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<title>Eagle's Path</title>
<link>https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/</link>
<description>"Passion and dispassion. Choose two." -- Larry Wall</description>
<language>en-us</language>
<pubDate>%DATE%</pubDate>
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<item>
<title>NPR Top 100 SFF meme</title>
<link>https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/journal/2011-08/006.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[
<p>
By way of <a href="http://firecat.dreamwidth.org/profile"><img src="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/journal/dw.png" alt="" /></a><a href="http://firecat.dreamwidth.org/"><strong>firecat</strong></a>, this is the result of a public nomination process,
panel review, and Internet voting on the NPR web site: an attempt at the
top 100 works of science fiction or fantasy. Series are counted as single
works for the purposes of the list.
</p>
<p>
This list has a ton of problems, like any list of this sort will have. It
leans rather more heavily towards white male than the actual literature,
and certainly than my reading. The lack of non-white writers is
particularly troubling. But it's still an interesting selection. (For
those wondering about some obvious omissions, young adult was explicitly
excluded.)
</p>
<p>
The rules are to bold the works one has read in their entirety and
italicize the ones you've read part of but not finished. I'll add
underlining the works that I own, which provides some indication of the
things that I've not read but that are on my to-read list.
</p>
<ol>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien</u></strong>:
It's a boring winner because it always wins, but it's an amazing book
and I can't argue with it. I'll probably never review this one since
I'm not sure I have anything original to say about it.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams</u></strong>:
Probably the best humorous SF. I've read the entire series except for
<cite>The Salmon of Doubt</cite>, the unfinished book left when Adams died.
Will re-read them all at some point.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card</u></strong>:
I intensely dislike Card's politics, but this book is still very good.
It's on my re-read list so that I can write a proper review of it.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong>The Dune Chronicles, by Frank Herbert</strong>:
I've read the whole series, but only own the first, which is by far
the best. I'm tempted to re-read the whole series at some point,
since I don't remember it well enough to analyze it, but I'll probably
stop after re-reading just the first.</li>
<li class="packed"><em><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-553-57340-3.html">A Song Of Ice And Fire
Series</a>, by George R. R. Martin</em>:
I own the first couple and have read and reviewed the first four. I
think they're somewhat overrated, but will probably read the latest.
I'm not sure if I'll re-read the previous books to remember what the
heck was going on.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>1984, by George Orwell</u>:
I've somehow never read this. I keep meaning to, particularly since I
generally love Orwell.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong>Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury</strong>:
Massively overrated, or perhaps just made unoriginal by subsequent
history. I found it boring and uninteresting.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>The Foundation Trilogy, by Isaac Asimov</u></strong>:
Thoroughly enjoyed this when I was a teenager. I suspect I'll like it
less as an adult, but definitely on my to-read list.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley</u>: Another classic I've never read.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>American Gods, by Neil Gaiman</u></strong>:
Great book. Need to re-read to review.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>The Princess Bride, by William Goldman</u>:
On the list to read. Apparently significantly better than the movie,
which I liked less than everyone else on the planet.</li>
<li class="packed"><em>The Wheel Of Time Series, by Robert Jordan</em>:
I read up to book eight (<cite>The Path of Daggers</cite>) and bailed
halfway through it. It started as somewhat interesting fantasy with
deep world building and fun world surprises, but the writing got worse
and worse and the characters became miserably unlikeable. I'm still
occasionally tempted to re-read and finish it, but it's a bad
temptation.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/animal-farm.html">Animal Farm</a>, by George
Orwell</u></strong>:
Great book, and a political and historical classic. Best read in
combination with a good history.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>Neuromancer, by William Gibson</u></strong>: Meh.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>Watchmen, by Alan Moore</u></strong>: Brilliant. On my list to re-read.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov</u></strong>:
Okay, but I generally find Asimov a bit overrated. Good for
intellectual puzzle stories, but not that deep of ones, and the
characters are essentially nonentities.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong>Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein</strong>:
The only book that I've ever put down within fifteen pages of the end
and could never muster enough caring to pick up again. I should
re-read it at some point to review it, but I don't think it's very
good.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>The Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss</u>:
Well, I own the first one at least.</li>
<li class="packed">Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut: Need to read.</li>
<li class="packed">Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley:
I've never actually read this, but I'm not sure there's much point in
t/data/spin/output/journal/index.rss view on Meta::CPAN
H.G. Wells</u></strong>:
More interesting than you might think it would be, given when it was
written and the emphasis on description rather than characterization.
