Rating: minus 12 on a scale of minus 15 to plus 5.
Before I start, I must visit the YouTube. This was made possible by the channels Doctor Who/Be Kind, fig tree, NCMI, ATP Geopolitics, Welcome to Ukraine, It ain't half hot mum, Maky Abugu, Energi Media, Munecat, Mandy, Owen Jones, Novara Media, Books and Things, Squire, Supertanskiii, Ukraine Matters, The Book Nook Corner, Chantel Reads All Day, Sara Baus, Amy Shira Teitel,
Kyiv Post, Dark Side of Russia, Widebeam and Wellingtons, Turn Left, Boat Time, Travelling K, The Activist Witch, Scallydandling About the Books, Ben and Emily, May, Sarah C M Paine, BardCore, Yanis Varoufakis, Cold War, North of MAGA, Yarmak, British Museum, Diary of a Ditch Witch, No Justice, Paul Warburg, CriminOlly, Susanna Friesen, An Average Reader,
Jess Owens, Patrick(H)Willem, Reads with Rachel, The Ritual Kitchen with Laura May, Physics Girl, Mrs Betty Bowers. Dominic Noble, Tale Foundry, Natasha's Adventures, Depressed Russian, SciFi Odyssey, Verilybitchie, Elin Harness, Emma Thorne, Books and Things, With Cindy, Dungeons and Discourse, Dungeon Dad, The Grungeon Master, Discourse Minis, Ministry of Miniatures,
Just in Time Worldbuilding, Mynameismarines, History with Kayleigh, Renee Yoxon, The Great War, Time Ghost History, Jack Edwards, Megalithhunter, Yoyomi, Planarwalker, Russian Dude, Canadian Ukrainian, Savy writes books, Hoots, Quinn's Ideas, Sailing Melody, The Narrowboat that James Built, Cruising Alba,
Historical Adventures, Ship Happens, The Mindful Narrowboat, Cold Fusion, Gutsick Gibbon, Ben G Thomas, Up and Atom, Isaac Arthur, Petrik Leo, Art Deco, Bernadette Banner, Institute of Art and Ideas, Gresham College, Lynn Saga, Dr Becky, History of Everything, Guard the Leaf, The Military Show, Red Glasgow, lucy can read,
Military Aviation History, Lisa MacLeod, Matriarchetype, Jess of the Shire, Science Fiction with Damien Walter, Kings and Generals, Hardy's Books, Maggie Mae Fish, Legendary Tactics, Council of Geeks, Seizure Girl, IMY2, Irish Myths.
I also watched Doc Martin and Bodkin.
I recently saw one of the Morons Are Great Americans who whilst insulting an essayist whom I mention, complain to her that I list other trans creators. The Snowflake (nasty, desperate to be noticed, arrogant US man-baby) no longer surprises. A trigger warning then.
The channels I list include political historian, Irish, asexual, tall, sewist, cosplayer, bi, artist, farmer, socialist, lesbian, mathematician, language historian, theoretical physicist, trans, French, pensioner, architect, astrophysicist, het, autist, linguist, married, queer, WOC, older, model builder, cis, primatologist, anarchist, physically challenged, military boardgamer, Canadian, miniatures painter, redhaired and other creators known as Women.
Almost as threatening are other BIPOC, art historian, New Zealander, wood worker, miniatures wargamer, boater, modeller, archaeologist, short, chemist, game historian, neurodivergent, Ugandan, other LGBTQI, archaeologist, reenactor, paleontologist, communist, military historian, tailor, Danish, writer, zoologist and other creators known (outside the USA) as Human Beings.
If the voices insist, I suggest emergency therapy, immediate adoption of a healthy hobby (not to include assaults against suspected immigrants which is mental illness) or seeking the nearest Sikh temple.
When the thought of those mental members generates disgust and fatigue, I think back to the Ukrainian POW who puffed a cigarette while being filmed by Russian soldiers. His last words before being murdered were "Slava Ukraini!". With his example in mind, I must continue. Glory to the Heroes. Glory to Ukraine. Crimea is Ukraine.
Once more, unto the book. The greatest challenges for most Kindle Unlimited titles seem in fantasy, romantasy, romance, science fiction and possibly all current US genre print to be worldbuilding and plot. Neither are demanded by print publishers or Amazon (which is a major ebook publisher).
When stories suffer from lack of worldbuilding, there is little context for character description or framework for development. Without plot a story is reduced to vaguely connected scenes.
