Reviews

I’ve created this space to delve into the worlds woven by authors and filmmakers, from riveting novels to captivating cinematic experiences. This is my personal corner to share my thoughts, reviews, and recommendations.

Book Review

Midnight at Chernobyl

February 23, 2025 · 2 min

A couple of weeks ago, I came across a number of video posts from the HBO, docudrama for Chernobyl, I had forgotten how good it was overall, and so Sergio and I, sat down to watch again. After watching, I was interested in more, and this book “Midnight in Chernobyl” was one I had long considered getting on Audible. Funny thing, a couple of days later, I am looking at Spotify and notice that we now have access to a number of free audiobooks, and this was one of them. …

Book Review

Artificial Intelligence - A Guide for Thinking Humans

February 20, 2025 · 1 min

Artificial Intelligence: A Guide for Thinking Humans by Melanie Mitchell is an accessible and thought-provoking exploration of AI, its history, capabilities, and limitations. I started listening to this book on Audible, but the book references a number of images and figures from the book, and while there is an accompanying pdf, containing those images, I ended up purchasing the print version as well. Mitchell is a computer scientist, and she demystifies AI by explaining key concepts like machine learning, neural networks, and common misconceptions while addressing the challenges of achieving true intelligence. She examines AI’s successes and failures, highlighting the gap between human and machine cognition. Through engaging examples and a balanced perspective, the book provides a nuanced understanding of AI’s current state and future potential, making it an essential read for anyone curious about the field. …

Book Review

Lionel Morris and the Red Barron

February 2, 2025 · 1 min

History book about Lionel Morris by Jill Bush. This book is about Lionel Morris, a young British pilot in World War I, who joined the Royal Flying Corps and served on the Western Front. In September 1916, during a battle over Bapaume, Morris’s squadron was attacked by a German unit that included Manfred von Richthofen, later known as the Red Baron. Morris was shot down and killed, becoming Richthofen’s first confirmed aerial victory. Morris’s story is a reminder of the many unsung heroes of World War I and the human cost of war. …

Book Review

Galaxy in Flames

January 31, 2025 · 1 min

I was getting ready to post about several books and audio books, I finished in the last week, one being The Flight of the Eisenstein, when I realized that I had not posted anything about the preceding book, Galaxy in Flames. Galaxy in Flames is the third book in the Horus Heresy series by Ben Counter. The book opens with Horus, Warmaster of the Imperium’s forces, seemingly leading an expedition to punish the rebellious Governor of Isstvan III. Four Legions of Space Marines are sent: the Sons of Horus (Horus’s own Legion), the World Eaters, the Emperor’s Children, and the Death Guard. These Legions, unbeknownst to the loyalist elements within them, have already been corrupted by Chaos and secretly pledged themselves to Horus’s rebellion. …

Book Review

Treacheries of the Space Marines

December 31, 2024 · 1 min

Finished reading the Warhammer 40k book, Treacheries of the Space Marines. The book is a collection of short stories, by a number of authors writing about the Chaos Space marines. Those marines that turned traitors, in the Horus Heresy. Now 10k in the future from those times, these traitor marines continue their fight against the imperium of man. Overall, a good collection of stories, with obviously some better than others. My two favorites are: …

Book Review

False Gods

November 27, 2024 · 1 min

Continuing to listen to the Horus Heresy series. This time with the second book in the series “False Gods”. Again, this book is read by the English Actor Toby Longworth. Toby’s performance is top notch and bringing to life the characters and the grim future. The novel continues the saga of Warmaster Horus and his legion, the Sons of Horus, as they navigate the complexities of loyalty, power, and the corrupting influence of Chaos. The story picks up a few months after the events of “Horus Rising,” with Horus battling both external enemies and his own inner demons …

Book Review

Ground Zero

November 24, 2024 · 1 min

Finished reading Ground Zero, the third book based in the X-File universe. It is a novel written by Kevin J. Anderson, based on the popular TV series “The X-Files.” The story follows FBI agents Mulder and Scully as they investigate a series of mysterious deaths involving radioactivity. My Father and I started watching the X-Files, back in the early 90’s (1993 to be exact). It became our Friday night entertainment, until moving to Sunday night in 1996. I have now introduced my own son to the X-Files all these years later. …

Book Review

Horus Rising

November 2, 2024 · 1 min

I was introduced to the world of Warhammer 40k (from Games Workshop), as a freshman in college. I played the tabletop game and collected figurines. Many years later I stumbled upon the fiction published by Games Workshop, Black Library division. Their immersive fiction spanned the Warhammer universe which takes place 40k in the far future. Then in 2016, they started publishing some of the historical events that shaped that universe. The seminal event in this universe is the Horus Heresy which occurred 10k earlier. This is where the Warmaster Horus, one of the emperor’s sons, betrays him, leading to a brutal civil war between the loyalist and traitor factions …

Book Review

The Three Musketeers

October 22, 2024 · 1 min

Finished listening to the Audible Original Drama of the Three Musketeers. This was a fully dramatized audio book, with 39 actors bringing to life the characters of D’Artagnan, Athos, Porthos and Aramis. While the dramatization is not a 100% faithful retelling of the Alexander Dumas classic, it is still very well done and very entertaining. This was one of those audible books, that once I started, I wanted to keep listening to, until complete.

Book Review

The Complete midshipman Bolitho

October 12, 2024 · 1 min

Finished reading “The Complete Midshipman Bolitho” by Alexander Kent. This is the first book, in a series of nautical fiction novels set during the late 18th century in the Royal Navy. The central character in the series is Richard Bolitho. In researching about the book series, I discovered, that Alexander Kent was actually a pseudonym for Douglas Reeman. This book is actually a compilation of the first 3 Bolitho books. …