The Sparrow

Religion usually doesn't play a big role in Science Fiction novels. And when it does, I have a tendency to find it trite and boring. Of course, I'm writing this blog post to recommend a book that not only features religion as a major part of the narrative, but actually does it in such a way that the book becomes vastly better for it. It's called The Sparrow, by Mary Doria Russel. I have read much SF in my days, but if I had to choose my one favourite, The Sparrow would be it.

The main character is a Jesuit, working in the gutters of San Juan, Puerto Rico, when suddenly extra terrestrial transmissions are discovered. The Jesuits quickly arranges an expedition to the world the transmissions originated from.

What's so beautiful about the book is how the inevitable conclusion at the end builds on everything that's happened. Within a consistent universe, what happens could only be interpreted in one way, and that is devastating.

I could gush on about this book for pages and pages, but I won't. Instead, I say, just go and read it. NOW!

And if you happen to notice there is a sequel to the book, don't read it. The sequel removes much of the power of the desperation and hard choices made in the first book. I was not satisfied.

Crypto-Gram

I have been a faithful subscriber to Bruce Schneiers Crypto-Gram for several years. Every issue always contains at least something highly interesting and several parts that are damn right unsettling. The latest issue can be found here.

What's almost always very interesting is Bruce insight into the security measures USA continuously try to implement, and also how wrong headed they are. Reading about Automated Targeting System made me very glad I'm not an American citizen, and very frightened that I live on the same planet where USA is one of the most powerful countries around.

Iain M Banks and The Culture

The last few weeks I've been reading some fiction. Most of it has consisted of books by Iain M Banks. I hadn't read him before, but on impulse I bought The Algebraist a few months ago. It then gathered dust in my book case for a while, until I mentioned Banks to my colleague, and he promptly borrowed me The Player of Games. Once again, I didn't get started on it immediately, due to some pressing time constraints. But when I finally read it I was mesmerized. Not hard SF (which I usually prefer), but not too soft either, and with an intelligence and vision that is hard to find. So I devoured The Algebraist, and found it very nice too. Now I've read Consider Phlebas, Look To Windwards, and I'm halfway through Excession.

Basically, if you like Science Fiction, you will most probably love Iain M Banks. His person portraits are engaging and very believable and the backdrop is so intense and well fleshed out. Go read! I'm going to do exactly that with all books I can find by him. And when I'm finished with his SF, I guess I'll have to try the books he writes as Iain Banks too.

Ika I Rutan

Jag minns inte många barnprogram som gick när jag var liten, men ett av få som verkligen gjorde ett starkt intryck var Ika I Rutan. Jag har länge haft i tankarna att jag vill se om en del av det för att se om jag fortfarande tyckte om det.

Jag fick tag på två entimmesklipp för några månader sedan, men hade sedan inte tid att se dem. Men strax innan jul satte vi oss ner, jag och Stella, och tittade igenom dem. Boy, jag hade glömt hur bra det var. Hur annorlunda. Otroligt stimulerande och rätt intellektuellt på ett kreativt sätt. Och musiken var också jättebra.

Intressant nog har jag läst många på nätet som skriver att dem varit vettskrämda av Ika. Kan ej förstå detta. Jag älskade det programmet. Om du vill se ett smakprop, gå till youtube och sök på Ika I Rutan. Här är introsekvensen. Underbart.

Post of intent.

This is my new blog. The purpose is to have a place where I can write about whatever I feel like. So, nothing about programming or AI, that I'll write in my other blog. Everything else will be here. I certainly expect to write some about music, movies and books here, but possibly about other things too.

The language will most probably be a mix between Swedish and English. Some of the things I know I'm going to write about won't make sense to write in English. So, that's that.