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Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
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Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
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Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
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Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
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Customer Comments
slooo1 has commented on (11) products
Stranger In A Strange Land
by
Robert A Heinlein
slooo1
, July 28, 2006
This is the definative book by a major author of science fiction in the 20th Century. Robert A. Heinlein (RAH) who was a wily intellect, rogue, and self-styled autocrat. Though wildly influential at the time of its publication, and for decades later, it has many of the strengths of RAH, and some of his failings. Warning - mild spoilers. The book, read here by Christopher Hurt, is less a modern novel, and more a highly sucessful piece of pulp fiction. The characters are not as well developed as later SciFi would create. And the inclusion of 'observers' throws the reader completely out of any sustained suspension of disbelief. This is, according to RAH's own words, more of a social commentary than strictly a novel. Many of the major plot points rest on utopian ideals that are in many cases mearly soapboxes for RAH to stand on. This doesn't make the book bad, just simply different from some of its later bretheren. The voice talent is, by and large, very convincing. Switching seemlessly between characters and dialects with ease. The women, who start of sounding drag queenish, seem to hit stride as the book progresses, even if there is little attempt on the author's part to make them into decernable characters. Many of the changes the characters undergo are underwritten to the point of distraction. Jill especially seems to shift from one extreme to the other with little or no grounding. Valentine Michael Smith, the man from mars, is likewise a bit too abrupt in his transformation from child-like innocent to Messiah. But for what it was, I grok that it is full of goodness. Stongly recommended.
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Stranger In A Strange Land
by
Robert A Heinlein
slooo1
, July 28, 2006
This is the definative book by a major author of science fiction in the 20th Century. Robert A. Heinlein (RAH) who was a wily intellect, rogue, and self-styled autocrat. Though wildly influential at the time of its publication, and for decades later, it has many of the strengths of RAH, and some of his failings. Warning - mild spoilers. The book, read here by Christopher Hurt, is less a modern novel, and more a highly sucessful piece of pulp fiction. The characters are not as well developed as later SciFi would create. And the inclusion of 'observers' throws the reader completely out of any sustained suspension of disbelief. This is, according to RAH's own words, more of a social commentary than strictly a novel. Many of the major plot points rest on utopian ideals that are in many cases mearly soapboxes for RAH to stand on. This doesn't make the book bad, just simply different from some of its later bretheren. The voice talent is, by and large, very convincing. Switching seemlessly between characters and dialects with ease. The women, who start of sounding drag queenish, seem to hit stride as the book progresses, even if there is little attempt on the author's part to make them into decernable characters. Many of the changes the characters undergo are underwritten to the point of distraction. Jill especially seems to shift from one extreme to the other with little or no grounding. Valentine Michael Smith, the man from mars, is likewise a bit too abrupt in his transformation from child-like innocent to Messiah. But for what it was, I grok that it is full of goodness. Stongly recommended.
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Stranger in a Strange Land
by
Christopher Hurt
slooo1
, July 28, 2006
This is the definative book by a major author of science fiction in the 20th Century. Robert A. Heinlein (RAH) who was a wily intellect, rogue, and self-styled autocrat. Though wildly influential at the time of its publication, and for decades later, it has many of the strengths of RAH, and some of his failings. Warning - mild spoilers. The book, read here by Christopher Hurt, is less a modern novel, and more a highly sucessful piece of pulp fiction. The characters are not as well developed as later SciFi would create. And the inclusion of 'observers' throws the reader completely out of any sustained suspension of disbelief. This is, according to RAH's own words, more of a social commentary than strictly a novel. Many of the major plot points rest on utopian ideals that are in many cases mearly soapboxes for RAH to stand on. This doesn't make the book bad, just simply different from some of its later bretheren. The voice talent is, by and large, very convincing. Switching seemlessly between characters and dialects with ease. The women, who start of sounding drag queenish, seem to hit stride as the book progresses, even if there is little attempt on the author's part to make them into decernable characters. Many of the changes the characters undergo are underwritten to the point of distraction. Jill especially seems to shift from one extreme to the other with little or no grounding. Valentine Michael Smith, the man from mars, is likewise a bit too abrupt in his transformation from child-like innocent to Messiah. But for what it was, I grok that it is full of goodness. Stongly recommended.