But it still suffers from a lack of characters for me. Hard to come
to this fresh now, since the ideas have been so used elsewhere.</li>
<li class="packed">20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, by Jules Verne:
I've seen the movie take on it. I've not felt a strong urge to read
the book, although I probably "should."</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-553-27450-3.html">Flowers For Algernon</a>,
by Daniel Keys</u></strong>:
Unforgettable and very strongly affecting (and depressing).</li>
<li class="packed"><u>The War Of The Worlds, by H.G. Wells</u>: Will read at some point.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>The Chronicles Of Amber, by Roger Zelazny</u>: Will probably read soon.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>The Belgariad, by David Eddings</u></strong>:
Yeah, I read this as a teenager and quite liked it. But I have no
idea what it's doing on this list; it is in absolutely no way one of
the best 100 SFF works of all time. (Well, that's not true; I know
what it's doing on this list. People have heard of it and read it.
But it shouldn't be on this list.)</li>
<li class="packed"><u>The Mists Of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley</u>: On the list.</li>
<li class="packed">The Mistborn Series, by Brandon Sanderson: Want to read this.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>Ringworld, by Larry Niven</u></strong>:
Interesting idea fiction with a great sense of scale. Shame the
characters aren't as good as the background. But it's a good book,
worth reading.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-441-47812-3.html">The Left Hand Of
Darkness</a>, by Ursula K. LeGuin</u></strong>:
A deserved classic of anthropological SF with profound things to say
about how culture and friendship are constructed.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien</u></strong>:
I love this book, but the first section is hard going if you don't
like reading mythology. Skip ahead if you're struggling; the gems are
later.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>The Once And Future King, by T.H. White</u>: Definitely on the list to read.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman</u></strong>:
I'm not sure I'd put it on this list, as there are better Gaiman (and
Gaiman is already overrepresented), but it's a solid "urban" fantasy
in the old sense of that term. Inventive, with a feel similar to some
of the <cite>Sandman</cite> stories.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>Childhood's End, by Arthur C. Clarke</u></strong>:
I read this eons ago and can barely remember it. I definitely need to
re-read it.</li>
<li class="packed">Contact, by Carl Sagan:
Liked the movie, have never had any particular urge to read the book.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-553-28368-5.html">The Hyperion Cantos</a>, by
Dan Simmons</u></strong>:
Some of my favorite SF novels ever. The third book is the weakest,
and the fourth book has problems, but I adore it.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/1-56389-470-X.html">Stardust</a>, by Neil
Gaiman</u></strong>:
Really far too much Gaiman on this list. But also a good book.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-380-78862-4.html">Cryptonomicon</a>, by Neal
Stephenson</u></strong>:
Fantastic stuff. Not SF in any traditional sense. It's a combination
of secret history and contemporary thriller. But it's written in the
Stephenson massive entertaining infodumping style, so it feels like SF
and makes it onto lists like this. It's very long, but I've read it
twice and don't regret it.</li>
<li class="packed">World War Z, by Max Brooks:
Have a hard time believing this really belongs here, but I haven't
read it so I couldn't say for sure.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-345-27505-5.html">The Last Unicorn</a>, by
Peter S. Beagle</u></strong>:
Eh, it's not a bad book, but I'm not sure it really belongs on this
list. But it does have an aesthetic that's hard to find in any other
book.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-380-70821-3.html">The Forever War</a>, by Joe
Haldeman</u></strong>:
A very important response to the whole sub-genre of military SF, and
very influential.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett</u>: Getting to it.</li>
<li class="packed"><em><u>The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever, by Stephen
R. Donaldson</u></em>:
Read the first book, wasn't much of a fan. I might get back to it at
some point, but I'm not particularly eager.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-671-87749-6a.html">The Vorkosigan Saga</a>, by
Lois McMaster Bujold</strong>:
I don't like the early books as much as some, but I love some of the
later books. The last few have been disappointing, but overall very
