Sci-fi author Kerry Nietz has come through for fans of his 2016 book Frayed with Fraught, book 2 in the DarkTrench Shadow series. Debugger ThreadBare is no longer working directly for the royal family, but has been reassigned to help with instructing new implants at Bamboo's school. His thoughts frequently turn to Damali, the freehead servant girl who also served at the Imam's palace.
As ThreadBare ventures beyond Bamboo's place, ostensibly teaching his young charges about life in the city and giving them opportunities to hone their debugging skills, and later being reassigned to the Imam's palace in Mecca, Nietz paints a vivid picture of the life and culture of this future world, going beyond the settings of Frayed. The tech, the geography, and the mores have all been shaped and altered by the Imam's global rule. Yet ThreadBare picks up undercurrents of change. He comes face to face with the rebels of antitex when they capture him and one of his students, and force him to repair a captured tank. And he continues to be intrigued by the formulation he first saw in Frayed: A~A3. He has figured that it means something like "A (Allah, although Nietz never says the name) is not A cubed."
Sometimes fighting against his restraint, that buzz in his head that gives a painful jolt when he lies or disobeys his master, he pursues both Damali and the mystery of A cubed. He begins to learn that Isa, one of the figures he learns about in scripture, was a worker of miracles that may still be active in ThreadBare's life. Nietz's portrayal of ThreadBare's internal struggles with his implant, the accompanying restraints, and his human nature and curiosity, raise interesting questions about the inevitable future of the augmentation of the human mind. If you could have a neurological link to the stream (Nietz's future, much more robust version of the internet), would you really want one? How would that change the way you interact with the world around you? This and many other techie descriptions and questions form the backdrop of Fraught.
ThreadBare crosses paths with Damali, and may have a path to long-term friendship. His progress on the mystery of A~A3 is less promising, but knowing Nietz, ThreadBare will make more progress, in both the relationship and in exploring the mystery, in book 3. And that is something to look forward to; Fraught's ending is satisfying, but it does leave me hungry for a hoped-for sequel.
Monday, July 30, 2018
Sunday, July 29, 2018
The Gospel in Color – For Kids, by Curtis A. Woods & Jarvis J. Williams
Such a simple message. Such a clear presentation. Curtis Woods and Jarvis Williams have put together a message about race in The Gospel in Color--For Kids. Despite the title, this is a message people of all ages need to hear.
With simple text and some colorful illustrations, Woods and Williams describe what racism is. Without getting into tons of history or political demarcation, they state that "race" simply refers to "the human race or a specific ethnic group" and that "racism" is "the poisonous idea of people or governments rewarding social and economic privileges to one group of people by virtue of skin color or ethnic background." I'm not sure I've read a more clear, succinct, or helpful definition of racism.
But it's not enough simply to say that racism is bad and that equality is good. The central chapter of the book is about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus reconciles us to God, which enables us to be reconciled to one another. "The sin of racism makes people enemies of one another based on their skin colors or where they came from. But Jesus came to reconcile enemies and make them friends. Jesus dies on the cross for all our sins--including the sin of racism. As a result, people who believe in Jesus are brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter what we look like." Amen, amen, and amen!
In an age of Black Lives Matter, trigger warnings, Trump hating, white supremacist rallies, and activism of all kinds, it seems that race relations are at an all-time low. Woods and Williams have a message for this generation of young people: Jesus is the answer. The Gospel in Color should be required reading for kids of any age and any race. We should all aim to "live out the gospel in color."
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
With simple text and some colorful illustrations, Woods and Williams describe what racism is. Without getting into tons of history or political demarcation, they state that "race" simply refers to "the human race or a specific ethnic group" and that "racism" is "the poisonous idea of people or governments rewarding social and economic privileges to one group of people by virtue of skin color or ethnic background." I'm not sure I've read a more clear, succinct, or helpful definition of racism.
But it's not enough simply to say that racism is bad and that equality is good. The central chapter of the book is about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus reconciles us to God, which enables us to be reconciled to one another. "The sin of racism makes people enemies of one another based on their skin colors or where they came from. But Jesus came to reconcile enemies and make them friends. Jesus dies on the cross for all our sins--including the sin of racism. As a result, people who believe in Jesus are brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter what we look like." Amen, amen, and amen!
In an age of Black Lives Matter, trigger warnings, Trump hating, white supremacist rallies, and activism of all kinds, it seems that race relations are at an all-time low. Woods and Williams have a message for this generation of young people: Jesus is the answer. The Gospel in Color should be required reading for kids of any age and any race. We should all aim to "live out the gospel in color."
