David's Irreverent Book Reviews

All Four Engines Have Failed

2012-10-05T19:00:00.000-05:00

All Four Engines Have Failed

By Betty Tootell

The true story of BA 009 that flew through volcanic ash over Indonesia in 1982. Lost all four engines in cruise at night. Eventually got the engines restarted starting around 15,000 feet.

As told by an author who was a passenger and interviewed many of the passengers to give a tale about what they all were thinking during the flight.

There in lies the problem with this book. It wasn't that the writing was poor or uninteresting. I was riveted throughout the book. Unfortunately the rivets periodically came a bit loose. It was that we, the readers, got to hear the thoughts of every person on board. A play by play account. It was a bit tedious to read. And not enough from the pilots. But maybe that's just me. It was nice there was also a bit on the aftermath, about the plane and what happened with the passengers after they diverted to Jakarta.

It was an interesting story not that well told. What is amazing is that this book goes for $80+! For a paperback. Check out the current price on Amazon here. Maybe because it was a small printing? The book is out of print. I snagged it for a low price of $20 with shipping. Read the free version, aka Wikipedia, here.

Pandora's Seed

2012-10-03T19:00:00.000-05:00

Pandora's Seed: The Unforeseen Cost of Civilization
By Spencer Wells

The premise of the book interested me greatly. How the rise of agriculture 10,000 years ago brought about the rise of civilization as we know it. How could this possibly be bad? Well apparently it has caused lots of problems. I ended up not really caring for this book. It wasn't very memorable. My notes include facts from the book but not to much on my thoughts. This is unfortunate since the book didn't stick with me, I can't really articulate my reasons for disliking it.

Bits from the book:

What else has changed and what has lead to these changes with the invention of agriculture?

Interesting: changes, variations in the DNA of genes are being tracked to see which genes have changed rapidly and how recently to see when diseases started to affect mankind.

Problems of agriculture: obesity, spread of malaria, cavities, even mental illness is a result of agricultural changes? More people are self medicating for Prozac, Paxil, Ritillan to help become "normal" due to the stresses created from our lives!

IVF - in vitro fertilization and PGD - preimplantation genetic diagnosis, two genetic tests that as they become more widespread could alter the path of mankind? It might have taken thousands of years for people to be able to digest lactose in adulthood but with genetic selection you could create the same thing in a few generations. And now you are directly affecting future generations by selecting what genes are available for them. Only additional mutations can reintroduce these traits. Where might this lead?

Mental illness. Creative thinking cam lead to new discoveries, inventions. But a few extra of the reactive genes and you end up with schizophrenia?

Last chapter about the loss of the myth to logic and how fundamentalists are using logic to bring back myth.

Reminds me of the Apsley Cherry Gerrard quote "the luxuries of civilization satisfy only those wants which they themselves create."

Pirate Latitudes

2012-10-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Pirate latitudes

By Michael Crichton

A posthumous novel by Michael Crichton. Word is he worked on it for quite some time but never finished the book. It kind of shows. Unlike his other books this one doesn't have any science nor the historical research that is usually related. At least compared to Timeline. That's the impression that I get.

It was a thrilling enjoyable story. It reminds me a lot of Treasure Island but with more violence. And sex. It seemed like the ending happened quite abruptly. I guess this is the result of this being an unfinished book. There were hints of Patrick O'Brian but without the detail in the sailing and nautical terms. The raid on the fort was unimaginably easy. And Sanson was really like a superhero. Killing multiple enemies single handed without any injury to himself.

Overall I enjoyed the story but it was a bit below average for a Crichton story.

At the end of my notes I wrote: giant octopus/squid/kraken. Why?

I'm not sure how this fits into the story but seeing how the bit didn't stick into my memory I'm guessing it didn't really fit into the story.

A History of the World in 6 Glasses

2012-09-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

A History of the World in 6 Glasses

By Tom Standage

Well after reading about water, now I'm on to other beverages. Once people began to settle down, from being hunter gatherers, they started to develop drinks. The book covers 6 drinks that helped influence history. Bear, wine, spirits, tea, coffee, coca-cola.

I wouldn't really say I enjoyed reading the book. It was lacking something. Maybe it was that it seemed more like 6 chapters of facts about each drink. I'm not sure. Anyway my notes contained some interesting bits about each drink. If you want way more information then read the book. But here's the gist.

The first drink other than water was beer. With wine following. The beer was of low alcohol content and was drunk early into the fermentation process. This provided the drinker with B vitamins and other nutrients to help supplement the diet. At first the jars of beer would have had the chaff, grains and more floating in it so drinkers would sip through a straw. In a show of trust and unity they drank from the same vessel. Today when we say cheers and clink glasses it celebrating drinking together from the same vessel.

Wine was expensive, having to be imported from the middle east. Originally it was reserved for the rich and even the Greeks, who drank wine at all social ranks, had different qualities of wine that were served depending on ones standing. This was carried on to an even greater degree by the Romans. Wine was usually drunk diluted with water. The wine providing antibacterial properties to in effect render the water safe in some cases. It was also more sterile than plain water and helped (though at they time they didn't understand why) wounds when poured onto them to help prevent infection.

The Greeks exported much wine. Sunken ships have had upwards of 333,000 modern days wine bottles on board!

Distilled spirits. Distilling probably started with the Egyptians to make perfume. The Arabs in Spain, invented, popularized alcohol. It didn't spoil like wine and beer. It was concentrated wealth. It also helped to create nations, move people around the world and subjugate locals. Rum became popular as it made use of the waste from sugar plantations. Molasses. It was cheap to acquire the raw materials and to distill. It didn't spoil as readily and was strong!

