Reading Log, Mid November 2011

As the year wanes, so has my ability to read as many novels as I did during the summer. Is it something about the way the colder air causes my brain to shut down more, or just the more consistent distraction possibilities such as new tv shows? In this case, I think a large part was work, but then again, I'm biased.

The Princess Curse - Merrie Haskell - In the land of Sylvania, Twelve princesses are part of a puzzling but dangerous curse. For each night their feet become bloody, their shoes become tatters and anyone who is in the tower with them at night, fall into a deep sleep, never to awake. Yet there is also a great reward to be had by anyone who ends the curse. Can Reveka, an apprentice herbalist new to the land break the curse, or will what she finds lose her soul?

Designed for young adults, of decent length and depth, the books' prose and style lack not at all, feeling quite comfortable to adults as well as teens. Really, if you like tales of the old country, of curses and magic, often in the thematic of the Grimm Fairytales, then this is a novel for you. I'd recommend it. [10.00 / 7.00]

Omnitopia Dawn - Diane Duane - In the near future, on the eve of it's next great expansion, an MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online Game) comes under attack by a rival corporation and others hoping to profit on the downfall of the Billion dollar company Omintopia. Written before Neal Stephenson's Reamde, Ernie Cline's Ready Player One, and Cory Doctorow's For the Win, we travel through another realistic portrayal of Computer Games and the Worlds that people build there. To those who've never experienced such a game, a lot of what's described will appear more like fantasy, but to those who have played the likes of World or Warcraft, Omnitopia feels like the game you always wanted. Rich in detail, with a solid grasp of why a game is a game, and fantasy is fantasy, Omnitopia is sure to please the most avid gamer/reader. Per the author there is also a sequel in the works, although problems are causing it's release to be held up indefinitely. [8.00 / 9.00]

As You Wish - Jackson Pearce - Viola is a sixteen year old, in the midst of an existential crisis. Although still her best friend, her now ex-boyfriend turned out to be gay, catapulting him high up in the social circles of school, and her down into the depths of loneliness. Then in the middle of class she somehow makes a true wish, and is given by the unknown a Jinn or Genie, who will grant her three wishes. But when in the middle of an existential crisis, why could you wish for that would be good enough? Although a nice premise, and one I've read a couple of times gladly, the story devolves from a rather simple one about someone learning to be happy with them self, to a more fantasy based tale, of a Jinn and a Human falling in love. The way it was written makes it seem less authentic, and unfortunately less substantial. For a Teenage girl who is well into Romance novels already, it might seem like the perfect combination, yet for others it's not really going to make them think about life any differently. [8.00 / 2.00]

First Flight - Chris Claremont - On her first flight as Commander of a Deep System Explorer, Lieutenant Nicole Shea and her crew are ambushed and outgunned by pirates. Now drifting farther and farther from any hope of rescue they stumble upon what could be humanity's finest or worst moment, first contact with an alien life form.

I had this book on my list for awhile now, but only read it after a friend was asking me for some advice on sci-fi novels with strong Female POV characters, who are written by Male novelists. Loosely a kind of precursor to the likes of Honor Harrington by David Weber or Kris Longknife by Mike Shepherd, Lt. Shea is a hot show pilot in the waning days of slow system travel, before faster then light ships can take over runs to Pluto easily. Shadowed by something in the past between her family and other astronauts, she is inadvertently plunged into adventure most fowl. Unfortunately unlike Honor, her ability to navigate treacherous waters just doesn't feel right. At times Shea is drawn a little to much like a little girl out of her depth, then abruptly we are expected to believe she is the voice of command. Because of this, the book felt a little weak to me. It's a fine look at a deep space in-system world for half the novel, that then because of the plot attempts to jump start the story to a different level, with only so-so results. Not bad, but not great, I'd still give it a passing mark as it appears to be the author's first sci-fi novel, and from his resume he obviously got better. The good news, it's only being sold used so I picked it up for a dollar [1.00 / 2.50]

I'm already in the middle of Chris Wooding's Retribution Falls and I hope to read Greg Van Eekhout's Norse Code and Tim Akers The Horns of Ruin at the very least. Like always, I never know where I'll steer for next.

Reading Log, End of October 2011

As October comes to an end, the number of books read fell to only four, although the number of pages read, rose. If I were to look back at August, where the average page length of books then was just shy of 300, and now, where the average length was around 420 pages, then October was actually a rather banner month, as I appear to have read near the same if not a touch more then August. Most of the that outsize however is due to Reamde, which came in at a whopping 923 pages on my ebook reader. Toe to Toe, I'd think I'd still prefer August's reads as they seemed overall more satisfying.

Reamde - Neal Stephenson - When the worlds of Massively Multiplayer Computer Games, Gold Farming in Computer Games, Russian Mafia, and International Terrorism collide, something has got to give, and don't expect it to be the Gold Farmers. Neal Stephenson's latest novel weaves a Thriller about Money, Crime, and Terrorism, around the hard to grasp concept oh how many people play games, and the impact they actually have on the world economy. Added to it, is that Stephenson's deft use of MMO really brings to life what those who understand the world of MMO all know: That even though it's virtual, it's also quite real. Reamde is quite hefty and in other author's would be considered quite ambitious, although for Stephenson, it's merely expected. The novel's plot and pacing were quite well down, with few places feeling like they were dragging. Even at so large a novel, I felt the pace particularly break-neck enough, that I read through it only three or four days. About the only complaint I have, is that would have liked a bit more of the MMO side of the story in the wrap up, as it just seemed to be dropped once the final climax began. Then again, that says something when the writer's stories about the rise of T'rain, and what was going on in the game, eclipsed the Real World plot engulfing it. Not Stephenson's best novel, but an admirable and well enjoyable novel none the less. Worth the price for a Stephenson fan. [15.00 / 15.00]

Close Encounters - Katherine Allred - It's the future, genetic alteration of humanity is possible, so what does humanity do? It only allows genetic enhancement in created humans, and it treats these humans indentured servants. Our heroine is once such GEP (Genetically Engineered Person), but fear not, it's not all yes master, yes misses, in fact it's really quite rosy in a strange not really complex way. Which is also true about the story in general. What could have been a rather intriguing novel, feels a little to easy. There are very few tense moments, and the actual climax is rather simple. Although the novel is billed as a futuristic Romance novel, it shouldn't have brought it down. And in fact the Romantic entanglements also seem rather two dimensional and easy. As this is also the first in a series, and the second book doesn't even have the same characters, I'm going to say, give it a pass or get the novel cheap. [8.00 / 3.50]

