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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
Charles Kerchner has commented on (12) products
Timescape
by
Gregory Benford
Charles Kerchner
, November 14, 2014
If you like scientifically accurate (the non-fiction portions) sci-fi books with lots of character development, inside look to the scientific process, and lives of researcher, this is the book for you. It has a great plot - environmental disaster in the future is being trying to be adverted by a highly unlike small budget time messaging to the past project. Though it is long winded in areas, the pace of the book builds up into a wonderful and rewarding climax.
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Rosie Project
by
Graeme Simsion
Charles Kerchner
, October 21, 2014
A good fun read about a geneticist with aspergers who wants to find a wife. He uses some really unorthodox methods - wife project questionnaires - to find the perfect mate. He helps a young radical woman find her biologic father. They have many adventures and along the way he finds the "you don't always get what you want, you get what you need." Good characters, especially if you know or are aspergers. A bit weak at the very end.
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Uglies
by
Scott Westerfeld
Charles Kerchner
, October 21, 2014
Excellent YA book. Good marks for the fact that the world Westerfield designs is very believable, isn't overly depressing and doesn't have kids killing or being killed. Cool tech like solar powered hoverboards, super efficient water purifiers, nano-glue, super pranks, etc. Easily identifiable to any teenager who wrestles with their own self image, doubts, and coming of age. Can't wait to read the next one.
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Feed Newsflesh Book 1
by
Mira Grant, Seanan Mcguire
Charles Kerchner
, October 21, 2014
I enjoyed it much better than I thought I would. A good mixture of zombies and post-apocalyptic with new-age news bloggers. The story didn't have any big surprises which was disappointing. The, I'm just trying to get the truth out, got old especially there was no acknowledgement until the very end that it was the truth as they saw it. Also it seemed the characters were much younger than 24 and tried too hard to justify that blogging and internet news was the only right one (but I agree that traditional news has huge faults).
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Agent to the Stars
by
John Scalzi
Charles Kerchner
, October 30, 2013
Did I like this book? To quote scene 24 - "Yes". (of course, I could have memorized the incorrect part). The humor in this novel is pretty good. The story was different but not as much science fiction as I would have liked. I felt the characters were too similar to one another. My first time reading Scalzi - I will definitely look at more of his books.
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Wonder. Robert J. Sawyer
by
Robert J. Sawyer
Charles Kerchner
, October 30, 2013
Nice ending to the trilogy (though really it should have been one book). A bit preachy for the liberal agenda. Jokes/puns are enjoyable but corny. Sawyer always takes great ideas in modern culture, adds colorful real characters and tells a wonderful story. He is definitely one of my favorite authors right now.
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WWW Watch
by
Robert J Sawyer
Charles Kerchner
, October 30, 2013
Sawyer always writes fun identifiable characters. I find his books like candy since I devour them in short order, continually want more and am fully satisfied. Watch is a great book of what if - the World Wide Web became sentient. My only disappointment is this trilogy is really one large book broken into 3 pieces.
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Hero in the Shadows: A Waylander the Slayer Novel
by
David Gemmell
Charles Kerchner
, October 30, 2013
"It's not his fault that he's an unstoppable killing machine." describes it to the core. My favorite of the Waylander books. Each and every enemy is eliminated in a consistent and satisfying manner, as all of the heros/heroines, likely and not, have their turn to shine. These three Waylander books have turned me on to heroic fantasy.
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Use of Weapons: Culture 3
by
Iain M Banks
Charles Kerchner
, October 30, 2013
It was an OK book to read. Most of the book deals with the main character, Zakalwe - and the other dozen names he goes by, and the wrestling with his emotions. Almost all the book has little to do with weapons, war or fighting but the prevention of the use by himself and the strange powerful civilization called the Culture. Strange format since the odd number chapters are progressing forward in time while the even ones are moving backwards (lots of anti-foreshadowing).
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To Say Nothing of the Dog Or How We Found the Bishops Bird Stump at Last
by
Connie Willis
Charles Kerchner
, October 30, 2013
Another fantastic time traveling tale from Connie Willis. This one is complex and rich with a large variety of characters (including a dog and a cat). It contains mystery, romance, adventure and comedy. Like many of Connie's books, it takes a while to get going but when it does, it really takes off and is hard to put down. A good change of scenery from most typical time traveling books.
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Earth Abides
by
Stewart, George R.
Charles Kerchner
, October 30, 2013
A good read describing the end of human civilization. Though long in the tooth at places and somewhat depressing, it is a much more accurate representation to a doomsday scenario than most. One man watches as apathetic humans are uninterested in rebuilding society but instead living off what others have built. An interesting mixture of very detailed sections to fast forward ones.
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Fevre Dream
by
George R R Martin
Charles Kerchner
, October 30, 2013
Martin does a fantastic job bringing to life what it was like to be a riverboat captain in the late 1850s. His description, detail and writing on how tough and ugly our pasts were brought this book to a whole new level. The story is unique especially since it was written over 30 years ago and before the current vampire craze. My only reasons for not giving this a 5 star was it has vampires (not really something I appreciate as much as some) and also I thought the intermission years could have been done a little better.
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