Buying from duty free is remembering the anti-establishment fighters who protested excise taxes

Coffee started in Arabia. It was the only source until the late 17th century. Then quickly spread around the world by the Dutch, French etc. To the far east and the new world.

Coffee houses helped to start revolutions both political, scientific, business by allowing for free discussion of idea without regard to class.

Interestingly in the beginning of it's introduction both in Arab world and Europe there were those who wanted to ban it. Muslim's basis was that it was intoxicating and forbidden by Islam. Europe for other reasons.

Tea. China started 100BCE. Japan 6th century. Popular by 1191. Europe early 17th century.

Antibacterial properties in tea help to make the water it is boiled in safer to drink. Leading to an increase in the health of the drinkers.

China held a monopoly on tea until it was broken by the British east Indian company. Then India became the largest grower. Industrial methods were used to lower the price to 3/4 that of Chinese tea.

Coke supplies 3% of humanity's total liquid intake.

Bottlemania

2012-09-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

Bottlemania

By Elizabeth Royte

I'm not sure what I thought this book would be like but it was nothing like I expected. Not that that's bad. These genre of books, this one included are interesting tales with interesting facts. What happens after you read it, well I guess that depends on the person. In my own situation, well, like in the past I'm left wondering just how much any changes I make to my life will help or hurt the cause.

As a disclaimer. I drink quite a bit of bottled water. My work provides us with 1.5L crystal geyser bottles to drink. I go though one a day. But when able I drink tap water.

This was an interesting book. From the lady who wrote Garbageland. Seeing how that mostly focused on only one landfill, Fresh Kills, it follows that Bottlemania was about Nestlé, their Poland Springs brand and Freyburg, Maine. Should water be allowed to be privatized? Should corporations be allowed to bottle and sell water that had been used for municipal water?

Like many other books of this type I've read there are no black and white answers.

Interesting facts. Tap water is safe for all but 20+ million Americans. This is mostly on small water areas or Indian land.

The homeowner is responsible for maintaining their water lines in their dwelling. A possible source of contamination.

Pepsi and coke and others filter municipal water to make their bottled water. Is it better than tap? Probably. But bottled water is not required to release the results of water quality tests. So sometimes it might be better. Other times the same or worse than tap.

On the faucet filters are better than gravity flow, ie pitchers.

Win, Lose or Die

2012-09-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

Win, lose or die
By John Gardner

These books are quick reads and I plowed through the first half of the series pretty quickly.

This one opens with 20 mercenaries hang gliding from 25,000' to try to take a supertanker. Operation WIN. they fail. It was test run for taking an aircraft carrier next year at a NATO exercise.

Talk about the plot picked up by ELINT. Bond sent back to active service to be a nursemaid to prevent attack. Or to be selected as inside man by terrorist group BAST???

So Bond has always kept curret as a navy pilot(really? I mean he was a Navy Officer and flies in the movies but I don't actually recall there being mention of his Job in the navy, oh well) and in past 8 months he has been training for the Harrier.

Goes on date with Clover "Penny" a WREN who tells bond about Invincible personal placement. He worries about who knows the classified info she is sharing that was supposed to be a secret. One pilot is missing and Bond was shot at, sidewinder missile, on practice bombing run.

But oh no! The Pilot is not missing. He stole the Harrier. Landed. Loaded on a sidewinder. Took off and fired missile. Then absconded with the jet. Part of BAST plan. Yeah they are so far 0 for 2 in missions. Some bad guys. 007 meets with M. M tells him story of why the WRNS are in plan. We are not told.

A Petty Officer who works on turbines meets two friendly men in a bar. They hook him up with a hooker and film it (he doesn't know). Some kind of blackmail??

Petty Officer agrees to terms. They are not revealed

Fast foward to Bond, on Christmas holiday in island off Naples. To be bait for BAST. He meets with guardian of villa he is staying at. She and Bond sex it up. They are very emotionally intimate, very fast. So of course she is quickly blown up by a car bomb. Turns out she and the other guards were BAST. She was "the cat"?? Clover was in Fioro and takes Bond back to UK. Said they had been alerted the real British villa team had been replaced. They were later found bound, but alive.

After much sex and Christmas dinner, Beatrice runs to car. It explodes killing her. Bond taken to secret intelligence base to be hidden until Landsea '89 exercise. Turns out if was overtaken and run by two heads of BAST. so they could better assess Bond as a threat. Yeah like all villians they should have killed him. But didn't. Real staff was in drug induced sleep. Coma??

Bond makes it to ship on time.

Meets with heads of navies, USA, UK, Russian. Then security team. Russian attaché "Nikki the rat" has eyes for bond. Just after exercise starts Clover and another officer report to Bond that one of the American bodyguards was found with throat slit

Bond tracks down killer. A fake WRNS. American had list of personal to check out. More sectors work of Bond's end. Rather interesting and a bit if a change from the normal.

Bush, Thatcher and Gorbechov are all on board the ship. For the meeting. Replacement for US guy who was killed is brought in. He is intercepted and replaced by BAST.

Bond and Russian agent bang. She is later killed as she takes out fake US agent.

Blackmailed petty officer is to replace filter in turbine engine to cause oil to overheat. Then replace it with one that will smoke. It blows up turbine and petty officer.

The 15 WRNS drug the food to knock out everyone on board the ship. 2,000+. Bond had been sent to shore and is captured when he returns. As food is being brought to him (by only one guard!!) he escapes. Makes it to flight deck. Takes off in Harrier. Dogfights stolen Harrier that was flown in to help pursuade world power to pay $600 billion for return of leaders. Bond bests the other pilot with a sidewinder. Has to eject. Picked up by helicopter.

Bond had worried to Clover that plan would never work. World would use plan as power grab to allow others to take over power in the countries.

