January Books Part One

1. The Stochastic Man by Robert Silverberg

A political prognosticator of the future preparing to launch a new candidate meets someone who really can see the future.  Has one of those diffuse endings that makes you, well, makes ME wonder if I missed something, which usually means I did.  From Silverberg's most interesting period, late 60's to mid 70's.  Not as good as THE BOOK OF SKULLS but kept me interested.

I guess this isn't going to be just a list of the books I've read after all.  Joy!

2. The Futurological Congress by Stanislaw Lem

What can you expect from a cranky Pole who hates America, hates science fiction, and REALLY hates American science fiction?  Right, a science fiction novel that critcizes America.  A convention of pretentious people flips out in a Costa Rican hotel when it's gassed by a terrorist attack.  Some people go into the sewers, where there are talking rats.  Not nearly as much fun as it sounds, not nearly as good as his not-that-good Solaris.

This is gonna take forever.  I should have titled this The Grouchy Bastard Bitches About Shit.  But I didn't.

*3. Sword of Rhiannon by Leigh Brackett

Terrific swashbuckling science fiction in the Edgar Rice Burroughs "Mars" tradition.  I think Brackett does it as good and sometimes better, and her writing is more lively.  She wrote movies for Howard Hawks and John Wayne, and the first draft of The Empire Strikes Back. 

Three books in and I've already found a real winner.  I need a way to mark these ones as special--a * before the number?  How dull, but whaddaya want, this isn't Whateverbook.