much worth reading, and belongs around here on the list.</li>
<li class="packed">Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett: Getting to it.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong>The Mote In God's Eye, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle</strong>:
Read many years ago and barely remember it. I need to re-read it,
particularly since there's a new sequal by Pournelle's daughter that
looks well worth reading.</li>
<li class="packed"><em>The Sword Of Truth, by Terry Goodkind</em>:
I read way too many books in this series. Others should not repeat my
mistake. Generic fantasy about incredibly stupid people that turns
into libertarian political ravings.</li>
<li class="packed">The Road, by Cormac McCarthy: Not my thing.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/1-58234-416-7.html">Jonathan Strange & Mr
Norrell</a>, by Susanna Clarke</strong>:
A nearly unique reading experience, and the best footnoted fantasy
that I've ever read (and that includes Pratchett). Great stuff if you
don't mind the slow pace. I'm eagerly hoping for an actual sequel.</li>
<li class="packed">I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson:
Having a hard time getting interested enough in a book about zombies.
But I've been wrong about that
<a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-316-12246-7.html">before</a>.</li>
<li class="packed">The Riftwar Saga, by Raymond E. Feist:
Heard of it, but not enough to get it onto my want list.</li>
<li class="packed">The Shannara Trilogy, by Terry Brooks:
Heard enough about it to not put it on my want list.</li>
<li class="packed">The Conan The Barbarian Series, by R.E. Howard:
Something that I feel like I "should" read, but usually I'm not a big
fan of pulp.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb</u>:
Own the first, which has been on my to-read list for a very long time.
Someday I'll get to it. I should probably buy all of the trilogy
before starting it.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/1-931561-64-8.html">The Time Traveler's
Wife</a>, by Audrey Niffenegger</strong>:
Surprisingly good for a literary fantasy, with some fantastic moments
of description.</li>
<li class="packed">The Way Of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson: Want to read at some point.</li>
<li class="packed">A Journey To The Center Of The Earth, by Jules Verne:
As above, uninspired to read Verne.</li>
<li class="packed"><em><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-88038-905-2.html">The Legend Of Drizzt
Series</a>, by R.A. Salvatore</em>:
Read the first one, and unless they get substantially better, I have
no interest in reading more. Very stock power fantasy with
t/data/spin/output/journal/index.rss view on Meta::CPAN
Iain M. Banks</u></em>:
Brilliant stuff, highly recommended. I only haven't read it all
because I'm slowly digesting it. Should be higher on the list than
this.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart</u>: On the list.</li>
<li class="packed"><u>Anathem, by Neal Stephenson</u>: On the list.</li>
<li class="packed">The Codex Alera Series, by Jim Butcher:
I'll read the Dresden series, or least part of it, first, and see if
that inspires me to read more Butcher. Dubious that this belongs on
this list.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-671-45070-0.html">The Book Of The New
Sun</a>, by Gene Wolfe</u></strong>:
Incredibly influential and important fantasy-flavored SF that should
be much higher on the list than this.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>The Thrawn Trilogy, by Timothy Zahn</u></strong>:
This is a <cite>Star Wars</cite> media tie-in series, and one of the few of
that type that I've read. I remember quite enjoying it a long time
ago, and it's on the list to re-read at some point.</li>
<li class="packed">The Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldan:
The only thing on this list that I've never even heard of.</li>
<li class="packed">The Elric Saga, by Michael Moorcock:
Definitely want to read this at some point, once I figure out the
right place to start and probably after I've read some other
Moorcock.</li>
<li class="packed">The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury:
Waiting to see if I like the better-known Bradbury first.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-515-13881-9.html">Sunshine</a>, by Robin
McKinley</u></strong>:
Quite possibly the best urban fantasy (in the modern definition) that
I've ever read.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-812-51528-5.html">A Fire Upon The Deep</a>,
by Vernor Vinge</u></strong>:
A little overrated, but it has a fun rendition of Usenet and some
neat aliens.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong>The Caves Of Steel, by Isaac Asimov</strong>:
Read long ago. Enjoyed it, but don't remember being grabbed by it.
