The Paradoxes of Time Travel by David Lewis. The Quantum Physics of Time Travel by David Deutsch and Michael Lockwood. Science Fiction as Epistemology by Richard Hanley. Appendix Philosophers recommend Science Fiction by Eric Schwitzgebel.

These are the last 3 essays (+appendix) in this anthology edited by Susan Schneider which I have enjoyed reading since May 2021. The 3 essays on time are interesting but with some difficult concepts. The first essay discusses external time vs personal time, comparing how a time traveler’s time is different from time in the outside world when he/she time travels. In the quantum physics of time Deutsch and Lockwood explain how time works in the quantum realm as opposed to what we can see in what we call the real world which is governed by classical physics, which the authors describe as false. In science fiction of epistemology Hanley discusses the concept of miracle or the supernatural, and explains how they might not make sense using three examples: time travel, other dimensions and simulations. Miracles cease to be when we find an explanation for them.  The appendix is basically an amazing list of science fiction literature recommendations.

Heaven's Door by Keiichi Koike. Heaven's Door Extra Works

Usually, I'm not good with short stories, but this anthology blew my mind. A mixture of #scifi and #psychodelic themes. Dreams, alternative realities, absurdities, weirdness all with amazing artwork.

Loved all the stories, except probably Lenbo's Diary which I didn't understand much but enjoyed. Maybe too weird but crazy panels. My favourite: Knockin' on Heaven's Door, Lazarus Franco's 4a.m., Sponge Generation and Airway.

The synopsis reads:

"A sci-fi manga collection of psychedelic short stories by Keiichi Koike.

A drug in paper form!"

El Arte del Crimen (The Art of Crime) by Marc Omeyer and Olivier Berlion.

El Arte del Crimen (The Art of Crime). Five stories about crime. All written by Marc Omeyer and Olivier Berlion. Each story is drawn and coloured by different artists. French comic. This is the Spanish edition. (I hope they published more French comics like this in English.)

I really enjoyed this book. The first story is about a man obsessed with an unfinished comic book. And people who had something to do with the comic are dying. The other stories are written by this man and are about crimes committed in the name of different sorts of art:

1. Comic - 1970s about the comic obsessed man.

2. Painting - Paris 1860 - a novel painter who gets inspiration in strange ways.

3. Architecture - this is a pirate story

4. Sculpture - takes place in roman times

5. Film - early 20 century

There are 9 stories in total. The other 4 stories should be published soon (hopefully).

Light Chaser by Peter F Hamilton and Gareth Powell

A fun, quick read. Lots of things packed in just over 170 pages. Themes I enjoyed: immortality, reincarnation and

Evil AI as well as that sense of immensity of space-time that makes us seem insignificant.

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

I liked the Martian. I hated Artemis. I saw this book in the public library and took a chance with little hope. But it was a fun and interesting read. I'd say better than the Martian. At least it has better character development and a more elaborated plot. The protagonist isn't only a science nerd, but a round, interesting person with a willingness to survive and to help others. I liked the friendship he develops with the other protagonist. An unlikely friendship between a scientist and an engineer. Different expertises, sometimes opposite mindsets but always interdependent and complementary. It is that difference which is exploited in the story, as a source of strength for the characters to succeed in their mission.

The book isn't strong on the philosophical level but touches on some interesting concepts such as humanity’s extinction, evolution and origins of life.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Translation and Introduction by Gregory Hays

First encounter with Stoicism and won’t be the last one.

I loved the introduction. I think, as much as I enjoyed the actual meditations. I read the meditations first as I was reading someone else’s diary. It was like going inside Marcus Aurelius mind. The content is far from autobiographical. It is more about a (not so organised) set of beliefs, that the emperor noted for himself. I guess to get through difficult times. The tone isn’t optimistic but realistic I would say. Not everything resonated with me but the paragraphs that did, were wow! I liked the meditations on death, on how he thought we should face the inevitable. Not to fear but to embrace it.

The introduction was excellent. It gave so much context to what I had read and further reading… maybe Seneca’s Letters from a Stoic or Hellenistic Philosophy by A.A. Long will follow. Though this second one touches on other topics than Stoicism too.