Review of 'Blink' by Malcolm Gladwell

Blink is a book about the power of judging a book by its cover, and how our snap decisions are often completely right. It is well written and laced with comprehensive examples and expert research and opinions. It provides a compelling argument for the power of training, and the usefulness of quick evaluations; and for the times when the snap decision is not quite as useful.

Dealing with such wide-ranging issues as art-experts being able to instantly spot a fake, the uses (and failures) of market research, and why policemen sometimes get things tragically wrong, 'blink' looks at situations we experience, or hear about on a regular basis. It takes each one apart, explains the inner workings, and then puts it back together again, polishing it off with the new knowledge gained from an understanding of the unconscious mind.

If you have the slightest interest in how the human mind works, then I would recommend 'blink' as an example of brilliant pop psychology. It is written for an interested, non-technical audience, and is very accessible. It is also very readable, occasionally witty and often thought-provoking. As I read 'Blink' I started to view the world in a subtly different light. I don't think I will ever dismiss a gut-instinct as easily again.

Review of 'Storm Front' by Jim Butcher

In a geeky fangirl type way, I immediately liked the concept of a story about a Wizard Private Investigator. Harry Dresden, said Wizard PI, is a skilled sorcerer but he doesn't do very good business. What he does have is an in with a police department that specialises in cases of an unusual nature. Then two cases come up at once; a missing person, and a double murder. As soon as he sees the murder scene, Harry knows that there is a very powerful mage on the scene who is breaking the laws of magic. He also knows that to a lot of other people, he would be suspect number one.

As a PI story, Storm Front follows some of the traditional clichés. As a magic story, it follows some other clichés... but put the story together, and it becomes an interesting and amusing story. It is also a true ripping yarn; as the story progresses, the urge to find out what is going to happen next draws the reader through the story.

Harry Dresden is mentally tough, and he is a good conjurer. However, he is not the strongest, fittest or fastest, and I like this. He gets beat around as much as anyone else in the story, and when he fights hand-to-hand, he only does it when the element of surprise is well and truly on his side, or when there is no other option.

The other characters include an air elemental, Bob, who is imprisoned in a skull and acts as Harry's magical library. Then there is Harry's watchman, Morgan, a none-too-bright hard man acting on behalf of a wizard's council. The women in this novel are both good, strong characters, but Butcher seems to go out of his way to make them tough girls. I like them in a way; Police officer Karrin Murphy has a kickass quality about her, that makes her totally believable in the position of hard-nosed cop. Then there is the journalist who'll do almost anything to get a story... between them they provide a competent showing for the 'fairer' sex, but the more I read the more I found these characters to fall slightly towards the cliché as well. Hard-nosed cop and mercenary journalist are not exactly the most original character types.

Towards the end of the story, it seems that most of the characters are in some way out to get Harry, and this grows a little frustrating, as viewers of many TV police dramas will understand. Once the actual plot draws to a close, there is a final wrapping up chapter that stings of TV drama sum-up. In fact, Storm Front almost seems designed for TV dramatisation; and indeed it was dramatised for a while on American TV.

Don't get me wrong though; Storm Front is a very entertaining, gripping read. It was well written, and the magic is convincing. I liked most of the characters, and it was only towards the end that I found some of the plot twists predictable. Even then, it was mainly character reactions, rather than actual events, that were predictable.

The major strengths of this novel lie in Harry Dresden himself. Although he is a wizard, he is a believable person, and as his backstory slowly unfolds, it becomes obvious that there is a lot more to him than meets the eye. Seeing the events through his eyes added an extra layer of interest and insight to the event. Harry's quirky, witty style of narrating made the characters rise to the front, and his way of dealing with the unfortunate series of events makes him a brilliant centre for the story.

Overall, I very much enjoyed Storm Front. If you are looking for a ripping yarn with excellent characters, Storm Front is it. I think that as a character, Harry Dresden is well worth following, and Butcher obviously has some skill at plotting and pacing a novel, which made Storm Front a very satisfying read. At some point, I will be purchasing the next in the series to see if it continues to be as beautifully executed as this.

