John Patterson started reading Use of Weapons (Culture, #3) by Iain M. Banks (A Culture novel)
Use of Weapons is a science fiction novel by Scottish writer Iain M. Banks, first …
A re-read, but it's nearly 23 years since I read it!
Reviews and Comments
Runner, cat minion and music addict. Even reads books occasionally!
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A clear description of the problems with a complex establishment
5 stars
A well-written, clear and readable look at all the elements that make up our government in Westminster, explaining how they're set up and what the problems are. You'll learn a lot about them, and maybe even change how you think of some of them.
It's rather depressing, and in places even frightening. If you've been feeling like things are f-d, this will confirm it and tell you why they're f-d.
Despite all that, the final chapter puts forward a range of pragmatic suggestions that could improve it all -- if we collectively are persuaded they're important enough to ask for.
John Patterson reviewed Tutankhamun, King of Egypt by Aidan Dodson
A concise and readable review of what we currently know
5 stars
Continuing his "life and afterlife" series, Aidan Dodson takes a considered look at that most well-known of pharaohs, Tutankhamun.
Chapters cover: who he was, the events and significant figures of his reign (or reigns - Dodson splits it into pre- and post-name change), his death and the events that followed, his memorial temple and tomb, how he was remembered, and the processes of learning, discovery and exhibition that have brought us up to date.
It felt like it petered out a little right at the end, but having said that it brings the reader right up to date with the latest significant studies and exhibitions, so I'm not sure what more I would have liked there. Just a little more detail, perhaps.
Overall though the book is a really welcome step back to take a fresh and level-headed look at what we actually know about this pharaoh and why we …
Continuing his "life and afterlife" series, Aidan Dodson takes a considered look at that most well-known of pharaohs, Tutankhamun.
Chapters cover: who he was, the events and significant figures of his reign (or reigns - Dodson splits it into pre- and post-name change), his death and the events that followed, his memorial temple and tomb, how he was remembered, and the processes of learning, discovery and exhibition that have brought us up to date.
It felt like it petered out a little right at the end, but having said that it brings the reader right up to date with the latest significant studies and exhibitions, so I'm not sure what more I would have liked there. Just a little more detail, perhaps.
Overall though the book is a really welcome step back to take a fresh and level-headed look at what we actually know about this pharaoh and why we know it, bringing together the current evidence in a concise but very readable way.