Happy Fourth of July!

Sunday Seconds

Sunday Seconds -- there are books that I would really love to re-read -- if I could make the time. Sometimes books have profound impacts on one's reading experience. Sometimes you just know these books could be even greater if you could go back and read them with again better understanding and life experiences under your belt. Sometimes books don't hold up the memory the second time around -- that's the risk. Sunday Seconds will be a cataloging of that kind of wish list.

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FOUNDATION by Isaac Asimov

Though I read a lot of SFF in junior high, I never got around to reading Isaac Asimov's classic series until my freshman year of college. Amazing books. I would so like to read them again now that I've got a better understanding of the way people and the world works.

The first novel, FOUNDATION, is a collection of five short stories, which were first published together as a book by Gnome Press in 1951. Together, they form a single plot. Intially it was considered a trilogy, but Asimov did add later books. The series is highly acclaimed, winning the one-time Hugo Award for "Best All-Time Series" in 1966. Here is a description:

The premise of the series is that mathematician Hari Seldon spent his life developing a branch of mathematics known as psychohistory, a concept of mathematical sociology (analogous to mathematical physics) devised by Asimov and his editor John W. Campbell. Using the law of mass action, it can predict the future, but only on a large scale; it is error-prone on a small scale. It works on the principle that the behaviour of a mass of people is predictable if the quantity of this mass is very large (equal to the population of the galaxy, which has a population of quadrillions of humans, inhabiting millions of star systems). The larger the number, the more predictable is the future.
Using these techniques, Seldon foresees the imminent fall of the Galactic Empire, which encompasses the entire Milky Way, and a dark age lasting thirty thousand years before a second great empire arises. To shorten the period of barbarism, he creates two Foundations, small, secluded havens of all human knowledge, at "opposite ends of the galaxy".
The focus of the trilogy is on the First Foundation, that of the planet Terminus, in the extreme periphery of the galaxy. The people living there are working on an all-encompassing Encyclopedia, and are unaware of Seldon's real intentions (for if they were, the variables would become too uncontrolled). The Encyclopedia serves to preserve knowledge of the physical sciences after the collapse.

All of this is from wikipedia (I know, I know):

Foundation tells the story of a group of scientists who seek to preserve knowledge as the civilizations around them begin to regress.

The Psychohistorians
(0 F.E.)
The first story is set on Trantor, the capital planet of the 12,000-year-old Galactic Empire. Whilst the empire gives the appearance of stability, beneath this facade it is suffering a slow decay. The main character, Hari Seldon, a mathematician, has developed psychohistory which equates all possibilities in large societies to mathematics, allowing predictable long term outcomes.
Seldon discovers a horrifying truth to the Empire's decay, but his results are considered treasonable and attract attention from the Commission of Public Safety — the effective rulers of the Empire. This leads to his arrest. A young mathematician Gaal Dornick, who has just arrived on Trantor, is also arrested. On trial, Seldon shares the discoveries made through psychohistory, such as the collapse of the Empire within 500 years, followed by a 30,000-year period of barbarism.
Seldon proposes an alternative to this future; one that would not avert the collapse but shorten the interregnum period to a mere 1000 years. But this plan would require a large group of people to develop a compendium of all human knowledge, titled the Encyclopedia Galactica.
A still skeptical commission, worried of making Seldon a martyr, offer him the choice of execution for treason or acceptance of exile with his group of 'Encyclopedists' to a remote planet Terminus. There, they will carry out the Plan under an imperial decree, while Seldon would remain, barred from returning to Trantor.

The Encyclopedists
(50 F.E.) (published May 1942 as "Foundation")
The second story; "The Encyclopedists", takes place 50 years after the events of "The Psychohistorians". Terminus faces the first of many "Seldon Crises". With no mineral wealth of their own, the people of the Foundation become cut off from the rest of the Empire, as a result of the breakdown of law and order in the outer regions of the Galaxy and their neighboring planets' declaration of independence.
Terminus is caught in a feud between four planetary systems which have degenerated to a barbaric state and find Terminus's location a strategic advantage. The Board of Trustees of the 'Encyclopedia Galactica Foundation', composed of scientists with no political or military training, find themselves incompetent to handle the situation as they are distracted by their work on the Encyclopedia. But the Mayor of Terminus City Salvor Hardin perceives the threat and quickly finds a solution; to play the four kingdoms off each other.
Hardin's plan is a success and then the image of Seldon appears in the "Time Vault", where he acknowledges that the "Seldon Crisis" was averted. Seldon makes it clear that the choice made was the intended one and that the Encyclopedia was just a distraction to further the overall plan.

