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Science Fact
Until the End of Time: Brian Greene *** 18 February 2020 - Written with Greene's usual panache and interesting science asides, but the main themes, ranging from consciousness to religion and impermanence were too subjective and flowery.
The Lost Planets: John Wenz ** 1 February 2020 - There's interesting interpersonal detail when Wenz relates what happens when Peter van de Kamp's discovery of exoplanets started to lose credibility, but the rest of the book has some science issues and needs a good edit.
Uncertainty: Kostas Kampourakis and Kevin McCain *** 17 January 2020 - Useful in identifying uncertainty as a key part of science and one that often confuses the public, but more an extended magazine article than an in-depth book.
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Atlas Alone: Emma Newman **** 10 February 2020 - Great handling of immersive virtual reality in this fourth Planetfall book, with good plot development. Only slightly let down by a rushed ending.
Infinity Plus Quintet: Keith Brooke (Ed.) **** 4 February 2019 - Five brain-stretching (if rather depressing) SF and fantasy stories: I've rarely seen a better contradiction of Margaret Atwood's putdown of science fiction as being limited to 'talking squids in outer space.'
Bone Silence: Alastair Reynolds ***** 2 February 2020 - Concludes the Ness sisters trilogy brilliantly: great world building, fascinating tech and rollicking adventure in this 'pirates in space' delight.
Classic reviews:
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