My Reading List

My friends and I are all keen readers, and if there is a book that one of us feels is particularly good, it will do the rounds of our group. I have introduced people to 'Star Smashers of the Galaxy Rangers' by Harry Harrison, which remains, in my mind, one of the greatest ever works of science fiction parodies. In return, I have been encouraged in the direction of 'Young Miles' by Lois McMaster Bujold, and a number of others that I haven't yet got around to reading.

But I'm getting there.

A recent trip home to see my parents had me leaving with an armful of classic science fiction, and a novel my brother left behind when he moved out. I have another book on long-term loan from a friend who thought it was much more suited to my sense of humour than hers. Not to mention the Discworld books I've been intending to read through for many, many years.

So, what am I reading at the moment?

Well, I'm about halfway through 'Storm Front' by Jim Butcher, a recommendation from a friend from university, which I am thoroughly enjoying. I will, of course, review this when I have finished.

Next up is 'Blink.' This is a non-fiction book, about the unconscious mind, and related psychology. Psychology is a fascination of mine, especially after taking a course in it during university.

Then I have a sizeable list of books on the shelf, including a Graeme Green novel I found in my brother's room after mum had been clearing it out, and 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' by Bill Bryson. I also have two more Martina Cole novels to read before I e-bay the collection. Then another borrowed novel; 'Diaspora' by Greg Egan, which has been universally acclaimed by people whose opinions I trust.

My classic science fiction selection includes many books that everyone says ought to be read by any self-respecting science fiction fan. The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov; H.G Wells' 'War of the Worlds'; '2001 a Space Odessey' by Arthur C. Clarke, and 'Chocky' by John Wyndham.

After this, who knows? Christmas will be showing up all too soon, and it's traditionally the time I relax my moratorium on book-buying. Maybe I'll buy some more of the Jim Butcher Dresden File novels. Maybe I'll complete my Iain M Banks 'Culture' collection by buying 'Inversions', which many say is the best Culture novel after 'Consider Phlebas'. Of course I will be reading the Discworld novels too. And then there are the Neil Gaiman, China Meiville and George R. R. Martin books that everyone says I 'must' read.

One thing's for sure, though; I'm not going to be short on reading material for a while.

I just need to get better at finding the time to read...

Review of 'Look to Windward' by Iain M Banks

'Look to Windward,' another of Banks' Culture novels, is set, mainly, on one of the Culture's orbitals; giant rings in space, providing accommodation for billions of humans and aliens. Eight hundred years after the Idiran war, the light of a supernova reaches Masaq' orbital; the result of a battle that took place during the war and destroyed two suns. As Masaq' commemorates the events of the ancient war and awaits the light of the second supernova, Chel sends a soldier to Masaq', ostensibly to try and convince the prolific composer Ziller to return to his home-planet. Of course, his intentions are not entirely honourable.

This book reaffirmed my faith in Iain M Banks' talent as a science fiction author. After reading 'Excession', I was not particularly looking forward to starting 'Look to Windward'. I felt the former work was long-winded, and lacked the human influence required for a reader to fully engage with the plot. 'Look to Windward' does not make the same mistakes. It includes all the facets that I loved about 'Consider Phlebas' without any of the problems that I feel have plagued his later books. It has the wonderful alien races and cultures, it has wonderful worlds and technologies, but more than this it has wonderful characterisation and a gripping plot.

I have always loved Banks' aliens and the aliens in this story are no different. There are the Chelgrians; a five-limbed species with a complex caste system, which eventually led to civil war. There are the Homomdans, three-legged aliens who sided with the Idirans at the start of the ancient war, before backing out altogether. And then, more spectacularly, there are the sentient Gigafauna of an airsphere environment, dirigible behemothaurs; giant living airships that live within bubbles of air that traverse the galaxy.

Additionally, Banks is telling the story mainly from the point of view of Culture outsiders, allowing the reader to view the far-reaching human society from the outside. The Culture is an incredible race, often hedonistic and very meddlesome... all these things are revealed during the story, and without the patriotism of its human inhabitants, allowing the reader to make its own decisions about Banks' view of our future.