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(0 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
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Stranger In A Strange Land
by
Robert A Heinlein
slooo1
, July 28, 2006
This is the definative book by a major author of science fiction in the 20th Century. Robert A. Heinlein (RAH) who was a wily intellect, rogue, and self-styled autocrat. Though wildly influential at the time of its publication, and for decades later, it has many of the strengths of RAH, and some of his failings. Warning - mild spoilers. The book, read here by Christopher Hurt, is less a modern novel, and more a highly sucessful piece of pulp fiction. The characters are not as well developed as later SciFi would create. And the inclusion of 'observers' throws the reader completely out of any sustained suspension of disbelief. This is, according to RAH's own words, more of a social commentary than strictly a novel. Many of the major plot points rest on utopian ideals that are in many cases mearly soapboxes for RAH to stand on. This doesn't make the book bad, just simply different from some of its later bretheren. The voice talent is, by and large, very convincing. Switching seemlessly between characters and dialects with ease. The women, who start of sounding drag queenish, seem to hit stride as the book progresses, even if there is little attempt on the author's part to make them into decernable characters. Many of the changes the characters undergo are underwritten to the point of distraction. Jill especially seems to shift from one extreme to the other with little or no grounding. Valentine Michael Smith, the man from mars, is likewise a bit too abrupt in his transformation from child-like innocent to Messiah. But for what it was, I grok that it is full of goodness. Stongly recommended.
Was this comment helpful? |
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|
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(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
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Stranger in a Strange Land
by
Robert A. Heinlein
slooo1
, July 28, 2006
This is the definative book by a major author of science fiction in the 20th Century. Robert A. Heinlein (RAH) who was a wily intellect, rogue, and self-styled autocrat. Though wildly influential at the time of its publication, and for decades later, it has many of the strengths of RAH, and some of his failings. Warning - mild spoilers. The book, read here by Christopher Hurt, is less a modern novel, and more a highly sucessful piece of pulp fiction. The characters are not as well developed as later SciFi would create. And the inclusion of 'observers' throws the reader completely out of any sustained suspension of disbelief. This is, according to RAH's own words, more of a social commentary than strictly a novel. Many of the major plot points rest on utopian ideals that are in many cases mearly soapboxes for RAH to stand on. This doesn't make the book bad, just simply different from some of its later bretheren. The voice talent is, by and large, very convincing. Switching seemlessly between characters and dialects with ease. The women, who start of sounding drag queenish, seem to hit stride as the book progresses, even if there is little attempt on the author's part to make them into decernable characters. Many of the changes the characters undergo are underwritten to the point of distraction. Jill especially seems to shift from one extreme to the other with little or no grounding. Valentine Michael Smith, the man from mars, is likewise a bit too abrupt in his transformation from child-like innocent to Messiah. But for what it was, I grok that it is full of goodness. Stongly recommended.
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(3 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
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Have Spacesuit Will Travel (Binder)
by
Will McAuliffe
slooo1
, July 28, 2006
This is a minor book by a major author of science fiction in the 20th Century. Robert A. Heinlein (RAH) who was a wily intellect, rogue, and self-styled autocrat, created a collection of novels for juveniles. This one came out at the end of the Scribner Juveniles agreement. And is an odd duck, to say the least. It has far more sheer plot than many of his later works. But it is also a talky book that tries to examine/explain the human condition. How can humity be so good at destroying itself and expect to be taken seriously as anything other than chattel? There is still a great deal of 'pulpiness' to the proceedings. Except for the main character, most of the other creations here are flinty, barely outlined placecards for plot points. Kip, our narrarator, is bound and determined to get into space. He enters a contest, which would have taken him to the moon, but instead wins a non-functional space suit. It is what happens after he gets the thing up and running again that takes up most of the novel. Suffice it to say that RAH likes putting his young charges in peril. And then getting them out; and then ocassionally cheating, but in a very entertaining way. There are humorous moments, tension filled passages, entertainment and a whole lot of bargain-store 'hard' science fiction convention trotted out to show that you're dealing with a 'real' scientist. On the whole, the voice talent is just great. Only ocassionally do accents slip. But with a full cast (that was far larger than one might imagine at first) there is a great deal of fine work on display. Full Cast Audio is to be commended for their work in bringing so many solid entertainments to modern audiences. Though I doubt many kids will be listening to these discs. More likely folks like myself who read the novels as kids and want a trip down memory lane. Stongly recommended.
