The Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes: a review
An engrossing, thoroughly researched, well-written, powerful, and profoundly disturbing book.
Archive for April, 2009
Filed under
Bookworm Alley
Dear Old Macalester
History Scrapbook
Posted on
April 19th 2009
Command Decision by Elizabeth Moon: a review
Elizabeth Moon takes the standard elements of Space Opera–FTL drives, ansible communications, scattered (and largely independent) nation-state planets, nasty pirates, slavers, privateers, mercenaries–and mixes them a bit differently than is common in the genre. Her isolated cultures, in particular, are exceptionally well-considered and consistently drawn. She’s also got a knack for story-telling that’s really quite delightful.
Filed under Bookworm Alley Posted on April 17th 2009
2005 Baseball Guide: a short review
Easily the worst TSN Guide, though the fault’s more with the data providers than with The Sporting News. There are many many errors of omission and commission in the minor league portions of this book.
Filed under
Baseball CrankSpace
Bookworm Alley
Posted on
April 14th 2009
Ironwood, Hurley, and the Gogebic Range by Matthew Liesch: a review
This book is “based on” Liesch’s Masters Thesis at UW-Madison, so (as you’d expect) he knows his material. Occasionally the thesis peeks through, but in the main the book is a well-selected set of photographs documenting the boom and bust life of the mining district.
Filed under
Bookworm Alley
History Scrapbook
Mitten State
Posted on
April 13th 2009
Samuel Pepys by Stephen Coote: a very short review
A solid biography. Very different from Tomalin’s; this one’s focus is on Pepys’ career.
Filed under Bookworm Alley Posted on April 11th 2009
Baseball Register 1945: a short review/comment
This 128-page edition was apparently published as a memorial to Commissioner Landis on the occasion of his death. It’s much shorter than the regular 1945 Baseball Register, and has almost nothing in common with the 1945 Servicemen’s Special Edition.
Filed under
Baseball CrankSpace
Bookworm Alley
Posted on
April 7th 2009
Owning a Piece of the Minors by Jerome Klinkowitz: a short review
Jerry Klinkowitz, who teaches at the University of Northern Iowa, was one of the owners of the Waterloo Diamonds from 1978 until they were sold in 1994. This series of essays explores that experience from a variety of perspectives; he talks about how he got involved with the team, about how he wrote a novel (Short Season) based on his ownership experiences, about his grandstand neighbors, about team officer Mildred Boyenga, and about why the Diamonds failed.
Filed under
Baseball CrankSpace
Bookworm Alley
Posted on
April 3rd 2009
Rimrunners by C.J. Cherryh: a short review
This one’s a fun romp; a space opera from the perspective of one of the spear carriers.
Filed under Bookworm Alley Posted on April 1st 2009
