November 2000-May 2001

I've had a mild interest in genealogy for a number of years. I would love to know from where my ancestors came, but, alas, I don't want to do the actual work involved in tracking down the information. Or at least not all that much of it. Anyway, I thought The Weekend Genealogist would fit the bill for me. I was hoping it would show me the secrets to getting family information with a minimum amount of effort. In that area, I was disappointed. This book is for serious researchers -- those who will try to document names, places and whatever details they can find. It doesn't tell you how to avoid hard work, but rather how to make that effort more efficient and, hopefully, more productive. For a genealogical novice such as myself, it was interesting to catch a glimpse in another's avocation -- to sense the author's love of the field and to read the tales of genealogical research. Since I am a novice, I couldn't really judge the worth of the book to its intended audience. I liked it a lot, and it might be good waiting room material for you.
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Pirates of Venus by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Read in the Autumn of 2000

Edgar Rice Burroughs is a very famous writer, and with good reason. He has created some memorable characters such as Tarzan and John Carter of Mars. That didn't stop him from writing some klunkers, however. Okay, make that relative klunkers. Pirates of Venus is basically a John Carter ripoff: A man of Earth gets transported to another planet, (in this case, Venus -- or Amtor, as the natives call it) makes some friends, gets into trouble and falls in love with a beautiful princess who happens to like him, too. It's a great tale when you first hear it, but grows rather stale after you've gone through a few versions. If you haven't heard this particular storyline, then this book might be for you. (I would recommend A Princess of Mars, also by ERB, instead.) For me, I'll give it a pass. It's not horrible enough for the Elbe River, but it's among the most mediocre waiting room material.
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The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal compiled by W. G. Polack
Read in the Autumn of 2000

As a rule, trying to read a reference book is sheer foolishness. However fascinating the contents, you'll soon be lulled to distraction by an overload of facts and figures. However, it can be done if you take the book in small chunks and either have great discipline or a dearth of reading alternatives. I used the latter in my conquest of this tome, which is a companion to The Lutheran Hymnal, the hymn book published by my denomination in 1941. The Lutheran Hymnal (TLH) was the hymn book that I grew up using, and even thought they tried to replace it in the late 70's/early 80's, many churches in my denomination are still using it. Anyway, The Handbook is basically a bunch of liner notes on each hymn which can include the piece's history, it's original text (be it English or some other language), deleted verses and the like. There's also capsule biographies for each of of the authors, composers and translators (at least as much as is available for each), indexes and a brief introduction about the hymnal and the criteria used in its creation. I picked this one up at a used book sale and my wife immediately put it on our shelf. Of course, I could not in good conscience reccommend it to the general public, but it might make passable waiting room material to anyone interested in hymns, church history or general nostalgia.
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The Magician's Nephew by C. S. Lewis
Read in the Autumn of 2000

As much as I love books, there are plenty of classic writings which I have yet to read. If it hasn't been assigned as homework, a book has to compete with slick advertising and the capricious nature of my curiosity. Be that as it may, a few of the "classics" manage to get my attention from time to time. For example, I have finally gotten around to reading children's fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia. The Magician's Nephew is the first volume in the series. It's actually a prequel to the book which was written first, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. As such, Nephew suffers a bit, as the storyteller mentions things that don't contribute to the story at hand, but will rather embellish parts of subsequent volumes. But even with such a handicap, this book is delightfully written. Lewis manages to create descriptions that skillfully work on a child's level yet poetically hint at the deeper complexity. For example, his description of the evil queen alluded to the seductiveness of evil while quite plainly stating that she was no good. Lewis also does a great job of embellishing Biblical teachings to create stories that echo the truth of God and our everyday lives. I can understand why this series has been given such rave reviews. If you like fantasy, put this on your shelf. (If Lewis were still alive and in need of the profit, I would tell you to put it on your shelf even if you don't like fantasy, but he's not so I won't.)
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The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis
Read in the Autumn of 2000

