‘The Bomb Maker and his Woman’ by Leif GW Persson
" Critically acclaimed and immensely popular Leif GW Persson... At once Scandinavia’s most renowned criminologist and a leading psychological profiler, Persson has also served as an advisor to the Swedish Ministry of Justice. Since 1991, he holds the position of Professor at the National Swedish Police Board and is regularly consulted as the country's foremost expert on crime..."
'30 Years of Mobile Phones in the UK' by Professor Nigel Linge
Interesting because it describes so many handsets with pictures for all of them, but quite short so far on background information and statistics, such as industry figures (both the human and financial kinds), the operating systems and other software used, and not least the cultural element — I'd like to know what excites and interests people about their phones. Also, not really as technical as I'd like.
'Seveneves' by Neal Stephenson
A superbly written science fiction novel that I sometimes find too densely-packed with technical explanations; however, the science and engineering aspects are what makes the book so interesting and as far as I can make out, based on very sound scientific thinking.
The setup, which is the only element of the plot that really requires suspension of disbelief, is that some 'agent' (probably extraterrestrial in origin) hits the moon, splitting it into seven rocks. Eventually scientists on earth work out that they have two years before the continued breakup of these rocks cause the 'white sky' and 'hard rain' (an apocalyptic meteor shower) which will destroy all life on Earth. Governments, scientists and the general population pin their hopes on adapting the International Space Station into an 'Ark' where carefully-chosen representatives of humanity will live until such time as the earth becomes inhabitable again.
Originally posted by lolofI would have to read this book in small parts - it's shocking and saddening. I ask myself - should I continue reading? Is it important that I read about terrible things that happened to people? Will I feel better if I don't? I haven't made up my mind.
Svetlana Aleksijevitj: 'War's Unwomanly Face' (1985)
Michael Cobley, Humanity's Fire series, book 4, Ancestral Machines. Book 1, Seeds of Earth, 2, The Orphaned Worlds, 3 The Ascendant Stars.
Good series.
The far future where Earth colonized hundreds of planets in our part of the galaxy but other civilizations have thousands of planets in several empires, and some splinter human planets trying to get out of the thumb of the Earth empire.
So now on book 4.
Also just finished Jane Linskold's Artemis Awakening series, book one. Book two, Artemis Invaded is out in hardback only right now, paper in June or July.
She is a great writer, you feel like you are actually in the story.