chazbufe
Pima County Public Library
chazbufe's Completed Shelf
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chazbufe's rating:
Added Mar 19, 2024
Children of RuinChildren of Ruin, Book
by Tchaikovsky, AdrianBook - 2019 | First U.S. editionBook, 2019. First U.S. edition
chazbufe's rating:
Added Mar 19, 2024
Children of MemoryChildren of Memory, Book
by Tchaikovsky, AdrianBook - 2023 | First U.S. editionBook, 2023. First U.S. edition
chazbufe's rating:
Added Mar 19, 2024
Comment:
This is the third volume of Tchaikovsky's "Children of" series. The first, "Children of Time," is well worth reading: inventive with an engaging plot, many social insights, and sympathetic characters, though it's a bit harrowing -- awful things happen to the characters for almost the entire length of the 600-page novel. As a bonus, though, it has an unexpected but logical plot twist at the end.
The second book, "Children of Ruin," is a dud -- just as harrowing but with fewer interesting characters, a muddled plot, and without a satisfying ending.
This new third book, "Children of Memory," is even worse. The plot is convoluted and hard to follow, in part because of its many tangents. I found it hard to slog through this one, and skimmed the last hundred pages vainly hoping for some kind of payoff. Unfortunately, the conclusion is open ended, indicating that Tchaikovsky will probably add yet another volume to this series.This is the third volume of Tchaikovsky's "Children of" series. The first, "Children of Time," is well worth reading: inventive with an engaging plot, many social insights, and sympathetic characters, though it's a bit harrowing -- awful things…
American FictionAmerican Fiction, DVD
DVD - 2023 | Widescreen edDVD, 2023. Widescreen ed
chazbufe's rating:
Added Mar 17, 2024
Seven Views of Olduvai GorgeSeven Views of Olduvai Gorge, eBook
by Resnick, MikeeBook - 2019eBook, 2019
chazbufe's rating:
Added Mar 10, 2024
chazbufe's rating:
Added Mar 08, 2024
chazbufe's rating:
Added Mar 03, 2024
OppenheimerOppenheimer, DVD
DVD - 2023DVD, 2023
chazbufe's rating:
Added Mar 01, 2024
chazbufe's rating:
Added Jan 24, 2024
Comment:
Excellent from beginning to end. This sequel to "Dogs of War" is very well written, and has both engaging characters (including one based on Donald Trump) and a well thought out plot. "Bear Head" is both thought provoking and thoroughly engaging.
The CreatorThe Creator, DVD
DVD - 2023DVD, 2023
chazbufe's rating:
Added Jan 20, 2024
Comment:
Visually impressive, but that's its only good point. It's overly long, the characters are little more than ciphers--it attempts pathos near the end, but is awkwardly cloying instead--and the sprawling plot abounds with absurdities. All in all, a pretty decent film for 13 year olds who love explosions.Visually impressive, but that's its only good point. It's overly long, the characters are little more than ciphers--it attempts pathos near the end, but is awkwardly cloying instead--and the sprawling plot abounds with absurdities. All in all, a…
System CollapseSystem Collapse, BookThe Murderbot Diaries
by Wells, MarthaBook - 2023 | First editionBook, 2023. First edition
chazbufe's rating:
Added Jan 14, 2024
A City on MarsA City on Mars, BookCan We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?
by Weinersmith, KellyBook - 2023Book, 2023
chazbufe's rating:
Added Jan 06, 2024
The Wages of SinThe Wages of Sin, Book
by Turtledove, HarryBook - 2023 | First editionBook, 2023. First edition
chazbufe's rating:
Added Jan 03, 2024
The Road DogThe Road Dog, DVD
DVD - 2023DVD, 2023
chazbufe's rating:
Added Jan 03, 2024
American CultsAmerican Cults, BookCabals, Corruption, and Charismatic Leaders
by Willis, JimBook - 2023 | First editionBook, 2023. First edition
chazbufe's rating:
Added Dec 17, 2023
Comment:
Very poor work. The author, despite being touted in the book as an academic religious expert, can't even provide a decent definition of a cult; the closest he comes is in the Introduction: "All it takes is to identify a charismatic leader and enthusiastic followers with evil intentions..." And that's it.
