In a sweeping, powerful book, Naomi Klein articulates why in order to effectively stand up to climate The book everyone should read on climate change.
In a sweeping, powerful book, Naomi Klein articulates why in order to effectively stand up to climate change we must fundamentally restructure the global economy. It is clear that the current economic system - built on neoliberal ideas, particularly around global trade - has utterly failed to stand up to the challenge, and may in fact be fundamentally incapable of doing so. So we find ourselves answering the question: what do we value more? The philosophy underpinning the economy, or our physical environment? I certainly know my answer.
The book is not without its flaws. It's certainly not an appropriate primer to the physical nature of climate change - barring a few vivid case studies it doesn't deal with the science. Klein also makes her points in a somewhat roundabout way, almost muffling her points with too many case studies rather than cutting to the chase. Also, despite the book making extensive efforts to highlight the plight of disenfranchised ethnic groups, it is still very western-centric. But these flaws fall away with the scope of what she has accomplished with the book. It is a powerful call to action, one of those books that causes scales to fall away from your eyes, and makes you see a problem that was standing in plain sight. If you're not pissed off, demanding change, after reading it then we fundamentally disagree on humanity's place on the Earth.
I've long been of the opinion that a chronological study of a subject is often the best way to learn, but in the case of something as horrifically comI've long been of the opinion that a chronological study of a subject is often the best way to learn, but in the case of something as horrifically complex as climate change you might expect a topic/theme based approach to be more understandable. Happily Spencer R. Weart proves this incorrect, and The Discovery of Global Warming is a fantastic introduction to the subject. Starting with the earliest rumblings of global energy balance (right back to Joseph Fourier!) and culminating with the IPCC's report in 2007, the book traces the convoluted and hesitant path to our current understanding. Crucially, the book takes a skeptic (perhaps skeptic-lite) approach to any new ideas being put forward - exactly as the scientific established did at the time, and continues to do so today. Before any idea is accepted as correct it must pass rounds of debates, rebuttal, discussion, but most importantly of all: data. The book accurately shows how the current field of global warming research has been arrived at cautiously and backed by concrete data, not in fits and starts in some attempt to obtain extra funding (as some seem to believe). On that subject, it also does a great job at representing how out of step with the rest of the world the American public is in perceiving the subject, and lightly covers the link between politics and the perception of science.
Really I would have liked to see more thorough coverage of this link, but then that wasn't the objective of the book. Also if I had to be a harsh critic I would have preferred some of the more pervasive climate change myths (e.g. the upper tropospheric cooling) which are introduced to be more thoroughly debunked rather than just hand-waved away. Considering how skeptical the rest of the book was this felt like a notable absence.
In general though this is an excellent introduction to the subject, and particularly suitable for those who take a skeptical view of climate scientists....more
Definitely the most mature of Pullman's works involving daemons - the two trilogies of His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust - The Secret CommonwealDefinitely the most mature of Pullman's works involving daemons - the two trilogies of His Dark Materials and The Book of Dust - The Secret Commonwealth remarkably responds to the main criticisms of the previous book in the series in a way that is entirely consistent with the story. The book carries on the story of La Belle Sauvage but with the interlude of Lyra's adventures in His Dark Materials, and we now find her as an undergraduate at Oxford while Malcolm is an academic and - dashingly - a capable secret agent for Oakley Street. The main hook of the story is that the Magisterium - seemingly (confusingly?) unaffected by The Authority blowing away in the wind - has its sinister eyes set of the rose oil trade in the east, while Pantalaimon witnesses a murder in Oxford that sets events in motion.
