Category Archives: Reviews

Metal

I read this hopeful from the book’s synopsis for a thoughtful, if pacey, sci-fi thriller in the Michael Crichton mould. However it really fails to deliver, descending very quickly into a formulaic post-apocalyptic “shoot-em-up”. The story portrays a remarkably rapid … Continue reading

Thursday, May 2, 2024 in Reviews

Atomic Secrets

Enjoyable romp through a plausible alternative history Continue reading

Friday, December 15, 2023 in Reviews

Olympus TG6 – Does the T Really Stand for “Tough”?

I don’t do a lot of underwater photography, but I like to have an underwater-capable camera for snorkelling on holiday, and it’s also potentially a good option for working in very wet conditions above seal level. For the last 10 … Continue reading

Saturday, May 13, 2023 in Barbados, Photography, Reviews, Travel

Barbados – Mojo Reanimated

It gives me great pleasure to announce that Barbados has its mojo back. We’ve been regular visitors to the magical island over many years now. It was a real frustration that our 2020 trip got cancelled with only a few … Continue reading

Tuesday, May 2, 2023 in Barbados, Reviews, Thoughts on the World, Travel

A Heretical Proposition

Here’s a heretical proposition: Quantum of B**locks is clearly the worst of all the “real” Bond films, but is No Time To Die the second worst? The release of a new Bond film is always accompanied by almost hagiographic sycophancy, … Continue reading

Sunday, October 24, 2021 in Reviews, Thoughts on the World

Zero Limit

This is billed as “Artemis meets Gravity“, but it would be more accurate to say “Deep Impact meets Eastenders“. The main plot element is that a rogue asteroid mining operation accidentally puts the rock on a direct impact course for … Continue reading

Friday, May 3, 2019 in Reviews

The Spy. Why?

While this is an enjoyable read, it prompts one big question. Why did the author feel that a heavily fictionalised re-telling of this utterly thrilling true story was needed? In the preface Gross says that he wants to tell “the … Continue reading

Sunday, April 21, 2019 in Reviews, Thoughts on the World

Darwin’s Cipher

I like a good techno-thriller, but since the death of Michael Crichton and with Phillip Kerr moving onto German detectives and unpleasant tales of first-person murdering pickings have been thin. I have enjoyed the works of Daniel Suarez, and the … Continue reading

Saturday, April 20, 2019 in Reviews

Software Design Decoded

This is a delightful little book on the perennial topic of how a software architect should think and behave. While that subject seems to attract shorter books, this one is very concise – the main content is just 66 two-page … Continue reading

Tuesday, February 7, 2017 in Agile & Architecture, Reviews

A catholic Taste in Films?

I’ve always wondered about the phrase "a catholic taste", meaning "broad". Surely the way in which the Catholic religion (like most others) prescribes and proscribes certain behaviours and materials acts to limit rather than broaden an individual’s tastes? Apparently the … Continue reading

Tuesday, January 3, 2017 in Reviews, Thoughts on the World

The One Man

Overall this is a cracking WWII thriller, set around the concept of an Allies break in into Auschwitz to rescue a specific prisoner who holds information vital to the Manhattan Project. Andrew Gross has done a great job of capturing … Continue reading

Friday, September 30, 2016 in Reviews

All Tide Up

Like it’s predecessor, Man Up!, this is a knock-about farce based around the capable but somewhat cursed sports agent, Patrick Flynn. This time the key protegé is a nymphomaniac Russian tennis player, but otherwise the cast of gangsters, hit-men (& … Continue reading

Monday, April 25, 2016 in Reviews, Thoughts on the World