Review: Variable Star ~ by Robert A. Heinlein and Spider Robinson

 

A review by John of  Variable Star ~ by Robert A. Heinlein and Spider Robinson 

Love, teenage angst, mysticism, music, humor, rites of passage, pioneering and adventure - all wrapped up in a hard-core science fiction novel.

Robert A. Heinlein (regarded by many as modern science fiction’s greatest author) died in 1988, but among his belongings was found the detailed outline of a novel that he was never to complete. Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Spider Robinson was offered the opportunity to take the outline and to turn it into a full novel, and what resulted was Variable Star.

Joel Johnston is the orphaned son of a deceased Nobel prize winning scientist, and is now a struggling music student who is deeply in love with fellow student Jinny Hamilton. He’s ecstatic when she says that they should marry and have children – but he is flat broke and thinks that they should wait until he has finished his studies and has established himself as a composer so that he can support them financially. Then comes the bombshell. Her name isn’t really Hamilton but Conrad, granddaughter of the richest man in the solar system and part of the Conrad dynasty. Suitably convinced that Joel loves her for who she is and not for what she has, Jinny introduces Joel to her family who share their vision of him becoming part of the business empire and siring a family to carry on the dynasty.

Joel is horrified - by the prospect of joining a business empire, by the fact that his future has been mapped out for him, and most of all by the fact that Jinny has been lying to him. After going on a drink and drug fuelled binge, he decides to join a starship that’s setting off to colonize a planet many light years away from Earth and the solar system; as far away from Jinny and the Conrads as it is possible to be.

And so he joins 500 others on a dangerous voyage that will take 20 years, locked inside a ship traveling at very near the speed of light. The starship’s drive is controlled by six “relativists”, and the only meaningful contact between the ship and the solar system is via telepathic twins whose communications are virtually instantaneous despite the distance. Of course, things go wrong. Horribly wrong. The ship and the crew appear to be doomed after a cataclysmic catastrophe in the solar system they have just left.

I enjoyed the read and the book has many merits. It has a clever storyline, tons of imagination, some strong and interesting characters, a lot of puns and droll humor, and some great scientific concepts. The story builds very nicely, but as I got nearer to the end of the book I kept on wondering how on earth (or off Earth!) was this all going to end with so few pages remaining. And that for me was the trouble. The ending came all too soon and seemed to lack a lot of the detail and believability that had characterized the rest of the book; I flat out didn’t like the way the story was wrapped up. Maybe this has something to do with Robinson announcing recently that there would be three sequels to variable Star – but I think not. Most loose ends were tied up, just not in a way that I found very satisfying.

Oh well, I really did enjoy the first 90% of this book, and maybe others will like the ending better than I did. The book is probably a “must” for all Heinlein and Robinson fans, and I’m sure many other science fiction readers will enjoy it too. For me this book gets 3.5 stars; and not variable ones!

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US|UK|Canada. 320 pages; Tor Books; 1st edition (September 19, 2006)

As always John will be addressing any comments around this review, so please don’t forget to check the follow up box to get his response.

Thanks for reading!

Review: Seven Years in Tibet ~ by Heinrich Harrer

 

Seven Years in Tibet ~ by Heinrich Harrer (Translation by Robert Graves) – reviewed by John

A fascinating autobiographical account of Harrer’s time spent in Tibet and the forbidden city of Lhasa, during the reclusive country’s final years of independence.

Harrer was an Austrian mountain climber who was returning from a trip to the Himalayas when the Second World War broke out. He and his colleagues soon found themselves in a British prisoner-of-war camp in northern India. While conditions there were very reasonable, Harrer was determined to escape, and decided that the best route was to head north into Tibet (which was neutral) and then try to make his way via China or Burma to the Japanese lines.

After some false starts he and a colleague (Aufschnaiter) did manage to escape and made it to the Tibetan border, high in the mountains. At the time Tibet was a mysterious country which spurned attention from the rest of the world and did not welcome foreigners, but the two Austrians were hoping to rely on Tibet’s neutrality in the war as they tried to pass through heading to the east.

And so began a grueling two year trek travelling hundreds of miles through the Tibetan mountains heading for the forbidden city of Lhasa. Having no entry permit or official travel documents, they were always under threat of being kicked out of the country and had to rely on their guile and the kindness of strangers to help them progress. After many adventures they eventually made it to Lhasa, cold, bedraggled, hungry and penniless.

Despite their condition they were again able to rely on the Tibetan’s natural kindness and hospitality. Although always under threat of being expelled, they gradually were able to establish a network of friends and contacts, helped in part by the local’s curiosity about these strange westerners. Harrer and Aufschnaiter tried very hard to fit in, bending to the local customs and always striving to be helpful. They succeeded, to the extent that Harrer eventually became a kind of tutor and friend to the young Dalai Lama – the spiritual leader of the country. They stayed in Lhasa for five years, and left only when the country was invaded and overrun by the Chinese army, which ultimately led to the Dalai Lama’s exile from Tibet.

