Capsule book reviews in 255 characters or fewer. Ish. A reading diary (1st Jan 2019 onwards) by Eamonn Griffin.
A student and mentor discuss the logistics of a crewed mission to Mars. Detailed and accessible, this graphic novel-style approach usefully dramatizes some key questions and explains how difficult it is to mount a deep space mission. Topics range from dealing with Mars gravity to the practicalities of maintaining life support systems and mental health over long voyages. Useful and informative: recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A brisk overview of ten leading topics related to astrophysics. From black holes to life on other planets, this is an accessible jargon-free primer with plenty of big ideas packed into a friendly format. Lots to support more detailed examination elsewhere.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
The story of the Apollo 11 moon mission, juxtaposed with a history of human engagements with the moon. An excellent graphic novel retelling, finding ways to add new detail and texture to a well-known story. Clear on the contexts of Apollo, and of its relationships to wider US society, while drawing on mission logs for authenticity. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A corrupt cop-turned-PI seeks a murderer while scouring 1950s Hollywood for sleaze for the scandal sheets. While it teeters on the edge of parody Ellroyism at times, this is nevertheless swaggering stuff if you go with it. A minor work in the canon, perhaps, but fans will come away pleased.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
The 9/11 report, distilled into a graphic novel. Excellent summary of the report, offering clarity and comprehensibility into timelining the events leading up to 9/11, into what went wrong, ongoing failures of national security, and from that what needs to be done to make different agencies work together. It’d be fascinating to read an updated version.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
After a terrorist attack prompts a government clampdown, a tech-savvy San Francisco teen finds himself an unlikely warrior against a nascent totalitarian state. Pacy, confident spin on Nineteen Eighty-Four with bags of convincing detail and some insight into adolescent insecurities for good measure. Lots to relish, and a few useful pointers for living in/resisting the Information Age into the bargain. Two further books (Homeland and Attack Surface) follow.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
Subtitled “The Story of Apollo 11’s Third Man”: a graphic novel biography of NASA astronaut Michael Collins. Brisk and efficient, conveyed in lovely artwork reminiscent of blueprints, concept art, and movie storyboards. A spotlight shone on a perhaps overlooked member of the Apollo mission team, and accessible to boot. Recommended for fellow lunar enthusiasts.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
The autobiography of the leading stuntman-turned-movie director. Packed full of anecdotes, this gung-ho version of events emphasises can-do attitude while giving plenty of insights into moviemaking and into what’s involved in executing high falls and car crashes. Lots of fun, even if you’re left wanting to know more about the stuff (and movies like Megaforce) that gets glossed over.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
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