Jerry > Recent Status Updates

Cuban missile crisis and fears it’s a ploy for the Soviets to move against West Berlin.

It’s a collection of anecdotes, many of which, including “Calypso”, were previously published.

This is non-fiction even though it reads like fiction.

Frankly, I'm surprised Grace didn't dispatch the beetles earlier. But it's noyt surprising we're at where we are now at all.

I've got a chapter or two to finish the story. I hope it turns out well.

They've had a bunch of problems but mostly worked through them. Some parts make me scratch my head. Like they lost power and the ship was pitch black. Grace fuddled his way around until they fixed it. And I wondered why he didn't just get a flashlight. Which he did when the lights were back on but he needed a light source for the microscope. So it's not like he didn't have flashlights available.

The book reads and flows well, but every now an then, even though I'm not a scientist, I kind of think, "but wait, what about..."? I appreciate the book covers some complex concepts and presents them in an uncondescending manner. But the last couple chapters left me wondering why science experts would miss something that occurred to me. It's not major, but it does nag a little

Dr. Grace makes assumptions sometimes that seem like leaps-of-faith but conveniently work out.

We've got earth-similar life form that threatens star systems & alien intelligent life also seeking solution to preventing their species' annihilation. Even w/ many differences, stuff seems to make some progress despite what distraction from primary concern. I realize the distractions form a base; still seems off-mission.

The author uses the fairly typical "flashback" technique effectively to build both the story and the characters, especially Dr. Ryland Grace.

Science is a key element of this sci-fi story. I can't say how sound the science in the book is, but it's both prominent and yet not overbearing. I'd call it prominent enough to make the story plausible but muted enough to not turn off anyone other than a science nerd.

Apparently the middle school science teacher is actually a super biologist. Meantime, it's a bit implausible he's willing to be flown all over in military aircraft w/ little to no pushback. That started with Stratt saying "it's not optional" followed by FBI agents taking him to the lab, despite having said it was optional.

It might be 2021 sci-fi, but there are some contemporary political ramifications here.

Grace wakes up with no idea where he's at. Then he starts to get snippets of memory back. An interesting way to build both the plot and the character.

First the barbed wire went up. Then a week later the concrete block wall started to grow. All in the Soviet Sector, so the western Allies failed to challenge the violation of freedom of movement within Berlin under the Four Powers Agreement. It became a fait acompli.

And the barbed wire has gone up overnight around West Berlin with free travel between east and west now put to an end.

So far we’ve reviewed the end of WW2 to give a foundation to the Soviet mindset. We’re in 1961 looking at the political situation do the Soviets, Kruschev, and the communist world as well as the US, Kennedy, West Germany, Britain, and France.

While the story is interesting, it's just a bit challenging to read.

The girl in the bog now knows the circumstances she faces. Essentially, the old Irish folklore from her original life has followed her since she was dug out of the bog.

It seems there's more than just the girl in the bog showing up from the past.

Despite being really old, it seems someone from way back when is looking for the girl from the blog. And maybe the girl doesn't want to be found.

There are the finders pair and the trio of of Red Witches of the West. Plus an archaeologist whose role is tbd.

I think I have just read the most amazing paragraph-long description of a person/character ever. It's actually so good I wish I could quote it here, but there's a character limitation, so it won't fit (p. 82).

As I began reading the book, I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy it. It's grown on me and seems to have developed into its own. But this one paragraph is so well done that it feels like it's made the book for me.

She may be centuries old and preserved by the bog. An archeologist is coming to see, but the body's been moved. And the 3 Ginger Sisters are also looking for her.

This is a library after-hours book club selection. It's too early for me to have an opinion. I think, however, we have met the girl in the bog.