Mayors
(80 F.E.) (published June 1942 as "Bridle and Saddle")
The third story; "The Mayors", occurs three decades after "The Encyclopedists", The Foundation's scientific understanding has given it unusual leverage over nearby planetary systems, and its control is exercised through an artificial religion referred to as Scientism. This concept allows the Foundation to share the benefits of its advanced technology, while keeping its scientific secrets. Maintenance technicians known as priests are trained on Terminus and given basic operational understanding of the technology, while being kept ignorant of the underlying scientific knowledge. Thus, the Foundation is able to quell the anti-scientific rebellions and delocalisation of knowledge which have reduced the rest of the galactic periphery to barbarism.
Mayor Salvor Hardin, as Mayor of Terminus, is the effective ruler of the Foundation. Prince Regent Wienis of Anacreon plans to overthrow the Foundation's power, and his plans are encouraged when he obtains an abandoned Imperial cruiser that he demands the Foundation repair.
Hardin foresees Wienis's plans and arranges for the ship to be repaired his own way, incorporating some modifications. Hardin then broadcasts Wienis's attempt to the people of Anacreon under the ruse of blasphemy, leading to a revolt which results in direct control over the Four Kingdoms.
Hari Seldon again confirms the actions by appearing in the "Time Vault", while also warning them that Scientism, while adequate to defend the Foundation from the immediate threat, will not be sufficient to expand its influence beyond its barbarous near-neighbors.

The Traders
(About 155 F.E.) (published October 1944 as "The Wedge")
The fourth story; "The Traders" follows 75 years after "The Mayors". The story describes the events of Limmar Ponyets, a Trader, who is sent to retrieve Eskel Gorov from the planet Askone. Askone has refused commerce with the Foundation in fear of control through Scientism. Eskel Gorov is awaiting execution for violation of a trade law by attempting to set up trade with Foundation technology.
The leaders of Askone are adamant in not accepting any Foundation technology, but when offered gold in exchange for the prisoner, they gladly accept. During Ponyets' presentation of the offered gold, he convinces Pherl—an aspiring leader in Askone's government—to accept technology that can transmute iron into gold. Unknown to Pherl, his transaction with Foundation technology was recorded and later used as blackmail, allowing Ponyet to exchange his cargo of Foundation technology for tin a resource needed by the Foundation.
Pherl is now forced into accepting Foundation technology, and so will strive to make it acceptable among Askone's people.

The Merchant Princes
(About 175 F.E.) (published August 1944 as "The Big and the Little")
The fifth story; "The Merchant Princes" occurs only twenty years after "The Traders".
The Foundation has expanded through the use of Scientism and economics. Three Foundation vessels have vanished near the Republic of Korell, a nation suspected of technological development. Trader Hober Mallow is sent to uncover information on their technology and hopefully find the missing ships. While at Korell, Mallow convinces Korell's leader Commdor Asper Argo to purchase Foundation technology. Mallow also discovers that Korell still maintains some relics of the Empire such as atomic hand guns. But he also notes the Republic's decrepit condition and lack of modern technology.
On return to Terminus, he is considered a traitor for not spreading Scientism to Korell, although an unlikely development clears Mallow allowing him to win an election for Mayor.
When Korell goes to war against The Foundation, Mallow does not act against the Korellians and waits until dissent from the shortage of goods supplied by the Foundation allows the Foundation to virtually win.

They thought big thoughts in early science fiction writing, didn't they. I don't think they do this kind of publishing anymore. It so makes me want to read this again. There are seven books in total I believe.

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I'll be working on my newsletter today. I was so tired yesterday, I think catching up on the week, that I didn't get going on the project until late afternoon and then in the evening after dinner I tried to get going again but Tug wasn't having it. "Upstairs, Mom." I don't understand the dog but it's his habit and we must all live in it.