I suppose I could copy my review of The Magician's Nephew, (see above) change a few words and be done with it. This volume, the progenitor of the Narnia series is as much a delight as its prequel. How could you not love the discovery of a magical land, the mighty lion king Aslan and his overthrow of a cruel tyrant? If you haven't already, buy it, read it and put it on your shelf so you can read it again. (Or lend it to a friend. Such treasures should be shared.)
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Up the Line by Robert SIlverberg
Read in December of 2000

And now for something completely different... The two books reveiewed immediately above are delightful tales of magic and wonder suitable for all ages. Up the Line is an earthy, rather pessimistic tale for adults. It was written in 1969, so sex and drugs are woven throughout the tale. So why am I keeping this too on my shelf? (Out of the kids' reach, of course) Well, I'm a big fan of time travel tales and Up the Line is an interesting one. Instead of focusing on Time Police, as many tales do, it has a Time Tour Guide as its protagonist. Silverberg offers a believable picture of what Time Tourism might be like. The central tale, about the rise and fall of a Time Courier, is hardly a masterpiece, (I had forgotten it from my first reading of the book) but its good enough to keep you reading.
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Star-Spangled Men by Nathan Miller
Read in December of 2000

Just after Christmas I was browsing at Half Price Books in an attempt to spend a gift certificate. (I succeeded.) This was a book that caught my eye, but not my wallet, so I borrowed a copy from the library. In Star-Spangled Men, Nathan Miller writes about the ten worst presidents of the United States, based on his own reading of American history and a career in political journalism. As he says up front, the selection is purely subjective. The book is fairly light reading. Miller has a great storytelling style and uses it to tell the tales of these ten men and where he thinks they went wrong. Despite the book's premise, he never gets overly negative with his subjects, recognizing that even the worst Chief Executive is only human. While this book is not something I would want to refer to time and again, I would definitely recommend that you check it out.
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The Three Boxes of Life by Richard N. Bolles
Read in January of 2001

This a book my wife purchased to assist my daughters when they struggle with the question of what to do with their lives. My daughters are aged 8 and 4, so you can see that my wife likes to plan ahead. My wife also recommended that I peruse the book the next time I struggle with that same issue. (She thinks I haven't figured it out yet. Actually, I DO know what I want to do with my life. I want to fall in love and get married. Having accomplished this life goal, I now have to figure out how to kill time until I die.) Anyway, The Three Boxes of Life is basically a book of, as Mr. Bolles puts it, LIFE/work planning. It is chock full of tools and tips to analyze yourself and use what you discover to find suitable schools, jobs and/or retirement activities. As I read the book, I was reminded how much I hated analyzing myself and trying to find a job. But I finished the book anyway. It was interesting, I have to admit. Mr. Bolles is an engaging writer and the book was full of all sorts of interesting illustrations. ( You see, the book was printed in 1978 and business types used a lot of fun designs in the '70s. Of course, when I graduated in the '80s, business was back to boring. But I digress...) Overall, as I neared the end, my one real complaint with the book was that it seemed rather self centered. That is, the focus was on the reader's desires and interests, with little comment on an individual's duties and responsibilities to family or community. I mentioned this weakness to my wife, who counseled me to withhold judgment until I finished my reading. Her advice became clear as I reached the epilogue and the author dropped all airs of professionalism and gave a very clear and moving essay on his beliefs about death and the life one lives before it. The epilogue alone is worth checking out, but if you also might be struggling with education, job or purpose in life type issues, this book might help you get your thoughts together.
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The History of Christianity in Africa by Elizabeth Isichei
Read in the Winter of 2001

Most books I like or dislike from the get go, this one grew on me. I picked this up from the library after seeing it on the shelf at a bookstore. At first I was a bit skeptical of its quality -- I have a 500 page called The History of Christianity in Asia that covers the first 1500 years and Isichei's book covers that same period in her 32 page first chapter. But the book certainly had more information than I had ever read, so I checked it out anyway. I was impressed. I felt a combination of pride and guilt when reading the accounts of my fellow Christians. The pride came when reading of the many who suffered for their Lord, enduring physical violence from enemies or prejudice and exploitation from supposed friends. The guilt came in when identifying with those Christians who fell short, both the European missionaries who tried to bring in too much culture and the African leaders who tried to throw out too much truth when establishing their own identity as God's people. Professor Isichei tells of them all, pointing out their shortcomings without demonizing them. I still might wish for a more extensive history, but this book is a good overview and I could always stop being lazy and check out the books referenced in her notes. Anyway, it looks like that bookstore is going to be getting my money anyway, when I get around to putting this on my shelf.
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Three Philosophies of Life by Peter Kreeft
Read in the Winter of 2001

