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leventmolla's reviews
1640 reviews
Lucifer's Hammer by Larry Niven, Jerry Pournelle
4.0
This is a good collaboration between two great SF authors. It tells the story of an apocalyptic event, namely a big comet hitting the earth, quite realistically. The authors mention that their book was referenced several years after it was published when a comet (Shoemaker-Levy) hit Jupiter and the impact was quite similar to the way the authors described it.
Of course as many good SF authors they are more interested in the aftermath of such a disaster, in the way it affects the lives of the survivors and the way it changes society.
I found the book a bit long-winded in some sections but thoroughly enjoyed its depiction of the event and the small, fragile societies that the survivors tried to build after the event.
Heartily recommended.
Of course as many good SF authors they are more interested in the aftermath of such a disaster, in the way it affects the lives of the survivors and the way it changes society.
I found the book a bit long-winded in some sections but thoroughly enjoyed its depiction of the event and the small, fragile societies that the survivors tried to build after the event.
Heartily recommended.
Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer
4.0
This is the first book of a 5-book series written by Jeffrey Archer. It is describing an era in the British History where relations between the different classes were very rigid and women usually had a very disadvantaged place in society.
Set in the early decades of the 20th century, the first book tells the story of Harry Clifton, is mother Maisie and other characters that are entering their lives. Harry does not know his father, since he has died in the Great War. As the book proceeds, we are brought into the many secrets the Clifton family has and we begin to understand that truth may be very different from what it seems to be. The chapters in which Harry's life in school are described seem to suggest that not much has changed in the British education system, with respect to the rigid and formal procedures that might stifle some creative students and encourage others, mostly based on their social status and income. Maisie tries several jobs to provide her son the proper education that will save his life, but this is not going to be very easy for a single woman in early 1900s.
The appeal of the book is the story Archer tells, but also the subtle way he develops the story, not giving away all of the details in the beginning and surprises the reader when the whole truth is revealed, not because the author has not told the truth but he has hidden enough details so as to guide the reader in a completely wrong direction. I personally like authors who challenge the readers like this.
I am looking forward to the remaining four books in the series. The first book ends with a cliffhanger and it is obvious that the story will continue full swing.
Set in the early decades of the 20th century, the first book tells the story of Harry Clifton, is mother Maisie and other characters that are entering their lives. Harry does not know his father, since he has died in the Great War. As the book proceeds, we are brought into the many secrets the Clifton family has and we begin to understand that truth may be very different from what it seems to be. The chapters in which Harry's life in school are described seem to suggest that not much has changed in the British education system, with respect to the rigid and formal procedures that might stifle some creative students and encourage others, mostly based on their social status and income. Maisie tries several jobs to provide her son the proper education that will save his life, but this is not going to be very easy for a single woman in early 1900s.
The appeal of the book is the story Archer tells, but also the subtle way he develops the story, not giving away all of the details in the beginning and surprises the reader when the whole truth is revealed, not because the author has not told the truth but he has hidden enough details so as to guide the reader in a completely wrong direction. I personally like authors who challenge the readers like this.
I am looking forward to the remaining four books in the series. The first book ends with a cliffhanger and it is obvious that the story will continue full swing.
History of Australia and New Zealand From 1606 to 1890 by Alexander Sutherland
2.0
This book was written in 1890. It is giving an early history of Australia and New Zealand, but of course most of the events which made these two nations happened in the 20th Century, so it is only mildly interesting as a 19th century account of the history of these two lands.