Books Read in 2019 on paapereira.xyz

The Demon Next Door by Bryan Burrough (2019)

Mon, 23 Dec 2019 22:52:00 +0000

The Demon Next Door by Bryan Burrough (2019)

Author: Bryan Burrough
First Published: 2019
Score: 4/10

Goodreads

Best-selling author Bryan Burrough (Barbarians at the Gate, Public Enemies, Big Rich) recently made a shocking discovery: The small town of Temple, Texas, where he had grown up, had harbored a dark secret. One of his high school classmates, Danny Corwin, was a vicious serial killer who had raped and mutilated six women, murdering three of them. Yet the town had denied all early signs of the radical evil that was growing within Corwin. What had led the local media to ignore his early rapes? Why had the local Presbyterian Church tried to shield him from prison? Why had local law enforcement been unable to solve and prosecute his murders as they continued?

Clone World (Undying Mercenaries #12) by B.V. Larson (2019)

Fri, 20 Dec 2019 22:48:00 +0000

Clone World (Undying Mercenaries #12) by B.V. Larson (2019)

Author: B.V. Larson
First Published: 2019
Series: Undying Mercenaries Book 12
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

James McGill is called upon for a sabotage mission, one that only a man of his unique talents can handle. Unfortunately, he performs too well, and our enemies from Rigel are enraged. They come for us, and war is declared.

Both sides call for aid, and it comes from the Core Worlds in the form of two great fleets. The Civil War for the Empire’s Throne spills out into the provinces. In the center of Galaxy, fantastic fleets crush one another and burn thousands of inhabited worlds. When this conflict between the great powers spreads, humanity finds itself swept up in the storm.

The Dark Forest (Remembrance of Earth's Past #2) by Liu Cixin (2008)

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 22:11:00 +0000

The Dark Forest (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #2) by Liu Cixin (2008)

Author: Liu Cixin
First Published: 2008
Series: Remembrance of Earth’s Past Book 2
Score: 8/10

Goodreads

This is the second novel in the “Three Body” near-future trilogy, written by China’s multiple-award-winning science fiction author, Cixin Liu.

In Dark Forest, Earth is reeling from the revelation of a coming alien invasion—four centuries in the future. The aliens’ human collaborators have been defeated, but the presence of the sophons, the subatomic particles that allow Trisolaris instant access to all human information, means that Earth’s defense plans are exposed to the enemy. Only the human mind remains a secret.

Recursion by Blake Crouch (2019)

Thu, 21 Nov 2019 22:33:00 +0000

Recursion by Blake Crouch (2019)

Author: Blake Crouch
First Published: 2019
Score: 8/10

Goodreads

A mind-bending new thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Dark Matter and The Wayward Pines trilogy.

Barry Sutton is driving home from another long shift as an NYPD detective when the call comes in. A woman is threatening to commit suicide, and someone’s got to try to talk her down. Only as he stands on the rooftop, mere inches away from her, does he realize that the woman is infected with False Memory Syndrome, a mysterious disease that drives its victims mad with memories of a life they never lived. When Barry is unable to save her, he’s rocked to his core–not only by her death but the fear that he’s been exposed to this devastating illness.

Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark (2017)

Mon, 11 Nov 2019 22:25:00 +0000

Life 3.0 by Max Tegmark (2017)

Author: Max Tegmark
First Published: 2017
Score: 6/10

Goodreads

How will Artificial Intelligence affect crime, war, justice, jobs, society and our very sense of being human? The rise of AI has the potential to transform our future more than any other technology–and there’s nobody better qualified or situated to explore that future than Max Tegmark, an MIT professor who’s helped mainstream research on how to keep AI beneficial.

All These Worlds (Bobiverse #3) by Dennis E. Taylor (2017)

Mon, 28 Oct 2019 22:28:00 +0000

All These Worlds (Bobiverse #3) by Dennis E. Taylor (2017)

Author: Dennis E. Taylor
First Published: 2017
Series: Bobiverse Book 3
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

Being a sentient spaceship really should be more fun. But after spreading out through space for almost a century, Bob and his clones just can’t stay out of trouble.

They’ve created enough colonies so humanity shouldn’t go extinct. But political squabbles have a bad habit of dying hard, and the Brazilian probes are still trying to take out the competition. And the Bobs have picked a fight with an older, more powerful species with a large appetite and a short temper.

Dodge & Twist by Tony Lee (2011)

Mon, 21 Oct 2019 22:54:00 +0100

Dodge & Twist by Tony Lee (2011)

Author: Tony Lee
First Published: 2011
Score: 4/10

Goodreads

It’s rumoured that Dickens wanted to return to his classic novel Oliver Twist, to bring him back into a later book as an older character, but he never managed this before he died. However, if Oliver had returned, what would he have been like? Would the scars of his childhood affect the man he would become? And what of ‘Dodger’, sent to a land halfway around the world, his friend, mentor and master dead because of Oliver?

