I had already read some of the later books, but I bought the six-book set on Kindle and read my way through it, loving each one. A self-aware AI security construct hacks its way to freedom, but is in danger of being melted down if anyone finds out what it’s done. With today’s AI taking off, this gives me an insight into the potential machine mind. While simultaneously despising some humans and making friends with others, the paranoid SecUnit secretly calling itself Murderbot travels around the galaxy, finding groups of humans to protect. This immediate paradox is just one of the many points of humour. One of the more surprising characters is ART, a self-aware spaceship which is a research transport for a university. Robots and humans get equal time in this series. The first story All Systems Red was adapted for TV this year, expanding the novella. The later stories engaged me more, with themes overall of slavery, bullying, corporate greed, and loyalty. Reading from the start gave me a much greater understanding of the later novels, so the full set was a worthwhile investment.
All Systems Red by Martha Wells begins The Murderbot Diaries, a new science fiction action and adventure series that tackles questions of the ethics of sentient robotics. It appeals to fans of Westworld, Ex Machina, Ann Leckie's Imperial Raadch series, or lain M. Banks' Culture novels. The main character is a deadly security droid that has bucked its restrictive programming and is balanced between contemplative self discovery and an idle instinct to kill all humans. In a corporate dominated s pa cef a ring future, planetary missions must be approved and supplied by the Company. Exploratory teams are accompanied by…
This is a most gorgeous book, full of colour, history, and the blessing of fruit. From choosing not to clear bushes because they fruited, to planting the seeds, is only a short step. I learned how date palms, citrus, and others came from the East to West, planted along trade routes. Apples, pears and cherries were staples of homes with a temperate climate. We see the paintings, drawings and layouts of fruit tree production and care. The historic illustrations kept me turning pages and marvelling, going back to read the accompanying text. Brunner has presented sections on each time and place, whether it’s about breadfruit or currants. History drips sweet juice and olive oil in these pages. We see the people at work, with their horses and donkeys pulling carts. Orchards give far more than timber forests, or field crops, in the sense that birds and pollinators are fed, the colours and scents change seasonally, sheep can graze here, and the branches are often bare part of the year, allowing flowers to bloom on the ground. The trees also deliver firewood, employment and shade while making the soil fertile. We provided for fruit trees and they provided for us. Whether you like trees, gardens, art, history, or heritage crafts, this is a wonderful read.
A captivating cultural and scientific history of orchards, for readers of Michael Pollan's The Botany of Desire and Mark Kurlansky's Salt.
Throughout history, orchards have nourished both body and soul: they are sites for worship and rest, inspiration for artists and writers, and places for people to gather. In Taming Fruit, award-winning writer Bernd Brunner interweaves evocative illustrations with masterful prose to show that the story of orchards is a story of how we have shaped nature to our desires for millennia.
As Brunner tells it, the first orchards may have been oases dotted with date trees, where desert nomads…
This book introduced me to new aspects of life as well as telling a good story and asking me to solve a mystery. The main character returns from a distinguished career in the US Army, retiring aged forty to small-town Idaho with her parents. As a woman, Tessa Treslow realises her best years for employment and marriage are likely behind her. Tessa rolls up her sleeves and gets stuck in at the repair garage run by her aunt. When a man is found dead in the garage, and it turns out he’d claimed to have inheritance rights on the Treslow garage and grocery store, Tessa has to find the killer. The characterisation of Tessa is drawn from the author’s life, speaking out for women in armies and other careers where length of service comes at personal and social cost. We also see why young people leave rural towns instead of revitalising them. This adventure left me cheering for Tessa and wanting to read more of the series.
From author Rosalie Spielman comes a heartfelt cozy mystery that proves sometimes coming home again can be murder...
Tessa Treslow never wanted a small town life. As soon as she graduated high school, she happily escaped her tiny town to join the U.S. Army, leaving New Oslo, Idaho, population 852, firmly behind her. Twenty years later, the hometown hero is finally ready to come back—even if she has just a visit with loved ones in mind while her family is hoping to convince her to stay for good.
With her fawn boxer dog, Vince, in tow, Tessa falls into the…
Madeline is sixteen with nothing to do in the school holidays. The rural Irish town is quiet and shops are not hiring part-time staff. To keep her out of trouble she is encouraged to join a Riding Club and learn to compete. Her borrowed horse Moonrock has plenty of experience.
The same can't be said for Alabama, the young chestnut mare purchased by Karen's moneyed parents. Karen is expected to succeed, even though other club members - such as Niall, a farmer boy - resent the fact that her father bought up farmland for building. Karen's only ally is Jen who works at the livery yard, training young horses.
Can the young adults put aside their differences and learn to be a team - when it really matters?