On shore marines, brittish and Bond plan raid on carrier. 11 men make first assault. Retake carrier. Rescue leaders.

Clover was the "cat" Beatrice was really alive and on Bond's side. They go after BAST leader who was being watched. Bond and Beatrice chase him to tunnels in rock of Gibraltar. He almost gets Bond but Beatrice kills him.

End with the two back in villa, cue the lovemaking.

What seems to be a standard for the Gardner books: open with a terrorist action. Cut to Bond being assigned the mission. Throw in lots of plot twists. Make the villain, BAST, seem awfully more competent than the rest of the military intelligence.

Overall there were some interesting bits about the Harrier. Some tidbits about life on aircraft carrier.

When they found the BAST leader why didn't they just raid him in his room after carrier assault? Why risk loosing him or Bond by allowing Bond to get him. Yeah that last comment doesn't realm make sense but that's what I get trying to go back over my notes a year and a half later. The Final assault and end of book pretty gripping.

My big problem with the John Gardner books are that they are just not that memorable. Maybe taking a break and reading other books for a while will help. I also found out there are many more Ian Flemming authorized books. Junior James Bond. Moneypenny books. Even a 21st centuary reboot just released in 2011! Time to start looking on eBay?

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Scorpius

2012-09-23T12:44:00.000-05:00

Scorpius

By John Gardner

Let me help you with the title. It refers to the villain of the book. Father Valentine aka Vladimir Scorpius

A Russian Arms dealer and funder of terrorists. He has kept billions(?) that member of his group, the Meek Ones, have donated to his church. He also has his own credit card. Avante Carte. Somehow this is tied into the story but alas I don't remember how.

My overall impressions: not a bad story. Gripping parts: the chases, car and on foot. No flip flopping double crossing. Typical villain who has super big ego and tells plot to Bond as he "will never escape in time." Bond beds at least one of the women, maybe two. My notes were not really all that clear. I really don't remember much about this one but the end fight.

Plague War/Plague Zone

2012-09-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

Plague War
Plague Zone
By Jeff Carlson

So near the end of 2009 I read Plague Year the first of three books in his series about nanobots that consume human flesh, self replicate, and destroy the world. Well the world below 10,000'.

It took a while to finish the series but I was glad that I did. While I remembered the overall plot of the first book I forgot the details. Big mistake. This book picks up right where the last left off. Well maybe a few days later...

I had to read my old thoughts and a few summaries on amazon to refresh my memory. Cam and Ruth are still heading to higher elevation, all the while being pursued by the military in Colorado. To sum up this first book it's mostly chases and fights to get them to join the good side. Ruth realizes that she could improve the nanobots that are in everyone's bloodstream but ends up developing an ANN, anti nano nanobot that will destroy all the other vaccine bots and take away the ability to live below 10,000 feet. Her goal is to force the Chinese, Russians, and Americans to make peace. Our heroes end up leaving the Colorado stronghold to restart life below the barrier, 10,000' barrier that is.

Plague Zone starts some 15 months or so after the last book. Ruth, Cam, Allison have founded Jefferson, less than 40 miles from Grand Lake. Eeking out an existence, they have greenhouses that are under constant assault from ants and other insects. With all other wildlife destroyed by the nanobots incests have taken over the world! An interesting concept, I wonder just how true it is?

The Chinese (150,000 troops on north America) have unleashed a mind nanobot that confuses by attaching to the frontal lobe of the brain. Not a perfect bot. Some die. Some live. The goal is to make the victim witless. In the long run the Chinese want control of all of North America.

In the end the war is stopped. Cam and Ruth recover from the various nanobots that have infected them. They profess their love for each other. Ruth goes back to her nanobot research. Cam tries to tell her not to create a better nano that would kill the whole world/wipe the brains of everyone in the world (cause anyone who had that power wouldn't even have to use it, just the threat would give you control! Because that thinking was so successful in preventing wars when the threat of nuclear bombs was around.) She says she will not make a new nanobot, but she's not sure if she's can stop her research. Ohhh. Setting it up for more books Mr. Carlson?

Thoughts: it's not really a PA story, but it is a PA story. A war story in a post-apocalyptic work I guess? Overall the 3 book were quite engrossing. The story could have ended after the second but there is another. I kinda wish there wasn't. Maybe a little bit? I worried the third book would be more of the same, fighting and double crossing (though not as bad as Gardner by a long shot) plus it's longer. Turns out my hunch was correct. The good news is I enjoyed reading the books. As a bonus they will probably appeal to a broader audience and not just to PA enthusiasts.

Nobody Lives Forever

2012-09-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

Nobody Lives Forever
By John Gardner

Ladies and Gentlemen, John Gardner, the author who loves the double agent. The barest outline of this book are still in my memory. On the plus side Gardner adhears a bit more to the Ian Flemming style of story with the book taking place, mostly, in Austria and Florida. No heading off to multiple locations in this one.

The plot is mostly about SPECTRE trying to kill Bond. Their search for him and their goal of bringing his head on a silver charger to present to the leader Tamil Rahmani, who is suffering from spinal cancer caused by his parachuting accident escaping from Bond at the end of the last book. Bond, on leave in mainland Europe, saves Sukie aka Susan from two thugs attacking her. She is a principessa whose husband died. She's kinda like Anna Nicole Smith.

Later her friend "Nannie" arrives. She is the head of a female bodyguard unit. NUB. To get to Bond, SPECTRE has kidnapped May (Bond's housekeeper) and Moneypenny. Bond follows them to Austria and on to Florida. In Florida, by Key West, Bond is finally captured and held prisoner. Instead of just killing him the bad guys set up a guillotine to chop off his head. Of course Bond is able to escape at the last second, chops off Nannie's arms, saves May and Moneypenny. The Navy comes to the rescue and mops up the rest.

Oh why did Bond chop of Nannie's arms you ask? Isn't she Sukie's friend? Well enter John Gardner plot twists. Nannie works for SPECTRE. The guy holding May and Moneypenny is the Rome agent for MI6 but also a double for the KGB and SMERSH. Reading these books can be more like a mystery novel. Let's find out who the double agent in this book is!

Don't worry about Bond's sex life. He beds Nannie and spends 3 weeks recovering from the ordeal with Sukie, if you know what I mean. The action sequence at the end was exciting. The part where he breaks into the clinic holding May and Moneypenny stuck in my memory so there's that. Overall if you have a couple of days you want to fill with some action, then pick up a John Gardner 007 book. Don't worry if you read them out of order it won't matter.

Letters From Home

2012-09-15T16:00:00.000-05:00

Letters from Home: A Wake-up Call for Success and Wealth

By David R. Reiser, Andrea R. Reiser

Advice for the authors children.

Education. Hard work. Don't be afraid of change. Listen to feedback. Don't be afraid to take risks. Integrity. Gratitude. Charity.

I'm not sure what prompted my wife to buy this book. But it was on the shelf and I thought that she had said it might be something I'd like. I laid out a few books that I might read next and let my daughter pick. She picked this one as it had a sandcastle on the front. Note to self: letting your three year old pick a book out for you to read might not be such a good idea.

First off this is a book made up of mini biographies of different people in the authors life that they feel are good examples to their four sons. You will read heartwarming stories of people going from nothing to leaving a multi-generational trust as their legacy. Many of the stories are about entrepreneurs who took a chance.

I don't mean to make light of this book as I found myself smiling, empathizing, laughing; generally enjoying the stories - but who is this book's target audience? Other than the four Reisner children I just don't get it. The subtitle is "A wake up call for success and wealth." I don't know. I will say this book has encouraged me to try and change to be a bit more grateful and more optimistic.

I couldn't really recommend this book.

Role Of Honor

2012-09-13T15:54:00.000-05:00

Role of Honor

By John Gardner

Back to the Bond books. I tried to break them up a bit instead of reading them all in a row. It helped me not to burn out on the John Gardner books as quickly as I ended up doing.

All right, if you want an in-dept summary of the story go to Amazon or Wikipedia. I'll say this about John Gardner, he likes the double cross and people switching allegiances. A LOT! In order to disrupt Russian spies who are looking for double agents Bond (in a ruse) is forced to resign from the service under disgrace. Later at the end of the book, in order for him to get back into the good graces of the service in the public's eye, his life is risked for no real reason but for looks. Why John, why?

The similarities to this book and some of the later movies are numerous. Oddly enough Gardner wrote novelizations for Goldeneye and The Living Daylights but not for the other movies which also shared traits with this book. What movies share traits with this book? Unfortunately my notes don't say and I don't recall.

Overall this is weak story. Yes I was held by the story and writing until about 3/4 of the way through. Then my interest started to flag. This Gardner book is more movie like and his style is pretty formulaic. The first chapter sets up a crime. Then jump to 007 being, eventually, given the assignment. He beds the requisite 3 women. Stops plot and or kills bad guys. Except in this book the plot was stopped by the powers that be and as it turned out Bond's life was on the line for no real reason. Just for public image.

This book and A view to a Kill the movie had some similarities. Apparently Gardner wanted Bond and Holy to fight the battle at a computer but it was nixed (remember he is being hired to write these books by the Ian Flemming estate?) This was due to the scene in Never Say Never Again? Maybe? Later there was a change to the battle for Bunker Hill and The Battle for Waterloo was put into The Living Daylights. Yeah if that last paragraph doesn't make a whole lot of sense, sorry. I'm just going off the notes I made.

Interesting history; not the best story. As of now I still think the compound in For Special Services is the most memorable bit from the first 4 Gardner books. One of the battles in this book is the most violent yet, of any Ian Flemming or John Gardner book I've read so far. Or even compared to the movies.

Unbroken

2012-09-11T15:20:00.000-05:00

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption

By Laura Hillenbrand

I really love reading about WWII. Much more so that any other war the United States has been involved in. I'm not really sure why. It seems like a time when the country came together as one. Oh I'm sure there were objectors to the war, thoughts about what if we lost, etc, but the overall impression I always get is hope and togetherness. Also after this book I really want to get back to the Time-Life WWII books. Someday.

The book touches a bit on the early life of Louis Zamperini, which is good as I almost didn't continue reading past the first few chapters. Louis was such an unlikable kid. I kept asking myself "why am I still reading about this kid who continually breaks the law?" In retrospect I'm glad I did. There are a few pages about his life after the war but the heart of the story is about Louis Zamperini's time in Japanese prisoner of war camps.

This is where I usually talk about a brief summary of the book. If you are at all interested in this story just go and read the book. Instead here are some of my thoughts.

Having learned to fly at KTOA, or Zamperini Field in Torrance, CA I almost feel like I have sort of a connection to Louis Zamperini. Having read and enjoyed Seabiscut, also by Laura Hillenbrand, I kinda knew that this would be a great book. Spoiler alert! It was. The book had me at the edge of my seat starting with Louis' 1936 Olympic race and there I remained until he made it back to the United States. What's most amazing (and another reason I enjoy World War II stories so much) is that he never seemed to lose his determination or spirit. You could almost say he remained unbroken? No matter how bleak life looked while in the POW camps. Reading these kind of books makes me wonder if I too would be able to survive.

After the war Louis forgave his captors. Traveling back to Japan he met with the former POW guards, all except for his nemesis, The Bird, who refused to meet with him. He had to convince them that he truly forgave them for what he did. Louis said that it eased his mind much more than had he tried to take revenge on them. In the 1998 Nagano Olympics he even carried the Olympic torch through the town of Naoetsu and past Camp 4 where he stayed in his last POW camp.

This past June my dad and I went to see Louis Zamperini give a talk in honor of the 100th anniversary of the city of Torrance. Most of the hour long talk was a showing of the 1998 Olympic piece that covered much of the material in the book. Afterwards an energetic and spry Louis gave a short speech and answered a few questions. In the book it mentions that his childhood home is a historical landmark. I'll have to drive by one of these days, it's not far away.

I've talked about/recommended this book to a few of my coworkers. So what are you waiting for? Go read it now.

The Defining Moment

2012-09-09T13:15:00.000-05:00

The Defining Moment
By Leonard Renier

This is a short book, not quite a pamphlet, of financial planning. In it the author reviews strategies for using life insurance to protect your wealth for your spouse and the next generation. The gist of it, if I remember correctly, was that if you had net assets of 1 million dollars and purchased life insurance in the amount of 1 million dollars, which would be paid for in a small monthly bill, then BAM, now you are worth 2 million dollars. Creating wealth and preserving what you currently have.

The book didn't take long to read and was kinda interesting? This one was given to me by my dad. He knows the author from college(?) and somehow they ran into each other, at which time Leonard gave him a couple of his books.

I read it, so it's on the list. That's about all I can really say.

The Ghosts of Cannae

2012-09-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Ghosts of Cannae
By Robert L. O'Connell

Switching to non-fiction, here is a look into the Second Punic War, the lead up to the war and the consequences. The author said he tried to use contemporary reports from Livy and Polybius but there just isn't much surviving firsthand accounts from the time.

The title refers to the surviving Roman solders who were sent off in disgrace to live the rest of their lives alone after their defeat at Cannae. They had taken an oath, win or die. Unfortunately for them they didn't die.

The book starts off with brief history of beginnings of war, Gauls who hated Rome. Build up of all the groups that would end up fighting in the Second Punic War.

The author goes into great detail about the construction of the armies, describing the formation and thought behind Roman army formation. Mostly they admired solo battle (a 6x6' area for each solider?) and infantry over calvery and especially archers. Also the logistics of supplying so many troops is discussed.

It's amazing how many died on both sides in "smaller" battles before the second Punic War. Nowadays the media reports every death. A loss of a handful of soldiers at time brings talks of great loss. This makes it even harder to fathom how families reacted in the past. News traveled slower. There probably wasn't accurate records of who died and how. What became of the body. During sea battles it was common that tens of thousands if not almost a hundred thousand lost their lives! The author speculates on what this did to the population of Carthage as most were men. The Romans may have lost up to 15% of their soldiers in weather related sailing accidents. Some by their own inexperience early between the wars and other because they were tricked or outmaneuvered in the face of oncoming weather by the Charthegeneans.

Hannibal's' father fought the Romans and vowed to defeat Rome. A pledge his sons took up. Goes into description of Hannibal and the start of his quest to attack Rome.

Interesting facts from the book:
Hannibal's big problem was feeding his army. Initially 60 tons of food a day. 100,000 troops. After crossing the alps he was down to estimated 27,000. And yes he took elephants. O'Connell goes into why he might have done this, probably for psychological effect.

Roman culture was to fight in battle. Not a defensive fight of attrition.Hannibal knew and exploited this.

At Cannae the average Roman weighed 130lbs. So some six million pounds of bodies were left in about one square mile!

45,500 legionaries 2700 cavalrymen. 19,000 prisoners who were still slaves in Greece and Crete 2 decades later.

To save the state (Rome) from Hannibal they had to generate the same kind of leader, a Caesar, who would ultimately destroy the Republic. This was the true Barcid curse upon Rome.

Diplomacy and politics played a big part in the successes on both sides. The Barca brothers (minus Hannibal) were slowly picked off by the Romans. Spain was rid of Carthaginian's but would be in unrest for another generation. The fight was being taken to Africa.

Hannibal blames Hanno and Carthage senate for his ultimate defeat. They wouldn't send more troops/money and were always trying to recall him. Finally he goes back to help defend Carthage.

At Zama the ghosts defeated what was perhaps the most victorious army in human memory. All because Hannibal waited for the Romans to regroup and attack. He lived another 2 decades. A ghost himself.

At 63 while helping in Greece Hannibal was pursued by Roman soldiers. Upon being caught he dank poison rather than be taken prisoner.

I remember this book being a bit of a slow read. It was a very interesting and well told story. O'Connell goes into the politics of the time, trying to figure out why they acted the way they did. My rough outline of the book really doesn't do it justice.

I guess in the end people haven't changed. Those in charge don't like losing. They do everything they can to stay in power and when you have an army at your disposal you use it to appease your ego even if it destroys your Empire in the long run.

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Icebreaker

2012-09-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

Icebreaker
By John Gardner

Here's the problem with these John Gardner novels. They just are not that memorable. Now, had I written this review shortly after reading the book and not just jotted down some notes while I was reading it, I could probably go into great detail about the plot. But that didn't happen.

So. Icebreaker. Yeah...

Bond is send north of the Arctic Circle to Finland for a training assignment. After the training he meets up with Paula Vacker. Is she an old friend? A fellow MI6 employee. Yeah I don't recall. At her apartment they are attacked by two thugs. Bond takes them out.

The bad guys in the book belong to the NSAA, National Socialist Action Army. They are killing off commies around the world.

For some reason lost to me now, Bond meets up with a team comprised of KGB, CIA, Mossad, and MI6 agents and they set off to destroy the NSAA.