And he's even half-wrong there, as a good majority of cult members do not have evil intentions; they often do evil, but not because of their intentions. (Cult leaders are another matter.)
The author ignores the clear definitions provided by actual experts such as Robert Jay Lifton ("Thought Control and the Psychology of Totalism") and Margaret Singer ("Cults in Our Midst"), and doesn't even mention either of them or their work. He does, however, mention nonacademic cult expert Steven Hassan, but only to slag him for publishing a book pointing out the many similarities between Donald Trump, his worshipers, and religious cults. (Hassan's book, "The Cult of Trump," is available at the library and is well worth reading.)
As well, this book by a supposed academic expert doesn't even have a bibliography.
Beyond that, the writing is workmanlike at best, and it's all over the place. For instance, in the Introduction, following his grossly inadequate definition of a cult, the author immediately jumps to a discussion of the doomsday cult Aum Shinrikiyo, which would have fit better in the body of the book.
All in all, there's nothing in "American Cult" that you can't find elsewhere in better-written form. Even the recent illustrated "graphic history," "American Cult" (Robyn Chapman, ed., available at the library) is much better than this shoddy waste of time.Very poor work. The author, despite being touted in the book as an academic religious expert, can't even provide a decent definition of a cult; the closest he comes is in the Introduction: "All it takes is to identify a charismatic leader and…
A Canticle for LeibowitzA Canticle for Leibowitz, Paperback
by Miller, Walter M.Paperback - 2007 | Bantam mass market reissue ed.Paperback, 2007. Bantam mass market reissue ed.
chazbufe's rating:
Added Dec 13, 2023
American CultAmerican Cult, Graphic Novel
Graphic Novel - 2021 | First editionGraphic Novel, 2021. First edition
chazbufe's rating:
Added Dec 12, 2023
StraysStrays, DVD
DVD - 2023 | Unleashed editionDVD, 2023. Unleashed edition
chazbufe's rating:
Added Dec 01, 2023
Little RichardLittle Richard, DVDI Am Everything
DVD - 2023DVD, 2023
chazbufe's rating:
Added Nov 25, 2023
Starter VillainStarter Villain, Book
by Scalzi, JohnBook - 2023 | First editionBook, 2023. First edition
chazbufe's rating:
Added Nov 18, 2023
Comment:
Not as funny as Scalzi's best comedic novels (Fuzzy Nation and Agent to the Stars), but consistently amusing, occasionally thought provoking, and very well written. A pleasant way to burn a few hours.
AporiaAporia, DVD
DVD - 2023DVD, 2023
chazbufe's rating:
Added Nov 13, 2023
Comment:
This could have been a good low-budget sci-fi flick but it's not, because it was so poorly made. In particular, the lead overacts to the point of being irritating, the soundtrack manages the neat trick of being both minimal _and_ irritating, and the cinematography is godawful--this flick was seemingly shot entirely with a handheld camera, even where simple static shots would obviously have been much better.
This is a shame, because the film's concept is intriguing if not entirely original, and the screenplay seems well written. This one was ruined by the filmmakers' ineptitude.This could have been a good low-budget sci-fi flick but it's not, because it was so poorly made. In particular, the lead overacts to the point of being irritating, the soundtrack manages the neat trick of being both minimal _and_ irritating, and the…
chazbufe's rating:
Added Nov 11, 2023
Comment:
As with Tschaikovsky's other novels, the writing quality is quite good. Unfortunately, the pacing is very slow, so slow that I gave up on this one after 170 pages (with another 400+ to go).
chazbufe's rating:
Added Nov 01, 2023
chazbufe's rating:
Added Nov 01, 2023
The Thief CollectorThe Thief Collector, DVD
DVD - 2023DVD, 2023
chazbufe's rating:
Added Nov 01, 2023
Comment: