Thanks to Valerie Sayles and Jacqueline Klein, the library in the cafe dining area has been beautifully reorganized. At some point we expect this library to be moved and possibly expanded.
Feel free to take a book and either keep it or return it.
Comment at the bottom about the library, or about books that you have read, and either returned or donated.
I really enjoyed reading “Blue Nights” by Joan Didion.
The author is grieving the death of her daughter, Quintana. The mixture of lively and loving memories woven with all the emotions of the terrible loss is extremely moving.
It reads like a poem.
A Case of Need by Michael Crichton, 416 pages, first published 1968. First published under a different name when Crichton was apparently fresh out of medical school. This story gave him a chance to show off his medical background. Story is of a doctor playing detective to defend another doctor. Issues center around abortion which seems as timely now as when the book was written. Book was not really to my taste, but I imagine others would enjoy it. The careful reader may be able to figure out the mystery before it is revealed.
I’m writing this, mainly to suggest that others do the same. After I get this posted, I will give a link to the review inside the book, and deposit it in our library. Not too much said here to avoid spoilers.
The Science Fiction Hall of Fame, Vol. IIB, 1973, paperback 359 pages. This is a book of long short stories and I will give a short review of each. No really bad stories (unusual), some good, and one excellent. Overall a good choice if you like SciFi, not so good if you don’t.
1. The Maritan Way by Isaac Asimov: A little predictable, science is a bit dated, but Asimov is never really bad.
2. Earthman Come Home by James Blish: Clever mayor deals with messy problem in far future large movable city.
3. Rogue Moon by Algis Budrys: Probably my favorite. An alien artifact that is really weird, and people dealing with transmission of their bodies after death.
4. The Spectre General by Theodore Cogswell: A story involving technology lost.
5. The Midas Plague by Frederick Pohl: A future of too much plenty, and how to deal with it. Cute.
6. The Witches of Karres by James H. Schmitz: More Fantasy the Sci Fi, but not bad.
7. E for Effort by T. L. Sherrod: Dealing with a machine that lets one view any place at any time. Starts with a strange way to use.
8.In Hiding by Wilmar H. Shiras: Story about a really smart kid. I tend to like these kind of stories, but good only if you do.
9. The Big Front Yard by Clifford D. Simak: An open door to an alternate location/universe.
10. The Moon Moth by Jack Vance: Dealing with very alien culture/morals.
By Fred Krogh