There's a dangerous place in Seattle and it's called Harvest Logos bookstore. (www.harvestlogos.com) To me, it's a Christian bookstore done right -- it gives more shelf space to books on theology and world missions than on self-help or fiction. In short, it offers a lot of good things to read. But it's run by a dangerous man named Michael. Michael will take an active interest in what you are browsing for and offer suggestions as to good things to read. And since there are good books for him to suggest and since his suggestions are sound, I spend more money there than I plan on. Anyway, on my last visit, Michael directed my attention to a collection of books by Peter Kreeft, a philosphy professor who had just been in town for a lecture. I politely looked at the collection and noticed his book Three Philosophies of Life, which is an overview of the Biblical books of Ecclesiastes, Job and Song of Songs. I was gearing up to lead a Bible study at church on Job, and on last minute impulse I grabbed the book. Once again I was not disappointed. Three Philosophies of Life is not a commentary, where the Bible is dissected and analyzed, but rather a contemplation of the three books, a look at the whole refracted through the lens of our modern culture and the human heart. Professor Kreeft sees the three biblical books as an expression of Hell, Purgatory and Heaven, respectively. Ecclesiastes is "Life as Vanity", or life without God -- an empty existence under the sun. Job is "Life as Suffering", a life that also is missing the presence of our Heavenly Father but one that actively seeks, and hopes, for Him. Song of Songs is "Life as Love", the romance fulfilled and celebrated. As Kreeft studies these three outlooks on life, his own love for God pours through and entices the reader to come along and discover the our own love affair with God. This book is on my shelf, without a doubt. Unfortunately, it's not the only book written by Kreeft and Michael had a nice booklist of all the other things Professor Kreeft has written. Oh, well, who needs money anyway....
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The Flying Sorcerers by David Gerrold and Larry Niven
Read in the Winter of 2001

Sometimes one is able to retreive a piece of one's past and experience it anew. Such is the case with this book. Years ago when I first was getting into science fiction, I picked up a coverless copy of The Flying Sorcerers from a sidewalk sale at Page One bookstore. (I didn't know then how blatantly illegal that was.) I read it and enjoyed it and later discarded it when I started running out of book space. Now, years later, I've picked this book up again (cover intact) in an effort to spend a gift certificate. The Flying Sorcerers tells the tale of a space traveler who encounters a group of "primitive" natives and incurs the wrath of the native wizard, who sees him as a rival. The traveler, called Purple by the natives, loses most of his equipment and then has to work with the natives and their primitive technology to get himself back to his mother ship. The story is a comedy of errors, told from the native point of view, and filled with all sorts of in jokes for science fiction fans. (I don't recall if I caught any of them the first time around, and this time I probably still missed a lot.) I enjoyed it more, however, for a humorous look at cross cultural mis-communication. I recommend that you check it out, even though for me it's good enough to keep... again.
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Future Perfect by H. Bruce Franklin
Read in the Winter of 2001

This one took forever to read, almost three months. That's what happens when you pick up another book before finishing the first. Anyway, the book is subtitled "American Science Fiction of the Nineteenth Century -- An Anthology." You can tell by the phrasing that this is an academic book. But even though Franklin reads like the college prof that he is, he picked out some fine tales for his examples. I loved reading these stories -- to catch a glimpse of the worldview of the authors as well as to smile at the glimpses of "the future" offered in some of the tales. (I wonder if some reader in 2101 will likewise chuckle over the writings of Asimov, Clark, Niven and Ellison.) Like a good anthology, I enjoyed perusing the tales and like a good literary survey, it made me want to go out and read some more of the authors featured. This one's going on my shelf, and if you like history and science fiction, I recommend you do the same.
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The Powers That Be by Walter Wink
Read in March of 2001

