Blake Smith (@DoctorAtlantis)

The worst of Heinlein?

Revisado: 04-09-25

This book was so abominably bad. It commits many sins, but the most frequent and egregious is its lack of point. The protagonists never really solve the mystery of who was trying to kill them and they wander about the universe talking about engineering and tits in equal measure. I have enjoyed many of Heinlein’s books but this was like something written as pastiche without point. Snappy dialogue without significance. Polemics without purpose.

It should only be read if you’re trying to confirm my insult but I tell you three times- eschew this poison tart

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a tough listen for fans of Bob

Revisado: 10-08-24

This is hardly fair to the author but he wrote a very engaging story that undermines pretty much every assumption about Mo, the wife of Laundry operative Bob Howard. Here we get a chance to see the internal life of the woman who has been Bob's partner but we don't get into her head until she's been burned out by a decade of wet work and indignities in the service of slowing the coming Lovectaftian apocalypse. Instead of her being a lovable hero like Bob saw her, we find she's already fed up with everything and turns on Bob for what seems trivial and possibly not even real reasons. Plot device to make it her book? No idea, but since the book starts out with her and Bob breaking up into a trial separation she comes to the ear automatically disappointing to fans of Bob... and never claws her way into likeableness.

Also, Stross does a lot of parodic - but usually not THAT funny - riffs on genre, this is his MCU/DCU comics version and it didn't work well. Wasn't funny, wasn't thrilling, and sadly it seems that every Super is going to die hideously unless Stross mitigates that down the line.

The audiobook is a solid performance and if you started with this one maybe you'd find it easier to like the protagonist but for series readers it's like having two married friends break up and now you have to listen to the one you don't know that well complain for hours about the one you love.

ugh

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fascinating followup

Revisado: 08-12-24

if you liked ON INTELLIGENCE this is a worthy followup with a more detailed framework for how our brains learn

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classic scifi science get r dun

Revisado: 06-04-24

this was a real page turner of an adventure. a wonderful follow-up to The Martian and a very hopeful and optimistic narrative.

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surprising story of near death and recovery

Revisado: 05-16-24

I wouldn't have expected so many twists and turns but if you're nerdy for corporate shenanigans and inter-investor intrigue this is an amazing ride through multiple decades to show how one plucky band of true believers kept punching until they reached survivability.

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not quite what I expected

Revisado: 05-08-24

This was all a bit perplexing. I agree that something like a religion is emerging in UFOlogy but it's always been a field with religious ties. From Adamski to Applewhite to Rael and on and on. There might not be a cult leader in the Bigelowverse but the cadre of media figures and influemcers trying to get clout from Pentagon affiliation can't get enough oxygen into the field to make it catch fire. people looking for aliens won't find them here - at least not ETs. And the thoughts. about LLM/machine learning feel misguided and likely to cloud an already murky conversation between tech experts who want to develop the underlying systems, and loons who will find a god in thr machine.

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Paranormal Investigations without Silver John

Revisado: 12-29-22

These are fun paranormal battles with the most basic Good vs Evil setup. I really enjoyed them and wish there were more but Wellman’s extensive other writings will have to do. These are well performed and solid candlelight clasics.

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Tidy page turner

Revisado: 09-22-22

Loved this romp into fantasy from the horror master. I remember mostly enjoying Eye of the Dragon but this was more fun and will be well remembered. The plot does a good job of making you think it’s never going to get to the fantasy - but patience is rewarded.

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Superb stories, perfect narration

Revisado: 08-15-22

Cozy up by the fire, pour yourself a sherry and sit back and listen to some spectacular spectral tales of horror. This book is a treat.

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Insights but sad to read

Revisado: 02-10-21

This book really does take a long view at the decline of evidence-based thinking as a cultural currency in the US, but it is quite depressing to relive the ride.

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