I'd like to share my opinions on books I have read with you. In case you don't know what the book is about, I've written a synopsis as well as my critique for each book.

I read for pleasure and to learn about subjects that I find interesting. This means I'm often looking in the science fiction and popular science areas of bookshops. However, I am not keen on putting writers or ideas in pigeon holes, so I have not divided this page - the only organisation is that books I've recently read come first.

	The Dream of Scipio Iain Pears Synopsis: The stories of three characters at different times in history are presented. The thoughtful patriarch Manlius Hippomanes witnesses the decay of (Roman) civilization, the best of which he sees in the Alexandrian daughter of his Neo-Platonist teacher. A passionate poet, Olivier de Noyen, is struggling through plague and Catholic machinations at the birth of the renaissance, finding inspiration whilst copying Manlius' writing. In Vichy France the scholar Julien Barneuve pieces together evidence of the lives of these two to escape from his distasteful situation around him. Critique: This is a very colourful, masterful book, combining historical visualisation and discussion of the development of human culture with gripping, tragic stories. The characters are lovingly brought to life, and the unfolding events are richly described. Unfortunately such detail made some of the characters' hastily described reactions to events seem implausible plot devices in the flow of the novel. I'd also recommend anyone interested in the apparent beauty of Neo-Platonism do some of their own research before passing judgment (I started here).
	This Immortal Roger Zelazny Synopsis: Conrad Nomikos is a Kallikanzaros, born disfigured into a web of superstitions on Christmas day in the distant past. As world director of arts, he is overqualified as the tour-guide to an alien ambassador on a ruined Earth. However, he is called upon to extricate the visitor from numerous deadly creatures and assassins' plots. Hints of his own past are revealed before the alien's own surprises are revealed. Critique: Yes, it's another jolly science fiction romp that was originally highly praised but seems too close to a boy's own adventure story now. The careful revelation of a tight plot set in a malevolent future Earth is well written. However, the classical allusions seem forced, the monster wrestling clinches appall, and the contrived conclusion grates. I enjoyed it as a throwaway read, but it was disappointing after Lord of Light (that I read long ago).
	Darwin's Dangerous Idea Daniel Dennett Synopsis: Darwin's theory of evolution is described and very robustly defended in this dense but readable discussion. It's critics motives are minutely examined whilst they are demolished (including highly original treatment of Stephen Jay Gould). The enormous power of evolution is then applied far beyond the design of animal body plans that we usually tie it to. Critique: As with Consciousness Explained, as I read this book I felt that there was so much in it that I needed to read it again. I've not done that yet, so I'm not really ready to comment. However, I was startled by the insight of the common design space and reassured by a systematic evaluation of social evolution. There are plenty of pithy, easily grasped ideas that I found very useful when navigating the detailed arguments, surely the hallmark of a brilliant writer charting a course for all comers without dumbing down the subject.
	Cosmonaut Keep Ken Macleod Synopsis: Two fast moving plots, separated in time and space, are slowly brought together to open the Engines of Light trilogy. The most recognizable is that set in Edinburgh in the near future, where an aging software manager is trying to get by at the fringes of a Soviet controlled European Bloc. His life becomes far more complicated when he tries to help American woman as the world is shaken by news of alien contact. More bizarre are developments on another world which humans share with aliens (Greys and interstellar super intelligent squid), using mediaeval technology along side flying saucers, where a young human scientist becomes the chief agent for his family's grand plan to return to the stars. Critique: The synopsis may make this book sound like a bad synthesis of science fiction cliches from Cyberpunk on down. In fact, you'll find many more borrowed ideas, but they are given new life by the colourful, fast paced writing. It is a great example of new, full-blooded science fiction, but it is seems to be aiming for popularity rather than breaking new ground. I'd recommend it alongside Alistair Reynolds and perhaps after Stephen Baxter, but not Greg Egan or Iain M. Banks at his best. I'll probably get through the trilogy eventually, and I do wonder if the programmer I knew in Edinburgh a few years ago realised he was in so cool an environment (probably).
	The Tin Drum Günter Grass Synopsis: The mythic autobiography of Oskar, a Danzig dwarf, written from his asylum bed encompass great slices of history as well as the lives of his family and neighbors. Throughout the rise and fall of Polish and German people's fortune, the grotesque, retarded Oskar uses his magical drumming (and other supernatural powers) to manipulate his world to his whims. Critique: This is a very highly thought of book that covers some very painful episodes without flinching or apologising. However, at risk of appearing stupid and insensitive, I'm giving it the thumbs down. Oskar may be a modern reworking of some archetype (Christ, a devil, or one of those unfathomable pagan symbols such as Loki or a satyr), but as a human character he seems incomprehensible and self-contradictory (the rough separation of "Oskar" the imbecile and "I" the genius in the text is unsustainable). I enjoyed the exotic texture and brutal honesty of simple emotion initially. But as the story bucked from one location to another I found it impossible to care about the inevitably bizarre, implausible characters introduced later. I only reached the end out of duty, and would recommend the Flounder (or Salman Rushdie's surprisingly similar Midnight's Children) way above this.
