Books

I've always disliked quotes. It seems to me that if you're going to say something, you might as well say it yourself. It doesn't help that I rarely hear a quote that hasn't been beaten to death harder then a punching bag at a military training base. I swear, if I hear one more person say "You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake," like they're subversive and original for doing so I will . . . well, probably roll my eyes derisively and make a snide comment. 

The main reason for this is that I am a Curmudgeon. For those who don't know what a curmudgeon is, the following should be illuminating.

Cur ⠂mud ⠂geon\,ker-'mujh-uh-n N [origin unknown]

1 archaic: A crusty, ill-tempered, churlish old man

2 modern: anyone who hates hypocrisy and pretense and has the temerity to say so; anyone with the habit of pointing out unpleasant facts in an engaging and humorous manner

. . .

Many of you have probably heard of Neal Stephenson's The Diamond Age for its prevalent use of Neo-Victorianism, and for it being an wonderful novel. However, you may not have heard of his earlier work Snow Crash. Where The Diamond Age was a bildungsroman set in a nano-technologically influenced future, Snow Crash is a cyberpunk novel to its core, up there with William Gibson's Neuromancer. 

The book focuses mainly on Hiroaki "Hiro" Protagonist, a free-lance hacker and, until the start of the book, pizza delivery-man for the mafia. You start with Hiro losing his job, and end with a mind blowing adventure involving ancient Sumerian linguistics and mythology, national super powers, pseudo-neurological techno-plots to take over the world, and skateboarding punks. On the way you also get a look at the future of the internet and virtual reality, the workings of a fully instantiated laissez-fair economy, the inner dialog of a burb muscle-head and a massive dose of Neal Stephenson's side splitting dark humor. Also starring are Y.T (standing for Yours Truly), a 'Kourier' who becomes Hiro's partner in the adventure, Juanita Marquez, a techno-mystic obsessed with the hijacking of Christianity, and Fido, a cyborg 'rat-thing' used as attack dogs by the franchise, 'Mr. Lee's Greater Hong Kong'. 

I was introduced to Lord Breaulove Whimsy and The Affected Provincial's Companion by my friend, Chronographia von Strangehours.  Chronographia, I am pleased to say, has agreed to write an upcoming book review for your enjoyment so you shall be making her acquaintance in greater detail shortly.

Quite frankly this is not my usual sort of read. But that is not to say I did not enjoy it as I most assuredly did! Please allow me to explain. I'm a nerd from way back, a Maker always, and most recently a Steampunk.  Now, while I have been interested in Steampunk fiction since it's inception in the early 1980's, I haven't self-identified as a Steampunk until much more recently.  In fact, it's only been in the past year or so that such a statement has even made sense!

Now, if one is to be a puplic Steampunk figure one must be comfortable in ones own skin. Moreover, you must be comfortable in a top hat, in public. That is where Lord Whimsy comes in . . .

Alas, this special offer has ended.  A big Thank You goes out to Ann & Jeff VanderMeer  for the multitude of Zeppelins drawn for our readers! 

Steampunk is now in stores and can be ordered through Amazon.