There are car chases, snowmobile chases, a hidden Arctic base. The plot is actually more like an Ian Flemming novel, though the book and actions scenes lend themselves more to a movie. My notes read: story wise lots of action. Good spy story. Lots of double crosses. Kinda throws you off guard with all the changing sides, not knowing who is who. Oddest part (and Bond acknowledges it) is that Bond never gets close to Von Gölda, (NSAA leader?) It's more like villain is Kolya, (agent assigned to the task force).

I'm betting as I go back and try and post these reviews, they will be hit or miss depending on how much the book stuck with me. Oh well.

Packing For Mars

2012-09-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Packing for Mars
By Mary Roach

After her last book, Bonk, which I didn't find very interesting, Packing for Mars is a really engrossing read. If you could find a complaint it would be that the book isn't really about going to Mars but about the research behind sending a person into outer space. The book mostly looks back to the times before 1981 and the Space Shuttle.

Like the other Mary Roach books it's kinda hard to describe this tome. It's really a collection of related essays. Following some of the more interesting aspects of space flight. What did the Apollo capsule smell like after a 2 week journey in space? Different than the sea breeze outside the capsule to put it politely.

As the chapters progress I could start to see her train of thought. How to deal with weightlessness. Cramped quarters. Eating. Waste management. Smells. Death. There was a lot on waste management. The great news for us readers is that NASA and the military researched all of these aspects ad nauseum. All the communication between the astronauts and mission control were recorded.

A few more fun facts I'll share with you: Almost no matter what fabric your clothes are made of you can wear them for about two weeks before they will stop absorbing the oils from your body (become saturated.) This means that only around 14% or so of the oils will stay on your skin, so you will remain fairly clean. Good to know.

Also after extensive research Mary Roach concludes that no one has had sex in space. Nor during a parabolic flight (aka a ride on the vomit comet) though operator Zero G was offered many times there normal fee to allow testing but so far they have refused.

I can't really say enough good things about Mary Roach's books. Read them all. Then find her old articles on Salon.com.

As a last nugget of information I'll leave you with a link to a paper that answers the question, when is clean, too clean? http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol7no2/larson.htm

For Special Services

2012-09-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Yeah it's been way to long since I've update the blog. I haven't stopped reading, nor stopped writing down my thoughts on the books I've read. I hope to catch up to the present day in the next few weeks. Maybe?

By John Gardner

Planes around the world have been hijacked. Lots of money stolen from passengers. Bond (not officially 007 anymore in this new iteration of 007) is undercover on many flights with a SAS team, much like the Federal Air Marshall's in the USA. Bond, foils a hijack attempt. Kills all the hijackers. But one sleeper who chickened out reported back to SPECTRE and Blofeld. Is he back?

Continuing from the last book, Bond and Ann Riley aka Q'ute are "occasional lovers" her words. Bond is teamed up with Cedar Leiter, Felix's daughter! He is loaned out for special services to the USA.

The plot. Bond is sent to stop a wealthy American Nazi living near Amarillo TX. Bismaquer. To investigate dead FBI, CIA, other agency personal that were lost on his ranch and turned up in Louisiana. Dead.

Is Blofeld disguised as Markus Bismaquer or Walter Luxon, a death-looking like man. Markus' wife Nena is an expert in prints, which is Bond's cover to get a visit with Markus. Of course Bond gets in good with the wife. Many times throughout the book. Yeah like the movies, Gardner's Bond has quite a bit of sex.

Cedar is hot for Bond. But he won't have anything to do with her due to his friendship with Felix. This is Gardner's attempt to tie in the old Bond stories with his new ones.

There is a very tense car race between Bond's Saab Turbo and Walter Luxor's Shelby Mustang. Bond wins, overcoming the dirty tricks of Luxor. Gardner is really trying to incorporate the Saab into every book. Bond has it brought over to America as opposed to just getting a car when he gets to the states.

By now we finally find out the plot of the book. SPECTRE's plot: to use icecream Markus developed that is drugged, making the eaters morals disappear for at least 12 hours. They will agree to anything, especially when given orders by someone in a higher rank. They will infiltrate Cheyenne Mountain (NORAD) to get plans for the Space Wolf satellite which can change its orbit. It is a satellite killer. This will give them control over the world???

Bond and Cedar try to escape the ranch. It is a memorable and exciting chase/fight on the monorail that Markus has on his ranch. Bond's caught and drudged to think he is a 4 star general. Sent into NORAD, he is given antidote pills by Nena, (we find out later Markus) and he regains his mind in time to foil the plot while inside NORAD. The bad guys are overtaken by military troops. Nena takes him to LA swamp hideout. They make love. Bond find's out Nena, last name Blofled, is the bad guy. She shoots Markus, Luxor gets shot by her on accident as she is going for Bond, Bond knocks her out of a window to be eaten by pythons. Felix walks in and shoots her out of her misery. Bond, Cedar go on vacation. Felix gives him permission to bed his daughter. Do they? Book ends with Cedar saying yes. Bond no.

***
Similar to the first book. Like the Ian Flemming novels but not quite. The racing sequence was spot on and the fights on the monorail and at NORAD, seemed pretty good. Lecture at conference where evil plot explained was more like the movies? Alas I don't recall the original books as well as the movies.

Overly grandiose bad guys and their locations fit in nicely. A quick enjoyable read.

On a side note Garnder mentions them using a VTR. Did he mean VCR? Well no. Check it out here.

In retrospect of over a year this book was quite memorable and one of the better Gardner stories.

License Renewed

2011-05-09T07:00:00.005-05:00

By John Gardner

Written in the Ian Flemming style, Gardner seems to match Flemming pretty well. He is not quite as descriptive about the food and so far has not mentioned the clothes Bond wears like Flemming did, but pretty close.

