SubscribeThe Forever War
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The Forever War
by Joe Haldeman - Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
- Year: 1974/2009
- Pages: 288
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- What is 52 Books in 52 Weeks?
- №15
In a sort of theme of futuristic sci-fi war dystopias (see Ender’s Game and Old Man’s War), I’ve decided to read Joe Haldeman’s The Forever War. It’s a famous book, and over 35 years old at this point. It’s most commonly compared to Heinlein’s Starship Troopers, but that’s a rather facile comparison, especially today when we all know better.
Last year, the movie District 9 came out to great acclaim; the most common complaint was that its symbolism (hint: it’s an allegory for apartheid) was too ham-fisted and obvious. The Forever War is a little like that, except instead of apartheid, the book is an allegory for the Vietnam War, and most particularly the reacclimation of those who fought in it to post-war civilian life.
50 Most Loathsome People In America, 2009
My favorite new-year pastime, the Buffalo Beast’s annual “Most Loathsome” list, is now up. It’s a little more brief (and tame) this year, but still a funny read.
Some highlights:
Confessions of an Economic Hitman
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Confessions of an Economic Hitman
by John Perkins - Publisher: Plume
- Year: 2004/2005
- Pages: 303
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- What is 52 Books in 52 Weeks?
- №10
I don’t recall at what point I became aware of John Perkin’s tell-all exposé on the seedy underworld of global politics, but while the idea was intriguing, it sounded a bit too exaggerated for my tastes, and I left it well enough alone. Finally, I could not resist the temptation to read this tome by Perkins, who is referred to as a “frothing conspiracy theorist” (more on this later) but praised by a multitude of readers.
Where Men Win Glory
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Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman
by Jon Krakauer - Publisher: Doubleday
- Year: 2009
- Pages: 416
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- What is 52 Books in 52 Weeks?
- №65
There was a time—ever so briefly—when Pat Tillman dominated the news cycle. Actually, there were two times: one, when the football semi-star joined the military and become a posterboy for patriotism and self-sacrifice, and another when he died via friendly fire, becoming yet another It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad Mad World story in a long string of nonsensical happenings on the other side of the world.
The Science of Fear
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The Science of Fear
by Daniel Gardner - Publisher: Dutton Adult
- Year: 2008
- Pages: 352
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- What is 52 Books in 52 Weeks?
- №49
I hadn’t predicted, when I picked up Daniel Gardner’s The Science of Fear and Richard Mullen’s Physics For Future Presidents, that there would be so much overlap between the two. I suppose, ultimately, it was inevitably: Mullen’s book, by title and design, covered those areas of science which are the most politically and socially relevant. As is so often the case with complicated issues with big numbers, these situations have the ability to frighten people who can’t keep a level head: consider, if you will, the fear, antipathy, and abject horror that most people have for nuclear energy after the events of Three Mile Island and —even worse in the sense that it actually caused deaths—Chernobyl.
Enter The Science of Fear, Daniel Gardner’s (a Canadian journalist) to both explain and debunk the fear that tends to grip most people when it comes to vaguely menacing concepts.
Idiot America
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Idiot America
by Charles Pierce - Publisher: Doubleday
- Year: 2009
- Pages: 304
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- №31
Charles Pierce is a frequent guest on NPR’s “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” though I didn’t know this until after I read this book (go figure).
Despite the inflammatory title, Idiot America isn’t a criticism of the country, but rather a condemnation of the way in which idiocy or nescience has become something to be proud of; it’s a sort of extension of Thomas Frank’s question of authenticity. And it troubles Charles Pierce to no end.
Recent Comments
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Nice review, Ben. I actually hadn’t heard of this book, but I might have to look for it. True SF...
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