For We Are Many (Bobiverse #2) by Dennis E. Taylor (2017)

Wed, 16 Oct 2019 22:02:00 +0100

For We Are Many (Bobiverse #2) by Dennis E. Taylor (2017)

Author: Dennis E. Taylor
First Published: 2017
Series: Bobiverse Book 2
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

Bob Johansson didn’t believe in an afterlife, so waking up after being killed in a car accident was a shock. To add to the surprise, he is now a sentient computer and the controlling intelligence for a Von Neumann probe.

Bob and his copies have been spreading out from Earth for forty years now, looking for habitable planets. But that’s the only part of the plan that’s still in one piece. A system-wide war has killed off 99.9% of the human race; nuclear winter is slowly making the Earth uninhabitable; a radical group wants to finish the job on the remnants of humanity; the Brazilian space probes are still out there, still trying to blow up the competition; And the Bobs have discovered a spacefaring species that considers all other life as food.

Victorian Secrets by John Woolf and Nick Baker (2018)

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 22:16:00 +0100

Victorian Secrets by John Woolf and Nick Baker (2018)

Author: John Woolf and Nick Baker
First Published: 2018
Score: 4/10

Goodreads

Step right up, step right up and don’t be shy—welcome to Victorian Secrets. Over 12 fascinating episodes, Stephen Fry explores the weird and worrying ways of Victorian Britain through true accounts delving deep into a period of time we think we know, to discover an altogether darker reality.

The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth's Past #1) by Liu Cixin (2008)

Fri, 04 Oct 2019 22:51:00 +0100

The Three-Body Problem (Remembrance of Earth’s Past #1) by Liu Cixin (2008)

Author: Liu Cixin
First Published: 2008
Series: Remembrance of Earth’s Past Book 1
Score: 9/10

Goodreads

ThreeBody Problem is the first chance for English-speaking listeners to experience this multiple award-winning phenomenon from China’s most beloved science fiction author, Liu Cixin.

Set against the backdrop of China’s Cultural Revolution, a secret military project sends signals into space to establish contact with aliens. An alien civilization on the brink of destruction captures the signal and plans to invade Earth. Meanwhile, on Earth, different camps start forming, planning to either welcome the superior beings and help them take over a world seen as corrupt, or to fight against the invasion. The result is a science fiction masterpiece of enormous scope and vision.

Armor World (Undying Mercenaries #11) by B.V. Larson (2019)

Sun, 22 Sep 2019 21:57:00 +0100

Armor World (Undying Mercenaries #11) by B.V. Larson (2019)

Author: B.V. Larson
First Published: 2019
Series: Undying Mercenaries Book 11
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

In a twist of fate that rocks the Galactic Empire, James McGill finds himself negotiating the future of a thousand inhabited worlds.

An artificial object made of compressed stardust is barreling toward Earth. Is it an invasion ship? A doomsday weapon? Perhaps it’s the final response of Squanto, the Warlord of Rigel who McGill has repeatedly humiliated. Or could it be from the Mogwa, sent to avenge McGill’s assassination of Earth’s Imperial Governor?

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (2017)

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 22:07:00 +0100

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (2017)

Author: Neil Gaiman
First Published: 2017
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

Neil Gaiman has long been inspired by ancient mythology in creating the fantastical realms of his fiction. Now he turns his attention back to the source, presenting a bravura rendition of the great northern tales. In Norse Mythology, Gaiman fashions primeval stories into a novelistic arc that begins with the genesis of the legendary nine worlds; delves into the exploits of the deities, dwarves, and giants; and culminates in Ragnarok, the twilight of the gods and the rebirth of a new time and people. Gaiman stays true to the myths while vividly reincarnating Odin, the highest of the high, wise, daring, and cunning; Thor, Odin’s son, incredibly strong yet not the wisest of gods; and Loki, the son of giants, a trickster and unsurpassable manipulator. From Gaiman’s deft and witty prose emerges the gods with their fiercely competitive natures, their susceptibility to being duped and to dupe others, and their tendency to let passion ignite their actions, making these long-ago myths breathe pungent life again.

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (2005)

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 22:21:00 +0100

No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy (2005)

Author: Cormac McCarthy
First Published: 2005
Score: 6/10

Goodreads

Llewelyn Moss, hunting antelope near the Rio Grande, instead finds men shot dead, a load of heroin, and more than $2 million in cash. Packing the money out, he knows, will change everything. But only after two more men are murdered does a victim’s burning car lead Sheriff Bell to the carnage out in the desert, and he soon realizes how desperately Moss and his young wife need protection. One party in the failed transaction hires an ex-Special Forces officer to defend his interests against a mesmerizing freelancer, while on either side are men accustomed to spectacular violence and mayhem. The pursuit stretches up and down and across the border, each participant seemingly determined to answer what one asks another: how does a man decide in what order to abandon his life? A harrowing story of a war that society is waging on itself, and an enduring meditation on the ties of love and blood and duty that inform lives and shape destinies, No Country for Old Men is a novel of extraordinary resonance and power.

