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Natural Acts, David Quammen
I read Flight of the Iguana some time ago and was happy to discover a writer about topics in natural history who felt about things with too many legs the way I do! This earlier book is, well, an earlier book. The style is not as refined; the quality of analysis not so high. Quammen is still an entertaining writer, however, as long as he isn't waxing poetic.
Mort, Terry Pratchett
Still more Terry Pratchett! I got several Corgi paperbacks on a recent trip to Victoria. Mort is the clumsy only son of a farmer, apprenticed to Death. Over time (or the lack thereof), he loses his clumsiness -- but an early effort to improve matters catches up with him. When his interfering with Fate comes to light, Death is NOT PLEASED.
Men at Arms, Terry Pratchett
An unbalanced assassin with a penchant for history has
laid hands on one of Leonard of Quirm's odd inventions.
Bodies strew the sidewalks, and the Night Watch,
composed largely of new, non-human recruits, tries to
solve the problem despite uncooperative guilds and
interference from the Patrician. We learn a bit
more about the trolls, and further attempts at fraternization
across, er, species.
Moving Pictures, Terry Pratchett
Lords and Ladies, Terry Pratchett
Pratchett has paid homage (or otherwise) to
various works and authors in Discworld novels. This time, the
targets are Shakespeare's elves and confusion between the good and the
beautiful. This is another Witches novel (they started with
Equal Rites), immediately following Witches Abroad,
and we get to see a bit more in the romantic life of Magrat.
To say that she acquires a spine might be to misrepresent the matter,
but she displays her usual cornered courage.
Remnant Population, Elizabeth Moon
In a far-flung capitalistic empire among the stars,
generations of colonization without a single contact
with an intelligent, non-human species have reduced the
colonial process to a franchise system. Amid the
abuses of the system which inevitably follow, an old
woman decides not to leave when her failed colony
is evacuated, thinking the freedom to live alone and
die in peace is worth any risk. In this entertaining
but suspenseful novel of first-contact, Elizabeth Moon's apt
depiction of the interaction between old and young
plays counterpoint to the interaction between human and
alien.
A Feeling for the Organism: the Life and Work of Barbara McClintock, Evelyn Fox Keller
Barbara McClintock was one of the premier investigators
in cytology and classical genetics, but her work was
pushed out of the mainstream by the revolution in
molecular biology in the middle of this century. Thirty
years later, the simple truths sought by research scientists
whose training was closer to physics than biology continued
to prove elusive, and the discovery of transposons in
bacteria marked the beginning of a revival of interest
in her work. Keller's analysis of McClintock's difficulty
in finding a place to work and her relations with other
investigators is insightful and thought-provoking, not only
about women in science, but about the role of dissent
in the scientific community.
The Drastic Dragon of Draco, Texas, Eliabeth Scarborough
This fantasy novel set at a post-Civil War Texas trading post
has been sitting on my shelf for some years now. While this
Qetzlcoatl reworking is readable, its prose is unimpressive,
its characterization two-dimensional (with the possible
exception of Lovanche Jenkins, who actually manages to change
over time) to the point of names (Dolores) being synonymous
with defining character traits. The plot tends to plod and
the strong-willed women are remarkably ineffectual until the
very end, when Baking Saves the Day -- and even in this they
have the (unwitting) assistance of the dragon. I do not understand
why no one killed Drake and/or Kruger earlier -- it isn't like
there was a lack of opportunity for a well-placed knife through
the ribs, and at least some of the characters were sufficiently
motivated. I cannot recommend this and will not be rereading it.
The Universe Against Her, James Schmitz (reread)
I decided to reread the Telzey tales in hopes of replacing the above
vision of ineffective femininity. It worked beautifully.
Schmitz prose is light and witty, amusingly effective at
conveying the tale with a degree of drama and sufficient
suspense. We are never in any doubt that Telzey will win out,
but even after the nth reread, I still enjoy watching the
story unfold.
The Lion Game, James Schmitz (reread)
The further development of psi powers in the inimitable Telzey
occurs just in time for her to tackle her toughests opponents
yet: the legendary Elaigar. But they aren't any where near
as nasty as they appear to be -- and they're a lot younger.
Frederica, Georgette Heyer (reread)
Yet another reread of Frederica Merriville, Lord Alverstoke,
and assorted siblings all 'round. As always, great fun.
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Created April 19, 1996
Modified January 10, 2002