Three pieces of note

Off to a great start. My mission in 2013 is to read and review as many e-books as possible. My aim is to target self-published work from generally unknown authors. For absolute preference I hunt for the newest published work that had no previous online reviews, essentially to try and prospect for literary gold in the masses of e-dirt. There are a lot of e-books to choose from and I have decided not to be fussy about genre. If it is newly published and free to download then it is on my radar. One of the first to catch my eye was Jeffrey von Stetter’s “I’m Just Saying…Think it Through”. This was essentially a vehicle to spout the author’s polemic about perceived value and the likely lack of quality in the 99 cent e-book market. Firstly, I get it! It makes perfect sense that we should not anticipate gold when we are digging in the e-dirt cheap pile. The author makes this point enduringly throughout this work and continuously points out that these 99 cent books will take an hour out of your life. Agreeing with von Stetten's main arguments as I did, it was no doubt the intended irony that this piece could be downloaded for free and took less than an hour of my life to go through. The main theme of "Just Saying", that readers ought not to labor under the misconception or consideration that anything costing less than a dollar should be expected to have value, is repeated seemingly endlessly. Missing was the counterpoint that in a free market economy the market will decide. Author's will decide if it is worth their time preparing these pieces and purchasers will decide if it is worth their time and just less than a dollar. If there is a market then there will be 'entrepreneurs' and these will have a range of talents and enjoy various degrees of success. The introduction to “Just Saying” spoke of laughs, but those that were there were the cruel laughs of the bully. It is, however, a decent and sober reflection on the current trend and cautions would be self-publishers to take the time to consider to whom they wish to sell. There is a certain magic to perceived value, one is reminded of moisturizers and perfumes. Let us see what the invisible hand of the market will do about the 99 cent book. Having been frustrated with arrogance I was exceedingly happy with Jim Cuthbert’s: “Buckets of Steam. A Year in the life of a research technician.” This is a splendid work from one end to the other and if I had any way of doing so I would recommend it to the broadest possible audience. Of course I am biased by my time spent in University chemistry laboratories as undergraduate, postgraduate and beyond. Reading “Buckets of Steam” I was immediately returned to those days in the lab and my days in the Universities of my education. This is a fast moving read that is punctuated with interesting personalities and clever tales. It does, though, highlight the cruelties and stupidities of University life and the sheltered inhabitants resident therein and Jim Cuthbert does not hold back. It would be no fun to be in the spotlight of one of the author's character assassinations but sadly human nature dictates that the outcome had me rolling around with laughter, and yes also when I was on the train, much to the dismay of my fellow commuters. This is a book to be read by anyone who has spent any time in a University lab. Certainly to be recommended broadly. Jim’s writing style was very easy to follow and the story moved at a good pace. I will look out for future Cuthberts, I hope that this does not prove to be a one off. The last ebook that I will review in this short essay is “My Manic Mind” by J.M. Price. This is a courageous work by an author who has something useful to share. J.M. Price suffers from bipolar and talks us through the history of his own struggle and the challenges that he continues to face. Importantly, he describes how he came through to a point of control. This is an educational insight into a seemingly much misunderstood subject. Before I read this piece I had no direct knowledge of bipolar and now the struggles and trials of this affliction are brought to life. The author's own struggle to gain control through self-awareness, lifestyle and a heck of an effort is splendidly communicated. There are no soft edges to the hard truths. I am reminded of William Earnest Henry's "Invictus" and the closing sentiment "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." The author's diatribe against the pharmaceutical industry and the medical profession was too harsh but understandable. Read this book and take time to learn about the significant challenge that bipolar is for the person, not only in terms of the disease itself but also the manufactured stigma that there is, as is so often the case, to a misunderstood subject.

Even with these three pieces it is very clear to me that self-published works have every right to be as good or as bad as anything from a major publisher. It is true that most self-publishers will not have access to the editorial, graphic design or marketing facilities that might make them fully polished and highly successful. True again that there are typographical errors and grammatical slips here and there. What is important, to me at least, is that there is a passion and a message in the work. I have read many paperbacks that contain glaring errors of spelling or continuity so I would not begrudge the odd slip here and there in a work that has been a labor of love.  It would be delightful to see a Cuthbert or a Price rise from obscurity to fame, if only to prove that Stetter’s own work was self-indulgent nonsense. In January I have spent no money on downloading ebooks, yet I have read many and found that there are indeed authors who are unknown who have something funny or insightful to share. Whilst two out of the three works I have reviewed will leave a lasting positive impression, it is important to know that all of the works have, in their own right, been worthwhile. Not all e-dirt is gold, but from the dirt grows the most wonderful flora if given the right conditions!

 

The Daily Coin Flip by James Lyons Walsh

Walsh has pulled together a 'joke a day' nicely silly effort that will give you some laughs and some thoughts. If only coins landed on their edge more often!

