Usually, this blog is for security and sometimes some SciFi related issues.  I never did any advertisement for movies.  But as an absolute fan, I have to violate my publishing rules but I was waited this event for too long, as many other Philip K Dick fans.  Enjoy.

It is interesting to see how contemporary Sci-Fi authors embrace the new technologies.   Vernor Vinge in his “Rainbow Ends” demonstrates his deep knowledge of current IT technologies.  In a not too far future, his heroes are immerged in a world with three technical characteristics:

• Wearables; computers are part of the day to day clothing.  Funnily, the French translation uses the sad term “vetinf”.
• Augmented reality; Every body wears eye lenses.  Not only do they give additional information but they can also disguise the world with the fantasy desired by the viewer
• Ubiquitous network

Therefore, from the technical point of view, the book is interesting.  What about the story itself.  It is mixture of Fahrenheit 411, Snow Crash and a jump to the future.  Unfortunately, there are some inconsistencies with characters, as some young kids are too “efficient” ‘(at least, according to me).  Thus a good book, but not a major opus.

PS: I do not share his vision and definition of DRM

The regular reader of this blog is aware that Terry Pratchett is one of my favorite authors.  He is an extremely prolific author.  Therefore, it is always with high expectations that I read the newest book of the Disc world serie.

This time, it is “Snuff”.  It is a great book.  This time the target of Pratchett’s satirist pen is intolerance, day-to-day racism and slavery.  As for most of his books, he uses his characters to fustigate a problem of our society. 

What is interesting with Pratchett is that he enriches his world with new characters, and concepts or races.  For instance, in “unseen academicals”, he used for the first time a goblin as  of one the main characters.  In this new opus, goblins are the central characters of the story.  Furthermore, second characters gain more visibility.  For instance, Wee Mad Arthur, the gnome we found of “Feet of Clay” is back in “Snuff”.  And we discover new talents of this interesting tiny constable.

If you like the Discworld, and Sam Vimes, then you have to read Snuff.

I just finished the first volume of Brent Weeks’ s trilogy “The Night Angel”.   Its title is “The Way of Shadows”.  Azoth becomes the apprentice of Durzo Blint, the best wetboy of Cenaria.  Wetboys are assassins with magical Talents.   He will be deeply implied in the future of this small nation…

The ecosystem is interesting with many fighting countries, political plots, different types of wizardry, and several interesting magical artifacts.  The characters are complex and far from being Manichean (I like characters that are both evil and good, such as Moorcock’s Elric of Menilbone).  The plot is rich with many surprises, and extremely dark.  If you are expecting bright happy ending, do not start this book.

The book starts slowly, but soon becomes breathtaking.  An excellent book.  I will immediately start the second volume ‘Shadow’s edge”.  I hope that the other books of the trilogy are also breathtaking.

The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant are a set of seven novels written by Stephen Donaldson.  The heroe is a writer who had leprosy.  Misteriously, he is invocated in a fantasy world, The Land (Le Fief in French).  He is expected to be the Savior.  Unfortunately, Thomas, due to his disease, is extremely cynical and does not believe in the reality of this world.  The key element is the dark psychology of the heroe.

I read the two first novels, and started the third one, and stopped.  I did not become addicted to these stories probably for two reasons.  Th

You may know my “addiction” to Pratchett’s disc world.  Thus, you may be not be surprised by this post.

Unseen academicals is the latest opus (June 2010).  Once more, it is a great book.  As usually, we find the usual members of Ankh Morpok.  In this book, the focus is on the UU (Unseen University).  You will discover that Ponder Gibbons is taking an increasing position within the University.

Terry Pratchett adds new interesting characters (and even a species that was missing (or lost)).  I am sure that we will see them again in next books.

You know my passion for  Lord Vetinari.  In this book, you will discover that he may even sometimes have some human feelings :Wink:

Read it!!  If don’t think that the book is available in French.