Reading - July 2015

Guitarist (August 2015 | Issue 396)

Prelude To Foundation by Isaac Asimov (1988)

I find it amusing that my copy of this book has the following quote on the front: "One of the most staggering achievements in modern SF" (from The Times). The quote's not dated but Asimov's Foundation series, staggering as it indeed is, is not modern SF and wasn't when this novel was released. This particular book is a little too long and has the trademark clunky-ness but Asimov fans quite like that, I think. A nice easy read.

The Week (4 July 2015 | Issue 1029)

iWoz by Steve Wozniak (with Gina Smith) (2006)

The world according to Woz.

The Week (13 July 2015 | Issue 1030)

This week's Week came with a free copy of the US Week of the week. I expected greater differences in reporting but as well as the format being almost identical, many of the stories were not just the same, but written pretty much the same way. Obviously there are differences in domestic reporting and it's interesting to reflect that if their political in-fighting seems trivial to me, from a distance, so does ours to anyone else.

Ready Player One by Ernest Cline (2011)

Even more enjoyable the second time round. Full of great ideas even if the kitsch 80s references start to get a little too cute.

Brian May's Red Special by Brian May (with Simon Bradley) (2014)

Another read of this fascinating book. I still can't quite believe all the thought that went into the one guitar Brian and his father made. So many good ideas that haven't made the mainstream of guitar making - I wonder why not?

The Week (18 July 2015 | Issue 1031)

Forward The Foundation by Isaac Asimov (1993)

Second in the Foundation series but the last to be written, this does a decent job of pulling together some of the pieces in earlier books, but is probably one for completists really. A good read though.

Guitarist (Summer 2015 | Issue 397)

The Week (25 July 2015 | Issue 1032)

Another Man's Life by Greg Williams (2007)

Kind of male chick-lit - the cover quote compares it to Nick Hornby which is close enough. The big concept is of two men - twins - one single, one married, who decide to swap lives for a fortnight - "with hilarious consqequences", as the cliche goes. Predictably, it turns out that both of them can learn from each other. Aaaah. An enjoyable read though.