The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells (1896)

Sat, 24 Aug 2019 23:26:00 +0100

The Island of Doctor Moreau by H.G. Wells (1896)

Author: H.G. Wells
First Published: 1896
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

Ranked among the classic novels of the English language and the inspiration for several unforgettable movies, this early work of H. G. Wells was greeted in 1896 by howls of protest from reviewers, who found it horrifying and blasphemous. They wanted to know more about the wondrous possibilities of science shown in his first book, The Time Machine, not its potential for misuse and terror. In The Island of Dr. Moreau, a shipwrecked gentleman named Edward Prendick, stranded on a Pacific island lorded over by the notorious Dr. Moreau, confronts dark secrets, strange creatures, and a reason to run for his life.

Origin Story by David Christian (2018)

Mon, 19 Aug 2019 21:50:00 +0100

Origin Story by David Christian (2018)

Author: David Christian
First Published: 2018
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

How did we get from the Big Bang to today’s staggering complexity, in which seven billion humans are connected into networks powerful enough to transform the planet? And why, in comparison, are our closest primate relatives reduced to near-extinction?

Big History creator David Christian gives the answers in a mind-expanding cosmological detective story told on the grandest possible scale. He traces how, during eight key thresholds, the right conditions have allowed new forms of complexity to arise, from stars to galaxies, Earth to homo sapiens, agriculture to fossil fuels. This last mega-innovation gave us an energy bonanza that brought huge benefits to mankind, yet also threatens to shake apart everything we have created.

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953)

Mon, 12 Aug 2019 23:26:00 +0100

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (1953)

Author: Ray Bradbury
First Published: 1953
Score: 8/10

Goodreads

Ray Bradbury’s internationally acclaimed novel Fahrenheit 451 is a masterwork of 20th-century literature set in a bleak, dystopian future, narrated here by Academy Award-winning actor Tim Robbins.

Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family”. But then he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television. When Mildred attempts suicide and Clarisse suddenly disappears, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known. He starts hiding books in his home, and when his pilfering is discovered, the fireman has to run for his life.

Power Moves by Adam M. Grant (2019)

Fri, 09 Aug 2019 22:22:00 +0100

Power Moves by Adam M. Grant (2019)

Author: Adam M. Grant
First Published: January 3rd 2019
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

Navigating the new landscape of power with Mary Barra (GM), Stewart Butterfield (Slack), Satya Nadella (Microsoft), Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook), Eric Schmidt (Google/Alphabet), David Solomon (Goldman Sachs), Ellen Stofan (NASA), and two dozen other leaders, thinkers, and luminaries.

Power is changing. Private corner offices and management by decree are out, as is unquestioned trust in the government and media. These former pillars of traditional power have been replaced by networks of informed citizens who collectively wield more power over their personal lives, employers, and worlds than ever before.

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (1873)

Wed, 07 Aug 2019 21:41:00 +0100

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne (1873)

Author: Jules Verne
First Published: 1873
Series: Extraordinary Voyages Series
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

“To go around the world…in such a short time and with the means of transport currently available, was not only impossible, it was madness”

One ill-fated evening at the Reform Club, Phileas Fogg rashly bets his companions £20,000 that he can travel around the entire globe in just eighty days - and he is determined not to lose. Breaking the well-establised routine of his daily life, the reserved Englishman immediately sets off for Dover, accompanied by his hot-blooded French manservant Passepartout. Travelling by train, steamship, sailing boat, sledge and even elephant, they must overcome storms, kidnappings, natural disasters, Sioux attacks and the dogged Inspector Fix of Scotland Yard - who believes that Fogg has robbed the Bank of England - to win the extraordinary wager. Around the World in Eighty Days gripped audiences on its publication and remains hugely popular, combining exploration, adventure and a thrilling race against time.

The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub (1984)

Thu, 01 Aug 2019 22:36:00 +0100

The Talisman by Stephen King and Peter Straub (1984)

Author: Stephen King and Peter Straub
First Published: 1984
Series: The Talisman Book 1 and a Stephen King Novels
Score: 9/10

Goodreads

On a brisk autumn day, a twelve-year-old boy stands on the shores of the gray Atlantic, near a silent amusement park and a fading ocean resort called the Alhambra. The past has driven Jack Sawyer here: his father is gone, his mother is dying, and the world no longer makes sense. But for Jack everything is about to change. For he has been chosen to make a journey back across America–and into another realm.

Twain's Feast by Nick Offerman (2018)

Wed, 10 Jul 2019 23:06:00 +0100

Twain’s Feast by Nick Offerman (2018)

Author: Nick Offerman
First Published: 2018
Score: 4/10

Goodreads

Mark Twain, beloved American writer, performer, and humorist, was a self-proclaimed glutton. With the help of a chef and some friends, Nick Offerman presents the story of Twain’s life through the lens of eight of Mark Twain’s favorite foods. As we explore these foods’ role in Samuel Clemens’ life, we also discover a surprising culinary and ecological history of America. The biggest celebrity of his time, Twain was a witness to a transforming country, and with historian and writer Andy Beahrs as a guide, Beahrs and Offerman take documentary excursions across America, illuminating each dish and bringing to life a broad sampling of Twain’s writing. Twain’s Feast is a rollicking information-packed journey into the rich culinary history of America, with the sharp eye and unmistakable wit of Mark Twain himself.

