rikercoleman's reviews
95 reviews

The Word for World Is Forest by Ursula K. Le Guin

dark hopeful reflective

5.0

Moving and profound. It’s interesting to read looking back at the contemporary issues LeGuin is writing from—namely the Vietnam War and the nascent environmentalist movement. This is a really clear picture of how science fiction is written in the context of history, which I thought was interesting. 

To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis

adventurous lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot

4.5

Really enjoyed this. I suspect that reading the first book in the series first might have helped (supposedly this is the second in a series) but this was just a lot of fun. Hilarious, adventurous, and real. 

Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future by Jason Stanley

3.5

Solid, if depressing, look at the tactics of fascism as they were used historically and as they are being used today. 

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card

4.0

It was interesting to come back to this book after 10+ years. I remembered the major twist, but not the subtle politics behind the war machine. 

Startide Rising by David Brin

adventurous lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Lots of fun. The dolphin names were a bit hard to keep straight, but I really enjoyed this. The concept is extremely unique, and I liked the adventure. 

Babel by R.F. Kuang

dark informative tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

Excellent. Tackles the ethical question of the use of violence against oppression while telling an excellent story. 

Stand on Zanzibar by John Brunner

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

The story feels both well-polished and emotionally raw. I think it doesn’t land as well for a modern audience as when it was written, but I found it well written and moving in its intensity. 

The Demolished Man by Alfred Bester

slow-paced

3.5

It was okay. The dark ambition of the main character is interesting, although I didn’t find it all that compelling. 

The Borders of Infinity by Lois McMaster Bujold

adventurous lighthearted tense fast-paced

4.0

Fun romp. Miles Vorkosigan is at his best when he’s cleverly solving some problem in a way that no one else likes. 

You Look Like a Thing and I Love You: How Artificial Intelligence Works and Why It's Making the World a Weirder Place by Janelle Shane

funny informative reflective fast-paced

3.75

Lovely read, a bit out of date at this point, but that’s inevitable with a quickly evolving field. This is a great and approachable way to learn about how LLMs actually work. Author is funny and writes well for a general audience.