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Friday, July 27, 2018
Hillbilly Elegy, by J.D. Vance
J.D. Vance is a self-described hillbilly. He grew up in an industrial town in Ohio, but all of his roots, his extended family, and all the networks were in the Kentucky hills. His family fit all the Appalachian stereotypes of clannishness, poverty, dysfunction, and well as loyalty and religion. Yet out of the poverty, domestic instability, and negativity he grew up in, Vance ended up a U.S. Marine and a Yale Law School grad. In Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis, Vance tells the story of his family, his education and growth, and the story of America the he represents.
On one level, this is a dull memoir. Vance himself admits he hasn't really done much to make a name for himself. He says, "I didn't write this book because I've accomplished something extraordinary. I wrote this book because I've achieved something quite ordinary, which doesn't happen to most kids who grew up like me." So we hear a lot about how he grew up: his mother's serial marriages and addictions, his grandparents tough love and steadfastness, his summers in the Appalachian hills where his family comes from, and his maturing against the odds.
Aside from his family story, which is labyrinthine, sometimes tragic, and sometimes inspiring, he sets his family's experiences into the larger context of American social trends. His family's story is played out over and over again in the 20th and 21st centuries, starting with the migration from the hills to the manufacturing centers, to economic turmoil, drug addiction, and cultural decay. The persistent poverty and poor health and educational standards of Appalachia are often overlooked but have a huge impact on the region and on the nation.
Vance doesn't call on big policy changes, but calls for the culture to change. When he meets a teenage boy whose life is so much like his own, Vance writes that "any chance he has lies with the people around him--his family, me, my kin, the people like us, and the broad community of hillbillies." To address the long list of problems, "public policy can help, but there is no government that can fix these problems for us. . . . These problems [of crime, drug abuse, and related issues] were not created by governments or corporations or anyone else. We created them, and only we can fix them."
Vance's voice is encouraging and hopeful, reminding us--whether we're from the hills, the coasts, or the cities in between--that family support and self-reliance go a long way against the negative tides of society and culture.
On one level, this is a dull memoir. Vance himself admits he hasn't really done much to make a name for himself. He says, "I didn't write this book because I've accomplished something extraordinary. I wrote this book because I've achieved something quite ordinary, which doesn't happen to most kids who grew up like me." So we hear a lot about how he grew up: his mother's serial marriages and addictions, his grandparents tough love and steadfastness, his summers in the Appalachian hills where his family comes from, and his maturing against the odds.
Aside from his family story, which is labyrinthine, sometimes tragic, and sometimes inspiring, he sets his family's experiences into the larger context of American social trends. His family's story is played out over and over again in the 20th and 21st centuries, starting with the migration from the hills to the manufacturing centers, to economic turmoil, drug addiction, and cultural decay. The persistent poverty and poor health and educational standards of Appalachia are often overlooked but have a huge impact on the region and on the nation.
Vance doesn't call on big policy changes, but calls for the culture to change. When he meets a teenage boy whose life is so much like his own, Vance writes that "any chance he has lies with the people around him--his family, me, my kin, the people like us, and the broad community of hillbillies." To address the long list of problems, "public policy can help, but there is no government that can fix these problems for us. . . . These problems [of crime, drug abuse, and related issues] were not created by governments or corporations or anyone else. We created them, and only we can fix them."
Vance's voice is encouraging and hopeful, reminding us--whether we're from the hills, the coasts, or the cities in between--that family support and self-reliance go a long way against the negative tides of society and culture.
Wednesday, July 25, 2018
Running with Raven, by Laura Lee Huttenbach
Every evening for the past 40 years, Robert Kraft, a.k.a. Raven, has run 8 miles on the beach. That's right, every evening. Raven never takes a break from running. He's as reliable a fixture on Miami Beach as any other local institution. Over the course of that time, he has built a community and has been an inspiration to many, runners and nonrunners alike. Laura Lee Huttenbach got to run with Raven and shares his story in Running with Raven: The Amazing Story of One Man, His Passion, and the Community He Inspired.
As much as I admire Raven's streak, I know I couldn't do it. I mean, no one with a family could match it. At some point there would be a conflict with a vacation, children's events, work, or something. But Raven is out there every evening. Over the years, he built a following, so locals and runners from all over the world come and join him. And while running 8 miles is no small task for a non-runner or a new runner, it's not his swiftness or form that people come to see. It's this man who welcomes everyone, regardless of social class or appearance. It's Raven's remarkable memory; run with him once, and next time you show up he'll remember your name (or nickname--he's known to give nicknames to everyone who runs with him) and details like your hometown, job, etc. It's also the running community; the people who run with Raven are, like him, welcoming and open, and form a community that extends well beyond the 8 miles.
