Gorgeous, gorgeous cover that definitely caught my eye no doubt about it. Kind of fun how Dr. McTier anthropomorphizes our home galaxy—but not totallyGorgeous, gorgeous cover that definitely caught my eye no doubt about it. Kind of fun how Dr. McTier anthropomorphizes our home galaxy—but not totally sure the first person voice landed for me. Quirky and mildly humorous, “The Milky Way” tells its own story from origin to neighbors, black holes, and potential future demise including various human discoveries throughout history. Intended to be approachable it might be better for a YA audience....more
This was fun and definitely won me over by the end, even if it felt like a remix of Andy Weir meets Ben Macintyre.
Chris Hadfield, one of the most seaThis was fun and definitely won me over by the end, even if it felt like a remix of Andy Weir meets Ben Macintyre.
Chris Hadfield, one of the most seasoned and accomplished astronauts in the world, won me over a long time ago when he sang Space Oddity on board the ISS. ...more
*2022 Update* Okay, after kind of reliving this book with my mom and sister as they read it for the first time, it made me appreciate it even more and*2022 Update* Okay, after kind of reliving this book with my mom and sister as they read it for the first time, it made me appreciate it even more and look back fondly. Bumping it up to five!
Can’t decide between 4 and 5 stars— we need half stars!
What an ending! To be honest, this book has a bit of a slow start (involving amnesia) and did get bogged down at points (it’s a hefty 476 pages), yet I couldn’t put it down once I hit the final quarter.
Weir wraps this interstellar survival tale into a neat Martian 2.0 package. Yes, the main character is almost identical—so if you liked Weir’s first book (5 stars for me), you will almost certainly enjoy this one too. It is heavy on the quasi scientific side of sci-fi, though well lubricated with quirky, nerdy dad-type “jokes.”
We get lone astronaut in space, trying to stay alive long enough to save Earth intermixed with flashbacks and a surprise element so I recommend going in blind. Overall it is witty, smart, fun, and surprisingly endearing. I will continue to read anything Weir writes.
[Ryan Gosling is set to produce and star in the screen adaptation, hopefully it will be better than Ridley Scott’s Martian.]
Excellent footnotes, and a rather bright, humorous and approachable look at the demise of the universe.
“In the meantime, we'll continue on, making newExcellent footnotes, and a rather bright, humorous and approachable look at the demise of the universe.
“In the meantime, we'll continue on, making new paths through the woods to see what we might find hiding there. Someday, deep in the unknown wilderness of the distant future, the Sun will expand, the Earth will die, and the cosmos itself will come to an end. In the meantime, we have the entire universe to explore, pushing our creativity to its limits to find new ways of knowing our cosmic home. We can learn and create extraordinary things, and we can share them with each other. And as long as we are thinking creatures, we will never stop asking: 'What comes next?'”...more
You know when something is too incredible, too mind blowing and you’re at a loss for words? Brian Greene has the words. One of the world's leading strYou know when something is too incredible, too mind blowing and you’re at a loss for words? Brian Greene has the words. One of the world's leading string theorists, he eloquently shines a light on Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory. Beautifully written, even if you don’t understand everything that’s being discussed (hello, it’s me). Interesting for sure, even if questionable on the amount of hard science as much is speculation/theoretical....more
Sarcastic sentient murder machine programmed for destruction strikes again!
The longest in the series, some budding relationships are fleshed out a biSarcastic sentient murder machine programmed for destruction strikes again!
The longest in the series, some budding relationships are fleshed out a bit more including that between the memorable ART and Murderbot.
A very fun space romp, per usual Wells.
“'Just remember you’re not alone here.'” I never know what to say to that. I am actually alone in my head, and that’s where 90 plus percent of my problems are.”
“I wasn’t sure exactly what 'okay' would involve, but I was willing to settle for 'unmurdered.'”
“(Normal = neutral expression concealing existential despair and brain-crushing boredom.)”...more
This book is like taking acid, be warned—it's a total trip.
Not that I'd know, but I'm guessing based on Rick and Morty episodes I've never watched.
In This book is like taking acid, be warned—it's a total trip.