Manhattan in Reverse - Peter F Hamilton - A collection of novellas and short stories by Sci-Fi master writer Peter F Hamilton. Some of the novellas take place in existing Hamilton series/universes while some are in their own bubbles. All are fairly good, and recommended for Hamilton fans. Having read at least one in a Magazine previously, I knew going in I would enjoy most of the collection, which was confirmed by the time I finished it. Currently however the Collection is only being sold in Europe, but can be pre-ordered for the US release for a reasonable sum. Again, a strong recommended for Hamilton fans. [5.00 / 5.00]

Sweet Venom - Tera Lynn Childs - When you see a monster casually strolling through an All-Ages Hot Spot, what's a High School Girl going to do? In the case of Grace it's first to run the other way. But later when she sees another monster, it's to run toward it and in the process find out she has a twin sister, and that she, like you sister is a descendant of Medusa. Oh and mythology was all wrong. Oh and she's really a Triplet. Sweet Venom is the first in a new young adult trilogy by Tera Lynn Childs. Aimed at teen girls, it definitely hits its mark. So the book wasn't really meant for me. Which explains why I wasn't really satisfied with it. On the other hand I did enjoy Oh. My. Gods. another mythology laced teen girl young adult novel, so it could something else I can't quite place. That and books with cliff-hanger endings tend to get my nerve up. If it had been more self-contained, that is stronger on a climax, with a decent resolution, but plot trails that people might want to explore in the next two novels, I'd have liked it a lot better. None the less, good book for the Young Adult Teen Girl market. [10.00 / 5.00]

Book Review, Mid October 2011

October rolled in the fall, cooling temperatures outside down, while also slowing the frequent storms of the late summer. Unfortunately that meant that I was outside more often enjoying friends, family and other activities more so then attempting to read. I also back tracked and re-read two books I've read before, partly due to some of the novels I was attempting, being rather annoying, and partly because sometimes you just need a comfortable easy read.

Even so, I was able to read five new novels this month.

Bitterwood - James Maxey - First book of the Dragon Age series, it's about a fantasy world, where Dragon's are as smart as humans, and thus rule them in a feudal manner. It's also science fiction, in that it takes place over a thousand years in our future. It was a very enjoyable novel, pacing itself well, edited well, with a very unique idea and story at it's core. One thing I also liked, is that unlike other first books in a trilogy it didn't shorten itself, nor force you to pick up the next book. That is, it was written as if it was the first and the last, and could be enjoyed all on it's own. I'm still going to pick up the next two as it was that enjoyable, but I feel like I can read them on my own merit because of how complete this first novel is. [Cost 3.00; Rated 7.00]

Cold Warriors - Clare Dargin - Digging through my archives, I came across this Sci-Fi Romance novel. Taking place an indeterminate and short time in the future, it's able people who were frozen at the time of death, the resurrected. But the word their are resurrected into, treats them as second class citizens, only good for fodder in an interstellar war. To begin with, either my copy was a very rough first draft, or the author needs an editor. I'll give the benefit of the doubt, as currently the book is unavailable for sale, although it was initially available via Amazon in 2008. Secondly, the whole second class citizen thing, doesn't quite make sense, as why would a society who detests people who are frozen, even bother reviving them in the first place? They don't treat them as even worth it, so why bother? The idea was just inconsistent, and it was a rather hard read to get through. [Cost 2.00; Rated 1.00]
A Modern Witch - Debora Geary - A (fictional) take on what real witchcraft is, in history and modern times. The novel is first of a series (and currently a spin-off series as well) about witchcraft as told through a modern lens. The problem is, the novel itself is just one giant infodump. There is a plot, and kind of a climax, but what there is doesn't feel pressing, nor very profound. The novel is really a feel good piece of fluff, designed to tell you what witchcraft really is. Admittedly the writing was smooth, but it's definitely a niche type audience. [Cost 4.00; Rated 2.00]

How to Ditch Your Fairy - Justine Larbalestier - A young adult book, this book could have also been titled "How to Ditch Your Superpower". In this city, almost everyone has a personal fairy, one that can't see, that grants them a power, such as Finding Lost Change, or Always Getting the Best Parking Spot. Yet some of the people, such as our Heroine, intensely dislike their Fairy and really want a different one. But how can you get rid of something you can't see, and if you do get rid of it, what happens when you get a new one, that's even worse? Although I'm not the core audience this book is geared toward, I did find it an enjoyable read none the less. Admittedly, I would mostly recommend this to teen girls, or women who enjoy Young Adult novels, I'd still give it good marks, for it does tell a story about looking beneath other's covers, and that the grass is not always greener on the other side. [Cost 4.80; Rated 5.00]

The Highest Frontier - Joan Slonczewski - It's the future, and the Earth is doomed! Okay, not quite doomed just yet but very close to it, with global warming into overdrive Antarctica is the new farming belt. Nano-technology has made things very modular, but still it requires energy. Humanity isn't quite living in orbit yet, but at least one of the Habitats has a College, and a possibly alien roommate. But when you are the grand-daughter of a very famous president, and essentially their clone, how would you respond to your Freshmen year? A quite hard SF novel, The Highest Frontier is typical in that it's kind of hard to get into. Complex from the start, it's infodumps small and relatively sparse, if really infodumps at all, it does take a bit to get into. In the same vein however, it's complex universe does make for a very interesting place to read about, enough so that when the tipping point of understanding is reached, it becomes a much faster and enjoyable read. I'd tentatively classify it as a Late Young Adult, it's still a rather large and good novel. [Cost 13.00; Rated 10.00]

I also started and stopped a number of novels. Not because they were horrible, horrible books, but often it was because they were complex enough, that they were really slow to read, and I hadn't reached a tipping point of understanding by the time I wanted to really read something. Also often I will go back and read them again at a later point, but if I force myself, it feels like work.

Novels also read in October, but not finished:
The Clockwork Rocket - Greg Egan
No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells - Rose Pressely
God's War - Kameron Hurley

Coming Up:
Reamde - Neal Stephenson (I promise this time!)

Book Review, End of September 2011

Although the first of half of September both lacked in the amount of books read, as well as the quality, the second half sure was great for reading. I finished five or six depending on how you are counting, and started on a seventh. Although I've been anticipating Neal Stephenson's Reamde, I am saving that for an October read. Instead I became a Superhero, visited a Victorian England bathed in magic, read a comfortable new Urban Fantasy, and saw many different futures.