As for the plot. James is to go undercover as a mercenary for the Laird of Mulcany who it is feared has a plot involving nuclear plant meltdowns? Q branch has a women technician nicknamed Q'ute. She is girl 1 in the book so far. If you know what I mean.

The Laird will cause nuclear plant meltdowns so that the world will implement his new, safe nuclear plant design. After knowing Bond for a few days he tells him most of the plot. Then takes him to a secret ops room. Really?! Oh yeah Gardner seems to be more of a movie style Bond story. Back to the plot. Terrorist groups around the world have been arranged by Franco (a henchman). Bond is hired to kill Franco. The Laird will have the terrorist groups ransom the nuclear plants at threat of meltdown (china syndrome) for $50 billion in diamonds. The world will have 24 hours.

The Laird also is really a fraud and will have to have the real heir to his title offed. There is a scene near the end of the book in the rear of a C-141 that is very much like The Living Daylights.

Needless to say Bond saves the day and beds the real heir, Dilly.

Overall this was an entertaining story. I enjoyed it. It was a fast read. More like the movies than the Ian Flemming books. Though it's been a while since I've read those. I'm looking forward to the rest.

The Planet of the Apes

2011-04-25T07:00:00.005-05:00

So finally we make it to 2011. Yeah there was quiet a back up with the 2010 books. Oh well.

By Pierre Boulle

At only 128 pages this is a fast moving story. Having seen the movies many times all I knew going into this book was that the ending was different.

The movie followed the book fairly closely. The biggest differences: the names of the astronauts; Taylor is Ulysses. The men on the planet destroy the space capsule and their clothes. Ulysses mates with Nova, she gives birth to a son who can speak and awakens in her the ability to learn to speak.

Other scientific apes (other than Dr. Zaius as in the movie) suspect that there was life before the apes ruled. Evidence is found that these people were intelligent homo sapiens.

Finally, and here is a big spoiler alert, at the end Ulysses, Nova and son Sirius escape in the astronauts orbiting space ship and fly at light speed back to Earth. Arriving Earth time some 700 years after leaving. They land at Orly in Paris. It looks as if nothing has changed. A car drives out to meet them. It's hard to see who's driving due to the glare of the sun. As the person gets out they see it is a gorilla!

Overall this isn't much of a PA story. It was quite enjoyable though. I liked reading a deeper explanation of the rise of apes on Soror. I would say this is one of the few instances where I like the movie more than the book. But that could be because I can't separate the entire movie series in my mind.

Blue at the Mizzen

2011-04-11T07:00:00.002-05:00

By Patrick O'Brian
Pg. 262

At last. Number 20. The last book in the series. The last finished book that is.

Picking up right after the last book Jack and company finally make their way to Chile to help liberate the country. What follows is a standard PO'B story. Descriptions of sailing, repairs made, training of the new midshipmen. Really nothing new. If anything the later books in the series have very little ship fighting. Though this book takes place during peacetime so not much can be expected.

We are treated to an aging Jack Aubrey, although I believe the book time frame is only 15 years or so the sailors have a hard life. Injuries abound as well as the occasional bout of starvation and dietary deficiency. Like the title says the book ends with Jack recovering from battle injuries weeping tears of joy at learning he is to sail to the South African station and once there hoist his flag, blue at the mizzen. I tear up writing this. First with joy that these characters I've gown to love during the past two years have reached their goal, well Jack has, as well as the sadness of ending the series.

I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys well told tales and deep, interesting characters. I enjoyed seeing the interaction between Jack and Stephen. Dare I say I looked forward to reading more about Stephen than Jack?

This isn't really a series you can pick up and read any one book. I've said before but this series reads as one long book. And there lies the only problem I have. I've never quiet gotten used to the abrupt scene changes from one paragraph to another with no space break. But I learned to accept it. If you were to ask me my favorite book(s) in the series I am at a loss. They just don't stand out.

Story wise I enjoyed the campaign in the Mauritius, sailing after whalers in the Pacific, heading towards the Spice Islands, the on shore descriptions of preparing the ship for sail. Stephen. The ship battles were usually exciting and suspenseful. Unfortunately they tended to end after a few pages and often mid-battle at the denouement of the battle and that was the end of the book.

Going into this series I knew next to nothing of sailing. Yet knowledge of sailing is not needed to appreciate the story. A dictionary and Internet access are a help to define many of the archaic terms. If you have the time and dedication, again, I highly recommend this series.

Eventually I'll make time to read the PO'B biography and some of his other books that came with the set I purchased. Maybe I'll even try book 21?

The Hundred Days

2011-04-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

By Patrick O'Brian
320 pages

For the penultimate (though to be fair PO'B may or may not have already decided to carry the series beyond the 20 he initially planned. I'm not sure) novel this one was pretty lackluster. Jack in the Surprise harasses French shipyards (now that Bonaparte's army is back after his escape from Elba.) Stephen helps to get them burnt by Louis XVIII sympathizers, accelerating the destruction.

Like a few previous novels we are treated to a Stephen adventure (this time with fellow intelligence agent Dr Jacob) in and around Algiers.

There is a short ship battle. No boarding. And really that's the problem with this volume. While it held my interest whilst reading, it was really a bit below average. There wasn't a lot of Jack/Stephen camaraderie. Even previous books with their short (couple of pages) intense battles that end the book at the denouement, when thinking about in memory those were more satisfying than the battle in this book, an okay length ship chase with not much detail of the sailing and shooting.

I really hope that the last book is at least slightly above average to end this wonderfully rich story on a high note.

