Non Stop - Brian Aldiss

Another sci fi classic and another good read.  The story is based on a long forgotten space ship, although that isn't immediately apparent when the story begins in a medieval style village.  This is a tricky book to write about without ruining the story for others (not that I need be concerned about my sizable readership being disappointed in this manner of course).

The story unfolds gradually revealing more and more about the world in which the protagonists find themselves and the book maintains an appropriate sense of claustrophobia and the pace quickens as the story progresses.

Not my favourite book, but I enjoyed the read.

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.

All my friends are superheroes - Andrew Kaufman

I was immediately grabbed by this book in the shop.  Quirky cover, good review comments and a synopsis that really piques the interest.

Happily the book doesn't disappoint.  Its a quirky tale about a normal guy who happens to know a lot of superheroes, not your average superheroes but everyday people who have one special ability and not necessarily a good or particularly impressive one.

My reading of the book was that the superheroes are supposed to represent the idiosyncrasies that make people who they are.  How one characteristic can come to define a person and they don;t get to chose what that characteristic is.  But they can chose to change their approach to life and tackle the way they are defined by the world.

A real little gem

How I won the yellow jumper - Ned Boulting

I think the Tour de France is one of the worlds great sporting events.  I follow it every year and have done since first discovering it aged about 10.  So I was always going to enjoy this book as it gave me a glimpse behind the curtain of secrecy around the real tour as opposed to its public face.

But in writing the book in a very conversational and inviting style Ned Boulting has made the book feel friendly and very easy to read.  I'm not sure the book would do much for any non TDF fans but for any cycling or indeed sport fan this is a good read

End of the Year

Well well, its been a little while since I posted last....Christmas, New Year and a load of work got in the way of me reading as much as usual or indeed getting access to the blog.

When I first started this blog one of my goals was to see how much I read in a year.  I've been aware of this throughout the whole year but have made a point of not cheating to get a higher number...no reading short books all year long, I had to read what I wanted when I wanted.  I'm pleased to say I've done that and thoroughly enjoyed myself in the process.  I haven't enjoyed every book equally..there are definite favourites in there and some that while I found them slow in places have made a lasting impression on me.

So the question now is do I carry on.....I've done year and found out that I read a book roughly every two weeks on average.  Not the most exciting revelation but as a bit of a geek and statto I do like to know these things.

I think I will carry on purely because I quite like keeping a record of what I read.  The rest of the world probably doesn't care and  I don't think they really need to.

So 2012.  lets have it.

I am Legend - Richard Matheson

I've seen and enjoyed the Will Smith movie so thought this would be a good book to try out.  And it was, event though the film was more "inspired by" than "based on" if you get my meaning.

Basic premise, world falling apart due to mystery illness that turns people into vampires / zombies.  One man survives hunkered down in his house and mourning his wife and child while drinking himself into oblivion on a nightly basis.

There have been numerous books and films like this but I think I'm correct in saying that this was one of the first and one of the first to approach it from the humanity wiped out by virus format.

I probably prefer a few other post apocalyptic novels such as Day of the Triffids or The Road but this one certainly bears comparison and is recommended.