Handbok i livets konst by Epictertus

Those that read my labour day post might recognize this book since it's the book I brought to read on the picnic.

This is a Swedish translation of the Greek original. In English the title would read Handbook to the art of life more commonly known as Enchiridion of Epictetus. It's technically not written by Epictertus either but is a compilation of his thoughts written by his student. 

Most importantly it's Roman/greek philosophy from around 100 A.D. Epictertus was for a time a slave belonging to Emperor Neros secretery. Meaning he and an interesting combination of high influence and low status. He was part of the stoic movement which among other things focused on self control and duty. 

My thoughts

The book it short only 70 pages and is made up of 53 texts each raging from a singe sentence to two pages. So it's a very fast read even if you stop to consider it. 

A lot of the texts express what is today called the circle of control. Basically that you should recognize that there are things in your life that you can control and things you can't. In Epictertus the things you can control are your own thoughts and actions. Everything else should just be accepted for what it is. He does take it a bit too far though when he talks about how one must accept the loss of things and family. He isn't wrong everyone you know will die eventually but the way it's phrased is a bit cold hearted especially since he doesn't seem to think that the loss should upset you. In general nothing should upset you. 

This is the parts where you are reminded of him being a slave and so having less control of his life than most.  

Apart from self control another theme is doing ones duty and to consider ones reputation. Though it does hold people to an impossible standard to the point that I think would sap any joy from life. I'm thinking of text nr 33 which says to avoid invitations to parties and to talk as little as possible. That just unnecessary harsh.

The Scum Villain´s Self-Saving System 3

This is the 3rd book in the serie if you are curious about the previous ones the reviews of the first and second are here. But the general premise is: Shen is dragged into the fantasy book he read and now has to fix the plot.   

Plot

After last book Shen is in the demon realm held hostage by his former disciple and stalker Lou Binghe.

Shang the author who is also dragged into the book visits and reveals more about the story and that the reason for several of the plot-holes is him dropping the more complex plot-lines about Lou´s parent in favor of adding more romantic partners. Mostly as a result of fan reactions.

This becomes relevant when Shen collapses unexpectedly and wakes up in his original body (technically its his second body) laid to rest in a mausoleum filled with dead demon kings and magical traps along with Tianlang-jun Lou´s father who is contrary to popular belief is not dead. But who does plan to get revenge on the humans who trapped him for decades. 

Thoughts

All descriptions of this series describes as danmei (boys love) and I've got to say it's not. The system ships the Shen/ Lou romance but Shen doesn't really have any romantic feelings for Lou. Don't get me wrong he cares for Lou but it's more paternal maybe. Also the more interactions they have the less sure I am of Lou´s feelings either. He is obsessed with Shen but I'm starting to think it more like a father figure. Though one he wants to fuck so maybe not. They definitely need to actually talk to each other rather than just making assumptions of the others feelings.

this all lead to  the book being a bit attempted rapey. I suspects that they will get together in the end but I'm not sure if I want them to. On the other hand that would be following the tropes and this author is very aware of tropes and cliches using and subverting them. So hopefully it will end well.

We do find out that part of last books plot was caused by the demon Zhuzhi-lang helping Shen. Though the help was ruining his reputation so he'd leave the sects that the demons are planing to destroy. I do like this character being another in the long line of people making Shens life difficult. Shen's continuing struggle to be dignifies, proper and respected being hindered by the system, Lou, Shang and many more is just one of the things that makes this book fun and enjoyable.

In this book The system forces Shen to explore various the backs stories of different characters including his own, sort of. At least it's the backstory of the character he is inhabiting. Alss the backstory of Tialang-jun Lou´s demon father who like Shen now have a body made from mushroom (it's a weird book). It does deepen them and adds substance to the book and explains some of the characters actions adding nuance to them. It wasn't necessarily something I'd thought the books were lacking but it is nice. 

Alla fredagsaftnar samlades man by Eva Öhrström

 This is a non-fiction book about salons as a phenomenon. From their origins in the 1700 and until they disappeared after the first world war. The book sorts them by location but focuses on France, Germany and dome Sweden. It describes some famous and influential ones. 

In general salons were regular or weekly gatherings hosted by members of the upper class, though the guests could be slightly more diverse with various artists. They would meet and discus art, music, politics, philosophy etc some with more politics side others more entertainment. 

My thoughts

While the salons in themselves are a fascinating subjects this book focused more about the people at specific salons. There were a lot of detail about the hosts, hostesses and guest  in a way that at times felt a bit gossipy. I would personally had liked to know more about the wider social context and their impact on the arts and politics. That being said it is very well written so despite me not resonating with the focus it was still enjoyable to read. 

What it did show was the interconnectedness of the salons in the different countries. People traveling from one place to another would get invited to the local salons even in times when their respective countries were at war with another. 

Still a lot of it just felt like rich people amusing themselves in a way that didn't affect anything real.

Artificial condition by Martha Wells

This is the second book in the Murderbot diaries here is my review of the first one All systems red.