	On Adam Roberts Synopsis: A peasant boy, clinging to a simple goat farm on a cliff, approaches dispair when his parents disapear, before crisis strikes him too as he falls off his village ledge. He expects to be killed when he reaches the bottom, but instead he is saved by an army far below his village inching around the cliff to fight their war. His fortunes turn again as he is captured, and later as he encounters a technological magician. His simple mind never seems to grasp the strange truth about the vertical world he is in though. Critique: This book represents a brilliant idea that I enjoyed trying to work out as I read. The appendix provides an intriguing but dry scientific "spoiler". The protagonists are deeply iritating in their self seeking small mindedness, perhaps a nice change from expected fantasy heros. Adam's game to envision the simple living experience with twisted grand physical concepts reminded me of Larry Niven's Ringworld or Integral Trees. However, the slightly uneven writing and wandering plot will probably prevent this becoming a modern classic in the genre (but then I wouldn't have voted for Larry either).
	Solaris Stanislaw Lem Synopsis: A psychologists arrives at an almost deserted research station, the only human outpost on an ocean covered planet. Life in the ocean is an enigma, defying conventional investigation and now largely ignored. However, inexplicable haunting visions on the station indicate the ocean is not merely alive but intelligent. Is it trying to communicate, or deliberately tormenting the scientists? Critique: I reread this book just before seeing the latest film (previously reading it after seeing the enigmatic Andrei Tarkovsky version). For the record, I thought Steven Soderbergh's film was a good reworking (though unlikely to be shortlisted for the best science fiction film ever), but the book is still deeper and more interesting than either film. It's style is a little inaccessible, especially when musing about scientific explanations, possibly due to weak cultural translation or badly dated concepts. However, it is a very ambitious and thorough attempts to imagine how the truly alien would seem to us, and how ambiguous our reaction to it may be. It also captures an aching sense of human alienation when our spirit is lost in the wilderness, a clever relief against the classic science fiction bedrock.
	253 Geoff Ryman Synopsis: 253 (slightly) interwoven character sketches and short stories (guess how many words long each is...) for passengers on a Bakerloo line underground (with a few digressions, most notably for a visionary south Londoner...). Critique: Hardly a novel, but a remarkable, moving literary exercise. I did some scrabbling through it trying to tie threads together (I'm sure there's more there for the truly dedicated or memorious), but the real pleasure was in moments of insight that resonated deeply with my own inner thoughts. I'm also sure Geoff and other critics could discuss how the 256 passengers on a train are a metaphor for human culture better than me too.
	Stand on Zanizabar John Bruner Synopsis: Stand on Zanzibar was written in Vietnam era America about the crowded world of our near future. John integrates themes of population explosion, technological advancement in the developing world, terrorism, information technology, war, race, colonialism, fashion, drug use, rebellion and sex. He introduces two flatmates as the main characters who follow the divergent double story of the book, but weaves in the life stories of many other unconnected individuals to generate a complete tapestry of 21st century life. The reader is drawn further into the world as normal narrative is mixed with media articles, advertisements and the omniscient information of the world management computer Shalmanizer. Critique: Still a very timely book, as Western paranoia of population growth and economic eclipse by sun-rise industries continues. One wonders how predictive John's thoughts on domestic terrorism projected onto foreign enemies is especially. Such strong commentary on our distopia is supported by the gripping plot and well developed characters (for the genre). However, I did find the conclusion unsatisfying, a jarring piece of wishful thinking after such grimly resolved sub-plots on neo-colonialism and social population control.
	The Dhammapada - The Buddha's Path to Wisdom Acharya Buddharakkhita (translator) Synopsis: A collection of traditional Buddhist aphorisms, considered to contain the essential ethical law preached by Buddha. The introduction by Monk Bhodhi summarizes the origin of the text and 4 levels of interpretation (for good living, accountability for actions, escape from suffering, and praise of saints), stressing its metaphysical significance. This translation is available at buddhanet's eBook library (Theravada teachings section). Critique: The text gives concise and accessible moral guidance, without philosophical digressions or mystical stories. Some verses stand alone well, for example v.63: "A fool who knows his foolishness is wise at least to that extent...". And taken as a whole, the simple message of avoiding anger, greed and pride through frugal, mindful living to attain freedom from illusion and death resonates through the text in many similes and observations of human activity. This message seems familiar from other religious codes (and some Greek philosophy), and is stripped back to basics here. However, at face value the naively hermitic way of life dictated is impractical. This means that a supposed saintly caste may use guilt to exploit the majority for whom asceticism is impossible, and therefore leave intact the foundations of institutionalized abuse of religious status (apparent in Brahmanism at the time that Buddhism arose against it, also reported of the Pharisees in the Christian gospel and leveled against Catholicism today).
	The Earthsea Quartet Ursula LeGuin Synopsis: Hopefully you know this classic series from your own childhood. However, rather than a dust-jacket plot teaser, I'll try to comprehensively summarise each story to refresh your memory of some interesting details here. Critique: I did enjoy these books as a child, though they seemed to drag in places (I wasn't a quick reader, and expected plots to keep move quickly on to happy endings). Tehanu had not been published then, and I don't think I would have liked it at all had I read it then. However, it is clear these books have depth in their themes and symbolism. I'd expect people take different views of what they're about, reading their own philosophy into the levels below the children's story. I noted Ged facing his demon and the madness of the Farthest Shore especially (Jan Griffin has seen significant Taoist symbolism that I knew nothing of.) Without getting into a huge post-modern commentary here, I simply recomend them highly if you've not read them recently. (They knock the socks off other children's fantasy read by adults these days!)
