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Under the cut: a few bits of Anathem that I think will make it into popular culture (or popular internet culture ... is that the same thing yet?)
( Spoilers, yes, but nothing to give away the ending. ) |
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Well, it was finished Saturday, but I was avoiding my computer yesterday for no reason in particular.
Fantastic book. Just fantastic. I'm going to try to write a review that's very low in spoilers; I'm going to make another post that treats a few subjects in some more detail. Both should be generally safe, in that I'm not going to give away anything about how it ends; on the other hand I experienced a certain joy in entering this book with absolutely no foreknowledge of its contents. You might enjoy that, too.
( If so, don't click here. ) |
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... because my Advance Reader's Edition of Anathem showed up today.
This post will contain no spoilers, but I've got two photos under the cut.
I'm about a hundred pages in, and it's seriously as good as I expected. It's set in a very different world than anything Stephenson's written before, but the challenges of new language and new culture are addressed with the same sort of accuracy as seen in The Baroque Cycle. The sort of attention to detail that makes me very very happy and makes this edition 890 pages. 935 if you count the glossary and appendices.
( cut for pictures! and more info! no spoilers )
And one last thing. As I'd mentioned before, I'm more than happy to share the love. Once I've finished reading and written the review, I will mail the book onwards to anyone in Canada or the United States (anywhere else and the postage gets prohibitive, but feel free to make your case). I've got to give priority to people on my flist already, as you've put up with me for years. After that, it's first come first served. The one condition is when you've finished, you will mail it either back to me or to the next person on the "list".
Enough talk. More reading. |
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Generally I really like rain. It's starting to interfere with my lifestyle, though, and that will not do.
We've had some near-record rainfall this past week, and there's supposed to be more tonight and tomorrow. Lots of roads have washed out, and though the river's already nearly flooded, they're releasing more water from dams upstream so as not to break the dams.
Which means I can't go rowing tonight. It's kind of cold anyway, but still. I haven't been in more than a week.
Things have been fine at work. We had some plumbing issues today but nothing serious & it all got fixed.
There's water in the basement of this house. I don't own the house, so I guess it's no big concern, but my dryer sheets are soaked through :( and it's no fun doing laundry standing in puddles anyway. Looks like it's come through at one point on the wall. I'll be letting the owners know.
None of which is nearly as bad as the serious flooding they've had at the Fort William Historic Site just outside of town. This is the second flood for them in three years. Looks like it'll be closed for a few months, at least. And now that I'm at home I can't seem to find any pictures online.
I'm going to be putting up a post on facebook shortly which is not entitled "things which suck about Bill C-61" but may as well be. If you're in Canada and don't know what's going on with that, you may want to become informed. |
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"Congratulations. You've snagged an Early Reviewers copy of Anathem by Neal Stephenson."
My day could not get any better. |
| » Book: Lakota Star Knowledge: Studies in Lakota Stellar Theology, Ronald Goodman |
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I did say I had an interesting mix of things to review, didn't I?
Though it doesn't say, I think this one is an adaptation of a thesis. It has that feel. The language isn't super-elegant, but it's very clear, and easy to understand even with little knowledge of astronomy or Lakota culture.
( Read more... )
May. 7th, 2008 @ 07:45 pm
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| » Book: Neil Gaiman, "The Sandman - A Game Of You" |
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Sandman vol. 5, A Game of You, Neil Gaiman, 1991-1992.
I'm reading Sandman all out of order. That's all right, though. Particularly with a volume like this, which is one self-contained story. Was pretty good, too.
( Read more... )
May. 7th, 2008 @ 07:19 pm
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| » ugh. |
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I really do wish that someone had bothered to do something about the side yard of this house last fall. There are three apple trees, which will probably be lovely once they've got leaves, but the entire yard is filled with last year's apples.
I started raking, filled the composter and one bag, and there's still lots left. Unfortunately, the stuff that's left is turning to muck as I try to move it. So I've given up. It'll all rot and be reclaimed by fresh grass, right?
On the other hand, the front yard worked out pretty well.
Now, isn't this the stuff the people who ~own~ the place are supposed to do?
May. 7th, 2008 @ 07:14 pm
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| » Book: Neil Smith, "Bang Crunch" |
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Bang Crunch - Stories, Neil Smith, 2007.
Picked this up compulsively based on having thought I'd read a positive review at some point. Short stories, mostly very good.
( Read more... )
May. 5th, 2008 @ 08:40 pm
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| » Book: Lee Smolin, The Trouble With Physics |
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The Trouble with Physics: The Rise of String Theory, the Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next. Lee Smolin, 2006.