Have a happy and safe Fourth of July, everyone. Remember the reason for this holiday is the founding of an amazing country and system of government.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Song most sung in the shower: Roxanne

June 2010 reads. I read more than the average so far this year. I think being sick ultimately helped although reading was actually not a pass time I could really engage in much in the thick of it. It was a lot of monthly next-in-series reads but also the introduction of a new series to me, and two new releases. In reverse order:

DANGEROUS SEA by David Roberts next. This is 4th of 10 in series featuring Lord Edward Corinth, a jaded English aristocrat, and Verity Browne, a leftist journalist, between the wars in 1930s London. Here is a description:

It is the spring of 1937 and distinguished economist Lord Benyon is on the Queen Mary, bound for New York. His mission is to persuade President Roosevelt to provide Britain with arms and money if it nters the war with Germany - as seems very likely. Many want the mission to fail and will not stop at murder to achieve their aim. Major Ferguson of Special Branch, a friend of Lord Edward Corinth, asks Edward to keep an unofficial eye on Benyon who refuses to be surrounded by policemen on the Queen Mary, but is prepared to have Edward at his side. Also on board is Verity Browne, travelling to America at the Communist Party's behest to liaise with sympathizers there. But it is not Lord Benyon who is murdered but the rascist senator from South Carolina who has managed to enrage a number of his fellow passengers - not least Warren Fairley, the black singer, actor and communist. But surely Fairley is too obvious a suspect? Might not the murderer be the German aeronautical engineer, or Marcus Fern, the city banker who is acting as Benyon's secretary? And what about Bernard Hunt, the art dealer, or even the young American union organiser Sam Forrest, with whom Verity is so taken?

It was published in 2003 and has 288 pages. I like the time period but the crime solving is hit and miss.

BROKEN by Karin Slaughter. The number of this book in series is difficult because the author combined two series into one now. This features Will Trent, an agent with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, in Atlanta AND Dr. Sara Linton, a pediatrician and coroner in formerly in Grant County but now in Atlanta. Here is a description:

When the body of a young woman is discovered deep beneath the icy waters of Lake Grant, a note left under a rock by the shore points to suicide. But within minutes, it becomes clear that this is no suicide. It's a brutal, cold-blooded murder. All too soon former Grant County medical examiner Sara Linton - home for Thanksgiving after a long absence -- finds herself unwittingly drawn into the case. The chief suspect is desperate to see her but when she arrives at the local police station she is met with a horrifying sight - he lies dead in his cell, the words 'Not me' scrawled across the walls. Something about his confession doesn't add up and deeply suspicious of the detective in charge, Lena Adams, Sara immediately calls the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Shortly afterwards, Special Agent Will Trent is brought in from his vacation to investigate. But he is immediately confronted with a wall of silence. Grant County is a close-knit community with loyalties and ties that run deep. And the only person who can tell the truth about what really happened is dead.

It was pubished in 2020 and 416 pages. Slaughter's books are gritty and graphic overall, this one maybe not as much -- maybe more forgiveness or humanity? I don't know. The character of Will Trent, as I've mentioned before, is good: a dedicated cop with dyslexia.

SUFFER LITTLE CHILDREN by Peter Tremayne. It is 3rd of 18 in series (not counting short story collections) featuring Sister Fidelma, a 7th century Celtic sister and legal advocate in Kildare, Ireland. Here is a description:

In A.D. 644, a respected scholar of the Celtic Church is murdered during a visit to the Irish Kingdom of Muman. The kingdom's ruler summons Sister Fidelma to solve the brutal murder, but her time is limited. The victim, as it turns out, was a comrade of the arrogant King of Fearna, who threatens war over the suspicious death of his friend. But during her inquiries, Sister Fidelma comes to realize that there is more at hand than what appears, and finds her own life caught in the balance.

It was published in 1996 and has 320 pages. Fidelma is a tough cookie and I don't know why I've not added the books to my rotation more quickly but I hope to make up for it. Love the Irish background/setting; love early church history, love early legal system ...

