Sunsets, Stars, West, Wind
One of My Computers is Down…
http://www.lemodesittjr.com/2013/06/04/one-of-my-computers-is-down/
I wish I lived closer to him. I would have gladly helped repair his infected computer. And I completely agree with his suggestion in the final paragraph.
For the first time in nearly a month, Apollo and I took a pleasant evening stroll around our neighborhood. I didn’t get much exercise, as I became easily distracted by all the beautiful blooming spring flowers and trees. The temperature stayed in the 70s and the sky remained cloudless as the sun dipped toward the western horizon.
The forecast for the next couple of days, however, predicts more rain, so Apollo and I may not get out and about until later this week.
Terry and I also visited our local Home Depot to purchase a replacement day lilly (for the one lost to the driveway re-construction a year or so ago) and a couple of new flowers to add to the bed around the mailbox. As soon as the day lillies bloom, I’ll snap some photos and share them here.
Weekend is over. Monday June 3rd starting out clear and chilly at 46 degrees.
Good Morning!
The Value of Prevention… and the Question of Responsibility
http://www.lemodesittjr.com/2013/05/31/the-value-of-prevention-and-the-question-of-responsibility/
Another great thought-provoking blog post from one of my favorite authors.
Dear SFWA Writers: Let’s Chat About Censorship & Bullying
http://www.kameronhurley.com/?p=13124
My favorite anagram: Listen = Silent
Try it and you might like it and/or learn something.
Did Apple conspire to fix ebook prices? The DOJ takes Cupertino to court on Monday
Somewhat old news in the sense that there’s nothing really new to report. I just wish this case had its sights set on Amazon.
GMO wheat
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/flours/gmo-wheat.html
Another reason to love King Arthur Flour. All my bread is made using their flour.
China’s Food Play Extends Its Reach, Already Mighty
Another reason to shop small, buy local and support your local farmer’s market.
The Fall of Hyperion by Dan Simmons
Read in January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
I liked this novel better than the first installment, Hyperion, and it probably rates 3.5 stars. After I sleep on it, I may up my rating to four stars, but for now it will sit comfortably at three stars.
We return to the story very nearly where we left off. Thankfully, Dan Simmons abandoned the Canterbury Tales frame tale format and returned to a more linear point of view. Linear is probably not the best word to fit a tale that spans time and space and the places that exist beyond and between both.
The Titanic struggle of survival of the human race unfolds in spurts through the dreams of Joseph Severn, the reincarnated cybrid that was formerly John Keats. His dreams are the real-time happenings across the galaxy, mostly focused on Hyperion, the stage for the final battle between man and machine.
It’s not until late in the novel that we learn the TechnoCore’s true plans to further enslave humanity to spur its evolution of the Universal Intelligence (an uber AI that is their created or perfected god). The TechnoCore tricks the Hegemony to committing two-thirds of its military to the Hyperion system and fakes a massive Ouster invasion on several key Web worlds. Their goal is to force the humans into the labyrinths, infecting them with the cruciform parasites (which resurrect and reconstruct the dead infinitely, eventually reducing the host to mental retardation but leaving the body and brain intact). The TechnoCore uses human brain/nerve cells for raw computing power and the UI will use the billions trapped in the labyrinth eternally, dooming humanity to slavery and imbecility.
Severn/Keats learns the location of the TechnoCore’s hidden home and relays the information to the CEO of the Hegemony. With only minutes to go before the TechnoCore unleashes a planetary purging via deathwand device aimed at Hyperion, the CEO orders the Web of farcasters destroyed (simultaneously across the galaxy), cutting off all travel and communications, but also destroying the TechnoCore’s haven. Humanity is left to recover without the crutches of TechnoCore technology and in some cases stranded on planets with little or no arable land. Humans learn to adapt and survive.
The irony or pun or twisted morale of the story seemed to hinge upon a literary device referred to as deus ex machina which I had to research to understand. Simmons took the translation quite literally and applied it unforgivingly to his creation.
I was relieved that Rachel was “cured” of her Merlin’s disease but disappointed in the revelation of her alternate identity.
The Last Stormlord by Glenda Larke
Read in June 2010
I just couldn’t buy an entire civilization that refused to seek out new horizons, explore beyond the status quo of barely enough water to survive in a desert, enabling themselves like addicts completely dependent on their next fix of water from their stormlord. I admit, the water magic system intrigued, but did not wow me. It reminded me of a psi-power system more so than an actual magic system.
All the characters fairly brimmed with potential to entice me to care about their predicaments and futures. Something just didn’t gel though, beyond the normal revulsion for obviously despicable villains and those cowardly scheming opportunists that waffle in the wind. The good characters lacked something, but I can’t put my finger on it. Convincing passion? Believable choices? Inspired intelligence?
Finishing the book was a relief. I could finally close the cover and not be beaten over the head with power plays and prison metaphors any longer.
For such a thick tome, I experienced no hindrance to a fairly fast read. Not a lot of subtlety or depth to ponder.
I doubt I’ll ever re-read this and won’t likely continue the series, unless GoodReads reviews by friends proves the next installment aspires to a higher plane of fantastic fiction.