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Phil in SF

kingrat@sfba.club

Joined 2 years, 2 months ago

aka @kingrat@sfba.social. I'm following a lot of bookwyrm accounts, since that seems to be the only way to get reviews from larger servers to this small server. I make a lot of Bookwyrm lists. I will like & boost a lot of reviews that come across my feed. I will follow most bookwyrm accounts back if they review & comment. Social reading should be social.

2025 In The Books

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Phil in SF's books

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2026 Reading Goal

56% complete! Phil in SF has read 17 of 30 books.

quoted Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (Mars Trilogy, #1)

Kim Stanley Robinson: Red Mars (EBook, 2003, Spectra)

For centuries, the barren, desolate landscape of the red planet has beckoned to humankind. Now …

When they were done, the tractor looked as overloaded and topheavy as a steam calliope.

Red Mars by  (Mars Trilogy, #1) (17%)

new vocabulary: calliope

an American keyboard instrument resembling an organ but with the notes produced by steam whistles, formerly used on showboats and in traveling fairs.

reviewed Livesuit by James S.A. Corey (The Captive's War, #1.5)

James S.A. Corey: Livesuit (AudiobookFormat, 2024, Recorded Books)

Humanity's war is eternal, spread across the galaxy and the ages. Humanity's best hope to …

Military S.F. with a bit of Ship of Theseus

Military S.F. in the Captive's War universe. Standard unit-bonds-and-drops-to-a-planet with the James S.A. Corey voice.

avatar for kingrat Phil in SF boosted
M.M. Olivas: Sundown in San Ojuela (2023, Lanternfish Press)

When the death of her aunt brings Liz Remolina back to San Ojuela, the prospect …

Very enjoyable horror

It is quite surprising to note that the author is still working on their MFA at San Jose State university. The book is super compelling read. The story is about two sisters who have a bad experience as very young children in a home that they come back to after 10 years or so and confront their fears. There are ghosts & monsters.

The author transitioned after writing this book (so they go by M. M. Olivas now and not what this book club instance tells us). Do read as it's written by a Bay area author too!

locusmag.com/2024/11/spotlight-on-m-m-olivas/

avatar for kingrat Phil in SF boosted
Samantha Harvey: Orbital (Hardcover, 2023, Jonathan Cape)

Life on our planet as you’ve never seen it before: in this spellbinding and uplifting …

You are floating in space.

Poetic, with a fascinating rhythm that made this book feel like it was made for reading aloud. A short amount of time passes for the astronauts on the international space station but it feels like the book takes place over years and years as you learn about each of them. Loved it.

commented on Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson (Mars Trilogy, #1)

Kim Stanley Robinson: Red Mars (EBook, 2003, Spectra)

For centuries, the barren, desolate landscape of the red planet has beckoned to humankind. Now …

There's an extended argument between characters at this point about whether the scientist-colonists of Mars should follow the hierarchy devised by their governments (the US and Russia) or start fresh.

It occurs to me there's a ton of research into organizational structures, and the closest Robinson comes to including it is a reference to having psychologists evaluate people prior to allowing them to join the mission, and include the head psych on the mission. The managers in charge on board, Maya & Frank, aren't organizational experts. As a manager by trade, not having this expertise on board seems like an oversight.