	Rork Avram Davidson Synopsis: Ran Lomar is seeking calm isolation from an ossified inter-stellar human civilisation on the remote world of Pia-3. On arriving, tasked with improve the production of local medical plants, he finds that the other bureaucrat washed up there are idle jobs-worths. Trying to explore the empty world further, he comes face to face with counter-cultures of degenerate humans - remnants of an ancient botched colonisation - and nightmarish local animals. Against the odds, he survives and attempts to start bringing the divergent cultures together to make peace. Critique: This old school science fiction adventure romp started very well, with a beautifully crafted style for each of the characters introduced - the wildmen's meal of bullets being my favourite, conjuring their savage code brilliantly. Unfortunately this rapidly dissipated into a linear account of the protagonists' wanderings, that were too contrived and poorly worked through to draw me in. I was also concerned that Avram's language about the aboriginal humans was strongly inspired by nazi-like ideas of racial hierarchy, under-challenged by this shallow story.
	Centuries Alfred A. Attanasio Synopsis: The history of the third (Christian) millennium is presented through the lives of two people who are intimately involved with its great events. Ellen Vance's brilliance in mathematics saves her from the anarchy of the collapsing global economy and ecosystem in the 21st century. She joins an isolated circle of scientists, given carte blanche to develop the technology required to rescue the planet, becoming midwife and adopted parent to Rafe von Takawa. Rafe becomes the only survivor of a genetic engineering experiment to advance the human mind, superceded by artificial intelligence. He escapes the worldwide machine mind to pass the genetic triggers of his own enlightenment to others, dividing humanity into the intellectual "have" and "have nots". Further adventures (one story for each century) are staged against this conflict, the human exploration of the solar system, and conflicts among the super-humans. Their culture struggles with death cults, the afterlife and the possibility of achieving physical transcendence at the cost of every living thing, whilst spinning out marvelous, fearful technology. With the genie out of the bottle, Rafe and Ellen struggle for their existence. Critique: I remember Alfred's earlier futuristic fable about enlightenment, Radix, having a strong, sometimes disturbing plot set in a beautiful and alarming future Earth. Initially, as the refugee Ellen negotiates Rafe's alienation, I thought this was a similar treat. However, subsequent centuries became increasingly shallow science fiction pulp, sacrificing characterization and philosophical themes for dashing around in space with freaky 'aliens'. For me, most ridiculous were the contrived twists in the tail, including "it was just a dream", and using the afterlife (perhaps lamely aping Peter F. Hamilton's 'Night's Dawn') as a device to recycle dead characters and exercise ancient cliches (ghosts enslaved in a magician's tower). Far better would have been further exploration of what humanity means when people like us are living along side machine minds driving human replicants, the race of super-humans with revolutionary intelligence, and the stranger races breed for live on other planets. So, despite evidence of good imagination and hints of insight, this was a disappointing book (increasingly past its sell by date as millennialism recedes).
	A New Kind of Science Stephen Wolfram Full review essay. Synopsis: "A new kind of science" has been heralded as revolutionary book, not least by its own author. It could even represent next chapter in humanity's methodological understanding of reality and the abstract, in the style of Aristotle's foundation of logic and Newton's differential mechanics... Critique: ... I did find "a new kind of science" stimulating and very interesting. The original systems that Stephen has worked hard to produce impressively demonstrate deep rules - to use Paul Davies' term for the physical laws that make our universe so complex. He also provides a rich mine of interesting detail about algorithms and programmable systems (if not a definitive resource). I enjoyed recognising what I knew as Lindenmayer systems and reading about new insights into Conway's Life, and I expect to develop toy programs myself inspired by unfamiliar systems. However, his strong claims need strong balancing scepticism, and I feel the thesis that "computational systems can model each other" is not as broad, profound or useful as the hype suggests.
	I am Legend Richard Matheson Synopsis: The book opens with Robert Neville going about his daily chores as the last human in a world of vampires with understandable bad grace. He has lost his family, been forced to board his windows up and become self sufficient for electricity, scavanged food stock-piles and garlic farming. His daily routine involves repairing damage to his property, disposing of bodies and dispatching as many prone vampires as possible before retreating to his home and whisky to endure another night. As the book progresses we learn more of the grissly overwealming of civilisation by the plague that causes vampirism as Robert overcomes his personal crisis and finds uneasy peace in his horrific, lonely world. His final revalation comes when a new kind of culture makes contact with him, but he has become too entrenched in his lifestyle to save himself. Critique: Until I read this book, for me, vampire novels and films had stuck at Bram Stoker (with the exception of Martin the Vampire); The Lost Boys were interesting but, with Anne Rice and Buffy, they made little impression. The vampire legend's potency relies firmly on the perversion of Christian myths in all these. However, the loner in a post apocalyptic earth is a defining late 20th century myth, inspired by the nuclear threat and environmental catastrophy (both touched on in this book). Richard uses these threads to competently weave a genuinely haunting modern story. The intimate personal account of Robert, a suburban everyman in extremis, helps the startling transition of perspective towards the end of the book. However, I still found the ending a little dissapointing - though perhaps it could have been worse by pushing implausible salvation after such expressive descriptions of damning devastation.