Alien: Sea of Sorrows by James A. Moore (2014)

Mon, 08 Jul 2019 21:40:00 +0100

Alien: Sea of Sorrows by James A. Moore (2014)

Author: James A. Moore
First Published: 2014
Series: Alien Series
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

The Alien film franchise has been embraced by sci-fi fans around the world. The series stars Lieutenant Ellen Ripley and her battles with the deadly Xenomorph commonly referred to as the Alien. Continuing the groundbreaking story from ALIEN: OUT OF THE SHADOWS by Tim Lebbon, this novel will reveal Ripley’s legacy, as her descendants continue to be harried by the Weyland-Yutani Corporation in their unceasing effort to weaponize the aliens.

The Future of Humanity by Michio Kaku (2018)

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 22:21:00 +0100

The Future of Humanity by Michio Kaku (2018)

Author: Michio Kaku
First Published: 2018
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

Human civilization is on the verge of spreading beyond Earth. More than a possibility, it is becoming a necessity: whether our hand is forced by climate change and resource depletion or whether future catastrophes compel us to abandon Earth, one day we will make our homes among the stars.

World-renowned physicist and futurist Michio Kaku explores in rich, accessible detail how humanity might gradually develop a sustainable civilization in outer space. With his trademark storytelling verve, Kaku shows us how science fiction is becoming reality: mind-boggling developments in robotics, nanotechnology, and biotechnology could enable us to build habitable cities on Mars; nearby stars might be reached by microscopic spaceships sailing through space on laser beams; and technology might one day allow us to transcend our physical bodies entirely.

Out of My Mind by Alan Arkin (2018)

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 22:24:00 +0100

Out of My Mind by Alan Arkin (2018)

Author: Alan Arkin
First Published: December 6th 2018
Score: 3/10

Goodreads

Alan Arkin, one of the most beloved and accomplished actors of our time, reveals a side of himself not often shown on stage or screen.

Like many teenagers, 16-year-old Alan Arkin had it all figured out. Then came young adulthood, and with it a wave of doubt so strong it caused him to question everything he thought he knew about himself and the world. Ever skeptical and full of questions, Arkin embarked on a spiritual journey to find something—anything—to believe in. An existential crisis in his 30s led him to the study of Eastern philosophy. Soon he began opening himself to the possibility that there was more to life than what he had simply seen, heard, or been taught.

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (1898)

Mon, 24 Jun 2019 22:11:00 +0100

The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells (1898)

Author: H.G. Wells
First Published: May 1898
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

First published by H. G. Wells in 1898, The War of the Worlds is the granddaddy of all alien invasion stories. The novel begins ominously, as the lone voice of a narrator intones, “No one would have believed in the last years of the 19th century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligences greater than man’s.”

Lullaby by Jonathan Maberry (2018)

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 22:17:00 +0100

Lullaby by Jonathan Maberry (2018)

Author: Jonathan Maberry
First Published: October 4th 2018
Score: 4/10

Goodreads

The fears and horrors of being a new parent take on a shocking dimension in in this heart-stopping original story, only from Audible. A young married couple, Matt and Gillian have just bought a gorgeous house located next to a lake in the Catskills. They want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city to raise their baby girl, Hope, in relative peace and quiet. When night falls, however, their dream home becomes a house of nightmares. Matt and Gillian soon learn that darkness takes many forms. And sometimes, darkness is hungry.

The Martian (The Martian #1) by Andy Weir (2012)

Tue, 18 Jun 2019 22:46:00 +0100

The Martian (The Martian #1) by Andy Weir (2012)

Author: Andy Weir
First Published: September 27th 2012
Series: The Martian Book 1
Score: 8/10

Goodreads

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him & forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded & completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—& even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Earth Below, Sky Above (The Human Division #13) by John Scalzi (2013)

Sun, 09 Jun 2019 23:40:00 +0100

Earth Below, Sky Above (The Human Division #13) by John Scalzi (2013)

Author: John Scalzi
First Published: April 9th 2013
Series: The Human Division Book 13
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

At last, the Earth and the Colonial Union have begun formal discussions about their relationship in the future chance for the divisions in humanity to be repaired. The diplomats and crew of the Clarke are on hand to help with the process, including Ambassador Ode Abumwe and CDF Lieutenant Harry Wilson, both of whom were born on Earth. But not everyone wants The Human Division to be repaired…and they will go to great length to make sure it isn’t.

Foundation (Foundation #1) by Isaac Asimov (1951)

Sat, 08 Jun 2019 22:19:00 +0100

Foundation (Foundation #1) by Isaac Asimov (1951)

Author: Isaac Asimov
First Published: 1951
Series: Foundation Book 1
Score: 8/10

Goodreads

For twelve thousand years the Galactic Empire has ruled supreme. Now it is dying. But only Hari Seldon, creator of the revolutionary science of psychohistory, can see into the future – to a dark age of ignorance, barbarism, and warfare that will last thirty thousand years. To preserve knowledge and save mankind, Seldon gathers the best minds in the Empire – both scientists and scholars – and brings them to a bleak planet at the edge of the Galaxy to serve as a beacon of hope for a future generations. He calls his sanctuary the Foundation.