In this book the character work is undercut by glimpses into an illogical background and better than serviceable prose is squandered. Worse still is that decent prose accentuates weakness in character motivation, reaction and interaction.
As with almost all Unlimited selections, spacefaring is limited to US citizens. I no longer refer to the American, which is an arrogant appropriation of the names for two entire continents. It is very US hegemonic, reflects US Manifest Destiny and Monroe Doctrine. Its use seems inappropriate applied to the twitching corpse of decaying empire.
Aliens setting up in Washington DC, while an almost universal background in US print science fiction is already become dated. Only The US reader does not find that an irritating given.
The main character spends the entire book acting on impulse, with consequences to the beings around her. She barely acknowledged the impact of her decisions on others. She had been isolated from other humans for close to twenty years and had spent those years a slave. Despite that it was difficult to invest emotionally.
She behaved as if a willful fourteen year old. I hope that there is more to her story. Other characters challenge her behaviour, yet she ignores advice. The book could have been much better.
I mentioned those flaws in the original but was so surprised by the writer's line by line writing that I labelled it a good book. That is proof enough that a diet of the subpar might alter your perspective.
I have earned a stepaway to YouTube. This next was made possible by Doctor Who/Without Reward, Asturia Quartet, Agro Squirrel Narrates, ThePrimeChronus, Omeleto, Ammy Robinson, Postmodern Jukebox, JammiDodger, Riverboat Jack, Tara Mooknee, The Planet D, Elvira Bary, BookishDadReads, HawksPodcasts,
Breezy Politics, TizzyEnt, ScaredKetchup, Deerstalker Pictures, Dark Brandon, Parkrose Permaculture, Suchomimus, Narrowboat Pirate, Chris and Shell, Minimal List, Your True Shelf, Make that Change, OrangeRiver, PPR Global, NS Miniverse, Cactus Lady Creation, Ultimate Public Entertainment, Creative Autist, Hannah Phillips, The Pioneer, Itsdivya, Charlie Angus, Cult College, Candace Zablan, Farm to Taber,
Fran Blanche, Model Minutes, Red Viburnam Song, O Jaw, Vintage SF, SciFi Scavenger, Spacedock, NanyaCim, Certifiably Ingame, AllShorts, Terrible Writing Advice, EarleWrites, Driftwood Folk, Northern Narrowboaters, Prime of Midlife, Lisa McLeod, Taylor Rose, Ro Ramdin, Cheri Jacobus, Hannah's Books, Mallen Baker, HBomberGuy, WokeGardener, Cheape, ThatDaneshGuy, Kat Abughazaleh, Lindsay Ellis,
Camper Vibe, Red Viburnam Song, Professor Gerdes Explains, Raw News and Politics, FAFO, Morgan Donner, J. Draper, Political CUSTARD, MoAn Inc, Matriarchetype, Sally's Economics, Silicon Curtain, Welsh Viking, Kathy's Flog in France, The Confused Adipose, Capital Lumber Logyard, Sally's Economics, JohnTheDuncan,
Lindsey Sterling, Kelly-Ann Maddox, Cindy's Villa, Happy Pancake, Motif React, Tale Foundry, Jean's Thoughts, Keffals, Maggie Mae Fish, Yankee Farm Wife, NCMI, Anne Applebaum, RevolutionarythOt, Book Leo, Katie Halper, League of STEAM, DUST, Real Vintage Dolls House, Tibees, A Very Casual Librarian, Barry's Economics, Warthog Defence, Springtime for Elon, Liz Webster,
Brittany Page, Jesse Dollemore, Duo Vagari, Camper Vibe, Travelling K, Cruising the Cut, Cruising Crafts, Mix Psychobitches, Fun Size Reader, Gingers are Black, Bardcore, Bobbing Along, Venom Geek Media, Mr Newberger's AI Funnies, Russian Media Monitor, Anna Cramling, AModelwhosread, FAFO, Slaggy Book Club,
Consider treating this as a hostile site. 🤔
Goodreads do not encourage discourse. As example, I wrote a short review of Powers of the Earth by Travis Corcoran.
He self-described as libertarian (now anarcho capitalist without millions), advocate for the return of chattel slavery (given the expansion of US prison labour to new forced labour prisons for the homeless and given US history and current culture, generational slavery must be on the cards), veteran, employee of an unnamed US agency, and admirer of the war criminal Putin (another popular US position, the fascistic seem drawn to the fascism).