	The Child Garden Geoff Ryman Synopsis: The book's heroine, Milena, begins the novel as dead-end actress performing to children, educated to the highest standard by viruses. Milena is cowed by the cynical, osified utopian culture enabled by this genetic wizardry. She cherishes her immunity to the viruses with an obsessive cleanliness and outlawed homosexuality. But when she meets a creative genius from Antarctica, outside the communist world-state, she becomes compelled to stage the new work. As she stuggles against the resource starved beurocracy she runs into other strange characters washed-up by the revolution: a mnemonist, a telepath, an immortal, an angel, a giant consciousness, an immovable party aristocrat and an unstopable bully driving her to insanity. Her drive to put on her friend's opera leads her to space and the unlocking of her past. She comes to realise that she has a great destiny to fulfil, which becomes a race against time as unstable viruses cause civilisation to disintegrate. Critique: This remarkable, brilliantly written novel captured my imagination and sympathy for the characters. Despite the "far out" synopsis above, the characters are human and the setting - London - is familiar despite strange differences. It is comparable to Brave New World and 1984 as a well crafted distopian enlightenment story, though the vision of the busy city of people living their lives seems richer than these classics (other reviewers referred to this comprehensivly described environment as Dickensian). Milena's own role does become messianic, and the fun of reading about ever greater scales of event risks a loss of empathy with the character (and repeating other stories - I remembered Radix by A.A. Attanasio whilst reading). However, this is balanced by Geoff's skill in projecting Milena's feelings, the development of her character in reaction to these events, and the passion of her evolving tragedy.
	The Greatest Sci-Fi Films Never Made David Hughes Synopsis: The reason and structure of this book is simple: in Hollywood work is done on great ideas for films that are never released; in each of the 19 chapters an aborted science fiction masterpiece is described. In some cases you'll know films that eventually did get out in a radically different form to the original conception (Spiderman, Alien 3, Star Trek, Dune). Others are classic novels you may know (I am Legend, The Stars Are My Destination, Watchmen, The Hitchhikers' Guide, The Island of Dr. Monreau) or other comic (Silver Surfer, Superman Reborn) and TV (Six Million Dollar Man, Thunderbirds) crossovers. There are also ideas that were created as screenplays that have been "out there in the open air [of] Hollywood [having their] bones picked" (Franc Roddam) and oddities like David Lynch's Ronnie Rocket (Eraserhead II?). For all there is comprehensive, balanced material from all the parties on record detailing the quagmire these projects floundered into. Critique: This is a sobering book, cataloguing the extent to which productivity is wasted and how scripts can be butchered out of recognition. You may feel quite disappointed reading so much hype over interesting films you'll never see. It clearly answers the question I often have leaving blockbusters: "if they spent so much on special effects, why couldn't they afford a decent script?" - because you get "the first draft of the tenth screenwriter, not the tenth draft of the first" (somewhere in the book). In some cases the studios go to extraordinary lengths to waste money (filming a complete Fantastic Four film on a budget without release to retain the rights to make a better version). It is also amazing how many very big names during the best years of their careers get stuck in this mire (James Cameron, Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer, Steven Spielberg, Ridley Scott, William Gibson). I did have few niggles. The formulaic chapter structure wore most thin when David summarised the plots of the original concept before getting into its film history. He frequently failed to capture the vision or spirit and therefore relied on subsequent endorsements of their quality. The opening and closing columns by HR Geiger (bitter artist) and Harry Knowles (film uber-geek) add little - perhaps the author could have done a stronger job of introducing this sorry arena and drawing educated conclusions himself. Further, the centre-plates could have been far more extensive (to help support the extravagant descriptions of abandoned storyboards, concept art and sets), especially as the 8 pages we do get almost doubled the book's price over a normal paperback (luckily this was a present!). Also, David's paraphrased quotes (as I used in the synopsis) got a bit laboured. However, he does comprehensively fulfil the books goal. The conclusion that I drew myself was that maybe some of these ideas were best left in their original form (the book, comic, TV show or even that single Helmut Newton photograph in the case of The Tourist).
	Game On Lucien King (Editor) Synopsis: Sold as an exhibition catalogue for the Barbican retrospective look at videogaming, this tome is a little like a bumper edition of The Edge magazine, a fan website, and Steven Poole's book (below) rolled into one artfully packaged bundle. There are chapters from diverse stakeholders in videogame culture, including an anti-violence lobbyist and a female games fan, as well as professional critics and game authors from around the world (well, Europe and Japan as well as the USA). Critique: This is a book packaged and written for videogames fans. If you're looking for a reference history of video games or a considered review of their place in modern society, look elsewhere. However, if you already know part of the videogame world personally and have been able to form your own opinions about their appeal and weaknesses, then this book has enough good writing to be interesting with shed-loads of style to entertain your over-stimulated million polygons at 60 frames per second brain. It is pricey, but if you're springing 50 quid for each new game, you can afford it, can't you?