The Gentle Art of Cracking Heads (The Human Division #12) by John Scalzi (2013)

Sat, 01 Jun 2019 22:51:00 +0100

The Gentle Art of Cracking Heads (The Human Division #12) by John Scalzi (2013)

Author: John Scalzi
First Published: April 2nd 2013
Series: The Human Division Book 12
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

United States Diplomat Danielle Lowen was there when one of her fellow diplomats committed an unthinkable act that had consequences for the entire planet. Now she’s trying to figure out how it happened before it can happen again. Putting the puzzle pieces together could solve the mystery - or it could threaten her own life.

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells (1897)

Fri, 31 May 2019 22:54:00 +0100

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells (1897)

Author: H.G. Wells
First Published: 1897
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

On a freezing February day, a stranger emerges from out of the gray to request a room at a local provincial inn. Who is this out-of-season traveler? More confounding is the thick mask of bandages obscuring his face. Why does he disguise himself in this manner and keep himself hidden away in his room?

Aroused by trepidation and curiosity, the local villagers bring it upon themselves to find the answers. What they discover is a man trapped in a terror of his own creation, and a chilling reflection of the unsolvable mysteries of their own souls.

A Problem of Proportion (The Human Division #11) by John Scalzi (2013)

Mon, 27 May 2019 23:12:00 +0100

A Problem of Proportion (The Human Division #11) by John Scalzi (2013)

Author: John Scalzi
First Published: March 26th 2013
Series: The Human Division Book 11
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

A secret backdoor meeting between Ambassador Ode Abumwe and the Conclaves Hafte Sorvalh turns out to be less than secret as both of their ships are attacked. Its a surprise to both teams but its the identity of the attacker that is the real surprise, and suggests a threat to both humanity and The Conclave.

Broken Angels (Takeshi Kovacs #2) by Richard K. Morgan (2003)

Sun, 26 May 2019 21:10:00 +0100

Broken Angels (Takeshi Kovacs #2) by Richard K. Morgan (2003)

Author: Richard K. Morgan
First Published: March 20th 2003
Series: Takeshi Kovacs Book 2
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

Cynical, quick-on-the-trigger Takeshi Kovacs, the ex-U.N. envoy turned private eye, has changed careers, and bodies, once more, trading sleuthing for soldiering as a warrior-for-hire and helping a far-flung planet’s government put down a bloody revolution.

But when it comes to taking sides, the only one Kovacs is ever really on is his own. So when a rogue pilot and a sleazy corporate fat cat offer him a lucrative role in a treacherous treasure hunt, he’s only too happy to go AWOL with a band of resurrected soldiers of fortune. All that stands between them and the ancient alien spacecraft they mean to salvage are a massacred city bathed in deadly radiation, unleashed nanotechnolgy with a million ways to kill, and whatever surprises the highly advanced Martian race may have in store. But armed with his genetically engineered instincts, and his trusty twin Kalashnikovs, Takeshi is ready to take on anything…and let the devil take whoever’s left behind.

Hi Bob! by Bob Newhart (2018)

Tue, 14 May 2019 22:05:00 +0100

Hi Bob! by Bob Newhart (2018)

Author: Bob Newhart
First Published: July 18th 2018
Score: 3/10

Goodreads

In Hi Bob!, American icon Bob Newhart gets together one-on-one with a handpicked cohort of luminaries in the world of entertainment, whom he happens to be friends with. Bob gets deep with each performer about their aspirations, their careers, how they got started, and how they grew to be where they are today. They make TV shows, movies, or albums, but they all like telling stories.

This Must Be the Place (The Human Division #10) by John Scalzi (2013)

Sun, 12 May 2019 22:09:00 +0100

This Must Be the Place (The Human Division #10) by John Scalzi (2013)

Author: John Scalzi
First Published: March 19th 2013
Series: The Human Division Book 10
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

Colonial Union diplomat Hart Schmidt is back home for Harvest Day celebrations - to a family whose members wonder whether its youngest son isn’t wasting his life clinging to the lowest rung of the CU’s diplomatic ladder. When his father, a legendarily powerful politician, presents him with a compelling offer, Schmidt has to take stock of his life and career.

We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse #1) by Dennis E. Taylor (2016)

Sun, 12 May 2019 19:56:00 +0100

We Are Legion (We Are Bob) (Bobiverse #1) by Dennis E. Taylor (2016)

Author: Dennis E. Taylor
First Published: September 20th 2016
Series: Bobiverse Book 1
Score: 9/10

Goodreads

Bob Johansson has just sold his software company and is looking forward to a life of leisure. There are places to go, books to read, and movies to watch. So it’s a little unfair when he gets himself killed crossing the street.

Bob wakes up a century later to find that corpsicles have been declared to be without rights, and he is now the property of the state. He has been uploaded into computer hardware and is slated to be the controlling AI in an interstellar probe looking for habitable planets. The stakes are high: no less than the first claim to entire worlds. If he declines the honor, he’ll be switched off, and they’ll try again with someone else. If he accepts, he becomes a prime target. There are at least three other countries trying to get their own probes launched first, and they play dirty.

