Peace and War - Joe Haldeman

Three books for the price of one here...but I've already read the first one (Forever War) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

The second book is a continuation of Forever War and features the main protagonists from that novel.  Set 20 or so years down the line from the end of the first book this novel picks up the story with our heroes a little older and a little more cynical.  They decide to so something about it by returning to interstellar space travel and with it time dilation (more of less like travelling into the future).

I wont go into it too deeply but suffice to say the author sets off on a very different tangent to the first.  he puts forward a pretty out there theory for the existence of the universe but as with the first book the story moves along at a good pace and the characters keep it interesting.  not as good as the first one, but still an enjoyable read.

The final book in the collection seems to have no relation to the other two.  this one is set in the not too distant future (2040 ish) and tells of a world pitched into a resource war.  Not the type we're all expecting (water, oil etc), this one is caused by excess resources.  The US has developed machines that can manufacture anything cheaply and easily thus rendering imports useless and turned the economy of the world on its head.

They have also developed the ability to tap into the human brain and link minds with other people.  which makes for a whole new range of emotions and experiences.

Haldeman once again creates a fantastical world that nonetheless feels authentic and compelling.  I'm a big fan of his work and thoroughly enjoyed this book.

American Psycho - Bret Easton Ellis

Holy shit!  If you'll excuse the french.  This book is FUCKED UP beyond anything I've ever read before.

The graphic sex and violence scenes make for stomach churning but sensationalist reading.

But there is so much more to this book than simple gore and shock value.  As a depiction of the 1980's version of the American Dream its right up there.  And given the modern economic crisis we find ourselves in I couldn't help but draw comparisons between Patrick Batemans disregard for his victims and society at large and the way that corporate bankers from the mid 80's onwards have treated businesses and economies as things for them to do with as they will regardless of the consequences to the rest of the world.

Probably the only book that I have ever turned away from in disgust while reading.  But also one of the most compelling things I've ever read.  A fascinating and wonderfully written book.