Specter of the Past

Author: Timothy Zahn
Format: Print

Oh no! Thrawn is back! I didn't like this Zahn book as much as his first trilogy, I guess I'm done with Star Wars novels for a while. I'll look forward to the third Drew Karpyshyn Bane novel, but other than that I think I'm done for a while.

The Golden Compass

Author: Philip Pullman
Format: Audiobook

It was a pretty good story. Took me a while to read this one, it didn't leave me wanting more. I think I prefer audiobooks read by one talented individual rather than a cast of people like this on. The Lyra characters voice and accent really got on my nerves. I like how Pullman mixes ideas from religion, physics, and mathematics into his fantasy world. There's even a mention of imaginary numbers.

The Number Devil

Author: Hans Magnus Enzensberger
Format: Print

A quick little adventure; this would be ideal for the middle school student. It does a great job of raising your curiosity but leaves the "why?" for you, the adventurer, to discover. I also like the analogy it gives for proof which I will use in class. It compares writing a proof to crossing a river, you have to jump from rock to rock.

Jedi Search

Author: Kevin J. Anderson
Format: Print

Great. Han goes back to Kessle, home of the infamous "Kessle Run." Luke finds some Jedi students to begin training, the Empire has yet another super weapon that the New Republic takes care of. Excited to read Dark Apprentice, the next in the duology.

Allegiance

Author: Timothy Zahn
Format: Print

Pretty good. Neat to see what Mara Jade (a character created after the movies) was up to during the timeline of the movies. Katie bought me this book for my birthday. :)

Shape Shifter

Author: Tony Hillerman
Format: Audiobook

Listened to this one with Katie on the way back from Chicago. I liked this one better than "Listening Woman." I guess it just held my attention a little better, even despite the 2.5 hour search for a windshield wiper after mine flew off on the freeway!

Listening Woman

Author: Tony Hillerman
Format: Audiobook

Katie and I listened to this one while driving to Chicago. Ended with a great canyon chase.

A Briefer History of Time

Author: Stephen Hawking
Format: Print

A great overview of some of the ideas of physics that have entered the public view. Relativity, quantum mechanics, string theory, black holes, the big bang, worm holes. By the way, did you hear about the black hole with the mass of 18 billion suns?

Star Wars: Darth Bane: Rule of Two

Author: Drew Karpyshyn
Format: Print

Also very good. I read this one very fast as well. Stealth, cunning, lies, trickery, these are the ways of the dark side... Just when I thought they were done for those foolish Jedi get punked (i.e. remind blind to the presence of the Sith). Great ending, but we were totally set up for a sequel. I can't wait to read it, so hurry up Karpyshyn!

Darth Bane: Path of Destruction

Author: Drew Karpyshyn
Format: Print

For some reason I got really excited about this book. A whole history before the start of the Star Wars films really intrigued me. I read this book very quickly which is unusual for me to do, usually I set printed books (as opposed to audio) down for a while then pick them up from time to time. This book though had me so interested and excited about the plot that I used mostly every free moment I had last week to read it. Needless to say at this point, the book was great! It was amazing how in the beginning of the novel I established a connection with the character, I understood him and could empathize with him. Then, I hung on to this connection with him even in spite of the horrific things that he did. I had to take a moment to "snap out of it." Had I fallen to the dark side? Bane's transition certainly made a lot more sense to me than Annakin's, Annakin's allegiance seemed to come out of the blue even though it was clear how Palpatine was playing him. I also like how even though it takes place about 1000 years before the movies a clear connection is made between this novel and the movies.

Favorite line: "Did your master give you that lightsaber when he died?" "No I killed him and took it." Those silly sith make me chuckle.

Dark Tide II: Ruin

Author: Michael A. Stackpole
Format: Print

I got through this one quickly once I finally started going, mainly because I was excited to get to the "Darth Bane" series which I've now started. I thought with the title "ruin" the New Republics demise would be more complete, but I guess there are still a lot of books in the series. I started to like Shadoa Shai by the end of the book, I look forward to meeting more of the Yuzhan Vong throughout the rest of the series. This was a great read full of some great ideas and adventure that kept me turning the page.

Never Sniff a Gift Fish

Author: Patrick E. McManus
Format: Audiobook

This was a great read. It's a comedy book equal to what I've read from Dave Barry. Especially funny if you've ever been camping or enjoy outdoor sports such as hunting or fishing. Great light reading.

Einstein: His Life and Universe

Author: Walter Isaacson
Format: Audiobook

Great! I really enjoyed reading this book. Mr. Isaacson does exactly as his title describes, including the important biographical elements as well as great explanations of Einstein's ideas in physics. This book makes me want to delve deeper into this world of curved space, quantum questioning, and the quest towards a unified field theory. Things I will take with me: think visually, think creatively, and challenge the norms.

Dark Tide I: Onslaught

Author: Michael A. Stackpole
Format: Print

Very good. What's really great are the characters, not only do we have the old favorites like Luke who busts out with the dual light sabers to kick some extragalactic amphistaff, but we have the Leia and Han's children who I would imagine will become more and more important as the series progresses. These compelling characters keep me reading, I already have Dark Tide II on my night stand and look forward to reading it.

Whiteout

Author: Ken Follett
Format: Audiobook

Since we share a last name I felt compelled to read some of Ken Follett's work. This book takes place during Christmas-time in snowy wheather so I read it during the appropriate season. It was okay, I guess I'm not to keen on mystery-thrillers, it really didn't pull me in.