Tag Archive 'review'

Apr 21 2008

Spirits in the Wires

Published by under General

I’m about two thirds of the way though this book now having started it in February – I’m a slow reader ok – and I just wanted to make a few notes about it.  What I’m looking for in books at the moment is something that mixes together techie-sci-fi-fantasy set in an almost believable real world.  I’m not looking for futuristic sci-fi or fantasy set in another realm.

Having exhausted my stock of un-read books I turned to Waterstones, whilst I was in the UK, to provide my next read and what I found was Spirits in the Wires.  This book is definitely one that I’m enjoying reading, although it has taken me a while to get into it.  The author, Charles de Lint, has taken the approach of writing each chapter from a different characters perspective.  So through out the book you’re seeing the same continuing timeline from differing angles.

This is a new approach for me and possibly why I’m so slow at reading it, every time I pick up the book I have to flick back to the beginning of the chapter to remind me which character the current perspective is from.

The core idea of the book is about websites taking on a spirit & life of their own as more and more people visit (worship) those sites.  Whilst this is not something I believe in at the moment, I can one day see a time when system become intelligent enough and gather together enough information to become sentient and free roaming.  It probably wont happen in my life time but I’m certain it will happen one day.

Spirit in the Wire seems to me to be a cross between some of Cory Doctorows ideas and Tad Williams’ Otherland and his War of the Flowers.  If you like either of those you’ll probably enjoy this book.  And in fact, speak of Tad Williams, I’ve finally bought his second book in the Shadowmarh series.

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Jan 03 2008

That was the year 2007

Published by under General

What did you do in 2007 that you’d never done before?
Handed in my notice.

Did you keep your New Year’s Resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
None last year, none this year.

What countries did you visit?
England, France, Switzerland

What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Greater commitment to saving money.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Organising my first proper holiday away on my own (with my gf that is).

What was your biggest failure?
Not staying in contact with people as well as I should do.

What was the best thing someone bought you?
It was a close competition between a flash for my camera and Lensbaby 2.0

Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My girlfriend for putting up with me saying I’ll make a cup of tea and then not doing it for half an hour (if at all).

Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
I’d rather not say online, but there are some close friends that will know.

Where did most of your money go?
Far to much of it want on a new laptop, camera, car and motorbike and not enough went into savings.

What song will always remind you of 2007?
Probably the one I listened to most was Code Monkey by Jonathan Coulton

Compared to this time last year, are you:
• Happier or sadder? Happier.
• Thinner or fatter? Thinner (just).
• Richer or poorer? Richer.

What do you wish you’d done more of?
Put more money away in savings.

What do you wish you’d done less of?
Crashing motorbikes, once is one too many.

How do you plan to spend Christmas?
I spent it with my family & my gf.

What was your favourite TV program?
2007 was the year of CSI.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Nope, in fact I think I probably hate slightly fewer people.

What was the best book you read?
Shadowmarch by Tad Williams

What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nothing new.

What did you want and not get?
Nothing, all my desires have been fulfilled

What was your favourite film of this year?
A Scanner Darkly

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Can’t remember. I know my gf was away for it though :(

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Same old me.

What political issue stirred you the most?
Thought crime heading towards being a reality in the UK.

Who was the best new person you met?
My new boss :)

Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007?
If you’re not happy with what you’re doing stop doing it.

Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

Code Monkey get up get coffee

Code Monkey go to job

have boring meeting with boring manager Rob

Rob say Code Monkey very diligent

but his output stink

his code not functional or elegant

what do Code Monkey think

Code Monkey think maybe manager oughta write goddamn login page himself

Code Monkey not say it out loud

Code Monkey not crazy just proud

– Jonathan Coulton, Code Monkey

Yes I did steal this from DamienG

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