Mindscan by Robert J. Sawyer

This novel explores ideas on consciousness and personhood. What would happen if humanity creates the technology to upload a copy of a person's brain on a computer or an artificial body? What would be the personal, social and legal consequences? 

An excellent read in terms of the ideas it explores, not so much for its literary qualities. The story is interesting and engaging, the characters are ok and I loved the ending. There were some interesting dialogues with characters discussing what it meant to be uploaded and similar ideas. I loved a couple of discussions during a trial with expert scientists and philosophers discussing what consciousness is. What I didn't like was a few awkward dialogues which seemed like info dumping. Won't say more cos spoilers.

Richard Stark's Parker: The Hunter by Darwyn Cooke

An adaptation of Hunter a novel by Richard Spark. 

Wow! I loved this #graphicnovel. I was pleasantly surprised by #DarwinCooke ‘s narrative and artistic style. The first few, silent, pages are outstanding. Parker takes place in a stylish, 1960’s New York. The noir feel is amazing. Parker is the classic tough, bad guy in search of revenge. As bad and tough as they can get. Except when the femme fatale is with him of course. The art is on a different level. The two-tone colour palette fits perfectly with the story. The details, the shadows, the character designs, everything screams noir. 

I will definitely read the other three Parker stories. Totally recommend!

Wonders of the Solar System by Prof. Bryan Cox and Andrew Cohen

Beautiful book, fun, easy to read, with lots of amazing illustrations. From the sun to the terrestrial planets, from the gas planets to some of the most intriguing moons in the solar system. This book explains how the solar system might have been created and planets and moons became to be what they are now. There are amazing real life images of Saturn, Io, Europe and other places in the neighbourhood. 

This book was written in 2010 so some of the information might be out of date. This should not matter much as Wonders isn't necessarily about the latest of space research and exploration but about understanding the fundamentals of the Solar system and the profound implications this knowledge might have in the design of our future. 

* fundamental and profound are words Prof Cox likes to use a lot and for a good reason 🙂

Jonas Fink. Una Vida Interrumpida (A Jew in Communist Prague in the english translation) by Vittorio Giardino

Beautiful, amazing #graphicnovel . The life of a Jewish boy in post war Prague from childhood to his adulthood. Jonas’s life changes abruptly when his father is arrested for espionage and activities against the communist government. An obvious lie masking antisemitism. Unable to go to school (because he isn’t allowed by the government) he has to work to help his mother who is forced to work night turns in a factory. This unfair treatment and other discriminatory events affect Jonas’s personality and view of life. But there is always a spark of love for life every now and then as Jonas’s meets important people in his life. 

This graphic novel shows Giardino’s masterful ability to narrate stories, layered with human experiences and with well researched historical background. In fact, Giardino’s approach to including historical events is subtle but effective. Not only we follow the life of 3 dimensional characters but we learn about important events happening behind the iron curtain. 

The characters are flesh and bone. Jonas himself is great. His mother, Edith, who struggles to keep them alive, Slavek, a plumber, and Mr Pinkle, a bookstore owner. Both men employ Jonas at different stages in his life and represent in many ways the paternal figure Jonas didn’t have. Also a special mention to the Odradek group, Jonas’s friends from his adolescence, as they try to rebel against the communist restrictions of their times, reading “forbidden” books and singing “forbidden” songs. Literature and books play also an important role in the story, Jonas is an avid reader, he works in a book store and at points he writes poetry. There are quite a few literary references through out the book. Here a some of them: 

Mother - Maxim Gorky 

The Walk - Robert Walser 

Contemplation - Franz Kafka 

Darkness at noon - Arthur Koestler 

Doctor Zhivago - Boris Pasternak 

Flowers of Evil - Charles Baudelaire 

Herzog - Saul Bellow 

De noche bajo el puente de piedra- Perutz By night under the stone bridge - Leo Perutz

A final comment on Giardino’s artwork. It isn’t spectacular, with perspectives or double-page spreads. It's simply beautiful. First the graphic narrative is easy to follow. The depiction of characters, their moods and particularly showing the pass of time. Giardino is brilliant at making his characters age. Jonas’s goes from 12 to 50 and we can see he is still Jonas. Edith’s change is superb, not only the effects of time are shown but the effects of having her husband in prison, being unable to communicate with him, being followed and spied and forced to work in jobs she wasn’t good at, having to support her son economically and emotionally. Simply, amazing art.

The Forever War by Joe Haldeman

I didn't think I would like this novel that much, but I did. Except for the battle scenes (which I found boring) and the sex/sexuality related content (which I found not belonging) I really enjoyed the story. I felt for the protagonist being forced to fight a war he never wanted to fight, for a planet he didn't belong to anymore. 

War was the main theme but I enjoyed how Haldeman explored the ways relativistic speeds would affect humans. How weeks or months would pass for them but centuries would pass outside. Societies could change so much but war was still there every time the troops returned from a mission. 

This novel is about the nonsense of war. About the wasted lives fighting for something they don't understand. About war as a political weapon to control the masses and the economy. Sounds familiar? This novel was written in 1974 but is still relevant in the 21st century. When will humanity learn?

Akira Club by Katsuhiro Otomo

 

Art book by the acclaimed mangaka.

Death and the Afterlife. A Chronological Journey from Cremation to Quantum Resurrection by Clifford A. Pickover

I am interested in the topic of Death and this seemed to be a good way to start. And It was. Not only is the book beautiful but also very informative. It briefly discusses about 100 topics around death. From myths, traditions and religions to cemeteries, afterlife and immortality. Each topic is only one page long and they all come with one illustration each.