	Flowers for Algernon Daniel Keyes Synopsis: This book is presented as the first person account of the subject in an experiment to enhance intelligence. Charlie Gordon is a grown man with the abilities of a well meaning 5 year old, struggling with literacy skills, who rapidly accelerates towards intellectual heights envied by the professor that started the experiment. The confusion of Charlie's mental awakening is played out in his changing creativity and appetite for knowledge, his personal revelations of unearthed memories and his relationships to those around him, including the laboratory mouse, Algernon, who first received his treatment, and his teacher, Alice, who is constantly important to Charlie in changing ways. Critique: I picked this up thinking it may be another of those science-fiction book thought of as milestones that only rise above the general pulp of their time thanks to ideas and issues that anticipated the zeitgeist. However, the writing style changes as the hero gains intelligence, blossoming into a sophisticated window on Charlie's medical and social treatment before the startling collapse back to the opening tone. The well crafted representation of Charlie's growing understanding of the world and psychological breakthroughs encourages your empathy for him, which I found especially touching as his love affair develops (though I imagine Daniel intended the reader to be more stuck by Charlie's dramatic scientific discovery that seals his fate - a development I found predictable with my gothic outlook). Whether intentional, this is genuinely a modern parable, brilliantly reminding us (not just as empiricists) of society's responsibilities and the cruelty of elitism.
	Star Maker Olaf Stapledon Synopsis: The man who previously transcribed the events of humanity's future in "first and last men" becomes disembodied and journeys into the stars. Within the bounds of his will, he is able to travel to alien civilizations. With companions of diverse types, he witnesses the fate of mindful activity throughout the universe. The following spoils the "plot" of the book. By describing its full scope here the critique below should be clearer, but shouldn't diminish readers' enjoyment. The protagonist provides a first person perspective of the evolution of cosmic consciousness, from our current self awareness through world states and mental harmony to the galactic and ultimately universal mind. In this journey, the struggle of individuals, very diverse forms of self awareness (including symbiotic, hive and vegetable minds, stars and primordial nebulae) and clashing alien cultures are described as worthwhile suffering on the path to ultimate enlightenment. Finally, the diminished yet utopian worlds, in which integrated thought forms world minds which make components of greater awareness, eventually perceive infinity and the creator, a river of universes and the fearful ultimate consciousness. Critique: I want to make it clear that I think this a remarkable book, far beyond the scope of the majority of literature. It's content is certainly inspirational for science fiction (I imagine someone like Iain M Banks taking a few lines as a seed for the description of an alien world or the thread of an interstellar war). Though lacking the stereotype action-adventure plot of regular science fiction, and typically opting for remote, scientific descriptions, the images are remarkable (for example, of modern loss of soul afflicting intelligent plants clinging to airless pools or the private shame of stars afflicted by parasitic sub-conscious disturbances in their atmospheres). Still, it helped me a little to "update" some of his science fiction devices (for example, substituting telepathy for something like tachyon neural nanotechnology communicators, or imagining he'd got the stellar main sequence correct, making neutron stars his cool inhabited stellar relics) though it is a shame this predates computers or singularities. However, Olaf's vision is really more like that of a prophet. He describes access to spiritual vision granted by divine agents that both admonishes us for arrogance and gives hope for a just end to the cycle suffering. Whilst delivering this message from the mountaintop, the author warns that his vision is imperfect and biased, at worst just anthropomorphic myth weakly inspired by true enlightenment. I therefore felt that here is a genuine modern holy-man, accepting the cold, impersonal universe of evolution and physics yet still perceiving a greater scheme, a role for religious stories, and stoic hope. Olaf seems to be tied to the views of his time to some extent (this book being written just before the Second World War). He seemingly assumes historical determinism in describing ubiquitous civil strife between two irreconcilable ideologies that, with luck, cause integrated higher societies. Additionally, his enlightened acceptance of religious dogma informs his account of the star maker, weaving simplistic cosmologies with heaven and hell, divine intervention for redemption of suffering and the grand wheel into our more mechanical universe. Yet his intuition about the fate of our universe and the application of the anthropic principle to a possible multiverse is quite acceptable to secular readers. Therefore, I found Olaf could still inform me as spiritual human in a scientific world through this fantastic book.
	The Private Life of the Brain Susan Greenfield Synopsis: Early in the book, Susan describes the current state of play in theories of consciousness - an area contested by philosophers, psychologists, psychiatrists and neurologists (as well as computer scientists, though she doesn't credit them). She then tours what is known of some choice mental states, including those achieved by illicit drugs, extreme circumstances and mental illness. Throughout she evaluates scientific knowledge against her thesis for a mind formed of dynamic neural networks, intimately connected with emotion and the body. Though her conclusion is scientifically cautious, she firmly establishes directions and methods for future models of the mind based on neurochemical activity. Critique: Susan delivers a clear, sound account of her theory of mind; that emotion and organised consciousness are related via chemical systems and shifting networks. I appreciate her honesty that its judgment will have to wait for improved experiments. Though the book contains personal touches and straight-forward descriptions of the brain's physiology, I did feel better partitioning within chapters, cutting back redundant elements and a few figures would have really helped. My own opinion is that she is a little quick to dismiss Dennet's working draft model (overlooking his evolution story and the meme for self); I believe his top down approach actually meshes very well with her bottom up account. This is a scientific book about the mushy detail of the long running mind-body debate, but I'd recommend it to a wider audience who are curious what is going on between our ears.
