[Review] The Quantum Thief by Hannu Rajanjemi

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 K.Z. Freeman 2 Comments
The more you think when reading this book, the worse off you'll be. The more you simply let go and realize things will come, leaving them as they are, the better this book will become. In this regard, it is an excellent exercise in letting go, as well as being a damn sexy read. Reading this book somehow feels very Zen.

It's a read that will either stamp you with "oh shit, let's see what happens next", or "meh, too much stuff". If you belong in the second category, then I don't know why the hell you are reading science fiction in the first place, but okay...

 The best part about this book is how everything is in your face from the get go. The author is like, I won't bother explaining this to you, because why should I, just read the damn thing and figure it out yourself. Although everything is eventually explained, it is explained just enough. 

 I wont bother with the plot because it is too awesome to explain even a bit and needs to be experienced instead. 

 The prose is delicious.

 The only problem I had were the dialogues, especially the main character's lines. They at times felt so cliché to me it became painful once or twice, I think I actually cringed once. He is like some overly witty dude that knows exactly what to say, as if he is in some movie and not an actual character. Luckily this didn't happen a lot, and most of the other dialogues were pretty great. Yet that feeling that the author wanted the main character to be this paragon on nonchalance always crept in, like he wanted desperately for the main char to be cool that it shows.

 The social ramification of the technology in this book should not elude even the most inept reader.

 9/10  

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Adventures in Internetlessness

Tuesday, March 25, 2014 K.Z. Freeman 0 Comments

In light of recent events I find it necessary to point out that I have been without internet for quite some time. I think it's been like six months now...? 

 Sure enough, I had access on my phone, but's that not quite the same as being able to browse with a mouse and keyboard. 

 And OH DEAR LORD how I didn't miss it at all. 

 I find it funny it has taken me this long to realize how strong of detriment it has been to my PRODUCTIVITY. And then at last I realized I am my own detriment to productivity. Ish...

 I limit myself now, which is for the best, I think, there is nothing useful up here that can outweigh meditation. Sitting in meditation or reading, as opposed to spending an hour on the internet has become a no-brainier, 
I only wish more people would realize how over-saturated one can get with useless information up here in this data-web. 

 "Then find information that will not be useless," I hear you say... and you are right, but senseless use and - oh dear god the facebook-hoppers - nooooooooo, it is the damnable abyss!

 It feels slightly odd writing this and posting it on the internet though, hahaha. 

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[Review] The Ocean at the End of the Lane Neil Gaiman

Sunday, March 09, 2014 K.Z. Freeman 0 Comments
It is perhaps a wondrous thing that we cannot always understand why we like something. It's this 'not knowing', I think, that gives a certain added sense of wonder to most things.

 It is like this with The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I really can't say why I liked it so much, nor why I could not stop reading it. The nearest I can come in describing how I felt while reading is that I became lost in it. Much like one can get lost in a woman's eyes, or in a sound or smell. The sensation this book cocoons you in is magical, which is apt, since the book itself and its happenings are nothing else but magical.

 There are certain existential fears the tome pries upon, but more than that, it somehow grabs your inner child by the throat with meaty hands and kinda rapes him. But in a good way. 

 The introspective and childlike nature of it is addicting. It kept on reminding me of the fact that one never really gets old, you're still all the ages you were since you were born, it is merely the layers that kept piling on and masking the fact that we are still that child. We are given the sense of maturity and "deeper understanding", while forgetting the value of innocence. Yet our primal fears remain the same. Neil knows this, we all know this, feel this, and that's why this book has an impact.

 Death and what lurks in the infinite recesses between worlds seems a theme that runs rampart through the spaces where words are missing, but also the will to live and hope and the power of friendship.

 10/10  

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