Bioterrorism has sort of dropped off the radar, it’s been so long since the last anthrax scare. Greg Bear’s Quantico (2005) reminds us that we’re probably in a lull.

This is not exactly science fiction, it’s more speculative fiction focused on bioterror. What the world could be like in a few years, or tomorrow, I’m not sure which. Disturbing, but as a novel I didn’t find it engrossing (although it’s certainly an easy read). The characters were kind of dry and boring – maybe too close to reality for my taste. If I’m going to read about international paramilitary operations, I much prefer reading about Nick Stone.

I’m revisiting the classic Eye in the Sky,
by The Alan Parsons Project. My favorite track is Old & Wise, by far. The rest are pretty good too.

The Genesis Code is a book in the same vein as Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code. Both involve the conflict between science and religion, and a huge religious conspiracy.

Difference is, Genesis Code is less “fantastic” and rather more believable (up until the ridiculous twist ending). The focus is not so much on the mystery itself, but more on the action as we follow our hero, a private investigator, in his search for his sister’s murderer. I find this book better written – better character development and style. But being less fantastical, it’s also less gripping.

True, the book has plot holes – how on earth did Lassiter manage to leave a vital document untranslated for so long? And the plot line involving a reclusive celebrity was rather far-fetched. Still, it was entertaining enough that I’d be willing to try something else by John Case.

1. a perky, desperate, cute chick throws herself at every man who crosses her path,
2. a woman secretly, desperately wants to marry her long-term partner, an incredible guy who is philosophically opposed to marriage
3. a desperate husband, who never really wanted to get married in the first place, falls in lust with a voluptuous yoga instructor.

What’s the key word here? Desperation. Is it the biological imperative, or something else? I don’t know, but it’s both funny and sad.

There’s a metaphorical game of musical chairs, and in the end some of the characters are left standing, while others have managed to snag a partner. Do we really believe that any of these relationships are going to survive? Hm, not me. As is typical with movie romances, we know very little about these people, and it seems like they have no reason to be attracted to each other, other than their obvious virility and good looks.

The movie does have a few things going for it. Reasonably good acting, dialogue, nice sets. Mildy entertaining, I never checked my watch. It confirms your vague feelings that you’re probably better of being single, so it’s probably not a great date movie.

We are not free to buy an automobile without seat belts, though, for the time being, we are still free to choose whether or not to buckle up…

...Today you are not free to offer your services as a lawyer, a physician, a dentist, a plumber… without first getting a permit or license from a government official.

rolleyes! This book is both boring and irritating. Will I ever get through it?

Theo is an expensive brand of chocolate, but they are worth every penny, being fair trade, organic, and delicious! These caramels are fantastic. They taste incredibly fresh, as if I had just picked them from the case at a hand dipped chocolate store.

I will be going back for more!

The International drew me in completely. There’s a conspiracy with giant corporate villains, intriguing characters (how about that Consultant – they managed to make me root for an assassin), beautiful international settings, and of course violence and mayhem.

Even though the scene at the Guggenheim was impossible in reality, it didn’t strike me as unreal while I was in the world of the movie. Highly recommended!

• He starts out quoting Adam Smith, but doesn’t bring up the tragedy of the commons.
• He marvels at the agricultural productivity of the US, and about how the US is “the largest single exporter of food in the world” without considering the eventual penalty we might pay for this overproduction and exactly what was done to get to this state (admittedly the book was written in 1980).
• “The millions of immigrants from all over the world were free to work for themselves, as independent farmers or businessmen, or to work for others, at terms mutually agreed.” Now it sounds like we’re really living on a different planet.

I like his idea that “government’s role is to serve as an umpire to prevent individuals from coercing one another,” but I suspect that we have different ideas of what that means. Anyway, I’ll continue wading through this, with a stiff upper lip.

Lately, I have been somewhat randomly pulling fiction books from the library shelf for my reading material. I say “somewhat” random because I’m selecting for suspense fiction with a little science fiction/supernatural twist.

John Darnton’s “The Experiment” was the most recent book I picked up. I got about 10 pages into it, when I thought, “hey, haven’t I already seen this as a movie?” I did a little hunting, and it seems that The Island, which was a terrible movie, is not based on “The Experiment”. However, it sounds close enough that I don’t want to read any further. I’m heading back to the library for something else.

The Lone Woman, by Bernardo Atxaga, is a short novel detailing the first few hours of freedom of a “reformed Spanish terrorist” after she is released from jail. I put that in quotes because it’s never made clear what this woman did. She’s not at all likeable; as one of the cops in the story points out, it seems like she’s stuck in some eternal adolescent rebellion, despite being 37 years old.

Reading about an annoying character is not exactly entertaining unless there’s something else going on – an interesting style, intriguing characters, or whatever. Nothing of that sort redeems this book. Frequently I find translated novels are stylistically stiff, and that is the case here. The book is dotted with awkward metaphors. Example (p 72): “He could open or close that smile with the precision of an expert accordionist.” Yeesh.

The book is a bit surreal, which helps. I wouldn’t recommend it, though. It’s the type of book that you might be assigned to read in a Lit class. Bearable to read, but not something I’d eagerly dive into.