The book is full of fascinating insights about this simple reclusive country, its Buddhist-dominated culture and its friendly people. In many ways Tibet was like a throw-back to several hundred years ago – it shunned virtually all technology, relied on the power of prayer and superstition, had a strong feudal foundation, believed in the God-like power of its young leader, and was almost totally cut off from the rest of the world. The country and its people charmed the two Austrians, and they in turn were able to help in many ways.

Sadly this simple society has been crushed and has been forced to change beyond all recognition. Ironically the very seclusion that Tibet yearned for turned out to be its worst enemy – when it needed help to ward off the impending threat from its large neighbor, it had no-one it could turn to for help. Not only is the book an interesting read, but it also serves as a valuable historical record of a culture which no longer exists and which remarkably few outsiders ever experienced. I’d rate the book 4 stars and thoroughly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning about foreign cultures or who likes good travel-oriented biographies.

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US|UK|Canada; originally published 1953; 368 pages; Tarcher (August 20, 2009)

Purchased at a local junk store this copy was pilfered by John from Shellie’s teetering TBR pile. As always John will be addressing any comments on this review, so please don’t forget to check the follow up box to get his response.

Have a great Thursday… and remember it’s just a short hop till Saturday and there's always a strong cup of English tea to get you through till then.

Winners ~ We have 7 of them!

 

 

Lets Congratulate our Lucky Winners!

Life is so much better when you win a book.   Don’t you think?

 

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5 copies!  Five winners!

1. Megan M
2. Adamsparerib
3. Chrissy
4. Just Another Book Addict
5. Drey

Yeah ~ to the five winners!

Giveaway 1 ~  WWW:Wake ~ by Robert J. Sawyer US|UK|Canada.  Link to John’s review ~ An intriguing and clever science fiction novel with a tremendous young female lead character.

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One copy, one winner! 

The winner is Julie.

Yeah ~ Julie!

Giveaway 2 ~  The Thieves of Darkness ~ by Richard Doetsch US|UK|Canada. 

 

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One lucky winner!

The winner is Ashley K.

Yeah ~ Ashley!

Giveaway 3 ~  Short Story or Synopsis edited ~ by Lou Aronica  author of Blue (title links to review; and it is now available in ebook format for only 2.99 or less in Kindle format ~  in the US|UK and Barnes & Noble).

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If you did not win - stay tuned, because loads of giveaways and more blog hops are coming. In fact in two weeks time the Hoppy Easter Eggstravaganza Blog Hop will be live!

As always I will be emailing each of  you. Please respond back to my email with your contact details and also comment on this post within 72 hours, then I will forward your information onto the publicist, publisher, and editor.

 

Congratulations to all our Winners!

Guest Post: Molly Harper author of ~ The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf

 

Guest Post ~ author Molly Harper.

Molly Harper’s ~ The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf and its predecessor How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf have both been recently released.  The latest on March 29th and the first February 22.

Both are humorous paranormal romances published by Pocket Books. They are purse sized, and fun for light reading.

Earlier this year we posted a piece by Molly about the creation of this series – which happened during an ice storm. It’s an interesting and funny post (you can link to it via the previous text), since you never know when you’ll get an idea for a book series. Though today’s post is is a bit warmer, as is the title of her latest book, it revolves around actual wolves and their true nature, as opposed to those in fantasy stories, and Molly’s comparisons of them with several of the characters in her recent novels.

This is a cute and educational snippet, especially if you’re an animal advocate. Enjoy!  (photo credit: Memories by Chris/Chris Meyer/Georgetown, KY)

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When I was little and came running into the house, sweaty and caked in dirt, my mom would cry, “What the- have you been rolling around with wolves?”

Well, here I sit, sweaty, caked in various layers of dried mud.  And I have indeed been playing with wolves. While promoting the release of my Naked Werewolf romance series, I visited the Wolf Run Wildlife Refuge in Nicholasville, KY.  Wolf Run, a state- and USDA-licensed non-profit educational facility, provides a safe, loving and permanent sanctuary for 23 adult wolves and wolf-dog hybrids. The refuge is also home to two full-grown lions, deer, goats, sheep, monkeys, and other exotic wildlife. And Rowdy, the most obese raccoon I have ever seen. 

Most of the animals are former pets that were either confiscated by or surrendered by their owners. Because it turns out, wolf hybrids do not make great house pets.

As Savannah Massey, director of animal care and education at Wolf Run told me, “These animals are gorgeous, appealing and unique. But they’re also aggressive, destructive and territorial. This is not an animal you want in your home.  Wolf genetics do not go away. And it’s not just that they could tear up your furniture or hurt one of your other pets- you are physically in danger when you’re around them.”