Not that I'd know, but I'm guessing based on Rick and Morty episodes I've never watched.
In other words, don't take my word for it, I need to brush up on my quantum mechanics apparently.
“On the other hand, in the memorable words of Richard Feynman, 'I think I can safely say that nobody understands quantum mechanics.'”
“Should the branching of our current selves into multiple future selves affect the choices we make? In the textbook view, there is a probability that one or another outcome happens when we observe a quantum system, while in Many-Worlds all outcomes happen, weighted by the amplitude squared of the wave function. Does the existence of all those extra worlds have implications for how we should act, personally or ethically? It’s not hard to imagine that it might, but upon careful consideration it turns out to matter much less than you might guess.”...more
Amazing book that looks at more than just the moon missions. How the jump in technology affected the everyday lives of Americans was extremely interesAmazing book that looks at more than just the moon missions. How the jump in technology affected the everyday lives of Americans was extremely interesting.
“She had always felt that the essence of human experience lay not primarily in the peak experiences, the wedding days and triumphs which stood out in “She had always felt that the essence of human experience lay not primarily in the peak experiences, the wedding days and triumphs which stood out in the memory like dates circled in red on old calendars, but, rather, in the unself-conscious flow of little things—the weekend afternoon with each member of the family engaged in his or her own pursuit, their crossings and connections casual, dialogues imminently forgettable, but the sum of such hours creating a synergy which was important and eternal.”
And so flows this book, not in major events but in the minutia of individual vignettes recounted by pilgrims traveling to the Time Tombs on Hyperion. Apparently in a similar fashion to Canterbury Tales, which I have not read.
I'm left with mixed feelings. Essentially 6 short stories told in flashbacks, minimal real time plot, cliffhanger ending. Wasn’t really in the mood for short stories although they were intriguing, vivid, and entertaining—at points.
Probably wasn’t the best book to read after and alongside some heavy hitting nonfiction.
Not 100% certain I'll continue the series. If I do, it will be next year at the earliest.
"Poets are the mad midwives to reality. They see not what is, nor what can be, but what must become."...more
Would revisit this one in the future as it's so short and interesting—very light on Extremely readable—on par with Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.
Would revisit this one in the future as it's so short and interesting—very light on the physics.
My favorite topic would have to be time travel, which Hawking believes is theoretically possible, but unlikely.
This book was published 7 months after Hawking's death and was finished by his scientific colleagues, friends, and family using his writings, lectures, and notes.
Included is a foreword from Oscar-winning actor Eddie Redmayne, who played Hawking in the movie The Theory of Everything; an introduction by Nobel Prize-winning physicist and Hawking's lifelong friend, Kip Thorne; and a touching afterword from Hawking's daughter, Lucy.
“So remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at. It matters that you don’t just give up. Unleash your imagination. Shape the future.”...more
Dry, nerdy, and straight up my alley. Not written for those with only a casual interest, this book reads like an academic dissertation ... with classiDry, nerdy, and straight up my alley. Not written for those with only a casual interest, this book reads like an academic dissertation ... with classic Neil deGrasse Tyson elan.
Compared to the fluffy, broad strokes of Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Accessory to War is chock full of factoids as well as space, science, and political jargon.
I wrote my MA thesis on international outer space law and the militarization of outer space with a focus on the US, China, and Russia—all topics this book focuses on, as well as the history and development of space use and cooperation between science and the military.
Important reading, the astrostrategic importance of controlling the ultimate high ground is clearly stressed. As the Chinese defence white paper of 2015 notes, "whoever controls space will control the earth."
Accessory to War dovetailed perfectly with The Making of the Atomic Bomb, both sobering in their message: humans have the power to destroy the world, what are we doing to keep that power in check?
We're already making an absolute mess of outer space, it is amazing (/sad) that humans can enter the vast void of space and clog up low earth orbit it with trash. That's right, space trash is a huge problem.
Full review to come.
"Scientists' urge to collaborate transcends religion, culture, and politics, because in space there is no religion, culture, or politics—only the receding boundary of our ignorance and the advancing frontier of our cosmic discovery."...more
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