Towing Jehovah

Posted on October 12th, 2012 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

{4.5/5} “‘Glad you’re here, Ockham,’ said the creature in the sort of thin, scratchy voice Thomas associated with early-thirties gangster movies. His skin was astonishingly white, beyond Caucasian genes, beyond albinism even; he seemed molded from snow. ‘I’m told you are at once devout’ — he stood on his toes — ‘and smart.’ Whereupon, to […]

How many slaves work for you?

Posted on October 9th, 2012 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

A provocative question — the obvious answer is none. But there are still places in the world where people aren’t free. This web site has a survey that gives you an idea of what products you buy might be made in inhumane conditions. The people behind the web site work “to engage individuals, groups, and […]

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister

Posted on October 8th, 2012 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

{4.5/5} “In the lives of children, pumpkins can turn into coaches, mice and rats into human beings. When we grow up, we learn that it’s far more common for human beings to turn into rats.” Iris is a young girl just arrived in Haarlem in Holland. She fled England with her mother and sister because […]

Recent SF books with big ideas

Posted on October 4th, 2012 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

If, like me, you’re interested in science fiction novels with big ideas, you might want to check out this list from io9: 10 Recent Science Fiction Books That Are About Big Ideas I can recommend Spin, Blindsight, and The Lifecycle of Software Objects. I hadn’t heard of Feed, Wool, or Super Sad True Love Story. […]

Melancholia

Posted on September 30th, 2012 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

{3.5/5} “The way I see it, you’re now short of a boss and a husband. Could I, in all humility, offer my services? You have the ideas. I have the head for business. We could be the perfect couple.” Justine has just been married. On the way to the reception the limousine gets stuck. At […]

Canada’s Wonderland

Posted on September 30th, 2012 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

I haven’t been to Canada’s Wonderland in roughly 15 years. But yesterday I was reminded that I do really like roller coasters. We went on most of the roller coasters and none of the other rides. The best one is Leviathan, the newest one. Riding in the front car of the Leviathan is an amazing […]

Killarney Provincial Park

Posted on September 27th, 2012 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

I spent a week in Killarney Provincial Park, on the northern shore of Georgian Bay. It’s now my favourite place in Ontario. There are various activities you can do there, but all I did was hiking (other things you can do include boating, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, and camping). There are a variety of trails […]

Revelation Space

Posted on September 25th, 2012 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

{4.5/5} “It was not something to which she was ever going to become totally accustomed, Volyova knew, but in recent weeks visiting the Captain had begun to take on definite tones of normality. As if visiting a cryogenically cooled corpse infected with a retarded but potentially all-consuming plague was merely one of life’s unpleasant but […]

Awkward. (season 2)

Posted on September 23rd, 2012 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

{4/5} “OK, let’s stop making drama cakes for a sec and think tank this.” Our favourite awkward high school student Jenna Hamilton is back for a second season. At the end of last season Jenna had found out who had written her the letter, and she had chosen between her two suitors. This season she […]

Trouble with the Curve

Posted on September 22nd, 2012 by Dave Switzer  |  No Comments »

{4.5/5} “It must be so rewarding being one of your close friends.” Gus is an aging baseball scout who’s having vision problems. Mickey, his daughter, is a lawyer who is up for partner. The two of them don’t talk very much. Gus is going to need some help if he’s going to check out a […]