Book Report, February ‘09

While I’ve read about Robert Heinlein, I’ve never actually read any of his works. Or maybe I have, one of Abang Aziz’s old books, I don’t know. Anyway, I bought Requiem at MPH some time ago to get myself properly introduced to the man, so to speak.

Requiem is not a novel but a collection of rare works and speeches of the Grand Master, plus tributes by some of today’s foremost science fiction writers. Though known for his science fiction works, two of the short stories here were written for young girls; I really like The Bulletin Board in particular. However, my favorite are Heinlein’s three WorldCon guest-of-honor speeches delivered in 1941, 1961, and 1976 respectively, for his interesting worldview and vision.

I skipped the tributes.

Meanwhile, Cory Doctorow’s Little Brother is the most exciting books I’ve read lately, and definitely one of the most exciting ever. Read it. Here’s what it’s about:

Marcus, a.k.a “w1n5t0n,” is only seventeen years old, but he figures he already knows how the system works – and how to work the system. Smart, fast, and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting his high school’s intrusive but clumsy surveillance systems.

But his whole world changes when he and his friends find themselves caught in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Marcus and his crew are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security and whisked away to a secret prison where they’re mercilessly interrogated for days.

When the DHS finally releases them, Marcus discovers that his city has become a police state where every citizen is treated like a potential terrorist. He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him only one option: to take down the DHS himself.

Don’t worry if you’re too cheap to buy yourself a copy of the book, since it is available online, for free, here.