	When the Sleeper Wakes H.G. Wells Synopsis: Victorian strangers meet whilst taking a cliff-top walk. One, initially at the end of his tether, slips calmly into suspended animation where he is locked for over 200 years. On recovering, he finds that (thanks to his undying, inactive state) corporate wealth has clustered around him, whilst corporate power has unmasked itself in dissolving government, making him the figurehead for world rule. However, the people desperately need a champion to fight economic exploitation, and rally on his awakening. In the ensuing revolution, the elected rebel leader is confides his selfish, aristocratic ethic with the sleeper, precipitating further chaos which leaves civilisation on the brink of brutal totalitarianism as the sleeper martyrs himself for liberty. Critique: This work shows its age (being published in 1899), especially regarding race (as well as gender, empire and perhaps class). I also felt it was as much an adventure story as utopian literature, with passages about fantastic flying machines outweighing social commentary. The sociological foundation of the story has both a Marxist and elitist flavour (whilst pointing the direction to the world of the Time Machine), but the theme of liberty under corporate giants is still highly relevant. There are also hints of the pervasive order that is thoroughly worked out in Brave New World and 1984, as well clear expression of the science fiction mega-city paradigm. However, I felt the book remained a curiosity rather than a visionary work. (By the way, it is in Project Guttenberg.)
	How the Dead Live Will Self Synopsis: The subject of the book dies and finds herself in a pergatory that parodies an undistinguished area of London. There she chews over the events from her life and watches the minor tragedies played out by her two daughters, touring sin. Haunted by dead children and three pathetic fates manifestated from the fat lost in her years of wasted dieting, she finds the authorities and community care of the afterlife as unsatisfactory as in life. Critique: Will lays into his unusual chosen subject unflinchingly, with a savage satire that illuminates the alienation and futility of modern life. The drab, placid existence of an architype middle class woman, cannon fodder for 20th century life, and the twisted attempts at self-expression by her daughters are made into a tragic farce. He may be charged with being too grotesque, trying to show off with classical references and word-play, and patronising a generation, ethnic group and sex. However, as a whole this stands as a stunning book that is very well constructed and revolutionised my outlook on our current state.
	Redemption Ark Alistair Reynolds Synopsis: There is a struggle for government of humanity between the Conjoiners, an elitist hive with cybernetically enhanced minds, and the remains of humanity's democrats, battered by the nanotechnology meddling plague and local system lawlessness. In this arena a young couple struggle to maintain the business, ship and wishes they've inherited, but become entangled with a radical plot hatched by a Conjoiner faction to avoid the Inhibitors. Meanwhile, these mechanical killers are keeping the survivors of a marooned interstellar ship busy on the fringes of the galaxy's faltering human sphere. Critique: Alistair has tied this book tightly onto his first book, Revelation Space, and reading of the second, Chasm City, is also recommended if sense of some parts is to be made. This seems a shame, as the best parts of the new book, which surpass the excitement of the first and the concepts of the second, revolve around the complex new Conjoiner characters and their strange environment. This is squandered during the climax of the book, where the conflict at the conjunction of the two major halves reduces the characters to dimensionless, irrational puppets emitting cliches. Also, Alistair's female bias becomes a little laughable when the heroin of the first book with her dark mistresses are brought together with this volume's heroin spirit of humanity, as well as the hero's inspirational savant and fetishistic nemesis - both female. Still, at its core, this book is another gripping story embedded in a strong science fiction vision, with a touching conclusion, that seems a return to form for this knight of our current sci-fi golden age.
	The Amber Spyglass Phillip Pullman Synopsis: The final book of a trilogy sees Lyra and Will having more adventures in their new found multiple worlds. With some sense of doing the right thing and a lot of luck, Will rescues Lyra from the ambigous captivity of her mother, and together they fulfil their mythic destiny. Meanwhile, their allies try to thwart the evil intentions of the corrupted church, and make sense of the greater scheme that depends on the two children. Critique: As with the previous books, I found this great fun to read, becoming immersed in the worlds described and empathically bound to the protagonists' trials. In a way, I wish they were available when I was a child to balance Narnia, Middlearth and Alan Garner's worlds. However, as an adult, it is clearer that Phillip recycles familiar myths to add drama, and manipulates the reader whilst providing thin rational - too many puzzles remain. (What is the relation between the dead and heaven? Why didn't the bomb use children, and why did Mrs Coulter not suffer more? Shouldn't angels be stronger? What's to stop scientists carrying on Dust research? What really happened at the Fall?)