Plot

Having left the people who bought Murderbot from the Company, they they decide to travel to the mining station were it all began. Where it hacked themself, went on a killing spree and named themself Murderbot, not necessarily in that order. To get there they hitch a ride with ART a research ship far more intelligent than they thought who insists on helping Muderbot after some threats. 

At the mining station they take a job as security guard to get a travel pass. Working for a group of researcher trying to get back data that was stolen from them. something that turns out to be just as dangerous as Murderbot thought it would be.

My thoughts

The friendship between Murderbot and Art is one of the highlights. Basically ART (not their name it's just what Murderbot calls them) is a bot piloted ship owned by a university. They are a know it all, giver of unwanted advice and the extroverted friend Murderbot needs. 

In the first book Murderbot only interacted with humans which they did as little as possible. In this one though we see them interacting with a lot more bots, besides ART there is a Comfortunit (similar in structure to Secunits like Murderbot but without the weapons). Murderbot tells Art that bots can't trust each others since they always have to obey humans orders. Despite this its clear that they do trust bots more than humans probably because they can't force them to do something. 

I kind of like that the mystery of what happened to make Murderbot free themselves was so pointless. There was no great conspiracy just people being greedy and underestimating dangers, stupid choices that lead to horrifying consequences. 

Deadly Assessments by Drew Hayes

 This is the fifth book about Fred the vampire accountant and his motley crew of friends. Click the link for or my review of the first book. 

The plot

The house of Turva (from the third book) are back and has decided to rather than face Fred head they should report him and the clan to the Blood council. They being the organization ruling the vampires specifically. Claiming he is unfit to act as a clan leader and that a clan shouldn't be made up of non vampires.

The Blood council sends Deborah to assess Fred as a vampire and clan leader. But also raking the time to teach him what he should know as a vampire and acting as his bodyguard.Of course the punishment should he fail the assessment is death for Fred and all the other members of his clan. 

My thoughts

The fifth book and like the others it's made up of several shorter stories. But with Deborah and her assignment being the over arching plot tying them together. It also sheds some more light on vampires their abilities as Deborah teaches Fred. 

Despite her mission Deborah doesn't really read as an antagonist. Being generally good humored and helpful both as a teacher and bodyguard. The reason for Fred needing a body guard being things that happened at the end of the last book. But all in all it makes her feel more like a part of the gang all be it one they keep secrets from.

The book also has an interesting take on power and kindness. That it takes power to be kind and that Fred in trying to help people when he doesn't have the power to back it up is putting them in more danger. But also that his kindness makes other people think he is stronger than he is assuming he is on par with the other members of his clan. 

How to become the dark lord and die trying by Django Wexler

 This is another one of the books I bought mostly for the title and I'm happy to report that the title match the content and tone. 

Plot

Davi dies being tortured in the dark lords dungeon. Then she wakes up in floating in a pond, just as expected after all this has happened a few hundred times before. It's all part of the time-loop she is caught in. Normally she would go to the kingdom seduce the prince and then rallying the kingdom's armies to fight against the dark lord when one inevitably arises. Before loosing, dying and ending up right back in the pond. 

This time she has a new plan rather than wait for the dark lord to appear she will be the dark lord. 

My thoughts

It's not a book for the faint of heart after all there are quite a bit of gore, sex and the aforementioned torture. Davi also dies quite a few times. Before she manages to convince a small band of orcs to join her and becomes her minions. In general the tone reminded me of Deadpool with fourth wall breaks, violence and humor. But I didn't mind it. I'm less sure about the turns of phrases or references. Basically Davi is from earth but has been in this fantasy world for long (a few hundred loops most lasting a few years) enough to have forgotten most of her life there. However she use English phrases frequently which the wilders doesn't understand or recognize. One would think that after a few lifetimes spent there she would have changed her speech. So how she remembers and how much she says she remembers don't really add up. I know this is a very nit picky thing but it's one of those things that once you notice it you can't stop.

The world-building is one of the strongest points and the conflict between the humans and creatures of the wilds (orcs, humanoid animals, and other things) have nuanced reasons. based on the humans expanding their holdings and the finite supply of Thaumite driving it. Thaumite being stones humans need to do magic and wilders need to live and reproduce. As Davi travels through the wilds she meet different creatures befriending some killing others and adding to her hoard she gains a new understanding of the people she has always just seen as her enemies and their way of life. 

As for the traveling that's most of the plot. In order to become the dark lord she needs to be chosen at the convocation a gathering in a ruined city sacred to the old ones. From previous lives she knows it happens roughly two months after she is reborn Wich is not a lot of time to gather minions or cross a mountain range and miles of wilderness. The plot is the obstacles on the way from cliffs that needs to be scaled, supply issues and hostile locals. Still they are varied and interesting enough to keep me reading. Having a main character who is kind of immortal does lower the stakes. But it was reasonably engaging the book explained why she couldn't just start over when things got difficult. In general I liked it and will probably read the sequel some time.

Satakatraya by Bhartrhari

This is a book of classic Indian poetry from the 5th century CE. I'm reading a Swedish translation of them. This version contains 183 poems though there appears to be some discussion about which of a number of poems should be part of the collection I'll link to the Wikipedia article for those who wants to know more. 

The poems/words of wisdom are mostly about the evils of riches, luxury or women and about the inherent superiority of Asceticism. But there are several about the value of being a good person.

My thoughts

Would knowing about Indian myths, symbols and philosophy help understanding these poems? Yes.

Do I have anything more than the barest idea about those things? No but that's not going to stop me. The book do have some helpful asterisks to explain the symbolism of the various plants, animals and gods. Which is good since there are a lot of those several of the poems are of the format creating a simile between something in nature and some human behavior. 

In general I was underwhelmed sure there were some poems I enjoyed like the one that is a fair description of the Dunning-Kruger effect. But my largest take away was how similar the poems all were to each other. This might have been partially my own fault I don't think you are meant to read them all in one go. Also most show a worldview that I don't subscribe to, mainly the sexism.It does the, women's only value is in their beauty but they bring ruin to men, thing. But also the asceticism, sleeping on the ground does not automatically make you a better person.

All in all I didn't like it which isn't helped by me not really feeling like reading it in the first place. Basically I'm reading a lot for my studies right now so I don't feel like reading anything difficult to relax. So I picked this one because each page is just one poem. Forgetting that short doesn't mean easy.  

The fangs of freelance by Drew Hayes

Plot

Everyone's favorite vampire accountant is back in this fourth book in the Fred series. At the end of the last book Bloody Aquisitions Fred and friends created the new vampire house and Fred signed up as a freelance asset for The agency. Hoping to gain their protection against the encroaching house of Turva. 

Bureaucratic wheels turn slowly but now the agency is calling on Fred to fulfill his end of the deal. But before he can officially work for them he is taken to their headquarters for a skill assessment. Along with agents Arch and Krystal who decided to tag along Fred will meet not only His prospective boss Roderick but also run into September Windbrook brother of June Windbrook and Krystals ex fiancee. 

My thoughts

Did I actually manage to make guy going on a job interview sound exciting? I think so. Like the others its a collection of chronological short stories. And the first is literally just Fred going for a job interview and meeting some of Krystals coworkers. The other stories follows Fred and co going on assignments, some for The Agency others helping out friends. Of course in a world of  magic assignments for accountants can still involve lovecraftian wizard ghosts in a crumbling castles and other dangers. 

There is less of an over arching plot to this one but there is a theme though one in the background of the plots. It's about how moving forward and not stagnating becomes more of a conscious choice as an immortal or undead creature. But also what happens for those that don't make do that choice. Although sort of immortal Fred and his friends are all quite young by supernatural standards. Fred and Krystal are in their ... early thirties? Neil and Albert are nineteen. Bubba and Amy are probably older than Fred but I don't think by much. So this is all a bit new to them.

All in all it's good but it is mostly Fred doing more or less accountant things. I'm not saying this as a bad thing it's just a bit of calm and return to a new normal after the last book and before the next. 

  

How to defeat a demon king in ten easy steps by Andrew Rowe

I din't really plan to buy this book. I got it because audible was offering a discount a half price for three months or something and then the second month they had a different discount with two books for one credit. This one just happened to be the most interesting sounding. 

Plot

The planet goes through cycles. A demon king will appears, rules for a hundred years and takes over roughly half the planet. Then the hero is born and defeats them, people rebuild and then a new demon king appears.

This time however it's different. An early alliance with one of the Kingdoms means that by the time the hero is born the whole world will be under the demon kings command. 

Young protagonist Yui is not a hero but has decided that they don't have time to wait for the hero and devices a plan to defeat the demon king anyway. Step one steal the heros sword from the stone.

My thoughts

The setting is very videogameish people get sorted into classes (not in an dystopian way its based on their actions). Classes that levels up with experience points from killing monsters. though slightly arbitrary like the hero class only being for those with a tragic backstory. It's very cliche. But it makes fun of those cliches and has characters who uses them to their advantage. Like making fun of the unrealistic inventory or ken who knows all the traditions and who by making Yui a green tunic is able to trick all the NPCs. I like Yui experimenting with her magic figuring out how it works. What would make her increase her level and skill as quickly as possible. Al with comments from her long suffering parents. 

Maybe I just have a fondness for clever characters who solves problems especially by using tools in unexpected ways. 

All that being said I'm fairly certain I would have gotten more out of it if I had ever played legend of Zelda or any similar game. I haven't all I know about them I do from just cultural osmosis. But its enough to recognize NPC dialog and enjoy the book.

The book does a very modern thing where it questions who the real villain actually is. Is it the demon king or the silver goddesses that perpetuation the cycle. But it does go somewhere with it and not like how I usually see it, in commentary videos or fanfiction. Though thinking about it this whole book might be considered a fanfiction now that I think about it. 

Regardless I enjoyed it.

Nice and short. 

All systems red by Martha Wells

Plot

 This is the first book in the murderbot diaries. One of my favorite series.

Murder bot is a secunit a security construct rented out by the company to provide security for research expedition on an uninhabited planet. But after two of the researcher nearly got killed by dangerous fauna that wasn't in the information packet. Large parts of their map is blank and when they loose contact with the only other expedition on the planet. It becomes clear that they are not as alone as they thought.

Murderbot must reveal that they are in fact not controlled by the habitat security system and haven't been since they hacked their own governing module month ago. 

My Thoughts

It's short I think its technically a novella and I read it in two days. But though there is places that could be stretched out I don't mind that they weren't. This isn't a suspense full book, the focus is on the mystery (who is messing with them and why) and outwitting them. Even more is about Murderbot´s anxieties about their changing circumstances. 

The whole book is from Murderbot´s perspective and it has captured it well both the anxiety and the in-humanness of them. A usual flaw of first person limited stories is how to incorporate conversations and events they weren't present for. This neatly solves that, the company records everything in the habitat to data-mine for trade-secrets. Murderbot, as part of the security system, can access these when they want. Beside using nearby cameras and drones as much if not more than their eyes. 

Interesting to see the expedition members reaction to realizing that Murderbot is less like a robot and more like a person than they thought. A somewhat traumatized, introverted person who gets overwhelmed by being talked to but who is also very capable of killing them all. 

It's surprisingly relatable. Murderbot doing the bare minimum of work to keep the Company from getting suspicious and reconnecting them to the system. All the while just wanting to watch their series. About the Company it's unnamed and while not really evil they are somewhat the antagonists they are just the worst of capitalism. Greedy and cheap, cutting corners where ever it can and will do the right thing only to avoid paying damages. 

Murderbot can be bought at Amazon

Bloody aquisitions by Drew Hayes

Disclamer this book is the third in the series. If you haven't read the previous check out my review of the first one here.

Plot

A new clan of vampires (the house of Turva) are moving to Winslow. Meeting the local big wigs and investigating any vampires who lives there. Having heard rumors about Fred and his exploits they are naturally curious. Except the rumors are though not wrong certainly taken out if context. Fred, who so far has had very limited and mostly violent interactions with other vampires, are not happy about this development. He is even considering leaving Winslow to avoid them. 

Even so unlife goes and between helping friends move, and work he is quite busy. Apparently there was a severe lack of accountants and now Fred and his assistant are swamped with more work than they can handle. 

Then The House of Turva asks for a meeting.

My thoughts

Again this is a collection of shorter stories these ones however are more connected than the earlier books which is why I'm describing the overarching plot rather than the first story like I've done for the others. The second story is basically just the gang traveling to a small town and Fred considering moving there. It works well in the book as a whole but not as a stand alone story.

Like the others this expand on the bodybuilding mostly it give some more insight to how vampires work. Fred who haven't really met one before (unless one count Quinn trying to kill him) and hadn't realized how out of the norm he was. Now we see just how ruthless vampire clans can be and we get a bit more insight into why vampires in particularly are feared and mistrusted. It does do this in a rather nuanced way. It could easily have gone the route of all vampires are evil except for Fred. Instead it introduced Lilian who is part of Turva and sent there to spy on him but ends up befriended instead.

There is also a bit more considerations to the long term. Most of the main characters are sort of immortal though still young Fred has only been a vampire for maybe two years but it's nice that they are starting to acknowledge it. 

But mostly everything I liked about the last ones still apply for this one. 

If you have read it what did you think? Leave a comment. If you haven't read it you can check it out here:

Amazon

Bokus

Adlibris

A florentine diary from 1450 to 1516 By Luca Landucci

About 

This is what it sounds like a diary written in late 15th to the early 16th century written by a regular citizen. Landucci was an apothecary in Florence. This isn't a day to day account and was clearly collected at a later point there are notes that reference details that wouldn't be known until later. 

My impression was that he was middle to upper middle class. Its a bit hard to tell since there isn't that much personal. For example there are no notes about his children being born though some of them are mentioned later but not until they are adults. Most of the notes are news the fluctuation price of grain or goods, the politics of the city, or other countries. Crimes that happened and wars between various Italian countries and with France. Along with several plots involving the Medicis.

Also way more people getting hanged from windows. Like this seems to be something that happened at least every few years. 

My thoughts

How this has been preserved is interesting when so many other books has been lost to time.  I can see this being very useful for historians. Not so much for mentioning events. But about taxes and the price of various food stuffs. The reason the events might be less useful is how little information there is about anything that happened. The book is quite short considering how much time it covers. Some years are described in as little as half a page though some some others have 30 pages. There are so many times when I wanted more information about things mentioned. A revolt against the Medicis but Landucci says that he doesn't know why. I might have to find some history book about the renaissance Italy and read that.

Landucci was a contemporary of Machiavelli and I read this looking for any mentioned of him. Alas there were none but there was plenty about the Borgias. Interesting he expressed no opinion about the pope having children. even though he had much opinions about other sins committed by the people he talked about. 

He was very religious and quite naive in a way that I found tiring. Of course the French aren't going to conquer Pisa for you there is no benefit for them to do so. Then the 11 January 1495 he writes about a preacher who refutes accusations against himself, claiming letters showing his support for the Medici was a forgery. Landucci ends this with saying he has always stood by the community's unity. Has he because this is the same person that has categorically forbidden women from being present at his sermons.

All in all it is an interesting read if you are interested in history but don't necessarily need a narrative.

If you have read it what did you think? Leave a comment. If you haven't read it you can check it out here:

Amazon

Bokus

Adlibris

God Emperor of Didcot by Toby Frost

 This is the sequel to Space Captain Smith. It's not really necessary to read it to understand this book but there are several recurring characters from that book.

Plot

Since Smith and his crew succeeded in their mission in the last book someone considers them competent enough to be given a new mission. Meeting the spymaster W (yes it's a James Bond reference) they are told about the vital importance of tea to the war effort. When combined with milk it's apparently the source of moral fiber. 

Now it's threatened by a religious zealot, the grand Hyrax. He is gaining a following on Didcot 4 (also known as Urn) the empires main tea producer. With backing from the Republic of New Eden, the religious fanatics that tried to kill Smith in the last book, this could be a real problem. Clearly they are going, it doesn't hurt that Didcot 4 is the planet Rhianna is on, receiving training to use her Vorl heritage. Getting there they meet up with Ws agent on Urn to start their investigation.

I But Rhianna isn't the only person on Urn. Gilead is not as dead as they thought and neither is 462. They are once again plotting planing to invade urn and breaking the morals fiber of the British.

My thoughts

Clear dune references, with tea instead of spice, the order of saint Camilla the tactile instead of the Bene Geserit. And dragons instead of sandworns. And crusades instead of a jihad. That's mostly where it ends Hyrax is the Paul analog but the Teasmen are on the side of the empire. Which is good I have read Dune and a re-skinned copy would be boring.

Like the first book there are still plenty of references but they are more considered for the plot. More woven in to serve it. The James Bond references at the beginning when they get their mission and are gathering information about the Hyrax. Of course it's still a bit of a everything and the kitchen sink but the plot is more straight forward. With less detours and the ones makes sense for the over arching plot. But I did enjoy the trip to see Suruks family even though they are a bit of a continuity error. Mostly Suruk is a predator (like the movie) and live for fighting and collecting skulls, the ones we meet in the first book were the same. Now we find out that Suruks family and supposedly all the other M'laks on Didcot 6 are living in middle-class suburbia. Of course the M'laks there aren't all there is but still it's a big change for just a few years. 

There are still blink and you miss them references like when they land on a planet for repairs and run into a mix of Lovecraft and Enid Blyton. I did like the Lovecraft one since it focused on the exact things that annoy me about his writing.  

The tea puns are a bit much though like Sam O'varr the tea priestess of the Teasmen. 

The smith Rhiannan ....romance? is something. Smith constantly thinks of having sex with her but also runs away when she tried to kiss him. I don't particularly think they would be good together but not to any point that it bothers me. Apart from sex I'm not sure what either sees in the other. 

If you have read it what did you think? Leave a comment. If you haven't read it you can check it out here Didcot.

The Library a fragile history by Andrew Pettigree

 Why did I choose to read this? I didn't this is one of my textbooks. But since I have to read anyway it and it's mostly interesting I might as well write a post about it also writing notes about a book while I read it might help remember it. 

About

Despite the title this is about the history of books and book collections more than libraries. Libraries as we know them (free for all and supported by taxes) is a very recent thing, and only really appeared in the last hundred years or so. 

Libraries were mostly private collections of prestigious books as a show of wealth and culture. And so people bought the expensive ones. Book collecting as a status symbol didn't change only the measure used. From the medieval manuscript with pretty illuminations and gold foil, to 1500 when the newest editions of classic works was all the rage to 1700 when like to day the first editions has the higher price. Again and again libraries and collection were made, at great expense. Made as a show of power until the next generation decided there were other status symbols they wanted more leaving them to rot forgotten in a cellar or an invading force stole the choicest titles for their own collections.

Although the collection size were modest by today's standard, hand copied and jewel encrusted manuscripts were rather more expensive than paperbacks.

My thoughts

The more things change the more they stay the same. Today, libraries are often either architectural marvels or showed into a unused room somewhere, threatened by budget cuts. An interesting recurring theme is people donating there collections to people or institutions that never wanted them in the first place. A collector handing it over to an uninterested heir, moralizing Latin sermons given for the improvement of the masses, masses that neither read Latin or wants to be moralized to. Plenty where taken as booty after conquest then left to rot in a storeroom hoping someone would take the time to catalog them. And so on again and again through history.

There is an unfortunate egocentricity to the book Italy, German the Netherlands, England is predominantly the history that is told. The middle east is mentioned but only during the ancient Mesopotamia, and the rest of Asia only as it relates to colonialism which really doesn't count since they'd had literary and scientific golden ages of their own. 