Pullman is undoubtedly a wonderful author with a particular talent for worldbuilding and word-smithing, but the previous book was let down for me by what I perceived to be a lacklustre second half, and in particular a deepening dive into the fantastical. For a series that contains many fantastical creatures and events, there has always been a sense of 'groundingness', that things described were rational and could be explained. By the tail end of the events of the great flood however, this connection to reality became completely severed and the plot floated through in a dream-like state. What is remarkable about The Secret Commonwealth is that its entire premise - connected to the titular commonwealth - is the nature of rationality versus the fantastical, and how belief shapes reality. It was almost as if Pullman was responding to the criticisms of the previous volume, or, perhaps more likely, he fully intended to elicit a reaction similar to mine from adult readers who grew up reading His Dark Materials when reading La Belle Sauvage and then to make them see the folly of their ways by comparing them to Lyra's ardent rationalism. It's a quite brilliant bit of meta-gaming the audience, and utterly enthralled this particular now-grown-up. Apart from this the story is fantastically interesting, taking Lyra and Pantalaimon across Europe and the near East, though not together... We are introduced to a real treat of world-deepening, and between both the 'real' realpolitik and action and the fantasy elements both witnessed and described the book is never less than enthralling. Standing on its own it doesn't pack quite the same wallop as The Amber Spyglass but I think it could be my favourite book set in this universe, and it certainly has me on the edge of my armchair for the final volume. I loved this book, and cannot wait to find out how the story ends....more
This is it: the end of a very, very long journey. I've been reading Gaunt's Ghosts novels for about 17 years, since I was sat cross-legged in my schooThis is it: the end of a very, very long journey. I've been reading Gaunt's Ghosts novels for about 17 years, since I was sat cross-legged in my school library and definitely too young to be reading extremely gory science fiction. Now, aged 29, I finished book #15 in the series in a hotel room in Seoul, South Korea. After the last page I set the book down and experienced ennui that I've only felt once before in my life: after finishing the final Harry Potter novel. In many ways, Gaunt's Ghosts has been the second Harry Potter of my life - encouraging me to read, expanding my vocabulary, and changing the way I looked at books. Most people would agree that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows draws a very satisfying conclusion to its series, but can you say the same about Anarch?
Kind of. It's complicated.
On one level, Anarch is entirely non-satisfying. It finalises a great number of plot threads in such a way that expose gaping plot holes in previous instalments. In particular one character is thrown under the bus in a way that comes out of left field (as far as I remember the crucial scene in Necropolis, though I will have to go back and check - if Abnett has been planning this all along then I retract this criticism and add a star or two to the rating!). The titular villain also only makes an appearance at the very end, continuing a recurring problem of the series that leaves emotional resonance wanting at critical moments. A number of critical plot threads are left dangling at the end of the final chapter.
But at the same time, does that really matter? I read this series as light, pulpy entertainment. I don't pick it apart and analyse it in great detail, and had I not sat back and thought about the revelations of the book for more than a few moments I would never have seen the glaring problems. I would instead have simply revelled in the numerous plot twists, emotional character moments, and shocking character deaths (not a spoiler to say that a great many ghosts don't make it to the finale). The tone of the whole novel is very 40k, very Abnett - lots of broken people picking up the pieces after a messy ending. Which, as Abnett has remarked on before when discussing the Ravenor series, is what real life is like. Stories don't simply stop, their threads all complete, after a book ends. Characters live on and deal with the trauma and the mess of the crusade after their story in the books is complete.
So in many ways the book is a very true-to-life depiction of the finale of a monumental series, full of many of the characteristics that made the books so great. Great use of detail, punch-the-air moments, plot twists and turns, and, naturally, great action. Many of the deficiencies of the series have also been overcome, with the infiltrating elite chaos troops making for effective mid-tier antagonists (my personal bugbear!). However for me the writing itself has become sloppy, and there was too much plot armour in play (you-know-who, love him as I do *kiss*), as well as frankly too many things that didn't quite make sense in retrospect.
It's a fair conclusion to the series, exemplifying the best and the worst of the fifteen novels. Re-reading them all in preparation for the finale has been a really fun experience, and I want to thank Dan Abnett for bringing these characters to life. My second, much, much more violent Harry Potter saga is at an end. All is well....more
The beginning of the end! Events have been set in motion which will bring us right to the very end of the series, and this book very much feels like aThe beginning of the end! Events have been set in motion which will bring us right to the very end of the series, and this book very much feels like a narrative which is just warming up. Rather like the first five minutes in a car on a cold morning, the book has the basic essentials of a novel - conflict, resolution, character development - similar to the car still having four wheels, three pedals, and a gearstick. But it also isn't satisfying on its own, leaves you a little cold, and misfires a few times. Especially after the outstanding Blood Pact the book is rather a disappointment.
This is, as it would later turn out, because really Salvation's Reach, Warmaster, and The Anarch flow into one another and so are really The Victory: Parts I-III (and so Blood Pact is as The Hobbit is to the broken apart trilogy of The Lord of the Rings), but in isolation it really does not make for a satisfying experience. There are flashes of Abnett's potential in some of the details of the operation - the functioning of the star ships, the tension of booby-trap clearing, the villainy of 'the Meryn men', and particular in the writing of the utterly inhuman Astartes - but overall they just don't carry the thin narrative of the book.