FALCONER'S CRUSADE by Ian Morson. This is 1st of 8 in series featuring William Falconer, a 13th century university regent master in Oxford. Here is a description:

Oxford University, in 1624, the savage murder of a young girl kindles a frenzy of suspicion between privileged students and impoverished townspeople. And when one of Falconer's students who may have witnessed the crime narrowly escapes being beaten to death by a lynch mob, the Regent Master rushes to his defense. The stabbing murder of Margaret Gebetz, Master John Fyssh's French servant girl, is followed by the murders of three students. What connection, if any, do the slayings have to the visit to Oxford of Prince Edward, weak King Henry III's son, who is being wooed by rebellious barons? What is the nature of the small book that illiterate Margaret possessed and which she believed would protect her?

It was published in 1996 and has 200 pages. I don't always picture actors as the characters I'm reading but Falconer is so Stephen Fry it just can't be avoided. Gentle, intelligent giant.

THE KILLER OF PILGRIMS by Susanna Gregory. This is 16th of 16 in series featuring Matthew Bartholomew, physician, and his colleague Brother Michael, in 14th century Cambridge. Here is a description:

When a wealthy benefactor is found dead in Michaelhouse, Brother Michael and Matthew Bartholomew must find the culprit before the College is accused of foul play. At the same time, Cambridge is plagued by a mystery thief, who is targetting rich pilgrims. Moreover, pranksters are at large in the University, staging a series of practical jokes that are growing increasingly dangerous, and that are dividing scholars into bitterly opposed factions. Bartholomew and Michael soon learn that their various mysteries are connected, and it becomes a race against time to catch the killer-thief before the University explodes into a violent conflict that could destroy it forever.

It was published in 2010 and has 416 pages. I'm caught up now on this series. How sad.

THE CHATTER OF THE MAIDENS by Alys Claire. This is 4th of 12 in series featuring Abbess Helewise and Sir Josse d’Acquin, a French knight, at the Hawkenly Abbey in England during the 12th century. Here is a description:

The serenity of Hawkenlye Abbey has been disturbed by the arrival of a new nun and her two young sisters. Recently orphaned, Alba has left her convent in Ely to take her grieving sisters from the scene of their sorrow. Abbess Helewise is not convinced of her selflessness; Sister Alba is a mean-spirited and turbulent presence. Her anxieties grow when her friend Josse d’Acquin is brought to Hawkenlye, half dead from blood poisoning. Then a body is discovered. And one of the sisters goes missing. In order to discover the truth behind Alba’s flight to Hawkenlye, Helewise sets off for Ely. She uncovers not only a clever network of lies, but also, hidden in a burnt-out cottage, the horrific remains of a dead man...

It was published in 2001 and has 256 pages. I like this series but I wish for more depth or more salt or something.

FIGURE OF HATE by Bernard Knight. This is 9th of 13 in series featuring Sir John de Wolfe, the crowner (coroner), in 12th century Devon, England. Here is a description:

October, 1195. High-spirited young knights, drunken squires, pickpockets, and horse thieves are pouring into Exeter for a one-day jousting tournament. Not even the discovery of a naked corpse in the River Exe can spoil the excitement. During the tournament, there is a serious altercation between Hugo Peverel, a manor lord from Tiverton, and a Frenchman by the name of Reginald de Charterai. When, two days later, Sir Hugo’s blood-soaked body is found in a barn on his estate, de Charterai would seem the obvious culprit. But there’s no shortage of people who wished the despised Hugo dead. All three of his brothers have a motive, as do his stepmother and his attractive young widow. And just what is the connection between Sir Hugo’s murder and the battered body in the River Exe? With so many suspects from which to choose, Sir John is confronted with one of the most difficult cases of his distinguished career.

It was published in 2005 and has 374 pages. I like this series a lot with the setting of the introduction of the Crowner system to England. I picture John as Alan Rickman from Robin Hood only this time he's on the side of law and order.

THE CRUELEST MONTH by Louise Penny. This is 3rd of 5 (soon to be 6) in series featuring Armand Gamache, Chief Inspector of the Sûreté du Québec, in the village of Three Pines, in southern Quebec. Here is a description:

Chief Insp. Armand Gamache and his team investigate another bizarre crime in the tiny Québec village of Three Pines. As the townspeople gather in the abandoned and perhaps haunted Hadley house for a séance with a visiting psychic, Madeleine Favreau collapses, apparently dead of fright. No one has a harsh word to say about Madeleine, but Gamache knows there's more to the case than meets the eye. Complicating his inquiry are the repercussions of Gamache having accused his popular superior at the Sûreté du Québec of heinous crimes in a previous case. Fearing there might be a mole on his team, Gamache works not only to solve the murder but to clear his name.

