The Plight of Mongo

Lucifer’s Hammer by Larry Niven


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I would recommend this book to any author who is looking to frame a global disaster. Larry Niven keeps his focus on a select group of people, forms a more tangible conflict for his characters, and the cometary impact itself is reduced to a couple of chapters. However everything before and after those chapters pivots upon them.

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Galaxy of Heroes by Gus Flory


My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway I entered.

Galaxy of Heroes is a great example of ample imagination, with a difficult follow through. It felt as if the author struggled to piece together a solid plot, instead I inferred an attempt at a character piece. However, the characters really did not have the depth to handle the load.

I did enjoy the world created by the authors imagination, and I feel that with a rewrite and some outside editing there is promise there. Perhaps, with the current ending, the beginnings of a series.

Best described, I would consider this book to be comparable to a Saturday feature on the SyFy channel.

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I got a new Saxophone, beware neighbors.

Schrodinger’s Cat Trilogy by Robert Anton Wilson


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
After reading the Illuminatus Trilogy, I was really anticipating this novel. Robert Anton Wilson’s high mind style of writing is enjoyable, if a bit fractured. I really had high hopes.

This book fell kind of flat however, as Mr. Wilson attempts to visualize the concept of the multiverse my creating different versions of each of his characters, many of whom first appeared in the Illuminatus. However what the author does not do is adhere to any kind of real plot, and just when you think you might have a bit of a narrative or the resemblance of a coherent story he changes the world again.

The point of the book is to show you how everything you do or do not do, is inversely done or not done in a connected universe. I believe the author is also trying to convince us that we are all Schrodinger’s cat, living in a state that is neither living or dead, up until the moment we are observed, upon observation we will either die or live.

However, I could not stop reading this book, as the vivid imagination of Wilson’s is enticing and extremely visual. Having read the Illuminatus first, I recognized the characters, and how he was attempting to show the variations based on quantum variability.

A good read overall, but not nearly the quality of his first Trilogy.

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In the middle of May, MommaBear and I gathered ourselves and a few others to take in a show at the fabled Crystal Ballroom, here in Portland.  I love seeing shows at the Crystal, it is such an amazing building.  The dance floor is on springs, the massive vaulted ceilings with two of the largest chandeliers I have ever seen dangling above.  Huge windows looking out on the main vein of Metro Portland, W.Burnside, and of course, the history of music.  Stepping into the Crystal Ballroom you can feel the years of amazing music that has soaked into the old wood beams.  Try hard enough and you can almost hear the classic shows of yesteryear emanating back through history.

But now back to the present.  I wanted to go see Shpongle with MommaBear, who may or may not be referred to as Tupelo from here on out.  It’s her type of scene, and I like to experience things she enjoys with her.  Even if I am not such a big fan myself.  My expectations were kept fairly low, with the hope that they would be dis-proven.

The show was opened by part of the horn section of the March 4th Marching Band, and we walked into the Ballroom to the sounds of three saxophones, alto, tenor, and baritone.  There was also a mixer / synth that was looping beats and a DJ spinning.  As one of the horn players grabbed a guitar, the sound became a little more rock, I smiled and really thought I was going to enjoy this night.

As I have had this post in draft form, and I have three others in draft form I am going to try to wrap it up.

Mongo does not care much for DJ music.  Please learn to play an instrument, in front of people.  Preferably with other people who also can play an instrument.

Oh, but these were awesome.

Divine Moments of Truth by Shpongle live in Portland, Oregon