It is interesting how it wasn't until the 17th century that collections were becoming, what we today would call large. 500 books was considered a large collection for most of history (for reference I have 270) 

Reading about a time when the university library was smaller than a single professors. Of course without a budget to buy any, only getting books through donations, I can imagine that it was not the books they wanted and there is a lot of work to suddenly have a pile of a thousands of books to catalog. but you can't feel too sorry for them considering the amount of books were thrown away simply because they didn't fit the current fashion. 

In a way its odd how it didn't get boring considering how repetitive most of history were. Collections built and destroyed book-markets moving with the economies. This might have been because it was a textbook I probably wouldn't have read it otherwise and certainly not at the pace I did.

A bit of a pet peeve for me is that while there are many mentions of the cost of books. But only a few explanations. I don't know how much 1000 ducats where or how they relate to an average income. 

If you have read it what did you think? Leave a comment. If you haven't read it you can check it out here Library.

Quantum Physics and life by Ingemar Ehrnberg and others

About

This book is written for the general public so no math or too many technical terms.

As the title suggests this book is about quantum physics and explains it through how it intersects with biology. We only perceive a fraction of the world. The spectrum of visible light is only a fraction of the electromagnetic radiation that exist. The same is true for physics, the classical physics of gravitation and movement is only parts of the forces governing the world the rest is the weird mess that is quantum physics. 

But just because it's weird doesn't mean it doesn't affect us or that evolution cant use it. Like how geckos use nano-hairs under their feet to stick to walls and ceilings. How birds can see the earths magnetic field to find their way home. Or how chlorophyll catches light. 

My thoughts

It is a short book with only 150 pages. Actually less since each chapter has three pages just for the heading and a quote. A bit ridiculous especially for chapter 2 that's only 4 pages. It brings to mind the times I had to reach a specific page count but didn't have the text for it.

I've read books and watched documentaries about quantum physics before, so for me there were parts I already knew but also a lot of new information. Still I would have liked it to be slightly more advanced or maybe just have another 50 pages and try for a deeper explanation. A lot of the quantum physics parts are a bit glossed over, on the one hand I understand the decision these are difficult concepts that doesn't work the way anything else does. But I would like the opportunity to at least try to understand. 

But that's maybe just me in general it's a good first introduction for anyone who is interested. And relating it to familiar things is a nice addition rather than just using metaphors that never quite work.

If you have read it what did you think? Leave a comment. If you haven't read it you can check it out here quantum.

Villains vingettes by Drew Hayes

 In preparations for my Uppsala trip I restarted my Audible account. I didn't actually use it then but once I got home I have been listening on and off. The first book I got was this one. A collection of three short stories set in the same world as Forging Hephaestos. If you haven't read that or the second book then this is not for you. This ties quite heavily into the second book and does contain spoilers for it.

The Plot

The Meta...villain? Spooky Trudy has returned and she has turned a random small town into a Halloween experience. Within the town wearing any costume lets you have the abilities associated with that character. People flock from all over to experience the powers of superheroes and villains alike although in a weaker form. It's harmless fun... during the day at night the town turns dangerous. But staying the night will grant magical boons or even powers especially for whoever wins the nightly battle royal at the grave yard. 

Chloe is adamant that she wants the gifts offered. Tori and Beverly being good friends and roommates tag along to help her and keep her safe. As do their neighbors the superhero team The new science sentries though they have their own hopes for the night. 

However the meta Fashionistadore sees his opportunity to gather powers. He can assume another metas powers if he wears a part of their costume and in a place where all costumes are real this is prime hunting ground.

My thoughts

The Hallowville setting is a nice way to organically contain the story. Fashionistadore is not actually a threat that some of the more powerful characters couldn't deal with instantly. But with Spooky-trudies rules stopping Lode-star from using her power there and the rest unaware he and his grab bag of powers are enough to cause problems. Add to that Beverly, Tori and Cloe are all using borrowed powers and so can't access their own. The question becomes how they can solve this. I personally would have liked to see another solution. 

The problem of is Fashionistadore that bad is one I kept thinking about while listening. Granted we don't know of his final plans this is just to gather power, but still Tori and Beverly at least are villains and even if all the people he stole costumes from died that's still a low death count compared to several other characters. 

I do like how random the powers are. How some people just gets a shitty power and have to make the best of it. It's always a thought with most random powers universes of how useless most are in a non combat environment. This doesn't solve that but rather leans into it occupationally giving powers that are useless in every situation. 

The series has a very large set of characters and I would have liked if this took the chance to explore some of them. Actually that was what I had expected it to be or doing new team ups They are all the ones explored in previous stories. Tori and her roommates, the new science sentries in the first, Ivan in the second, Tori and Ivan in the third along with quick scenes from other familiar characters. Don't get me wrong I did enjoy it and I think anyone who has read the first two books will as well but I expected something more. 

If you have read it what did you think? Leave a comment. If you haven't read it you can check it out here Vingettes.