It's enjoyable, but scarcely above the level of other mediocre authors writing for the Black Library. In fact the short story following the novel in my omnibus, Family, has more of a punch to it than the whole novel (though the story and the following 'bad shadow' are pretty clunky, it's got to be said). This is one to read so you can get to the end, and to enjoy just how post-human Astartes are compared to the guard. Also Iron Snakes wooo!...more
If Walls Could Talk is a mostly enjoyable, frothy look at the history of the home. In England. The book is based on Worsley's experiences as a workingIf Walls Could Talk is a mostly enjoyable, frothy look at the history of the home. In England. The book is based on Worsley's experiences as a working historian in a variety on historical homes in England, and so it could be expected that the book would focus on English homes. It does, however, do this to the exclusion of all but the most passing mentions of homes elsewhere, and this does the book a great disservice. A far more interesting (and admittedly, ambitious) project would have been a more general introduction to the history and function of the the home in societies around the world. The book is interesting on its own merits, but by the way it was framed (and also other small things, such as the lack of in-text citations or notes) made me aware of its shortcomings in a way that more intelligent metadata would have negated. If you are interested in the piecemeal development of various (English) household rooms in a conversational tone then you will love this book. If you are after something a little more rigorous/academic/general then I suggest you look elsewhere....more
It's controversial! But I think this is one of the very best Gaunt's Ghosts novels - maybe even the best?
Perhaps it's after the relative disappointmenIt's controversial! But I think this is one of the very best Gaunt's Ghosts novels - maybe even the best?
Perhaps it's after the relative disappointment of The Lost arc and in particular its ending, but Blood Pact feels remarkably coherent, fun, and lacks most of the faults that have historically dogged the series.
The book is basically the complete inverse of the similarly excellent Traitor General as the Ghosts find themselves protecting a key imperial asset from an elite team of Blood Pact who have inserted into a familiar imperial world. Much like in that novel we see both sides' perspectives, and much like in that novel we glean a huge amount of information into the daily lives of soldiers on both sides of the conflict. Tension increases as the book goes on, and by the final confrontation - taking place in one of my favourite locations in any 40k novel - things are truly breathless.
By design the book has a range of antagonists with clear personalities, and even touches on some deeper themes such as memory, grief, and the inherently violent nature of soldiers. I would have loved to see these themes developed further, and it does feel like a missed opportunity particularly given the emotional resonance of the ending arena, but Abnett goes further here than in pretty much any other Gaunt's Ghosts novel. Within the confines of such a novel, it's truly 5 stars. It's not going to win the Nobel prize for literature, but as a 40k novel, and specifically a Gaunt's Ghosts novel, it's truly sublime. Very different from Necropolis and Sabbat Martyr and in many ways superior to the inverse novel Traitor General is this the best novel in the series to date?...more
Yet another 4 star review to close out The Lost arc of novels, Only in Death could have been something special. Unfortunately it was let down by a lacYet another 4 star review to close out The Lost arc of novels, Only in Death could have been something special. Unfortunately it was let down by a lack of detail in the antagonists typical for the series and, in contrast to The Saint arc, a lack of overarching story.
Only in Death was the first Gaunt's Ghosts book that I read when it came out, and that was a blessed way to read it. At the time it might have been the final book in the series, and when reading you could absolutely believe that this is the end of the line. Quite apart from the gradual loss of characters and general deterioration of their situation, Abnett does a fantastic job of creating an atmosphere of horror and, frankly, impending doom. There were a few occasions when reading this book when I got legitimately creeped out and even physically shivered. While not overtly scary per se, the setting is just creepy. This is of course slightly undone by the knowledge that there are other books in the series, meaning that the main characters survive, and there is in fact a whole extra arc before the actual end. Try not to remember that while reading I guess, for maximum effect.
Where the novel falls down - because the typical praise applies to this one: great details, interesting characters, fantastic action - is an all-too-typical lack of detail in the antagonists. The previous few novels all featured opponents with relatively clear, specific motivations and even a mid-tier antagonist to defeat at the start of the third act. This book does neither of these things, and suffers for it. The Blood Pact have motivations and a geography which is confusing at best. When the end comes, as normally happens in Abnett's books, it comes all at once and doesn't carry huge weight. In addition to this though, by direct contrast with Sabbat Martyr finishing The Saint arc, Only in Death doesn't bring together plot threads left through The Lost with the exception of one dream sequence. Even the whole reason for the haunting at the house is completely unexplainable until the very end, though it is, I must concede, effective. It's a very damp squib to finish off the arc of books, and while quite effective in isolation doesn't do the overall series any favours....more
This is a cracking entry in the series, and plays more like a movie in your mind than pretty much any book since FirsIt's Gereon 2: Electric Boogaloo!