Stand back, I'm gonna toss this one in the Elbe river. But before I do, I suppose I should mention the two very good points about this book. The first is the thought that everything has a spiritual dimension to it. Not only do people have a soul but also our organizations -- church bodies, corporations, nations. These are the "powers" referred to Ephesians 6:12 and a few other scripture passages. The second point is that these "powers that be" have a good, God given purpose, even if they've been twisted beyond redemption. (For example, Germany still needed a governement after the Nazis were removed from power.) Okay, those are the two very good points. He also makes a good case for pacifism and non-violence. But I'm also sympathetic to that point of view, so I'm not as critical as one might be. So what's wrong with this book? What evil has the author done that makes me want to take his handiwork and dunk it? Well, basically, Walter Wink is, in my opinion, a bad theologian. He has developed a nice theory about a supreme evil power, the Domination System, and seems to interpret the Bible according to that theory. Those passages that fit in well with his theory are held up, those that would raise questions are either not mentioned or explained away. To be fair, the main thrust of the book is not to show how the Bible supports his theory. (Condemning violence, especially in combatting the evil of this world, stands out as the main point.) But for such a lover of scripture as I am, the sin of twisting scripture is nigh unforgivable. I can't really take any of his statements seriously, knowing that they are built, at least in part, on an interpretation of God's Word that I cannot abide. So this one's gone. (Oh, and I should mention that this book is a condensation of a trilogy of books previously written by Wink: Engaging the Powers, Unmasking the Powers, and Naming the Powers)
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That Hideous Strength by C. S. Lewis
Read in the Spring of 2001

This one surprised me. That Hideous Strength is part of a science fiction trilogy with a Christian worldview, the third volume after Out of the Silent Planet and Perelandra. I thought it would be like the other two: part planetary travelogue, part philosophical adventure. (A philosophical adventure is one where the plot of the story is a backdrop for the characters to spout a bit of philosophy. It sells better than just having the characters sit in a bar, coffee shop, college dorm, or what have you and engage in the same discussion.) Instead, the story takes place on Earth. The science fiction aspects are relatively minor for most of the book, and instead we're treated to diabolical intrigue and low level suspense. I was also slightly surprised at how the story unwound. The first two novels hinted that they were headed toward the ultimate conflict between good and evil on Earth. If anyone has read the book of Revelation in the Bible, you know that that will involve a great deal of conflict and destruction. Ultimately, That Hideous Strength is simply another battle in the war and the planet is left pretty much untouched, save for the characters in the book. But even if my assumed expectations weren't met, the book is extremely satisfying. Lewis is a great writer and can bring a much needed touch of the divine to those of us raised in materialistic 20th Century Western culture. (Our culture has moved away from that, so in that respect, the book is starting to show it's age.) I especially loved how he illustrates God's power made perfect in weakness. Despite the Arthurian overtones, our heroes are not strong, valiant warriors. They win the day by the grace of God. Isn't that true for any of us? Anyway, this one's on my shelf.
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Growing Up Fundamentalist by Stefan Ulstein
Read in the Spring of 2001

I have to confess, I am a word junkie. I'll read anything. Ceareal boxes, charity newsletters, junk mail, you name it. So when we received this book free from Harvest Logos, Seattle's most dangerous bookstore, I threw it on my stack to read. This book is a collection of brief, almost sound bite-sized interviews from people who have grown up in a fundamentalist Christian church and family. It asks them how growing up in that culture has affected them both then and now. All of the interviewees have rebelled to a degree from their upbringing, but most also have some positive things to say about the culture. The challenge for them (as for any person) is to separate the bad from the good, as much as that is possible. (Read Jaques Ellul's The Presence of the Kingdom if you really want to wrestle with that issue.) Anyway, I grew up in a conservative evangelical church, so I could relate in part to the stories told. There were a few nuggets of wisdom that I garnered from the book, so I guess even Harvest Logos' giveaways are a cut above your regular bookstore. Unless you have a great interest in the fundamentalist Christian culture, however, I would classify this as waiting room material.
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Flickers by Philip Rock
Read in the Spring of 2001

