Musings on Life
Regulators increasingly focused on Apple/Google relationship as it relates to anti-trust
Why the polling may not be tightening based on MSM
US Presidential Election hinges on PA and suburban women.
Humanity finally makes it to space and finds out it’s quite crowded with everyone jockeying for colonies. The story goes through the experiences of your average earthling as these revelations are discovered in old age as he signs up for the military.
Two words. Space. Romans. Imagine something at the scale of Game of Thrones in terms of story, character development and intrigue and couple that with the space opera genre and you have a real winner. This is highly recommended to anyone looking for a page turner to get back into reading.
Forever War was written to encapsulate the feeling of ordinary soldiers during the Vietnam War especially ruminating on the ideas of leaving the old world and returning to a new unknown one. The book’s strong suit is its strong MC development and ability to personalize many of the emotions as new crises arise. For those looking for a hero’s long journey on par with The Odyssey, look no further.
Unlike most traditional sci-fi, Hyperion Cantos starts as an anthology of stories bundled in an overarching narrative of discovering the last known mystery in the universe. Similar to Canterbury Tales, the pilgrims are headed for a meeting with the Shrike, an unknown being that each traveler desires something from. For those that enjoy a good mystery novel, this readily fits the bill.
Based off the famous Xbox shooter Halo, Eric Nylund fleshes out the story of the campaign with this prequel to the events that unfold in the first Halo: Combat Evolved game. Even for those not familiar with the games, the story is compelling as it tracks the spartan measures the federation government takes to combat a growing insurgency when first contact is suddenly made with a new alien species.
One of the rarities of the science fiction genre is having a strong female character. Not just male traits wrapped up in a feminine guise, but a truly female character that can stand on her own. This series has it in spades in the form of one Honor Harrington. The story deliberately tracks the French Revolution as re-written in the form of a space opera so the story and characters are treat for anyone who’s a history lover.
Any science fiction list would not be complete without a shout out to Star Wars . Heir to the Empire represents what episode 7 could have been if not for it’s re-written structure. Similar to Thanos for Avengers, Grand Admiral Thrawn represents a far more impressive villain more in the vein of Vader as opposed to Snoke.
One of the earlier sci-fi novels you can get away with reading and understanding, the book centers on the conflict between humans and genocidal aliens that have been beaten back once but are likely readying to return to finish the job. The book’s strong suit is it’s attempts to peel back the layers of a child’s mind confronted by unusual adult stresses (think Lord of the Flies).
Written in 1965 by Frank Herbert, Dune explores the interplay of powerful social, political and economic forces on a futuristic neo-feudal society. In a modern context, it’s similar to Game of Thrones with the perspective firmly fixed on a handful of warring families. What makes the novel fascinating is it’s take on modern warfare, religion and power.
Written back in the 1950s, Asimov envisions a Galactic Empire on the brink of Civil War and the steps necessary to move from a fractured state back to unity. Heavily influenced by Edward Gibbon’s History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, the story focuses on the collapse of empire and the steps necessary to put it back together and all of the untold uncertainties involved.