Girls & Boys by Dennis Kelly (2018)

Sun, 05 May 2019 22:26:00 +0100

Girls & Boys by Dennis Kelly (2018)

Author: Dennis Kelly
First Published: 2018
Score: 3/10

Goodreads

They met at an airport and fell for each other. But in time, they would meet their fate as it all falls apart.

A pulse-pounding new play from Tony Award-winning® playwright Dennis Kelly takes you on a journey that is at once hilarious, gripping, and heartbreaking. This world-premiere production starring Carey Mulligan (The Great Gatsby, An Education) is available exclusively on Audible after a celebrated run at the Royal Court Theatre in London and off-Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theatre.

The Observers (The Human Division #9) by John Scalzi (2013)

Thu, 02 May 2019 22:18:00 +0100

The Observers (The Human Division #9) by John Scalzi (2013)

Author: John Scalzi
First Published: March 12th 2013
Series: The Human Division Book 9
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

In an effort to improve relations with the Earth, the Colonial Union has invited a contingent of diplomats from that planet to observe Ambassador Abumwe negotiate a trade deal with an alien species. Then something very bad happens to one of the Earthings, and with that, the relationship between humanitys two factions is on the cusp of disruption once more. Its a race to find out what really happened, and who is to blame.

The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester (1955)

Wed, 01 May 2019 22:11:00 +0100

The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester (1955)

Author: Alfred Bester
First Published: 1955
Score: 6/10

Goodreads

In this pulse-quickening novel, Alfred Bester imagines a future in which people “jaunte” a thousand miles with a single thought, where the rich barricade themselves in labyrinths and protect themselves with radioactive hit men - and where an inarticulate outcast is the most valuable and dangerous man alive.

The Stars My Destination is a classic of technological prophecy and timeless narrative enchantment by an acknowledged master of science fiction.

Starship Pandora by B.V. Larson (2018)

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 22:43:00 +0100

Starship Pandora by B.V. Larson (2018)

Author: B.V. Larson
First Published: 2018
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

The mysterious alien race known as the Ancients vanished before Earth’s last ice age - but not before building interconnected rings that form a highway system across the galaxy. Humanity has used these rings for years but has never figured out how to build its own, or even how to alter the connection pattern.

Now, the Imperial starship Pandora is on a mission to discover and explore new interstellar connection points. While on Venus, an unexpected guest arrives - Marvin, a rogue robot who puts his strange mind to work on reconnecting the rings into a new pattern. And everything goes haywire. Grotesque aliens come through the ring and overrun Pandora’s base camp. The good news is the aliens can be killed. The bad news is the aliens keep coming, and no one knows how to turn off the ring that leads directly to their home world.

21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari (2018)

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 20:50:00 +0100

21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari (2018)

Author: Yuval Noah Harari
First Published: August 30th 2018
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

From the author of the multimillion copy best seller Sapiens.

Sapiens showed us where we came from. Homo Deus looked to the future. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century explores the present.

How can we protect ourselves from nuclear war, ecological cataclysms and technological disruptions? What can we do about the epidemic of fake news or the threat of terrorism? What should we teach our children?

Storm World (Undying Mercenaries #10) by B.V. Larson (2018)

Fri, 12 Apr 2019 23:20:00 +0100

Storm World (Undying Mercenaries #10) by B.V. Larson (2018)

Author: B.V. Larson
First Published: 2018
Series: Undying Mercenaries Book 10
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

James McGill is sent to the Core Worlds!

In an unprecedented first, Earth sends a message to Mogwa Prime. Unfortunately, the messenger is not met with enthusiasm. Misunderstandings soon threaten all of Humanity. Forced to prove Earth can serve the Empire better than any rival, McGill does his best.

Eager to prove our worth to the Galactics, the frontier war between Rigel and Earth is expanded to Storm World. Circled by six moons, the planet is ravaged by wild storms and tides. Battles are fought in raging hurricanes, and death stalks the soldiers on both sides.

Just Six Numbers by Martin J. Rees (1999)

Sun, 31 Mar 2019 22:37:00 +0100

Just Six Numbers by Martin J. Rees (1999)

Author: Martin J. Rees
First Published: 1999
Series: The Science Masters Series
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

How did a single genesis event create billions of galaxies, black holes, stars and planets? How did atoms assemble—here on earth, and perhaps on other worlds—into living beings intricate enough to ponder their origins? What fundamental laws govern our universe?

This book describes new discoveries and offers remarkable insights into these fundamental questions. There are deep connections between stars and atoms, between the cosmos and the microworld. Just six numbers, imprinted in the big bang, determine the essential features of our entire physical world. Moreover, cosmic evolution is astonishingly sensitive to the values of these numbers. If any one of them were untuned, there could be no stars and no life. This realization offers a radically new perspective on our universe, our place in it, and the nature of physical laws.

The Sound of Rebellion (The Human Division #8) by John Scalzi (2013)

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 22:52:00 +0000

The Sound of Rebellion (The Human Division #8) by John Scalzi (2013)

Author: John Scalzi
First Published: March 5th 2013
Series: The Human Division Book 8
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

The Colonial Defense Forces usually protect humanity from alien attack, but now the stability of the Colonial Union has been threatened, and Lieutenant Heather Lee and her squad are called to squash a rebellion on a colony world. It seems simple enoughbut theres a second act to the rebellion that finds Lee captive, alone, and armed with only her brains to survive.

