The Hunt for Red October, written by the now-famous Tom Clancy, has always been one of my favourite books to read on a plane. Not because it’s too long and a behemoth to carry around, but rather that its story will grip you for the duration of the flight and keep you awake. It’s got a thrilling plot, Cold War politics and naval jargon all rolled into one package, so what’s not to like?
For those of you who haven’t had the chance to read this book, it tells the tale of Jack Ryan, a CIA agent, and his interesting encounter with one of the latest Soviet submarines, the Red October, at the height of the Cold War. The Red October is outfitted with state-of-the-art stealth technology that could render it invisible to American radar, so when the submarine’s captain and officers all decide to defect to the United States and bring their ship along with them, both Washington and Moscow are whipped into a frenzy as each side scrambles to grab the submarine’s precious technology for themselves. Ryan himself, meanwhile, gets roped into all this mainly because he was the one who figured out the Soviet captain’s plot.
The story is definitely a fun and intense one, with the author’s thorough research of naval technology shining throughout the book as he translates mere numbers on control panels into painful moments of anticipation and suspense. All the characters have their own distinctive characteristics as well, with every Soviet submarine officer having their own separate motivations for defecting. At the same time, it’s quite funny to read about the cultural differences between America and the Soviet Union, which rear their ugly heads out when officers from both sides begin interacting with each other.
That said, this book isn’t without its flaws. For starters, there might be a bit too much technical detail here for its own good, boosting the total page number to a whopping 650. Also, this was written during the Cold War, so expect a lot of bias towards American freedom. Aside from that, however, it’s a fun read. Do grab it if you haven’t.
TL;DR:
The Good: Intense, suspenseful plot will keep you in your seat for hours, very accurate technical detail ( the guy did his research here)
The Bad: It can get very long, you may find yourself lost/drowning in technical jargon halfway through
The Eh: It’s set during the Cold War, so there’s a lot of pro-American stuff here
Conclusion: If you need something to pass the time with on a plane, read this. Or just read it when you can.
The English and the French. Ever since William the Conqueror stepped onto the shores of England, the two countries have shared a contentious relationship with each other. Even today, you can find plenty of French-bashers in Britain, or plenty of English-haters in France who refuse to speak in the ‘Anglo-Saxon’ tongue when communicating with foreigners. At the same time, however, the two countries have proved themselves to be capable of cooperation (for limited periods of time), and remain firm allies of each other.
As well-known(or infamous) as this ‘frenemy’ phenomenon is, however, it can be quite hard to put this relationship down to one event. On the other hand, it is necessary to understand the shared history of both countries over more than 1000 years to truly experience the fervent love/hate they have for each other.
This is where this book comes in. 1o00 Years of Annoying the French is a comprehensive history of the Anglo-French relationship (from a very Anglophile perspective), that aims to catalogue almost every instance of the English uprooting the French in a tongue-in-cheek manner. From Joan of Arc to the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate, the author never fails to find an opportunity to mock the French and their bad luck when he sees one. Take the Battle of Waterloo for example. As we all know, Napoleon lost, and the Duke of Wellington became the national hero he is today. To add insult to injury, however, the author decides to remind the (probably already-incensed) Francophile readers that whenever they enter the British embassy in Paris, they will be greeted by a portrait of the Duke in grand old age as they explore its grounds. Other instances, such as the croissant being Austrian and the incompetence of modern French politicians, only serve to pour more salt on French wounds.
For all its mockery of the French, however, the book is surprisingly optimistic about Anglo-French relations in the future. Yes, the author says, the English will probably view themselves as better than the French, and the French-bashing shall go on, but that doesn’t mean there’s no room for cooperation-or, as he puts it-cooperation through gritted teeth. For as long as the two countries exist, they shall never end their rivalry.
TL;DR:
The Good: Surprisingly informative, very entertaining read
The Bad: Endlessly mocks the French (not a bad thing for me, but perhaps for those who are Francophiles), very biased to the English
The ‘Eh’: It’s very long (1000 years is a lot), some references might fly over your head
Conclusion: Recommended for all Anglophiles. Francophiles should be kept away from this book unless you want to see it in your garbage bin the next day.