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(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
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Have Space Suit, Will Travel
by
William E. McAuliffe
slooo1
, July 28, 2006
This is a minor book by a major author of science fiction in the 20th Century. Robert A. Heinlein (RAH) who was a wily intellect, rogue, and self-styled autocrat, created a collection of novels for juveniles. This one came out at the end of the Scribner Juveniles agreement. And is an odd duck, to say the least. It has far more sheer plot than many of his later works. But it is also a talky book that tries to examine/explain the human condition. How can humity be so good at destroying itself and expect to be taken seriously as anything other than chattel? There is still a great deal of 'pulpiness' to the proceedings. Except for the main character, most of the other creations here are flinty, barely outlined placecards for plot points. Kip, our narrarator, is bound and determined to get into space. He enters a contest, which would have taken him to the moon, but instead wins a non-functional space suit. It is what happens after he gets the thing up and running again that takes up most of the novel. Suffice it to say that RAH likes putting his young charges in peril. And then getting them out; and then ocassionally cheating, but in a very entertaining way. There are humorous moments, tension filled passages, entertainment and a whole lot of bargain-store 'hard' science fiction convention trotted out to show that you're dealing with a 'real' scientist. On the whole, the voice talent is just great. Only ocassionally do accents slip. But with a full cast (that was far larger than one might imagine at first) there is a great deal of fine work on display. Full Cast Audio is to be commended for their work in bringing so many solid entertainments to modern audiences. Though I doubt many kids will be listening to these discs. More likely folks like myself who read the novels as kids and want a trip down memory lane. Stongly recommended.
Was this comment helpful? |
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report this comment
Have Space Suit Will Travel
by
Robert A Heinlein
slooo1
, July 28, 2006
This is a minor book by a major author of science fiction in the 20th Century. Robert A. Heinlein (RAH) who was a wily intellect, rogue, and self-styled autocrat, created a collection of novels for juveniles. This one came out at the end of the Scribner Juveniles agreement. And is an odd duck, to say the least. It has far more sheer plot than many of his later works. But it is also a talky book that tries to examine/explain the human condition. How can humity be so good at destroying itself and expect to be taken seriously as anything other than chattel? There is still a great deal of 'pulpiness' to the proceedings. Except for the main character, most of the other creations here are flinty, barely outlined placecards for plot points. Kip, our narrarator, is bound and determined to get into space. He enters a contest, which would have taken him to the moon, but instead wins a non-functional space suit. It is what happens after he gets the thing up and running again that takes up most of the novel. Suffice it to say that RAH likes putting his young charges in peril. And then getting them out; and then ocassionally cheating, but in a very entertaining way. There are humorous moments, tension filled passages, entertainment and a whole lot of bargain-store 'hard' science fiction convention trotted out to show that you're dealing with a 'real' scientist. On the whole, the voice talent is just great. Only ocassionally do accents slip. But with a full cast (that was far larger than one might imagine at first) there is a great deal of fine work on display. Full Cast Audio is to be commended for their work in bringing so many solid entertainments to modern audiences. Though I doubt many kids will be listening to these discs. More likely folks like myself who read the novels as kids and want a trip down memory lane. Stongly recommended.
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(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
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Have Space Suit, Will Travel
by
Will McAuliffe and Robert A. Heinlein
slooo1
, July 28, 2006
This is a minor book by a major author of science fiction in the 20th Century. Robert A. Heinlein (RAH) who was a wily intellect, rogue, and self-styled autocrat, created a collection of novels for juveniles. This one came out at the end of the Scribner Juveniles agreement. And is an odd duck, to say the least. It has far more sheer plot than many of his later works. But it is also a talky book that tries to examine/explain the human condition. How can humity be so good at destroying itself and expect to be taken seriously as anything other than chattel? There is still a great deal of 'pulpiness' to the proceedings. Except for the main character, most of the other creations here are flinty, barely outlined placecards for plot points. Kip, our narrarator, is bound and determined to get into space. He enters a contest, which would have taken him to the moon, but instead wins a non-functional space suit. It is what happens after he gets the thing up and running again that takes up most of the novel. Suffice it to say that RAH likes putting his young charges in peril. And then getting them out; and then ocassionally cheating, but in a very entertaining way. There are humorous moments, tension filled passages, entertainment and a whole lot of bargain-store 'hard' science fiction convention trotted out to show that you're dealing with a 'real' scientist. On the whole, the voice talent is just great. Only ocassionally do accents slip. But with a full cast (that was far larger than one might imagine at first) there is a great deal of fine work on display. Full Cast Audio is to be commended for their work in bringing so many solid entertainments to modern audiences. Though I doubt many kids will be listening to these discs. More likely folks like myself who read the novels as kids and want a trip down memory lane. Stongly recommended.