In Hero Years... I'm Dead - Michael A Stackpole - If Superheros were real, how long could they be heroes? If they had kids and families? If they grew old? In this novel that question is asked, when a lesser known hero, how had been part of the Hero League, disappears only to come back to Gotham after an inexplicable twenty year absence. Can he still be a hero? Should he be a hero? Or is there another reason for his return? The world Stackpole draws is full of heroes and back stories that appear to be based off both DC and Marvel Comics. He never uses an actual character from them, but all his characters can be recognized for their homage. The plot and writing moves at a good pace, with few inconsistencies. The twists can be seen approaching, but are quite fun to read. In short the book is quite excellent. Very much worth the ebook price. Highly recommended for fans of Superhero stories in general. [Cost 5.00; Rating 7.00]

A Matter of Magic - Patricia C Wrede - If magic were more commonplace, but still restricted to those of nobility, how would Victorian England differ from the real period of history? In this Omnibus, consisting of Mairelon the Magician, and Magician's Ward, we follow Kim, a 17 year old girl from the streets of London, whom disguised as a boy is discovered by one of the Noble Magicians and recruited into a world changing adventure. Although not Steampunk in the classic sense, this novel might certainly appeal to that same core audience, as it's depiction of Victorian England, and the method of magic in it, certainly gives this novel the same feel to it. It's also very well written, and quite funny for it's cheeky Victorian humor. Although as an Omnibus, the tone of the second book changes enough that you can see it as two books, and not one. I'd still recommend it to most Steampunk fans, and more specifically those who like Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate novels. As a side note, I'd probably rate the individual books in the omnibus a 5.00 or 6.00, however as an Omnibus I will give it the beneft of combining those two ratings. [Cost 10.00; Rating 10.00]

Embedded - Dan Abnett - Even now, in War the military walks a fine line in trying to get the Press to tell the military's side of the story, and with access inadvertently giving the journalist something infinitely more. In Embedded, we see in the future this same dance on another planet, but when an old and tired journalist finds a novel way to hitch a ride with a patrol, he finds there is a lot more to all the stories, and a much tougher story to get out, as he himself becomes stuck behind lines. Let me say, that the book is still pretty good even in reflection. On the other hand there are some rather large plot holes, and a good chunk of the book makes it seem like it's written for a movie deal. Yet all in all, it's still one I'd recommend to Military Sci-Fi readers, as well as those who like journalist reports from war-zones. As shorter description though, I would call this a Sci-Fi version of Black Hawk Down. [Cost 6.00; Rated 6.00]

Embedded - Dan Abnett - Even now, in War the military walks a fine line in trying to get the Press to tell the military's side of the story, and with access inadvertently giving the journalist something infinitely more. In Embedded, we see in the future this same dance on another planet, but when an old and tired journalist finds a novel way to hitch a ride with a patrol, he finds there is a lot more to all the stories, and a much tougher story to get out, as he himself becomes stuck behind lines. Let me say, that the book is still pretty good even in reflection. On the other hand there are some rather large plot holes, and a good chunk of the book makes it seem like it's written for a movie deal. Yet all in all, it's still one I'd recommend to Military Sci-Fi readers, as well as those who like journalist reports from war zones. As shorter description though, I would call this a Sci-Fi version of Black Hawk Down. [Cost 6.00; Rated 6.00]

Hounded - Kevin Hearne - When the last old testament style Irish Druid, 21 centuries old but physically young enough to be just out of college, is visited by the Gods of his faith to finish an ancient vendetta, what does he do? He apparently decides it's time to stop hiding, and makes a stand in the last non-sacred place of the world, Arizona. First book in The Iron Druid Chronicles, Hearne deftly creates a character that most people would admire and like. Filled with small slices of humor, satire, as well as old world history, what can easily have become cliched instead is rather entertaining. About the only problem I have with it, is that someone who lives for 21 centuries running, suddenly making a stand just because the area they are in is pretty, doesn't quite make sense. A little more reason would have helped, yet otherwise again, it's a pretty good popcorn novel. If you like early Jim Butcher's Dresden Novels, and similar series, you will like this one. [Cost 8.00; Rated 7.00)

A Soldier's Duty - Jean Johnson - In the 24th century, the universe is a rather messy place, with two human empires, an alien race under quarantine for four centuries, and pirates by the bucket-full.  But even though it's messy, there is still peace of sorts, worlds with families and life. Enter one girl named Ia, who sees in the far future the destruction of not only her home world, but of the entire galaxy. Yet there is a way to stop it all, a way that requires her to change her entire life, and became a Marine. A Marine with a security and need to never fail, because if she fails, so does the Galaxy. First book in the series "Theirs Not to Reason Why", it's a fun and rather deep first novel. I'd liken it to a cross between Tanya Huff's Valor Novels, Robert A Heinlein's Starship Troopers, and well The Return of the Jedi just for the climatic battle. The only downside was the climatic battle in that it became a little, cheesy. Also from Boot to the climatic could have had more depth to all the side characters. Otherwise, still a good read. If you liked any of those listed above, you'll like this novel. [Cost 8.00; Rating 8.00]

I didn't quite finish James Maxey's Bitterwood in September, so I will drop the official mini-review in the October mid-month update. October is shaping up to be a good read month, as Neal Stephenson's Reamde is among the short stack to read.

Mid-Month Book Review, September 2011

The month of September initially is turning out to be a bad month to read any books. I started with blocking off a good week at the beginning in order to attend Dragon*Con in Atlanta, then followed it up with a lot to make up at work. I was still able to squeeze in around four new to me novels in that time frame, but it seemed at times like I wouldn't be able to finish anything in time.

For the first half of the month, I was able to read three young adult novels, and one older, but recommended adult novel.

Higher Institute of Villainous Education - Mark Walden - (YA) In a riff of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and much more, we have a new series about a boy destined for greatness, that is great Evil. However unlike the Evil of Harry Potter, this first book in the Young Adult H.I.V.E. series, paints Evil as just being really good businessmen, with flexible Ethics, but strong Morals. As such, it's a perfectally acceptable book to introduce young readers to, and get them interested. For older fans, not so much. However, as other reviewers have noted, fans of Artemis Fowler, would likely love this book. [Cost 8.00; Rated 5.00]

Emissaries from the Dead - Adam-Troy Castro - First of only two Andrea Cort Novels. In a universe that's been post singularity since the dinosaurs, humanity has carved mash of empires. Yet they are still at the bottom when it comes to all encompassing AIs. Andrea, sentenced to a life of civil service, is good at her job. So good she is sent to investigate a murder in a reverse artificial biosphere. The book itself was a very engaging murder mystery, although fans of mystery will probably figure the plot twists fairly earlier on. The AI issues, and the world built, make it a good novel for the hard sci-fi fan. [Cost 8.00; Rated 7.00]

Priscilla The Great - Sybil Nelson - (YA) Again with the Superhero novels? A coming of age novel, in which our heroine finds herself starting to exhibit unusual abilities, and that her family is a lot more complicated then she though. A quick read, and obviously the first in a series of short YA novels. Good for those starting out reading, not so much for the older fans. [Cost 3.00; Rated 3.00]

Trapped - Douglas E Richards - (YA) Also billed as a Superhero like novel, the book itself was nothing of the sort. First in a trilogy, there were no unusual powers or abilities but a rather straight forward encounter story, with a sci-fi twist. For hard science fans it won't make much sense, but for the young reader it's perfectly acceptable. I found it a little to quick and the story a little too presumptuous. Again, it's definitely not for my age group. [Cost 3.00; Rated 2.00]

In the second half of the month I've already read more then the beginning half, and from the looks of it, hands down better as well. Stay Tuned.