I, Robot, to say the least, has been one of the most well-known and influential science-fiction works of the 20th Century. Written by visionary Isaac Asimov, the book is famous for introducing key concepts of artificial intelligence, such as the 3 Laws of Robotics, that continue to influence the development of both science fiction and the ethics of artificial intelligence. It’s had such an impact on literature, that even today, the book still holds up quite well, and is cited by many as inspiration for their own works.
Consisting of 9 connected short stories spanning over more than half a century, Asimov serves to bring across to his audience what he perceives to be the evolution of robotics-from mute, crude automatons to massive artificial brains that dictate the flow of society- and express his hopes for mankind’s future with robotics. Granted, the stories were published in the 1940s, and so some of the story’s elements might seem dated, or even bizarre, but the basic themes and ideas remain just as relevant today, in an era where artificial intelligence is getting more intelligent than ever.
Throughout the different scenarios presented in each story, Asimov aims to show how robots could help improve mankind, as long as their actions can all stay within the ‘three laws of robotics,’ and ensure that no harm can come to any man. As straightforward as it sounds, Asimov skilfully creates differing situations, such as a robot gone mad due to over-exposure to sunlight, that demonstrate how these laws could be bent or upheld in the most bizarre of ways. I wish I could explain it a bit more, but the scenarios are unfortunately too complex to summarise in two lines, and I’m afraid you’re going to read through the book to understand the very intellectual arguments put forward by Asimov.
While I was reading this book, I couldn’t help but realise that perhaps, instead of the human or non-human characters populating the different stories, Asimov intended for the three laws themselves to be the main character of the book as a whole. After all, they formulate the basis of discussion around whether robots benefit humans or not, and despite the never-ending evolution of robots throughout the course of the book, the words that comprise of these laws remain the same, and continue to form the basis for robotics’ advancement. At times like these, I wonder if Asimov was trying to predict the future, and urging us to place these safeguards in place for all types of artificial intelligence, lest a Skynet-esque incident occurs within our lifetimes. Given his intelligence, though, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was.
So, to sum up my review in a few words, if you want to understand artificial intelligence, or if you fear the advent of robotics, read this book if you want to understand more about these subjects, or at least to soothe your fears. Don’t worry, robots aren’t here to take our jobs, they’re here to improve humanity.
TL;DR:
The Good: Interesting theories regarding the development of robotics and artificial intelligence, 9 fascinating stories, a holy grail for sci-fi fans
The Bad: Can get very philosophical, quite a bit dated
The ‘Eh’: The plot is spread out across 9 stories and 50 years, the robots aren’t the main characters (for those who do want them to be)
Conclusion: Pick this book up. In the 21st Century, its core message is probably more relevant than ever
Pretty sure none of my orders have looked as neat as the box on the cover
Amazon. The company that changed the way we all shop, for better or worse. And did so within 20 years, surpassing titans such as Apple and Microsoft, making it one of the most valued companies on Earth, and its founder, Jeff Bezos, one of the richest living men. How Bezos, and his company, did so, though, had rarely been discussed in public, as a result of the corporate culture established. That is, until this book was released.
Through countless interviews with key people, as well as recounts of key incidents made by both the author and his interviewees, Brad Stone aims to establish a biography of both the now-legendary company, and its founder, that is as objective as possible, including both positive and negative perspectives of Amazon and its business practices, and bringing them under close scrutiny. In the book, he makes it clear that he wants to create as much of an all-rounded view of the company as possible, and as mentioned in the prologue, he made it clear to Bezos too, who didn’t have much objections.
Stone starts his narrative of the Amazon titan by going back to Bezos’ roots, a child born to his biological parents when they were barely 19, and later grew up with a different father along with his biological mother. As he slowly matured, however, it was clear to his teachers that he was naturally gifted, and so it was no surprise that he already had a lucrative job in the financial sector by the time he was 30.
