Friday, April 12, 2024

read: wandering earth

8 short stories related to the future of earth. I enjoy the boldness of his ideas, set on some scientific theories (for some) but all his characters are strangely dehumanized. Without emotions. Cold. Detached. Rational. The author also seemed to be quite nationalistic, criticizing capitalism, putting China as the center of development and so on. 

First story wandering earth has so much potential to develop. But it only covered the journey very briefly and from one generation, I would very much like to see when Earth reached its destination.

Second story mountain has not much relations to mountains. Maybe more poetic in its native language. The alien world is an interesting exploration of the concept of space.

Third story sun of China is indeed nationalistic. The least science focused of all the stories I think. Pleasant and easy to read.

Fourth story on the benefit of mankind had a what I felt irrelevant character development. Nonetheless the extrapolation of a possible socioeconomic future is very interesting.

Fifth story on curse 5.0 was amusing for the cameo by the author. Also not too science focused. Least favorite or memorable story.

Sixth story on the devourer used an aliens perspective to describe the self centredness of humans. The chapter on ants was particularly interesting

Seventh story on taking care of God was slightly bizarre but the idea of grooming a population for future I guess is a comment on parents grooming of the next generation for their retirement but not quite working out.

Eigth and ninth story had some conncetion. Made me wonder if all the stories had some thread tying it through but it didn't. It should have had some thing tying through the first story. I think would have been a much more powerful collection of stories.

Eighteh story was more poignant and beautiful in description but seems a bit random until you read the ninth.

Ninth story explored a few interesting scientific  concepts on cryo sleep, core of the earth and so on. The drama created upon wakening of the father made me think the crime of the son was bigger than what was eventually described which was slightly disappointing.

Wednesday, April 03, 2024

read: daughter, servant, mistress of the empire

Trilogy by Raymond e feist
Very engaging 
Full of exciting plots and suspense.
Happy ending but not unrealistically everything went well for the heroine.
Full of interesting characters with sufficient time to develop quite a few key characters.
Very enjoyable read.