Theseus is going to Athens

I started to read this book but give it up soon. Ordinarily I prefer a little bit more concise writing. At present I find the author has been using too many words to describe something for which a concise expression exists. For me it makes reading experience less pleasing.

posted by David

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1000 years of Byzantine Empire

This is a huge book but in my view for non-professionals who are interested to know more about Byzantine Empire it is a very good and complete intro.

It covers both its political history and to some degree its social aspects, especially its religious history. In fact, it is hard to find any other country where the nuanced religious questions mattered so much for the society as they did in Byzantium.

While Byzantium as a state disappeared in 15th century, the question remains which country "inherited" its ideas? Greece, Turkey or Russia, other?

It is interesting to note here that Turkish Ottoman Empire covered almost exactly the same territory as the Byzantium did at its height.

posted by David  

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Review of "The Man in the High Castle"

I had high expectations about this novel. I was wrong. It does not really matter if it is considered one of the SF masterworks. I acknowledge that first half is more or less interesting to read but the second half is a total mess.

One reason that I did not like this novel is the author's desire to show, in this alternative world, that the Japanese officials and their occupation Forces as benevolent and having no desire to abuse other conquered nations. In contrast, Germans are depicted as if constantly following a vicious and idiotic policies.

So, I did not understand the author's point to depict Japan and Germany so differently in their attitude towards conquered nations.

posted by David Usharauli 

  

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Review of "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"

This is a classic science fiction novel. In my view, first half of the book is truly fascinating. Especially, when the author presents his vision of a dystopian future where owning and taking care of a real, live animals becomes an ultimate moral goal of remaining humankind.  

 

However, in my opinion, the android story related to nexus-6 prototypes is not well developed. Moreover, second half of the novel is confusing and lacks the coherence.

 

I still recommend reading it since it is quite short book.

 

posted by David  

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Review of "428 AD: An Ordinary Year at the End of the Roman Empire"

I liked this book. In this interesting albeit short book the author presents a very vivid picture of the Roman World that is about to fall, though no one is aware of it yet.

 

It appears that the author is working on new book about ancient Armenian Kingdom and in my opinion that book will be something to look for. His excellent writing prose guarantees that new book would not disappoint.

 

posted by David

 

 

 

 

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