"Good Arguments" by Bo Seo

 

Publisher: Penguin Press

Copyright: 2022

ISBN: 9780593299517

This was a very interesting book, as well as a look into the life of a professional debater. Which is not something I had ever read about before, making it doubly interesting as it explained the debate procedure in great detail, and makes me wish that I had been exposed this when I was in junior high school and high school etc. as it sounds like something I would've really liked doing.

The story unfolds and traces the authors introduction to professional debating and how he progressed through the various levels until he got through University, by which time he had won many awards.

After we explore this the tone of the book changed to one where the author examines debating in today's society and how it could benefit people in general as well as corporations and so on. It was quite interesting to read about the number of public figures who started out or participated in debating which in most cases helped them achieve the goals they had set for themselves. Figures such as Barack Obama, Malcolm X, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton and many more.

Bo Seo then goes on to talk briefly about the IBM computer based debating machine and how it fared against live opponents.

I would highly recommend it to anybody who has any aspirations for public office, those dealing with clients, as well as university students etc.

"The Map of Chaos" by Felix J. Palma

 

Publisher: Atria Books
Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 9781451688184

This novel is like the first two in the series is also very detailed, and meticulously plotted. In combination with the first two this series this is one that should be in any science fiction or fantasy readers collection. There are even more plot twists than before, to once again make it a good combination of mystery and science fiction.

The third book in the series wraps things up quite nicely and brings everything to a good conclusion and in it the reader meets the Invisible Man, Charles Babbage, Alice Little, and a few more rather famous people.

It is true these novels are quite long, and as mentioned above the plotting is very detailed, so you will have to pay attention to what's going on in order to grasp what Mr. Palma is telling you about, but it is well worth the read.

Very highly recommended.

"Putting the Fact in Fantasy: Expert Advice to Bring Authenticity to your Fantasy Writing" Edited by Dan Koboldt

 

Publisher: Writers' Digest Books

Copyright: 2022

ISBN: 9780593331996

"Putting the Fact in Fantasy" is a companion volume to Dan Koboldt's previous book "Putting the Science and Fiction", which I reviewed back on December 6, 2021.

Like its predecessor this book is chock-full of valuable information for any writer, but not necessarily those writing fantasy as it also deals with real world issues that might have bearing in his fantasy story but also do in a contemporary one.

The book contains 51 individual essays by authors, who are also experts in their field. These individual essays are divine into six broad categories: history as inspiration, languages and culture, world building, weapons and warfare, horses, and going on an adventure.

The topics within a given category are all related (as you would expect). In the history one for example we deal with the Spanish Inquisition, the American old west, female professions in mediaeval Europe, Feudal Nobility, African and Asian cultures and exchange, religious fundamentalism, and real-world magic to name but a few.

While a writer will not use all these things in a particular story the details within these short essays should for the most part be extremely helpful for anyone who is a writer, and especially those who are looking to get into writing. 

All of these topics could for the most part fall under the auspecies of world building, but this is something that is crucial to any well crafted story.

Highly recommended, especially for new writers and those who need inspiration.

"The Map of the Sky" by Felix J. Palma

 

Publisher: Atria Books
Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 9781451660319

This novel is like the first in the series very detailed, and meticulously plotted, with a very interesting premise that definitely makes it worth adding onto any science fiction or fantasy readers list. There are even more plot twists than before, to once again make it a good combination of mystery and science fiction.

The second book is "Map of the Sky" and a number of the same characters reappear (sometimes quite literally in this one, but we also journey to Antarctica, and meet some new characters such as Arthur Conan Doyle and a few others, however they are rather busy combatting an invasion of planet Earth.

This novel is long, but the reader will quickly lose themselves in the story so that time will pass quite quickly. Mr. Palma does force you to pay attention to what's going on in order to grasp what he is telling you about, but it is well worth the read.

Very highly recommended.

"The Basic Laws of Human Stupidity" by Carlo M. Cipolla (1922-2000)

 

Publisher: Doubleday

Copyright: 2011

ISBN: 9780385546478 (hardcover)

Professor Cipolla takes an economically based look at human behaviour and in particular at human stupidity. He provides the reader with an important book that allows them to detect neutralize the effect of stupidity 

He does this in both a hilarious and serious manner that will leave you better equipped confront political leaders, unreasonable colleagues, and in-laws.

This was a very interesting book to read that does manage to render some humans odd behaviour and make it more understandable.

Well worth the read, both for the humourous side as well as the insight.

"The Map of Time" by Felix J. Palma

Publisher: Atria Books
Copyright: 2008
ISBN: 9781439167397 (Time)

This novel is a very detailed, and meticulously plotted time travel story, with a very interesting premise that definitely makes it worth adding onto any science fiction or fantasy readers list. There are lots of plot twists, some very interesting red herrings both of which make this a good combination of mystery and science fiction.

The first book in the series is "Map of Time" and in this book you will meet a number of different historical characters such as H. G. Wells, Bram Stoker, Jack "the Ripper", Marie Kelly and number of others. Some of these people play large roles, while others are minor but all of them do their job in advancing the plot very well.

This novel is long when compared to most on the market today, however the story is so well written that you don't really notice it. Mind you you will have to pay attention to what Mr. Palma is saying to grasp the concept, but that shouldn't be too hard a thing to do when the story is as well written as this one.

Very highly recommended.

"An Immense World: how animal senses reveal the hidden realms around us." by Ed Yong

 

Publisher: Random house

Copyright: 2022

ISBN: 9780593133231

An immense world is a fascinating book that examines the world of senses. Most people consider the fact that they have five senses smell, taste, sight, hearing, and touch. However this is an old concept (essentially what they have been taught in grade school, and that has persisted into adulthood) and we now know that there are many more senses that need to be considered.

Mr. Yong has broken his book down into eleven chapters, that deal with smells and taste, light, colour, pain, heat, contact and flow, surface vibrations, Sound, echoes (as an echo-location), electric fields, and magnetic fields. All of which are studied in laboratories around the world to hopefully better understand how animals and humans perceive their world.

The book goes into an amazing amount of detail, but is extremely easy to read and I'm sure it will be a book that will be referred to for many years to come.

This is a book that should be in every classroom, and school library.

Highly recommended.

"Guilty Pleasures" by Laurell K. Hamilton

 

Publisher: Jove Books

Copyright: 1993

ISBN: 9780515134490

This was a very different book that I normally read, and the reason I read it is because I happen to have 

picked up another book in the series without realizing it was a series, so I figured I'd better start at the beginning to attempt to figure out what the story was all about. Unfortunately this book did not accomplish this.

"Guilty Pleasures" is the first in a relatively large series of novels featuring Anita Blake who is a vampire hunter. While this might sound like a rather interesting profession  to have a character have, the story unfortunately it didn't live up to expectations. We are thrown into a world where for some unexplained reason vampires, along with various were-creatures, zombies and ghouls all exist albeit with a fair bit of tension. There are human groupies who idolize vampirism, and there is a church of the undead where people who wish to become vampires can you join. 

Unfortunately, we are given virtually no information with regard to backstory and world building as to how this happened. In addition, as this book is written in first person it will likely be rather difficult for the reader to comprehend what could possibly have brought about the societal changes to allow something like vampires etc. to exist alongside humans.

Now I concede that this may be the accepted standard for this genre, however in my opinion it is stretching the "willing suspension of disbelief" past the maximum. 

Outside of this, the characters are quite two dimensional and very difficult to like, or comprehend. In addition there are lots of characters, most of whom are just a name and a brief description.

Sorry, Anita Blake fans but I'm very much on the fence whether I will read anymore of this series.