The Yellow Admiral

2011-03-28T07:00:00.002-05:00

By Patrick O'Brian
320 pages

Nearly the end of the series at volume 18. This book sets up the beginning of the end of Jack's career. The hoisting of his flag. But with peace near and an influential Admiral angry at Jack for stopping the enclosure of common land where Jack has a house, he is threatened to be "Yellowed". He will be made Admiral yet not given a squadron, never allowed to hoist his flag and end his illustrious career shamed.

This was another fairly slow story. Moderately interesting. On the naval side Stephen and Joseph Blaine work out a way for Jack to be removed from the list, miss the culling after the peace, and be reinstated later. Stephen has a deal with the Chileans for Jack to go over as a surveyor and start their navy. Giving him a chance at further distinguishing himself. Currently they are on the Brest blockade under Admiral (? I don't remember) who dislikes Jack and speaks poorly of him in official reports.

At home Sophie finds the love letters from Amanda Smith, giving proof of Jack's infidelity after their marriage. She kicks him out.

All is mostly worked out in the end on both fronts. Especially as during a stop off in Portugal (with the wives and kids on the Surprise) on way to Chile, they learn Napoleon has escaped from Elba and Jack has been summoned to catch him.

My thoughts: there isn't much to comment. It's painful to see how the relationships between the higher ups in the Navy help Jack on some accounts and his actions cause others to be strained or become adversarial. His past actions in life come back to haunt him. Stephen is forever helping him on the sly. Fortunately Jack knows when to go along with Stephen's advice/requests without question. The trust they place in each other is quite touching.

The Commodore

2011-03-21T07:00:00.005-05:00

By Patrick O'Brian
352 pages

After the success of the last big story arc Jack is made Commodore first class and given a squadron to stop the French from liberating Ireland. With a deception mission of stopping slavers in the Benint of Benin. Aka western Africa.

The slave part of the mission goes swimmingly well. Many prizes and money for each person rescued! Then the sailing from Africa to Ireland takes all of a paragraph! I had to go back twice to try and find out how I had missed the sailing back to Ireland. Well I didn't, it just didn't exist. They catch the French by surprise. Only two ships get away. The rest caught or sunk.

Pretty much all this happens in the last bit of the book. The battle with the French is classic PO'B and only takes up 3 pages or so.

What's the rest of the book made up of? Mostly about Jack stressing out with being a Commodore. Given a couple of ships to be under him, two are trouble. One manned by a sodomite and the other by a flogger who likes shining brass and perfect paint, perpendicular masts, and is no seaman. Neither are much at battle.

Back home, Stephen finds Diana gone. Run away. Padeen and Clarissa and even himself threatened by the Duke of Habachsthal who is the high up mole for the French.

Well unlike the last few books all the strings are tied up in the end. Then Diana forbids Stephen from ever going back to sea. What?

Overall I enjoyed this book. It was a quick read. Short on fighting and not a whole lot of descriptive sailing, now that Jack is the planner rather than being in charge of the day to day sailing. There was a funny bit where Reade takes a boat within biscuit toss of the rocks racing around a cape, literally tossing a biscuit, to the joy of all the sailors aboard. We see just how valued Stephen is when on the Bellona he finds the medical area so deficient that he threatens to leave if it is not completely altered. Jack and Pullings don't hesitate to make the changes.

An average book in the series. Nothing special, not to memorable. Engrossing while I was reading it.

As the end of 2010 approached I made a push to read only Patrick O'Brian books so that I could get this series finished in two years. So expect a plethora of PO'B books from here on out.

The Wine-Dark Sea

2011-03-14T07:00:00.001-05:00

By Patrick O'Brian
261 pages

This one started out kinda slow and never really picked up the tempo. Not to say it wasn't a bad volume.

Picking up right where the last volume left off, the Surprise takes the Franklin and a few whalers. The plot is for Stephen to help Peru and Chile free themselves from Spain's rule. Unfortunately the charismatic Dutourd (a prisoner on board) enchants some of the crew (namely the Knipperdollings) with his talk of a free society.

Stephen tells Jack not to let Dutourd onto shore. But the hands sneak him ashore. He helps to cause Stephen's mission to be undermined.

Stephen escapes through the high plains (Andes?) reminiscent of the other book when Stephen went up in the mountains while in India. Only shorter and a bit more interesting.

Back aboard Stephen has news of 3 Chinamen laden with goods. While trying to find a way around Cape Horn they fight with an American warship. 38 guns.

They get away but lose masts to an iceberg and lighting. In the end, this volume served to get the men on their way back to England.

Sorry but there just wasn't much to say about this volume.

The Truelove aka Clarissa Oakes

2011-03-07T07:00:00.001-06:00

By Patrick O'Brian
256 pages

Some can say that not much happens in this book. The fighting starts around page 228 and lasts for 3 pages. Maybe less. There isn't even very much build up.

No this volume was all about daily life in the Surprise as it travels from New South Wales (Australia) to Mahou (a made up island in the Sandwich islands group. Hawaii. ) A women has been snuck on board. A convict! But with Padeen on board it's tough for Jack to throw her off. She is claimed by Oakes and they are married. She is indifferent to sex and physical affection and sleeps with many sailors(?) Stephen befriends her and finds she knows who was helping Leward and Wray!! Oh, now to get the action back to England. Though looking ahead that probably won't happen next book.

I have to say I loved this volume. I found the pace steady, not slow. I often was amazed to find I had just read 50 pages with nothing of notice really happening and yet I enjoyed every minute of it. Thus the greatness of this series continues.

At the start of reading this series I anticipated looking forward to the battles and yes, the provisioning of the ships at shore. But I didn't anticipate enjoying the daily life aboard the ship so much. Though knowing my interest in the daily life of everyday folks during the middle ages, I shouldn't have been surprised. The alternate name for the book title has to do with the USA release being named The Truelove, a ship, and the British version after the stowaway, Clarissa Oakes.