Ender's Game (Ender's Saga #1) by Orson Scott Card (1985)

Thu, 28 Mar 2019 22:47:00 +0000

Ender’s Game (Ender’s Saga #1) by Orson Scott Card (1985)

Author: Orson Scott Card
First Published: 1985
Series: Ender’s Saga Book 1
Score: 10/10

Goodreads

Andrew “Ender” Wiggin thinks he is playing computer simulated war games; he is, in fact, engaged in something far more desperate. The result of genetic experimentation, Ender may be the military genius Earth desperately needs in a war against an alien enemy seeking to destroy all human life. The only way to find out is to throw Ender into ever harsher training, to chip away and find the diamond inside, or destroy him utterly. Ender Wiggin is six years old when it begins. He will grow up fast.

Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott (1884)

Tue, 19 Mar 2019 22:26:00 +0000

Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott (1884)

Author: Edwin A. Abbott
First Published: 1884
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

Abbott used the fictional two-dimensional world of Flatland to offer pointed observations on the social hierarchy of Victorian culture. However, the novella’s more enduring contribution is its examination of dimensions, for which the novella is still popular amongst mathematics, physics, and computer science students. Several films have been made from the story, including a feature film in 2007 called Flatland. Other efforts have been short or experimental films, including one narrated by Dudley Moore and a short film with Martin Sheen titled Flatland: The Movie.

The Dog King (The Human Division #7) by John Scalzi (2013)

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 18:05:00 +0000

The Dog King (The Human Division #7) by John Scalzi (2013)

Author: John Scalzi
First Published: February 26th 2013
Series: The Human Division Book 7
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

CDF Lieutenant Harry Wilson has one simple task: Watch an ambassador’s dog while the diplomat is conducting sensitive negotiations with an alien race. But you know dogs - always getting into something. And when this dog gets into something that could launch an alien civil war, Wilson has to find a way to solve the conflict, fast, or be the one in the Colonial Union’s doghouse.

Children of Time (Children of Time #1) by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2015)

Sat, 16 Mar 2019 23:16:00 +0000

Children of Time (Children of Time #1) by Adrian Tchaikovsky (2015)

Author: Adrian Tchaikovsky
First Published: June 2015
Series: Children of Time Book 1
Score: 9/10

Goodreads

A race for survival among the stars… Humanity’s last survivors escaped earth’s ruins to find a new home. But when they find it, can their desperation overcome it’s dangers? WHO WILL INHERIT THIS NEW EARTH? The last remnants of the human race left a dying Earth, desperate to find a new home among the stars. Following in the footsteps of their ancestors, they discover the greatest treasure of the past age - a world terraformed and prepared for human life. But all is not right in this new Eden. In the long years since the planet was abandoned, the work of its architects has borne disastrous fruit. The planet is not waiting for them, pristine and unoccupied. New masters have turned it from a refuge into mankind’s worst nightmare. Now two civilizations are on a collision course, both testing the boundaries of what they will do to survive. As the fate of humanity hangs in the balance, who are the true heirs of this new Earth?

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1) by Douglas Adams (1979)

Sun, 03 Mar 2019 22:27:00 +0000

Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy #1) by Douglas Adams (1979)

Author: Douglas Adams
First Published: October 12th 1979
Series: Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Book 1
Score: 8/10

Goodreads

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

The Back Channel (The Human Division #6) by John Scalzi (2013)

Mon, 25 Feb 2019 21:17:00 +0000

The Back Channel (The Human Division #6) by John Scalzi (2013)

Author: John Scalzi
First Published: February 19th 2013
Series: The Human Division Book 6
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

The Conclave is a confederation of 400 alien races - many of whom would like to see the Colonial Union - and the humans inside of it - blasted to extinction. To avoid a conflict that neither side can afford, Conclave leader General Tarsem Gau appoints Hafte Sorvalh to resolve an emerging diplomatic crisis with the humans, before the only acceptable solution is war.

Altered Carbon (Takeshi Kovacs #1) by Richard K. Morgan (2002)

Sun, 24 Feb 2019 22:30:00 +0000

Altered Carbon (Takeshi Kovacs #1) by Richard K. Morgan (2002)

Author: Richard K. Morgan
First Published: February 28th 2002
Series: Takeshi Kovacs Book 1
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

Four hundred years from now mankind is strung out across a region of interstellar space inherited from an ancient civilization discovered on Mars. The colonies are linked together by the occasional sublight colony ship voyages and hyperspatial data-casting. Human consciousness is digitally freighted between the stars and downloaded into bodies as a matter of course.

I, Robot (Robot Series Book 0.1) by Isaac Asimov (1950)

Tue, 12 Feb 2019 22:49:00 +0000

I, Robot (Robot Series Book 0.1) by Isaac Asimov (1950)

Author: Isaac Asimov
First Published: 1950
Series: Robot Series Book 0.1
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

The three laws of Robotics:

A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

With these three, simple directives, Isaac Asimov changed our perception of robots forever when he formulated the laws governing their behavior. In I, Robot, Asimov chronicles the development of the robot through a series of interlinked stories: from its primitive origins in the present to its ultimate perfection in the not-so-distant future–a future in which humanity itself may be rendered obsolete.

