Reading Journal
 | Green Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson Finished on Apr 22, 2025 Science Fiction. Copyright 1994, 535 pages. The second book in the Mars series continuing the story of humanity colonizing and terraforming Mars. This is a fascinating story of the people and politics involved in transforming Mars into a new home. The hard science of the process is just the backstory. It really gives the feel of how it would be to look out over the empty wastes of the Red Planet. 4/5 stars. |
 | Origins: The Emergence And Evolutions Of Our Species And Its Possible Future by Richard E. Leakey, Roger Lewin Finished on Apr 11, 2025 Science. Copyright 1977, 255 pages. I bought this at OMSI near the zoo a very long time ago. I'd read the first half but never finished. Actually the first half on physical paleoanthropology was the most interesting. The talk of the emergence of social structures and culture was less so. Plus, I'm sure this work is very dated now. 3/5 stars. |
 | Sun of Suns by Karl Schroeder Finished on Apr 5, 2025 Science Fiction, Steampunk. Copyright 2006, 318 pages. This is the first book in the Virga series. The world building is tremendous. It is somewhat like "The Integral Trees" in that there is no gravity, but there is air in what is otherwise open space. Although really Virga is a large enclosed space with artifical suns providing light and heat. It is the perfect scene for heavy airships. For this I love it. Some of the science is questionable though and it has a very young adult feel. 4/5 stars. |
 | Wizard And Glass by Stephen King Finished on Mar 26, 2025 Science Fiction, Fantasy. Copyright 1997, 672 pages. This is the 4th book in The Dark Tower series. Most of the book is a flashback into Roland's distant past during an expedition to Hambry on the edge of The Affiliation. It was all very interesting, but these same events are covered in the comics series so there were no surprises. The main timeline progresses only a little. 4/5 stars. |
 | The Map That Changed The World by Simon Winchester Finished on Feb 20, 2025 Non-Fiction, History. Copyright 2002, 301 pages. This is the story of the invention of stratigraphy by one of the first Geologists in England led to the first geologic map (of England) to be created. It is a little sad and depressing really as it occurred during a time of class struggles. The geologist, William Smith, was not wealthy and had to court wealthy benefactors to finance his projects. After publication of the map he ended up poor and forgotten until just before his death. 3/5 stars. |
 | Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder Finished on Jan 27, 2025 Fiction. Copyright 1991, 523 pages. A non-fiction work in the guise of fiction. A history of philosophy and the world wrapped around a plot being written as part of the novel. This must be meant for younger readers considering some of the characters, but it was still very interesting. 4/5 stars. |
 | Basin And Range by John McPhee Finished on Jan 9, 2025 Science. Copyright 1981, 215 pages. Read as part of an omnibus edition on the geology of North America. This book is very interesting in parts. Most of the geologic dates were different between the text and audio and toward the end entire paragraphs and been removed (or added, it is hard to tell which was the most recent). I did not like how the author would often hammer the reader with long lists of geologic terms or concepts just to show the arcane complexity of the subject. 4/5 stars. |
 | Enigma by Michael P. Kube-McDowell Finished on Jan 8, 2025 Science Fiction. Copyright 1986, 355 pages. Book #2 of the Trigon Disunity Trilogy. Humanity explores the nearby galaxy searching for lost human colonies and clues to the forgotten Earth civilization that sent them out. Surprisingly good! 4/5 stars. |
 | Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson Finished on Jan 1, 2025 Science Fiction. Copyright 1993, 519 pages. The first book in the Mars series beginning the story of humanity colonizing and terraforming Mars. It is a fascinating into the hard science of how Mars could be made habitable to different levels. However, this is only the background to the focus of the story: the people, their relationships and politics. 4/5 stars. |
 | Anachronisms by Christopher Hinz Finished on Dec 26, 2024 Science Fiction. Copyright 1988, 255 pages. The crew of the starship Alchermon find a strange alien artifact while exploring the planet Sycamore. Bringing this incredible find aboard however is the first mistake. Very much reminds me of the book "Alien" was based on. Entertaining, but why did the crew and ship need to be so weirdly complicated? 3/5 stars. |
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