D. L. Diehl

If Shakespeare wrote time travel novels

Revisado: 07-12-22

War, romance, betrayal, time travel, and letter writing etiquette in a delectably artful masterpiece of wordcrafting, this is some of the most exquisitely sensuous writing that I have had the privilege to enjoy. A vicious and violent version of "Romeo and Juliet" spread across the Multiverse, "This Is How You Lose the Tme War" is a spy vs. spy thriller filled with tension, intrigue, and subterfuge.

Set in a war of gargantuan proportions, the plot centers on two supersoldier assassins wrestling for ultimate control, ultimate surrender. War is a narrative of horrors, and our characters demonstrate a psychopathic lack of respect for individual lives as they carve a bloody path across the timelines. Nonetheless, the authors somehow manage to evoke empathy for them. I found myself cheering them on mentally and wanting to warn them, "Don't fall for that!"

Lest I mislead you, this is not an action thriller. this is a novel of heart and mind. You never know until the very end whether this is a tragedy or comedy, and it doesn't matter. The wordcrafting is delicious. The world building is fused with the character development.

The world itself is a psychedelic montage that pits wildly lush and overgrown Nature against the surgically mathematical coldness of Logic. The dogmas of the opposing forces are fiercely alien to each other, the gap between them as unbreachable as a severed corpus callosum.

Most of the content happens within the context of an exchange of letters. I looked forward to each one, anticipating the beauty of the writing as much as the development of the plot.

This book was such a surprise. It deserves every star.

P.S. I would wax poetic about the talented narration of the audiobook, but I run long already. Suffice it to say, that the narrators perfectly capture the nuances of the characters with their voices and infuse them with suspicion and sincerity. Bravo!

P.P.S. Read this.

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A book about essence, curiosity, and Bosco's belly

Revisado: 07-08-22

This is the only book I can remember in which I repeatedly experienced tears of pure joy and a sense of camaraderie with the author. I just know if I met Alan, we would become best friends. This is the gift of an excellent communicator--to make the reader feel like the book was written for them.

In "Things I Learned...", the author speaks from the heart. Because this audiobook is performed by the author himself, it feels like a personal conversation, not just a produced performance. Alda has a knack (well really a carefully and intentionally honed skill) for projecting sincerity. He connects with our shared humanity with a guy-next-door delivery, despite the extraordinary things he has accomplished and the celebrity status he "enjoys" (more about that in the book).

Chock full of life lessons and the kind of perspective one gleans from a lifetime of curiosity, the book is an inspiration. As Alda wanders through a series of speeches he "had no business giving" he repeatedly challenges us to push past our perceived limitations and not take ourselves too seriously.

I love this book. It's a panacea for depression and malaise. I was delighted that I share the philosophy reflected in its pages. It invites us all to reunite the creative and analytical sides of our brains, as individuals and as a society. RSVP.

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Light mystery with hidden depths and cute cats

Revisado: 10-18-21

"In the House of Aryaman..." develops like a series of nested snow globes, mixing wildly disparate sci-fi tropes in a single story. Bear crafts VR, genetic mods, & dying alien civilizations into a layered construction with sociological observations floating effortlessly through the main murder mystery plotline. Addiction, filial responsibility, & the desperation of the elderly almost upstage the main mystery.

To switch metaphors, this book is a patchwork quilt of interesting characters, ethnicity, human relationships, mystery, and sci Fi concepts expertly combined by Bear as she so often does, letting us peer into her protagonist's angst to let us wrap ourselves in her story. And of course, I always love the critters.

I thoroughly enjoyed the narrator's authentic reading. It made me feel a connection to the protagonist. However, I may need to acquire a printed version to familiarize myself with some of the words of places and things that were foreign to me that my brain could not absorb by hearing.

Overall, an enjoyable read, and I look forward to more in the series.

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Excellent, fun exploration of human nature

Revisado: 06-20-20

It's always a treat to find a book that is both thought- and smile-provoking at the same time. "We Are Legion" explores the destructive power of humanity when our most negative characteristics as a species become the societal norm and then pits them against some of our highest capacities such as the will to imagine, to explore, and to create. It exalts the power of one individual to transform and mitigate the vagaries of fate when that person's finest aspects are multiplied and spread to others.

What's funny about that you may ask. It's all about the cast of characters and the narration. I have only listened to the audiobook so far, but I know that I'll be hearing to the excellent and humorous voices of the narrator when I read the printed version. And I'm not even a fan of The Simpsons. The pacing and voice acting was uniquely suited to the story and added to its comedic impact. If you are a fan of current TV, game, and pop culture, you will be even more amused. but that's not necessary to enjoy this book.

The ability of the author to meld together extreme cynicism about the human race and a tale about turning lemons into lemonade is extraordinary. This book hooked me from the beginning, and I can't wait to read the next one.

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A mellow meditation

Revisado: 05-04-20

This soothing narration corralled my variable breathing into a smooth rhythm that brought my anxiety down a few notches..

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Poignant tale of the appreciation of now

Revisado: 04-18-20

This story is an exquisite examination of the beautiful fragility of life. The character arc of the protagonist carries us along on her journey through loss and dread at the end of the world. With delicate care, the author contrasts the icy cold of a barren landscape against the subtleties of Orchidaceae. I recommend this story to anyone who appreciates gentle tales of awareness reminiscent of Clifford Simak's finest.

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Love, bioengineering, & knighthood

Revisado: 10-13-17

From the fertile mind of Elizabeth Bear comes a tale of humanity reaching for the stars and love transcendant. A mix of fantasy & sci fi tropes gently blend together in this story of generation ships and melodramatic artificial intelligences at the mercy of the stars. At its heart, it is the story of two half sisters. I love these two. they are the heart and soul of the entire cosmic drama.

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