Enthusiastically Ambiverted Hopepunk
Whatever I’m geeking out about at the time.
41/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Backman is incredibly good at being simultaneously heartfelt and serious and hilariously silly. This story of several people caught in a hostage situation after a bank robbery goes awry is really touching and often had me laughing out loud (something that has been common with all of Backman’s books that I’ve read). Definitely recommended. (And see? I do occasionally read something that isn’t sci-fi!)
40/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A fun standalone-but-sequel-of-sorts to Ward’s earlier From History’s Shadow, with time travel, Gary Seven and Roberta Lincoln, and lots of fun nods to Trek timeline shenanigans, both canon and literary, including Greg Cox’s Rise and Fall of Khan Noonian Singh books. Kirk just can’t keep away from the 20th century….
39/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1996 Hugo Best Novel
As good as every other time I’ve read it, and I think it’s still my favorite of Stephenson’s novels. “Modern Victorians with ubiquitous nanotechnology create a fancy children’s book” might not sound like that fascinating of a concept, but it definitely is. In addition to the oft-mentioned things about Stephenson’s writing that always work for me but don’t work at all for others — the snark, digressions, and sidetracks — it’s his ability to convey highly technical concepts in understandable form, which is highlighted here in some of the stories that the Primer tells, that has always been a big part of the appeal of this book for me.
The Abyss (1989): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Finally got around to watching the new 4K release of The Abyss (the Special Edition cut, of course). Happily, it still holds up, and remains solidly in my list of favorite films. Even though I’ve seen it many times, know the story, and can quote quite a bit of it, I still found myself getting pulled in. The characters are fun, the claustrophobic tension is great, and the expanded details and characterization make the special edition well worth the extra time. And, of course, finally being able to have a high-quality copy is a real treat.
Long-time favorite quotes:
Hippy: “I got to tell you, I give this whole thing a sphincter-factor of about 9.5.”
Lindsey: “So raise your hand if you think that was a Russian water-tentacle.”
Lindsey (again): “We all see what we want to see. Coffey looks and he sees Russians. He sees hate and fear. You have to look with better eyes than that.”
Dune Part: Two (2024): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Absolutely gorgeous, from start to finish, landscapes and production design both. I do kind of wonder if the Harkonnen designs were intentional homages to Giger’s work on the designs for Jodorowski’s aborted attempt. At some point I’ll want to find time to watch both parts back to back (maybe after Messiah comes out I’ll make it a trilogy marathon).
38/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
While following up on a relatively newly encountered alien race, the Enterprise finds itself dealing with a much larger issue than expected. A somewhat predictable primary antagonist, but balanced with a very interesting major threat to all parties.
37/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
A very amusing travel guide for those exploring the English countryside. Of particular interest if you’re a fan of cozy mysteries, either the literary type with punny titles, or the BBC Midsommer Murders type.
36/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1995 Hugo Best Novel
Complex in both story and character, this becomes an excellent exploration of the differing personalities of the Vorkosigan brothers in the midst of military adventure and political maneuvering. As with the rest of the series, it’s Bujold’s ability to craft realistically flawed characters, some in very serious ways, while still making them relatable, believable, and often quite funny, that really makes these stand out. Though most of the books in the series are written to be readable on their own, this is one where I’d definitely recommend reading earlier books first.
35/2024 – ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Favorites this month were “Happily Ever After Comes Round” by Sarah Rees Brennan, “Loneliness Universe” by Eugenia Triantafyllou, “Markets of the Otherworld” by Rati Mehrotra, and “Hands Like Gold and Starlight” by K.S. Walker.
34/2024 – ⭐️⭐️
A kid’s adaptation of the fourth movie, illustrated with stills from the film. Serviceable, exactly as expected, no surprises.
