functions. Then when that is no longer needed they don't have anything to do and the rest of the humans don't like them. It doesn't make sense that people allowed this to happen. What we have seen in human history is that standard humans can learn to adapt to any environment, no genetic alterations needed. And in our world all the humans can breed, no problem.

Saturday, September 26, 2020

Haunted House



This scene when I came on campus seemed like a haunted house. It is abandoned, by the way.

Wednesday, December 11, 2019

Thursday, September 19, 2019

Japanese Zelkova


While at University Park on Monday, I walked past this tree on my way to a meeting. I couldn't figure out what it was. With the help of my students I realized it was a Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata). Click here for more information. It has really interesting leaves.

And it was great to see the beautiful flower beds, too.



Saturday, June 22, 2019

Caine Mutiny Impressions

I had read the Caine Mutiny many years ago. With the passing of Herman Wouk this spring I wanted to read it again. I got an old, old copy at a book sale fundraiser. It added to the atmosphere a little. The story held up really well.

There were some things that were anachronistic, or at least out of tune with modern times. For example, when Willie and May go to Yosemite during his leave they end up sleeping together. They both feel guilty afterward, for their own reasons. You would think that in the middle of the war they wouldn't worry about proprieties so much.

It's not until the end of the story that Willie can overcome his class instincts and try to love May as she deserves. I really liked the comment of Willie's mother that she only gave May the value that Willie gave her. I didn't expect that. The mother had been so possessive, but she was right to tell Willie it was up to him.

I was surprised how hard the story was on Tom Keefer. It's as if Wouk was criticizing that part of himself as a writer. Keefer instigated the mutiny, but wouldn't take the blame.

I don't know if I buy the idea that they (the officers) should have supported Queeg and helped him out more. The Navy bore some of the blame for putting someone in command who couldn't handle it. Or maybe not giving the subordinates a way to express their concerns was the problem? He was just sane or crazy enough to slide by to his level of incompetence.

I felt sorry for Maryck, that he shouldered the blame. I guess he should have been better at cajoling Queeg?

Tuesday, June 11, 2019

Reading The Caine Mutiny

It has been just a few weeks since the author Herman Wouk passed away. In most of the articles talking about his work, they always said he was an "old-fashioned" author. I took it to mean he didn't have any of the irony or cynicism we see in many modern writers. That really made me curious.

So at the Legal Aid Fund book sale at Wilson College last weekend I was happy to find an old copy of The Caine Mutiny, which was Wouk's most famous book. I'm well into the book now, with the paranoid and incompetent Captain Queeg. Kay! I'll have more to say when I finish the book.