Being the man he is, though, Bezos decided to give up his financial stability, and invest most of what he had in establishing Amazon, a website originally meant to sell books, but very quickly expanded into different products. At the same time, Bezos went through with his vow to present consumers the lowest prices, going to aggressive ends to achieve his ends. Some of these ‘aggressive’ acts might include abruptly laying off entire departments, or tolerating miserable conditions in Amazon warehouses, just to squeeze out every last dollar for profit. All these incidents are presented in as much of an unbiased light as possible, and feature opinions from both sides of the debate.
Stone additionally lists off some of Bezos’ own separate ventures, including Blue Origin, the potential SpaceX competitor, and his controversial purchase of the Washington Post, in an effort to understand what drives Bezos in his quest to change the world and its fundamental structures, to benefit consumers. Ultimately, his consensus is that as long as Amazon, and Bezos, continue to innovate, there is no stopping them unless a new competitor emerges.
For a book meant to be about business and finance, I found it to be surprisingly readable and relatable, with the author choosing to describe events in such a manner that lets readers be immersed in the situation. It’s also interesting to find such an objective view of Amazon’s business practices, with both their positive and negative aspects brought out into full view. For instance, while it it true that streamlining warehouse sorting processes can save money and bring profits, the workers are still maltreated and underpaid to ensure low costs. It’s definitely an issue that is quite concerning, and while there’s not much detail on how Bezos reacted to it, being in a position as reputable as the richest man on Earth, he should perhaps do (or have done) something about it as soon as possible.
Regardless of whatever views you may hold of Amazon, this is bound to be an enthralling read for all, despite the very technical subject matter, and an absolutely necessary addition to the book collection of any potential business disruptors.
TL;DR:
The good: Very readable, excellent anecdotes, unbiased views
The bad: Technical subject matter might not interest everyone
The ‘Eh’: It can get long
Conclusion: Recommended for everyone, especially anyone who wants to be the next Elon Musk.
For those who were born after 1990 in some country other than Germany, or have completely blocked this period of time out of their heads, in the wake of the end of the Second World War, Germany, as well as its capital of Berlin, was divided up among the 4 major victorious powers-the US, UK, France and the former USSR- with each nation responsible for administrating its own sector. However, despite the arrangement originally meant to be temporary, as Cold War hostilities commenced over ideological differences between capitalism and communism, Germany soon found itself to be split into two separate countries-the pro-Western Federal Republic of Germany (aka West Germany, or Bundesrepublik Deutschland), and the communist German Democratic Republic (East Germany, or Deutsche Demokratische Republik). Berlin, similarly, found itself split into East Berlin and West Berlin, with both halves developing in their own distinct manner.
While both Germanies became considerably well-off in their own ways throughout their existences, the severe tightening of freedoms, comparatively less economic choices, and the ever-omnipresent presence of the secret police( in this case, the infamous Stasi) meant that many living in the East were willing to take the risk to flee to the economically richer West, despite travel being severely restricted due to tense relations. As time went on, however, the outflow of refugees became problematic, as many of these were sorely-needed intellectuals and medical professionals, and it became necessary for the East German government to enact procedures to make sure its citizens stayed inside its own territory. This was where both the Berlin Wall and the Intra-German border, the subjects of this book, came into play.
A diagram of the border
Throughout its relatively short length, the author, Gordon L. Rottman, aims to examine how the fortifications of the inter-German borders were established, how they were manned, and whether they were actually effective. Digitally-rendered images of the Berlin Wall’s defences, from border posts to vehicle ditches to multiple layers of barbed wire, are all recreated in stunning detail in these diagrams and charts, serving to demonstrate to the reader the extent to which the East German government took measures to safeguard its borders. Similarly, the less-known Intra-German border is explained in just as much detail, though with much more photos than its Berlin counterpart due to its longer length. Numerous photos, as well as the author’s own analysis, serve to show the extent of division in Germany throughout the Cold War. Towns and houses were cut up, families were separated along the lines, and even beaches were patrolled by border guards to prevent any prospective defectors from having second thoughts.
