BookWyrm

Eph (they, them) wants to read Queer Traversals by Chris Coffman

Chris Coffman: Queer Traversals (2023, Bloomsbury Academic & Professional)

No rating

We are going to have to find a way to squeeze this one in!

Eph (they, them) reviewed Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks (Culture, #1)

Iain M. Banks: Consider Phlebas (1987, Macmillan)

Consider Phlebas, first published in 1987, is a space opera novel by Scottish writer Iain …

Elements of a Great SciFi but Not Executed

3 stars

No real world building even though the world we get a glimpse of is fascinating. We are left wanting and not in a good way. A lot of it was, well, meaningless. We want this book to be more. We actually need it to be more. That it doesn't even com close is what is so depressing. That said, we are eager to read the next recommended book in the series to hopefully see if he does give us more, in a good way.

Eph (they, them) finished reading Consider Phlebas by Iain M. Banks (Culture, #1)

Consider Phlebas, first published in 1987, is a space opera novel by Scottish writer Iain …

It was a slow read as it never really captivated me.

The one reason I wanted to read it was to explore an iteration of humanity that came close to what I am imagining for a world creation in a SciFi book I am trying to write. In that, this book failed as others have commented. We are given numerous objective and not always reliable snapshots of the society, but we don't really get into it.

We wonder if Banks was intentionally trying to go against what makes good scifi, and exploiting what makes poor scifi. We are going to give it 3 stars though which we cannot really defend except we are eager to turn to the next recommended book in the series.

Eph (they, them) finished reading A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #1)

Becky Chambers: A Psalm for the Wild-Built (EBook, 2021, Tom Doherty Associates)

It’s been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; …

Content warning Plots disclosed long analysis via lens of #mindfulness, #EvolutionaryPsychology, and #Zizek.

see fediphilosophy.org/@Eph/110288344723331142

Eph (they, them) rated A Psalm for the Wild-Built: 5 stars

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers (Monk and Robot, #1)

It’s been centuries since the robots of Panga gained self-awareness and laid down their tools; centuries since they wandered, en …

Eph (they, them) started reading Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver

Mary Oliver: Poetry Handbook (Paperback, 1994, Harvest Books)

I spent time with MO a few times in Provincetown at a cabin she had on the ocean beach (we played bridge mostly). I am ashamed to say at the time I had no idea who she was. She was introduced as a poet and writer but in Ptown then, that was a common vocation/avocation. At the time, she was as old as I am now I think, I was 30. My life at the time was dropping in and out of different colleges, with different majors, and hopping around the country seasonally to where the gay parties were going on. It is poetically sad that only in my late age I realized who she was and how profound and artistic she was. I wish I could meet her again but at least I have her poetry. We are eager to read this book and give our hand at poetry …

I spent time with MO a few times in Provincetown at a cabin she had on the ocean beach (we played bridge mostly). I am ashamed to say at the time I had no idea who she was. She was introduced as a poet and writer but in Ptown then, that was a common vocation/avocation. At the time, she was as old as I am now I think, I was 30. My life at the time was dropping in and out of different colleges, with different majors, and hopping around the country seasonally to where the gay parties were going on. It is poetically sad that only in my late age I realized who she was and how profound and artistic she was. I wish I could meet her again but at least I have her poetry. We are eager to read this book and give our hand at poetry in a more educated sense.