Just finished reading this book – Sleeping Giants by Sylvain Neuvel. This is a sci-fi story told in an somewhat unusual way, via ‘interviews’ – most often with an unnamed lead interviewer we never meet. I won’t spoil the main storyline (plenty of other places online can do that for you) but to say the following:

– The main story ‘device’ of the interviews works very well, IMHO. It makes you think harder about the motivations behind and the mentality of the main characters, especially as the ‘unnamed interviewer’ most often heard from is usually not sympathetic.

– I like the focus being first and foremost on the characters and not the main overarching plotline. While that may get further development in a future book (looks like a sequel is coming out possibly next spring?) and it will be interesting if the ‘interview device’ is maintained there too – this book ticks right along and definitely holds your attention all the way through, with at least two major plot twists I never saw coming.

– Finally – while there may be some story elements here that are inspired by past classic sci-fi (or even anime/kaiju), I still think the whole is greater than the sum of its parts and this is a great read – DEFINITELY recommended!

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Other perspectives (and spoilers – you are warned!)
NPR – The Sleeping Giant
Goodreads.com – The Sleeping Giant

Got mine yesterday – woo hoo!

The Art of Atari

Inside The Art of Atari (pre-release book review)

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The first trailer for Luc Besson’s Valerian promises a dazzling space opera romp

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Truly amazing stuff….

Le Mans 2030: Car designers with eye on future tackle Michelin Challenge Design

2017: Showcase of Selected Entrants

I think the ‘Bentley 9’ was my fave:

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Who wants to bet Ralph Fiennes is the bad guy…? 🙂

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this has been a craptastic year for beloved celebs – RIP, Mr. Wonka…and GOOD DAY, SIR!

Gene Wilder Dies at 83; Star of ‘Willy Wonka’ and ‘Young Frankenstein’

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Obviously an entire strip just created to get to that second to last panel…still, funny. 🙂

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(finally) a new Alex Verus book has come out, Burned. And like all the previous ones, I ripped through this once as fast as I could, because these are great books! Continued character development is strong and believable, although I hope Mr. Jacka gives poor Alex a break in the next one (it’s likely another year-long wait, sigh). Anyway, you can read my posts about the previous books, or just get out there and start reading the entire series already!

Other voices linked from here.

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Very cool – It’s the same age as me, it needs that makeover….!

How the Smithsonian is restoring the original USS Enterprise to full 1967 glory

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Lost one of the great ones over the weekend. So sad. Sleep well, Major Tom.

great Sean Nelson article in The Stranger:

In Death as in Life, David Bowie Remains the Master of Self-Invention

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