I bought this one years ago from some sale bin. I had seen an enjoyable British miniseries on PBS called Flickers and thought this book was related. But instead of a novel about a film entrepenuer making good in the British film industry of the 1910's it was about a number of Americans making it good (or not so good) in the American film industry in the 1920's. Like a lot of historical novels, this Flickers does a good job of capturing the flavor of the times, coloring the background with the fads and fashions of the era. (At least it seems so to me. I can't help but wonder if someone who lived back then would find it very artificial.) It also captures the flavor of the era in which it is written, the mid-1970's. Just about everybody is disfunctional and there's all sorts of sex going on. (Either young and passionate or kinky. The middle aged married people keep their clothes on.) Anyway, even for me, who loves tales of vaudeville and the early film industry, this book is definitely waiting room material. If you ever find a novelization or video of the television Flickers, however, let me know, okay?
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Time Tunnel by Murray Leinster
Read in May of 2001

This is a nice little time travel tale about a group of people who have a "time tunnel" between 1804 and 1964. (that was the present back when the book was written) It's not one of the great novels of science fiction, but it got me through a flight from Chicago. Anyway, the scenario is this: One of the protagonists, Harrison, has found evidence of a time traveller, a certain Messieur de Bassompierre, who had been writing of advanced technology to the scientific minds of the early 19th Century. Harrison gets in contact with an old professor of his who has created the time tunnel and they attempt to find this de Bassompierre in Napoleanic France and stop his meddling. There are the usual problems of paradox and a bit of romance thrown in. The tale is not overly exciting nor overly boring. 'Tis truly among the best in waiting room material.
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Lord of Light by Roger Zelazny
Read in May of 2001

Good book. I enjoyed reading it. Not much else to say about it really. The premise is that long ago, a group of spacefarers from Earth landed on a planet and settled there. Over the years they have set up a sheltered society, based loosely on the Hindu religion. Many of the original crew, the First, still live by transferring to new bodies. They have assumed the role of the Hindu pantheon, aided by technology and cultivated psychic powers. One party of the First want to keep the status quo by restricting the commoner's access to technology. They manage to take control and get a firm grip on things. One of the other party, Sam, wants to liberate the oppressed normals. The book documents two attempts he makes to do that. (The book had two copyright dates, so I suspect that the novel is an expansion of an earlier story.) As I said, I enjoyed reading it, but it did not excite me too greatly. Perhaps if I was better versed in Hinduism I'd have appreciated it more. Maybe not. However, I would definitely want to finish the book if I picked it up in a waiting room, so I'll rate it check it out.
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Approaching Oblivion by Harlan Ellison
Read in May of 2001

If I had this book in front of me, I could tell you all about it. But I don't, so I really don't know what to tell you. That's how inspiring this book has been to me. I mean, it's Ellison, so it's guaranteed to be good waiting room material at the very least. (Unless you're a SF fan who hates Ellison's guts as well as everything he's ever written.) I can tell you that I truly enjoyed reading it -- I just couldn't tell you exactly why. No one story has lodged in my memory as a reason for you to read the book. (Unlike, say, "Grail" in Stalking the Nightmare or the excellent "Jeffty is Five" from Shatterday.) So I'll be honest and not try to overrate the book by bumping it up a rating. Mr. Ellison gets plenty of good press without me.
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Dark Passions, Book One by Susan Wright
Read in May of 2001

This is the first book I'd like to toss in the Elbe River without any real passion. It's not evil, it's not heretical, it's just dull. The background of the tale stems from the original Star Trek series on TV. In an episode called "Mirror, Mirror", Captain Kirk and three other crew members found themselves in an alternate universe where everyone was cruel and selfish. The story follows the quartet's attempts to get back home and maintain their cover without compromising their morality. Years later, the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine did a sequel, titled "Crossover". This was less a morality tale than a chance for the actors of the series to ham it up playing bad guys. Dark Passions is a two novel prequel to the latter episode. It lacks the moral dilemma of "Mirror, Mirror", as well as the broad acting of "Crossover". It even lacks the eroticism hinted at by the title and cover illustration. (A trio of lether clad, female Trek characters.) What's left is a rather bland tale of political manueverings and the slight pleasure of catching the similarities between the alternate universe and the "real" one. Do yourself a favor and pass this one by.
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