I had found the story of a rich twat enlisting the military in overthrow of the US government in order that he not pay taxes to be dangerous, unhealthy and now prophetic.
The writer and six fellow patriots were incensed by my judgement. They very generously committed a year long comment stream and introduced me to correct thought regarding fiction, history, political theory, challenged the narcissism inherent in my silence, noted my lacking in intelligence and more.
The scale of such a gift mitigated my disappointment in not receiving new insight into the post Cambrian die off.
The levels of irony almost overwhelmed my poor communist soul.
The final comment to that review, was delivered by Claes Rees, Jr aka cgr710 now ka Clayton R Jesse, Jr who no longer identifies as Nazi. After referencing the contents of
my last exchange with a Goodreads friend, he gleefully announced that They had "won" (?).
I discovered that They had launched a flood of vile sexual, racist, anti-LGBTQI and similar attacks against apparently every female creator I referenced. It continues still.
They failed to impress the physicist, boater, sewist, primatologist and other female creators but did manage to increase world's store of unpleasantness. In addition They delivered a wonderful self-portrait of the Snowflake (deranged, vicious, emotionally damaged US baby-man in a snit) to a multinational audience which seems was quite the Victory.
Goodreads discourse is interesting.
Stupidity and Ignorance are very different states. Ignorance is suggested as inescapable by the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. Stupidity on the contrary is the self-imposed uncritical acceptance of a programmed narrative which purports to answer any allowed question. No challenge to any element can be tolerated and every forbidden belief is cast as an existential threat to the adherent.
This would explain the vicious attempts by some members and a number of Amazon employees to punish any whose judgement of the accepted drivel and embedded political, social, broad gender and ethnic descriptions are considered unkind.
It was at that point a fairly common comment stream. It became more interesting later.
Another break is required. This next was brought to you courtesy of YouTube channels Doctor Who/Where I Fall, Global Updates with Sosan, Nicole Chilaka-Ukpo, Jessie Gender, fig tree, Remy, May, Miss Bee Townsend's Vintage Tips and Tricks, Jiaoing Summers, Jabzy, Veritas et Caritas, Unlearning Economics, Kyiv Independent, danainspired,
Twinshangout, Jewel Staite, Keith Edwards, Tanya Fiona, Sarah Millican, Sky News Australia, Regina's Haunted Library, Book Furnace, Resurrected Starships, Jennifer Brooks, AllShorts, Miranda Mills, Rita Best, Naughty Nana DUZ, The Leftist Cooks, Steve Shives, Hasan Minhaj,
Gunpowder Fiction & Plot, Then and Now, Petticoats and Prose, Nope Brigade, Tabithaspeakspolitics, Thoughts on Tomes, Owen Jones, Novara Media, Queen Penguin, Honest Government Ads, Count Everything, NFKRZ, Underthedesknews,
Patrick(H)Willem, Rowan J Coleman, Trina Hours, itsdivya, Ukraine the Latest, Renegade Cut, Eilidh Brown,The Mindful Narrowboat, Dark Brandon, Hadley Mae, Lani's Library, Blooms and Greens by Chloe, Pike and Shot Channel, Eva Schubert.
Ominous music begins. 😊 This site is dominated by readers who are not known globally as fans of critical thinking, critical reading or broad general knowledge. Having formed comment gangs apparently supported by volunteers, Their activities include the doxxing, stalking, threat and more.
Amazon have not to my knowledge taken action against these thugs, disciplined writers who organise them or dismissed employees who enable either.
Only after visiting BookTubers addressing the extremes taken against disappointed romantasy and romance readers did I realise how pervasive was the practice.
My limited messaging was given over to these damaged members, after which Pine Gap Centre requested that Australian Intelligence interrogate the one friend whom I messaged occasionally.
While the attempt at my history failed, two customers were outraged. We received no response from Amazon. Amazon only reacted after we publicised our experience.
At that point my page format and options were returned to normal, Lurkers whom I had not previously been Allowed to remove were disappeared, even Kindle internet interruptions ceased. Yes Virginia, Amazon own the capability to render your device just short of useless.
Recently a seventh EBay ex-employee was sentenced for harassment of a couple whose small ecommerce channel was deemed unkind to EBay. They were awarded several millions and the ex-employee had been the Chief of EBay Global Security or some such. The behaviour of the data corporations as they march towards Techno Feudalism should become more gross.
Some precautions against Amazon madness are suggested. Remove all personal information from profile and avoid messaging. Remove all lurkers, those who never post. They are likely monitors for gangs or employee dummies, not admirers.