Just what you want to hear when you’re sitting right next to one, and he’s been licking your face.

Honestly, Boone, a 10-year-old grey male, could not have been nicer during my visit and our subsequent photo shoot. He was a dignified statesman compared to raucous Razz, a three-year-old tan specimen who seemed to think my make-up was bacon-flavored. (Note to Sephora, wolf-oriented face powder may be a niche market you haven’t considered yet.)

I learned a lot during my visit to Wolf Run. I was happy to find there are some definite similarities between actual wolves and the characters in How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf and The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf.

For instance, a wolf will pee on whatever it wants, whenever it wants, to make sure you know that thing belongs to them. It is now your tree, Boone, we understand. Thank you for not choosing my shoes.

Wolves have to date.  There are five packs at Wolf Run, each with three to five pack members. New wolves are matched to potential packs based on temperament when they arrive at Wolf Run. If the initial matches don’t work, they are moved to different packs until they find a good fit. Some wolves, like Boone, don’t fit well with any group and end up being loners. (Which, I think, makes him a bit like Cooper.) 

Wolves struggle over the Alpha position.  Large males jockey for the position and it can lead to inter-pack tension. Unlike Boone, who was an Alpha contender, Razz, just seemed to want to play, which made me think of Samson. I did not see a real-life counterpart for Maggie, which was probably a good thing given her penchant for biting people on the butt.

Mary Kindred, CEO of Wolf Run, calls the animals her babies. When she walks around the yard, any effort to distract the wolves is futile, because a) she is mom and b) she has Pupperoni in her pocket. Kindred noted that the sanctuary receives no outside funding, and all expenses, such sturdy fencing, food, veterinary care, and upkeep of the grounds, are paid through donations. The facility welcomes volunteers. And despite the love and effort Mary and her staff devote to the sanctuary, both she and Savannah look forward to the day they’re no longer needed.

“These animals shouldn’t be here,” Savannah said. “The lions should be in Africa. The wolves should be in the wild. Our goal is to rescue animals and educate the public, until a facility like this is no longer needed.”  

To learn more about the wolf sanctuary that Molly visited link to Wolf Run, or contact Mary at ceoatwrwrhope@aol.com.

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How to Flirt with a Naked Werewolf ~ US|UK|Canada. February 22, 2011

The Art of Seducing a Naked Werewolf ~ US|UK|Canada.  March 29, 2011

Link to check out the trailer for the Naked Werewolf series.

About Molly:   Raised in Mississippi and Kentucky, Molly Harper graduated from Western Kentucky University with a bachelor's degree in print journalism. She worked for six years as a reporter and humor columnist; Molly lives in western Kentucky with her husband and daughter. Her books are published by Pocket Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.  For more on Molly and to connect via her website, twitter, and facebook link to the publisher’s website.

This article was sent via the publisher, Simon & Schuster, to share with our readers!

The Image of the Fool (in books, myth, and history) ~ for April 1st!

 

Foolery, sir, does walk about the orb like the sun, it shines everywhere. ~ William Shakespeare, Twelfth Night

Its April Fool’s Day! 

One of our favorite days of the year. Its just another excuse to have a bit of silly fun.

Unlike last year - we have opted out and gone academic. If you would like a little trickster mirth please read on since last year John/JD and I had an absolute blast at our friends’ and readers’ expense here on Layers of Thought. The prank we played on April 1, 2010 links via this text, to the post which has been updated for newer readers so they may get a feel for the context of our prank. Do not be shocked!

Beyond our obnoxious playfulness, what I find intriguing about the fool is that it has mythical origins, so I have included a short snippet at the bottom of this post. I had fun and learned a lot.

The best bit is the books that I unearthed which are based around this archetypal image. So in the rare case that you don’t have enough to read here are eight, all based upon this satirical and truth exposing character - the fool.

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Most have Medieval Themes ~

Fools Are Everywhere: The Court Jester Around the World ~ by Beatrice K. Otto (nonfiction)  US|UK|Canada.  444 pages; University Of Chicago Press; 1 edition published April 1, 2001.

A journey around the world in search of one of the most colorful characters in history—the court jester. These characters crop up everywhere, from the courts of ancient China and the Mogul emperors of India to those of medieval Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Americas highlighting their humanizing influence on people with power.

Queen’s Own Fool ~ by Jane Yolen and Robert Harris (historical fantasy – Young Adult) US|UK|Canada. 390 pages; Philomel (May 22, 2000)

Only a few facts are known about Mary Queen of Scott's young female jester, le Jardiniere, but Jane Yolen and Robert Harris, have created a fascinating narrator based on what they do know. Le Jardiniere relates the tragic tale of the ill-fated 16th-century queen of Scotland. 

