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Tindra

TindrasGrove@bookrastinating.com

Joined 3 years, 1 month ago

Professional computer geek. Personal devourer of knowledge.

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Tindra's books

Currently Reading

Becky Chambers: A Closed and Common Orbit (AudiobookFormat, 2016, Hodder & Stoughton)

Read (View all 39)

T. Kingfisher: A House With Good Bones (Hardcover, 2023, Tor Nightfire)
No cover

Allison Carr Waechter: Dark Night Golden Dawn (2022, Allison Carr Waechter)
Ursula K. Le Guin: A Wizard of Earthsea (Paperback, 1984, Bantam)

Stopped Reading

Shane Harris: @War: The Rise of the Military-Internet Complex (2014, Mariner Books)

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reviewed Travel By Bullet by John Scalzi (The Dispatcher, #3)

John Scalzi: Travel By Bullet (AudiobookFormat, 2022, Audible Originals)

The Audible and New York Times best-selling "Dispatcher" series returns with a brand-new mystery, performed …

Avoiding death by getting your friend to kill you

At this point in the series, you should know that there will be lots of dying. With most of it not being permanent. And the "most" is what the plot centers around - getting someone to kill you so you don't die.

But people still die under suspicious circumstances.

The new and unique spin of this installment (pandemic references aside) is the very naked moral tale being told. Scalzi is not subtle here. Which does not spoil when the villains get their comeuppance one bit.

reviewed Murder by Other Means by John Scalzi

John Scalzi, Zachary Quinto: Murder by Other Means (AudiobookFormat, 2021, Audible Studios on Brilliance Audio)

How do you kill a person?

The first in the series introduced us to a world where killing someone means they (almost always) come back to life. So, in this world, how do you actually commit murder?

That’s the question this story gives an answer to. Good mix of whodunnit with some serious risk to the storyteller who might not live to see the end of his own tale.

Narrator continues to not have a super-distinct sound for a couple characters.

commented on The bomb and the computer. by Wilson, Andrew

Wilson, Andrew: The bomb and the computer. (1968)

Oh. Oh my.

The theories put forth for what sort of world order there would be in the 1980’s? And things like numbers of space stations and lunar bases?

WOW they’re hilariously wrong.

Guess that goes to show just how hard it is to predict the future/ how processes that purport to be predictive should be eyed with extreme suspicion.

And these scenarios were the basis for some games. Oof.

quoted The bomb and the computer. by Wilson, Andrew

Wilson, Andrew: The bomb and the computer. (1968)

The cost-effectiveness approach should be given no more influence on decisions than it could legitimately claim, said Knorr. The technique might be a scientific technique, but it’s application was an /art/.

— The bomb and the computer. by  (Page 138)

This is such a hugely important point regardless of the type of analysis you’re using: there is rarely a singular mathematically correct solution. There is a lot of artistry in determining not only the best analysis method, but how much to trust it’s results.

reviewed Deep Roots by Ruthanna Emrys

Ruthanna Emrys: Deep Roots (Paperback, 2019, Tor.com)

After surviving Deep One internment camps and making peace with the government that destroyed her …

Satisfying continuation

Definitely a satisfying continuation to the series, with tensions coming from some interesting places.

And a setup for more stories in this world.

Audiobook narration remains excellent.

reviewed Winter tide by Ruthanna Emrys

Ruthanna Emrys: Winter tide (2017)

"Two decades ago the U.S. Government rounded up the people of Innsmouth and took them …

Good Cthonic intro

Disclaimer: I’ve not read any Lovecraft. But that’s why I feel like I can say: you don’t need to know the mythology to enjoy this story. Ultimately, this is a classic tale of a girl going through Some Shit (tm) and building up some family along the way. She just happens to be related to the Deep Ones. 🤷‍♀️ Audiobook narration is excellent.

quoted Winter tide by Ruthanna Emrys

Ruthanna Emrys: Winter tide (2017)

"Two decades ago the U.S. Government rounded up the people of Innsmouth and took them …

“I’ll fill out the paperwork.” “And what will you list as reason for disclosure?” “Magically bound blood sister to several people who already know?” “I’ll fill out the paperwork”

— Winter tide by  (64%)

LOL the utter defeat in the voice of the government agent (quote not exact because audiobook)

commented on The bomb and the computer. by Wilson, Andrew

Wilson, Andrew: The bomb and the computer. (1968)

Now, remember, this book was written in the 1960’s. “Computer” still meant using punch cards.

The author describes a process by which you can generate some randomness for your war game by buying a book of random numbers from Rand. 1) it breaks my brain slightly paying money for random numbers, or for a Rand product (today you can download it here: www.rand.org/pubs/monograph_reports/MR1418.html) 2) the function to generate (pseudo) random numbers in modern computers is often called RAND(). So, we went from Rand (company) to rand (function).

Progress?

quoted The bomb and the computer. by Wilson, Andrew

Wilson, Andrew: The bomb and the computer. (1968)

The Red colonel worked beneath a framed picture of Fidel Castro; the Blue beneath a placard which said “Remember it’s only a game.” They had been fighting each other for several weeks and did not, I gathered, meet much in the mess any more.

— The bomb and the computer. by  (Page 85)

💀💀💀 For serious, I can easily see wargames ruining professional relationships.

reviewed The Colour of Magic by Terry Pratchett (Discworld, #1)

Terry Pratchett: The Colour of Magic (Hardcover, 1989, Colin Smythe)

Terry Pratchett's profoundly irreverent novels are consistent number one bestsellers in England, where they have …

The Colour of Magic

Many people say that this is the worst Discworld novel to start with, because Sir Terry had not yet truly come into his own.

That may be, but without much other exposure to his writing, this is perfectly enjoyable! Just because it gets better, does not mean this is bad.

Listened to the shiny new audiobook, and the narration was quite good (though not entirely obvious it’s entirely different people narrating footnotes and a certain character).

finished reading Ten Arrows of Iron by Sam Sykes

Sam Sykes: Ten Arrows of Iron (Paperback, 2020, Orbit)

Solid second entry to the series, we get to see more of Sal’s past, as well as (maybe?) a somewhat softer side. Has the usual “middle book of a series” challenges of balancing the story we’ve been handed so far with not rushing headlong towards the conclusion. And plenty of Congeniality being… Congeniality. While at times I struggled to stay focused through fight after fight after fight after fight, if you liked the first, this one should satisfy (as well as it can until the series concludes).