Given Goodreads' penchant for Alterations to customer pages, the screenshot of the odd, ugly or threatening are invaluable. With these, exposure to Goodreads should be safer.
Kindle are a more serious matter. Do Not use Kindle Contacts, Calendar, Files, Email. I confirmed that Amazon employees read customer emails without permission or notice. Make of that what you will.
Do Not "purchase" Amazon ebooks, as you own your device only. Downloads are subject to deletion at Amazon's whim. Had I known this before purchasing several hundred titles, I'd not have purchased a single one.
Silk searches should be innocuous and non-critical.
Should you doubt the ugly fanaticism of many US members and site employees, may the gods protect you. Ominous music ends. 😊
Be safe and may we all find good reading. 🤗
Some favourite channels.
NCMI, Russian Media Monitor, Democratic Penguin Republic, Bobbing Along, Ben and Emily, Some More News, Lily Simpson, Aid Thompsin, Dieselpunk, Unlearning Economics, Alice Cappelle, Ksenia Turkova, Tom Nicholas, Hej Sokoly, Sam Not-So-Wise, Isaac Arthur, PPR Global, Anka Daily News,
The Researcher, YuGopnik, Times Radio, Belinda Strnad, Steve Boots, Professor Tim Wilson, Bethan's Kitchen, Geo Girl, Fall of Civilisations, The Kavernacle, Outlaw Bookseller, Tara Farms, Caspian Report,
Baltic Defence Review, Verilybitchie, Gracey D, Physics Girl, Kaz Rowe, Rebecca Watson, Keith Wheeler Books, Nerdy Kathi, What Vivi did next, Candid with Lubna, Upon Reflection, Cruising Crafts, Anark, Ultimate Public Entertainment, Knitting Cult Lady, The Norse Witch, We Be Cruising,
The Juice Media, Stanzi, Stephen Woodford, JimmyTHeGIant, The Vintage Space, Claire Fenby-Warren, Clouds and Sky, Gary's Economics, Suchomimus, The Indigo Life, Leena Norms, Creative Autistic, The Authentic Observer, BookBorn, Let's Turn it up world, kgb detected,
aidan knight, The Indigo Life, Nini Music, ScaredKetchup, Dark Side of Russia,Think that Through, Well Deck Diaries, Sailing Melody, SolarPunk, Hannah's Books, SciFi Scavenger, Rob's Roman Britain, Ana Fern, Swell Entertainment, Philosophy Tube, Caerhl Irey, CBC News, Dominic Noble, Double Down News, Verilybitchie, Christine McConnell, Alina, JaxVellex, Hannah Phillips, Grumpy Old Crone, MT Lynx Author,
The Russian Dude, Leeja Miller, The Poisoned Pen Bookstore, Vasya in the Hay, Alyssa tries YouTube, Ana Boulter, 60 Minutes Australia, Eric's Hobby Workshop, Suttons Daze, History of Everything, Sam's Trains, Katie Halper, Roads with Belle, Celtic Source, Cecilia Blomdahl, Claus Kellerman POV,
Jessie Gender, Sim's Books, Tea Break with Tasha, Tom Powell Jr, Evans Rayolah, Book Chats with Shelley, Dark Docs, Dark Skies, Library Ladder, Fundie Fridays, Reads with Rachel, Invicta, Knots & Knits, SciFi Odyssey, Into the Sunset, Narrowboat Pirate, Sort of Interesting,
Viva La Dirt League, Amadeus Quartet, Atun Shei Films, RFU News, NanyaCim, The Shades of Orange, Ali Imperiale, France 24, Secret Sauce of StoryCraft, V. Birchwood, Econ Lessons, Poland Daily Live, The Shogunate, Foster on the Spectrum, Ember Green, Leena Norms, Lena Down Under, Diane Callahan Quotidian Writer, Amie's Literary Empire, The Enemy from Within,
Star 17, Ryan Beth, Havasi, Golden Salt, Dan Davis History, LuckyBlackCat, Horses, Jabzy, Para Bellum, Anthrofuturism, C8thaGr8, Feminist Cat Lady Spinster, A Time of Eagles, TheGrayRatArmy, Aaron Read a Book, According to Alina, Activist Witch, Age of Empires, Plant Based Bride, TallGirl6234, Guard the Leaf, Alexis Blake.
I wish you a glorious morning, an exciting afternoon, a pleasant evening, a splendid night and may we all continue learning.
Silence in the face of Evil is Complicity.