Huttenbach tells Raven's story, but in telling, tells the story of the many people who have run with him. She tells the story of the beach community where Raven lives. She tells the story of Miami Beach, which has changed extensively over the last 40 years, while Raven has continued his unchanging run.
We can learn a lot from Raven. His running reflects only a part of who he is, but it defines his qualities of faithfulness and determination, welcoming and encouraging, humor and life-loving. As Huttenbach points out, Raven is far from perfect. But I know I'd love to run with him! Next time I'm in Miami Beach, I'm heading to the 5th Street lifeguard stand at 5:30. See you there!
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
As much as I admire Raven's streak, I know I couldn't do it. I mean, no one with a family could match it. At some point there would be a conflict with a vacation, children's events, work, or something. But Raven is out there every evening. Over the years, he built a following, so locals and runners from all over the world come and join him. And while running 8 miles is no small task for a non-runner or a new runner, it's not his swiftness or form that people come to see. It's this man who welcomes everyone, regardless of social class or appearance. It's Raven's remarkable memory; run with him once, and next time you show up he'll remember your name (or nickname--he's known to give nicknames to everyone who runs with him) and details like your hometown, job, etc. It's also the running community; the people who run with Raven are, like him, welcoming and open, and form a community that extends well beyond the 8 miles.
Huttenbach tells Raven's story, but in telling, tells the story of the many people who have run with him. She tells the story of the beach community where Raven lives. She tells the story of Miami Beach, which has changed extensively over the last 40 years, while Raven has continued his unchanging run.
We can learn a lot from Raven. His running reflects only a part of who he is, but it defines his qualities of faithfulness and determination, welcoming and encouraging, humor and life-loving. As Huttenbach points out, Raven is far from perfect. But I know I'd love to run with him! Next time I'm in Miami Beach, I'm heading to the 5th Street lifeguard stand at 5:30. See you there!
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Monday, July 23, 2018
Soda Pop Soldier, by Nick Cole
In Nick Cole's Soda Pop Soldier, the worlds of online gaming and real life corporate rivalries come together. Gamer PerfectQuestion is trying to make a living as a soldier for ColaCorp, but they can't seem to beat WonderSoft. If he doesn't come up with a win, his status as a professional gamer will be at risk. In the meantime, he needs money for rent, so he tries his hand at a quest in an illegal game.
Most of Soda Pop Soldier is narratives of these two games. Cole's descriptions of the battles, the scenes, and the interactions in the game world bring the games alive, making the reader forget that this is just a programmed world. We are a long way from technology that gives a realistic in-game experience, and even in PerfectQuestion's world, he's interacting with the game world via his keyboard and a typical 2-D monitor. Still, to PerfectQuestion and the other gamers, the experience is all-encompassing and the stakes are high.
The stakes get even higher for PerfectQuestion when people in the real world take notice of him and try to recruit him to do his bidding in the game worlds. When he doesn't go along and he has people trying to kill him in both the real world and the game world, things really get interesting. This is where Cole kept me reading. A narrative of a guy playing video games doesn't sound like much of a novel. But Cole pulls back to reality just enough to see the real forces at work. The glimpses we get of the real world, including orbital cities, colonists heading to other star systems, and gaping class divisions, seem prophetic and realistic.
Does our world hold a future where corporations' armies fight battles in cyberspace to win advertising space? Will world financial markets hinge on the outcomes of online wars? Will audiences tune in to watch professional gamers do battle? To a certain extent, I think Cole is already tuned into present realities. As to the rest? He may not be far off.
Thanks to the author for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Most of Soda Pop Soldier is narratives of these two games. Cole's descriptions of the battles, the scenes, and the interactions in the game world bring the games alive, making the reader forget that this is just a programmed world. We are a long way from technology that gives a realistic in-game experience, and even in PerfectQuestion's world, he's interacting with the game world via his keyboard and a typical 2-D monitor. Still, to PerfectQuestion and the other gamers, the experience is all-encompassing and the stakes are high.
