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inulro32. The Atrocity Archives by Charles Stross
This month's Bibliogoths selection, but as I can't go I'll post a review:
Imagine a world where Lovecraftian horrors can be summoned from alternate dimensions using an interesting mix of magic, mathematics and computer programming. There would, of course, be a super-secret layer of civil service to keep it all secret and under control. And count every last paper clip.
Sheer genius. Every single word. Hilarious and scary at the same time. I read a lot of good books, but this is the best thing I've read in a long time.
I shall be seeking out his other works forthwith.
33. In Sickness and in Power: Illness in heads of government during the last 100 years by David Owen
I have got to stop listening to Radio 4's Start the Week with the laptop on - if they're discussing a vaguely interesting book I log in to see if the library has it and reserve it if they do. This is quite often.
Lord Owen, long serving British politician who initially trained as a doctor, not surprisingly has an interest in how the health of heads of government has impacted on their governing. The first part is a bunch of short case studies of health problems various world leaders in the 20th century had; this is interesting but left me asking more questions than it answered. (This is generally a Good Thing, by the way). Part two is longer detailed case studies which, let's be honest, I was really only reading for the chapter on JFK. What is remarkable isn't so much that he functioned with so many serious health problems, but how appalling his treatment for them was, even by the standards of the time, until the last year or so of his life.
Where the book falls down, is that Owen has a bee in his bonnet about something he calls "the hubris syndrome" (he's written a whole book on the subject) which he admits isn't a recognised medical diagnosis, but he still devotes part 3 to a study of Bush and Blair's hubris over Iraq. Fascinating stuff, but does not fit well with the rest of the book, especially as he dismisses analysis of Hitler and Stalin by saying they didn't suffer from any formal psychiatric disorder.
Despite this inconsistency, I found this a really interesting and entertaining read.
His take-home message is "covering up illness is bad, m-kay".
This month's Bibliogoths selection, but as I can't go I'll post a review:
Imagine a world where Lovecraftian horrors can be summoned from alternate dimensions using an interesting mix of magic, mathematics and computer programming. There would, of course, be a super-secret layer of civil service to keep it all secret and under control. And count every last paper clip.
Sheer genius. Every single word. Hilarious and scary at the same time. I read a lot of good books, but this is the best thing I've read in a long time.
I shall be seeking out his other works forthwith.
33. In Sickness and in Power: Illness in heads of government during the last 100 years by David Owen
I have got to stop listening to Radio 4's Start the Week with the laptop on - if they're discussing a vaguely interesting book I log in to see if the library has it and reserve it if they do. This is quite often.
Lord Owen, long serving British politician who initially trained as a doctor, not surprisingly has an interest in how the health of heads of government has impacted on their governing. The first part is a bunch of short case studies of health problems various world leaders in the 20th century had; this is interesting but left me asking more questions than it answered. (This is generally a Good Thing, by the way). Part two is longer detailed case studies which, let's be honest, I was really only reading for the chapter on JFK. What is remarkable isn't so much that he functioned with so many serious health problems, but how appalling his treatment for them was, even by the standards of the time, until the last year or so of his life.
Where the book falls down, is that Owen has a bee in his bonnet about something he calls "the hubris syndrome" (he's written a whole book on the subject) which he admits isn't a recognised medical diagnosis, but he still devotes part 3 to a study of Bush and Blair's hubris over Iraq. Fascinating stuff, but does not fit well with the rest of the book, especially as he dismisses analysis of Hitler and Stalin by saying they didn't suffer from any formal psychiatric disorder.
Despite this inconsistency, I found this a really interesting and entertaining read.
His take-home message is "covering up illness is bad, m-kay".
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no subject
Date: 2008-06-20 10:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-20 10:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-21 12:50 am (UTC)Stross. Yes. I've convinced at least one person to read this just by using the words "computational demonology".
The Jennifer Morgue is a direct sequel (less Deighton, more Fleming), and there are likely to be more based on other schools of sixties spy thrillers. TJM I recommend, the others I'll probably end up recommending after they've been written and read.
no subject
Date: 2008-06-22 12:40 am (UTC)I for one am glad to see Doctor Death's post-career career continue to improve. Think of the trouble that would have been saved if certain politicians had had to take regular psych tests!
no subject
Date: 2008-06-22 02:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-06-22 08:54 pm (UTC)