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Bill H. (misterbill) - Reviews

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After Worlds Collide
After Worlds Collide
Author: Philip Wylie, Edwin Balmer
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 11/6/2012


I really, REALLY wanted to find out "what happened", but this novel was a completely different story... But then it was a completely different situation...

OK development and characters a bit flat. Now that I've read it, I'm done. A bit to heavy handed on the "Red Menace" stuff, but that WAS when it was written!

It did provide a bit of closure though!


At the Mountains of Madness
At the Mountains of Madness
Author: H. P. Lovecraft
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 12
Review Date: 8/25/2011


The first (main) story in the book is considered a "classic". While it's very imaginative (not even "for it's time" - just very imaginative), I did have trouble with a few of the story's more significant plot lines and I found it distracting.

But worth reading...


Autumn Lightning
Autumn Lightning
Author: Dave Lowry
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 12/15/2008
Helpful Score: 2


This is a narrative of what the author went through to get introduced to the Japanese sword. As a westerner, and at the time he did it, it was very unusual for that to happen (right in in the US).

Gives a nice idea of what is involved with the art and understanding the commitment.

However, this is NOT an instruction manual on Japanese sword work. One of those "it's all about the journey" type of books.

VERY much worth reading, especially if you like martial arts. The author has been writing martial arts books and magazine articles for years and is a good writer.


The Best of Fredric Brown
The Best of Fredric Brown
Author: Fredric Brown
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 4
Review Date: 11/3/2012


One of the finest books of short stories EVER! And I never really thought of myself as a fan of this particular author.

I read this when it was published in the late 70's and re-read it recently. Turns out I remembered almost all of the great stories (about 30 of them most 3 or 4 pages long). I remembered them since they were SO DARNED GOOD, but didn't realize they were all from the same author!

Lots of time travel and alien contact stories, but they really run the gamut of subjects.

If you want a book full of short, stimulating stories filled with some of the most interesting ideas, you really need to read this book!


The Best of Lester del Rey
The Best of Lester del Rey
Author: Lester del Rey, Frederik Pohl (Editor)
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.5/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 12/15/2012


Some very nice short stories. Though they are mostly from the 60's (?), they don't seem dated as most that are "set" on Earth are either in the past or far enough in the future that it doesn't matter. Some great ideas and stories that have stayed with me a long time (after re-reads, still enjoyable).


Beyond Time
Beyond Time
Author: Sandra Ley
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 2.8/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 8/6/2016


Older book (published in 1976) but some interesting stories that I had not read before with a slant/POV that doesn't exist now so worth reading, but not a "classic".

Nice that it had an intro to each author and the story to put them into context.


The Bible Repairman and Other Stories
The Bible Repairman and Other Stories
Author: Tim Powers
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.7/5 Stars.
 3
Review Date: 12/30/2016


I went into it with high hopes as I really liked the author, but I had to DRAAAGGG my way through the first two stories. Finally just gave up. I love his other work (esp Anibus Gates)


Brain Wave
Brain Wave
Author: Poul Anderson
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
  • Currently 3.9/5 Stars.
 4
Review Date: 11/6/2012


Great book and worth a read if you can get your hands on it. I'll let you read the summaries but here's the bottom line:

Short, well written, and VERY much worth reading for handlingly of the main premise! Not a "shoot 'em up, bang, bang" by any means, but certainly a book that will stay with you for a long time.


The Company of the Dead
The Company of the Dead
Author: David Kowalski
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.6/5 Stars.
 5
Review Date: 10/11/2014
Helpful Score: 2


Nicely written and while "technically" a time-travel book, I'd put it more into the "alternate history" camp if pressed. More about the world they live in and dealing with those results than the intricacies of time-loops (though there's some of that too).

But DANG it's big, so make sure you're into this sort of thing. On the plus side, very well written and generally broken into small chapters so the "bites" are easier to swallow.


The Dark Beyond the Stars
The Dark Beyond the Stars
Author: Frank M. Robinson
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4/5 Stars.
 3
Review Date: 11/6/2012


Some interesting ideas (especially the "big one") plus a sneaky one thrown in there (won't say what as it's a spoiler). But the book did seem to drag a bit in the middle.

Nicely done characters though. I very much felt they "came to life".