King's Fool ~ by Margaret Campbell Barnes (historical fiction) US|UK|Canada.  320 pages; Sourcebooks Landmark (April 7, 2009)

Published in 1959, here is a remarkable tale of the intrigue, ruthlessness, and majesty of the Tudor court. When country lad Will Somers lands himself the plum position of jester to the mercurial King Henry VIII, he has no idea that he's just been handed a front-row seat to history. 

Darkmans ~ by Nicola Barker (contemporary literary fiction) US|UK|Canada. 400 pages; Fourth Estate (May 2007)

An examination of the ways in which history can play jokes on us all... If History is just a sick joke which keeps on repeating itself, then who exactly might be telling it, and why?  - Could it be John Scogin, Edward IV's infamous court jester, whose favorite pastime was to burn people alive - for a laugh?

This novels was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize.  

Fool ~ by Christopher Moore  (historical satire – humor/fantasy) US|UK|Canada.  311 pages; William Morrow; First Edition edition published February 10, 2009.

A man of infinite jest, Pocket has been Lear's cherished fool for years, from the time the king's grown daughters were mere girls. So naturally Pocket is at his brainless, elderly liege's side when Lear—at the insidious urging of Edmund, the bastard son of the Earl of Gloucester—demands that his daughters swear their undying love and devotion before a collection of assembled guests. Mayhem ensues and the only person who can possibly make things right . . . is Pocket, a small and slight clown with a biting sense of humor. Pocket may be a fool . . . but he's definitely not an idiot.     

Alas, Poor Yorick ~ by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro (historical horror) Kindle only - US|UK. Hidden Knowledge (October 5, 2002)

An historical fiction adventure with dramatic interest since it's the "backstory" to Shakespeare's "Hamlet". All set in Elsinor Castle two decades before the events of the play, it features the political affairs and romantic entanglements that will lead inexorably to the events of the Tragedy of the Prince Hamlet.

The Fool's Girl ~ by Celia Rees (young adult – historical romance)  Soon to be released in paper back US|UK|Canada. Young Adult – grade 8 and up; 304 pages; Bloomsbury USA Children's Books; 1 edition published July 20, 2010.

Young and beautiful Violetta may be of royal blood, but her kingdom is in shambles when she arrives in London on a mysterious mission, but it is not until she meets the playwright William Shakespeare that she gets to tell the entire story. Violetta and her comic companion, Feste, have come in search of an ancient holy relic that the evil Malvolio has stolen from their kingdom. This original young adult story is spun from Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.

Holy Fools ~ by Joanne Harris (historical suspense) US|UK|Canada. 368 pages; William Morrow; 1st edition published February 3, 2004.

In the year 1605, a young widow, pregnant and alone, seeks sanctuary at the small Abbey of Sainte Marie-de-la-mer on the island of Noirs Moustiers off the Brittany coast. After the birth of her daughter, she takes up the veil, and a new name, Soeur Auguste. But the peace she has found in re-mote isolation is shattered five years later by the events that follow the death of her kind benefactress, the Reverend Mother.

And the question of the day is: which of these books would you read first?

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Historical and Mythical info around ~ The Fool:

The Fool, Jester, Clown, Trickster is an image/character/archetype that is considered by scholars to be universal. It appears in many different forms in a variety of cultures throughout history. The fool has a playful but complex role – with the appearance of the fool there will be an opportunity for truth, balance, play, recreation, destruction, creation, and change. Interestingly scholars of mythology say that some cultures portray the trickster as either a hero or as a destroyer. Here are some examples of this archetype:

• The Fool, known in Irish and Scottish Gaelic as Amandán is a social fairy, and is sometimes seen as wiser than their masters.
• A similar role is played by the Mudhead clowns of the Hopi. In the Hopi rituals, the sacred clowns are combination jester and shaman.
• The Norse god Loki is the instigator of conflicts.
• The Raven trickster of the Northwest Indians brings fire to the people and is both a destroyer or creator.
• The Fool or The Jester is one of the 78 cards in a Tarot deck and is used in divination as well as in game playing.

• The Medieval jester commonly found in folklore, folktales, legends, and religious myths was one of the few characters in the court who could freely speak his conscious without causing offense.

April Fool’s Day Origins (via Wikipedia)

The true origins of April Fool’s Day appear to be lost in antiquity with a variety of mentions and suspected beginnings. However obscure its origins may be, it is a chance for us to use humor and have a bit of fun, which is why it is one of our personal fun days of the year -  especially the hoaxes!

For further research:

Academic findings and links around the multicultural Trickster from Mythic Links.org

Fairy and Folk Tales of the Irish Peasantry (1888) and The Celtic Twilight (1893) were written and edited by William Butler Yeats with both referencing the Irish and Gaelic fairy tricksters - Amandán.

Happy Fool’s Day!