	The Quantum Self Danah Zohar Synopsis: The materialist description of the mind, based on classical physics and reductionist science, is unsatisfactory as it fails to account for the experience of a single point of consciousness. Modern thinking, which renounces spiritual dogma and emphasises the primacy of the self in psychoanalysis, politics, art and society, leaves many alienated and unhappy. A few physicists have considered applying quantum mechanics to human experiences, and Danah builds on this work to consider our minds as integrated quantum systems (proposing that the molecules in our brains' cell walls are Frolich's "pumped systems" and in a Bose-Einstein condensate phase). This idea leads to many possibilities that are unrealised in orthodox psychology but fit well with our subjective experience and intuition, such as our access to memories and childhood inner-selves, and the integration of personalities in relationships. Critique: Danah is an engaging writer who draws from diverse fields effectively. Her personal experience and clear arguments made me sympathetic to her ideas, even though transition from scientific account to metaphor were sometimes vague (exasperated by equating entangled states to wave-particle duality). However, she fails to dispatch materialist psychology effectively before taking large leaps of inference to her unsustainable conclusions about the mind (a pattern repeated for relationships, art, psychotherapy, free-will and religion in subsequent chapters). Our subjective experience and weak idealism are not as contradictory to the identification of mind with brain as she claims, and modern theories of mind much to offer. Daniel Dennett explains the transition from cognitive stimuli to cognition and defuses dualism in "consciousness explained", whilst simulated neural networks generate intuitive judgments on digital, deterministic hardware. If these lines of investigation are exhausted, quantum mechanisms may explain how our brains to encompass incomputable possibilities and support free will (as Roger Penrose anticipates). However, they need not be as exotic as Danah's Bose-Einstein condensate of virtual photons, and need not be a unified system - everywhere else in biology we see the evolution of cooperating parts. Neither would there be Danah's close link between the sub-atomic quantum properties and the properties of the mind; analogous on scale, microorganisms may determine Earth's geology, but we'd be able to say little about the properties of one by just observing the other. Finally, the conscious quantum systems Danah describes permit mind within any biological tissue and would routinely allow more than we ever experience including: telepathy, non-linear and atemporal awareness, massively concurrent consciousness, and perhaps spontaneous creation.
	Trigger Happy Steven Poole Synopsis: Videogames have grown-up from children's toys with geekish aficionados to an entertainment industry that outstrips Hollywood, emerging from arcades and concealed workstations into the heart of millions of homes. There is little high brow discussion of their aesthetics, motives or content, just a growing instinctual appetite on the streets. Steven tries to understand this phenomenon and fill the gap in our understanding. In his journey around the history, taxonomy, components and critique of videogames he covers their context within other human activity, the contrast between East to West and considers their evolution. He indicates an optimistic future of immersive, moral games, despite the many adolescent, uninspired titles that are still emerging. Critique: This is primarily a fun, accessible book with contagious enthusiasm for its fun, accessible subject. There are firm links into traditional instincts to play, whilst criticisms about videogames' anti-social, aggressive character are countered. Steven runs the risk of writing an over-long magazine article, especially when working through chapters of familiar material about genres, environments and characters. Repetitious references to a few games (Robotron and Tomb Raider), suggesting narrow experience, may also grate with seasoned gamers. Conversely, the discussion of deeper themes risk laboured complexity and pretension. On balance, Steven negotiates these risks well, giving enough information for beginners (in videogames or semiotics), whilst quickly leading us towards his inspiring vision of freedom to roam and interact in virtual worlds.
	Tales of Dying Earth Jack Vance Synopsis: Loosely connected episodes are described in a dark fairy tale style against a far future backdrop, where humanity is fading under a dimming sun and the ruins of artful cities are overrun by wilderness. The remnants of the race have become vicious predators on each other, preyed upon themselves by daemons and monsters actualised by millennia of human evil. Men fight with magic they don't understand for possession of fantastic artifacts and beautiful women. The heroes take on mysterious opponents, magically preserved since times of prosperity or working through evil and depraved (but otherwise unknown) plots. Though all know the ultimate ending, when Earth dies as the sun blackens, there is hope for successful protagonists who gain insight and beautiful soul-mates. Critique: This is billed as one of the great fantasy books, and has many fans including Gene Wolf (whose work I admire). It is certainly a gripping page-turner, with plenty of hints of sex and violence without unpleasant descriptions of either. This seems part of the well applied art of suggestive writing that, I imagine, makes the book so popular. You are given hints of great civilisations and art, as well as barbaric, lustful power, but there is plenty of room left for imagination. However, the pulp fantasy themes and role-playing cliches (for which Jack may actually be able to take some credit as author) as well as "scientific" naivety (about ecology and sociology especially) and, arguably, sexism and racism do make the work appear dated. Like Jack's other work that I've read, and like candy-floss, it is enjoyable when you bite into it, and you can't help finishing it, but it is not an enriching experience, instead leaving you with slight revulsion at your indulgence! After my stomach had settled I did go on to the following "Eyes of the Overworld". Sadly, Jack opted for one unappealing protagonist throughout this series of adventures, dropping the possibility of diverse quests and alternating nice and evil endings. This seems to coincide with a narrowing of his imaginative possibilities (despite one undeveloped sojourn through time), recycling images from the previous book and restricting scenarios to the exploits of isolated humanoid communities. This reduction of the disturbing dreamlike dying earth was compensated a little by a few cynical parodies of philosophical achievements though.