His other main book (Waiting) was better - this wasn't "bad", just not as good. Worth a read, but not planning to re-read later.


Data Structure Techniques (Addison-Wesley series in computer science)
Review Date: 12/15/2012


I actually bought this as a "text book" when I was in college (UC Irvine). Lucky me as I had this professor for the class... And he was DEFINITELY one of the best professors I had in college (top 10 of all teachers and best ever in computer science).

The text is a little on the dry side since it IS a text book, but it has some wonderful descriptions of the different... well... "data structure techniques"! Brilliant idea for a title, no?

I kept it for a quite a while and did refer to it from time to time, but I no longer write software and don't need it anymore. Too bad I didn't think to have him autograph it (dang!).


Hiring the Best:  Manager's Guide to Effective Interviewing and Recruiting, Fifth Edition
Review Date: 11/6/2012


Like so many of these types of books, you're probably going to use only 10% or 20%, but this book did have some useful ideas and certainly worth a read.

Remember the adage "hire slow, fire fast" and this book does help with that.


A Land of Ash
A Land of Ash
Author: David Dalglish
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 9
Review Date: 4/28/2013
Helpful Score: 1


Well written but... REALLY depressing. I read 3 or 4 of the stories and just quit. They all end badly - no matter how "noble" the characters behave.

Just too depressing...


THE MAKING OF SPACE 1999
THE MAKING OF SPACE 1999
Author: Tim Heald
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 11/6/2012


If you liked the series, you really need to read this. Probably the only (and certainly a "definitive") guide.

Worth at least flipping through it for interesting background. Probably more fun if they ever do a remake OR release the shows on Netflix or something...


The Man Who Folded Himself
The Man Who Folded Himself
Author: David Gerrold
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.2/5 Stars.
 18
Review Date: 11/6/2012


A "classic" in the time-travel genre for a reason. Perhaps not the absolute best one, but pretty darned close and handled the time-travel paradoxes wonderfully.

Though it did get a little heavy on the sex stuff, nothing that graphic, but probably not appropriate for under-12 crowd (under-14? depends on the kid (and the parents ;) ))

If you've not read this and like time travel, you MUST read it.


Non-Stop
Non-Stop
Author: Brian Aldiss
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.8/5 Stars.
 2
Review Date: 11/6/2012


Reminded me a bit of "Dark beyond the stars", but less character development and, to my surprise, MUCH more action (something I did not expect out of this book).

Worth reading.

BTW, a REALLY GREAT big surprise towards the end of the book that totally _MADE_ the book worthwhile.


The Power
The Power
Author: Frank M. Robinson
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 4
Review Date: 11/6/2012


Very good and nice plot. Like "Waiting", the cover and description make it sound more like a horror novel. I didn't see it that way - more of a "tense psychological thriller with sci-fi elements". I thought "Waiting" was better but they were of a similar idea.

Nicely done characters and plot. Pretty good and worth reading.


Ringworld (Ringworld, Bk 1)
Ringworld (Ringworld, Bk 1)
Author: Larry Niven
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 4.1/5 Stars.
 22
Review Date: 11/6/2012


One of, if not THE, best hard sci fi books ever written. Period.

If you like space travel / alien interaction / future events, you simply need to read this book.

I don't re-read very many books, but this one is an absolute pleasure and has held up extremely well over the decades!


The Ringworld Throne (Ringworld, Bk 3)
The Ringworld Throne (Ringworld, Bk 3)
Author: Larry Niven
Book Type: Paperback
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
 78
Review Date: 11/6/2012


Well... you get some closure, but of the three books, this was definitely my least favorite. I don't know if the "big idea" behind the book has just been finished off or what, but this one wasn't nearly up to the level of the first two (well, the first one was GREAT - 2nd OK and I thought I'd gotten all the closure I really needed).

I hate to say this about a Niven book, but this one is hardly worth the read.


Run,come See Jerusalem
Run,come See Jerusalem
Author: Richard C. Meredith
Book Type: Mass Market Paperback
  • Currently 3/5 Stars.
 1
Review Date: 12/15/2012


One of the "classics" in time travel. Worth a read if you like the genre, but not the best novel out there. I wouldn't bother unless you specifically like time travel stories (in which case, a quick read and worthwhile).


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