A pretty amazing book. It made me realize how glad I am to have left physics when I did. It also made me want to try again.
( Read more... )
May. 5th, 2008 @ 08:26 pm
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| » best foot forward |
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So the New Thing that I'm going to try to do for May is to write a (short/long) review of every single book I read. Should be doable, and should likely be good for me -- might force me to actually follow through on things for once. And I've been successful with my New Thing for April, so this is good timing.
I've actually got a pretty interesting looking pile lined up. But I'm not starting tonight. Too hung over :(
Last night was ... interesting.
May. 4th, 2008 @ 09:07 pm
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| » drag |
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bicycle + trenchcoat & scarf = not so very aerodynamic
Apr. 23rd, 2008 @ 06:09 pm
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| » One of those nights, hm? |
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Nothing doing, tonight.
Been home about two hours and all I've done is made and eaten dinner, and read a bunch of webcomics.
My further plans involve doing laundry and reading ... things which are not webcomics.
Was going to take my bike out (finally!) tonight, as it's warm and sunny, but it's also windy like stupid, so I've decided against it. Perhaps tomorrow.
I have plans for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, though, so tonight's free.
Apr. 15th, 2008 @ 07:04 pm
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| » (No Subject) |
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I got an email today from someone with whom I spent one of the best nights of my life. (nothing romantic, but absolutely brilliant.)
It was only a couple of lines, but it made my day. I'm still smiling.
Apr. 14th, 2008 @ 06:02 pm
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| » In all seriousness ... |
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Ok, this is a real question:
Why is it that archivists seem to have such trouble with managing their own records?
In my new job, I've inherited an office that's been used by a few different people over the past two years. There is stuff everywhere -- on the desk, on the bookshelf, in the filing cabinet. I've started going through things, and there's stuff that's work to be done, reference materials I can actually use, reference materials that were outdated ten years ago, files that quite literally need to be boxed up for storage and/or shredded, and total non-record junk that also can just be got rid of.
So everyone's worried about getting compliance from departments, from making sure that schedules are adhered to etc etc etc, but we can't do it in our own offices? Something seems wrong here.
PS Actual details of the move and the new job & stuff will probably follow. Sometime.
Apr. 3rd, 2008 @ 07:35 pm
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| » Generic life update. |
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Right-o.
So, I'm still moving to Thunder Bay. I move this week, start work Monday after next.
I've got an apartment now -- well, I haven't signed anything yet, but there's a verbal agreement with someone who has no reason to back out.
I have ... some packing finished. There's a lot to go, but it's mostly stuff that can be transferred simply from its current location to a box. Having moved last seven months ago means that re-packing isn't difficult.
Just difficult mentally, but, y'know.
I have what remains of today, and all tomorrow, and much of Tuesday. Trailer will be loaded late Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday night is reserved for one last evening of awesomeness (specifics yet to be determined.) Then I'm driving Wednesday and Thursday. Unload Thursday night. Unpack and get settled Friday through Sunday. Then start work.
Despite the utter insanity of all that written above, I have a really good feeling about the job, the apartment, the people I've met.
Mar. 23rd, 2008 @ 01:01 pm
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| » big changes |
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A few people might have heard by now, but ...
Tuesday I had a second interview for a new job.
Friday I was offered the position, and accepted.
By the end of the month I will be living and working in Thunder Bay.
The move is pretty significant, and I'm a little bit panicked at the thought of getting everything together in less than three weeks.
The job will be, I hope, a much more interesting one than what I've been doing for the past six months. I have a really good feeling about that part of all of this.
More news will follow as I, you know, figure stuff out.
Mar. 8th, 2008 @ 03:00 pm
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| » jobbishness |
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Remember a couple of weeks ago when I said I was going to be looking for a new job?
Just finished a phone interview that I think I very much aced. I'm on a short list which is quite short. And the work would be very much more interesting than what I'm doing now.
I'm trying, and failing, not to get my hopes up.
Also, I haven't quit a job* since 2001. How does one go about doing such things?
(* not counting the "I'm moving/graduating and thus no longer ~can~ work here" instances)
Jan. 21st, 2008 @ 04:28 pm
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| » can has tv? |
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Right, so from now until I've got a copy I'm on an embargo of certain journals that are a risk for spoiling me for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
You probably know who you are.
Please don't spoil me.
Jan. 16th, 2008 @ 06:24 pm
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| » (No Subject) |
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Aw, man, so Sara is a big scary pile of angst these days.
Things are beginning to Happen. At least, I hope that Things are Happening. Life as it is is not of the most wonderfulness.
Bah. I'm working on the fixing of it.
Jan. 10th, 2008 @ 08:18 pm
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