End of August Book Review

I wrapped up August with having officially read thirteen novels. Re-Reading a book I've read before doesn't count, and I have to read at least half the book for it to count. Novels that I only get a few chapter in, then drop or pause, usually get shuffled back lower in to the pile, and rarely get mentioned. There are many reasons for dropping a novel only three chapters in, but most commonly it's due to the book just not grabbing my attention at that exact time. Maybe in a difference month will my interests lean a different direction and the novel grab me, but till then; To the Waiting Bin you Go!.

For the second half of August, I finished these seven novels:

Tempest Rising - Nicole Peeler - Not sure when during August I read this novel, but at the least I can plug it in the second half of this month. Billed as a Supernatural Chick Lit, this is the first book in a series about a twenty something young lady, coming to turns with a traumatic injury and finding out how different the world around her, and she herself really is. The book was quite good, infused with humor, and very little angst keeping with the main character being a little older. It's adaption of a supernatural world was within reason, giving some good vampire like creatures, without there being vampires. All in all, a good start to a series, and one I might check out later. (Cost 8.00) [Rating 5.00]

Soulless  - Gail Carriger - First Book in the Parasol Protectorate. It's a Steampunk, Victorian era, Modern Supernatural novel. Genre Tags indeed. What it really is, is Great! The dry humor, satire, and general nature of the main character just kept me riveted to the page. The atmosphere of the writing is more align with a Pulp style of Victorian England, although a semi-realistic one. Gritty I would not cast this novel as, but fun it most certainly was. I ended up buying the next three novels were available, but decided to hold off reading them till the finale is released in 2012. Also the first three novels are available as an ebook bundle for reduced price, so I would give it a hearty thumbs up. (Cost 8.00/3.00) [Rating 8.00]

Confessions of a D-List Supervillain - Jim Bernheimer - Again with the Superhero novel? This was a late pickup for my pile of Superhero novels, one I only approached after reading another blog's review. The novel takes place in a world with lots of Superheros and Supervillians. However in this novel, the world finally decides to go to hell. An accident by either a Supervillian, or other unleashes an small apocalypse on the world, one were all the Superheroes get taken over, leaving one lone minor level Supervillian, trying to decide whether to save the world, or just toss in the towel. The good news? He decides to save it. In the process he becomes a Superhero and learns that there is a fine line between the two and sometimes being a Villian, means being a better Hero. The only problems I had with the book, was that the writing seemed just a little rough. Otherwise the battles were quite fun, and the characters a little more then 2D. Strong recommend for anyone searching for a good Superhero novel. (Cost 3.00) [Rating 4.50]

After The Golden Age - Carrie Vaughn - Continuing the Superhero novel trend, I tackle a New York Times Bestseller's novel on Superheros and the world around them. And a tackle it was. Unfortunately, although the concept, idea, and execution behind this novel was rather good, I found the writing a little stiff. A discussion with a fellow avid reader calls this the, writer being more critical of other writers. Since I consider myself at best an amateur at writing, I would tentatively call bunk on this notion, except there could be an element of truth in it. None the less, although she may be a well loved writer, I personally have had problems reading any of her novels. Thus I will be assigning a lower review rating, with the codicil: Read a couple of sample chapters and decide for yourself if the prose flows, or does not. (Cost 12.00) [Rating 4.00]

Being Jamie Baker - Kelly Oram - Behold, yet another Superhero novel. Yet it is really not. In Jamie Baker's world, there is no such thing as a Superhero. No people with unusual powers, no arch villians. However a year earlier, an accident with a chemical truck and power line super charged her. So now she is the world's first super human, not that she wouldn't prefer being, well normal. I mean, when she can accidentally short out the power out home, and she may of killed her first boyfriend, it kind of puts a damper on trying to be a normal teenage girl. As the novel goes, it's a quite well written, and engaging young adult, teen centric novel. As a Superhero novel, not so much. None the less, I would recommend this to novel to many people, who might like to read a coming of age Teen Girl dealing with abnormal problems story. (Cost 8.00) [Rating 4.00]

Heaven's Shadow - David S Goyer and Michael Cassutt - One phrase, Rendezvous with Rama. In the same grand tradition as Arthur C Clarke, the authors paint a tale of first contact with an extremely alien world. Mostly realistically written, and well at that, I found the novel mostly engaging. I stress the word mostly. I quibble a little with the ending, as it appears to bend the rules put in place but the authors during the course of the novel, as if they suddenly realized they were at the end and had run out of time in their narrative. Otherwise it was engaging none the less. Rama is still better, but for those who liked Arthur C Clarke, you would probably enjoy this novel well enough. (Cost 13.00) [Rating 7.00]

Ready Player One - Ernest Cline - Dude! I mean DUDE! You got the eighties geek chic. You've got computer games, both first generation, and post-MMO! You've got a treasure hunt! It's endorsed by Wil Wheaton! Wade Watts is a teenager stuck in the outskirts of a world with no oil, and no economy. He lives by going to school, and playing in Oasis, the post Internet Virtual Reality everything. While there he is also one of countless hunting for an Easter Egg, left by the founder and owner of Oasis, as part of a massive treasure hunt to determine who inherits his vast fortune. It's been nearly ten years since the founder died, and no one has found the first key, till one day Wade does, and the world changes. Well written, well paced, very engaging. If you grew up in the eighties, played video games, you'll love this book. If you haven't, you may still love it as it really is a good book. (Cost 12.00) [Rating 12.00]

Rating a Book

How would you Rate a Book? Would you want to use or see a 5-star system, a 10-star system, maybe 6-Purple Thumbs, or 3-Flowers?

Short Answer? For reviews posted on this Blog, I'm going to be using a Monetary Based rating system. That is, taking into account how much the books are being sold for, versus how much I'd be willing to buy them for. I will tend to round to the nearest dollar.

Upside? It's a good way to track my actual like or dislike of a book. With the rating I'll post what I had to actually pay (or what the average consumer would have to pay) at the time I reviewed the book.

Downside? Monetary differences and Inflation can really mess up the rating system. If you want, just think of it as a 20-point Rating system instead. Why 20-point? I don't think I've ever paid more then $20 for a fiction book. Lately I grumble when I have to pay more then $12.

Long Answer:

As long as I've been reading reviews, I've always wondered why some places use the ratings system they had. Most commonly, it's a 5-star systems, with room for haves and possibly quarters. The few times I myself took up any sort of reviewing, I adopted this 5-star Flex system as it appeared to give me wide latitude in to how I perceived things. Then I ran into the inflexibility of some programmers.

