Whatta Fiasco

Light and breezy writing (pun alert) with cute illustrations and an adorably gorey book design. This one is less nightmare inducing than “Parasite Rex”, but it also has a great chapter on vampire bats. Interesting creatures they are with upside down digestive systems. And you just never know when you’re going to learn how to construct a barometer with leeches and a bottle. It’s quick and fun (if your tastes run that way) and makes very few demands in terms of prior knowledge while happily pointing you toward multi-volume tomes to slake any incited thirst.

[powells]

Given a central metaphor of the maze, the plot twists gather appropriate velocity and angular momentum as the book proceeds. I picked this one up soley based on posted recommendations from his friend, Jay Lake. I don’t regret it at all. I just wish that the text had lingered and played in the rich world a little more than it did, but I suspect there will be more books to come.

[powells]