Category: books

The Light of Other Days

My book choice this week is The Light of Other Days by Arthur C Clarke and Stephen Baxter.

With the death of Arthur C Clarke last week I thought I would post my choice of his books.

The Light of Other Days

This is one of my favourite books and I have read it quite a few times now.

‘Space is what keeps everything from being in the same place. Right?’ With these words Hiram Patterson, head of the giant media corporation OurWorld, launches the greatest communications revolution in history. With OurWorld’s development of wormhole technology, any point in space can be connected to any other, faster than the speed of light. Realtime television coverage is here: earthquakes and wars, murders and disasters can be watched, exactly as they occur, anywhere on the planet. Then WormCams are made to work across time as well as space. Humanity encounters itself in the light of other days. We witness the life of Jesus, go to the premiere of Hamlet, solve the enigmas that have baffled generations. Blood spilled centuries ago flows vividly once more – and no personal treachery or shame can be concealed. But when the world and everything in it becomes as transparent as glass and there are no more secrets, people find new ways to gain vengeance and commit crime, and Hiram Patterson finds new ways to keep his Machiavellian schemes secret.

The idea of the wormcams is really scary and the impact they have on the world is immense and explored in this novel.

You can get the book from Amazon.co.uk.

Settling Accounts: In at the Death

My book choice this week is Harry Turtledove’s Settling Accounts: In at the Death.

Settling Accounts

This is the final chapter in the long running alternate history series on a divided United States which started with How Few Remain and went through the Great War, a political inter-war period before finishing off with a four part 1940s era series.

This the final book covers the end of the war (and as the cover gives away) the use of nuclear weapons.

It’s been quite a long haul and I am sure I will go back through the series again at some time (as I did with the WorldWar series).

I am only half way through the current book and so far I have really enjoyed it, though typically Turtledove there are a lot of (similar) characters and I have got lost sometimes. Also so far there has been no mention of Canada, which is a pity as I enjoyed that aspect of previous books.

Recommended.

Buy it from Amazon.co.uk

The Grapple

As per usual a different cover for the UK edition…

I noticed on Amazon that the UK edition of The Grapple is about to be released. Though I have already bought and read the US edition I have always liked to see the different covers that are used on the different editions.

As you can see above the US edition (on the right) has paratroopers landing, whils the UK edition has gone for a Confederate Navy ship.

The books is a typically good Turtledove read, which I enjoyed and was slightly disappointed that this series(of the series) is not a trilogy, on other words there is at least one more book on the way.

One difference which I did like was the fact that Harry intertwined some of the characters, usually this happens rarely in his books, so it was nice to see some of the characters meet.

The United States have found their fighting form at last. Pushed back from Pittsburgh, by 1944 the Confederate States of America are struggling to hold their ground against an American army that seems to grow stronger by the day. While the United States press on towards the Mississippi valley, Jake Featherston’s strategists in Richmond look for some way – any way – to slow down their inexorable advance. Deep in the heartland the extermination camps continue, but when all hope seems lost for their victims, the United States army turns at last towards the Texas plains. The fate of both sides, though, may lay elsewhere. A new menace appears in the Atlantic, intent on attacking the United States and scientists on both sides of the rapidly-moving border have nearly perfected an awesome new weapon that will guarantee victory for whoever uses it first. The greatest war of the twentieth century – fought this time in the heart of America – moves towards its blood-soaked climax.

The Grapple at Amazon.co.uk

Final Impact

Hey a German World War Two Attack Helicopter….

This is the cover from the next (and final) John Birmingham Axis of Time Trilogy set of novels.

A story which looks at what would happen if a future carrier group found themselves back in the middle of World War Two.

I enjoyed the first two novels so I think I will get this one, however it is not released until January 30th 2007.

Buy it from Amazon.

Thud

I saw on Amazon that Terry Pratchett has a new book out, Thud.

Koom Valley? That was where the trolls ambushed the dwarfs, or the trolls ambushed the dwarfs. It was far away. It was a long time ago. But if he doesn’t solve the murder of just one dwarf, Commander Sam Vimes of Ankh-Morpork City Watch is going to see it fought again, right outside his office. With his beloved Watch crumbling around him and war-drums sounding, he must unravel every clue, outwit every assassin and brave any darkness to find the solution. And darkness is following him. Oh…and at six o’clock every day, without fall, with no excuses, he must go home to read ‘Where’s My Cow?’, with all the right farmyard noises, to his little boy. There are some things you have to do.

I use to be a big fan of Terry Pratchett, I stopped some books back and I have never managed to get back into him. Maybe I ought to try as I still think Mort is one of the best books I have read.

Dad’s Army

Dad’s Army defending Lyddle End from the invading German forces, circa 1940…

Many years ago I bought a bundle of Dad’s Army and German forces in 15mm for playing Operation Sealion games. I painted some, but most have spent a lot of time unprimed and unpainted.

Having recently read a few books recently which have rekindled my interest in Operation Sealion. These have included Collaborator by Murray Davies which is set in a nazi occupied Britain and tells the story of a British soldier working for the occupying forces as a translator who then gets involved in the resistance…

Real history books which have also inspired included Berlin The Downfall 1945 by Antony Beevor, the author of Stalingrad. and The Model Occupation: The Channel Islands Under German Rule, 1940-1945.

The Leader by Guy Walters though not an Operation Sealion alternative history, also provided inspiration.

This picture shows one of my Dad’s Army vehicles which I have repainted, It is set with some N Gauge scenery from the Lyddle End Hornby range.

Home Guard Standard Beaverette
Home Guard Standard Beaverette

The N Gauge models are out of scale, 1/148th compared to the 1/100th scale of 15mm World War Two. I also want to use the buildings with Warmaster figures as well.

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince finished…

Finally finished Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince and it was quite good.

Maybe my expectations were too high, but I was very slightly disappointed.

Don’t get me wrong I did enjoy it and the last few chapters were very exciting, but there did not seem to be a story in there except the telling of the story of Lord Voldemort.

Maybe that was the story.

Recommended.

Got Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince for only £4.99….

Well I got my copy in the end from Asda for £4.99 in the end, they matched the price being charged by Kwiksave. No queues, but lots of people picking up a copy to buy.

They must have lost money on he deal as according to trader insiders, the wholesale cost is £7.64 and anyone selling for less than that is making a loss…

What made it an even better deal was that we also bought some fruit drinks and they messed up the multibuy so they gave us another two pounds back, which means I actually only paid £2.99 for the book….

Have read a few chapters now and am enjoying it…