Stephen > Recent Status Updates

This is very well written and compelling education of a young physician's trial by fire in independent practice, only his wits, a library, and a small but effective team at this side.
Rural medicine to the max, before it was called such. Inspiring, humorous, and enlightening, great read for the medically minded

Done with everything but Invincible Universe Vol. 2.
I really love this world and I'm so glad this collection lets me spend more time in it.

The Invincible War was epic and a little heartbreaking. The Viltrumite War has started, and I just love that Kirkman doesn't take the easy way out with plots.
I'm learning that I'm too used to "by the numbers" sci-fi and fiction writ large. Thanks again to Kirkman and Ottley for raising the bar.

Read Issues 48-59, at the doorstep of the Invincible War.

This is easily one of the best comic series - if not the best - as well as top-tier protagonist-driven Sci-Fi - I've ever read. Kirkman's writing is engrossing and compelling. Ottley's art is beautiful and increasingly to my tastes.
I can't wait to finish it, but I don't want to rush it. Hats off to the "best super-hero comic in the universe".

The rest of the book is Guarding the Globe vol. 1 and 2 (both six issues), then Invincible Universe 1-12

Finished issue 19 out of the 48 contained herein

Oh, the character development you can do when you relax and let the characters interact organically.
Zhao is nearly there, but her hand is felt in writing trans-affirmations than is already obvious.
Indeed, Zetian explicated that she doesn't hate being female, but the system that discards girls and oppresses women. So it's a touch out of character for her to monologue about discarding male and female.

It's great to see the gang in a new light, in a new time, with a different emphasis on their core personality traits.
So glad DCUI has this available for reading.

Finished the first 5 issues of the 48 in this compendium.

I love this. It's great that Mark isn't just fawning after the pretty girl giving him attention. I'm only five issues in, and I feel like I've been with the characters a long time. It's interesting to see Mark showing up his dad near the end of issue 5 and how his mom supports this. Seeds of division in the family?

Full status: 10.416667%

Read Atom Eve's origin story. Definitely makes meeting her and the Teen Team more meaningful

The author is so funny: Zhao will have the Zetian grow or experience change, but then step out of the character that she - Zetian - has developed. As if Zhao doesn't yet know

It's become an exercise in "what will Zhao do next? Will they take the characters down the typical path, revert to preaching against gender roles, or do something interesting?"

It's been a mixed bag as we finish part 2... Here's to the finale.

Read AU 1-3, Fantastic Four, Superior Spider AU, and the Avengers prelude.
I'm impressed at how dark this has gotten, so quickly. It's dizzying to see how many have died already. I love stories where the heroes are actually desperate (e.g. Siege, Fear Itself) and struggle to find a victory. There's a good floor established, and I'm hoping Bendis builds up and delivers.

Worked up to the Ito Calculus proofs. Less than satisfied with the presentation of that material in particular. Glad I have other books to cover that in greater depth and clarity.

Finished part 1. The stage is set for awesomeness. This world is so interesting to dig into, I want to spend more time there and learn more about all the culture of the Culture.
Banks has been a master at world-building thus far. I'm curious to see how he'll contrast established norms with the new discovery, in part 2

Finished vol 1

Listening to the audio book. The prologue alone is worth the price of admission

Finally a moment of self-awareness (as to how vindictive and paranoid she has been) from our (still justifiably) angry protagonist, ironically coming after a man (who's her only friend in the world) saves her.
Curious play by the author. Given the re-injection of the friend into the plot, I'm even more curious to see where Zhao takes Zetian next. Will it be another, typical YA love triangle: Zetian, Li Shimin, Yizhi?

Coverage of integration is less impressive than the derivative, but it's still solid.
Better than I expected