Category Archives: Book Reviews

Why I Write Book Reviews

Writing book reviews grew out of my desire to create a blog.  I wanted a web presence to accompany the publication of my books.  In the beginning I wasn’t sure exactly what I would write about, though I had a … Continue reading

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Book Review: The Best of Connie Willis: Award-Winning Stories

Connie Willis didn’t appear on the science fiction scene until the early eighties, long after I had stopped reading much in the genre.  I didn’t read any of her work, therefore, until a couple of decades later.  Right away, soon … Continue reading

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Book Review: The Swerve: How the World Became Modern by Stephen Greenblatt

This book has won all sorts of awards, including the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award.  Personally I sort of steered around it because it’s not the sort of thing I am usually interested it, but I was delayed … Continue reading

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Book Review: Beyond the Cascade by A. H. Jessup; Part Two: Analysis

The novel “Beyond the Cascade” is divided into three sections, and each section has its own distinct style. The first section is literary fiction and mainly focuses on character development.  It introduces the main character, Suzannah, who is a brilliant … Continue reading

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Book Review: Beyond the Cascade by A. H. Jessup; Part One: Writer’s Workshop

In my first lonely weeks living in a small hotel room in San Diego while on my first step of moving to the States after thirty-five years abroad, I reached out to seek the company of like-minded people, specifically writers.  … Continue reading

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Book Review: Nebula Award Stories Eleven edited by Ursula K. LeGuin; Part Two: Tweaking Reality

There’s straight science fiction full of wondrous wildness like starships and androids and new worlds and bizarre aliens and so on, and there’s straight fantasy full of wizards and witches and fairies and elves and dwarfs and so on; and … Continue reading

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Book Review: Nebula Award Stories Eleven edited by Ursula K. LeGuin; Part One: Musing on the New Wave

I haven’t finished reading this book yet, but after just finishing the winning novella, “Home is the Hangman” by Roger Zelazny, I wanted to write something while the impression of it was fresh in my mind.  In short, this story … Continue reading

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Book Review: Daily Rituals: How Artists Work by Mason Currey

When I heard about this book I had to have it.  I’m fascinated by the creative processes of others, one main reason being I have so much trouble with my own.  The temptation to compare is impossible to resist, but … Continue reading

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Book Review: Nebula Awards Showcase 2008 edited by Ben Bova

Having recently read the Nebula Awards volume for 2011, upon opening this volume I was immediately struck by the differences between the two.  The 2011 book is full of stories.  It has all the short story and novelette award nominees, … Continue reading

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Book Review: A Fiery Peace in a Cold War: Bernard Schriever and the Ultimate Weapon by Neil Sheehan

Library book sales are great places to find good reads, and while perusing the shelves at the Pacific Beach branch of the San Diego library I came across this volume.  I had never heard of the book but I had … Continue reading

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