A Voice in the Wilderness (The Human Division #4) by John Scalzi (2013)

Wed, 06 Feb 2019 22:13:00 +0000

A Voice in the Wilderness (The Human Division #4) by John Scalzi (2013)

Author: John Scalzi
First Published: February 5th 2013
Series: The Human Division Book 4
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

Albert Birnbaum was once one of the biggest political talk show hosts around, but these days hes watching his career enter a death spiral. A stranger offers a solution to his woes, promising to put him back on top. Its everything Birnbaum wants, but is there a catch? And does Birnbaum actually care if there is?

Autonomous by Annalee Newitz (2017)

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 22:13:00 +0000

Autonomous by Annalee Newitz (2017)

Author: Annalee Newitz
First Published: September 19th 2017
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

The highly anticipated science fiction debut from the founder of io9!Earth, 2144. Jack is an anti-patent scientist turned drug pirate, traversing the world in a submarine as a pharmaceutical Robin Hood, fabricating cheap scrips for poor people who cant otherwise afford them. But her latest drug hack has left a trail of lethal overdoses as people become addicted to their work, doing repetitive tasks until they become unsafe or insane.Hot on her trail, an unlikely pair: Eliasz, a brooding military agent, and his robotic partner, Paladin. As they race to stop information about the sinister origins of Jacks drug from getting out, they begin to form an uncommonly close bond that neither of them fully understand.And underlying it all is one fundamental question: Is freedom possible in a culture where everything, even people, can be owned?

We Only Need the Heads (The Human Division #3) by John Scalzi (2013)

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 22:14:00 +0000

We Only Need the Heads (The Human Division #3) by John Scalzi (2013)

Author: John Scalzi
First Published: January 29th 2013
Series: The Human Division Book 3
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

CDF Lieutenant Harry Wilson has been loaned out to a CDF platoon tasked with secretly removing an unauthorized colony of humans on an alien world. Colonial Ambassador Abumwe has been ordered to participate in final negotiations with an alien race the Union hopes to make allies. Wilson and Abumwes missions are fated to crossand in doing so, place both missions at risk of failure.

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou (2018)

Sun, 27 Jan 2019 18:15:00 +0000

Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup by John Carreyrou (2018)

Author: John Carreyrou
First Published: May 21st 2018
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

The full inside story of the breathtaking rise and shocking collapse of a multibillion-dollar startup, by the prize-winning journalist who first broke the story and pursued it to the end in the face of pressure and threats from the CEO and her lawyers.

In 2014, Theranos founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes was widely seen as the female Steve Jobs: a brilliant Stanford dropout whose startup “unicorn” promised to revolutionize the medical industry with a machine that would make blood tests significantly faster and easier. Backed by investors such as Larry Ellison and Tim Draper, Theranos sold shares in a fundraising round that valued the company at $9 billion, putting Holmes’s worth at an estimated $4.7 billion. There was just one problem: The technology didn’t work.

The Art of Invisibility by Kevin Mitnick (2017)

Fri, 18 Jan 2019 18:22:00 +0000

The Art of Invisibility by Kevin Mitnick (2017)

Author: Kevin Mitnick
First Published: February 14th 2017
Score: 7/10

Goodreads

The world’s most famous hacker reveals the secrets on how citizens and consumers can stay connected and on the grid safely and securely by using cloaking and counter-measures in today’s age of Big Brother and big data.

The B-Team (The Human Division #1) by John Scalzi (2013)

Fri, 11 Jan 2019 22:39:00 +0000

The B-Team (The Human Division #1) by John Scalzi (2013)

Author: John Scalzi
First Published: January 15th 2013
Series: The Human Division Book 1
Score: 5/10

Goodreads

The opening episode of The Human Division, John Scalzi’s new thirteen-episode novel in the world of his bestselling Old Man’s War.

Colonial Union Ambassador Ode Abumwe and her team are used to life on the lower end of the diplomatic ladder. But when a high-profile diplomat goes missing, Abumwe and her team are last minute replacements on a mission critical to the Colonial Unions future. As the team works to pull off their task, CDF Lieutenant Harry Wilson discovers theres more to the story of the missing diplomats than anyone expected…a secret that could spell war for humanity.

Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies by Nick Bostrom (2014)

Wed, 09 Jan 2019 22:04:00 +0000

Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies by Nick Bostrom (2014)

Author: Nick Bostrom
First Published: July 3rd 2014
Score: 6/10

Goodreads

Superintelligence asks the questions: What happens when machines surpass humans in general intelligence? Will artificial agents save or destroy us? Nick Bostrom lays the foundation for understanding the future of humanity and intelligent life. The human brain has some capabilities that the brains of other animals lack. It is to these distinctive capabilities that our species owes its dominant position. If machine brains surpassed human brains in general intelligence, then this new superintelligence could become extremely powerful - possibly beyond our control. As the fate of the gorillas now depends more on humans than on the species itself, so would the fate of humankind depend on the actions of the machine superintelligence.