Deadline by Craig McLay

This is a splendid and well rounded crime story that had me captivated from start to end. The characters and plot are engaging and one is left satisfied but hoping for more. If you are a fan of crime stories and like the cynical investigative journalism hero/antihero and ancient secret orders then this is right up your alley. One can always argue realism and whether Colin is written older and more mature than his character,but he carries the story from start to end.

Nine Voyages: The logbook of a ship's cat by Philip James Kirke

This is an ebook filled with poetry, limerick and puns. There are some powerful pieces in the nine voyages if you take the full tour, although some might not choose to leave port. Feline observations is a fresh theme at least. It struck me several times that the author did not carry a single theme through the work. The cat theme at the start of each chapter seemed to me to be the only commonality with the individual pieces developing unique vignettes. This is not a work that fits my expertise to properly review or critique, so the words here are brief and only my perspective.

7 billion hominids

The saying goes something like: if one has an infinite number of monkies and an infinite number of typwriters then eventually one of them will recreate the works of Shakespeare. When I started reviewing whatever I could download of e-books from self publishers I did so with a reasonable belief that there is gold out there. It turns out that this is very true. It struck me as the latest review was forming that we should expect greatness and important contributions; there are up to 7 billion hominids on this little globe and such a proportion can and will take the opportunity to create that greatness is inevitable. Clearly, not everything is going to be good. There is a normal distribution to all things. The point struck me and always strikes me that even if it is a one in a million chance then there are seven thousand 'ones in a million'. That many enriching stories, novels, thoughts and poems is the tip of the top. There is greatness out there and there will be more in the future. The search continues and is very invigorating.

THE REALM SHIFT (Realm Shift Trilogy #1) by James Summers

Usually, this type of book is right in the sweet spot of work that I love. It is a shame therefore for me to say that I just did not get this work. The book did not capture my enthusiasm either in terms of characters or the universe that was being portrayed.

Understanding Gravity: Newton, Einstein, Verlinde? by Shan Gao

Shan Gao reviews a difficult subject in a respectable way. Whether gravity is a consequence of 'chaos' or a fundamental effect of the universe is not an easy question to ask and is apparently not so straightforward to answer either. What emerges is interesting and highlights the way that theoretical disputes define scientific debate.

Theory of Relativity for the Rest of Us but not for Dummies: Theory of Relativity Simplified by James Thomas

James Thomas attempts to describe one of the twentieth century’s most fundamental concepts in physics in accessible terminology. The text captures the main concepts of relativity and does indeed do so without too much brain teasing. In that sense the book is a success useful to those, like me, interested in general understanding and to you who really need to understand this topic. Since college I have taken a issue with teachers who point out that what they are teaching is an overt simplification and Thomas fell into this trap in my opinion. The is clearly a decent primer for a difficult topic and does not need to belabor the point that there is much left unsaid. It would have added depth and flavor to the work if it had pointed out where relativity has improved our lives. Such as understanding why GPS gets more accurate when relativity is taken into account or why gold is gold, or many of the small and large advances that arose from a little paper written by a then obscure German.

Wonder is a Verb: An Uncommon Crash Course in the Art of Philosophical Thinking by Thomas Swanson

This is an essay on philosophy, a book about wisdom and a text on thinking. The author reviews philosophical thinking in a readily accessible manner that adds both context and fun to the process. I certainly learned something from this work and enjoyed doing so. One can say in criticism that Swanson has picked the ’usual suspects’ of philosophy upon which to base this work. The ancient Greek Academy is of course a very fair place to start and provides adequate and very reasonable foundation for the core theme of the book. I am left wondering if this same pedagogical style could be extended to alternative philosophical traditions and to the large number of wisdom lovers spanning the age from Aristotle to the present day.

 

Stars and Satellites by Terry Reid

Science fiction, fantasy with Angels, Demons, time travel and the unexpected, all set in Glasgow.

This is the first work of Terry Reid's I have read. The concept and synopsis captured my imagination though overall the execution left me a little flat. This has all of the elements that a successful book of this genre would want to have and one is introduced to well developed characters complete with their inconsistencies and eccentricities. The setting of this work in Glasgow was an ultimately unnecessary point and the 1990 European City of Culture, 2014 Commonwealth games hosting Clyde side venue does not flourish in the preaching of this word. The authors ideas would, like an uncut diamond, show their proper brilliance if a steady hand were used to cut away the cloudy surface of at times imperfect editing and gawky dialog.  I will look out for Reid’s future work with interest.

'Dinosaurs and Prime Numbers (Walton Cumberfield Series)' by Tom Moran

Dinosaurs and prime numbers is the debut work of Tom Moran who writes a science fiction / fantasy that would sit well along side the well established names.
Moran has to be congratulated on this work of ludicrous insanity. I was convinced that the author must somehow be the melding of Robert Rankin and Ricky Gervais. This work runs so fast from one piece of hilarity to the next that the global plot becomes secondary and yet it hangs together. Moran has created lovable characters and blended satire and fantasy so well that I would imagine that anyone who is into this genre at all will be very happy to have read this work.

