Scott Hunter's 3 favorite reads in 2024

I’m not a sci fi buff at all, but The Martian was a great read. Andy Weir has surpassed even this with Project Hail Mary. It’s tense, fascinating, quirky and highly appealing.

Weir covers the technical aspects of his books in an engaging way - you feel as though you’re learning something, not being preached to. He makes it fun - and he really knows his stuff. This is probably the most enjoyable sci fi book I’ve read since The Time Machine.

This was a slightly unnerving read, but unnerving in a positive way. Why? Well, because Mr Marsh pulls no punches when it comes to discussing the risks involved in any surgical operation involving the brain. It also confronts you, dear reader, with the fragility of life and your own mortality. Why should a 40 year old find himself with a tumour which, although reducible, will nevertheless prove fatal in the end? Why should a talented, attractive young woman suffer a similar fate? Why did Mr Marsh's own son survive a risky operation when others did not? Why have I - at least so far - continued along life's journey untouched by such medical problems? The question is almost a philosophical one and I was given to much pondering during my time spent alongside the highly competent, sometimes shirty but invariably professional Mr Marsh.

It was therefore with some trepidation that I reopened the book each day to continue the rather sobering journey through Mr Marsh's career to date. Marsh is a fine writer, able to express emotion, frustration and humour with a deft and delicate touch. Some reviewers have found him arrogant. Well, maybe a touch here and there, but his humanity comes across very strongly, especially when faced with the prospect of having to confront a patient with what he refers to as a 'death sentence' when a condition is found to be inoperable.

Mr Marsh's observations concerning the nature of the brain itself were endlessly fascinating - one amazing fact being that it is possible to operate without anaesthesia upon the brain because the brain itself is the organ which registers pain, and so if the brain were to register pain bearing directly upon it (i.e. during an operation) we would need *another* brain acting independently of our 'main' brain to register the sensation.

We did part company spiritually, however, when on more than one occasion Mr Marsh dismisses the memories, thought processes, hopes and fears of the human being - in short, everything which makes us 'us' - as mere 'electro-chemical chatter'. I think not, Henry. Summary: Fascinating, worrying, educational. Read it!

An absolutely fascinating account of the incredible subterfuge employed by the allies before the D-day landings and carried out by an extraordinarily diverse team of misfits, self-servers, and courageous self-sacrificers.

The spy network and double cross methodology employed against the Nazis has to rank as one of the greatest collective deceptions of all time. By turns fascinating, thought provoking, and extremely moving, this is a great read – as the blurb says it races along in a tumbling narrative reminiscent of the best thrillers.

Not to be missed.