However, what makes me like 'Look to Windward' more than almost any other Banks' science fiction novel is that, aside from the aliens, he tells a fantastic story, with an excellent cast of characters. While 'Excession' and 'Player of Games' lacked a strong lead character to empathise with, 'Look to Windward' has several characters that work within their given environment and act as wonderful bridges for the reader to gain entry to the world. Where 'The Algebraist' and 'Excession' had problems with over-complicated prose, and long sentences that made it difficult to follow, this novel falls back into the highly comprehensible space opera style, which makes it an incredibly accessible, beautifully written piece. The dialogue, especially, is realistic and compelling, making the story easy to read and immerse in. Importantly, as well, the plot is not overly complicated, but it does have enough intrigue and tension to keep the reader hooked.

The major criticism I would have for this novel is the ending. Banks seems to rush to tie up his loose ends in the last few pages, which is slightly jarring after the main climax of the novel. Aside from this, though, 'Look to Windward' is Banks at his best, and I would thoroughly recommend it as a starting point for a science fiction reader to enter his worlds.

Review of the 1983 film 'The Right Stuff'

Amongst my music CD collection is a compilation of Sci-Fi theme tunes, and one of the theme tunes is that of 'The Right Stuff'. It has an absolutely amazing soundtrack, and so when I saw the DVD on sale for a couple of quids, I read the blurb on the back, found myself interested, and bought the DVD. It's a rather odd reason to buy a film, I know... but I was rewarded greatly.

In 1947, Chuck Yeager became the first man to break the sound barrier. His success brought test pilots from all over the United States rushing to Edwards Air Force Base to attempt to become the fastest man alive. In 1957, the first satellite, Sputnik 1 was launched by the Russians. The gauntlet was thrown down; the race was on... the race to put a man into space. Shortly thereafter an unprecedented and rigorous training program began, and seven men (all military test pilots) were chosen to be the first American Astronauts of the Mercury Space Program.

'The Right Stuff' documents these events, and more. It shows the events that changed the world, but more than this it gives the personal touch; it shows the anecdotes and stories that make the race to put a man into space into the race to put a man into space. It not only shows the pilots and astronauts, it shows the people that walk with them; the men behind the venture, and the women behind the men. All through, The Right Stuff puts a wonderfully human spin on events, getting across how the Mercury seven astronauts felt as they took part.

And then, behind each of these men is a wife. The film gets across what it means to be the wife of a test-pilot, and astronaut. These women were sat at home, with their children, while their husbands went flying... knowing that there was a one in four chance that they wouldn't come home. The film portrays these women as strong and caring. They were women of their time, but they were as strong as any man, in their own way. The little struggles, and the larger ones, puts a fabulous backdrop on the launching of Freedom 7 and the missions that followed.

What I really love about this film, though, is the little details. Scenes like Chuck Yeager asking his flight engineer for a stick of gum before every one of his test-flights. The little tavern where the test-pilots all hang out. Alan Shepard asking for permission to urinate in his suit, when a 'fifteen minute' flight was delayed for several hours. Scenes of Gordo Cooper sitting in a radio shack next to a dish while John Glenn orbits over his head. The Mercury Seven at a welcoming event in Texas, watching a burlesque dancer while back at Edward's air force base Chuck Yeager, reaching the end of his test-piloting career, attempts to break another world record.

Although the fates of all the characters are sealed in history, the film captures the fear, excitement, tension and joy experienced by all involved in the historic flights. There are comic stories that paint the characters, showing the atmospheres and attitudes of the time. In places it seamlessly melds original footage of the time, with the actors and characters, in black-and-white sections. The film has also aged incredibly well. While it is filmed in the 80's, the quality still fits in alongside more modern films.

Without doing my own meticulous research, I cannot say how true to life the story is. I cannot say that the history is perfect; in fact I'm sure that parts of it are definitely not historically accurate. What I can say, is that 'The Right Stuff' is an incredible story, perhaps more incredible because it is based on a true story. It isn't Science Fiction, it is fact... and it is fact that is described beautifully in this film. The only criticism I could possibly have is that the film is 3 hours long, but I can honestly say that every moment is worth it.