What perhaps struck me the most, while reading this book, was perhaps how much scrutiny was being placed by the East German government on keeping its citizens in. From the rather expensive Berlin Wall (and its multiple incarnations over the years as technology improved) to the sophisticated equipment utilized by East German border guards, it’s definitely surprising how fearful and paranoid East Germany was, though it can hardly be blamed when it found itself on the frontlines of the Cold War with its Western counterpart, and given the many skirmishes in Berlin, such as the Checkpoint Charlie incident of 1961.
Thankfully, as we all know, as the USSR imploded, and various Warsaw pact countries including East Germany faced widespread unrest, the Berlin Wall was finally torn down, and the two Germanies were reunited in 1990 after almost 50 years. At the same time, the Intra-German border lost its use, and was similarly removed by former East German soldiers contracted by the German Army. While the Wall and the border don’t exist anymore, remnants of their legacy remain in some isolated areas, and in the minds of Germans, reflecting the enormous task of reuniting a country after half a century of division and hostility.
For a history enthusiast like me, this book should be in your collection. However, those who are just casual readers and don’t have that strong of a grasp of politics may find themselves overwhelmed by the swath of technical detail and the many confusing terms (the book chooses to use German terms where applicable.) So while I can’t really recommend this to everyone, you are free to pick this book up if you’re interested.
TL;DR:
The Good: Detailed diagrams and graphs, countless historical photos for reference
The Bad: Very specialised subject, lots of technical jargon
The Eh: You might want to take a crash course in German history or ask your German friends on their take of it (if they’re old enough) before reading this
I’ve always been fascinated with science-fiction since I was a small child. From reading fantastical stories of men on the moon to building massive LEGO models of TIE fighters to binge-watching Star Wars: The Clone Wars, it’s safe to say that sci-fi had a profound influence on my early childhood days.
As I grew up, this draw towards futuristic worlds continued to linger one within me, and I continued to be a sci-fi superfan, with sci-fi literature and merchandise still occupying most of my room.
Star Wars, for one, had a lot of sway when it came to captivating my hunger for sci-fi. Its simple yet rich story, likeable characters, fun technology and intriguing setting made up for why I liked it so much. In fact, I’m still trying to hunt down more Thrawn trilogy books from Timothy Zahn at the moment, who did quite a bit of work when it came to expanding the galaxy beyond a farmboy and a smuggler running around shooting and slicing people up while tagging a furball and a princess along.
Don’t get me wrong, I still like Star Wars, and I do wish the franchise a bright future. But then, while searching for stuff on the Internet one day, I stumbled across something better. A lot better.
That, my friends, is the subject of this review, Legend of the Galactic Heroes.
For the uninitiated, LOGH, as I’ll call it from now on, started out as a series of 10 novels from Japanese author Yoshiki Tanaka written in the 1980s. Its claim to fame, however, lay in its anime adaptation of the same name of the 1990s, spanning across more than 100 episodes and quite a few movies, becoming one of the longest anime to date.
A poster for one of the many movies encompassing the anime, featuring some of the main characters
As obscure as it is, both the anime and the novels have been critically acclaimed by almost everyone who has seen it since its release. The novel series, for instance, won the Seiun awards in 1988 (basically the Japanese Hugo awards), while the anime consistently ranks as one of the best in polls made even 20 years after the series ended. If you don’t believe me, search LOGH up, and you’ll find yourself gawking at the abnormally high ratings given by the anime fandom. Yes, it’s that good.
Unfortunately, due to the extreme length of the anime, the series remained obscure to the Western world, that is, until 2016, when Viz Media started to translate the novels into English for the first time. They originally said they would only be translating the first three novels, but given how they’re now at number 8, I’d assume that the books are selling like hot cakes. Also, there’s a new anime adaptation going on at the moment, Die Neue These, which considerably picks up the pace of the story, though at the expense of some of the plot.
