Thomas R

A most excellent piece of sci-fi literature!!

Revisado: 09-07-23

it has so much of everything, deep time, deep space, extreme languages, extreme technologies, love, war, intelligence, evolution, social and historical development. And at it's heart, uplift!

It's all done in that rare kind of prose which manages to capture the spartan descriptiveness of science but beautiful and filled with meaning.

Astounding book. Fantastically performed in this audio. Bravo!

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Wonderful End to an Amazing Trilogy

Revisado: 11-03-21

I love this trilogy. Red Mars was a revelation. And the two sequels were essential follow-ups of that revelation. The philosophy/science is deep and expansive, the characters well developed and engaging. And the narration is a masterful performance.

This third novel has the least global-style tension of all three, which is it's only drawback. But that really seems to be in service of building the entire trilogy to an ending whose hopefulness is delivered by way of the promise of social stability. And social stability just has less tension. So I have to give it props even for it's one flaw.

Thank you, KSR!

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Excellent post-apocalyptic sci-fi

Revisado: 03-01-20

Liked it a lot! It engrossed me and spurred me to think now and then. Atwood's writing draws you in and envelopes you, and I finished this in less than a week.

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Exceptional 2nd Installment to Exceptional Series

Revisado: 02-16-20

Engrossing, expansive geopolitics and characters you can really root for, with veins of deep science and philosophy. This series is extraordinary, and this second installment is no exception. Rounding this audiobook out is the high caliber narration performance.

I cannot wait to start the next one!

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a most excellent philosophy of mind and society

Revisado: 11-25-19

In this foundational feminist text, bell hooks does some deep philosophy of mind and of how those minds interact (which, in the aggregate, is society). Despite writing plainly, she is able to walk her audience through the dense permutations of human mind and society revolving around gender and its intersections with race, class, queerness and other forms of identity.

This is highly recommended for someone looking for a deep but accessible introduction to either feminism or the current frontiers of the scientific study of the human mind.

The narration is strong and clear and I easily remained engaged through the last word.

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Excellent, essential part of a monumental series

Revisado: 08-27-19

This is probably the most well-known era covered so far by Caro in this series. It is excellently written, as always, and the narration is a superb feat of vocal performance.

For the first time in the series, I found my mind wandering a bit during certain parts, especially the description of the transition near the end. I understand Caro's point, that this was a historically significant accomplishment amidst a tumultuous moment which required an unusual mastery of inner demons--LBJ's successful transition. But for the first time ever, it felt a bit like wonkyness won out of historicity.

Still, the treatment of the Civil Rights bills is essential history and a moment of extraordinary significance, as well as the Kennedy assassination. And the telling of LBJ's years in the wilderness as VP is quite riveting.

Can't wait for the next installment!!

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Excellent explication of difficult unpopular topic

Revisado: 08-26-19

Anyone with interest in science or policy must read this book. It should be followed up on, though it seems to be being ignored which one could have predicted after reading it!

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A Most Excellent, Beautiful, Philosophical Sci-fi

Revisado: 06-03-19

This is one of the best sci-fi books I've ever read (listened to, actually).

It is expansive, exquisitely written, filled with that dream-like, visionary kind of feeling which scientific inquiry can conjure at its best moments. It is heady and hopeful yet utterly unflinching about the brutality of human exploration into wild nature. It all takes place in a spaceship and then on Mars, but you will never look at Earth the same way again. Nor the human experience of being a settler amidst the wild of the great natural universe.

Also, the reading performance is spectacular. I cannot recommend this enough. I will be buying the sequels and other works by Robinson.

*hat tip to Will Meneker of Chapo Trap House for turning me onto this.

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Another fantastic Jon Ronson dispatch!!

Revisado: 05-09-19

What can you do? He's the best at what he does! Here he goes into the heart of the Alt-right media and uses empathy, humor and careful observation to send us back something true and important. Thank you, Mr. Ronson, keep up the brilliant work!

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Ronson Makes Beautiful Art of August Ames' Life

Revisado: 03-02-19

I loved The Butterfly Effect, and this Ronson-esque deep dive into the life and suicide of one particular porn actress, August Ames, is a fantastic follow up.

People need to talk about online porn. People need to listen to and read Jon Ronson. People need to pay for both.

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