Friday, June 25, 2010
Emancipating Slaves, Enslaving Free Men
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Fire Ship
by Diane Carey
This one's typical Trek fare, really. But I fell in love with the mental picture of a ship covered with video tiles and the idea of a high and mighty Starfleet captain having to prove herself in an alien culture and under different leadership. That's why I decided to grab a copy for my shelf.
LibraryThing link
This one's typical Trek fare, really. But I fell in love with the mental picture of a ship covered with video tiles and the idea of a high and mighty Starfleet captain having to prove herself in an alien culture and under different leadership. That's why I decided to grab a copy for my shelf.
LibraryThing link
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
The Best Time Travel Stories of the 20th Century
edited by Harry Turtledove with Martin H. Greenberg
Was this indeed the best time travel stories of the past century? I don't know. I don't have the time to read all the time travel stories of the 20th Century--wish I did--so I can't tell if they missed one that was better.
'Twas indeed worth checking out.
LibraryThing link
Was this indeed the best time travel stories of the past century? I don't know. I don't have the time to read all the time travel stories of the 20th Century--wish I did--so I can't tell if they missed one that was better.
'Twas indeed worth checking out.
LibraryThing link
Labels: CheckItOut
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
With Malice Toward None
by Stephan B. Oates
For my latest selection on my Presidential biography reading list, I chose a relatively slim one--only 436 pages. I mean, when it comes to Lincoln, there are huge biographies from which to choose. This one, however, was recommended by my wife, so i figured I'd go with it rather than opt for a longer or more recent effort. It was a pleasure to read. Mr. Oates presents his material in a quasi-narrative style, and, of course, the story of the Civil War itself is bound to entice a reader to read the proverbial "one more chapter". Two things struck me the most. One was Lincoln's inexperience and shortcomings. After reading about the one term wonders of the 1840s and 50s, I was subconsciously expecting an account of the American demigod they gave us in grade school. Instead, it seemed that Lincoln fit right in with his predecessors. (Had I been voting in 1860 (and could stomach all the racists claptrap) I might have voted for Douglas) Lincoln made some bone-headed mistakes and more than once trusted the wrong person. But--at least to hear Mr. Oates tell it--Lincoln was able to stick to his principals, weather the storms and overcome his errors. The second thing that grabbed my attention was the political turning point that the election of 1860 became. After a number of biographies about men making compromises over slavery, it was refreshing to have someone say, "Enough."
You really should check it out.
LibraryThing link
For my latest selection on my Presidential biography reading list, I chose a relatively slim one--only 436 pages. I mean, when it comes to Lincoln, there are huge biographies from which to choose. This one, however, was recommended by my wife, so i figured I'd go with it rather than opt for a longer or more recent effort. It was a pleasure to read. Mr. Oates presents his material in a quasi-narrative style, and, of course, the story of the Civil War itself is bound to entice a reader to read the proverbial "one more chapter". Two things struck me the most. One was Lincoln's inexperience and shortcomings. After reading about the one term wonders of the 1840s and 50s, I was subconsciously expecting an account of the American demigod they gave us in grade school. Instead, it seemed that Lincoln fit right in with his predecessors. (Had I been voting in 1860 (and could stomach all the racists claptrap) I might have voted for Douglas) Lincoln made some bone-headed mistakes and more than once trusted the wrong person. But--at least to hear Mr. Oates tell it--Lincoln was able to stick to his principals, weather the storms and overcome his errors. The second thing that grabbed my attention was the political turning point that the election of 1860 became. After a number of biographies about men making compromises over slavery, it was refreshing to have someone say, "Enough."
You really should check it out.
LibraryThing link
Labels: CheckItOut, PresidentialBioReadingList
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