…Yeah
So, with all the history out of the way, let’s dive into the review itself.
Set nearly 1000 years into the future, where mankind has colonised and moved to countless planets in space, the novel kicks off by dividing the known galaxy into two factions-the tyrannical, autocratic, but strong Galactic Empire, and the democratic, yet corrupt, Free Planets Alliance. Both have hated each other with fervour since they sprouted up, but given the exhaustive resources it would take to invade each other, they have been in a stalemate for 150 years, with the exception of tiny border skirmishes. Oh, and there’s also a third faction, Phezzan, which is basically the galactic equivalent of Switzerland, where everyone stores their money and people profit off of their neutrality.
The previously-mentioned stalemate, however, is quickly broken when two men on opposing sides quickly climb through their respective ranks. On the imperial side, we have Reinhard von Lohengramm, a ‘young brat’, as his admirals call him, a cunning military strategist and political idealist with a tendency to obliterate every fleet that stands before him. On the FPA, meanwhile, we have Yang Wen-li, a mildly older, but comparatively young (he’s only 30), tactician and strategist, with a strikingly calm and laid-back demeanor. On the surface, the two seem to have similar traits and abilities, but when one looks closer, they can’t be any more different. While Reinhard wishes to overthrow the current dynasty and become emperor himself, ushering in a new era of benevolent tyranny and creating a better world for his sister to live in, Yang didn’t even want to join the military in the first place, wishing to get a chance to resign and become a historian.
Reinhard the spoiled brat Yang the reluctant hero
Over the course of the novel, we see how the two develop their political leanings and demonstrate their abilities through epic battles and tension-filled political incidents, but since this is just volume 1 of 10, they don’t exactly go full-on with their actions, rather taking time to interact with the world they inhabit and sow the seeds for the subsequent plot. Along the way, we get to see countless side characters, such as Reinhard’s childhood friend, Siegfried Kircheis, and Yang’s adopted ward, Julian Mintz, a young war orphan, that aid or impede the main characters’ actions.
Kircheis and his blood-red hair
As you read this review, you might be wondering how this is better than other sci-fi properties, like Star Wars. Let me put it this way. In Star Wars, you get rather black and white factions, in the form of the evil Empire and the heroic Rebel Alliance. In LOGH, however, the situation is a lot more muted, and it’s a lot more grey-on-grey than one might expect it to be. Almost every character on either side is worth sympathising with, having their own understandable goals and thought processes, and if anything, both forms of government are depicted in equal light.
The comparison between democracy and autocracy is a strong theme, and will continue to prevail throughout the series as a whole. Through the eyes of the characters, we get to see how there is no perfect form of government. An autocracy would restrict one’s freedoms, but in the right hands, could lead to a strong and powerful country. A democracy, meanwhile, would grant everyone freedom, yet allow for mass abuse of power and corruption, with the massive discord in opinions resulting in not much being done while the people suffer. It’s subtle comparisons like these that really draw me into the story, and compel me to keep on reading. Add into the mix unrivalled technical detail (Mao, Jesus and Genghis Khan are all mentioned as hailing from the distant past), and blatantly obvious historical parallels between the plot and 19th century warfare, and you get something truly intellectual yet enjoyable at the same time.
Granted, the breadth of the content we’re talking about in this book might not interest everyone, and admittedly, the pace can drag on a lot if it wanted to. You might even get lost in the sea of characters bombarding you. But if you find yourself enjoying Star Wars, and want something better, check this series out. This is just volume one, and things only get better from here.
TL;DR:
The Good: Unrivalled technical detail, intriguing setting, fascinating characterisations, interesting (and intellectual) comparison of politics, wonderfully crafted story
The Bad: The pacing can get out of hand
The ‘Eh’: The equivalent of an army of characters can get confusing at first, historical references might fly over your head, and it can get very long
Conclusion: Highly recommended to everyone. If you can’t stand reading, watch the anime. You won’t be disappointed.
BTW, Here’s the intro to the new anime adaptation for those who are interested:
A Layman's Reviews 