For example, I've been on GoodReads for quite awhile, a website for people to review book, rate them, and share their lists. But while I've been a participant for quite awhile, one problem I've had always had with the website is their rating system. Specifically [GoodReads] uses a 5-star Flat rating system where you can pick 1,2,3,4 or 5 stars when rating a book, and nothing else. No ability to give it a half star, no ability to give it a zero. Just a 1-star to say you didn't like something, and 2-star or above to say you did.

On the other hand, [GoodReads] does then take all these flat ratings, and aggregates them into a 5-Star Decimal Flex type system, but the like of fine control for the reviewer does tend to aggravate a little.

So, when I started to contemplate posting my reviews to my blog, of course this discussion was one of the first things I began to contemplate. If I'm going to review a book, what type of system do I want to limit myself to? At first I thought that at the very least I would use a 5-star flex system, where I could feel more comfortable giving books degrees of like. Then I wondered why I didn't just go to a 10-star flex system. It would save on the half stars are be more honest.

Then it hit me; A 10-star system mimics pretty closely the price of novels costing lately. Rating books by how much I would buy them for, is actually easier then determining what someone thinks that book should be reviewed as. It's also a lot more honest as you get less spikes in the graph for really good, but minor works.

I further tested this argument by asking a few friends to try to rate a book. Then I asked them how much they might be willing to pay. Each time, the indicator or willing to pay showed a much stronger honest answer then the arbitrary 5-star system. I think I had found my rating system.

The easy part was over. Now I just have review these novels and revisit later how well this rating system works. Simple, right?

Mid-August Book Review Update

While I continue to work on my lists and the actual Posts describing why I'm doing this and what everything means, I figured I should at least post what I've read so far this August. Especially as the next week and a half will likely slow me back to a crawl reading wise.

Engines of God - Jack McDevitt - First Book in the Engines of God of series (also know as the Priscilla Hutchins Series). Like a lot of McDevitt's novels it can take awhile to really pick up. I actually was picking it up and putting it back down so often, it took me more then a week to get through Part One. However once past Part One the book really began to gel and I was much more interested in reading it. It wasn't his first book ever, but it is still rather early and it shows in some of the pacing. However the by the end, the roughness is quite forgotten. I would still recommend this book to those who like more cerebral type novels, as like a lot of his books it's less about the Action, and more about the why. [Cost 8.00 / Rating 6.00]

Wishful Thinking - Evangeline Anderson - First book in the Swann Sisters Chronicles Trilogy, this was one of my off beat choices. I think I was trying to pick up a light Fantasy/Supernatural type novel, but what I really picked up was a romance/erotica book. Still, it was rather good. Light in the fantasy elements, they really were just there to trigger plot, and light in overall erotica aspects I would still come away and say this was a good book. [Cost 5.20 / Rating 3.50]

Working Stiff - Rachel Caine - First Book in the new Revivalist Series. This is going to have to be a down check. So the writing was good. I can never fault Rachel Caine for her actual writing as it flows decently well. The problem is, I'm starting to realize that the author seems to be giving her female characters a rather large inferiority complex. That is, her main character is often female, is often special, often has some sort of special power, and is often described as being tough. But then throughout the novels the character essentially gets beaten up, bullied, and has very little real backbone. Oh usually there is an apex point where they do kick some ass, but even then you got to wonder why the bad guys went from being normal to just being idiots during this pivotal scenes as the main character still doesn't seem any different from the beginning of the book. These characters are definitely no Sydney Bristow. [Cost 8.00 / Rating 2.00]

Karma Girl - Jennifer Estep - First Book in the Bigtime Superhero Universe. Here I had the opposite issue from Rachel Caine. Some of the elements in the book irritated me just a smidgen, such as the fact that every town was suddenly Gotham. Yet the main Character's journey was much more enjoyable to see. She also had Backbone! So I will give this one a thumbs up for quick, campy, Superhero/Romance fun. [Cost 3.00 / Rating 4.00]

Marion G Harmon - Wearing the Cape - Apparently I had a strong desire to read some Superhero based novels lately. On the plus side, I found a diamond in the rough. From what I understand this novel was/is self-published, but the editing sure doesn't prove it. By that I mean, it's good. It's got great flow, good info dump, good universe, good pacing, good characters (mostly) and some really good action scenes. Got it off Kindle for only 2.99, I say it's a steal and gladly recommend it to anyone who also likes Mur Lafferty Playing For Keeps. [Cost 3.00 / Rating 7.00]

Book Review: Rule 34 by Charles Stross

There are writers who can world build, and there are writers who build worlds. Stross is one of the latter, a writer who can build a world full of characters, places, and ideas. A writer who can then present said world to the reader without an overload of information, and just a pinch of theater.

His newest book, Rule 34 is no exception. For the short review, I can say that the book itself is very well crafted piece, and a very thoroughly enjoyable read.

Set in the same milieu, for lack of a better term, as a previous book Halting State, it's only about 20 down the road and the world has progressed into a technological wonderland, all be it a wonderland in the middle of a economic depression. No, no nanite or technology as magic, just the technology of today, more refined and omnipresent then before. With UAV patrolling for dog shit, and everyone with their own personal HUD or virtual reality overlay. However, you don't have to had read his previous book to be able to read this one, as only one or two characters from the previous really make any sort of appearance, and they are essentially standalone novels.

For the uninitiated, Rule 34 is an internet meme that states, "If it exists, there is porn of it.". In the world of Charles Stross' this becomes more a fact, and sets the stage for discussion on how Internet meme's could affect a future that's not just wired in, but wired to the bone. Where a German cannibal with the ability to manufacture cloned meat, could spawn dinner parties where the guest of honor is the main course. In such a world, how can you then tell the difference between coincidence and horrifying new trend in murder, and how do you stop it? When a trend is international, how would your local police force even cope? For Rule 34, you have the Innovative Crime Investigation Unit. The misfit in a nip Police force, set to patrol the dregs of the Internet and try to stay sane. So when a new murder, with unique twists comes across your desk, what are you going to do?

The biggest trouble I had with the novel was mostly in trying to wrap my head around some of the thick Scottish accents, and how they come across in print. Being not Scottish myself, naturally, the shortened words and adjacent spellings threw a metaphysical monkey wrench in to my thought processes. As this is heaviest in the beginning of the book, I found myself having to pause a lot, and attempt to translate what the characters were saying. Luckily its appear the accents get less hurtful as the book progresses, probably due to both adapting to the writing, and some additional characters who have less full on Scottish-ness.

Beyond the accents, the jumping viewpoint was also slightly disconcerting. That is until you started to grasp that all the different viewpoints are like the old adage about five blind men and an elephant, who could describe what they touched, but until you added in all their view points you didn't know it was an elephant. One the things Stross is really good at in his novels, is that he can weave multiple big ideas in to one coherent story. By this I mean that where a story could serve as a warning on the overabundance of some technology, there is also an idea about internet memes, the rise of fabrication in the home, and national economics. Normally such big ideas can be the sole focus of a novel just by themselves, but Stross likes to use ALL the ideas to craft a story that complex squared.

