Boots, Shoes & Fashion
When publicist Ben Cameron told me that he had an interview set up with Linda Hobden (@LindaHobden) of Boots, Shoes & Fashion fame, I was skeptical. While I routinely wear boots or shoes, no one has even associated me with fashion. Perhaps she thought I was someone else? No, Ben assured me, Linda is quite…Read More
Book Review: Consilience (and the Latest SPARK News)
A couple weeks ago, Tim Ferriss had Michael Mauboussin on his show. Among many other topics, they discussed the concept of consilience. When Mauboussin mentioned E.O. Wilson’s book as a great place to learn more, I bought it. This is a book that explores the idea of bringing together knowledge from different fields of study…Read More
SPARK News
This Saturday, March 18th, I’ll be appearing at Third Planet Sci-Fi Superstore in Houston. I’ll be there from 1-4 PM to talk about the series, sign books, and generally nerd out with other sci-fi fans. They are located at 2718 Southwest Freeway. Check out their Facebook page and show them (and me) some love. First…Read More
Book Review: Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie
Another strong book from the Hugo Awards list. The concept: In the distant future, AIs run space stations and ships. They also get their grimy little electronic mitts into people by way of implants. The Radch are essentially a human empire, run by the Lord of the Radch. She has many clones, but with the…Read More
Heat. Beat. Repeat.
There’s something almost primal about the act of smithing. Combining fire and metal, and then beating them into something useful. Time was, the village blacksmith was the high tech guru. He could take rocks (ore) and make iron, then steel, then turn it into something you needed: horseshoes, weapons, tools, even a decorative hook for…Read More
Book Review: Rainbows End by Vernor Vine
I picked up Vinge’s book because it won a Hugo. It was time well spent. Rainbows End tells a compelling story in a world filled with advanced technology. It is a story about a man who lost everything due to Alzheimer’s disease, and he gets a chance to reclaim his life in a world where…Read More
Rise up, Uprise!
It seems to be personal appearance and book signing time. Tomorrow, Saturday, March 3, 2023, I’ll be at the Uprise bookstore at 6186 Wilcrest Drive in Houston, TX 77072. Stop by to chat, buy books (from me and them). I’ll be there from 10AM to noonish to meet readers and sign/sell books. See you there!…Read More
Book Review: Blackout by Connie Willis
Bottom line up front: If you like strong characters and science in your science fiction, you can safely skip this one. Details: I picked up Blackout because it, along with its duology partner, All Clear, somehow won a Hugo Award. I really wanted it to be good. That hope kept me turning pages. In the…Read More
Book Review: Live Forever?
In “Lifespan: Why We Age and Why We Don’t Have To,” David A. Sinclair presents a fascinating and thought-provoking look into the latest scientific research on aging and longevity. Sinclair is the real deal. He’s got his own lab at Harvard Med School and is a leading researcher in the field of aging, presents a…Read More
Live fast, die young, and leave a good-looking corpse. OR…
The original quote appears to date from 1947. Willard Motley wrote it in his novel Knock on Any Door. For years, I subscribed to that quote. Fighter pilot, test pilot, motorcycle rider, skydiver. Life was best lived upside down at the speed of sound (or faster). I looked at old people and thought, “That’s not…Read More