It was published in 2007 and has 416 pages. Great series.

Hunh, looking over the list, it looks like I need to read a Deryn Lake next. I had to double check it. I didn't read one last month. How did that happen? So many books to get to, so little time.

Today I'll be doing household chores but I also need to get to work on August Premeditated. Steve actually doesn't have any classes this weekend, amazing, no? I think we both would like to just relax. No other plans and not even going to see any fireworks displays. We live outside city limits so our subdivision is ground zero anyway and we're talking the big mortars and stuff -- so much you don't know where to look because it's in every direction.

I'll be walking Tug later. I seems it may be cooler today ... only in the 70s maybe.

Enjoy the first day of a long weekend!

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

That better be Friday, people!

Half way through the year.

I've read 31 books. That's pretty pathetic for me. Ah well. Averages to about 5 per month and I can't be too upset about that with all that's going on.

My top five books of the year thus far are:

HERESY by SJ Parris. Tip of the top for me. Great historical atmosphere and I've said it as well as others, this is a great fill in while waiting for CJ Sansom.

BROKEN by Karin Slaughter. This surprises me but Will Trent is a great character. Dr. Sara has always been a little bit irritating and Lena needs to be killed off but Will is terrific.

STILL LIFE by Louise Penny. This book is standing in for the series. This was a good discovery of the year for me. I don't know why I didn't try them before everything has it's time. Nice characters, traditional crime solving, and the author's prose rings.

After this I sort of struggled because I enjoyed all my reads but a lot are continuing in next in series for me so I like the series and I've read a few by the same author they just don't stand out as exceptional, I just like 'em. But these perhaps stand out as well done by authors I'm continuing to read.

FANTASY IN DEATH by JD Robb. Love the series, read each and every one. This one was intriguing with a sort of locked door mystery.

REVENGER by Rory Clements. The main character doesn't really need to named Shakespeare and is not true to history but there it is. The setting is my favorite, I love court intrigue/espionage and the religious conflict of the time.

I've listed two as disappointments so far in the year. I could probably add a third.

EGGSECUTIVE ORDERS by Julie Hyzy. The strength in this series is the White House kitchen setting and the author took the main action out of it. And the main character is getting irritating in the amateur sleuth way of *needing* to solve a crime when professionals are handling it thank you very much.

SHOOT TO THRILL by PJ Tracy. After a long break for whatever reason, the book was just flat, needed editing, needed more a story. Just .... so disappointing.

PASSION by Lisa Valdez. Not a mystery; a romance. And this one is labeled a "scorcher" for a reason ... and was the reason I stuck it out. Hot sex scenes. Storyline ... not so much.

The Ariana Franklin was somewhat of a disappointment because of the cliffhanger ending. Don't like that.

Long weekend!! Woo hoo!

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Waiting for Friday ....

I finished DANGEROUS SEA by David Roberts. I enjoy visiting that 1930s setting but the crime solving is somewhat nil sometimes. Next up will be the next in series by Louise Penny but first I'll be reading a quickie romance to cleanse the palette.

Hot and tired today. Glad the weekend is coming. Seems like all the issues I worked on today expanded into all kinds of ugly involving new separations or health issues, etc.

I'll read my quickie romance for a bit this evening and then hit the hay as they say. One day more. :)

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster

Wordless Wednesday

Oh doesn't that look lovely?

Just too bloody hot. 97 right now. Have I mentioned that heat is kryptonite to me? Yuck

Steve has a board meeting tonight. I'll be watching Deadliest Catch. It will be a sad one covering Captain Phil's death.

I took Tug for a quick walk (because he just won't NOT walk) and now we're both wiped out. Frozen grapes for me later. Still reading the David Roberts and I'm a little over halfway done.

A storm is brewing so maybe we'll got some rain. Otherwise, it will blow over. It would be nice to have a good ol' lightning show.

Much love,

PK the Bookeemonster