	The Mind of God Paul Davies Synopsis: Paul approaches the nature of divinity head on - a subject many scientist are unwilling to discuss - armed with the best knowledge available. Cosmology and fundamental physics are brought together with theories of the mind and our cognitive access to reality as well as classical (and recent) theological arguments. However, we are left without a scientific panacea to resolve the deep, eternal problems of our origin or purpose, making personal judgment on metaphysics and spiritual access to insight available to anyone. Critique: I found this one of the most stimulating books I've read - and surprisingly light reading given the subjects. I was quite familiar with some of the arguments, theories and evidence Paul used - ideal for the break-neck pace of their discussion - but I believe any intelligent person could grasp the subjects discussed. It was reassuring to see issues that were thought profound until the 20th century discussed rationally in the context of modern beliefs. It did not convince me of a modern world of forms or a teleological argument for design, nor turn to mystical experience to understand scientific paradoxes. However, the book did give me freedom to explore "why are we here" questions. I certainly expect to read the book again to revise the wealth of ideas contained, perhaps once I am surer of my own opinions. It was a shame that a couple of very recent scientific theories relevant to Paul's thesis were missing. Both M-theory and a branch of cellular automata point towards order that may underlie the observable universe, and both aim to predict (after the fact) the properties of space, force, particles and their relations. The possibility of such a theory undermines the premise that the very fine balancing act of natural laws defies explanation. M-theory may also allow for a sequence of spaces and laws that would randomly produce a conveniently habitable universe without excess parallel realities. Lee Smolin has also proposed a mechanism for cosmological evolution (toward universes that generate lots of black holes - someway towards the deep laws Paul describes). However, even if such a theory succeeds, we may be left with another elegant system (for a meta-universe) that beggars explanation...
	Appleseed John Clute Synopsis: Freer, a trader with a beautiful ancient ship, docks at a ruined world, home to a underground civilization. The tottering, corrupt city is dominated by a pension corporation, who offer escape to orbit, run by maggoty aliens who seem to have it in for the innocent, puckish trader. Narrowly escaping catastrophe on the planet with his cargo, two made minds and a mysterious passenger, Freer flees to a safe haven with his damaged ship. On arriving, he realises the eccentric manager of the antique space-station, the mythic Johnny Appleseed, is part of a conspiracy that is directing him towards his unknown destiny. More surprises follow as friends and traitors are revealed. (At least, I think that is what happened.) Critique: A rich and strange book that could be read several ways. It certainly trades on old science fiction (and broader) cliches, with ideas and terms that sound familiar or even dated; John lists some acknowledgements explicitly, and characters such as Appleseed rely on being archetypes. However, it is a highly original book that is both dense and compelling, mixing comic book simplicity and pace with startling, glossy descriptions and stranger passages (sometimes aping religious styles, I felt). The plot's drama relies on fantastic possibilities, making this more like a fairy tale than the "stories from other worlds" that are commonly used to show off futuristic universes. Yet it is not a childish book; sexuality and divinity are covered with frankness that could offend prudish, conservative readers. So though I could compare this book to Jeff Noon, Phillip Pullman or Will Self amongst many others, it is unique and mind-expanding.
	Gaia (a new look at life on planet earth) James Lovelock Synopsis: The Gaia hypothesis is apparently simple, but easy to misinterpret by those with a strong environmental or spiritual (or even industrial) agenda. The idea is that the whole planet is a living system that has been maintaining itself in a steady state that suites life well for around three billion years. The hypothesis is unproven, as the systems are likely to have complex mechanisms that require a greater level of ecological insight. (They certainly do not require a magical life force or goddess - chemistry, with biology and geology, can provide sufficient explanation, demonstrated by Gaian sub-systems such as worldwide iodine and methane cycles). However, the circumstantial evidence is literally all around us - the air, like the ocean, is held at a very stable temperature and composition ideal for life, far from chemical equilibrium. James uses the analogy of a beach - we can see the sandcastle, recognise it is not a random ripple in the sand, but we're not sure who the builder is. Recognising such a system exists has a mixed message for humanity. The damage done by greenhouse gases and even pollutants such as heavy metals will be absorbed by nature, and some kind of life will endure. However, if human activity upsets key parts of Gaia's poorly understood processes, there may be catastrophic consequences. James cites industrial kelp farming (apparently more environmentally sound than mechanical fertilizer production) blocking natural iodine and sulphur pumps to starve life on land. Certainly, better understanding of Gaia is required to inform environmental debate, currently distracted by marginal, emotive issues. Critique: Gaia is presented in a wonderfully clear argument, and weighty issues for our industrial society are tackled (with only a few short in-depth discussions of planetary chemistry, essential to support the hypothesis but unnecessary for non-technical readers). The approachable style and anthropomorphic analogy is grist for the mill of unscientific, mystical thinkers, but the content delivers pure rational science. The argument was written thirty years ago, giving unwitting evidence that preconceptions can blind the greatest thinkers (to the harm of CFC's in James' case). But all its core observations and conclusions are directly relevant today, with confusion and antagonism growing around the Kyoto protocol and modern agriculture. Though practices have improved, there is still a greater need than ever for James' integrated scientific vision of Earth as a sustainable habitat.