Books 2012: don't read this one

Books 2012: 180


180. David Weber, How Firm A Foundation. Tor, 2012.

Weber just keeps getting worse. There were flashes in here of interesting character dynamics, but mostly it was a tedious mish-mash of techsposition and battle-scenes written with no eye to emotional connection. If you want to write a war-gaming handbook, Weber, why don't you go and do that without trying to deceive poor innocent readers with a smattering of characterisation and plot.

I give up on this series. Officially.

Accomplishments

Plato Greek, review for Tor.com, Callimachus Greek, cannibalising of old presentation for instant!progress on the thesis, gym.

1.38 miles in 15:00, treadmill. 11km in 30:00, exercise bike. Benchpress 1x8 at 35kg, 3x5 at 40kg (both including bar), bicep curl 2x5 at 24kg, 1x5 at 16kg. Some other mucking about with free weights. Very short cool-down row.

Mass: between 101.2 and 102kg.

Perhaps I am fit enough to contemplate climbing again without much terror. We shall see. (Starting maybe Sunday week, I think. I will have a desk on campus by then.)

Books 2012: interesting newcomer

Books 2012: 181


181. Courtney Schafer, The Tainted City. Night Shade Books, 2012.

Sequel to The Whitefire Crossing, Schafer's debut, and a much better book. Review forthcoming from Tor.com. Short version: mostly recommended.