Which leads to, What the heck genre is this novel? Is it Science Fiction? A Mystery? A Thriller? The short answer is all three. As I have noticed over the last ten years, most books I can tag with what I call a Primary Genre, and then I have to add two or three sub-genres just to label it for people who only read certain things. In this case, I would dub Rule 34's Primary as Science Fiction (non-Space), with a Sub-genre of Mystery/Police Investigation and a sub-sub-genre of Political Thriller. So if you like one of these genres, and don't absolutely hate the others then I'd say dig in and have fun.

To Bully or be Bullied

One of the Hot Topics on the Internet this week, is about a video of an Australian kid fighting back against a Bully. The video appears to have been shot by one of the Bully's buddies, and shows a shorter, leaner kid go up to another gawky kid of over weight stature, and begin to hit him and tease him for his size. The heavier stature non-bully appears to at first just ignore the teasing but then finally snaps out, grabbing the shorter kid and slams the tormentor to the ground. The slam was hard enough the tormentor didn't get up right away, and when he did it was to waddle out of the arena.

After the video hit YouTube and went viral, a heated discussion quickly emerged, one that has fluctuated to say the least. Few appear to doubt that the shorter kid was the bully to the heavier stature adolescent. Size does not always correspond to whose the victim and whose the victimizer. Often in the early teenage years and prior, unless those of the heavier stature display some athletic skill, they will be teased more often then not just for being different. The discussion instead mostly surrounds if the victim should have fought back or not.

I will stop here and say, that most people who advocate the "Never fight back" advice, normally haven't been bullied or teased. The reason I say this is that those who have been bullied, teased or victimized, know that although fighting back may just make it worse, not fighting back at all, rarely ends anything either. I once read a philosophical exchange between two characters, in which one character quipped that "War never decided anything". The resounding answer was without a doubt "War almost always decides, it just may not decide the best way". In it's way, violence may not be the solution to a disagreement, but violence is a solution.

I will say that I was teased similarly in my pre-teen years. First for being shorter then everyone else, then for being different then the popular kids. I got into fights very few times as most of the bullying was of the teasing variety with non-physical pranks and jabs. However one day, the teasing got to be just to much, and one of those teasing did physically jab at me. I responded similar to our heavier stature hero in that I grabbed the bully and tossed him across the room. The situation was quick and short. My opponent wasn't hurt more then symbolically, and a teacher quickly saw and intervened. The teacher knew of the bullying but was powerless to stop the source so neither side was punished for the exchange.

The net result was that not long afterward the teasing lessened. The Bullies were now wary of any direct action toward me. It didn't stop completely, but what occurred from there on out was of significantly lessened nature that the Bullies eventually gave up and took their tactics elsewhere.

Could the same outcome have occurred if I hadn't shown such a strength, or reaction? The answer is truly unknown without being able to see such a parallel universe. But having experienced other teasing and other bullying prior to that last incident I can say that the road of inaction will only cause the Bully to stop, when they have found another target. If no other target is available, inaction only fuels their needs to feel superior, whether childish or note. Action on the other hand, also fraught with complications including raising the stakes of the bullying, can prove a catharsis, for the victim at the very least. And in a Bully situation, shouldn't one feel for the victim, and not the Bully?

In the end I will not advocate violence to end Bullying, just as I also won't fail to understand that someone who uses violence sparingly, sometimes does so because to do otherwise would be to be a victim forever.

To Write, or To Be Social

I was going over the archives from this blog, and my previous "home" blog and I noticed that my most prevalent posts were usually about, well writing or updating the blog again. Well to the observant out there, I'm sure there is a collective... DUH, if you don't update that often, when you do it's going to be about updating, or trying to write again.

To try to stave off a deja vu type of post, I decided to do a little self examination for why, or more when does this burst of creativity usually occur? The answer? When I'm more social, I write more.

In personality terms I'm considered a borderline introvert and extrovert. Any test I've partaken of, always put smack dab on the border between being social, and being, well not. In other words, sometimes I'm social and sometimes I'm not. The frequency of which appears to be fairly well balanced, to such a degree that I can't be pigeonholed one way or the other.

I then noticed that when I slide further in to a social state, I want to write more. That is, I want to express myself in more forms then previous. When I slide back to a non-social state, I can still be creative, but I usually output my expressive nature through other non-thought laden means.

Anyways, I thought it was just an interesting observation. Now that I'm aware of it, maybe I can figure out how to bank some of this output, or at least provoke it more often.

The Internet Will Never Die, Just Fade Away

Out of curiosity I did a Google search on my handle again today, noticed that unlike a search I did maybe a year or two ago, the best match had fallen to about the 6th 7th links. My full email address alone, only turned up three links, of which two were to comments I had placed a couple of years ago. All this really meant, is that I had a minor epiphany.

In the age of the Internet, it appears nearly impossible to disappear. However, in this same age, given time the information, and your presence can fade. Unless you are active, or "relevant" your persona can slowly fall from the first link, to the back page.

In reality this is due to a number of factors:
1. Year after year, the Internet grows, almost exponentially
2. Search engines are constantly changing to meter out relevance
3. Erasing yourself is probably impossible, but give it a few years and the Internet may effectively do it for you.

The good news is, as I'm not searching for fame or really fortune, this graying of my online persona is not something I'm worried over, other then my handle may be subverted at some point do to non-use. The bad news, I've got to find a Western song in order to ride off in to the Sunset. Since I like ACDC and Rolling Stones more, this may be problematic.

Construction in Progress

Yes, it appears that time of the decade again, where I work on updating my website, and my a solemn promise to write more.

If you can find the problem with statement, congratulations, you can also likely find Where's Waldo. However after having just come back from Readercon 21 in Boston, hopefully... again hopefully I will do more then just a few updates, some quick dusting of the website, and instead begin to do some writing again.

I know I have some great ideas, but can I put them down and be happy with them? What about the website? Will real life again distract me from finishing or even updating? All this and more on the next exciting update....

In the meantime, beware the sparks and the occasional 404 Page not found as I redesign my homepage, and try to decide what I'm going to use, and where.

Memories: Earliest Gaming

One of my earliest memories of gaming, occurred when I was either two or three years old. I can remember, having this big joystick, grabbing on to the stick with both my hands, pushing it forward and back, left and right, and watching this excitable yellow mouth on the tv run around a maze, chomping on other yellow dots, while colorful blobs chased him. I didn't know the name of the game, or even that was a game at the time, I just remember being fascinated that I could control something other then myself, and that it was fun.