This is a cracking entry in the series, and plays more like a movie in your mind than pretty much any book since First and Only, cutting between and contrasting two distinct stories unfolding as part of the vast invasion to reclaim the Chaos-held planet of Gereon. The first is the insertion by the Tanith/Verghast/Belladon regiment behind enemy lines and doing... well, stealth stuff. Spoilers. The second is the immense, insane invasion of one of the strongholds by millions of guardsmen... including one Dalin Creed. Our boy is all grown up and ready to die pointlessly for the Emperor!
Both arcs are compelling in their own way, the former by way of broad plot development (that inquisition deal is back!), and the latter by a deep dive into the life of a grunt guardsman. The Ghosts have always been a relatively unusual regiment in that they are allowed a large degree of autonomy and operate mostly in a skirmish fashion. Most imperial guard regiments are not so lucky, being forced to engage in mind-numbingly large battles against vastly superior forces, more often than not winning through sheer numbers and even more sheer bloody-mindedness. The life of the average guardsman in such an engagement is brutal and short and nasty. And oh boy do we see that through Dalin's eyes. Parts of his story are genuinely harrowing, and possibly more than at any other point in the series show just how powerless the common man is in the setting.
For this - and for that ending - the book elevates itself above many of the others in the series. It's distressing, sears itself into your memory, and yet manages moments of sincere emotion. The Lost feels rather stalled at this point, and definitely does not compare favourably to The Saint at book three, but this novel is a local high point....more
His Last Command manages that rarest of things in a 40K novel - it actually makes some of the insanity of the setting seem kind of reasonable. FollowiHis Last Command manages that rarest of things in a 40K novel - it actually makes some of the insanity of the setting seem kind of reasonable. Following on from the excellent Traitor General, the book deals with the problem of Gaunt and his team a) re-integrating with their regiment after a traumatic experience, and b) having lived on a Chaos-infected planet for several years. If the Imperium got wind of literally anyone other than Grey Knights living under the influence for that long they would be BLAM'd without hesitation. But knowing this, Gaunt's team secretes themselves in the Imperial command leviathan and cuts a deal with the inquisition (which comes back to haunt them in the next novel) before being split up and Gaunt reassigned.
In short, it makes you think "huh, I guess that's actually how this could happen". Which is the best Abnett could possibly hoped for - any other Black Library author would have painted themselves into a corner with the previous novel. Yet he manages it wonderfully.
Naturally setting all this up cuts into the page-count of the novel, and so the remaining story is relatively simple though a neat little puzzle in itself. It's taut, stripped down, and again just feels real. As in the best parts of previous entries in the series, Abnett is a master of the tiny little details which bring the world to life. Things as simple as a skiff casting a shadow on the dunes far below, or the blinding sun being a constant pain to those without sunglasses. Not everything is a hit - the new characters are extremely bland at this point, though Colonel Wilder is one of the most likeable Guard officers you'll likely read about. Er, rather unfortunately.
In short, this is a fine addition to the series, keeping the momentum going but not adding anything particularly special like the previous two books. Four stars....more
Lucky Planet can basically be summarised in one sentence: it's the anthropic principle, stupid!
The book provides a good summary of basic aspects of clLucky Planet can basically be summarised in one sentence: it's the anthropic principle, stupid!
The book provides a good summary of basic aspects of climate: orbital/astronomical considerations, geological/carbon cycles, and radiative physics. It goes on to discuss and critique the Gaia hypothesis, and emphasises how unusual the Earth is in harbouring the exact right conditions for life for long enough for intelligence to evolve.
It's fine, and features a particularly convincing discussion of anthropogenic climate change from a skeptical perspective, but didn't do anything particularly impressive for me....more
Man, Abnett really knocks it out of the park in the transition from The Saint to The Lost arcs. The previous book in the series, Sabbat Martyr, was anMan, Abnett really knocks it out of the park in the transition from The Saint to The Lost arcs. The previous book in the series, Sabbat Martyr, was an absolute favourite of mine, combining large scale action with the climaxes of multiple plotlines from across four novels. By contrast, Traitor General is simply a very tight standalone story avoiding several of the problems that have historically dogged the series. Notably the book significantly fleshes out the antagonists, the generically named 'Chaos forces' by a) giving a background of how Chaos-occupied planets function and their populace used, b) linking the reader to the Sons of Sek by showing us their effectiveness from their very founding, and c) FINALLY giving the protagonists a mid-level antagonist to defeat.
