Questionable Edict

Good, Not Great, Modern Physics Primer

Revisado: 05-20-20

Review date: May 2020.
This series of lectures is an excellent *introduction* to modern physics. The presenter conveys the concepts clearly with good descriptions and analogies.
The issue, particularly in the later lectures dealing with particle physics and cosmology, is that some of the concepts are noticeably out of date. The Higgs Boson was just a theoretical idea and *accelerating* cosmic expansion was a fringe theory. Gravity waves are presumed to exist but hadn’t yet been observed. And some of the analogies won’t hold up well, especially to a younger audience, such as repeatedly using cathode tube televisions for examples.
I wasn’t aware of a production date when I purchased this series but based on the lecturer’s understandings I’d place it in the early 2000’s.
Again, it’s an excellent and well produced series of lectures, just noticeably dated in the later parts of the series.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Good Light Entertainment

Revisado: 03-25-20

I enjoyed this book in a similar way to a Michael Bay movie: lots of nonsensical action and actions, but an overall entertaining experience.
The problem is that the author just doesn’t sell the main character’s abilities to overcome the ridiculously impossible odds. Everything comes to them with fairly little effort. Coupled with that is the author’s total lack of knowledge of anything military related. Equipment abilities, security procedures, tactics, and even just basic interactions. It’s all more akin to a child playing with G.I. Joe dolls than to actual reality.
Like I said though, I don’t regret spending time on this book, but a Great Work of Science Fiction it is not.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

I really should have liked it...but I didn’t.

Revisado: 12-07-19

I don’t know why, I just don’t understand! This is my type of book, a perfect fit for the hard SF that I enjoy!
And yet...I couldn’t finish it. Every word was a chore.
I have nothing but respect for Mr. Sagan, a legendary science and space exploration advocate. I enjoyed the movie years ago and fully expected to enjoy this audiobook.
In all honesty, I’m more disappointed in myself. Oh well, what is life without some mystery?

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

A Good Listen

Revisado: 11-14-19

I always feel like giving three stars potentially short shrifts a book, but the rating should be seen for what it is: good, but not great. I know I’m guilty of sometimes dismissing too quickly books with too many three star reviews, and also sometimes finding hidden gems among them. The thing is, Existence really could go either way for you. It’s well written and full of interesting ideas, exciting at times and large in scope. But I also found it frustrating, occasionally meandering and unnecessary. Expect to invest hours in a character’s story only to have them never to appear again. Some of the chapter “interludes” we’re completely inexplicable to me. Other concerns include the shockingly cynical premise motivating the stones, and the total lack of ethical implications in the final hour of the book. On the latter point it’s honestly a little horrifying that the (lack of) ethics in such decisions aren’t even mentioned.
In conclusion, I don’t feel as though my time was wasted. I enjoyed Existence overall but this book is a big investment, and in the end I think it misses its lofty goals.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

A most disturbing portrait of humanity

Revisado: 08-22-19

Five star performance, five star story, but four stars overall? Let me explain.
It’s not meant as a knock against this audiobook, but more to represent the limits of the medium. I read the physical book years ago and it’s easily my favorite of McCarthy’s almost peerless catalogue. It loses something though in the adaptation to audiobook. The writing is *so* literary, often poetic and also horrifying that to have it read to you in a voice that is not your own minds, at the pace and inflections of a stranger, is to experience it through a filter of sorts.
Again, I don’t want to have this interpreted as a criticism against the production or narration of the audiobook, both are truly fantastic. But this is the first time I’ve written a review advocating to actually read the book rather than listening to the adaptation. The written words of Blood Meridian are a singular work of American literature.
If, for whatever reason, you simply can’t read the book, this production is a worthy alternative.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

Real life le Carrè

Revisado: 06-28-19

One of the most suspenseful and anxiety-inducing stories I’ve ever heard. I can’t imagine living the double agent life where every phone call, meeting, encounter, every word you speak, can mean life or death. This story is brilliantly told by Macintyre and narrated by John Lee. One of the best audiobooks I’ve listened to in a long time. Highly recommended.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 1 persona

Starts Strong, Ends in a Whimper

Revisado: 06-25-19

AG,B has a promising enough start for this type of sci-fi. Emergent AI is emergent, etc.
Unfortunately it then settles into a muddled mid-section with little story progression. Instead of sticking with the “Big Questions” approach, it surprisingly devolves into a long and unbelievable road trip/action novel complete with a generic comic-relief-sidekick robot.
Towards the end the author is clearly rushing himself. In fact, the end is so abrupt that I’m not sure it bothers to resolve much of anything that happens during the story. I don’t need all my questions answered. On the contrary, sci-fi in general is strongest when it *doesn’t* provide easy answers. But the stories themselves need to be coherent and balanced. The characters need to make complete journeys beyond the literal journey taken in the book. That doesn’t happen here. (I won’t even get into how women are written in AG,B. Let’s just say it’s not good.)
I don’t necessarily regret spending a credit on this book - I was still entertained - but it also didn’t come close to meeting the expectations of its heady subject.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 30 personas

Good Science, Good Fiction, Mediocre Writing

Revisado: 05-31-18

The core story itself is enjoyable and interesting. The science and fiction work well together to create a story arc that, for the most part, is engaging enough to make it through to the end.
My problems stem from the actual writing. The characters are awkward, full of cliches and contrived actions/reactions. There is a boilerplate Evil Corporation that is totally inconsequential to the story. And the way certain plot elements play out is totally disconnected with how they would in real life.
I’m also not sure I like the way the author writes women. The author clearly (and, of course, rightly) gives female characters a central place in the story, but they all come across as starry-eyed little birds, their fates too dependent on the ‘grounded and practical’ men.
In summary, and with some regret, I doubt I’ll continue with the series.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

esto le resultó útil a 4 personas

Excellent story and well narrated

Revisado: 10-18-16

Though a little uneven at times, this account of the 1900 Galveston hurricane is well told and thorough. A few other reviewers complain of too much detail. I couldn't disagree more. The sections of personal histories and weather science add context and weight to the events described.
As an added bonus the narrator, Richard Davidson, very often sounds like Zapp Brannigan! I could only wish that all my audiobooks were narrated by this man!

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña

The narration is simply bad.

Revisado: 10-13-16

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Overall I don't regret the time I've spent listening to the book so far. The science is sufficiently grounded to be somewhat believable and the core story is interesting. The dialogue though, I don't know if it's totally attributable to the horrible narration, but the dialogue can be juvenile and tedious for long stretches. There are a couple of British characters that speak in nothing but 19th century 'britishisms' ("old chap", "jolly good", and so on). It becomes so distracting that you begin to imagine them wearing pith helmets and monocles. The US President suffers from the same problem of being a ridiculous caricature of a one dimensional, power hungry villain. The main characters fare somewhat better, but generally the humans aren't the strong part of this large, long story.

What other book might you compare Seveneves to and why?

I listened to Aurora recently, about a generation ship and it's struggle to survive. That book was far superior to this one if for no other reason than the character depth and narration.

How could the performance have been better?

The accents. Good god, they're awful. Every single one. Mary Kowal also has a strange vocal inflection where there's a slightly audible sigh at the end of each sentence. I'd almost describe it as 'supressed valley girl.'

Was Seveneves worth the listening time?

So far. I'm ~2/3 through and have considered ditching it several times. I've heard that part three really slows down and becomes a drag so there are still no guarantees that I'll finish.

Any additional comments?

This is good hard sci-fi, definitely not great hard sci-fi.

Has calificado esta reseña.

Reportaste esta reseña