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(1 of 1 readers found this comment helpful)
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The Rolling Stones
by
David Baker
slooo1
, July 28, 2006
This is a minor book by a major author of science fiction in the 20th Century. Robert A. Heinlein (RAH) who was a wily intellect, rogue, and self-styled autocrat, created a collection of novels for juveniles. This one came out in the middle of the pack; and is virtually an advertisement for space travel. The Rolling Stones, ostensibly about the Stone family of Luna, is a hopeful guide to inter-planetary travel during the colonization phase of Heinlein's grand future scheme. The voice talent for this Full Cast Recording is, as usual, top notch. Each voice is well modulated, and distictive, even among those voiced by the same actor. The thing sounds like a well-constructed radio program from the golden age. (A real compliment, if you must know.) The program has musical interludes, and avoids using sound effects, though you'd be hard pressed to notice. The book itself introduces us to the entire Stone clan. As a whole, they are modestly drawn. The twins, Castor and Pollux, are quite central, but it is their paternal Grandmother - Hazel Stone - who most folks will remember most fondly (she appears in several other RAH books, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, most notably). Caroline Fitzgerald gives Hazel more life, and more depth than even RAH gave her. I didn't have the pleasure of reading this book when I was younger. I suppose it had been stolen from my local library. But I wish I'd known the plot, as there is a long space were one of the characters is left without oxygen in hard vacuum with a wailing child nearby. I hate crying on mass transit. But there I was, sobbing quietly, as the bus rolled down the road. Other than that, there are a few funny passages; a couple of tense moments involving a space ship with a deadly plague; and a whole lot of very optomistic 'hard' science fiction postulations. Very diverting, and entertaining. Not very taxing, or realistic. But still a whole lot of fun. Stongly recommended.
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Rolling Stones
by
Robert A Heinlein
slooo1
, July 28, 2006
This is a minor book by a major author of science fiction in the 20th Century. Robert A. Heinlein (RAH) who was a wily intellect, rogue, and self-styled autocrat, created a collection of novels for juveniles. This one came out in the middle of the pack; and is virtually an advertisement for space travel. The Rolling Stones, ostensibly about the Stone family of Luna, is a hopeful guide to inter-planetary travel during the colonization phase of Heinlein's grand future scheme. The voice talent for this Full Cast Recording is, as usual, top notch. Each voice is well modulated, and distictive, even among those voiced by the same actor. The thing sounds like a well-constructed radio program from the golden age. (A real compliment, if you must know.) The program has musical interludes, and avoids using sound effects, though you'd be hard pressed to notice. The book itself introduces us to the entire Stone clan. As a whole, they are modestly drawn. The twins, Castor and Pollux, are quite central, but it is their paternal Grandmother - Hazel Stone - who most folks will remember most fondly (she appears in several other RAH books, The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, most notably). Caroline Fitzgerald gives Hazel more life, and more depth than even RAH gave her. I didn't have the pleasure of reading this book when I was younger. I suppose it had been stolen from my local library. But I wish I'd known the plot, as there is a long space were one of the characters is left without oxygen in hard vacuum with a wailing child nearby. I hate crying on mass transit. But there I was, sobbing quietly, as the bus rolled down the road. Other than that, there are a few funny passages; a couple of tense moments involving a space ship with a deadly plague; and a whole lot of very optomistic 'hard' science fiction postulations. Very diverting, and entertaining. Not very taxing, or realistic. But still a whole lot of fun. Stongly recommended.
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(2 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
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