A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge

This is a space opera with Artificial Intelligence turned Singularities turned gods. A pessimistic view of a future with AI. AI are called Powers and can toy with humans and other biological races. They can be mean but they can be controlled and usually cease to exist in a few years. The novel focuses on a mega Power born because some humans decided to unbury ancient secrets. The Power is the most powerfull Perversion anyone has seen and is threatening to destroy the galaxy. A group of humans try to escape with a cargo of sleeping children. Their spaceship fails and they have to land n a planet in the Low Beyond. The planet is inhabited by dog-like creatures stuck in a middle age level civilisation.

A rescue mission is organised but then the Perversion sends a fleet to that planet, no one knows why but there must be something important in that ship. On their way the Perversion destroys planets and entire civilisations.

I loved the premise of this novel. Though I'm not particularly fond of pessimistic views of AI I liked the idea of having sentient, powerful AIs emerging everywhere in the galactic network. I loved the concept of the Galactic Zones. In this universe the Milky Way is divided into zones of thought by some "unknown force". The Unthinking Depths hosting beings with limited mind around it the slow zone, with biological but no Artificial Intelligence. On top of that, the Beyond, divided in Low, Middle and High, each with higher intelligence potential with AI and faster than light travel. Above the High Beyond there is the Trascend, the home of AI or organic beings who have transcended. A place where AI can surpass Singularities.

I didn't like: the middle age civilisation. More than a third of the book takes place in that world and I could not enjoy it. I wanted futuristic settings! I wanted to know about the zones of thought and the Perversion!! Ididn't find the dog-people too interesting (apart fromthembeingmultiples, beings with many bodies sharing one mind) or their culture.

Cosmos by Carl Sagan

I loved this book. It has everything. I don't know what to highlight. The whole book is excellent. Maybe the last chapter. It is superb. A critique of society and politics on earth (1980). How could anyone explain humans to aliens? And wars and nuclear bombs? Violence?

• Spacecraft missions.
• The library of ancient Alexandria.
• The human brain.
• Egyptian hieroglyphics.
• The origin of life.
• The death of the sun.
• The evolution of galaxies.
• The origins of matter, suns and world.

A Midsummer's Equation by Keigo Higashino

The third novel in the Detective Galileo series. I liked it but I think the first 2 books are much better. It had a slow start but it was gripping. Yukawa (detective Galileo) is an amazing character this time showing his soft side becoming friends with a boy and teaching him physics. I liked how the chapters alternated between events the two main settings, and how Yukawa managed to be involved in both lines of investigation.... and I think the ending was sweet.

The Futurological Congress by Stanislaw Lem

It starts with a cosmonaut attending a Futurological Congress in a bomb free hotel in Costa Rica. Weird things happen in and outside the hotel. There is man plotting to kill the pope and in another floor a banquet for Literated Literature, attended by degenerate folks. Gases and hallucinations. Police and bombs. The cosmonaut ends up trying to escape the chaos but gets injured. When he wakes up, he is in the future and the world is even weirder than before.

This is a serious satire, with humour and absurdities. Political and social commentary. A philosophical novel raising questions about the nature of reality, technology and the use of drugs. It reminded me of Philip K Dick, as reality becomes a layered puzzle.

The Hardy Agency by Pierre Christin and Annie Goetzinger.

French comic. The story follows Edith Hardy, a private detective in 1950s Paris. 

Interesting story. Mysterious protagonist. Amazing art by Goetzinger.

The Telling by Ursula K Le Guin

❤ 🤍 💙 🧡 🖤

This book was perfect. Amazing prose. Engaging, thought provoking, beautiful, emotional. So many things in 247 pages.

The Telling is a Hainish novel, like the Left hand of darkness and the Dispossessed (both outstanding pieces of science fiction). The story is about the meaning of culture, traditions and memories for humans. It is very much about Storytelling as it is about listening and learning. It happens in another planet but we can see ourselves reflected in every page. I loved Sutty, the protagonist, her experience contrasted with the ones of the people she observed. The ending is beautiful. I'm still processing it.

The Shunned House by H.P. Lovecraft.

A creepy read perfect to send off this hideous year. MWAHAHAHA