There's a bit too much Asimov on this list.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-553-56073-5.html">The Mars Trilogy</a>, by
Kim Stanley Robinson</u></strong>:
The most detailed and in-depth politics that you'll find in SF, even
more than Le Guin, at the cost of being mind-numbingly boring. Very
ambitious, but just doesn't move fast enough or have enough plot.
Robinson is less a novelist than a political and hard science essayist
in the form of a novel.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>Lucifer's Hammer, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle</u></strong>:
Large-screen disaster novel with a heavy helping of libertarian
utopian politics. Does not belong anywhere near this list.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-553-56273-8.html">Doomsday Book</a>, by
Connie Willis</u></strong>:
The best of Willis's time travel novels, with fewer communication
failures and frantic faffing about than the other ones. Borderline
for this list, but probably deserves to be here.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u><a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-345-45940-7.html">Perdido Street Station</a>,
by China Mieville</u></strong>:
Revolutionary fantasy. The founding book of New Weird. I think
<a href="https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/0-345-44438-8.html">The Scar</a> is a better
book, but I can't argue with this being here.</li>
<li class="packed">The Xanth Series, by Piers Anthony: I've been warned off these.</li>
<li class="packed"><strong><u>The Space Trilogy, by C.S. Lewis</u></strong>:
I need to re-read this and write long reviews of them, since I have a
lot to say about them. But they need to be read in the context of the
Christian faith to make any sense.</li>
]]></description>
<pubDate>%DATE%</pubDate>
<guid>https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/journal/2011-08/006.html</guid>
</item>
<item>
<title>Review: Fermat's Enigma</title>
<link>https://www.eyrie.org/~eagle/reviews/books/1-250-30112-2.html</link>
<description><![CDATA[
<p>Review: <cite>Fermat's Enigma</cite>, by Simon Singh</p>
<table>
<tr>
<td>Publisher:</td>
<td>Anchor</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Copyright:</td>
<td>1997</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Printing:</td>
<td>October 1998</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>ISBN:</td>
<td>0-385-49362-2</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Format:</td>
<td>Mass market</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pages:</td>
<td>305</td>
</tr></table>
<p>
Fermat's Last Theorem is the infamous proposal that:
</p>
<blockquote><p>
<i>x<sup>n</sup> + y<sup>n</sup> = z<sup>n</sup></i>
</p></blockquote>
<p>
has no solutions for integer <i>x, y, z, n</i> and <i>n > 2</i>. It's
infamous for being very simple to state and understand, a variation on the
equation produced by the Pythagorean Theorem, but incredibly difficult to
prove. It's also infamous for Pierre de Fermat's maddening marginal note —
"I have discovered a truly marvelous demonstration of this proposition
which this margin is too narrow to contain." 350 years after Fermat wrote
this, the theorem was still unproven in the general case, although the
theorem for many specific values of <i>n</i> had since been proven.
</p>
<p>
<cite>Fermat's Enigma</cite> is a popular history of Fermat's Last Theorem and
the attempts to prove it, the partial successes and famous failures. It's
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