A review of Catilina an anthologi by Alexander Andreé

This book is a collection of all... most of the the antique sources that talk about Catilinarian conspiracy. If you don't know what this is I suggest looking it up it is quite a fascinating time. But basically Catiline was a roman living in the last decades of the roman republic. A time of turmoil and civil wars. He was from a wealthy family that had fallen on hard times and his early career was plagued by scandals. Among others things he was accused for murdering his wife and son and for corruption during his time as governor for the roman province in Africa. This might have been the reason why he twice failed to become elected as consul (the highest public office during the roman republic). Rather than try a third time he instead attempted a coup.

He gained support among the poor and as well as impoverished nobles like himself, gathered them into an army under his friend Manlius' command. He also planned arson and assassinations of various senators and the then consul Cicero. The plot was discovered, speeches was had in the senate. Catiline fled the city and joined the army while his supporters were imprisoned and executed. Catiline was killed in battle against the army Rome sent against them. 

The book starts with a description of what happened who Catiline and the writers was. Most of the texts are historical accounts, chapters of books describing the history of Rome. A large part is also the speeches Cicero made in the senate and to the people.

My thoughts

While anthologies are normal I haven't actually seen one like this before. With all the historical sources on a subject combined. I would like to read more books like this about other historical events, though this one has the advantage of having a good amount of sources about it. 

I would like to have heard from his supporter or Catiline himself. With Cicero being his enemy (understandably) and the rest being various historical texts seeking some kind of neutrality in the matter. They are still clearly on the side of the establishment and unsympathetic for the plight of the common man. Sallustius claims that Catiline surrounded himself and won the approval of people in debt. S attributes this debt to them being yo lazy to work and decadent living. I cant help drawing comparisons with the current boomer vs millenials and gen x conversation. This is not really a critique of the book, sources from so long ago are few, but it would still have been interesting. 

A thing I noticed when reading all the accounts back to back was the differences between them. The accounts are all slightly varied. There are details in one that aren't in others, especially when it comes to peoples motivation. One example the description of Fulvia and Curius, they were the ones to inform Cicero of the assassination plot.

In Appianus account Cicero found out about the plot because one of the conspirators Curius bragged about it to his lover Fulvia who then told Cicero. 

In Sallustius account they had also been lovers but the noble woman Fulvia had lost interest since he had money issues. He then brags about the money and power he will get. But also says that Curius threatened her. Here she just told people in general what she knew. Later she is described more like a go between for Cicero and Curius in a way that makes it sounds like Curious was helping Cicero. 

Plutharcos also describes her as a noble woman and says she told Cicero of the murder plot. It does not mention Curius or how she found out about it.

Diodorus has the most details but doesn't mention either Fulvia of Curius by name. In his account one of the conspirators is in love with a girl who doesn't care for him. Same a Salustius he brags about the power he will gain and also threatens her. She then pretends to be interested to get him to tell her more. She then met with Ciceros wife and told her about what she knew. This is the only version that mentions Ciceros wife having any part in this.

Cassius Dio just says Cicero found out about the plot but not how.

This is just one example most parts are like this the broad strokes are the same but the details are different. I didn't even notice this until I had read a couple or accounts and going back and looking for it I found others. 

Just a comment but what is Cicero's deal with sex. I can understand that he would have an extremely negative opinion on the person who tried to murder him, but in the second speech he spend a lot of time calling him and his supporters perverts and whores.

If you have read it what did you think? Leave a comment. If you haven't read it you can check it out here Catiline. As far as I can tell this book only exists in Swedish so far but the original texts and translations of them are easy to find. 

Cicero, Sallustius, Appianus, Plutarchos

A review of Undeath and taxes by Drew Hayes

 Disclaimer Undeath and taxes is the second book in the series about Fred the vampire accountant and his friends and this review will contain spoilers. I wrote a review about the first book, so read that and maybe the book first. 

Plot

In the last book mild mannered accountant Fred got turned into a vampire. This opens the door to a whole new world of different creatures and people but also friends. 

Having learned that the Parahuman (supernatural) community is rather more organized than he had anticipated. Fred has spent the time between the books learning about the parahuman tax code. Getting his diploma his first job is for Richard Alderson head of the local therians (werecreatures). 

While trying to make sense of the mess that is Richards receipts he is interrupted by kidnappers. They are there for Richards daughter Sally and thinking Fred is her bodyguard they take him as well. Taking advantage of both Richard being in a meeting and Gideon (Sally's ancient dragon playmate) being away Fred is feeling very much out of his depth.

My thoughts

Again this is a collection of short stories the plot section only talks about the first of them. If the first book was about Fred getting friends this one focuses more on world-building. Specifically we learn about the agents. We meet some of Krystal's coworkers and learn some of how it operates. 

Fred acclimatizes to violence and adventure very fast. This is a bit of a double edged sword, the book telling us he avoids confrontation but never shoving it. But I have a preference for active characters so if he had taken the outs he is given and left others to die it would have made for a worse story. 

Though considering this is all written as a memoir by Fred there is the possibilities that this is just him having a negative self image. An image that doesn't necessarily reflect the person he has become but rather the one he was in the beginning of the first book (when he did try to run away and leave people to die). 

If you have read it what did you think? Leave a comment. If you haven't read it you can check it out here Undeath.