I of course learned much later it was Pac-man, and I was playing on one of the original Atari game stations. My father, who was in College at the time, having gone back after serving a tour in the Navy, was never big into gaming or electronics, although he, like me was a great fan of science fiction. Being in Engineering College in California, in the late 70's, and early 80's, it was almost destiny that he picked up the Atari, to have when friends of his and my mother's were over for a "party". And it was almost destiny, that his son, being the next in a long line of engineer minded would pick up the controller, and find it just right.

Most of my impressions from that time, are colorful snap shots. One of which, was of various people, not my parents, watching me play Pac-Man, and then trying to beat my high score, but failing to do so. This was confirmed by my parents, who claim that frequently, when their adult friends came over, they would sit down and try to beat my score or ability, but very rarely being able to.

One would suspect that this early rivalry would have made me more competitive, however even at that time, I didn't rejoice at beating someone so much larger then me, but instead loved to watch, compare, even teach even with a three year old's vocabulary. Something I still do to this day, when I love co-op games, and teaming more then PvP.

Beyond Pac-Man, I would most later remember this air dogfight game, however even now, I'm not sure when they took place, other then by the time I was six the Atari had broken down again, and when we moved, I was left without another console or computer till the NES broke on the stage.

Mambo with Words

When as a writer, you attempt to put words down on a page or screen, you necessarily want to start with at least some direction. Direction of course, is usually at least some kernel of an idea, some word, phrase, or passing fancy to begin the metaphorical creative first step. Once you have this idea, you can then usually turn this first step into a dance of sorts, by putting one word after another, one sentence after another, and one paragraph after the next. Eventually, you are then moving from a simple cha-cha of words, to the tango of a story. However, like in any sort of dance, the first foot forward, has to know a little of where to go.

A couple of weeks ago, my friend Jeff, whom you can visit via the Friends and Family link, caught up with me and let me know he'd be in town with, well his family. Family in the loss sense of the word, being the people he cares about, hangs out with, and decided to come to town with, including his significant other MC. Knowing I would be up for a change, and having met several of his family before, he invited me to have lunch with them all, and basically introduce me to MC. I agreed, as any social life addition is more then welcome. Although as I found out later, I almost had to deal with his visit, another friend's visit, and another friend's birthday party on the same day. This of course being a karmic revenge for having little to no social life for the last four years, and of course now moving to shift that might allow it. The bad news, was the second friend ending up not being able to come down. But I was less harried, although still pretty much out the entire day.

As I digress, I eventually met up with Jeff and his family for lunch, which ended up being, me, Jeff and 9 or 11 women at one table. This wasn't as bad as some people might imagine, as most of the women were under 30, and those that weren't, didn't pay it any mind. So conversation wasn't the type cast girly, and it was a rather enjoyable meal.

After we had finished the meal, various groups went in different directions and I decided to walk with Jeff and MC. While strolling the conversation at one point turned to writing. As Jeff and I have both struggled with writing over the years, each with our own demons to fight in trying to become what we would call a writer, this type of conversation was not wholly unexpected. MC being relatively new to it, metaphorically kicked both our asses and pointed out things we knew, but had ignored. As such we both eventually fell to her authoritative arguments and agreed we'd try writing, again, and again, and again, till we finally break through the last wall to find ourselves, writers.

Whether or not this actually happens, I can at least say that MC is a great women, and Jeff is a lucky man to have her in this now time. And yes, this counts MC! Cheers.

Light of Many Days

A couple of weeks ago, my job decided to move me from graveyard shift to second shift. I'd been on graveyard for about four years up till then, and thus was both willing and nervous about changing shifts. Willing, because four years of only working from 9pm till the next morning, tends to impact the things you take for granted on many levels.

For one, you live opposite everyone else. When you go to work, everyone else is at home. When telemarketers call, they aren't interrupting your dinner, or leaving messages while your not at home, they are instead interrupting your sleep. Your social life basically goes to pieces, so if unless you are married, have kids, or a serious significant other already, the chances of meeting people, friends, or gaining new acquaintances is shot. You also are usually more tired, see light as the enemy, and generally never get anything done.

On the plus side, you usually make more money, don't have to deal with traffic, and can drink beer in the mornings, although this could be a big minus depending on your state's blue laws. Night work is also usually slower then daytime, although in my case, it wasn't, but that was due to work being unable to staff up correctly part of the time.

As is, going for four years, and one gets used to things. Thus moving to a day shift was going to need some adjustment. I was certainly all for the move, just internally a little apprehensive, over both the different work atmosphere, as well as the possibility of rejoining the human race in my own timezone.

Being several weeks now, I can still say I'm glad of the whole move. Work is different, but not in a bad way. I never really had a lot of time on the graveyard shift, but now I'm more focused on set procedures and work then before. My diet is also coming under control as I'm able to eat at more regular times, and have a lot more choice. I still don't have a big social life, however already I'm not stressed when friends show up in town, and want to do lunch, as now, I'm certainly awake.

It'll still take some time to fully adjust, and more time adjust my own self perception and get back on the dating horse again, but now I see the light in the distance, as a beacon, and not as this hostile otherworld.

So you want to be famous?

I was talking with a co-worker earlier about some procedures, and what to do in X situation, mostly trying to impart some of my experience on the job, when he came across an official procedures document, that apparently mentioned me in it. Upon examination I found some things I had written when, for lack of a better word, bugging the procedures in the first place. Apparently the people in charge of said procedures and programs, decided to just lift my notes whole and use them. Looking at the document, all my notes showed no bad intentions were in mind when they did so, on the contrary this only enforced a most positive view of me. But what it really did was remind me, that although I've never been the "Cool" or the "Popular" person, I've also been the person most remembered and respected.

The co-worker also enforced this ego by then saying "You're a celebrity and didn't even know it"

My only comment was, "That seems to happen a lot"

I mean, growing up, I'd somehow get my picture in the paper, not as the focus or sole person highlighted in the article, but instead usually with a group of people, or about some project going on. It was rarely with the same people either, but instead it was as if I was riding some human interest wave, from one project to the next. Bouncing between the local newspaper, to the school paper, to the state paper and back. And every time, my name would wind up in the article, and people would notice.

I unconsciously tried side stepping this unintentional "be the story" by joining journalism my last year in high school. I figured, if I wrote the paper, I wouldn't be the paper. Unfortunately, because I didn't concentrate fully on writing, and instead still did a lot of other things my senior year, from founding a NJROTC at my school, to doing a stint as a page for the State House of Representatives, I still ended up in other people's articles. Also of course in an article about the school newspaper, so there was no escaping it there.

Finally I did leave most of the evident very minor celebrity status behind when I went off to college, only to begin a new quasi-very minor celebrity adventure, but having my name show up in the oddest of places, years after I'd left jobs in some cases, because when I left, I usually left a place better, with a bit more understanding, and apparently quite a bit of respect.