Nature's Shift: A Tale of the Biotech Revolution by Brian Stableford

Billed as "A marvelous new novel in this long-running series by a master of biological extrapolation" the scene is set for a science fiction spectacular.
This is, however, a book which starts very slowly, in a level of confusion attempts to set intrigue, but fails for me. The idea presented through the passive diffusion of information throughout the book seems to presume an incongruent post apocolyptic Earth which contains far fewer inhabitants, who have evolved to a higher state but intriguingly the transportation infrastructure seems to be as efficient as present day reality. I am left feeling that this was an interesting book but let itself down although perhaps I just missed the point. It does present an extrapolation but luckily for us a highly unlikely one.

I'm Just Saying...Think it Through by Jeffrey von Stetten

Firstly, I get it! It makes perfect sense that we should not anticipate gold when we are digging in the cheap pile. The author makes this point enduringly throughout this work. Agreeing with von Stetten's main arguments as I did it was no doubt the intended irony that this piece could be downloaded for free and took less than an hour of my life to go through. The main theme of "Just Saying", that readers ought not to labor under the misconception or consideration that anything costing less than a dollar should be expected to have value, is repeated seemingly endlessly. We are told of perceived value and the cost of graphics and editing and return on investment. What was missing was the counterpoint that the market will decide. Author's will decide if it is worth their time preparing these pieces and purchasers will decide if it is worth their time and just less than a dollar. If there is a market then there will be 'entrepreneurs'. The introduction spoke of laughs, but these are the cruel laughs of the bully. It is, however, a decent and sober reflection on the current trend and cautions would be self-publishers to take the time to consider to whom they wish to sell. There is a certain magic to perceived value, one is reminded of moisturizers and perfumes. Let us see what the invisible hand of the market will do about the 99 cent book.

My Manic Mind by J.M. Price

This is a courageous work by an author who has something useful to share. This is an educational insight into a seemingly much misunderstood subject. Before I read this piece I had no direct knowledge of bipolar and now the struggles and trials of this affliction are brought to life. The author's own struggle to gain control through self awareness, lifestyle and a heck of an effort is splendidly communicated. There are no soft edges to the hard truths. I am reminded of William Earnest Henry's "Invictus" and the closing sentiment "I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul." The author's diatribe against the pharmaceutical industry and the medical profession was too harsh but understandable. Read this book and take time to learn about significant challenge.

Buckets of Steam. A year in the life of a research technician

Reading this I was immediately returned to my days in the lab and my days in the Universities of my education. This is a fast moving read that is punctuated with interesting personalities and clever tales.  It does, though, highlight the cruelties and stupidities of University life and the sheltered inhabitants and Jim Cuthbert does not hold back.  It would be no fun to be in the spotlight of one of the author’s character assassinations but sadly human nature dictates that the outcome had me rolling around with laughter.  What fun to read events and spectacular stories of misadventure of eternal pseudo student. This is a book to be read by anyone who has resided in a University lab for any length of time. Certainly to be recommended broadly.

Across the Galactic Sea by Wayne J. Lutz

This pioneer adventure set at the dawn of deeper space exploration touches on well known subjects of technology, the psychology of colonists and the frictions of close quarter living. Slow to start and overly pernickety with details this was nonetheless worth the effort. For this effort one is rewarded with thought provoking plot vignettes. Problematically, these thoughts call foul on more than one occasion. There are well considered issues with intra-galactic travel. The author takes on the challenge but does not seize the opportunity to its fullest extent preferring instead to take pages on mundane build up and not extending the tension of the early encounters. Lacking was the ingrained suspicion, the denial and anger.  On the plus side, the characters are developed well and the sexual tension is a well used back theme. The author’s use of character speech was flat and unimpressive at times but did manage to carry the story. In the final conclusion “Galactic Sea” is more Disney than Ridley Scott, and that is fine, that is an option but it is a long shot when half of the actors come from human stock and we know too too well the flaws in our character.

Bitstream by Amy Stapleton

This is a fast moving ebook. it takes a twist on re-entering the 'matrix' voluntarily.

A lot left to the readers imagination. the back story is limited. This works quite well insofar as the story moves along at a pace but one feels the universe is not developed to fully capture the authors imagination.

This is a pleasant read asking a few interesting questions about second life and its ultimate conclusion. Let us hope this is not an accurate prediction though.

Cage, the main character is suitably enigmatic, whether this is a heroic or villainous personage must be in the eye of the reader to determine.

The aim of this blog

For as long as I recall, I have looked beyond trends. In our limited concentration environment of 2013 it seems to me that we concentrate on what is trending. The world now generates such a huge amount of new content via various media that it is impossible to keep up.

I want to use this blog to review some of the content that is available online that may not necessarily get attention otherwise. Specifically I intend to read and review e-books that are self published. It is not because this is a talent of mine, but it is a passion.