Recently read: Oltion, Wilhelm, Wynne Jones, F. White

Note that, except for the Oltion, this list is basically Books to Avoid.

Jerry Oltion, Anywhere but Here, Tor 2005.

This is a weak sequel to his lively & entertaining The Getaway Special
(2002), which was cheap star travel in septic-tank spaceships. Here
they've advanced to sealed-cab electric pickups, with the Secret
Stardrive module hidden inside. Which is illegal in a
cartoonishly-obtuse USA. Does have a nice Heinleinian wild-planet
romance/problem-solving story nested within. B/B-, has moments.


Kate Wilhelm, Storyteller: writing lessons and more from 27 years of the
Clarion writers' workshop.
2005, Small Beer Press

Picked this up on a whim, and it was disappointing. Didn't finish --
repetitious and surprisingly dull, considering what a good writer Kate
Wilhelm is. Though there are moments. Will be of more interest to
Clarion alums and aspiring students.


Dianna Wynne Jones, The tough guide to fantasyland (1988)

Finally came across a copy, but not really my sort of thing, I'm sorry
to say. Has moments, but DNF. Another illo of the scattershot nature of
(alleged) humor. Sigh.


Frank White, The overview effect: space exploration and human evolution.
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, 1998

Noted because it's just awful, the parts by White anyway. And the
snippets of interviews with astronauts are short, scattershot and
basically worthless. Inexplicably recommended by Lynn Margulis. Avoid,
avoid!

Happy reading (other books) --
Pete Tillman
--
Book Reviews: http://www.sfsite.com/revwho.htm
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/cm/member-reviews/-/A3GHSD9VY8XS4Q/
http://www.infinityplus.co.uk//nonfiction/reviews.htm
Google "Peter D. Tillman" +review for many more!
.

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