The actual story itself makes perfect sense, especially when compared to previous entries in the series such as Straight Silver: the Ghosts finally get to stealth the entire time. Of course it's ridiculous that both Gaunt and Rawne, the two highest ranking members of a regiment, would both go on a suicide mission such as this, but hey. It's 40K. The story is paced and structured wonderfully, with plenty of twists and plot threads introduced that will be returned to in later books. It also features some wonderful feats of imagination, with Abnett substantially adding to the lore surrounding Chaos as well as introducing the small faction of the partisans.
It's a great read, basically. Not perfect (the story still ends about a page before the novel does) but fething enjoyable....more
One of the absolutely essential reads on climate change and quite how we got into the mess of denialism at the very highest level of government that wOne of the absolutely essential reads on climate change and quite how we got into the mess of denialism at the very highest level of government that we're in today. In a sentence, the book documents the same playbook used by various industries from tobacco to foster doubt in the minds of consumers, allowing these industries to continue operating.
It is an incredibly frustrating, depressing read and a cautionary tale about the power of unchecked information and unchecked capitalism. As well as a few unchecked 'scientists'. It's also fantastically researched and clearly written work that should serve as a gold standard for anyone writing about the history of climate or policy. There are well-characterised individuals who come up again and again, and does an exceptionally good job of explaining some complicated science. Every part of this book is impressive. Everyone should read it....more
Oh boy this was a great read. This book really sums up the difference between reading books in isolation and reading them as part of a long series. OnOh boy this was a great read. This book really sums up the difference between reading books in isolation and reading them as part of a long series. On its own, Sabbat Martyr is a solid 40k novel, actually overcoming the longstanding problem the series has with a lack of mid-level antagonists. It has its problems for sure - the ending still comes a bit too soon, and the resolution is a bit of a deus ex machina.
But the reason I have to give the book 5 stars is because of its place in the series, and how it draws multiple threads to completion. I won't give spoilers, but the last third or so of this book makes the whole Saint arc of the series wonderfully complete. Frankly, the book made me feel. Which is so rare for anything from the Black Library - I openly hollered and giggled with joy at Mkoll's little adventure, I genuinely nearly wept at [redacted], and the couple of threads foreshadowing the very end of the book really tugged on my heartstrings, knowing the final outcome.
This book has stuck in my mind since I first read it, and it was even better on a re-read. It's tied with Necropolis for my favourite book in the series thus far, though for very different reasons. Necropolis is a masterful military sci-fi novel in isolation, while Sabbat Martyr is the perfect close to an arc of a larger story. It's worth reading the arc just to get to this novel.
And, as always, feth you Lijah Cuu. So, so hard....more
Famously one of the novels the 40k community has long disliked, and when I initially read the book I was somewhat inclined to agreeOh Straight Silver.
Famously one of the novels the 40k community has long disliked, and when I initially read the book I was somewhat inclined to agree. A vastly different setting to the previous entries in the series, a plot that doesn't really go anywhere, and a general sense of, well, futility.
Clearly the book is Abnett's attempt to do World War One.... in spaaaaaaace. There are of course a number of problems doing this in a universe with, oh I don't know: battleships the size of cities, tanks the size of battleships, and the Iron Snakes chapter of Adeptus Astartes. With balls the size of tanks. Any one of these factors would have broken the western front style stalemate in about five minutes, but then that wouldn't be a terribly interesting book to read. So we have a very contrived situation in which a light infantry regiment specialising in stealth is thrown into a Verdun-level meatgrinder. This, naturally, doesn't make any sense, but you have to ask yourself: what does this achieve from a story perspective? The answer: it slows everything. Right. Down. In the middle of a story arc spanning four action-packed novels Straight Silver is the slow chapter, focusing on character development and advancing the main storyline ahead of the titanic final novel in the sequence, Sabbat Martyr. It introduces Soric's 'gift', allows Gaunt and Beltayn to experience a vision, and twists the knife (pun intended) on Cuu. It develops themes of the saint, of reconciliation of the Tanith and Verghastites, and new leaders like Criid wrestling with the responsibility of command.
The books sins are many and the good doesn't entirely blot out the bad, but I think Straight Silver gets an unnecessarily bad rep - when viewed as part of The Saint series it's a fine addition and should be enjoyed as a 3.5 star entry.
Loading...