The stakes get even higher for PerfectQuestion when people in the real world take notice of him and try to recruit him to do his bidding in the game worlds. When he doesn't go along and he has people trying to kill him in both the real world and the game world, things really get interesting. This is where Cole kept me reading. A narrative of a guy playing video games doesn't sound like much of a novel. But Cole pulls back to reality just enough to see the real forces at work. The glimpses we get of the real world, including orbital cities, colonists heading to other star systems, and gaping class divisions, seem prophetic and realistic.
Does our world hold a future where corporations' armies fight battles in cyberspace to win advertising space? Will world financial markets hinge on the outcomes of online wars? Will audiences tune in to watch professional gamers do battle? To a certain extent, I think Cole is already tuned into present realities. As to the rest? He may not be far off.
Thanks to the author for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Letter 44, Volume 1: Escape Velocity, by Charles Soule, illustrated by Alberto Jiménez Alburquerque
It's inauguration day, and the 43rd president, in the traditional letter to the 44th, has revealed a bombshell to his successor: aliens of unknown origin have constructed something in our solar system, and the U.S. has a secret mission to check it out. So begins Letter 44 Volume 1: Escape Velocity. This edition contains issues 1-6 (of at least 35) of the Letter 44 comics.
This is a decent set-up for a series. If it were a TV show, I'd stick around for another season, just to see what happens. Writer Charles Soule is a veteran comic book writer, with titles from DC, Marvel, and Star Wars on his resume. Alberto Jiménez Alburquerque's illustrations are as high-quality as you'd expect from this level of comic.
This is a fun comic with a good, pulp-fiction-type story line. While you're waiting for the next season of your favorite sci-fi TV show to come out, or for the release of the next installment of your favorite sci-fi movie series, Letter 44 is a good diversion.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
This is a decent set-up for a series. If it were a TV show, I'd stick around for another season, just to see what happens. Writer Charles Soule is a veteran comic book writer, with titles from DC, Marvel, and Star Wars on his resume. Alberto Jiménez Alburquerque's illustrations are as high-quality as you'd expect from this level of comic.
This is a fun comic with a good, pulp-fiction-type story line. While you're waiting for the next season of your favorite sci-fi TV show to come out, or for the release of the next installment of your favorite sci-fi movie series, Letter 44 is a good diversion.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Friday, July 20, 2018
The Witnesses, by Robert Whitlow
Parker House is aware that his grandfather emigrated to the U.S. from Switzerland shortly after WW2, but Frank House, formerly known as Franz Haus, is reluctant to tell about his life before coming to America. In The Witnesses, Robert Whitlow tells the story of Franz's life as a young soldier during the war, and Parker's growth in a gift that he has inherited from his grandfather.
During the war, Franz had an uncanny ability to anticipate troop movements and in other ways had knowledge about things in the distance or in the future. This was a great boon to his usefulness as an officer's assistant, but the guilt he bore for the times it cost the lives of innocents stayed with him for decades.
As a young lawyer, Parker gets glimpses of this gift and uses it to his advantage in researching and trying cases. When a successful lawyer comes around offering Parker a dream job, and when a German journalist comes around seeking Franz Haus, the lives of Parker and Frank are forever changed.
I enjoyed the frequent flashbacks to WW2 and Frank/Franz's early life. Whitlow brings things around to the present nicely, and demonstrates that a gift such as Parker and Frank share is not without its burdens. Whitlow's storytelling style shines through in The Witnesses, with hints throughout the book coming to a big, unexpected (and, admittedly, maybe a little implausible) head near the end. As his fans know, Whitlow's stories are fun to read. Like his other books, Whitlow incorporates the characters' faith journeys into the story without preaching or detracting from the plot.
During the war, Franz had an uncanny ability to anticipate troop movements and in other ways had knowledge about things in the distance or in the future. This was a great boon to his usefulness as an officer's assistant, but the guilt he bore for the times it cost the lives of innocents stayed with him for decades.
As a young lawyer, Parker gets glimpses of this gift and uses it to his advantage in researching and trying cases. When a successful lawyer comes around offering Parker a dream job, and when a German journalist comes around seeking Franz Haus, the lives of Parker and Frank are forever changed.
I enjoyed the frequent flashbacks to WW2 and Frank/Franz's early life. Whitlow brings things around to the present nicely, and demonstrates that a gift such as Parker and Frank share is not without its burdens. Whitlow's storytelling style shines through in The Witnesses, with hints throughout the book coming to a big, unexpected (and, admittedly, maybe a little implausible) head near the end. As his fans know, Whitlow's stories are fun to read. Like his other books, Whitlow incorporates the characters' faith journeys into the story without preaching or detracting from the plot.
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