Thus, whenever I'm reminded of this unintentional life I lead, I'm glad to know that although I'm not famous as the world knows famous. Instead I'm famous in the way I want to know famous, as the cog that made a difference, and was proud of it

When reading, doesn't enjoy

The fact that you are reading this, means you sometimes read things, not because you enjoy them, but because if you don't read it, you feel you've missed out on something. Not to say that my writing is terrible, just that my blogging has never been terribly consistent. On the other hand, what has brought up this topic isn't blogging, but instead when it comes to reading novels.

Currently, I'm attempting to read a novel, that I will only refer to as "That piece of Crap" or [TPOC] for short. I'm also going to refrain from specifics on the plot, as I am sure that if I discussed it at all, it'd be evident pretty quickly as to what I was reading. All I can say, is that it's science-fiction, it's relatively new, and it's a load of horse manure.

I picked up the novel because it was supposed to be similar to some earlier stories I had enjoyed, although more up to date, and on today's heartbeat. Like other new novelists, the beginning was slow. Fine, I'm used to trudging through a hundred pages to get to the meat of a novel. However in TPOC, I'm half-way done, and I can already tell it's a half-assed merging of three or four other masters of writing, full of plot holes, one-dimensional characters, and a view of the world only an idiot could enjoy. Yet, I still trudge on, with the hopes the author will redeem himself.

My question though, is it worthwhile to finish reading something you consider that atrocious. Especially if you aren't a critic or editor? Or should you continue to give it the benefit of doubt, until you have completed it, then vow to burn the book and never case eyes on the likes of it again?

*UPDATE* Got about two-thirds through the novel and gave it up. Maybe I'll go back and finish it some time, but since then I've found a lot of other books to try that aren't nearly as bad. Also helps I've been enjoying them on a new electronic device, but that's another post far in the future.

Alcohol, Religion, and Economics (Part 2)

In the previous post I explained what the situation was. In this post I'm going to try to expound on the situation, interjecting some of my own opinions.

Essentially, there are a multitude of problems concerning this religion versus economics squabble brewing in Minneapolis. First and foremost, in a land of freedom of religion, does a company, providing arguably a public service, have a right to discriminate against a religious faction, if that faction hinders and at times halt that public service?

Depending on the example from history you might find, you can say both yes, and no. The biggest example of yes they could and should, actually springs from rather recent times and concerns this nations struggle with racism, in which groups, such as the Klu Klux Klan blocked public services (hospitals, schools, water fountains). The Klu Klux Klan was then prosecuted and basically eliminated as a group by the federal government.

On the other hand, if you were to look at the current debate over Abortion you could see something of a see-saw to the same argument. Abortion by many definitions is an economic versus Religious debate, where the Religious side is claiming it's tenements do not allow or proscribe that anyone, even those not of their religion should be able to have an Abortion. In the current battle this comes down to meaning that doctors have the right not to perform an abortion, if they believe it's against their religion. At the same time, Anti-Abortion groups have with differing levels of severity been restricted from impeding those who want to have an Abortion. Thus Anti-abortionists still picket many clinics that offer this service, but if they cross the line from picket to active refusal, such as by hitting, grabbing, or causing damage they are then actively prosecuted for discrimination and violence. The latest wrinkle to this debate is that a number of supposed Abortion clinics have been popping up where they are really controlled by Anti-abortionists who find ways to delay or convince their patients not to have an Abortion. So far, this unusual tactic when found out, has mostly been closed down by immediate press revelations.

Which brings us back to this problem of alcohol and cab drivers. By all rights, this attempts of the MAC appear to have been honest attempts at compromise to allow the cab drivers their religious freedom, while lessening the impediment of the public. The drivers on the other hand have decided that all these attempts have only been about discrimination and thus have decided to act like it.

The hook in the matter is that although they can say they are being discriminated if the MAC decides to restrict them for refusing a service, they, themselves, are honestly discriminating against others by their very own refusal. They are trying to foster a set of rules on their attempted passengers, which the passengers don't wish to agree to. In most societies where this happens, it then becomes the passengers right to not use that service and instead opt for one which allows the transportation of alcohol. But in this environment, where the cabs all look similar and it's hard to distinguish between them, this attempt to use the service that allows them is causing an undue hardship delay.

My own opinion is thus, in a society of freedoms, any attempt to curtail another's rights, whether religious or not, should be struck down. Thus, the cab driver's wants to not allow the transportation of alcohol in their cabs, although lawful, well meaning, and within their right, should not give them the authority to block a person from using a cab in a timely fashion.

If they want to continue this religious choice, either they should then accept a compromise that allows a person to choose their cabs, or they should expect to lose the business of passengers.

As an aside, while working on this post I got in to a lengthy discussion with some co-workers about this particular issue. From his POV (Point of View), the only "discrimination" that was going on was against the cab drivers. Thus from his POV, he believes either the cab drivers will eventually compromise, or the airport will just restrict all alcohol transportation. I disagreed and then we launched in to a long debate on discrimination, which I will post at another time.

Alcohol, Religion, and Economics

Via Cnn.com comes an article about a group of cab drivers in Minneapolis (Minnesota) who have been refusing to transport anyone carrying alcohol. What makes the situation more complicated then simple economic driven supply and service is that the group of cab drivers are Muslims, predominately from Somalia.

Essentially the Muslim religion teaches that transportation, consumption, or any other use of alcohol is strictly forbidden, and a sin. Thus the cab drivers, even though they should be driven by economic forces to transport another person, even one not of their religion, who has partaken or is carrying alcohol, would be committing a sin to do so.

Normally in a mixed religion nation such as ours, this particular problem doesn't crop up that much, as the mix is great enough that a person refused a service because of religious issues could easily get service from some one else. The problem in Minneapolis is that the group of cab drivers refusing service is so large, that it's causing major bottleneck problems at the local airport.

According to the article, in the last years approximately 5,400 people were initially denied service from a taxi at the airport at least once, for this reason alone. One commuter interviewed even described being denied a taxi cab five times, and having to wait twenty minutes for carrying a sealed bottle of wine he had bought on his vacation.

The local authorities (Metropolitan Airport Commission or MAC) then tried to step in and work out a compromise that wouldn't violate the religious freedoms of one group, or discriminate against the freedom of another group. Unfortunately what should have been a simple matter of compromise took a wrong turn when the MAC was rebuffed twice.

The first time then went to local religious leaders and asked for a special dispensation for the cab drivers. The local leaders disagreed and reiterated the doctrine against transportation of alcohol. The MAC then tried a different approach of asking those who didn't want to transport alcohol to use some identifying symbol on their cabs so that patrons could know which they couldn't use, and which they could. They were again rebuffed as the group cried this discrimination.

Now the MAC has been left with little choice but to either impose harsh penalties on cab drivers refusing to pickup passengers for trying to follow their religious faith, or to get hit with lawsuits and other economic penalties for not providing a service for their customers.