Review of A Master of Djinn by P. Djéli Clark

Plot

In an alternate 1912, Egypt has risen to prominence in the fifty or so years since the mystic Al-Jahiz opened the world to magic. Having embraced magic and the Djinn that came with it has allowed them to not become a colony and instead become a major player on the world stage. Al-Jahzi meanwhile disappeared shortly after this. 

Fatma, is one of the few female agents of the Ministry of alchemy, enchantments and supernatural entities, gets called to help the police when the murder of the members of a secret brotherhood shows clear signs of being made with magic. The victims being various rich and well respected Englishmen dedicated to the memory of Al-Jahzi does not make it easier.

Fatma however is distracted by first getting assigned a partner in the young and enthusiastic Hadia and then by the return of Siti. Her girlfriend/informant who has a tendency to show up and disappear as the mood takes her. She is also one of a rising number of people devoted to the old pharaonic gods.  

Then just days before a world peace summit is about to start in Cairo someone claiming to be al-jahiz is starting demonstrations. Showing the inequalities that despite the prosperity still exist causing riots and vandalism. 

My thoughts

So I feel I should warn that this is not the first book in this series, there is both a novella and a novelette that take place before this. I, when reading this book, did not know this and hadn't looked since this is described as the authors debut. This means that I was terribly annoyed by the frequent references to the things that had happened before and the general sequel feel of it. 

It's rare to see fantasy that's not western. At just a glance id say that at least a third of my books takes place in Britain or USA. This is an impressive bit of world-building both the alternate history bit of an rich and powerful Egypt, but also the humans and djinn living side by side. It also takes the time to show many sides of the society. The poor flocking to "Al-Jahzi", the kings at the piece summit, regular people and regular djinn. As well as the religious differences shown a bit in the contrast between the devoutly Muslim Hadia though she is still part of a feminist group, the secular Muslim Fatma, and Siti following Sekhmet which apparently gives one powers or something.  

The summit is a nice touch giving a sense of urgency in calming down the public and capturing the impostor. The insinuation is that all it's a lead up to the first world war and a lot suggests that while the magic might change things it wont stop it. 

My main complaint is mostly, does Siti need to be there all the time. Because she is. She shows up everywhere and I don't like her nearly as much as the author does. It's not even that she is a bad character it's just routinely showing up in the middle of police investigations will make you be considered a suspect not a welcome addition.

There is of course a mystery about who the Al-Jahzi impostor is and I can happily announce that I was wrong. However it wasn't contrived. I have a weird thing about being able to predict things in books, while I like figuring things out before the characters I don't like things to feel predictable this one straddles that nicely. 

If you have read it what did you think? Leave a comment. If you haven't read it you can check it out here Djinn.

Beter wordt het niet By Caroline de Gruyter

 This is a book that as far as I can find only exists written in Dutch, a Swedish translation and maybe German. Though I'm uncertain about the last. 

About

The author is a journalist who after living in Brussels for awhile she moved to Austria and Wienna. There she realized how strong the Habsbourg influence still is and how different the narrative her is compared to what she was taught about it. 

A theme of the book is this changing narrative. The modern day nostalgia over things they then complained about. Similar to how people today complains about the EU. Though that nostalgia might partially be because the time after was so much worse with the rise and fall of soviet. Stability is underrated until you loose it.

The book contains many interviews with different people, descendants of the former royal family, other nobles and politicians. It is the journalist influence.

More about the Habsburgs and today's Austria than it does about EU. But whole sections are about the Hungary whose position in opposition to the Habsburg definitely mirrors their complicated position in EU today.

It's mostly about the last parts of the empire and the time after. The slow decline that was in the end obvious and parallels to today where every crisis is talked about as if it will be the one to break the union. The most obvious parallel is the problems of keeping diverse people united and the need to continuously adapt to new pressures.

The Habsburgs led was a multicultural empire held together by bureaucracy and compromises. It's collapse was a messy time. People who had previously been able to move freely about the empire now found themselves living on the wrong side of a border. 

My thoughts

That it's written by a journalist and not scientist is obvious from the very start. This isn't really a problem it just means it has more of a narrative, less statistics and a lot of personal anecdotes. And it is a more pleasant read.

It's interesting but lacks something in structure. Not really clear what differentiate the theme if one chapter from the next. Mostly it's the same anecdotes, interviews with descendants of various people, histories about the family interviewed or about life in the empire. And how that relates to EU. I cant help but think Maybe simply naming the chapters would have helped.

A lot of the people interviewed were descendants of nobles. People whose family lost land and influence when the empire collapses and the area was conquered. While it is interesting to hear about the modern day Habsburgs and their thoughts. They might have a bias to the empire in a way that ordinary people might not have. 

It is positive about the EU points out that it probably wont collapse despite what headlines might say. Because at the end of the day being a part of it is better than not.

All in all its an interesting read about a place and time I know little about. 

If you have read it what did you think? Leave a comment. If you haven't read it you can check it out here Habsburg for the Dutch version and here Habsburg for the Swedish version.